HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/1/24

January 1st, 2024 at 6:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the NFL minor moves from New Year’s Day:

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

New Orleans Saints

While the Broncos have not run into major injury problems this season, safety has proven the exception. Denver’s safety starters and second-stringers have missed time this season. Turner-Yell, a 2022 fifth-round pick, will join Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke as having spent time on IR. Turner-Yell, who started two games in place of Justin Simmons at points early this season, suffered a torn ACL in Week 17, per Sean Payton. Simmons and Locke remain healthy, but the Broncos lost Kareem Jackson to the Texans after placing the oft-suspended veteran on waivers. The Broncos had planned to stash Jackson on their practice squad.

Playing on New Year’s Eve as a practice squad elevation, Melton impressed with a six-catch, 105-yard showing in Minnesota. The 2022 Seahawks seventh-round pick will replace Toure on the Packers’ active roster. A 2022 Green Bay seventh-rounder, Toure caught eight passes for 78 yards in his second NFL season.

United Football League To Feature Eight Teams, 10-Game Season

January 1st, 2024 at 5:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

More details have surfaced regarding the XFL and USFL’s merger, which will produce a second operation called the United Football League. The long-rumored merger will produce a league that launches March 30, 2024, with the rebranded league housing eight teams and preparing to play a 10-game season.

Eight teams comprised each of the two winter-spring leagues in 2023, but the new UFL will see half the overall franchises cease operations. Spring leagues in the United States have waged uphill battles for generations, with financial issues taking down two XFL incarnations, 2019’s Alliance of American Football and the original United Football League (2009-12) this century. Thus, it is unsurprising to see the new league refuse to expand in terms of total teams.

The March 30 date falls in between the XFL and USFL’s 2023 starting points; the XFL officially returned in February, while the rebooted USFL’s second season began in April of last year. The XFL’s third try lost money, and the USFL showed interest in a merger shortly after its latest season. Five XFL teams and three USFL clubs will transfer over. Here are those teams:

  • Arlington Renegades
  • Birmingham Stallions
  • D.C. Defenders
  • Houston Roughnecks
  • Memphis Showboats
  • Michigan Panthers
  • San Antonio Brahmas
  • St. Louis Battlehawks

Houston previously housed XFL and USFL teams; the new one will keep its XFL moniker but use the USFL’s head coach (Curtis Johnson), ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert notes. Four XFL head coaches and four USFL HCs will stay on. Former 49ers HC Mike Nolan (Panthers), ex-NFL OC John DeFilippo (Showboats), longtime Oklahoma HC Bob Stoops (Renegades), Super Bowl-winning DC Wade Phillips (Brahmas), former Jets tight end Anthony Becht (Battlehawks), former NFL wideout Reggie Barlow (Defenders) and longtime college HC Skip Holtz (Stallions) will begin the season as the UFL’s head coaches.

Phillips coached the XFL’s Houston team last season but will shift to San Antonio for this latest reboot. The Giants lost their assistant special teams coach, Anthony Blevins, in July for an opportunity with the XFL’s Vegas Vipers; they were one of the three XFL franchises that will not continue play in the UFL. Former Bills president Russ Brandon, who served as XFL 3.0’s commissioner, will work as the UFL’s president and CEO. Longtime NFL fullback-turned-FOX analyst Daryl Johnston, the USFL’s president, will lead football operations for the new league.

While the new UFL will keep spring football afloat in the U.S., moving down from 16 total teams to eight will decrease opportunities for players. Several XFL 3.0 and USFL 2.0 alums wound up in NFL training camps. The USFL produced two impact Cowboys special-teamers, with KaVontae Turpin earning All-Pro honors for his return work in 2022 and Brandon Aubrey (zero missed 2023 field goals in Dallas) on the cusp of matching that as a kicker.

