2021 - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Place T.J. Watt On COVID-19 List

November 29th, 2021 at 2:43pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers have placed linebacker T.J. Watt on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, per a club announcement. His availability moving forward will hinge on his vaccination status and test results.

Per league rules, vaccinated players who test positive can return after two negative tests, provided that they are asymptomatic. Unvaccinated players, on the other hand, are ruled out for a minimum of ten days.

Watt missed Week 11 against the Chargers with hip and knee injuries but returned on Sunday to face the Bengals. Now, his status for this week’s game against the Ravens is in flux.

Through nine games this year, Watt has 12.5 sacks, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries to his credit. The Steelers, stationed at 5-5-1, can ill afford to lose him at this stage of the season.

The Steelers still have a 10% chance of making the postseason, per Five Thirty Eight, but a loss to the Ravens would make it a near mathematical impossibility.

Cowboys Designate Neville Gallimore For Return

November 29th, 2021 at 2:35pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have designated Neville Gallimore for return, per a club announcement. The move opens up a 21-day practice window for the defensive tackle, paving the way for his eventual return.

Gallimore, a 2020 third-rounder, started nine games in his rookie campaign and was expected to serve as a starter again this year. Unfortunately, a dislocated elbow has shelved him all year. Now, at minimum, he’ll serve as a valuable rotational piece on the interior.

In theory, Gallimore can suit up for Thursday night against the Saints, but it’s not clear if he’ll be ready in time. Ditto for Randy Gregory and two-time Pro Bowler DeMarcus Lawrence, who is aiming to return from his foot fracture.

The Cowboys would like to have all three linemen back in action ASAP. After dropping their last two, the Cowboys are 7-4 and still in danger of losing the NFC East lead.

WFT To Activate Logan Thomas, Curtis Samuel

November 29th, 2021 at 2:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Washington will have two of their best offensive players in action tonight. Both tight end Logan Thomas and wide receiver Curtis Samuel have been cleared to play against the Seahawks (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo).

The WFT opened Thomas’ practice window last week by designating him for return. Before that, he spent six weeks on IR with a hamstring injury. Through his four games this year, Thomas has tallied 12 catches for 117 yards and two scores. After his career year in 2020 — 72 receptions for 670 yards and six touchdowns — there should be plenty more where that came from. Still, as head coach Ron Rivera has said, both he and Samuel will be on a pitch count against Seattle.

Samuel joined Washington on a three-year deal worth up to $35.25MM with $24.5MM guaranteed. Unfortunately, he’s been limited to just two games so far this year. Like Thomas, he’s also coming off of a career year with 1,051 yards from scrimmage, five touchdowns, and one heck of a highlight reel.

Washington enters tonight’s game at 4-6, enough for a ~34% chance of making the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight. With a win, they can inch a little closer to the Cowboys and improve their chances to about 46%.

Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey Done For Year

November 29th, 2021 at 12:52pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers have placed Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve, per a club announcement. Since this is his second trip to IR in 2021, the move will mark the end of the running back’s season.

CMC previously missed five games with a hamstring injury. This time around, it’s an ankle injury that’ll require multiple months of rehab.

McCaffrey was forced out early yesterday as the Dolphins went on to win 33-10. The loss dropped them to 5-7 on the year, further crushing their slim odds of reaching the postseason.

The Panthers got off to a 3-0 start with McCaffrey in the lineup, then dropped four of five games without him. Even after his return, they’ve lost three of four contests, though the offense was clearly better with him in the backfield. His Week 10 showing performance against Arizona — 13 carries, ten catches, and 150+ all-purpose yards — propelled them to their only win in November.

Between the last two years, McCaffrey has appeared in just ten games for the Panthers. It’s hardly what anyone envisioned for CMC after he inked a $16MM-per-year extension in 2020. In 2019, his last healthy campaign, McCaffrey made a push for Chris Johnson‘s record with 2,392 scrimmage yards.

Now, his ’21 season will end with 442 rushing yards and one touchdown, plus 37 catches for 343 yards and one receiving TD across seven games. The Panthers will likely add another RB to the mix between now and their next game, a Dec. 12 matchup against the Falcons.

Browns’ Jack Conklin Done For Year

November 29th, 2021 at 12:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Browns tackle Jack Conklin is done for the year (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Now confirmed to have a torn patella tendon, Conklin will have to turn his attention to rehab with an eye on 2022.

“That hurts to see Jack like that,” defensive end Myles Garrett said after Sunday’s game (via Cleveland.com). “I see the guy work every day, saw him work in training camp. I was part of the group that got him to come here. To see him have to deal with all these injuries, knowing what he’s going through and it’s tough to see, tough to watch and I feel for him.”

As noted by Garrett, this is just the latest malady for Conklin. In 2021 alone, he’s missed time with a dislocated elbow and a separate knee injury. It’s all amounted to a seven-game season, a disappointing follow-up to his stellar 2020. Last year, Football Focus rated him as the tenth best tackle in the NFL as he captured First-Team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career.

