HEADLINES

Cardinals’ Dennis Gardeck Tears ACL

October 22nd, 2024 at 2:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Working his way up from primary special-teamer to defensive regular, Dennis Gardeck had found a role in Jonathan Gannon‘s defense. But the veteran’s progress will stop as a result of the injury he sustained Monday night.

Gardeck left the Cardinals’ Week 7 matchup, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports the seventh-year vet sustained a torn ACL. The edge rusher is in the final season of a three-year, $10MM contact.

Although Gardeck had worked as a special-teamer in Vance Joseph‘s defense, Gannon and DC Nick Rallis — as the team cut costs to start a rebuild — moved him into a regular rush role. The effort produced a team-high six sacks last season, and Gardeck had tallied a Cards-leading three early in this campaign. Gardeck has also forced a fumble and intercepted a pass for the 3-4 team.

While Gardeck did well to land the $10MM deal as a special-teamer, this setback could be a crusher as he attempted to make his case for better terms ahead of free agency. The former UDFA turned 30 this year and could have continued building a case for a starter-level contract. With the tear occurring near the midseason point, Gardeck’s value will undoubtedly take a hit.

The Cardinals used Gardeck as a three-game starter, giving him a 45% snap share on defense. He logged a 46% defensive snap rate under Gannon last season. The Cardinals have also been without BJ Ojulari this season; the 2023 second-rounder is out for the year. That will make the Gardeck injury tougher to overcome. Arizona still has former first-round pick Zaven Collins on the edge, but none of the team’s non-Gardeck OLBs have tallied a sack this season. A defense already ranking in the bottom quartile in points and yards allowed will continue an uphill battle.

Browns Sign Bailey Zappe Off Chiefs’ Practice Squad, Place Deshaun Watson On IR

October 22nd, 2024 at 1:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

1:17pm: The Browns made this move official. Zappe will take Watson’s roster spot, with the high-priced starter being moved to IR following his Week 7 Achilles tear. Watson will undergo surgery in the near future, though, it is not yet known if a full repair or an Aaron Rodgers-like speed-bridge procedure will take place.

8:42am: In need of a healthy depth option at quarterback, the Browns are making an addition. Cleveland is set to sign Bailey Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Deshaun Watson is out for the year with a torn Achilles, leaving the team with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston at the quarterback position. Thompson-Robinson took over for Watson on Sunday, but he suffered a finger injury and was also forced to exit the contest. It remains to be seen when the 2023 fourth-rounder will next be available, so Zappe could find himself dressing as the backup as early as Week 8.

The 25-year-old began his career with the Patriots, making a pair of starts during his rookie campaign. The promise he showed during that spell proved to be rather short-lived, though, and he was briefly out of the organization ahead of last season. Zappe was brought back, and with Mac Jones struggling he finished off the year atop New England’s depth chart. Despite having eight starts to his name, Zappe again found himself on the outside looking in this past summer, as the Patriots waived him. They have moved forward with veteran Jacoby Brissett along with rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton under center.

The Chiefs acted quickly by signing Zappe to their practice squad. That move added depth behind Patrick Mahomes and new backup Carson Wentz, signed in free agency to take on QB2 duties. Both of those passers have remained healthy this season, leaving Zappe without a clear path to a place on the 53-man roster. He will now head to Cleveland in a bid to compete for a spot on the team’s roster even after Thompson-Robinson is healthy. Zappe has completed 63.2% of his passes while throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and adding sparse production in the running game during his career.

Those figures are not particularly encouraging, but this move will give him a fresh start at the NFL level. The Western Kentucky product could earn a stay beyond 2024 with the Browns in the event he were to see playing time and deliver solid performances. If not, how Cleveland proceeds in the offseason will become even more uncertain with Watson not being assured of the starting gig once he is healthy.

For the time being, Winston will likely be in line to make his first start of the year as Thompson-Robinson continues to recover. The 1-6 Browns sit last in the NFL in total offense and 29th in scoring, and whichever quarterbacks are used moving forward will look to usher in improvement on that side of the ball (something which could be feasible with Nick Chubb now healthy). Cleveland will look to end Baltimore’s five-game winning streak in Week 8 with a notably different looking QB room.

