2021 October - Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Texans WR Brandin Cooks

October 27th, 2021 at 5:30pm CST by Ben Levine

With a 1-6 record, the Texans have started to deal off some veterans…and it sounds like one of their locker room leaders is unhappy about the direction of the squad. Following tonight’s trade that sent Mark Ingram to New Orleans, Texans wideout Brandin Cooks took to Twitter to show his displeasure.

“This is bulls***,” Cooks said. “Such a joke.”

This obviously isn’t a great look for an organization that considers Cooks to be both a leader and a foundational piece (per ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter). From Cooks’ perspective, the frustration makes some sense; per Aaron Wilson (on Twitter), Cooks and Ingram are “very close friends.”

The Texans have moved on from their starting RB, they’re expected to trade franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, and they recently put defensive leader Zach Cunningham on the trading block. While the front office apparently has future plans for Cooks, there’s no denying that he’s one of the organization’s best trade chips (especially considering he’s only owed $1.5MM for the rest of the season, per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter). Earlier today, the 28-year-old had a much more measured response when asked about potentially being traded (via Wilson on Twitter).

“At the end of the day, guys know it’s a business,” said Cooks. “We go to do the best we can. All that type of stuff takes care of itself. It’s a decision that’s out of your control.”

Despite the uncertainty at the quarterback position, Cooks has still put up solid numbers in 2021. Through the first seven games, the veteran wideout has hauled in 45 receptions for 502 yards (albeit with only one touchdown).

Texans Trading RB Mark Ingram To Saints

October 27th, 2021 at 4:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Mark Ingram is heading back to where his NFL career started. The Texans are trading the veteran running back to the Saints, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). Terms of the deal are still being finalized, but Pelissero tweets that it’s expected to “involve late-round future picks.”

Ingram was a first-round pick by the Saints back in 2011, and he proceeded to spend the first eight seasons of his career in New Orleans. He saw time in 106 regular season games (63 starts) during his first stint with the organization, collecting 55 total touchdowns. During his final two years in New Orleans, Ingram formed one of the league’s best running back tandems with Alvin Kamara, something the duo will be looking to recreate for a second time.

Ingram inked a three-year deal with the Ravens in 2019 but only made it through two seasons with the organization. He caught on with the Texans this past offseason and proceeded to start each of their first seven games, collecting 318 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown.

The Saints have been looking for a running back that could help to lessen their starter’s workload. Kamara is currently averaging 19 rushing attempts per game, which is a significant jump from the 11.2 attempts per game he averaged through his first four seasons in the NFL. Ingram should slide right into that second spot on the RB depth chart, and he’ll push the likes of Dwayne Washington, Devine Ozigbo, Tony Jones Jr. (who’s on injured reserve), and practice squad backs Lamar Miller and Ryquell Armstead further down the pecking order.

The 1-6 Texans are beginning their fire sale, so it’s not a surprise that they’ve decided to move on from their 31-year-old starting running back. Of course, the team’s depth chart at the position still consists of veterans, including David Johnson and Rex Burkhead.

Cardinals Rule Out J.J. Watt For Week 8

October 27th, 2021 at 3:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers will not be the only ones missing key personnel for Thursday night’s NFC showdown. The Cardinals will be without J.J. Watt. Arizona ruled out Watt with a shoulder injury. Watt did not practice this week.

Watt has thus far delivered on the big-ticket deal he signed to relocate to Arizona, helping the Cardinals to their first 7-0 start since 1974 and playing a central role in the team ranking in the top five in scoring and total defense. The 32-year-old defender has played inside and outside for the Cardinals, who signed him to a two-year, $28MM deal this offseason. Pro Football Focus ranks Watt as a top-10 interior D-lineman through seven games.

But injuries have certainly been an issue for the all-time great. Another one will sideline him for the Cards’ Week 8 tilt. Injuries in 2016 and ’17 interrupted Watt’s stratospheric pace, and although the three-time Defensive Player of the Year returned to an All-Pro level in 2018, the former Texans superstar missed a chunk of the 2019 season as well. From 2016-19, Watt missed 32 games. Thursday will be his first absence since that 2019 season, however.

Arizona will have Chandler Jones back after he spent the past two weeks on their reserve/COVID-19 list. The team activated Jones and defensive lineman Zach Allen from the virus list.

Green Bay will be down Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, with both landing on the team’s COVID list. The Packers could activate All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, who returned to practice last week. Giving the veteran blocker an extra 10 days to come off the PUP list would make sense as well.

Texans LB Zach Cunningham On Trade Block

October 27th, 2021 at 3:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Deshaun Watson rumors have placed the Texans at the NFL’s trade forefront throughout this year, the rebuilding club has other pieces that could move ahead of the Nov. 2 deadline. Last season’s tackles leader is one of them.

