HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Bo Nix Moving Toward Broncos’ Starting Job; Zach Wilson Gaining Ground?

August 19th, 2024 at 10:30am CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 19: In the wake of another impressive Nix preseason performance on Sunday, Payton declined to confirm he will get the nod for Week 1. He did indicate (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk) he was impressed by Nix’s showing, but no official announcement has been made regarding a starter yet. Both Wilson and Stidham led scoring drives against the Packers, so Denver’s QB depth chart remains uncertain at this point.

AUGUST 16: Jarrett Stidham started the Broncos’ preseason opener, and Zach Wilson remains on the roster. But Bo Nix has long been expected to take over at some point fairly early in the season. That point may now be Week 1.

Rumblings about Nix usurping Stidham to take the reins from the jump have emerged, and the Denver Post’s Troy Renck now offers that “little debate” exists about who will start for the Broncos. Nix, who fared well in his preseason debut, has steadily impressed. An offseason report noted Nix had ground to cover to catch Stidham, but given the team’s investment and the QB’s experience (61 starts), it is unsurprising the gap has narrowed to the point the veteran’s roster spot is not guaranteed.

[RELATED: Assessing Broncos’ 2024 Offseason]

Indeed, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds it would surprise if Nix were not out there with the starters in Week 1. Nix went 15-for-21 with 125 passing yards against the Colts, throwing a touchdown pass and leading the team to four drives. The Oregon prospect is starting the Broncos’ second preseason game, though Sean Payton said Stidham (4-for-7, 37 yards) would play more Sunday.

Nix opening the season would be new territory for the Broncos, who did not give Drew Lock, Paxton Lynch, Tim Tebow or Jay Cutler the Week 1 keys (Lock started his rookie season on IR; the rest opened their rookie years as backups). No Broncos rookie QB has begun a season as the starter since John Elway 41 years ago, but after taking on a staggering dead money total via the Russell Wilson release, it has always seemed likely Payton would turn to the player he drafted in Round 1.

Regarding Nix’s backup, Wilson’s recent showings have clouded that situation. The ex-Jets bust has looked better in practice recently, Renck adds, and Payton praised his showing against Indianapolis (10-for-13, 117 yards). A Broncos coach called Wilson “rejuvenated,” Russini adds. The former No. 2 overall pick, who has Nix outflanked in terms of raw arm talent, would bring more dead money ($2.73MM) than Stidham ($2MM) if cut, but Renck adds finances are not expected to prominently factor into Denver’s QB2 decision.

Payton kept two QBs last season, carrying Ben DiNucci on the practice squad, and has generally gone with a two-QB setup during his career as a head coach. Of course, Drew Brees‘ durability helped on that front. The Broncos could also keep Stidham and Wilson and listen for trade interest. If the team cut Wilson, he would need to clear waivers to make it back to Denver’s P-squad. Attached to the two-year, $10MM contract he signed in 2023, Stidham is a vested veteran and would go straight to free agency.

Stidham sticking around would provide a veteran presence, even if Wilson has far more starting experience. The latter’s woeful Jets tenure, featuring three benchings and partially involving embattled ex-Broncos HC Nathaniel Hackett, would stand to leave the Broncos vulnerable if Nix suffers an injury. But after initially being dropped out of the starter competition as Stidham remained involved, Wilson has nudged his way back into the conversation for at least making the 53-man roster in his contract year.

QB Colt McCoy Retires

August 19th, 2024 at 9:43am CST by Adam La Rose

Colt McCoy is set to transition from playing to broadcasting. The veteran quarterback informed NFL Network’s Peter Schrager on Monday that he is retiring and has since announced the move. McCoy has a “high profile” position in his new line of work lined up, Schrager adds. NBC has since announced the longtime QB2 will be part of their Big Ten coverage in 2024.

McCoy entered the league as a Browns third-rounder in 2010. He started each of his first 21 games with the team before making three appearances off the bench in 2012. The end of McCoy’s Cleveland tenure was followed by a single season in San Francisco and then a five-year run in the nation’s capital. The latter stretch consisted of seven starts and 12 total appearances.

The Texas alum spent the 2020 campaign with the Giants and made a pair of starts that year. His most recent action came with the Cardinals. Signing in Arizona in 2021, he made three starts and eight appearances. The following year, McCoy made three starts in the wake of Kyler Murray‘s ACL tear; he was positioned to handle starting duties while Murray continued to recover during the summer. Poor showings in training camp led to McCoy’s release, however, and the trade acquisition of Josh Dobbs.

