HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Deommodore Lenoir On 49ers’ Extension Radar; Ambry Thomas In Uphill Battle For Roster Spot

August 11th, 2024 at 7:48am CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 11: Thomas’ battle to crack the Niners’ roster just got much tougher. The CB suffered a broken right forearm in yesterday’s preseason loss to the Titans, and HC Kyle Shanahan said after the game that the injury would sideline Thomas for “some time” (via Maiocco). Maiocco notes that the team will have to decide whether to place Thomas on injured reserve or waive him with an injury settlement. In either event, San Francisco will likely sign another corner to take Thomas’ place.

AUGUST 9: Although the Brandon Aiyuk situation is dominating NFL headlines, the two-time 1,000-yard receiver is far from the only 49ers starter in a contract year. A host of defenders are also attached to expiring deals.

Both San Francisco’s cornerback regulars are in this boat. The team is interested in keeping Charvarius Ward around beyond 2024, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the reigning NFC champions also look to have Deommodore Lenoir on the re-up radar.

With the 49ers valuing Lenoir’s versatility, it would not surprise Fowler to see the team explore an extension with the former fifth-round pick. Extending Lenoir will not be easy, as San Francisco’s equation features Aiyuk, Ward, Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw and Aaron Banks as multiyear starters in contract years. Several months out, the team is projected to be more than $38MM over the 2025 cap.

Lenoir operates as an outside starter who can shift into the slot. A few teams have used corners in this capacity to maximize their skills or cover for a positional deficiency. The 49ers check both boxes, as they were unable to lock in a third corner last season. Logan Ryan, who signed with the team in December, played the slot role to close out the season.

A Lenoir deal may well come down to how Ward talks go, and the former can certainly enhance his value with a quality contract year. It will be interesting, then, to see if San Francisco makes Lenoir an offer early to preempt a potential contract-year value spike. Business may also be on hold while the team navigates an increasingly complex Aiyuk situation, and a Brock Purdy extension will affect all 2025 plans as well.

Lenoir, 24, intercepted three passes last season and allowed a career-low 75.2 passer rating as the closest defender. The 49ers have used Lenoir as a full-time player in each of the past two seasons, after previous slot K’Waun Williams departed, giving the Oregon alum a 90% defensive snap share in 2023. Pro Football Focus ranked Lenoir 23rd among corners last season. Should the 5-foot-10 defender continue on this path, he stands to — due to his age and versatility — attract a nice market if he hits free agency.

Although the 49ers discussed Patrick Surtain and Nate Hobbs at the trade deadline, they stood pat at corner last year. Ambry Thomas moved into the team’s No. 3 CB issue in the weeks following the deadline, but the 49ers gave him all of one defensive snap in the Super Bowl. More competitors for the CB3 gig are in place now, and NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco notes Thomas is in an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster.

Concern about Thomas’ form prompted the Surtain inquiry, but the Broncos set a monster price on the star corner. The 49ers later added Isaac Yiadom and Rock Ya-Sin in free agency and drafted Renardo Green in Round 2. Ya-Sin has extensive experience as a boundary corner, though he did not start regularly for the Ravens last year. Homegrown options Samuel Womack and Darrell Luter are also on the roster, making for a crowded competition as the Niners assemble a corner depth chart. Thomas would be exposed to waivers if cut by the August 27 deadline.

CB Stephon Gilmore To Visit Vikings

August 10th, 2024 at 10:02pm CST by Ben Levine

While Stephon Gilmore has flirted with a pair of his former teams this offseason, the one-time Defensive Player of the Year still hadn’t garnered a workout during this free agency cycle. That’s apparently about to change, as the veteran cornerback is set to meet with the Vikings tomorrow, per Josina Anderson.

The Vikings haven’t been connected to Gilmore this offseason. However, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes that the organization has “maintained interest” in the veteran for some time.

