HEADLINES

Broncos LT Garett Bolles Expected To Play Out Contract

November 14th, 2024 at 1:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Justin Simmons will be in Denver on Sunday as a member of the visiting Falcons, the decorated safety’s March release made Garett Bolles the longest-tenured Bronco. A lack of substantive extension talks threatens to move that distinction to another player soon.

Bolles has expressed an interest in a third Broncos contract, but he remains attached to the four-year, $68MM deal agreed to during the 2020 season. The eighth-year left tackle did agree to his current extension in November 2020, during his lone All-Pro campaign, but plenty has changed about the Broncos in the years since. The GM that drafted Bolles (John Elway) is gone, with the subsequent honcho (George Paton) seeing his power curbed thanks to Sean Payton‘s 2023 arrival. This all leaves Bolles with a cloudy Colorado future.

The Broncos have reached extensions with three 2021 draftees this year, coming to terms with Quinn Meinerz, Patrick Surtain and Jonathon Cooper over the past four months. Bolles, however, is expected to play out his second contract this season, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. While Denver passed on trading Bolles before his contract year and would still have exclusive negotiating rights with its longtime LT in the weeks before the legal tampering period, a separation would move closer to a reality if Bolles finishes the season unsigned.

Bolles is 32 despite being a 2017 draftee, which would stand to affect his market to some degree. That said, the Utah alum wants to play at least a few more seasons. He has been seeking a Broncos extension since before 2024. Bolles became the longest-serving Broncos left tackle this season, hitting Year 8 to surpass Ryan Clady (who missed all of the 2015 season).

Denver used Russell Okung as a stopgap upon trading Clady to the Jets in 2016 but drafted Bolles 20th overall in 2017. The investment delivered some choppy waters early, thanks to Bolles’ holding penchant, but he has stabilized himself into a solid option at the premier O-line position.

After a broken leg ended Bolles’ 2022 season five games in, he has returned to play in all 27 Broncos contests since. Pro Football Focus slotted Bolles 19th in 2023 and has him 14th among all tackles this season. He checks in as a top-15 player in both ESPN’s pass block and run block win rate, sitting 14th in pass pro and sixth on the ground. Avoiding a serious injury should stand to deliver Bolles a strong third contract, with the question then being whether it will come from the Broncos or another team.

Meinerz’s extension gave the Broncos four O-linemen tied to eight-figure-per-year contracts, joining left guard Ben Powers and right tackle Mike McGlinchey. The veteran RT’s 2025 salary is fully guaranteed, providing a potential complication for a third Bolles-Broncos agreement. Denver saw some promising play from 2023 UDFA Alex Palczewski early this season, but the Illinois alum filled in exclusively for McGlinchey at right tackle and did not play as a rookie. A Bolles exit likely moves LT to the top of the list of Broncos needs for 2025, which would be an interesting development due to the organization’s Bo Nix development effort.

Next year’s LT market (as of now, that is) is slated to feature Cam Robinson and Ronnie Stanley, both joining Bolles in playing out their second contracts. Dan Moore Jr. and Walker Little headline the list of LTs going after their first big paydays. While this crop gives the Broncos options, the team also will be navigating the second and final year of Russell Wilson‘s dead money; that figure is set to check in just north of $30MM next year, limiting the AFC West club’s options a bit.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Out For Season

November 14th, 2024 at 11:56am CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 14: Prescott’s surgery was a success, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports. The lengthy rehab process will now begin as the Cowboys consider their other quarterback options to close out the campaign.

NOVEMBER 12: The Dak Prescott surgery scenario will commence. Although rumors about a potential late-season return emerged, Prescott’s hamstring injury will ultimately shut him down.

A round of medical opinions will lead Prescott to the operating table, with Jerry Jones confirming during a 105.3 The Fan appearance (h/t The Athletic’s Jon Machota) his quarterback will undergo surgery in New York. The operation will take place Wednesday.

Considering the Cowboys’ trajectory and the nature of Prescott’s injury, it is not too surprising this is how his season will end. The Cowboys will stick with Cooper Rush in the immediate aftermath of a blowout loss to the Eagles, though veteran Cowboys reporter Newy Scruggs adds the team is bringing in Will Grier to join its practice squad. The Eagles released Grier from their P-squad last week.

