2019 August - Pro Football Rumors

49ers Added Chris Foerster To Staff?

August 23rd, 2019 at 5:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Veteran offensive line coach Chris Foerster has resurfaced with the 49ers. Nearly two years after resigning from his Dolphins post after a video emerged showing him snorting a white substance, Foerster is back in the NFL, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

The 49ers brought in the 57-year-old assistant this offseason, Laine adds, but did not announce the hire. He is not listed on the team’s website. Foerster has assisted San Francisco’s staff on the game-planning front, per Laine.

Foerster has coached for seven NFL franchises since 1993 and was the 49ers’ O-line instructor for two prior stints — under Jim Tomsula in 2015 and under Mike Singletary from 2008-09. He also spent five seasons (2010-14) as the Redskins’ O-line boss, and his tenure overlapped with Kyle Shanahan‘s run as Washington’s OC. Foerster’s highest-profile job came as the 2004 Dolphins’ offensive coordinator, but due to the ignominious nature of his most recent Miami departure, he is probably most-known for that at this point. The Rams, however, tried to interview him for their OC job in early 2017. The Dolphins, who Laine notes were paying Foerster between $2.5-$3MM per year, denied the Rams permission at the time.

Foerster resigned in October of 2017. This is his first NFL job since. Foerster was not suspended for the video, but if indeed he is back in coaching, that may be in the cards going forward. Foerster checked into rehab later in 2017.

AFC South Notes: Texans, Robinson, Colts

August 23rd, 2019 at 5:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumblings about the Texans attempting a last-ditch Jadeveon Clowney trade have cooled down, with the team unlikely to recoup too much value for the three-time Pro Bowler after the franchise tag extension deadline passed (and with Clowney being able to effectively block a trade by virtue of not signing his tender). The last report on Clowney’s return indicated he was expected to report back between the start of next week and the end of the preseason. Clowney also has a grievance rumored, seeking to be tagged as a defensive end ($17.1MM) instead of as an outside linebacker ($15.9MM). But the former No. 1 overall pick should be fighting to ensure the Texans cannot tag him again in 2020, Joel Corry of CBS Sports writes. However, with this prohibition clause having not occurred since 2008 (Albert Haynesworth with the Titans), Corry predicts the sixth-year Texans edge defender will fail on this front and end up being tagged again in 2020.

Here is the latest news from the AFC South, shifting to a player who will draw Clowney blocking assignments this season:

Recently deemed iffy for Week 1, Cam Robinson appears a good bet to suit up against the Chiefs in two-plus weeks. The Jaguars‘ left tackle starter took snaps with the first unit in the team’s third preseason game, with Phillip Heilman of The Athletic tweeting Robinson joined the likely starting line of Andrew Norwell, Brandon Linder, Will Richardson and Jawaan Taylor on Thursday night. Robinson tore one of his ACLs in September of last year and spent the next several months rehabbing.
D’Onta Foreman will not have a chance to exact any revenge on the Texans this season, with the now-Colts running back set to miss the season. But the Colts still have him in their plans. A torn biceps will shelve Foreman, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets, but the team will not opt for an injury settlement. The Colts plan to stash the former third-round pick on IR and have him learn their system in time for a hopeful 2020 debut in Indianapolis.
While Matt Kalil was recently named the Texans‘ starting left tackle, Wilson adds that Roderick Johnson is “firmly” in the conversation to start against the Saints in Week 1. The Texans have held Kalil out of recent practices for conservation purposes, per Bill O’Brien. Kalil missed all of last season with a knee injury. Encouraging work in games and practices has allowed Johnson, a former Browns fifth-round pick and Texans waiver claim, to improve to the point of being a first-stringer. The Florida State product appears set to receive the first crack if Kalil cannot go, pointing to first-round rookie Tytus Howard staying at left guard.
Titans running back David Fluellen underwent knee surgery recently, but Paul Kuharsky (of PaulKuharsky.com) notes the backup is expected to be ready by Week 1. Fluellen is expected to keep his job as Tennessee’s No. 3 back.

