HEADLINES

Year: 2024

Patriots Notes: Dugger, Cunningham, Offseason

December 21st, 2023 at 9:18pm CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots have 15 impending unrestricted free agents, a group that’s headlined by safety Kyle Dugger. The former second-round pick has turned into one of New England’s most dependable defenders, but there’s a good chance he hits free agency after the season.

According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, “prior extension talks didn’t generate much momentum” towards a long-term deal, leading to the belief that Dugger wants to test the market. The Patriots are armed with a bit of leverage, as the team could choose to slap Dugger with the franchise tag. Doug Kyed previously noted that the franchise tag could be in play if the two sides don’t agree to a long-term deal. The 2023 franchise tag value for safeties was at $14.46MM.

Dugger previously expressed an interest in sticking around New England, but there haven’t been many updates this season regarding an extension. The fourth-year player has started all 14 games for the Patriots in 2023, collecting 88 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions.

More notes out of New England…

  • There’s plenty of uncertainty surrounding Bill Belichick‘s future in New England. Regardless of who’s running the Patriots front office this offseason, Doug Kyed of the Boston Globe expects the organization to spend big. Thanks to the league’s cash-spending floor, the Patriots will need to spend at least $98MM to hit the $216MM requirement. The front office should have far more money to play with; if the Patriots take a similar approach to their pricey 2021 offseason, Kyed projects that they could commit upwards of $194MM to free agency (especially via signing bonuses).
  • Belichick told reporters that the Patriots attempted to keep quarterback Malik Cunningham before he landed on the Ravens’ active roster. The undrafted rookie spent the entire season shuffling between New England’s active roster and practice squad, with the organization experimenting with the player at both quarterback and wide receiver. As Reiss notes, the Ravens ultimately sold Cunningham on their system and the presence of Lamar Jackson.
  • Considering the Patriots’ struggles at the quarterback position this season, it was a surprise that Cunningham never got a shot to run the offense. Offensive tackle Trent Brown told Sophie Weller of AtoZ.com that “everybody on the team” thought the rookie should get a look under center. Brown also admitted that Baltimore was an ideal spot for his former teammate. “It’s funny because I told him months ago if they ever called, if anybody, that’s the team where he should go,” Brown said of the Ravens. “It was almost like I saw it coming…And that’s really good for him to actually get a real chance to play his real position.”
  • Tight end Mike Gesicki inked a one-year deal with the Patriots this offseason, but things haven’t gone as planned during his first season with the team. Through 14 games, the veteran has hauled in 22 catches for 189 yards and one touchdown, and he’s on pace for his lowest offensive output since his rookie campaign. Despite the struggles, Gesicki is remaining positive about his experience in New England. “Control what you can control, coming in here every day and having a good attitude and being positive and enjoying it,” the tight end told Reiss. “Because at the end of the day, you’re playing in the NFL, meeting new guys, and playing for the greatest coach to ever do it. So there’s a lot of things you can take away from it. And we still have another four games. You never know how we can finish this thing and have some bright spots.”

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/21/23

December 21st, 2023 at 8:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Detroit Lions

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Taylor Stallworth has found a new home after getting cut by the Titans back in November. The veteran spent the majority of his stint in Tennessee sitting on injured reserve, getting into six defensive snaps in one appearance. The journeyman has spent time with six different squads since going undrafted out of South Carolina in 2018. He got into 32 games with the Colts between 2020 and 2021, collecting 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/23

December 21st, 2023 at 7:27pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Anthony McFarland Jr.‘s stint with the Steelers has come to an end after three-plus seasons. The former fourth-round pick got an extended look as a rookie, collecting 167 yards from scrimmage on 39 touches. Over the past two-plus seasons, he’s compiled only 66 yards on 14 touches, with the RB being firmly behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on the depth chart. That duo will continue to command the majority of the snaps at the position, with Godwin Igwebuike now serving as Pittsburgh’s RB3.

