December 27th, 2016 at 9:39am CST by Zachary Links
Buccaneers running back Doug Martin was a healthy scratch against New Orleans over the weekend and he’ll also be inactive for the season finale against Carolina, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times writes. With Martin out of the picture, the Bucs plan to sign running back Russell Hansbrough off of the Giants’ practice squad.
Since returning from a hamstring injury, Martin has struggled to regain the form that made him a top running back in the league. Now, his future with the Bucs is not clear as the offseason approaches. Martin is signed to a five-year, $35.75MM contract he inked last March, including $15MM guaranteed. Releasing Martin this offseason would not save the team any money against the 2017 cap, so their options are limited.
Jacquizz Rodgers started in place of Martin on Saturday and rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Although he’s had his moments this season, like his 154-yard game against the Niners in October, Rodgers might not be what the team has in mind for a No. 1 RB next season.
The Raiders suffered one of the most crushing injuries a playoff team has ever seen when Derek Carr went down with a broken leg during Week 16, yet they still have a chance at claiming the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
Oakland did not work out any quarterbacks today, preferring to go with Matt McGloin and rookie Connor Cook for now, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
Carr will undergo surgery on Tuesday in Los Angeles, and Schefter tweets the recovery time should be around six to eight weeks. The ESPN.com reporter added (via Twitter) this will be the first instance of a quarterback winning 12 regular-season games and not starting in the team’s first playoff contest since the NFL began the playoff format in 1933. The league began playing 14-game regular seasons in 1961 and moved to 16 in 1978.
A fourth-year pro, McGloin has not started a game since the 2013 season, when he went 1-5 and completed 55 percent of his throws for a much worse Raiders team. The 27-year-old backup — to whom the Raiders extended a second-round RFA tender this offseason — has thrown just 55 passes in the past three years. Cook has been the Raiders’ No. 3 quarterback all season.
Carr, who will enter a contract year in 2017 if he’s not signed to the extension the team is prioritizing, was pondering a miraculous return if the Raiders were to advance to Super Bowl LI behind McGloin. However, Carr’s chances of returning this season are incredibly slim, CSNBayArea.com’s Scott Bair writes.
“He started doing the math in his head, and he said ‘That’s Super Bowl week,'” NFL.com’s David Carr said, via Bair. “As a fan, I’m thinking, do the Raiders have a chance without him? For him, Derek feels so much love for this team, and he really thinks they can go out and [reach the Super Bowl].”
Coupled with the injury issue, the Raiders would have to advance to the league’s February game without the services of a player who was an MVP candidate — and do so potentially without a first-round bye. Oakland winning or Kansas City losing gives the Raiders a bye, but the now-eliminated Broncos beating their division rivals in Denver and the Chiefs topping a reeling Chargers team would send the Raiders to the No. 5 line in the AFC bracket. Illustrating the fluidity of the Raiders’ standing, they can earn the No. 1 seed with a win and a Patriots loss in Miami, which occurred in Week 17 of last season.
One of the coaches potentially guiding his team through Week 17 preparation for the final time, Mike McCoy is positioned in an interesting place regarding his status with the Chargers.
His head-coaching record over the past two years — the Chargers’ first consecutive losing seasons since 2000-01 — makes him an easy chopping-block candidate. The Bolts will finish with either nine or 10 wins combined in McCoy’s third and fourth seasons, doing so after they made the divisional playoff round in his first and finished with the same 9-7 record — but short of the postseason– in his second.
And a prospective move to Los Angeles after 55 years in San Diego makes starting fresh an understandable move for a franchise that would be, in this scenario, moving from the most popular team in its current market to a potential lower-tier entity in its next. CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora pointed to the L.A. move when reporting the Chargers will begin searching for McCoy’s replacement soon.
