HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Patriots WR N’Keal Harry Avoids Serious Injury

August 21st, 2021 at 8:49am CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like N’Keal Harry avoided serious injury. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots wideout didn’t suffer any structural damage to his shoulder. The third-year player will just need rest is considered week-to-week.

Harry exited the Patriots’ preseason game on Thursday night after landing hard on his shoulder while diving for a catch. Harry didn’t return and was seen wearing a sling following the contest. The receiver has dealt with a number of injuries during his brief career, so this is a positive development for the 23-year-old.

Of course, it’s still uncertain if the 2019 first-round pick will be on the Patriots roster come Week 1. The Arizona State product surprised many when he requested a trade earlier this offseason, but Harry still attended training camp and has reportedly held talks with Bill Belichick and co. regarding the request. Considering Harry’s lack of production through two NFL seasons, the Patriots probably haven’t traded him thanks to underwhelming offers. We’ve heard teams like Washington were interested in Harry, but suitors were likely offering fifth- or sixth-round picks. The Patriots may just prefer to keep Harry around instead of dumping him for a late-round selection.

Harry has disappointed since being selected with the No. 32 pick in the 2019 draft. Through two seasons, he’s hauled in 45 receptions for 414 yards and four scores. Harry had a chance to prove himself in 2020 with a depleted depth chart, but he’ll have a tougher time getting looks in 2021 following the additions of Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor (plus tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith).

Latest On Colts’ Left Tackle Situation

August 20th, 2021 at 5:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts formed an interesting post-Anthony Castonzo plan at left tackle this offseason, signing Eric Fisher to take over after his Achilles rehab concludes. But the longtime Chiefs edge protector is not certain to be ready by Week 1. Indianapolis’ stopgap options have not impressed thus far.

Julie’n Davenport, Sam Tevi and Will Holden represent the trio vying to be the fill-in while Fisher recovers and the Colts’ swing tackle once Fisher is back, and Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star notes all three have struggled during training camp. Colts O-line coach Chris Strausser said it is somewhat disappointing no clear-cut favorite has emerged to be the team’s stopgap solution here.

Indy signed Davenport and Tevi this offseason, while Holden arrived last December after being plucked off Baltimore’s practice squad. Davenport has taken the bulk of the first-team reps lately, per Ayello, but the Colts are planning to also give him work at right tackle to prepare for a potential swing role. Davenport, who has started for the Texans and Dolphins, began Colts camp on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list.

Neither Tevi nor Davenport has impressed as a starter during their respective careers. The Colts gave each one-year deals, with Tevi’s guarantee ($1MM) topping Davenport’s ($388K). But one could well end up being entrusted to protect Carson Wentz — or one of his backups — come Week 1. This underwhelming left tackle competition has taken place while Quenton Nelson recovers from a foot injury. The All-Pro guard is also not a lock to be ready by Week 1.

When the Colts signed Fisher, marking a reunion between he and ex-Chiefs exec Chris Ballard, the prospect of the ninth-year veteran not being ready until October loomed. Frank Reich said recently the 30-year-old tackle looked “really good” in his solo ramp-up workouts, but the timetable here remains murky. Fisher suffered the Achilles tear in the AFC championship game.

As far as outside options go, Russell Okung remains a free agent. The veteran starter, who is 32, has been waiting for a viable offer. The Bears, who may be without rookie Teven Jenkins for the season, just signed Jason Peters to take away one option here. Beyond Okung, the free agent market is fairly lean at this position. How the Colts’ group looks in the team’s second preseason game may determine whether another outside option will be considered, though Fisher’s timetable represents the key component here.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/21

August 20th, 2021 at 4:31pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: WR Damon Hazelton
  • Waived: CB Dominique Martin

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Saints, S Jeff Heath Agree To Deal

August 20th, 2021 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Veteran safety Jeff Heath has secured another opportunity. The Saints have reached an agreement with the former Cowboys and Raiders defender, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Heath joined fellow safety Andrew Sendejo at a workout Friday, and the Saints are going with the younger of the two. Heath is not especially young, by NFL terms, at 30. But he has been a starter for most of the past four seasons. The Saints have been busy with additions Friday, having just signed kicker Aldrick Rosas as well.

The Cowboys turned to Heath as a starter from 2017-19, and the former UDFA caught on with the Raiders in free agency last year. With Las Vegas, Heath was a part-time starter. But he intercepted three passes. For his career, the eight-year veteran has 11 picks and has made 59 starts.

Pro Football Focus viewed Heath’s 2020 season fondly, slotting him as a top-20 safety. Nevertheless, the Raiders cut bait halfway through Heath’s two-year deal, releasing him shortly after the draft.

The Saints are bringing back their safety tandem from 2020 — Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins — and used some deft cap maneuvering to find room for Williams’ franchise tag. Heath stands to provide insurance behind New Orleans’ starters.

Saints To Sign K Aldrick Rosas

August 20th, 2021 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints’ most recent run without a healthy kicker will come to an end. They are signing Aldrick Rosas, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (via Twitter).

