HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Chiefs Considering WR Acquisition?

September 30th, 2024 at 10:15pm CST by Ben Levine

With Rashee Rice potentially out for the season and Marquise Brown sidelined until at least the playoffs, the Chiefs may have to look for outside help at wide receiver. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport expects the Chiefs to “go out and look at options” at the position, with a trade being “at least” in consideration.

[RELATED: Chiefs Fear ACL Tear For WR Rashee Rice]

Rapoport notes that the Chiefs front office is generally “open minded” and considers every opportunity as they look to plug holes, so a trade would surely be a logical route for the WR-needy squad. Rapoport points to the team’s sudden acquisition of Kadarius Toney in 2022, which came as the organization was navigating a post-Tyreek Hill era.

One potential name that Rapoport points to is Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans are currently 0-3, and if they continue going the wrong way in the standings, there’s a good chance the veteran wideout will be available at the trade deadline. Rapoport also notes that popular trade candidate Amari Cooper could fit the Chiefs payroll thanks to his low base salary, but the reporter rejects the idea of Jaguars wideout Christian Kirk fitting into the cap sheet.

Rookie first-round WR Xavier Worthy got into a career-high 45 snaps yesterday and will likely join Travis Kelce as one of Patrick Mahomes‘ preferred targets moving forward. The team has also leaned on the likes of Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster for about half of their offensive snaps through the first month of the season, and Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman got extended cameos yesterday after Rice was knocked out of the game. Rapoport notes that Brown could return to the Chiefs in time for the postseason, but it’s unlikely the offense will be hanging their hopes on the injured receiver.

As for Rice, Josina Anderson reports that the receiver is seeking “at least” a second opinion on his injured knee in an attempt to “gather additional information.” The Chiefs have also discussed “potential windows for surgery.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that there “remains uncertainty” surrounding the extend of Rice’s injury, and more tests will be required before the team can set a definitive timetable.

Doug Pederson Not Considering Reclaiming Jaguars’ Play-Calling Role

September 30th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Uncertainty about the Jaguars’ play-calling situation persisted throughout the offseason, and fans were kept in the dark about the matter even into the campaign’s first month. Doug Pederson shed some light on the issue in the wake of the team’s fourth loss of the season.

It is indeed OC Press Taylor holding the call sheet, as the longtime Pederson lieutenant did last season and as he did to start the preseason. While Pederson said days before the season he had not decided who would call plays and then did not clear up this matter to start the year, Taylor is at the controls for what has been a tough Jags start.

[RELATED: Pederson-Trent Baalke Relationship Strained?]

When asked if he would consider retaking play-calling duties, the third-year Jacksonville HC quickly shot down that notion (via ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco) and praised Taylor. The former Super Bowl-winning HC then shifted some blame onto his players, which should do nothing to cool down a seat that has warmed up as the team has gone from authorizing three big-ticket extensions to 0-4.

“For what? I thought he called a great game,” Pederson said of Taylor. “As coaches, we can’t go out there and make the plays. It’s a two-way street. So you guys can sit here and point the finger all you want and it’s fine. Point it right at me, I can take it. OK.”

Pederson served as the Jags’ primary play-caller in his first season, which — perhaps not coincidentally — finished best, as the 9-8 team rallied to the divisional round and gave the eventual Super Bowl-winning Chiefs a scare. That came after a historic wild-card comeback win. Although the Jaguars reached 8-3 last season, they have now lost nine of their past 10 games. Trevor Lawrence has lost his past nine starts. with the quarterback completing just 53.3% of his passes. The former No. 1 pick connected on 66.3% of his throws in 2022 and 65.6% last season. Despite the Jaguars signing Gabriel Davis and then drafting Brian Thomas Jr. in Round 1, their passing game has regressed.

Pederson standing up for Taylor is not new. He employed Press Taylor, the younger brother of Bengals HC Zac Taylor, throughout his Philadelphia tenure. Press Taylor had arrived as a Chip Kelly hire in 2013 but climbed the ladder under Pederson. He became Philly’s QBs coach in 2018 and added the title of pass-game coordinator in 2020. After a 4-12 2020 season that involved the Eagles benching Carson Wentz, Pederson pitched an idea of promoting Taylor to OC to Eagles ownership. Many in the organization were leery of Taylor jumping another rung on the coaching ladder. Philly brass passing on that proposal helped lead Pederson out of town in January 2021.

