2020 September - Pro Football Rumors

Texans To Sign Corey Liuget

September 28th, 2020 at 11:09am CST by Zachary Links

The Texans have agreed to sign defensive tackle Corey Liuget to the practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Liuget had multiple contract offers, Wilson hears, but he ultimately chose to sign with Houston.

Liuget first entered the league in 2011 and spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Chargers. Typically a consistent producer, Liuget inked a whopping five-year, $58.5MM extension with the Bolts in 2015, a deal that included $30MM in guaranteed money. He didn’t live up to that deal, thanks in part to a serious knee injury and a 2018 PED suspension.

Liuget, now 30, has been on the fringes ever since the Chargers declined his option in February of last year. When auditions with the Jaguars and Cardinals didn’t lead to deals, Liuget hooked on with the Raiders. After appearing in a few games for Jon Gruden‘s squad, the Bills scooped him up. All in all, Liuget appeared in ten games while registering 13 stops and one sack.

It’s unlikely that he’ll ever reprise his best work — including a 2014 campaign in which he compiled 57 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles — but Liuget could be a solid reserve for the Texans. For what it’s worth, Liuget says he’s 100% healthy and down to a trimmer 289 pounds.

Eagles HC On Benching Carson Wentz: “Don’t Go There”

September 28th, 2020 at 9:49am CST by Zachary Links

Despite a rocky start to the season, the Eagles are not thinking about benching Carson Wentz, head coach Doug Pederson says. In an interview on 94 WIP, Pederson shot down the notion of giving Wentz the hook in favor of rookie Jalen Hurts.

“You don’t go there,” Pederson said (via NJ.com’s Chris Franklin). “That’s a knee-jerk reaction. That’s a reaction to things that sometimes are the aura that’s out there. That’s not what we believe internally. We are going to continue to get better. Carson is our quarterback. We are going to get it fixed. Listen, we are only half a game out of first place. The whole division is not playing good football. We’re not that far off.”

Wentz hasn’t been all that and a bag of chips through three games, lobbing two interceptions in each contest against the Washington Football Team, the Rams, and the Bengals. After dropping the first two games, the Eagles came out of this week’s game with a tie, leaving them at 0-2-1 heading into Week 4 against the 49ers. On the plus side, the rest of the NFC East hasn’t gotten off to a rollocking start either, as Pederson indicated. Currently, Washington (1-2) and Dallas (1-2) share the divisional lead with the Giants (0-3) in the cellar.

If Wentz’s struggles continue, so will the questions about Hurts. During his lone season at Oklahoma, Hurts ran for 1,298 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on 233 carries. Wentz, meanwhile, has several years and zeroes to go on his four-year, $128MM extension.

Extra Points: Eagles, McCown, Claiborne, Saints, Crawley

September 27th, 2020 at 8:05pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Josh McCown agreed to an unprecedented deal to become the Eagles’ emergency remote quarterback by signing to their practice squad earlier this month, and now we have more details on the arrangement. One of the reasons McCown was brought in was because of his strong relationship with Carson Wentz, and he’s been talking Wentz through his slow start, sources told Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Sources also told La Canfora that McCown is viewed by the Eagles and other organizations across the league as a future NFL head coach. McCown is essentially working as a part-time coach right now, as La Canfora writes he’s staying in shape but not training with the team at all. “Several” execs told La Canfora that he “could be an NFL head coach within five years of retiring from the game, perhaps sooner.” Those same execs said he could have a quarterback coach job right now if he wanted it, and would be fast-tracked to be a coordinator.

This isn’t all that surprising considering the Eagles discussed a coaching job with him as far back as January. The 41-year-old McCown was the backup to Wentz last year when he was suddenly inserted in relief in their first-round playoff game against Seattle and nearly led them to an improbable win. If Wentz keeps playing like he has been, they might need him to come in cold off the bench one more time.

Here’s more from around the league:

Speaking of guys on the verge of retirement, that’s apparently a good way to describe free agent corner Morris Claiborne. While not officially retired Claiborne is “not actively looking for work and spending family time,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Fowler adds that while he’s “staying ready just in case,” it “would take the ideal circumstance” to get him off the couch. The sixth overall pick of the 2012 draft by the Cowboys, Claiborne won the Super Bowl with the Chiefs last year, appearing in eight games and starting one. He made 15 starts in each of the previous two seasons with the Jets. If this is really it for him, he’ll hang up his cleats having made 74 starts across eight years, but never quite living up to his draft status.
The Saints are playing right now on Sunday Night Football, and they could be reuniting with a familiar face soon. New Orleans brought in cornerback Ken Crawley for a visit on Friday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The 2016 UDFA started his career with the Saints, and was with him until he was cut and claimed off waivers by the Dolphins in October of last year. He was with both the Raiders and Cardinals during training camp, and was ultimately cut by both. Still only 27, Crawley was a big part of the Saints’ defense for a while, starting 13 games in 2017 and five in 2018. He struggled pretty badly toward the end with the Saints, which is what led to his release.