Justin Hunter Working Out For Four Teams

August 23rd, 2019 at 3:37pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Steelers wide receiver Justin Hunter has healed up from a torn labrum and will work out for four NFL teams, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). The Jets, Redskins, Texans, Patriots, and Ravens will all kick the tires on Hunter, giving the former Steelers wideout an opportunity to get on the field for 2019.

Hunter, a freakish athlete, has yet to really make his mark at the pro level. He seemed to hold serious promise when he entered the league as a second round pick of the Titans in 2013. but he has spent time with three other teams in his young career.

Hunter managed just 14 catches with the Bills, Dolphins, and Steelers between 2017 and 2018. His most productive season came in 2014 when he had 28 catches for 498 yards and three scores with the Titans, though he did manage four TDs with Buffalo in 2016.

The Patriots auditioned Hunter before the start of training camp, but he left New England without a deal.

Titans’ Taylor Lewan Loses Appeal

August 23rd, 2019 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan has officially been suspended for the first four games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to a team announcement. Lewan was first hit with the ban late last month and the official denial of his appeal means that he will be out for the first four games of the season.

Lewan vehemently denied the use of PEDs and even said that he took a polygraph test to prove his innocence. Unfortunately for him, that wasn’t enough to sway those in charge.

“It’s a really horrible situation to feel like this, and to walk into the locker room and tell those guys you’re not going to be with them for four games – it breaks my heart,” Lewan said last month. “It’s tough, man. But I’ve been very candid with [GM] Jon (Robinson) and [head coach] (Mike) Vrabel and [owner] Amy (Adams Strunk) and told them right away. I don’t want the legacy, or whatever I have done in the last five years, to be tarnished because of this, because of something like this, that was a complete accident that I’m going to try and make up for.”

According to the league, Lewan popped positive for ostarine, which is used to combat muscle wasting. Lewan, meanwhile, says he didn’t “knowingly” take anything to skirt the rules.

Lewan will be eligible to play for the first time in 2019 on October 6 vs. the Bills.

Equanimeous St. Brown To Miss Time

August 23rd, 2019 at 1:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers will be without Equanimeous St. Brown to start the season. The wide receiver has been diagnosed with a left ankle sprain that will keep him out of action for 5-6 weeks, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

Initially, it seemed like things would be much worse for the rising NFL sophomore. St. Brown, 23 in September, was hit hard up top after catching a slant pass in the second quarter of the Packers’ preseason game against the Raiders. As he went down, his left ankle contorted in an unnatural direction and he had to be carted off of the field. All things considered, St. Brown is likely relieved by the diagnosis and outcome.

If St. Brown is out for a full six weeks, he’ll be sidelined for regular season games against the Bears, Vikings, Broncos, Eagles, and Cowboys. Of course, he’ll also be held out of the team’s preseason finale against the Chiefs on Thursday.

St. Brown, taken in the sixth round of last year’s draft, finished out his rookie season with 21 catches for 328 yards across 12 games.

Antonio Brown Ruling To Come Next Week

August 23rd, 2019 at 1:29pm CST by Zachary Links

For the second time this month, an independent arbitrator has concluded a grievance hearing regarding Antonio Brown‘s helmet (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). A ruling is expected to come next week, according to one source.

This seemingly minor issue has had – and may still have – major implications for Brown and the Raiders. The NFL barred Brown from playing with his beloved Schutt AiR Advantage helmet and the wide receiver reportedly walked out of training camp due to his dissatisfaction. Later, agent Drew Rosenhaus claimed that Brown’s absence was actually due to the malady he sustained while receiving cryotherapy treatment.

Brown is now back in camp and practicing with a certified helmet, but there’s no telling what could happen next with the mercurial star if he does not win his second grievance. The 31-year-old has not suited up for preseason action in the midst of all of this and it not be a shock if he were to change course yet again before the start of the season.

The Raiders open their season in Oakland on Sept. 9 against the Broncos.

Jordan Reed In Concussion Protocol

August 23rd, 2019 at 12:19pm CST by Zachary Links

Awful news out of D.C. – Redskins tight end Jordan Reed has landed in the NFL’s concussion protocol, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). There’s no further update on his status just yet, but it’s troubling to hear as this is at least the fourth known concussion of his pro career.

