HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Cardinals Cut Darius Philon Following Arrest

August 10th, 2019 at 6:37pm CST by Micah Powell

On Friday, defensive lineman Darius Philon was arrested and charged with aggravated with a deadly weapon from an incident in May. On Saturday, the team made the decision to cut Philon, Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes. 

Philon allegedly pointed a gun and threatened to shoot a woman outside of a strip club on May 17th. The police report says the player pointed the gun at the victim, who was with another female, twice before she returned to the club, asking at one point “which one of you wants a bullet?” Philon drove away following the incident. On Friday, he was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and on Saturday he posted a $5,000 bond and was released.

The Cardinals signed the defensive end to a two-year deal in March worth $10MM and had slated him to fill a big role with the team in 2019. With Philon no longer in the picture, third-round pick Zach Allen is now expected to take over as a starter in Arizona.

A sixth-round selection in 2015, Philon played four seasons with the Chargers before signing with the Cardinals in 2019. The defensive lineman has appeared in 54 career games (19 starts) with 80 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Torn Pec Feared For Packers LB Oren Burks

August 10th, 2019 at 6:11pm CST by Micah Powell

Packers starting linebacker Oren Burks is believed to have suffered a torn pectoral muscle, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky writes. More tests are expected to determine the next course of action, Demovsky hears. 

The second-year linebacker sustained the injury, originally believed to be a shoulder injury, in the first quarter of Green Bay’s preseason opener vs. the Texans. When asked on Thursday, Packers coach Matt LaFleur did not provide an update on whether the injury would cost the linebacker significant time.

“Honestly, I don’t really know anything right now,” LaFleur said. “It’s kind of wait and see, but I hope not.”

A third-round selection in 2018, Burks appeared in 14 games as a rookie, starting four. He logged 24 tackles and was expected to take over as a starting inside linebacker alongside Blake Martinez in 2019. Though Burks was slated as a starter, it is essentially a part-time role in defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme, which calls for a hybrid safety at times to fill the role.

Bucs Release OL Evan Smith

August 10th, 2019 at 5:29pm CST by Micah Powell

The Buccaneers have released veteran offensive lineman Evan Smith, The Athletic’s Greg Auman tweets.

Entering his 11th season in the league and coming off two hip surgeries, Smith was due to make $2 MM in 2019. The move did not result in any dead cap space for Tampa Bay. Smith was slated to be a backup for the Bucs in 2019. His release now opens a spot as a backup guard/center for Earl Watford, Josh LeRibeus and undrafted rookie Nate Trewyn.

Undrafted coming out of Idaho State, Smith caught on with the Packers in 2009 and appeared in 13 games. He stayed in Green Bay as a versatile lineman for four seasons before joining the Buccaneers in 2014, with whom he started 15 games at center. Splitting time between both guard positions and center, Dietrich-Smith has been plagued by injuries in his last four season, playing in just 42 of a possible 64 games.

Saints Release WR Rishard Matthews

August 10th, 2019 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rishard Matthews‘ Saints tenure will end shortly after it began. After signing the former Dolphins, Titans and Jets wideout in June, the Saints released Matthews on Saturday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

The team used the reserve/left squad designation to make the move. Matthews has not been able to land on his feet since a 2018 injury sidetracked his career. He managed just five receptions for 24 yards last season, splitting time with the Titans and Jets.

A seventh-round pick by Miami in 2012, Matthews enjoyed a breakout campaign with the Titans in 2016, leading the team in receptions (65), yards (945) and receiving touchdowns. He again paced Tennessee the following campaign before being released in 2018.

 

AFC Notes: Stidham, Jags, Browns, Bolts

August 10th, 2019 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Tom Brady continuing to play at a high level into his early 40s has allowed the Patriots to table their need to identify a long-term successor for many years, their recent extension/2019 pay raise brings this issue back to the forefront. The Pats, however, are pleased with their latest quarterback draft pick. Fourth-round rookie Jarrett Stidham has “blown away expectations” this offseason, Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes (subscription required), adding that he is ahead of where Jimmy Garoppolo was at this point during his first NFL summer. Stidham has taken first-team reps in camp and moved the Patriots to move Danny Etling to wide receiver. He finished 14-for-24 for 179 yards and a touchdown in New England’s preseason opener Thursday. While the Auburn alum does not profile as a classic Brady successor type, the Patriots certainly appear encouraged by their developmental prospect.

