HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/24

September 20th, 2024 at 7:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions to end the week:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After not seeing the field since 2022, Brewer has been called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation in each of the first two weeks of 2024. With the NFL rules restricting practice squad players to three elevations in one contract, this was going to be necessary eventually in order for Brewer to appear in a fourth game. If Brewer is waived and re-signed to the practice squad, his three-game limit should reset.

After spending his rookie season as an undrafted cornerback for Tampa Bay in 2023, Isaac was waived before the start of this year. He was claimed by the Panthers, but his time in Carolina didn’t last long as he was waived a week and a half later. He re-signed with the Buccaneers amidst a number of injuries in the secondary before today’s departure.

Raiders DE Malcolm Koonce To Miss Season

September 20th, 2024 at 6:17pm CST by Ely Allen

The Raiders got some bad news to start the season when it was announced that breakout pass rusher Malcolm Koonce would miss at least the first four games of the season after being placed on injured reserve the day before the season opener. Today, that news just got a lot worse as Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report breaks that Koonce a serious knee injury suffered in a recent practice will in fact end his 2024 campaign.

The team had been holding out hope that Koonce would be able to make a return at some point in the season if the injury wasn’t too severe, per Schultz. After weighing several options, though, it was determined that a surgery was necessary, one that would end Koonce’s 2024 season.

A former third-round pick for Las Vegas out of Buffalo, Koonce spent all but five games of his rookie season sitting out with injury. Despite not making his NFL debut until Week 13 and although he only played seven snaps, Koonce delivered a sack in his first game of professional football. He would repeat the feat a week later, while only playing 15 snaps. Those 15 defensive snaps were the most action he’d see in his first two years as he spent most of his sophomore campaign on special teams.

After the depth chart cleared out a bit with the departures of Chandler Jones and Clelin Ferrell, Koonce was finally able to get ample snaps on defense last year, starting 11 games. Making the most of his time, Koonce delivered a breakout season, tallying career highs in total tackles (43), sacks (8.0), tackles for loss (9), quarterback hits (17), and forced fumbles (3). With Koonce heading into the final year of his rookie deal with plenty to prove, the Raiders were excited to have Koonce as a productive pass rusher across from defensive star Maxx Crosby this season.

This news is obviously toughest on Koonce, who, after two years, had finally distanced himself from an injury-plagued rookie season. The fourth-year defender was likely looking forward to putting forth another career year in a contract year, setting himself up for a big payday via extension or free agency. Instead, teams will have to speculate off of the 2023 season (his freshest work), and any deals he signs will likely be heavily dependent on a physical.

Another member of the 2021 NFL Draft class, Janarius Robinson has stepped up in Koonce’s absence so far this season. Robinson hasn’t registered a stat in the first few weeks of the season, but Las Vegas doesn’t have much choice but to stick with him as they work to find someone to work across from Crosby. Former first-round pick Tyree Wilson suffered a knee sprain in the team’s season opener and missed last week’s win over the Ravens as a result.

With Wilson and Koonce out, the team signed Charles Snowden from the practice squad to the active roster and filled his spot on the taxi squad with another former first-round pick in K’Lavon Chaisson. The team was already seeking options to add more pass rushers, but with the Koonce news today, they’ll be even more pressed to make a move.

Eagles’ Devin White Addresses Backup Role

September 20th, 2024 at 5:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Devin White was added in free agency as part of the Eagles’ efforts to rebuild at the linebacker position. The former Buccaneers Pro Bowler appeared to be on track for a starting role during the offseason, but that has not proven to be the case early in 2024.

White lost out on a first-team defensive gig to Nakobe Dean, with the Eagles counting on the 2022 third-rounder to remain healthy and take a step forward in his development. White inked a one-year deal in free agency while aiming to rebuild his value. The former top five pick lost out his starting spot at the end of his Bucs tenure, and he expected to reclaim it upon signing with Philadelphia.

“At the end of the day, that’s not my call,” White said when expressing his surprise at being a backup (via PHLY’s Zach Berman). “I’m going to do what’s asked of me and stay ready — whether that’s the last two minutes of the game or the first two minutes of the game… That’s what I came here to do, rewrite the story for my career. However that plays out, I don’t control that… Just come to work and be a pro about everything.”

