HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

49ers Place DL Kentavius Street On IR

January 10th, 2020 at 4:50pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Kentavius Street is headed back to a familiar place, injured reserve. The 49ers announced they were shutting down the defensive lineman, in order to make room on the active roster for linebacker Kwon Alexander. 

Street was a highly regarded prospect coming out of N.C. State in 2018. Unfortunately, he tore an ACL during a private workout for the Giants, and tumbled in the draft as a result. San Francisco scooped him up in the fourth round, and he took his rookie season as a redshirt year. Knee issues plagued him again this offseason, and he was placed on IR back in August. It was looking like he was going to miss each of his first two seasons, but the 49ers activated him a few weeks ago for the stretch run.

He made his NFL debut in Week 15, and played a real role on defense over the final three weeks. In their pivotal Week 16 game against the Rams, he played 27 percent of the defensive snaps. He’ll now head into his third season as a pro with just three career appearances under his belt. He won’t necessarily be a lock for next year’s 53-man roster.

Cowboys’ Jeff Heath Undergoes Surgery

January 10th, 2020 at 3:13pm CST by Zachary Links

On Friday, Cowboys safety Jeff Heath underwent surgery on his left shoulder, sources tell ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (on Twitter). Heath dealt with pain in both shoulders throughout the year and he may still require an operation on the other side. 

Somehow, the shoulder trouble did not interrupt his streak of starting in the last 44 games he has played. He finished 2019 with 59 total tackles, three tackles for a loss, and seven passes defensed in 13 appearances.

Heath will look to heal up as soon as possible, especially since this is a pivotal offseason for him. He’s due to reach unrestricted free agency in March, where he’ll look to secure a pay bump over the four-year, $7.761MM extension he signed with the Cowboys back in 2016. Last time around, he was a restricted free agent who spent the previous two years largely relegated to special teams. Now, with three straight years as a starter, he has a case for a better deal.

Top free agent safeties this offseason include Justin Simmons (Broncos), Devin McCourty (Patriots), Anthony Harris (Vikings), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Bears), and Tre Boston (Panthers).

Browns Still Mulling Coaching Hire

January 10th, 2020 at 3:01pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns completed their interview with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on Friday, but they not quite ready to make their decision, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The Browns’ coaching search will roll on, likely with McDaniels, Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski, and Eagles DC Jim Schwartz representing the three finalists. 

[RELATED: 2020 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]

The Browns watched the Redskins, Cowboys, Panthers, and Giants beat them to the punch in their head coaching searches. That stripped away candidates like Mike McCarthy, but it also left the Browns with their pick of the remaining litter. At this time, the Browns are the only NFL team in search of a head coach.

Despite all of their dysfunction over the years, the Browns job holds obvious appeal – and not just because they’re the only game in town. Quarterback Baker Mayfield still stands as one of the most dynamic players at his position with potential to rebound from his rocky 2019. Meanwhile, he’s surrounded by seriously talented weapons including Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, and pending free agent Kareem Hunt.

Some feel that McDaniels would be the best hire and the right coach to get the most out of the team’s offensive talent. Still, Stefanski is also a highly-respected offensive mind and there’s also a case for the Browns to tighten up their defense under someone like Schwartz.

We’ve been hearing that the Browns are looking to make their decision by Saturday, so the search could be coming to its conclusion very soon.

Vikings Place Mackensie Alexander On IR

January 10th, 2020 at 2:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Mackensie Alexander‘s season is over. On Friday, the Vikings placed the cornerback on injured reserve, ruling him out the rest of the postseason. 

Alexander was already ruled out for Saturday’s divisional round game against the 49ers after undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a lateral meniscus tear. They got past the Saints without him, but he’ll be badly missed this week as they push to reach the NFC title game.

The Vikings’ remaining group of active cornerbacks – Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, and Holton Hill – will be tasked with holding down the fort yet again as they face the Niners’ potent offense. They’ll be joined by CB Nate Meadors, who was called up to the 53-man roster to take Alexander’s place.

If the Vikings lose to the Niners, that could mark the end of Alexander’s career in purple. The cornerback is scheduled to reach free agency in March.

The Vikings will also be without safety Jayron Kearse, who has been ruled out for this week. On the other side of the ball, the Vikings are keeping their fingers crossed for Adam Thielen and his stitched ankle.

Giants Open To Eli Manning Return

January 10th, 2020 at 12:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants will move forward with Daniel Jones as their starting quarterback, but they’re not necessarily moving on from Eli Manning. In a radio interview on Friday, owner John Mara said that the longtime franchise face could remain as Jones’ backup or transition to a non-playing role in the organization. 

[RELATED: Eli Manning On His Future]

Mara met with Manning earlier this week and their “nice long talk” didn’t end with any definitive answers. Based on what Manning has said about his future, it seems unlikely that he’d jump at the Giants’ offer to hold the clipboard for Jones.

“I doubt it. I doubt it,” Manning said recently when asked about the prospect of returning as a backup. “Backing up is not real fun. … Everything is an option. That is the first decision, whether I want to continue to play or not. That is what I will decide. I’ll just try to figure it out. I think I can still play.”

