HEADLINES

Year: 2024

Chiefs Place S Bryan Cook On IR

December 9th, 2023 at 11:42am CST by Ben Levine

The Chiefs will welcome back a starting linebacker this weekend, but they’ll be down a starting safety for the foreseeable future. The team announced that they’ve placed safety Bryan Cook on injured reserve. The move makes room for linebacker Nick Bolton, who will be returning from IR.

[RELATED: Chiefs Activate Nick Bolton From IR]

Cook suffered an ankle injury last weekend that limited him to a season-low 22 defensive snaps. Coach Andy Reid already ruled out the defensive back for tomorrow’s game against the Bills, but Cook will now be sidelined for at least the next four games. He’ll be eligible to return for the regular season finale.

The 2022 second-round played mostly as a backup during his rookie season, starting only one of his 16 appearances while getting into about 32 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. In 2023, he’s started all 12 games for the Chiefs, collecting 42 tackles, two passes defended, and two fumble recoveries (including one for a score). Pro Football Focus currently has him ranked 40th among 83 qualifying safeties.

With Cook out of the lineup, the team will likely lean more on Mike Edwards opposite Justin Reid. Edwards has already seen a significant defensive role in 2023, and there have been some weeks where he’s out-snapped Cook.

As ESPN’s Field Yates points out, it’s notable that the Chiefs didn’t place running back Isiah Pacheco on IR. The running back is dealing with a shoulder issue that will sideline him for at least Week 14, and Reid admitted this week that he’s uncertain how much time the starter will miss.

Additionally, the Chiefs announced their two standard gameday practice squad elevations. Suiting up with the active roster against the Bills this weekend will be safety Deon Bush and running back Deneric Prince.

Chiefs Activate Nick Bolton From IR

December 9th, 2023 at 11:20am CST by Sam Robinson

DECEMBER 9: The Chiefs have officially activated Bolton from injured reserve. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the linebacker is expected to play on Sunday with a small cast that’s intended to protect his wrist.

DECEMBER 8: After seeing its defense sustain multiple injuries in a loss to the Packers, the Chiefs will have their top linebacker available once again. Weeks after wrist surgery, Nick Bolton will come off IR.

The Chiefs are officially activating the third-year defender ahead of their Week 14 game against the Bills, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. This will only be Kansas City’s second IR activation this season; six more such moves remain available to the defending champions.

Kansas City has lost three games without Bolton, who has missed time due to multiple injuries this season. The Chiefs have been without the prolific tackler for the past five games. The team has lost three of those — to the Broncos, Eagles and Packers — to drop to 8-4. Having Bolton active will certainly help the AFC West leaders, who now trail the Dolphins and Ravens in the race for AFC home-field advantage.

While overshadowed by the Chiefs’ two future Hall of Famers on offense and Chris Jones on defense, Bolton has become one of the league’s top young linebackers. The former second-round pick reeled off a 180-tackle season (along with two interceptions and two sacks) in 2022 and scored a touchdown in Super Bowl LVII, coming a split-second away from a second TD in that game. Bolton, however, has only played in four games this season. He missed three earlier this year due to an ankle injury.

This activation will be a timely one for Kansas City, which ruled out Drue Tranquill for Sunday’s game. Tranquill suffered a concussion against Green Bay. Bolton and Willie Gay, however, have operated as the Chiefs’ top linebackers for the past three years. The latter is in a contract year. With Gay’s Missouri future uncertain, Bolton profiles as an extension candidate, joining fellow 2021 second-round pick Creed Humphrey in that regard. Both players will be eligible to discuss new deals in January.

The Mizzou alum will be a pivotal component to the Chiefs’ latest effort to secure a first-round bye. The Chiefs have earned a bye in four of their five playoff runs with Patrick Mahomes at the helm. They have been able to play a record-setting five straight home AFC championship games, two of those due to that year’s No. 1 seed (the Ravens in 2019, Titans in 2021) losing in Round 2. The Chiefs have not flashed top form in a few weeks, but the Super Bowl contenders do not play a team with a winning record the rest of the way.

Latest On Panthers’ Organizational Dysfunction

December 8th, 2023 at 10:09pm CST by Ely Allen

The firing of former Panthers head coach Frank Reich was not a spur of the moment decision. Team owner David Tepper had been forming the basis for this decision for weeks before finally pulling the trigger. Joseph Person and Dianna Russini spoke with several players and staff within the organization, some under the guise of anonymity, about the state of the organization and revealed a number of headline-worthy comments.

