HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr. Facing Multi-Week Absence

September 9th, 2024 at 4:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tampa Bay’s secondary will without its highest-paid member for the time being. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is dealing with an ankle and foot sprain suffered on Sunday, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports.

Winfield is set to miss a “couple weeks” as a result of the ailment, Schultz adds. Tampa’s cornerback depth was tested in Week 1, and Bryce Hall is likely out for the season. Missing Winfield for any period of time would deal a more notable blow to the Buccaneers’ defense, of course. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman notes Winfield’s timeline may actually be in the three-to-four week range.

The 26-year-old was a full-time starter throughout his first four seasons with Tampa. In 2023, he set career highs in tackles (122), sacks (six), interceptions (three) and pass breakups (12) while leading the league with six forced fumbles. Filling that statsheet to that extent earned him a first-team All-Pro nod and cemented his status as a prime extension candidate.

Winfield was one of many Buccaneers who received a long-term deal in the offseason keeping him in place for the foreseeable future. The Minnesota product landed $84.1MM on a four-year extension, making him the league’s highest-paid defensive back at the time. The lead in terms of AAV briefly went to Patrick Surtain before returning to fellow corner Jalen Ramsey, but the lucrative nature of Tampa’s Winfield commitment underscores his importance to the team’s defense.

The Buccaneers brought back Jordan Whitehead in free agency after he spent two years with the Jets. The 27-year-old played every snap in the team’s win over the Commanders, and he will be counted on to remain a full-time starter with Winfield temporarily out of the fold. Christian Izien worked as a safety in training camp this year after he played as a slot corner during his rookie campaign; the former UDFA ended Sunday as a boundary corner due to injuries, but he could return to the backend as early as Week 2.

Tampa Bay also has veteran Tavierre Thomas and third-round rookie Tykee Smith in place. Both players have experience at multiple spots in the secondary, and the team’s healthy defensive backs may need to wear multiple hats depending on the health situation at corner. No one player will be expected to duplicate Winfield’s versatility while he is away, but the Bucs will need to find a means of replacing his production for the coming weeks.

Commanders Release K Cade York; Team Signs K Austin Seibert

September 9th, 2024 at 3:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cade York was acquired via trade by the Commanders in advance of Week 1 to serve as their kicker, but his audition in the nation’s capital has proved to be short-lived. The team announced on Monday he has been released. A replacement appears to be in place, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Washington plans to sign Austin Seibert.

York was drafted by the Browns in 2022, and he connected on 75% of his field goal attempts as a rookie. That year was followed by considerable struggles during the subsequent offseason, leading Cleveland to waive him and bring in Dustin Hopkins. The veteran had a strong debut Browns season last year, and he was rewarded with an extension in the offseason.

York spent time with the Titans and Giants in 2023, although he did not see any regular season action. The LSU product returned to Cleveland until he was traded to the Commanders in late August. That deal offered Washington yet another option in the kicking game after an offseason filled with changes at the position, and it included a conditional seventh-round pick heading the Browns’ way. Since York was let go after less than two weeks with Washington, though, that pick will not go to Cleveland, Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes.

During Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers, York made both of his extra point attempts but he went 0-for-2 on field goal kicks. That has led to the Commanders moving on in short order, and it will likely leave him on the open market for an extended period. Washington will attempt to move forward with Seibert, whom Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports has indeed been signed.

The 27-year-old also began his career with the Browns, and he has additionally spent time with the Lions and Jets. Seibert made one appearance for New York last year, and he remained with the team through the preseason. Considering the presence of Greg Zuerlein, however, Seibert was released during roster cuts. The Oklahoma product has connected on 80.4% of his field goal tries and 90.3% of his extra point attempts. A consistent showing in Washington will allow him to at least find a permanent gig for one year.