An ankle injury kept the LSU product from being able to play in the season opener. He returned to full health in time for Week 2 but was a healthy scratch. White does not have extensive experience playing special teams, and it is uncommon for backup linebackers in particular to dress for games without handling third phase responsibilities. It will be interesting to see how Philadelphia proceeds with White over the coming weeks as he seeks to boost his stock ahead of the 2025 offseason.

Inconsistency against the run was an issue during his Buccaneers tenure, and it was a factor in the team’s decision not to authorize a big-money extension. White originally sought out a deal at or near the top of the LB market, but he settled for a $4MM accord with the Eagles. His market value would, of course, take a hit if he were to spend a long stretch on the sidelines and ESPN’s Dan Graziano names White as a potential trade candidate if he does not work his way into the starting lineup.

The Eagles have Dean and Zack Baun in place atop the depth chart for the time being. White joins special teamer Oren Burks and rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. as backup options, but it remains to be seen how he will fit into the team’s plans moving forward.

IR Possible For Broncos OLB Baron Browning

September 20th, 2024 at 4:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

A foot injury will keep Baron Browning out for Week 3. The fourth-year Broncos edge rusher could be sidelined for an extended period, however.

Head coach Sean Payton replied “we’ll see” when asked if Browning could land on injured reserve (h/t Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). Placing him on IR would guarantee at least a four-game absence and leave the team without a key defender. Browning has started each of the Broncos’ games in 2024, having done so 26 times during his previous three seasons.

Injuries have been an issue for the 25-year-old during his NFL tenure. Browning was limited to 14 games during each of his first two campaigns, and a meniscus injury left him unavailable for the start of the 2023 season. When healthy, he has been a key contributor by logging a snap share of at least 60% every year from 2021-23. A switch from inside to outside linebacker was followed by numerous veteran departures along the edge, paving the way for Browning to handle a regular pass-rushing role.

The Ohio State product notched five sacks in 2022, and he followed that up with 4.5 in only 10 games last year. That production led to high expectations ahead of this season, but Browning was held to just five tackles and no pressures prior to suffering his latest injury. As a pending free agent, an extended stay on the mend would hinder his market value in addition to leaving Denver without a starter in the front seven.

With Browning on the sidelines for at least Sunday’s game, the Broncos will rely on Jonathan Cooper, Nik Bonitto and third-round rookie Jonah Elliss along the edge. The team dedicated one of its eight IR activations before the regular season started in the case of cornerback Damarri Mathis. Doing the same may soon be necessary as it pertains to Browning.

Cowboys Not Eyeing RB Addition

September 20th, 2024 at 2:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

The running back position was a major talking point for the Cowboys this offseason, one in which Tony Pollard departed as a free agent. The team’s moves since then have not quelled debate about whether more is required, but further additions are not a priority at the moment.

“A few of the media have gotten out here and written some stories early about how we needed a running back in the draft or how we need a running back, and they’re trying to cover their you-know-what as we go through the season,” owner Jerry Jones said during a Friday appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).

Dallas reunited with Ezekiel Elliott on a one-year deal, although the team did so with a committee approach in mind. Elliott logged at least 231 carries during each of his first seven seasons as a Cowboy before ceding time to Pollard and being released after the 2022 season. That paved the way for a one-and-done campaign in New England during which the 29-year-old set a new career low in yards per carry (3.5). Elliott has matched that figure through two games while logging a 45% snap share.

The Cowboys retained Rico Dowdle in the offseason after he served in a depth capacity with the team for several years. The former UDFA took on an increased role in 2023 with a 22% snap share; that mark has doubled in the early portion of the current campaign. Dowdle received 106 total touches last year, but he is well on track to surpass that figure with 20 through two weeks in 2024.

Not long before the start of the campaign, the Cowboys added Dalvin Cook to their practice squad. The four-time Pro Bowler had a forgettable 2023 season split between the Jets and Ravens, but Dallas represents an opportunity to rebound. Cook, 29, has yet to be promoted to the active roster. Doing so would be a feasible move from the team’s perspective before seeking out any additions.

