HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Bengals Not Planning Any Deadline Trades

October 30th, 2024 at 6:21pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bengals currently sit at 3-5 and face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, and the front office isn’t planning to help (or hurt) the team’s aspirations. According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the organization doesn’t “have plans to make moves with the trade deadline approaching.”

As Dehner writes, the Bengals front office doesn’t have any intention of “waving the white flag,” but they also don’t intend to give up draft assets that may help them in the future. The organization believes there’s still a path to the playoffs with their current roster, and they’ll rely on their young pieces to patch any weaknesses.

Specifically, the team will be hoping for elevated play from 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy and 2021 third-round pick Joseph Ossai on the edge, and they’ll be counting on second-round rookie Kris Jenkins to add some interior DL help opposite Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill. The team has also made some OL tweaks via the practice squad circuit, and Dehner believes they’ll continue to tap into that well moving forward.

Similarly, the Bengals won’t deal any of their popular trade candidates, including wideout Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. As Dehner observes, the Bengals have been reluctant to make in-season sales. The team has sold off only a pair of disgruntled players over the past 13 deadlines: quarterback Carson Palmer in 2011 and defensive end Carlos Dunlap in 2020. Those players effectively had “hostile relationship[s] beyond repair,” and those issues aren’t apparent on this year’s squad.

Dehner also points to the lost 2019 season, when the Bengals refused to sell veteran wideout A.J. Green and veteran defensive tackle Geno Atkins despite clearly being out of it by the trade deadline. While the front office has changed their thinking on some antiquated mentalities (like their approach to QB contracts), Dehner believes the team will be stubborn with their deadline strategy…a factor that bodes well for Higgins and Hendrickson still being on the squad next week.

Jaguars Trade LT Cam Robinson To Vikings

October 30th, 2024 at 4:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 30: As expected, the Jaguars will pick up much of Robinson’s tab. They are paying just more than $7MM of Robinson’s remaining 2024 base salary, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. This leaves the Vikings with around $2MM of the left tackle’s salary, along with $59K per game in roster bonuses.

OCTOBER 29: For a second straight year, the Jaguars and Vikings have a deal in place involving an offensive lineman at the trade deadline. Cam Robinson is set to replace Christian Darrisaw.

The Vikings will act swiftly, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reporting they are acquiring the longtime Jaguars left tackle in exchange for unspecified draft compensation. This comes a year after the Jags acquired Ezra Cleveland from the Vikings. Here are the terms of the trade:

Vikings receive:

  • Robinson
  • Conditional 2026 seventh-round pick

Jaguars receive:

  • Conditional 2026 fifth-round pick

The 2026 fifth can upgrade to a fourth for the Jaguars based on playing time, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling. The conditional seventh the Vikings are receiving can be removed from the trade based on playing time as well, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adds.

This will wrap an eight-season run for Robinson in Jacksonville. The former second-round pick, however, is in a contract year and is not a candidate to be franchise-tagged. Like Kirk Cousins, Robinson was a two-time tag recipient and is on track for free agency. This trade sets up Robinson as a clear rental, with Darrisaw expected to reclaim his blindside post in 2025. In the short term, though, the 5-2 Vikings will prepare to have Robinson protecting Sam Darnold‘s blind side.

It is not exactly common for a starting left tackle to be available at the deadline, and Doug Pederson had thrown cold water on more seller’s trades — following the Jags’ agreement to send Roy Robertson-Harris to the Seahawks — taking place. But the Jags have dropped to 2-6 and lost Christian Kirk for the season during their most recent defeat. Jacksonville also has some LT insurance in Walker Little, who is also in a contract year.

Tuesday’s agreement certainly signals the Vikings believe they have a contending team, despite their back-to-back losses, as they just extended Darrisaw at a top-market rate. Darrisaw signed a four-year, $104MM deal to stay in Minnesota long term, but he will not reenter the Vikes’ on-field equation until next season. The fourth-year blocker went down with an unspecified knee injury — one that will require season-ending surgery — in Week 8. The Vikings losing their top O-lineman already played a role in one loss, and the team will take advantage of Darrisaw’s injury occurring before the trade deadline.

