2017 August - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

Dolphins Release Kraig Urbik

August 26th, 2017 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kraig Urbik‘s knee injury was expected to keep him out of Week 1, but the malady may either be more severe or the Dolphins have decided not to wait it out. Miami released the guard with an injury settlement, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets.

Urbik was expected to start at guard after Ted Larsen‘s biceps injury, but the former Bills starter will not factor into that equation as of now. The recent knee setback Urbik sustained was only supposed to keep him out for a few weeks, post-arthroscopic surgery, but he will be on his own for the time being.

While Urbik could conceivably be brought back after he recovers, this will move the Dolphins to younger players as they continue to search for answers at guard.

The 31-year-old Urbik signed with the Dolphins in 2016 after six seasons with the Bills. He started six games last season and was expected to be the team’s No. 2 option at guard after Larsen’s setback. Now, that could fall to third-year man Jesse Davis or fourth-year player Anthony Steen. A seven-game starter last season at center, Steen started in Miami’s third preseason game. Davis entered the game after a few possessions.

A third-round Steelers pick in 2009, Urbik was a full-time Bills starter from 2011-13.

North Notes: Bridgewater, Steelers, Ravens

August 26th, 2017 at 3:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Zimmer shed some light on Teddy Bridgewater‘s progress recently, revealing (via Jay Glazer of Fox Sports; Twitter link) there is a “possibility” the fourth-year quarterback returns for the Vikings this season. Zimmer reiterates Bridgewater has not been able to practice yet, further pointing to an uncertain future for the former starting quarterback.

CBA language is murky regarding what could happen if Bridgewater begins the season the Reserve/PUP list, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noting this, as written, would cause the passer’s contract to toll and keep him on the Vikings in 2018 as part of his rookie deal. While this subject has been broached a few times this offseason, Florio adds that this contract rule as applied would suggest Bridgewater would need to miss the entire season for his deal to be carried over onto Minnesota’s 2018 books. So, the former Louisville star returning from the PUP list this season could be pivotal for his career, even if Sam Bradford has a firm grip on the starting job.

This could be a drawn-out process for Bridgewater and the Vikings without a near-future resolution, but it’s definitely a worthwhile subplot to their season. Here’s the latest in relevant North-divisions subplots.

Several backups complemented Antonio Brown for the Steelers in the AFC championship game last season as injuries and unavailability mounted, and they’re almost all on the roster bubble now. Sammie Coates and Darrius Heyward-Bey are not locks to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes. Coates, Heyward-Bey, Justin Hunter, Cobi Hamilton and Demarcus Ayers are fighting for the final two spots — behind Brown, Martavis Bryant, Eli Rogers and JuJu Smith-Schuster, per Fittipaldo. The Steelers started Ayers, Hamilton and Heyward-Bey at least once apiece in their three-game playoff sojourn last season, but now that they are deeper, won’t need some of these players to return. Coates not being given a third year would be notable for the 2015 third-round pick, who’s been inconsistent, but the remainder of these players mostly saw action due to higher-level performers’ unavailability in 2016.
The Ravens aren’t as deep as their rivals at wideout, and injuries have limited the competition behind locks Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman, Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun writes. Michael Campanaro, Chris Moore and Chris Matthews and rookie UDFA Quincy Adeboyejo lead the competition for the final spots, per Zreibec. This would stand to put Griff Whalen and Keenan Reynolds on the outside looking in. Zreibec calls the recently re-signed Campanaro close to a roster lock but assigns slipping stock to Moore. Adeboyejo may see a knee injury dash his hopes at making the team.
Bengals DC Paul Guenther discussed the prospect of acquiring defensive end Chris Smith with player personnel director Duke Tobin, expressing support for a move that eventually came April 11 via trade from the Jaguars, Paul Dehner Jr. of cincinnati.com reports. Smith participated in only 311 defensive plays in three Jacksonville seasons, and did not suit up in 10 games last season, but looks to have made a good case for more playing time in Cincinnati, Dehner Jr. writes.
Kyle Long not set to play in the Bears‘ third preseason game — and likely not Chicago’s fourth exhibition tilt — makes the guard’s Week 1 status uncertain, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. The Bears are being cautious with their top guard after he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in November 2016.

Patriots WR Julian Edelman Tears ACL, Out For Season

August 26th, 2017 at 2:07pm CST by Ben Levine

An MRI today has confirmed what the Patriots were fearing. According to Albert Breer of the MMQB.com (via Twitter), wideout Julian Edelman has “a complete ACL tear in his right knee.” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the receiver will miss the entire season.

The Patriots confirmed the tear, and Tom Curran of CSNNE.com tweets the team will place the ninth-year wide receiver on IR.

