HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Jets Place WR Allen Lazard On IR, Planning To Elevate K Riley Patterson

October 31st, 2024 at 2:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Jets are midway through a wildly disappointing (thus far, at least) season, Allen Lazard has bounced back. Productive thus far in his second Jets campaign, the multi-city Aaron Rodgers target will see that stretch pause.

The Jets are moving Lazard to IR because of a chest injury, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. As this will sideline Lazard for at least four games, it will be interesting to see if it affects the Jets’ interest in trading Mike Williams before the Nov. 5 deadline.

Lazard is tied to a four-year, $44MM deal that featured $22MM guaranteed at signing. The Jets have done plenty to appease Rodgers, having added three of his former Packers pass catchers (Lazard, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams). Lazard was the first of those to arrive, having communicated with his four-year Packers teammate about playing for the Jets together. That coordinated effort preceded Rodgers’ Achilles tear four plays into last season, and Lazard bottomed out, drifting to healthy-scratch status at a point and finishing with just 311 receiving yards.

This year, Lazard already has compiled 420 yards and scored five touchdowns. Receiving the most guaranteed money of any receiver in last year’s FA class, Lazard has not justified his contract. But he has moved back to being a useful player alongside Rodgers, as opposed to a borderline sunk cost in a Zach Wilson-centered offense. Two nonguaranteed years remain on Lazard’s deal.

Williams has come up as a trade chip since the Jets’ Adams pursuit, with that effort beginning in earnest upon the intra-AFC trade being completed. Williams has struggled mightily in New York, posting only 160 yards on 11 receptions though eight games. Williams, 30, may still be moved. But with this Jets regime on thin ice, it would also make sense if the team now stood pat at receiver to see if the former Chargers 1,000-yard weapon could be useful as a WR3 alongside Adams and Garrett Wilson. The Jets will deploy Williams once again tonight and have until Tuesday to decide about moving on.

Additionally, the Jets have chosen their Greg Zuerlein fill-in. Riley Patterson will be elevated for tonight’s Texans matchup, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. By far the more experienced of the two kickers Gang Green added to its practice squad (Spencer Shrader being the other), Patterson will have another chance after being waived twice — by the Jaguars and Commanders — this year.

Patterson served as the Jaguars’ kicker throughout the 2022 season and was the Lions’ top option for most of the ’23 slate. The Lions cut Patterson for a second time, however, pivoting to Michael Badgley in-season. Patterson caught on with the Jags via reserve/futures deal but ended up waived — following the team’s Cam Little sixth-round selection — and then washing out of Washington after a shaky preseason. Patterson has kicked in 39 career games; he made 15 of 17 field goals last season. Zuerlein, who is on IR with a knee injury, is just 9-for-15 this year.

Trade Rumors: Jefferson, Tomlinson, Browns, 49ers, Broncos, Texans

October 31st, 2024 at 1:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the Amari Cooper swap, more Browns seller’s trades are expected. Za’Darius Smith has emerged as perhaps the top post-Cooper trade chip, but two members of their interior D-line profile as candidates to move. More definitively, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline indicates the Browns will trade Quinton Jefferson if they receive an offer. The nomadic DT has not played since Week 5, with the Browns not receiving much in the way of production on a one-year, $4MM deal. Having played for five teams in the past five seasons (Bills, Raiders, Seahawks, Jets, Browns), Jefferson has been in a number of schemes and has experience at D-tackle and end. He may have drawn some interest already, and it does not sound like it will take much for a team to acquire the 31-year-old D-lineman.

One of the reasons Jefferson is not seeing the field, Dalvin Tomlinson remains the Browns’ lead DT. He is signed to a four-year, $57MM deal, and The Athletic’s Zac Jackson views Tomlinson and Smith as the most likely Browns to be moved at the Nov. 5 deadline. Being the Browns, void years on Tomlinson’s deal have the eighth-year veteran’s base salary at $1.2MM. That would make an acquisition appealing for a team, as Tomlinson has been productive in New York, Minnesota and Cleveland and does not have any guaranteed money due beyond 2024. Pro Football Focus ranked Tomlinson as a top-30 DT from 2017-22 and slots the 30-year-old 31st through eight games.