Tyree Wilson Suffers Knee Sprain; Raiders Eyeing Edge Rush Addition

September 9th, 2024 at 2:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders’ pass rush was already shorthanded to begin the campaign, and the unit was dealt another blow on Sunday. Tyree Wilson suffered a knee sprain during the team’s loss to the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport notes Wilson’s knee is intact. While further testing is yet to take place, that is an encouraging sign the worst-case scenario has been avoided. Nevertheless, Wilson could be in line for missed time, something which would exacerbate the absence of Malcolm Koonce. A knee injury suffered during practice this week landed Koonce on injured reserve, and he is in danger of missing the entire 2024 campaign.

Wilson was in line to handle an increased workload in the wake of Koonce’s injury. The 2023 seventh overall pick logged a 44% snap share as a rookie, although his production fell short of expectations. Wilson totaled 3.5 sacks, a stark contrast to the eight Koonce managed while operating opposite Maxx Crosby. Missed time will halt Wilson’s development, although a long-term absence may not be in store for him.

Given the injuries suffered along the edge, though, Vegas will likely be in the market for an addition. Head coach Antonio Pierce said on Monday general manager Tom Telesco is “working on” bringing in depth options at the defensive end spot (h/t Vic Tafur of The Athletic). It would come as no surprise if free agent workouts including some of the top veterans on the market were to take place over the coming days.

Carl Lawson, Yannick Ngakoue, Romeo Okwara and Shaq Lawson are among the most experienced edge defenders who are unsigned at the moment. The Raiders currently have nearly $28.5MM in cap space, so a short-term addition would certainly be feasible. How the team proceeds will no doubt be heavily influenced by Wilson’s prognosis, but Vegas will be worth watching in the near future with respect to a signing aimed at providing depth.

Jaguars CB Tyson Campbell To Miss Time

September 9th, 2024 at 1:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Week 1 produced a loss on the scoreboard and the depth chart for the Jaguars. Head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday that cornerback Tyson Campbell will miss time due to a hamstring injury.

Pederson did not offer a firm recovery timeline, but the fact he is already slated to miss regular season action is of course an unwanted development for Jacksonville. Campbell was one of several players to receive a long-term extension this offseason, landing a four-year, $76.5MM deal. The pact is the most lucrative one for corners who have yet to receive a Pro Bowl nod.

Being without Campbell for any stretch will therefore represent a notable blow to Jacksonville’s secondary. The 24-year-old has started all but one of his career games, serving as a key contributor against the pass over the course of his rookie contract. He totaled six interceptions and 30 pass deflections across his first three years in the league, and expectations are high for continued production moving forward.

That effort will be paused in 2024 while Campbell recovers. It would come as no surprise if the Jaguars were to proceed with caution given his importance to the secondary, but any missed time will be acutely felt. Jacksonville surrendered 319 passing yards against the Dolphins on Sunday, and the team’s secondary will be shorthanded while he is sidelined, meaning more underwhelming performances could be on hand. The Jags have games against the Browns, Bills, Texans and Colts on tap before a London contest versus the Bears.

Jacksonville has free agent addition Ronald Darby along with the likes of Jarrian Jones, Deantre Prince and Montaric Brown available as cornerback options. Darnell Savage – also added in free agency this year – is in place as a slot corner, but Campbell’s injury will compound the loss of Darious Williams after he was released. Further updates on Campbell’s situation will be worth monitoring closely.

Jets To Sign KR Kene Nwangwu

September 9th, 2024 at 12:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after a visit with the Jets, Kene Nwangwu has found a new opportunity. The running back/return specialist is signing with New York, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.

This will be a practice squad deal, Pelissero adds. Nwangwu enjoyed success in the return game during his three-year stint with the Vikings to begin his career. He did not survive roster cuts, however, as Minnesota elected to go in another direction on special teams.

That led to the Saints putting in a claim on Nwangwu. The 26-year-old appeared to be in place to handle return duties for New Orleans as a result, but one day later he was waived with an injury designation. Before the end of Week 1, he has now landed another chance to carve out a role. The Jets hosted Nwangwu last week, and that process quickly proved to be worthwhile.

New York dealt undrafted rookie Brandon Codrington to the Bills ahead of the roster cutdown deadline after he had an impressive showing in the return game during the preseason. That move came as little surprise given the presence of Xavier Gipson. The 23-year-old scored a punt return touchdown in Week 1 last year and averaged 23.2 yards per return while running back kickoffs.

