HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Patriots To Cut WR Bennie Fowler

September 15th, 2018 at 3:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots signed both Bennie Fowler and Corey Coleman on the same day earlier this week but will keep only one of them on their roster going into Week 2.

Fowler received word the Patriots will cut him, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). New England will sign offensive lineman Cole Croston from its practice squad, per Rapoport (on Twitter).

This marks the second time in a month Fowler’s been cut. The Bears moved on from the veteran wide receiver prior to their regular-season opener, despite signing him in free agency. The Patriots will go into their Week 2 Jaguars tilt with Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson and Coleman as their wideouts.

Best known for catching Peyton Manning‘s final NFL pass, a two-point conversion in Super Bowl 50, Fowler spent three seasons on the Broncos’ active roster but has yet to establish himself elsewhere. While this could be a temporary move based on needs at other positions, with Croston joining a Pats team that may or may not have right tackle Marcus Cannon available Sunday and the fact Coleman’s been jettisoned by two teams in the past month, for now the 27-year-old Fowler is again unattached.

AFC North Notes: Gordon, Steelers, Mixon

September 15th, 2018 at 2:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Josh Gordon trekked to the Browns facility Saturday complaining of hamstring trouble, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), and that’s resulted in the team ruling him out for Sunday’s game against the Saints. Gordon did not travel with the Browns to New Orleans.

This escalated rapidly. Gordon was expected to suit up in Week 2 after playing in Week 1. But the receiver with a notorious penchant for unavailability was slow to return from his latest hiatus because of hamstring pain. Cleveland will attempt to stun New Orleans without him, and Gordon will miss yet another game. After Sunday, the 2013 All-Pro will have missed 55 of the Browns’ past 66 games.

From a player who’s struggled to a historic degree to stay on the field to one whose voluntary absence has generated one of the most unique holdouts in NFL history, here’s the latest from the AFC North.

  • The Steelers took Le’Veon Bell off their depth chart this week and barely anything came out of this saga this week. The running back remains absent from his team and will miss out on another $853K game check, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Bell will have lost $1.7MM by the end of Week 2. This preservation-based holdout has generated concerns from around the league, and even if Bell limits himself to a half-season’s worth of work or less, he will still go into free agency with far more carries than typical running backs seeking second contracts do. Bell has 1,229 totes already, and that’s with him missing 19 career games. By season’s end, assuming he returns, that number figures to reside around at least 1,400. Seeking a Todd Gurley– or David Johnson-level pact is complicated by the fact those younger backs have 1,244 career carries combined.
  • Ben Roethlisberger‘s full practice Friday probably gave this away, but he is slated to play Sunday. ESPN.com’s Diana Russini tweets the 15th-year Steelers quarterback will suit up against the Chiefs in Week 2. An elbow injury cropped up and caused Big Ben to miss Pittsburgh’s Wednesday and Thursday practices, but he’ll be back for a key AFC matchup. With Roethlisberger in the lineup, the Steelers — counting 2016’s divisional-round win — have beaten the Chiefs six straight times dating back to the 2011 season. Kansas City’s one win over Pittsburgh this decade came in 2015 with Landry Jones at the controls.
  • Joe Mixon underwent knee surgery and is set to miss between two and four weeks of Bengals action. The surgery involving a small particle in Mixon’s knee being removed went well, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports. This would explain the positive outlook the second-year running back’s received. Bengals brass initially feared Mixon would miss up to six games.

Bengals’ Joe Mixon To Miss 2-4 Weeks

September 15th, 2018 at 1:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Mixon has already undergone surgery to repair a recent knee issue and will be out for a bit. However, the Bengals running back received some good news on this front.

A two- to four-week timetable now exists for Mixon’s recovery, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. But the Bengals’ initial expectation was for their starting running back to miss between four and six weeks, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter), so the second-year player encountered a less troublesome setback than initial fears indicated.

It’s possible, with the Bengals on a mini-bye because of their Thursday-night assignment, Mixon could miss merely one game — Week 3 against the Panthers — according to Rapoport. That might be pushing it, however, given the team’s worries at this process’ outset. The Bengals face the Falcons in Week 4; both of these upcoming NFC South contests are road games, however. Cincinnati then hosts Miami and Pittsburgh in Weeks 5 and 6.

Mixon injured his right knee in the Bengals’ Week 2 win over the Ravens. He’s off to a strong start, rushing for 179 yards (4.7 per carry) and a touchdown and totaling 57 receiving yards on just six catches. Passing-down back Giovani Bernard figures to see the bulk of the work during Mixon’s absence, just as he did when Mixon missed time in December of last year.