Here is the latest from the trade market:

Extra Points: 18-Game Schedule, International Slate, Goalposts, Commanders

October 31st, 2024 at 11:17am CST by Sam Robinson

Thrown around as a talking point before the 17-game schedule took effect, the prospect of two bye weeks is back on the table thanks to the early negotiations for an 18-game slate. Roger Goodell said recently the prospect of a two-bye season will be in play if another regular-season expansion comes to fruition.

“A lot of that depends on — can we continue to make the game safer, can we continue to modify the way we conduct the offseason as well as the training camp and as well as the season, so that these guys feel comfortable being able to play that period of time,” Goodell said of an expansion to 18 games, something that has become a trending topic in 2024.

It is believed TV networks nixed a double-bye setup for the 17-game season, as the league’s 1993 effort — the only two-bye season to date — provided what the NFL’s broadcast partners viewed as a diluted schedule. For the NFLPA to back a move to 18 during a CBA that prevents the schedule from expanding again, it is likely the NFL and its TV partners will need to give in on the second bye week. Should that be one of the league’s concessions to the union in the ongoing push for 18 games, a schedule that would start one week earlier and run through Presidents Day weekend would be on tap.

Here is the latest from around the NFL:

  • As Goodell previously mentioned a move to 16 international games per season could commence at some point, the veteran commissioner noted he wants to push the slate from five to eight international contests “quickly.” The NFL will play a game in Madrid next season, and Dublin, Rio de Janeiro and Abu Dhabi have come up as potential international hosts. Ditto Sweden, France and Australia. The league currently features an eight-game max as far as international outings go; it is safe to expect that number to rise in the coming years, especially if the NFL’s push for an 18-game season is successful.
  • Fifteen of the top 17 most accurate field goal kickers in NFL history have played during the 2020s, with Mike Vanderjagt and Nate Kaeding the only outliers. The league is seeing 60-yard field goal makes occur at greater rates, with 50-plus-yarders becoming routine for many. As a result, an interesting conversation could take place. A competition committee discussion (via The Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi) is expected to take place during the 2025 offseason. The posts presently sit 18 feet, 6 inches apart and 10 feet off the ground. Altering those dimensions would be a radical change, though the NFL showed a willingness to explore special teams adjustments via its dynamic kickoff trial run. That said, veteran NFL exec Troy Vincent does not expect (via the Washington Post’s Mark Maske) an immediate change.
  • While Josh Harris‘ Commanders sale price was believed to be $6.05 billion, Maske and Post colleague Nicki Jhabvala indicate the actual number will likely come in at $5.85 billion. That is still an American sports-record number, breaking Rob Walton‘s Broncos purchase ($4.65 billion) from 2022. A $200MM deferred payment exists in Harris’ agreement, one based on revenue markers Maske and Jhabvala indicate the franchise is unlikely to hit. Harris’ group needed to bring in more than a dozen investors to buy the team, and the current owners feared Amazon founder (and Post owner) Jeff Bezos would indeed swoop in with an offer the Harris-led group could not match. Bezos bowing out of the running, not submitting an official bid for rival Dan Snyder‘s franchise, cleared the way for Harris’ purchase.

Shane Steichen Addresses Colts’ Anthony Richardson Benching

October 30th, 2024 at 10:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

It is not especially common for a highly drafted quarterback to be benched and then resurface as a long-term starter with that team, but two players from the 2023 draft are attempting such climbs anyway. Anthony Richardson has followed Bryce Young in being benched during the first half of his second season.

Like the Panthers’ Young benching, this is not viewed as a temporary reset that will assure Richardson of a path back into the lineup this season. Shane Steichen confirmed Wednesday (via CBS4’s Mike Chappell) that Joe Flacco is the team’s starter going forward.

Unlike the Jets’ 2022 Zach Wilson benching, Richardson will only drop to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart. Steichen confirmed (via ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder) the 2023 No. 4 overall pick will be Flacco’s top backup in Week 9. While Steichen said on multiple occasions Flacco is the team’s QB from this point on, the Colts are not giving up on Richardson in the long term. While Steichen had said Richardson playing was his best route to development, the Indy HC is backtracking on that now.

