HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Bengals TE Erick All Expected To Miss 2025 Season

February 1st, 2025 at 11:49am CST by Ben Levine

Erick All missed half of the 2024 campaign after suffering the second torn ACL of his career. While there was natural hope that he’d be back on the field midway through the 2025 season, it now sounds like the Bengals tight end won’t play again until 2026.

[RELATED: Bengals TE Erick All Suffers Torn ACL]

According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, All is expected to miss the entire 2025 season following complications from a previous knee surgery he underwent in college.

All suffered his first torn ACL back in 2023 while he was at the University of Iowa. When the tight end suffered his most recent tear, it was determined that his knee issues were “so severe” that he’d require two surgeries instead of the standard single procedure. According to Dehner, All has already gone under the knife once, and his upcoming surgery will effectively start the clock on the “traditional ACL recovery timeline.”

Injuries were a big reason why All fell to the Bengals in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. Other than the aforementioned ACL tear, the tight end also suffered a back injury that ultimately required “life-changing” spine surgery (per Dehner). The Bengals are naturally treading lightly with the young player, and the current recovery strategy is intended to benefit “the long term of his career.”

All got into nine games (six starts) as a rookie, hauling in 20 catches for 158 yards. As Dehner writes, the player’s real production came as a blocker, with the Bengals slightly revising their run-blocking approach to accommodate All’s game-changing ability.

While the Bengals probably intended to pencil All in as their TE1 in 2025, the team will now have to look for another solution. With Mike Gesicki hitting free agency, the Bengals are currently eyeing a depth chart that consists of Drew Sample, Tanner McLachlan, and Cam Grandy.

Ravens’ Justin Tucker Accused Of Sexual Misconduct By Several Massage Therapists; Kicker Denies Allegations

February 1st, 2025 at 10:45am CST by Sam Robinson

SATURDAY, 10:45am: Tucker is facing allegations from three new massage therapists, per Justin Fenton of Baltimore Banner. These allegations come from three women who worked at the same Baltimore men’s spa. One woman produced an internal report regarding her interactions with the player from 2015.

In response to the latest allegations, Tucker’s lawyers told Baltimore Banner to refer to Tucker’s statement that referred to accusations as “unequivocally false.”

THURSDAY, 2:00pm: Six massage therapists have accused Ravens kicker Justin Tucker of inappropriate sexual behavior during treatments that occurred between 2012-16, the Baltimore Banner’s Julie Scharper, Brenna Smith and Justin Fenton report.

The alleged inappropriate conduct took place at four high-end Baltimore-area spas and wellness centers. Tucker is accused of “exposing his genitals,” touching two of the therapists with his erect penis and leaving “what they believed to be ejaculate” on massages tables after three of the sessions. Two spas banned the decorated Baltimore kicker, according to the Banner, while several of the therapists either ended sessions early or refused to work with him again.

Attorneys representing Tucker deny any wrongdoing, including any bans taking place. In a statement posted to X, Tucker said the massage therapists’ allegations are “unequivocally false.” Tucker said he has never been accused of any inappropriate behavior by a massage therapist and accuses the Baltimore Banner of “misconstruing events as nefarious and relying on third party speculation.”

The women who are accusing Tucker of misconduct during sessions are unnamed. Tucker’s lawyers, per the Banner, mentioned more than a dozen therapists who had worked with Tucker. Four of them responded to questions, after the kicker’s representation insisted inquiries go through the Ravens, with positive accounts of interactions with Tucker.

The Banner, however, details the alleged instances of sexual misconduct. And it will cause issues for the future Hall of Fame specialist. An NFL statement (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport) indicates the league had not been apprised of these allegations until recently. A league investigation is on tap. Tucker has not been charged with a crime, and the Thursday report does not mention any civil suits having been filed. Tucker could still be subject to an NFL suspension under the personal conduct policy.

