HEADLINES

Maxx Crosby Addresses Raiders Trade Speculation

October 17th, 2024 at 7:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of the Davante Adams trade, questions have understandably been raised about the future of Maxx Crosby. The Raiders’ best player is not on the market, but his latest remarks on the possibility of a swap are far less conclusive than those of owner Mark Davis.

“I’m not here to rebuild, I’m here to win,” the three-time Pro Bowler said when speaking about his future (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “So, you know, I don’t know. Whatever that means, but yeah I’m here to win now. And wherever I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be here to win. So that’s all that matters to me.”

The decision to move on from Adams is a rather clear indication of Vegas’ intent regarding a run to the playoffs or beyond in 2024. With Gardner Minshew being replaced atop the quarterback depth chart by Aidan O’Connell, uncertainty looms over that position for the balance of the season as well as 2025. The Raiders represent a logical suitor for an aggressive quarterback pursuit this offseason, but even with an upgrade under center the team would have other hurdles to clear to attain contender status.

Crosby and the Raiders agreed to a restructure this offseason which upped his earnings for this season and next. His contract – which ranks ninth amongst edge rushers in terms of average annual value – runs through 2026. As a result, the matter of “wherever” he plays in the future will not be in doubt provided the Raiders turn aside the inevitable trade interest they will receive in the coming weeks. Of course, a number of teams would provide the 27-year-old with a better chance at contending than the 2-4 Raiders this season.

Crosby said in June he intends to remain in Vegas for the entirety of his career. His monster extension certainly sets up that possibility, and remaining healthy should allow him to continue proving high-end production. The Eastern Michigan product is on track for a fourth double-digit sack campaign in his six-year career. That will in all likelihood make him a centerpiece of the Raiders for years to come, but his comments note the potential for a change of scenery being possible.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/17/24

October 17th, 2024 at 6:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos 

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Watson could be claimed off waivers by any teams seeking backfield depth. If that does not take place, though, he will become a free agent. Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reports a mutual interest exists for team and player to reunite via a practice squad deal provided it is possible. Watson, an undrafted rookie, has made only one appearance to date so he should have a strong chance of passing through waivers unclaimed.

Colts’ Anthony Richardson Expected To Return In Week 7

October 17th, 2024 at 6:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

Joe Flacco has handled starting quarterback duties for the Colts over the past two games. That will likely change in Week 7, however.

[RELATED: Michael Pittman Jr. To Avoid IR, Play Through Back Ailment]

Anthony Richardson is expected to return to action this week, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports (video link). Last year’s No. 4 pick suffered his most recent injury in Week 4, prompting Flacco to take over in his place. The 39-year-old helped lead the Colts to wins in two out of his three appearances, but as Wolfe notes the team’s intention is to return Richardson to the lineup at the first opportunity to do so.

An oblique injury has kept the 22-year-old out of action recently, marking another interruption in his NFL development. Known to be a raw prospect coming out of college, Richardson immediately handled first-team duties during his rookie season. That campaign was cut short by shoulder surgery, and further missed time is the situation team and player obviously wanted to avoid. If he can remain healthy moving forward, though, a Year 2 jump in production could again be possible.

Sitting at 3-3 on the year, the Colts sit mid-pack in a number of offensive categories this year (although they rank last in time of possession). A healthy Richardson could help in several areas, and his mobility will be key to the team’s rushing attack. That will especially remain true if running back Jonathan Taylor is forced to sit out once again in Week 7. Taylor was absent from practice yesterday and again today, casting doubt on the status of his ankle rehab.

Richardson, by contrast, has been a full practice participant over each of the past two days. Barring any setbacks, therefore, he should be in action against the Dolphins on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how effective the Florida product is upon return and whether or not he will be able to avoid any further setbacks on the injury front for the remainder of the campaign.

Broncos Activate Damarri Mathis From IR

October 17th, 2024 at 5:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Broncos have brought a number of contributors into the fold ahead of tonight’s game. In addition to edge rusher Baron Browning and right tackle Mike McGlinchey, Denver has activated cornerback Damarri Mathis.