Blake Hance filled in after Conklin’s early exit, and he’ll continue to start at RT the rest of the way. The Browns can also be expected to add another tackle for depth during their Week 13 bye.

49ers’ Deebo Samuel To Miss Time

November 29th, 2021 at 11:41am CST by Zachary Links

49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to miss time following his groin injury (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Fortunately, it doesn’t appear to be too serious, so Samuel should be able to return later this season.

Samuel, 26 in January, will know more about his outlook following today’s MRI. Still, the expectation is that he’ll be back before long, giving defenses fits at both wide receiver and running back. Through eleven games, Samuel has 56 catches for 1,006 yards and five touchdowns. Meanwhile, he’s also been doing damage from the backfield. Last night, he racked up 66 rushing yards and two TDs off of just six carries. That brought him to 203 yards and five scores on the year, all from just 25 totes. The Niners are unlikely to have Samuel in the lineup when they face the Seahawks on Sunday, but he’ll be on the field before long.

Meanwhile, the Niners are hoping for more good news regarding the rest of their injured players. Along with Samuel, running back Trey Sermon (ankle) and linebackers Fred Warner (hamstring) and Dre Greenlaw (groin) find themselves in the questionable column.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/29/21

November 29th, 2021 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Seattle Seahawks

Promoted: OL Phil Haynes
Placed on IR: CB Tre Brown, OT Jamarco Jones

Washington Football Team

Promoted: C Jon Toth
Placed on IR: T Samuel Cosmi

Jaguars’ Dan Arnold Out 4-6 Weeks

November 29th, 2021 at 9:50am CST by Zachary Links

Dan Arnold may be done for the year. The Jaguars tight end has been diagnosed with a grade 2 MCL sprain that will sideline him for 4-6 weeks (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

The Jaguars acquired Arnold in late September, shipping former first-round pick C.J. Henderson and a fifth-round choice to the Panthers in exchange for the tight end and a third-round pick. Since then, he’s been a bright spot for the Jaguars in an otherwise trying year.

Through eleven games (three with the Panthers and eight with the Jags), Arnold has 35 grabs for 408 yards. That’s roughly in line with his entire 2020 with the Cardinals — 31 grabs for 438 yards and four touchdowns. On the plus side, the Jaguars still have Arnold under contract for 2022, thanks to the reasonable two-year, $6MM deal he inked with Carolina earlier this year.

The Jaguars, sans Arnold, will head west this week to face the Rams. At 2-9, they aren’t playing for much, so it’s unlikely that Arnold will return before the year is through.

Latest On Browns’ Jack Conklin

November 29th, 2021 at 9:27am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns believe that right tackle Jack Conklin is dealing with a torn patella tendon in his knee, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). Conklin, who was carted off during last night’s loss to the Ravens, will know more after additional testing this afternoon.

“You hate that for anybody, especially Jack, who’s been fighting to come back after the dislocated elbow,” said quarterback Baker Mayfield (via ESPN.com). “It’s just one of those freak deals. He’s one of our guys, and it’s just a really, really unfortunate thing.”

Conklin has already missed time this year, thanks to the elbow dislocation he suffered in Week 8 and another knee injury earlier in the year. Of course, when healthy, Conklin has performed as one of the game’s best right tackles. In 2019 and 2020, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the tenth best tackle in the NFL. And, even in this injury-marred season, PFF has him slotted 14th.

The Browns gave the former first round pick a three-year, $42MM deal in 2020. He’s still under contract for 2022 and almost certain to return — releasing him would save just $6MM against $9MM in dead money. Beyond that, they’d be hard-pressed to find a better option for less on the open market.

USC Officially Hires Lincoln Riley

November 28th, 2021 at 9:00pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL will have to wait. On Sunday, Lincoln Riley confirmed that he is leaving the University of Oklahoma to become the next head coach of the USC Trojans.

“Leaving OU was probably the most difficult decision of my life,” said Riley in a statement issued by Oklahoma. “OU is one of the best college football programs in the country, and it has been forever…This was a personal decision solely based on my willingness to go take on a new challenge, and I felt like it was the right opportunity for me and my family to do that.”

Not long ago, many believed that Riley’s next challenge would come in the professional ranks. Multiple NFL clubs have shown interest, including the Eagles earlier this year, before they settled on Nick Sirianni.

Riley has amassed a 55-10 record since taking over for Bob Stoops in 2017. Though the National Championship has eluded the Sooners, Riley’s work with No. 1 overall picks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray made him a hot NFL candidate. Riley’s still just 38 years of age, so he could make the leap sometime in the future. For now, he’s headed to Southern California while Stoops resumes his old job in an interim capacity.

In related news, Oklahoma has interest in Kliff Kingsbury, but it’s hard to imagine him leaving the first-place Cardinals.