Robinson, 29, had been the Jags’ LT starter since his rookie season. He is attached to a three-year, $52.75MM extension — agreed to during his second offseason on the franchise tag. No restructures have taken place on this contract, keeping Robinson’s 2024 base salary at $16.25MM. While roughly $9MM remains on that deal, the Jaguars are probably picking up some of the eighth-year blocker’s tab. The Vikings entered Tuesday with $9.5MM in cap space.

Robinson has made 91 career starts, including seven of the Jags’ eight games this season. Pro Football Focus has the Alabama alum rated 32nd among tackles this season; Darrisaw stood 10th before his injury. While Robinson does not have a Pro Bowl on his resume and is not regarded quite on Darrisaw’s level, he had done enough to be tagged twice and earn an upper-crust extension. Though, Darrisaw’s payday helped drop Robinson down that position list. Robinson entered this season as the NFL’s 10th-highest-paid LT.

The Jags have now separated from both Robinson and four-year RT starter Jawaan Taylor in two years. Jacksonville opted to tag Evan Engram over Taylor in 2023, letting him walk toward a mammoth Chiefs deal — one that has not panned out. The Jags drafted Anton Harrison in the 2023 first round and have been playing him at right tackle. It will be interesting to see how the sudden sellers proceed at this position moving forward, as Urban Meyer-era draftee Little is playing out his second-round contract. But Little, who has 18 career starts (most of them replacing an injured or suspended Robinson), will have a chance to boost his free agency value during this season’s second half.

Robinson missed a chunk of the Jags’ run to the 2022 divisional round, having suffered a meniscus tear, and received a four-game PED suspension last summer. Robinson also sustained another knee injury, one that led him to IR for a stint, last season. The recent injuries bring risk for the Vikings, but as quality LTs are not exactly flooding the trade market, Minnesota will roll the dice on Robinson staying healthy.

It cost the Jags only a sixth-round pick to acquire Cleveland, as they resided as buyers at the 2023 deadline. Jacksonville then re-signed Cleveland before the legal tampering period. Robinson will be on track to hit the market for the first time. He will need to excel in a new scheme to solidify his place as one of the 2025 FA market’s top options. Before that, the veteran will aim to help the Vikings in a loaded NFC North.

Seahawks Meet With OLB Randy Gregory

October 30th, 2024 at 4:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Randy Gregory went from signing a Buccaneers free agent pact to not reporting to the team. This preceded rumors about retirement, and the free agent pass rusher has not been connected to a team since his Bucs exit.

The Seahawks have since shown interest, with ESPN.com’s Field Yates noting Gregory met with team brass Wednesday. Gregory has a connection to the Seahawks, having played under Seattle DC Aden Durde when the latter was Dallas’ D-line coach. Durde and Gregory overlapped in 2021, a season that reignited the former second-round pick who has battled substance-abuse issues for much of his career.

That Dallas season led Gregory to Denver, but the Broncos’ 2022 pact did not pan out. The 49ers did not re-sign Gregory after trading for him before last year’s deadline, leading to a Bucs one-year agreement in April. Gregory, 31, then no-showed Tampa Bay’s minicamp and training camp. Todd Bowles said in July he had not spoken with Gregory since his signing. The Bucs moved on in mid-August.

Suspended four times (under a 2011 CBA harsher toward substance abuse), Gregory resurfaced in 2020 and started 11 games for the Cowboys in 2021. The Nebraska alum totaled six sacks and a career-high 17 QB hits that season, doing so despite missing five games due to injury. Gregory was on the verge of re-signing with the Cowboys, only to back out of an agreement at the 11th hour due to contract language. He ended up with the Broncos for the same terms (five years, $69.5MM, $28MM guaranteed at signing) but underwhelmed on that contract.

Early in Sean Payton‘s first season, the Broncos traded Gregory to the 49ers in a pick-swap agreement involving sixth- and seventh-rounders. To secure even that return, Denver needed to pay almost all of Gregory’s 2024 base salary. Gregory finished with 3.5 sacks and 10 QB hits between his time in Denver and San Francisco last season. He did not tally a sack or a QB hit in the 49ers’ three playoff games; a 49ers reworking removed the 2024 and ’25 seasons from Gregory’s Broncos-built contract.

The Seahawks showed interest in Gregory back in March, doing so before reports of a lawsuit — filed against the NFL and the Broncos — surfaced. The suit pertains to restricted usage of social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders, per Gregory’s camp, but it did not look like he would return to the NFL after his odd Bucs partnership fizzled before it began. The Seahawks will still kick the tires on a player who has shown talent in spurts but one who has proven wildly unreliable.

