HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Panthers Not Expected To Explore Bryce Young Trade

September 18th, 2024 at 10:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

10:17pm: Canales has since said (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport) a Young trade is “not something we’re really considering.” The rookie HC said he still believes Young can be a franchise quarterback but noted it is all hands on deck for this week.

12:57pm: The Panthers have gone through with a historically quick benching involving a No. 1 overall pick. With Dave Canales indicating this is not a mere reset effort involving Bryce Young, the 2023 top draftee’s status is in limbo after only 18 starts.

As Andy Dalton prepares to take the reins of an NFC South team’s offense early in a season for the second time in three years, the Panthers are coming to grips with the fact they traded a monster asset package — headlined by D.J. Moore and the 2024 No. 1 overall pick — for a player who is already drifting away from their big-picture plan.

Young is not taking this especially well, as could be expected. The 2021 Heisman winner is “pissed” about the Panthers’ decision, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Appeasing veterans — and potentially ownership and the front office — became a key factor here, as the team’s wide receivers were showing considerable frustration early. Young’s long-term development is on hold — potentially for good. This could soon start one of the more shocking QB searches in recent memory, considering the Panthers’ carousel and what they gave up to obtain the Young draft slot.

While Young has performed poorly — for the most part — since Carolina deployed him as its Week 1 starter last season, he was first asked to lead a poorly constructed offense with some conflicting voices in his ear before having to learn Canales’ system this offseason. Considering the dysfunction surrounding the Panthers during David Tepper‘s ownership tenure, many have voiced support for Young despite his shaky on-field work.

It is not known if Young will start again for the Panthers, but Fowler adds the team is not expected to explore an early trade. This would station Young as the backup, barring a Dalton injury, for the season’s remainder. Given the quick hooks involving many passers from the 2021 and 2022 draft classes, Young being elsewhere in 2025 would not be a complete shock. Though, NFL history does not provide many examples of a No. 1 overall pick ditched so soon.

All but one quarterback chosen first overall in the common draft era (1967-present) has remained with his original team at least four seasons. Even the lone exception here — Raiders mega-bust JaMarcus Russell — was given three years before being released in 2010. Among this lot, Jeff George (traded in 1994) and Baker Mayfield are the only other QBs to last fewer than five years with their first NFL franchises. Young being ditched after Year 3 would mark another blow to a Panthers franchise that has sustained many under Tepper’s leadership.

The Panthers still view Young as having the skillset to enjoy a productive NFL career, Fowler adds, making this benching strange due to this season being framed as the 5-foot-10 passer’s bounce-back year. Carolina’s offseason investments came about due to organizational interest in bettering Young’s situation. Despite the Panthers signing Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to big-ticket contracts and trading for Diontae Johnson, Young has not shown improvement. He ranks last in QBR by a wide margin.

The fallout from this benching could certainly determine Young’s Carolina future, and the Panthers determining they need to start over yet again would cast doubt about the team having the organizational infrastructure necessary to solve this long-running issue. For now, Young remains in the Panthers’ plans.

While it would break with NFL precedent for the Panthers to bail on Young as quickly as the Steelers, Falcons and Titans separated from their 2022 draftees (Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Malik Willis), those moves certainly show an early divorce is possible. Carolina, of course, would recoup nowhere near the value it gave up to acquire Young if a trade did ultimately come to pass.

Poll: Which 0-2 Team Has Best Chance To Make Playoffs?

September 18th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Nine NFL teams have started the regular season with an 0-2 record. Some teams (Panthers, Broncos) are experiencing expected struggles, with others (Ravens, Rams) disappointing fans hoping for a playoff run.

Since 2015, 74 teams have opened the year with back-to-back losses, (h/t James Boyd of The Athletic). Just eight qualified for the postseason, a 10.8% rate that suggests only one of this season’s 0-2 starters will make the playoffs.

The Ravens were a toe away from taking the Chiefs into overtime (or attempting a do-or-die two-point try) in Week 1 before blowing yet another double-digit fourth-quarter lead to the Raiders in Week 2. Baltimore gambled on a new-look offensive line after jettisoning three veteran starters during the offseason, and the results thus far have not been encouraging. Lamar Jackson faced heavy pressure at crucial moments across his first two games, with right guard Daniel Faalele struggling in his conversion from tackle. First-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr is dealing with the same early hiccups that his predecessor Mike Macdonald did back in 2022, surrendering a league-high 257 passing yards per game.

