HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Bobby Babich To Call Bills’ Defensive Plays

August 29th, 2024 at 9:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills will have a third defensive play-caller in as many seasons. After debating whether he will keep the play sheet or return to a role as a CEO head coach, Sean McDermott will take the latter route in his eighth Bills season.

New Buffalo DC Bobby Babich will handle the calls, moving the Buffalo defensive play-calling situation back to where it was two years ago. Prior to separating with Leslie Frazier, McDermott let his DC calls the shots.

[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Buffalo Bills]

“What I like about Bobby is our experience together and the wisdom he has, both as a secondary coach and a linebacker coach,” McDermott said, via the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. “I just feel like he’s a growth-minded individual and coach, and that’s the right approach.”

Babich has observed both McDermott and Frazier call the shots in Buffalo, having been on the team’s staff throughout this regime’s run. The second-generation NFL assistant moved up from assistant DBs coach to safeties coach to linebackers coach during his time in Buffalo. Other teams have taken notice. The Dolphins, Giants and Packers submitted interview requests to Babich. Days later, McDermott promoted him.

The son of former Bears and Jaguars defensive coordinator Bob Babich, Bobby worked with the Browns previously under Mike Pettine and was an assistant alongside McDermott early in Ron Rivera‘s Panthers run. The Babiches worked together on McDermott’s Bills staff from 2017-21, with Bobby’s star rising in recent years.

Overseeing the standout Jordan Poyer–Micah Hyde tandem for four seasons, Bobby Babich then was in the LBs role when Matt Milano earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2022. The Bills have finished as a top-five defense in four of the past five seasons. The team’s playoff outings — with both Frazier and then McDermott calling the signals — have not reflected those rankings, though key injuries have impacted this unit in that span.

Babich, 41, will take his turn in charge this season. He will already be dealing with a shorthanded group, with Milano set to miss months with a biceps tear. The Bills are also breaking in a new safety duo, as the team released Poyer and has not re-signed Hyde. Tre’Davious White also became a cap casualty. As the Bills adjust on that side of the ball, McDermott will take a step back and allow an ascending coach to try his hand.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/29/24

August 29th, 2024 at 8:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

PFR’s practice squad rundown, signaling we are indeed close to games that count, begins Thursday. Here is how teams began to handle their 16-man P-squads.

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Slovis went to camp with the Colts, joining the team as a UDFA this year. Houston placed Case Keenum on IR and released Tim Boyle, who is now the Dolphins’ P-squad QB. Slovis, who played at USC, Pittsburgh and BYU in college, is now the Texans’ de facto third-stringer.

Shelley has 11 career starts — with the Bears and Vikings — on his resume. He joined the Raiders last year but ended up with the Rams, playing in 11 games as a backup. The Giants have spent time searching for a cornerback answer, having not been too satisfied with their Cor’Dale Flott–Nick McCloud CB2 competition. New York did not make any waiver claims at the position Wednesday.

Reagor, who played for the Patriots last season, is back after being released earlier this week. The former Minnesota first-rounder played in 11 New England games last season, returning a kick for a touchdown. Latu joins the Browns after being a 49ers cut. The 2023 third-round pick missed all of last season with an ACL tear. Jefferson is back with the Bolts hours after being released.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/24

August 29th, 2024 at 8:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys 

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Removed from IR via injury settlement: LB Keandre Jones, S Ben Nikke

Schlottmann suffered what Brian Daboll called a long-term injury. Elaborating on the injury Schlottmann suffered in practice Wednesday, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes the veteran backup O-lineman will rehab a broken fibula. The injury is expected to shut down the free agency addition for at least two months. No surgery is on tap for Schlottmann. The Giants considering him for activation may depend on their injury situation, as teams only have eight regular-season IR activations. The Giants have seven presently, as they used a summer IR designation on linebacker Matthew Adams on Tuesday.

Titans Claim CB Darrell Baker Jr.

August 29th, 2024 at 7:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

As they transitioned from Stephon Gilmore‘s one-and-done, they trotted out an unproven cornerback group save for slot ace Kenny Moore. One of the players Indianapolis used as a starter to open the season is now on Tennessee’s roster.

After the Colts waived Darrell Baker Jr. on Wednesday, the Titans submitted a successful claim, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Two years remain on Baker’s rookie contract.

Baker initially made Indianapolis’ 53-man roster, but the team subsequently claimed Samuel Womack off waivers from the 49ers. Rather than passing through waivers to a potential Indy practice squad slot, Baker will head to another AFC South team’s 53-man roster.

The Colts opened last season with Baker as a starting corner and gave him five more starts on the outside as the season progressed. Baker was not viewed as a starter coming into camp, and the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson adds 2023 seventh-round pick Jaylon Jones won the job opposite Julius Brents. Baker had been working opposite Dallis Flowers with the Colts’ second-stringers. Baker played 467 defensive snaps last season — after none his rookie year — and Pro Football Focus ranked the former UDFA outside the top 100 at the position.

Tennessee moved on from three-year contributor Elijah Molden via trade and cut bait on Caleb Farley‘s first-round contract. As Dennard Wilson takes over on defense in Nashville, the team added two big-ticket pieces in free agent Chidobe Awuzie and trade pickup L’Jarius Sneed. With Roger McCreary expected to patrol the slot, the Titans look to have Baker en route as a second-string option. The team also rosters fifth-round rookie Jarvis Brownlee at the position.

The Titans also signed Nick Vannett from their practice squad and placed fourth-round rookie linebacker Cedric Gray on IR, Wilson adds,

Browns Restructure Deshaun Watson’s Deal

August 29th, 2024 at 5:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

For a second straight year, the Browns are restructuring the NFL’s most player-friendly deal. As a result, another quarterback will set the NFL record for single-player cap hit.

Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson restructure will create $35.83MM in cap space, ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports. The Browns moved $44.79MM of Watson’s base salary into a signing bonus. While more cap space will be available to the Browns this year, they will need much of it for carryover money because of the quarterback contract they authorized in 2022.

[RELATED: Browns Release QB Tyler Huntley]

Watson had been set to carry a record-obliterating $63.77MM cap number this season. The Browns have dropped it to $27.94MM. Of course, with restructures, future cap hits spike. This will be the case here, as Thursday’s reworking inflates Watson’s 2025 and ’26 cap numbers to an astonishing $72.94MM. More restructure work likely remains for a Browns team desperate to see its historically expensive trade piece take steps forward.

The Browns are now an NFL-most $51.6MM under the 2024 cap, but as The Athletic’s Zac Jackson notes, they will need much of this for rollover purposes. Entering today, the Browns resided ahead of only the perpetually cap-strapped Saints for projected 2025 cap space, sitting $66.9MM over. Rolling most of their 2024 total to 2025 would obviously create considerable relief, but the long-term Watson ramifications remain steep for a Cleveland franchise that has not seen anything remotely close from its QB to justify the 2022 trade and extension costs.

No one has followed the Browns’ lead for guarantees; the league has deemed this an outlier contract. The Browns gave Watson a five-year, $230MM fully guaranteed extension in March 2022. Nearly 2 1/2 years later, no other team has guaranteed a quarterback more than $146.5MM (Joe Burrow) at signing. The Browns had previously restructured the Watson contract in March 2023, beginning a process that has seen the eighth-year passer’s future cap hits balloon.

The team remains pot-committed with Watson through 2026. The restructures, which have two void years in place as the QB’s signing bonus is now spread through 2028, would lead to a $26.8MM dead money hit if Watson does not re-sign by the start of the 2027 league year. That seems manageable to a Browns team that has unimaginable — even in a world where the Broncos just took on $83MM-plus in dead cap by cutting Russell Wilson — dead money figures attached to its QB in 2025 or ’26.

Cleveland has seen its QB miss 11 games in each of his two seasons, with the former Houston Pro Bowler suspended upon arrival and then battling a shoulder injury that eventually shut him down in 2023. Watson, 29 in September, did not play any preseason games and was only cleared for full work August 11. The Browns shuffled their coaching staff, hiring Ken Dorsey, to better capitalize on their QB’s strengths. For the most part, those have yet to be on display post-Houston.

With this contract adjustment further tying the Browns to Watson, they will need to see notable improvement from him this season. Though, Watson’s guarantees do not exactly provide much incentive for an extreme turnaround. Dak Prescott‘s $55.13MM cap hit is now in place to set the NFL record, and the Cowboys appear prepared to carry that into the season.

Eagles Claim DT Byron Young

August 29th, 2024 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of two Byron Youngs chosen in the 2023 third round, the defensive tackle is on the move. After the Raiders waived their Byron Young on Wednesday, the Eagles submitted a successful claim, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

Chosen 70th overall out of Alabama, Young played in six games last season and saw only 99 defensive snaps for the Raiders. The Rams received more promising work from their Byron Young — an edge rusher out of Tennessee — and the Eagles will take a flier on the other defender. Three years remain on the DT’s rookie contract.