Falcons Designate Drew Dalman For Return

October 30th, 2024 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons have been without their starting center since a Week 3 Sunday-night loss to the Chiefs. It does not appear Atlanta will be missing its pivot much longer.

Drew Dalman is back at practice, receiving an official return designation Wednesday. This will start Dalman’s 21-day activation clock, giving him an onramp to return — provided an extended one should be necessary. Dalman has been down with an ankle injury. The Falcons are in good shape in terms of injury activations, holding six.

On an O-line that features three first-round picks and a second-rounder, Dalman stands out due to being a former Day 3 investment. The 2021 fourth-rounder (out of Stanford) became a Falcons starter to open his second season, replacing Matt Hennessy at center for the Falcons. Dalman, 26, has started 34 games since winning the job in 2022.

In addition to the Falcons being set to benefit from their center’s return, Dalman has a closing argument to make in terms of a second contract. The Falcons have some major investments up front, having Jake Matthews on a third contract and both Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary on second pacts. While some flexibility exists for the team — especially considering Kirk Cousins‘ post-2024 future, which some around the league classify as murky — Dalman may well be set to audition for a free agency bid.

Primary Dalman replacement Ryan Neuzil ranks as Pro Football Focus’ third-lowest-graded center this season, logging 236 snaps in relief of the starter. PFF slotted Dalman third last season, illustrating the upgrade the Falcons (5-3) could make up front as they vie for their first division title since 2016.

Ravens Place NT Michael Pierce on IR

October 30th, 2024 at 1:27pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens have placed veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce on injured reserve after suffering a calf injury in the team’s Week 8 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The move will sideline Pierce for at least the Ravens’ next four games, making him eligible to return as early as Week 13 against the Eagles. This is not viewed as a season-ending injury, per John Harbaugh.

Baltimore’s defensive line depth has reached alarming levels with veteran Brent Urban also exiting Sunday’s game with a concussion and Travis Jones already limited to just 15 defensive snaps with an ankle injury. That placed a huge burden on Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington, who both saw season-high snap shares but struggled to stay fresh enough to slow the Browns’ second-half comeback. Outside linebackers Tavius Robinson and Odafe Oweh even slide inside for a handful of snaps throughout the game.

The Ravens will be hoping that Urban can quickly clear concussion protocol and Jones can return to his starting role, but even with both players fully healthy, the team will need additional depth along the interior of their defensive line. The Ravens reunited with Chris Wormley in September; after a few weeks on the practice squad, he should be ready for some game day elevations in the coming weeks.

The Ravens also signed Josh Tupou to the practice squad this week after the veteran defensive tackle spent the preseason in Baltimore alongside undrafted rookie C.J. Ravenell. Both players’ familiarity with the Ravens defense could lead to playing time in the next few weeks depending on the statuses of Urban and Jones.

Pierce’s placement on injured reserve only heightens the need for Baltimore to reinforce their league-worst passing defense. While the poor play of Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson has led to calls for safety help, general manager Eric DeCosta may now look for an addition to his defensive line to boost his pass rush and make life easier for his secondary.

Bears Designate OL Ryan Bates For Return

October 30th, 2024 at 1:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Bears have designated guard Ryan Bates to return from injured reserve, per KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, bringing reinforcements to a Chicago offensive line that has endured multiple injuries this season.

Bates now has 21 days to practice with the team before he must be added to the active roster; otherwise, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Bates signed a two-year, $17MM deal with the Bears this offseason, capitalizing on a league-wide explosion in the offensive guard market. He did not earn the Bears’ starting right guard job out of training camp, but played 38 snaps to starter Nate Davis‘ 18 in Week 1 before shoulder and elbow injuries landed Bates on injured reserve. 

Davis only made two more starts at right guard due to a groin injury with veteran Matt Pryor taking over primary snaps at the position since Week 3. Pryor entered the season as the Bears’ backup right tackle, so Bates could push for a spot in the starting lineup upon his return. However, Chicago’s offense has improved in recent weeks with more than 35 points in Weeks 6 and 7 before scoring just 15 against the Commanders in Week 8. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron could opt to stick with his current offensive line instead of shaking up the unit once more.

Starting left guard Teven Jenkins was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury, so Bates could be a potential replacement if he can quickly assimilate back into the offense this week.