Unlike past years, though, Baltimore has started the season healthy, and it is capable of winning almost any game with Jackson under center. Several young Ravens like Odafe Oweh, Travis Jones, Zay Flowers, and Isaiah Likely have begun the year with promising starts, too, so the team has plenty of reason to remain optimistic about its long-term playoff chances. The Ravens will need to win at least two of their next three against the Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals to avoid a near-insurmountable 1-4 hole.

The division-rival Bengals are also 0-2, scoring just 10 points in Week 1 against the Patriots and losing to the Chiefs on a field goal as time expired. Ja’Marr Chase‘s hold-in did not extend into the regular season, but his lack of practice time and Tee Higgins‘ hamstring injury has hindered Cincinnati’s downfield passing game. The running back committee of Zack Moss and Chase Brown is a clear downgrade from Joe Mixon, and Cincinnati’s defense has struggled to apply pressure outside of Trey Hendrickson.

Cincinnati’s minus-7 point differential is the best of any 0-2 team, and the offense will likely improve as Chase gets more reps and Higgins recovers. The Bengals’ secondary has allowed the second-fewest pass yards through two weeks, and that includes a matchup with Patrick Mahomes. Cincinnati’s season will rely on keeping its three offensive stars healthy. A search for a pass rusher at the trade deadline to pair with Hendrickson may also be avenue the team explores.

The Rams hoped Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp returning to full health would pair with last year’s breakthroughs from Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams to create one of the league’s most explosive offenses. Injuries to Kupp and Nacua, plus starting offensive linemen Joe Noteboom, Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson, have decimated the Los Angeles offense — a clear factor in their Week 2 41-10 blowout loss to the Cardinals. The Rams also have three defensive backs on injured reserve, leaving their secondary shorthanded and placing a burden on a young front seven that lost Aaron Donald to retirement in the offseason.

That young defensive front has plenty of talent in second-year players Kobie Turner and Byron Young and rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. They will need to step up their play over the next several weeks to keep the Rams afloat as the offense desperately tries to get healthy in time for a late-season playoff push.

The Jaguars‘ anemic offense has emerged as the team’s biggest issue to start the season, as Trevor Lawrence‘s 51.0% completion rate is the second-lowest in the league. The fourth-year QB needs more consistency from his pass-catching group, with none of Lawrence’s targets having more than six receptions yet. The defense has allowed just 38 points, a top-10 mark, but has not forced any turnovers that could have impacted in the team’s one-score losses.

The Colts are dealing with the highs and lows of quarterback Anthony Richardson, as the second-year QB has produced some of the best throws of the young season while also owning the league’s lowest completion percentage (49.1%) and most interceptions (four). Veteran Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Adonai Mitchell have both struggled to find a rhythm on offense, and the defense has been gashed on the ground in both games.

Richardson’s continued development will advance the offense, which has plenty of potential with a strong offensive line and a fully healthy Jonathan Taylor. Indianapolis’ defense remains its biggest impediment to the postseason. Outside of the interior defensive duo of DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart, the Colts lack both consistent contributors and impact playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. And Buckner is now on IR.

The Titans have lost each of their first two games by a touchdown and have yet to score a point in the fourth quarter. Two of Will Levis‘ three primary receivers are new additions, as is running back Tony Pollard. As a result, Tennessee’s offense is a work in progress as the franchise’s decision-makers evaluate if Levis is the QB of the future. Defensively, the Titans have stars at all three levels: defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons, linebacker Harold Landry and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. The addition of Ernest Jones via preseason trade with the Rams may well be a shrewd move to shore up the middle, giving Tennessee the framework of a high-upside defense.

First-round pick Malik Nabers has been among the few bright spots during the Giants‘ 0-2 start, recording 15 catches for 193 yards to open the year. Daniel Jones has largely struggled when not targeting Nabers behind an offensive line with multiple new pieces. New York’s defense allowed efficient passing performances from Sam Darnold and Jayden Daniels while surrendering 5.3 yards per rushing attempt in Weeks 1 and 2. Offseason addition Brian Burns and 2022 first-rounder Kayvon Thibodeaux have yet to record sacks this season, making life harder for a young Giants secondary.

