2018 November - Pro Football Rumors

Eric Berry To Return To Practice

November 28th, 2018 at 12:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs appear to be on the verge of receiving a much-needed defensive boost. Eric Berry‘s rumored practice return will commence on Wednesday, Andy Reid said.

This will mark the first time the three-time All-Pro safety’s practiced in more than 3 1/2 months. Afflicted with Haglund’s deformity, a heel condition, Berry has not been able to work out with his teammates since training camp.

While the 29-year-old dynamo is not out of the woods yet, with setback avoidance a key component in a return to game action, this is a major step. The Chiefs did not place Berry on IR this season. He can play in Sunday’s game against the Raiders if that’s the course of action the Chiefs believe is prudent. That may be pushing it, given what Berry’s been through, but no setbacks would put him en route to come back soon.

Kansas City currently resides atop the AFC. This franchise has not earned home-field advantage since Marty Schottenheimer‘s penultimate season, 1997, and has not qualified for a Super Bowl in 49 years. The Chiefs did not make any moves prior to the trade deadline, and as the football-following world witnessed in the electric 54-51 loss to the Rams, their defense needs all the help it can get. This would qualify as a significant on-field addition.

The Chiefs signed Berry to a safety-record six-year, $78MM contract in the 2017 offseason but have only seen him play in one game since that deal was finalized. Berry ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in Week 1 of last season. This heel condition affects his other foot.

This wouldn’t even qualify as Berry’s most improbable return, obviously, with the former No. 5 overall pick having surmounted cancer earlier in his career. He returned in 2015 to post back-to-back first-team All-Pro campaigns.

Kansas City boasts a considerable DVOA advantage over the second-best team, doing so despite carrying this metric’s No. 25-rated defense. Berry would be the second safety to return to action after a lengthy absence, with Daniel Sorensen coming off IR earlier this month.

Falcons Place DE Derrick Shelby On IR

November 28th, 2018 at 11:38am CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons place defensive end Derrick Shelby on IR with groin injury, per a team announcement. To take his place, the team promoted defensive back Ryan Neal to the active roster.

The Falcons released Shelby in March only to re-sign him to a cheaper deal three weeks later. Shelby started the bulk of last season for Atlanta, but he’s been more of a rotational player this year. In seven games (three starts) Shelby recorded ten total tackles and zero sacks.

Even without the 29-year-old, the Falcons have a number of other options at DE. Former first-round picks Takkarist McKinley and Vic Beasley will continue to start on the edge with Bruce Irvin, Brooks Reed, and Steven Means in support.

At 4-7, the Falcons’ playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread. If they fall to the Ravens on Sunday, they’ll punch their ticket for a top 20 pick.

Panthers Designate Da’Norris Searcy For Return

November 28th, 2018 at 11:18am CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers designated safety Da’Norris Searcy to return from injured reserve, per a team announcement. Searcy has already missed eight games due to a pair of concussions suffered in September, so he can be activated at any time.

Searcy joined the Panthers on a two-year, $5.7MM deal this offseason with the ability to make up to $3.1MM in 2017. A former fourth-round pick, Searcy managed 12 tackles and one interception last year while grading as the NFL’s No. 61 safety among 87 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

After Searcy’s exit, the Panthers signed former 49ers safety Eric Reid to fill the void. Reid has been serviceable this season, though the advanced metrics indicate that he is not performing at his 2017 level. It’s not clear whether Searcy will regain his starting role, but he will certainly be in the rotation if he’s able to play.

Per league rules, the Panthers have a 21-day window to activate the veteran. If he is not activated during that time, Searcy will be ineligible to return this season.

AFC North Notes: Bengals, Dalton, Browns

November 28th, 2018 at 11:02am CST by Zachary Links

Andy Dalton‘s injury could force the Bengals to look to the future, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com writes. Jeff Driskel has the reins now in Cincinnati and his performance could lead the Bengals to reconsider Dalton as their future starter or, at least, reconsider their backup QB situation.

Dalton has two years remaining on a six-year, $96MM contract extension he signed in 2014, but the Bengals can move on next year without any fiscal penalty. There are no roster bonuses remaining on the deal either, so the Bengals could theoretically part ways with Dalton at any point in the spring or summer.

Terrell expects Dalton to stay put, unless there’s an overhaul of the coaching staff or Driskel knocks it out of the park over the next five games. Given the Bengals’ history with Marvin Lewis, a Driskel-powered winning streak may be the only thing to threaten the Red Rifle in Cincinnati.

