HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Buccaneers RT Tristan Wirfs Facing Multi-Week Absence

November 28th, 2022 at 12:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers suffered an overtime defeat to the Browns yesterday, but the health of one of their top offensive players was a key talking point in the aftermath of the game. Right tackle Tristan Wirfs was carted off the field with an ankle injury, leading to fears of a lengthy absence and a resultant blow to Tampa’s offensive line.

X-Rays were negative, however, leading to hope that the worst-case scenario had been avoided. Head coach Todd Bowles confirmed as much on Monday, saying that Wirfs is dealing with a high ankle sprain. That will still likely lead to a stretch where the All-Pro is sidelined, though. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that a three-to-four week recovery timeline can be expected, and that, encouragingly, surgery does not appear to be necessary at this point (Twitter link).

Wirfs has yet to miss any time in his NFL career, operating as an immediate full-time starter at the right tackle spot after being drafted 13th overall in 2020. His elite PFF grades have continued this season, with an 87.3 overall mark in 2022 – the third-highest amongst qualifying offensive tackles. His absence will therefore be felt by a Buccaneers team which has seen a steep drop-off in effectiveness up front this season compared to the recent past.

Tampa is without all three of their starters along the interior of their o-line from last season, after Ali Marpet retired in February and fellow guard Alex Cappa signed with the Bengals in free agency. Center Ryan Jensen is under contract, but is not expected to return to game action in 2022 as a result of a major knee injury. That left Wirfs and left tackle Donovan Smith facing an increased burden to provide stability for the team’s offense this year, one which has been marred by inconsistency and an underwhelming ground game.

Bowles called Wirfs week-to-week, setting the team up for their second-ever instance of needing to replace him. The Iowa product missed one playoff game last year, also due to a serious ankle injury which, despite initial indications, also did not require surgery. Veteran Josh Wells and undrafted rookie Brandon Walton are available as options to fill in down the stretch, as Tampa looks to get a firmer grip on their NFC South lead in the coming weeks.

Sam Darnold To Remain Panthers’ Starter In Week 14

November 28th, 2022 at 10:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Sam Darnold made his season debut during yesterday’s win over the Broncos, serving as the third different option under center for the Panthers in 2022. His tenure back in the No. 1 role will not be a one-off, however.

Interim head coach Steve Wilks said on Sunday that Darnold will get the nod once again in Week 14 when Carolina plays Seattle following their bye. The announcement comes after Wilks had indicated his intention to have him see game action in 2022, which was confirmed with the Week 12 start. The team’s No. 1 option for most of last season, Darnold was long seen as a replacement candidate this past offseason.

To little surprise, the team brought in Baker Mayfield from the Browns through a trade the team had been eyeing well before it was consummated in July. It was the former No. 1 overall pick who won out Carolina’s training camp competition, but he struggled mightily before going down with a high ankle sprain. With Darnold having suffered the same injury in the preseason and being unavailable, Carolina turned to P.J. Walker as their starter for a stretch.

Mayfield was thrust back into the No. 1 role during Week 11, a 13-3 loss to the Ravens during which he threw a pair of late interceptions. Darnold’s return to health allowed him to guide the team’s offense yesterday, though, and help lead them to a 23-10 win. The USC product competed just 11 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown, but generated a passer rating of 103.8 and will have the opportunity to build on that performance this week.

With both Darnold and fellow 2018 draftee Mayfield pending free agents, the closing weeks of the season will be highly important for both of them from a financial perspective. Solid performances from the former could help erase the struggles of the past in Charlotte (and help earn him at least consideration for a deal to compete with injured rookie Matt Corral for a 2023 roster spot), which could also have an effect on the sidelines. With Wilks reportedly making a case to remain the team’s permanent HC, plenty will be at stake as the calendar flips to December despite the Panthers’ 4-8 record.

Latest On Aaron Rodgers

November 28th, 2022 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Already dealing with one notable injury, Aaron Rodgers was even more banged up by the end of Green Bay’s loss to the Eagles Sunday night. Rodgers exited the game in the third quarter with a rib injury, and did not return.

The reigning MVP confirmed last week that he has been playing through a broken thumb in his throwing hand for much of the season, one in which his and the team’s performance have not been up to par. While he insisted that he would not miss time as a result of the injury, the idea of an IR stint to close out the season once the Packers fall out of contention has been brought up.

Rodgers was noticeably in pain leading up to his departure from the game, and was initially thought to have suffered an oblique injury. The 38-year-old said after the game, however, that he feared he had broken ribs; X-Rays were inconclusive in determining whether or not that was the case. As a result, he will undergo further testing today (video link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network).

With Rodgers sidelined last night, Jordan Love filled in with his third appearance of the season and just the ninth of his career. The 2020 first-rounder went 6-for-9 passing with 113 yards and one touchdown in relief, potentially offering a small glimpse of what he could do in a showcase for the remainder of the regular season. Depending on the results of Rodgers’ tests, however, the latter intends to keep playing.

“As long as we’re mathematically alive, I’d like to be out there,” Rodgers said after the game. Green Bay sits at 4-8, leaving them with a very narrow path to an NFC Wild Card berth. That, coupled with his health status, could lead to calls for Love taking over to finish out the season – something which, if it were to take place, would invite serious speculation on Rodgers’ playing future given the presumed year-to-year nature of his sizeable extension signed this offseason.

As the Packers await further information on Rodgers regarding his health, the team will turn its attention to this Sunday’s contest against the Bears. Who will be under center for them for that game, and beyond, will remain a storyline worth watching in the coming days.

Rams WR Allen Robinson To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

November 27th, 2022 at 6:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Rams have been ravaged by injuries this offseason, and their pass-catching corps will be thinner to close out the disappointing 2022 campaign. Head coach Sean McVay said that wideout Allen Robinson will undergo surgery to repair a foot injury, and will miss the remainder of the season as a result.

Robinson suffered the injury on Friday. Providing further detail on the matter, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Robinson is dealing with a stress fracture, and the procedure will involve placing a screw in his foot (Twitter link). This news marks another significant blow to a Rams WR group which has been underwhelming this season and been hampered by injuries.

The most noteworthy of those, of course, is the high ankle sprain suffered by Cooper Kupp earlier in the month which has landed him on IR and forced him to undergo surgery of his own. He had established himself as the only consistent contributor for the Rams’ 19th-ranked passing attack. Kupp’s absence opened the door to a larger role for Robinson, but the latter failed to eclipse five catches or 63 yards in a game this season, his first in Los Angeles. His campaign will end with a 33-339-3 statline.

A one-time Pro Bowler, Robinson signed a three-year deal in March to operate as the Rams’ new compliment to Kupp, the role previously occupied by Robert Woods (and, briefly, Odell Beckham Jr). The fact that Robinson would have an accomplished quarterback to work with in Matthew Stafford led to significant optimism for a career-year, but nothing has gone according to plan offensively for the defending champions. Several injuries along the offensive line, ongoing drama with presumed lead running back Cam Akers and, now, multiple concussions suffered by Stafford have all set the unit back. The latter’s availability for the remainder of the season has been called into question, in no small part due to the team’s poor record.

With Robinson out until 2023, and Kupp unlikely to recover in time unless the 3-8 Rams qualify for the postseason, the team will now look to a number of unproven options at wideout. The unit will likely be led by Van Jefferson, who himself missed the first seven weeks of the season due to a knee injury. Other pass-catching options include Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell and Lance McCutcheon.

This news means 2022 will be the second consecutive season in which Robinson is unable to play a full season, as he was limited to 12 contests in his final Chicago campaign. He, and, in all likelihood, the Rams, will turn their attention to next year as this season winds down.

Free Agent WR Odell Beckham Jr. Escorted Off Plane After “Medical Emergency”

November 27th, 2022 at 5:57pm CST by Ely Allen

In the latest of the Odell Beckham Jr. saga, an incident at the Miami International Airport led to a confrontation with the Miami-Dade Police Department, first reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Beckham left the scene without further incident and no charges are expected to be filed against the NFL receiver.

