HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Chargers Place S Marcus Maye On IR, Add S Eddie Jackson To Practice Squad

December 23rd, 2024 at 7:45pm CST by Ben Levine

After losing one safety to injury, the Chargers have added a veteran to the practice squad. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team has placed Marcus Maye on injured reserve. Meanwhile, the team announced that they’ve added Eddie Jackson to the taxi squad. To make room, the team has released running back John Kelly.

Maye suffered an ankle injury that knocked him out of last Thursday’s game. His placement on IR means he’s done for the regular season, but he could make a return if the Chargers make a postseason run.

The Chargers represent Maye’s third team over the past 12 months. He was cut by the Saints back in February and caught on with the Dolphins, where he proceeded to start three of his 11 appearances. The veteran mostly played behind Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer, and with the Dolphins needing to squeeze out some extra roster space, Maye was let go last month.

He was quickly scooped up by the Chargers, who were dealing with injuries in their safeties room. Maye’s addition coincided with Alohi Gilman‘s placement on IR, and the midseason acquisition has seen his fair share of snaps. In total, Maye has seen time in 112 defensive snaps in four games with the Chargers. Tony Jefferson saw an uptick in playing time when Maye exited Thursday’s game, although the team was already scrambling with Elijah Molden out of the lineup.

The Chargers do have a new name to choose from after they added Jackson earlier today. The former Bears standout was cut by Chicago last offseason before he landed in Baltimore. The two-time Pro Bowler got into nine games (four starts) with his new squad before getting cut in November. It took him a whole month to find a new gig, but he lands in an enticing situation in Los Angeles.

However, Jackson didn’t perform all that well in Baltimore. His 50.3 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) is the lowest of his career and ranks in the bottom 10 among NFL safeties this year. He also was displeased with his reduced workload, and “frustrations boiled over” prior to his eventual release. He’ll be seeking a fresh start in Los Angeles, although he may be hard pressed to play a significant role considering the point of the season.

Depending on Molden’s status, Jefferson will likely be inserted into the starting lineup, with Jackson potentially serving as a key backup. The Chargers could also turn to Kendall Williamson and/or Emany Johnson, and the could also get creative with Derwin James, who has played the majority of his snaps at slot CB this season.

Chargers Tried To Claim Diontae Johnson

December 23rd, 2024 at 5:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chargers came up as a team that was on the radar to claim Diontae Johnson. Hours after that report, the Texans lost Tank Dell to another season-ending injury. The end zone fall that ended Dell’s second season appears to have affected the Bolts’ receiver plans.

Johnson is Houston-bound, having been claimed by the Texans ahead of their Christmas Day matchup against Johnson’s most recent team. As Johnson prepares to potentially face the Ravens, the Chargers saw their chances to land him denied. The Bolts were the only other team to submit a claim, ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports. The Texans carrying the slightly weaker strength of schedule gave them the advantage among these two 9-6 AFCers, as The Athletic’s Daniel Popper reminds.

This waiver effort after the Chargers and Panthers discussed Johnson at the deadline, The Bolts also . Though, a low-level Ravens offer — a pick swap involving fifth- and sixth-rounders — was believed to be the best the Panthers received. The trade backfired on Baltimore quickly.

Although both the Chargers and Texans are 9-6, the latter held the waiver priority. This could be significant for a Chargers team that has depended on second-round rookie Ladd McConkey this season. McConkey has battled injuries, most notably missing the Bolts’ rematch with the Chiefs, but emerged as their clear No. 1 target. Johnson could have given Los Angeles another proven option ahead of a likely playoff berth, albeit a rather volatile option based on how uneven his 2024 has been.

Traded twice, Johnson asked out of both situations (Pittsburgh and Carolina) and refused to enter Baltimore’s Week 13 game against Philadelphia. The Ravens suspended the sixth-year vet and then cut him. Known for his separation skills (and drop issues), Johnson caught just one pass in four Ravens games after being acquired in a low-end pick-swap trade at the trade deadline.

Jim Harbaugh‘s first offseason in L.A. led the Bolts to trade Keenan Allen and cut Mike Williams, ending a seven-year partnership. The Chargers were connected to potentially reacquiring Williams at the deadline, but the Steelers sent the Jets a fifth-round pick to do so. Los Angeles stayed the course at receiver, keeping the likes of Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston in place as McConkey complements.

