HEADLINES

Month: October 2024

J. J. Watt Unlikely To Return In 2016

September 29th, 2016 at 12:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Thanks to the new injured reserve rules, teams can bring one player back from IR without designating him for return ahead of time. Technically, the Texans will have this option with star J.J. Watt, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be healthy enough for the team to take advantage. Any hope that Watt returns in 2016 is slim, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. On the plus side, the Texans believe he’ll be back in ’17 and there are no long-term concerns with Watt. J.J. Watt

Watt had back surgery over the summer and he was showing the effects of it through the first few weeks of the season. Typically one of the NFL’s most fearsome players, Watt ranked just 72nd among interior defenders in 2016, per Pro Football Focus. Last year, Watt finished with 76 tackles, 17.5 sacks, eight passes defended, and three forced fumbles, continuing to assert himself as an elite defensive lineman.

To take Watt’s place on the roster, the Texans signed old pal Antonio Smith this week. While Smith will provide some much-needed depth, the team is obviously worse off without Watt. The 2-1 Texans take on the 1-2 Titans at home this week.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bengals Activate Burfict, Waive Roach

September 29th, 2016 at 12:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Vontaze Burfict is back. After serving his three-game suspension, Burfict has been activated in time for tonight’s game against the Dolphins, per a club announcement. To make room for Burfict on the 53-man roster, the Bengals have waived fellow linebacker Trevor Roach. Vontaze Burfict (vertical)

In January, Burfict was suspended after drilling Antonio Brown late in the Bengals’ AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Steelers. Burfict met with Roger Goodell in an effort to get his suspension reduced, but it was to no avail. The linebacker has a long history of controversial plays, including his hit on Ravens tight end Maxx Williams in Week 17 when Williams was nowhere near the ball.

Burfict, in his fifth NFL season, racked up 74 total tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and five pass deflections in ten games last year. Burfict is facing another shortened campaign thanks to his suspension, but he hopes to make up for lost time in a matter of hours.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Alabama LB Tim Williams Arrested

September 29th, 2016 at 10:40am CST by Zachary Links

Early this morning, Alabama linebacker Tim Williams was arrested on a gun charge, as Kelvin Reynolds of WBRC writes. Williams is (or was) a potential first round candidate in the 2017 NFL Draft. Tim Williams (vertical)

Authorities say that Williams was carrying a Glock 41 without a permit when they found him in the parking lot of a Publix supermarket around 2 a.m. ET. Cops smelled burned marijuana and found a bag of pot in the center console of the Chevy Impala. When asked about the weed, Williams said that his his friend “Brandon Chicken” gave it to him to hold. Williams, it seems, has badly damaged his draft stock while also introducing the best alias we’ve heard since Carlos Danger.

Williams told officers that he bought the gun in his native Louisiana and had a temporary permit, though he didn’t have it on his person at the time of the arrest. The linebacker was taken to jail, but he was later released on a $300 bond.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jets Re-Sign WR/KR Jeremy Ross

September 29th, 2016 at 10:30am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have re-signed wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Ross, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. In a related move, defensive end Lawrence Thomas has been placed on IR with a shoulder injury. Jeremy Ross (vertical)

Wide receiver Jalin Marshall suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder during Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs and he could be headed for IR soon. With Marshall sidelined for a while (and potentially the rest of the year), Ross will provide Gang Green with depth and could also factor in the return game. Ross, 28, split the 2015 season between the Ravens and Raiders, totaling just nine catches for 88 yards. He spent more time on special teams, returning 24 punts and 19 kicks on the year.

Thomas joined the Jets this year as a UDFA out of Michigan State. The early word was that his labrum tear would cost him at least a couple of weeks and we now know that his injury will take him out of action for at least eight weeks and, more likely, for the entire 2016 season.

The Jets also announced that they have signed wide receiver Myles White to the practice squad while releasing safety Ronald Martin from the p-squad.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

East Notes: Bryant, Cowboys, Gregory, Brady

September 29th, 2016 at 9:04am CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at news from the AFC and NFC East:

  • Dez Bryant didn’t get an MRI on his knee until Wednesday because he was absent from Monday’s treatment for injured players and Tuesday’s meetings with the Cowboys, sources tell Todd Archer of ESPN.com. The reason for Bryant’s two-day absence is not immediately clear. The wide receiver has not been formally ruled out of Sunday’s game against San Francisco, but the hairline fracture on his knee could sideline him for up to three weeks.
  • Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory is out of rehab in Massachusetts, but he’s still receiving and will continue to receive regular treatment in Dallas, according to a league source who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Meanwhile, those who know the defensive end say he has been clean for over four months and is doing as well as he has in recent memory. Gregory, they say, has been getting his personal life together and is working hard to get back towards football shape.
  • The Patriots have to drop two players from the roster in order to make room for Tom Brady and Rob Ninkovich, and Doug Kyed of NESN.com suggests a handful of candidates. Linebacker Elandon Roberts and tight end A.J. Derby are candidates to be waived and put on the practice squad. Kyed also suggests that New England can get creative by placing quarterback Jacoby Brissett and/or cornerback Eric Rowe on injured reserve even though their conditions are far from season-enders. An added benefit to putting Rowe on IR is that the Pats would decrease their chances of having to give up a third-round pick to Philadelphia instead of a fourth-rounder.

Dez Bryant Unlikely To Play Sunday?