As we wind down preseason Week 1, here is the latest from the AFC:

  • A.J. Cann has served as the Jaguars‘ starting right guard since his rookie season in 2015. He is not a lock to reprise his role in 2019. Cann is battling converted tackle Will Richardson for the spot, with Doug Marrone indicating (via Hays Carlyon of 1010 XL, on Twitter) Brandon Thomas is also in the mix here. A 2018 fourth-rounder, Richardson looks like the favorite to win this job thus far, Carlyon adds (via Twitter). Richardson has yet to play an NFL down; he hit IR in October of his rookie year. Thomas has hung around for six NFL summers, with the 2014 third-round 49ers pick having never played in a regular-season game. He’s bounced on and off the Jaguars’ roster and practice squad since 2017. Cann has three years remaining on a contract he signed in 2018.
  • With Cam Robinson potentially set to have a delayed start to the season, Marrone said the Jaguars are considering free agent additions Cedric Ogbuehi and Leonard Wester at left tackle. Longtime Jags backup Josh Wells is vying for that temp job as well. Second-round rookie Jawaan Taylor is set to start at right tackle.
  • Had Antonio Callaway not received a four-game suspension, the second-year Browns wideout might not have been able to go in Week 1 anyway. Callaway suffered a high ankle sprain in Cleveland’s preseason opener, per Freddie Kitchens (via ohio.com’s Nate Ulrich, on Twitter). The Browns will now be without two of their 2018 pass catchers, with Duke Johnson having been traded and Callaway out until at least October. Fortunately, they acquired Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason.
  • Chargers tight end Andrew Vollert suffered ACL damage in the team’s preseason opener, and Anthony Lynn said (via ESPN.com’s Eric Williams, on Twitter) the second-year UDFA will miss the season. The Bolts signed Vollert in May.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/19

August 10th, 2019 at 3:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day.

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: C John Yarbrough

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

New York Jets

New Orleans Saints

  • Released: TE Jake Powell

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Robinson, Lee Not Certain For Week 1

August 10th, 2019 at 2:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marqise Lee missed all of the Jaguars’ disappointing 2018 season, during which Cam Robinson played just three games. The two key Jaguars are not guaranteed to be ready by the time the team debuts in 2019.

Doug Marrone said Saturday (via Hays Carlyon of 1010 XL AM, on Twitter) the veteran wide receiver and third-year tackle might not be ready by Week 1. After offseasons spent rehabbing their respective ACL tears, each remains on Jacksonville’s active/PUP list. Were Robinson and Lee to land on the team’s reserve/PUP list, each would be sidelined at least six regular-season weeks. It is not certain either is bound for that designation, however.

Robinson went down in September 2018, halting his progress after ascending quickly into Jacksonville’s starting lineup as a rookie. Lee posted two 700-yard receiving slates with the Jags and re-signed for four years and $38MM ($18MM guaranteed) during the offseason that saw the Jaguar tenures of Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns conclude.

Lee, 27, was not expected to return until at least late in training camp, so the former second-round pick being a Week 1 question mark is not especially surprising. It is a bit of a blow to a Jags pass-catching corps that already faces questions, however.

The Jags drafted Jawaan Taylor in Round 2, but their optimal lineup would place the Florida alum at right tackle opposite Robinson. The team signed former Bengals first-rounder Cedric Ogbuehi and ex-Bucs UDFA Leonard Wester this offseason.

Free Agent CB Lardarius Webb Retires

August 10th, 2019 at 2:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the longest-tenured defenders in Ravens history, Lardarius Webb announced his retirement Saturday. The free agent defensive back did not play last season but was an integral Baltimore contributor for most of the 2010s.