On what was likely intended to be a free agent visit to his former team, the Rams, Beckham boarded a flight with a destination of Los Angeles. A statement from American Airlines reported that the flight “returned to the gate before takeoff due to a customer failing to follow crew member instructions and refusing to fasten their seatbelt,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The report from Miami-Dade PD referred to the incident as a “medical emergency,” responding to a call from the flight crew. The report claims that a concerned flight crew attempted to wake Beckham to ask him to fasten his seatbelt. Beckham appeared to be drifting in and out of consciousness, making the flight crew fear for his health. Thinking him seriously ill and concerned about how his condition may worsen on the five-hour flight, the flight crew called for emergency services.

When officers arrived, Beckham reportedly refused the flight crew’s requests to exit the aircraft. The entire aircraft was eventually deplaned, and Beckham was instructed by the authorities to exit, as well. Beckham complied with the officers’ request and was escorted to a “non-secure area of the terminal” where he was able make new flight arrangements.

A statement from Beckham’s attorney, Daniel Davilier, provided by Rapoport, attempts to ensure that the narrative of this incident does not reflect poorly on his client. In the statement, Davilier calls the flight crew “overzealous,” explaining that Beckham was simply performing his long-flight routine of sleeping with a blanket over his head. He claims that, since the flight crew was able to wake Beckham back at the terminal, they shouldn’t have had any issues waking him on the tarmac. Davilier emphasizes that Beckham was “at no time…disrputive or combative.”

Beckham appears fine after the incident. In a series of tweets, Beckham exclaimed a disbelief for what he had gone through, chalking it up as a non-serious event. This is just the latest in what has been a fairly eventful free agency for the veteran wide receiver. He is still reportedly expected to visit his other former team, the Giants, before planning visits with the Bills and Cowboys, as well.

Latest On Rams QB Matthew Stafford

November 27th, 2022 at 4:12pm CST by Ely Allen

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is missing his second game of the season today in concussion protocol. With the Rams at 3-7 coming into today with seven games left in the season, there are some questions on how to handle the 34-year-old’s health for the rest of the year.

Stafford’s first missed game due to a concussion a couple weeks ago was the result of Stafford self-reporting symptoms following the team’s Week 9 loss to the Buccaneers. He was placed in concussion protocols and sat out the division contest against the Cardinals the next week.

This time, Stafford was experiencing what are called crossover symptoms that could seem like a concussion but may not be. In the team’s recent loss to the Saints last weekend, Stafford was pulled from the game when he experienced a stinger to his neck. He began to feel numbness in his legs, which can be a sign of head or neck injury, and since the Rams were not able to rule out a concussion during the game, Stafford was held out and placed in concussion protocol.

Looking at the Rams’ plans for the remainder of the season, we begin to get conflicting reports. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network claims that multiple sources have said “there are no current plans to shut down Stafford for the remainder of the season.” In another report, the Rams reportedly “are uncertain when or if (Stafford) will return this season,” according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Rapoport claims that, despite the team’s record, Los Angeles hopes to return Stafford to the field when he’s cleared in order to perhaps make a push for a wild card spot down the final stretch of the season. Schefter doesn’t rule out that possibility but emphasizes that, similar to the injury to wide receiver Cooper Kupp, the Rams “feel there is no need to rush back an injured player,” after losing four straight games and six of their last seven.

In the meantime, while they determine how to proceed, they are getting a look at their backup options. After John Wolford started during Stafford’s first absence, Bryce Perkins, who went undrafted out of Virginia in 2020, is currently playing in his first career start against the Chiefs today.

Latest On Von Miller

November 27th, 2022 at 1:58pm CST by Ely Allen

A Thanksgiving Day injury for star pass rusher Von Miller initially had some Bills fans hitting the panic button, but as updates continue to pour in, we are getting a clearer picture of the situation. The most recent update tells us that Miller will take seven to 10 days to allow the swelling to go down in his knee, allowing for a better evaluation, according to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.

As unfortunate as it is to likely lose Miller for a game or two, the news has been increasingly optimistic in Buffalo. Initial fears of an ACL tear were downgraded to a knee sprain. Even now, Miller is reportedly remaining optimistic about the eventual reevaluation, boosted by the assurance that he’s been in this situation before, when an ankle injury sidelined him for the entire 2020 season.