Tucker, 35, has been the Ravens’ kicker since 2012. In that time, he has built one of the greatest resumes in the history of the position. The eight-time All-Pro is regarded by many to be the best kicker in NFL history. Tucker is coming off a down season, having missed a career-most eight field goal attempts. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said after the team’s divisional-round loss the franchise expects Tucker to bounce back and remain one of the game’s best. He is under contract through the 2027 season.

Patriots Hire Ashton Grant As QBs Coach, Make More Coaching Moves

February 1st, 2025 at 9:34am CST by Ben Levine

Mike Vrabel‘s staff in New England continues to take shape. Most notably, the Patriots have landed on a new QBs coach to work alongside Josh McDaniels and Drake Maye. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that the Patriots have hired Ashton Grant for the gig.

Grant has spent the majority of his coaching career in Cleveland, where he worked his way up from an offensive quality control coach to QBs coach. While Deshaun Watson‘s performance left plenty to be desired, Grant also earned praise for his handling of the rest of the depth chart (including Jameis Winston).

In New England, he’ll be taking over a QBs room that features a pair of young arms in Maye and Joe Milton. Grant is set to replace T.C. McCartney, who isn’t expected to return to the Patriots in a new role, per Mark Daniels of MassLive.com.

The Patriots weren’t finished making additions to their coaching staff. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Jason Houghtaling is expected to join New England’s staff. Houghtaling was an OL coaching assistant on Vrabel’s staff in Tennessee before spending last season with the Bears. Elsewhere on offense, the team is bringing in Riley Larkin as an offensive assistant, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Larkin most recently served as an offensive assistant in Ohio State’s quarterbacks room.

On the other side of the ball, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reports that former Titans defensive assistant Clint McMillan will also be following his former boss to New England. Further, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports that the Patriots are expected to hire Bills nickels coach/senior defensive assistant Scott Booker. Following the theme, Booker previously worked Vrabel during the duo’s time with the Titans. Finally, while a deal hasn’t been finalized, the Patriots are targeting Colts assistant defensive backs coach Justin Hamilton for a role on their defensive staff, per Zenitz. Unsurprisingly, Hamilton was on the Titans staff in 2023.

As Vrabel crafts his first New England staff, he’ll also be saying goodbye to a handful of incumbent coaches. Most notably, Brian Belichick won’t be back with the Patriots in 2025, according to Reiss. The son of Bill Belichick, Brian spent the past five seasons coaching safeties in New England, including this past year working under a new boss in Jerod Mayo. Drew Wilkins, who most recently served as the Patriots outside linebackers coach, also isn’t expected to be retained (per Jones), and cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino won’t be back with the organization (per Reiss).

There is at least one coach who will be retained from last year’s staff. Former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo is expected to stick on Vrabel’s staff, per Reiss. McAdoo spent this past season as a senior offensive assistant, but Reiss notes that the coach’s title could change in 2025. Speaking of titles, the Patriots have also officially hired Vrabel’s right-hand man, John “Stretch” Streicher, who will serve as the team’s vice president of football operations and strategy (per Albert Breer of TheMMQB).

Texans Expected To Interview Adam Stenavich For OC Job

February 1st, 2025 at 8:57am CST by Ben Levine

After missing out on head coaching and coordinator gigs this offseason, Adam Stenavich is once again participating in an active interview cycle. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Packers offensive coordinator is expected to interview for the same job with the Texans.

The 41-year-old has been a relatively popular name this offseason. Stenavich interviewed for the Bears head coaching job before it went to Ben Johnson, and he was a candidate for the Seahawks OC job before Klint Kubiak was hired.

Stenavich has spent most of his NFL coaching career in Green Bay. He spent two years as the offensive line coach before earning the added responsibility of run game coordinator in 2021. When Nathaniel Hackett left for Denver, Stenavich earned the promotion to offensive coordinator, a job he’s held for the past three seasons.

While the OC doesn’t call offensive plays in Green Bay, he does work closely with Matt LaFleur to devise game plans and strategy. The Packers finished this past season ranked fifth in total offense and eighth in points per game.

With Bobby Slowik out in Houston, the Texans have cast a wide net trying to find a replacement. The team’s current list of OC candidates includes: