HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Jets Notes: Kerley, Henderson, Darnold

September 30th, 2017 at 9:10am CST by Ben Levine

We learned earlier this week that former Jets linebacker Erin Henderson was suing the organization, with the player citing “wrongful termination and disability discrimination” stemming from his placement on the NFI list. Yesterday, coach Todd Bowles responded to the news, saying that he doesn’t regret cutting the veteran.

“No, not that I know,” Bowles said when asked if he’d do it differently (via Alex Squadron of the New York Post). “It’s a personal matter, and I think the team is taking care of it. I have no regrets.”

Henderson, who is seeking $3.3MM in compensatory damages in addition to punitive damages, says he wasn’t hurt when the Jets placed him on the non-football injury list. The organization previously said that the linebacker “was not fit” to play in the NFL, although Bowles wouldn’t elaborate on that sentiment yesterday.

“I am not going to get into that,” Bowles said. “It was just our decision that we came to. … I’ll let the legal system take care of everything else.”

Let’s take a look at some other notes coming out of New York…

  • When asked how many “foundational players” were currently on the Jets roster, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter) named five: defensive end Leonard Williams, safety Jamal Adams, safety Marcus Maye, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson (who he accompanies with a “maybe” tag), and linebacker Darron Lee.
  • Following his return to the Jets, Jeremy Kerley was relieved to learn that “nothing changed,” the wideout told Darryl Slater of NJ.com. “Picking up the offense was fairly easy,” the 28-year-old said. “Todd [Bowles] is still here. Some of the guys I know are still here. Back in the area that I know well. It just seems like nothing really changed, man. Everything just feels normal now. San Francisco, I loved it out there. Beautiful. San Fran is home, too. Don’t get me wrong. San Fran is my second home. But here is where I started at. It’s where the dream started.” In two games this season, Kerley has eight receptions for 56 yards.
  • The Jets were “credentialed” to have three representatives, including general manager Mike Maccagnan, at yesterday’s USC vs. Washington State matchup, reports ESPN.com’s Kyle Bonagura. The team was presumably attending the game to get a first-hand look at Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold, who WalterFootball.com currently has going first-overall in their 2018 mock draft. The prospect wasn’t particularly impressive during his team’s loss, completing 15 of his 29 pass attempts for 164 yards and one interception (he also lost a key fumble in the fourth quarter).

AFC Notes: Pats, Browns, Raiders, Dolphins

September 29th, 2017 at 9:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Dont’a Hightower is expected to return to action for the Patriots on Sunday after missing each of the club’s past two games with a knee sprain, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. New England, notably, ranks dead last in the NFL in points allowed, yards allowed, and defensive DVOA. With the Patriots’ defense clearly missing its leader, Hightower’s return can’t come too soon. As Howe writes, New England had been using Hightower as an edge defender, but several defensive mistakes could lead the Pats to shift Hightower back to his natural off-ball linebacker position. Elandon Roberts, and possibly Kyle Van Noy, will likely see his snaps reduced as a result of Hightower’s return.

Here’s more from the AFC:

  • While Hightower will be back on the field in New England, the same can’t be said for Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Bengals, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, hasn’t played a regular season down this year as he deals with a high ankle sprain. Browns head coach Hue Jackson has hinted on multiple occasions that Garrett is “close” to returning, but the Texas A&M product will have to wait until at least Week 5 to make his NFL debut. Without Garrett in tow, Cleveland ranks just 23rd in adjusted sack rate.
  • Raiders cornerback Sean Smith pleaded not guilty on charges of assault and battery stemming from an alleged July altercation, as Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes. The details of the incident are rather sordid, but Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio indicated the club would stand behind Smith until the legal process runs its course. On the field, Smith is no longer starting just one year after agreeing to a four-year, $38MM free agent contract. Thus far, he’s played only a quarter of the Raiders’ defensive snaps, fourth among Oakland corners.
  • Punter Brandon Fields has announced his retirement from the NFL following a nine-year career, his agent announced on Twitter. Fields, 33, last played for the Saints in 2015, but is most well-known for his eight-season run with the Dolphins from 2007-14. The former seventh-round pick appeared in 130 career games and maintained a yards per punt average of 46.7.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/29/17