Rosas’ workout went well, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill (on Twitter), and the former Pro Bowler edged out fellow prospective Wil Lutz replacements Alex Kessman and Dominik Eberle. Neither Kessman nor Eberle had kicked in an NFL game previously. Rosas has four years’ experience, though he has not had a regular gig in two years.

Lutz is expected to be out for months, and the Saints’ Brett Maher partnership ended after he suffered an injury during the team’s preseason opener. The team waived Maher with an injury designation. New Orleans will now pivot to Rosas, who made the Pro Bowl in 2018 but is coming off a season abbreviated by a suspension.

The Giants’ kicker from 2017-19, Rosas saw a hit-and-run arrest lead to his New York exit. The NFL suspended Rosas four games to start last season, and although he landed with the Jaguars and kicked in six games with the struggling team, he did not make it to camp under the new Urban Meyer regime.

Rosas received his Pro Bowl nod after making 32 of 33 field goals in his second season, but he has not quite approached that success in any of his other three slates. The 26-year-old specialist made 12 of 17 field goals in 2019 and went 8-for-11 in six Jags games last year. The opportunity to kick for a dome team could move Rosas back on track, however, while giving the Saints some stability. Lutz has kicked in every Saints regular-season game for the past five years. He is signed through the 2023 season.

To make room on their roster, the Saints waived tight end Josh Pederson. The aspiring NFL pass catcher is the son of former Eagles HC Doug Pederson.

Teams Interested In Trading For Connor McGovern; Cowboys Not Planning Deal

August 20th, 2021 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the younger of the NFL’s two Connor McGoverns not locked into a starting role, the Cowboys offensive lineman has generated trade interest. While a market exists, the Cowboys do not sound eager to move him.

The third-year guard is competing with Connor Williams for Dallas’ starting left guard spot, but ESPN.com’s Todd Archer tweets teams are eyeing the Penn State product in trade scenarios. Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones attempted to throw cold water on the prospect of McGovern moving, citing the franchise’s desire for O-line depth. Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota, on Twitter) McGovern is still “competing his ass off” to win the Cowboys’ left guard job.

Considering what happened to the Cowboys’ offensive front last year, Jones’ stance makes sense. The team lost tackles Tyron Smith and La’el Collins early, with the latter missing the entire season, and played without stalwart right guard Zack Martin for a stretch. Martin’s injury gave McGovern playing time. After McGovern missed his entire rookie season, the former third-round pick stepped in and started eight games during Dallas’ disastrous 2020 season. Pro Football Focus graded McGovern just inside the top 50 at guard, but Mike McCarthy said the young lineman showed improvement down the stretch.

Williams is going into a contract year. He has started 37 games over the past three seasons, including 16 at left guard in 2020. PFF graded Williams as a top-20 guard last season. The Cowboys have Martin, Smith and Collins tied to big-ticket extensions. Williams playing well this season may make his second contract too expensive for the Cowboys. The team is not planning to negotiate with any of its current 2022 free agents until the season is over.

McGovern would naturally make sense as the successor to Williams at left guard next season. That is, if he does not win that job this year. The NFL moving to a 17-game season will only further drive teams to prioritize O-line depth, and it is quite possible the loser of the Cowboys’ left guard competition makes some starts this year.

Larry Fitzgerald Not Eyeing Return For 18th Season?

August 20th, 2021 at 2:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the season less than a month away, Larry Fitzgerald remains unsigned. And the future Hall of Fame wide receiver does not sound like he will join a team in the near future.

Although the 17-year veteran said his plans could change, he is content to keep his options open for the time being. For the time being, Fitzgerald has announced plans to host a Sirius XM radio show alongside Tom Brady and Jim Gray. This certainly stands to keep fans in the loop regarding the future Hall of Famer’s plans.

“For now, I’ll be a radio broadcaster. Jim, to be honest with you, I just don’t have the urge to play right now,” Fitzgerald said during an interview with Gray on Sirius XM (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “I just don’t know how I’ll feel in September, October, November moving forward, but I just, today, I just don’t have the urge.”

The Cardinals did not close the door on Fitz coming back but made multiple moves at wide receiver that would affect his return. Arizona signed A.J. Green and drafted Rondale Moore in the second round. They joined DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk on the Cards’ roster. As recently as July, Fitz said he had not made up his mind on returning. His most recent comments, however, mark the clearest sign yet retirement may be close.

Fitzgerald, who will turn 38 later this month, has taken a year-to-year approach with his career since 2016. But the latest he previously decided on returning was late January (in 2019). The NFL’s second all-time leading pass catcher has said in the past he only wanted to play for the Cardinals, but if no clear role exists for him in Arizona, the 11-time Pro Bowler might need to adjust that stance — if he is to reconsider playing again.

An injury affecting the Cards’ or perhaps another contending team’s receiving corps would naturally invite speculation about a Fitz return, but he is coming off the worst statistical season of his career. Fitz caught 54 passes for just 409 yards and one touchdown in 2020, a season in which he missed two games after contracting COVID-19.

