HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Steelers RT Troy Fautanu To Undergo Surgery; Postseason Return In Play

September 23rd, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Over the weekend, the Steelers placed Troy Fautanu on injured reserve. That move guaranteed the first-round rookie would miss at least four games, but a subsequent report indicated a season-long absence could be in store.

Indeed, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Fautanu will undergo surgery on his dislocated kneecap. He will miss the remainder of the regular season as a result, leaving Pittsburgh with a vacancy along the O-line. Rapoport adds Fautanu could be back in time for the playoffs, but this news represents a notable blow to the team’s offense.

Just as they did in 2023, the Steelers used their top pick on an offensive tackle during the first round of April’s draft. Fautanu spent time at left tackle during his Washington tenure, and some teams viewed him as a guard. Pittsburgh saw the former Huskie as a tackle, however, and rated him higher as a prospect than 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones. It thus came as no surprise Fautanu started at right tackle during his regular season debut (Week 2).

His knee injury occurred in practice leading up to Sunday’s win, leaving Pittsburgh in need of a change up front. Jones took over at the RT spot, one in which he struggled during Week 2 with three penalties. The Georgia product is set for another long-term stint at the position due to Fautanu’s injury, though, after he primarily played on the right side during his rookie year. Pending free agent Dan Moore Jr. will remain in the startling lineup along the blindside.

Even before the Fautanu ailment, injuries along the offensive line were an issue early in the year for Pittsburgh. Center Nate Herbig‘s torn rotator cuff is expected to keep him out for most (if not all) of the campaign, thrusting second-round rookie Zach Frazier into a starting role. Guard Isaac Seumalo has yet to play this year while he rehabs a pectoral injury, leading to further inexperience along the interior.

The Steelers were among the teams which designated two players for return from IR before the roster cut deadline. That move leaves the team with six activations for the regular season, although that figure will not come into play with Fautanu out of the picture until the playoffs. Teams will receive an additional two IR activations during the postseason, so the 23-year-old could still be in the fold down the road. In the meantime, Pittsburgh could be in the market for offensive tackle depth.

Raiders Eyeing Roster Changes?

September 23rd, 2024 at 9:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders were handily beaten by the Andy Dalton-led Panthers on Sunday. In his post-game press conference, head coach Antonio Pierce suggested roster moves could be coming in the near future in response to his team’s performance.

“As the game went on… I think there was definitely some individuals that made business decisions,” Pierce said while declining to name specific players (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez). “And we’ll make business decisions going forward as well.”

The Panthers racked up 437 yards of offense en route to a 36-22 victory. Dalton – inserted into the starting lineup in place of the struggling Bryce Young – became the first quarterback in 2024 to amass at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in a game. Pierce’s comments suggest notable changes could be coming in the near future to at least the depth chart at certain positions.

The 2024 offseason produced a number of changes, with ex-Chargers general manager Tom Telesco being hired as Vegas’ new GM. Owner Mark Davis previously expressed regret over not retaining Rich Bisaccia as head coach after he held the title at the end of the 2021 season. Pierce, by contrast, had the interim tag removed this spring, allowing him to carry on following his stint to close out last year. That makes 2024 his first full season as a head coach at the NFL level.

The 45-year-old will be tasked with overseeing development on the part of the Raiders, a team which faces questions at quarterback in particular. Gardner Minshew won a summer competition for the starter’s role over Aidan O’Connell after the team was active in seeking a move up the draft board to add a signal-caller. Both Minshew and O’Connell are under contract for 2025, but struggles on offense will no doubt lead to continued speculation about a move at the position during the spring.

On defense, the Raiders rank near the bottom of the league in a number of categories. Improvement on that side of the ball will be a goal moving forward, although the team’s edge rush group is shorthanded in the absence of Malcolm Koonce. It will be interesting to see how the coaching staff reacts to Sunday’s loss after it dropped the Raiders to 1-2 on the year.

Chargers Add WR Jalen Reagor To Practice Squad

September 23rd, 2024 at 8:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Jalen Reagor has found a new gig. The wide receiver is signing with the Chargers practice squad, according to SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan. Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz adds that the eventual plan will see Reagor working his way to the active roster.

The receiver spent the past year-plus in New England, with Reagor basically splitting time between the active roster and practice squad. After getting into 11 games in 2023, he once again found himself on New England’s practice squad to begin the 2024 campaign. He was cut by the Patriots last week after posting a cryptic (and potentially critical) social media post (via NBC Sports Boston).

