HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Steelers To Delay Starting QB Decision

August 24th, 2024 at 10:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers’ preseason slate is in the books with the team having played on Saturday. Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback spot is still in the air, but no immediate announcement will be made regarding whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will start the season atop the depth chart.

Instead, the Steelers will go through their upcoming practices before an official announcement is made at the end of the week. Wilson has been in the lead throughout the offseason, with head coach Mike Tomlin and other Steelers personnel repeating that he has been in pole position ahead of Fields. The latter appears to have moved closer to the QB1 gig this summer, but Tomlin’s post-game press conference did not offer an evaluation of where things stand.

“We’ve got three days of Steelers versus Steelers work and why not do it then?” Tomlin said (via NFL.com). “It kind of minimizes the Steelers versus Steelers work when we start making decisions prior to the completion of that. We’ve got ample time to prepare for [Week 1 against] Atlanta and make whatever decisions or announcements regarding divisional labor or pecking orders and so forth. And so, we will do it at the end of the work week.”

While Wilson has not officially won the job, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor notes it would come as a surprise if the former Super Bowl winner was not tapped for the first-team role. Wilson joined the Steelers on a veteran minimum deal in free agency after being released by the Broncos (the team on the hook for a record-breaking $85MM in dead cap charges stemming from the remaining guarantees on his deal). The 35-year-old’s two-year Denver tenure did not go as planned, and a return to his previous form is not expected based on his limited preseason performances.

Fields’ work during Pittsburgh’s exhibition games, just like Wilson’s, did not include any touchdown passes or interceptions. The former Bears first-rounder – added via trade – offers a much different skillset based on his age (25) and rushing ability (2,220 rushing yards in three years). He and Wilson are both only under contract through the 2024 season, so their respective futures will be directly tied to how the coming season plays out.

New offensive coordinator Arthur Smith recently noted (via Pryor) his input will be taken into account regarding the decision on a starting quarterback. The final call will also include evaluations from Tomlin, general manager Omar Khan and owner Art Rooney II. Regardless of if a winner of the competition is already known, the decision will not be made public for several more days.

Cowboys CB DaRon Bland To Miss Up To 8 Games

August 24th, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Ely Allen

9:50pm: While Bland’s absence will be felt at the start of the year, Jones said the Cowboys will not explore a cornerback addition to fill the vacancy created by his injury (h/t Nick Harris of the team’s website). Jones further indicated (via Machota) Dallas is not likely to be active at any positions during roster cutdowns with the team having already added along the defensive line by way of the Jordan Phillips trade acquisition and the Linval Joseph signing.

1:58pm: The Cowboys defense was hit with yet another significant blow before the season has even begun. As Dallas has been scrambling to make up for the loss of Sam Williams to a season-ending ACL tear, they will now be forced to replace another starter, as well. First reported by Jon Machota of The Athletic, All-Pro cornerback DaRon Bland is set to undergo foot surgery that will keep him out for six to eight weeks.

According to Machota, “Bland experienced foot discomfort on Wednesday of last week during training camp.” He underwent imaging that “revealed a stress fracture in his foot,” requiring the necessary surgery. While experts are predicting the above six- to eight-week absence, team owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones was quoted predicting an absence of four to five weeks during an interview on 105.3 The FAN. Regardless, the team will be without an All-Pro defender to start the season.

Bland burst onto the scene two years ago, despite being a fifth-round pick out of Fresno State. Originally a dual-sport athlete at Sacramento State where he competed in track and field for the Hornets during both indoor and outdoor seasons, primarily as a long jumper, Bland’s collegiate career did nothing to suggest the impact he would have in the NFL. With only three interceptions in three years at Sacramento State and only two picks in his lone season with the Bulldogs, Bland matched his collegiate interception-total in his rookie season alone.

As a rookie in Dallas, Bland started eight of the final 10 games and recorded the first five picks of his career. The Cowboys didn’t start him in Week 1 of last year, but when he returned an interception for the first pick-six of his career, it didn’t take them long to remedy their error. Three weeks later, in his second start of the season, Bland picked off two more passes returning another for a touchdown. Bland would end up leading the league with nine interceptions and setting an NFL record with five pick-sixes on the year.

The Cowboys were set to enter the season with Bland across from Trevon Diggs as their starting cornerbacks with Jourdan Lewis returning as a near-permanent fixture in the slot. After Diggs went on injured reserve near the start of the season last year, the Cowboys saw Bland and veteran addition Stephon Gilmore make up 85 percent of the team’s defensive snaps at outside cornerback, so they don’t have anyone with extensive experience ready to fill in.

