HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Patriots Sign Caleb Benenoch

September 17th, 2019 at 7:11am CST by Zachary Links

Former Bucs offensive tackle Caleb Benenoch will sign with the Patriots on Tuesday, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Nine NFL teams requested workouts with Benenoch, but Rapoport hears the veteran ultimately wanted to play for Pats offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. 

The Patriots could really use the help. They were without right tackle Marcus Cannon for Sunday’s win over the Dolphins and, during the game, Isaiah Wynn exited with a toe injury. They’re still awaiting word on the status of both linemen, but they’re unlikely to be at full strength up front for Week 3 against the Jets. (Then again, do they need to be anywhere near full strength to face the Jets?)

Benenoch started every game of the 2018 season at right guard for the Bucs last season but also boasts experience on the outside. There apparently wasn’t a place for him on the Bucs, but the Pats are happy to bring him on board for reinforcement.

Dolphins Trade CB Minkah Fitzpatrick To Steelers

September 16th, 2019 at 9:26pm CST by Ben Levine

The Minkah Fitzpatrick saga has come to an end. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Dolphins have traded the cornerback to the Steelers. Miami will receive a 2020 first-rounder in return. ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe adds (via Twitter) that the teams will also be swapping late-round picks.

Here’s the full breakdown of the trade: The Dolphins will receive a 2020 first-round pick, a 2020 fifth-round pick, and a 2021 sixth-round pick. The Steelers, meanwhile, get Fitzpatrick, a 2020 fourth-round choice, and a 2021 sixth-round selection.

We learned yesterday that league-wide interest in the 2018 first-rounder was “real and serious,” with roughly 20 teams reaching out to Miami. Earlier tonight, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported (via Twitter) that a trade was imminent, and he listed the Steelers (along with the Redskins, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, and Seahawks) as potential suitors. While the Dolphins weren’t necessarily shopping the cornerback, they were receptive to offers and asking for a first-rounder “and something else.”

Fitzpatrick is an undeniably gifted defensive back who has been less than thrilled with the multiple roles he has been asked to fill in Miami’s defense to date. His ability to play as both a slot corner and a roaming safety made him a desirable asset. Through two games this season, the 22-year-old has compiled 12 tackles and one forced fumble.

The Dolphins offseason (and preseason, and regular season…) teardown is essentially complete. As ESPN’s Field Yates tweets, Miami has three first-rounders (their own, Steelers, Texans) and two second-rounders (their own, Saints) in the 2020 draft, and they also have the Texans 2021 first- and second-round picks (as well as their own).

While yesterday’s report indicated that a Fitzpatrick trade would ultimately represent the end of the team’s teardown and draft-pick accumulation, it sounds like the Dolphins aren’t necessarily eyeing a return to relevance in 2020. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wrote earlier today that there’s “growing suspicion” that the Dolphins may be eyeing a two-year rebuild. The team may even pass on a quarterback during the 2020 draft with the hope that they’ll for Clemson signal-caller Trevor Lawrence in 2021.

While the Steelers were in the market for a cornerback, the trade is a considerable risk for a team that just lost Ben Roethlisberger for an entire season. Considering the draft capital they gave up to acquire Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh’s front office has made it clear that they’re not giving up on the 2019 campaign. On the flip side, since the front-office is apparently high on the former 11th-overall pick, giving up a potential top-1o selection may still be a net positive, regardless of the Steelers’ 2019 record.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/19

September 16th, 2019 at 9:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys

Minnesota Vikings

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL Workout Updates: 9/16/19

September 16th, 2019 at 8:21pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve got another batch of workout updates from the past few days, all via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer on Twitter (unless otherwise noted):

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/16/19

September 16th, 2019 at 7:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s minor transactions:

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Jets

Falcons Waive/Injured DT Ra’Shede Hageman

September 16th, 2019 at 7:28pm CST by Ben Levine

Ra’Shede Hageman‘s second stint with the Falcons has come to an end. The team announced today that they have waive/injured the defensive tackle from the reserve/suspended list.

The 2014 second-round pick out of Minnesota was productive during his first two years in the NFL, including a 2015 campaign where he finished with 27 tackles and one sack in 16 games (12 starts). However, he was demoted to a backup role during the Falcons 2016 season.

Prior to the 2017 season, Hageman was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt List following domestic violence charges. He was subsequently released by the Falcons, and he ended up sitting out the 2017 and 2018 campaign. Atlanta gave him a second chance this offseason, signing him to a one-year deal. However, the defensive lineman was quickly slapped with a two-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The Falcons will move forward with their trio of defensive tackles: Grady Jarrett, Tyeler Davison, and Deadrin Senat.