The latter suffered a high ankle sprain during the Broncos’ preseason finale. That put an end to the chances of a trade taking place, although Denver preferred to hold onto the 25-year-old. While setting their initial roster, the Broncos designated Mathis for return on August 27, taking advantage of the league’s new rule allowing up to two injured players to be handled in that manner.

That left the former fourth-rounder off the initial roster during cutdowns, but it used up one of Denver’s eight allocated activations. Mathis returned to practice last week, opening his 21-day activation window and setting up an activation in time for the opening game of Week 7. He does not have a full-time starting spot in place upon returning to action, although with Patrick Surtain out for tonight’s contest Mathis could handle a notable role during his season debut.

Surtain and Riley Moss are Denver’s top perimeter corners, with Ja’Quan McMillian in place as the top slot option. Mathis logged 11 starts as a rookie but he was relegated to a rotational role on both defense and special teams last year. The Pitt product has 100 tackles and eight pass deflections to his name, and his workload moving forward will be influenced by his production when on the field.

Surtain (once he is back in action) will of course face the greatest expectations amongst Broncos defenders given the big-ticket extension he signed this summer. The team’s other cornerback options are young and cost-effective, though, and Mathis figures to have a role in that group now that he is back in the picture.

Steelers’ Russell Wilson Expects To Play In Week 7; Justin Fields Addresses Demotion

October 17th, 2024 at 4:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Russell Wilson having returned to practice on a full-time basis, signs have recently pointed to a quarterback change in Pittsburgh. The former Seahawks Super Bowl winner all-but confirmed on Thursday he will be in action for Week 7.

“It’s the first game of the year for me,” Wilson said (via Mike DeFabo of The Athletic). “But I’ve been fortunate to be in a lot of first games. So the confidence is there obviously.”

Wilson was atop the depth chart throughout the offseason, one in which Justin Fields was also acquired via trade as the Steelers moved on from Kenny Pickett. Fields found himself earning first-team training camp reps due to Wilson’s calf injury, and he gained support in the organization. Wilson reaggravated his calf shortly before Week 1, positioning Fields to fill in as QB1 to begin the year. The former Bears first-rounder was a candidate to retain his starting role even when Wilson was healthy, but that will not be the case for at least the time being.

The Steelers sit at 4-2 on the season, but their offense has not been productive through the air with Fields at the helm. Pittsburgh sits ninth in rushing yards per game, but only 28th passing yards; overall, the team ranks 20th in scoring at an average of 20.7 points per game. With room for improvement, Wilson will get the nod against the Jets on Sunday. Fields himself understands the thinking behind his demotion, one which threatens to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

“At the end of the day, I got a few wins,” the 25-year-old said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “Of course, I’m glad about that, but there’s areas that I could be better at and I’m just going to continue to work on those and continue to get better.”

Fields’ 2024 completion percentage (66.3%) is much higher than any of his Chicago campaigns, and his 5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio is a positive sign in terms of avoiding turnovers (although fumbles have been an issue so far). With 231 yards and five scores on the ground, Fields obviously provides a much different skillset than Wilson, 35. It will nevertheless be the latter under center this week.

Both Wilson and Fields are pending free agents, and their market values will be determined by their respective performances. Head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week that consideration will be given to using both quarterbacks moving forward. How that possibility plays out will of course depend in large part on the way the offense operates with Wilson in place as he looks to rebound from the underwhelming two-year Broncos tenure which resulted in his release this spring. Struggles in his Pittsburgh debut will no doubt lead to calls for a quick change back to Fields, but success could produce a step forward through the middle portion of the campaign.

Saints’ Rashid Shaheed Undergoes Season-Ending Meniscus Surgery

October 17th, 2024 at 3:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Rashid Shaheed will indeed be out for the remainder of the season. The Saints’ top vertical receiver underwent a full meniscus repair, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

When it was first learned Shaheed would undergo a procedure, it was not known if a meniscus trim or repair would be required. The outcome of his surgery would dictate his recovery timeline, and today’s update confirms a 2024 return will not be possible. Schefter adds Shaheed will be sidelined for four to six months.

