HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/3/22

January 3rd, 2022 at 3:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s taxi squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Released: K Matt McCrane

Pittsburgh Steelers

Titans Activate Julio Jones

January 3rd, 2022 at 3:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans have activated Julio Jones from the COVID-19/Reserve list, per a club announcement. The wide receiver is now eligible to face the Texans with an opportunity help the Titans score a first-round bye. 

[RELATED: Titans Place Pruitt On IR]

Jones is in the midst of an uncharacteristically quiet season. Between his recent COVID list stint and a lingering hamstring injury, he’s appeared in just nine games with 26 catches, 376 yards, and zero touchdowns. On the plus side, his hammy is said to be better, so Jones could be primed for some vintage performances.

In 2019, Jones’ last full season, he notched 1,394 yards and six TDs off of 99 receptions. And, even in an injury-dampened 2020, the multiple-time Pro Bowler managed 51 grabs for 771 yards and three scores in his nine games.

Meanwhile, the Titans have officially placed tight end MyCole Pruitt on the injured reserve list. This was the expected move following Pruitt’s gruesome ankle injury on Sunday, one that will require surgery and months of rehab.

Raiders’ Nate Hobbs Charged With DUI

January 3rd, 2022 at 3:40pm CST by Zachary Links

Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs was arrested early Monday morning on DUI charges (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). According to police, Hobbs was found sleeping in his vehicle sometime after 4am and failed an adminstered field sobriety test.

[RELATED: Raiders Place Waller On Reserve List]

The Raiders have yet to comment on the matter, though interim head coach Rich Bisaccia told reporters that the team is gathering information on the incident. Given what happened with Henry Ruggs earlier this year, the Raiders won’t be taking this lightly. Just ask cornerback Damon Arnette — the former first-round pick was released soon after Ruggs for a slew of off-the-field flags, including a lawsuit stemming from a car crash.

Hobbs, 22, has started in nine of his 15 games this year, including yesterday’s win over the Colts. The Raiders are in control of their own destiny as they prepare for the Bolts, but Hobbs’ availability is now in doubt.

If Hobbs is held out of this week’s game, they’ll may turn to backup Amik Robertson at nickelback. Brandon Facyson, Roderic Teamer Jr., Desmond Trufant, Keisean Nixon, and Jordan Brown make up the rest of the Raiders’ CB group.

Minor NFL Transactions:  1/3/22

January 3rd, 2022 at 2:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

This Date In Transactions History: 49ers Fire Jim Tomsula

January 3rd, 2022 at 1:40pm CST by Zachary Links

On this date in 2016, the 49ers bid adieu to head coach Jim Tomsula. Tomsula had spent nearly a decade with the franchise, but couldn’t deliver results in his lone year as HC. 

“Jimmy has been a valuable member of the 49ers organization for the last nine years,” CEO Jed York said in a statement. “We all know he is a man of high character, and his contributions on the field and in our community have always been greatly appreciated. This entire organization is proud and grateful to have worked so closely alongside Jimmy. We all wish him and his family great success in the future.”

The Niners casted a wide net to replace Jim Harbaugh, but ultimately kept things in house by promoting Tomsula, their longtime defensive line coach. After signing a four-year, $14MM deal, his squad went just 5-11, giving the 49ers their worst record since 2007. To his credit, the Niners managed to close that season with a win over the rival Rams. Still, it was all a far cry from Harbaugh’s tenure — a 44-19-1 regular-season record and three playoff appearances across four years.

Less than two weeks later, the Niners tapped Chip Kelly as their next leader. The Kelly era was even shorter — the charismatic coach was sacked on January 1st, 2017, along with GM Trent Baalke. Kelly’s fast-paced system was supposed to reignite the offense. Instead, they were 24th in DVOA, 27th in scoring, and 29th in yardage.

Tomsula, meanwhile, left with the full $14MM payout for his one season in the role. A couple years later, he returned to his bread-and-butter, serving as the defensive line coach for Washington (2017-2019) and Dallas (2020). Tomsula spent 2021 outside of the NFL, but it’s possible that the 53-year-old could reemerge sometime this year.

Cowboys’ Michael Gallup Done For Year

January 3rd, 2022 at 1:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup has been diagnosed with a full ACL tear, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). This was the feared outcome after Gallup was forced out of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. 

“It was tough, very tough,” quarterback Dak Prescott said after the game (via ESPN.com). “Coming in at halftime and going to see him, just unfortunate. A guy that I love. Can’t get a better teammate than MG. Sick about it.”

Gallup suffered the injury when his knee buckled after a 21-yard touchdown grab. While the rest of the Cowboys gear up for the playoffs, his season will end with 35 catches for 445 yards and two TDs. Now, the Cowboys will be leaning even more on top receivers Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb with extra support from Cedrick Wilson. On the plus side, Wilson had a solid game against Arizona, collecting six grabs for 35 yards and a score.

The timing is especially unfortunate for Gallup since he’ll be out of contract in March. Between this and his calf injury earlier this year, he’s entering free agency with a less-than-ideal platform. Still, if he can make strides in rehab, there should be a healthy market for his services. Just last year, Gallup managed 59 catches for 843 yards and five touchdowns, a solid encore to his career year (66/1,107/6) in 2019.

Latest On Antonio Brown

January 3rd, 2022 at 10:52am CST by Zachary Links

Before his abrupt exit from yesterday’s game, Antonio Brown told staffers that he would be unable to continue due to his injured ankle (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). When he was pushed to re-enter the game, Brown refused, undressed, and sprinted to the tunnel.

[RELATED: Buccaneers To Cut Antonio Brown]

The Bucs, without Brown, went on to complete a comeback win over the Jets. Immediately after the game, head coach Bruce Arians told reporters that the mercurial wide receiver was “no longer a Buc.”

