HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery Cleared For Contact

September 26th, 2018 at 6:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has been cleared for contact, an important hurdle in his gaining authorization to take the field on game day, as head coach Doug Pederson told reporters, including Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). However, it’s still unclear as to whether Jeffery will be available when Philadelphia faces Tennessee on Sunday.

Jeffery, who is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, participated in individual work last week but is now cleared for 11-on-11 sessions. The Eagles wanted quarterback Carson Wentz to get a week of full contact drills under his belt before being inserted into the starting lineup, and could conceivably take the same approach with Jeffery.

Jeffery, 28, originally signed a one-year, $9.5MM deal with the Eagles in the spring of 2017, but Philadelphia was impressed enough with his production to extend him on a four-year, $52MM pact in December. While Jeffery post a somewhat disappointing 57 receptions and 789 yards last year, he did manage to get into the end zone nine times (second-most of his career).

The Eagles’ wide receiver corps could desperately use Jeffery, especially after the club placed Mike Wallace on injured reserve last week. Philadelphia’s depth chart is currently comprised of Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews, Kamar Aiken, and Shelton Gibson.

Chargers’ Joey Bosa Likely Out Until Week 9

September 26th, 2018 at 4:33pm CST by Zachary Links

It’ll be a while before the Chargers get defensive end Joey Bosa back in action. On Wednesday, Bosa told reporters that he likely will be out at least until his team’s bye week, which is Week 8. That timetable would put Bosa in line for a Week 9 return when the Chargers face the Seahawks on Nov. 4. 

Bosa had his cast removed this week and was expecting good news after having his protective boot removed. Unfortunately, he’s still experiencing instability in a major tendon, which means that he’ll need some more time to heal up.

The Chargers ranked third against the pass last season thanks in large part to Bosa, and they’ve clearly missed him in 2018. The Chargers are 1-2 after failing to provide adequate pressure against Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Rams QB Jared Goff.

The good news for the Chargers is that their schedule gets significantly easier starting this week when they take on the Jimmy Garoppolo-less 49ers.

Patriots Work Out WR Jeremy Kerley

September 26th, 2018 at 3:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots worked out wide receiver Jeremy Kerley on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former Jets draft pick was released by the Bills a few weeks ago and could provide an experienced pair of hands – as well as some intel on the Pats’ divisional rivals. 

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. Then, in a surprise move, the Bills cut him loose.

The Patriots recently bolstered their receiver depth by acquiring Josh Gordon from the Browns, but they’re not necessarily done adding to that group. The club is still one game away from getting Julian Edelman back and Gordon’s Week 4 status is murky due to hamstring trouble, so Kerley could be a viable option for them.

Rams Place CB Aqib Talib On IR

September 26th, 2018 at 3:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams have placed cornerback Aqib Talib on injured reserve with an ankle injury, according to a team announcement. Talib will have surgery on Thursday, but the good news is that he has not been ruled out for a return later this year.

Talb suffered a high ankle sprain in the Rams’ win over the Chargers on Sunday. It’s a tough blow to a Rams D that may also be without fellow starting corner Marcus Peters for a period.

Nickell Robey-Coleman and Sam Shields are the next men up, but Robey-Coleman is the team’s slot specialist and Shields has hardly played over the last two years due to severe concussion trouble, though he has been active in the Rams’ first three contests.

Talib has not missed more than three games in a season since his 2012 campaign with the Buccaneers and Patriots. Unfortunately, that streak has come to an end.

To take Talib’s place on the roster, the Rams have promoted fellow cornerback Dominique Hatfield.

Raiders Place Mike Nugent On IR

September 26th, 2018 at 2:12pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders placed kicker Mike Nugent on injured reserve, per a team announcement. Nugent will be replaced by Matt McCrane, who was signed on Tuesday.

Nugent was off to a strong start this year, but a hip injury on Sunday will likely cost him the season. In three games, Nugent nailed all six of his field goal tries and went 4-of-5 on PATs.

