HEADLINES

Month: October 2024

Seahawks Uncertain On RB Chris Carson’s Availability

May 10th, 2022 at 4:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Barely a year ago, Chris Carson re-signed with the Seahawks. That deal and Rashaad Penny beginning another season sidelined kept Carson locked into his starting role in Seattle’s backfield.

Carson’s early-season injury changed the team’s plans. The neck issue the longtime Seattle starter encountered in October lingered for weeks and eventually prompted the five-year veteran to undergo surgery. The Seahawks have since re-signed Penny, after he delivered the best stretch of his career to finish last season, and drafted Kenneth Walker in the second round. Carson’s contract runs through 2022, but the Seahawks are not yet sure when he will be ready to return.

“We don’t have updates yet on Chris and we won’t know for some time, so there’s a little bit of uncertainty that we’re waiting on,” Pete Carroll said recently, via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson.

Usually optimistic on his injured players, Carroll providing this assessment is a cause for concern. The Seahawks have seen multiple key contributors — Kam Chancellor and Cliff Avril — suffer career-ending neck injuries in recent years. It is not certain that is where Carson is headed, but the team using a No. 41 overall pick on a running back points to a new-look backfield. Carson and Penny’s injury histories point to Walker having a shot to contribute early.

Carson, who had bounced back from a broken leg to be the Seahawks’ starter from 2018-20 and to begin last season, missed 13 games last year because of his neck problem. The two-time 1,000-yard rusher collected $5.5MM fully guaranteed as part of his two-year, $10.4MM deal. He is due a $4.5MM base salary this season.

Chiefs Re-Sign C Austin Reiter

May 10th, 2022 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Formerly the Chiefs’ starting center, Austin Reiter has now bounced on and off the team’s roster this offseason. After re-signing with Kansas City in March, Reiter was released shortly post-draft. The team has again brought back the former starter.

Reiter, wide receiver Gary Jennings and offensive lineman Chris Glaser signed with the Chiefs on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Glaser attended the team’s rookie minicamp last week. Reiter could have a chance to vie for a depth job in Kansas City, which now has 2021 second-rounder Creed Humphrey entrenched at the center position.

During both of the Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl seasons, Reiter served in that role. The ex-Washington seventh-round pick started 28 games from 2019-20 and was a full-timer in each of the Chiefs’ six playoff games during those years. The team did not re-sign Reiter after its Super Bowl LV blocking debacle, reshaping its offensive line behind the likes of Reiter, Joe Thuney and Orlando Brown Jr. Sixth-round pick Trey Smith later earned the team’s starting right guard gig, marking a near-complete overhaul.

Reiter, 30, spent last season with the Dolphins and Saints. He started five games with Miami. The Chiefs lost 2021 backup center Austin Blythe to the Seahawks earlier this offseason, making the perennial AFC West champions a bit thinner on their interior O-line.

Jets Meet With DT Larry Ogunjobi

May 10th, 2022 at 3:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Larry Ogunjobi had a deal in place with the Bears early this offseason, but his January injury led to it falling through. The former Browns and Bengals defensive tackle has since spent the past several weeks back in free agency.

The Jets have surfaced as a suitor, showing their interest by hosting the veteran D-lineman on a visit over the past two days, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Ogunjobi, 27, is coming off a strong season, but one that ended by a foot injury sustained in the Bengals’ wild-card game. The subsequent surgery has cost the five-year pro.

Ogunjobi played last season on a one-year, $6.2MM deal, being one of many vets to ink 2021-only pacts after the COVID-19 pandemic led to a steep salary cap reduction. The strategy was on the cusp of paying off, with the longtime Browns starter playing a key role in the Bengals’ surprise playoff run. The Bears were prepared to give Ogunjobi a three-year, $40.5MM deal — one that included $26.35MM guaranteed — but his physical ended up nixing the agreement.

Robert Saleh‘s first Jets defense ranked last in both points and yards allowed, but the team has been busy bolstering it this offseason. Sauce Gardner and Jermaine Johnson arrived in the first round, joining the likes of D.J. Reed, Jordan Whitehead and Solomon Thomas. If healthy, Ogunjobi would obviously provide a boost to the team’s Quinnen Williams-fronted D-tackle group.

Role players like Thomas, Vinny Curry and Sheldon Rankins accompany Williams currently. Ogunjobi would profile as a starter, coming off a career-high seven-sack season that also featured 12 tackles for loss. The former third-round pick registered 5.5 sacks in both the 2018 and ’19 slates with the Browns. Shortly after Ogunjobi’s Bears agreement became known, the Bengals opted to give a slightly lesser deal (three years, $30MM) to B.J. Hill. Chicago did not back out of its Ogunjobi pact until four days later, representing one of the tougher breaks a player has endured this offseason.

