HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Texans Activate RB David Johnson From IR

December 5th, 2020 at 12:04pm CST by Ben Levine

David Johnson should be back on the field tomorrow for the Texans. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that Houston is activating the veteran from injured reserve. The Texans are also promoting wideout Steven Mitchell from the practice squad.

Johnson suffered a concussion during his team’s Week 9 win over the Jaguars, landing him on injured reserve. Over the past three-plus games, the Texans have mostly leaned on pass-catching back Duke Johnson to lead their rushing attack, although C.J. Prosise started digging into those carries during Houston’s Thanksgiving-day win over the Lions.

Following a number of injury-filled campaigns, the Cardinals dealt Johnson to Houston this past offseason in the DeAndre Hopkins trade. While the 28-year-old has an All-Pro nod on his resume, he still hasn’t rebounded to the point of justifying the three-year, $39MM extension he signed with Arizona back in 2018.

In eight starts this season, Johnson has rushed for 408 yards and three touchdowns on 103 carries, good for only 4.0 yards per carry. Further, while Johnson used to be a force catching the ball (he had 80 receptions back in 2016), he’s only hauled in 16 catches for 161 yards and one score in 2020.

Mitchell, a former undrafted free agent out of USC, has spent most of his three-year career with the Texans organization. The 26-year-old has appeared in five career games (one start), hauling in two catches for 37 yards.

Free Agent LB Vontaze Burfict Arrested

December 5th, 2020 at 10:11am CST by Ben Levine

Free agent linebacker Vontaze Burfict was arrested early this morning, according to a report from ESPN. The 30-year-old was reportedly arrested in Nevada on a misdemeanor battery charge.

Records from the Clark County Detention Center show that Burfict is being held on a $1,000 bond, and a hearing for his case is scheduled for Monday. As the ESPN report notes, “information about the incident” that led to the arrest wasn’t readily available.

Burfict hasn’t been immune to controversy throughout his eight-year career, as the veteran has been suspended for 22 games and fined more than $5.0MM. Besides a 2018 ban for violating the leagues’ policy against performance-enhancing drugs, Burfict has generally been suspended for his on-field conduct. This includes a 12-game ban during the 2019 campaign following several helmet-to-helmet hits on Colts players.

The NFL reinstated Burfict back in February, giving him the green light to play during the 2020 campaign. So far, there hasn’t been any reported interest in the linebacker, although his agent said this offseason that the linebacker was working to change his style of play to fit the NFL’s rules (per ESPN).

The 2012 undrafted free agent out of Arizona State earned a Pro Bowl nod during his sophomore campaign after finishing with a league-leading 171 tackles (along with three sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception). That was the last time Burfict appeared in all 16 games during a season. He was ultimately cut by the Bengals at the end of the 2018 season, and he later joined the Raiders on a one-year pact.

RB LeGarrette Blount Announces Retirement

December 5th, 2020 at 8:47am CST by Ben Levine

LeGarrette Blount is calling it a career. The 33-year-old running back announced on Instagram that he’s retiring.

“It’s been fun and fulfilling!!” Blount said in the message. “What’s good everyone? I just want to inform y’all that I’m officially retiring. I have thought long and hard about this decision, and I’ve talked to my closest family members and friends about this. We collectively agreed on this decision. It is in the best interest of me and my family.”

Blount hasn’t seen the field since the 2018 season, but the veteran stuck around in case another opportunity popped up. The last time we saw the running back appear in the rumor circuit was in 2019, when he auditioned for the Raiders.

Following a tumultuous career at Oregon (which included an infamous sucker punch against Boise State), Blount found himself undrafted following the 2010 NFL Draft. Following a brief stint with the Titans, the back caught on with the Buccaneers, and he proceeded to have a standout rookie campaign. He led all rookies with 1,007 rushing yards, and he became only the second undrafted rookie ever to compile 1,000 rushing yards during his first season (joining Dominic Rhodes).

Blount saw a reduced role in Tampa during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and he was traded to the Patriots prior to the 2013 campaign. He led New England’s ground attack that season, and he parlayed his performance into a two-year deal with the Steelers. Following a shaky stint in Pittsburgh that saw him get arrested (alongside fellow running back Le’Veon Bell) and leave the sideline before a game concluded, Pittsburgh released Blount.

The running back landed back in New England, and he proceeded to spend the next two-plus seasons with the organization. During this time, Blount won a pair of Super Bowls, and he led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns during the 2016 campaign. He joined the Eagles prior to the 2017 season and played a role in their Super Bowl championship, and he’d finish his career with the the Lions in 2018.

Despite going undrafted, Blount ranks 57th all-time in rushing touchdowns. His 34 rushing touchdowns with the Patriots ranks fifth in franchise history. Most notably, Blount has three Super Bowl rings; the 13 running backs taken during the 2010 NFL Draft combined for one.

