HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey Exits Game With Injury

September 23rd, 2021 at 8:13pm CST by Ben Levine

Christian McCaffrey is out for the rest of tonight’s game against the Texans. The running back left the game during the second quarter of tonight’s contest and will not return, according to the broadcast (and passed along by ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).

The star running back is dealing with a hamstring injury, according to the team. McCaffrey bounced on and off the field for much of the first quarter-plus, and he remained in the medical tent for some time after exiting during the second quarter.

Following a historic 2019 campaign where McCaffrey finished with 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns, the running back was limited to only three games in 2020 after suffering a shoulder injury. He looked fully recovered through the first two weeks of the 2021 season, collecting 324 yards from scrimmage on 59 carries. The 25-year-old had another 40 all-purpose yards on nine touches before leaving tonight’s game.

McCaffrey‘s absence may end up being inconsequential during Thursday’s game against the lowly Texans. However, it will be tough for the surprising Panthers to overcome a long-term McCaffrey absence. Chuba Hubbard is next in line for carries, but the rookie fourth-round pick has only seen time in 26 offensive snaps through two weeks. The team is also rostering Royce Freeman on the active roster, and they could turn to practice squad backs Rodney Smith or Spencer Brown.

49ers HC Confirms Team’s Past Interest In QB Aaron Rodgers

September 23rd, 2021 at 7:56pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers were consistently connected to Aaron Rodgers during the early parts of the quarterback’s standoff with the Packers. Today, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged that his team had reached out to the Packers about a potential trade.

“I thought it’d be a quick no,” Shanahan told (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk). “Which was exactly what I thought it would be. But you hear enough stuff and I think everyone knew what was going on at that time that it didn’t seem like it [wasn’t] worth the call, but I know how we would’ve felt if it was going to happen and we didn’t call. So, you call, you get a quick answer which what was what you’re expecting and then you move on.”

We previously heard that the 49ers were on Rodgers’ wish list, and the Packers even accused the 49ers of tampering after the team reached out directly to the QB. In other words, it’s not a huge surprise that the 49ers had approached the Packers about a trade, but Shanahan’s confirmation is a nice touch.

Ultimately, the 49ers decided to go in a different direction, as they went all in on a trade for third-overall pick Trey Lance. Jimmy Garoppolo remains the starter in San Francisco, but the team will eventually hand over the reigns to the North Dakota State product.

Shanahan will get a front row seat to ‘what could have been’ this weekend, as the 49ers take on Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday evening.

Latest On Giants OL Nick Gates

September 23rd, 2021 at 6:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Nick Gates‘ injury last Thursday will end up having a significant impact on the lineman’s career. Giants head coach Joe Judge “couldn’t completely rule out” that Gates’ injury will end up ending his career (per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan on Twitter). However, the coach “seemed hopeful” that the lineman will be able to see the field again.

“I’d be lying, if from my perspective, if I said no,” Judge replied when asked if the injury was a career-ender (via Raanan). “I know that there are some comparisons to other players. These things are all different. I know he’s going to have the best medical care possible, here or elsewhere whatever we can do. So we are confident he’s going to be able to come back.”

Gates remains in a hospital in Virginia and is set to undergo further testing. The team captain posted an Instagram video that showed him walking, and Raanan writes that he “remains in good spirits despite the severity of the injury.”

The injury occurred in the first quarter of last Thursday’s loss to Washington. The lineman got tangled up with WFT defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, and it looked like teammate Daron Payne accidentally rolled over his ankle. Gates’ leg was placed in an air cast before he was carted off the field. The broadcast refused to show a replay considering the gruesome nature of the injury.

Gates was an undrafted free agent in 2018, but he’s transformed into one of the Giants’ most reliable offensive lineman. The 25-year-old started all 16 games for New York in 2020, and he was named a team captain prior to the 2021 campaign. He appeared in all 61 of the Giants’ offensive snaps during their Week 1 loss.

Jaguars Work Out TE Trey Burton

September 23rd, 2021 at 4:54pm CST by Ben Levine

James O’Shaughnessy is out for at least a few weeks, and the Jaguars are starting to look for some additional depth at tight end. The team worked out free agent Trey Burton today, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).

[RELATED: Jaguars Place TE James O’Shaughnessy On IR]

After starting five games in four seasons with the Eagles, Burton had a breakout campaign with the Bears in 2018, finishing with 54 receptions for 569 yards and six touchdowns. However, he only hauled in 14 receptions in 2019, leading to his release. The veteran caught on with the Colts in 2020, finishing with 28 receptions for 250 yards and three scores.

Burton does have some connection to the organization. The former undrafted free agent played under current Jags coach Urban Meyer at Florida.

O’Shaughnessy suffered a high ankle sprain last weekend, and he landed on IR this week. The 29-year-old was the only tight end on the roster with multiple receptions, so it makes sense that the team is eyeing some reinforcement at the position. Otherwise, the team is hoping that one of Chris Manhertz, Jacob Hollister, or fifth-round pick Luke Farrell will step up in the starter’s absence.

Latest On Eagles’ Brandon Brooks

September 23rd, 2021 at 3:08pm CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles should expect to be without Brandon Brooks for the next eight weeks. At least, that’s the timeline quoted by teammate and friend Lane Johnson (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). 

The Birds parked Brooks on the injured reserve list earlier this week following his pectoral injury. Early on, there was fear of it being a season-ending for Brooks, one of the league’s most talented offensive guards. However, it wasn’ t a complete pec tear, leaving the possibility of a return in the second half.

