HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Vikings Place Danielle Hunter On IR

September 9th, 2020 at 4:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings have placed defensive end Danielle Hunter on injured reserve, per a club announcement. To take his place on the roster, they’ve promoted kicker Chase McLaughlin from the practice squad. 

Thanks to the league’s modified IR rules for 2020, Hunter will only be required to sit out for three weeks before returning. It’s not clear if he’ll be ready to go by mid-October, however. All we know for now is that he’ll be out for Sunday’s opener against the Packers, plus the next two games against the Colts and Titans.

Hunter has been limited and out of practice with a rumored neck injury since August 16th. Fortunately, new addition Yannick Ngakoue is there to help keep the pressure on. He’ll be paired with Ifeadi Odenigbo, who will fill-in as the other starting bookend in Hunter’s absence.

The Vikings have four more years of club-friendly control over Hunter, thanks to the five-year, $72MM deal extension he inked in 2018. Now entering his age-26 season, Hunter has 54.5 career sacks to his credit.

Cowboys Rework Zack Martin’s Deal

September 9th, 2020 at 2:44pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys carved out additional cap space with some help from Zack Martin. Martin has agreed to push some dollars into future seasons, giving the Cowboys an extra $8MM to spend in 2020 (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

[RELATED: Cowboys To Extend Randy Gregory]

Martin has spent his entire career with the Cowboys and has earned Pro Bowl nods in each one of his six seasons. Last year, he also notched a First-Team All-Pro selection, giving him four in total. He’s started in every game he’s played while only missing a pair of contests.

The Cowboys rewarded their star guard with a six-year, $84MM deal ($40MM guaranteed) in 2018 to make him the league’s highest-paid player at his position. Today, his $14MM average annual value slots him third, behind new leader Brandon Scherff ($15.03MM/year) and Brandon Brooks ($14.05MM).

Always a team player, Martin has made it possible for the Cowboys to make some upgrades this fall and/or take care of teammates. Now armed with upwards of $20MM in available dollars, the Cowboys may look to extend a few select players, as they recently did with edge rusher Randy Gregory.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/9/20

September 9th, 2020 at 2:31pm CST by Zachary Links

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

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: T Greg Senat

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Signed: OT Jaryd Jones-Smith

New England Patriots

  • Signed: G Corey Levin
  • Released: FB Paul Quessenberry

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: DE Marcus Willoughby

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Steelers’ Ryan Shazier Retires From NFL

September 9th, 2020 at 11:54am CST by Zachary Links

On Wednesday, Ryan Shazier officially announced his retirement from football. This was the expected move after the Steelers placed the beloved linebacker on the reserve/retired list in March.

[RELATED: Steelers, Cam Heyward Agree To $71MM+ Extension]

Shazier was a Pro Bowl linebacker before a devastating spinal injury in 2017. Initially feared that he wouldn’t be able to walk again, Shazier battled his way back to being able to run and train, and has been an incredible source of inspiration along the way. The Ohio State product ultimately wasn’t able to return to the field, but he won’t be far from the game. The Steelers will continue to have Shazier involved as a mentor and likely as a full-fledged assistant, once the pandemic is in the past.

Shazier earned a Pro Bowl selection in his final NFL season, despite playing in only 12 games. Prior to that, he logged 55 tackles in each of the previous two seasons. Although he did not get to realize his full on-field potential, he’ll continue to serve as an inspiration for players and fans everywhere.

“When I was five years old, I made the greatest discovery of my life,” Shazier said (via Twitter). “I discovered the game that I love – the game of football. Ever since then, I’ve given my life to the game. I love everything about it…It made me money and gave me a life most people could only dream about. I’m here today to make sure the world knows how much I still love football, how grateful I am for everything football gave me. And I’m here to let the world know that today I am officially retiring from the game I love so much.”

Aqib Talib Retires From NFL

September 9th, 2020 at 11:39am CST by Zachary Links

Longtime NFL cornerback Aqib Talib is calling it a career. Talib announced his retirement on his talk show, where he’ll be turning his full attention.

“Aqib Talib is officially retired, and I’m bringing my talents to the booth,” Talib said (Twitter link). “Football gave me so much in life. Once that negative thought crossed my mind, I was like, my heart, my competitive edge … like, I ain’t really in it like that no more… I just wasn’t feeling it no more, honestly.”

Talib, 34, appeared in five games with the Rams last year before suffering a rib injury. Then, just before the October trade deadline, he was shipped to the Dolphins. The deal was effectively a salary dump for Denver – Talib never suited up in Miami, and the Dolphins got a fifth-round pick out of the swap.

Still, there were opportunities for the hard-nosed veteran. Talib claims the Patriots offered him a one-year deal worth up to $6MM to help cover tight ends in specific packages. Ultimately, Talib turned it down, because the fire wasn’t there.

Talib entered the league as a first-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2008 and starred for them up until 2012, when he was shipped to the Patriots in a midseason trade. Talib captured his first Pro Bowl nod with the Pats in 2013 and later won a championship ring with the Broncos in Super Bowl 50. He leaves the game with 462 career tackles, 125 pass breakups and 35 interceptions across 148 games.