Left on the open market following roster cutdowns last summer, McCoy found himself on the radar of the Patriots as they sorted out their QB depth chart. The Jets also made an inquiry after Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear, but no deal came about. Before Kirk Cousins was sidelined by the same ailment, the Vikings hosted McCoy on a workout. He ultimately sat out what would have been a 14th season in the league before officially making the decision to hang up his cleats.

Now 37, McCoy exits the game a veteran of 56 games and 36 starts. Even after seeing many of his multi-year deals be reworked or terminated over the course of his career, he accumulated nearly $28MM in career earnings. McCoy’s attention will now turn to broadcasting as he begins the next phase of his career.

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren Could Miss Regular Season Time

August 19th, 2024 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Jaylen Warren faces high expectations entering the 2024 campaign. The third-year Steelers running back may see his season debut delayed, however.

[RELATED: OL Nate Herbig Out With Torn Rotator Cuff]

Warren exited Pittsburgh’s preseason game against the Bills with a hamstring injury. He faces a multi-week absence as a result, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 25-year-old’s availability for Week 1 is therefore in question as the Steelers prepare for the regular season with many new faces on offense.

Pittsburgh brought in Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator this offseason, and that has led to the expectation the team will rely heavily on the run game regardless of if Russell Wilson or Justin Fields is used at quarterback. Najee Harris remains in place for at least one more season, but the Steelers declined his fifth-year option in the spring. That move leaves his future beyond 2024 uncertain, although missed time from Warren could lead to an increased workload in September.

Warren was far more efficient than Harris last season (5.3 yards per carry average vs. 4.1) and he posted 370 receiving yards. The former UDFA could be in line to take on starting duties depending on how Smith divvies up the workload in the backfield, but Harris could very well still find himself in the Steelers’ long-term plans. How the team proceeds with him next offseason will of course depend on his performance this year.

The Steelers’ receiving corps is led by George Pickens, but questions have been raised about their other options at the position as things stand. The WR outlook would change dramatically if a Brandon Aiyuk trade were to take place, although it appears the likeliest outcome in his situation would be a 49ers extension. If that were to be the conclusion to the Aiyuk saga, a strong running back tandem of Warren and Harris (with kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson in place as a depth backfield option) would be key to Pittsburgh’s success on offense. Warren missing regular season time would hurt the unit, although his absence should not linger too deep into the fall based on initial indications.

Raiders Name Gardner Minshew Starting QB

August 18th, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

After two preseason contests, a decision has been made at the quarterback spot for the Raiders. Head coach Antonio Pierce announced on Sunday that Gardner Minshew will get the nod for Week 1.

Minshew had spent the offseason competing with Aidan O’Connell for the QB1 gig. The latter closed out the 2023 season atop the depth chart, taking over from Jimmy Garoppolo after Josh McDaniels was fired and replaced by Pierce. Raiders owner Mark Davis – who regretted not previously giving the full-time coaching position to Rich Bisaccia – tapped Pierce for the job as one of the key decisions of this offseason.

That move gave O’Connell an ally ahead of the competition which took place over the spring and much of training camp. Pierce praised the 2023 fourth-rounder, who complied a 5-5 record, 12:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 83.9 passer rating while at the helm last year. Upon moving on from Garoppolo, though, it was clear at least one other passer capable of competing for the starter’s role would be added. Vegas was frequently tied to moving up for a Day 1 quarterback (particularly Jayden Daniels), with Pierce appearing to be a stronger advocate of doing so than new general manager Tom Telesco.

In the end, the Raiders selected tight end Brock Bowers on the opening night of the draft, paving the way for Minshew to take hold of the top QB spot. The latter inked a two-year, $25MM deal in free agency – terms which suggested he would be counted on as a first-team option especially if no rookie was added. Minshew received $15MM guaranteed, and he has a commitment for 2025 as well with $3.16MM of his base salary for that season already locked in. Indianapolis (the team which the 28-year-old spent last season with) was interested in retaining him, but the Colts were not willing to match the financial investment made by the Raiders.

Vegas moved on from Derek Carr last offseason, paving the way for a new quarterback to handle the starter’s role for the first time since 2014. Garoppolo was unable to remain healthy for long in his debut Raiders campaign, though, and Davante Adams was among the players who was on board with the decision to bench him. As the team looks to take a needed step forward in the passing game, Adams will have another new face under center to begin 2024.