Raiders Interested In James Bradberry

May 10th, 2022 at 1:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the aftermath of James Bradberry hitting the open market, the identities of teams most interested in signing him is becoming clearer. The Raiders are one of those, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

[RELATED: Giants Release Bradberry]

Vegas would be a sensible destination, Bonsignore notes, for a number of reasons. One is the health status of starter Trayvon Mullen, who underwent “minor surgery”. Another, more generally, is the presence of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. He was hired by the Raiders this offseason after holding that same title with the Giants for the past two seasons – overlapping with Bradberry’s time in the Big Apple.

It was with Graham that the 28-year-old earned his lone Pro Bowl appearance in 2020. This past year, he had another strong campaign, totalling 47 tackles, a career-high four interceptions and 17 pass deflections. Given his cap hit of nearly $22MM, however, it was deemed inevitable he would be either traded or released this offseason.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen acknowledged yesterday that while there was trade interest, inquiring teams couldn’t work out contract terms to consummate a deal. It was reported not long after Bradberry’s release that the Texans were one such team, but that they are unlikely to pursue him in free agency, given their subsequent additions at the position. That could lead the former second rounder towards the Chiefs, who were likewise reported to be eyeing a trade for him in March.

As Bonsignore cautions, the Raiders may not be able to make Bradberry a competitive offer until next month. The team currently has less than $6MM in cap space, though that figure will grow considerably when their post-June 1st cuts come into effect. Interested as they may be, then, Vegas may not, at least immediately, represent the best landing spot for one of the top free agents on the market.

Texans To Sign Jerry Hughes

May 10th, 2022 at 1:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the top remaining edge rushers is off the market. Jerry Hughes is signing with the Texans, as first reported by Jordan Schultz and confirmed (on Twitter) by Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson. 

Hughes, 33, began his career in Indianapolis in 2010. He played a reserve role for the first two seasons of his career, but took on a much larger workload the following year. He started six games, totalling 41 tackles and four sacks. During the subsequent offseason, though, he was traded to the Bills.

It was in Buffalo that he enjoyed the bulk of his success. Starting 127 of 144 games with the Bills, Hughes put up back-to-back seasons with 10 sacks in 2013 and 2014. Since then, he has remained a consistent presence on the edge of the Bills’ defense. His level of play earned him a two-year extension in 2019, though the 2021 campaign saw him put up the lowest totals of his tenure in western New York (18 tackles, two sacks).

This offseason, the Bills have made changes in the edge room, including, most notably, the signing of Von Miller. In large part because of that deal, Hughes and Mario Addison were forced to find new homes. The latter has already signed in Houston, making him one of a few notable faces for Hughes. Another is defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, who previously worked on the Bills’ staff.

As a Sugar Land native and TCU alum, this deal also marks a homecoming for Hughes. Even if he isn’t able to replicate his best years, he should have a notable role to play on what could be a much-improved Texans defense in 2022.

Raiders Host Nick Kwiatkoski

May 10th, 2022 at 11:50am CST by Adam La Rose

Nick Kwiatkoski was thought to be on his way out of Las Vegas, but a re-signing could still be a possibility. The Raiders hosted the veteran linebacker yesterday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). 

The 29-year-old was released by the Raiders at the beginning of free agency. That brought an end to his two-year tenure with the team – at least, under the contract he signed in 2020, which was restructured twice. As a result of cutting Kwiatkoski, the Raiders created $5MM in dead money.

The team is apparently willing to bring him back at a reduced rate, given this news. In his first year in Vegas, the former fourth rounder took on the largest workload of his career, starting all 12 games he played in. He registered a career-high 81 tackles, adding an interception and four pass breakups. An ankle injury limited him to just eight games in 2021, though.

Kwiatkoski’s first free agent visit was with the Falcons last week. The team’s front office would have some familiarity with him, as recent hire Ryan Pace was the general manager in Chicago when the Bears drafted Kwiatkoski in 2016. However, it was reported at the time that the meeting with Atlanta was the first of multiple sit-downs; on that point, Pelissero adds that Kwiatkoski “has at least one more visit scheduled”. By the end of that third meeting, it may become clearer where he will ultimately land.

Ravens To Sign Mike Davis

May 10th, 2022 at 10:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Mike Davis has found his next NFL home. The veteran running back is signing with the Ravens, as first reported by Jordan Schultz and confirmed by Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson (Twitter link). 

[RELATED: Ravens Eyeing Landry]

The 29-year-old was released last week by the Falcons. There had been optimism surrounding his arrival with his hometown team, but he ended up producing similar numbers to his career averages. He appeared in all 17 games, but only started eight, totalling 762 scrimmage yards while scoring four touchdowns. The team leaned more heavily on Cordarrelle Patterson and has since added Damien Williams in free agency and Tyler Allgeier during the draft.