Another sign pointing to the Bolts moving on after four years — which would be the least amount of time they’ve given a coach since Mike Riley (1999-01) — is the lack of an extension offer. As of now, McCoy would enter 2017 as a lame-duck coach after signing a one-year extension in January to cover ’17. Of course, both Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner — who received five and six years, respectively, in San Diego — each helped the team to at least two division titles. McCoy, though, faced tougher opposition during his tenure, with former charge Peyton Manning guiding the Broncos to three straight division championships and finishing off a stretch where Denver secured the AFC’s top seed three times in a four-year span.
It’s also difficult to analyze the Chargers over the past two years and not start with injuries. Player unavailability has marred McCoy’s past two seasons, helping contribute to the Bolts falling off their perch as a middling AFC team to a bottom-tier outfit.
San Diego’s 2016 has been worse than its ’15 regarding setbacks, with Keenan Allen, Jason Verrett, Danny Woodhead and Manti Te’o being among numerous players who wound up on IR. Jahleel Addae and Joey Bosa missing portions of the season due to injury contributed to the struggles as well. McCoy also could not deploy Bosa for nearly the entire offseason due to the No. 3 overall pick’s battle with Chargers management.
The Chargers have also lost almost all of their games over the past two years in one-score fashion, dropping nine contests by eight points or less in both this season and 2015. This line of thinking led Ben Volin of the Boston Globe to estimate McCoy will be kept for a fifth season, the loss to the Browns notwithstanding.
McCoy has also presided over a resurgence from Philip Rivers, who enjoyed the finest season of his career in the head coach’s 2013 debut. Rivers completed more than 66 percent of his passes from 2013-15, surpassing that standard for the first time in his career. He eclipsed 30 touchdown passes for the first time in consecutive slates under McCoy (2013-14) before finishing second in the league in passing yards last season despite missing some skill-position threats.
However, Rivers has regressed to some degree this season, completing just 60 percent of his throws. At 19 interceptions, the 35-year-old passer is one away from matching his career high. While Rivers hasn’t enjoyed the luxury of having his full complement of pass-catchers available, he’s off his usual trajectory under McCoy. He would presumably have to adjust to a new offense in 2017 if the offensive-minded leader is ousted, factoring into the McCoy decision surely.
So, how much of a pass should McCoy get due to the Bolts’ spate of injuries of these past two years? Has four years been enough regardless of circumstances? And how does a possible relocation to Los Angeles factor into this decision?
Tyler Lockett underwent surgery today to repair a broken right leg he suffered during the Seahawks‘ loss to the Cardinals on Saturday, but the wide receiver avoided any further damage. The second-year player avoided ligament damage, Pete Carroll said (via Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk, on Twitter).
The tibia and fibula bones breaking through Lockett’s skin provided the Seahawks with some urgency to complete this surgery as soon as possible to prevent infection, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports. Per Carroll, Lockett should be up and moving in four-to-six weeks. However, the team does not expect the receiver to return should it make a third Super Bowl trip in four years, and Lockett will likely head to IR to open up a roster spot, per Condotta.
Seattle has already made a roster move involving a wide receiver, Condotta reports (on Twitter), so that would point to Lockett venturing on IR as another pass-catcher rises to the 53-man roster. Seventh-round rookie Kenny Lawler and 2015 UDFA Kasen Williams comprise the receiver contingent on the Seahawks’ practice squad.
Here’s more from the West divisions as Week 16 winds down.
Chip Kelly says he hasn’t had discussions with 49ers ownership about his status for 2017, but the first-year San Francisco coach figures to do so once season ends Sunday, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group reports (on Twitter). Both Kelly and GM Trent Baalkeare on thin ice after this 49ers season included a 13-game losing streak, the longest in franchise history.
The Rams are considering moving Greg Robinson to guard for Week 17 against the Cardinals, interim coach John Fassel said (per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com). Robinson started 35 straight games at left tackle for the Rams and has led the NFL with 31 penalties since the start of the 2015 season. Gonzalez writes the Rams may have already moved on from Robinson at left tackle after two different head coaches deactivated him in the past two weeks. The Rams used the No. 2 pick on Robinson in 2014 and are in danger of seeing next to nothing from another No. 2 overall tackle. Then-St. Louis abandoned the Jason Smith experiment after three seasons in 2011, giving Smith 26 starts.
