HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Broncos To Place DL Billy Winn On IR

August 3rd, 2019 at 1:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Billy Winn will see another injury nullify a season. Attempting to make it to a regular-season game for the first time since 2016, the veteran defensive lineman suffered an arm injury Thursday night that will send him to IR, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.

The Broncos used members of their starting defensive line in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game but gave Winn extensive reps as well. The arm injury he sustained, however, will move him back to Denver’s IR list — where he spent the 2017 season. Winn tore an ACL in the Broncos’ 2017 preseason opener and was out of football in 2018.

This most recent IR trip will make room on Denver’s roster for Theo Riddick, whom the team signed earlier this week.

A sixth-round Browns pick in 2012, Winn initially surfaced in Denver in 2016. He played 16 games that season, mostly in a rotational capacity. The Broncos return most of their 2018 defensive line corps and added third-round defensive end Dre’Mont Jones, limiting the roster spots available. But Winn, 30, was a fringe candidate to make the team, joining 2017 second-rounder DeMarcus Walker in that regard.

Seahawks Expect Ziggy Ansah For Week 1

August 3rd, 2019 at 1:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks’ defensive line has taken some hits this offseason. After the Frank Clark trade, Jarran Reed encountered a six-game suspension and first-round pick L.J. Collier suffered an ankle sprain that’s expected to sideline him a while.

Ziggy Ansah, however, tentatively stands to provide much-needed assistance. The seventh-year defensive end avoided the PUP list and has a good chance of being in Seattle’s starting lineup by Week 1, per Pete Carroll.

“I’m counting on it that he’s going to make it,” the 10th-year Seahawks coach said during an interview with KJR Radio (via Pro Football Talk) of Ansah returning in time for the regular season. “I don’t see any reason that he wouldn’t. He’s doing great, has made progress throughout. I’m not really concerned about the preseason games for him. I just want to get him to game time if we can.”

Carroll hopes Ansah will be able to practice fully in the coming weeks. The longtime Lions defensive end has spent the past several months recovering from shoulder surgery. Should Ansah return in time for the Seahawks’ opener against the Bengals, he will be by far the most accomplished defensive lineman in the team’s lineup.

Ansah, 30, signed with the Seahawks shortly after the draft. Injuries, however, have limited the former top-five pick for much of his career. Most recently, he missed nine games for the 2018 Lions. He registered 12 sacks in 2017, prompting the Lions to use their 2018 franchise tag on him. Ansah has two seasons of at least 12 QB drops, having recorded 14.5 in a Pro Bowl 2015 campaign.

Falcons Bring Back QB Matt Simms

August 3rd, 2019 at 1:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Matt Simms‘ most recent NFL stay occurred in 2017 Falcons training camp. He will resurface in Atlanta two years later, creating a three-Matt Falcons quarterback depth chart.

The Falcons signed Simms on Saturday. This comes after third-string quarterback Kurt Benkert suffered a toe injury — one NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport described as “major” (on Twitter) — in Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game.

Benkert, a 2018 UDFA, was vying for the backup job to Matt Ryan with veteran Matt Schaub. The latter made a late re-entrance Thursday after Benkert’s toe malady forced him to leave the Canton game. It appears Benkert will be out a while.

Simms has not thrown a pass in a regular-season game since the 2014 season, which he spent with the Jets. He will turn 31 in September. His most recent NFL connection came in a September 2018 workout with the 49ers. The son of Phil Simms, Matt Simms spent the summers of 2016 and ’17 with the Falcons and was on the 2016 NFC champions’ practice squad. He worked in both Kyle Shanahan and Steve Sarkisian‘s offenses and will now attempt to stick around in Dirk Koetter‘s.

49ers Sign DT Jay Bromley

August 3rd, 2019 at 12:53pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers made a handful of roster moves this morning (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner on Twitter). The team has signed wideout Chris Thompson and cut receiver Max McCaffrey. The 49ers have also added veteran defensive tackle Jay Bromley while placing lineman Kapron Lewis-Moore on the injured reserve.

Thompson, 25, went undrafted out of Florida in 2017, but he proceeded to appear in 13 games for the Texans as a rookie. He ultimately finished that campaign with five receptions for 84 yards, and he also had 23 combined kick/punt returns. After being waived by Houston last August, Thompson proceeded to play for the Orlando Apollos of the AAF.