Rams Sign Jalen Ramsey To Extension

September 9th, 2020 at 9:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Rams have locked down their shutdown corner. On Wednesday, the Rams announced a brand new five-year deal for Jalen Ramsey. It’s a five-year add-on worth $105MM, making Ramsey the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The pact, which averages out to $21MM per year, also comes with $71.2MM guaranteed at signing, another new record for the position. The deal comes after months of talks between the two sides, though recent word was that the talks were not moving in the right direction. Ultimately, the Rams were motivated to find middle ground, especially since they sent a wealth of draft capital to the Jaguars to acquire him.

The Rams shipped two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder to the Jaguars for Ramsey last October. Between his three games with the Jaguars and nine games with the Rams, Ramsey recorded just 50 tackles and one interception. He didn’t play up to his usual standards in L.A., but the belief is that he’ll play up to his whopping new deal.

Ramsey’s contract vaults him ahead of Tre’Davious White, who grabbed the mantle of highest-paid corner just days ago with $17.5MM/year. He also passed Byron Jones on a rocket ship for the most guaranteed cash paid to a cornerback. Jones, who inked his own sizable deal with the Dolphins earlier this year, secured roughly $57MM in guarantees.

Ramsey told the club that he wouldn’t hold out in 2020 if he didn’t have a new deal in place, but there were no promised made regarding a potential franchise tag in 2021. Without that safety net in place, the Rams did not want to roll the dice.

Broncos’ Von Miller Done For Year?

September 8th, 2020 at 9:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Von Miller suffered an ankle injury on Tuesday that will likely rule him out for the year (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). There’s no official word from the Broncos just yet, but confirmation is likely to come on Wednesday. 

[RELATED: Broncos Sign 15 To Practice Squad]

Miller, 31, was gearing up for his tenth season in Denver. Throughout his career, the Super Bowl 50 MVP has been lauded for his toughness and talent in equal measure. In the last six seasons, he’s missed just one game.

After a bout of COVID-19 in the spring, Miller quickly returned to his workout regimen with an eye on getting back to his old form. Last year was a down season by Miller’s standards – he registered eight sacks, his first season in single digits since 2013. All in all, Miller has 106 career sacks to his credit, trailing only Terrell Suggs (139) among all active players.

To make matters worse for the Broncos, Bradley Chubb‘s availability is still in question. As Chubb continues to work his way back from last year’s ACL tear, the Broncos could be down two top edge rushers for Monday night’s game against the Titans.

Cowboys To Extend Randy Gregory

September 8th, 2020 at 9:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after Randy Gregory‘s reinstatement, the Cowboys are giving him an extension. They agreed to terms on a deal that will keep Gregory under contract through 2021, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News tweets.

Gregory’s rookie contact, which has tolled considerably due to his four suspensions as a pro, ran through 2020. The veteran defensive end will be eligible to return this season in Week 7. This deal comes with a $200K signing bonus, per ESPN.com’s Todd Archer, who adds Gregory can make up to $2.1MM in 2021.

The NFL reinstated Gregory last week. The former second-round pick had been banned under the 2011 CBA’s substance-abuse policy since February 2019. He has not played since the 2018 season. The Cowboys, who have not exactly been shy regarding defenders with checkered pasts in recent years, have acted aggressively with suspended defensive ends this offseason. Dallas’ D-line now also includes Aldon Smith, who has not played since 2015. Both Smith and Gregory were reinstated this year.

Gregory, 27, registered six of his seven career sacks in 2018. The Cowboys switched out their DeMarcus Lawrence support staff this offseason, going from Robert Quinn and Michael Bennett to Gregory, Smith and Everson Griffen. Tyrone Crawford remains on the roster as well.

Eagles Bring Back TE Richard Rodgers

September 8th, 2020 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after his Washington release, Richard Rodgers will return to Philadelphia. The Eagles re-signed the veteran tight end Tuesday.

Rodgers departs one of the NFL’s thinnest tight end groups and rejoins one of its strongest. Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert were previously the Eagles’ only two active-roster tight ends.

This will mark Rodgers’ seventh NFL season. Rodgers spent the past two with the Eagles, though he only played in eight games. While best known for catching a Hail Mary from Aaron Rodgers in Detroit nearly five years ago, Richard Rodgers caught eight TD passes in that 2015 season. He only has one catch for seven yards since his four-year Green Bay stay concluded.

Rodgers, 28, landed on the Eagles’ IR list with a foot injury last August. The team, however, re-signed him in December. Tuesday’s agreement doubles as Rodgers’ fourth one-year Philly deal.

Cody Parkey Lands On Browns’ P-Squad

September 8th, 2020 at 5:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

After bringing Cody Parkey in for a workout and a subsequent visit, the Browns are indeed keeping the veteran kicker around.

Parkey agreed to join Cleveland’s practice squad. He represents kicker insurance behind incumbent Austin Seibert, whom the Browns — under the previous John Dorsey regime — drafted in the fifth round last year.

This marks a return to Cleveland for Parkey, who kicked in 14 Browns games in 2016. He made 80% of his field goals that year. The Browns have used different kickers in each of the past six seasons, though Seibert looks likely to snap that streak. He will have Parkey, a 2014 Pro Bowler with the Eagles, representing continual competition, however.

Former Titans third-round wide receiver Taywan Taylor also landed on the Browns’ practice squad. Taylor, who posted 466 receiving yards in 2018, was with the Browns last year and in training camp this year.

Following their Tuesday addition of tackle Greg Senat to the practice-only crew, here is the Browns’ squad:

Load More Posts