HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Teams Calling Eagles On LT Andre Dillard

August 19th, 2021 at 3:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Injuries have altered Andre Dillard‘s career path, and the third-year tackle is currently on the mend after suffering a knee sprain during training camp. The Eagles also appear prepared to hand former seventh-round pick Jordan Mailata their left tackle job.

Dillard’s murky status in Philadelphia has prompted teams to contact the Eagles regarding his potential trade availability, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes. The 2019 first-round pick has not been able to stay on the field, and McLane adds Mailata was winning the left tackle competition before Dillard went down.

The Panthers just unloaded Greg Little, a tackle who went 37th overall in 2019, and received just a seventh-round pick. That would represent sobering compensation for Dillard, but he went just 15 picks earlier this year and missed all of the 2020 season. Still, it would be surprising if the Eagles — whose GM from that draft, Howie Roseman, remains in place — gave up on Dillard for that type of return. Roseman is unlikely to do so for such a price, per McLane. Roseman traded up three spots for Dillard in the ’19 draft.

Nick Sirianni has not anointed Mailata as his left tackle starter just yet, but it appears that move is coming. Despite essentially redshirting for two years to learn the NFL game, the ex-rugby player became Jason Peters‘ primary replacement last season. Mailata started 10 games, and Pro Football Focus graded him as a middle-of-the-pack tackle. Dillard missed all of last season due to a biceps tear but did not stand out in his four starts during the 2019 season. The Washington State product also battled hand trouble early in camp. Dillard is not certain to be ready for the Eagles’ Week 1 game.

Tackle depth proves elusive for many teams, so the Eagles standing down and hanging onto Dillard would make sense. They did, however, sign former Colts swing man Le’Raven Clark in May. The Eagles also used a 2020 fourth-round pick on tackle Jack Driscoll and still have versatile veteran Matt Pryor on the roster.

Saints Working Out K Aldrick Rosas

August 19th, 2021 at 3:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having included Brett Maher in their recent cuts, the Saints continue to search for Wil Lutz replacement options. They are working out a former Pro Bowler.

Aldrick Rosas auditioned for the Saints on Thursday, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (via Twitter). A 2018 Pro Bowler with the Giants, Rosas has been unattached since the Jaguars cut him late last month. The Saints also worked out kickers Alex Kessman and Dominik Eberle.

Rosas, 26, is the only one of these three with NFL experience. Kessman kicked at Pitt, while Eberle played at Utah State.

The Giants placed a second-round RFA tender on Rosas last year but cut him soon after the young specialist was arrested following a hit-and-run incident. After serving a four-game suspension, Rosas landed in Jacksonville and kicked in six Jags games. The Southern Oregon product’s 2018 season, when he made 97% of his field goal tries (32-for-33), has thus far been an aberration. Rosas did not clear the 73% barrier in his other three seasons.

The Saints signed Maher last week but waived him days later; Maher sustained an injury in the Saints’ first preseason game. Lutz is expected to miss extensive time due to a groin injury, forcing New Orleans to search for a kicker for the first time in five years.

Jets’ Carl Lawson Carted Off Practice Field

August 19th, 2021 at 1:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Jets defensive end Carl Lawson was carted off of the practice field on Thursday morning with a leg injury. There’s no official word on Lawson’s condition yet, but it’s believed to be an Achilles issue (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo). 

Lawson felt a pop when he suffered the injury (Twitter link), a sign that he could be dealing with a serious Achilles tear. That’d be a brutal blow to the Jets, who are counting on Lawson to spearhead their new 4-3 scheme.

Lawson, a former fourth-round pick of the Bengals, delivered serious pressure to opposing quarterbacks last season. He notched a modest 5.5 sacks, but his 32 QB hits were bested only by T.J. Watt.

The Jets gladly scooped him up with a three-year, $45MM deal with a chance to make up to $47.4MM. The deal included a whopping $30MM guaranteed to fill the Jets’ longstanding edge rusher void. Previous efforts to land the likes of Khalil Mack and Anthony Barr fell short — the hope is that Lawson can kick off a new era for the Jets’ front seven.

Lawson has managed to bounce back from serious injuries in the past. Despite suffering a torn ACL in 2018, he’s still managed to put together an impressive resume over the last four seasons. The Jets are hoping for the best this time around, but they might need another lineman to join Quinnen Williams and Folorunso Fatukasi up front.

Titans Place Brent Qvale On IR

August 19th, 2021 at 11:21am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans have placed offensive lineman Brent Qvale on injured reserve, per a club announcement. To take his spot on the roster, the club has added fellow blocker Paul Adams. 

[RELATED: Titans Sign S Bradley McDougald]

Qvale, a sixth-year veteran, worked as a part-time starter with the Texans in 2020. The 6-foot-7 blocker joined the Titans just a couple of weeks ago in the wake of Spencer Pulley‘s injury, but Qvale’s season also appears to be over.