Minshew entered training camp with the competition too close to call, and Pierce made it clear he was willing to remain patient before making a final decision. It was expected that a commitment would be made official after Week 2 of the preseason, however, and that has proven to be the case. Pierce admitted (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez) after the team’s loss to the Cowboys that neither quarterback had demonstrably stood out over the other. He consulted with both Telesco and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy before tapping Minshew for the gig (h/t Tashan Reed of The Athletic).

To little surprise, Pierce added that the Raiders will not play their starters in their final preseason contest. Minshew will thus be a spectator for that contest while preparing for QB1 duties with his latest team. The former sixth-rounder saw his Jaguars tenure come to an end after two seasons in Jacksonville. He handled backup duties in Philadelphia during the 2021 and ’22 campaigns, working with Shane Steichen during that time. Minshew elected to join Steichen in Indianapolis last year, and Anthony Richardson‘s season-ending shoulder injury left him in place to handle starting duties for much of the season.

Minshew set a new career high in passing yards (3,305) in 2023, earning a Pro Bowl invite. His touchdown (15) and completion percentage (62.2%) figures left plenty to be desired though, and an improvement would be welcomed by the Raiders this season. With O’Connell still in place as a backup with three years remaining on his rookie contract, it will be Minshew who gets the first opportunity to lead Vegas’ offense during Pierce’s first full season at the helm.

Bears Have Communicated With DE Yannick Ngakoue

August 18th, 2024 at 9:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout the offseason, Yannick Ngakoue‘s name has frequently come up with respect to the Chicago. The Bears have indeed kept the journeyman edge rusher on their radar.

The Bears “have been talking with” Ngakoue, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes (video link). That comes as little surprise given the team’s lack of proven commodities along the edge who are currently projected to log playing time opposite Montez Sweat. The midseason trade acquisition is attached to a four-year, $98MM pact but the Bears could stand to add a veteran to pair with him.

Ngakoue signed a one-year, $10.5MM deal with Chicago last offseason, and he was a full-time starter during his debut campaign in the Windy City. A broken ankle ended the 29-year-old’s season, though, and limited him to a career-low four sacks. It comes as little surprise Ngakoue (never known for his run defense) remains on the market, although he is healthy and has been floated as a potential Bears target.

General manager Ryan Poles expressed confidence in Chicago’s in-house options at the defensive end spot last month. Earlier this week, however, a push was made to acquire Matt Judon from the Patriots. Chicago offered New England a third-round pick, the same price the Falcons were prepared to pay. When given the choice of destinations, Judon elected to head to Atlanta. It will be interesting to see if the Bears continue to show interest in the veteran edge market with roster cuts looming.

Ngakoue recorded at least eight sacks in each of his first seven seasons in the NFL. The former Jaguar, Viking, Raven, Raider and Colt drew interest at the start of training camps. He took visits with both the Dolphins and Panthers last month, but neither workout produced a deal. With time running out in the build-up to the regular season, Ngakoue is one of several veterans seeking a contract ahead of Week 1. The Bears have more than $21MM in cap space, so another short-term investment would be feasible from an economic standpoint.

Buccaneers To Release OLB Randy Gregory

August 18th, 2024 at 9:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

AUGUST 18: As Greg Auman of Fox Sports observes, the Bucs still need to reach a resolution on the fines that Gregory has accrued as a result of his absence. Auman notes that Gregory has racked up at least $902K in non-waivable fines — $50K per day for each day of missed training camp plus $102K for missing minicamp — and another ~$150K for missing Tampa Bay’s two preseason contests.

AUGUST 17: Randy Gregory remained absent from the Buccaneers during training camp, and his time with the team will now come to an end. The veteran defensive end has reached an agreement with the Bucs and will be released, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Gregory’s absence has been shrouded in mystery, but Stroud’s report suggests an injury settlement has been reached. Such arrangements are commonplace during this time of year, as they allow for players to be let go while rehabbing ailments before being positioned to sign with a new team. Gregory will be a free agent once his release is official, though he will no doubt have a tepid market.

The 31-year-old had been on the reserve/did not report list since late July after also missing mandatory minicamp. The reason for doing to was unclear, but Gregory filed a suit against the Broncos and the NFL for being prevented from using a prescription medication containing THC earlier this offseason. Updates on his situation since then have been sparse.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said in the lead-in to training camp he had not been in communication with Gregory, who signed in April. The former Cowboy turned down a Dallas offer in 2022 and took one with identical terms to join the Broncos. His tenure in the Mile High City did not go according to plan, however, and after only 10 Broncos games he was traded to the 49ers in October.