Edelman suffered the non-contact injury during the first quarter of last night’s preseason game against the Lions. The veteran was carted off the field after having already collected three catches for 52 yards. The 31-year-old has suffered a number of injuries during his career, as he’s missed nine regular season games since becoming a full-time starter in 2013. However, he’s yet to miss an entire season.

The receiver’s presumed absence from the offense shouldn’t be underestimated. Over the past four seasons, Edelman has averaged 133 targets, 89 receptions, 956 yards, and five touchdowns per year. He was a major part of the Super Bowl-winning squad last season, hauling in 98 catches for a career-high 1,106 yards. He was also a force in the postseason, collecting another 21 catches for 342 yards and one touchdown during the Patriots’ three-game run. Following the season, the Patriots inked the former seventh-round pick to a two-year, $11MM extension.

While losing Edelman will certainly hurt, the Patriots have plenty of depth to make up for his absence. The team acquired Brandin Cooks earlier this offseason, adding another 1,000-yard receiver to their talented corps. Chris Hogan, who finished last season with 680 yards and four scores, will presumably slide up to the Patriots’ second receiver spot. The team could also lean on veteran Danny Amendola or 2016 fourth-rounder Malcolm Mitchell to pick up some of Edelman’s targets.

Of course, the team is also expecting full health from tight end Rob Gronkowski, and they acquired Dwayne Allen to serve as a backup. There’s also running backs James White and Dion Lewis, who have proved to be dependable targets. If any vicarious roster move were to come out of the Edelman injury, it may be the addition of undrafted rookie wideout Austin Carr to the active squad. The Northwestern product has led the Patriots with 11 receptions for 105 yards this preseason, but the Patriots’ receiver depth put the rookie on the roster bubble.

Patriots To Cut Kony Ealy

August 26th, 2017 at 1:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kony Ealy‘s New England stay does not look like it will make it to the six-month mark. The Patriots plan to cut Ealy, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Garafolo cited poor scheme-fit issues behind Ealy’s struggles. This will further thin out the Patriots’ defensive end corps, but Ealy wasn’t exactly flourishing to the point he was a surefire rotational player. This comes after New England examined the trade market for a potential deal.

Bill Belichick said before the Pats’ third preseason game on Friday the fourth-year defensive end was progressing, but the team will still pull the plug on the brief experiment.

“The last three weeks, he’s definitely on the upswing,” Belichick said of Ealy, via Mike Reiss (on Twitter). “He’s made solid progress for us.”

Having not yet become a vested veteran, the 25-year-old Ealy will be sent to waivers. This creates an interesting option for teams in need of some edge help.

Ealy joins Rob Ninkovich and third-round pick Derek Rivers in being removed from the 2017 Pats defensive end equation, Ninkovich retiring early in camp and Rivers being shelved by a season-ending injury. The Patriots let Jabaal Sheard and Chris Long walk in free agency. Trey Flowers, Lawrence Guy and fourth-rounder Deatrich Wise are three ends now at the top of the equation for the Patriots.

The Patriots and Panthers swapped draft picks, allowing Carolina to move up a mere eight spots, in the March Ealy deal. Ealy started 15 games for the Panthers over the past two seasons, and the former second-round pick out of Missouri is best known for his dominant outing in Super Bowl 50 when he recorded three sacks and an interception.

Jordy Nelson Eyeing 2-4 More Seasons

August 26th, 2017 at 1:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jordy Nelson provided some clarity about how much longer he wants to play. The 10th-year Packers wideout is looking past his current contract but isn’t sure he will make it beyond the deal, which runs through 2018.

“I would say anywhere between two to four more years. I think four more – so this one and three more – would be my max,” Nelson said during an appearance on The HawkCast podcast with former teammate A.J. Hawk (via Zach Kruse of Packers Wire). “That would put me at 13 years. I’d be happy with that, obviously. At some point, I have to get my family back to Kansas.”

The 32-year-old Pro Bowler signed a four-year, $39MM deal in 2014 that runs through the ’18 season. Both he and Randall Cobb are signed through 2018, while Davante Adams is entering his contract year. Nelson, though, isn’t guaranteeing he’ll venture past next season. He’s on Green Bay’s books for $11.55MM this season and $12.55MM in 2018.

“I got two more years left on this deal, it would be great to play those out and kind of see where we’re at,” Nelson told Hawk. “Me personally, how I feel, how the body feels. And then, obviously, it’s up to the organization what they would want to do.”

Nelson tore his ACL during the 2015 preseason and missed the year but returned to catch 97 passes for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns, the latter figure being the second-most he’s compiled in a season. The former second-round pick produced four 1,200-plus-yard receiving seasons in his past five healthy campaigns. During each of those, the Kansas State product played in 16 games.