The Bills’ tremendous pass-rushing group has been hampered lately with injuries. Last year’s first-round pick out of Miami, Gregory Rousseau, has missed the team’s last three games and A.J. Epenesa was out for the Turkey Day matchup with the Lions. Buffalo still has two extremely capable edge pass rushers in Boogie Basham and Shaq Lawson but losing the team’s top three sack-leaders is never going to be an ideal scenario.

Buffalo is staying calm and remaining optimistic. They’ll have a second straight Thursday game this week in New England and will have a 10-day rest period before hosting two straight home games. Knowing that Miller won’t travel for the next three weeks is ideal. They’ll gauge the damage again after their road trip to the Patriots and have a full week to determine next steps.

Giants, QB Daniel Jones Did Not Engage In Extension Talks

November 27th, 2022 at 12:58pm CST by Rory Parks

The Giants and quarterback Daniel Jones did not engage in extension discussions prior to GM Joe Schoen‘s self-imposed Week 10 deadline to talk contract, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. So, as expected, the contract situations of Jones and running back Saquon Barkley — both of whom are eligible for unrestricted free agency in March — will be atop Schoen’s agenda this offseason.

Interestingly, Schoen did engage in extension negotiations with Barkley and defensive back Julian Love during New York’s Week 9 bye, and while those conversations did not lead to a new deal for either player, it is notable that Giants brass did not at least check in with Jones’ camp. That is especially true in light of September reports that Schoen and first-year head coach Brian Daboll harbored “major concerns” about Jones’ viability as a long-term option.

Since those earlier reports, New York has gone 6-4, and Jones has performed much better under Daboll than he did during his first three years in the league. Still, as Raanan acknowledges, there is a difference between being a legitimate NFL starter and being a franchise cornerstone, and it is unclear if Jones’ improved play in 2022 has been enough to convince the team that he is worthy of a lengthy accord.

Indeed, Jones has not played especially well over the last two games, both of which resulted in losses that have threatened to sour a pleasantly-surprising season. On the other hand, his 58.5 QBR — supported by a 10:4 TD:INT ratio and 64.6% completion percentage — is the 10th-best mark in the NFL. He has already set career-highs with 451 rushing yards and four rushing scores, and he has compiled those numbers on a strong 5.7 YPC rate. He has also led four fourth-quarter comebacks this season, and the team’s dearth of receiving talent has made his work more impressive.

One NFC general manager tells Raanan that the Giants’ best option would be to re-sign Jones this offseason, but a different NFC exec says he does not see Jones as a franchise player. Yet another NFC exec sees Jones as a bridge option and believes a one-year, $15MM-$20MM deal would make the most sense for the Giants. However, former GM Mike Tannenbaum thinks Jones is an “ascending player” who can reasonably expect a multi-year deal worth ~$25MM/year, especially given the supply-and-demand dynamics of the QB market that benefit even flawed signal-callers.

Whether Schoen is willing to pay Jones that type of money remains to be seen, and his decision may be impacted (to some degree) by Barkley’s situation. Former NFL agent Joel Corry projects the franchise tag for RBs to come in at roughly $10.1MM, which is a better number than the ~$12MM projections that have been floated and which is much more appealing than the projected ~$31.5MM franchise tag figure for QBs (via Dan Duggan of The Athletic on Twitter).

That said, the Giants are reportedly willing to pony up a top-of-the-market contract for Barkley, and Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post says talks between player and team were encouraging. Perhaps a multi-year contract for Barkley — which will allow the team to smooth out his 2023 cap hit — coupled with a tag for Jones will be the most satisfactory result for all parties involved.

Bears To Start QB Trevor Siemian In Week 12

November 27th, 2022 at 12:04pm CST by Ben Levine

NOVEMBER 27, 12:04pm: Scratch that. Siemian is under center for the Bears, with Peterman operating as the backup.