Eagles To Release WR Parris Campbell

October 22nd, 2024 at 12:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Parris Campbell‘s time with the Eagles has proven to be short-lived. The veteran receiver is being released, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

Campbell had a forgettable one-year stint with the Giants last year, and he made an intra-NFC East move to Philadelphia in the hopes of landing a depth role. That effort proved unsuccessful, though, and he was let go ahead of roster cutdowns. The 27-year-old did not originally intend to remain with the Eagles, but he had a change of heart and signed to the practice squad.

In the end, Campbell wound up making four appearances with Philadelphia. He recorded six catches and one touchdown across a two-game span, but with the team in a better spot health-wise at the receiver spot, he has fallen back down the pecking order. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are back in the fold, and they will of course account for a heavy target share moving forward. Campbell could once again find himself on the taxi squad, but otherwise he will need to find a new opportunity.

The former Colts second-round pick saw injuries plague him in Indianapolis, but after a productive contract year — one largely obscured during the AFC South team’s Jeff Saturday-led season — he has shaken the injury trouble. Though, both the teams who took fliers on Campbell over the past two years have not seen much despite the Ohio State alum staying healthy. Campbell caught just 20 passes for 104 yards with the Giants last season, finishing the year as a healthy scratch. In Philly this season, Campbell has turned his six receptions into just 30 yards.

Campbell’s 2022 season (63 catches, 623 yards) marked his only time beyond 150 yards in a single campaign, but it has proven to be an outlier for the slot player. While it would surprise if no team gave Campbell an opportunity — barring another return to Philly’s P-squad — the sixth-year vet is trending in the wrong direction.

Jahan Dotson and sixth-round rookie Johnny Wilson round out the Eagles’ depth chart. With Campbell again being cut, the team — with only four WRs left on its 53-man roster — will need to make a move soon to add another backup piece.

Jaguars LB Foye Oluokun, S Andrew Wingard To Resume Practicing

October 22nd, 2024 at 12:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars secured a win during the second London contest, and they could have a pair of defensive reinforcements in place ahead of their next game. Linebacker Foye Oluokun and safety Andrew Wingard have both had their 21-day practice windows opened, the team announced on Tuesday.

Oluokun was dealing with plantar fasciitis which he suffered in September, leading to his placement on injured reserve. An absence of at least four games was guaranteed by that move, with Week 8 marking the earliest point at which he could be activated. Today’s update is an encouraging sign with respect to Oluokun’s progress in recovery.

The 28-year-old has been as advertised in terms of tackle production since he signed in Jacksonville in 2022. Oluokun led the league in total stops (184) during his debut Jags campaign, and his 111 solo tackles last year also topped the league. He posted 22 through three games to begin the current season while remaining a full-time starter. The former Falcon logged over 1,100 snaps each year from 2021-23, and his durability was a factor which helped him earn a three-year, $30MM extension this offseason. His return to the linebacking corps will be welcomed.

Like many teams, the Jaguars took advantage of the NFL’s new roster-building rules in August. Wingard – along with running back Keilan Robinson – was placed on IR while being designated for return. That kept him eligible to play in 2024 but used up one of Jacksonville’s eight in-season activations. Once he is brought back onto the roster, Wingard will likely reprise his role as a key special teams contributor. The 27-year-old served as a defensive starter in 2021, but otherwise his presence has primarily been felt in the third phase.

Since Oluokun’s IR stint took place after the season began, he will count toward the remaining activation count once he is officially positioned to return. Jacksonville will have four left after Oluokun gets moved to the active roster. The team will hope his return helps spark improvement on defense, a unit which has struggled in a number of areas (but not when it comes to stopping the run) in 2024.

The 2-5 Jaguars also released Tre Flowers on Tuesday. The veteran corner made four appearances this season, his first in Jacksonville. He played sparingly on defense and special teams, making three tackles. As a veteran being let go before the trade deadline, Flowers will not be subject to waivers and as such he will be free to join a new team at any time.

Chiefs CB Jaylen Watson Suffers Fractured Ankle; 2024 Return Unlikely

October 22nd, 2024 at 11:05am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 22: Testing confirmed Watson’s diagnosis, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports surgery will take place in the coming days. He adds a return during the postseason has not been ruled out, but any further action in 2024 remains unlikely. Kansas City will need to rely on other cornerback contributors moving forward as the team looks to remain undefeated.