Raiders Waive DE Malik Reed

December 21st, 2023 at 6:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Malik Reed‘s stint in Las Vegas has come to an end. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders are waiving the veteran edge rusher.

After spending the preseason with the Dolphins, Reed caught on with the Raiders’ practice squad back in September. He eventually worked his way up to the active roster and got into four games this season, compiling three tackles while playing a limited role on defense.

The former UDFA had a strong start to his career in Denver. The Nevada product got into 15 games as a rookie before collecting eight sacks in 16 games (13 starts) in 2020. He added another five sacks to his resume in 2021, but after getting traded to the Steelers in 2022, he went on to see a reduced role on defense.

Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce have commanded the majority of the snaps opposite Maxx Crosby this season. The Raiders have played around with multiple players at the fourth spot on the depth chart. Isaac Rochell got the first shot at the gig before being replaced by Reed in November. Reed got into four games in his new role but didn’t see the field on defense over the past two weeks, with Janarius Robinson earning the leftover snaps.

Chargers’ Joey Bosa Returns To Practice

December 21st, 2023 at 6:02pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chargers’ season is all but over, but the team should be welcoming back their defensive star for the stretch run. According to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, the Chargers have designated pass-rusher Joey Bosa to return from injured reserve.

Bosa landed on injured reserve in late-November after suffering a foot sprain. The Pro Bowler was seen crying as he was carted into the locker room during that Week 11 loss, leading some to believe he could be done for the season. However, it sounds like Bosa will at least try to return in 2023, although his 21-day window for activation exceeds the days left in the regular season.

The Chargers have three games remaining on their schedule. The team has lost three of their four games since Bosa went down, including a 42-point loss to the Raiders that ultimately led to the ousting of head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco.

In his nine games this season, Bosa has compiled 6.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and six QB hits. The veteran has played much of the season with a broken toe, an injury that forced him to miss one game. This is the second-straight season that Bosa has landed on injured reserve, with the 28-year-old missing 12 games in 2022 thanks to a core muscle injury.

Bosa has also missed chunks of game in five of his eight NFL seasons. In his three healthiest seasons, he’s compiled a total 34.5 sacks.

Chiefs Designate WR Mecole Hardman For Return; Latest On Kadarius Toney’s Role

December 21st, 2023 at 4:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Unavailable for most of his Giants stay and part of his first season with the Chiefs, Kadarius Toney has managed to stay healthy this year. That has, however, not translated to the game-breaking plays the Chiefs sought upon trading third- and sixth-round picks to acquire him. Instead, Toney has become the face of the team’s wide receiver problem.

The third-year player’s crucial offside infraction against the Bills preceded a Patriots game that featured a drop that led to an interception. The Chiefs viewed Toney as a potential No. 1 receiver this offseason, but the shifty ex-first-rounder has only caught 27 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown this year.

With the Chiefs’ options limited at wide receiver due to injuries and an offseason that featured a few upgrade efforts fail to cross the goal line, they are unlikely to remove Toney from a regular role on offense. Toney should be expected to remain part of the receiver rotation, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes.

Kansas City’s receiver troubles extend beyond Toney. Skyy Moore, whom the team placed on IR this week, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have made critical mistakes. While JuJu Smith-Schuster has underwhelmed in New England, his departure — after a 933-yard 2022 season — has been noticeable in Kansas City. The team will continue to depend on second-rounder Rashee Rice‘s development, as the SMU product holds a sizable yardage lead (754) among Chiefs wideouts.

The defending Super Bowl champions will have another option available soon. They designated Mecole Hardman for return Thursday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Kansas City reacquired Hardman in October, bringing him back after a few uneventful months in New York. Hardman contributed as a returner and receiver from 2019-22, posting three 500-plus-yard seasons while a Tyreek Hill sidekick. An injury cut Hardman’s 2022 season short and ultimately kept him out of Super Bowl LVII, but he qualifies as an auxiliary Patrick Mahomes target in a time of need. Hardman, 25, suffered a sprained thumb against the Eagles last month.