Minnesota’s cornerback situation has changed considerably over the past few months. Fourth-round rookie Khyree Jackson died tragically in a car accident back in July, and second-year contributor Mekhi Blackmon suffered a torn ACL early in training camp. The organization still has holdovers like Byron Murphy and slot CB Josh Metellus, and the Vikings previously added Shaquill Griffin, Fabian Moreau, and Nahshon Wright to the mix.

Still, Gilmore would provide the Vikings with another dependable cornerback on an uncertain depth chart. Following the end of his successful four-year stint with the Patriots, Gilmore has spent time with the Panthers, Colts, and Cowboys since the 2021 campaign. The defensive back has still graded out favorably by Pro Football Focus over that span, and since being limited to eight games with Carolina in 2021, he’s topped 1,000 defensive snaps in each of the past two years.

Despite the consistency, Gilmore has struggled to find a job this offseason. After spending the 2023 season with the Cowboys, Gilmore stated a desire to stick with Dallas, although there were few developments on that front. Gilmore also flirted with another former squad in the Panthers, and he recently hinted that he’d be open to a reunion with the Patriots. We’ll see if the Vikings’ interest finally leads to a deal.

Falcons Hoping To Trade QB Taylor Heinicke?

August 10th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons invested heavily in the quarterback position this offseason. As a result, the team may be shopping their lone holdover at the position. As Josh Kendall of The Athletic writes, the Falcons staff is “behaving like it would prefer to get some trade value for Taylor Heinicke” vs. keeping him around as a QB3.

Heinicke had a successful run in Washington between 2021 and 2022, guiding his squad to a 12-11-1 record as a starter. That performance helped earn him a two-year, $14MM deal with his hometown Falcons last offseason, where he was expected to provide former third-round pick Desmond Ridder with some competition. Heinicke ultimately got four starts for Atlanta, going 1-3 while completing a career-low 54.4 percent of his passes.

The Falcons rebooted their QB position this offseason. First, they handed Kirk Cousins a lucrative contract, providing the organization with some veteran consistency at the position for the first time since the Matt Ryan era. The team later surprised many when they also added first-round QB Michael Penix Jr., a decision that definitively locked up a second QB spot on the 53-man roster.

While the team generally carried three QBs in 2023 while taking advantage of the league’s emergency quarterback spot, that might not be the case in 2024. Kendall says the team may prefer to just stash a young option on the practice squad as a QB3, and that means Heinicke (along with current QB4 Nathan Rourke) would likely be on the outside looking in.

While the Falcons would surely prefer to trade their quarterback, it may be easier said than done. Teams won’t be willing to give up a whole lot if they expect the Falcons to eventually cut Heinicke, and any QB-needy squads may just prefer to take their chances in a post-preseason bidding war. On the flip side, Heinicke doesn’t necessarily break the bank with his $4.5MM cap hit, and his starting experience could be valuable for teams seeking a dependable QB2. All the Falcons need is one suitor, but the team shouldn’t expect more than a late-round swap for the 31-year-old.

Browns C Luke Wypler To Undergo Ankle Surgery

August 10th, 2024 at 9:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Luke Wypler was carted off the field during the Browns’ preseason opener. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Saturday the second-year center suffered a broken ankle and he will undergo surgery as a result.

Wypler now faces a lengthy absence, something which will add further to Cleveland’s depth issues along the interior of the offensive line. Center in particular is a question mark due to injuries suffered this summer. Prior to today’s news, Brian Allen was placed on injured reserve in July as a result of a calf injury.

The former Ram signed with the Browns in free agency after being let go earlier in the offseason. Allen was set to provide his new team with veteran experience in the middle, but in the wake of his injury situation he has since been released. Ethan Pocic remains on track to hold down starting center duties, but depth behind him will now be a concern.

Nick Harris departed in free agency, leaving Wypler in place to log second-team duties at the center spot. If the latter is sidelined for an extended period, Cleveland could be forced to seek an outside depth addition before or during roster cutdowns. The team currently has just under $30MM in cap space, so a signing would be feasible from an economic standpoint.

Selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, Wypler made five appearances and one start as a rookie. He split his time between center and right guard during that span, allowing two pressures and no sacks in pass protection. The 23-year-old was positioned to once again see spot-start duties in the middle of the O-line in the event Pocic were to miss time, but he will now turn his attention to recovery.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/24

August 10th, 2024 at 8:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Miami Dolphins

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Reverted to IR: DT Matt Gotel

LB Devin White Addresses Bucs Departure

August 10th, 2024 at 6:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Part of the Eagles’ retooling efforts at the linebacker spot this offseason included signing Devin White. The former No. 5 pick only landed a one-year deal, but it came as little surprise when he departed the Buccaneers considering the way his Tampa Bay tenure ended.

White’s efforts to secure a top-of-the-market extension were unsuccessful, and that promoted a trade request in April. The Buccaneers did not move on, though, sticking with their plan of keeping him in the fold for 2024 on his fifth-year option. The 26-year-old began the campaign in his usual first-team role alongside Lavonte David, but a foot injury suffered in Week 3 limited his effectiveness for an extended stretch.

After being briefly sidelined, White seemed set to return to action in Week 15. He did not play, however, and reports suggested his decision not to suit up stemmed from learning K.J. Britt would retain a starting role even though White was healthy. Head coach Todd Bowles offered a denial on that front, but in any case the matter of White’s foot injury and the timeline of his return to action was a point of contention.

“A certain person wanted me to come back,” the LSU alum said during an appearance on The Pivot podcast (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “They wanted me to come back, and I just didn’t feel like I was ready. I felt like when I came back, I would’ve [known], and he didn’t like it. He didn’t like that I wasn’t ready on his terms.”

White declined to name the member of the organization in question, but he noted it was not Bowles. He did add, however, that his spring trade request led to a change in the way he was viewed by some in the team. The issue over his decision to play at less than 100% and then delay returning to action longer than necessary (at least, in the eyes of some) compounded that point.

“It was already downhill when I asked for the trade,” the former Pro Bowler said. “Everybody loved me at first, but when I asked for the trade and tried to do what was best for me, that turned everybody against me. Not everybody, but some higher-up people.”

Leading up to free agency, Bucs general manager Jason Licht confirmed the team had other priorities to handle this offseason when asked if White – who logged a rotational role once back on the field to close out the campaign – would be retained. In the end, the latter inked an Eagles deal worth $4MM and he will spend the remainder of the offseason competing for a starting gig. With White and the Buccaneers having gone their separate ways, both parties can now start over in 2024.

Falcons Sign Return Specialist Jakeem Grant

August 10th, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons receiving corps suffered a blow when it was announced that Rondale Moore would miss the 2024 NFL season with a knee injury. While not a one-for-one replacement, Atlanta has addressed the position group, signing veteran wide receiver and return specialist Jakeem Grant to a one-year contract, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Coming to the NFL as a sixth-round pick out of Texas Tech, it became immediately clear that Grant’s value came on special teams. As a rookie with the Dolphins, Grant only received one target and one carry, finishing with one yard from scrimmage. Instead, his impact came as a returner, as he scored his first career touchdown on a 74-yard punt return.

In the following years, Miami noticed the danger his speed presented and attempted to get him more involved on offense. He was able to contribute a bit here and there but never totaled more than 373 yards or two touchdowns in a season over six years with the Dolphins. In that same time, though, Grant continued to excel on special teams, returning three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns.

Grant’s electricity has been evident throughout his career. He has always been a danger to break off a long return at any moment, twice returning kickoffs longer than 100 yards and returning four punts over 70 yards, including one 97-yarder. We last saw him in Chicago, where he played 11 games after being traded from Miami. That short sample of time was when Grant delivered his 97-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Following the expiration of his contract with the Bears, Grant signed a three-year deal taking him to Cleveland. Unfortunately, he never got to play for the Browns, suffering a torn Achilles tendon in the 2022 preseason. A year later, finally ready to make his Browns debut, Grant was carted off the field in the team’s final preseason game with a ruptured patellar tendon, once again getting placed on injured reserve before the season began.