The Raiders nabbed Young with the first of their two third-round picks last year, later choosing slot receiver Tre Tucker. The latter is ticketed for a regular role in his second season, with the team cutting Hunter Renfrow. Las Vegas spent big for Christian Wilkins in free agency, further limiting Young’s upward mobility. The team also waived D-lineman Matthew Butler, a 2022 fifth-round pick, on Tuesday. Butler, however, landed on Las Vegas’ practice squad. Young became a more attractive commodity on waivers.

Young, 23, will join former first-round picks Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis among Philly’s DT corps, a group that includes former third-rounder Milton Williams as well. The Eagles lost Fletcher Cox to retirement. Marlon Tuipulotu also remains on the Eagles’ 53-man roster. Young will make for seven D-linemen on the team’s roster, being set to learn Vic Fangio‘s scheme.

Coming to Vegas after earning first-team All-SEC acclaim in 2022, Young totaled four sacks and five tackles for loss in his final Crimson Tide season. In 2021, he produced nine TFLs and two sacks. While it is surprising to see a player drafted so highly cut after one year, the Raiders changed regimes in that span, firing the Dave Ziegler–Josh McDaniels pair and then hiring Tom Telesco as GM. While Antonio Pierce was in place when Young was drafted, he stood as the Silver and Black’s linebackers coach at that point. The Eagles will now gauge Young’s form.

Saints Waive RB/KR Kene Nwangwu

August 29th, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 29: Nwangwu will not, in fact, be playing for the Saints in 2024. New Orleans waived him with a failed physical designation, as noted by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. That surprising move leaves the team in need of a new returner option, and will likely limit the interest shown in Nwangwu until he returns to full health.

AUGUST 28: The Vikings attempted to find a trade taker for Kene Nwangwu‘s rookie contract. While no one stepped in, the Saints are bringing in the running back/return specialist a day later.

Nwangwu will now play his contract year with the Saints, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill. This will reunite Nwangwu with new Saints OC Klint Kubiak, who was Minnesota’s play-caller during the running back’s 2021 rookie season.

Kubiak was with the Vikings when they drafted Nwangwu in the 2021 fifth round and operated as the team’s play-caller that year. The Vikings moved on from Mike Zimmer (and Kubiak) following that season, but Nwangwu has mostly excelled as a return man. His inability to carve out a role on offense affected Minnesota’s decision to move on Tuesday.

The Vikes added Aaron Jones and saw Ty Chandler show promise late last season, putting a low ceiling on Nwangwu in Kevin O’Connell‘s offense. But the contract-year RB would be of interest in the kicking game — particularly this year. The Iowa State alum finished with two kick-return TDs as a rookie and added a third career KOR score in 2022.

New Orleans has Alvin Kamara entrenched as its starter, with the five-time Pro Bowler seemingly in his final season — barring a substantial pay-cut agreement — with the team. Jamaal Williams is also in Year 2 of a three-year, $12MM deal. Kendre Miller, however, has not practiced since the first day of training camp. Dealing with a hamstring malady for the second straight summer, the 2023 third-round pick moved to IR with a return designation. Nwangwu will take a roster spot in the meantime and will aim to carve out a permanent role.

Chargers Release S Tony Jefferson

August 29th, 2024 at 2:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tony Jefferson survived the Chargers’ initial roster cuts, but he is set to quickly hit the open market. The veteran safety is being released, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: Chargers Acquire Taylor Heinicke From Falcons]

Rapoport notes, to little surprise, that Jefferson is expected to remain in the organization by signing a practice squad deal. The 32-year-old retired last May, but he spent the spring attempting an NFL comeback. That process included a free agent visit with the Chargers in June, and it resulted in a contract later that month.

Jefferson began his career with the Cardinals, and he landed a big-ticket free agent deal with the Ravens in 2017. The former UDFA spent three seasons in Baltimore, serving as a full-time starter until an ACL tear ended his 2019 campaign. Jefferson followed defensive coordinator Don Martindale to the Giants in 2022, making nine appearances. That was a positive sign after he had missed 2020 altogether and bounced on and off the Ravens’ and 49ers’ rosters the following year.