Prescott, 31, is believed to have suffered a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon. Reminding somewhat of the injury that cost Tyron Smith most of his 2022 season, Prescott’s malady prompted visits with multiple doctors — including one in New York. That meeting will provide the impetus for the ninth-year QB to wrap his season. This will go down as a wildly successful Prescott year on the contract front but a poor one in terms of performance.

Signing a four-year, $240MM extension — one that raised the QB market by a staggering $5MM in terms of AAV — Prescott ranked 25th in QBR when he went down during the Cowboys’ Week 9 game against the Falcons. A scramble produced the hamstring malady, and Prescott winced as he attempted a subsequent pass. The Cowboys certainly needed Prescott to salvage what looks like a lost season. With Rush at the controls in front of Trey Lance, Dallas is likely barreling toward a regime chance due to Mike McCarthy‘s lame-duck status.

The 2020s have brought extreme vacillations for Prescott, who has nevertheless signed two player-friendly extensions during the decade. A fractured ankle — an injury that has affected the QB in the years since — shut down Dallas’ starter in 2020, while he then powered the team to a No. 1 offensive ranking during a 12-5 2021 season. While the Cowboys repeated their 12-5 record in 2022, Prescott led the NFL in INTs (15) upon returning from an early-season thumb injury. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year bounced back last year, earning second-team All-Pro status, before another regression defined his 2024 showing.

When Prescott went down in 2020, the Cowboys sank to 6-10. This preceded a 7-9 Washington team winning the NFC East. The Cowboys and Eagles yo-yoed in the division over the next three seasons, but McCarthy is almost certainly on his way out after this one. Dallas now sits 3-6 and will play 10 games without its starting QB this season. Jones endured steady criticism for his roster construction this year, as his Prescott and CeeDee Lamb extensions came as the owner operated passively at other positions. McCarthy’s successor will likely have a top-10 pick to use in April as a result.

Grier spent nearly two years with the Cowboys, arriving as a waiver claim in 2021 and staying on until not being retained on the 2023 roster coming out of camp. The former third-round pick rejoined Kellen Moore with the Chargers to close last season, following Bengals and Patriots stints, and caught on with the ex-Dallas OC in Philly this offseason. Grier will round out Dallas’ QB room, which remains fronted by Rush, who has been Prescott’s backup for most of the former fourth-round find’s career.

It would stand to reason Lance would receive extended time moving forward, given the Cowboys’ situation, but McCarthy confirmed Rush will see at least one more start. Lance’s rookie contract expires at season’s end, while Rush’s two-year, $4MM deal wraps after this campaign as well.

Thanks to the mammoth re-up he inked in September, Prescott is tied to to the Cowboys through the 2028 slate. The latest Prescott deal featuring no-tag and no-trade clauses, the contract will need to be adjusted in 2025, as it carries an untenable $89.9MM cap number.

Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy Undergoes Second Knee Procedure

November 14th, 2024 at 11:13am CST by Adam La Rose

J.J. McCarthy underwent meniscus surgery in August, and with a full repair being required he will be sidelined for his entire rookie season. The Vikings first-rounder’s rehab process recently led to a second procedure being deemed necessary.

A biologic injection took place earlier this week, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports. The procedure was aimed at reducing swelling in the knee which developed as McCarthy ramped up his rehab. Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune confirms the injection (rather than another surgery altogether) is the extent of what took place. Most significantly, this development is not expected to alter the No. 10 pick’s recovery timeline. Being available for the start of the 2025 campaign remains the expectation in this case.

“As his rehab has picked up, we noticed a little swelling in there and just with the time that we do have… we just wanted to make sure there was no cause for concern,” head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed (via Seifert). “All reports were very positive and he’s on the original timetable and in good shape.”

McCarthy was one of six quarterbacks selected within the first 12 picks of the 2024 draft, although his NFL ceiling has been a talking point given his limited usage in the passing game in college. The 21-year-old helped guide Michigan to an undefeated season and a national title in 2023, but the team’s reliance on its defense and rushing attack left McCarthy with greater uncertainty than many of his fellow QB prospects regarding his abilities as a passer. Minnesota nevertheless committed to him as the franchise’s Kirk Cousins successor.

Veteran stopgap Sam Darnold was atop the depth chart at the start of training camp, and McCarthy’s injury left him as the undisputed starter for the campaign. Darnold enjoyed a very strong start to the year, one which will determine his market value during the spring. He has, however, seen a downturn in effectiveness recently, including a three-interception outing against the Jaguars last week. Still, the former No. 3 pick is set to remain Minnesota’s QB1 through the rest of the year.

