2016 August - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

Dolphins’ Mike Pouncey Could Miss Week One

August 21st, 2016 at 3:19pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Dolphins center Mike Pouncey is unlikely to play in any more preseason contests and could potentially miss Week One with a hip injury, head coach Adam Gase told reporters, including Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald and James Walker of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Pouncey had offseason surgery on his right hip, but this injury is on his left side, tweets Salguero.

Miami’s offensive line is undergoing a wave of change along its interior, so losing Pouncey as the anchor, for any amount of time, is all the more troubling. First-round pick Laremy Tunsil is competing with Dallas Thomas to start at left guard, while free agent signee Jermon Bushrod is pushing against Billy Turner for playing time on the right side. Anthony Steen, a former undrafted free agent who spent 2015 on Miami’s practice squad, appears to be the next man up at center.

Pouncey, 27, had hip surgery back in 2014, and ultimately missed four games to begin that campaign. He rebounded, however, starting 12 games while appearing mostly at guard, and ended up making the Pro Bowl. In 2015, Pouncey once again made the Pro Bowl after returning to center and starting 14 games, though he was derailed by a late-season ankle injury. The sixth-year pro graded as the league’s No. 11 center last year, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

PFR Originals: 8/14/16 – 8/21/16

August 21st, 2016 at 3:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:

In PFR’s new series The Beat, Zach is conducting interviews with beat writers, columnists, and TV personalities about the team that they cover. This week, Zach spoke with Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com, and discussed the Titans, DeMarco Murray, Andre Johnson, Dorial Green-Beckham, and Jack Conklin.
PFR has continued to go over each team’s rookie class with the assistance of scouting guru Dave-Te Thomas, who has served as a consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades. Dave covered four clubs last week:
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Detroit Lions
- Minnesota Vikings
PFR has also continued to look back at the offseasons for all 32 clubs, examining the major signings, departures, trades, and other notable offseason events for each team. We covered three clubs over the past week:
- Green Bay Packers
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- San Francisco 49ers
Zach rounded up the best of the football blogs in the latest edition of Pigskin Links.

Broncos Work Out Henry Melton

August 21st, 2016 at 2:16pm CST by Dallas Robinson

In need of some reinforcements along their defensive line, the Broncos today worked out free agent tackle Henry Melton, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Melton hasn’t drawn any other known interest since his contract with the Buccaneers expired in March.

Denver was already reeling from the offseason loss of Malik Jackson, and the man set to replace him, Vance Walker, suffered a torn ACL last week and was subsequently placed on injured reserve. Starting defensive end Derek Wolfe recently rolled his ankle, but apparently not seriously enough to cause any major absence, as he played in last night’s preseason contest against the 49ers. Free agent signee Jared Crick is now set to start opposite Wolfe, but Melton could offer a reserve pass-rushing presence at both end and tackle if signed.

Melton, 29, has settled into more of a rotational role in recent years, and is no longer the dominant interior presence he was during his early career with the Bears. But he still appeared in all 16 games for Tampa Bay last season, playing on roughly half of the Bucs’ defensive snaps. In that time, Melton picked up two sacks, 18 tackles, and recovered two fumbles, but only graded as the league’s No. 101 interior defender among 123 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. The former Texas Longhorn earned an honorable mention on PFR’s May list of the best remaining free agent defenders.

While Melton is auditioning for a spot on Denver’s roster, fellow defensive lineman Billy Winn already has one, and he could end up making the team due to the club’s injuries up front, as Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post tweets. Winn was signed last month after the Broncos released Phil Taylor from IR, and he played early in Friday’s preseason contest.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

5 Key Stories: 8/14/16 – 8/21/16

August 21st, 2016 at 1:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

DGB to PHI. The Eagles and Titans consummated the first NFL trade in more than three months, as Tennessee shipped 2015 second-rounder Dorial Green-Beckham to Philadelphia in exchange for offensive lineman Dennis Kelly. DGB had yet to master the Titans’ offense, and the club was concerned about his lack of work ethic over the offseason, although Green-Beckham himself said he’s “not necessarily sure” why Tennessee dealt him. The trade sent a message to Titans receiver Justin Hunter, who considers himself on the roster bubble, while the Eagles are still looking for more pass-catchers.

The league’s threat spurs action. The NFL took a hardline stance in its PED investigation, announcing that Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, James Harrison, and Mike Neal would be suspended if they did not meet with the league by August 25. Despite some protestations from Harrison, he, Matthews, and Peppers quickly agreed to interviews with the NFL. Neal, however, was thought to be considering retirement and therefore uninterested in sitting down with the league, but apparently had a change of heart and later agreed to a meeting.