The Giants considered trading up for a rookie QB during this past draft, indicating that Jones’ future in New York depends on his performance this season. Either he succeeds, and the Giants stick with him and his contract, or he struggles and is replaced before next season, giving general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll the chance to save their tenure. This duo may not be on the hot seat presently, but this trajectory would point to temperatures rising before season’s end.

Sean Payton landed on first-rounder Bo Nix as his starting quarterback in Denver, and the rookie’s early struggles have only amplified the overall talent deficiency on the roster. Nix’s four interceptions and a virtually nonexistent running game have hindered the offense thus far, putting the defense in disadvantageous positions in both games. The Broncos’ underrated defensive line has gotten pressure on opposing QBs, but the team will need more than just Patrick Surtain in the secondary to stay in games with such a limited offense.

The Panthers benched Bryce Young after their 0-2 start, which included three interceptions and league-lows in points (13) and passing yards (245). A season-ending meniscus tear for Derrick Brown has added injury to insult to a Carolina franchise with little talent or direction at the moment. Switching to Andy Dalton at quarterback may stabilize the offense and aid the development of its young playmakers, but that still provides no long-term solution under center.

Which of these teams has the best chance to beat the above-referenced odds and rebound en route to the playoffs? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

The QB Market’s Substantial Growth

September 18th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

A year after a host of young quarterbacks jockeyed for position to form the $50MM-per-year club, the Cowboys made Dak Prescott the first 30-something member of this contingent. Facing historic player leverage, Dallas greenlit a deal that separated Prescott from the pack.

The NFL has managed to climb from $30MM being its highwater salary point to Prescott’s $60MM-AAV place in barely six years. It took more than 30 years for the league to climb from its first $1MM quarterback to Matt Ryan‘s $30MM-per-year deal from 2018, illustrating the booming market — as the salary cap continues to spike — the current crop enjoys.

Since the 1993 offseason brought the league’s first $5MM-per-year player, here are steps taken to move the market to where it currently stands:

July 15, 1993

  • Steve Young signs five-year, $25.25MM 49ers extension

As the free agency era began, the franchise tag also made its debut. Young was in the first class of tagged players, and the 49ers rewarded the reigning MVP by making him the NFL’s first $5MM-per-year player. Young’s agreement, which narrowly surpassed fellow future Hall of Famer John Elway‘s 1993 extension, covered four seasons before the southpaw passer landed another 49ers re-up in 1997.

March 2, 2001

  • Packers give Brett Favre 10-year, $101.5MM deal

Dubbed as a “lifetime contract,” Favre’s deal made him the league’s first eight-figure-per-year player. This contract ended up being acquired by the Jets in 2008.

December 29, 2005

Acting early, the Bengals re-upped Palmer late in his second season as their starter. Three years remained on Palmer’s rookie deal at the time. The former No. 1 overall pick did not receive a new one until after his 2011 trade to the Raiders.

July 13, 2012

  • Drew Brees ends franchise tag period with five-year, $100MM Saints accord

It took a bit longer for the NFL to get from $15MM per year to $20MM on average, as the 2011 CBA did not bring cap growth until the mid-2010s. Brees agreed to terms shortly before the July tag deadline, with this deal coming with a grievance that ruled the Saints QB’s tag counted as his second even though his first tag (2005) came from the Chargers. Brees winning the grievance worked as precedent in cases like Kirk Cousins‘ down the road.

June 23, 2017

Admitting he left some money on the table, Carr still became the NFL’s first $25MM-per-year man. He played on that contract through the 2021 season, before agreeing to terms on a third Raiders pact — one that came with a notable escape hatch — in 2022.

May 3, 2018

The floodgates began to open following Carr’s accord and Cousins’ fully guaranteed Vikings pact. Ryan did not land a deal after his 2016 MVP season, but following another Falcons playoff berth in 2017, their longtime starter reaped rewards. Ryan remained attached to this deal following a 2022 trade to the Colts.