Palmer’s 543 yards sit second among Chargers, but McConkey has amassed 960 in his rookie year. He is poised to become the first Charger rookie since Allen (2013) to post a 1,000-yard receiving season. Still, Justin Herbert is short on weapons in an offense that also has not seen much from its tight ends in the passing game. Palmer is due for free agency, and a pre-deadline report pointed to the sides being likely to separate come March. Johnston is also at best a work in progress, having not yet justified his 2023 draft slot while first-round peers Jordan Addison, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zay Flowers have been better options for their respective teams. Johnston has totaled 477 yards and eight touchdowns, however, showing more than he did as a rookie. For now, the TCU alum remains in the Chargers’ plans.

It would seem Harbaugh’s second offseason will require an addition at receiver and perhaps help at tight end, the coach’s run-game interest notwithstanding. Johnson would have provided an interesting player on that front, as the Bolts would have secured exclusive negotiating rights with him until March 10 had the claim gone through. The Texans now hold those rights, as Johnson will attempt to salvage some free agency value amid his worst NFL season.

Steelers WR George Pickens Expected To Return In Week 17

December 23rd, 2024 at 3:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 23: After struggling on offense without their No. 1 wide receiver, the Steelers are expected to have him back in Week 17, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac tweets. The Chiefs have managed to avoid several high-end wideouts during their march to 14-1 — Tee Higgins, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Ladd McConkey, with Tank Dell going down during the Texans’ Week 16 trip to Kansas City — but are on track to face the Steelers’ pass catchers at full strength.

The Steelers have slipped into a tie with the Ravens, at 10-5 apiece, and close the season with a Bengals team that may still be fighting for a wild-card spot. Baltimore will face the Texans and Browns to finish the year. With the Chiefs posing the biggest threat among that contingent, the Steelers having all hands on deck will be important to their hopes of winning the AFC North.

DECEMBER 22: George Pickens has missed the Steelers’ past three games, but he might be back in time for the team’s upcoming Christmas Day contest. Head coach Mike Tomlin noted the third-year receiver has a “real chance” to suit up for Pittsburgh’s game against Kansas City.

A Grade 2 hamstring strain has led to Pickens being sidelined for the first time in his NFL career, and his absence has been apparent on offense. The Steelers have averaged 248 yards per game without Pickens available, a sharp decline from their season average of 325. With the threat of explosive passing plays diminished, Pittsburgh’s rushing attack has understandably suffered as well.

Tomlin named Pickens, along with backup quarterback Justin Fields, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi, safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Donte Jackson as players who missed yesterday’s loss to the Ravens but could return on Wednesday (h/t ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). Getting healthier on defense would certainly be a welcomed development as the Steelers prepare to face the Chiefs and Bengals to close out the regular season. Seeing Pickens return would help provide the opportunity for a turnaround in the passing game, though.

The 23-year-old established himself as a key figure on offense during his rookie season, and his production took a step forward last year. Pickens’ 63-1,140-5 statline demonstrated his impact in the passing game, and his 18.1 yards per reception average led the league. Entering the 2024 season as not just a premier deep target but the undisputed No. 1 receiver for Pittsburgh, the Georgia product has delivered when healthy with a career-high 70.8 yards per game. The Steelers were linked to several notable WR pursuits before and during the campaign, but the team’s only move on that front was the rental addition of Mike Williams at the trade deadline.

By losing yesterday, the Steelers failed to clinch top spot in the AFC North. They still control their destiny in that regard, however, and winning their final two games would guarantee at least one home playoff contest. Getting Pickens back in the lineup in time for a matchup with the 14-1 Chiefs would boost Pittsburgh’s chances of reaching that goal.

Chargers Designate J.K. Dobbins For Return

December 23rd, 2024 at 2:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

After missing J.K. Dobbins for the past four games, the Chargers will give their starting running back an opportunity to provide a strong ending to his first season in Los Angeles.

The Bolts are designating Dobbins for return, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper tweets. An MCL sprain halted Dobbins’ bounce-back season, offering a reminder of his issues staying healthy in Baltimore. But the former second-round pick had provided good value for a Chargers team that signed him on a low-end contract following a lost 2023 season.

Dobbins amassed 766 rushing yards this season (4.8 per carry), scoring eight touchdowns in his return from a September 2023 Achilles tear. The former Ravens starter also missed all of the 2021 season and much of the 2022 campaign due to an ACL tear. The Bolts had been using their other Baltimore import, Gus Edwards, in Dobbins’ place. Edwards figures to still be involved, but a return to a complementary role appears likely soon.