Gipson is still in place as the Jets’ primary returner, but Nwangwu will give the team another option in that regard. The latter has scored three kick return touchdowns in his career, and he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2022 for his third phase success. Nwangwu could also serve as backfield depth if needed with the Jets, but any regular action he sees will no doubt primarily come on special teams.

Buccaneers CB Bryce Hall Suffers Fractured Fibula, Dislocated Ankle

September 9th, 2024 at 11:55am CST by Adam La Rose

11:55am: When speaking to the media, head coach Todd Bowles said Hall’s injury may well be season-ending. He has already been ruled out for Week 2, but a much longer absence than that is in store.

8:59am: The Buccaneers won their season opener on Sunday but their secondary suffered a notable blow in the process. Cornerback Bryce Hall was carted off the field Sunday with an air cast, and he is in line for a lengthy recovery process.

Hall suffered a fractured fibula in addition to a dislocated ankle, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. No timeline for his return is in place, but a long spell on the sidelines should obviously be expected. Hall served as a part-time starter while playing out his rookie contract with the Jets, and he logged a rotational role during his Buccaneers debut.

The 26-year-old’s heaviest defensive workloads came early in his New York tenure, but the additions of D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner relegated him to a backup role. Hall primarily played on special teams during the 2022 campaign (during which he was limited to just five games) and he only logged 138 defensive snaps last year. That was again matched by notable third phase responsibilities, but it came as little surprised when he departed in free agency. The former fifth-rounder took a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum to join the Bucs.

Tampa Bay’s cornerback room lost Carlton Davis when he was traded to the Lions. That move created a vacancy along the perimeter for a starting spot opposite Jamel Dean, and Hall was a candidate to fill it on at least a part-time basis. How the team proceeds moving forward will depend in large part on the health status of other cornerback options after the position was hit hard by injuries during Week 1.

As ESPN’s Jenna Laine notes, starter Zyon McCollum suffered a concussion before backup and core special teamer Josh Hayes went down. Those injuries were followed by Hall’s, forcing safety Christian Izien to take over as a boundary corner. The 2023 UDFA served as Tampa Bay’s starter at slot corner last season, a position which is now set to be occupied by third-round rookie Tykee Smith. Depending on the extent of the injury situation, undrafted rookie Tyrek Funderburk may see playing time in Week 2.

Head coach Todd Bowles said (via Laine) further testing will be needed before a decision is made regarding any corner additions being made from outside the organization. Regardless of if that happens, though, Hall should not be expected to be in the Tampa Bay lineup any time soon.

Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson Suffers MCL Sprain

September 9th, 2024 at 11:26am CST by Adam La Rose

Jake Ferguson exited the Cowboys’ season-opening win on Sunday, but he has avoided the worst-case scenario on the injury front. The third-year tight end is not expected to miss considerable time (if any), as first reported by WFAA’s Ed Werder.

[RELATED: Recapping Cowboys’ Offseason]

Ferguson – who offered an encouraging update on his status Monday – is nevertheless in danger of being sidelined for a brief stretch. Tests revealed he is dealing with an MCL sprain as well as a bone bruise, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He is therefore considered week-to-week at this point, although ESPN’s Todd Archer confirms Ferguson is still a candidate to play in Week 2.

After a relatively quiet rookie season, Ferguson took a notable step forward in production last year. Dalton Schultz‘s successor posted 761 yards and five touchdowns on 71 receptions in 2023. Expectations are high for a repeat of that output this campaign, one in which CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks remain atop the receiver depth chart. Quarterback Dak Prescott will stay in place for years to come, but one of his top targets may be temporarily unavailable.

Dallas beat Cleveland 33-17 on Sunday, with Ferguson registering three catches on five targets. The 25-year-old earned a Pro Bowl nod for his production last year, and a similar showing in 2024 would set him up well for an extension in March. Two years remain on his rookie contract, though, and Micah Parsons headlines the list of Cowboys in line for a new deal during the 2025 offseason.

