HEADLINES

Year: 2024

Lions Sign DL Tyson Alualu

December 5th, 2023 at 12:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tyson Alualu is set to continue his NFL career for a 14th season. The veteran defensive lineman has agreed to a deal with the Lions, his agency announced on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old had spent the past six seasons in Pittsburgh, and he expressed a desire to continue his time with the Steelers this offseason. Instead, he will now head to the Motor City in a bid to carve out a rotational role on the Lions’ defensive front. Justin Rogers of the Detroit News notes Alualu will start on the team’s practice squad, as has become standard practice around the league for midseason additions.

This marks another late-season addition to Detroit’s defense, with Alualu following Bruce Irvin — who is also in his age-36 season — in signing with the NFC North leaders’ practice squad. Irvin made his debut with the Lions in Week 13. While Irvin had made a habit of in-season signings during the 2020s, this is new territory for Alualu. The veteran interior D-lineman played 17 games as a rotational player in Pittsburgh last season.

Over the course of his career, Alualu has played in 191 games and started 111. Although Alualu spent six seasons working alongside Cameron Heyward up front with the Steelers, he was a regular starter with the Jaguars from 2010-16. Pro Football Focus graded Alualu poorly last season but viewed him as one of the NFL’s top D-linemen as recently as 2020. Alualu suffered a season-ending injury during Week 2 of the 2021 season. The Lions will see what the former first-round pick has left in the tank.

Detroit’s latest addition comes after starter Alim McNeill left Sunday’s game due to injury. Dan Campbell said the third-year starter might not be ready in time for Detroit’s Week 14 game against Chicago. McNeill left the Lions-Saints matchup multiple times due to injury, though his practice designation Wednesday will begin to determine how likely a Week 14 absence will be.

Mutual Interest Between Chargers, Lions’ Ben Johnson For HC?

December 5th, 2023 at 12:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

DECEMBER 5: While Johnson is sure to have several suitors during the 2024 hiring cycle, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post notes his preferred destination would be the Chargers. It remains to be seen if Los Angeles’ offseason evaluation of the coaching and front office staffs will produce a change, but in the event it does there will apparently be mutual interest between team and candidate in this case.

NOVEMBER 28: The Lions’ continued ascent under Dan Campbell stands to make his coordinators high-end HC candidates in 2024. While Aaron Glenn figures to generate additional interest, Ben Johnson will be a sure bet to land multiple interviews.

One of those requests may come from the Chargers, who have yet to make a decision on Brandon Staley. But with the defense-minded HC looking likely to be fired after this season, The Athletic’s Joe Person notes many in league circles expect the Chargers to have Johnson atop their wish list in 2024 (subscription required).

Regardless of the Bolts’ potential vacancy, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer offers that Johnson will be the top offense-oriented coach on the market. Considering where NFL hiring has landed over the past several offseasons, that may well make him the top candidate available. This is obviously before we know if Bill Belichick will become a coaching free agent or if the iconic New England sideline presence will be a trade option for teams. But Johnson may end up receiving multiple offers this time around.

Johnson, 37, jumped off the 2023 coaching carousel early, opting to remain with the Lions for a second season as OC. The Panthers were interested in the North Carolina native — to the point David Tepper had him positioned as the team’s top candidate early in the run. Johnson was not interested in that job, and although the Panthers are again believed to be eyeing a coach with an offensive background (even after the historically quick Frank Reich firing), it is difficult to believe Johnson would be overly interested this time around. With Tepper having canned a third coach in-season since 2019, his reputation continues to plummet. The Panthers are 30-63 since Tepper bought the team in 2018.

The Chargers have enjoyed more success than the Panthers in that span, but they have also developed an earned reputation for squandering opportunities. Staley has presided over the latest round of those, and his tenure will likely be best remembered for the 27-point collapse in last year’s wild-card round. Barring a dramatic late-season turnaround, the Bolts should be expected to move on from the first-time HC. The Chargers have not fired a coach in-season since Kevin Gilbride in 1998, making it more likely than not Staley stays on to close out his third campaign. The Bolts sit 4-7 after three consecutive losses, one of which coming against the Lions.