Andy Reid said Justin Houston experienced swelling in his surgically repaired knee, leading to the Chiefs deactivating him on Christmas night. When asked about the possibility Houston could miss the playoffs, the fourth-year Chiefs coach said the team “will take it day by day and see.” Houston, who was severely limited during Kansas City’s two-game stay in last year’s AFC bracket, missed 10 games this season after offseason ACL surgery. “It felt a little bit better than it did the day before. He felt like things were getting better,” Reid said of Houston, via Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star. “That’s what we’re going on here. It’s just a matter of that thing calming down a little bit and he’ll be back.”
Gary Kubiak said he will make a decision on Paxton Lynch starting Week 17 for the Broncos soon, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post reports. The defending Super Bowl champions are now eliminated from the playoffs, and this season finale against the Raiders would give the first-rounder a third start in advance of an offseason where he’ll be expected to compete with Trevor Siemian for the 2017 starting job. Although, Siemian seems to have the leg up despite being previously viewed as a stopgap solution.
Still listed on the “In the Hunt” portion of playoff info graphics, the Redskins have a chance to delay their offseason this weekend by booking a second straight postseason berth. But the recently unseated NFC East champions will have decisions to make regarding their receiving corps soon.
Both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon could be entering the final games of their Washington contracts on Sunday, but the older — by four months — of the team’s two impending UFA pass-catchers would like to sign a second Redskins contract. “I love playing in Washington, and the fans are amazing. D.C. is home for me,” Garcon said during an appearance on Sirius XM Radio (Twitter link).
Garcon has played out the five-year, $42.4MM contract he signed with Washington in 2012 and is amid the second-best season of his half-decade run with the Redskins. The former Colt is 55 yards away from the second 1,000-yard season of his career, with the chain-moving target’s 75 receptions representing the second-most in his nine-year run as well.
The top statistical season of Garcon’s career came in 2013, when he amassed 1,346 yards and five touchdowns on 113 receptions. Two 700-plus-yard seasons followed in 2014-15 before what’s quietly been a quality 2016 slate.
Washington could lose two of its top three wideouts this offseason, with only Jamison Crowder under contract among the trio for 2017, and likely will not retain both Jackson and Garcon. The latter playing Sunday would give him four straight 16-game seasons. Jackson, though, leads Washington with 971 receiving yards on 18.0 per reception. Both figure to be coveted free agents situated near the top of the 2017 UFA class, one that stands to include Alshon Jeffery, Kenny Britt, Michael Floyd and Terrelle Pryor.
A medium-length deal would probably be what the Redskins would prefer regarding one of these 30-year-old receivers. The team will not have much tied to the wideout position, with Crowder and Josh Doctson still on their rookie deals, and stands to possess upwards of $47MM in cap space.
We haven’t heard much on Garcon’s UFA options, but a report emerged earlier this month about mutual interest existing between the Eagles and a Jackson reunion. In November, a report placed the odds at 50-50 on whether or not the Redskins re-sign Jackson, citing his injury history as a potential road block. Jackson has not played a full 16-game season since 2013, but if the deep threat plays Sunday as he’s expected to, he will have suited up for 15 regular-season games in the past two years. So, the injury history might be a tad overblown in assessing D-Jax’s value.
The bright spot on an embattled Broncos offensive line, Matt Paradis played through hip injuries this season. Enough so he will undergo surgery on both hips during the offseason, Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post reports.
These injuries limited the ascending center to one practice per week for most of the season, per Wolfe, but the second-year player has not missed a snap since the Broncos made him their starting snapper at the 2015 season’s outset. The defending Super Bowl champions will consider resting injured starters and making IR moves this week, Gary Kubiak said, but Paradis will start against the Raiders in a game that means plenty for Oakland but little for now-eliminated Denver.
A third-year sixth-rounder out of Boise State, Paradis became the anchor of a Broncos front that has struggled this season after parting with several veterans during the offseason. He was the only player to return as a starter in the same position he played during the ’15 season. Paradis ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 center this season, marking a significant improvement from his initial NFL campaign. The 27-year-old blocker spent 2014 on the Broncos’ practice squad.