If Ferguson misses time, Lamb and Cooks will be positioned to remain focal points in the passing game. At the tight end spot in particular, Dallas will turn to Luke Schoonmaker and Brevyn Spann-Ford for an increased offensive workload if required. In relatively short order, though, Ferguson should be back to full health.

Steelers P Cameron Johnston Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury

September 9th, 2024 at 10:54am CST by Ely Allen

SEPTEMBER 9: Johnston is indeed out for the year, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The Steelers will spend the coming days searching out replacement options for the remainder of the campaign as a result. Pittsburgh currently has roughly $16.3MM in cap space.

SEPTEMBER 8: After three years with punter Pressley Harvin III, the Steelers made the decision to move on with a new punter in 2024, signing former Texans leg Cameron Johnston. Unfortunately, it looks like they will be forced to find another solution to their punting game as Johnston has suffered what head coach Mike Tomlin called a “serious injury,” per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

On a punt in the fourth quarter of today’s win over the Falcons, Johnston’s kicking leg was hurt when a Falcons defender fell into it after Johnston landed following the kick. When the defender made contact, the knee appeared to pop, and Johnston collapsed to the turf in what looked to be a significant amount of pain. Johnston limped off the field after the trainers took a look, inspiring some hope, but he was later carted off the sideline into the locker room before the end of the contest.

Needing one more punt before the game came to a close, the Steelers turned to kicker Chris Boswell, who delivered a 43-yard punt. The responsibility isn’t a completely unfamiliar one to Boswell, who kicked field goals and punts during his time at Rice in college. He punted 15 times for the Owls with an average of 40.3 yards per punt. It doesn’t seem to be sustainable to rely on Boswell to perform both roles on special teams moving forward, though, so expect Pittsburgh to seek another solution while Johnston is out.

One such solution, though perhaps an unpopular one in Pittsburgh, could be to bring Harvin back. After being released by the Steelers, Harvin signed with the 49ers but was waived before the season began. Now, Harvin would be available to return for another stint, if invited. Over the past two seasons, Harvin averaged 43.83 yards per punt, placing the Steelers at 32nd in the league in that statistic, but with today’s injury, Pittsburgh may not have much of a choice. Johnston will undergo an MRI soon to determine his prognosis and the Steelers course of action.

Jets’ D.J. Reed To Test Free Agency In 2025

September 9th, 2024 at 9:49am CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets’ secondary will play a key role in the team’s ability to deliver on expectations in 2024. That unit includes Michael Carter for the foreseeable future, and the same will no doubt be true of Sauce Gardner. Whether or not fellow corner D.J. Reed stays with New York beyond the coming season will not be learned for several months, however.

Reed is a pending free agent as he prepares to play out the final season of his three-year, $33MM contract. That pact has proven to offer solid value from the Jets’ perspective, as the 27-year-old has served as a full-time starter and consistent contributor in coverage. With a Gardner mega-extension looming as early as next spring, though, Reed confirmed he will test the market in March before deciding on his next move.

“I’m going to go to free agency,” the Kansas State product said (via ESPNs Rich Cimini). “I’m focused on just handling my business, taking it one game at a time, ultimately winning, getting to the playoffs, making a push for a Super Bowl run, and then just seeing what happens after that.”

Reed hinted in June that he would wind up in free agency after playing out the 2024 season. As of that point, no extension talks had taken place, and no updates on that front have emerged since. The Carter deal makes him one of three slot corners averaging over $10MM per season, and a new pact for Gardner will move him near or atop the pecking order for outside players. Patrick Surtain and Jalen Ramsey moved the top of that market to (and then slightly beyond) $24MM per year, giving Gardner a target on his extension.

Keeping Carter and Gardner in the fold will make it challenging to also retain Reed. The former fifth-rounder has recorded one interception and one forced fumble during each of his Jets campaigns, adding 21 pass deflections during that time. Reed allowed two touchdowns and nearly identical passer ratings (81.9, 81.6) in coverage across the past two years, and a similar campaign is expected in 2024.