Dallas has averaged just 85 rushing yards per game this year, which ranks 26th in the league. Frequently linked to Jonathon Brooks in particular leading up to the draft, the team did not add any rookies in the backfield. Reliance on Elliott, Dowdle, 2023 sixth-rounder Deuce Vaughn and (at some point) Cook will remain the case until a move is deemed necessary. With Kareem Hunt having returned to the Chiefs this week, though, the free agent pool has thinned.

Ravens, RB Justice Hill Agree To Extension

September 20th, 2024 at 11:44am CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens were among the teams to make a notable outside free agent addition at the running back spot this offseason. One of Baltimore’s incumbent options in the backfield now has a new deal in place, though.

Justice Hill has agreed to an extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. This will be a two-year, $6MM deal for the veteran, he adds. Hill – who has spent his entire career in Baltimore – will be under contract through the 2026 season as a result of this news, which is now official.

Selected in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, Hill has remained a complementary option in the backfield through much of his tenure. He was one of three Ravens running backs who suffered a season-ending injury before the 2021 campaign began, but since then he has not had availability issues. Hill has remained a core special teams contributor (both as a kick returner and in other roles), but this new deal comes in the wake of his most productive campaign.

The 26-year-old set career highs across the board in 2023, racking up 593 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns. With J.K. Dobbins suffering an Achilles tear early in the year, Hill was counted on as a key member of the backfield throughout the campaign while splitting reps with Gus Edwards and – for a stretch in the middle of the season – undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell. Plenty has changed since the end of the 2023 slate.

Dobbins and Edwards departed in free agency, while the Ravens added Derrick Henry on a two-year deal. The longtime Titans star nearly found himself in Baltimore ahead of the 2023 trade deadline, but he joined the team amidst high expectations on early downs and goal line situations in particular. With Mitchell continuing to rehab the ACL tear which ended his encouraging rookie year, Hill has been leaned on as a key pass-catching option early in 2024. Today’s deal means that will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Oklahoma State product signed a two-year extension in March 2023; that pact carried an AAV of $2.55MM. His work on offense and special teams since then has clearly drawn strong reviews from the team and earned him a slight raise. The Ravens’ Henry investment does not include any guaranteed salary for next year, leading to uncertainty regarding his status next spring. Likewise, it remains to be seen how Mitchell will fare and how large of a workload he will handle once healthy. However Baltimore’s RB room shakes out in 2024 and beyond, Hill will be a notable presence in it.

QB Jacoby Brissett To Remain Patriots’ Starter

September 20th, 2024 at 11:04am CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday night saw both Patriots quarterbacks struggle. Drake Maye finished the lopsided loss, but Jacoby Brissett was in place for much of the game. New England will stick with the veteran moving forward.

“Jacoby is our quarterback until I say he’s not the quarterback,” head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed during a Friday press conference (video link). “I thought last night, he showed a lot of toughness, a lot of grit. On protection breakdowns, tried to do what we asked him to do. But I would say, just as a team, as a coaching staff, we’ve just got to be better.”

The Patriots managed just 139 yards of offense, scoring three points. Brissett completed 12 of 18 pass attempts, but he totaled only 98 yards while taking five sacks. Maye logged 16 snaps in relief, but he took a pair of sacks and completed half of his eight passes. In the wake of a struggle along the offensive line in particular, it comes as no surprise Brissett will remain atop the depth chart for now.

Mayo did add, however, that the team’s practice rep allocation will remain the same moving forward. As a result, Maye will continue to take roughly 30% of the snaps with the first-team offense. As Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer noted prior to yesterday’s game, the first-round rookie has shared reps with both the first-team unit and the scout team in addition to side work with quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney (video link). Maye’s development is a key priority for the 2024 season, and the No. 3 pick drew praise from Mayo for his training camp and preseason showings before a final decision on the team’s starting quarterback was made.