April 16, 2019

Meeting their starter’s deadline, the Seahawks hit $35MM per year on the dual-threat standout’s third contract. Wilson played three seasons on this deal. Leery of another negotiation, Seattle bailed in 2022 via a blockbuster trade. Denver then authorized an extension — one it shed to set a dead money record — days before Wilson’s debut with the team.

July 6, 2020

Mahomes became the first NFLer to hit both the $40MM- and $45MM-per-year benchmarks, signing a deal that upped the market but gave the team tremendous flexibility. The Chiefs reworked Mahomes’ contract in 2023 but have gone to the restructure well three times, including this offseason. No one else has signed a contract spanning more than six years since, and Mahomes is the only NFLer tied to a team through 2031.

March 8, 2022

As trade rumors (most notably involving the Broncos) followed Rodgers since his feud with Packers management became known on draft weekend 2021, the four-time MVP agreed to stay for what turned out to be one more season in Green Bay. The Packers constructed the contract to include a bonus structure that allowed for an easier trade. Both the Packers and Jets restructured Rodgers’ deal, which did still tag Green Bay with more than $40MM in dead money, in 2023.

September 7, 2023

An offseason of one-upping that involved Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Justin Herbert ended with Burrow setting the market at $55MM per year. Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love hit this AAV in 2024.

September 8, 2024

Armed with unique leverage and wielding it during his latest round of extension talks, Prescott upped the market by $5MM per annum in becoming the NFL’s first $60MM-per-year performer. As they did during seminal 2021 negotiations, the Cowboys included no-tag and no-trade clauses in their starter’s accord.

Latest On Chukwuma Okorafor’s Patriots Departure

September 18th, 2024 at 9:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Following an ugly Week 1 cameo, Patriots offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor was placed on the exempt/left squad list after suddenly stepping away from the team. We heard at the time that this was “not a temporary decision,” and ESPN’s Mike Reiss echoes that sources aren’t expecting the veteran to play for the Patriots again this season.

Now, the organization will have to work with the player to determine how much of the guaranteed money he’ll end up receiving. As Reiss notes, Okorafor earned a $2MM signing bonus (of which $600K was deferred until 2025) and a guaranteed $1.125MM base salary. Reiss hints that the two sides may be facing impending negotiations to determine how much of the $3.125MM in guaranteed money Okorafor will ultimately get to keep. Indeed, coach Jerod Mayo revealed that the front office has already had talks with the player’s camp (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald).

The lineman also stepped away from more than $4MM in incentives. Okorafor would have earned $850K for a variety of snap milestones, including appearing from 50 to 90 percent of his team’s offensive snaps. After being “checked out mentally” and leaving the organization, there’s little chance Okorafor will hit most of those milestones even with a sudden return.

Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal provides some more insight into the player’s departure, with the reporter noting that the player is “contemplating his future in football.” Giardi also passed along quotes from Mayo, with the coach noting his own concern for Okorafor the person (vs. the player).

“I called him, and it had everything to do with the man,” Mayo said. “I wanted to make sure that he was good, in a good space and really considering and taking into consideration that this is what he wanted to do.”

After spending the past four years as the Steelers starting right tackle, Okorafor joined the Patriots this offseason to replace Trent Brown on the left side of the line. The acquisition struggled in his Patriots debut, allowing six QB pressures in his six pass-blocking opportunities, leading to him quickly being replaced by Vederian Lowe. The fill-in has already been ruled out for tomorrow, and Giardi notes that Caedan Wallace will likely get the call at LT against the Jets.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/18/24

September 18th, 2024 at 8:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: DT Dashaun Mallory

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: LB David Anenih

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/18/24

September 18th, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

  • Signed from practice squad: OLB Dondrea Tillman

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed from practice squad: OL Justin Dedich

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

A five-year Giants contributor, Ximenes logged 14 defensive snaps through two Patriots games. A rookie UDFA out of James Madison, Kromah has not played in a regular-season game yet. Because the Pats poached Kromah from the Bears’ P-squad, he must remain on New England’s 53-man roster for three weeks.

Additionally, free agent defensive back Alex Brown received a three-week suspension, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Brown has not been on an NFL roster since 2021 and has not played in a game since 2019.

Broncos Place RT Mike McGlinchey On IR

September 18th, 2024 at 3:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos enjoyed near-perfect attendance along their offensive line last season. As the team attempts to develop Bo Nix, one of its blockers will be out of the mix for a while.