Following the September merger report, Seifert adds federal regulators approved the merger Nov. 30. Training camp will begin Feb. 24 in Arlington, the site of last year’s XFL camp. The UFL will have each team practice in Arlington, per The Athletic’s Chris Vannini, before flying out to game sites each week (subscription required). Games will be televised on ABC, FOX, ESPN and FS1.

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith Suffers High Ankle Sprain

January 1st, 2024 at 4:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles’ chances of winning the NFC East were dealt a major blow on Sunday when they suffered an upset loss to the Cardinals. Philadelphia also has a notable injury situation to monitor ahead of Week 18 and the start of the postseason.

Wideout DeVonta Smith was in a walking boot when exiting yesterday’s game while dealing with what was initially determined as a high ankle sprain. While confirming the nature of the injury, head coach Nick Sirianni also said Smith is still wearing a walking boot and using crutches. No firm declarations have been made either way with respect to his game status, but that development certainly does not bode well.

Unless the Cowboys fail to beat the Commanders during the final day of regular season play, the Eagles will be locked into the fifth seed in the NFC playoff bracket. As a result, Sirianni admitted decisions will need to be made regarding whether or not the team’s starters should be rested. Smith’s central nature to the Eagles’ passing attack qualifies him as a key player for their playoff matchup, so a cautious approach would come as little surprise.

Still, missing the former Heisman winner would deal a blow to Philadelphia’s offense in the event the team opted to play its starters against the Giants on Sunday. Smith has had another impressive season working in tandem with A.J. Brown, posting a strong statline (81-1,066-7). New career highs in yards and touchdowns could be within reach if he were to play, but Sirianni said “we’ll see” when asked about the 25-year-old’s ability to suit up (h/t Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports).

A win over New York would keep Philadelphia in contention for the No. 2 seed in the conference; it would also help generate momentum heading into the postseason for a team which has lost four of its last five games. The defending NFC champions have experienced signficant issues on the defensive side of the ball in recent weeks in particular, but their offense would be notably shorthanded in the postseason if Smith were unable to play. His status will be worth watching over the coming days.

Saints RT Ryan Ramczyk Facing Uncertain Future Over Knee Injury

January 1st, 2024 at 3:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Ryan Ramczyk will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the 2023 season, having been placed on injured reserve this weekend. His future in 2024 and beyond is uncertain given the nature of his knee injury, however.

After missing a pair of games, the veteran right tackle was moved to IR on Saturday. That guaranteed a four-week absence, meaning a deep playoff run would be required for him to be eligible to return. Based on Ramczyk’s remarks on the subject of his health, though, signficant improvement will need to be made over the course of the offseason for him to continue playing at his consistent high level.

The 29-year-old said, via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, that he is dealing with a cartilage defect in his knee, something which has been a nagging issue for years. The 2023 season in particular has proven to be challenging, and Ramczyk added he has been managing the injury since Week 1. Of particular concern is the fact not much cartilage remains in the affected knee, something which could limit the number of surgical options he has in the offseason.

“I don’t know,” the former All-Pro responded when asked about his next course of action. “I think those are the discussions we are going to have, that need to be had, and we’ll go from there… I’ll talk with surgeons, doctors, get as much as information as I can and then just make the best decision.”

Ramczyk’s contract runs through 2026, and (like many other Saints pacts of recent years) it has been restructured multiple times. As a result, he is due to count at least $25.23MM against the cap in each of the next three seasons; a void year (which carries a $2.58MM cap figure) also exists for 2027. A bonus of just over $10MM is in place from 2024-26, and moving on from the Wisconsin alum would create an annual dead cap charge of that amount in the event he were to be released.

Such action would only become feasible if little to no progress were to be made with respect to Ramczyk’s recovery, however. Long regarded as one of the league’s top right tackles, the former first-rounder has been a mainstay at his position throughout his seven-year career. Aside from the 2021 campaign, availability has not been a major concern. That could change in the near future, although Ramczyk remains hopeful he will be able to maintain his career for years to come.

