HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

49ers’ Trent Williams Intends To Play Sunday

January 14th, 2022 at 8:54am CST by Adam La Rose

When the 49ers take the field on Wild Card Weekend, they could have their star left tackle back in action. Trent Williams revealed that his elbow injury will not require surgery, and that he intends to play on Sunday against the Cowboys (Twitter link via The San Jose Time’s Cam Innman). 

Williams suffered the injury early on during the 49ers’ win over the Texans in Week 17. He continued playing, however, stating that “I gritted through it and paid the price later”. The injury kept him out of the regular season finale against the Rams, in which the 49ers erased a 17-0 deficit to ultimately win in overtime and clinch the NFC’s final playoff berth. The nine-time Pro Bowler added that he was not a fan of using a brace to support the elbow, which is feeling much better than it was last week, and is now attempting to use tape instead.

The 33-year-old ended up playing in 15 games this year, his second in San Francisco. Still one of the best left tackles in the league, he signed a six year, $138MM extension last offseason to stay in the Bay Area that will keep him under contract until he is 38. Just like this past season, his 2022 base salary of $7.25MM is fully guaranteed, and his cap hit will jump to $14.12MM. Regardless of his availability for Sunday, then, he should be rehabbed and back at full strength by the beginning of next season at a minimum.

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/13/22

January 13th, 2022 at 10:38pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s updates for the reserve/COVID-19 and practice squad/COVID-19 lists:

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Football Team

Alamaba WR Jameson Williams Declares For Draft

January 13th, 2022 at 10:08pm CST by Ely Allen

Jameson Williams is going pro. The junior wide receiver made the announcement on his Instagram account early this afternoon, joining Evan Neal as the second Crimson Tide underclassman so far to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Williams leaves the ranks of college football having lost two consecutive national championship games: one as a Buckeye in the 2020 season and one as a member of the Crimson Tide this year. Williams initially signed with Ohio State in 2019 but was starved for targets behind fellow first-round hopefuls Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson.

The change of scenery was a smart move for Williams as he went on the have the second-best receiving season for an Alabama receiver since Amari Cooper, behind only Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith. Williams finished fifth in the nation with 1,572 receiving yards and tied for third in the nation with 15 receiving touchdowns. Williams has length and speed to dominate at the next level.

There is a bit of a hurdle for Williams as he tore his ACL in the Tide’s National Championship Game versus Georgia. The injury rang a familiar unpleasant tone with Alabama fans as they saw a similarly timed injury sideline their number-two receiver John Metchie III in the team’s SEC Championship Game against Georgia.

Williams was projected as an extremely high draft pick before the injury. While the potential threat of having to sit out his entire rookie season won’t do anything to help the 20-year old’s draft stock, whichever team takes a chance on Williams will have a do-it-all receiver who can win the jump balls, go deep, and return kicks. We shouldn’t be waiting too long to hear his name.

Culley’s Departure Doesn’t Affect Watson

January 13th, 2022 at 8:48pm CST by Ely Allen

According to multiple sources, the departure of former Texans’ head coach David Culley has no effect on where the franchise stands with quarterback Deshaun Watson. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that Watson’s issue was never with the coaching staff and Culley, Watson’s issue was with the ownership. 

The Texans are hoping to trade the 3-time Pro Bowler before the new league year starts on March 16. Watson holds a bit of power in the decision-making for the trade, as he holds a no-trade clause in his contract. Watson, in theory, must approve of his trade location and waive his no-trade clause for the chosen team, as he did with the Dolphins.

The Dolphins’ deal, which valued Watson at multiple first-round picks plus some ancillary picks, ended up falling through as Miami erred on the side of caution when they weren’t able to secure conditions attached to the picks as a safeguard against Watson’s possible discipline. Watson’s deposition is set to take place on February 22, with Watson not due in court until May 2. This makes Texans’ general manager Nick Caserio‘s job a bit more challenging, as the case on Watson will still loom over any potential deals.

Regardless, any head coach or offensive coordinator interviewing for Houston’s open positions should be aware that Watson is not part of the deal. Any coaching candidates will have to do their homework on Davis Mills instead.

Colts Planning Quenton Nelson Extension

January 13th, 2022 at 6:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following their decisions to extend Ryan Kelly and Braden Smith, the Colts figured to have the same plan for their top offensive lineman. They do, and a Quenton Nelson extension — with the three-time All-Pro guard entering his fifth-year option season — shifts to the forefront in 2022.

“Quenton’s a Colt,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said, via Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “We want him to be a Colt long-term. When we do the contract, we’ll work through that.”

Obviously instrumental in Jonathan Taylor winning the rushing title by more than 500 yards, Nelson landing his fourth first-team All-Pro honor may well be on tap. Nelson is the only offensive lineman since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to earn such acclaim in each of his first three seasons. To lock down Nelson, the Colts will almost definitely need to authorize a guard-record contract — perhaps by a notable margin.

Joel Bitonio and Joe Thuney‘s $16MM-per-year deals represent the high-water mark at guard. Nelson should command north of $20MM annually, Erickson suggests. That would be a market-shifting accord and tie the Colts to three high-end O-line deals.