Not intending to go week-to-week with Mike McGlinchey‘s MCL sprain, Denver is placing (via 9News’ Mike Klis) its right tackle on IR. The high-priced blocker went down during the Broncos’ loss to the Steelers and will be unable to return until at least Week 7.

This move comes weeks after the team lost swing backup Quinn Bailey for the season. Alex Palczewski, a 2023 UDFA who did not play as a rookie, is set to step in, per Sean Payton. Palczewski spent all of last season on IR, being placed on the injured list just before last season.

Given a five-year, $87.5MM deal, McGlinchey started 16 games in his Broncos debut. This came as Garett Bolles, Ben Powers, Lloyd Cushenberry and Quinn Meinerz suited up for 17 contests. This remarkable run of health contrasted from the 2022 season, when Denver played stretches without Bolles, Cushenberry and Meinerz. That year also featured RT instability, leading to yet another investment in a position the franchise had struggled to fill since the Peyton Manning years.

In Week 1, McGlinchey became the first Bronco to open back-to-back seasons at right tackle since Orlando Franklin from 2012-13. The Broncos poached the veteran from the 49ers, who had stood down while paying Trent Williams top LT money, and gave him a contract that called for his 2025 salary ($17.5MM) to become fully guaranteed in March 2024. McGlinchey’s 2025 money vested after he submitted a middling first season in Denver. Though, the Broncos could find a gulf between a seventh-year vet — who was a top-10 pick — and a UDFA set for his third career game.

The team signed Matt Peart as a swing option this offseason, and the veteran played both right and left tackle in New York. Palczewski, 25, earned second-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-America acclaim in his final Fighting Illini season. After being in Payton’s system for a year (albeit on IR), he will be entrusted to help protect Nix amid the rookie QB’s sluggish start.

Chiefs Sign RB Keaontay Ingram From Practice Squad

September 18th, 2024 at 12:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kareem Hunt‘s return to Kansas City may not come with an immediate return to the team’s active roster. The Chiefs first chose to bump up one of their current practice squad running backs.

Keaontay Ingram is now on the defending champions’ 53-man roster, while Hunt is officially on their practice squad. Ingram joins Samaje Perine and rookie UDFA Carson Steele on Kansas City’s active roster.

Initially catching on with the Chiefs’ P-squad in late November of last year, Ingram was originally a Cardinals sixth-round pick in 2022. The Cards selected Ingram in Steve Keim‘s final draft as GM but waived him midway through last season, Monti Ossenfort‘s first running the front office. Ingram played in 20 games with Arizona, logging 62 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown in limited duty. Ingram has not played in a regular-season game as a Chief.

Hunt can be elevated from the practice squad up to three times, but as a vested veteran, the former rushing champion can move back and forth to the Chiefs’ P-squad and 53-man roster — should the team take this route after the elevation period ends — up until the day after the trade deadline. Players of all experience levels are subject to waivers following that point. Hunt, however, should probably be expected to move to the Chiefs’ 53-man roster and stay once his elevation period ends.

The Chiefs are in this bind because Clyde Edwards-Helaire landed on the reserve/non-football illness list before Isiah Pacheco‘s fibula fracture. Andy Reid said the team’s starter is undergoing surgery today. Pacheco is aiming to return at some point during the season’s second half. Additionally, the Chiefs signed linebacker Cole Christiansen from their practice squad and officially announced Pacheco’s IR move.

Cowboys To Place DT Jordan Phillips On IR

September 18th, 2024 at 11:16am CST by Sam Robinson

One of two 30-something defensive tackles the Cowboys acquired just before the season, Jordan Phillips will not make it to Week 3 on the team’s active roster. The team is placing the veteran D-lineman on IR, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins.

A wrist injury will move Phillips off the roster. This is familiar territory for the well-traveled veteran, who finished last season on IR due to a wrist ailment. The Giants traded Phillips to the Cowboys in mid-August, with that transaction preceding the team’s Linval Joseph addition.

The Cowboys are planning to sign Carlos Watkins to take Phillips’ roster spot, All City DLLS’ Clarence Hill tweets. Watkins is currently on the Commanders’ practice squad, meaning he must spend at least three weeks on the Cowboys’ 53-man roster due to this poaching. Watkins played the 2021 and ’22 seasons in Dallas before moving on.