While 2021 didn’t go according to plan for Davis, he is one year removed from the best season of his career, which came with the Panthers. Filling in for Christian McCaffrey, he became the team’s lead back and started 12 of 15 games. He rushed for 642 yards and six touchdowns, but was a key piece to the team’s passing game as well. He totalled 373 yards and a pair of scores through the air, earning him the two-year deal from the Falcons which was terminated this offseason.

In Baltimore, Davis will join a crowded running backs room. The team is set to have each of its top three options from last season – J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill – return after they all missed the entire 2021 campaign due to injuries. They also drafted Tyler Badie in the sixth round of the draft, so while Davis is the most experienced player in the group, he is likely going to compete for no more than a depth role.

Colts To Sign Dennis Kelly

May 10th, 2022 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after visiting the Colts, Dennis Kelly has decided to join the team. Indianapolis has agreed to terms with the veteran tackle (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star). 

Kelly, 32, began his career with the Eagles, starting 15 of 30 games played in Philadelphia. His longest NFL stint came with the Titans, though, after they traded for him in 2016. As the team’s swing tackle throughout his first year in Nashville, he played just 145 snaps, but showed enough during that time to sign a three-year extension.

Kelly’s playing time increased the following year, but it wasn’t until 2020 that he became a full-time starter. Stepping into the right tackle spot vacated by Jack Conklin that year, he played more than 1,000 snaps for the first time in his career, committing two penalties and not allowing any sacks. During the subsequent offseason, however, he was released with one more year left on his most recent extension.

That led him to Green Bay, where he started four of 10 games as the Packers dealt with injuries at both tackle spots. After the season ended, the Purdue product visited the Colts, as they continued the re-making of their tackle depth. With Kelly in place, they will have experienced depth at a minimum, if not another option to compete for the starting left tackle spot alongside Matt Pryor and third-round rookie Bernhard Raimann. With those three, along with right tackle Braden Smith, the team hopes to have some much-needed depth and stability at both ends of the offensive line.

Ravens Eyeing WR Jarvis Landry

May 9th, 2022 at 10:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens continue to seek wide receiver help, and their search has led them to a former AFC North foe. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Ravens are interested in adding veteran wideout Jarvis Landry (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon).

[RELATED: Door Shut On Jarvis Landry Browns Return?]

The organization shocked many when they dealt top wideout Marquise Brown during the draft, leaving them with an inexperienced depth chart. The Ravens front office also passed on the wide receiver position during the draft, although they did recently add six undrafted wideouts to their roster. The team’s search also recently featured former Packers receiver Geronimo Allison, who auditioned for the organization last week.

At the moment, the Ravens’ non-rookie WR depth chart consists of Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, James Proche, Tylan Wallace, Binjimen Victor, and Jaylon Moore. General manager Eric DeCosta recently said that the team “will add players to the mix” at wide receiver, so a move is likely coming.

Landry would be a logical fit if the organization is focused on adding a veteran to Lamar Jackson‘s receivers corps. The 29-year-old WR put up career-lows in receptions (52), yards (570) and touchdowns (two) across 12 games last season, but he’s only two years removed from a 2019 campaign where he collected 83 receptions for 1,174 yards en route to a Pro Bowl selection.

The 29-year-old wide receiver was released by the Browns in a cost-cutting move earlier this offseason. For some time, it seemed like Landry would land back in Cleveland, but a report from earlier today indicated that the door appears to be closed on a return to the Browns. The Saints were also connected earlier this offseason, but it’s uncertain if their first-round selection of Chris Olave has changed things.

Bears Sign 16 UDFAs

May 9th, 2022 at 9:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

May 9, 9:22pm: The Bears aren’t finished adding. Following rookie minicamp this past weekend, the organization added another six UDFAs:

May 6, 10:00am: The Bears announced on Friday that they have signed the following undrafted free agents:

One of the intriguing additions on offense is Scarver. He was named an All-American and received the Jet Award in 2018 for his production as a returner. Over the course of his career, he averaged over 27 yards per runback on kickoffs, tying the all-time NCAA record for return touchdowns with seven. His offensive production was lacking compared to that of third-rounder Velus Jones, but he should be able to compete for a special teams role.

Teague, meanwhile, will be a familiar face for quarterback Justin Fields, as the two played together at Ohio State in 2019 and 2020. It was in the former season that Teague set a career-high in scrimmage yards, with 849. The following campaign, he led the Buckeyes in rushing touchdowns with eight. He will compete with sixth-rounder Trestan Ebner for a depth role at the position.

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