Eagles TE Dallas Goedert To Miss Time

September 27th, 2020 at 6:48pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Eagles’ offense looked bad yet again Sunday in their tie with Cincinnati, and now the unit is taking another hit. Young tight end Dallas Goedert will miss time with an ankle injury he suffered against the Bengals, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

Dec 9, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (88) makes a first down reception past New York Giants free safety Antoine Bethea (41) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

It looks like it’s a high-ankle issue for Goedert, which could have him out at least a few weeks. The South Dakota State product looked like he was going to play a huge role in the offense this year, as he had at least eight targets in each of the first two games. The 2018 second-rounder had 58 catches for 607 yards and five touchdowns last year.

Philly of course loves to run their two-tight end sets with Goedert and Zach Ertz, and this certainly isn’t going to help Carson Wentz snap out of his funk. Wentz has been downright atrocious so far, with multiple interceptions in all three games, and the passing offense has consistently looked out of sync.

Goedert was a potential lone bright spot, but it now looks like he’ll be on the shelf for a while. The 0-2-1 Eagles will be shorthanded when they travel to take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football next week. Left tackle Jason Peters also went down toward the end of the game, and we’re still awaiting an update on his status.

Bears Bench Mitchell Trubisky For Nick Foles

September 27th, 2020 at 4:16pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The move many predicted would inevitably happen came in Week 3, as the Bears benched Mitchell Trubisky in favor of Nick Foles. Even though the thought coming into the season was that Trubisky would be on a short leash, it was still a bit of a surprise considering Chicago had started 2-0.

Foles promptly led the team on a huge comeback, as the Bears beat the Falcons 30-26 after trailing 26-10 late in the fourth quarter. He finished his 2020 debut 16/29 for 188 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Trubisky was 13/21 for 128 yards and a touchdown and no turnovers, so it’s not like there was any one specific moment that led to his benching.

After Trubisky led his own furious rally in Week 1 against the Lions there was a lot of talk that he had made a fourth-year leap, but obviously head coach Matt Nagy didn’t feel that way internally. Nagy insisted after the game that he just wanted to enjoy the win and didn’t know who his quarterback would be in Week 4, but it would be pretty shocking to see them go back to Trubisky now after making the switch.

It’s not too often you see a 3-0 team with quarterback drama, and it’ll be very interesting to see what happens moving forward. Chicago of course traded for Foles from Jacksonville this offseason, but Trubs won the training camp battle. The Bears declined his fifth-year option back in May, so Trubisky will be a free agent at the end of the year.

If Foles takes the job and runs with it, it’s possible we’ve seen the former second overall pick throw his last pass with Chicago. That being said, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Foles is banged up or ineffective and Trubisky is back out there within a couple of weeks. Buckle up.

Bears Fear Tarik Cohen Has Torn ACL

September 27th, 2020 at 3:56pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Hopefully this week (or any week) aren’t as bad as last week was for injuries around the NFL, but unfortunately we already have our first report of a season-ender to pass along today. The Bears fear running back Tarik Cohen has a torn ACL, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Needless to say, Cohen will be done for the season. It unfortunately dampens the mood a bit around a team that’s otherwise feeling great on the heels of their latest comeback victory. Chicago is now 3-0 on the year, although there’s now officially a quarterback controversy with Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky.

Cohen’s role didn’t look like it was going to be huge this year, but he did have a handful of touches in each of the first two games. He was a big factor in the passing game before going down on Sunday, drawing six targets. Cohen just signed a three-year extension worth $17.25MM in new money exactly a week ago, so obviously his timing couldn’t have been any better.

It’s still a tough blow for the North Carolina AT&T product, but he should be able to make a full recovery in time for the 2021 season since it happened early enough. Cohen’s best season was in 2018, when he rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns and added another 725 and five through the air.

He was also a first-team All-Pro as a return specialist that year. His production dipped last season as his yards per reception went from 10.2 to 5.8, but his absence will still leave a big hole for whoever is under center moving forward.

Jets HC Adam Gase On Hot Seat?

September 27th, 2020 at 12:19pm CST by Rory Parks

Jets HC Adam Gase is currently the odds-on favorite to be the first NFL head coach fired this season, and anyone who put money on Gase’s termination might be getting their payout in short order.

According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com, team brass is “looking at” Gase, with the clear implication being that the 42-year-old sideline general needs his team to perform well against the Colts today and against the Broncos on Thursday night to retain his job (video link). Though Jets CEO Chris Johnson was very complimentary of Gase prior to the club’s Week 2 shellacking at the hands of the depleted 49ers, it seems as if the Jets’ uninspired showing over the first two games of the season has landed Gase in hot water.

Gase has hardly had a competitive roster to work with since he was hired in January 2019, and the team has been hit hard by the injury bug, which is perhaps why Johnson made it clear that he was not issuing a “playoffs or bust” mandate this season. But there have been plenty of reports suggesting that Gase is not a particularly effective leader in the locker room and that he does not have the full support of his players. His play-calling abilities — long considered the highlight of his resume — have also come under increased scrutiny, and the fact that QB Sam Darnold has not developed as hoped under Gase’s tutelage is not helping matters (even if there are multiple reasons for that lack of progress).