Brissett got the nod for the QB1 spot to start the year, but the expectation has remained that Maye will take over at some point during the campaign. Patience while the team’s offensive line and skill position corps develops is a sensible approach for the Patriots, though, and Brissett is a familiar passer to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. Hired after a strong push was made to bring Nick Caley back into the organization under the OC title, Van Pelt will be counted on as a key figure in Maye’s acclimation to the NFL. That process will continue to take place in a backup capacity for the time being.

Robert Kraft Picked Jerod Mayo As Bill Belichick’s HC Successor Five Years Ago

September 19th, 2024 at 9:23pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Not featuring a coaching search this year, the Patriots have still not conducted a true hunt for their sideline leader since agreeing to send the Jets trade compensation for Bill Belichick in 2000. Their effort to succeed the all-time coaching great proved interesting despite not contributing much to PFR’s latest HC Search Tracker.

Rather than go through a full-scale interview process, the Patriots included language in Jerod Mayo‘s contract making him the heir apparent. Robert Kraft confirmed this has been his plan for a while. The longtime Patriots owner revealed on the Prime Video Thursday Night broadcast Mayo became his pick to succeed Belichick five years ago.

“Jerod learned a lot from Bill in the technical background,” Kraft said. “But they’re each special individuals. I’ve gotten to know Jerod over the last 15 years and, you know, I picked him five years ago to be our next head coach.”

Belichick and the Patriots mutually parted ways after the 2023 season, ending his 24-year tenure as the team’s head coach and de facto general manager. While it was not known to the outside NFL world the Pats had Mayo as their open-and-shut pick, the team was the first to name a new coach during this year’s carousel.

The No. 10 overall pick in 2008, Mayo fared well under Belichick as a player and an assistant. As a starting inside linebacker, Mayo earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Mayo spent his entire eight-year playing career in New England under Belichick and retired after struggling with injuries in his last few seasons, which included a victory in Super Bowl XLIX.

Belichick later hired Mayo as his inside linebackers coach in 2019, a position the latter held until he was promoted to head coach earlier this year. Mayo quickly earned Kraft’s trust, as evident from the owner identifying him as his next leader in his first year on staff, but also drew attention around the league as a potential future head coach.

After interviews with the Broncos, Eagles, and Raiders for their head coaching openings from 2021-22, Kraft was so worried he might lose Mayo that he inserted a succession clause into his former linebacker’s contract to guarantee Mayo would succeed Belichick after he left New England, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Mayo declined a Panthers HC interview last year, and the Patriots released a statement indicating he was staying. Kraft confirmed in March 2023 Mayo loomed as a potential Belichick heir apparent, and while ties to Mike Vrabel emerged late last season, it does not appear the owner deviated from his long-held internal plan.

The succession clause allowed the Patriots to get around the Rooney Rule requiring NFL teams to interview at least two external minority candidates for open HC positions. Roger Goodell (via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss) called the succession clause “smart management” by the Patriots, who hired Mayo as their first Black head coach in franchise history on January 12.

Mayo began his head coaching career with a surprising upset of the Bengals in Week 1 before falling to the Seahawks in overtime in Week 2. While the Patriots did not enter this season with much in the way of expectations, Mayo will attempt to reward the owner’s faith in his first season at the helm.

Latest On Steelers’ QB Situation

September 19th, 2024 at 9:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers are 2-0 with Justin Fields at the helm of their offense, and he is likely to make a third straight start on Sunday. Russell Wilson is still not practicing in full, but when he is healthy his place on the depth chart will be worth watching closely.

Wilson continues to rehab the calf injury which cost him time during training camp and which he reaggravated shortly before the start of the season. Head coach Mike Tomlin has stated Wilson remains the team’s starter (the role he officially earned after the preseason) once he returns to full health, although strong showings from Fields could sway the team’s opinion on that front. Tomlin does not have a true decision to make until both passers are healthy, but Wilson is making progress.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Seahawks Super Bowl winner will likely receive a chance as the team’s starter once he has recovered. Wilson’s command of the offense, Fowler notes, remains an area where he is deemed to have an advantage over Fields. That is one factor which led to Wilson remaining in pole position for the QB1 spot throughout the offseason, in addition to his experience and lack of turnover issues relative to Fields. The latter has done well in that regard so far, though, and he will aim to deliver another clean performance on Sunday.