AFC East Notes: Reddick, Jets, Maye, Bills

October 30th, 2024 at 12:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Haason Reddick made his Jets debut last week, bringing an end to one of the longest holdouts in many years. Reddick pushed for a multiyear deal, believing the Jets reneged on their pledge to conduct true extension talks with him during the offseason. The Jets, however, had maintained they were not willing to discuss a long-term deal before their trade pickup began work in their defense. This led to a months-long standoff, being one of the contributing factors to the Jets’ 2-6 record. Reddick, who returned to the Jets after receiving an incentive-laden boost, played 26 defensive snaps as a backup in Week 8.

The Jets had made Reddick an offer to sweeten his 2024 compensation before the season started, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting the team’s proposal included $20MM for this year. The revised offer would have allowed the veteran edge rusher to recoup the fines he lost during training camp, though it is not known if this was a true raise from the $14.25MM salary he was due to make or another incentive package. Reddick, 30, turned that money down and continued to seek a trade. He has since regrouped with the Jets and will aim to secure solid terms as a 2025 free agent, but this holdout probably did not help him on that front.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • The Jets have until Tuesday to trade Mike Williams, and all signs are pointing to a separation. No move is expected to occur until after the Jets’ Thursday-night Texans matchup, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Gang Green has been linked to shopping Williams since even before the Davante Adams trade, and the effort began in earnest after the team acquired the ex-Aaron Rodgers Green Bay target. Williams, 30, has generated interest from the Steelers, Saints and Chargers and likely among other teams as well. The Jets falling to 2-7 would make them surefire sellers, but for now, they are waiting to see the market crystallize and holding onto the trade chip.
  • Before Jets interim HC Jeff Ulbrich stripped Nathaniel Hackett of play-calling duties, Robert Saleh had informed the second-generation Jets OC he would be demoted. Prior to the since-fired HC’s directive, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Hackett and Todd Downing had split game-planning responsibilities. They are continuing to do so, though it is now Downing who has final say on what goes in the game plan and what does not. The Jets are 0-3 with Downing calling plays, however, and remain in the same place they were (25th) in terms of scoring offense at the time Hackett was demoted.
  • As could be expected, the Jets are almost certain to pass on Ulbrich as the full-time HC if the team misses the playoffs, The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt offers. Considering Ulbrich is 0-3 in the interim role, it would take a dramatic turnaround to convince the organization to not go with an outside hire — as every team but the Raiders has since 2017 — rather than remove their current leader’s interim tag.
  • David Edwards has bounced back from a concussion-marred 2022 and a 2023 season spent as a Bills backup. Stepping in as Buffalo’s starting left guard this season, as the team moved Connor McGovern to center after cutting Mitch Morse, Edwards has played well. The former Super Bowl LVI starter has outperformed McGovern at the LG spot, per The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, who adds Edwards could be moving toward an extension if he keeps this up. Pro Football Focus ranks Edwards just 44th among guards, but the 27-year-old blocker has started every game — after being a 17-game backup in 2023 — and has provided value on a two-year, $6MM deal.
  • Drake Maye is indeed in concussion protocol. Jerod Mayo confirmed that status Wednesday, making the No. 3 overall pick iffy for the Patriots‘ Sunday matchup against the Titans. A hit to the back of Maye’s head during a first-quarter scramble led Jacoby Brissett back into action in Week 8.

Cardinals Open Practice Window For Jonah Williams

October 30th, 2024 at 11:58am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cardinals are opening the practice window for offensive tackle Jonah Williams, head coach Jonathan Gannon announced on Wednesday, bringing the veteran lineman one step closer to rejoining Arizona’s offense after suffering a knee injury in Week 1.

Williams signed with the Cardinals on a two-year, $30MM deal in the offseason to start at right tackle opposite 2023 sixth overall pick Paris Johnson on the left side. He played just 22 snaps in Arizona before injuring his knee and landing on injured reserve on September 11.

Veteran Kelvin Beachum took over for Williams in Week 1 and has started at right tackle since outside of a Week 3 absence that required Jackson Barton and Charlie Heck to play crucial snaps. Beachum took some time to settle in, allowing nine pressures across Weeks 1-5, but has not allowed one since with clean pass protection performances in Weeks 6-8, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Williams will have 21 days to practice with the team and get up to full strength before he must be activated or revert to season-ending injured reserve. Arizona has declined to disclose the specific nature of Williams’ injury, so they may continue that cautious approach and hold the 26-year-old out until later in November.