The Texans have made Zach Cunningham available, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes (ESPN+ link). Considering Cunningham’s recent role reduction, this certainly is not a surprise. Should Cunningham be dealt, he would follow longtime inside linebacker mate Benardrick McKinney out the door.

Houston traded McKinney to Miami in March, though McKinney was later cut and has made his way to the Giants. McKinney missed much of last season, but Cunningham was on the field throughout. The plus run defender led the NFL with 164 tackles (106 solo — also an NFL-high tally), this production coming shortly after he signed a four-year, $58MM extension. The previous Texans regime authorized that deal, but Cunningham has seen his playing time dramatically reduced this year.

After playing 100% of Houston’s defensive snaps in Weeks 1 and 3, Cunningham checked in with a sub-30% workload over the past two games. David Culley referred to him as a two-down player recently. Having such a player attached to a $14.5MM-per-year contract is not ideal. The Texans would need to eat more than $15MM in dead money to trade Cunningham, though they made a potential deal easier with a restructure earlier this year. Cunningham is playing on a $990K base salary this season.

Cunningham’s stock drop under the Culley-Nick Caserio regime aside, the Texans are not planning to trade their two high-priced players on offense — Laremy Tunsil and Brandin Cooks — barring big offers, Fowler adds. Houston’s bevy of veterans on short-term deals could generate interest this week, but it appears the new regime still views Tunsil and Cooks as useful for the long-term mission.

Season-Ending Surgery On Table For 49ers DT Javon Kinlaw

October 27th, 2021 at 2:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

While injuries have not plagued the 49ers quite like they did last season, the team has still battled maladies on key fronts this year. One of the 49ers’ young starters is undergoing a key evaluation that stands to determine his availability for the season’s remainder.

Javon Kinlaw is visiting a specialist in Los Angeles, and Kyle Shanahan said (via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch, on Twitter) a season-ending knee surgery is on the table. The 2020 first-round pick missed the 49ers’ Week 6 game with the knee problem and has battled intermittent knee trouble for years.

Drafted to fill the spot vacated by last year’s DeForest Buckner trade, Kinlaw is a work in progress. The South Carolina product missing the rest of this season would certainly set his development back and strip the 49ers of a key D-line performer. Despite their four-game losing streak, the 49ers have had top front-four principals Nick Bosa, Dee Ford and Arik Armstead available throughout the season. Bosa and Ford combined to play in just three games last year, placing a low ceiling on San Francisco’s pass rush.

Kinlaw initially suffered this knee injury in December 2020 but entered the NFL with a history of knee issues from college. Knee pain caused Kinlaw to leave the 2020 Senior Bowl workouts early and skip position drills at last year’s Combine. The 49ers signed off on him and used him as a 12-game starter as a rookie. But Kinlaw missed the 49ers’ final two games last season and was absent in Week 1 of this season because of knee issues.

The interior D-lineman has not been productive this year, having eclipsed one tackle in just one of the four games he’s played. But the 49ers obviously made a big investment in Kinlaw and cannot afford many more bad breaks during a season that is heading south.

Packers’ Davante Adams Out For Week 8

October 27th, 2021 at 1:28pm CST by Zachary Links

WEDNESDAY: As expected, Adams will not be in uniform against the Cardinals. Adams will not travel with the Packers to Arizona, Steve Wyche of NFL.com notes (Twitter link). Adams, who is vaccinated, tested positive for COVID-19 Monday. Couple this with Allen Lazard‘s status as a high-risk close contact and Green Bay will be severely shorthanded at wide receiver for its high-profile Thursday matchup.

Barry will also miss the game. Defensive backs coach Jerry Gray and inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti will run Green Bay’s defense in Barry’s absence.

MONDAY: The Packers have placed Davante Adams on the COVID-19 list, per a club announcement. It’s not immediately clear whether Adams has tested positive for the virus, but defensive coordinator Joe Barry entered quarantine after testing positive earlier today.

Adams’ status for this week is now in doubt, pending tests. The Packers face the undefeated Cardinals on Thursday night, so the wide receiver has a very short window to clear protocol. Per league rules, he’ll need to pass two COVID tests on back-to-back days if he is asymptomatic.

Adams went off for six catches, 76 yards, and one touchdown against Washington on Sunday. For the year, he has 52 receptions for 744 yards and three TDs.

“Any time that you have any cases, you’re always a little bit concerned about that,” said head coach Matt LaFleur after disclosing Barry’s status. “But the majority of our guys are vaccinated, so there’s a little bit different protocol with that. I don’t think in terms of being at close contact with any of our players, I don’t think that’s a real concern of ours right now. But we’re still waiting to hear back from the league before we get clearance on anything.”

