HEADLINES

Month: October 2024

Chiefs Promote CB DeAndre Baker

December 19th, 2020 at 2:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several weeks after signing DeAndre Baker, the Chiefs are prepared to use the former first-round pick in a game. The defending Super Bowl champions promoted the second-year cornerback to their active roster Saturday.

The Chiefs added the former Giants draftee to their practice squad a month ago, doing so shortly after the Broward County State Attorney’s Office (Fla.) dropped armed robbery charges against him. Baker’s arrest on several felony charges led to the Giants cutting him.

Baker struggled as a rookie, allowing a 116.2 passer rating on passes thrown his way and allowing 61% of those throws to be completed. Pro Football Focus graded him as one of its worst defenders in 2019. The Chiefs are taking a chance on the former Georgia prospect, who was facing prison time until recently.

Baker was alleged to have committed armed robbery a party at gunpoint in May. Originally, Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar was charged as his accomplice, but the Broward State Attorney’s office declined to pursue charges against him. The story only became stranger from there, including payoff allegations against attorney Michael Grieco, who was once representing Dunbar. But both cornerbacks have moved forward with their respective careers.

Kansas City also promoted Stefen Wisniewski and linebacker Emmanuel Smith and activated wideout Byron Pringle from IR.

Saints Place WR Michael Thomas On IR

December 19th, 2020 at 12:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Michael Thomas is done for the regular season, but it sounds like he could be back in time for the playoffs. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Saints are placing their star wideout on injured reserve, noting that the Saints “expect him close to 100% for the start of the postseason.”

Thomas has been dealing with an ankle injury since the start of the season. The high ankle sprain (along with a coinciding suspension for punching a teammate) sidelined him until Week 9.

Despite only playing alongside Drew Brees in two of the six games upon his return, Thomas has still hauled in 37 receptions for 421 yards over that span. He’s also been held without a touchdown this season. This has certainly been a change for one of the NFL’s most consistent players over the past few years. The former second-round pick had only missed two games coming into this season and entered 2020 coming off a record 149-reception 2019 slate.

The Saints were also able to establish an eight-game win streak during Thomas’ absence. And while they are home underdogs to the Chiefs in Week 15, the team will be favored to beat the Vikings and Panthers without its All-Pro wideout. New Orleans won two games without Thomas or Emmanuel Sanders earlier this season. Sanders, however, is healthy now. The free agent acquisition and Tre’Quan Smith will be Brees’ top available wideouts for the regular season’s remainder.

That said, the Saints have won one road playoff game in franchise history. Thomas’ absence will make it more difficult for New Orleans to earn the NFC’s lone bye, potentially forcing the Saints to play on the road in the conference title game — should they advance that far in the playoffs.

QB Colt McCoy To Start For Giants Tomorrow

December 19th, 2020 at 12:45pm CST by Ben Levine

Colt McCoy will get a chance to start against his former team tomorrow. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the veteran quarterback will start for the Giants vs. the Browns on Sunday.

Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones tried to overcome his right hamstring strain and a left ankle sprain this week, but the second-year pro will ultimately be sidelined for his second game of the season. It’s a tough blow for a Giants team that’s attempting to remain in the postseason picture.

However, if you’re a fan of narratives, there’s something to be said of the fact that McCoy is playing his former team. The former third-round spent the first three seasons of his career in Cleveland, starting 21 games (all in his first two campaigns). Tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens, who will temporarily be taking over play-calling duties in place of offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, will also have a bit of motivation against his former team tomorrow.

Following a six-year stint with Washington, McCoy joined the Giants this past offseason. He got a start during his team’s Week 13 win over the Seahawks, completing 13 of his 22 passes for 105 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. In three games, he’s completed 60-percent of his passes for 154 yards.

There is a bit of good injury news for the Giants. The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets that Evan Engram is expected to play tomorrow. The tight end had been listed as questionable with a calf injury. The former first-round has appeared in all 13 games for New York this season, hauling in a team-high 50 receptions for 526 yards and one touchdown.

Lions QB Matthew Stafford Preparing To Play Tomorrow

December 19th, 2020 at 11:21am CST by Ben Levine

In a sudden turn of events, it sounds like Matthew Stafford will play tomorrow after all. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Lions quarterback is “preparing to play” against the Titans.

Stafford landed on the injury report this week after suffering a hard hit from Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark that knocked him out of last week’s loss. The rib injury forced the veteran to miss practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and he earned the ‘questionable’ designation after putting in limited work on Friday (per ESPN’s Michael Rothstein).

There was initial pessimism surrounding Stafford’s injury, and interim head coach Darrell Bevell said the team would likely wait to make a decision about their quarterback’s status.