“I know I said that,” Steichen said, via ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder. “Things change. So I think right now, sitting back and seeing a veteran that’s done it at a high level for a long time, you can develop that way as well

“… It’s a difficult thing. But it’s my obligation to the 53 guys in this organization to win football games, and right now, I’m focused on the present: winning football games. We’ll get to the future when we have to get to the future.”

Given Richardson’s woeful work in the passing game this season and his highly unusual move to take himself out of the Colts’ Week 8 game for a play due to fatigue — a decision that has brought tremendous backlash — the Colts made a predictable call. Richardson’s 44.4% completion rate this season is 15 points down from his 2023 showing and doubles as the fifth-lowest mark through six games in the 21st century. For a second straight year, Flacco will step in as an emergency backup for a fringe playoff contender.

This will be a fine line for the Colts to walk, as Richardson is signed through 2026 but has seen the team that drafted him already bail on its initial experiment. The Colts turned to Richardson after several Flacco-like retreads did not provide stability. Philip Rivers was the best of that bunch, but the Colts rostered the potential Hall of Famer in his final season. Beyond Rivers, the likes of Jacoby Brissett, Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan worked as Week 1 starters following Andrew Luck‘s retirement. The Colts turned to Gardner Minshew last season, and while they wanted to re-sign the veteran, the Raiders’ offer (two years, $25MM) came in well north of where Indy was comfortable spending on a backup.

Minshew’s insertion into Indianapolis’ starting lineup provided a boost to the team’s passing game, with Michael Pittman Jr. establishing career-high marks en route to an offseason extension. Flacco, who replaced Deshaun Watson and formed immediate connections with Amari Cooper and David Njoku last season, stands to be a better option to deliver on-target passes to the likes of Pittman, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell. Steichen selling this to his locker room is easier than continuing to trot out Richardson, who has not developed the way the organization had hoped.

Flacco boasts an 8-to-1 TD-INT ratio this season and threw for 359 yards in one of his two starts as a Colt, but he is 39 and signed to a one-year, $4MM deal. The Colts were the only team to offer him a contract this offseason, despite his Comeback Player of the Year season occurring in Cleveland — where the former Super Bowl MVP wanted to stay. Flacco’s role will be to attempt to help a 4-4 Indy squad to the playoffs, but Richardson’s long-term status remains the more interesting part of this equation.

Young is viewed as a potential 2025 trade candidate. Considering the Colts’ issues finding a long-term QB post-Luck, it stands to reason Richardson will have another chance. The team drafted Richardson as a raw prospect, one whose lone college starter season produced a 53.8% completion rate, and has only seen him start 10 games. Through that lens, this represents a quick hook, but as the Colts compete for the playoffs, they will shift Richardson’s development into the background.

Although players like Phil Simms, Alex Smith and Drew Brees managed to overcome early-career benchings en route to long starter runs — the latter two, however, did not become surefire long-term options until leaving their initial clubs — there are not many examples of the same franchise circling back to a QB it benched. Richardson’s unique profile should still give him a chance to buck the trend, but he has a long way to go. Rumors about his future figure to swirl between now and the Colts’ 2025 offseason program.

Trade Rumors: Smith, Broncos, Johnson

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

Za’Darius Smith continues to come up in trade rumors, despite the Browns snapping their losing skid in Week 8. While Cleveland is not prepared to deal Myles Garrett due to the reigning Defensive Player of the Year remaining a cornerstone presence, Smith looms as a player likely to be dealt as the team regroups midway through Deshaun Watson‘s catastrophic contract. The Browns are still hearing from teams, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, with the former indicating a reasonable Day 3 pick would likely complete a trade. The Lions figure to be a team in on Smith, who addressed a potential Detroit deal recently, while the Ravens — who nearly re-signed Smith in 2022 — are believed to be eyeing defensive help.