While Staley’s defenses have underwhelmed, as injuries continue to affect the unit, the AFC’s Los Angeles job will be attractive due to Justin Herbert‘s presence. Herbert will likely be the best quarterback attached to a coaching vacancy in 2024. At 25 and signed to an extension that runs through 2029, the Pro Bowl quarterback will be a key variable on the 2024 coaching carousel.

L.A.’s current play-caller, Kellen Moore, has more experience running an offense than Johnson, who is in his second season calling plays. But Johnson has done plenty to elevate the Lions, overseeing a Jared Goff resurgence. The throw-in piece in the 2021 Matthew Stafford trade, Goff bounced back in 2022 and sits 11th in QBR this season. He ranked fifth in this metric last year — a career-best placement. The Lions went from 25th offensively in 2021 to fifth in Johnson’s first season as the full-time play-caller. Through 11 games this year, Detroit ranks seventh in scoring and sixth in offensive DVOA.

Although Johnson took a risk by not pursuing HC jobs to the end in this year’s cycle, he both received a Lions raise and remains a valued commodity going into the 2024 hiring period. The Bolts bet on an inexperienced coordinator in 2021, hiring Staley after his one season as the Rams’ DC. Johnson, who has been with the Lions since 2019, would be a similar hire. But as an up-and-coming presence on the offensive side, the Detroit assistant may have his pick of the 2024 openings.

Jets To Sign QB Brett Rypien Off Seahawks’ Practice Squad, Waive Tim Boyle

December 5th, 2023 at 11:34am CST by Adam La Rose

Set to make another change to their quarterback depth chart, the Jets are making a shake-up to their roster as well. New York is adding Brett Rypien off the Seahawks’ practice squad and waiving Tim Boyle, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson.

The latter passer received a pair of starts after the decision was made to bench Zach Wilson. Boyle did not impress in either outing, however, and he was lifted in favor of Trevor Siemian in the fourth quarter of the team’s Week 13 loss. Now, a new face will enter the situation in the form of Rypien, who had been in Seattle for roughly one month following the end of his Rams tenure.

The 27-year-old filled in for an injured Matthew Stafford for one contest, but he struggled and was let go as a result. No teams put in a claim for him, leaving him free to sign anywhere. He elected to join the Seahawks, a decision which recently saw him elevated in the wake of Geno Smith facing availability concerns. Smith was able to play, however, and the presence of backup Drew Lock limited Rypien’s prospects of seeing playing time in the Emerald City.

Now, the the former Bronco will have the chance to earn practice reps and/or playing time with the Jets as they continue to search for a short-term answer under center. Wilson had an extended run in the wake of Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear, but he was later demoted to third-stringer for the second season in a row to clear a starting spot for Boyle. With the latter now out of the picture, Wilson is believed to be the Jets’ preference for Week 14. A report from Monday indicated, however, the former second overall pick has expressed hesitancy over returning to game action.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh had not yet named a starter for Week 14 or beyond, something which especially makes sense given today’s news. The addition of Rypien will give New York a new option to consider as the team looks to find some level of consistency on offense. Boyle, meanwhile, will hit the waiver wire, making him available to any interested teams. If he clears, he will become a free agent and be able to join the Jets’ practice squad or head elsewhere in search of playing time.

Bears To Evaluate HC Matt Eberflus During Offseason; Team Interested In Eric Bieniemy?

December 5th, 2023 at 10:47am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bears have had an up-and-down season in Year 2 under head coach Matt Eberflus. As a result, his name has been floated as a candidate to be replaced this offseason, but it remains to be seen if the team’s front office will authorize a change.

Both Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles will be evaluated after the 2023 season, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports (subscription required). New president Kevin Warren has signficant sway in the team’s direction, and Russini notes he has spent his time in Chicago “getting a feel for the organization.” Warren will have a major say with respect to changes on the sidelines and in the front office, but the Eberflus-Poles pairing still has time to make a positive impression.