“This may or may not be a workout situation,” Bevell said. “Obviously, the conversation of what he’s doing kind of on the side before we even get that far. But if we need to have a workout Sunday morning, then we’ll end up doing that as well.”

The former first-overall pick didn’t miss a single game between the 2011 and 2018 seasons. His 2019 campaign was cut short due to a back injury, limiting him to only eight games. Despite two separate stints on the COVID-19 list, Stafford has managed to play in each of Detroit’s 13 games this season. The 32-year-old has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 3,522 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

While it sounds like Stafford will be taking the field tomorrow, two key members of the offense will not. Wideout Kenny Golladay will miss his seventh consecutive game with a hip injury, while center Frank Ragnow is out as he recovers from a fractured throat.

John Dorsey Working As Consultant For Eagles

December 19th, 2020 at 10:32am CST by Ben Levine

Former Chiefs and Browns general manager John Dorsey has been “quietly” working for the Eagles over the past few months, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (via Twitter). The 60-year-old has been serving as a consultant for general manager Howie Roseman.

According to Garafolo, the Eagles have been focused on strengthening their “talent evaluation,” especially following the departures of Joe Douglas (Jets) and Andrew Berry (Browns). Dorsey is thought of “extremely highly inside that building,” and he could potentially stick around for a full-time role in 2021.

Of course, Dorsey would probably prefer a GM gig, and there have been some rumblings that he could be a candidate for potential openings. Earlier this month, we heard that the Texans were planning to interview the executive for their GM vacancy.

Dorsey has been chased out of both Kansas City and Cleveland, but he’s also a big reason why both of those teams are currently successful. For the Chiefs, Dorsey was responsible for drafting MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, wideout Tyreek Hill, and tight end Travis Kelce. While the Browns struggled during their first two seasons with Baker Mayfield at the helm, the team has taken a step forward this year. Dorsey’s other acquisitions and selections, including cornerback Denzel Ward, running backs Nick Chubb, and defensive notables Sheldon Richardson and Olivier Vernon, have also played major roles this season.

Bret Bielema Leaving Giants, Named Illinois Head Coach

December 19th, 2020 at 9:50am CST by Ben Levine

The Giants have lost a key member of their coaching staff. Outside linebackers coach Bret Bielema is heading to the University of Illinois as the school’s next head coach (via an announcement from the school).

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that it’s a six-year contract beginning at $4.2MM per year. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports (via Twitter) that defensive assistant Jody Wright and inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer “will inherit Bielema’s responsibilities” in New York.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Bielema, as the 50-year-old was born in Prophetstown, Illinois and previously coached in the Big 10.

“Illinois and the Big Ten is home for me, and I can’t be any more excited about the opportunity in front of me with the Fighting Illini,” Bielema said. “We want to build a program that makes Illini Nation proud and regain the passion that I’ve seen when Illinois wins.”

Illinois fired previous head coach Lovie Smith last weekend. The former Bears and Buccaneers head coach spent four-plus seasons with the school, collecting a 17-39 record.

Bielema worked his way up the coaching ladder and eventually landed the head coaching job at Wisconsin in 2006, a role he held for seven years. He was a Big 10 champion for three of those seasons, and he finished his stint with a 68-24 record. He left for Arkansas in 2013, but he was fired after leading his team to a 29-34 record over five seasons.

He joined the Patriots staff in 2018, and he followed Joe Judge to New York this past offseason. Over the past two years, he’s continued to garner interest from college programs, including Michigan State, Colorado, and Southern Miss.

It’s been a busy week for the Giants coaching staff. We learned that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was going to miss this weekend’s game after testing positive for COVID-19. Former Browns head coach (and current Giants tight ends coach) Freddie Kitchens will take over play-calling duties against his former team. Quality control coach Bobby Blick will be serving as tight ends coach for the game.

Seahawks Expected To Activate RB Rashaad Penny

December 19th, 2020 at 9:18am CST by Ben Levine

Rashaad Penny is on track to make his season debut tomorrow against Washington. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks will activate the running back off the PUP list.

Penny, the 27th-overall pick in the 2018 draft, was unable to supplant Chris Carson as the starter during his first two seasons in the NFL, but he still put up solid numbers as a backup. In 24 games, Penny has 150 carries for 789 yards (5.3 yards per attempt) and five touchdowns. He’s also added 17 receptions for 158 yards and one score.

However, Penny suffered a torn ACL at the end of last season, and the 24-year-old landed on the reserve/PUP list to start the 2020 campaign. He started practicing last week, and despite Pete Carroll initially insisting that they wouldn’t rush Penny’s return, the running back quickly drew high praise from the head coach.

“He’s really in good shape. I don’t know what that means for next week, but he looked as healthy as anybody out there,” Carroll said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “So we’ll take it one shot at a time here, but very, very positive initial return and I know he’s really jacked about it.”