Any missed time would be acutely felt in New Orleans’ offense given the 26-year-old’s importance to the team’s offense. Shaheed has averaged 17.5 yards per reception this year while also remaining an X-factor in the return game. Especially as Chris Olave misses Week 7 due to a concussion, the Saints will be highly limited in the passing game tonight.

Beyond their upcoming game against the Broncos, however, the Saints will miss Shaheed’s abilities as a deep threat. The former UDFA logged 14 combined starts during his first two years with the team, emerging as a legitimate No. 2 option along the way. He held that role through the opening six weeks of the current campaign, totaling 349 yards (a figure which leads the team) and three touchdowns on offense. Shaheed also leads the league in punt return average (15.9 yards) and he scored a touchdown in that department earlier in the year. New Orleans’ offense and special teams will be notably shorthanded moving forward.

As the Saints look to maintain their top-five ranking in scoring with rookie Spencer Rattler at quarterback for at least one more game, they will need to do so without a key contributor. Finding a way to replace Shaheed would of course also help in ending the team’s four-game losing streak and boost the chances of a playoff berth. Shaheed is under contract for 2025, the point at which he will next see game action.

Saints Place WR Rashid Shaheed On IR; Return This Season In Doubt

October 17th, 2024 at 3:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 17: Shaheed was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement. That move guarantees at least a four-game absence and does not offer an encouraging sign with respect to his late-season availability. Until the outcome of Shaheed’s surgery is clear, though, the Saints will remain hopeful he can return at some point in 2024.

OCTOBER 16: Already without Chris Olave, the Saints will head into their Thursday-night Broncos matchup with breakthrough wideout Rashid Shaheed sidelined as well. Shaheed will undergo knee surgery, sidelining him for the foreseeable future.

The downfield threat has a chance to come back this season, but that is not assured. The outcome of Shaheed’s meniscus surgery will determine if he misses a few weeks or the rest of the year, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Losing Shaheed would be a tough blow to a New Orleans offense that has already played without multiple offensive linemen for stretches this season. Dealing with an oblique tear, Derek Carr is also set to miss a second game.

Dennis Allen subsequently announced that Shaheed will undergo an exploratory procedure that will determine if the third-year wideout will need a meniscus trim or a full repair, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds. A full repair would knock the recently extended receiver out for the season.

Averaging 17.5 yards per catch, Shaheed has continued his transition from UDFA to starter. Olave’s top sidekick has scored three long-range TDs and exited Week 6 with 20 receptions for 349 yards. Shaheed, last season’s first-team All-Pro punt returner, also returned a punt for a score for a second straight season. While Olave is the Saints’ top receiver investment, Shaheed currently leads the team in yardage.

The Saints did well to identify Shaheed out of Division I-FCS Montana State, bringing him in as part of their 2022 UDFA class. With Michael Thomas rarely available over the previous two seasons — and when he was, the former All-Pro displayed an injury-driven decline that presently has him out of the league — Shaheed stepped in to give the team an intriguing WR2 option. Last season, Shaheed totaled 719 yards and five TD receptions in 15 games. He then entered this year as a clear-cut New Orleans starter.

Shaheed, 26, signed an ERFA tender this offseason but later inked a one-year bump that calls for a $4.2MM base salary in 2025. This transaction prevented the Saints from needing to apply a second-round RFA tender on the Weber State alum next year. But the team now risks losing a blossoming player, continuing a tough stretch that followed an explosive 2-0 start.

The Saints will again deploy Spencer Rattler as their starting QB, but he will not have any reliable wideouts to target. The team cut 2023 draftee A.T. Perry, who is now on Denver’s practice squad. Beyond Shaheed and Olave, rookie Bub Means leads Saints WRs with five receptions for 45 yards.