Here’s more from the AFC North:

Bruce Arians is wisely looking to drum up fan interest in his quest to become the Browns‘ next head coach, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. As Florio notes, one homeless man allegedly pushed owner Jimmy Haslam to select Johnny Manziel, so it’s possible that the fans could influence the team’s next coaching hire. In his latest round of comments, the former Cardinals head coach said he would keep Freddie Kitchens as offensive coordinator and would consider keeping interim head coach Gregg Williams as the defensive coordinator.
Le’Veon Bell‘s bitter divorce with Steelers was in the works for a long time, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes. A faction of the Steelers locker room wanted no distractions this year, Fowler writes, so Bell’s decision to sit out the entire season was not exactly devastating in Pittsburgh.
This week, Bell hinted on Instagram that he would like to join the Colts and team up with quarterback Andrew Luck (via ESPN.com’s Mike Wells). It’s not clear whether the Colts will be players for the Steelers running back, but they will be armed with a league high of $120MM+ in cap space.

Giants’ Cody Latimer Designated For Return

November 28th, 2018 at 10:22am CST by Zachary Links

Giants wide receiver Cody Latimer has been designated for return, coach Pat Shurmur announced. Latimer will take the practice field on Wednesday, kick starting a three-week window for activation.

Latimer, 26, was enjoying an expanded role in the Giants’ offense against the Eagles on Oct. 11 before he went down with a hamstring injury. The wide receiver had six catches for 108 yards across four games before being sidelined.

The Giants aren’t playing for much at this point of the season, but Latimer will have a chance to showcase himself before reaching unrestricted free agency in March. The Giants are also keenly interested to see whether he can be a fit for the 2019 roster after signing him to a one-year, $2.5MM contract in the offseason.

The Giants close out their season with games against the Bears, Redskins, Titans, Colts, and Cowboys.

Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette Loses Appeal

November 28th, 2018 at 9:14am CST by Zachary Links

Leonard Fournette‘s one-game suspension will stick. On Wednesday, the NFL announced that the Jaguars running back lost his appeal and will be suspended for this week’s game against the Colts.

Fournette was ejected from Sunday’s game for taking a swing at Bills defender Shaq Lawson and was hit with a one-game ban on Monday for violating the league’s unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness rules. The former fourth overall selection will forfeit 1/17th of his $1.699MM base salary, which amounts to roughly $99K.

Unfortunately for the running back, the fiscal ramifications go far beyond one game check. If Fournette’s rookie deal includes void language regarding suspension, the remaining $7MM in guaranteed money left on his deal could be removed. Given Fournette’s injury history, that’s no small matter.

The Jags head into their Week 13 matchup against the Colts with a new offensive coordinator (quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich, who replaces Nathaniel Hackett), quarterback (Cody Kessler), and running back. Carlos Hyde, whom the Jaguars acquired from the Browns earlier this year, figures to see split time with T.J. Yeldon in a makeshift Jaguars backfield on Sunday. Both backs will run behind an offensive line that’s now without its best player in Andrew Norwell, who was placed on injured reserve this week.

No Progress In Colin Kaepernick Settlement Talks; 2019 Hearing Likely

November 27th, 2018 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL and NFLPA have engaged in preliminary settlement discussions in Colin Kaepernick‘s collusion grievance. They’ve gone nowhere, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports, adding a hearing is likely to occur early in 2019.

Now, the league and the union have progressed on discussions based around how the hearing will unfold. It’s not expected to begin any later than February.

A hearing is tentatively expected to occur in at a Philadelphia hotel, per La Canfora, with plenty of NFL personnel set to be required to testify. The hearing, which stands to be overseen by arbitrator Stephen Burbank, is expected to last at least two weeks.

Kaepernick’s team plans to depose NFL owners, GMs and coaches — several of whom have already been questioned during this lengthy process. Roger Goodell and other prominent league executives will be deposed as well. JLC adds the recorded depositions of Paul Allen and Bob McNair, owners who died this year, could be admitted.

The 31-year-old quarterback has not played since Week 17 of the 2016 season. Kaepernick remains interested in resuming his career, one put on hold because of his racial inequality protests during national anthems, and La Canfora reports his agents have reached out to teams weekly about booking a workout. They’ve done this since the start of the 2017 season. None have granted such an opportunity. Kaepernick continues to work out daily in hopes of another chance, though as the months pass and lesser-acclaimed quarterbacks continue to be signed, odds diminish of a return to the NFL.

The Seahawks hosted Kaepernick on a 2017 visit but cancelled a 2018 summit with the passer. Kaepernick has not received another tryout opportunity.