The hits keep coming in Buffalo. Rex Ryan‘s assertion that the Bills “won the offseason” appears to have incited a karmic reaction, as his club received more bad news last week. Star defensive tackle Marcell Dareus will be suspended four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, and is planning to enter a rehab facility. Moreover, Dareus’ contract is structured in such a way that only his 2016 guarantees will void — none of his future guaranteed money will be affected. Manny Lawson is also facing a suspension (although he isn’t sure why), and the Bills parted ways with promising second-year running back Karlos Williams.

Domestic violence rears its head. The NFL suspended Giants kicker Josh Brown one game for a 2015 arrest on a domestic violence charge, but later details painted a much more disturbing picture. Brown’s ex-wife told police that Brown had been physically violent with her over 20 times and that she had previously had a protection order against him. However, the league later issued a statement saying that Brown’s ex-wife, as well as local investigators, had declined to offer further information on the situation, hence the seemingly light suspension.

No interest in Hardy. Speaking of domestic violence, several teams have publicly ruled out any pursuit of free agent defensive end Greg Hardy. The Jaguars, the only team to meet with Hardy this offseason, won’t be signing Hardy any time soon, says owner Shad Kahn, who stated his club isn’t “even close to a decision like that.” Meanwhile, the Cowboys, who employed Hardy in 2015, won’t be taking a look at a possible reunion, says executive Stephen Jones. “I don’t see that happening,” said Jones. “We certainly had that experiment, and unfortunately it didn’t work out,”

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Seahawks Re-Sign FB Will Tukuafu

August 21st, 2016 at 1:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

SUNDAY: Seattle has announced the transaction.

SATURDAY: The Seahawks appear to have re-signed Will Tukuafu, as the veteran fullback posted an Instagram picture of himself signing a contract while at the Seahawks’ facility, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Tukuafu worked out for Seattle roughly a week ago, according to Condotta (Twitter link).

Tukuafu, 32, spent the past two seasons with the Seahawks after playing for the divisional rival 49ers from 2011-13. He played on approximately 20% of Seattle’s offensive plays last year, blocking for breakout rookie Thomas Rawls and toting the ball four times himself, accruing a grand total of one yard (but also one touchdown!). Tukuafu can also help out a bit on special teams, as he averaged ~14% playtime on the Seahawks’ ST snaps over the past two seasons.

Clearly, given that he’s being signed this late into the year, Tukuafu is not guaranteed to make Seattle’s opening day roster, especially because the Seahawks are already certain to keep at least four running backs. In his most recent roster projection (obviously composed before Tukuafu’s signing), Condotta wrote that Seattle “hadn’t seen enough of the fullback contenders” to make the club keep one on the roster, but given that the coaching staff is familiar with Tukuafu, perhaps he’ll have a leg up.

In order to create a roster spot for Tukuafu, the Seahawks have waived fellow fullback Jonathan Amosa, reports Condotta (Twitter link). Seattle had just signed Amosa roughly two weeks ago.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

East Notes: J. Brown, Petty, Pead

August 21st, 2016 at 1:06pm CST by Rory Parks

Giants rookie kicker Tom Obarski missed a 28-yard field goal during yesterday’s preseason contest against Buffalo, and, predictably, several members of the team’s brass were asked after the game about the controversy surrounding incumbent kicker Josh Brown. As Paul Schwartz of The New York Post writes, co-owner John Mara told reporters, “I know what you’re going to ask me about. Check with me again next week, but I don’t have anything to say about it.” GM Jerry Reese declined to comment at all about Brown, and head coach Ben McAdoo said, “I’ve said everything I have to say on that situation.” Brown himself also declined to comment.

As Big Blue attempts to sort out its suddenly volatile kicking situation, let’s take a look at some other notes from the league’s east divisions:

Manish Mehta of The New York Daily News believes Jets QB Bryce Petty has not only earned his spot on the team’s roster, he has earned a chance to compete with Geno Smith for the backup quarterback job. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes that the Jets are currently “trending toward” keeping four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster–Ryan Fitzpatrick, Petty, Smith, and rookie Christian Hackenberg–which recent history suggests is not a wise decision.
Cimini also observes that the Jets will need to create some salary cap room, as the club has just $1.2MM of space at the moment and will need money for a practice squad, an additional two players on the cap–currently, only 51 count–and potential injury replacements. The problem is that there is not much “fat” on the roster in terms of potential cap casualties. The team could create $4.4MM of space by cutting Breno Giacomini, who has not practiced due to a back injury, but he is the club’s only experienced right tackle.
Dolphins running back Isaiah Pead, who was signed to be little more than a camp body, has been the team’s best back this preseason, says Adam H. Beasley of The Miami Herald. Miami’s running back depth chart includes Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams, Kenyan Drake, and Arian Foster, but Drake hasn’t practiced in weeks after sustaining a hamstring injury, which means that Pead could fill one of the team’s projected four RB openings. Pead was given coveted first-team snaps in the Dolphins’ second preseason contest, the clearest sign yet that he might be on the right side of the roster bubble.
Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com takes a look at five Redskins currently on the roster bubble, a list headlined by LB Perry Riley.
Earlier today, we learned that the injury bug has bitten the Patriots in a big way.

