HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

NFC East Notes: Redskins, Beckham, Eagles

August 11th, 2018 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Derrius Guice‘s injury delivers a considerable setback to the Redskins‘ running back corps, to the point they may have to consider adding a veteran to the mix. But Jay Gruden did not confirm the team will go in this direction, pointing to the second-round Guice selection being a best-player-available move rather than a need pick.

“We have guys here that can play,” Gruden said Saturday. “We drafted Derrius because he was the best player, we thought, at the time of the draft … not because we weren’t satisfied with the backs we have.”

The primary Redskins starters the past two years, Rob Kelley and Samaje Perine, remain on the team and are now set to be the team’s early-down backs. Passing-down specialist Chris Thompson, though he’s not yet fully recovered from the broken leg he suffered midway through last season, will reprise his role in 2018. Neither Kelley nor Perine surpassed 3.5 yards per carry last season, but Washington’s offensive line became significantly limited by injuries as the season progressed. Kelley fared much better in 2016.

Here’s the latest from the rest of the NFC East:

  • A day after Guice’s injury severity became known, the Redskins are concerned about 2017 sixth-round pick Robert Davis. The team fears its second-year wide receiver suffered a torn ACL, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Davis will head in for an MRI later today, per Garafolo. The Georgia State alum was expected to play a bigger role in Year 2 after playing in just one game as a rookie.
  • The Giants‘ reasoning behind sitting Odell Beckham Jr. in the preseason opener stemmed from his injury recovery, not his contract situation, per Pat Shurmur. “I want to be smart with his recovery coming back [from ankle surgery],” Shurmur said, via Tom Rock of Newsday. “I never intended to play him in this game. I didn’t reveal that to [the public], but I never intended to.” Beckham has not experienced a known setback in his recovery from last season’s ankle injury. He encountered ankle trouble during the preseason against the Browns last year, spraining his left ankle barely a month prior to fracturing it.
  • The subject of Rasul Douglas moving to safety surfaced at Eagles practice, but the coaching staff shot that down, Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Philly lost Patrick Robinson and has Ronald Darby going into a contract year, so it would make sense Douglas stays at corner. Philadelphia’s staff still believes Douglas can have a quality career as a corner, although Kapadia adds he has not progressed like the team was hoping going into his second season.
  • Donnel Pumphrey may be in his final days as an Eagle, with Kapadia pointing out the “lower body” injury he suffered in the defending Super Bowl champions’ preseason opener may put him too far behind the other combatants in a hotly contested race to make the 53-man roster as the No. 4 running back. Wendell Smallwood, Matt Jones and rookie UDFA Josh Adams comprise the rest of that race, and Kapadia adds that Jones may be behind the other two after the Eagles’ first preseason game. The Eagles gave Adams a sizable guarantee to sign after the draft.

Jets LB Kevin Pierre-Louis Suspended

August 11th, 2018 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets will be without linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis in their regular-season opener. He incurred a one-game NFL suspension, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

While the nature of the ban is not specified, it’s relatively safe to assume it stems from Pierre-Louis’ arrest in January. The 26-year-old inside linebacker was charged with “misdemeanor possession of marijuana, THC and drug paraphernalia, driving without a valid driver’s license and failure to display a valid license plate or current registration.” Pierre-Louis had the charge dropped in March, contingent on the completion of one year of probation.

Nevertheless, Pierre-Louis visited multiple teams as a free agent and signed with the Jets for two years and $5.25MM, so the team likely had a good idea this was coming. A former Seahawks fourth-round pick, Pierre-Louis played in 14 games with the Chiefs last season, contributing primarily on special teams.

His role on defense will likely be to supply depth behind Avery Williamson and Darron Lee, but that won’t commence until Week 2.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/18

August 11th, 2018 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves.

