HEADLINES

Month: October 2024

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/20

December 26th, 2020 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

  • Promoted: C Javon Patterson

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

COVID-19 Latest: Browns, Texans, Panthers

December 26th, 2020 at 3:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns have closed their facility and delayed their flight to New Jersey because of a positive COVID-19 test. They are performing contract tracing ahead of their scheduled noon CT Sunday game against the Jets. While the Browns placed Jedrick Wills on their reserve/COVID-19 list, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports the rookie left tackle did not test positive for the coronavirus. He and practice squad wideout Ryan Switzer are close contacts. However, Wills is expected to be pulled off the Browns’ virus list in order to start Sunday, Cabot adds. Cleveland indeed activated Wills off its reserve/COVID list but placed linebacker B.J. Goodson on it ahead of Sunday’s game. Goodson tested positive, Cabot reports. The Browns are planning to depart Cleveland at some point tonight, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.

Here is the latest from the NFL’s COVID-19 front:

  • Deshaun Watson‘s restaurant opening has caused an issue for the Texans. Watson and other Houston players were photographed maskless at the recent indoor event, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Watson received a $7.5K fine. The Texans levied fines against some of his teammates as well, with ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop noting Laremy Tunsil, Brandin Cooks and Tytus Howard were among those at the event.
  • Whitney Mercilus now resides on the Texans’ reserve/COVID-19 list, and the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson reports he tested positive for the virus (Twitter link). This is Mercilus’ second time on the COVID list; he landed there in November as a close contact of then-COVID-positive linebacker Jacob Martin. This will end Mercilus’ season — his ninth with the Texans. Thanks to his December 2019 extension, Mercilus is signed through the 2023 season.
  • The Panthers‘ dustup with COVID earlier this month produced a series of fines. The team handed out fines of at least $10K to players who broke virus protocols during the team’s bye week earlier this month, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Wideouts D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel and Shaq Thompson, Derrick Brown and Greg Little were among those placed on the COVID list.
  • After the Broncos were forced to use practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback earlier this season, the NFL tweaked its protocol to help teams in the event similar trouble emerges. Players already receiving COVID testing will be permitted to make their debuts for new teams without having to take virus tests six days apart, Pelissero tweets. This would allow for a team to sign a player off another team’s practice squad late in the week and use him in a game in an emergency scenario.
  • Washington fined Dwayne Haskins $40K for breaking COVID protocols for the second time this season but did not suspend him.

Packers Activate C Corey Linsley From IR

December 26th, 2020 at 3:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers will have their standout center back in action Sunday night. They activated Corey Linsley from IR in advance of their key matchup against the Titans.

Linsley will end up having missed only the minimum three games because of a knee sprain. His return will be a boon to a Green Bay squad that has the inside track to earn the NFC’s lone bye.

When Linsley went down in late November, he was playing at a high level. The longtime Packers center will enter Week 16 as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-ranked snapper — by a significant margin. In the final weeks of his second Packers contract, Linsley will now have a chance to make a final push for either an extension or a monster free agency payday.

As of last month, no extension talks had transpired between Linsley and the Packers. He joins Aaron Jones as key Packers free agents-to-be. Although the salary cap is expected to decline for only the second time in the cap era, high-level offensive linemen are coveted annually in free agency. Linsley, 29, would have a chance to top Ryan Kelly‘s new high-water salary mark for centers ($12.4MM per year) were he to reach free agency. The Packers recently authorized a record-breaking extension for left tackle David Bakhtiari.

Jaguars’ James Robinson Out For Week 16

December 26th, 2020 at 2:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not only will the Jaguars pivot back to the recently benched Mike Glennon, they will be without their top 2020 offensive performer against the Bears.

Jacksonville will hold out running back James Robinson in Week 16, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Robinson has battled knee and ankle trouble as of late, with the latter issue causing him to miss some time last week.

This certainly is not surprising. The Jags held out their rookie UDFA success story this week in practice and have incentive not to aggressively pursue a victory. The Jets’ Week 15 loss moved the Jags into pole position to land Trevor Lawrence at No. 1 overall. The Jaguars, who have lost 13 straight games since their Week 1 win, would secure that draft slot were they to lose their final two games. Doug Marrone‘s staff will now be without the team’s top chain-mover Sunday.