In 2023, Smith moved from Minneapolis to Cleveland in a pick-swap trade that featured two fifth-rounders going to the Vikings along with sixth- and seventh-rounders being sent to the Browns. The veteran pass rusher is now 32 and tied to a two-year, $23MM deal that features both a veteran-minimum 2024 base salary — thanks to the Browns’ penchant for void years lowering cap hits — and a $2MM roster bonus due in 2025. The Browns would take on a hefty dead money bill if/when they move Smith, with $14MM-plus set to hit their 2025 books as a result of a deal. That would be an interesting development for a team that has Watson tied to a $72.9MM 2025 cap number.

Here is the latest from the trade market:

  • While the Browns will not need to cover any of Smith’s salary to move him, the Bears certainly will if they want to trade benched guard Nate Davis. Chicago is interested in dealing Davis, who has disappointed on his three-year, $30MM contract. Davis is due just more than $5MM in remaining 2024 salary, and Fowler notes the Bears are prepared to pay some of that tab to extract an asset from an O-line-needy team. Davis, 28, may see his path back to the Bears’ lineup further impeded by Ryan Bates‘ re-emergence; the 2024 trade pickup is in the IR-return window. Davis has not played since Week 5, and the four-year Titans starter has not started since Week 2.
  • John Lynch confirmed during a KNBR appearance (h/t Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News) the 49ers were not in on Diontae Johnson. The eighth-year GM has said the 49ers are confident in their receiving group even with Brandon Aiyuk out for the season. San Francisco defeated Dallas without Jauan Jennings but expects to have the WR3 back after their Week 9 bye. As for the Panthers‘ effort to move Johnson, 1340 AM’s Sheena Quick notes two teams were negotiating with the NFC South team prior to the Ravens‘ entrance into the derby. Baltimore came in last, per Quick, but is believed to have made the best offer. The Ravens checked in with a pick-swap proposal involving fifth- and sixth-rounders, and the Panthers are also paying part of Johnson’s salary in what became a wildly underwhelming return for Carolina. The Panthers had initially targeted a mid-round pick for the contract-year wideout.
  • Teams are wondering if the Broncos will still consider selling despite their best eight-game start (5-3) since 2016. In addition to Zach Wilson, previously believed to be available, Fowler adds teams view outside linebacker Baron Browning and cornerback Damarri Mathis as potentially available pieces. A starter to open the season, Browning just returned from IR. Teams looking at the contract-year edge defender points to a potential belief the Broncos will view fellow 2021 draftee Jonathon Cooper as the more likely extension candidate. Browning has played as a backup to Nik Bonitto upon returning, though a trade would strip an option away from a strong Denver defense. A starter to open last season, Mathis has been buried on Denver’s depth chart — one including Riley Moss as Patrick Surtain‘s boundary CB complement — since being activated from IR. Mathis generated summer trade buzz as well.

Bills Still Optimistic About Matt Milano Return

October 30th, 2024 at 10:29pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills are still counting on their veteran linebacker to make a late-season return. Coach Sean McDermott told reporters that the Bills still see a path where linebacker Matt Milano plays during the 2024 campaign (per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic).

The coach added that Milano continues to move “in the right direction” as he recovers from a torn bicep. McDermott also noted that Milano continues to have an impact on the current squad, with the coach lauding the player’s leadership during the rehab process (per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg).

“There is [hope that he’ll return],” McDermott said (h/t Kyle Silagyi of SI.com). “I don’t know a lot of the detail, I just kind of know a big-picture view of Matt. He’s moving in the right direction, I see him every day. He’s one of the leaders on our football team, and I’ve even felt that more this year even than I did last year.”

Even if Milano is able to take the field this year, it will still prove to be a second-straight lost season for the veteran. Milano suffered a fractured leg as well as a knee injury in Week 5 of the 2023 season, ending that campaign prematurely. The veteran was able to return in time for this year’s minicamp, but he then suffered a bicep injury during training camp that’s kept him on the shelf for the entire 2024 campaign.

Another significant injury was a tough blow to Milano ahead of his age-30 season. Despite the ongoing injury issues, the Bills still slapped the linebacker with an IR-Return Designation, a sign of optimism from the organization. While the Bills shouldn’t expect a whole lot from the veteran, he would provide a fresh body to the LB depth chart. Dorian Williams has been the only consistent for the Bills at the position in 2024, with Baylon Spector filling in whenever Terrel Bernard has been knocked out of the lineup.

