HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Bears Place Austin Calitro On IR

August 23rd, 2021 at 8:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Bears have gained a roster spot while losing a veteran linebacker. Austin Calitro has been placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, per a club announcement. 

Calitro suffered the injury in Saturday’s preseason loss to the Bills. Before that, Calitro was pushing to make the 80-man cut and pursue one of the final LB spots on the roster.

Calitro spent last season with the Broncos before joining up with the Bears in May. The 27-year-old is no stranger to changing teams — he even spent his first pro season (2017) with four different clubs (Jets, 49ers, Seahawks, and Browns). The Seahawks gave him another chance in 2018 and he established himself as a legitimate NFL ‘backer. He appeared in all 16 games during that 2018 season (with five starts), compiling 45 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and three tackles for loss.

He got into 13 games with the Jaguars in 2019, finishing with 40 tackles and one sack. His 2020 with the Broncos was less eventful — 13 games and just three tackles while playing exclusively on special teams. It’s not clear whether his injury is a true season-ender, but Calitro will be sidelined for an extended period.

Vikings To Sign DE Everson Griffen

August 23rd, 2021 at 8:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings are set to sign defensive end Everson Griffen (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The deal hasn’t been finalized just yet, but Griffen will return to Minnesota barring any snags.

Griffen spent his entire career with the Vikings up until 2020. Splitting time between the Cowboys and Lions, Griffen finished out with six sacks in total. Meanwhile, no Vikings edge rusher finished with more than five. His ten-year run with the Vikes saw four Pro Bowl appearances and 74.5 total sacks.

Minnesota’s D-Line registered just 23 total sacks last year, putting them 28th in the league. Things are already looking up with Griffen back in the fold plus the return of Danielle Hunter. Meanwhile, the interior will be held down by veterans Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Sheldon Richardson. All of those vets will lead the way as third- and fourth-round rookies Patrick Jones II (Pittsburgh) and Janarius Robinson (Florida State) provide support at DE.

With Griffen, Justin Houston, and Melvin Ingram off of the market, Olivier Vernon stands as the most accomplished DE in free agency.

NFC North Notes: Rodgers, Darrisaw, Lions

August 22nd, 2021 at 9:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Rodgers surfaced in an NFL news cycle or two this offseason, but the reigning MVP reported to Packers training camp on time. The 37-year-old quarterback did air some grievances about his situation, and he shed more light on his complicated offseason recently. As late as the weekend before camp, Rodgers evidently was quite close to retiring. A report early during his offseason quest to leave Green Bay indicated retirement was on the table. The 17th-year veteran confirmed as such.

“I mean, I felt going into the weekend before camp that I was 50/50,” Rodgers said on retirement during an appearance on the Dan LeBatard and Friends podcast (via CBS Sports). “I don’t care if people don’t believe that. That’s true. There were some things that got me to 50/50 for sure, and you know I spent a couple of days in silence and meditation and contemplation and really felt like that I should come back. There’s a lot of opportunities for growth and exciting things in Green Bay and that felt like the right thing to do.”

While Rodgers and Packers management are still not on great terms, with the sides set to huddle up after the season to determine the QB’s future, he will play a 14th season as the team’s starting QB. Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • The Vikings continue to wait on first-round pick Christian Darrisaw. The rookie left tackle is on the mend from his second core muscle surgery this year, and Mike Zimmer indicated the team was surprised this operation became necessary. “They tell me one thing and it ends up being something else,” Zimmer said, via the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson (on Twitter). “It was taken care of in January. We didn’t expect this.” The eighth-year Minnesota HC did say he expected Darrisaw to be ready by Week 1, but the Virginia Tech product has not practiced fully during camp and may take time to move into the starting lineup. Veteran backup/spot starter Rashod Hill has worked as the Vikings’ top left tackle in Darrisaw’s absence.
  • A car accident changed the Lions‘ depth chart recently. Last week, Detroit waived cornerback Alex Brown. More details emerged on why soon after. Brown was hit with four charges for his role in the accident, according to the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers, who tweets the 24-year-old defender was allegedly intoxicated while driving on the wrong side of a highway around 2am Aug. 15. This crash left two injured, including Lions teammate Charlie Taumoepeau, per Rogers (via Twitter). A 23-year-old tight end, Taumoepeau suffered a neck injury that required hospitalization. The Lions cut Brown immediately; Taumoepeau reverted to Detroit’s injured reserve after being waived with an injury designation.
  • Third-year player Kabion Ento has completed a successful conversion from wide receiver to cornerback with the Packers, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Although the 6-foot-1, 187-pound defender has yet to play in a regular-season game, the Packers have been patient with the ex-Colorado wideout. They stashed Ento on their practice squad in 2019, kept him on IR in 2020 — after a foot fracture sidelined him — and retained him via reserve/futures deal. Ento only caught 20 career passes with the Buffaloes and is now vying to land one of the Packers’ backup cornerback jobs.