This offseason, owner Shad Khan seemed to voice a preference for Pederson returning to the play-calling role. After all, Jacksonville’s HC called signals throughout his time running the Eagles and had taken the call sheet at points under Andy Reid in Kansas City. Considering the hot-seat rumors tied to Pederson, he has shown tremendous faith in Taylor.

With the Jags 0-4 after giving Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell the three most lucrative deals in team history, Khan is undoubtedly losing faith in the hire he made in 2022. Pederson may well be coaching for his job in Week 5, even though he is the first HC to lead this franchise to back-to-back winning seasons wince Jack Del Rio from 2004-05. Khan has fired two coaches (Gus Bradley, Urban Meyer) in-season. It may well be an upset at this point if that number does not expand to three before year’s end.

Tom Brady Strongly Considered Bears During 2020 Free Agency

September 30th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

A free agent ahead of his age-43 season, Tom Brady‘s decision produced numerous headlines four years ago. Nearly a third of the NFL was connected to the all-time QB great, with the passer-turned-broadcaster’s final decision believed to be a Buccaneers-or-Chargers call.

That may well have been the case, but Brady — doing his fourth regular-season broadcast for FOX (h/t FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano) — confirmed the Bears were part of his decision-making process. We heard in September 2020 the Bears made an offer to the then-20th-year quarterback but lost out due to multiple factors, but Brady said Sunday he gave “serious consideration” to choosing Chicago.

When the Bears-Brady connection surfaced four Septembers ago, the NFC North team was described as “in the running.” A cold-weather city did not appeal to Brady at that point, and the quarterback was intrigued by throwing to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin while playing closer to his oldest son, Jack, whose mother is actress Bridget Moynahan. Brady also mentioned Bruce Arians playing a key role in convincing him to sign with Tampa Bay, which gave him a fully guaranteed $50MM deal over two years.

The Bucs and Chargers were both agreeable to Brady’s terms by the end of the process, pointing to the Bears potentially finishing third here. The ageless passer had been interested in his hometown 49ers, who stuck with Jimmy Garoppolo, and replacing Drew Brees — had he chosen to retire, which the future Hall of Famer did not — as well. Among realistic options, Chicago joined L.A. in needing to take another route after the high-profile FA’s decision.

At that point, Chicago was coming off an 8-8 season — a step back from its 12-4 2018 showing — and had begun to determine Mitch Trubisky was not going to be the franchise option they’d envisioned. The Bucs and Chargers did not have starting QBs under contract, with Jameis Winston and Philip Rivers each free agents. This Bears’ pursuit also differed from the Raiders’ effort, as Las Vegas then bowed out early — as Brady has famously discussed — and had a second-contract QB (Derek Carr) rather than a former first-round pick playing on a rookie deal.

That Bears edition rostered Allen Robinson, who was heading into his third season with the team; Darnell Mooney arrived weeks later as a fifth-round pick. Chicago had Matt Nagy calling plays with an offensive line that included the likes of Cody Whitehair, James Daniels and veteran tackles Charles Leno and Bobby Massie. Pieces from Vic Fangio’s defenses still comprised much of Chicago’s depth chart on that side, with Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith and Akiem Hicks anchoring the unit. The Bucs, however, checked more boxes and were quite willing to accommodate their free agency prize in free agency and trades.

Brady undoubtedly would have elevated the Bears’ setup, with Rob Gronkowski — and, for better or worse, Antonio Brown — presumably following wherever his Patriots QB went. But it is safe to say his Bucs decision was correct, seeing as he piloted Tampa Bay to its second Super Bowl title that season and earned second-team All-Pro honors at age 44 in a statistically superior campaign a year later.

The Bears are now multiple starting QBs removed from that what-if, having drafted both Justin Fields and Caleb Williams after letting Trubisky walk in 2021. After Brady’s decision, Chicago traded for Nick Foles as a player to push Trubisky. Although the latter opened the season as the team’s starter and reclaimed his job from Foles down the stretch — en route to an 8-8 season that did produce a playoff berth — the former No. 2 overall pick has been unable to prove worthy of a starting job since.

Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne Expected To Practice This Week

September 30th, 2024 at 9:29pm CST by Ben Levine

After starting the year on the reserve/PUP list, Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will soon be back on the field. Coach Jerod Mayo confirmed to reporters today that the veteran wide receiver is expected to start practicing on Wednesday, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.

Bourne hasn’t played since Week 8 of last season after suffering a season-ending ACL tear. The wideout was having one of his strongest campaigns prior to his injury, averaging a career-high 50.8 yards per game. Despite his uncertain status heading into the 2024 campaign, the Patriots were comfortable enough handing the veteran a three-year extension this offseason.

After inking a three-year, $15MM deal with New England ahead of the 2021 campaign, Bourne often found himself with an inconsistent role. He had a standout first season with the Patriots, collecting career-highs in receptions (55), receiving yards (800), and touchdowns (five). While poor QB play was partly to blame for his drop in production in 2022, Bourne got into only 441 offensive snaps, his lowest total since his rookie campaign with the 49ers. Those snaps were back up in 2023, with the wideout getting into 73 percent of his team’s offensive snaps prior to his injury.

While the Patriots will surely welcome back Bourne, his return shouldn’t do a whole lot to remedy a putrid offense. Jacoby Brissett has struggled under center for the Patriots this season, leading to natural calls for rookie Drake Maye to take over. Bourne will be entering an uncertain WR room that’s currently led by the likes of K.J. Osborn, Demario Douglas, and second-round rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and rookie fourth-round pick Javon Baker have generally been the odd men out, and one of those players may be dropped when Bourne is ready to join the active roster.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/30/24

September 30th, 2024 at 8:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Las Vegas Raiders

Rashaan Evans has landed in a familiar spot. The veteran linebacker has signed with the Falcons practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. After spending the first four seasons of his career in Tennessee, the former first-round pick spent the 2022 campaign in Atlanta. He ended up having a career year, compiling a team-leading 159 tackles to go along with two sacks and one forced fumble.

Despite the counting stats, it took Evans until last September to find another gig, this time in Philly. He lasted less than a week with the Eagles before settling in Dallas. He ended up getting into nine games with the Cowboys, but he was waived in December after getting arrested for possession of marijuana.

While it once again took him until September to find a job, he’ll step into a potential role in Atlanta, at least temporarily. The Falcons need a bit of depth following the injury to Troy Andersen. At the end of his standout performance on Sunday (16 tackles and a pick-six), the linebacker suffered a knee injury that’s been deemed day-to-day, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With Nate Landman also sidelined, the Falcons may need some extra bodies when they take on the Buccaneers this Thursday.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/30/24

September 30th, 2024 at 7:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Promoted: WR Dee Eskridge

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Cowboys’ DeMarcus Lawrence Dealing With Lisfranc Injury; IR Stint On Tap

September 30th, 2024 at 2:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 30: The Cowboys are indeed planning to place Lawrence on IR, the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore tweets, adding workouts — in a situation similar to how the Cowboys tried to replace Williams this summer — are likely on tap.

Both Lawrence and Parsons were in walking boots moving around the team’s facility on scooters Monday, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota. Parsons is not expected to play in Week 5 (against the Steelers), but the All-Pro edge rusher is holding out hope for a return in Week 6 (against the Lions). Dallas’ bye, however, is in Week 7.

SEPTEMBER 29: Both DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons exited the Cowboys’ Week 4 win, and their respective injuries threaten to leave Dallas shorthanded along the edge for a notable period. Parsons’ exact recovery timeline is unclear at this point, but Lawrence should not be expected back on the field in the near future.

Lawrence is dealing with a Lisfranc injury, ESPN’s Todd Archer reports. He adds the affected bones were not displaced when the 32-year-old went down, and as a result surgery will not be required. While that is a positive development, Archer still notes a four-to-eight week recovery is in store. As a result, Lawrence is a strong injured reserve candidate.

IR would guarantee at least a four-week absence, but if his prognosis is confirmed it would come as no surprise if the Cowboys took that route with Lawrence. The four-time Pro Bowler leads the team with three sacks this season, so his absence would be felt with or without Parsons in the fold. The fact the latter is also in line to miss time compounds the Cowboys’ situation in the edge rush department. Sam Williams is out for the year, so Chauncey Golston and Marshawn Kneeland will be counted on to handle large workloads moving forward.