Gregory posted 2.5 sacks in San Francisco, but his overall production while playing on a five-year, $69.5MM pact was underwhelming to say the least. He took a $3MM deal to head to Tampa Bay and serve a depth role in the team’s pass rush. Shaquil Barrett departed in free agency (and has since retired), creating a vacancy along the edge for the Bucs. After Gregory was absent from minicamp and training camp – accruing fines along the way – however, it seemed as though he would be released before the start of the season.

With that decision now having been made, the former second-rounder will (presumably) attempt to land with a team ahead of Week 1. Clarity on his situation over the past several months will no doubt be needed for any suitor to add him, though, so Gregory may spend an extended stretch on the free agent market for the second time in 2024.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/24

August 18th, 2024 at 7:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

Sunday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

  • Activated from active/NFI list: T Kiran Amegadjie

Cleveland Browns

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

  • Activated from active/NFI list: Tanner Taula
  • Waived (injury designation): DL Eric Banks

Washington signed in late July, but his Falcons tenure has proven to be brief. The 28-year-old was let go to clear a roster spot for Justin Simmons‘ arrival. Washington last played a regular season game in 2022, and he will now look to find another opportunity ahead of roster cutdowns.

Steelers OL Nate Herbig Suffers Torn Rotator Cuff

August 18th, 2024 at 6:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

AUGUST 18: A follow-up from Dulac notes that Herbig is dealing with a torn rotator cuff. He is now in danger of missing the 2024 campaign as a result. At a minimum, a lengthy rehab awaits him. Frazier will ascend to the top spot on the depth chart for the foreseeable future with Herbig not in the picture any time soon. Herbig has since been placed on IR, clearing the way for Frazier.

AUGUST 17: Nate Herbig spent training camp atop the Steelers’ center depth chart, but he will be unavailable for a stretch. The sixth-year blocker is dealing with a “signficant” shoulder injury, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Herbig will miss regular season time, Dulac adds. As a result, the 26-year-old is no longer in contention to be tapped as the starter in the middle for Week 1. Second-round rookie Zach Frazier will instead handle those duties, as may have at some point during the 2024 campaign anyway. The West Virginia product was one of three draft investments up front made by Pittsburgh in April.

The first of those was Troy Fautanu, selected 20th overall. The Washington alum is set to handle right tackle duties right away, thus allowing 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones to move to the blindside. Frazier will have a limited period to log first-team reps in practice and the preseason before taking on starting responsibilities in the fall. For Herbig, the injury news leaves him sidelined for the start of his second season with the team.

The former Eagle and Jet signed a two-year, $8MM deal last offseason. That pact allowed him to play in every regular and postseason game during his debut Steelers season, making a pair of starts. Herbig played at left and right guard (his most familiar positions) but not at center during that time. With Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels in place at both guard spots, though, he spent this summer preparing to log a starter’s workload at the pivot.

Now, Herbig’s attention will turn to recovery as he enters a contract year. If Frazier performs well right away, he will cement his status as the Steelers’ center of the present and future. That would help the chances of Herbig departing in free agency next March (as Mason Cole did this past offseason), although he could still be counted on in a depth capacity once healthy.

Chargers To Sign LB Frank Ginda

August 18th, 2024 at 6:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

Frank Ginda first entered the NFL in 2018, but he has yet to see regular season game action. The former UDFA linebacker has another opportunity in place, though.

Ginda is set to sign with the Chargers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 27-year-old had a strong showing in the USFL in 2022 and ’23 while playing for the Michigan Panthers. That tenure included Defensive Player of the Year honors last spring and continued in 2024 following the USFL-XFL merger. After another campaign of spring league action, Ginda will get his latest chance to land an NFL roster spot.

The San Jose State alum caught on with the Falcons almost exactly one year ago in his bid to survive roster cutdowns. That did not wind up being the case, and Ginda bounced on and off Atlanta’s practice squad during the season. After not generating a market until deep into summer once again, he will now attempt to carve out a role in Los Angeles.

The Chargers saw considerable turnover at the linebacker spot this offseason. Eric Kendricks was released, while Kenneth Murray and Tanner Muse departed in free agency. That created multiple vacancies at the second level, and veteran signing Denzel Perryman will be counted on to provide starting-caliber play. The same may true of third-round rookie Junior Colson, who of course is a familiar face for head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as a Michigan product. The Bolts also have Troy Dye and the newly-signed Shaquille Quarterman in their linebacking corps ahead of their final preseason contest.

