2020 August - Pro Football Rumors

Injury Notes: Alford, Hargrave, Jets, Tretter

August 17th, 2020 at 6:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Cardinals cornerback Robert Alford did indeed suffer a torn pectoral yesterday, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the injury will sideline the veteran for the 2020 season.

This is a tough outcome for both Alford and the organization. Arizona inked the defensive back to a three-year, $22.5MM deal in 2019, but Alford missed his first season with the organization after suffering a leg injury. There was optimism out of the Cardinals’ camp that Alford would return to full strength in 2020, but this injury has obviously put a snag in his comeback attempt.

Alford spent the first six seasons of his career with the Falcons, collecting 303 tackles and 10 interceptions in 88 games (76 appearance). The veteran also appeared in five playoff games for Atlanta, and he had had a pick-six on Tom Brady during the Falcons’ Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.

Pro Football Focus wasn’t fond of his performance during his last healthy campaign in 2018, so this could realistically be the end for the 31-year-old.

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

The Eagles got some good news today, as they learned that defensive tackle Javon Hargrave suffered only a “minor pectoral strain” (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter). The injury is expected to sideline the veteran for only a few weeks. The 27-year-old inked a three-year, $39MM deal with Philly this past offseason after compiling 60 tackles and four sacks with the Steelers in 2019. When he’s back to full health, he’ll join Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson to form one of the top defensive tackle groupings in the NFL
Jets wideout Vyncint Smith will miss the next five to eight weeks as he recovers from a core-muscle injury, tweets ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The 24-year-old got into 13 games (four starts) for New York last season, hauling in 17 receptions for 225 yards. As Cimini notes, the organization could be scrambling for receiver depth, as Josh Doctson has opted out of the upcoming season and rookie Denzel Mims is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Browns center J.C. Tretter underwent a minor knee procedure and will miss the next few weeks, reports Rapoport (via Twitter). The veteran opted for the procedure to clean up loose bodies and remedy discomfort. The NFLPA President has spent the past three seasons with Cleveland, starting each of the team’s 48 games.

Jaguars DE Rodney Gunter Stepping Away From Football

August 17th, 2020 at 5:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Rodney Gunter is calling it a career, at least temporarily. The Jaguars defensive end revealed last night that he’s stepping away from football at the advice of doctors. In a procedural move, the Jaguars placed Gunter on the reserve/retired list.

In a statement, Gunter explained that he was diagnosed with a severe heart condition, and he could have ruptured his aorta is he continued his football career. Surgery could eventually remedy the issue, and that would theoretically allow him to return to the football field. However, the 28-year-old currently doesn’t meet the specific criteria for the procedure, so he’s understandably stepping away from football as he awaits his next steps.

On Monday, head coach Doug Marrone praised the player’s offseason work ethic, and he revealed that he offered Gunter a staff position with the purpose of keeping him around the team.

“These are the things that are very difficult,” Marrone said. “Things come up that are out of your control and take away things that you love and want to do…It’s just an awful feeling. It really is. It’s just tough.”

The 2015 fourth-round pick had spent the first five seasons of his career with the Cardinals, including a 2019 campaign where he finished with 31 tackles and three sacks in 13 games. He signed a three-year, $18MM deal with Jacksonville this past offseason, and he was expected to replace traded defensive lineman Calais Campbell.

Now, Jacksonville will be scrambling to figure out their defensive line depth, especially with defensive end Yannick Ngakoue avoiding camp. As ESPN’s Michael DiRocco notes, the team’s already seen nose tackle Al Woods and defensive end Lerentee McCray opt out of the upcoming season, while defensive tackles Dontavius Russell and Brian Price were placed on IR.

Titans Work Out QBs Trevor Siemian, DeShone Kizer

August 17th, 2020 at 5:03pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans were busy today, as the organization worked out four notable offensive players. USA Today’s Mike Jones reports (via Twitter) that the team auditioned quarterbacks Trevor Siemian and DeShone Kizer, running back D’Onta Foreman, and tight end Geoff Swaim.

