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Andrew Luck “Very Close” To Throwing Again

January 30th, 2018 at 2:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Andrew Luck‘s getting some quality airport time in during his extensive recovery period from a January 2017 surgery, but his next trip could be a sign he’s nearly ready to return to action.

The Colts quarterback will trek to the Los Angeles area to work with passing guru Tom House, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report. The duo reports Luck, who spent time in Europe after being placed on IR last year, is “very close” to a return to throwing.

Luck being set to throw again soon would indicate he does not need another surgery, which would gel with his comments in December about his troublesome right shoulder. The 28-year-old passer said then he doesn’t plan to miss any of the Colts’ offseason. While that seems unrealistic, the passer throwing again come February would appear to put him on track for some offseason participation.

Rapoport and Garafolo note Luck is currently working on his strength and motion, a natural precursor to actual passing work.

More than a year removed from labrum surgery, and on the heels of a lost season, Luck throwing again — coupled with the expected hire of Josh McDaniels — would double as invigorating steps for the Colts’ offense, one that ranked 31st this season. Luck’s presence attracted McDaniels to the Colts, so it stands to reason the incoming HC was pleased with what he was told about Luck’s progress.

West Notes: Smith, Cardinals, Broncos

January 30th, 2018 at 1:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

During an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, Alex Smith fielded questions about his future with the Chiefs. The 14th-year quarterback wishes he had more control in this process. He could well be traded for the second time in his career.

“I wish I knew,” Smith said about his future (video link). “I’ve got a year under contract there in Kansas City. I wish I was in control of this thing. I wish I was the one who got to do this. That’s just not the reality. … I love where I’m at. I feel like we underachieved. Offensively, last year, I felt we did some awesome things. Who knows? I’ve been through this before, the trade deal. A lot of crazy stuff can happen.”

The conversation pivoted to the Browns, a proposition that has been mentioned recently. A team that has lost 31 of its past 32 games does not sound like an ideal place to go for a veteran quarterback that’s been to the playoffs four times in the past five years, and Smith seemed to confirm as such during his interview.

“I haven’t even thought about that,” Smith said about a Cleveland trade. “They’ve got nowhere to go but up. One and 31 over the past two years just sounds amazing. If that’s the case and you’re going somewhere, yeah, you want to go somewhere where you have a chance to have success.”

The soon-to-be 34-year-old passer has one year left on his Chiefs contract, and it seems likely Kansas City (as of now projected to be $9MM-plus over the 2018 cap) will pull the trigger on a deal.

Here’s more from the West divisions.

  • Steve Wilks will not be calling plays and running the Cardinals‘ game-day operations this season, with Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter) revealing new DC Al Holcomb will call plays. This will be new territory for Holcomb, the Panthers’ linebackers coach the past five years.
  • The Cardinals’ running backs coach during Emmitt Smith‘s farewell season in 2004, Kirby Wilson is close to a deal to return to the desert. Alex Marvez of the Sporting News reports Wilson interviewed for the job and is considered a strong candidate to again fill that role. Wilson coached Arizona’s backs from 2004-06 before moving on. He spent the past two seasons as the Browns’ run-game coordinator. Wilson’s coached seven teams’ running backs, dating back to 1997. One of Wilson’s stops was in Minnesota, where he oversaw Adrian Peterson‘s third rushing championship season in 2015.
  • If the Broncos are going to pursue Kirk Cousins and what could be a record contract, they might have to part ways with one of their Pro Bowl wide receivers because of cap considerations, Mike Klis of 9News writes. While noting it would be a surprise if John Elway parts ways with both, Klis writes one could be jettisoned. The Broncos, though, have experienced consistent issues finding supporting-cast wideouts; everything has funneled through Thomas and Sanders since 2015. And Denver’s revolving door at quarterback has contributed to the 30-year-olds’ statistical regression. The Broncos must decide between Feb. 10 and March 14 if they want to pick up the $4MM option that buys back the final two years of Thomas’ deal, which calls for a $12.1MM cap hit in 2018. Cutting Sanders ($10.94MM 2018 cap number), though, would cost $5.375MM in dead money.

Ryan Kalil To Retire After 2018 Season

January 30th, 2018 at 11:57am CST by Sam Robinson

Ryan Kalil‘s 12th NFL season will be his last. The decorated Panthers center informed the Charlotte Observer’s Joe Person that this upcoming campaign will mark the conclusion to his NFL career.

A two-time first-team All-Pro performer, Kalil was limited to just six regular-season games in 2017 by a neck injury. He said the Panthers’ medical staff and a specialist he saw after the season cleared him to return to action, so the Panthers can pencil him back into their starting lineup.