Seahawks To Release DT Tom Johnson

September 15th, 2018 at 12:48pm CST by Ben Levine

For the time being, Tom Johnson is out of a job. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks are releasing the veteran defensive tackle. The team needs an extra roster spot for Monday’s game against the Bears, and they’ll “likely” re-sign Johnson next week.

Back in March, the 34-year-old signed a one-year deal with Seattle that could be worth up to $2.7MM (Pelissero notes that Johnson’s contract has already been guaranteed). The defensive tackle was coming off a four-year stint with the Vikings during which he played at least 40% of the team’s defensive snaps in each campaign. Johnson saw a career-high 68% playing time last season, and he finished the year with 17 tackles and two sacks. Pro Football Focus graded him as roughly a league-average defensive tackle, as Johnson ranked 60th among 122 qualifying interior defenders.

The 2006 undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss started the Seahawks’ season-opener against the Broncos, compiling a single tackle. With the team in need of a roster spot, they decided to temporarily release Johnson, leaving them with Jarran Reed, Shamar Stephen, Nazair Jones, and Poona Ford as their options at defensive tackle.

Seven players sat out practice for the Seahawks yesterday, with three of them unlikely to play: offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, linebacker K.J. Wright, and wideout Doug Baldwin. Cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Tre Flowers, linebacker Bobby Wagner, and safety Delano Hill also sat out. The team already added one notable player to their team this week, signing free agent linebacker Mychal Kendricks on Thursday.

Bills Release WR Jeremy Kerley

September 15th, 2018 at 11:42am CST by Ben Levine

In a bit of a surprising move, the Bills have released a veteran wideout. The team announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve cut receiver Jeremy Kerley. The team will promote defensive tackle Robert Thomas from the practice squad to take the open roster spot.

ESPN’s Mike Rodak tweets that the decision was attributed to a “numbers game.” The Bills wanted one more defensive tackle to pair with the trio of Kyle Williams, Star Lotulelei, and rookie third-rounder Harrison Phillips. Despite Thomas’ promotion, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets that coach Sean McDermott‘s rotation on the defensive line will remain the same for tomorrow’s matchup against the Chargers.

Still, even with the team’s need for a defensive tackle, it’s a bit surprising that Kerley was the odd man out. The 29-year-old provided the Bills with some much-needed experience at receiver, and their depth was already a bit questionable. Buscaglia believes the top three receivers for tomorrow’s game will be Kelvin Benjamin, Zay Jones, and Robert Foster, although the team could also turn to veteran Andre Holmes or rookie Ray-Ray McCloud.

After spending the 2016 campaign with the 49ers, Kerley signed with the Jets last season, returning to the organization where he had spent the first five years of his career. Kerley ended up seeing the field for eight games, hauling in 22 receptions for 217 yards and one score. He was suspended for a PED violation in November, and he was released by the organization following his reinstatement. He signed a one-year deal with the Bills back in April, and he hauled in a pair of catches for seven yards during the team’s season-opener.

Thomas, a 2014 undrafted free agent out of Arkansas, has bounced around the NFL during his four-plus seasons in the league, spending time with the Redskins, Seahawks, Patriots, Dolphins, Panthers, and Giants. He has 24 career regular season games under his belt, and he appeared in a career-high 15 games for the Giants last season. He ended up finishing the 2017 campaign with 16 tackles.

This Date In Transactions History: Laurence Maroney Trade

September 15th, 2018 at 11:16am CST by Ben Levine

September trades are pretty rare in the NFL, but we got one eight years ago today. On this date in 2010, the Patriots traded running back Laurence Maroney (along with a 2011 sixth-round pick) to the Broncos in exchange for a 2011 fourth-round pick.

When the Patriots selected Maroney in the first round of the 2006 draft, they were hoping to get some longterm stability at the position. The Minnesota product certainly looked the part of a three-down back during his rookie campaign. While splitting time with veteran Corey Dillon, Maroney still managed to compile 745 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 175 carries (he also hauled in 22 catches for 194 yards and one score). He became the starting running back during his sophomore campaign, and he took on an ever bigger role during the playoffs.

However, Maroney only appeared in three games during the 2008 season after suffering a shoulder injury, and he struggled with fumbles following his return in 2009. By the time the 2010 season came around, he was buried on the depth chart behind Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, and Kevin Faulk. With BenJarvus Green-Ellis contributing on special teams, the Patriots decided to shop their former first-rounder.