While the Seahawks found themselves with a depleted running back corps down the stretch of last season, they now find themselves with a full depth chart. Carson and Carlos Hyde are both healthy, and the team is also rostering fourth-round rookie DeeJay Dallas. Penny will once again have to battle for carries, but the Seahawks will surely give him a look prior to the postseason.

West Notes: Carr, Broncos, Rams, 49ers

December 18th, 2020 at 7:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Derek Carr left Thursday night’s AFC West matchup early because of what Jon Gruden called a “significant” groin injury. The veteran Raiders quarterback’s rest-of-season status can be considered in doubt. Carr is facing a 10- to 14-day return timetable, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes. This puts his availability for next week’s pivotal Dolphins game in question, though Rapoport adds Carr will push to return for what could be an elimination game against another fringe AFC contender. Carr has not missed a game due to injury since 2017. The former MVP vote-receiving passer has only missed two regular-season games in seven years. Marcus Mariota played well in relief of Carr on Thursday, and Carr’s status going into next weekend stands to give the Dolphins some extra work due to the differences in the Raiders QBs’ skill sets.

Here is the latest from the West divisions, moving first to another team’s quarterback situation.

  • Drew Lock has shown some potential as a long-term answer this season — including last week in Charlotte — but ranks 28th in QBR and has thrown 13 INTs in 10 games. The Broncos sat out this year’s veteran QB market, but Troy Renck of Denver7 notes the team is likely to bring in a veteran to compete with Lock (or potentially replace him) next year. A similar batch of vets — Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Jameis Winston — on track to be available again would qualify as competition, and the Broncos were also high on Sam Darnold in 2018. A trade for Matthew Stafford, a scenario Renck mentions, would be to replace Lock. The Broncos have used four different Week 1 starting QBs since Peyton Manning‘s retirement, moving from Trevor Siemian to Case Keenum to Joe Flacco to Lock.
  • Sean McVay is not ruling out an Andrew Whitworth regular-season return, and it sounds like the Rams having their left tackle back for the playoffs is realistic. “Andrew is doing great,” McVay said. “He continues to amaze me. He’s somebody we could potentially really push to have him play whether it’s the (Week 17) Cardinals game or next week. If we’re fortunate enough to get an opportunity to play after the regular season, I think that’s the goal, but nothing’s guaranteed for us.” Whitworth suffered MCL and PCL tears Nov. 15 but was believed to be ahead of schedule on his recovery timetable.
  • A Rams positive COVID-19 test resulted in offensive lineman Bobby Evans and safety Nick Scott landing on the reserve/COVID list; they will miss Week 15, McVay said (via ESPN.com’s Lindsey Thiry, Twitter links). The Rams also held starting center Brian Allen and rotational pass rushers Justin Hollins and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo out of practice Friday, though McVay expects the latter trio to play Sunday.
  • The 49ers‘ Arizona arrangement will extend through season’s end. Santa Clara county extended COVID-19 restrictions that have prevented the 49ers from playing at Levi’s Stadium, but the Cardinals will permit their division rival to use the stadium for their Week 17 game against the Seahawks, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com notes. The 49ers will also be in Glendale next week but will do so as the road team against the Cardinals.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/20

December 18th, 2020 at 7:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Friday’s practice squad decisions:

Chicago Bears

  • Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DL LaCale London

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: T Jonathan Hubbard

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Falcons Interview Rick Smith, Anthony Robinson

December 18th, 2020 at 7:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons are off and running on their first GM search in 12-plus years. In addition to interviewing ex-Texans GM Rick Smith and eyeing meetings with Saints exec Terry Fontenot and Rams staffer Brad Holmes, the Falcons met with one of their own staffers.

Falcons director of college scouting Anthony Robinson joined Smith in interviewing for the position Friday, the team announced. Robinson is in his second year in his current position but has been with the team much longer.

With the Falcons since Thomas Dimitroff‘s arrival in 2008, Robinson worked through the ranks as a scout with the franchise during most of Dimitroff’s tenure. Prior to his 2019 elevation to the scouting director post, Robinson worked as a Falcons area scout.

Smith is the highest-profile name connected to this search thus far. He is expected to draw interest from multiple teams, though the former Houston front office boss has yet to be mentioned as a candidate for the other GM vacancies. Smith has been out of football since stepping away from his Texans post after the 2017 season, but the longtime GM has been eyeing a return to the league for a bit now. The Texans’ GM from 2006-17, Smith was there for the franchise’s first four playoff berths and swung the 2017 trade for Deshaun Watson.

It will be interesting to see if the Falcons join the Lions and Texans in meeting with ESPN’s Louis Riddick. The Jaguars are also interested in the first-year Monday Night Football analyst, though they have not set up an interview.

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