To date, Qvale has logged 18 starts as a pro with most of those coming during his five-year tenure with the Jets. Still, he’s yet to see more than six starts in a season. The Titans were considering him for a reserve role where he’d support starters Taylor Lewan and Ty Sambrailo. At some point, second-rounder Dillon Radunz is expected to leapfrog Sambrailo for the top right tackle spot.

 

Latest On Steelers WR James Washington

August 18th, 2021 at 9:49pm CST by Ben Levine

There were reports earlier this month that Steelers wideout James Washington had requested a trade, a report that head coach Mike Tomlin later denied. Washington addressed the rumors today, and while he didn’t specifically acknowledge the trade request, he also didn’t deny the report.

“That’s a private conversation,” Washington said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “As far as me being happy in Pittsburgh, I love it here. Who wouldn’t be happy playing football as their job? I come to work every day with a smile on my face. I’m eager to be here with my guys — joking around, laughing, playing a sport I love.”

Washington was willing to acknowledge that he’s talked about his reduced offensive role with the coaching staff.

“It’s been talked about,” Washington said. “But I’m just trying to do what I can. I just want to show people I can be available and make the plays they want me to make. Just do what I need to do.”

Washington, a 2018 second-round pick, saw a jump from 38 targets as a rookie to 80 looks in 2019. During that 2019 campaign, caught 44 passes for 735 yards and three touchdowns. However, his targets dropped to 56 in 2020, with the receiver finishing his third NFL season with 30 grabs for 392 yards and five scores. His yards per catch average also dropped, going from 16.7 to 13.1.

This summer, Washington still found himself buried on the depth chart during the early parts of training camp, leading to rumblings that he was seeking a trade.

Ben Roethlisberger has never been shy about spreading the ball around, so there could definitely be a role for Washington in Pittsburgh in 2021. However, the 25-year-old currently has to compete with JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, and Diontae Johnson for targets, limiting his upside.

WR Josh Doctson Worked Out For Cardinals

August 18th, 2021 at 8:53pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve got a Josh Doctson sighting. The wideout auditioned for the Cardinals yesterday, per Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). Doctson apparently left Arizona without a deal, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t be an option down the road.

Doctson has struggled to live up to his first-round draft status, but he’s still managed to stick around the NFL. He got a contract from the Jets last offseason, but he ultimately decided to sit out for the 2020 campaign. He stayed on the Jets offseason roster for a few months before getting cut by the organization in May.

While the receiver obviously put up disappointing numbers during his stint in Washington, there was some hope that he could stick around the NFL following 2017 and 2018 seasons where he averaged 39.5 receptions, 517 receiving yards, and four touchdowns per season. However, Doctson has only seen the field for one regular season game since 2019, putting his NFL future in doubt.

The Cardinals have a deep grouping of wideouts, but the team could temporarily use some help at the position. Veterans DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green are dealing with minor ailments, while Andy Isabella is currently on the COVID-19 list.

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Watt, 49ers

August 18th, 2021 at 7:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

After starting 16 games for the Cowboys last season, Aldon Smith has seen his career veer off track again. The Seahawks cut the talented edge defender last week, and Brady Henderson of ESPN.com notes the team did not do so because of Smith’s on-field work. This was a non-football-related exit for Smith, whom Pete Carroll said (via the Tacoma News Tribune’s Greg Bell; video link) “couldn’t hang with” the Seahawks despite the team giving the suspension risk a “real shot.” The Seahawks signed Smith in April, but shortly after that agreement, the 32-year-old pass rusher was booked on a battery charge. He also was not in good enough shape to participate in Seattle’s June minicamp, raising more red flags about his 2021 viability. Smith was out of football from 2016-19, but Roger Goodell greenlit his reinstatement last year. Smith recorded five sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown with Dallas.

Here is more from Seattle and the latest from elsewhere in the NFC West:

  • The third and fourth seasons of Jamal Adams‘ four-year, $70MM extension do not include any guaranteed money, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. That said, the Seahawks’ Pro Bowl safety will collect all but $2.56MM of his $38MM in guarantees by February 2022. Because of Adams’ $20MM signing bonus being spread throughout the deal, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, the 2021 cap hit will be just $5MM. Adams’ contract also includes $2.75MM in incentives. Adams can collect $250K for each season he notches the rare (for other safeties, but in play for him) five-sack, three-interception double. The 25-year-old defender interestingly has just two career INTs, but he has met the sack requirement here twice — 6.5 in 2019, a safety-record 9.5 in 2020.
  • Aaron Banks had a good chance to become a 49ers starting guard in Week 1, but his lineup path will be delayed. The second-round pick suffered a shoulder injury in San Francisco’s first preseason game; he will be sidelined for as many as three weeks. While the Iowa product should be healthy at some point in September, Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes (subscription required) that this should allow Daniel Brunskill to keep his starting right guard spot come Week 1. Brunskill started all 16 49ers games at right guard last season.
  • The Cardinals won the J.J. Watt sweepstakes, but they hope to decrease the future Hall of Famer’s workload this season. They want Watt to play closer to 65% of their defensive snaps this season, rather than venturing into the 90% neighborhood, Jim Trotter of NFL.com notes. Despite his run of injuries in the late 2010s, Watt played 91% of the Texans’ snaps last season. In his seven non-injury-limited seasons, the five-time All-Pro played at least 88% of Houston’s defensive snaps. With Watt already dealing with a hamstring injury that will likely shelve him until Week 1, Arizona D-line coach Brentson Buckner is hoping to lighten his workload to maximize his productivity and extend his career.
  • After suffering a foot fracture for the second straight summer, Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson received some good news. The break will not require surgery, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. This will allow for a quicker return for the Stanford product. Prior to the setback, Parkinson was set to see time alongside Gerald Everett and Will Dissly this season.

