HEADLINES

Year: 2024

Dolphins Activate Myles Gaskin And Salvon Ahmed

December 17th, 2021 at 5:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Ahead of their game against the Jets on Sunday, the Dolphins will have two of their top three running backs available. Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed have been activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. 

The move makes both players eligible to play against the Jets; Jackson adds that, “at least one, if not both, likely would play on Sunday”. Miami’s other options at the position include veterans Malcom Brown and Duke Johnson, as recent acquisition Phillip Lindsay remains in isolation due to COVID-19 protocol.

Gaskin has been the lead back for the Dolphins this season, posting 526 yards and three touchdowns on 154 carries, adding 45 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns in the passing game. The 24-year-old’s 3.4 yards per carry have left the Dolphins wanting more from the ground game, though, leading to moves such as claiming Lindsay in November. Ahmed, meanwhile, has chipped in 266 total scrimmage yards in his second season in Miami.

Their return would be welcome against the Jets in particular, as New York has allowed just under 139 yards per game on the ground. That, coupled with the upcoming absence of standout rookie wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, should lend itself to plenty of rushing opportunities on Sunday.

 

Lions’ RB D’Andre Swift Out For Week 15

December 17th, 2021 at 5:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

The bad news on the injury front continues for the Lions. After finding out they will be without Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson for the remainder of the season, they learned they will also be without their best running back. The Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett reports that D’Andre Swift will miss his third consecutive game. 

Still recovering from a shoulder injury, Swift will sit out the Lions’ game against the Cardinals. In 11 games in 2021, he has posted 555 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 140 carries. He has added 56 catches for 429 yards and another two scores in the air.

One of the key targets for quarterback Jared Goff, Swift’s injury problems have become a significant part of his professional career. After being drafted 35th overall in 2020, he missed three contests as a rookie, to along with four and counting in 2021.

Look for the Lions to continue to rely on rookie Jermar Jefferson, along with veteran Jamaal Williams at the running back position – if the latter is able to clear COVID-19 protocol, which kept him out of Detroit’s last game. Especially without Hockenson, plenty of targets will be available to the wide receiver corps, in particular Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond.

Birkett adds that offensive linemen Jonah Jackson did not practice all week, and is listed as questionable to play on Sunday.

Giants Sign LB Jaylon Smith To Practice Squad

December 17th, 2021 at 3:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jaylon Smith is heading to his third team this season, and second in the NFC East. The linebacker has been signed to the Giants’ practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). 

The 26-year-old played four seasons in Dallas after being drafted by the Cowboys, but was released on October 5th. He ranked second in the league in tackles with 154 in 2020, but was let go after he declined to waive his injury guarantee for the 2022 campaign. That left the Cowboys on the hook for $7.2MM in dead money, but allowed them to move forward with their linebacking corps headed by first-round rookie Micah Parsons.

Smith caught on with another NFC contender, quickly signing with the Packers. He played just 27 snaps across two games with Green Bay, however, registering only one tackle. In November, he was let go for the second time this year.

Smith will now join a Giants’ team whose linebackers have been “hit by the flu”, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. His first opportunity to play for his newest team will come on Sunday, against the Cowboys of all opponents.

Browns Place RB Kareem Hunt, Seven Others On Reserve/COVID-19 List

December 17th, 2021 at 2:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns have placed more players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including running back Kareem Hunt. The team announced that the following players have landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list:

In his third season with the Browns, Hunt has totalled 386 rushing yards and five touchdowns, along with an additional 174 yards on 22 catches in eight games. The 26-year-old has been a key member of the Browns’ backfield alongside Nick Chubb, helping the team average 143.5 rushing yards per game, ranking fourth in the NFL.

The team also announced that offensive assistant coach T.C. McCartney has tested positive for COVID-19. We learned earlier today that the NFL was pushing Saturday’s game between the Browns and Raiders to Monday.

Meanwhile, Cleveland activated linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and they’ve signed quarterback Kyle Lauletta to the active roster off the Jaguars practice squad. Lauletta, 26, has appeared in just two NFL games. Both were with the Giants in 2018, where he went 0-for-five with one interception. He has since spent time on the Eagles’, Falcons’ and Browns’ practice squads, only going to Jacksonville’s after being waived at the end of August.

Mississippi State’s Charles Cross Declares For NFL Draft

December 17th, 2021 at 2:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

The declarations of soon-to-be first round picks in the upcoming NFL draft continue. Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross will opt out of his team’s bowl game and focus on his professional career, per ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller (via Twitter). 

Cross’ college career will come to an end after two seasons in the SEC. Listed at six-foot-five, 310 pounds, the redshirt sophomore is widely regarded as one of the top prospects across any offensive line position, and is thought to be a likely top-ten pick.