That hasn’t been a surefire proposition, with the former USC standout playing just 14 games over the past two seasons. Prior to that, he’d suited up for at least 15 contests six times in a seven-year span — with five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro distinctions having occurred during that time.

Ryan and Matt Kalil will play a second season alongside one another, per Person, and the elder Kalil will have an offseason to prepare after being limited in 2017 because of a shoulder surgery.

“I’m excited about is to actually have an offseason to train because I haven’t had that. I didn’t get that last year and I think that’s part of what contributed to my injury this last season,” said Ryan Kalil, who will turn 33 in March. “I didn’t get to start training until right around training camp, like actually football training. I just felt way behind and I didn’t feel as physically ready for the season as I would have liked to have been.”

The Panthers drafted Kalil in the second round in 2012, and he’s been one of the best players in team history. Kalil served as the pivotman during the Panthers’ Super Bowl 50 run and played every game of the Panthers’ 2008, ’13 and ’14 playoff seasons. He will earn $4.5MM in base salary next season and take up $9.575MM of Carolina’s cap.

AFC East Notes: Gronk, Jets, Lawrence

January 30th, 2018 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

Good news for the Patriots as Rob Gronkowski was able to go full tilt in practice on Sunday and Monday (Twitter link via Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald). days in practice. Gronk also gave Pats fans extra reason to believe yesterday when he posted a picture on Instagram with the caption, “Locked in, ready to roll. Minnesota we here [sic].”

Gronkowski, a focal point of the Patriots’ offense, had a team-high 69 receptions for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns this year. Barring a setback, it sounds like the tight end is on pace to clear concussion protocol in time for the Super Bowl.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

Sam Robinson contributed to this report.

Jason Peters Plans To Play In 2018

January 30th, 2018 at 10:17am CST by Zachary Links

Jason Peters won’t be on the field this Sunday, but he does plan on getting back out there in the fall. The Eagles tackle says he intends to continue his career next season, though that might not take place in Philadelphia. Jason Peters (vertical)

“They hadn’t asked me, but I’m going to be back,” Peters said when asked if he’s had any conversations with Eagles brass about his future (via Jeff McLane of the Daily News). “Step out on a limb, if they don’t want me, I’m still [going] somewhere.”

Peters, 36, suffered a torn ACL and MCL in October, ending his season prematurely. Although he is considered to be among the best at his position, the Eagles might not bring him back. Per the terms of his extension, he is slated to carry an $11,67MM salary cap number in 2018 and $10.67MM number in 2019. Alternatively, the Eagles could eat $6.3MM of his salary and release or trade him.

Under the terms of his one-year extension inked in June, Peters has a $4.5MM injury guarantee that becomes fully guaranteed in March. If Peters likely cannot pass a physical before the start of the 2018 league year, he’ll collect on that sum.

At the time of his injury in the fall, Pro Football Focus had Peters ranked as the third-best tackle in the entire NFL with a solid 86.4 overall score. The highly decorated lineman has nine career Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team All-Pro selections on his resume. If not for the ACL tear, Peters likely would have made his tenth career Pro Bowl trip.

Titans Hire Matt LaFleur As OC

January 30th, 2018 at 8:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans announced that they have hired Matt LaFleur as their new offensive coordinator. LaFleur previously served as the Rams’ offensive coordinator. Matt LaFleur (Vertical)

Technically, this represents a lateral move for LaFleur, though he did not call plays in Los Angeles when he worked under head coach Sean McVay. Serving under a defensive-minded coach in Mike Vrabel, LaFleur should have flexibility to do things his way.

LaFleur is inexperienced as an OC, having served just one season in the role. In his favor, LaFleur did guide Matt Ryan to an MVP campaign just a year ago as quarterbacks coach in Atlanta. Then, last year, Jared Goff excelled under LaFleur’s tutelage. Given the 38-year-old’s QB acumen, the Titans are hopeful that he can get the most out of Marcus Mariota.

On Tuesday morning, the Titans also made the hiring of Dean Pees as defensive coordinator official.

Extra Points: Fitzgerald, Talib, Titans, Jets

January 29th, 2018 at 10:04pm CST by Micah Powell

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald has yet to make his intentions for the 2018 season public knowledge, but signs are point toward the future Hall of Famer returning for his 15th NFL campaign.

New offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said he has talked with Fitzgerald and that the receiver is “excited,” reports ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. Fitzgerald reportedly told the new offensive coordinator is verbiage was similar to previous coaches Bruce Arians and Ken Whisenhunt.