Vikings LB Cameron Smith Retires

August 18th, 2021 at 7:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Vikings linebacker Cameron Smith will opt not to pursue another NFL season, instead announcing his retirement (Instagram link) Wednesday night. This comes after the young defender underwent open-heart surgery in 2020.

A COVID-19 test last summer revealed Smith needed the operation, which ended his season before it started. Although Smith went forward with a procedure that would allow him to continue his NFL career, he will retire nearly a year later.

Smith returned from the surgery and was cleared to return in late May. He participated in Minnesota’s first preseason game Saturday, recording a tackle in the Vikings’ home loss to the Broncos. A concussion, however, ended Smith’s day early.

The 24-year-old defender played in five regular-season games with the Vikings, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. As a backup and special-teamer in 2019, Smith notched eight tackles. He logged special teams snaps in both of Minnesota’s playoff games that year.

Despite the Vikings waiving Smith before last season, he wound up on their IR list. The team paid his full $675K base salary while he recovered from the operation. Smith was a four-year contributor at USC, topping out at 112 tackles (11 for loss) during his 2017 junior season.

Chiefs Discuss Tyrann Mathieu Extension, Prepared To Tag Orlando Brown Jr. In 2022

August 18th, 2021 at 6:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt and GM Brett Veach have expressed a desire to extend Tyrann Mathieu. The All-Pro safety has shown interest in staying in Kansas City as well, but the Chiefs are not rushing to finalize a deal.

Citing this year’s $16MM cap reduction, Veach noted the Mathieu math is a bit more complicated than it otherwise would have been.

“We’ve had a chance to talk to Tyrann and his representation, and I think it’s a little bit difficult with the landscape right now of having two cap-shortened offseasons, and where we are in regards to our offseason projections,” Veach said during an appearance on Sirius XM Radio (via Pro Football Talk). “But as we’ve discussed with Tyrann and his crew, it’s one of those situations that where we are now will certainly not be where we are once the season ends. Once we correct some of the things when you have extensions, conversations, trades, [free agents who] move on — every team is certainly in a different position [with] what their books say than they will be in the offseason.

“We like to think that we’re going to find a way to get this done, and he knows we love him and we know he wants to be here. And right now for us and for him, I think it’s just a timing thing.”

The Chiefs are projected to be a middle-of-the-pack team in terms of cap space in 2022, though that is a ways off, but this equation does not yet include Orlando Brown Jr. The Chiefs are tabling negotiations with their new left tackle until the offseason, but Veach said he has factored a Brown franchise tag into his 2022 numbers.

“Right now we’re counting Orlando on a tag, but we think he’s going to play well, and we’re going to extend him, and that opens up space,” Veach said, via ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher.

Veach and Co. have managed their books quite well in recent years, signing Patrick Mahomes to a record-setting extension that is still somehow team-friendly while also extending Chris Jones and Travis Kelce. The Chiefs, however, finalized these deals in the summer of 2020, when the cap’s status featured greater uncertainty. The cap is expected to rise toward $210MM in 2022.

Both Mathieu and Brown are going into contract years. Each will seek top-market money, and the team can obviously only tag one of them. The offensive line tag came in at just $13.8MM this year. The number will rise in 2022. Mathieu’s safety tag would be higher than the league-determined figure at the position, due to the 120% rule that comes into play when teams tag players they previously signed to big-ticket deals. Mathieu’s 2022 tag figure would be $17.46MM — 120% of his $14.55MM 2021 base salary.

While Brown has not proven a fit just yet, Mathieu has been vital to the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. The 29-year-old defender has earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in each of his two Chiefs seasons. He is set to finish out a three-year, $42MM pact this season. Mathieu and Landon Collins‘ $14MM-per-year deals topped the safety market in 2019, but Jamal Adams has since raised the bar to $17.5MM annually. Adams’ deal stands to impact the Chiefs soon.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/21

August 18th, 2021 at 4:56pm CST by Zachary Links

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

Arizona Cardinals

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed: K Lirim Hajrullahu

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Samuel Eguavoen; Eguavoen tested positive for the coronavirus

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Claimed (from Steelers): OT Brandon Walton
  • Waived/injured: S Raven Greene
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