OCTOBER 21: Receiver injuries have been a central storyline for the Chiefs in 2024, but the team’s secondary will also be shorthanded moving forward. Cornerback Jaylen Watson suffered a fractured ankle on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Further testing will take place today to determine to severity of the injury. The outcome of that process, Rapoport adds, will dictate whether or not Watson will be available later in the season. Missing him for the remainder of the campaign would deal a notable blow to Kansas City’s cornerbacks room.

Watson carved out a notable role as a rookie in 2022, making six starts and logging a 56% snap share on defense. His workload took a step back last season, although the former seventh-rounder remained a regular on defense and special teams. L’Jarius Sneed was franchise-tagged this offseason before ultimately being traded to the Titans, a move which came as little surprise given Kansas City’s preference to devote cap resources elsewhere. It also opened up a full-time starting role for Watson this year.

The 26-year-old has played nearly every defensive snap so far in 2024, serving as a key figure on one of the league’s top defenses. Kansas City ranks fifth in points allowed this year and 10th in total defense; the team’s play against the pass in particular has been less impressive than in other areas, though, so thinning out the CB room could present a challenge. Watson has allowed a completion percentage of 51.7% and a passer rating of 73.9 as the nearest defender this year, both the best figures of his career.

The Chiefs still have first-team All-Pro Trent McDuffie in place at the cornerback spot, and he will continue to be leaned on heavily without Watson available for the time being. More clarity will emerge in the latter’s case based on testing, but at a minimum a stint on injured reserve (ensuring a four-game absence) should be expected. Ahead of the 2025 offseason – during which he will first be eligible for an extension – any missed time on Watson’s part will be unwelcomed by team and player, but that situation is now in play.

Buccaneers Fear Chris Godwin Sustained Dislocated Ankle

October 21st, 2024 at 10:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Buccaneers attempted to crawl back into their Monday-night matchup with the Ravens, they lost one of their long-running wide receiver starters. The team fears Chris Godwin suffered a serious injury.

The team is concerned Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle, Todd Bowles said postgame. This will stall a bounce-back season for the eighth-year veteran, who has an extensive injury history. Godwin exited the field with an air cast on his injured ankle.

This would be both a significant blow to Tampa Bay’s offense and a poorly timed setback for Mike Evans‘ longtime sidekick. Godwin is in the final season of a three-year, $60MM deal. The former Super Bowl starter has four 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, but he was on pace for a career-best total this year. Godwin caught three passes for 65 yards in the Bucs’ loss tonight, elevating him to 576 on the season. Only Ja’Marr Chase (620) has that beat.

The Bucs gave Evans a third contract this offseason, moving their longtime No. 1 target back in front of Godwin, who is playing on a deal he signed after the team franchise-tagged him for a second straight year. Tampa Bay tagged Godwin in 2021 and ’22; the second stint on the tag did not last long, leading to the $20MM-per-year agreement days later. While Godwin has done quite well for himself as a pro, the former third-round pick was poised to be a high-end free agent at season’s end.

Tampa Bay has established a pattern of letting free agents play out their contract years and convincing them to re-sign. The team went heavy in this direction this year, re-signing Evans, Baker Mayfield and Lavonte David — before tagging and extending Antoine Winfield Jr. The team has also taken this route with cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis, along with center Ryan Jensen. The recently retired center had secured a third contract when he suffered what turned out to be a career-ending knee injury; Godwin’s value for a third contract will likely take a hit as a result of Monday’s development.

In May, an update emerged indicating the Bucs, true to form, had not discussed an extension with Godwin. The productive WR had suffered a torn ACL late in the 2021 season, leaving the team shorthanded (especially after Antonio Brown‘s subsequent meltdown). Godwin, 28, did re-emerge with 1,000-yard slates in 2022 and ’23; though, he was not quite in top form in either year. Godwin posted 1,023 yards in Tom Brady‘s 2022 finale and 1,024 in Mayfield’s Tampa debut, combining for just five touchdowns in that span. He had already matched that total entering Monday night.

