HEADLINES

Year: 2024

Chiefs Activate OL Kyle Long

November 30th, 2021 at 4:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Kyle Long is officially on the Chiefs active roster. The team activated the veteran offensive lineman from the reserve/PUP list today, per ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).

Long came out of a one-year retirement to join the Chiefs this past offseason. However, he suffered a lower leg injury in June that ultimately delayed his return to the field. The 32-year-old finally returned to practice earlier this month, and now he’ll be able to join a Chiefs roster that’s making a push toward the playoffs.

Long joined the defending AFC champs on a one-year deal worth up to $5MM in March. Previous to that, the 2013 first-round pick spent his entire seven-year career with the Bears, earning three Pro Bowl appearances and a second-team All-Pro nod in 2014. However, he dealt with a long list of injuries between 2016 and 2019, averaging only 7.5 games per season over that four-year span. After being limited to only four games in 2019, Long announced his retirement.

Long’s versatility means he should see a role for the Chiefs down the stretch. The Chiefs have used three different starters (including Lucas Niang, Mike Remmers, and Andrew Wylie) at right tackle, so the veteran could perhaps provide some stability to that spot when the team returns from their bye this Sunday night.

To make room on the roster, the Chiefs placed running back Jerick McKinnon on injured reserve with a hamstring injury (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter). The veteran joined the Chiefs this past offseason and has seen time in 11 games, collecting 119 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches. He’s also seen a significant amount of time on special teams. Defensive tackle Khalen Saunders also landed on IR.

Stephen Gostkowski Won’t Rule Out NFL Return

November 30th, 2021 at 3:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

While preparing to watch Sunday’s Titans-Patriots game, kicker Stephen Gostkowski made a noteworthy revelation. The 37-year-old isn’t opposed to resuming his NFL career in the future, reports ESPN’s Mike Reiss. 

After an illustrious Patriots career that saw him win three Super Bowls and earn two All-Pro honors, Gostkowski signed with the Titans in 2020. He played in 15 games, converting 18 of 26 field goals and 46 of 48 extra points.

Any potential return would likely come no earlier than the 2022 season, as Gostkowski is currently sidelined by a Coxsackie viral infection. “I’m not in good enough shape”, he said. “But I’m not closing the door of never playing again. It’s just not in my immediate future.”

Gostkowski, collected four Pro Bowl nods with the Patriots from 2006-15 and left as the team’s all-time leading scorer. Across those 14 seasons, there were only two in which he didn’t make at least 82% of his field goal tries.

 

 

Titans Place Monty Rice On IR

November 30th, 2021 at 3:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans have placed linebacker Monty Rice on injured reserve, according to a team press release. In an injury-marred year, Rice becomes the 18th player to land on the Tennessee’s IR.

The Titans turned to Rice as their starting inside linebacker after losing Rashaan Evans and David Long to injury. Now, they’ll have to look elsewhere for support, alongside fellow fill-in Jayon Brown. That could mean an uptick in work for backups Dylan Cole and Nick Dzubnar.

It’s a disappointing setback for the rookie ‘backer, as he was starting to gain favor with head coach Mike Vrabel.

“He started by finishing [on special teams]…running his guy and taking care of the returner, so I think he started to build some confidence there. Then he made some tackles on kickoff and really started to build some confidence there. [Now,] he’s got an opportunity to play linebacker,” Vrabel said recently (via Jim Wyatt of the team website). “He is continuing to improve and hopefully we can start to really see some more progress.”

Rice, a third-round rookie, could theoretically return later this year after sitting out for at least three games. So far, the Georgia product has 36 stops on the year, plus one pass defensed and a quarterback hit.

Falcons Designate Steven Means For Return

November 30th, 2021 at 2:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have designated defensive end Steven Means for return from injured reserve, per a club announcement. Means will be eligible to practice with the team starting today and return to action anytime in the next 21 days.

Means, 31, originally caught on with the Falcons in September 2018. Since then, he’s re-upped twice and started in 23 of his 32 games for Atlanta. This year, he was first-string at outside linebacker through eight games, up until he suffered a knee injury.

Fortunately, this was a less serious injury than the Achilles tear that cost him all of 2019. Now that he’s healthy, he’ll look to reprise his mostly solid work from 2020, which included 38 total stops and three sacks.

Once Means is back, he should resume his starting job with support from Ade Ogundeji and James Vaughters. He’ll also look to improve on his first half work – through his eight games, Pro Football Focus had him ranked near the bottom of all qualified edge defenders.

To make room for Means, the Falcons have waived cornerback Chris Williamson.

Kevin Stefanski To Continue Calling Browns’ Plays

November 30th, 2021 at 2:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

While the Browns search for answers on offense during their bye week, at least one thing will remain the same. Head coach Kevin Stefanski will retain play-calling duties rather than handing them to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, as Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot writes. 