Drafted sixth overall in 2018, Nelson has teamed with Kelly and Smith to give the Colts a top-tier offensive front. The team has Kelly tied to the third-richest center deal; Smith’s pact sits fourth among right tackles. Right guard Mark Glowinski just played out a midlevel deal (three years, $16.2MM), and left tackle Eric Fisher is also set for free agency in March.

The Colts resisted moving Nelson to left tackle during Fisher’s injury hiatus, and although Chris Reed adequately replaced Nelson during his four missed games this season, Ballard confirmed Nelson is not changing positions.

“Why would you move a Hall of Fame left guard to left tackle?” Ballard said. “It makes no sense to me. And look, he’s got a ways to go to be a Hall of Famer, but why would you move a great player to left tackle? We’re not doing it.”

The franchise tag in 2023 would be an option for the Colts, should they have second thoughts about a market-topping extension. The team has not operated that way under Ballard, having not used the tag since 2013. Indianapolis is projected to rank among the top 10 in cap space going into the 2022 league year.

Whitney Mercilus Designated For Return

January 13th, 2022 at 5:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers signed Whitney Mercilus in the aftermath of Za’Darius Smith‘s back surgery, but the NFC North champions played without both for the stretch run. A possibility each is back next week now exists.

Green Bay designated Mercilus to return from IR on Thursday, starting his 21-day activation clock. This is a surprise, given Mercilus’ biceps tear occurring in mid-November. DC Joe Barry conceded as much, indicating he was not expecting a return to practice this soon.

Barry’s stance may point to Mercilus being an option ahead of the NFC championship game or Super Bowl LVI — assuming, of course, the Packers’ season extends beyond next weekend — but the conference’s No. 1 seed could look drastically different when it returns to action.

David Bakhtiari missed 16 games this season but returned for the Packers’ Week 18 tilt, while O-line mate Josh Myers played in Detroit as well after being out since Week 6. Smith and Jaire Alexander are also trending toward returning for the divisional round. Ditto Randall Cobb, who must be activated by next week to play again this season. Starting right tackle Billy Turner was also back at practice this week. Turner has not played since suffering a knee injury in Week 14, though the Packers did not place him on IR.

Mercilus coming back would give the Packers a formidable two-deep edge-rushing contingent. The longtime Texans outside linebacker would almost certainly be a rotational rusher behind the likes of Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary. Mercilus, 31, signed with the Packers after his October Texans release. Used in a part-time capacity by both his 2021 teams, Mercilus has four sacks this season. The former J.J. Watt sidekick has 58 career sacks and has also been productive in the playoffs, having registered seven sacks in eight postseason games.

Bears Interview Champ Kelly For GM Role; Team Interested In Rick Smith?

January 13th, 2022 at 4:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Comprised entirely of outside candidates previously, the Bears’ GM interview list now includes one of their own staffers. The Bears interviewed assistant director of player personnel Champ Kelly for their GM job Thursday.

Brought in at the start of Ryan Pace‘s GM tenure, Kelly has been with the Bears since 2015. The veteran staffer began as the team’s pro scouting director and has served in his current role since 2017. The Bears promoting a Pace lieutenant would surprise, but Kelly has drawn extensive interest from outside the organization.

The Broncos and Panthers interviewed Kelly for their GM job last year, before respectively hiring George Paton and Scott Fitterer. In 2019, the Jets brought in Kelly for an interview ahead of their Joe Douglas hire. Kelly spent eight years in Denver prior to coming to Chicago. The Bears also completed their interview with Browns vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on Thursday.

The Bears may also have a higher-profile candidate on the radar. Not yet on the team’s interview list, former Texans GM Rick Smith is expected to draw interest from the Bears, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. Smith has not held an NFL role since stepping away from his longtime post as Texans GM after the 2017 season.

Although Smith has not landed on any interview lists during this cycle, he was popular on the 2021 circuit. The Jaguars and Lions met with the 12-year Texans GM, and Washington’s 2020 interview with Smith nearly led to a hire. Smith was in place as GM for the first four playoff berths in Texans history, having drafted the likes of J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins. Smith’s final draft involved the team’s trade-up for Deshaun Watson.

Here is how the Bears’ GM field looks as of Thursday afternoon:

  • Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, vice president of football operations (Browns): Interviewed 1/13
  • Morocco Brown, director of college scouting (Colts): Interview requested
  • Ran Carthon, director of player personnel (49ers): Interview requested
  • Glenn Cook, vice president of player personnel (Browns): Interviewed 1/12
  • Ed Dodds, vice president of player personnel (Colts): Interview requested
  • Jeff Ireland, assistant general manager (Saints): Interview requested
  • Champ Kelly, assistant director of player personnel (Bears): Interviewed 1/13
  • Omar Khan, vice president of football and business administration: Interview requested
  • Joe Schoen, assistant general manager (Giants): Interview requested
  • Rick Smith, former general manager (Texans): Mentioned as candidate
  • Eliot Wolf, senior consultant (Patriots): Interview requested
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