Since departing from Cleveland, Grant has shown a continued interest in remaining on the field. In recent months, he has shopped his talents out to the Eagles, Saints, and Jets.

In Atlanta, the return man job won’t be simply handed to Grant. He will have competition for both return spots in Ray-Ray McCloud and Avery Williams. Williams served as the primary kick- and punt-return since 2021 before missing the 2023 season after undergoing ACL surgery. McCloud has an extensive history as a return man in his history, as well.

While both players have the requisite experience, neither player holds quite the same electricity as neither have scored return touchdowns in their NFL careers. This sets up an intriguing battle to come. All three players hold plenty of promise as return men, with varying levels of value on offense, as well. None of the three are expected to be key contributors for new quarterback Kirk Cousins, but if any prove that they can do more than just return, it could solidify them a roster spot in 2024.

Latest On Dolphins’ Position Battles

August 10th, 2024 at 4:26pm CST by Ely Allen

For the most part, the Dolphins are set in their depth chart for the 2024 season with many starters returning or free agents settling in. That being said, Miami is working through a few position battles as we inch our way towards eventual roster cuts.

According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, one such battle focuses on who comes off the bench for the lead man behind center. Head coach Mike McDaniel claims that backup quarterbacks Mike White and Skylar Thompson are “neck and neck” in their battle to be the primary relief behind Tua Tagovailoa. Last year, White emerged as the winner of what McDaniel called a “pretty close race” with Thompson.

White impressed in seven starts in replacement duty during his first two seasons with the Jets. Miami signed him to a two-year contract, but with Tagovailoa staying completely healthy in 2023, White only appeared in garbage time. Thompson saw two starts in replacement duty for Tagovailoa two years ago, appearing in seven games as a seventh-round rookie and nearly leading the team to a playoff win over the Bills in a Wild Card start. Signs point to White likely retaining the job, but McDaniel insists that a bit of intrigue remains in the competition.

On the defensive line, free agent addition Calais Campbell and Zach Sieler have settled in as the starting ends. A battle has developed on the inside, though, between Benito Jones and Teair Tart, per Barry Jackson and Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. Jones returns to South Beach after two years in Detroit, where he started 15 games last season. Despite earning the starting job last year, Jones graded out horribly, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), ranking as the league’s 124th best interior defender out of 130 graded at the position.

Tart graded out better in nine starts for the Titans last year. Thanks to an impressive pass rush grade, Tart ranked 85th, per PFF. Both players graded out better as pass rushers than run defenders, so it will be interesting to see how this battle plays out over the remainder of the preseason.

A number of interesting stories have developed at linebacker, as well. First, while Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb continue to work their way back from major injuries, Quinton Bell has reportedly “been a revelation” at camp, per Jackson. After spending the 2023 season on the team’s practice squad, the outside linebacker stands a chance at playing real time while the Dolphins wait for Phillips and Chubb to return.

At inside linebacker, Jackson notes that Miami rosters four veterans at the position, along with Cam Brown who serves as a key special teams contributor. That leaves former third-round pick Channing Tindall on the roster bubble as we near roster cuts. Tindall has appeared in 33 games over his first two years in the league but only played nine defensive snaps in 2022 and 12 in 2023. Much more is expected of a third-round pick, and with the current veteran presence blocking his path to more playing time, Tindall’s chances of remaining on the roster seem slim.

AFC Injury Updates: Ojabo, Fautanu, Wallow, Smith

August 10th, 2024 at 2:31pm CST by Ely Allen

The Ravens saw their leading edge rusher depart in free agency this offseason when Jadeveon Clowney signed with the Panthers. While the team did work to retain other top sack-getters in Justin Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, it decided to depend on recent draft picks to replace the production lost in Clowney’s departure. Unfortunately, one of those recent draft picks is still working to get healthy as head coach John Harbaugh announced that outside linebacker David Ojabo was not cleared to play in last night’s preseason game, per Jamison Hensley of EPSN.

A second-round pick in 2022, Ojabo was a draft selection that Baltimore knew would take some time to see the field after suffering a torn Achilles at his Michigan pro day. Starting his rookie season on injured reserve, Ojabo didn’t make his NFL debut until Week 15. He only played five snaps and didn’t appear again until the season finale, which saw him collect his first NFL sack.