Broncos To Activate OLB Baron Browning, RT Mike McGlinchey

October 17th, 2024 at 2:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

2:01pm: McGlinchey will also return when first eligible. Although the Broncos could have given their two recovering players the mini-bye to move toward a return, they have deemed neither IR-return cog as in need of extra time. The veteran right tackle will join Browning in coming off IR tonight, NFL.com’s Jane Slater tweets.

Adrift at right tackle for a decade, with the team using a remarkable 11 Week 1 RT starters from 2013-23, the Broncos have McGlinchey signed to a five-year deal that features a fully guaranteed 2025 salary. McGlinchey made 16 starts last season, and the former 49ers top-10 pick will be back for a Broncos team that remains without reserve RT option Alex Palczewski. Four injury activations now remain for the Broncos.

12:33pm: The Broncos’ pass rush will have a reinforcement back tonight. Despite Baron Browning returning to practice during a short week, the Broncos will not slow-play his return.

Both Browning and Mike McGlinchey received IR-return designations this week, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the former is coming off IR ahead of tonight’s Saints matchup. It is not yet certain if McGlinchey will join the outside linebacker in playing in New Orleans, but with Denver’s right tackle practicing fully Wednesday, it would seem the team will strongly consider another immediate activation.

[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]

Browning went down with a foot injury in Week 2; McGlinchey sustained an MCL sprain during the Broncos’ loss to the Steelers as well. Browning’s return will be pivotal for his future, as this is a contract year for the former third-round pick. The Ohio State alum worked as a starter alongside his former college teammate, Jonathon Cooper, but the Broncos have seen 2022 second-round pick Nik Bonitto enjoy success filling in.

Regardless of how the Broncos structure their OLB corps, the team has another piece to use during a season that has seen Vance Joseph‘s unit help cover for offensive struggles. Browning will join Bonitto, Cooper and third-round rookie Jonah Elliss in the Broncos’ OLB group.

Denver moved Browning from inside linebacker to the edge in 2022, after having used him as a starter off the ball as a rookie. Browning has flashed pass-rushing chops, totaling five sacks in 2022 and 4.5 last season. Browning forced two fumbles in 2023 and tallied 12 QB hits a year prior. Though, injuries have been a consistent part of Browning’s NFL career. An offseason knee injury led Browning to the Broncos’ PUP list last year, costing him seven games. Browning, 25, also missed three games during the 2021 and ’22 seasons.

It would stand to reason, then, that Cooper may be higher on Denver’s long-term priority list. The former seventh-rounder has established himself as a starter in Joseph’s 3-4 scheme, leading the Broncos with 4.5 sacks this season. Cooper joins Browning in a contract year, creating a decision for a Broncos team that has already paid two members from its 2021 draft class — Quinn Meinerz and Patrick Surtain. A Cooper-or-Browning decision may loom, but the latter also will need to show he can stay healthy enough to be a productive player in his contract year to warrant extension consideration.

NFC North Notes: Bears, Vikings, McManus

October 17th, 2024 at 1:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tom Brady recently said the Bears were on his free agency radar four years ago. Although one fall 2020 report indicated Chicago had indeed waded into the Brady market, Bears chairman George McCaskey confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin) the team did participate in a stealth operation to bring in Brady.

“Anytime you’re in a situation like that you’re not putting all of your eggs in one basket,” McCaskey said. “You’re looking at alternatives. It’s the same in free agency, it’s the same in the draft. If the person you’re targeting isn’t available, you want to make sure that you’ve done your due diligence on all other options. So that was one option that we were looking at.”

