HEADLINES

Month: October 2024

Cardinals Sign B.W. Webb

August 21st, 2020 at 8:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have agreed to sign B.W. Webb, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Webb will join the Cards on a one-year deal, giving the club another cornerback to consider as the season draws near. 

Webb hooked on with the Bengals last year on a two-year, $10.5MM deal, but he only fetched $2.5MM in guaranteed dollars. In his lone Bengals season, Webb appeared in 15 games and started in 12 of those contests. In March, they cut him to save $3.5MM against the cap.

Webb, 30, had a stronger 2018 when he was with the Giants. In that season, he graded out as the No. 77 ranked corner in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. By those advanced metrics, he performed roughly as well as Morris Claiborne, Marcus Peters, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Jimmy Smith.

Now with the Cardinals, Webb will look to find a roster spot behind starters Patrick Peterson and Byron Murphy.

Washington’s Ron Rivera Diagnosed With Lymph Node Cancer

August 20th, 2020 at 8:18pm CST by Zachary Links

Ron Rivera has been diagnosed with lymph node cancer (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The Washington Football Team head coach says the cancer is in its early stages and regarded as “very treatable and curable.” 

[RELATED: Washington QB Alex Smith Activated]

“I was stunned. But I was angry because I feel like I’m in best health I’ve been in,” Rivera said.

The 58-year-old broke the news to his team earlier tonight with a bit of his trademark humor. “I’m going to be a little more cranky,” the coach warned. “So don’t piss me off.” Rivera plans to conduct business as usual, though he tells Schefter that there is a “Plan B” in place, in case he has to take some time away from the team.

As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, that “Plan B” would be having defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio — who has 12 years of head coaching experience between the Jaguars and Raiders — assume HC duties. But RapSheet confirms that the plan is for Rivera to coach uninterrupted through the 2020 campaign.

Rivera, a former Bears linebacker, climbed his way up the ranks before taking over the Panthers’ head coach in 2011. The Panthers never captured the Lombardi Trophy with Rivera, but he did get them to Super Bowl 50 at the end of the 2015 season, and he earned Coach of the Year honors that year. Including playoffs, Carolina went 79-67-1 with Rivera at the helm. The Panthers parted ways with Rivera in December, leading him to Washington just a few weeks later.

We here at PFR would like to wish Rivera a speedy recovery.

Saints, Alvin Kamara Begin Negotiations

August 20th, 2020 at 5:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints and Alvin Kamara have begun work on a longer-term partnership. The sides are now negotiating an extension to keep the dynamic running back in New Orleans beyond 2020, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports (video link).

Nothing is yet imminent, but the Saints have made an offer, Fowler adds. Kamara’s rookie contract has one season remaining, putting him in a similar boat with other talented running backs from the 2017 draft class.

As several 2017 running back draftees either cash in (Christian McCaffrey) or began contract talks earlier (Dalvin Cook, Aaron Jones, Joe Mixon), not much has transpired on the Kamara front this offseason. But the three-down back said earlier this year he wants to stay with the Saints.

Kamara’s timeline parallels Michael Thomas‘ from 2019. The former second-round pick-turned-star was going into his walk year but reached an agreement on a then-record wide receiver deal during Saints training camp last year. Kamara’s situation is a bit more complicated. Recent monster running back contracts have not exactly benefited teams, and the salary cap is expected to drop for just the second time ever. But it’s clear the Saints would prefer Kamara not play this season on his third-round rookie deal.

Beginning his career in the Reggie Bush/Darren Sproles role in Sean Payton‘s offense, Kamara quickly became more than a complementary piece. He and Mark Ingram became the first running back teammates to each surpass 1,500 yards from scrimmage in a season in 2017, and Kamara eclipsed 1,500 scrimmage yards again in 2018 — when he scored 18 touchdowns. Since 2017, Kamara’s 4,476 scrimmage yards rank fifth in the NFL.