Lions To Waive WR Marvin Hall

December 5th, 2020 at 8:28am CST by Ben Levine

The Lions are moving on from Marvin Hall. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that Detroit is planning to waive the wide receiver. The organization is hoping to give some of their younger players an opportunity in what’s turning into a lost season. On the other side, the 27-year-old receiver will have a great chance to catch on with a contender.

Hall, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Washington, bounced around the league a bit to start his career, spending time with the Raiders, Cardinals, Falcons, and Bears. He seemed to find a home in Detroit, however. Hall appeared in nine games for the Lions last season, but he took on a larger role in 2020.

This season, the veteran has hauled in 17 receptions for 290 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games (five starts). He had a breakout performance in Week 8, catching four passes for 113 yards. In the following four games, Hall was on the field for more than half of Detroit’s offensive snaps.

With the Lions sitting with a 4-7 record, the team is starting to look towards next season. The team’s depth chart is already filled with veterans behind Kenny Golladay (a grouping that includes Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Danny Amendola), but today’s move should provide more opportunities for the likes of Quintez Cephus and Jamal Agnew.

Stephen Hauschka To Retire

December 4th, 2020 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Stephen Hauschka kicked in a game earlier this year, he has decided 13 NFL seasons is enough. The veteran kicker announced his retirement Friday (via Instagram).

Best known for his run in Seattle, Hauschka kicked for five teams — the Ravens, Broncos, Seahawks, Bills and Jaguars — and initially landed in the NFL as a Vikings UDFA in 2008. Now 35, Hauschka will call it quits after 166 games.

Hauschka’s six-season Seahawks stay enabled him to kick in two Super Bowls, the first of which earning him a ring, and 11 playoff games. However, his postseason career began in three Ravens playoff games in 2008. Hauschka was not Baltimore’s placekicker in those games, however.

He went a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals during Seattle’s run to Super Bowl XLVIII — including two 40-plus-yarders in the Seahawks’ 23-17 win over the 49ers in the NFC title game — and also made a field goal in Super Bowl XLIX. He only missed one field goal in a playoff game, ending his postseason career 24-for-25 in January and February. Hauschka went 4-for-4 in last season’s Bills-Texans wild-card game. In the regular season, he finishes his career with an 85.2% make rate — 16th all time — with a long of 58 (in 2014).

After two seasons with 90%-plus accuracy on field goals in Seattle, Hauschka signed two Bills contracts — the second of which coming via 2019 extension — and kicked with Buffalo for three seasons. The Bills released the veteran earlier this year, opting to go with rookie Tyler Bass. The Jaguars cut Hauschka after one game this season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/20

December 4th, 2020 at 5:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Rashaad Penny To Practice Next Week

December 4th, 2020 at 5:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite on-brand injury optimism from Pete Carroll in September, Rashaad Penny was not able to return by midseason. But a more concrete Penny status update emerged Friday.

The third-year running back will “for sure” return to practice next week, Carroll said (via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, on Twitter). Stashed on the PUP list, Penny has not played since suffering an ACL tear last December. And the Seahawks have seen injury issues crop up at running back this season.

Both Chris Carson and 2020 Penny stand-in Carlos Hyde have missed time due to injuries this season, leading to Seattle relying more on Russell Wilson earlier in the year. The team still ranks 24th in rushing attempts (but 11th in yardage) entering Week 13. With Penny and Chris Carson handling ball-carrying duties last season, the Seahawks logged the third-most rushing attempts and ranked fourth on the ground. Penny boasted a team-high 5.7 yards per carry, gaining 370 yards on the ground last season, but the former first-round pick has played behind Carson throughout his career.

The Seahawks will need to decide on Penny’s fifth-year option by May. Although Carson’s contract expires at season’s end, it may still be a stretch for Seattle to pick up Penny’s option — since the 2018 first-round class will have their options fully guaranteed. Previous Round 1 picks’ options were guaranteed for injury only. Penny, 24, does have a career 5.3 yards-per-carry average and low mileage (150 carries). A late-season return would help the San Diego State alum get his career back on track.

Extra Points: Falcons, Fontenot, Broncos

December 4th, 2020 at 4:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of four teams who fired their GM in-season, the Falcons have been looking into Saints assistant GM Terry Fontenot, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. However, the NFL’s new minority hiring rule may complicate matters. Were the Falcons to hire Fontenot, who is Black, the Saints would receive two third-round picks. Fontenot has been with the Saints longer than Sean Payton and rose from pro scouting director to assistant GM this year.

“How many teams would trade two third-round picks for an unproven GM?” a source familiar with this situation informed La Canfora. “… Is it worth (the Saints) getting two straight extra third-round picks — possible 10-year starters — just to hire their assistant general manager? They like Terry a lot, but I’m telling you, that’s a very real factor in the discussion. I’d be shocked if they (hired Fontenot) based on what I’ve heard.”