The 39-year-old may or may not find an opportunity to start elsewhere. Despite his accomplishments, there are no obvious fits for Manning, given the decline in his arm strength in recent years. He’ll have an opportunity to explore his options in March, when he’s scheduled to reach free agency.

Eagles’ Josh McCown To Have Surgery

January 10th, 2020 at 11:58am CST by Zachary Links

Quarterback Josh McCown tore his hamstring in the Eagles’ playoff loss to the Seahawks, as Tim McManus of ESPN.com tweets. Remarkably, McCown played through the injury in the second half of the game as he filled in for Carson Wentz. 

The surgery will keep McCown sidelined for six weeks. After that, he’ll have a decision to make on his future. Last week’s game marked McCown’s first playoff action at the age of 40 and he’ll turn 41 in July, just before training camp gets underway.

Few players would have stayed on the field after tearing a hamstring, but McCown felt he had little choice. After Wentz exited in the first quarter with a concussion, McCown was left as the only quarterback on the Eagles’ active roster.

In June of last year, McCown announced that he would retire after 17 years in the NFL. In August, the Eagles talked him out of hit. He inked a one-year, $2MM deal to serve as Wentz’s backup after the Eagles lost QBs Nate Sudfeld and Cody Kessler to injury. The veteran threw just five passes in the regular season before he was called upon in the wild card contest.

Texans’ Johnathan Joseph To Play Vs. Chiefs

January 10th, 2020 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

Johnathan Joseph is good to go for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, according to NFL.com’s James Palmer (on Twitter). The Texans beat the Bills without Joseph last week as he healed up from a hamstring injury, but they’re grateful to have him back as they face one of the league’s most dangerous offenses. 

Joseph suffered the injury in Week 17 against the Titans, leaving them without one of their most important players in the secondary for the wild card round. Before that, Joseph started in eleven of his 14 regular season games, notching 51 total tackles plus an interception in their Week 16 win vs. the Bucs.

In 2018, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 10 ranked cornerback in the NFL. The advanced metrics haven’t been quite as kind to the 35-year-old this year, but he remains an integral part of the defense and a key piece of the puzzle as the Texans look to keep a lid on the Chiefs’ aerial attack.

This postseason may also mark Joseph’s last. Joseph is slated to hit free agency in March, just before his 36th birthday in April.

Latest On Browns’ Head Coaching Search

January 10th, 2020 at 9:33am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are set to meet with Josh McDaniels today. The Patriots offensive coordinator also brought his wife Laura along with him, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), which could be an indication that McDaniels is poised to land the head coaching job. 

The Browns don’t necessarily have to rush to make a hire, but they’ve reportedly aiming to make a hire by Saturday. McDaniels is the last of three candidates to interview this week, and it’s believed that the hire will ultimately come from that trio of the Pats OC, Vikings OC Kevin Stefanski, and Eagles DC Jim Schwartz.

The search is being spearheaded by Browns chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, who has a good relationship with Schwartz. However, the final decision will be made by owner Jimmy Haslam, and McDaniels is a northeast Ohio native with an impressive resume.

McDaniels, 43, has interviewed with the Browns twice before. He met with the Browns during previous owner Randy Lerner‘s tenure in 2009, before the team hired Eric Mangini. McDaniels withdrew his name from consideration after interviewing in 2014, when current owner Jimmy Haslam was in charge. Before he bowed out in ’14, he was believed to be the favorite.

Extra Points: Thielen, Panthers, Falcons, Raiders

January 9th, 2020 at 9:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Vikings WR Adam Thielen suffered a bad cut on his ankle during Wednesday’s practice, reports NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). The cut required stitches, but the team is optimistic that he’ll be good to go for Saturday’s playoff game against the 49ers. As the reporter notes, the organization is “still gathering information and will proceed with caution.”

The wideout appeared in 10 games this season – the first time in his NFL career that he didn’t appear in all 16 regular season contests. He finished the regular season with 30 receptions for 418 yards and six scores. He had a standout game during the Vikings win over the Saints last weekend, hauling in seven receptions for 129 yards.

If Thielen was forced out of the lineup, Kirk Cousins will predictably lean on wideout Stefon Diggs. The team could also turn to the likes of Olabisi Johnson, Alexander Hollins, and Laquon Treadwell.

Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFL…

  • Panthers general manager Marty Hurney will turn to head coach Matt Rhule as the team continues to rebuild the front office. Hurney told The Athletic’s Joe Person (Twitter link) that he’ll collaborate with Rhule as the organization hunts for an assistance GM. The executive cautioned that the search could take some time.
  • The Falcons will hire Joe Whitt Jr. for a defensive position on the coaching staff, reports ESPN’s Vaughn McClure. Whitt Jr. previously served as the Browns pass-game coordinator/secondary coach, and he was Atlanata’s assistant defensive backs coach back in 2007. It’s uncertain what specific role Whitt Jr. will take on under defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
  • Vic Tafur of The Athletic opines that the Raiders should add a playmaking wideout this offseason, and he notes that the organization “really like[s]” one impending free agent: Jets receiver Robby Anderson. Current Raiders senior offensive assistant John Morton was the Jets offensive coordinator when Anderson had his most productive season in 2017.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/9/20

January 9th, 2020 at 8:37pm CST by Ben Levine

The latest reserve/futures signings from around the NFL:

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

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