Kurt Warner also said that he gets the sense that Fitzgerald is leaning toward returning, the Hall of Fame quarterback said on 98.7 Arizona Sports radio. “Last couple of times I’ve talked, I really feel like he wants to come back and play this season and he’s more committed to it. But that was before all the changes that took place.But I get the feeling that he is going to come back.”

Fitzgerald hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down in recent years. After moving to the slot in 2015, the perennial Pro Bowl selection has cleared 100 catches and 1,000 yards in each season and has cemented his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.

Though he is leaning toward returning, his status is sure to be decided by what the Cardinals do to fill the vacancy at quarterback left by the retirement of Carson Palmer. With plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, the team making a run at Redskins signal-caller Kirk Cousins for a quick fix would make plenty of sense.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Speaking of Cousins, the soon-to-be free agent is expected to receive plenty of interest from the Jets. On Monday, former head coach Mike Shanahan praised Cousins as a special player, the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta writes. This portends to the Jets, as new offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates was groomed under Shanahan in Denver. Shanahan said: “I think Kirk Cousins could be successful in any offense that he ran. Those quarterbacks are hard to find.”
  • The Broncos, according to reports, have recently placed cornerback Aqib Talib on the trade block. ABC 7 in Denver’s Troy Renck looked at a few possible destinations for the veteran cornerback, listing the 49ers, Rams and Cowboys. Talib is signed through the 2019 campaign.
  • Bills center Eric Wood put his retirement on hold and remains on the Bills roster due to the team’s salary cap restrictions, ESPN’s Mike Rodak reports (Twitter link). When he is eventually moved to the retired list, Wood will receive $4.8 MM in injury guaranteed salary for 2018, while keeping the $4.3M in signing bonus paid, tweets NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
  • The Titans have hired Raiders wide receivers coach Rob Moore for the same position, ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets. He also notes the team interviewed former Raiders running backs coach Bernie Parmalee last week.
  • The Panthers will hire Travelle Wharton as an assistant offensive line coach, ESPN’s David Newton hears. Wharton previously spent two stints with the Panthers as an offensive lineman.

Blake Bortles Undergoes Right Wrist Surgery

January 29th, 2018 at 9:52pm CST by Micah Powell

On Friday, Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles underwent surgery on his right wrist, ESPN’s Adam Schefter hears (Twitter link). "<strong

The surgery was for a condition that has plagued the signal-caller since December 2016 and kept him on the injury report throughout the 2017 season. Schefter reports the Jaguars elected to avoid surgery last offseason but knew it was needed following this season.

In early January, Schefter also reported (Twitter link) that Bortles said he played the season with two shoulder separations in addition to wrist tendinitis. There is no word how long the recovery is expected to last, but with the Jaguars postponing it and Bortles playing through it makes it seem like a rather minor deal.

In his fourth season at the helm in Jacksonville, Bortles helped the team to a 10-6 record and a spot in the AFC Championship game before falling in the closing minutes to the Patriots. Bortles showed improvement in the team’s new run-heavy attack, completing a career-high 60.2 percent of his passes for 3,687 yards and 21 touchdowns.

In May 2017, the Jaguars picked up the fifth-year option on Bortles’ deal which will pay him $19 MM in 2018. The deal is only fully guaranteed for injury, so the team can walk away if it decides to pursue a veteran like Alex Smith.

 

 

League Disapproves Saints’ Deals With WR Josh Huff, LB Jayrone Elliott

January 29th, 2018 at 9:31pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints’ contracts for linebacker Jayrone Elliott and wide receiver Josh Huff were disapproved by the league, according to the league’s transactions wire. It’s not immediately clear why the deals were voided, but Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayne (Twitter link) notes that the Saints were at the 90-man roster maximum before agreeing to deals with both players. It’s possible that the Saints just have to make a pair of roster moves before bringing both players back. Josh Huff (vertical)

The Saints plan on bringing Huff back, Teope hears (on Twitter), but we have no word on Elliott one way or another just yet. The pair signed futures deals with New Orleans last week but are now considered free agents.

The Saints now must address their roster issue and refile with the league if it intends to bring one or both players back.

Huff entered the league in 2014 as a third-round pick with the Eagles. He has tallied 51 catches for 523 yards and four touchdowns. Signed by the Buccaneers down the stretch in 2016, Huff was cut heading into 2017. He worked out for the Saints on two occasions during the season.

Undrafted in 2014, Elliott spent three seasons with the Packers before joining the Cowboys in 2017. He has posted four sacks and an interception in 39 career games.

 

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