Robinson is one of just three 1,000-yard rushers this season; his 1,070 sits third behind only Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook this season. It appears likely his season is over. The next time the Illinois State product suits up, he may be taking handoffs from Lawrence.

Broncos To Place Phillip Lindsay On IR

December 26th, 2020 at 1:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ruled out for the Broncos’ Week 16 game, Phillip Lindsay will be shut down for the team’s final two contests. The Broncos are placing the two-time 1,000-yard rusher on IR, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.

Knee and hip trouble will shelve Lindsay, whose status in Denver changed in 2020. The Broncos will also have a decision to make regarding the former Pro Bowl back in the offseason.

Lindsay went from being the team’s clear-cut No. 1 option to sharing time with pricey free agent acquisition Melvin Gordon. While Lindsay outproduced Gordon on a per-carry basis for much of the season, he has not been as successful as of late. The 26-year-old back failed to top 40 rushing yards in each of the past four Broncos games. He will wrap the season with 502 yards — at least 500 worse than either of his first two NFL slates — and just one touchdown. Injury issues also limited Lindsay to 11 games; he previously battled turf toe. Gordon has gained 802 rushing yards in 13 contests.

A former UDFA out of Colorado, Lindsay will be a restricted free agent come March. The Broncos already have Gordon signed to a two-year, $16MM deal. It will be interesting to see how they navigate the Lindsay situation next year. The team was discussing an extension with the hometown product prior to Gordon’s agreement. Those talks cooled following the ex-first-round pick’s arrival.

While Gordon is expected to receive a 2021 suspension for a recent DUI arrest — and such a ban would void the ex-Charger’s 2021 guarantees — the Broncos have Royce Freeman under contract next year. And Lindsay’s past production (2,048 rushing yards, 16 TDs from 2018-19) figures to generate interest on the market, depending on his tender status. The Broncos gave C.J. Anderson an original-round tender in 2016, leading to a Dolphins offer sheet. Denver matched it and used Anderson as its starter for two more seasons, prior to Lindsay’s 2018 arrival.

Saints Claim WR Jake Kumerow

December 26th, 2020 at 12:16pm CST by Ben Levine

“Touchdown Jesus” has found a new home. After getting cut by the Bills earlier this week, wideout Jake Kumerow has been claimed by the Saints (per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter).

The 28-year-old receiver joined the Bills practice squad back in September, and he ultimately made six appearances for Buffalo, with most of his playing time coming on special teams. Kumerow played 17 total offensive snaps for the Bills, hauling in a single one-yard touchdown reception.

Following stints with the Bengals and Patriots to begin his career, Kumerow became a fan favorite in Green Bay. He ultimately spent three seasons with the Packers, including a 2019 campaign where he collected 12 receptions for 219 yards and one score. Kumerow also went to school at Wisconsin–Whitewater, earning a pair of first team All-WIAC nods.

While Kumerow will presumably continue to play a special teams role in New Orleans, he should also have a chance at some offensive snaps. After all, the Saints currently have five wide receivers (Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Bennie Fowler, Deonte Harris, and Marquez Callaway) sitting on IR. Kumerow will have a chance to compete against Emmanuel Sanders, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Juwan Johnson during the Saints’ regular season finale next weekend.

QB Mike Glennon To Start For Jaguars On Sunday

December 26th, 2020 at 11:58am CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars are turning back to Mike Glennon. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the veteran quarterback will start for Jacksonville tomorrow.

Glennon had started three games in a row before the Jaguars turned to Gardner Minshew last weekend. While Jacksonville predictably got blown out by the Ravens, Minshew still completed 22 of his 29 pass attempts for 226 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions (he also lost a fumble). With Jacksonville aiming for presumed first-overall pick Trevor Lawrence, you’ve got to wonder if the organization is turning to the quarterback who gives them the worst shot at winning against the Bears this weekend.

The 31-year-old Glennon has started three games this season, completing 61-percent of his passes for 600 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. For comparison’s sake, the 24-year-old Minshew has completed 66.1-percent of his passes for 2,259 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions. The Jaguars even briefly turned to sixth-round rookie Jake Luton, who had two touchdowns and six interceptions in three starts.