Enter McCrane, who has never attempted a regular season kick, though he did perform well in a limited sample with the Cardinals in the preseason. The Kansas State product will make his debut against the Browns on Sunday as the Raiders search for their first W of the season.

After previously losing long snapper Andrew DePaola to a torn ACL, the Raiders are now lacking experience when it comes to their specialists. Jon Gruden tends to favor veteran savvy, but he’ll just have to hope for the best when it comes to the third facet of the game.

Practice Squad Updates: 9/25/18

September 26th, 2018 at 1:16pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Texans’ Andre Hal In Remission

September 26th, 2018 at 11:29am CST by Zachary Links

Andre Hal‘s doctors have determined that his Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is now in remission, according to an announcement from the Texans. Hal was diagnosed with the disease over the summer but he has made “dramatic improvements” over the last few months. 

There’s even hope that the safety will be able to return to the field this season. On Wednesday, Texans head athletic trainer Geoff Kaplan was asked about the possibility and said, “I think everything’s on the table.”

Hal, 26, has been with the Texans since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2014. Eventually, he cracked the starting lineup and was rewarded with a three-year, $15MM extension prior to the 2017 season. Last year, Hal started in all 16 games for Houston and set a new career high in total tackles (71) while notching three interceptions.

Patriots To Place RB Rex Burhhead On IR

September 26th, 2018 at 11:14am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots will place running back Rex Burkhead on injured reserve with a neck injury, according to Jim McBride of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). The Pats will also place rookie linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley on IR with an unknown ailment. To fill Bentley’s place on the roster, the Pats have signed outside linebacker John Simon, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. 

Burkhead, 28, had to be cleared from concussion protocol prior to the Patriots’ Week 3 game against the Lions. Unfortuantely, he was forced out of that game with a neck injury, putting the rest of his season in jeopardy. It’s currently unknown whether Burkhead is a candidate to return from IR later this year or if this is a definite season-ender.

In three games, Burkhead failed to get going on the ground with 24 rushes for 86 yards. Last year, he averaged 4.1 yards per carry in a limited sample.

Burkhead’s injury should mean a larger workload for rookie Sony Michel and more carries for James White. Kenjon Barner is back in the fold, so the club may opt to stand pat with those three active running backs plus fullback James Develin.

Bentley, meanwhile, is the just the latest Patriots 2018 draft pick to be placed on IR this season, joining first round tackle/guard Isaiah Wynn, second-round cornerback, sixth-round wide receiver Braxton Berrios, and others.

Simon spent one season with the Colts, but in their new 4-3 defense, he was not viewed as an ideal fit. He spent the prior five seasons of his career with 3-4 teams — the Ravens and Texans — and has worked in a starting role for the past three years.

Latest On Vikings’ Everson Griffen

September 26th, 2018 at 9:26am CST by Zachary Links

This week, local police said the Vikings told Everson Griffen that he could not return to the team until he received a mental health evaluation. That’s not exactly the case, according to ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin. Instead, she hears that Griffen was told to not worry about practice last week or the game against the Bills. Both sides, she hears, were in agreement that Griffen would stay away from the club until he was in a better mental state. 

Meanwhile, there’s some mystery as to whether Griffen attempted to break into into the home of teammate Trae Waynes. A person called the police to say that Griffen was in the bushes of the home and appeared to be looking for entry, but Waynes has issued a statement denying that there was an attempted break-in.

“To clarify, there was no attempted break-in at our home and at no point did my family or I feel unsafe,” Waynes said. “We are friends with the Griffen family and we are here to support them in any way possible during these trying times.”

Waynes did not deny that Griffen appeared at their home, so it seems quite possible that Griffen arrived unannounced at Waynes’ property and was acting erratically. However, it sounds like there was no real break-in attempt, and the lack of charges from local authorities seems to support that.

Still, there are many questions left to be answered when it comes to Griffen and his ongoing issues.

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