The Bears currently sit at 4-8 on the season, one in which improvement from last season’s tear-down campaign was expected. Chicago began the year with five losses out of the first six games, but a 3-3 record since then has likely helped the cause for Eberflus, Poles and quarterback Justin Fields to remain in their current positions. The latter could easily be replaced this spring given the Bears’ strong chance of owning the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, but he appears to still have the backing of the team at this point.

Nevertheless, it would not come as a shock if Eberflus were to be let go after the campaign. In that event, a number of candidates would no doubt be on the team’s radar. One of those is Eric Bieniemy, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports. The longtime Chiefs offensive coordinator took the OC position in Washington this offseason in a move which granted him play-calling duties and the added title of assistant head coach.

In the eyes of many, it also set Bieniemy up for his first NFL head coaching position in the event he were to remain with the Commanders in 2024 and beyond. Current head coach Ron Rivera is widely believed to be on the way out at the conclusion of this season, and Bieniemy’s work with respect to developing second-year passer Sam Howell has drawn praise. The Commanders rank 10th in the league in total offense despite a mediocre ground game, but the team’s defense has floundered in recent weeks in particular and resulted in a 4-9 record.

The Bears are in a similar position in the win-loss column, but improved play on defense – Eberflus’ familiarity dating back to his coordinator days – has been evident at times in recent games. Chicago ranks 11th in yards allowed per game this season (319) and first against the run (79). Eberflus has served as the defensive play-caller since the sudden resignation of DC Alan Williams in September. That move, along with the acquisition and extension of defensive end Montez Sweat, has not yielded a strong performance in the pass-rush department, however.

Eberflus and Poles were mentioned in a September report as being on the hot seat, but the former later expressed the support he had received from the organization. Plenty is still to be determined over the closing weeks of the season, but the Bears’ organizational direction will be a major storyline to watch upon the conclusion of the campaign. With the prospect of two top-10 picks in April’s draft, the team’s HC position could be an attractive one for Bieniemy if he were to find himself in consideration for the job, though he could also receive interest from other teams this offseason.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson Facing Multi-Week Absence

December 5th, 2023 at 9:51am CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots’ offense has endured major struggles in recent weeks in particular, and the team’s top producer is now in line to miss time. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to miss multiple weeks due to a high ankle sprain, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Stevenson exited New England’s 6-0 loss to the Chargers in the first quarter and did not return. Today’s update will no doubt sideline him for at least the team’s upcoming Thursday night game against the Steelers, and any additional missed time will deal a blow the the Patriots’ ground game. Stevenson comfortably leads New England with 619 rushing yards.

The 25-year-old has also logged a team-leading 38 receptions as the Patriots have struggled mightily to generate a consistent passing attack. Stevenson has recorded 238 yards through the air while scoring four touchdowns on the ground. His absence will interrupt his third season with the team (and second as the clear-cut lead back) while forcing New England to rely heavily on Ezekiel Elliott for the time being.

The latter joined the Patriots after a lengthy free agent period which came about from his long-expected Cowboys release. Elliott’s incentive-laden deal set him up for a backup role on a team which (even before experiencing the quarterback uncertainty which has transpired) was expected to use a run-heavy approach. The former rushing champion has posted 429 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 112 attempts, good for an average of 3.8 yards per carry. The latter figure figure sits only slightly lower than Stevenson’s, but Elliott will now be tasked with a larger workload than he has previously handled this season.

The three-time Pro Bowler logged a season-high 17 carries on Sunday after Stevenson went down. After New England received some interest in Elliott in advance of the trade deadline, no serious negotiations took place and he remained with the Patriots as a result. Receiving an extended RB1 look late in the year could help Elliott boost his free agent stock ahead of the offseason. The missed time for Stevenson, on the other hand, could hurt his value on a new deal, something he will be eligible for this spring.

New England has mustered only 13 points across the past three games, as the team has struggled through poor quarterback play with both Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe under center. Regardless of which passer suits up on Thursday, they will not have the benefit of a healthy backfield.

Eagles, Shaquille Leonard Agree To Deal

December 4th, 2023 at 10:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Shaquille Leonard sweepstakes have come to an end. The All-Pro free agent has come to terms on a one-year deal with the Eagles, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. The team has since announced the agreement.