The Bucs have trotted out Evans and Godwin together for eight years now. While the younger receiver did not move directly into the starting lineup as a rookie, he soon became Evans’ top complementary piece, helping the likes of Mayfield, Brady and Jameis Winston. Mayfield’s second Tampa Bay arsenal will take a hit as a result, raising the stakes for the likes of Trey Palmer and third-round rookie Jalen McMillan.

Although Brown interfered with Godwin’s unquestioned role as Tampa Bay’s WR2 for a short spell, the Bucs’ pass-game hierarchy has run through Evans and Godwin for many years now. Godwin sits behind only Evans on the team’s all-time receiving list. The Penn State alum’s 7,266 yards are more than 2,000 clear of third-place Mark Carrier, illustrating the value the Bucs have coaxed from their top WRs. If Godwin is unable to come back, this will be a test to the team’s receiver development — both this season and potentially into 2025, considering the veteran’s contract status.

Jameson Williams Facing Two-Game Ban

October 21st, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Ben Levine

Jameson Williams‘ breakout season may be coming to a brief pause. According to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard (and via ESPN’s Adam Schefter), the Lions wide receiver is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s PED policy.

Williams spoke to Woodyard, stating that he’s disappointed with the development and has “no choice but to take it on the chin.” 

“I’m in good spirits,” Williams told Woodyard. “[I’m] just ready to get back with the my brothers ASAP soon as possible.”

This is a tough blow for both Williams and the Lions, as the former first-round pick was putting together the strongest season of his career. In six games (four starts), Williams has already established career-highs in receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (three). His 60.2 yards-per-game mark was more than double his 2023 average, and it barely trailed Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s team-leading 66.8 yards per game.

The 12th-overall pick in the 2022 draft, Williams didn’t make his debut until that December while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college. After finishing his rookie campaign with a single catch (a 41-yard touchdown, no less), Williams got a full offseason ahead of the 2023 campaign. However, the start of his sophomore season was still delayed thanks to a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. When he returned, he was firmly behind St. Brown and Josh Reynolds on the depth chart.

With Reynolds no longer around in 2024, Williams has stepped up as the team’s WR2. In an offense loaded with talent, Williams has still managed to garner the second-most targets (30) on the squad. Fortunately for the Lions, they should be more than capable of overcoming Williams’ impending suspension. Tim Patrick and/or Kalif Raymond could step up at WR, and tight end Sam LaPorta could see an uptick in targets following a disappointing start to his sophomore campaign.

Kevin Stefanski Declines To Name Deshaun Watson Browns’ 2025 Starter; Dorian Thompson-Robinson Could Miss Time

October 21st, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the remainder of the 2024 campaign, the Browns will not have Deshaun Watson available at quarterback. His Week 7 Achilles tear will require season-ending surgery and lead to further speculation about how Cleveland will proceed at the position.

When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski noted Watson will undergo surgery this week to begin his rehab process. On that point, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is expected to have Packers team physician Dr. Robert Anderson perform the procedure. She adds that while consideration was given to the ‘speed bridge’ option which offers a shorter recovery timeline, the traditional operation is likely in this case. With Watson not in consideration to heal before the end of the season, the latter path is a sensible one.

A full recovery is expected for Watson, whose three-year Browns tenure has seen him play only 19 games. In the wake of this year’s struggles, Stefanski repeatedly offered public endorsements of the three-time Pro Bowler as Cleveland’s starter, stating that keeping Watson atop the depth chart was a call on his part and not that of ownership. Today, Stefanski offered further positive reviews of the 29-year-old but did not confirm Watson will hold the QB1 title once he is healthy in 2025.

“Obviously I believe in Deshaun, but I also think it’s important just to acknowledge that he just had a bad injury and a bad break for him and we’re feeling bad for him,” Stefanski said. “[I] know that he’ll bounce back, but not getting into all those things down the road. I’m looking forward to him getting the surgery and obviously getting his body back.”

Two years and $92MM in fully-guaranteed compensation remains on Watson’s pact, one which has been restructured multiple times. The resultant cap charges will make it difficult to continue with Watson absent any further adjustments, but cutting or trading him is not feasible. Stefanski noted (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand) the Browns will add a quarterback to fill the vacancy created by Watson’s injury, but it remains to be seen what role a new signal-caller will have to close out the season.