Another steady season would boost Reed’s stock and generate a market of outside suitors. He has expressed a desire to re-sign with the Jets, but that will not happen before he gauges his value as a free agent.

Cowboys, Dak Prescott Agree To Extension

September 8th, 2024 at 10:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott have finally pushed their negotiations past the finish line. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report, Dallas and Prescott have agreed to a stunning four-year, $240MM extension that will make Prescott the highest-paid player in NFL history.

Schefter notes that all but $9MM of Prescott’s deal is guaranteed, which speaks to the inordinate amount of leverage that the three-time Pro Bowler wielded in this process. His $231MM in guaranteed money is $1MM more than Deshaun Watson received in his highly controversial deal with the Browns several years ago. And, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com observes, Prescott’s guarantees — which include a record $80MM signing bonus — are $60MM higher than the next highest sum of guaranteed money ever handed out on a four-year contract.

[RELATED: Jerry Jones Addresses QB’s Record-Breaking Contract]

Throughout the offseason, questions lingered about whether or not the Cowboys would be able to work out deals with Prescott, wideout CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons while saving the cap flexibility to make other moves. An otherwise quiet offseason revolved around negotiations on the Prescott and Lamb fronts in particular. The latter wound up cashing in on a $34MM-per-year extension which (like the former) will keep him in Dallas through 2028. Lamb did not reach the top of the receiver market, but Prescott has taken his position to new financial heights.

A $60MM AAV has long been a possibility, especially given the nature of the quarterback mega-deals worked out over the past two years and the position Prescott found himself in. No-tag and no-trade clauses were included in his previous pact, and Dallas was set to deal with a $55MM cap charge in 2024 in the absence of an extension coming into play. That was also the case for the dead money charge (roughly $40MM) in 2025 which would have been on the team’s cap sheet had Prescott departed in free agency next spring.

Both the 31-year-old himself and owner Jerry Jones made a number of public remarks in the build-up to today’s news. Continuing this relationship well past 2024 was a mutual goal, although Prescott hinted at testing the market on more than one occasion. Jones indicated in the spring he preferred to let the QB and WR markets take further shape before serious negotiations with Prescott and Lamb’s camps took place. That approach has yielded agreements for both, albeit along a less-than-ideal timeline given the missed time from training camp in one case and the run up to an artificial Week 1 deadline in the other.

Jones stated he would be on board with Prescott negotiations continuing into the regular season, but a late push by all parties involved yielded progress. That left the door open to an eleventh-hour agreement, although with Saturday night coming and going it appeared one would no longer be possible. In the end, however, Prescott is now on the books for the foreseeable future as he tries once again to guide the Cowboys to deep playoff run.

Dallas has posted a 12-5 record in each of the past three years, failing to convert that into postseason success in every instance. Head coach Mike McCarthy is entering a lame-duck year in no small part due to the Cowboys’ underwhelming defeat to the Packers during the wild-card round last season. Jones has routinely praised the former Green Bay Super Bowl winner, hinting he could be retained past the coming campaign depending on how things go. Prescott – who led the league in touchdown passes during McCarthy’s first year as offensive play-caller – will be expected to duplicate his success from 2023 for several more seasons.

Parsons (whose resume includes two first-team All-Pro honors, one second-team nod and three Pro Bowl invites) no doubt would have been a higher organizational priority if not for Prescott and Lamb entering the offseason as pending free agents. With both of their pacts now taken care of, attention will turn to Parsons’ level of play in his fourth campaign. The 25-year-old will set himself up for a major payday with another productive campaign in 2024, but Dallas’ cap outlook has of course been considerably altered in recent weeks.

Today’s deal (and, more specifically, the massive guarantee commitment) confirms Prescott will remain a Cowboy for most, if not all, of his career. His legacy remains linked to the franchise’s ongoing Super Bowl drought, but the next several years will offer an opportunity to break through in the postseason. It will be interesting to see, meanwhile, how the quarterback market shakes out in the near future with the top of the pecking order changing once again.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

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