“I feel like I’m not done yet. I feel like I still want to play,” he said. “I feel like I’m still passionate about the game. When you think about it like that, my mind frame is, ‘I want to play, and I want to keep doing it, so what can I do to get better, to not have this happen in-season?'”

Rams Waive K Lucas Havrisik, To Bring Back K Brett Maher

January 1st, 2024 at 3:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

3:05pm: A new face may not handle kicking duties in the postseason after all. When addressing the latest switch, head coach Sean McVay announced the Rams intend to bring Maher back. He has not played since being let go by Los Angeles earlier in the year, and now he will have the opportunity to reclaim his old gig. Given Maher’s struggles in his first Rams stint (along with his extra point issues in the playoffs with the Cowboys last year), however, it will be interesting to see if competition is brought in over the coming days.

1:36pm: In the wake of their continued struggles at the position, the Rams are set to make another change at the kicker spot. The team announced on Monday that Lucas Havrisik has been waived.

Los Angeles began the season with Brett Maher in place, but he missed six field goals (along with one extra point) in seven games. That required a change to be made, and Maher was let go. Havrisik was signed off the Browns’ practice squad to take his place. However, the Rams also auditioned a number of more experienced options, leaving the door open to a third option seeing game time.

Havrisik had a nine-game run with the Rams, but he was unable to lock down the kicking gig on a permanent basis. The 24-year-old went 15-for-20 on field goal attempts, including four misses from inside 50 yards. He also missed three extra points in his tenure with Los Angeles; two of those occurred in Week 17’s narrow win over the Giants. That victory secured a playoff spot for the Rams, but their special teams situation is once again uncertain with the postseason looming.

Los Angeles briefly added Mason Crosby, but Havrisik remained in place long enough to lead the veteran elsewhere. Crosby (who missed a 54-year game winner on Sunday) is set to finish out the season with the Giants. While New York’s campaign will come to an end in Week 18, the same is not true for the Rams. As a result, their actions in the coming days will be worth watching.

No other kicker currently resides on the team’s roster or practice squad, so an addition will need to be made soon. It would come as little surprise if the Rams were to again host several options on the free agent market as they look to solidify the kicker position ahead of the playoffs. Havrisik will now be available to all teams via waivers; he will become a free agent if no team puts in a claim.

Jaguars WR/KR Jamal Agnew Suffers Fractured Leg

January 1st, 2024 at 2:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars are one of three teams still in contention to win the AFC South, but their special teams have been dealt a blow. Head coach Doug Pederson announced on Monday that receiver/returner Jamal Agnew suffered a fractured lower leg in Week 17.

As a result of the injury, he will miss the remainder of the season. The news leaves Jacksonville without a complementary option in the passing game for Week 18 and any postseason games the team plays. The Jaguars will also be without their primary kick and punt returner, though.

Agnew has handled return duties in each of his three seasons in Duval County. He recorded a 102-yard kick return in 2021, and he followed that up with another strong season last year. The 28-year-old earned a Pro Bowl nod by totaling 1,025 scrimmage yards and averaging 26 yards per kick return. He has matched the latter figure in 2023, making him an integral member of Jacksonville’s special teams unit.

The former Lions fifth-rounder has also chipped in on offense, retaining a secondary pass-catching role this season. Agnew posted 14 receptions for 225 yards (the second highest total of his career) and one touchdown, production which will especially be missed in the event Christian Kirk is unable to play again in 2023. The latter is on injured reserve due to core muscle surgery, and his return to the lineup is in the air at this point.

Sitting at 9-7, the Jaguars are currently atop their division. They will finish the campaign against the Titans knowing they will need to keep pace with the winner of the Week 18 Colts-Texans matchup to clinch a playoff berth. Jacksonville will be forced to do so without Agnew in the fold. Given his status as a pending free agent, the injury could hinder his market in the offseason on a new Jags pact or one sending him elsewhere.

Steelers To Start Mason Rudolph In Week 18

January 1st, 2024 at 12:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The final week of the regular season will begin with the Ravens and Steelers facing each other. While the former team has clinched the top seed in the AFC, the latter enters the contest with their playoff hopes on the line.

Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett is in better shape from a health perspective than he was last week as he continues to recover from ankle surgery, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday. In spite of that, he announced that Mason Rudolph will start once again on Saturday. The upcoming game will mark Rudolph’s third consecutive start.

When Pickett when down with an ankle injury which required a procedure, Mitch Trubisky took over on offense. The latter’s struggles led to Rudolph taking over midway through the Steelers’ loss to the Colts, however, and he was given the nod for Week 16. The 28-year-old impressed in Pittsburgh’s win over Cincinnati, meaning that Pickett’s return to practice was insufficient to make another QB change the following week.

Rudolph and the Steelers’ offense delivered a strong showing on Sunday in Seattle, leading the team to a 30-23 victory and improving their record to 9-7. An AFC wild-card berth is still in play as a result, making Tomlin’s decision under center a crucial one. Pickett will be able to practice more in the coming days than he did last week, and as such he will likely be able to dress for the regular season finale. As things stand now, though, he will not be counted on in a must-win game.

With the Ravens having locked up the No. 1 seed, the strong possibility exists they will rest a number of key starters on Saturday. While that would help the Steelers’ playoff push, they will require a win and help from at least one other result to secure a postseason berth. A pending free agent, Rudolph could help not only Pittsburgh’s short-term prospects but also his financial outlook for the offseason by continuing his strong play in Week 18.

Dolphins’ Bradley Chubb Suffers Torn ACL

January 1st, 2024 at 12:00pm CST by Ely Allen

JANUARY 1: An MRI confirmed the worst in Chubb’s case. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports he did indeed tear his ACL late in Sunday’s loss, meaning his season is over. Miami’s Week 18 division-deciding matchup against the Bills will leave the team significantly shorthanded along the edge with Chubb and Phillips out of the picture. The Dolphins’ pass rush in the postseason will likewise be notably thin.

DECEMBER 31: The Dolphins may have missed out on an opportunity to move into the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed in the AFC today in a one-sided loss to the Ravens, but they still have plenty left to play for this year, having qualified for the playoffs and remained in contention to win the AFC East. That’s why it was so disheartening to see a star defender in outside linebacker Bradley Chubb go down with non-contact injury late in the fourth quarter of today’s game.

The injury occurred during a garbage-time possession late in the team’s decisive loss. With the Ravens’ backups in on offense, Chubb pursued veteran running back Melvin Gordon behind the line of scrimmage. When Gordon performed a juke move in an attempt to evade Chubb, the veteran defender’s momentum seemed to disagree with his foot placement, sending him to the ground, clutching his right knee. The Dolphins’ sideline immediately rushed to his side and eventually carted him off the field.

It was unfortunately a predictable assumption, but word now is that the Dolphins are fearing a torn ACL for Chubb, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports. As is the normal procedure, Chubb will undergo an MRI tomorrow morning in order to determine the severity of today’s injury. If it is indeed an ACL tear, Chubb will obviously out for the remainder of the Dolphins’ season and their playoff run and could also miss the start of the 2024 NFL season.

Chubb was in the middle of what many considered to be a Pro Bowl-worthy season. After failing to reach double-digit sacks in the four seasons since his rookie year, Chubb had already tallied 11.0 sacks in 2023. He paired that with 11 tackles for loss, 22 quarterback hits, and six forced fumbles, which is a career-high and currently leads the league. If Chubb is unable to play from here on out, Miami will be heading into the playoffs without their top two pass rushers. The Dolphins defense has operated without third-year outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips after the 24-year-old suffered a torn Achilles tendon in a Week 12 win over the Jets. Those are two big blows for a team that has thrived with its pass rush, which ranks second in the league in sacks.

Still, part of the team’s success rushing the passer comes from having multiple contributors to their pass rush. With disruptive interior defenders like Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler, as well as versatile defenders like Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah, the Dolphins should still be able to generate some pressure in the weeks to come.