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: CB Ryan Neal
  • Waived: T Kendall Calhoun

Denver Broncos

  • Claimed off waivers from Bengals: T Austin Fleer

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: DL Lord Hyeamang

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Released from IR: TE Adam Zaruba

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: DB Trey Caldwell, DB Kenneth Durden
  • Waived: CB Jarell Carter, CB Joseph Este

Washington Redskins

Jaguars To Add CB Kenneth Acker

August 11th, 2018 at 2:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars made a move to add some potential depth to their cornerback contingent on Saturday, agreeing to terms with Kenneth Acker, John Reid of the Florida Times-Union reports (on Twitter).

Jacksonville will also bring in cornerback Bryce Canady, per Reid. To make room on their 90-man roster, the Jags are releasing cornerback Dexter McDougle and waiving Charlie Miller.

A former 49ers and Chiefs cornerback, Acker previously signed with the Colts in April but was cut in May. He logged multiple visits as well, meeting with the Seahawks in the spring and, per ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter), the Raiders more recently. The Raiders viewed Acker as a possible safety but did not sign him.

A sixth-round 49ers pick in 2014, Acker spent time as a depth piece for the Chiefs the past two seasons. He started in two games with Kansas City, which acquired him via trade prior to the 2016 season. Acker’s most notable work came as a full-time starter for the 2015 49ers.

The Jags were McDougle’s fourth team. The former Jets third-round pick played sparingly for the Saints and Eagles last season. McDougle, who signed an extension with the Eagles prior to last season, latched on with the Jags via reserve/futures contract in January.

Jacksonville obviously has its starting spots locked down, with Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye forming perhaps the league’s top corner tandem, but its depth is somewhat uncertain. Aaron Colvin‘s Texans defection led to a D.J. Hayden signing. Tyler Patmon and some lower-profile veterans comprise the rest of this corner corps. So, Acker has a reasonable chance of sticking around into the regular season.

Colts To Sign DE Ryan Delaire

August 11th, 2018 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ryan Delaire will receive another opportunity after being out of football in 2017. The Colts agreed to sign the free agent defensive end, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

To make room for Delaire, the Colts released veteran defensive back Shamarko Thomas, Mike Wells of ESPN.com reports. Interestingly, this move comes two days after Thomas was the NFL’s first player ejected under the new helmet-contact rule.

Delaire spent two years with the Panthers, serving as a rotational defensive end during their 2015 NFC title season and part of the following campaign, before missing the 2017 season. He took multiple visits in the spring, meeting with the Cowboys and Bears, and will land with the Colts.

A knee injury halted the former UDFA’s progress, with a possible late-season signing with the Eagles hijacked by a failed physical last year. He’ll now join former Eagles OC Frank Reich‘s team.

The Colts have added Denico Autry and Chris McCain to their defensive line mix, and they used a second-round pick to bring in Tyquan Lewis. They also have 2017 third-rounder Tarell Basham and one-time Bengals first-rounder Margus Hunt.

Delaire, 26, finished with 2.5 sacks as a rookie for the Super Bowl Panthers team, although he wasn’t active for that game, and Carolina brought him off IR in 2016. The Panthers waived the Division I-FCS product with a failed physical designation in July of last year.

Thomas played four seasons as a Steelers backup before seeing time in 12 games as a Bills reserve in 2017. The 27-year-old former fourth-round pick has sufficient service time to avoid waivers.

Chiefs S Daniel Sorensen Suffered Tibial Plateau Fracture

August 11th, 2018 at 2:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

A year after losing Eric Berry for the season in Week 1, the Chiefs will likely have to operate without another safety starter this season. Previously set to miss at least the first part of the regular season, it now appears Daniel Sorensen will be on the shelf longer.

Sorensen has no timetable for a return after undergoing surgery to repair a tibial plateau fracture, Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said (via Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star, Twitter links). Sorensen also has MCL damage, per Pryor.

Although Sorensen has yet to be placed on IR, the Chiefs know firsthand the effects this injury can have. During a game against the Texans last season, the Chiefs saw J.J. Watt leave with a tibial plateau fracture. He was almost immediately ruled out for the season.