Brown is now technically up for grabs, available on the waiver wire for playoff-bound clubs and hopefuls. It’s still unlikely that anyone will roll the dice on him, but the injured ankle does provide a bit of context for his viral moment. In his defense, the injury has hampered Brown throughout the year, all the way through Thursday and Friday when he was unable to practice.

For all of his off-the-field missteps, Brown has been stellar when on the field and healthy. Heading into Sunday, he had amassed 39 catches for 519 yards and four touchdowns across just six games. Now, after a quiet first half against the Jets and a very loud exit, his 2021 ends with a 42/545/4 line in seven contests.

Jags’ GM Baalke Hurting Head Coach Search?

January 3rd, 2022 at 10:22am CST by Adam La Rose

The biggest storyline of the offseason for the Jaguars is their search for a new head coach. That process might be hindered by the man that new hire will report to, however. CBS’ Jason La Confora reports that ownership’s decision to keep GM Trent Baalke could deter certain candidates from taking the job. 

The Jaguars have been the source of controversy since the hiring of Urban Meyer this offseason to take over as head coach at the NFL level. Having been fired midseason amid a slew of on- and off-the-field issues, owner Shad Khan has already started the process of requesting interviews with potential replacements. The fact that Baalke is still around, and playing a role in that search, however, is “already turning off several top candidates”, according to La Canfora.

The insider adds that it is believed by many in NFL circles that Baalke is an executive whose track record in terms of team-building isn’t worth the likely power struggles that would ensue between he and the new head coach. He adds that, “many of those [potential candidates] harbor reservations about the ability to truly thrive in Jacksonville” and that Baalke has been advocating for recently-hired Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien to be considered. The latter’s ugly exit from Houston in 2020 was mired in exactly the sort of problem the Jaguars will be looking to avoid. One of the bigger names amongst potential hires, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, would likely have little interest in the job with Baalke in place, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Ultimately, La Canfora writes that pushback from coaching interviewees and fans alike could force Khan to reconsider and fire Baalke. It is a situation worth watching as the regular season winds down and the offseason coach and executive landscape begins to take shape.

Future For Jets’ Denzel Mims Uncertain

January 3rd, 2022 at 9:40am CST by Adam La Rose

2021 has been a season lacking in positives for the Jets, but there may be a foundation in place for their offense. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, rookie quarterback Zach Wilson has shown enough, especially recently, to be trusted as the team’s signal-caller going forward. The pieces around Wilson, however, are the cause for a great deal of speculation and debate, particularly when it comes to Denzel Mims. 

As Cimini notes, Wilson’s last four games have been much cleaner than the beginning of his rookie campaign, as he has avoided throwing an interception in a span of 135 pass attempts. While his overall stats for the season – a 56.7% completion percentage, 2247 passing yards and only eight touchdowns in 12 games – don’t leap off the page for the No. two overall pick, they also show the need for GM Joe Douglas to upgrade the Jets’ pass-catching corps.

Fellow rookie Elijah Moore and free-agent signing Corey Davis are likely to be in the Big Apple long term, but since the fall rumors have swirled that Mims – a second-round pick out of Baylor in 2020 – is on the way out. After making the 53-man roster by a slimmer margin than expected to start the year, frustrations quickly mounted regarding a lack of playing time and targets, leading many to believe a change of scenery could be in order.

Then, as the trade deadline approached and the Jets were out of contention, speculation ramped up again that Mims, along with pending free-agent Jamison Crowder, could be moved. Instead, he stayed put, and has played just 38% of the team’s offensive snaps in 2021. That’s led to a disappointing stat line of eight catches for 133 yards and no touchdowns. With the aforementioned Moore and Davis in the mix, along with the breakout dual-threat Braxton Berrios – whom Cimini insists the Jets should re-sign – not to mention any potential high draft picks in April, the road to more opportunities from HC Robert Saleh is likely to be a long one for Mims going forward.

Latest On Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry

January 3rd, 2022 at 8:43am CST by Adam La Rose

With the Cleveland Browns officially eliminated from playoff contention by AFC results on Sunday, the time has come to start looking ahead to the offseason. Two key pieces in the upcoming evaluation process for GM Andrew Berry are quarterback Baker Mayfield and wide receiver Jarvis Landry. Much of how he tries to set the team up to rebound from a disappointing 2021 season will revolve around the decisions made regarding these veterans and their contracts. 

According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the Browns are unlikely to bring back Landry at his currently scheduled cap hit of $16.55MM. Between injuries and ongoing quarterback issues, the 30-year-old has only recorded 42 catches for 452 yards and one touchdown this year. Add that to the fact that the team would only incur a hit of $1.5MM in dead money if he were released, and it is easy to see why Cabot figures Cleveland is more likely to restructure his deal.

Cabot also adds, however, that the team may prefer to completely overhaul the top end of their receiving corps. Having already moved on from Odell Beckham Jr. midseason – a decision that seemed to sour Landry, his former LSU teammate and close friend – Berry may do the same with another expensive acquisition made prior to his arrival as GM.

As for Mayfield, a myriad of injuries are one of several reasons for the Browns’ underachieving this campaign. Cabot sees it as unlikely the Browns part ways with the former first-overall pick this spring, though. With a cap hit of $18.8MM in next year, Cleveland could use 2022 as the final “prove-it” season to decide whether or not Mayfield is worth committing to long-term. In an uncertain free agency, coupled with an underwhelming quarterback class upcoming in the draft, Cabot suspects more attention will be placed on filling roster holes elsewhere and counting on improved health along the offensive line.

The Browns play the Steelers on Monday night, and will finish the season against the AFC North champion Bengals in Week 18.

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