Presuming Jefferson is retained on the taxi squad, he will provide depth to the Chargers – a team which features a familiar face in defensive coordinator Jesse Minter – in the secondary. Given the time which has elapsed since his last game action, expectations will be relatively low if/when he is signed back to the active roster. Still, Jefferson could prove to be an effective pickup as the Bolts aim to find low-cost contributors on defense and special teams.

In another roster move, the Chargers waived running back Jaret Patterson. The former Commander played two seasons in Washington, but did not make any regular season appearances last season. He signed a futures deal with Los Angeles in January, and he managed to remain on the roster until today. Patterson will now hit the waiver wire, and if he clears he will be free to re-sign with the Bolts on the practice squad or join a new team in advance of Week 1.

Eagles Place James Bradberry On IR

August 29th, 2024 at 1:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

1:55pm: The Eagles have indeed placed Bradberry on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the first four games of the season. In a corresponding move, veteran special teamer Oren Burks has been signed to the active roster (h/t PHLY’s Zach Berman).

12:12 pm: James Bradberry made the Eagles’ 53-man roster after drawing trade interest. The veteran defensive back will not be available at the start of the season, however.

Bradberry suffered a lower leg injury during practice on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. The ailment involves a tendon, so while surgery will not be needed, a notable absence is expected. Bradberry is facing a six-to-eight week recovery timetable, per the report.

The 31-year-old was on the roster bubble throughout the offseason, one in which he transitioned from corner to safety. It would not have come as a surprise if Bradberry had been dealt, and the Titans inquired about a potential swap. In the end, though, the former Pro Bowler secured a roster spot during cutdowns on Tuesday, putting him in line for a role of some kind at safety. Philadelphia’s depth on the backend will now be tested.

Bradberry suggested the position change after spending his first eight seasons as a corner. He remained a full-time starter during his first two Eagles campaigns, but one of the team’s top priorities in the offseason was upgrading in the secondary. Philadelphia selected Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first two rounds of the draft, and they are both in line for notable roles as rookies. Darius Slay remains in place as a veteran first-team option at cornerback.

The Eagles’ safety depth chart consists of C.J. Gardner-Johnson (with whom the team reunited in free agency), Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown and Avonte Maddox. The latter has seen time at slot corner, but he joined Bradberry in making the move to safety this year. Philadelphia will thus have a number of options to choose from while Bradberry is sidelined, but a decision will now need to be made in his case regarding injured reserve.

Moving players to IR guarantees at least a four-game absence, and teams have eight total activations available for the regular season. In the Eagles’ case, two of those will be used when veteran tight end Albert Okwuegbunam and rookie receiver Ainias Smith are brought back into the fold. One of Philadelphia’s moves during the cutdown deadline was also the decision to place Brown on the reserve/PUP list, meaning he will miss the opening four games at a minimum. With Bradberry now on the mend as well, it will be interesting to see if the team pursues a short-term depth addition at safety.

WR Robbie Chosen Joins Dolphins’ Practice Squad

August 29th, 2024 at 1:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

In need of healthy options in the receiving corps, the Dolphins have brought back a familiar face. Robbie Chosen is back in the organization, as noted by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

This will be a practice squad arrangement, Jackson adds. The 31-year-old could soon see himself elevated to the active roster given the injuries the team is currently dealing with, however. Odell Beckham Jr. and River Cracraft are set to miss the first four games of the season. Beckham will begin the year on the reserve/PUP list, while Cracraft was classified as injured reserve/designated for return on Tuesday.

Beckham’s health status has been a talking point during the offseason, and the team elected to take a cautious approach by keeping him on the PUP list to start the regular season. A new rule for 2024 allowed teams to place two players on IR without naming them to the 53-man roster, but they will still count toward the limit of eight regular season activations once healthy enough to be brought back. While they are sidelined, Chose could step into a depth role.

The former Jet, Panther and Cardinal made three appearances last season with the Dolphins. That span included only four catches (one of which was a touchdown), so it came as no surprise he had a lengthy spell on the free agent market. Chosen signed with the 49ers earlier this month, but despite not having Brandon Aiyuk in the fold for the time being the team included him in its roster cuts on Tuesday. Rather than taking a practice squad deal in San Francisco, the Temple product has elected to return to Miami.

The Dolphins waived Erik Ezukanma to reach the 53-man limit, but they have since added him to the practice squad. He will join Chosen as a pass-catching option capable of filling out the depth chart while Beckham and Cracraft rehab their respective injuries.

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