Dion Lewis Needs Second Knee Surgery; Sebastian Vollmer To IR

August 21st, 2016 at 11:16am CST by Rory Parks

Patriots running back Dion Lewis, who tore his ACL last November, will need a second knee surgery, according to Jim McBride of The Boston Globe (via Twitter). Interestingly, this report came on the heels of a tweet from NESN’s Doug Kyed, who indicated that Lewis had just walked into the team’s locker room with no knee brace. Kyed, however, subsequently deferred to McBride’s report.

Luckily for the Patriots, Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com reports that, although the nature of the procedure is not yet known, it does not involve the ACL or any other ligaments. Depending upon when he has the procedure, it should be about eight to 10 weeks before Lewis can begin training, which means he will begin the season on the PUP list.

Lewis was a key cog of New England’s offense before his ACL tear, rushing 49 times for 234 yards and catching 36 passes for 388 yards. He also scored four total touchdowns, two through the air and two on the ground. After just three games with the club, Lewis signed a team-friendly, two-year extension that gave the diminutive back–who had not played a single regular season snap between 2012 and 2015–some much-needed financial security. He tore his ACL a month later.

It was reported just two weeks ago that Lewis had not suffered a setback in his recovery, and that he was still on track to play Week 1. Now, players like James White and James Develin could see their playing time increase, and while White has been solid in the preseason, Lewis’ injury is still a major blow, particularly in light of Tom Brady‘s suspension.

As if that was not bad enough, McBride also tweets that offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who has been on the PUP list with an undisclosed injury, will be placed on IR. It is unclear whether he will land on season-ending IR, or if he will be given a “Designated to Return” status, though Kyed suspects that Vollmer’s season will indeed be over, since the Patriots could have just kept Vollmer on the PUP list if they expected him to return this year.

Vollmer, when healthy, has been a mainstay at tackle for New England since 2009. However, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Vollmer as the 42nd-best tackle out of 77 qualified players last season, and he was thought to be on the roster bubble earlier this year. His contract is set to expire at the end of the 2016 campaign, and Marcus Cannon will likely serve as the team’s starting right tackle in Vollmer’s absence.

McBride was not done delivering bad news, as he also tweeted that second-year guard Shaq Mason suffered a broken right hand and will be out indefinitely. As Albert Breer of TheMMQB tweets, these injury reports are especially unwelcome for New England, as running back and offensive line are the only two real question marks on the team’s roster.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

North Notes: Rudock, Orlovsky, Mallett

August 21st, 2016 at 11:03am CST by Rory Parks

Through the first two games of the preseason, Lions rookie quarterback Jake Rudock has outplayed veteran Dan Orlovsky by a wide margin, which has left many wondering who will serve as Matthew Stafford‘s primary backup in 2016. Although Orlovsky entered training camp with a huge lead over the rookie for the backup job, and few expected Rudock to seriously vie for it — indeed, Orlovsky has the game experience that a team looks for in a No. 2 signal-caller, and Rudock did not play very well during Detroit’s offseason program — Rudock’s performance and Orlovsky’s struggles in the preseason may leave head coach Jim Caldwell with a difficult decision. When asked who he expected to win the job, Caldwell said, “the best player, period” (article via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com).

Of course, as Meinke observes, the best player for the short term isn’t always the best player for the long term, so Caldwell’s comments do not add much clarity, and Caldwell would reveal little else about how the Lions would go about choosing between the quarterbacks, other than to say the club is weighing its options. As Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press writes, if the Lions keep all three quarterbacks, you can count on Orlovsky being the No. 2 on gamedays. The real question is who the Lions keep if they carry just one backup, which is usually how New England built its roster when Lions GM Bob Quinn was in the front office there.