The Ravens released Webb at the start of the 2018 offseason, doing so after making the same transaction in March 2017. But unlike in 2017, the team did not re-sign him. Webb worked out for multiple teams, the Titans and Saints, last year but did not end up catching on anywhere. The 33-year-old defender will retire after a nine-year career — spent entirely in Baltimore.

Only Ed Reed and Chris McAlister started more games as Ravens secondary members than Webb, who was an 86-game starter between 2009-17. The former third-round pick served as a key part of the many successful Raven defenses during the team’s run of playoff berths to start John Harbaugh‘s tenure, becoming a full-time starting cornerback by the 2011 season.

Months prior to the Ravens’ Super Bowl championship 2012 season, they extended Webb on a five-year, $50MM deal. Although an injury ended his 2012 slate after six games, Webb returned as a full-timer and retained that status through the 2016 season.

The Nicholls State alum concluded his career with 15 interceptions and 409 solo tackles (fourth in Ravens history) in 127 career games.

Titans Sign RB Akeem Hunt, Three Others

August 10th, 2019 at 12:55pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans overhauled the bottom of their roster this morning, according to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. The team added four players: running back Akeem Hunt, defensive end Eric Cotton, receiver DeAngelo Yancey and linebacker Ukeme Eligwe. The Titans also activated Jurrell Casey from the Physically Unable to Perform list.

To make room on the roster, the team made a series of roster moves: receiver Jalen Tolliver was waived, while linebacker Riley Bullough and offensive lineman Cody Conway were waived/injured. Wide receiver Cameron Batson and linebacker D’Andre Walker, a fifth-rounder out of Georgia, was placed on injured reserve.

Hunt is the most notable name among the additions, as the 26-year-old has appeared in 30 games during his four-year career. Hunt’s last stint in the NFL came in 2017, when he appeared in a career-high 15 games for the Chiefs. The running back finished that season with 23 rushing yards on eight attempts, and he added another 31 yards on four receptions. He also had 25 kick returns and five special teams tackles.

Yancey, a 2017 fifth-round pick out of Purdue, hasn’t seen the field for a regular season game. He’s had stints with the Packers, Jets, and Titans. Eligwe, a 2017 fifth-rounder out of Georgia Southern, has 12 career tackles in 24 games with the Giants and Chiefs. Cotton, a former undrafted free agent out of Stanford, had a previous stint with the Packers.

Casey suffered a knee injury towards the end of last season that ended up shelving him for training camp. The four-time Pro Bowler recently passed his physical, and he’ll immediately take his starting gig on the defensive line.

Jets, Bears Eyeing Ravens K Kaare Vedvik?

August 10th, 2019 at 12:09pm CST by Ben Levine

We heard earlier today that the Jets were auditioning a pair of kickers, but it sounds like the front office could instead opt for a trade. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets that the Jets could make a run at Ravens kicker Kaare Vedvik, a player the organization was eyeing last offseason. However, Mehta adds that the Jets are convinced that the Bears will ultimately pull off a trade for Vedvik.

As Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com writes, the 25-year-old Vedvik was a standout during last year’s preseason and this year’s training camp. The kicker was hospitalized last September after being assaulted in Baltimore, and Vedvik spent the rest of the season sitting on the non-football injury list. This year, the special teamer is healthy, but he naturally has no chance of winning the starting gig over Justin Tucker. Therefore, hearing his name on the trade block isn’t that much of a surprise, especially since coach John Harbaugh said back in March that the player would likely be dealt.

“I fully expect that he’ll kick well enough for us to trade him,” Harbaugh said (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). “That’s kind of the goal. He’s capable of kicking in the NFL. We probably could have traded him last year.”

The Jets are hunting for competition to current starter Chandler Catanzaro, who missed a pair of extra points during his team’s preseason opener. Meanwhile, the Bears are watching as a pair of unproven options, Eddy Pineiro and Elliott Fry, battle for the starting gig. The Bears were connected to veteran Robbie Gould before he inked an extension with the 49ers.

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