In a tweet, Cross said in part, “Over the past three years, I have grown off the field just as much as I have developed on it… I will always remember and be thankful for my time as a Bulldog and will continue to proudly represent Mississippi State as I pursue my dream of playing in the NFL.”

Mississippi State finished the 2021 season with a 7-5 record, and will play 6-6 Texas Tech on December 28th in the Liberty Bowl.

Saints HC Sean Payton To Miss Sunday’s Game

December 17th, 2021 at 2:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Sean Payton won’t be on the sideline for Sunday’s matchup against the defending champs. The Saints announced that their head coach has tested positive for Covid-19. ‘

[RELATED: This Date In Transactions History: Saints Extend HC Sean Payton]

Per league protocols, Payton will be out for 10 days unless he meets the requirements for a fully vaccinated individual to return to his team. At the very least, Payton won’t be coaching against the Buccaneers this weekend.

Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen will assume the duties of head coach for Sunday’s showdown, according to the team. Allen was the head coach of the Raiders for two-plus seasons from 2012 to 2014. He collected an 8-24 record during his first two seasons at the helm, and an 0-4 start to the 2014 campaign led to his firing.

New Orleans is currently sitting with a 6-7 record and is struggling to remain in the postseason picture. The team already had their hands full against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, but that task will be made even tougher without Payton on the sideline.

 

Patriots’ Damien Harris Out For Week 15

December 17th, 2021 at 1:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots will be without one of their main offensive pieces for Sunday’s showdown with the Colts. Starting running back Damien Harris has been ruled out for the game (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). 

Harris had been limited in practice throughout the week, and was listed as questionable after Thursday due to a hamstring injury. This will mark the second game (the other being in Week 10) that the 24-year-old has missed this season.

The 2019 third-round pick has been enjoying the best campaign of his young career, posting 754 yards and nine touchdowns on 164 carries. He has also added 13 catches for 84 receiving yards. Without him, look for the Patriots to rely on Rhamondre Stevenson and Brandon Bolden as their top two backs against the Colts. Stevenson, a fourth-round rookie, topped 100 rushing yards during his first start of the season.

With a win Saturday night, New England can match the Chiefs’ 10-4 record, and in doing so reclaim top spot in the AFC.

WFT-Eagles, Seahawks-Rams Games Expected To Be Pushed To Tuesday

December 17th, 2021 at 1:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Following news that the Raiders-Browns game will be postponed, it sounds like another two weekend games will be pushed back. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports (via Twitter) that the WFT-Eagles game, along with the Seahawks-Rams matchup, will likely be pushed to Tuesday. 

[Related: Raiders-Browns Moved To Monday]

Albert Breer of MMQB reports that the Washington-Philadelphia game has been moved to 7 p.m. eastern on Tuesday, December 21st.

Meanwhile, according to Jourdan Rodrique of The Athletic, the Seattle-Los Angeles game is currently planned to be played at 4 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday.

The news could have a significant impact on the injury front for the Eagles in particular. As the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane notes (on Twitter), starting quarterback Jalen Hurts was on his way to being available for the game had it been played on Sunday, so the postponement will only increase his chances of being able to suit up.

The fact that these games have been pushed back – as opposed to being cancelled outright – has financial significance for all players involved as well. As Schefter and ESPN colleague Dan Graziano point out, a forfeit by any team would have prevented the affected players from being paid for the week.

 

Raiders-Browns Moved To Monday

December 17th, 2021 at 1:23pm CST by Zachary Links

1:23pm: The game has indeed been postponed to Monday, reports Josina Anderson (via Twitter).

12:58pm: The NFL and the NFLPA may move to reschedule tomorrow’s game between the Raiders and Browns (Twitter link via Dan Graziano of ESPN.com). The two sides may render a decision in the next hour, since the Raiders are on the verge of flying to Cleveland. 

[RELATED: Browns’ Clowney Tests Positive For COVID-19]

The game would likely be moved to Monday or Tuesday, giving the Browns an opportunity to get their ~20 COVID-19 positive players on the field. Both Baker Mayfield and backup quarterback Case Keenum are in that group. Ditto for Jadeveon Clowney, who tested positive on Friday morning.

If the game is not rescheduled, the Browns are expected to start Nick Mullens under center. He would be backstopped by two new QBs in Jake Dolegala and Kyle Lauletta.

This latest development marks a big departure from Roger Goodell‘s comments just a couple of days ago.

“There has not been any discussion about that,” Goodell said Wednesday when asked about the possibility of rescheduling Raiders-Browns (via USA Today). “We feel confident that with continuing changes and adaptations through our protocols that we can (play).”

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