That said, Hardman has been slow to reacclimate in Missouri. Although he caught just one pass with the Jets, the former second-round pick has just eight catches for 41 yards since rejoining the Chiefs. Hardman also fumbled a punt return during a loss to the Broncos. With Moore on IR and Toney unreliable, it would not surprise to see the team reintegrate Hardman soon once he is activated. The Chiefs, who have six IR activations remaining, have 21 days to move Hardman back to the active roster.

Rams Activate RB Ronnie Rivers From IR

December 21st, 2023 at 1:39pm CST by Ben Levine

DECEMBER 21: Out for more than two months, Rivers will return to action tonight. The Rams will use one of their IR activations on Rivers, moving him back into position as a Williams sub alongside Freeman. The NFC West team now has one IR activation remaining this season.

DECEMBER 19: The Rams could soon be adding some depth to their backfield. The team announced that they’ve designated running back Ronnie Rivers for return from injured reserve.

After getting into eight games as a rookie, Rivers entered the 2023 campaign as the Rams’ third running back. He appeared in each of the team’s first six games this season, collecting 75 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches. He also saw a significant role on special teams, getting into more than half of his team’s ST snaps through six games.

Rivers suffered a knee sprain back in Week 6 that ultimately required a stint on injured reserve. He was first eligible to return from IR in late-November, so the RB needed at least an additional month of recovery before returning to the field.

The Fresno State product went undrafted in the 2022 draft. He had brief stints with both the Cardinals and Seahawks before landing on the Rams practice squad.

The Rams running back room looks a bit different than when Rivers last played. Kyren Williams is now back from injury and commanding most of the snaps at the position, and fill-ins Zach Evans and Royce Freeman have reverted to their backup roles. The Rams would have to carve out another spot on the depth chart if they want to activate Rivers, although practice-squad RB Darrell Henderson could also argue for a roster spot.

Packers Designate TE Luke Musgrave For Return

December 21st, 2023 at 12:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Among the brigade of first- or second-year Packers pass catchers, Luke Musgrave has seen his rookie year stalled due to a lacerated kidney. But it does not look like the Packers view it as a season-ending injury.

Green Bay designated Musgrave for return Thursday, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman tweets. Musgrave is not expected to be activated in time for the Packers’ Week 16 game, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, but the second-round pick is on the way back to close out his rookie year.

Musgrave’s Week 11 injury required a hospital trip. While he was soon released, the Oregon State product needed extensive rehab time. Prior to going down, Musgrave had operated as the Packers’ top tight end. Fellow Day 2 rookie Tucker Kraft has worked in that capacity in the games since. In 10 games this season, Musgrave has 33 receptions for 341 yards and a touchdown.

The Packers drafted Musgrave with the second-round pick they received from the Jets in the Aaron Rodgers trade (No. 42 overall). Part of a deep tight end draft class, Musgrave entered the NFL after having missed most of his senior season with the Beavers due to a knee injury. Musgrave became a rather interesting prospect as a result; his 341 yards this season eclipse any of his college totals. But the Packers put him to work early, letting Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis rejoin ex-assistant Luke Getsy in Chicago.

Jordan Love has shown progress during the season’s second half, forming connections with the Pack’s high number of young wide receivers. All six of Green Bay’s wideouts are in their first or second seasons; all three of its tight ends (Musgrave, Kraft, Ben Sims) are rookies. It will be interesting to see how this group develops, and Musgrave (signed through 2026) is a key component of that plan.

Giants To Place K Randy Bullock On IR

December 21st, 2023 at 11:57am CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants will end up using at least three primary kickers this season. Brought in to be Graham Gano‘s replacement, Randy Bullock will not make it to the finish line.