NOVEMBER 27, 11:29am: Fields is indeed inactive for Sunday’s contest against the Jets, and in even worse news for the Bears, Siemian injured his oblique during pregame warmups (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network). Therefore, Peterman will be making his first start since Week 9 of the 2018 season, while Siemian will serve as his backup.

As Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com tweets, RB David Montgomery is Chicago’s emergency signal-caller.

NOVEMBER 26: It sounds like the Bears are preparing for tomorrow’s game as if they won’t have Justin Fields under center. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that Chicago has promoted quarterback Nathan Peterman from the practice squad.

Fields has been nursing a shoulder injury that resulted in him being listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Jets. The QB told reporters that he’s dealing with a separated shoulder with partially torn ligaments, and while he acknowledged that he’s feeling better every day, he was still limited on Thursday and Friday before earning his official questionable designation.

“I think we’re going to let it go up to the game,” coach Matt Eberflus said (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). “We’ll try to do that. We think that’s where it is, and we’ll see where he is at game time and see how he feels.”

If Fields doesn’t play, veteran Trevor Siemian will likely earn his first start of the season. The Bears had been rolling with only two quarterbacks on their active roster prior to today’s transaction. Garafolo notes that the Bears will likely take their starting QB decision down to game time.

As for Peterman, the veteran QB has spent the majority of the 2022 season on Chicago’s practice squad. Following a one-plus-year stint with the Bills to start his career, Peterman spent the better part of the past four seasons with the Raiders. He only got into a pair of games during his time with the organization, completing three of his five pass attempts.

Steve Wilks Making “Strong Push” For Panthers’ Permanent HC Post

November 27th, 2022 at 11:14am CST by Rory Parks

Since taking over for Matt Rhule in October, Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks has been making the most of a difficult situation. Although Carolina is 2-4 with Wilks at the helm, a missed extra point was the deciding factor in a Week 8 loss to the Falcons, and the Panthers and Ravens were tied 3-3 midway through the fourth quarter of their Week 11 contest before several late turnovers sealed a Baltimore victory.

Simply put, the Panthers have been more competitive under Wilks, and as Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports writes, owner David Tepper has taken notice. Earlier reporting indicated that Tepper would want an experienced option as his permanent replacement for Rhule, and while Wilks’ previous head coaching gig lasted only one season — a disappointing 3-13 campaign with the Cardinals in 2018 — his time in Arizona and his stint as Carolina’s interim HC will give him 28 games as a sideline general by the time the 2022 season comes to an end.

Whether that is sufficient experience for Tepper remains to be seen. One factor working against Wilks is that his background is on the defensive side of the ball; outside of his time as a head coach, all of his jobs in the collegiate and professional ranks have been as a defensive coach or coordinator, and per Jones, Tepper is seeking an “up-and-coming offensive mind.”

It’s worth noting that Jones’ report and the prior reports concerning Tepper’s desire for an experienced former NFL head coach do not necessarily mesh. Someone with significant NFL head coaching experience probably does not qualify as an “up-and-coming” offensive guru, which puts one in mind of Sean McVay before he was hired by the Rams, or Kevin Stefanski before he was hired by the Browns. If Tepper does tab someone other than Wilks as his permanent HC, perhaps it will be a candidate like Lions OC Ben Johnson, who — unlike Rhule when he joined the Panthers — at least has considerable NFL experience, even if none of it has come at the head coaching level.

One way or another, Jones says Wilks is “making a strong push” to have the interim label removed from his title. Carolina’s recent fortunes have been undermined by the team’s quarterback situation, as its 2020 Teddy Bridgewater acquisition and subsequent trades for former top draft choices Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield have yielded nothing but disappointment. The locker room support that Wilks presently enjoys, the adjustments he has made due to inconsistent QB play — adjustments that have resulted in an improved running game despite the trade of Christian McCaffrey — and the club’s competitive fire under Wilks will certainly give Tepper a lot to consider.

Of course, as Jones acknowledges, Wilks’ win-loss record over the final six games of the season will also factor into Tepper’s decision. Wilks’ efforts to secure the permanent HC post will continue in Sunday’s Week 12 battle with the Broncos, a game in which Darnold will make his 2022 debut.

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