Although the Chargers are down to just two injury activations, the offseason rule change giving playoff teams two more to use during the postseason keeps the team on steady ground here. Edwards had returned off IR previously, but he has not provided the Chargers the spark his longtime teammate has this season. The higher-paid back is averaging just 3.6 yards per tote. Dobbins’ injury past still figures to keep Edwards involved, however.

Dobbins’ run of injury trouble led to an April signing, as the Bolts gave the Ohio State product a one-year deal worth just $1.61MM. Dobbins, 26, can probably do better on the 2025 market — especially after would-be free agents James Conner, Chuba Hubbard and Rhamondre Stevenson all signed extensions. The current Chargers starter will need to stay healthy, however, and his injury past will undoubtedly still factor into his market. But a bump from that $1.61MM number appears likely.

As the fifth-year back prepares an effort to boost his market, he can help a Chargers team secure playoff positioning. The Bolts are 9-6 and could rise as high as the No. 5 seed depending on results over the season’s final two weeks.

Texans’ Jimmie Ward Out For Season; Shaq Mason To Miss Time

December 23rd, 2024 at 1:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tank Dell‘s injury headlined the Texans’ issues coming out of their Week 16 loss in Kansas City, but Houston also lost a key presence on defense. With Jalen Pitre out, Jimmie Ward had filled in back in a slot cornerback role. The veteran safety, however, is out of the picture for the season’s remainder.

Ward is set to undergo season-ending foot surgery. While it is believed the 11th-year defender dodged a fracture and did not sustain structural damage, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicates the second-year Texan is out indefinitely. Ward could not put weight on his injured foot and left Saturday’s game on a cart.

Injuries have been a regular issue for Ward over the course of his career. As he has toggled between pure safety and slot corner, the former first-round pick has missed 51 games as a pro. This included seven absences last season and five more coming into Week 16. The Texans still reached a second contract agreement with the longtime 49er this summer, giving him a one-year add-on. The second Texans deal brought Ward $8.8MM at signing, putting him under contract through 2025, though it would cost Houston only $4.6MM in dead money to move on.

Ward’s injury troubles may prompt the Texans to have that conversation, but the 33-year-old cover man has played four seasons under DeMeco Ryans during the latter’s time as a head coach or defensive coordinator. Overall, Ryans has been on staff — as a quality control coach or position coach, initially — in eight of Ward’s 11 seasons. He has operated exclusively as a starter since following Ryans to Houston in 2023.

The Texans placed Pitre on IR due to a partially torn pectoral muscle, an injury expected to sideline the recent second-round pick for the season. Ward’s injury further thins a secondary that appears in some trouble. Houston used Myles Bryant initially to replace Ward in the slot, before then sliding rookie boundary corner Kamari Lassiter inside and moving Jeff Okudah to the perimeter position opposite Derek Stingley Jr. One of these two plans will be needed moving forward, as the Texans deal with another setback in their secondary. The Stingley-Okudah-Lassiter play is expected to be Houston’s play here, per Wilson. Signed to a one-year, $4.75MM deal this offseason, Okudah has only played in five games (with zero starts) with the Texans.

While Ward has battled injuries throughout his career, the Texans also saw their most durable offensive lineman go down. Shaq Mason, who had not missed a game since the 2021 season, left the Chiefs matchup with a knee injury. The 2023 trade pickup, however, is believed to have avoided a serious injury, Wilson adds. Though, Houston’s right guard starter is still expected to miss between two and four weeks, Wilson adds. This could affect the former Patriots and Buccaneers starter’s playoff availability, but this timetable also at least keeps him in play to come back before season’s end.

Kendrick Green replaced Mason, who had been the only Texans player not to miss time during Ryans’ first season. Mason entered Week 16 having started 60 straight games. The Texans had already moved Tytus Howard from right tackle to left guard, with Juice Scruggs out with a foot injury. Scruggs is not on IR and could return in Week 17.

Packers To Activate TE Luke Musgrave

December 23rd, 2024 at 12:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

Luke Musgrave is set to make his return to the Packers’ lineup tonight. The second-year tight end will be activated from injured reserve in advance of Green Bay’s Week 16 contest, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Musgrave has been on injured reserve since October due to an ankle injury which required surgery. It remained possible at that time that he could return to the lineup at some point late in the campaign, and signs have continued to point in that direction. The 24-year-old had his practice window opened earlier this month, giving the Packers 21 days to activate him.

Provided the move is made in time for tonight’s contest, Musgrave will be in line to play Green Bay’s final three regular season games. The Packers will still have five IR activations once the Oregon State product returns to the lineup, meaning they will retain considerable flexibility in that respect through the postseason (during which all teams receive an additional two IR-return slots). Getting Musgrave back in action will give Green Bay another option at the skill positions.