September 29th, 2016 at 7:01am CST by Zachary Links

Dez Bryant appears to be a “longshot” to play on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Cowboys are hoping there is minimal risk for Bryant to play on Sunday, but they are also aware of the possibility it becomes a 3-week injury (Twitter link). Dez Bryant (vertical)

[RELATED: Cowboys Holding Off On La’el Collins’ Surgery]

Bryant was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his knee this week. With an injury like that, there is much more for the Cowboys and the star wide receiver to consider than pain management. If there is a chance that Bryant could make the fracture worse, then it would stand to reason that Dallas would rest its top offensive weapon for at least a week.

So far this year, Bryant has 11 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown to his credit. Last season, Bryant saw career-lows across the board as he caught 31 balls for 401 yards and three touchdowns.

The Cowboys travel to San Francisco on Sunday to take on the Niners. After that, they have a home contest against the Bengals followed by a Week 6 road contest against the Packers.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Expanded Underclassmen Scouting Set For ’17

September 28th, 2016 at 9:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

While it’s not quite the lofty underclassman combine we heard over the summer was being discussed, next year will bring expanded scouting for future draft picks.

The NFL and American Football Coaches’ Association agreed to a setup that will allow NFL scouts to do some advanced work on prospects whom schools deem bound for future NFL drafts. Starting in February 2017, Division I-FBS schools will be able to select five underclassmen whom they categorize as possible 2018 selections. These players will be able to test and work out for scouts at their schools’ pro days during the spring.

Schools can request more underclassmen be available to work out for scouts at pro days designed for that year’s seniors and declared early-entry prospects, provided the NFL determines they are, in fact, potential draft commodities down the line. This will allow teams to gather more data on prospects as they determine future values, Chase Goodbread of NFL.com writes. The prospects who will be granted access to pro days are not eligible to enter that year’s draft, but instead this is only to help teams and players for the future.

“While there is no question that obtaining a college degree is a transformative experience for so many people in society and a goal to which we encourage everyone to aspire to, for those talented few individuals that have the ability to succeed in the NFL prior to exhausting their college football eligibility, this new agreement will ensure they have better information with which to make their decision,” NFL executive VP Troy Vincent said.

Both Urban Meyer and Nick Saban advocated this summer for advanced scouting regarding underclassmen in an effort to provide them better understanding of their draft status for when they become draft-eligible or decide to enter. As it stands now, underclassmen apply for feedback from the NFL college advisory committee in December and usually receive it in January, per Goodbread. For the players who receive the benefit of working out for scouts a year early, they should have more to go on when making their decision in advance of the next draft.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/16

September 28th, 2016 at 8:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s minor moves.

  • The Saints moved defensive end Obum Gwacham to IR to make room for Khalif Barnes, whom they signed earlier today, Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com reports. It’s unclear, per Katzenstein, what injury forced Gwacham to IR. But the defender debuted Monday night and played seven special teams plays.
  • The Raiders promoted rookie offensive lineman Denver Kirkland from their practice squad to move their roster to 53 players, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. As Bair notes, Kirkland can play both tackle and guard. The Raiders may need him more at the former spot, considering Menelik Watson and Austin Howard are battling injuries this season. Oakland played the first three games of the season at 52 players, choosing not to fill Mario Edwards‘ spot — the defensive end sits on IR until he’s expected back by midseason — until today.
  • To make room on their roster for Marqui Christian, the Rams cut defensive back Isaiah Johnson, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. The Rams claimed Christian off waivers from the Cardinals earlier today. A second-year UDFA out of Georgia Tech, Johnson’s played in seven games thus far, including one this season, in his short career. He still has practice squad eligibility, if the Rams so choose to relocate him there.
  • The Cardinals signed punter Ryan Quigley and placed linebacker Alani Fua (knee) on IR, as Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 tweets.

Practice Squad Updates: 9/28/16

September 28th, 2016 at 8:02pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s practice squad moves:

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

Oakland Raiders

New England Patriots

New York Giants

  • Signed: OT Jon Halapio (Twitter link via James Kratch of NJ.com)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cowboys Holding Off On La’el Collins’ Surgery

September 28th, 2016 at 7:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite already relocating him to their IR list, the Cowboys are not planning for La’el Collins to have surgery to repair a torn toe ligament in the near future. Instead, the team will wait for multiple weeks to see if the ligament can heal on its own, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (on Twitter).

Per the second-year guard, via Hill (on Twitter), multiple specialists are set to examine the injury. He will continue to receive treatment in the meantime. Currently outfitted with a walking boot, Collins hopes the injury will heal on its own, Hill tweets.

Collins must miss a minimum of six weeks of practice and eight weeks’ worth of Cowboys games. So, regardless of the team’s course of action with its talented young blocker, Collins will be out until at least late November. Should he undergo surgery, Collins could be sidelined up to 12 weeks, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

The Cowboys are incredibly well-prepared to handle a loss at this particular position, with former starter Ronald Leary ready to rejoin a group with which he’s quite familiar. He will man the left guard spot until Collins comes back, but considering the impending free agent’s experience and the fluid nature of Collins’ recovery, it might not be a lock the starter reclaims his job late in the season.

Pro Football Focus bestowed its second-worst grade — among full-time guards — on Collins this season for the 186 snaps he’s logged. Football Outsiders ranks Dallas’ offensive front 11th through three games. It ranked sixth in 2015 and first in ’14. Leary started 35 games between 2013-15.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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