First off was the confirmation of rumors that the team’s poor offensive performance contributed heavily to Reich’s exit. In addition to serving as head coach, Reich also called offensive plays for Carolina. He ceded play-calling duties to first year offensive coordinator Thomas Brown for three games before retaking the responsibility, but nothing seemed to help their struggling rookie quarterback, Bryce Young, and Reich’s decision to take back that role reportedly caused some division within the staff.

In 11 starts so far this year, Young is averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game. and has thrown only nine touchdowns to nine interceptions. The offense has struggled as a whole, ranking 29th in points scored and 30th in yards gained. Their struggles have been fairly balanced with the team ranking 30th in passing yards and 26th in rushing.

One take, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, is that the Panthers’ attack was simply too complicated for the rookie passer. Reich brought in assistant coaches from many backgrounds. When he was let go, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and running backs coach Duce Staley were also let go, due to their heavy influence on the offense. Between Reich’s plan from his Philadelphia days, Brown’s scheme from Los Angeles, and the input from McCown and Staley, there were simply too many cooks in the kitchen. The plan post-Reich has been to streamline the offense in order to make it a bit more digestible for Young.

Additionally, there seemed to be a disconnect within the coaching staff. As we recently reported, there were seemingly attempts within the coaching staff to get Young benched in favor of a veteran like backup quarterback Andy Dalton. Such attempts reportedly never reached Reich or general manager Scott Fitterer. This may have been a result of several Panthers staffers communicating directly with Tepper behind Reich’s back. With the writing on the wall for Reich, several assistants reportedly went into self-preservation mode in an attempt to not go down with the captain of the ship.

Tepper really attempted to be hands-on this season. After firing Matt Rhule, Tepper sold a thorough coaching search (despite some rumors pointing to a foregone conclusion when Carolina hired Reich’s daughter hours after the 2022 season ended). After “eventually” landing on Reich, Tepper reportedly implored his new head coach to hire assistants outside of his normal coaching circle, suggesting that Reich retain special teams coordinator Chris Tabor and offensive line coach James Campen. Tepper even instructed Reich to fix Young’s footwork, though this may have been prompted by another coach or even Fitterer.

With Reich in the past, there have been several names rumored to be in contention to replace him. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is a popular pick after he was heavily considered in the offseason before withdrawing his name from consideration to stay in Detroit. But Carolina isn’t necessarily selling out for Johnson. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, sources have the Panthers on the lookout for a “young offensive coach” to replace Reich.

Johnson does fit that mold at the age of 37, but Eagles 36-year-old offensive coordinator Brian Johnson will be popular this offseason, as well. Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, at 36 years old, has already shown what he can do with the development of a rookie quarterback after working with both Brock Purdy in 2022 and C.J. Stroud this year, though he remains close to DeMeco Ryans, who brought him over from San Francisco. Lastly, Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith is a bit older at 42 years old but is still a rising name in the NFL after Miami’s offensive development in the past two years.

While they might not love what’s been put on the field thus far, the Panthers also still have Brown on the offensive staff after he was considered a head coaching candidate in the offseason. Brown was also considered an up-and-coming offensive mind coming out of Los Angeles last year. Regardless, Tepper will need to really do his homework this time around if he wants to author a strong reply to this year’s dismal performance.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/8/23

December 8th, 2023 at 6:38pm CST by Ely Allen

Minor moves heading into the weekend:

Kansas City Chiefs

Tennessee Titans

Ross was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List back in October after getting arrested on misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor property damage charges. Adam Schefter of ESPN now reports that the ordeal will result in a six-game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s Personal Conduct Policy. Since Ross has missed the past five games on the exempt list, those five games will count towards his six-game suspension, meaning that he may rejoin the team after their contest with the Bills this weekend. Unlike his time on the exempt list, though, the six-game suspension is meant to be unpaid, meaning that Ross will be required to pay back the game checks that he received over that five-game period.

We were told recently that Stonehouse would be out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery. Today’s transaction sets that in stone as he’ll find his way to injured reserve alongside the former practice squad linebacker.