Nahshon Wright had reportedly been mixing in with the first-team defense a bit on the perimeter this offseason, but the team shipped him off to Minnesota, receiving Vikings cornerback Andrew Booth in return. A former second-round pick out of Clemson, Booth has struggled to live up to his draft stock so far in his NFL career, only making two starts with the Vikings in as many years. Second-year defensive back Eric Scott Jr., who failed to make an appearance in his rookie season, and fifth-round rookie Caelen Carson out of Wake Forest will both join Booth in attempting to fill in early for Bland.

The Cowboys will likely utilize one of the NFL’s newer roster rules and place Bland on IR. Though, usually, players placed on IR before the start of the regular season are forced to miss the entire year, a new rule allows teams to place two players on the injured list before roster cutdowns who are exempt from that requirement, allowing them to be activated and return within the same season. Bland is likely to receive that distinction for Dallas.

Raiders Looking Into CB Addition

August 24th, 2024 at 9:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

It has long been clear Jack Jones will occupy a starting spot as a perimeter corner for the Raiders this season. Likewise, Nate Hobbs is positioned to serve in a first-team role in the slot. Second-year cover man Jakorian Bennett will begin the campaign as a starter opposite Jones, but the team’s depth beyond those three is an area of concern.

[RELATED: Recapping Raiders’ Offseason]

This week will offer the opportunity to add players let go during roster cutdowns, a period which always sees plenty of movement with teams taking a flier at positions of need in advance of Week 1. For Las Vegas, that could lead to a rotational contributor being added in the secondary. Based on head coach Antonio Pierce‘s comments, experience will be a key factor targeted in any potential addition.

“I’m not a believer of throwing young cornerbacks out there early if they’re not quite ready,” Pierce said (via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal). “If we can get better, we need to get better.”

Brandon Facyson missed considerable time during training camp due to an undisclosed injury, Bonsignore adds. That kept the 29-year-old out of the preseason altogether, limiting the Raiders’ ability to evaluate him. Facyson was added on a two-year deal last offseason, and his play when healthy could shape the overall performance of the cornerback room. Facyson was limited to just three games last year, though, so his injury status will be worth watching closely.

Rookies Decamerion Richardson and M.J. Devonshire have seen an increased workload during the summer in the wake of Facyson’s absence, but relying on them in the regular season is a situation the Raiders will be looking to avoid by making a move in the coming days. A number of cornerbacks will be available on the waiver wire next week, and some veterans may be let go before cutdown day (August 27) as teams allow them a head start on finding a new opportunity.

Vegas was previously linked to avoiding any big-ticket free agent moves, and that will remain the case even if a flier is taken in the near future on a depth cornerback. With nearly $35MM in cap space, the team will have plenty of flexibility while exploring options on the market ahead of Week 1.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/24/24

August 24th, 2024 at 8:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Miami Dolphins

Falcons, CB A.J. Terrell Agree To Extension

August 24th, 2024 at 7:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

AUGUST 24: Terrell will receive $42.34MM guaranteed in full, per Over the Cap. That figure includes a $25MM signing bonus along with his 2024 ($3.44MM) and 2025 ($14MM) salaries. His cap charge for the coming season dropped to $8.34MM as a result of the extension, but that figure will spike to $19MM next year before eventually growing to $24MM in 2028. No void years are present in the deal.

AUGUST 22: Shortly after adding a pair of veterans to their defense, the Falcons are taking care of another piece of financial business on that side of the ball. Atlanta has worked out a big-ticket extension with cornerback A.J. Terrell, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team has since confirmed the news.

Terrell will collect $81MM on a four-year extension, per Schefter. The pact includes $65.8MM in effective guarantees, making this the largest commitment in terms of locked in compensation given to a corner on a four-year agreement. The 23-year-old is now under contract through 2028.

In terms of annual average value, Terrell has become the fourth player at his position to average $20MM or more per season. His AAV of $20.25MM ranks second in the league, behind only Jaire Alexander‘s Packers deal ($21MM). This Falcons extension is the largest deal given out to a corner in 2024, eclipsing the trio of Tyson Campbell (Jaguars), L’Jarius Sneed (Titans) and Jaylon Johnson (Bears). Each of those four year pacts range between $76MM and $76.5MM in value.