Ginda – also a veteran of the AAF and XFL – will spend the coming weeks looking to find a place on the LB depth chart. If he is unable to lock down a 53-man roster spot, he could be a practice squad candidate once again. With nearly $21MM in cap space as of Sunday, this addition will not alter Los Angeles’ financial outlook.

5 Key Stories: 8/11/24 – 8/18/24

August 18th, 2024 at 5:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the preseason rolls on, teams around the league continue to evaluate their rosters as well as their contract situations. A number of finanal decisions were made in recent days, while several other cases are unresolved. In case you missed any of the top stories from the past week, here is a quick recap:

  • Falcons Trade For Judon, Sign Simmons: The Falcons made a pair of high-profile additions, both of which will help on defense. Atlanta sent a third-round pick to New England for edge rusher Matt Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler expressed frustration with a lack of a Patriots extension, leading to interest on the trade front from outside teams. Notably, though, no multi-year commitment has been made on the Falcons’ part, leaving Judon on track for free agency in March. After hosting Justin Simmons, meanwhile, Atlanta added the Pro Bowl safety on a one-year deal including $7.5MM guaranteed. Simmons, 30, had a lengthy spell in free agency after his Broncos release but still managed to land a lucrative deal. With four second-team All-Pro nods on his resume, he will form an intriguing safety tandem alongside Jessie Bates for the 2024 campaign. Judon and Simmons figure to raise Atlanta’s expectations on defense by a considerable margin as the team eyes a playoff berth.
  • Steelers, 49ers Have Aiyuk Trade In Place: No final decision has been made with respect to Brandon Aiyuk, but the Steelers and 49ers now have a trade agreement worked out. Pittsburgh remains a destination the 26-year-old is highly interested in, but San Francisco still has an offer on the table. The latter team may have a small edge in terms of receiving an Aiyuk commitment with the former representing a fallback option. Both the Patriots and Browns had serious trade talks, but the second-team All-Pro did not want to play in New England or Cleveland. His decision rests on remaining in the Bay Area with a team facing serious cap challenges in the near future or joining the Steelers and a new-look offense which features quarterback questions. With the regular season nearing, an end to this saga should be expected in short order.
  • Jets’ Reddick Submits Trade Request: The Jets acquired Haason Reddick via trade this offseason, but no extension agreement was in place once the swap was final. The Pro Bowl edge rusher has since skipped minicamp and training camp, and the lack of a deal prompted a trade request. To little surprise, New York general manager Joe Douglas quickly confirmed no consideration will be given to moving on from Reddick, who has one year remaining on his pact. The Jets reportedly made at least one offer around the time of the trade, but the team is not willing to negotiate further until the 29-year-old ends his holdout. That effort has resulted in daily fines being accumulated, and Reddick could lose part of his signing bonus as well. With both sides dug in, it will be interesting to see if a resolution of some kind (most likely incentives being added to the contract) is worked out in time for Week 1.
  • McCarthy To Miss Vikings Rookie Season: J.J. McCarthy suffered a meniscus injury which required surgery. It was clear right away an absence of some kind would be in store, but the procedure wound up being a full repair; as such, the first-round rookie will miss the 2024 campaign. McCarthy entered training camp as Minnesota’s backup to Sam Darnold, but he will now not be able to compete for the No. 1 gig or at least continue his development through the fall. The Vikings let Kirk Cousins depart in free agency and signed Darnold to only a one-year deal. McCarthy – one of the 2024 class’ youngest passers and a national champion with Michigan this past season – is firmly in the team’s plans for the long-term future. He will enter 2025 with merely one preseason game of experience, however.
  • Owusu-Koramoah Lands Browns Extension: Known to be on the Browns’ radar for a long-term deal, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah worked out a extension which will keep him in place through 2027. The Pro Bowl linebacker secured $25MM in total guarantees and an AAV of $12.5MM. The latter figure ranks sixth amongst middle linebackers and demonstrates the confidence Cleveland has in his ability to remain a key producer on defense. The 24-year-old totaled 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions last season; replicating that production in the future will prove this investment to be worthwhile. The Browns underwent many changes at the second level this offseason, but Owusu-Koramoah will be a constant for the LB unit now and moving forward.
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