Offering an interesting take on this development, Phillips said Wednesday (via Hill) nothing is wrong with his wrist. As such, his status with the organization will be worth monitoring after two games in uniform. The Cowboys are, however, calling this a sprained wrist and are exercising caution, Calvin Watkins adds. Phillips underwent surgery following his 2023 injury, per the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore, but is not expected to need another procedure. This is an interesting back-and-forth, though Phillips’ place on the backup tier reduces its relevance.

Phillips, who will turn 32 this week, must miss at least four games. He has played in both Cowboys contests as a backup, recording two tackles on 34 defensive snaps. The Cowboys brought in Phillips and Joseph to help shore up their run defense. That effort has not gone especially well, with the Saints rampaging for 190 yards on the ground in their stunning Week 2 romp. Joseph has logged 37 snaps as a backup DT.

The Giants signed Phillips, whose Bills tenure overlapped with Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, this offseason but dealt him to their division rivals in a low-end pick-swap agreement. The Cowboys sent a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Giants for Phillips and a 2026 seventh-rounder. By playing in two games, Phillips has already satisfied the conditions of the trade in order for the picks to transfer.

Buffalo turned back to Phillips as a starter following DaQuan Jones‘ pec tear last season, and the multi-stint Bill started nine games with the team. Pro Football Focus rated Phillips as one of the league’s worst interior D-linemen in 2023. Phillips’ best work came in 2019, when he led the Bills with 9.5 sacks ahead of a nice Cardinals contract. Arizona bailed on that deal after two seasons, leading the former Dolphins second-round pick back to Buffalo in 2022.

Watkins, 30, also brings extensive experience to the equation. One of a few ex-Cowboys to rejoin Dan Quinn in Washington, Watkins landed in the nation’s capital after the Rams cut him late last month. Watkins joined Washington’s practice squad soon after. Watkins started 18 Cowboys games from 2021-22. He played in one Commanders game this season but will now be set to join Joseph, Mazi Smith and Osa Odighizuwa on Dallas’ DT depth chart.

Vikings Audition LB Kwon Alexander

September 18th, 2024 at 10:19am CST by Sam Robinson

Injuries have become a consistent problem for Kwon Alexander, who has done well to find opportunities despite a host of setbacks. The veteran linebacker is attempting another comeback, this time from an Achilles tear that ended his season with the Steelers.

The Falcons brought in Alexander for a recent workout, and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicates the Vikings did the same. Alexander has now been with five NFL teams, most recently the Steelers in 2023, during a nine-year career. He landed gigs in late July — with the Jets and Steelers — over the past two years, but thanks to the Achilles injury suffered in November, that timetable understandably changed in 2024.

Alexander, 30, played in nine Pittsburgh games last season while making two starts before going down in a Packers matchup November 12. Alexander has continually made it back from injury issues. This dates back to a 2018 ACL tear while with the Buccaneers. Alexander then sustained a torn pec during his first season on a lucrative 49ers contract. Last year’s Achilles tear also was not Alexander’s first as a pro, with the veteran defender going down with the same injury late in the 2020 season while with the Saints.

Considering Alexander’s age and injury past, it is impressive he has continued to resurface. Last season, the former Bucs standout made 41 tackles (five for loss) and intercepted a pass for a Steelers team that encountered health issues at linebacker. Alexander started 12 games for Robert Saleh‘s top-five defense in 2022, and while he played 17 games, the former fourth-round pick was a part-time player (49% usage rate) alongside standouts C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams.

For his career, Alexander has made 88 starts. The Vikings did work on their defensive second level this offseason, adding Minneapolis-area native Blake Cashman in free agency and hybrid player Andrew Van Ginkel. The team won bidding wars for both. Minnesota has also seen Ivan Pace go from 2023 UDFA to starter at the position. Kamu Grugier-Hill and 2022 third-rounder Brian Asamoah are in place behind Cashman and Pace, though neither has played a defensive snap thus far this season.

If healthy, Alexander would provide second-level depth to a team. But he is certainly running out of chances due to the growing list of setbacks sustained during a lengthy career.

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