Earlier this summer, it was clear Terrell was firmly on the Falcons’ extension radar. The Clemson alum was set to play on his fifth-year option in 2024, valued at $12.34MM, but a long-term deal would clearly check in at a much higher figure. His most recent comment on the subject of extension talks painted an encouraging picture with respect to a deal being worked out. Now that it has, Terrell enters the season with increased expectations as the team’s clear-cut No. 1 corner.

After serving as a full-time starter during his rookie season, Terrell had his most productive campaign in 2021. That year saw him collect three interceptions, 16 pass deflections and 81 tackles en route to a second-team All-Pro nod. The past two seasons have not been as impactful on the statsheet, but Terrell has remained consistent in terms of completion percentage allowed. While he has allowed 10 touchdowns as the nearest defender since 2022, the Falcons hope the coming campaign will see a step forward taken at all three levels of their defense.

Atlanta traded for edge rusher Matt Judon last week, adding an established sack artist to the team’s front seven. That move – which will not be accompanied by an extension for the pending free agent – was followed up one day later by the signing of safety Justin Simmons. The latter will create a notable backend tandem with Jessie Bates, who had a successful debut Falcons campaign last year. Judon and Simmons have combined for six Pro Bowls, and Terrell will look to join them in that regard while playing out his second contract.

The Falcons’ restructuring of guard Chris Lindstrom‘s contract freed up 2024 cap space in anticipation of the Simmons acquisition as well as today’s Terrell extension. It will be interesting to see how this move affects the team’s cap outlook over the coming years, but for at least the 2024 campaign a number of major investments will be in place on defense. Questions loom over the status of Atlanta’s second starting cornerback position, but the top of the depth chart is locked in for the foreseeable future.

Ravens Rumors: RBs, Samac, Safety

August 24th, 2024 at 5:58pm CST by Ely Allen

So much of the Ravens’ roster is set at the top of the depth chart; even the starting guard spots are starting to come into focus. Still, with the regular season fast approaching, Baltimore is going to need to make some decisions down the stretch.

At running back, the team has an obvious 1-2 punch in Derrick Henry and Justice Hill while they wait for Keaton Mitchell to return from injury. While Mitchell remains on the injured list, though, that leaves the opportunity to fill one more spot on the roster with a running back, though ESPN’s Jamison Hensley acknowledges that they could run with just two until Mitchell returns.

Owen Wright has seemingly been the name to watch for that spot. An undrafted free agent addition out of Monmouth last year, Wright was pushing for a roster spot in the team’s final preseason game today before suffering a hairline fracture in his foot in the contest, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, complicating his roster status. While not season-ending, the injury will likely require a stay on an injured list if the Ravens want to keep him on the roster.

This opens the door for fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali out of Marshall. The Ravens don’t like to get in the habit of waiving rookie draft picks, but after Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly was failed to make the 53-man roster last year, it seems nobody is safe. Ali hasn’t gotten much use this preseason and failed to appear in today’s preseason game, so it was not looking great for him to make the roster, but Wright’s injury may allow him to do just that.

Here are some breakdowns of other roster battles in Baltimore:

  • Another player who suffered an injury in today’s contest was backup center Nick Samac. The seventh-round rookie out of Michigan State was making a push for the 53-man roster, culminating in a start at center this preseason. While fans saw him carted off the field today, both Hensley and Zrebiec see him making the final cut.
  • At safety, the Ravens have an interesting decision ahead of them. The Ravens have boasted an outstanding record over the years of seeing an undrafted rookie make the 53-man roster, and this year, there doesn’t seem to be an obvious choice. Beau Brade, an undrafted signee out of Maryland, has been a popular option, but there is no guarantee. The team already rosters Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, and Eddie Jackson, as well as rookie seventh-round pick Sanoussi Kane out of Purdue. They also roster Ar’Darius Washington, who may split his time between nickelback and safety. Additionally, the team re-signed veteran Daryl Worley who has played quite a bit on the Ravens defense in the past three years. If Baltimore decides to hold on to five safeties (not including Washington), the decision may come down to the potential of Brade versus the experience of Worley.

Cardinals’ First-Round DE Darius Robinson Out Multiple Weeks

August 24th, 2024 at 5:02pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cardinals’ defensive line depth took a hit this afternoon when it was reported that first-round defensive end Darius Robinson suffered a calf injury. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Robinson’s injury will require a multi-week absence.