Derek Carr Clears Concussion Protocol

December 8th, 2023 at 5:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 8: Carr will once again avoid an absence following an injury. The durable veteran has cleared concussion protocol and will start in Week 14, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill reports. Carr sustained a shoulder injury in Week 3 but returned the following week. He suffered a concussion in Week 10, but the Saints had a Week 11 bye. Despite a shorter time period to clear the protocol this week, Carr will be back under center when the Saints face the Panthers.

A two-concussion season presents concerns for the 32-year-old passer, but he has proven dependable throughout his career in terms of availability. Carr missed only two regular-season games due to injury during his nine-year Raiders run.

DECEMBER 4: For the second time this season, Derek Carr was forced to exit a game with an injury which has landed him in concussion protocol. The Saints’ starting quarterback is thus in danger of missing game action for the first time in his debut New Orleans campaign, but no firm decisions have been made yet on that front.

Head coach Dennis Allen said after Sunday’s loss that Carr was still being evaluated and that no thought had been given to shutting him down for the remainder of the season (h/t Matthew Paras of the Times-Picayune). Carr has been dealing with a shoulder injury he suffered earlier in the year, and Allen added the veteran also has a rib injury (via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network).

Playing much of the year at less than 100% health, Carr’s debut Saints season has not gone according to plan. Expectations were high for the four-time Pro Bowler after he arrived on a four-year, $150MM deal with $60MM guaranteed at signing. He has struggled this year, however, posting a passer rating of 89.4, one of several figures which falls short of his career averages. Carr has overseen an offense which has struggled to find a rhythm on the ground or through the air for much of the season.

The 32-year-old drew the ire of the home crowd during the Saints’ Week 13 loss as frustrations from a disappointing season boiled over. New Orleans could elect to make a short-term switch under center in a move which would see Jameis Winston take over the No. 1 role. The latter was similarly sidelined midseason in 2022 after he dealt with multiple injuries, remaining a backup to Andy Dalton even after being cleared to return.

“I think both of those are totally different situations,” Allen said in his post-game remarks. “They’re both totally different situations. We’re not getting into what we did last year and what we’re doing this year, alright? Look, Derek’s in the concussion protocol right now. We will evaluate that as we go.”

Allen noted his “concern” over Carr suffering a concussion for the second time in one month. Winston would be in line to take on starting duties in Week 14 if the Saints were forced to keep the high-priced passer sidelined for at least one game, but a decision in that regard will depend in large part on Carr’s ability to clear the protocol. The Saints’ QB situation will be worth watching closely over the coming days.

Patriots Waive RB/WR Ty Montgomery

December 8th, 2023 at 4:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second time this year, the Patriots have cut Ty Montgomery. Unlike the team’s decision to leave the versatile veteran off its 53-man roster in August, Montgomery will be exposed to waivers.

To make room for waiver claim Christian Elliss, the Patriots will move Montgomery off the roster Friday, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss tweets. Montgomery has been with the Patriots since 2022.

New England claimed JaMycal Hasty off waivers from Jacksonville last month, and Reiss suggested the younger player was a threat to Montgomery’s roster spot. After Montgomery was part of a Pats special teams unit that allowed a blocked punt in the team’s upset win over the Steelers, the former third-round pick will hit the waiver wire. A Montgomery claim will not process until Monday.

The Pats gave Montgomery a two-year, $3.6MM deal in 2022, bringing the receiving specialist to town after he had bounced around the league. Best known for his time with the Packers, the 30-year-old veteran has also spent time with the Ravens, Jets and Saints since going off the 2015 draft board 94th overall.

While Montgomery logged 11 starts in the backfield from 2016-17 in Green Bay, he has been used as an off-the-bench weapon on offense and in the return game. The Stanford alum resided as the Pats’ primary kick returner this season. The team kept Montgomery around despite his one-game 2022 — a season shortened by injury — and could sign him back to the practice squad if he clears waivers. But Montgomery has offered minimal contributions on offense (13 touches, 62 yards) since joining the Patriots.

New England will make this move with Rhamondre Stevenson on the shelf with a high ankle sprain. This has moved summer signing Ezekiel Elliott back into a lead role. Elliott and Hasty are the only healthy RBs on the Pats’ 53-man roster presently. Second-year back Kevin Harris played as a practice squad elevation Thursday night.

