HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Saints’ Michael Thomas To Miss Time

September 15th, 2020 at 8:26pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints will be without Michael Thomas for a while. The star wide receiver will be sidelined for several weeks with a high-ankle sprain, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). 

[RELATED: Saints Sign LB Demario Davis To Three-Year Extension]

The Saints want to put Thomas on injured reserve, but he’s pushing back in hopes that he can return inside of three weeks. Based on the diagnosis, Pelissero senses that an extra-speedy recovery is unlikely. The 27-year-old has missed only game as a pro and zero since 2017.

Needless to say, losing Thomas for a month or more would be devastating for the Saints. Thomas is fresh off of a record-shattering 149-catch season in which he finished with 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns. It was an unbelievable encore, even by Thomas’ standards. In the previous season, Thomas set Saints records with 125 catches and 1,405 yards while adding nine TDs. He was wildly efficient, too – Thomas’ catch rate of 84.5% was the highest of any NFL receiver since at least 2001.

But, on the flipside, the Saints did manage to down the Buccaneers on Sunday despite an uncharacteristically quiet game from Thomas. For now, Drew Brees will look to newcomer Emmanuel Sanders for increased support and likely send additional targets towards running back Alvin Kamara and tight end Jared Cook.

Vikings Expected To Sign S George Iloka

September 15th, 2020 at 4:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

George Iloka met with the Vikings for a second time this year, working out Tuesday. That is expected to lead to a reunion.

The veteran safety is going through COVID-19 testing protocols and is expected to sign with the Vikings later this week, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets.

The Vikes were not especially interested in bringing Iloka back last week, due to his vested-veteran status mandating his salary become guaranteed at the season’s outset, Tomasson adds (on Twitter). With that no longer an issue, it appears Mike Zimmer will have a familiar face back in his secondary.

A former Bengals draftee who played for Zimmer in Cincinnati from 2012-13, Iloka last played in the NFL in 2018 with the Vikings. Although he played in 16 games with Minnesota that season, he was out of football in 2019. The Vikings previously met with Iloka in mid-August.

In Week 1, the Vikings carried just two pure safeties on their active roster — starters Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris. They promoted Nate Meadors from their practice squad last week, however, and have converted him from cornerback to safety. Iloka, however, brings extensive experience at the position and has three seasons in Zimmer’s system. Iloka, 30, was a full-time Bengals starter from 2013-17.

Chargers Work Out RB Bilal Powell

September 15th, 2020 at 4:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Longtime Jets running back Bilal Powell made a trip to Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Chargers worked out the veteran, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

The Bolts also auditioned younger backs as well, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com noting Jordan Scarlett and Brian Herrien took part in the Tuesday running back workout (Twitter link). Ex-Chargers running back Troymaine Pope also participated in the audition, per the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).

Powell re-signed with the Jets in 2019, doing so after suffering a severe injury in 2018. The nine-year veteran has resided in free agency since March. The Chargers, however, have a potential opening at this position. Justin Jackson is dealing with a quadriceps injury.

Chargers HC Anthony Lynn was the Jets’ running backs coach during Powell’s first five years with the team. Powell, 31, mostly served as a complementary back in New York but played with the Jets from 2011-19. He submitted three seasons with 900-plus yards from scrimmage from 2013-17. Powell played in 13 Jets games last season, totaling 262 scrimmage yards.

The Panthers drafted Scarlett in the 2019 fifth round out of Florida, while Herrien went to training camp with the Browns this year. A veteran UDFA who made his NFL debut in 2016, Pope played 14 games with the Bolts last year.

The Chargers have Austin Ekeler entrenched as their starter, and fourth-round rookie Josh Kelly rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals in Week 1.

Jets Place WR Denzel Mims On IR

September 15th, 2020 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Denzel Mims‘ Jets debut will not happen until at least October. The Jets placed their second-round pick on IR Tuesday.

The Baylor product suffered a hamstring injury during training camp and missed Week 1. He will not be eligible to return until Week 5. The Jets placed Le’Veon Bell on IR as well and are signing running back Kalen Ballage.