Pittsburgh ranks just 26th in scoring at the moment and 29th in passing yardage. The team has scored only one offensive touchdown through two weeks, and improved efficiency (at least, to a degree) will be needed over the course of the campaign. Fields was viewed by many as the signal-caller with the most upside in the Steelers’ QB room, and an update on this situation from before their Week 2 win suggested Tomlin could stick with the former Bears draftee even when Wilson is back to 100%.

“I’m definitely gaining ground,” Wilson – who practiced on a limited basis Thursday – said, via Fowler’s colleague Brooke Pryor. “I feel good. I was able to do a lot more work today, yesterday, so we’re getting better every day.”

Both Wilson and Fields are pending free agents, so their respective financial futures depend on how the 2024 season shakes out. Wilson could very well still see the field at some point, especially if Tomlin holds firm on the team’s pecking order at the position. As the Kenny Pickett–Mason Rudolph situation demonstrated last year, though, changes to the depth chart can be made based on unexpected performances. When (or if) Wilson gets back in the fold will be an interesting storyline to follow.

Patriots Offered Rams’ Nick Caley OC Job

September 19th, 2024 at 9:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nick Caley‘s name resurfaced on the OC radar this offseason, but only with one team. The Rams assistant took two interviews with the Patriots, his employer from 2015-22. This process ended with a job offer.

In place on Bill Belichick‘s staff — primarily as tight ends coach — for nearly a decade, Caley joined the Rams once the Patriots hired Bill O’Brien as OC in 2023. The Pats separated from Belichick but revisited their Caley OC search a year after he did not land the job. The team’s effort included a high-end offer to call plays under Jerod Mayo, SI.com’s Albert Breer said during an appearance on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand (via NBC Sports Boston).

Although Caley is an aspiring first-time coordinator, Breer notes the Patriots presented him an offer of nearly $3MM per year to take their OC position. That is toward the top of the coordinator spectrum, though coaching salaries do not have to be disclosed in the way player contracts do. Somewhat surprisingly (based on what we now know), Caley passed. The job went to recently dismissed Browns OC Alex Van Pelt, who is a play-calling OC for the first time in 15 years.

A Caley hire would have fit in with how the Patriots built their team and coaching staff this offseason. Despite Belichick’s ouster, the Pats promoted Mayo and elevated DeMarcus Covington to defensive coordinator. Caley would not have been a direct promotion, but considering his past in Foxborough, he certainly made sense as a return candidate given the way this offseason played out in New England. A host of re-signings and extensions followed the club’s coaching decisions, including a three-year, $27MM deal for ex-Caley pupil Hunter Henry.

The Rams have since moved Caley to pass-game coordinator under Sean McVay and OC Mike LaFleur. Caley, 41, is still in charge of the Rams’ tight ends but carries a new title that often matters when OC-needy teams are conducting searches. He is also tied to a team that has sent several assistants to coordinator roles and coordinators to HC positions.

Last year brought more interest in Caley, with the Texans and Jets joining the Patriots in interviewing the promising assistant. Caley was on an expiring contract in 2023 but still had a chance to stay. Post-Belichick interest remained, though it is worth wondering if that door is now closed despite the sides’ lengthy history.

Prior to joining McVay’s staff, Caley’s only NFL work had come in New England. He left the college ranks for a Pats assistant job in 2015, eventually collecting two Super Bowl rings and being given the chance to coach Rob Gronkowski in the final years of the all-time great’s Patriots run. The Pats gave Caley increased responsibility in 2022 as well, and other teams took notice.

As injuries force the Rams into numerous changes early this season, Caley is taking his chances as an assistant under one of the NFL’s top HCs. It stands to reason the northeast Ohio native viewed his current position as one that would help him land other coordinator interviews down the road. It should be expected Caley resurfaces on the coordinator carousel next year, but this certainly qualifies as a notable “what if?” involving he and the Patriots.

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