Brooks, of course, has been here before. The 32-year-old lost all of 2020 to a torn Achilles, leaving the Eagles to scramble for solutions up front. He also had Achilles and shoulder tears in the past. When healthy, he’s a standout. Brooks made the Pro Bowl every year from 2017-2019, showing why he’s worth his current four-year, $54.2MM deal.

The Eagles turned to rookie Landon Dickerson in Brooks’ stead, but they could pivot to the more experienced Nate Herbig. They also have a newcomer, Jack Anderson, to provide depth. Still, Johnson knows that no one else can be a one-for-one replacement for Brooks.

“Brooks has been one of the best right guards in the league for a long time,” Johnson said (via the Philadelphia Inquirer). “Tremendous loss for us. Having him out there, might’ve been the difference between us winning and losing.”

Lions Place Tyrell Williams On IR

September 23rd, 2021 at 11:21am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have placed wide receiver Tyrell Williams on the injured reserve list, per a club announcement. His roster spot will be filled by linebacker Josh Woods, who has been signed from the Bears’ practice squad. 

Williams has been in concussion protocol ever since Week 1, when he absorbed a hard tackle from 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt. Doctors held Williams out of last week’s game against the Lions and he’ll continue to sit out for several more games. At minimum, Williams will miss this week’s game against the Ravens, next week’s tilt against the Bears, and the Week 5 game against the Vikings.

Williams reunited with Anthony Lynn this year, agreeing to a one-year deal that could be worth as much as $6.2MM. The Lions were hoping to have a healthy Williams front and center in their offense with Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones out of the picture. Instead, the 29-year-old will have to spend the early part of the season focusing on his health. In his lone Lions game, Williams notched two grabs for 14 yards.

His most productive season to date came under Mike McCoy — a 1,000-yard 2016 slate — but he remained an auxiliary Chargers cog under Lynn from 2017-18. Still, Williams totaled more than 1,300 yards and nine touchdowns between those seasons.

Latest On Lions’ Jamie Collins

September 23rd, 2021 at 10:29am CST by Zachary Links

On Thursday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that the team is indeed shopping linebacker Jamie Collins (Twitter link via Chris Burke of The Athletic). Campbell also says the veteran will be away from the team as they explore trade possibilities.

Signed during the Lions’ Bob Quinn–Matt Patricia regime, Collins is set to earn in $3.8MM base salary this season. He’s also under contract through 2022, the final year of his three-year, $30MM deal pact. Collins’ base salary — reduced via restructuring earlier this year — should be manageable for interested teams. The Lions, meanwhile, would take on $11MM+ in dead money by dealing Collins.

The Lions are looking to deploy rookie Derrick Barnes in Collins’ place. He hasn’t seen a ton of significant action yet, but the Lions are eager to shake things up after their 0-2 start.

Collins, 32 in October, has been here before — the Patriots traded him to the Browns midway through the 2016 season. He returned to the Pats in 2019 and enjoyed a bounce-back season before hooking on with Detroit. He went on to notch his fourth 100-plus-tackle slate last year (101 stops) while forcing three fumbles. Still, he’s too old to be a part of the Lions’ rebuild.

Through two games, Pro Football Focus has Collins ranked No. 24 among the league’s off-ball linebackers.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/23/21

September 23rd, 2021 at 8:30am CST by Zachary Links

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

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

John Elway Interested In Broncos Ownership Role

September 22nd, 2021 at 10:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

John Elway recently stepped down as the Broncos’ general manager, though he is now serving as the franchise’s president of football operations. But the former Super Bowl-winning executive and quarterback is eyeing a higher-profile post with the team.

If the Broncos are to be sold, Elway is interested in assembling an ownership group to buy the franchise, Mike Klis of 9News reports. This comes shortly after a report indicated Peyton Manning is interested in doing the same. While it is not certain the Broncos’ two Super Bowl-winning QBs wouldn’t team up, an either/or situation may be in the cards — should the team end up being sold. A sale is eventually expected.

[RELATED: Pat Bowlen Trustees Receiving Offers For Broncos?]

Elway’s interest runs counter to his statement shortly after Pat Bowlen‘s 2019 death, when the then-GM said he was not eyeing an ownership role with the Broncos. No longer running the team’s personnel department, Elway indeed appears interested now.

Elway, 61, has extensive business experience in Denver and, prior to returning to the Broncos in a GM role just more than 10 years ago, operated as co-owner of the Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League from the franchise’s 2002 inception until 2008. Manning is believed to be interested in a role that would allow him to potentially work in personnel; Elway already held such a post for 10 years. He hired George Paton to take his place as GM in January.

The Broncos’ former GM has begun preparations for a run as a minority investor, Klis notes, adding no sale will occur before the 2021 season ends. The Pat Bowlen Trust is currently running the Broncos, but squabbles between the siblings have led to a sale entering into the equation. The NFL’s preference has been for Brittany Bowlen, Pat’s youngest daughter, to run the team. That reality may be on the verge of being scuttled, opening the door to what could be a fascinating pursuit pitting Elway and Manning — both current Denver residents — against one another. Forbes recently valued the Broncos at $3.75 billion. This will certainly force the retired QBs to link up with deeper-pocketed buyers. Hurdles remain, of course, as a sale is not certain.

Additionally, the trial to determine whether the estate of Edgar Kaiser, the team’s owner before selling to Pat Bowlen in 1984, has the right of first refusal regarding a sale began Wednesday, Klis adds. An attorney representing the Broncos argued the parties’ agreement should be off since both Kasier and Bowlen died — Kaiser in 2012, Bowlen in 2019. Kaiser lost two previous attempts to execute his right of first refusal.

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