“We talk about a lot of things every single week,’’ Stefanski said in his press conference Monday. “I’m comfortable with the communication that goes on throughout the week and on gameday. The offensive staff is outstanding, especially [offensive line coach] Bill [Callahan] and Alex throughout the game, so I’m comfortable with how we are doing it right now. We just have to be better. I have to be better. That’s the truth. We just have to find ways to stay on the field and get sevens when we are down there in the red zone.”

The Browns currently sit 19th in the NFL averaging 21.2 points per game, and rank 16th when it comes to yards per game at 372. Since their decisive win over the Bengals in Week 9, Cleveland has put up point totals of 7, 13 and 10, respectively. Clearly, the removal of oft-maligned wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has not helped quarterback Baker Mayfield engineer a more efficient passing attack. Meanwhile, the Browns totaled just 40 rushing yards on Sunday night against Baltimore, even with Kareem Hunt back in the lineup.

After the bye, the Browns will have an immediate chance at revenge against the Ravens at home in Week 14.

Washington To Sign K Brian Johnson

November 30th, 2021 at 1:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The Washington Football Team is moving on to its fourth kicker of the season. In the wake of Joey Slye‘s injury, Washington has agreed to sign kicker Brian Johnson off the Bears’ practice squad (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero).

[RELATED: Washington K Joey Slye To Miss Time]

Johnson, a Virginia Tech alum, actually succeeded Slye as the Hokies’ kicker. He kept that job from 2018 through 2020 and sank 20 of his 26 field goals as a senior. After graduation, he hooked on with the Bears’ taxi squad, before being plucked by the Saints in October.

Johnson went on to make all eight of his field goals across four games. Unfortunately, he also bricked three point-after attempts across his last two games in New Orleans, including a pair that cost them a win over the Titans. The Saints moved on to Brett Maher, but Johnson will have a chance at redemption in D.C. He’ll try to match Slye’s mostly solid work in Washington — 6-of-6 on FGs with only one missed/blocked XP.

Panthers Won’t Trade Christian McCaffrey

November 30th, 2021 at 12:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The league’s other 31 GMs will have to cross an item off of their holiday wishlist. The Panthers have no plans to trade Christian McCaffrey, according to a team source who spoke with Joseph Person of the Athletic. 

[RELATED: Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey Done For Year]

The running back was placed on IR after suffering a season-ending injury ankle injury in Sunday’s loss to the Dolphins. It marks McCaffrey’s second stint on IR this year, and the latest in a concerning trend regarding the 25-year-old’s ability to stay on the field. He missed all but three games in 2020 due to separate ankle, shoulder, and quad injuries meaning that the Panthers will have only had him available for ten of a possible 33 games in the last two campaigns.

The eighth overall pick in the 2017 draft, McCaffrey signed a four-year, $64MM extension in April 2020. Injuries had not been a cause for concern at the time, even going back to his time at Stanford. Now, however, his contract — which runs through 2025 with sizable cap hits — could hamper the Panthers if he can’t stay healthy.

For now, the Panthers will turn to rookie Chuba Hubbard as their lead back, starting with their Week 14 matchup against the Falcons.

Minor NFL Transactions:  11/30/21

November 30th, 2021 at 11:59am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions

  • Waived/Injured: DL Da’Shawn Hand

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

  • Signed (off Bills practice squad): QB Jake Fromm

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Urban Meyer Won’t Pursue NCAA Jobs

November 30th, 2021 at 11:45am CST by Zachary Links

Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer has no interest in returning to the college ranks, according to a source who spoke with Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Despite the new vacancies at Oklahoma and Notre Dame, DiRocco hears that Meyer remains committed to Jacksonville.

[RELATED: Jaguars Place Arnold On IR]

Meyer’s first foray into the NFL hasn’t been easy so far. And, just as his Jaguars dropped to 2-9 on the year, multiple high-profile jobs opened up. The University of Oklahoma needs a new head coach to replace Lincoln Riley, who jumped ship for USC. Ditto for Notre Dame, now that Brian Kelly is the new HC at LSU.

“Zero chance at that happening,” Meyer said in March when asked about a return to the NCAA. “What coach [Nick] Saban went through, I don’t know. That’s Coach Saban’s business. I’m not quite sure. At some point, I might talk to him about it…he’s a friend of mine and I got great respect for him.

“It is different. It’s completely different. My mind is set. There’s gonna be some losses. That’s gonna be miserable. I hate losing. We all do. But the reality is that you’re gonna lose. Hopefully you win more than you lose. But that’s something that’s gonna be new to me. I have to get my mind right and I’m working on that.”

Meyer will aim for his next win on Sunday when his Jaguars face the Rams.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/30/21

November 30th, 2021 at 11:45am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s taxi squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

New England Patriots

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

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