Leonard’s choice was widely understood to be down to the Eagles or the divisional-rival Cowboys. Both teams hosted the veteran linebacker on a visit last week, expressing an interest in a deal provided the terms were reasonable. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed a wait-and-see attitude earlier today while awaiting Leonard’s decision, but as Rapoport notes, Philadelphia was always his “preferred destination.”

After both Dallas and Philadelphia hosted Leonard, it became clear he would wait until after the Week 13 slate of Sunday games to decide on his next home. Today’s news means he will join a team other than the Colts for the first time in his career, but his addition could prove to be crucial in the race for the NFC East crown. The Cowboys and Eagles play each other in Week 14, which could very well mark Leonard’s debut for his new employer.

Issues related to playing time led the Colts to move on from the 28-year-old last month. All teams were eligible to add him via waivers, but putting in a claim would have tied them to the remainder of his contract. To no surprise, he cleared and became a free agent. A short list of teams emerged, with the Eagles and Cowboys immediately at the forefront. The Broncos and Vikings were briefly mentioned as potential suitors, but neither squad hosted him on a free agent visit. Now, attention will turn to the Eagles’ general linebacker situation and where Leonard will fit into it.

Zach Cunningham has been dealing with a hamstring injury, and his absence was a major factor in Philadelphia’s pursuit of Leonard. The former was missed during the Eagles’ blowout loss to the 49ers yesterday, a game in which the team’s defense endured a sustained inability to slow down San Francisco’s offense. Leonard could play a part in helping a unit which ranks 23rd and 24th in total and scoring defense, respectively. Especially after Cunningham returns, though, a rotational role will likely await the three-time Pro Bowler.

Leonard has been limited to 12 games across the past two seasons as back issues have led to surgery and signficant missed time. Questions abound regarding his ability to regain his previous form after he logged a snap share of 70% in Indianapolis this season, by far his lowest in a full campaign. The Colts have moved on with younger, less expensive options at the second level, but the Eagles will take a flier on Leonard still being able to make an impact. Philadelphia entered the day with $3.39MM in cap space, meaning today’s deal will not be a lucrative one.

Still atop the division despite yesterday’s loss, the Eagles remain in the driver’s seat for the NFC’s top seed. Leonard will look to give their postseason push a boost and in doing so help his free agent prospects. How he fits into Philadelphia’s defense and the impact he can make will be a key storyline to follow down the stretch.

Zach Wilson Reluctant To Reclaim Jets’ Starting Role?

December 4th, 2023 at 10:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets exited their Week 13 loss with a new round of uncertainty at the quarterback position, and another change to the depth chart could be coming. New York is eyeing a move which will put Zach Wilson back in the starter’s role, Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic report.

However, the pair note that Wilson is “reluctant to stepping back in.” The former No. 2 pick was benched last month to allow Tim Boyle a chance at the starting spot. That decision saw Wilson dropped to third on the depth chart for the second consecutive season, and appeared to mark a firm end to his playing days in New York. Instead, neither Boyle – who received the start for Week 13 – nor Trevor Siemian have impressed in their respective audition periods.

Wilson’s remarks in the wake of his latest benching indicated he feels he has developed individually and the Jets’ offense (a unit which has been riddled with injuries up front and drawn criticism due to OC Nathaniel Hackett‘s play-calling) has struggled due to its collective struggles, not only his own. Rosenblatt and Russini report the Jets are hopeful Wilson will reconsider his stance, but it will be worth watching closely how willing he is to take the field for a team which seemed to move on from him so recently. The Athletic’s Jeff Howe tweets that Wilson would be amenable to starting if asked directly.

Head coach Robert Saleh repeatedly endorsed Wilson during the 2023 season despite his lack of tangible progression in his third season in the league. He later noted the Jets were in lockstep in their evaluation of the quarterback situation before the decision to move in a different direction was made. Now, another switch could be coming soon and Saleh’s Monday remarks noted Wilson is an option to return to the playing field.