Montgomery, who moved from receiver to running back early in his Packers career, totaled 805 scrimmage yards during a 2016 season in which he worked partially as Green Bay’s starting running back. The Pack waived Montgomery during the 2018 season, and after a stint in Baltimore, he signed three one-year deals (with the Jets and Saints) before his two-year Pats pact came to pass. While Montgomery has done well to play nine seasons as a part-time running back, he may soon be in search of a new team.

The Patriots also released kicker Matthew Wright from their practice squad. The team had signed the nomadic specialist after rookie Chad Ryland had missed multiple field goals from inside 40 yards.

Panthers, Raiders Work Out G D.J. Fluker

December 8th, 2023 at 2:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

D.J. Fluker has not played in three years, most recently showing up as a part-time starter for the 2020 Ravens. The former first-round pick also spent 2022 mostly off the grid; his 2023 appointments have certainly changed that.

After several workouts earlier this year, Fluker finished his week with two auditions. The veteran offensive lineman worked out for the Panthers earlier this week and participated in a Friday tryout with the Raiders, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

A first-round Chargers selection back in 2013, Fluker has been out of the NFL for nearly two years. He suffered a knee injury during Dolphins training camp in 2021 and was released from the team’s IR with an injury settlement. The NFL then handed the Alabama alum a six-game suspension. That ban and Fluker undergoing meniscus surgery effectively wiped out his 2021 slate, though he did score multiple practice squad deals later that year.

The Raiders gave Fluker that P-squad contract two years ago, signing him that December during Rich Bisaccia‘s run as interim HC. The stint did not last long, however, with Fluker ending up on the Jaguars’ P-squad before season’s end. Neither agreement led to playing time, and Fluker spent 2022 out of the league. Time is running out for the 32-year-old blocker, but he has been busy this year. After working out at Alabama’s pro day, Fluker auditioned for Eagles, Patriots and Jets between May and September.

Injuries have ransacked the Panthers’ guard group. Starters Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen are out for the season, and rookie fill-in Chandler Zavala recently joined them on IR. Carolina already signed Gabe Jackson to its practice squad but is interested in more veteran aid to close out Bryce Young‘s rookie year. The Raiders have both their starters (Dylan Parham, Greg Van Roten) healthy. Third-year UDFA Jordan Meredith resides as a backup, with Jermaine Eluemunor having played both tackle and guard for the team during his tenure.

Prior to his multiyear hiatus, Fluker started 96 career games at guard and right tackle. The Chargers cut the cord on his fifth-year option in 2017, back when teams could pick up options and cut the player (before the 2020 CBA made the fifth years fully guaranteed). Fluker then played for the Giants, Seahawks and Ravens, starting for two Seattle playoff teams during his post-San Diego years.

Chargers’ Khalil Mack Contemplated Retirement After 2022 Season

December 8th, 2023 at 12:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Khalil Mack has been a bright spot for the Chargers this season, providing a signficant pass rush presence in a season where the team’s defense has put up underwhelming numbers in several categories. The three-time All-Pro nearly elected to hang up his cleats before the 2023 campaign, however.

Mack contemplated retirement after the 2022 season came to an end, as detailed by Daniel Popper of The Athletic (subscription required). Los Angeles surrendered a 27-point lead in a wild-card loss to Jacksonville, ending the team’s season in unexpected fashion. Mack posted eight sacks in his debut Chargers campaign, earning him Pro Bowl honors for the seventh time in his career.

The 32-year-old has taken a dramatic step forward in production this season, however. Mack leads the NFL in both sacks (15) and forced fumbles (five), having posted multiple sacks in five games this year. Those figures have him on the precipice of a new career high in sacks, as well as a career milestone. The former top-five pick currently has 99.5 career sacks, so his decision to keep playing is set to see him reach the century mark in that regard.

“The perception of how old you are and all those different things, I feel like that s— don’t matter,” Mack said, via Popper. “When you love the game and you put in the work, it’s always going to be a reflection. And I love this game and I come out and I work hard, man. Whether I was 23, 24 when I first got into the league or now, I’m still doing the same things.”

Indeed, Mack’s ability to turn back the clock this season has helped the Chargers post 41 sacks this year, good for third in the league. It has also helped compensate for the fact fellow starter Joey Bosa has been limited to nine games and 6.5 sacks this year. Presuming Mack can maintain his strong showing, his financial future will become an interesting storyline.