Armed with two first-round picks in this year’s draft, Arizona selected Robinson out of Missouri at pick No. 27 after securing wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth-overall pick. Robinson was a five-year defender for the Tigers. He provided contributions throughout his collegiate career, but it wasn’t until his redshirt senior season that he broke out. His 2023 sack (8.5) and tackle for loss (14.0) numbers surpassed the stats he had put up in the previous four years combined (4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss).

The Cardinals were hoping that Robinson’s addition would provide an upgrade to a pass rush that ranked 30th in the NFL last year with only 33 total sacks. Robinson was set to join returning starters Zaven Collins and Dante Stills on the defensive line, along with free agent additions Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones. Most of the team’s sacks came from outside linebacker, despite a base 4-3 defense, but the addition of Robinson had the potential to change that and take some pressure off of the linebackers.

Rapoport posits that Robinson’s extended absence may warrant a start to the season on injured reserve. If that’s the case, the rookie pass rusher would have the possibility to make his NFL debut as early as Week 5 of the 2024 season. In the meantime, the Cardinals could field a defensive front consisting of Collins-Nichols-Jones-Stills, with Stills shifting to end, where he spent about half his time last season.

Buccaneers Plan For RB Chase Edmonds To Start Season On IR

August 24th, 2024 at 1:49pm CST by Ely Allen

As we near the start of the regular season, we are beginning to get a clearer picture of what NFL rosters will look like in Week 1. In one such instance, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles informed the media that running back Chase Edmonds would likely start the season on injured reserve, per Greg Auman of FOX Sports.

Edmonds spent the 2023 season as RB2 for Tampa Bay, running behind starter Rachaad White and before Ke’Shawn Vaughn. He finished his first season with the Buccaneers with 49 carries for 176 yards and 14 catches for 81 yards through the air.

Despite his status as the second back on the depth chart, last year saw the least-productive season of Edmonds’ career. Running mostly as the second back in Arizona during his rookie contract, Edmonds averaged about 388 rushing yards and 231 receiving yards per season as a Cardinal. He even earned 11 starts in 12 games during the final year of his rookie deal. He followed that up by splitting the 2022 season between Miami and Denver before making his way to Tampa last year.

Vaughn signed as a free agent in San Francisco, so without Vaughn and Edmonds, the top backup behind White is seemingly fourth-round rookie Bucky Irving out of Oregon. Originally a Golden Gopher as a freshman in college, Irving transferred from Minnesota to spend the past two seasons with the Ducks, amassing 2,238 rushing yards for 16 touchdowns and 712 receiving yards for five more scores through the air over that time. He hasn’t gotten much run throughout the preseason, but Tampa Bay won’t have much choice but to rely on him at the start of 2024.

Additionally, Bowles claims that second-year wide receiver Rakim Jarrett will follow Edmonds to IR. An undrafted rookie last season out of Maryland, Jarrett caught four passes for 60 yards in 2024. With some shuffling around in the receivers room this offseason, Jarrett was looking to start the year on the two-deep. Instead, he’ll likely miss the first four games of the year, at least.

While there is a rule that players placed on IR before the start of the regular season must spend the entire season there, there is also a new rule dictating that teams may place two players on IR before the roster cut deadline and still have them be eligible to return for the season. Any other players that a team plans to place on IR will need to spend at least on day of the 53-man roster before being moved to the injured list. It looks like Edmonds and Jarrett will be the unlucky two for Tampa Bay allowed to return.

Dax Hill Wins Starting CB Job; Bengals Likely To Make RB Addition

August 24th, 2024 at 11:10am CST by Sam Robinson

This year’s Bengals training camp pitted two former Michigan teammates against each other for a starting job. Despite Dax Hill changing positions this offseason, he won the matchup.

The Bengals moved Hill from safety to cornerback, and a competition with DJ Turner formed. Although Turner started 12 games as a rookie, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. notes it will be Hill who opens the season as Cincinnati’s starting outside corner opposite Cam Taylor-Britt (subscription required).

Moved to corner to start the offseason program, Hill fared well at a position he also saw time at while with the Wolverines. The 2022 first-round pick and Turner, a 2023 second-rounder, each saw time in Jim Harbaugh‘s secondaries from 2019-21. Hill has been moved around at the pro level as well, playing both safety and in the slot. He appears to have found a home — for the time being, at least — on the perimeter.