The last time he played in a full season, Milano earned his only career All-Pro nod after finishing with 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions (including a pick-six). That performance helped earn the linebacker a two-year extension that would keep him in Buffalo through the 2026 campaign. Unfortunately, the Boston College product might not see the end of that pact. As Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News writes, Milano and his $16MM cap hit for the 2025 campaign will lead to plenty of speculation about his roster status heading into the offseason.

Saints GM Mickey Loomis Talks Deadline Approach

October 30th, 2024 at 8:58pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints have dropped six-straight games and sit towards the bottom of the NFC standings. The team would be a logical seller ahead of the deadline, and the front office is willing to consider trades…on their terms.

During an appearance on WWL Radio this week, GM Mickey Loomis acknowledged that the Saints have received calls from potential buyers. However, the executive cautioned that the Saints have generally received “undervalued offers.”

“When you’re in a losing streak, you’re calling those teams looking to see if they’re sellers, right, and so we’ll get a number of calls and we’ll respond accordingly,” Loomis said (h/t Jeff Nowak of the station’s website). “I’m not really one who thinks that trading away half your roster makes a lot of sense at this point for, generally, what I think are undervalued offers.”

This could be some natural gamesmanship from Loomis with the trade deadline less than a week away. The Saints have some obvious trade candidates, including Marshon Lattimore and his impending team option. The veteran cornerback has seemingly been on the block for the past year, and with his 2025 status in doubt, the team may finally decide to move on. The Saints also have impending free agent edge rusher Chase Young, who was involved in a trade during last year’s deadline.

On the flip side, the Saints could sincerely be hoping to build some momentum as they look towards the 2025 campaign. Derek Carr is set to return to the Saints for the first time since Week 5. The veteran QB guided the Saints to their Week 1 and Week 2 victories, but he was also under center for their three subsequent losses. Carr’s return should provide a small spark to the organization, but he shouldn’t be expected to single-handedly turn around the team’s fortunes.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/24

October 30th, 2024 at 7:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: CB Kendall Williamson

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: DE Shakel Brown

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Signed: OT Garret Greenfield

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: OL Braeden Daniels

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/24

October 30th, 2024 at 7:26pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Latest On Job Security For Giants HC Brian Daboll, GM Joe Schoen

October 30th, 2024 at 7:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Giants owner John Mara recently gave a vote of confidence to his HC/GM tandem. Unsurprisingly, many NFL executives aren’t buying the public support. As Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes, sources around the league aren’t buying the job security of head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen.

[RELATED: Giants Owner Doesn’t Anticipate HC/GM Changes]

Part of the skepticism is based on precedence. Since Tom Coughlin‘s departure, the Giants have employed four head coaches in eight-plus seasons (not including 2017 fill-in Steve Spagnuolo). While Mara intended to be patient with his Buffalo imports, he clearly isn’t immune from reactionary decisions.

Plus, things could get much, much worse for the Giants between now and the end of the season. Russini points to last year’s saga in Tennessee, where head coach Mike Vrabel was deemed safe as late as Thanksgiving. The organization’s decision makers were adamant that Vrabel was a key member of the Titans…before firing him less than two months later. The Giants have already added another L to the loss column since last week’s report, and a continued lack of progression could change Mara’s mind.

More interestingly, sources are also skeptical about the duo’s long-term job security considering the organization’s alternative options…specifically a future Hall of Fame coach who is currently without a HC job. As Russini writes, it’s a “well-known secret around the league” that Mara is a fan of former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and some NFL sources wonder if the owner could resist if Belichick later shows interest in the New York gig.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com takes it a step further, with the pundit believing Belichick is using his current media gigs to force his way into possible destinations. Florio points to Belichick’s recent remarks that questioned Schoen’s decision to let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency. If Belichick is interested in the Giants job and wants the “power to which he’s accustomed,” he would need Mara to make “a clean sweep” of the team’s leadership.

Daboll and Schoen could end up guiding the Giants to some kind of success in 2024, which would surely cool their hot seat. However, until Belichick lands a gig elsewhere, the duo won’t have 100-percent job security.

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