Giants Waive RB Paul Perkins

September 16th, 2019 at 7:02pm CST by Ben Levine

Paul Perkins‘ tenure with the Giants has come to an end. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the team has waived the running back. In a corresponding move, the team claimed tight end Kaden Smith off waivers.

Perkins, a 2016 fifth-round pick out of UCLA, emerged during his rookie campaign, compiling 456 rushing yards on 112 carries (good for a 4.1-yard average). He also hauled in 15 receptions for 162 yards. He finished with only 136 offensive yards during the 2017 season, and he spent the entire 2018 campaign on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Perkins was inactive for the team’s first two games this season, so today’s move won’t have a major impact on the Giants running back depth chart. The team will continue rolling with Saquon Barkley, Wayne Gallman, and Elijhaa Penny at the position.

Smith was a 2019 sixth-round pick out of Stanford. He was cut by the 49ers last weekend.

Saints Place LB Alex Anzalone On IR

September 16th, 2019 at 6:40pm CST by Ben Levine

While injury news out of New Orleans will naturally be focused on quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints lost another contributor today. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the team has placed linebacker Alex Anzalone on the injured reserve.

As Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com points out, while Anzalone’s current injury isn’t known, the third-year player has struggled with shoulder ailments during his brief career. He was limited to only four games (and, notably, four starts) as a rookie before landing on the IR with a shoulder injury. He also had shoulder surgery this past offseason.

The former third-rounder out of Florida did manage to appear in all 16 games (seven starts) last season, compiling 59 tackles, two sacks, and three forced fumbles. He also appeared in the Saints first two games this season, collecting seven tackles and one sack. However, he only appeared in 18 of his team’s 70 defensive snaps yesterday.

The Saints acquired Kiko Alonso prior to the start of the season, and while the veteran has played a minor role through his first two games with New Orleans, he’ll surely be counted on following this latest injury. The Saints are also rostering linebackers Demario Davis, A.J. Klein, Craig Robertson, and Kaden Elliss.

Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey Requests Trade

September 16th, 2019 at 5:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey has requested a trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) hears. Ramsey has butted heads with Jags brass many times over the years and the latest incident took place on Sunday in a heated confrontation with head coach Doug Marrone. 

Part of Ramey’s beef, Rapoport hears, stems from the way he’s being used on the field. Ramsey ranks among the best cover corners in the NFL and wants to play man-to-man on opposing wide receivers. Marrone, meanwhile, deploys him in a zone scheme.

The Jaguars, it seems, are willing to move him, but they won’t part with him on the cheap. The Jaguars are asking teams for at least one first-round pick in return for the Pro Bowler, but want even more than that in a return, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

Ramsey is under team control through the 2020 season, thanks to the fifth-year option the team exercised this spring. But the contract-seeking cornerback has not exactly been pleased with the franchise as of late. Recently, on the podcast hosted by Titans tackle Taylor Lewan and former Titans linebacker Will Compton, Ramsey said he wouldn’t mind playing for the Titans or Raiders.

In the summer, Ramsey also explained that he would not be willing to give the Jags any sort of a hometown discount.

“Next year, especially after I ball, they’re going to come to me ‘Hey, you know, we want to holler at you,” Ramsey said as he shook his head, on Instagram. “That number is going to be so ungodly.…They’re going to say, ‘Oh god, can’t we get a little discount, 20% off?‘ I’m going to tell them last year you could have gotten that discount. This year, I’m going to need all of that.”

Ramsey, a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro, has played in and started 50 out of 50 career games. For his career, he has registered 202 tackles, nine interceptions, and 45 pass breakups.

Steelers Place Ben Roethlisberger On IR, Promote QB Devlin Hodges

September 16th, 2019 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike Tomlin confirmed Ben Roethlisberger will miss the rest of this season due to the elbow injury he sustained Sunday, and the Steelers moved quickly to adjust their quarterback depth chart. The team placed Roethlisberger on IR and promoted Devlin Hodges from its practice squad.

Recently re-signed to Pittsburgh’s practice squad, Hodges was with the team in the preseason. He completed 20 of 38 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Hodges won the Walter Payton Award, given to Division I-FCS’ top player, in 2016 while at Samford.

This will mark a major change for the Steelers, who in 2018 had Josh Dobbs installed as Roethlisberger’s backup. Dobbs is now in Jacksonville, and Hodges will back up Mason Rudolph. The Steelers just extended Big Ben this offseason. He is under contract through the 2021 season.

Pittsburgh plans to look for another quarterback, with the likely hope the to-be-determined acquisition will be stationed between Rudolph and Hodges on the depth chart, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets.

The Steelers took Rudolph in the 2018 third round. Big Ben was critical of the pick, as it used an asset on a developmental quarterback rather than a position player who could help immediately. Unless the Steelers bring in a veteran backup, they will find out plenty about Rudolph this season.

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