Giants T Tyre Phillips To Undergo Surgery On Torn Quad

January 1st, 2024 at 11:21am CST by Adam La Rose

In a season marred by injuries up front, the Giants have been dealt another blow along the offensive line. Right tackle Tyre Phillips suffered a torn quad in Week 17, head coach Brian Daboll announced on Monday.

Phillips will undergo surgery as a result, and he will be sidelined for New York’s regular season finale. The 26-year-old had stepped in as the Giants’ starter at right tackle since Week 7. With Evan Neal dealing with an ankle fracture, Phillips had the opportunity to see an extended run in first-team action.

The former third-rounder allowed a pair of sacks and 20 pressures in pass protection when in the lineup this season, his second with the Giants. Those figures resulted in an underwhelming PFF grade of 51.9, which falls in line with his evaluations from past campaigns. Still, with Neal out of the picture due to his own surgery, the Giants will be notably shorthanded at the RT spot in Week 18.

Phillips started his career with the Ravens, but he struggled to remain healthy while finding himself used at a number of spots during his Baltimore tenure. The Mississippi State alum was among the team’s final roster cuts in 2022, which led him to the Giants that season. He made 12 appearances and five starts with New York last year, but he was once again waived at the start of the 2023 campaign.

The Eagles briefly added Phillips to their practice squad, but by October he was back with the Giants in the wake of Joshua Ezeudu suffering his own injury. New York has been dealt a number of blows in that department at each position along the O-line, and today’s news adds further to that reality. Phillips is a pending free agent, and his market will no doubt take a hit given the recovery time needed from his impending procedure. The Giants will likely turn to swing man Matt Peart to man the right tackle spot when they finish the season in Week 18.

No NFLPA Grievance Expected Over Broncos’ Russell Wilson Situation

January 1st, 2024 at 10:43am CST by Adam La Rose

The Broncos’ season began with questions about Russell Wilson‘s long-term future within new head coach Sean Payton‘s scheme. His contract was also a talking point, and that is once again the case given the recent decision to bench him.

While the move to start Jarrett Stidham was based in part on the lack of consistency Denver produced on offense with Wilson at the helm, the latter’s 2025 injury guarantee was a factor as well. Wilson was approached midseason and asked to move the date at which his $37MM for that season became a full guarantee. Denver threatened to bench the nine-time Pro Bowler midseason if he refused to alter his contract, which remains intact.

Wilson was demoted to backup, but only after the Broncos’ postseason chances were essentially extinguished. Now, his future in the Mile High City is very much in doubt, although he has expressed a desire to finish his career in Denver. With respect to the situation surrounding his contract, no action from the player’s association is expected to take place, something which could help lead to an amicable split or a reconciliation.

The NFLPA sent a letter to the Broncos and the league’s management council in early November, days after the team approached Wilson’s agent about delaying his injury guarantee. As noted by Mark Maske of the Washington Post, the union stated in that correspondence that benching him would constitute a violation of the CBA and his contract. The Broncos, meanwhile, met with the management council and, upon accepting Wilson’s decision not to alter his pact, proceeded with much of the second half of the campaign with him under center after he called the team’s bluff (h/t Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer).

While this situation has become a public issue and one which will have franchise-altering consequences if Wilson is indeed released, it is not set to produce action from the NFLPA. Despite the letter suggesting a grievance could be filed in the wake of Wilson being benched, Denver7’s Troy Renck notes that has not happened yet. More to the point, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds no grievances are expected in the future.

Per Rapoport, Broncos general manager George Paton‘s request that Wilson delay (rather than remove) the vesting date of his 2025 guarantee led the NFLPA to not view the possibility of his benching as a genuine threat. As a result, attention will remain on how the parties proceed after the campaign comes to an end. Denver has been eliminated from the playoffs, and a QB pursuit will ensue if Wilson is released in the near future. His next destination would become a key NFL storyline, and it would mark an unceremonious end to his time in Denver.