McCaffrey has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Duke in 2015. The 25-year-old appeared in one game for the 49ers last season, and he’s collected one reception and one punt return during his brief career.

Bromley is the most experienced player of the bunch. The former third-rounder spent the first four seasons of his career with the Giants, compiling 76 tackles and a pair of sacks in 55 games. He signed with the Saints last offseason, but he was limited to only two games after suffering a torn biceps.

Kapron Lewis-Moore, 29, is a bit of a journeyman, appearing in five games during his six-year career. He signed a reserve/future contract with the 49ers back in January, and the team seems to be stashing him on their IR as he recovers from a groin injury.

Saints Sign RB Jacquizz Rodgers, Waive RB Rob Kelley

August 3rd, 2019 at 11:49am CST by Ben Levine

The Saints have swapped one veteran running back for another. Coach Sean Payton announced today that the team has signed Jacquizz Rodgers and waived Rob Kelley (via The Athletic’s Larry Holder on Twitter).

Rodgers, 29, spent the past three seasons with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay used him as more of a traditional running back during his first two seasons with the team, including a 2016 campaign where he ran for 560 yards. In 2018, the veteran found some of the pass-catching prowess that he had displayed during his early-career stint with the Falcons. Rodgers ultimately finished last season with 38 receptions, which was his highest total since 2013.

After losing Mark Ingram in free agency, the Saints have been looking for another running back to pair with Alvin Kamara. Latavius Murray should have the first crack at the job, but if he struggles, Rodgers could easily take on a bigger role (although he’s not necessarily a complement to Kamara). The Saints are also rostering Dwayne Washington, Devine Ozigbo, and Matt Dayes.

Kelley averaged 4.2 yards per carry as a rookie in 2016, but he hasn’t shown anything close to that since. The 26-year-old only suited up for two games with the Redskins last year thanks to a toe injury, and there’s always been some questions about his weight. Still, considering his age, it wouldn’t be shocking if Kelley found another NFL opportunity.

Vikings Sign CB Bene Benwikere

August 3rd, 2019 at 9:42am CST by Ben Levine

One of the league’s most well-traveled players has found a new home. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the Vikings have signed cornerback Bene Benwikere.

The 27-year-old has bounced around the NFL since being selected in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. The San Jose State product has had stints with the Panthers, Dolphins, Packers, Bengals, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Raiders. Many fans remember his 2016 showing against the Falcons when he allowed Julio Jones to go off for 300 receiving yards.

The 27-year-old split the 2018 campaign between Oakland and Arizona, compiling 54 tackles, 0.5 sacks, four passes defended, and one interception. His best season came in 2015, when he finished with 59 tackles and nine passes defended.

The Vikings could use some additional depth at cornerback. Holton Hill was slapped with a pair of four-game suspensions this offseason, meaning he’ll likely sit out half the season. Meanwhile, Mike Hughes is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last year, and it’s uncertain if the 2018 first-rounder will be ready to go for the start of the regular season.

Josh Gordon Applies For Reinstatement

August 3rd, 2019 at 9:27am CST by Ben Levine

Josh Gordon is looking to get back on the field. Sources tell veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer that the Patriots wideout has filed for reinstatement from suspension (Twitter link).

Back in December, Gordon was suspended indefinitely for violating terms of his reinstatement under the substance abuse policy. We learned at the time that Gordon’s drug use went beyond marijuana, an indication that the troubled receiver was dealing with issues that were much bigger than football. We know that the 28-year-old was at a rehabilitation clinic for at least part of the offseason, and if he’s looking to make an immediate return to the field, we can only assume that he’s clean.

The Patriots retained Gordon‘s rights on via RFA tender earlier this offseason, and the suspended wide receiver was recently spotted training with Tom Brady. While the defending Super Bowl champions would naturally welcome back the talented receiver, he’d have to prove to be a “better version of himself” off the field than what showed up in New England last year.

The Patriots knew the risk associated with the ultra-talented Gordon when they acquired him from the Browns in September. The rest of the league knew the risks involved as well, which is why the Pats were able to land the former All-Pro for a fifth-round pick, with a seventh-round choice coming back. Gordon’s ultimately compiled 40 catches, 720 yards, and three touchdowns across eleven games.