September 29th, 2017 at 8:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Bills have filled the vacant slot on their 53-man roster by promoting defensive end Eric Lee from their practice squad, the club announced today. Lee, an undrafted free agent out of South Florida in 2016, will make his NFL debut on Sunday if he sees the field against the Falcons. After finishing with 11.5 sacks during his final collegiate season, Lee spent the entirety of the 2016 campaign on the Texans’ practice squad, but was waived by Houston during final cutdowns earlier this month.

NFL Workout Updates: 9/29/17

September 29th, 2017 at 7:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s workout updates, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

  • P Brock Miller (link via Howard Balzer)

Dallas Cowboys

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Redskins

  • WR Rashard Davis (link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post)

Packers Not Planning To Add Running Back

September 29th, 2017 at 6:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Packers running back Ty Montgomery‘s injury isn’t as serious as originally believed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Original reports indicated Montgomery suffered broken ribs in Thursday night’s game, and it’s unclear if that diagnosis was incorrect, or if Montgomery will simply be able to manage the injury.Ty Montgomery (Vertical)

[RELATED: Latest On Packers CB Damarious Randall]

Now considered day-to-day, Montgomery could be available when Green Bay faces Dallas in Week 5 following a ten-day layoff. That’s the second bit of positive news the Packers have received today, as backup running back Jamaal Williams also avoided a major injury, escaping Green Bay’s victory over the Bears with only a knee sprain.

The Packers don’t intend to add a running back to their roster, per Schefter, an indication that the club believes at least one of Montgomery or Williams will be ready to go come next Sunday. If not, Green Bay will instead rely on rookies Aaron Jones and Devante Mays, with fullback Aaron Ripkowski also in the mix.

Montgomery, 24, has been a vital cog in the Packers’ offense in his first season as a full-time running back. Through three-plus games, Montgomery has managed 152 yards and two scores on the ground while adding 18 receptions, 129 yards, and another touchdown in the passing game.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/29/17

September 29th, 2017 at 6:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad updates:

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Bears Place DB Quintin Demps On IR

September 29th, 2017 at 4:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears have placed safety Quintin Demps on injured reserve after he suffered a broken arm in Week 3, the club announced today.Quintin Demps (Vertical)

Demps is certainly a candidate to return from IR later this season, but that will first entail a minimum eight-week absence. As such, the earliest Chicago will see Demps in action again is Week 13 against the 49ers. While that’s not ideal, the Bears likely didn’t want to carry an unplayable Demps on their roster while he recovers. Chicago already have seven other players on IR, and while some of them — such as linebacker Jerrell Freeman — could potentially return in 2017, others (like wide receiver Cameron Meredith) have already been ruled out for the year.

Third-year pro Adrian Amos will be asked to step in at safety in the absence of Amos, and he offers plenty of experience. A fifth-round pick in 2015, Amos started 30 games over his first two seasons in the NFL, and graded as the league’s No. 26 safety last year, per Pro Football Focus. Amos will now start next to rookie defensive back Eddie Jackson, while Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson will serve as Chicago’s backups at safety.

Demps, 32, inked a three-year, $13.5MM deal that included $4.5MM in the spring after spending the past two seasons with the Texans. Through an admittedly small sample of only two-plus games, PFF had ranked Demps as just the 70th-best safety among 82 qualifiers.

Cardinals To Place Mike Iupati On IR

September 29th, 2017 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cardinals will place Mike Iupati on IR because of bone spurs in the starting guard’s elbow, Bruce Arians said (via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com, on Twitter).

Iupati has been out since Week 1 with this malady but will miss extensive time now, and this could end his season. The 30-year-old left guard will miss at least eight more weeks as a result of this decision. Iupati will undergo surgery to address this problem, and the Cardinals are short on guards right now. And offensive line is reeling.