Mims came to New York as one of the many highly coveted wideouts in this year’s historically deep receiver draft. But he has missed extensive time due to injury after the pandemic-altered offseason. Tuesday’s move will further delay Mims’ progress in his initial Jets campaign.

Ballage will rejoin Adam Gase, doing so after a rare Dolphins-Jets trade was nixed in late August. Ballage failed his physical due to a hamstring malady, leading to the Dolphins waiving the 2018 draftee. Ballage will join a Jets backfield that is down Bell and fourth-round rookie La’Mical Perine.

The Jets also placed linebacker Blake Cashman on IR. Cashman left Sunday’s game with an injury and will also be out until at least October.

Allen Robinson Asks Bears For Trade?

September 15th, 2020 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

3:40pm: Robinson’s dissatisfaction has resulted in another step. He has indeed inquired about a possible trade out of Chicago, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports. The Bears trading Robinson would represent a drastic step — and an unlikely course of action considering they are as of now using the 2020 season to make a final evaluation on Trubisky.

1:53pm: One game into his contract year, Allen Robinson does not appear to be content with his Bears status. Chicago’s No. 1 wide receiver has grown frustrated with his extension negotiations, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (video link).

The latest Robinson report, in July, indicated no talks had commenced. However, the Bears have made Robinson at least one offer, with Pelissero adding that the seventh-year wideout is not satisfied with the team’s proposals and removed Bears-related references from his social media pages Tuesday.

Robinson, 27, is in the final season of a three-year, $42MM deal. Since he signed that contract, the wide receiver market has changed substantially. Robinson’s $14MM AAV now places him 15th among receivers. He has not requested a trade at this juncture, however, per Pelissero. The former Jaguars draftee said late last season he was interested in a Bears extension.

Despite Mitchell Trubisky having not lived up to his draft slot, Robinson has consistently produced in Chicago. He caught a career-high 98 passes last season, one in which his quarterback regressed considerably, and posted 1,147 yards. Against Detroit in Week 1, Robinson caught five passes for 74 yards.

The Bears drafted Anthony Miller in the 2018 second round, but Robinson has operated as their chain-moving centerpiece since arriving that year. The organization has agreed to a few September extensions in recent years, inking Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman and Cody Whitehair to new deals in the season’s first month. However, each of those deals occurred just before the start of the regular season. The franchise tag could come into play for Robinson, whom the Jags let hit free agency two years ago. A deal that would prevent such a scenario does not yet appear close.

Eagles To Sign G Jamon Brown Off Bears’ Practice Squad

September 15th, 2020 at 3:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jamon Brown‘s Chicago stay did not last long. The Eagles are signing the veteran guard off the Bears’ practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.

The Bears added Brown to their P-squad last week but opted to let him join the Eagles’ active roster rather than promote him to their own.

The Eagles have run into extensive trouble up front. They lost Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks to another Achilles tear, lost Andre Dillard for the season and had Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson on the Week 1 inactive list due to injury. This played a key role in Washington sacking Carson Wentz eight times.

Brown was a full-time Rams starter in 2017, when the team snapped a lengthy playoff drought, but a suspension halted his run with Los Angeles’ first unit. The Rams waived Brown midway through the 2018 season, but he became a Giants starter soon after. The Falcons signed Brown in 2019 and used him as a starter in nine games. But Atlanta cut the veteran blocker this offseason.

Return Possible For Broncos’ Von Miller?

September 15th, 2020 at 3:29pm CST by Zachary Links

SEPTEMBER 15: The Broncos placed Miller on injured reserve Tuesday, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Miller underwent a successful ankle surgery last week. While he is likely to miss the rest of the season, the Broncos carrying their defensive centerpiece onto their 53-man roster before the IR placement would allow him to return in 2020.

SEPTEMBER 9: Broncos edge rusher Von Miller has been diagnosed with a dislocated peroneal tendon, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). In layman’s terms, this means that Miller’s tendon flipped over the ankle bone. Surgery seems likely for the Broncos star, which usually requires 5-6 months of recovery time. However, in an “absolute best-case scenario,” players can return to the field after three months of rehab. 