There is a bit of intrigue in Glennon starting, as the veteran famously signed a lucrative three-year, $45MM deal with the Bears in 2017. After one season and only four games started, Glennon was released by Chicago. Since his stint with the Bears, the former Buccaneers draft pick has spent time with the Cardinals and Raiders. He signed with the Jaguars this offseason, and after getting cut at the end of preseason, he caught on with the practice squad.

Eagles Activate WR DeSean Jackson

December 26th, 2020 at 10:33am CST by Ben Levine

DeSean Jackson is back. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Eagles are activating the wideout from IR. The veteran is expected to play against the Cowboys tomorrow.

After being limited to only three games in 2019, Jackson has once again been hampered by injuries in 2020. After appearing in Philly’s first three games, he was sidelined for three weeks by a hamstring injury. He suffered an ankle sprain during his Week 7 return, landing him on injured reserve.

It’s been four years since Jackson’s had a 1,000-yard season, but he was productive during his two-year stint with the Buccaneers, finishing with 1,442 receiving yards. The 34-year-old has been limited to only seven total games since returning to the Eagles via trade in 2019. During his second stint with the Eagles, Jackson has hauled in 22 receptions for 314 yards and two scores.

The Eagles wide receiver corps have struggled to stay on the field this season, with the team starting six different wideouts (Jackson, Greg Ward, Jalen Reagor, Travis Fulgham, John Hightower, and Alshon Jeffery). For one of the few times this season, the Eagles should have a fully stocked depth chart for quarterback Jalen Hurts in his third career start.

Giants QB Daniel Jones Starting On Sunday

December 26th, 2020 at 10:17am CST by Ben Levine

Daniel Jones will be back under center for the Giants tomorrow. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the quarterback will start against the Ravens on Sunday.

Jones has missed a pair of games this season due to ankle and hamstring injuries, including last week’s loss to the Browns. While the 2019 sixth-overall pick was a limited participant this week, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the quarterback looked better in practice and is showing renewed energy. With Jones returning to the lineup, Colt McCoy, who has led the Giants to a 1-1 record in two starts, will return to his backup role.

Jones has struggled a bit during his sophomore campaign. While his completion percentage is up (62.6 percent), he’s only thrown for 2,462 yards and eight touchdowns (vs. only nine interceptions) in 12 games. For comparison’s sake, the 23-year-old compiled 3,027 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during his rookie season.

Despite his inconsistent production, head coach Joe Judge made it clear that Jones is the Giants quarterback of the present and future.

“To me it’s a string of moments watching Daniel work,” Judge said (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “Watching the respect he has in the locker room. Watching him lead throughout this season. I think he’s demonstrated a level of toughness and leadership and knowledge on the field that gives us confidence to put him out there and build with Daniel.”

Patriots Sign K Roberto Aguayo To Practice Squad

December 26th, 2020 at 8:37am CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots are adding a former second-round pick to their practice squad. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that New England is signing kicker Roberto Aguayo to their practice squad.

Following a standout career at Florida State, Aguayo was selected with the 59th-overall pick by the Buccaneers in 2016, making him the first kicker since 2005 (Mike Nugent, Jets) to be selected in the second round. Aguayo struggled throughout his rookie campaign, connecting on only 71-percent of his field goal attempts. During the 2017 offseason, he ended up getting replaced by Nick Folk (ironically, which we’ll get to in a sec), and the kicker hasn’t appeared in a regular season contest since that time.

Since the 2017 campaign, Aguayo has had stints with the Bears, Panthers, and Chargers, and he hasn’t had a gig since the end of the 2018 preseason. Now, he’ll have a chance to make an NFL comeback by participating on New England’s practice squad.

Of course, the 26-year-old’s going to have a tough time cracking New England’s roster; their current starter, (you guessed it) Nick Folk, has connected on a career-high 92.6-percent of his field goal attempts and 26 of his 28 extra point tries. The 36-year-old Folk is set to hit free agency following the season, so Aguayo could be auditioning for a role in 2021.

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