That group is littered with recent draft picks, and their development since the start of last season has been a central aspect of the Packers’ success on offense. Musgrave posted 34 catches for 352 yards and one touchdown as a rookie, adding another score during the team’s postseason run. During his four appearances in 2024, however, the Oregon State product saw his playing time drop considerably (39% offensive snap share compared to 66%). That resulted in a drop in production.

Tucker Kraft has been a key contributor atop the TE depth chart this year, posting a 41-555-7 statline to date. He will be expected to remain productive down the stretch, but the return of Musgrave will give the Packers additional options at the position. Green Bay can clinch a playoff spot tonight with a win over New Orleans.

Darren Rizzi Aiming To Become Saints’ Full-Time Head Coach

December 23rd, 2024 at 11:20am CST by Adam La Rose

When Dennis Allen was fired in November, it came as little surprise that special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi took over as head coach on an interim basis. As expected, the latter sees the team’s stretch run as a means of auditioning for the position on a full-time basis.

“It all depends on what the organization’s looking for,” Rizzi said when discussing the Saints’ HC search (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). “Sometimes when you go with the hot name or the hot coordinator, I don’t think that a lot of times owners or GMs take into account the things that they haven’t done. They haven’t worked with the players on the other side of the ball and they don’t have any experience with special teams.”

[RELATED: Tracking NFL’s 21st Century Interim HCs]

Indeed, Rizzi’s third phase experience makes him unique compared to many other head coaching candidates. For many staffers, the path to an opportunity to lead a team involves a track record of success on the defensive or (especially recently) offensive side of the ball. Rizzi has worked exclusively as a special teams coordinator at the NFL level, but he has served as a head coach in the past.

The 54-year-old coached New Haven from 1999-2001, and he also took charge of Rhode Island for the 2008 campaign. Those tenures came at the Division II and FCS levels, respectively, however, and other candidates with experience in higher-profile positions (including NFL gigs) will be available during the 2025 hiring cycle. The Saints are joined by the Jets and Bears so far in needing a full-time coach, and others will no doubt join them after the regular season ends.

New Orleans went 2-7 this year before Allen’s dismissal, making a run to the postseason all-but impossible for Rizzi. The team (which was officially eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday) has gone 3-2 since the coaching change despite dealing with numerous injuries on offense. Continued performances along the lines of those seen so far could help Rizzi’s case for taking on the full-time gig.

As he acknowledged, though, it will still be a challenge to get the posting for 2025. Rizzi interviewed with the Dolphins in 2019 before Brian Flores was ultimately hired, and he received another look in 2021 after Sean Payton departed the Saints (preceding Allen’s promotion to HC). A report from last month indicated Rizzi could be a strong contender to have the interim tag removed; it will be interesting to see if that winds up being the case once the season is over.

Bears Believe LT Braxton Jones Suffered Fractured Ankle

December 23rd, 2024 at 10:34am CST by Adam La Rose

Braxton Jones exited the Bears’ game on Sunday, and the severity of his injury suggested a lengthy absence would be forthcoming. The third-year left tackle is indeed facing a long road to recovery.

Jones had his left leg placed in an air cast before being carted off the field during Chicago’s loss to Detroit. Further examination is required at this point, but the initial indications point to a season-ending injury. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Jones is believed to have suffered a fractured ankle.

Per Rapoport, Jones is currently thought to have suffered a break in his fibula, but not his tibia. While that diagnosis could of course change based on further testing, a four-month recovery timeline is now in place. At a minimum, the 25-year-old will not be available for the Bears’ final two games this season. Jones will indeed undergo season-ending surgery, per Scott Bair of the Marquee Sports Network.

Jones has operated as Chicago’s starter on the blindside since arriving as a rookie. The former fifth-rounder has remained consistent in terms of PFF evaluation throughout his career, ranking 19th amongst qualified tackles in overall grade in 2022. That matches where Jones currently ranks this season, one which has been defined in no small part for the Bears by an inability to consistently provide strong blocking up front. Jones has been charged with five sacks and 26 pressures allowed, but his absence will be felt to close out the campaign.

Kiran Amegadjie is in an option to take over blindside duties in the wake of Jones’ absence. The third-round rookie has seen 126 total snaps in 2024, all at the left tackle spot. Amegadjie got the nod for Week 15 against the Vikings with Jones out due to a concussion, but he struggled in that contest. Overall, quarterback Caleb Williams has taken a league-leading 60 sacks partially due to the Bears’ struggles along the O-line.