The Cardinals’ 53-man roster is full as of Wednesday, so they will need to clear a roster spot in the coming weeks to make room for Williams. Rookie Christian Jones was activated from injured reserve last week, so Arizona could move one from one of their other offensive linemen with multiple tackles back in the fold.

Cowboys To Activate DaRon Bland From IR

October 30th, 2024 at 11:41am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland is expected to be activated from injured reserve on Wednesday, according to WFAA’s Ed Werder. The activation is a go, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets.

Dallas opened Bland’s 21-day practice window on October 9, so he will need to be activated or revert to season-ending injured reserve. He required surgery to repair a foot fracture suffered in training camp, sidelining him for the Cowboys’ first seven regular-season games.

Bland was a full participant in his first two practices during Week 6, but has not practiced since after experiencing discomfort in his foot. Dallas won’t want to lose him for the rest of the season, but he may require more time to get fully healthy and back into game shape.

Rookie Caelen Carson has struggled in Bland’s place, allowing completions on two-thirds of his targets, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). A return from the 2023 first-team All-Pro alongside Trevon Diggs would help the Cowboys withstand a myriad of injuries to their pass rush. Sam Williams landed on season-ending injured reserve during training camp, and both Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence have been sidelined since Week 4 with injuries of their own.

The Cowboys have missed Bland’s production after he recorded a league-high nine interceptions in 2023, including five pick-sixes. Dallas has just four interceptions this year with a 6.6% turnover rate that ranks eighth-worst among NFL defenses after forcing a turnover on 14.6% of opponent drives last season, the fourth-highest rate in the league.

Dallas currently has 54 players listed on its active roster, so they will need to clear two spots to open space for Bland’s activation.

Jets To Add K Riley Patterson, K Spencer Shrader To Practice Squad

October 30th, 2024 at 11:11am CST by Sam Robinson

11:11am: The Jets have placed Zuerlein on injured reserve, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, sidelining him for at least four games as New York will rely on Patterson and Shrader to kick in the coming weeks.

9:15am: With Greg Zuerlein struggling and now on the Jets’ injury report, the team will add multiple kickers from its Tuesday workout. Both Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader are coming aboard.

Part of a six-kicker audition, Patterson and Shrader are joining New York’s practice squad, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. One of the two will be elevated to the Jets’ gameday roster for Thursday night, though it is not yet known who will fill in for Zuerlein, who remains on the team’s 53-man roster. The Jets also worked out Cade York, Zane Gonzalez and recent Packers kicker Brayden Narveson but will go with the Patterson-Shrader combo.

Patterson, who worked out for the Jets twice this month, is accustomed to changing teams in-season. He moved from Lions cut to Jaguars waiver claim in August 2022 before being traded back to Detroit during the 2023 offseason. The Lions then cut him late last season, paving a path to Cleveland as a Dustin Hopkins fill-in. The Jags then added Patterson back via a reserve/futures contract before moving on again this summer. The Commanders claimed Patterson in July but cut him during a shaky preseason stretch.

While Patterson has kicked in 39 regular-season games, Shrader has only appeared in one. The former Notre Dame and South Florida specialist replaced an injured Matt Gay earlier this season for the Colts. Shrader hit 15 of 22 field goals for the Fighting Irish last season. His best accuracy slate came two years prior, when he hit on 11 of 13 with South Florida.

Patterson was 16-for-18 with the Lions and Browns last season, and while he lost his job to Michael Badgley after an ongoing practice competition and then saw the Jags and Commanders move on, his experience might win out for a Jets team effectively entering a do-or-die game against the Texans.

A decorated college kicker who thrived with the Rams for nearly a decade, Zuerlein has run into trouble this season. The 36-year-old kicker has made just 9 of 15 field goal tries. Only one of those misses came from beyond 50 yards, as the strong-legged specialist misfired from inside 40 twice. For all the other issues plaguing the Jets, Zuerlein’s struggles have proven costly this season.

Zuerlein moving to IR to clear a roster spot would make sense for the 2-6 team, which would take on nearly $4MM in dead money by cutting him. The Jets used three void years to reduce Zuerlein’s cap hit upon re-signing him to a two-year, $8.4MM deal in March.

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