Cardinals NT Corey Peters is out for the season due to a torn patellar tendon, and as he is in the final year of his contract with Arizona, it’s possible he has already played his last game with the team. But if he has it his way, that won’t be the case.
The 32-year-old said that he would love to spend the rest of his career with the Cardinals, as Mason Kern of SI.com writes, and assuming the price is right, it would make sense for GM Steve Keim to keep him. Peters was named Arizona’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award yesterday, and he has been a team captain for three years running. In addition to his stout defense against the run, he is a highly-respected spiritual and emotional leader, so look for the two sides to discuss a reunion this offseason.
Now for more from the NFC West:
- Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald says he feels much better after testing positive for COVID-19 late last month, though he has yet to regain his senses of taste and smell (Twitter link via Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN.com). Fitz also says he lost nine pounds during his bout with the coronavirus, but he did come off the reserve/COVID-19 list on Tuesday, and as Darren Urban of the team’s official website tweets, the 37-year-old will suit up against the Giants this weekend.
- After sinking 88.6% of his field goal tries in 2019, Cardinals kicker Zane Gonzalez has converted just 72.7% of his attempts this year, prompting some to wonder if the team will seek another option. But Keim will keep rolling with Gonzalez, saying, “I know people question Zane but Zane has a lot of talent. … I think Zane will work through the tough times” (Twitter link via Urban). Gonzalez is playing out the season on his RFA tender, and this is not how he wanted to enter his first offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
- The Rams suddenly find themselves atop the NFC West, and they could be getting their left tackle back soon. Andrew Whitworth has been on the shelf since the middle of November with a torn MCL and PCL, but Jay Glazer of FOX Sports says (via Twitter) that the veteran OT, who turns 39 tomorrow, will test out the knee next week. Whitworth is apparently way ahead of schedule and could return by the end of the regular season.
- Jimmy Garoppolo‘s future with the 49ers is in some doubt, even though HC Kyle Shanahan recently said he expects the dashing signal-caller to be the team’s starter in 2021. That may well be the case, but Matt Barrows of The Athletic believes San Francisco will select a QB in next year’s draft, perhaps as high as the second round. There could be a few intriguing prospects available at that point that Shanahan may be able to turn into a viable starter at the professional level. Players like Florida’s Kyle Trask or Alabama’s Mac Jones could both be options.
- It has now been over a year since Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny last suited up for a game, but as John Boyle of the team’s official website notes, Penny returned to practice this week. Head coach Pete Carroll says he’s excited about what he has seen from Penny in practice (Twitter link via 710 ESPN Seattle), and the ‘Hawks could certainly use a boost to an RB corps that has dealt with a number of injuries this season. Per Boyle, CB Quinton Dunbar, who has been on IR for a few weeks with a knee injury, has also returned to practice.
- The Seahawks signed QB Alex McGough to their practice squad yesterday, and as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, the team has put its other PS signal-caller, Danny Etling, in a bubble. The Broncos, of course, recently had to play a game with a practice squad wide receiver at QB because the rest of their quarterbacks were deemed high-risk close contacts of Jeff Driskel, who had tested positive. The Seahawks are keeping Etling in a bubble to guard against just such a situation.
Makes sense for the 49ers financially to just outright cut Jimmy. Hoping if that’s the case Bill comes calling and Jimmy is back in NE next season
I’m not entirely sure Mac Jones will be available in the second by draft day. Trask possibly, because he’s likely the fourth QB off (depending on how teams evaluate Trey Lance and how they feel about Dan Mullen’s QB development history). Both of those guys, depending on how the playoffs and workouts shake out, could easily end up going in the first.
About the Cardinals kicker:
Last year, 25 of his 35 attempts (71.4%) were within 40 yards. This year, only 6 of his 22 attempts (27.3%) of his attempts have been within 40 yards.
He has not been any different this season from last season.
Last season:
20-39 yards – 96%
40-49 yards – 62.5%
This season:
20-39 yards – 100%
40-49 yards – 61.5%
Cardinals just need to get closer, like they did last year, or get a kicker who can hit from 40-49 at a higher rate.
49ers cut Garoppolo and either trade up in the first for a high end signal caller OR draft a corner and use their second round pick on Jones. I’m infatuated with Wilson’s arm talent, but it’ll be a steep price to get into position take take him in the first. I’m hopeful it’s the former because I think Shanahan could turn Wilson into a top quarterback in this league.
“Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald says he feels much better after testing positive for COVID-19 late last month”
Huh? So he would rather test positive than negative?
49ers just cut Jimmy G. Always hurt and not worth his money.
Considering their record without him, it’s pretty hard to sell the “not worth the money” argument. Especially when looking at where his salary ranks amongst QBs currently.
Not saying that Jimmy G is a top five QB or anything, but their win totals with and without him are pretty hard to deny, especially now that his contract is a bargain for a decent starter.
When Aaron Rodgers is the 49ers QB next season just remember who said it first
AR to SF has already been said a bunch of times. Isnt happening as much as i would love it. Why would GB let him go. And SF isnt going to cut Jimmy G so quit dreaming about that. Trade him? Possibly. NE wants to give us our 2 rd pick back and we can talk.