Arians added Alex Boone will miss “a couple weeks” with a chest injury suffered Monday night. Arians, via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (on Twitter), didn’t seem to point to left tackle D.J. Humphries playing Sunday either.

The Iupati decision also complicates matters for the Cardinals regarding how they will manage their roster this season.

David Johnson already resides on IR with a wrist injury, and although it could be December before he’s ready to come back, the All-Pro running back profiles as an obvious IR-return candidate — especially if the team is contending for a playoff spot. As of now, Iupati would stand to occupy Arizona’s other IR-boomerang slot, but given that the Cards haven’t played their fourth game, it would be too early to proclaim their IR-return decisions set.

However, Iupati and Johnson profile as key players who would fit the bill over just about anyone else who would venture onto IR with an injury that could heal in time for late-season contributions. A four-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro with the 49ers, Iupati signed with the Cardinals last year and played 15 games. This will mark the first season he’s played fewer than 12. And in six of Iupati’s seven full NFL seasons, he’s suited up and started at least 13 games.

John Wetzel and rookie Will Holden would be options to replace Humphries at tackle, while rookie Dorian Johnson is an option be promoted from the practice squad. Arians said a roster move will be made to address the depth up front.

Latest On Packers’ Damarious Randall

September 29th, 2017 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

An argument between Damarious Randall and a Packers coach led to the cornerback heading to the locker room during the second half of Green Bay’s win over Chicago on Thursday night, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Mike McCarthy (per ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky) called it a “coach’s decision” to send Randall to the locker room during the Packers’ 35-14 win. McCarthy benched Randall to start the second half.

The dispute came with a Packers assistant and was about coverage responsibilities, Rapoport reports (video link).

Rapoport adds Randall left Lambeau Field after the dispute, but conflicting accounts exist regarding when the third-year defender left the stadium. Rapoport notes (via Twitter) Randall left after the game, but this incident was enough for he and McCarthy to discuss it in a private setting. McCarthy and Randall met Friday in his office to address the matter, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Internal discipline will be expected after the dispute, Demovsky notes.

While a suspension could be possible, the Packers do not appear to be looking to cut ties with their 2015 first-rounder. McCarthy said (via Demovsky) Randall will be with the team when it reconvenes for practice Tuesday.

Randall has started in each of the Packers’ four games this season but hasn’t been particularly effective. Pro Football Focus grades him as the No. 99 corner thus far. Randall started nine games in each of the past two seasons, but the Packers are now deeper at corner than they were last season. So options exist beyond Randall. This led to the team’s decision to waive Ladarius Gunter.

49ers Extend CB K’Waun Williams

September 29th, 2017 at 1:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The 49ers have signed cornerback K’Waun Williams to a three-year extension that will keep him in San Francisco through 2020, the club announced today. The new deal is worth $10MM, contains $5MM guaranteed, and has incentives attached, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).K'Waun Williams (Vertical)

“Since joining us this offseason, K’Waun has displayed every trait and characteristic we want to see from our players,” said 49ers general manager John Lynch. “He is a tremendous competitor on the field and a true professional in our building. K’Waun has continued to get better and better every day and we wanted to ensure he would be a part of what we are building moving forward. I am really excited for both him and our team.”

Williams, 26, has only spent three games with the 49ers, as he signed with the team on a one-year, $765K deal this offseason. Serving as San Francisco’s nickel corner, Williams has played on 57.5% of the club’s defensive snaps, racking up 14 tackles and two passes defensed in the process. While he hasn’t graded well in Pro Football Focus‘ rankings — just the No. 94 cornerback among 110 qualifiers — the 49ers have apparently been pleased with Williams’ production thus far.

An undrafted free agent out of Pittsburgh, Williams appeared in 26 games for the Browns from 2014-15 before being suspended in 2016 following an “ongoing dispute” over an ankle injury. After eventually reaching the free agent market, Williams drew interest but didn’t land a contract until the season had concluded. Williams received offers from at least four clubs — including the Jets — before landing with the 49ers.

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