[RELATED: Broncos’ Von Miller Done For Year?]

Miller suffered the injury on the last snap of Tuesday’s practice, a heartbreaking setback for a player who was eager to erase a down 2019 and bring the Broncos back to the playoffs. At minimum, the Broncos will place Miller on injured reserve, though he could still be brought back later in the year. At maximum, Miller is looking at a lost season.

If Miller is out for the year, the Broncos will be faced with some tough decisions in 2021. They still have the Super Bowl 50 MVP under contract for another two years, at a rate of $17.5MM in each season. With a $22.225MM cap figure in 2021, and an expected dip in the NFL’s overall cap limit, the Broncos may try to rework his deal, or cut him loose. If Miller is on the roster by the first day of the league year, he’ll have $7MM of his salary fully guaranteed. Releasing him before that point would save the club $4.125MM with $18MM left in dead money.

The Broncos will kick off their 2020 season on Monday night against the Chargers. They’ll be without Miller and, potentially, Bradley Chubb, who is not quite 100% recovered from his ACL tear.

Jets Place Le’Veon Bell On IR

September 15th, 2020 at 3:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Le’Veon Bell is set to miss the rest of the Jets’ September slate, at least. The Jets are placing the former All-Pro running back on IR, Kim Jones of NFL.com tweets.

Bell will be out until at least Week 5, with teams having the option this year to activate players from IR after three weeks off the roster. Prior to the IR move, Adam Gase said Bell will be out a couple of weeks with his hamstring injury.

Gase and Bell disagreed over an issue with the running back’s hamstring during training camp, which represented the latest bout of turbulence in the sides’ relationship. The Jets will now turn to Frank Gore against the 49ers. They were down fourth-round rookie La’Mical Perine in Week 1. Perine missed Gang Green’s opener because of an ankle injury.

The Jets signed Bell to a four-year, $52.5MM deal in 2019. Like many of the big-ticket contracts former GM Mike Maccagnan authorized during his four-plus-year tenure, it has not worked out. Bell, whom Gase was reported to have not wanted at that price tag, slogged through a career-worst season in 2019. Should the Jets not be able to find a trade partner, they will almost certainly cut Bell in 2021.

Franchise Tag Provision Held Up Dak Prescott Extension

September 15th, 2020 at 3:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

After 18 months of Dak Prescott rumors, the Cowboys quarterback is tethered to his franchise tag salary until 2021. If/when the Cowboys revisit extension talks with their QB1, the negotiating starting point will certainly be different compared to where it was in 2019 and from the $35MM-per-year range in which it resided this summer.

Prescott was ready to accept Dallas’ $35MM-AAV offer in July, but Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports he wanted a provision in the deal that prevented the Cowboys from tagging him in the offseason after the contract expired. That proved to be a deal-breaker for Jerry Jones.

Jones said Tuesday, when asked about this sticking point, he views the tag as a valuable negotiating tool, per Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter). This is an interesting disagreement, since it refers to a hypothetical negotiation in 2025. Quarterbacks of Prescott’s caliber rarely play out their contracts, but Prescott held firm in 2019 and played out his rookie deal — which ended up raising his price.

A cross-section of NFL executives now view Prescott’s forthcoming price range between $42-$43MM per year, La Canfora adds. That is considerably higher than where it was in 2019, when Prescott became extension-eligible, and where it was in 2020. Even though a record cap reduction could take place next year, the quarterback market has now seen Patrick Mahomes sign for $45MM (over 10 years) and Deshaun Watson raise the conventional QB-contract price to $39MM a year. Lamar Jackson will also be eligible to sign a monster extension by the time the Cowboys can negotiate with Dak again.

The deal Prescott was ready to sign in mid-July included $110MM guaranteed and $70MM in the first two years. At the time, that would have placed Prescott in the top three among guarantees. Watson’s pact includes $111MM guaranteed. Should the Cowboys tag Prescott again in 2021, it would mean a $38MM cap hit.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/15/20

September 15th, 2020 at 2:25pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Atlanta Falcons

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: K Matt Gay
  • Released: DE Gerri Green

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

  • Signed: QB Jake Dolegala

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

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