Ravens To Sign T Cedric Ogbuehi

October 27th, 2021 at 1:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Cedric Ogbuehi will be returning to the AFC North. The former Bengals first-round pick agreed to terms with the Ravens on Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

This is a practice squad agreement, though Garafolo adds Ogbuehi is expected to be bumped up to Baltimore’s active roster soon. The Ravens have a bye this week, but starting right tackle Patrick Mekari is dealing with a high ankle sprain.

It did not take long for Ogbuehi to find a new home. The Seahawks released the seventh-year veteran Monday, and the Ravens brought him in for a Tuesday workout. The sides will move forward together, with the Ravens set to be Ogbuehi’s fourth NFL team.

Injuries have certainly affected the Baltimore offense this season, and none is bigger than Ronnie Stanley‘s season-ending setback. Alejandro Villanueva is back as a left tackle, with Mekari moving from an interior role to right tackle. Ogbuehi, 29, began the season on Seattle’s IR list but was activated for Week 4, when he started against San Francisco. That marks the only game Ogbuehi has played this year.

Antonio Brown Facing Extended Absence?

October 27th, 2021 at 12:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The ankle injury that kept Antonio Brown out of the Buccaneers’ Week 7 game could sideline him for a while. Brown was spotted using a crutch Wednesday, and Bruce Arians said the injury could be “more long-term.” (Twitter links via The Athletic’s Greg Auman).

Being iffy on Brown returning immediately after the Bucs’ Week 9 bye, Arians essentially confirmed the team does not expect him for Sunday’s game in New Orleans. An IR move would shelve Brown until Week 12. Brown is dealing with an ankle sprain near his heel, Arians said. As of now, the Bucs are not considering a Brown IR stay, Auman tweets.

This would be Brown’s first multigame injury-related absence since December 2017, when a partially torn calf sustained against the Patriots sidelined him for the Steelers’ final two regular-season games. Although Brown missed most of the 2019 and ’20 seasons due to off-field issues, he has not run into much injury trouble. A COVID-19 contraction and this ankle malady have interfered with what has otherwise looked like a Brown bounce-back season.

Brown, 33, has 29 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns in five games. The Bucs played without Brown and Rob Gronkowski in Week 7, having no issue doing so in beating the Bears 38-3. Gronkowski also returned to practice Wednesday, marking a sign he is on track to return after a four-game absence.

Patriots To Sign CB Brian Poole

October 27th, 2021 at 12:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

A week after working out Brian Poole, the Patriots are signing the veteran cornerback. The sides agreed on a practice squad deal Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Despite the practice squad agreement, this could be an impactful deal for the Pats. New England just lost longtime slot corner Jonathan Jones for the season with a shoulder injury and lacks a proven cog for the role behind him. Poole, 29, certainly brings considerable experience here.

The Saints reached an injury settlement with Poole earlier this month, cutting him from their injured reserve. Poole, however, spent the past two seasons in the AFC East. In the two Jets seasons, Pro Football Focus graded Poole as a top-12 corner. Prior to his Jets run, Poole spent three seasons with the Falcons.

The Patriots traded for potential slot corner Shaun Wade late this summer but have yet to see the Ohio State product debut. Wade sustained a concussion that has kept him out. New England has also not seen much from 2019 second-round pick Joejuan Williams. J.C. Jackson and Jalen Mills reside as the Pats’ top two corners going into Week 8.

Titans, Washington Audition D’Onta Foreman

October 27th, 2021 at 11:44am CST by Sam Robinson

D’Onta Foreman has made multiple trips for workouts this week. The former third-round pick is auditioning to return to the Titans on Wednesday, Sports Talk 790’s Aaron Wilson tweets.

This comes a day after Foreman logged a Washington workout. The ex-Texas Longhorn has not been able to establish himself as a consistent pro, but he has remained a presence on the workout circuit and saw time with the Titans last season.

Serving as one of Derrick Henry‘s backups in 2020, Foreman rushed for 95 yards on 22 carries in his six-game Tennessee run. In the two seasons prior to that, Foreman played just one game. For his career, Foreman has just 107 carries.

This marks the second time in two months Foreman worked out with Washington, which also auditioned Kerryon Johnson on Tuesday. Antonio Gibson is playing through a shin injury — one ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter categorized as a hairline fracture. Gibson has played through that and a shin-area bruise this season and has yet to miss a game.

Tennessee activated 2020 third-round pick Darrynton Evans ahead of its Week 7 game, but the Appalachian State product has battled injuries as a pro. Evans has played in just six games since being a Day 2 pick. The 49ers released Johnson from their practice squad earlier this month.