The Bears’ alternative that year became a Nick Foles trade. Foles did replace Mitch Trubisky for a stretch during the latter’s contract year, but the former No. 2 overall pick took his job back to help a defense-powered Chicago roster back to the playoffs. The Bears have since drafted two more quarterbacks — Justin Fields, Caleb Williams — in Round 1, as Brady retired (for good, thanks to his Raiders ownership agreement being approved) after a successful Tampa stay.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • Playing well at guard after an injury-plagued rookie year at tackle, Teven Jenkins makes sense as a Bears extension candidate. The Ryan Poles regime did not draft Jenkins — a 2021 second-round pick — but the GM has paid Ryan Pace-era pickups Jaylon Johnson and Cole Kmet. Jenkins has confirmed he approached Bears brass about a second contract, but that has been on hold for a while. Chicago’s Week 7 bye loomed as the next window for a Jenkins deal. Jenkins also has not generated too much momentum early in his contract year, missing time because of rib and ankle injuries. As such, it would be surprising — per The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain— if the Bears engaged in serious extension talks with Jenkins’ camp this week. Pro Football Focus still views Jenkins as a higher-end guard, ranking him in the top 20 after slotting the Oklahoma State alum as a top-15 option in 2022 and ’23.
  • The Vikings have Cam Akers back in the fold, agreeing to a late-round pick-swap trade to acquire the running back for a second straight season. This will be Kevin O’Connell‘s third stint with the former Rams second-round pick. Despite the second Akers-O’Connell partnership ending with the running back sustaining the second Achilles tear of his career, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes the Vikings attempted to re-sign him before training camp. Akers opted for a Texans offer instead and did enough filling in for Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce to entice O’Connell and Co. to bring him back.
  • Jordan Addison was arrested on DUI charges in August, putting the second-year wide receiver on a path toward a suspension. The Vikings pass catcher appears a good bet to play most of this season, as ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes his court date has been moved to Dec. 3. Addison had been scheduled to appear in court Monday.
  • Not charged with a crime, Brandon McManus saw a civil suit lead to his exit from Washington. The NFL had ruled the veteran kicker would not be suspended as a result of the suit — one filed by two flight attendants part of a crew on a Jaguars London flight last year — and both McManus’ attorney and counsel for the plaintiffs confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky) the matter has been resolved. Neither party indicated if the resolution came via settlement or a judge dismissing the women’s suit. McManus was accused of sexual assault in the suit; he denied any wrongdoing. The former Broncos and Jaguars kicker will now be asked to step in for a Packers team that has been unable to find a reliable option post-Mason Crosby.

Cardinals’ Bilal Nichols Out For Season, ‘Good Chance’ Jonah Williams Returns

October 17th, 2024 at 12:26pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cardinals defensive tackle Bilal Nichols will be out for the rest of the 2024 season, head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed on Thursday, per team reporter Darren Urban.

Nichols was knocked out of Arizona’s Week 6 loss to the Packers with a stinger, and further evaluation revealed a season-ending injury that landed him on injured reserve on October 15. He will join Justin Jones – who tore his triceps in Week 3 – on the sideline for the rest of the year, severely depleting the Cardinals’ defensive line rotation.

Nichols and Jones were two of general manager Monti Ossenfort‘s major free agency signings this offseason, meant to short up Arizona’s league-worst rushing defense in 2023. The injuries have made any improvements marginal at best; the Cardinals rank 30th with 918 yards allowed on the ground this season. Now, only Roy Lopez remains from the starting defensive line, with Khyiris Tonga, L.J. Collier, Naquan Jones and Dante Stills expected to fill the void.

Ossenfort can hope for a better return on his other big offseason investment: offensive tackle Jonah Williams. Gannon said there is a “good chance” that Williams returns from a Week 1 knee injury that initially put the rest of his season in jeopardy, according to Urban.

Veteran Kelvin Beachum has taken over for Williams at right tackle since Week 1 outside of a minor injury in Week 3 that required relief efforts from both Jackson Barton and Charlie Heck. The position has not been a weakness for the Cardinals’ offense, but there is little doubt that Williams would still be an upgrade if he can return this year.

Kicker Matt Prater is also on injured reserve in Arizona, but Gannon said that it is possible he returns this season. In the meantime, the Cardinals have relied on Chad Ryland, who converted five of his six attempts including a game-winner against the 49ers in Week 5.

Load More Posts

NFL News & NFL Rumors