In 2023, Ojabo got a sack in the season opener and earned his first start in Week 3. Unfortunately, Ojabo would suffer a season ending knee/ankle injury in that first start, ending his sophomore campaign after only three games. It’s hard to say whether or not Baltimore has a grasp on Ojabo’s status. They expressed hope he would come back last season and, after he failed to do so, they expressed hope that he would be cleared in time for training camp. Neither happened, and now the Ravens find themselves continuing to wait for a healthy Ojabo.

In the meantime, the Ravens will look to a pair of Penn State-products to make up for Ojabo’s lost snaps. Former first-round pick Odafe Oweh has yet to see his season-sack total eclipse five in a season, but his ability to consistently create pressure has hopes high for a breakout season. Rookie third-rounder Adisa Isaac will try to follow his fellow Nittany Lion’s example. After spending a good amount of training camp on the non-football injury list dealing with a hamstring injury, Isaac was activated in time for the team’s first preseason game.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the AFC:

  • The Steelers preseason plans hit a slight setback when first-round rookie tackle Troy Fautanu suffered an MCL sprain in last night’s preseason opener, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The injury is a minor one, and Pittsburgh does not consider it serious, but with Fautanu competing with Dan Moore for the team’s starting right tackle job, any missed time is going to be crucial in the rookie’s preseason. Moore has plenty of experience, starting at left tackle for the past three years, but if Fautanu wanted to start in his rookie year, any missed time in the preseason is detrimental to that goal.
  • The Titans received some unfortunate news this week when it was announced that linebacker Garret Wallow will miss the 2024 NFL season with a torn pectoral muscle, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. A former fifth-round pick for the Texans, Wallow made five starts during his first two seasons in Houston before getting signed off the team’s practice squad to play in Tennessee.
  • Another season-ending injury unfortunately occurred in last night’s preseason contests when Dolphins backup offensive lineman Kion Smith suffered a torn ACL, per Wilson. An undrafted free agent out of Fayetteville State in 2021, Smith appeared in nine games for Miami last year. He will now be forced to sit out the 2024 campaign.

Patriots Eyeing OT Depth?

August 10th, 2024 at 9:51am CST by Ben Levine

With the Patriots now out of the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes, the team will pivot to improving other offensive positions. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Patriots are expected to “turn their full attention” to acquiring offensive tackle depth. The organization could consider a number of different routes as they seek reinforcement, including a trade, a veteran free agent, or an inexperienced tryout player.

[RELATED: Latest On Patriots G Cole Strange’s Knee Injury]

With Trent Brown now out of the picture, the Patriots lack experience at both offensive tackle spots. At the moment, there are four clear candidates for the two starting gigs (per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald): Chukwuma Okorafor, Vederian Lowe, Calvin Anderson, and rookie third-round pick Caedan Wallace. One team source told Kyed that Okorafor and Lowe are likely in the lead at the moment, although Anderson was recently playing with the starters while Okorafor nursed an undisclosed injury.

As Kyed notes, Jerod Mayo is hoping to have his Week 1 starters locked in before the team’s third preseason game. So, if the Patriots plan to bring in another option at the position, the acquisition will only have a couple of weeks to make a good impression.

The current free agent market includes the likes of Donovan Smith, David Bakhtiari, D.J. Humphries, and Jason Peters. If the rebuilding Patriots intended to bring in one of these veterans, they probably would have already done so. More likely, the Patriots will continue to explore the trade market for some depth, and they could also hold out for players who shake loose at the end of the preseason (although that won’t help their starting lineup uncertainty).

Whatever combination of players the Patriots settle on for their offensive line, it’s unlikely to stick throughout the entire regular season. Former first-round guard Cole Strange will eventually return from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. Whenever Strange comes back, the Patriots could consider moving Michael Onwenu back to offensive tackle, although the recent extension recipient has exclusively played guard throughout training camp.

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