The free agent market is thin at the moment with respect to veteran edge rushers, and Haason Reddick represents a hypothetical trade target as his Jets holdout continues. Dallas is not interested in a Reddick pursuit, however, so the team’s in-house options will entrusted to fill in for Lawrence and Parsons over the interim. The Cowboys rebounded on defense in their Thursday night win against the Giants, but the unit will still face questions moving forward given its injury situation.

Lawrence has remained a full-time starter over the past several years, and 2021 was the last time he was sidelined for an extended period. The Boise State product is a pending free agent, making him one of the players whose futures will be determined by how the Cowboys handle a Parsons extension next offseason. Lawrence – who has spent his entire 11-year career in Dallas – will see his market value take a hit with a lengthy absence, but he should be able to return later in the season.

NFL Will Not Suspend K Brandon McManus

September 30th, 2024 at 1:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Allegations of sexual assault against Brandon McManus, levied by two former flight attendants who were part of Jaguars team flights, led to the Commanders releasing the veteran kicker this summer. While the plaintiffs’ civil lawsuit continues, the NFL will not suspend McManus.

The league’s investigation did not find enough evidence to suspend the 10-year veteran under the personal conduct policy, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Being cleared by the league will help McManus’ effort to resume his career; he has not been tied to a team since the Washington release in June.

The anonymous plaintiffs accused McManus of rubbing himself against them and grinding against them during the Jaguars’ flight to London on September 28, 2023. Both women worked as flight attendants at the time, but they have since been removed from the crew which handles the team’s flights. McManus denied the allegations, but the Commanders cut bait shortly after they surfaced. McManus, who kicked for the Broncos for nine seasons before signing with the Jaguars in 2023, had signed a one-year, $3.6MM deal with the Commanders in March. He ended up keeping his $1.5MM signing bonus.

A Duval County judge had dismissed the women’s lawsuit due to neither revealing their identities, but the accusers have since done so in an amended complaint, according to the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. While McManus’ attorney has labeled the accusers’ effort as a shakedown, the women maintain their accusations — which extend beyond just McManus. One of the women alleges McManus tried to kiss her while she was strapped into her seat, with Jhabvala adding the suit accuses the Jaguars of not properly educating him on the NFL policy on alcohol during team flights. It is highly likely McManus knew those rules, being a former NFLPA union rep.

This civil filing also accuses the Jaguars of arranging the flight to feature a section for players who wished to drink alcohol, alleging the flight “quickly turned into a party.” NFL rules prohibit alcohol from being served on team flights to and from games. The NFL is also making the determination McManus did not meet the criteria for a suspension without interviewing the alleged victims, Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams adds. The league did not address whether the accusers cooperated with the investigation.

Now 33, McManus played in all 17 Jaguars games last season. He made 30 of 37 field goal tries and connected on all 35 of his PAT attempts. The strong-legged kicker has never made more than 86% of his FG attempts in a season, though the former Super Bowl winner did make 10 of 15 tries from 50-plus yards in 2020 and was good on all 10 of his efforts from 40-49 yards in 2022. Last season, McManus made 5 of 10 kicks from beyond 50 yards and was 11-for-13 from 40-49.

Considering the kicker trouble teams regularly have, it would not surprise if McManus received a workout invite soon. Of course, teams may also be fine passing — or at least waiting until the civil matter concludes — due to McManus playing a lower-value position. The Jaguars drafted Cam Little in Round 6 this year, while the Commanders have cycled through a few kickers since dropping McManus. Austin Seibert is currently Washington’s kicker.

Bengals Activate P Brad Robbins From IR

September 30th, 2024 at 12:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals will be the first team this season to activate a player from IR. As it happens, a punter will be the first such transaction. Brad Robbins is coming off IR and will move back onto Cincinnati’s active roster.

Cincinnati’s full-time punter last season, Robbins already received a return designation after suffering an injury this summer. A quad injury sidelined the young specialist, but he will return to the Bengals’ 53-man roster, which now houses two punters. Because the Bengals designated Robbins for return before upon their initial 53, he already counted toward their eight-activation limit. Today’s move does not affect Cincy’s count.