Vikings Not Ruling Out QB Addition

August 22nd, 2021 at 8:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings have taken a different path at quarterback this year, slotting inexperienced passers behind starter Kirk Cousins. Third-round rookie Kellen Mond and practice squad veteran Jake Browning are competing to be Minnesota’s backup. Thus far, the results have not impressed.

While Minnesota also has 2020 seventh-round pick Nate Stanley and well-traveled former UDFA Danny Etling on the roster, Mond and Browning appear to be vying for the gig. Following the team’s second preseason game, Mike Zimmer described his QB2 situation as a work in progress said the team will discuss bringing in an outside option this week, via the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson.

Mond, who missed time due to a COVID-19 contraction earlier in camp, has not progressed to the point he can be relied upon as a backup, per Tomasson. Browning, Stanley and Etling have also not taken any NFL regular-season snaps. Browning has spent the past two seasons on the Vikings’ practice squad. The Vikes did not re-sign two-year backup Sean Mannion, and their hopes of trading up for Justin Fields did not produce the desired result. Although Cousins has proven durable (zero missed games due to injury), the team may be vulnerable if its starter suffers an injury or lands on the reserve/COVID-19 list again.

Under Zimmer, the Vikings have used several veterans as backups. Matt Cassel, Shaun Hill, Case Keenum, Trevor Siemian and Mannion have been in these roles at various points over the past seven seasons. The Vikings’ 2017 Keenum addition proved rather important, with Sam Bradford going down early and Keenum delivering by far the best season of his career to steer the team to the NFC championship game.

Zimmer cited a need to be careful financially, despite the team holding more than $13MM in cap space and a QB2 signing unlikely to cost much at this point. Available options include Blake Bortles, new ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III and Josh Rosen. The latter, however, has not been viewed by his past two teams as a backup-caliber passer. Minnesota could look to the trade market as well. With Falcons backup A.J. McCarron going down with an ACL tear and the Jets also having no experience behind their starter, there figures to be competition on the trade front.

Texans To Waive TE Kahale Warring

August 22nd, 2021 at 7:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans are giving up on Kahale Warring, a third-round pick from the 2019 draft. Houston is waiving the young tight end, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets.

Teams must trim their rosters from 85 to 80 players by 3pm CT Tuesday, and the Texans have made Warring one of their second-wave cuts. Two years remain on Warring’s rookie contract, which will only be relevant if another team claims him.

A San Diego State product who went off the 2019 draft board at No. 86 overall, Warring has struggled with injuries and has not played much during his time in Houston. The 6-foot-5 pass catcher has played in just seven games in two seasons. Warring missed all of the 2019 season due to injury and spent a chunk of the 2020 season on IR as well.

GM Nick Caserio‘s regime authorized numerous deals for midlevel veterans across the Texans’ depth chart, but the team is light on proven tight ends. The Texans cut previous starter Darren Fells earlier this year. The Texans used a fifth-round pick on former Miami tight end Brevin Jordan this year, though they still have former Bill O’Brien-era third-round pick Jordan Akins on their roster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/22/21

August 22nd, 2021 at 6:48pm CST by Rory Parks

Here are today’s minor moves. All teams must reduce their roster size to 80 players by 4pm ET on Tuesday, August 24.

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Panthers, Robby Anderson Nearing Extension

August 22nd, 2021 at 6:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers are close to extending their partnership with Robby Anderson, whose two-year contract could soon lead to a longer-term deal. The sides are deep in extension talks, Joseph Person of The Athletic reports.

This deal may well come to pass this week, per Person, and it would represent a key step for Carolina’s passing attack. Anderson signed a two-year, $20MM deal as a free agent last year. With that pact expiring at season’s end, the Panthers appear keen on keeping Matt Rhule‘s former Temple charge in the fold well into the 2020s. It would further a turnaround for Anderson, who dealt with off-field trouble in New York.

A downfield threat with the Jets, Anderson became a quick study in Joe Brady‘s Panthers offense by setting new career-high marks for receptions (95) and yards (1,096). The 95 catches were 32 more than the 6-foot-3 wideout previously totaled in a season. Anderson and D.J. Moore combined for nearly 2,300 yards in their first season together.

This will be Anderson’s age-28 season, and the sixth-year veteran would be bypassing a second run in free agency to stay with Carolina. This move would also affect Moore’s future. A 2018 first-round pick, Moore is signed through the 2022 season — thanks to the Panthers picking up his fifth-year option in May — and, at 24, will command a bigger contract than Anderson. If an Anderson extension does come to pass, it will play into Moore’s future negotiations.

The Panthers opted not to pay Curtis Samuel, allowing the emerging pass catcher to depart for Washington, and have replacement Terrace Marshall Jr. locked into a rookie deal through at least 2023. The team’s $24.4MM in cap space also sits third in the NFL. While the Panthers’ long-term quarterback situation is uncertain, they appear close to locking down Sam Darnold‘s top Jets option and potentially keeping this pair together long-term.