Paradis will be an exclusive-rights free agent in March, but the Broncos will almost certainly retain him. The remainder of Denver’s starting line is under contract, although a decision to trigger the second part of Russell Okung‘s two-pronged deal is forthcoming, but changes are likely on the way after the team struggled mightily to run the ball or protect quarterbacks down the stretch.
Bryce Petty‘s initial NFL sample did not end up lasting too long, with the second-year quarterback suffering an injury against the Patriots that moved the Jets to place him on IR, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Petty tore the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder while attempting to tackle Malcolm Butler on a turnover sequence during the Patriots’ Week 16 victory, per Rapoport (via Twitter).
With Geno Smith also on IR, the Jets will be down to primary starter Ryan Fitzpatrick and rookie Christian Hackenberg against the Bills. The latter has not played in a game yet after coming into the league as a second-round pick out of Penn State. Signed to a one-year, $12MM deal after a lengthy offseason impasse between the Ivy League product and the Jets, Fitzpatrick looks set to be in uniform for the last time as a Jet. The 34-year-old could not replicate the solid season he turned in for Gang Green in 2015.
Petty played in five games for the Jets, making four starts. The Baylor alum finishes with 809 passing yards, a 56 percent completion rate, and a 3-to-7 touchdown pass-to-interception ratio.
Despite drafting quarterbacks in each of the past two years and three of the past four, the Jets boast one of the more unsettled signal-caller positions in football, with both Fitzpatrick and Smith as looming UFAs and the two younger passers’ values undetermined at this point.
The Week 17 backfield for the Chargers will look somewhat strange, but that’s become the norm in San Diego this season. Kenneth Farrow‘s season will end on IR due to a shoulder injury, Eric Williams of ESPN.com reports.
Farrow injured the shoulder in the Chargers’ loss to the Browns but returned to the game. His rookie season concludes with 192 rushing yards on 60 carries. A UDFA out of Houston, Farrow saw action thanks to numerous injuries to San Diego ball-carriers. Melvin Gordon‘s status has yet to be determined, but it would be surprising if the Bolts sent their starter back out there in a meaningless game against the Chiefs.
This makes three backs on San Diego’s IR, with Farrow joining Branden Oliver and Danny Woodhead. Dexter McCluster also sustained a non-football injury and is out for the season. Coupled with Gordon’s status, Farrow’s unavailability will leave Ronnie Hillman as the top able back for the Chargers, who are going to finish with back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2000-01. Andre Williams remains on the practice squad, so that is a move the Bolts could make to supplement Hillman if they hold out Gordon this weekend.
Farrow will look to secure a backup job next season. Woodhead is a looming UFA, Oliver will be an RFA, and Hillman will venture back into free agency as well, clouding the Bolts’ backfield behind Gordon going forward.
Gregory’s return was not expected after his latest substance abuse policy violation drew a one-year ban. However, Gregory opted to appeal the suspension and he is now free to play while things get worked out. It sounds like the Nebraska product could be able to play as long as the Cowboys stay in it. Given the way Dallas has looked this season, Gregory could be in for a long postseason run with his team.
The Cowboys, of course, have clinched the NFC East, a first-round bye, and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
December 26th, 2016 at 1:38pm CST by Zachary Links
The Bengals are shutting down two of their brightest stars for the final game of the season. Tight end Tyler Eifert is headed to injured reserve one day after A.J. Green was told that he will not be taking the field again in 2016. The Bengals also announced that guard Clint Boling is being placed on IR.
This has been a frustrating year for Eifert. Heading into the fall, many expected the tight end to elevate his game to a new level and help take attention away from Green. Unfortunately, he’s been banged up the whole way and his season ends with just eight games played thanks to his injured ankle and back. The Bengals are 5-9-1 after Saturday’s loss to Houston and one has to wonder if they would be playoff bound if they had Eifert healthy for the whole year.