The Chiefs were looking to Sorensen, a contributor on the past four Kansas City defenses and Berry’s replacement throughout last season, to take over as a starter for Ron Parker. Kansas City released Parker in March. K.C. selected Texas A&M’s Armani Watts in the first round to bolster their safety situation in a defense-heavy draft for the team, but 2016 fourth-rounder Eric Murray may loom as the top replacement option. He played in almost 40 percent of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps last season. The Chiefs also signed former Steeler Robert Golden this offseason.

If the Chiefs don’t view their internal options as ready for a full-time role, they could look to free agency. Eric Reid remains unsigned. So does Tyvon Branch, who used a 2015 season in Kansas City to rebuild his stock. Recent Chiefs cog Steven Terrell signed with the Titans on Friday. Former Chief Quintin Demps is also available, as is ex-Bronco T.J. Ward and longtime Steelers starter Mike Mitchell.

Cowboys’ Marcus Martin Tears Toe Ligament

August 11th, 2018 at 2:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

A former multiyear 49ers starter, Marcus Martin hasn’t played since the 2016 season. But the Cowboys signed the offensive lineman in hopes he could commandeer one of their backup jobs.

Those plans may not come to fruition. The veteran interior lineman suffered a toe injury during Dallas’ preseason opener Thursday night, and ESPN.com’s Todd Archer reports Martin will require surgery. And it could sideline him for a while.

Martin did not suffer a toe fracture, per Calvin Watkins of The Athletic (on Twitter), but instead tore a ligament in his right big toe, per Archer. La’el Collins suffered a similar injury in 2016 and spent the final three months of the season on IR.

The Cowboys believed Martin could serve as a backup interior lineman behind Zack Martin, Travis Frederick and Connor Williams, per Archer, but this certainly alters those plans. Joe Looney still resides as a key Cowboys backup, and his role now becomes more important after this setback. Martin, 24, was no lock to make the team, but this affects Dallas’ depth.

The former 2014 third-round pick finished the 2016 season on the 49ers’ IR before being waived a few months later. Marcus Martin signed with the Cowboys in March.

DRC Didn’t Work Out For Raiders

August 11th, 2018 at 12:44pm CST by Ben Levine

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie indeed worked out for the Seahawks this week, but it doesn’t sound like he auditioned for the Raiders (as was previously reported). The free agent cornerback told ESPN’s Josina Anderson that Oakland simply inquired on whether he was in shape, “like a lot of other teams” (Twitter link). DRC added that he hasn’t scheduled a workout with Oakland.

While a former Pro Bowler is usually a welcome addition to any roster, the Raiders didn’t necessarily seem like an ideal fit for the 32-year-old. After all, the team has a relatively crowded cornerback depth chart. Gareon Conley, Rashaan Melvin, and Daryl Worley are projected to be the team’s top corners, while Shareece Wright, Dexter McDonald, fourth-rounder Nick Nelson, and Leon Hall are in play for backup roles.

Of course, DRC’s production also slipped last season. His 77.2 overall score from Pro Football Focus was his lowest since 2012, and he ultimately finished as the league’s 58th-ranked cornerback. He settled into more of a reserve role with the Giants, finishing the campaign with 48 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one pass defended in 15 games (five starts).

Rodgers-Cromartie did acknowledge that he worked out with the Seahawks on Friday morning, saying the audition went “real good. They were impressed.” The connection with Seattle makes sense, especially after the team let go of slot cornerback DeAndre Elliott. If he were to join Seattle, the veteran would likely compete with Dontae Johnson, Byron Maxwell, Tre Flowers, Neiko Thorpe, and Trovon Reed for backup reps.

Chiefs Place OL Dillon Gordon On IR, Sign OL Alex Officer

August 11th, 2018 at 12:04pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chiefs have slightly revamped their offensive line depth. The Associated Press reports that the team has placed offensive lineman Dillon Gordon on the injured reserve. The organization has signed offensive lineman Alex Officer to take the open roster spot. The news was first reported by Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com (via Twitter).