The 21st-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Reagor has struggled to live up to his draft pedigree. The receiver only lasted two seasons with the Eagles, hauling in 64 catches while also returning 35 punts and 12 kickoffs. He got into 17 games with the Vikings in 2022 but was limited to only eight catches, and he finished his Patriots tenure with seven total receptions.

He’ll have a chance to revive his career in Los Angeles. Josh Palmer has been dealing with elbow and calf injuries, and after gutting through his issues in Week 2, he was inactive for Week 3. Both Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey have already shown promise this season, but if Palmer is forced to miss more time, Reagor could step up ahead of the likes of Simi Fehoko, Derius Davis, and Brenden Rice. The team also has DJ Chark stashed on injured reserve; the wide receiver is eligible to return to practice after Week 4.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/23/24

September 23rd, 2024 at 8:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Jacksonville Jaguars

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Waived from IR: TE McCallan Castles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Commanders

Steelers Sign OT Calvin Anderson

September 23rd, 2024 at 7:47pm CST by Ben Levine

After placing offensive tackle Troy Fautanu on injured reserve this past weekend, the Steelers have added some necessary depth at the position. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the team has signed Calvin Anderson.

[RELATED: Steelers Place OT Troy Fautanu On IR]

The lineman worked out with the squad earlier today, leading to a deal. It sounds like Anderson will immediately join Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster.

A former UDFA out of Texas, Anderson had short stints with the Patriots and Jets to begin his career before finding a home in Denver. The lineman got into 41 games for the Broncos between 2020 and 2022, starting 12 of those appearances. He inked a two-year deal with the Patriots last offseason but started only two of his five appearances before he suffered a heart contusion during practice. Anderson subsequently landed on injured reserve and didn’t play again in 2023.

The 28-year-old was back on the field with the Patriots this past preseason, but he landed on injured reserve before final cuts. That would have prevented him from playing in 2024, but the Patriots later released him, paving the way for an eventual job elsewhere.

While the Steelers got some good news on Fautanu today, the team will still be stressing their OT depth moving forward. Broderick Jones will likely find himself back in the starting lineup, although the first-round pick had just been definitively replaced by Fautanu following an ugly Week 2 performance. The organization’s only other depth option was practice squad rookie Doug Nester, so the team was destined to make another move at the position.

Jets Sign DB Jalen Mills To Practice Squad

September 23rd, 2024 at 5:55pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets are adding some depth to their secondary. The team is signing defensive back Jalen Mills to the practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Jets are plenty familiar with Mills after he spent the past three seasons with their division rival in New England. Mills played a handful of different roles during his time with the Patriots. After spending his first two years with the team as a cornerback, he spent the 2023 campaign at safety. He only graded 75th among 95 qualifying safeties on Pro Football Focus, and the Patriots ultimately decided to move on this past offseason.

Mills caught on with the Giants back in March but spent most of his stint with the team on the NFI. He was cut by the Giants in August and has spent the first few weeks of the regular season unsigned.

While Mills struggled last season, there’s a chance he still has something left in the tank. The veteran got into 90 percent of his team’s defensive snaps as recently as 2021, and he was a staple of Doug Pederson‘s defense during his time in Philly (where he won a Super Bowl in 2017 as a starting CB). Current Jets GM Joe Douglas was in Philly’s front office for much of Mills’ tenure in Philly, so the executive is probably plenty familiar with what he’s getting.

It’s uncertain exactly where Mills would fit in New York. The team is locked in at cornerback with Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Michael Carter II, and safeties Chuck Clark and Tony Adams have barely missed any snaps this season. Most likely, Mills will provide the Jets with some veteran insurance in the likely chance that an injury pops up.

Chargers RT Joe Alt Expected To Miss Time; LT Rashawn Slater Suffers Pectoral Injury

September 23rd, 2024 at 5:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

It remains to be seen who the Chargers will have at quarterback for Week 4. Regardless of if Justin Herbert is on the field or not, the team will likely be shorthanded up front.

Right tackle Joe Alt suffered an MCL sprain during the Chargers’ loss on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As a result, this year’s fifth overall pick is expected to miss time. Rapoport does add, however, that surgery will not be needed.

Alt exceled on the blindside during his time at Notre Dame. He emerged as the top prospect in a deep offensive tackle class, and by the time his name was called by the Bolts it came as little surprise he would be joining the team. With Rashawn Slater in place on the left, Alt took on the right tackle gig as a rookie. Prior to the injury, he had thrived in that role.