[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]

Robbins joins Ryan Rehkow as punters currently on Cincinnati’s active roster. Teams almost never keep two punters on their 53-man roster, and veteran Bengals reporter Jay Morrison notes this is believed to be Rehkow’s job to lose. The Bengals had discussed continuing their punter competition once Robbins recovered. Though, it is a bit difficult to see this being an active-roster battle for an extended period. One figures to be dropped to the practice squad, though that player would need to clear waivers first.

Robbins averaged just 44.3 yards per punt as a rookie. The Michigan alum, who will turn 26 next week, ranked as the league’s third-worst punter in terms of gross average in 2023. He placed 26.3% of his punts inside the 20-yard line.

The Bengals selected Robbins in last year’s sixth round out of Michigan; the ex-Jim Harbaugh recruit spent six years with the Wolverines and had been the program’s primary punter in four of those seasons. He will vie with Rehkow, a rookie UDFA out of BYU, to win his job back. Rehkow will be difficult to unseat, however, as he is averaging an NFL-high 58.4 yards per boot. While 13 games remain, that number would smash Ryan Stonehouse‘s single-season record, illustrating the uphill battle Robbins is set to wage.

Panthers’ Shaq Thompson Tears Achilles

September 30th, 2024 at 11:38am CST by Sam Robinson

After rehabbing a September 2023 injury to be on the field in Week 1, Shaq Thompson faces another long road to recovery. The Panthers have again lost the veteran linebacker to a season-ending injury.

Thompson sustained an Achilles tear in Week 4, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The only Carolina starter left from Super Bowl 50, Thompson is in the final year of his contract. This is obviously a tough blow to Thompson’s value, as he is now 30 and will exit this season coming off two major injuries.

Anchoring Carolina’s defensive second level since Luke Kuechly‘s 2020 retirement, Thompson came back from a fractured fibula suffered in Week 2 of last season. That injury forced him off the field during another tumultuous Panthers season. Despite the team changing GMs and once again switching HCs, Thompson remained in its plans. He came back and started four games this season, making 35 tackles, but it is now worth wondering if this is it for the 2015 first-round pick with Carolina.

The Panthers, who played much of last season without Thompson and Jaycee Horn, have lost Derrick Brown for the year as well. The latest Thompson setback guts Ejiro Evero‘s defense, which already came into the season shorthanded at edge rusher. Resolving the Brian Burns matter by selling low (via trade to the Giants), the Panthers have D.J. Wonnum on their reserve/PUP list. Jadeveon Clowney has one sack in four games, with no Panther entering Week 5 with more than 1.5.

Sacks are not Thompson’s department, but the off-ball ‘backer has provided consistency and leadership during much of his Carolina tenure. Initially a wingman alongside stalwarts Kuechly and Thomas Davis on that Carolina Super Bowl team as a rookie, the Dave Gettleman-era draftee earned a lucrative extension before Kuechly’s retirement. Thompson played on that deal until accepting a pay cut in 2023. The Panthers restructured that contract this offseason, creating $3MM in cap space. If Thompson is not re-signed by the start of the 2025 league year, the team will incur $3.18MM in dead money.

A 1-15 2001 season aside, this has been the worst stretch in team history. Thompson has missed much of this 3-18 run but has been onboard throughout David Tepper‘s ownership tenure. Thompson had teamed with Frankie Luvu in recent years, but he defected to Washington in free agency. The Panthers added ex-Evero Broncos charge Josey Jewell as a starter in March, and they will need to find another regular. The team used a third-round pick on Trevin Wallace this year and used its No. 1 waiver priority to claim Jon Rhattigan late last month. Claudin Cherelus, a former waiver claim, rounds out Carolina’s ILB group.

Thompson’s 752 career tackles rank fourth in Panthers history — behind Davis, Kuechly and safety Mike Minter — and his 112 starts sit seventh in franchise history among defenders. Barring a low-cost contract to return, Thompson will remain in that spot for the foreseeable future, as the Panthers do not have much for longevity on their defense. Whether it is with Carolina or another franchise, Thompson will aim to play again. He said Monday (via Instagram) retirement is not on the table.

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