In came the Broncos, who were dealing with a number of running back injuries. Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter were both hobbled, and their replacement, LenDale White, had already torn his Achilles. The team moved down two rounds in the 2011 draft in order to acquire Maroney, who was set to hit free agency following the season. The then-25-year-old ended up starting three of his four games for Denver, compiling only 74 yards on 36 carries. He was later arrested on weapons charges, and the team chose not to re-sign him following the campaign. Maroney’s stint with the Broncos was his last NFL action.

The Patriots ended up trading their acquired pick to the Seahawks for wideout Deion Branch, and Seattle used that pick to select linebacker K.J. Wright. The Broncos used their acquired pick (which was originally owned by the Saints) to select linebacker Mike Mohamed.

The Broncos were presumably hoping for a bit more when they acquired Maroney. Fortunately for the organization, the offense continued to improve over the next few years. Of course, a certain Hall of Famer probably helped with that.

Latest On Chargers TE Hunter Henry

September 15th, 2018 at 10:18am CST by Ben Levine

Less than four months after tearing his ACL, Hunter Henry is already taking major steps in his recovery process. Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News writes that the Chargers tight end was seen “sprinting with a large brace” on Friday. This comes after Henry participated in a light workout with his teammates.

After hauling in 81 catches for 1,057 yards and 12 touchdowns through the first two seasons of his career, Henry was ready for a breakout campaign in 2018. With Antonio Gates out of the picture, the 2016 second-round pick was ready to become one of Philip Rivers‘ favorite targets in the passing game. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old suffered a torn ACL during a non-contact play on the first day of the Chargers’ organized team activities. It was assumed at the time that Henry would have to sit out the entire 2018 campaign.

That still might be the case, but Henry seems to be recovering quickly. While head coach Anthony Lynn noted that the tight end “took it to another level” this past week, general manager Tom Telesco previously cautioned that it was more likely Henry returned in 2019 than 2018. Henry is currently sitting on the PUP, meaning he could be activated after sitting out the first six weeks.

The team also seen speedy ACL recoveries in the past. As Wang points out, pass rusher Melvin Ingram returned to the field six months after suffering the injury in 2013. That’s usually the minimum recovery time required for a torn ACL, and it’s not uncommon to see players sit out 12 months. Either way, considering the progress Henry has already made, the tight end could logically return to the field before the end of the regular season. At the very least, it’s telling that the organization hasn’t completely rejected the idea.

The Chargers ended up re-signing Gates to pair with Virgil Green and Sean Culkin. If Henry returns, he’d slide into a lethal offense that also includes running back Melvin Gordon and wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams.

Ravens Work Out Three Offensive Linemen

September 15th, 2018 at 9:19am CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens are auditioning a trio of offensive lineman today. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the team is hosting Wesley Johnson, Hroniss Grasu, Jordan Morgan on work outs.

The Ravens’ offensive line allowed four sacks to the Bengals on Thursday night, and the running game was only able to compile 66 yards on 22 caries (good for a three-yard average). The three players working out for Baltimore today either play center or guard, meaning the team is seemingly looking for some depth and reinforcement behind starters Alex Lewis, Matt Skura, and Marshal Yanda. Jermaine Eluemunor, who made the 2017 All-Rookie team, and rookie sixth-rounder Bradley Bozeman round out the team’s interior-line depth.

Johnson, 27, has the most experience among the auditionees, as he appeared in 31 games (23 starts) with the Jets over the past two seasons. The 2014 fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt joined the Lions earlier this offseason, but he was released by the team at the end of the preseason. Since then, Johnson had a workout with the Vikings.

Grasu had spent his entire three-year career with the Bears before being released by the team earlier this month. The 27-year-old started 12 of his 14 career games, but injuries have limited him throughout his career (he spent the entire 2016 campaign on the injured reserve).

Morgan is the only offensive guard in the group, and he also previously spent time with the Bears. The 2017 fifth-round pick spent his entire rookie campaign on the injured reserve, and he was released by the organization earlier this month.

Jets Work Out DL Adolphus Washington

September 14th, 2018 at 9:46pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Adolphus Washington may not be out of a job too long as the defensive lineman worked out for the Jets today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). 

The former Ohio State star was taken by the Bills in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2016 draft. He was cut just a few days ago to make room for Nate Orchard on Buffalo’s roster. The Bills reportedly tried trading him last season, but found no takers.

Despite his high draft status, he never panned out in Buffalo. He had no ties to the new Bills front office regime, and quickly found himself on the chopping block. He was arrested last summer on weapons charges, although he was never disciplined by the league for it.

The defensive tackle started 21 games for the Bills in his two-plus years with the team. He racked up 56 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three passes defended while being used primarily as a run-stuffer. It’s unclear how interested the Jets are in signing their former division rival, but due to his draft status and starting experience, Washington should latch on somewhere relatively quickly.

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