The 21-year-old is unlikely to be available against the Chiefs in Week 4. Los Angeles is on the bye in Week 5, however, so Alt’s absence could prove to be short-lived especially since no surgery will not take place. The team will hope the same holds true of Slater, whom Rapoport notes is dealing with a strained pectoral muscle. The 2021 first-rounder exited Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.

In the second half of that game, Los Angeles recorded negative-five yards of total offense. Taylor Heinicke was at quarterback for much of that time, and the team’s injuries at both tackle spots were obviously a contributing factor to that production. Slater is set to collect $19.04MM next season on the fifth-year option, but it would not come as a surprise if the Chargers were to pursue an extension. Any injuries affecting him during the campaign could alter his value, though, of course.

As expected, Jim Harbaugh‘s first season as head coach of the Chargers has included a run-heavy approach on offense. That will remain especially true if Herbert cannot play in Week 4, but in addition to questions about his status it will be interesting to see how the team’s O-line looks when that game takes place.

Ravens To Sign Yannick Ngakoue

September 23rd, 2024 at 4:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Yannick Ngakoue is set to reunite with one of his former teams. The veteran edge rusher has a deal in place to return to the Ravens, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Ngakoue was acquired via trade by the Ravens in 2020. That move ended the brief Vikings stint which came after his tenure in Jacksonville, and led to high expectations. The Maryland product played nine games with Baltimore, but he only recorded three sacks during that span. As a result, this move comes as something of a surprise as the team eyes pass rushing depth.

This will be a practice squad agreement, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic adds. Ngakoue will therefore have time to acclimate to Baltimore defense – coordinated by first-year DC Zach Orr – before making his way onto the active roster. Today’s news adds to the 29-year-old’s journeyman status, as his first Ravens stint was followed by one-year tenures with the Raiders, Colts and Bears.

Ngakoue remained productive in terms of pass rush success during his time in Vegas and Indianapolis, totaling 19.5 sacks. His Bears tenure did not go as planned, though, and he was limited to a 13 games and four sacks due to a broken ankle. Now healed, Ngakoue was frequently linked to a Bears reunion during the offseason, although Chicago added a veteran presence along the edge by trading for Darrell Taylor. That took the Bears out of the running for Ngakoue, who will look to deliver a better year in 2024 than he did during his first Baltimore tenure.

The Ravens (who have totaled nine sacks in three games) lost Jadeveon Clowney in the offseason, though they were able to retain fellow veteran Kyle Van Noy. The latter is joined by Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac, a young group of pass rushers. Not known for his run defense at any stop along the way, Ngakoue will be tasked with providing the Ravens with an experienced artist for the 2024 season. Succeeding in the role will help his free agent market next spring.

Lions DE Marcus Davenport Suffers Season-Ending Elbow Injury

September 23rd, 2024 at 3:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

3:55pm: Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed Davenport is indeed out for the year. His Lions tenure (barring a new deal in the offseason) will thus end after 89 defensive snaps. Davenport’s market will no doubt take a hit in the spring after back-to-back campaigns severely shortened by injury.

1:48pm: Marcus Davenport‘s first Lions campaign has been interrupted by the latest major injury of his career. The veteran edge rusher exited Sunday’s game with an elbow ailment which he was unable to play through.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Davenport’s injury is “serious and significant.” Further testing will be needed to arrive at a firm diagnosis, but a long-term absence could very well be in store. Rapoport notes the 28-year-old could miss the remainder of the season as result of the injury.

Davenport entered the league with high expectations as a first-round pick. He was unable to suit up for a full campaign during any of his five years in New Orleans, however, and he took a one-year deal in free agency last year. That $13MM Vikings accord did not pan out with an ankle sprain requiring surgery and limiting him to only four contests.

To no surprise, the UTSA product’s free agent stock took a hit as a result. Davenport again inked a one-year contract on the open market, this time with the Lions. That $6MM pact contained $3MM guaranteed, a sign of the risk Detroit incurred by adding him. Davenport missed Week 2 due to a groin issue, but his 65% snap share when on the field this season demonstrates how large of a role the Lions had planned for him as a complement to Aidan Hutchinson.

The former No. 2 pick currently leads the league with 6.5 sacks, so Detroit’s pass rush will be expected to remain potent even if Davenport is shut down for the rest of the year. The likes of Josh Paschal and James Houston will be counted on to fill his spot in the starting lineup moving forward. Ahead of another trip to free agency, meanwhile, Davenport’s status will be worth watching closely.

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