2023 fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson and free agent addition Jameis Winston remain as Cleveland’s healthy quarterbacks. A change in the backup pecking order allowed for Thompson-Robinson to take over after Watson went down, although he suffered a finger injury which forced him to leave the contest as well. Testing on the 24-year-old’s injury will take place to determine if surgery is required; Stefanski noted Thompson-Robinson should be available at some point but his Week 8 status is in question (h/t Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal).

Winston might be needed during at least the short-term future as a result. The former Buccaneer and Saint has 80 starts to his name, and as a pending free agent he has plenty of incentive to deliver a strong showing and boost his market value. Of course, Winston could find himself competing for playing time with the Browns in 2025 depending on Watson’s health status and how the team views his grip on the starting gig once he is back in the fold.

Tua Tagovailoa Will Practice This Week, Hoping To Play In Week 8

October 21st, 2024 at 9:48pm CST by Ben Levine

OCTOBER 21: When speaking to the media on Monday, McDaniel confirmed that Tagovailoa will return to practice this week. His 21-day activation will therefore be opened shortly, and with full medical clearance the Pro Bowler will be in position to return for Miami’s next game.

OCTOBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa is zeroing in on his return to the field. Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told his team that the starting quarterback is expected to start practicing next Wednesday. If all goes well, there’s “hope” that Tagovailoa will be under center for Miami in Week 8.

This timeline would mark a minimum stay on injured reserve for the QB. Tagovailoa landed on the shelf after Week 2, when he suffered his third concussion in two years. It was uncertain if the former first-round pick would even continue his NFL career, much less take the field when first eligible. McDaniel provided some optimism to the situation earlier this week when he admitted that he expects his starter to return in 2024. Now, it sounds like the league’s 2023 passing leader is intending to play against the Cardinals next Sunday.

Per Russini, the organization and the player used his IR stint to evaluate his future, which included visits with multiple specialists. Fortunately, Tagovailoa hasn’t dealt with any lingering issues from his latest concussion, and Russini writes that the signal-caller would play in Week 7 if he was eligible.

Tagovailoa’s return should provide a spark to a Dolphins offense that has struggled mightily during his absence. After finishing second in the NFL last season with 29.2 points per game, the Dolphins are averaging a league-worst 12 points per game in 2024. The team has turned to the likes of Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley to guide the offense in recent weeks. That duo has combined for 397 passing yards in their three starts; for comparison’s sake, Tagovailoa threw for 338 yards in the season opener. For this weekend, Huntley is still expected to be the team’s starting quarterback.

If Tagovailoa does indeed return for Week 8, there’s a chance the Dolphins could find themselves at 2-4. The organization will be counting on the former fifth-overall pick to turn around their season,

Steelers Sign CB C.J. Henderson To Active Roster

October 21st, 2024 at 9:15pm CST by Ben Levine

C.J. Henderson has earned a promotion to Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Steelers have signed the practice-squad cornerback to the active roster.

The former first-round pick joined the Steelers practice squad in late September. While today’s move comes after Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson aggravated his shoulder injury last night, Rapoport notes that Henderson was also drawing interest from other cornerback-needy squads. By adding Henderson to the active roster, the Steelers now control the player’s fate this season.

The ninth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Henderson showed flashes as a rookie with the Jaguars, hauling in an interception to go along with 36 tackles. He ended his rookie campaign on IR with a shoulder injury, and he only got into two games with Jacksonville in 2021 before getting dealt to Carolina. He ultimately spent two-plus seasons with the Panthers, finding himself in and out of the starting lineup. Pro Football Focus was never especially fond of Henderson’s performance, with the site often giving him one of the worst positional grades in pass coverage.

After hitting free agency this past offseason, Henderson quickly caught on with the Texans. He was among the team’s final cuts, and it took him about a month before he got an offer from the Steelers.

Joey Porter Jr. and Jackson have soaked up the majority of Pittsburgh’s snaps at CB this season, although the latter has been limited in each of the past two weeks while dealing with his shoulder injury. With Beanie Bishop Jr. penciled in as the nickelback, James Pierre has been tasked with filling in during Week 6 and Week 7, with the former UDFA getting into a season-high 35 snaps yesterday. With only those four aforementioned CBs on the active roster, Henderson could be in line for a role if Jackson if forced to miss any time.

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