It’s not too surprising that the Titans are sniffing around for help at quarterback. After all, the team has a pair of unproven options behind Ryan Tannehill in Logan Woodside and Cole McDonald. Siemian would certainly provide the Titans with the experience they’re presumably seeking, although the 28-year-old has only seen time in one game over the past two years (thanks in part to a season-ending ankle injury during the 2019 campaign). The last time he got an extended look was 2017, when he went 5-5 as a starter for the Broncos.

Following an ugly 2017 campaign that saw him go winless in 15 starts for the Browns, Kizer has spent time with the Packers and Raiders. Still only 24 years old, the former Notre Dame standout has 11 career touchdowns vs. 24 career interceptions.

Following an award-winning career at Texas, Foreman was drafted in the third round of the 2017 draft by the Texans. He saw time in 10 games as a rookie, compiling 327 rushing yards and two scores on 78 carries. A torn Achilles suffered towards the end of that 2017 campaign limited him to only a single appearance in 2018, and he was cut the following preseason. He briefly caught on with the Colts, but he sat as a free agent for all of the 2019 season.

Swaim, a former seventh-round pick, spent four seasons with the Cowboys, including a 2018 season where he hauled in a career-high 26 receptions for 242 yards and one touchdown. He signed with the Jaguars last season, but he was limited to only 13 receptions in six games.

It wasn’t just those four players who auditioned for Tennessee today. As Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets, the Titans also hosted wide receivers Krishawn Hogan and A.J. Taylor, cornerback Andre Chachere, and running back Marcus Marshall.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/20

August 17th, 2020 at 3:37pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Released: QB Danny Etling

Buffalo Bills

Placed on IR: DT Niles Scott

Carolina Panthers

Claimed off waivers (from Dallas): DE Jalen Jelks

Cincinnati Bengals

Waived/Injured: RB Rodney Anderson

Houston Texans

Activated off NFI: WR Kenny Stills (Sunday)
Activated off PUP: LB Dylan Cole (Sunday)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Placed on IR: TE Josh Oliver
Released from IR: DT Brian Price

Kansas City Chiefs

Claimed: TE Daniel Helm (from 49ers)

Miami Dolphins

Waived: OT Nick Kaltmayer (Sunday)

Minnesota Vikings

Cut (injury designation): LB Quentin Poling

New England Patriots

Signed: OL Ben Braden, TE Paul Butler, TE Alex Ellis

New York Jets

Signed: TE Connor Davis
Waived: S Anthony Cioffi

New York Giants

Signed: DT Daylon Mack

Tennessee Titans

Signed: LB/DE Jamal Davis II (Sunday)

Ravens Place Iman Marshall On IR

August 17th, 2020 at 2:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Iman Marshall‘s season is over. The Ravens placed the cornerback on injured reserve after he tore several knee ligaments, including his ACL.

Marshall, a fourth-year pro out of USC, was pushing for one of the final spots on the Ravens’ CB depth chart. Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Tavon Young, and Jimmy Smith are set to lead the group, but there will be one or two more openings to fill.

Marshall also missed the bulk of his rookie season due to injury. He suited up for just three games, spending most of his on-field time with the special teams unit.

On the other side of the ball, the Ravens are doing their homework on Dez Bryant. Meanwhile, they’ve ruled out Antonio Brown, despite Lamar Jackson‘s strong endorsement.

Cardinals’ Robert Alford Suffers Torn Pec

August 17th, 2020 at 1:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Cardinals cornerback Robert Alford suffered a pectoral injury in practice yesterday, sources tell Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Alford is now awaiting word on the diagnosis and a timeline for recovery.

This is, unfortunately, familiar territory for Alford. A leg injury in August of last year cost Alford the entire season. The Cardinals inked the veteran to a three-year, $22.5MM deal in 2019 and he has yet to take a single snap for Arizona.

Alford, 31, had been one of the Falcons’ longest-tenured players, as he’d been with the club since being selected in the second round of the 2013 draft. An 88-game veteran, Alford started 15 games in 2018 but posted arguably the worst campaign of his pro career. Pro Football Focus graded Alford as a bottom-10 cornerback league-wide that year. He also ranked dead last among 85 qualifiers in Football Outsiders’ yards per pass allowed and success rate.