Aaron Rodgers‘ presence looks to factor into Nelson’s potential free agency decision in 2019, should he enter that position. He will turn 33 in May.

“For my wife and my family, we’ve signed two extensions here in Green Bay, a lot of it was this community and this organization. It was a perfect fit for us,” Nelson said. “We have more money than what we’ll ever spend. That wasn’t going to be the biggest issue. But like you said, having a quarterback like Aaron, the best in the game with what he could do with his arm, his mind, his feet, everything. That definitely matters.

“We’ve seen it with other receivers who have left here and struggled. Because there’s a significant difference between what he can do and what some other quarterbacks around this league can do.”

Chiefs RB Spencer Ware Injures PCL, LCL

August 26th, 2017 at 10:52am CST by Ben Levine

It certainly didn’t look good when Chiefs running back Spencer Ware was carted off the field during his team’s preseason game against the Seahawks last night. Fortunately, the injury doesn’t sound as bad as it looked.

According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, Ware suffered a PCL injury and will undergo a MRI today to determine the damage and how much time he’ll miss. Schefter notes that the recovery timetable could range anywhere from two to eight weeks, although he also notes that Ware avoided injuring his ACL, so the injury shouldn’t be season-ending.

Ware also damaged his LCL, Ian Rapoport notes (on Twitter), adding the tests on his knee proved inconclusive. This stands to further complicate the presumptive Chiefs starter’s status.

“Ware sprained his knee,” coach Andy Reid said after the game (via Matt McMullen of Chiefs.com). “The X-rays were negative and he’ll have an MRI tomorrow. We’ll just see how that turns out.”

The 2013 sixth-round pick had a breakout campaign last season, leading the Chiefs running game with 921 yards and three touchdowns on 214 carries. The 25-year-old was also productive in the passing game, hauling in 33 receptions for 447 yards and two scores. After the team released veteran Jamaal Charles back in February, it was assumed that Ware would be the team’s bona-fide top running back heading into the season.

Now, the team will at least have to eye some alternative options for the time being. The Chiefs are rostering a pair of veterans in Charcandrick West and C.J. Spiller, although it sounds like rookie Kareem Hunt may be the favorite for the interim starter role. The third-round pick was relatively productive in last night’s preseason loss, compiling 39 rushing yards on nine carries.

“Kareem got good work last week and he learned how fast this thing can change where all of a sudden you become that starter and in a position to do that,” said Reid, perhaps confirming that Hunt will indeed be the starter.

Jaguars Release LB Audie Cole

August 26th, 2017 at 10:16am CST by Ben Levine

Audie Cole‘s “tenure” with the Jaguars has come to an end. According to John Oehser of Jaguars.com (via Twitter), the team has released the veteran linebacker.

Following five seasons with the Vikings, Cole joined the Jaguars back in March. While Jacksonville certainly wasn’t expecting the 28-year-old to start, he figured to serve as a dependable backup to middle linebacker Paul Posluszny. Now, the team will presumably be rolling with Blair Brown or Hayes Pullard for that role (although they could also turn to backup outside linebackers like Lerentee McCray, Josh McNary, and Andrew Gachkar).

The former seventh-rounder served mostly as a backup and special teamer during his time in Minnesota, and he finished last season with 12 tackles in 16 games. His best season came in 2013, when he compiled a career-high 45 tackles and one sack. There were reports during free agency that the Vikings had interest in retaining their former draft pick, but it’s uncertain if they’d be looking for reinforcement this late in the preseason.

Jaguars QB Blake Bortles Earns Starting Gig

August 26th, 2017 at 8:37am CST by Ben Levine

It’s looking like Blake Bortles isn’t at risk of getting cut, after all. According to ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco (via Twitter), the Jaguars have named Bortles as their starting quarterback heading into the regular season.

We heard earlier this week that the organization could consider releasing or trading the embattled quarterback if he didn’t earn the starting gig over Chad Henne. The backup ultimately started the team’s third preseason game, and coach Doug Marrone revealed that there was in fact a competition at the position.

Ultimately, the logic was financially motivated, as the Jaguars had picked up Bortles’ non-guaranteed fifth-year option for 2018. Had Bortles suffered an injury and subsequently couldn’t pass a physical, the Jaguars would be on the hook for upwards of $19MM. Cutting the player would have cost the organization $6.57MM. However, that minor financial hit may have been worth avoiding the “potentially catastrophic scenario” of having to dedicate $19MM-plus in cap space to an injured Bortles in 2018.

Bortles, the third-overall pick in the 2014 draft, took a bit of a step back in 2016 following a productive 2015 campaign. The 25-year-old did start all 16 games and completed 58.9-percent of his passes, but he only threw for 3,905 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Bortles also has a penchant for losing the ball, as he lost a career-high six fumbles last season.