Even after adding Cameron Meredith yesterday, the Patriots could still use some reinforcement at wide receiver. Julian Edelman is dealing with a thumb injury while Demaryius Thomas is working his way back from the PUP list. This leaves the team with a healthy grouping that includes first-rounder N’Keal Harry, former first-rounder Phillip Dorsett, Maurice Harris, Jakobi Meyers, Braxton Berrios, and Dontrelle Inman.

Texans Sign S A.J. Hendy

August 3rd, 2019 at 8:50am CST by Ben Levine

The Texans are swapping one safety for another. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets that the team is re-signing A.J. Hendy. To make room, Houston is cutting Tyvis Powell.

Hendy, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Maryland, was signed by the Texans off the Chargers practice squad last January. He was waived by Houston last week, but the team apparently regretted their decision and brought him back. The 26-year-old has one NFL game on his resume, although he’s had consistent practice squad gigs since he entered the league.

Powell went undrafted out of Ohio State back in 2016, and he’s bounced between five different teams (including separate stints with the 49ers) over his three years in the league. The 25-year-old has appeared in 18 career games, including seven this past season with the 49ers. He finished 2018 with six tackles and one forced fumble. He joined the Texans last weekend.

The Texans have plenty of depth at safety, with Tashaun Gipson and Justin Reid slotted in as starters. Hendy will compete with the likes of Briean Boddy-Calhoun, Jahleel Addae, and A.J. Moore for backup reps.

Extra Points: Thomas, Meredith, Buccaneers

August 2nd, 2019 at 9:41pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Soon after Michael Thomas received his five-year, $100MM extension from the Saints, we heard that it wasn’t quite $100MM in reality. The base of the deal is $96.25MM, with incentives in the final couple of years that will be very hard to reach which could bump it up to $100MM. Now we have full details on the contract, courtesy of Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. Florio has a year by year breakdown off all the incentives and bonuses Thomas will get. To reach the full value of $100MM, Thomas “needs to do each of the following in 2022 and 2023: Catch 100 passes, gain 1,400 yards, score 12 touchdowns, and get to the playoffs.”

Florio notes that the fully guaranteed portion of the deal is $35.64MM, “covering the first two years and a slice of 2021.” He seems to think the Saints aren’t actually tied to Thomas for too long if they don’t want to be, writing “the rolling guarantees give the Saints plenty of flexibility beyond 2020.” Thomas has put up absurd numbers in his first three years in the league, and he was the only consistent receiver New Orleans had for a lot of last season. Drew Brees was often throwing to a rotating cast of undrafted free agents and castoffs last year, so it’s safe to say they need Thomas.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Receiver Cameron Meredith landed on his feet as he signed with the Patriots earlier today, but he apparently isn’t fully healthy. New England placed him on the active/PUP list after inking him, per Doug Kyed of NESN.com. Meredith had a breakout 2016 campaign but then missed the entire 2017 season with a devastating knee injury and hasn’t been the same since. The Saints finally gave up on him and released him earlier this week after he was never able to fully recover during his time in New Orleans. Since it’s the active/PUP list and not the reserve/PUP list, Meredith could be activated at any time and resume practicing. He isn’t the only Patriots receiver that’s banged up, as the Pats are also waiting on Demaryius Thomas and Julian Edelman to heal up.
  • Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians promised to hire women when he got hired by Tampa Bay, and he followed through by bringing on two female assistant coaches back in March. He didn’t stop there, as the Bucs have also hired Carly Helfand as a scouting assistant, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Laine notes that she also worked for Penn and the Philadelphia Soul of the AFL. She was the only woman interviewed out of ten candidates, and Laine notes the Buccaneers were “very impressed” with her.
  • In case you missed it, we took a look at a few potential landing spots for Redskins left tackle Trent Williams.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/19

August 2nd, 2019 at 8:20pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: S Ronald Martin, CB Hamp Cheevers
  • Waived: CB Rashard Causey, LS Kyle Vasey

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: TE Mik’Quan Deane
  • Waived/injured: WR Blake Jackson

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: OL Jamar McGloster
  • Claimed off waivers from Cowboys: OL Larry Allen Jr.
  • Waived/injured: LB Tre’von Johnson, OL Cole Toner

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

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