Bullock is heading to IR, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan. The veteran kicker sustained a hamstring injury during the Giants’ Week 15 loss to the Saints. This transaction will end Bullock’s season; he kicked in the past six Giants games.

This latest Giants kicker setback will give Cade York another chance. The Giants have the former Browns draftee stashed on their practice squad, putting him in position to resume his career in Week 16. Cut by the Browns after struggling during the preseason, York has not played this season.

In signing Bullock in early November, the Giants also added York off the Titans’ practice squad. That mandated York stay on the roster for at least three weeks. Later last month, the Giants waived the second-year kicker. But he stuck around on Big Blue’s P-squad. The 2022 fourth-round pick will be set for another chance soon. The LSU alum made only 75% of his field goals last season, missing two PATs.

York could be auditioning for another team over the season’s final three weeks. The Giants gave Gano a three-year extension early this season, and although he underwent knee surgery recently, the veteran should remain in place as the team’s kicker for 2024. The Giants could certainly keep York around as offseason insurance, but Gano’s deal includes $13.25MM guaranteed.

Technically, York will be the fourth Giants kicker this year. Punter Jamie Gillan connected on a field goal in relief of Bullock in New Orleans. Bullock, 34, made 5 of 6 field goals — one of those a game-winner over the Packers — and all 10 extra points during his second Giants stint. A one-game Giant fill-in back in 2016, Bullock spent the past two seasons with the Titans. Tennessee released him amid a February payroll purge. Bullock has kicked for seven teams over his 11-year career.

Steelers To Start Mason Rudolph In Week 16

December 21st, 2023 at 11:42am CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 21: For a third straight game, the Steelers will be without Pickett. Tomlin confirmed the second-year starter will miss Week 16, bringing Rudolph back to the forefront. After an eight-start 2019 season, the longtime Ben Roethlisberger backup has made two starts since.

DECEMBER 18: As foreshadowed over the weekend, the Steelers will be making a switch under center. Head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Monday that Mason Rudolph will get the start in Week 16 against the Bengals.

In his post-game remarks after a loss to the Colts on Saturday, Tomlin declined to confirm if Mitch Trubisky would retain the starting role. Tomlin hinted that changes on offense would be coming after Pittsburgh lost a third straight game to drop to 7-7. Now, that has been confirmed.

Rudolph will receive first-team reps in practice this week, although Tomlin did say (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) that starter Kenny Pickett has a chance to return to the field in time for the Cincinnati game. With Rudolph already having been named the starter, though, Pickett’s return would only be in a backup capacity as he recovers from ankle surgery.

Trubisky took over for Pickett during the Steelers’ upset loss to the Cardinals. He then started against the Patriots and Colts, games in which the team’s offensive struggles continued. In need of a late-season spark to stay alive in the wild-card race, Pittsburgh will now turn to Rudolph, who made his 2023 debut in the closing moments of Saturday’s game. The 28-year-old did not see the field last year, and the most recent of his 10 career starts came in 2021.

Rudolph was expected to find himself on a new team this offseason by means of a free agent departure. Signing with a new team could have created a clearer path to playing time, but in May he ultimately decided to re-up with the Steelers once again. That one-year pact worth the veteran minimum will now give the former third-rounder another opportunity to earn a role in Pittsburgh or a new team in the offseason.

Unlike Rudolph, Trubisky is on the books through 2025. The former No. 2 pick joined the Steelers on a two-year deal last spring, and he inked an extension this past offseason to continue serving as Pickett’s backup. Trubisky has not fared well during his time on the field this season, however, and today’s move marks a blow to the confidence the team has in him given the importance of their three-game stretch to close out the season.

Tomlin also announced safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will miss the Steelers’ contest against the Bengals. The All-Pro is dealing with a knee injury which forced him to leave the Colts loss. While Fitzpatrick’s’ absence will be felt on defense, plenty of attention will be on Rudolph and the offense as the Steelers look to end their losing streak and keep their playoff chances alive.

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