Now for a quick swing around the league’s North divisions:

In a separate piece, Birkett examines Stevan Ridley‘s roster status, noting that Ridley has surprisingly been relegated to the second half of the Lions‘ first two preseason games. Ridley, the five-year veteran who was expected to challenge Zach Zenner for the “big back” role on offense, played just nine snaps during Detroit’s Thursday night contest. As Birkett notes, however, it is still too early to read too much into preseason playing time, especially since Ridley is easily the most accomplished of the group of backs fighting for a roster spot behind Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick. Similarly, Caldwell said the Lions are still figuring out their running back rotation, and preseason performance is only one part of the formula.
Although it was believed that the Ravens signed veteran signal-caller Josh Johnson to be little more than a camp arm, with Ryan Mallett firmly entrenched as Joe Flacco‘s backup, Johnson has played very well in Baltimore’s first two preseason contests, and head coach John Harbaugh indicated last night that there is indeed a legitimate battle for the backup job between Johnson and Mallett (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun). Mallett has also played reasonably well during the preseason games but has struggled mightily during training camp. Whether Harbaugh’s comments have any truth behind them, or whether they are simply intended to motivate Mallett, remains to be seen.
Chris Tomasson of The St. Paul Pioneer Press believes that the battle for the Vikings‘ starting strong safety spot will again come down to the wire, just as it has in each of the past two seasons. As Tomasson writes, incumbent Andrew Sendejo got the nod in the Aug. 12 preseason opener at Cincinnati before Michael Griffin started in Thursday’s 18-11 win at Seattle. There are two more games left for the two to fight it out.
Earlier today, we learned what Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell had to say about his suspension.

Le’Veon Bell Speaks About Suspension

August 21st, 2016 at 10:02am CST by Rory Parks

After having his four-game suspension reduced to three games as part of a settlement between the NFL and NFLPA, Steelers star running back Le’Veon Bell spoke briefly about his punishment on Saturday, and he largely took ownership of his mistake (AP article via ESPN.com). Bell said, “I already apologized to my teammates, my coaches and Steeler Nation. I’m sincerely sorry about everything I put everybody through. It’s been frustrating, and I own up to everything. It’s all my fault, and I can’t blame nobody else for that.”

Of course, this marks the second time that Bell has been suspended in his professional career. He sat out the first two games of the 2015 season as punishment for his arrest in August 2014 on DUI and marijuana possession charges following a traffic stop. On that point, Bell said, “It [stinks] to keep having to miss time. I want to play football and be out there with my teammates. I accept the suspension. I just have to learn from this and move on.”

At the same time he appeared to accept full responsibility for the suspension, Bell also attempted to deflect some criticism, as Ray Fittipaldo of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes. Bell indicated that the video he posted on social media on Friday — one he later deleted — included everything he wanted to say about this matter, and in that video he claimed he was not able to come to the Steelers’ facility for testing in December and January and that the drug testers were unable to come to him. He also said he overslept in April when a test was to be administered at 5:37 in the morning.

When pressed Saturday on whether the process was fair, Bell said, “It’s not that hard of a process. I didn’t do everything right. I didn’t do everything wrong either. I just want to move on from it and keep pushing.”

Bell will miss the first three games of the regular season against the Redskins, Bengals and Eagles, but he will be eligible to return on September 26 before the Steelers’ Week 4 home game against the Chiefs. He will be allowed to train at the team’s practice facility, but he won’t be allowed to practice during his suspension.

Veteran back DeAngelo Williams, who thrived in his first season with the Steelers in 2015, will again shoulder the load in Bell’s absence, as Roster Resource indicates.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Lane Johnson Will Appeal Any Suspension

August 21st, 2016 at 9:25am CST by Rory Parks

Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson, who is expected to be suspended 10 games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, says he will appeal the suspension when it is finally handed out, as Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com writes. Johnson has previously indicated that he took a league-approved amino acid but tested positive for peptide. In addition to fighting the suspension, he has also said that he will take action against the manufacturer of the substance.

As Shorr-Parks reports, the league is expected to levy the suspension sometime around the start of Week 1. That time frame, along with Johnson’s plan to appeal the suspension, could create some difficult decisions for first-year head coach Doug Pederson. Since news of Johnson’s failed test was made public, the Eagles have been practicing with Johnson on the second-string offense, not with the starters, and in the team’s preseason contest against Pittsburgh on Thursday night, Johnson played with the backups while Allen Barbre started at tackle.

But if Johnson is eligible to play the first week or two of the regular season, either because the suspension has not yet been handed down or because it has been levied and Johnson has appealed it, will Pederson keep him in the lineup? Or will he preemptively replace Johnson in an effort to begin creating continuity among the group of linemen that will be playing together in Johnson’s absence? Those are questions that should be answered in the next couple of weeks.

Losing Johnson for any period of time, of course, would be a major blow to the Eagles. He has started in each of his 44 career appearances, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the 6-foot-6, 317-pounder 22nd among 77 qualified tackles in overall performance last season. In January, Philadelphia rewarded him with a hefty extension through 2021.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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