The Buffalo alum is under contract through 2024, and the final year of his monster extension dating back to his time with the Bears includes over $15.2MM in guaranteed money. Due to his latest restructure, Mack is set to carry a cap hit of $38.5MM next year, so working out an extension to lower that figure would be desirable from the team’s perspective, particularly if he were intent on continuing his career beyond the end of this campaign. Given his thoughts on retirement last winter, though, it will be interesting to see how he approaches the rest of his career after this season comes to a close.

Jaguars Place WR Christian Kirk On IR

December 8th, 2023 at 10:43am CST by Adam La Rose

Already known to be facing a multi-week absence, Christian Kirk is now in line to miss an extended stretch. The veteran wideout will be placed on injured reserve, head coach Doug Pederson said on Friday (via Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network). The team has since announced the move.

Kirk will undergo core muscle surgery, a procedure which will shut him down for a critical stretch in the season. With the surgery now confirmed, attention will turn to the 27-year-old’s recovery process. By virtue of being moved to IR, an absence of at least four weeks is now guaranteed. The Jaguars will be without a major part of their offense as a result.

Kirk leads Jacksonville in receiving yards (787) this season, and he also ranks first on the team amongst wideouts in receptions (57). A recovery timeline of up to eight weeks has been floated in his case, something which would end his season unless the Jaguars managed to make a run to the Super Bowl. Coming back along a shorter timeframe could still allow him to return to the lineup in time for the team’s regular season finale, though.

In any event, Kirk’s absence will be acutely felt on an offense which has struggled to consistently produce through the air this season. The former Cardinal has eclipsed 84 receiving yards five times in 2023, his second season in Duval County. His first year with Jacksonville – brought about by the four-year, $72MM deal which raised plenty of eyebrows at the time it was signed – produced a career-best statline of 84-1,108-8.

Year 2 with the Jaguars was likewise proving Kirk’s presence as an integral member of the team’s passing attack. The presence of trade acquisition Calvin Ridley will help offset Kirk’s absence, though a sizeable gap exists between Ridley and Jacksonville’s next most productive wideout (Zay Jones, who has posted 186 yards on 18 catches). Tight end Evan Engram and running back Travis Etienne will be increasingly counted upon with Kirk not in the picture.

Of course, quarterback Trevor Lawrence‘s status is also up in the air after he left Monday’s game with a high ankle sprain. The former No. 1 pick has not been ruled out for Week 14, but he has work to to during practice to convince the coaching staff to continue his streak of having not missed a game in his career. Regardless of who is under center for Jacksonville in the immediate future, though, Kirk will not be available.

LB Josh Bynes Retires

December 8th, 2023 at 9:44am CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Bynes‘ NFL career will not extend to a 13th season. The veteran linebacker revealed on Friday that he has retired as a member of the Ravens, the team with which he spent much of his career.

Bynes entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, finding his first regular opportunity with Baltimore. He established himself as a rotational member of the team’s defense and a key special teams contributor in 2012, something which became evident in the postseason. Bynes made the final tackle in Super Bowl XLVII, a play which earned him his lone championship and helped put him on the radar of other teams.

The Auburn alum spent three seasons with Detroit from 2014-16, starting 19 of his 38 games in the Motor City. He then joined the Cardinals on the most lucrative pact of his career (three years, $5.58MM). Bynes served as a full-time starter in his second and final Arizona season before returning to the Ravens in 2019. His play his second Baltimore stint earned him a deal with the Bengals for the following season, during which he posted a career-high 99 tackles.

That campaign was followed by another return to the Ravens, where Bynes earned 19 combined starts across the 2021 and ’22 seasons. In all, he racked up 582 tackles, 8.5 sacks and five interceptions in 138 career games (82 starts). Now 34, Bynes will hang up his cleats with roughly $9.4MM in career earnings. As he turns his attention to the next chapter of his life, he indicated (via Ryan Mink of the Ravens’ team website) coaching could very well be in his future.

“The thing I’m most proud of is perseverance,” Bynes said when reflecting on his career. “I’ve been released, cut. I’ve been told I wasn’t good enough, not fast enough to play in the league, wouldn’t be in the league long at all even if I had the opportunity to play. I can show my peers that regardless of what anybody says, you can do anything. You just go out there and prove it every single day. I feel like I proved that for my entire 12 years.”

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