Gordon, a former LSU tight end, played in one NFL game with the Eagles during the 2016 season. He caught on with the Chiefs practice squad towards the end of the 2017 campaign, and he signed a reserve/future deal with the organization during the offseason. The lineman had been dealing with a shoulder injury for much of training camp.

While the 24-year-old was unlikely to play a major role for the Chiefs in 2018, he was still a solid developmental depth piece at offensive tackle. He would have still been eligible for the practice squad, but the offensive lineman will instead spend the upcoming season on the injured reserve.

Officer, 22, went undrafted out of Pittsburgh during this past year’s draft. The rookie briefly caught on with the Raiders before being let go in May. The six-foot-four, 291-pound lineman primarily plays offensive guard or center, and he’ll provided some much-needed depth as the Chiefs deal with several injuries. Of course, it’s still unlikely that Officer will end up making the roster, as he’ll have to compete with the likes of Jordan Devey, Cameron Erving, Parker Ehinger, Kahlil McKenzie, and Andrew Wylie for backup reps.

AFC Notes: Jets, Brady, Fowler, Dolphins

August 11th, 2018 at 10:56am CST by Ben Levine

The Jets‘ quarterbacks looked solid during last night’s preseason win over the Falcons, completing 21 of 27 pass attempts for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns. While veteran Josh McCown sits atop the depth chart, head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged that any of the team’s three signal-callers (a grouping that also includes Teddy Bridgewater and first-rounder Sam Darnold) could end up earning the starting gig.

“We’ll see how the preseason goes,” Bowles said (via Brian Costello of the New York Post). “Like I said, I’ll make my decision when it happens. I’m not going to jump to any conclusions after one game. I’m going to take my notes and watch practice and compare with the coaches and we’ll come up with a decision. It’s a tough decision. We’ve got three good players and we’re happy to have them.”

As ProFootballTalk.com’s Michael David Smith points out, Bowles previously said that the team would wait until the end of the preseason to make a decision on their starting quarterback. In other words, there’s still plenty of time for the depth chart to sort itself out.

Let’s check out some more notes from around the AFC…

  • ESPN’s Field Yates has even more details on Tom Brady‘s revised contract (Twitter links). The Patriots quarterback had $10MM of his $14MM base salary converted into a signing bonus, which means he’ll get that chunk of cash now instead of spread out over 17 weeks. His 2018 cap number will not increase (allowing the Patriots to maintain cap flexibility), but his 2019 cap hit has increased from $5MM to $27MM. If Brady decided to keep playing in 2019, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com says the team would presumably sign their franchise quarterback to a new deal, thus pushing some of that money to 2020.
  • Meanwhile, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe believes the revised contract is an indication that Brady intends to keep playing in 2019 (Twitter link). While his 2019 dead cap number was previously $7MM, that’s since been boosted to $12MM. If the Patriots weren’t confident that their quarterback was going to stick around the NFL, there wouldn’t have been much of an incentive for the salary-to-bonus conversion.
  • There was good news for the Jaguars this morning, as the team took defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. off the physically unable to perform list (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco on Twitter). The former third-overall pick had missed offseason programs, training camp, and the team’s preseason opener as he continued to recover from a shoulder injury. “I’m just happy to see him back to start playing,” said head coach Doug Marrone (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “Obviously, he’s worked hard to get back, strengthening and everything, and we’ll return him to practice. He’ll come back out and we’ll work him there. I’m excited to see him. He’s put in a lot of work and we’ll see him on the field and see what he can do.” The 24-year-old finished last season 21 tackles, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles in 16 games.
  • Dolphins linebacker Mike Hull has a sprained MCL and is expected to be out for several weeks, reports NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). The 27-year-old has been an important bench piece for Miami over the past two seasons, and he finished last season with 35 tackles in 16 games (three starts). Terence Garvin, Chase Allen, Jerome Baker, and Quentin Poling will receive more backup reps during Hull’s absence.
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