After starting just two games as a rookie, the former No. 31 overall pick worked as a 17-game starter in 2023. This produced 110 tackles but poor coverage metrics; Pro Football Focus rated Hill as the sixth-worst safety regular last season. The Bengals also changed up their safety equation this offseason, bringing back Vonn Bell and signing ex-Raven Geno Stone.

Lou Anarumo‘s secondary will feature experience on the backend and youth on the boundary, with Taylor-Britt only going into his third season. Chidobe Awuzie left in free agency, but rather than Turner stepping in, a somewhat unexpected conclusion took shape. Turner will step into the team’s top backup role. Mike Hilton remains on the roster as a veteran presence, supplying considerable seasoning in the slot.

Additionally, Dehner continues to name Samaje Perine as a reunion candidate. The prospect of the Bengals bringing back their former backup/passing-down back surfaced this offseason, and Perine is not a lock to make the Broncos’ 53-man roster. Perine would pass straight to free agency if released, as a vested veteran, but the Bengals could also ensure they end up with the ex-Joe Mixon backup by trading for him.

Perine is tied to a $2.83MM salary this season, and he played a key role as a Russell Wilson outlet option during the Broncos’ five-game win streak last year. But Denver may end up keeping only three backs. Javonte Williams, who may well have been battling Perine for a roster spot, has solidified himself as Denver’s starter. The team has shifty rotational piece Jaleel McLaughlin and fifth-round rookie Audric Estime in line to make the initial 53 as well.

Cincy traded Mixon to Houston for a seventh-round pick and added Zack Moss as a lower-cost replacement. The team will carry 2023 fifth-rounder Chase Brown, with Trayveon Williams still in place as a third-stringer. The Bengals, however, lost fourth-year RB Chris Evans to a season-ending patellar tendon tear recently. Brown should be expected to start over Moss, per Dehner, despite the team giving the recent Colts spot starter a two-year, $8MM deal.

Even if Perine does not make it back to Ohio, Dehner names running back as the position the Bengals will most likely try to upgrade in the coming days. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to set their initial 53-man rosters.

Bears To Acquire DT Chris Williams From Browns

August 24th, 2024 at 10:01am CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears are not done augmenting their defensive line situation. A day after obtaining edge rusher Darrell Taylor from the Seahawks, the team turned to an AFC North depth chart for another solution up front.

Cleveland is sending defensive tackle Chris Williams to Chicago, The Athletic’s Adam Jahns reports. This is a pick-swap trade, with the Bears receiving Williams and a 2025 seventh-rounder and the Browns collecting a sixth. The 2025 sixth originally came from the Dolphins, Jahns adds.

This late-August period has doubled as a trade window for a while, as teams prepare to set their 53-man rosters. The Bears will use it to reunite Williams with Matt Eberflus. The Colts initially signed Williams as a 2020 UDFA, doing so during Eberflus’ time as Indianapolis’ DC. This should bring scheme familiarity for the practice squad veteran, who played in 13 games as a Colts backup from 2021-22.

The Bears have now made five trades involving veteran players this offseason. They obtained Ryan Bates from the Bills, landed Keenan Allen from the Chargers, sent Justin Fields to the Steelers, dealt for Taylor and have now brought in D-tackle help. Williams, who did not see regular-season time in 2023, has played only 107 career defensive snaps. The former UDFA may still not be a roster lock for the Bears. But this trade suggests the team wanted to get ahead of the waiver process to obtain a player familiar with Eberflus’ defense.

Williams, 26, signed a reserve/futures deal with the Browns in January but may have been likely to see an AFC team cut him once again. Williams went to camp with the Chiefs in 2023, failing to make the Super Bowl champions’ 53-man roster before eventually landing on the Browns’ P-squad to close out last season. The Browns have some established vets at D-tackle, re-signing Shelby Harris and Maurice Hurst and adding Quinton Jefferson to go with Dalvin Tomlinson. Cleveland also used a second-round pick on Michael Hall, providing a presumptive roadblock for Williams toward the 53-man roster.

Williams will join 2023 Day 2 picks Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens at DT, along with veteran Andrew Billings, at DT with Chicago. Pickens has missed recent time due to injury, with the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs also expecting veteran Byron Cowart to make the roster. Saturday’s trade stands to adjust this calculus. The team did not draft a D-tackle, instead trading back into this year’s draft for D-end Austin Booker. Williams profiles as a depth piece, but it is clear the Bears were dissatisfied with their D-line as the preseason wound down.

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