Colts’ Wentz, Nelson To Return To Practice

August 22nd, 2021 at 5:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

More good news for the Colts’ foot-injury ward. Both Carson Wentz and Quenton Nelson are set to be back at practice Monday, according to Frank Reich.

While each will be back on the field in a limited capacity, this news bodes well for the prospect of each starting the season on time. This possibility emerged last week, and nothing has taken place to indicate that was an overly optimistic timetable. Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly will also be back at practice Monday, per Reich. Kelly has been out with an elbow injury.

Both Wentz and Nelson underwent foot surgeries in early August. The Colts initially announced a vague five- to 12-week timetable for Wentz, with the latter outcome thrusting the likes of Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger into the spotlight. Indianapolis may soon be off the hook from having to use either as a September spot starter, though Wentz missing extensive training camp time certainly hurts as he prepares to start for a new team.

Nelson, who has never missed a game as a Colt, has emerged as perhaps the NFL’s premier guard. He is 3-for-3 in first-team All-Pro appearances; no other post-merger offensive lineman has accomplished that feat. Nelson will be on track for a record-setting extension come 2022, with the Colts having already taken care of 2018 draftees Darius Leonard and Braden Smith.

The Colts are currently battling issues on their O-line, which has just Smith and Mark Glowinski healthy among the team’s optimal first-string quintet. But with Nelson and Kelly on their way back, Eric Fisher‘s timeline would be the only uncertain matter on the Colts’ offensive front.

Za’Darius Smith’s Week 1 Status In Doubt

August 22nd, 2021 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers’ top pass rusher has missed time recently and is now not certain to suit up when they begin their regular-season slate. Za’Darius Smith is down currently with a back injury Matt LaFleur said could sideline him for Week 1, Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette tweets.

Smith came off Green Bay’s active/NFI list August 9 but suffered a setback shortly after. Back trouble led to Smith beginning Packers camp on the NFI list, and after the Pro Bowl outside linebacker participated briefly with his teammates, he returned to the sidelines. The Packers plan to exercise caution here, leading to the uncertainty surrounding Smith’s Week 1 availability.

This quick move back to the sidelines for Smith invited some speculation about his contract, which became an issue earlier this offseason. GM Brian Gutekunst shot down the notion this absence is contract-related, indicating (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, on Twitter) Smith’s shutdown is “100%” due to his back flaring up and not a contract matter. Smith, 28, took issue with how the Packers restructured his contract this year, and the seventh-year veteran was not believed to be high on how the Packers are now doling out his payments.

The two-time reigning NFC North champs are among the best-equipped teams to handle an injury to their top rusher, rostering both Preston Smith and former first-round pick Rashan Gary. Those two stand to be Green Bay’s edge starters against the Saints in Week 1, should Za’Darius Smith be held out. While it is unlikely this trio returns together for the 2022 season, the Packers’ decision to retain Preston Smith this year — via a reworked contract — is paying off now.

Falcons QB A.J. McCarron Suffers Torn ACL

August 22nd, 2021 at 4:29pm CST by Rory Parks

4:29pm: The veteran quarterback has indeed suffered a torn ACL, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who adds the Falcons will be on the hunt for a new backup quarterback. The team has since announced the unfortunate results of McCarron’s MRI. McCarron has seven years’ experience as a QB2, leaving the Falcons with work to do at an unideal time. However, Ryan’s durability (three missed starts in 13 seasons) will help the franchise on this front.

9:10am: Falcons quarterback A.J. McCarron suffered a serious knee injury during last night’s preseason matchup against the Dolphins. After handing the ball off to running back Qadree Ollison in the second quarter, McCarron grabbed his right knee and tried to walk off the field, though he was initially unable to do so. He ultimately walked gingerly to the locker room, and neither McCarron nor head coach Arthur Smith were encouraged by the prognosis.

“I really feel for [McCarron],” Smith said (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com). “Any time something like that happens and it’s non-contact, it’s tough when you know what these guys put into it. I feel for A.J. We’ll obviously get the MRI to confirm but he’s heartbroken.”

Smith did not want to speculate on the specifics until after McCarron gets an MRI, but it certainly sounds as if it will be a season-ender for the former Alabama star. Which means that the Falcons, who signed McCarron to a one-year deal this offseason to serve as Matt Ryan‘s backup, could be in the market for a veteran passer.

The only other QB on the roster, undrafted rookie Feleipe Franks, took over for McCarron and completed four of his nine passes for 46 yards. He also threw an interception and took four sacks, adding three carries for 32 yards.

As one might expect, the current free agent quarterback list is uninspiring and includes the likes of Blake Bortles and Josh Rosen, though new ESPN talent Robert Griffin III could be an option. Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com also speculates that, if the Titans were to cut Logan Woodside, he might become a target for Atlanta (Twitter link). Smith, Tennessee’s former offensive coordinator, is high on Woodside’s talent, and the McCarron situation might compel the Titans to keep Woodside on their roster to avoid having him poached.

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