This would fall into the “unintended consequences” category for the new rule. However, the recently passed rule that will award teams two third-rounders if another franchise hires a minority head coach or GM from their organization has bothered some around the league. Multiple NFL voices of color expressed concerns, via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, about this initiative passing so quickly and without much notice. These sources also expressed curiosity about potential intradivisional hirings and how teams (such as the Falcons) will proceed when third-round draft choices are now part of the equation, Schefter adds.

Here is the latest from around the league:

  • Going forward, Roger Goodell will be able to fine teams that fail to comply with an NFL rule mandating franchises have one person in ownership holding final say — particularly on league voting matters, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports. Bengals owner Mike Brown proposed stripping teams that violate this rule of their vote on league issues, but Florio adds the owners voted to keep fines (up to $10MM) in place rather than see teams have their respective votes stripped. Neither the Broncos nor Titans have a primary owner. The Broncos’ squabble involving multiple children of late owner Pat Bowlen will result in the team paying steep fines until the issue is resolved. One source told Florio that, rather than seeing older Bowlen children stand down for top successor candidate Brittany Bowlen, the Broncos will end up being sold. Pat Bowlen bought the team in 1984.
  • With the salary cap expected to fall by a record number in 2021, franchise and transition tag figures will drop from their 2020 places. Using the 2021 cap floor ($175MM) to calculate tag figures, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry expects the running back tag to drop by a staggering 19% — from $10.3MM (on this year’s $198.2MM cap) to $8.3MM — and every position’s franchise tag price to drop by at least 10%. While this would factor into situations like the Packers’ with Aaron Jones or the Steelers’ with James Conner, both those teams are projected to be well over the 2021 cap (as of Dec. 4). That will make using a tag incredibly difficult.
  • Authorities dropped all charges against free agent defensive back Kameron Kelly, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The Steelers waived the defender after he was arrested for disorderly conduct and making terroristic threats last year. The NFL has since closed its review on the matter as well. Kelly, who played in 14 Steelers games in 2019 after arriving in Pittsburgh as a UDFA, is a free agent who may attract interest after playing well in The Spring League this year.

Ravens Place Robert Griffin III On IR

December 4th, 2020 at 3:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

The hamstring injury Robert Griffin III suffered Wednesday in Pittsburgh will result in a prolonged absence. This could complicate matters for the Ravens.

While RG3 going on IR would not normally affect Baltimore’s starting lineup, it is not yet known if Lamar Jackson will be ready to return when first eligible to come off the Ravens’ reserve/COVID-19 list. Jackson tested positive for the coronavirus on Nov. 26 and cannot return to practice until Sunday. The Ravens will host the Cowboys on Tuesday night.

Baltimore used third-stringer Trace McSorley — who was recently activated from the COVID list — at the end of Wednesday’s loss to the Steelers. He would be in line to start for the Ravens against the Cowboys, should Jackson require more recovery time.

RG3 struggled against the Steelers but brings extensive NFL experience McSorley obviously lacks. An eighth-year NFL vet, Griffin has been Jackson’s backup for three years. Griffin cannot resume his QB2 duties until at least Week 16.

While the Ravens will be without Griffin for a while, they did receive word Friday they will have more depth available against Dallas. Baltimore activated J.K. Dobbins, Matt Skura, Patrick Mekari and Pernell McPhee from the virus list.

The Ravens held Dobbins and Mark Ingram out of their thrice-rescheduled game in Pittsburgh. Both backs tested positive for COVID-19 but would have been eligible to return for Week 12. Dobbins being back in action will be a boon to a Ravens team suddenly on thin ice with regards to playoff qualification.

Raiders’ Josh Jacobs To Miss Week 13

December 4th, 2020 at 2:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the first time this season, the Raiders will be without their starting running back. They ruled Josh Jacobs out for Sunday’s game against the Jets.

Jacobs suffered an ankle injury against the Falcons and has not practiced this week. The team will hold him out of its matchup against an 0-11 team, putting Devontae Booker in line to receive a starter’s workload.

This certainly is a situation to monitor for the playoff-contending team. Last season, the Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up could not cement his case for that award after a shoulder injury halted his initial NFL season. Jacobs played through that issue for a while but ended up being shut down, missing the final two games of last season and ending his rookie slate with three injury-related absences. Jacobs still broke the franchise’s rookie rushing record.

This season, Jacobs has again been one of the NFL’s top rushers. Despite the Raiders missing various starting offensive linemen for most of the year, Jacobs has rushed for 782 yards (fifth in the NFL) and nine touchdowns. The Alabama product’s average is down a full yard, however, sitting at 3.8 through 11 games.

Las Vegas signed Booker this offseason and has used him as Jacobs’ primary backup. After seeing his role minimized in Denver, Booker has averaged 5.5 yards per carry on 59 totes with Las Vegas this season. The Raiders will have Booker and passing-down backs Jalen Richard and Theo Riddick in a key game in New Jersey.

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