While Kamara probably will not top McCaffrey’s $16MM-AAV deal and may not get to the Ezekiel Elliott price point ($15MM per year), the Saints will certainly have to make him one of the league’s highest-paid backs to retain him. How the Kamara, Cook, Mixon and Jones talks proceed will bring more clarity to how teams view running backs as the 2020s begin.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/20

August 20th, 2020 at 5:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the afternoon:

Carolina Panthers

  • Claimed (from Bills): K/P Kaare Vedvik
  • Waived: TE Andrew Vollert

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Football Team

49ers Place WR Jalen Hurd On IR

August 20th, 2020 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Hurd will lose a second straight NFL season to injury. Following the young wide receiver’s ACL tear, the 49ers placed him on IR Thursday.

The 49ers drafted Hurd in the 2019 third round, and the Baylor and Tennessee alum has flashed when healthy. But he will exit 2020 having played in zero of 32 regular-season games to start his career. A stress reaction in his back cost Hurd his 2019 season.

The 6-foot-4, 227-pound prospect displayed considerable versatility in college, converting from running back to wide receiver. He played ahead of Alvin Kamara in Tennessee’s backfield in 2015, rushing for 1,285 yards and 12 touchdowns. Upon transferring to Baylor, Hurd moved to wide receiver. He caught 69 passes for 946 yards as a senior with the Bears.

Kyle Shanahan is holding out hope Deebo Samuel can return by Week 1, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (on Twitter), but the fourth-year 49ers HC did not previously sound optimistic on that front. Samuel sustained a foot fracture in June. The 49ers have signed Tavon Austin, J.J. Nelson and Jaron Brown over the past week.

Jets To Audition WR Kevin White

August 20th, 2020 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kevin White will receive another chance to show he can stick on an NFL roster. The former top-10 pick has a workout scheduled with the Jets, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

A severely injury-prone player with the Bears, White has not played since the 2018 season. For his career, the former No. 7 overall pick has accumulated just 25 receptions and 285 yards.

This is White’s first appearance on the NFL radar since the Cardinals cut him nearly a year ago to the day. Arizona signed White to a one-year deal in 2019. White, 28, may have backers in New York, however. Both Adam Gase and Joe Douglas were with Chicago when the franchise drafted White.

As a senior at West Virginia, White surged onto NFL radars with a 109-catch, 1,447-yard, 10-touchdown season. But injuries quickly derailed White in Chicago. A shin injury cost White all of his rookie season, and White’s 2016 featured a high ankle sprain and a broken leg. In September 2017, White broke a bone in his shoulder and missed 15 games. White played in nine Bears games in 2018 but caught only four passes in Matt Nagy‘s first season.

White’s workout follows the Jets’ Donte Moncrief audition. With Denzel Mims on the mend with a hamstring injury and Josh Doctson opting out, the Jets are shorthanded at receiver.

Browns To Work Out LB Malcolm Smith

August 20th, 2020 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Mack Wilson uncertain to be available this season, the Browns are looking to free agency to help fill the void. Malcolm Smith was in Cleveland on Thursday for a workout, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

The former Super Bowl MVP played in just four games last season but has 52 games’ worth of starting experience in a nine-year career. The Browns have gone from housing an experienced linebacking corps to one of the league’s youngest groups.

Cleveland went from carrying two high-end linebacker contracts — for Jamie Collins and Christian Kirksey — to having no notable money devoted to this position entering this season. The Browns also let top tackler Joe Schobert walk in free agency. This leaves a host of young players, along with free agent addition B.J. Goodson, vying for roles. Wilson started 14 games last season and was expected to be a starter. While his season is not yet deemed over, Wilson will at least be out for a lengthy period after hyperexpending his knee.

Smith was a part-time player for the 49ers in 2018, starting five games and playing 31% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps. The 49ers cut Smith last year, and he ended up playing short-term roles with the Jaguars and Cowboys. Prior to an injury nullifying his 2017 season, he signed a lucrative deal with the 49ers. Smith was a full-time player with the Raiders from 2015-16, though he is still best known for his work in Super Bowl XLVIII and that year’s NFC championship game.

Weston Richburg To Miss Regular-Season Time

August 20th, 2020 at 3:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers are not expected to have their starting center back for a while. Weston Richburg appears a candidate for the reserve/PUP list.

Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that Richburg will not be available for San Francisco’s Week 1 game, and Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area adds that the veteran blocker is expected to be out for the season’s first six weeks. That would point to a PUP list stay. Players who land on the reserve/PUP list at the season’s outset are forced to miss at least six weeks.

Richburg suffered a torn patellar tendon in December. This is a particularly difficult injury to surmount, and the late-season setback looks certain to affect Richburg’s 2020 slate. This will be Richburg’s third 49ers season. The former Giants second-round pick was targeting a training camp return, but that does not appear to be in the cards.

San Francisco has seen some turnover up front, with Trent Williams succeeding Joe Staley and Tom Compton being brought in to follow two-year starter Mike Person. Richburg backup Ben Garland is also out, and recent acquisition Spencer Long retired. These developments led to the 49ers signing Hroniss Grasu. Garland is expected to be out for multiple weeks with his ankle injury, Maiocco adds.

There will be at least three new starters on the 49ers’ O-line in Week 1, with Laken Tomlinson and Mike McGlinchey being the holdovers. San Francisco returned all five of its starting linemen to start last season.

Latest On Ravens, Dez Bryant

August 20th, 2020 at 2:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dez Bryant did, in fact, work out for the Ravens on Thursday. This was the former Cowboys All-Pro’s first known workout since he suffered an Achilles tear in November 2018.

The Ravens, though, appear content for the time being. They are not expected to sign the veteran wideout at this time, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets. While the Ravens have not ruled out a Bryant pact, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, they are not in a rush to add the eight-year NFL vet (Twitter link).

This marks the second connection between the Ravens and Bryant. Shortly after the Cowboys let Bryant walk in free agency two years ago, the Ravens offered him a three-year, $21MM deal. Bryant turned that proposal down and remained in free agency for several months before signing a less lucrative Saints deal and ending up on the team’s IR list. Bryant, 31, has not played since the 2017 season.

Behind Marquise Brown, Baltimore has some question marks at wide receiver. But Bryant may not be asked to help provide answers.

AFC North Notes: Bengals, Wilson, Ravens

August 20th, 2020 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

After leaving for Los Angeles to care for his coronavirus-stricken son, John Ross has returned to the Bengals. The fourth-year wide receiver, however, has landed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (video link). Ross’ son and the baby’s mother tested positive for COVID-19. Pending no positive virus tests, Ross can return to action as soon as Saturday.

Moving first to a Browns injury situation, here is the latest from the AFC North:

  • Browns linebacker Mack Wilson is awaiting word on the severity of a knee injury he suffered in practice recently. The Cleveland starter is expected to miss several weeks because of a knee hyperextension, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). No tear is believed to have occurred, per Rapoport, but surgery appears to still be on the table. That would put Wilson’s season in jeopardy. With the Browns having disbanded their veteran linebacking corps over the past year and change, Wilson is now the team’s longest-tenured starter at that position. The 2019 fifth-round pick made 14 starts as a rookie.
  • Bengals safety Shawn Williams has also run into injury trouble. The eighth-year defender was carted off during a recent practice with a calf ailment. Williams has sought a second opinion, and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero writes optimism exists the longtime starter can return in time for the Bengals’ Week 1 game (Twitter link). Williams has been a starter for the past four seasons, but the Bengals signing former Saints starter Vonn Bell could potentially cloud Williams’ role.
  • Nine months after tearing his ACL, PCL and MCL and dislocating his kneecap, Matt Skura returned to practice. The Ravens‘ first-string center passed his physical and was back in time for the team’s first padded practice, the team announced. Skura’s return, in a contract year, would be key for a Ravens team that saw potential Hall of Fame guard Marshal Yanda retire after 13 seasons.
  • It appears the Ravens will put their sixth-round pick to work quickly. Wide receiver James Proche is on track to be the team’s punt returner, but Baltimore special teams coordinator Chris Horton said (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, on Twitter) the SMU product is a candidate to return kicks as well. The Ravens recently signed veteran return man Kenjon Barner, so Proche still being in contention for the kick-return role is interesting.
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