Aaron Rodgers – whose Week 1 Achilles tear has precipitated the Jets’ QB instability – reached out to Wilson to advise him to retake the starting position if offered, Russini adds. The latter could showcase himself for a prospective new team by finishing out the season, especially with the expectation Rodgers will not suit up given the team’s losing streak and the fact it has essentially eliminated them from the postseason.

Saleh unsurprisingly declined to name a Week 14 starter on Monday, but New York’s handling of the QB depth chart will be worth following closely as it pertains to Wilson in particular. His rookie contract runs through 2024 – provided the Jets elect to decline his fifth-year option in the spring – and a decision on his long-term future in the organization could be impacted by another stint as a No. 1 should the opportunity present itself.

Dolphins To Host LB Reuben Foster

December 4th, 2023 at 9:16pm CST by Ben Levine

As Jerome Baker tends to an injury, the Dolphins are eyeing some additional depth at linebacker. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins will be hosting Reuben Foster on a workout this Wednesday.

After being selected by the 49ers in the first round of the 2017 draft, Foster only got into 16 games across one-plus seasons with San Francisco. He was slapped with a two-game ban to begin the 2018 season after being hit with a weapons offense and a misdemeanor drug offense. Following a subsequent arrest for domestic violence, the linebacker was cut loose by the 49ers.

Foster was claimed by Washington, and after spending most of the 2018 campaign on the commissioner’s exempt list, Foster was reinstated during the 2019 offseason. However, during his first practice with his new squad, Foster suffered a torn ACL and torn MCL. The linebacker spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons on injured reserve before hitting free agency.

Foster has drawn some interest around the NFL since that time, garnering previous workouts with the Dolphins and Seahawks. He most recently spent time with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL, collecting 52 tackles in eight games.

The 29-year-old will now get a second look from the Dolphins as they look for a temporary fill-in for Baker. Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the starting linebacker is dealing with an MCL injury that isn’t a season-ender but could keep him off the field for a few weeks. Duke Riley was inserted into the lineup yesterday when Baker exited the game. The veteran ended up getting into a season-high 31 defensive snaps in the win over the Commanders.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/23

December 4th, 2023 at 8:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

  • Designated to return from IR: LB Malik Hamm

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Green Bay Packers

  • Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): DB David Long

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Promoted: TE Josh Pederson

New York Giants

While the Giants haven’t activated Tyrod Taylor, the veteran QB is expected to be back on the active roster next Monday. In preparation, the team has moved on from Matt Barkley, who has been serving as the backup to Tommy DeVito since Daniel Jones went down with an injury. Barkley hasn’t seen the field for a regular season game since 2020, when he got into five games with the Bills.

Titans DL Jeffery Simmons To Miss “A Couple Weeks”

December 4th, 2023 at 6:08pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans will be without a key defender for a handful of games. Coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that Jeffery Simmons will definitely miss Monday’s game against the Dolphins and will likely be sidelined for “a couple weeks.”

[RELATED: Titans P Ryan Stonehouse Out For Season]

Simmons exited Sunday’s loss to the Colts with a knee injury but ended up returning to the contest. The team’s training staff ultimately forced him to leave the game for good, and they later determined that the veteran will have to miss multiple games while dealing with the issue.

“I think he really did everything that he could and even made a play,” Vrabel said (via the team’s website). “He just wasn’t going to be able to do anything. And if you can’t protect yourself out there, nobody wants to put a player in harm’s risk. We’re going to trust Jeff to say when he can go and when he can’t.”

The former first-round pick has turned into Tennessee’s top defender, earning two-straight All-Pro nods after finishing with 16 sacks between 2021 and 2022. This year, Simmons has collected 44 tackles and 5.5 sacks while ranking 33rd among 126 qualifying interior defenders, per Pro Football Focus. The site also gave him a top-25 positional grade for his pass-rushing ability.

With Simmons limited to a season-low 37 defensive snaps this past weekend, Teair Tart and Kyle Peko soaked up the majority of the leftover snaps. Jaleel Johnson also earned one of his highest snap totals of the season after having previously seen an inconsistent role on defense.

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