Reed, 29, is among the league’s most talented tight ends, when healthy. However, injuries – including head trauma – have been a major issue for him through his career. In his six NFL seasons, Reed has missed 31 regular season games.

Reed missed much of the 2017 season with a hamstring injury, but bounced back last year to haul in 54 catches for 558 yards and two scores across 13 games. Prior to that, he lost time due to concussions in 2013 and 2016.

For his career, the 6’2″, 242-pound tight end has 329 catches, 3,371 yards, and 24 touchdowns to his credit. He enjoyed his best season in 2015 (87/952/11) and earned his first ever Pro Bowl nod in 2016.

Falcons May Replace Giorgio Tavecchio

August 23rd, 2019 at 10:41am CST by Zachary Links

Giorgio Tavecchio might be on shaky ground. After another rocky preseason performance, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn indicated that he might look into replacing the kicker.

“Any time at any position, when we miss the mark, we want to find out why and what we can do to get better,” Quinn said. “It’s definitely a spot we are continuing to evaluate and that is always the case.”

Tavecchio’s latest miss came on a 39-yard try, which is a chip shot by NFL standards. That was his fourth miss in eight attempts this preseason, which could be enough for Quinn to kick him off the roster.

“My focus is always on myself and controlling the controllable,” Tavecchio said. “There’s a lot of things out of your control in this business. I know when I wake up every morning, I say a little prayer of gratitude and give my best each day.”

Tavecchio joined the Falcons in the middle of the 2018 season to fill in for longtime Falcons kicker Matt Bryant. This offseason, they parted ways with the clutch-kicking veteran and moved forward with the former Raider, but they might be having second thoughts about that plan.

Ravens To Sign LB Paul Worrilow

August 23rd, 2019 at 10:21am CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens plan to sign veteran inside linebacker Paul Worrilow on Friday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley. The deal will be finalized upon Worrilow’s passing of a physical.

Worrilow, a former UDFA with the Falcons, wound up starting in Atlanta for three seasons. He was used as a depth player for the team’s 2016 NFC championship season and later hooked on with the Lions, where he started in eight games. He lost the 2018 season to injury, however, and the Eagles just recently cut him due to health concerns.

Worrilow, 29, can provide experienced depth at inside linebacker as ILBs Patrick Onwuasor, Chris Board and Kenny Young have just combined 29 starts. Worrilow, meanwhile, has started 52 games over five seasons.

Broncos Considering Drew Lock IR Stay

August 22nd, 2019 at 9:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

After ceding his Ravens job to Lamar Jackson last season, Joe Flacco does not look to be in danger of a demotion in Denver. Drew Lock‘s injury timetable may be longer than initially anticipated.

Expected to need at least five weeks of recovery time before he can resume throwing, Lock is now a candidate for the Broncos’ IR list. Vic Fangio acknowledged (via ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold) that is in play for the second-round pick. Lock suffered a “fairly serious” sprain against the 49ers on Monday and said Thursday he is not sure when he will be able to throw again.

Should Lock land on IR to start the season, after being carried through to the Broncos’ 53-man roster, he would need to remain there for a minimum of eight regular-season weeks. That would use up one of Denver’s two IR-return slots. The team also will have running backs Andy Janovich and Theo Riddick sidelined into the season. Both are expected to return from injury fairly early in the regular season, so they don’t profile as IR candidates at this point.

This injury would stand to stunt Lock’s growth, and while it clears the way for Flacco to potentially start the whole season, Denver’s new starting quarterback has dealt with maladies in three of the past four seasons. A torn ACL ended Flacco’s 2015 campaign, a back injury limited him in the 2017 offseason, and a hip problem brought Jackson into Baltimore’s 2018 lineup. Flacco will not play in the Broncos’ fourth preseason game, with Fangio set to sit most of his starters then and in the team’s fifth and final August contest.

As was the case last season, Kevin Hogan is now expected to be the Broncos’ backup. The Broncos used Lock as their No. 2 passer in recent practices and in Monday’s game. They have rookie UDFA Brett Rypien as well, but the Boise State product did not play in either of the team’s past two preseason games and profiles more as a practice squad stash.