That unit will be the subject of considerable scrutiny this offseason, and few certainties exist up front for Chicago heading into 2025. Jones has one more year remaining on his rookie contract, meaning he will be eligible for an extension shortly. Regardless of if he receives one, he will not be on the field again until next year.

Mike Zimmer’s Cowboys Future Could Be Tied To Mike McCarthy’s

December 23rd, 2024 at 9:46am CST by Adam La Rose

Mike McCarthy‘s job security with the Cowboys has been a key talking point throughout the campaign, and it will not be resolved one way or the other until at least the end of the regular season. Owner Jerry Jones has consistently praised the team’s head coach, who like the other members of his staff is on an expiring contract.

“All I can say is what a good job, how good a job he’s doing,” Jones said of McCarthy after the Cowboys’ win on Sunday night (via Stephen Hawkins of the Associated Press). “Don’t have thoughts that I would share as to anything about what we do… after we’re through playing this year.”

Jones has remained steadfast in avoiding any declarations about McCarthy’s future since confirming the former Packers Super Bowl winner would remain in place through the current campaign regardless of the team’s performance. He has since left the door open to McCarthy receiving a new deal, but the way in which the season ends will play a role in determining Dallas’ direction. Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers represented the Cowboys’ fourth victory in their past five games, and delivering strong performances during the remaining two weeks could help McCarthy’s stock.

Regardless of what happens on that front, the status of the rest of the staff will be worth following as well. In the case of defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, it remains to be seen what will happen, particularly if McCarthy is not retained. Dan Quinn‘s decision to take the Commanders’ head coaching job created a vacancy, and Zimmer returned to the Cowboys as DC after previously holding that title. The former Vikings head coach made it clear this offseason he would welcome the chance to serve as a head coach again, although he does not expect that opportunity to arise. When asked if McCarthy and Zimmer are viewed as a package deal in Dallas, Jones answered in the affirmative.

“In a way I do,” Jones said (via WFAA’s Ed Werder).“Especially after the last ball games. I think you’re seeing the best of Mike Zimmer. I should say you’re getting to see some of the best, and maybe the best is still ahead of us. It’s been really impressive [with] the attrition we’ve had and the availability of our players. I give him that.”

Dallas has been hit hard by injuries on both sides of the ball, but the team’s 7-8 record offers optimism for the future if a return to health takes place in 2025. Plenty still needs to be decided in advance of next year (by which point team and player will hope to have a Micah Parsons extension worked out), but McCarthy and Zimmer may have helped their chances of remaining in Dallas beyond the next two weeks.

Bills’ Josh Allen Played Through Fractured Non-Throwing Hand For Most Of 2024

December 23rd, 2024 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Prior to the Bills’ win over the Patriots on Sunday, details emerged on an injury Josh Allen had been playing through for most of the campaign. The MVP favorite’s left (i.e. non-throwing) hand had been fractured until recently, although the ailment did not affect his level of play.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Allen suffered the injury in Week 1, and he appeared on subsequent injury reports for several weeks as a result. The 28-year-old remained on Buffalo’s injury reports past the team’s Week 12 bye, but he did not miss any game action as a result of the ailment. By the time the Bills took on the Patriots Sunday, the fracture had healed.

Clarifying the nature of Allen’s injury is notable since many quarterbacks miss at least some game action with hand injuries (even when the non-throwing hand is the one affected). The two-time Pro Bowler has led an offense which ranks second in the NFL in points and seventh in yardage, posting top-10 averages through the air and on the ground. Doing so has put him squarely in contention to win his first career MVP award, and having had much of his success at less than full health could help his chances of winning the award.

Allen’s left hand injury is now behind him, but during yesterday’s game he took a hard hit to his right arm. He managed to remain in the game but said afterwards he had “no feeling” in his right hand for a period after the hit. Allen delivered less of a statistical output than he has in many other games this season, but it was sufficient (along with the Bills’ performance on defense) to pull out a win. His status over the coming days will be worth monitoring, but given his ability to remain in the lineup so far this year, missed time would come as a surprise in Allen’s case.

The Bills’ win kept them in contention to land the AFC’s No. 1 seed. With games remaining against the Jets and Patriots to close out the campaign, a 14-3 record is feasible considering Buffalo’s head-to-head advantage over Kansas City. Regardless of how the race for the first-round bye shakes out, Allen’s ability to maintain his level of play through the remainder of the campaign into the postseason will be a key storyline.

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