Pats Suspect ACL Tear For Julian Edelman

August 25th, 2017 at 9:27pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Patriots suspect that wide receiver Julian Edelman suffered a torn right ACL in the first quarter of their game against the Lions on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports (Twitter link). He’ll undergo an MRI on Saturday.

Edelman departed after succumbing to a non-contact injury on an 18-yard catch and then went to the locker room on a cart. He hauled in three passes for 52 yards in limited action, once again displaying his importance to New England’s Tom Brady-led offense.

Edelman, who has emerged as one of the NFL’s premier wideouts in recent years, finished fourth in the league in both targets per game (9.8) and receptions (98) during the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning 2016 campaign. He was also one of many postseason heroes for the squad, as he hauled in 21 playoff catches to give him 89 for his nine-year career. Only Jerry Rice (151) and Reggie Wayne (93) have amassed more playoff grabs than the 31-year-old Edelman, who looks like a shoo-in to at least surpass the latter at some point. Unfortunately for the Patriots and Edelman, though, it doesn’t appear he’ll accomplish that feat this season.

The recipient of a two-year, $11MM contract extension in June, Edelman has combined for a whopping 356 receptions in 55 games since his breakout showing in 2013. That type of production will obviously be difficult to replace this season, but the Patriots are still equipped with plenty of quality targets. Newcomer Brandin Cooks will take the helm of what should be an Edelman-less receiving corps, while Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell also figure to make sizable impacts. What’s more, the Pats likely have the best tight end duo in the league – Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen – as well as established pass-catching running backs in James White and Dion Lewis. Brady will have no shortage of options at his disposal this year, then, but his favorite choice is unlikely to be a factor as the team goes for its sixth Lombardi Trophy.

NFC Notes: Kap, Eagles, Aguayo, Brooks

August 25th, 2017 at 9:04pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

With Nick Foles battling an elbow injury that has kept him out of preseason action and Matt McGloin having such a subpar summer that he’s likely to lose his roster spot, the Eagles may have a backup quarterback problem. They could potentially solve it by signing free agent Colin Kaepernick, Mike Sielski of Philly.com contends. Kaepernick remains unemployed in part because owners don’t want to deal with the backlash that would accompany signing the political activist, but that shouldn’t be a problem for the Eagles. After all, owner Jeffrey Lurie signed Mike Vick as a backup QB in 2009, after he served an 18-month prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting ring. While it’s up for debate whether Kaepernick is in the right, Vick’s actions were undeniably revolting. And yet he was able to land a second chance in Philadelphia.

More from Philly and two other NFC cities:

Second-year kicker Roberto Aguayo‘s struggles have transferred from Tampa Bay to Chicago, Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com writes. Aguayo, whom the Bears claimed off waivers from the Buccaneers on Aug. 13, missed a 49-yard field goal in his preseason debut with Chicago last week and, according to head coach John Fox, had a rough practice Friday. “I think our kicker had a little bit of a struggle today in some of his field goals, but it was something we knew about Roberto,” Fox said. “He’s got a very strong leg; he needs to work on his accuracy. That’s why we’re out here practicing.” Fox added that the Bears will spend the next week-plus working to help Aguayo turn around his fortunes. Otherwise, given that he’s competing with Connor Barth, Aguayo could find himself on waivers again. That would be a stunning turn of events for a kicker who was not only a second-round pick in 2016, but someone the Buccaneers also surrendered a third- and fourth-rounder for when they traded up to select the ex-Florida State standout.
It appeared Eagles defensive lineman Beau Allen would miss the first few weeks of the regular season when he suffered a chest injury in April. That won’t be the case, though, as Allen passed a physical Friday and came off the active/PUP list, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The three-year veteran is now in position to keep his iron man streak alive, as he has never missed a game during his career. The return of Allen will further bolster a strong D-line and give the Eagles a player who was on the field for 554 snaps last year (412 on defense, 142 on special teams).
The 49ers released linebacker Ahmad Brooks on Friday rather than closer to the Sept. 2 deadline because they wanted to give him a better chance to hook on elsewhere before the season opens, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters (via Mike Florio Pro Football Talk). “Doing it right now is more just in the best interest for Ahmad,” Shanahan said. “It’s a real tough decision. [General Manager] John [Lynch] and I had gone back and forth with it the last few days. Once we really came to the conclusion he wasn’t going to be a part of our final 53, we weren’t going to keep him around just to let him know [eight] days from now. So, we know there’s a lot of teams that will be interested in him. So we gave him that opportunity to go out and find them.” Brooks should indeed draw interest in free agency, having posted no fewer than five sacks in any of his eight seasons with the 49ers. He also missed just eight games during that span.

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