Alford was eager to prove himself all over again this year, but he may have to wait until next year.

Cowboys’ Gerald McCoy Done For Year

August 17th, 2020 at 11:45am CST by Zachary Links

A torn quadriceps muscle will rule out Cowboys defensive tackle Gerald McCoy for the year, per an announcement from the team. The injury was initially feared to be an ACL tear, but the end result is the same.

The Cowboys inked McCoy to a three-year, ~$20MM deal in March. Even though it was a lot less than McCoy’s massive Bucs deal, it was still a significant layout for Dallas. For the 32-year-old, it was an opportunity to win in the twilight of his career.

McCoy hooked on with the Panthers last year after spending his previous nine pro seasons with the Buccaneers. He started in every game for Carolina and was still effective on the interior – he finished out with five sacks, bringing his career total to 59.5.

McCoy was set to join forces with DeMarcus Lawrence and Tyrone Crawford on Dallas’ D-Line, helping to fill the void left by the departures of Robert Quinn and Maliek Collins. Now, he’ll have to wait until next year to make his Dallas debut.

Giants Cut Chandler Catanzaro

August 17th, 2020 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants have released kicker Chandler Catanzaro, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). That job now belongs to former Panthers kicker Graham Gano, who spent years playing under GM Dave Gettleman.

Catanzaro, 29, hooked on with the Jets last year. After a rocky training camp and equally rough start to the preseason, he announced his retirement. He returned to the game last month with New Jersey’s other team, but his stay was short-lived.

Catanzaro nailed 87.9% of his kicks as a Cardinals rookie in 2014 and 90.3% of his tries in 2015. His success rate dipped to 75% in 2016, but bounced back a bit with the Jets in 2017, making 83.3% of his kicks and all of his PATs. Then, he dipped once again. His three-year deal with the Bucs was torn up pretty quickly after he missed two field goals in a loss to the Redskins, ending his Tampa Bay tenure with a weak 73.3% success rate. His last live action came with the Panthers towards the end of the 2018 campaign.

Gano, meanwhile, has been out of football since he fractured his femur towards the end of the 2018 season. Before that, he was tremendous in 2017, his last full season. Gano nailed 29 of his 30 field goal tries for a league-leading 96.7% conversion rate.

Ravens Won’t Sign Antonio Brown

August 17th, 2020 at 11:11am CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are interested in Dez Bryant, but they will not consider Antonio Brown, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Lamar Jackson has pushed for the Ravens to sign his workout pal, but owner Steve Bisciotti is not interested.

There was, at least, a glimmer of hope recently when head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that he’s willing to “look at any and every player” and that Brown is “no exception.” Brown, apparently, is an exception. His troubling off-the-field issues and the club’s history with Ray Rice have soured any potential deal.

Brown must serve an eight-game NFL suspension before returning to the field. Even then, it’s still not clear if he’ll get an opportunity. Seahawks star quarterback Russell Wilson would love to bring him to Seattle, though Pete Carroll seems more inclined to reunite with Josh Gordon.

Brown, 32, has tallied 841 receptions for 11,253 yards over the course of his career, which includes seven Pro Bowl appearances.

Lions Sign RB Jonathan Williams

August 17th, 2020 at 10:52am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have signed running back Jonathan Williams, per a club announcement. To make room, the Lions dropped fellow RB Wes Hills.

Williams made some noise as a fifth-round Bills rookie in 2016, running for 92 yards on 27 carries. Since then, he’s lived life on the fringe of the NFL. Two seasons with the Saints yielded just three appearances. Last year, he suited up nine times for the Colts, averaging 4.8 yards per carry in a small sample size. All in all, he had 235 yards off of 49 carries with one score.

The Arkansas product will join the Lions’ ~80-man roster and try to make the final cut for Week 1. As it stands, the Lions have Kerryon Johnson, promising rookie D’Andre Swift, and Bo Scarbrough atop their RB depth chart.