Fitzgerald’s 1,432 receptions and 17,492 receiving yards are second only to Jerry Rice all time. No active wideout is within 500 receptions or 4,000 yards of his respective career totals. The decorated wideout will cruise to Canton, but until he announces his retirement, the prospect of him suiting up either in Arizona or with another team via in-season signing will be one of this year’s subplots.

Browns’ David Njoku Wants Extension

August 20th, 2021 at 1:15pm CST by Zachary Links

It sounds like David Njoku wants to stick with the Browns after all. Despite his previous trade demands (and flip-flops on the matter), the tight end says he wants to move forward with Cleveland

“I’ve been here (Cleveland) for four years going on five,” Njoku said on Friday. “I don’t know anything different. I want to keep being here.”

Njoku pushed for a trade last summer and doubled down prior to the 2020 trade deadline. He also made it sound like he wanted out as recently as February. However, it seems like Njoku is now in a good place with the Browns.

The Browns signed Austin Hooper to a big contract last year and drafted Harrison Bryant, which reduced Njoku’s role in the offense. He finished out 2020 with just 19 catches for 213 yards and one touchdown. That was a far cry from his best work in 2018 — 56 grabs for 639 yards and four TDs. In between, he lost most of 2019 to injury.

While he’s shown plenty of flashes of potential, the U of M product has yet to live up to his first-round status. But, despite all the drama and the crowded TE chart, the Browns still opted to exercise his fifth-year option. For now, he’s got one year and ~$6MM to go on his deal.

Eagles’ Jason Croom Done For Year?

August 20th, 2021 at 11:42am CST by Zachary Links

Eagles tight end Jason Croom is believed to have suffered a season-ending knee injury (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). This was, unfortunately, expected after Croom was carted off during Thursday night’s preseason game against the Patriots.

Croom will undergo an MRI to confirm his status, but non-contact knee injuries like this usually signal a torn ACL. If the scans prove the issue to be serious, the Eagles will place Croom on injured reserve between now and Monday morning.

Croom entered the league in 2017 as as an undrafted free agent with the Bills. After bouncing between the practice squad and active roster, the Tennessee got his chance to contribute in 2018. He ultimately led all Bills tight ends with 22 receptions, 259 yards, and one touchdown (he also had a pair of fumbles). Last year, he only registered one catch for the Eagles — a three-yard TD grab against the Ravens.

It’s not a given that Croom would have made the 53-man roster, but he was at least in the mix following the last round of cuts. The injury leaves the Eagles with five TEs on the roster — Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, Richard Rodgers, Jack Stoll, and Tyree Jackson.

PFR’s NFL Glossary: Waivers

August 20th, 2021 at 11:33am CST by Zachary Links

Here at Pro Football Rumors, you’ll see a number of stories posted on players being cut, waived, or released by their NFL teams. While these terms are often used interchangeably, they’re not quite synonymous. A player who is “cut” has been removed from his team’s roster, but whether he is “waived” or “released” generally depends on his NFL experience.

Between the day after the Super Bowl and the following season’s trade deadline, players with less than four years of service time – or “accrued seasons” – have to pass through waivers after they’re cut by an NFL team. The other 31 clubs around the league have a day to place a waiver claim on that player, adding him to their roster and taking on his contract. That’s why we refer to these players as having been waived, rather than released.

If a player with more than four years of service time is cut between the Super Bowl and the trade deadline, he is not subjected to the waiver process, meaning he becomes a free agent immediately, able to sign with a new team right away if he so chooses.

This isn’t the case all year round, however. Once the trade deadline passes, any player who is cut by his team must pass through waivers, regardless of how many accrued seasons are on his resume. So if a team drops a 12-year veteran in Week 10 of the season, that player must pass through waivers unclaimed before he’d be free to sign with a team of his choice.

Here are a few more details on the waiver process:

  • If two teams place a waiver claim on the same player, he is awarded to the team with the higher priority. Waiver priority is determined by the previous season’s standings — this year, for example, the Jaguars have first dibs, while the Super Bowl champion Bucs have 32nd priority.
  • However, the waiver priority order will change starting in Week 4. At that point, waiver priority is determined by records of the current season.
  • The window to claim a player closes at the end of the NFL’s business day, which is at 4pm central. So if a player is waived by one team on Monday, the other 31 clubs have until Tuesday afternoon to submit a claim. Players cut on Friday clear waivers (or are awarded to a new team) on the following Monday.
  • Prior to the first cutdown date in training camp, injured players with fewer than four years of service time cannot be placed on injured reserve until they pass through waivers. Teams will cut this sort of player with a waived-injured designation, allowing other teams to place a claim if they so choose. If the player goes unclaimed, his team can place him on IR or agree to an injury settlement, then fully release him from the roster.

Note: This is a PFR Glossary entry. Our glossary posts explain specific rules relating to free agency, trades, or other aspects of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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