Mortensen also reports that players complained about practice intensity this week, so it doesn’t sound as if Gase’s relationship with his players is getting any better. The Colts are heavy favorites to defeat Gang Green this afternoon, but the Broncos will be starting backup QB Jeff Driskel on Thursday, so blowout losses at the hands of both clubs could certainly trigger Gase’s ouster.

If that happens, GM Joe Douglas — who is dealing with some criticism as well — will presumably have the opportunity to hire his own HC.

Latest On Chargers’ QB Tyrod Taylor

September 27th, 2020 at 11:24am CST by Rory Parks

We already knew that Chargers QB Tyrod Taylor would be unavailable for the team’s contest against the Panthers this afternoon, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that the veteran signal-caller will also miss next Sunday’s game against the Bucs. Rookie Justin Herbert will continue to get the call in Taylor’s absence.

Taylor, of course, suffered a punctured lung at the hands of a team doctor last week when the doctor was administering a pain-killing shot for Taylor’s rib injury. Schefter reported a few days ago that the NFLPA was looking into the matter, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports elaborated on that point this morning.

According to La Canfora, the union is seeking clarity on the timeline of events, whether there was any negligence or malpractice on the part of the doctor, and whether Taylor is now more susceptible to long-term injuries as a result of any such negligence. The investigation will also focus on how Taylor’s future earning potential might have been impacted.

Indeed, while the Chargers continue to insist that Taylor will be reinstated as the starting QB when he is healthy enough to return, that will be a difficult sell for HC Anthony Lynn if Herbert continues to play well. The rookie nearly pulled off an upset over the division rival Chiefs last week, and according to Schefter, his teammates already view him as a strong leader. So Taylor could point to the medical mishap as the turning point in his fortunes with the club.

On the other hand, the plan was always for Taylor, who is eligible for free agency next year, to serve as a bridge to Herbert. So as long as Taylor’s punctured lung did not cause any lasting damage, it seems as if the team would have a good chance of defeating any earnings loss claim that the union might bring on Taylor’s behalf.

49ers DE Nick Bosa Has Torn ACL, Done For Season

September 27th, 2020 at 10:25am CST by Ben Levine

Sep. 27: In addition to the torn ACL, Bosa sustained further cartilage damage in his left knee, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports. The 49ers are hopeful that the extra damage will not delay Bosa’s return, and the club remains optimistic that he will be back in time for the start of the 2021 campaign. Bosa will undergo surgery this week.

Sep. 21: Nick Bosa is done for the year. The 49ers announced that their star pass rusher has indeed suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted at the injury following yesterday’s win.

The injury is obviously a massive blow to the 49ers defense, as the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year was establishing himself as one of the top rushers in the game. The former second-overall pick earned a Pro Bowl nod last season after compiling 47 tackles, nine sacks, and a forced fumble. He had another forced fumble during the 49ers’ Week 1 loss to the Cardinals.

If there’s any consolation, Bosa should be good to go for the start of next season. Plus, other than core muscle surgery during his time at Ohio State, Bosa has generally stayed healthy during his playing career.

The 49ers are dealing with injuries throughout their roster. It sounds like defensive tackle Solomon Thomas also suffered a torn ACL, while defensive end Dee Ford is sidelined with a neck injury and cornerback Richard Sherman is sitting on IR with a strained calf. The offense isn’t immune; the team has a depth-chart worth of wideouts sidelined (including Deebo Samuel), tight end George Kittle is dealing with a knee ailment, and running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman will be out this weekend against the Giants. Fortunately, it sounds like quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo‘s high-ankle sprain isn’t too serious.

The team has already added Ziggy Ansah to their squad, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the organization signs some more depth along the defensive line.

In-Season Extension For Cam Newton Unlikely

September 27th, 2020 at 10:07am CST by Rory Parks

Patriots quarterback Cam Newton has been one of the league’s most pleasant surprises over the first two weeks of the season. New England came within a yard of a stirring comeback win over the Seahawks last week, and Newton looks more like the MVP version of himself than anyone could have expected.

As such, speculation regarding Newton’s contract status has already started. The 31-year-old signal-caller signed a very modest one-year pact in late June that maxes out at $7.5MM, and right now, that looks like an incredible bargain. However, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says that an in-season raise or extension is unlikely (video link).

There’s certainly plenty of logic to that. Given Newton’s recent injury history — which is why he came so cheaply to begin with — the Patriots will want to see if he can make it through a full season before committing to him on a long-term basis. And if Newton were to agree to an extension in the middle of the season, he may end up leaving a lot of money on the table in exchange for security that he doesn’t really need (he has earned over $122MM in his career). Instead, he would probably be better off finishing the year strong and going into the 2021 offseason with the franchise tag number for quarterbacks serving as a baseline for negotiations.

Theoretically, New England could give Newton a bit of a goodwill pay bump in a few weeks if he continues performing at a high level, but the ever-pragmatic Pats probably won’t go that route. After all, rollover money is more valuable than ever given the expected salary cap decrease in 2021.

Through two games, Newton has completed 71.4% of his passes for 552 yards, one TD, and one pick. He has already carried the ball 26 times for 122 yards and four scores.