Beyond that point, McCarthy will obviously be the favorite to take on starting duties, especially if Darnold departs. Having missed an entire year of development, though, the former’s readiness will no doubt be a major talking point in 2025. Nevertheless, McCarthy remains on track to be fully healthy in time for the start of next year.

Trevor Lawrence Out For Week 11; Jaguars Optimistic About Post-Bye Return

November 14th, 2024 at 9:47am CST by Adam La Rose

Trevor Lawrence missed only the second game of his career last week as he continues to deal with an AC joint sprain. Jacksonville’s starting quarterback will be sidelined again in Week 11, but his status beyond that point is uncertain.

Lawrence’s sprain is in his non-throwing shoulder, and for the time being he is attempting to address the matter through rest and rehab. Surgery could be an option at some point, however, and that would shut him down for the remainder of the campaign. For the time being, team and player are taking a week-to-week approach.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson confirmed Lawrence will be out for the upcoming game against the Lions. That matchup will be followed by the team’s bye week, and Pederson expressed optimism (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco) Lawrence could be back in place in time for Jacksonville’s Week 13 game. The team will no doubt be cautious with the former No. 1 pick’s rehab process, but multiple weeks on the mend could help in his recovery to a notable degree.

The Jaguars sit at 2-8 on the year, so a second-half turnaround leading to postseason contention should not be expected. Lawrence’s long-term health is an obvious priority for the franchise given his five-year, $275MM extension signed this offseason. After the Clemson product played through a number of ailments late last season, it would come as no surprise if avoiding the risk of further injury received consideration in 2024. Having Lawrence in place would, on the other hand, give the Jags a chance to find better consistency and production on offense down the stretch – something which, in turn, could play a role in determining Pederson’s job security.

Mac Jones got the nod in Week 10, going 14-for-22 in a loss to the Vikings. The former Patriots first-rounder threw a pair of interceptions; he also committed one fumble and was sacked three times. An improved performance will be the goal against the 8-1 Lions, although expectations will likely be rather low on that front given the caliber of Jacksonville’s opposition. Recently re-acquired C.J. Beathard will dress as Jones’ backup for at least one more contest before a potential post-bye Lawrence return.

Colts Turning Back To Anthony Richardson At QB

November 13th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts’ pivot to Joe Flacco did not produce the kind of results the team hoped for, and the veteran is heading back to the bench. Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson developmental effort is shifting back to on-field duty.

Although the Colts had demoted Richardson due to on-field and preparation concerns, they are reversing course. Richardson will start in Week 11, per Shane Steichen. Doubling down here, Steichen classified this change as a long-term switch by indicating Richardson will carry the keys for the rest of the season.

Steichen said Sunday he was not planning to turn back to Richardson, whose accuracy concerns had restrained the Colts’ offense. Like Dave Canales did during his initial Bryce Young-for-Andy Dalton change, Steichen reversed course days later. It will be Richardson, who is tied to a 44% completion rate, against the Jets in Week 11.

Richardson had arrived in Indiana as a hopeful savior for a Colts team that had kept shifting to different veterans following Andrew Luck‘s retirement. Instead, the unseasoned Florida product showed concerning flaws after entering the NFL with one season — a highly inaccurate one, at that — of college starting experience. The Colts had been insistent they would keep Richardson in the lineup, but his decision to leave the field for a play against the Texans catalyzed a benching themed around Flacco giving the 2024 roster a better chance to win. The yo-yoing with Richardson will continue now that Flacco has not recaptured his form from his 2023 Comeback Player of the Year season.

Trade interest came in for Richardson, as it did Young, before last week’s deadline. As expected, the Colts passed. But Steichen’s previous comments painted a cloudy picture for the former No. 4 overall pick. Now, the Colts — at 4-6 — will move their season back toward a Richardson developmental project. Although fantasy GMs rostering Colts wide receivers may not be a fan of this development, Richardson certainly needs more playing time after entering the NFL as a one-year Gators starter and missing most of his rookie season due to a shoulder injury.

Richardson’s 44.4% completion number ranks as the fifth-worst mark through six games this century, and although the QB’s 7.2 yards per attempt is not at a basement level, the dual threat’s occasional deep-ball success was not enough to keep him in the lineup in Week 9. But Flacco threw three INTs against the Bills and did not lead the Colts into the Vikings’ red zone a week prior. The 17th-year veteran will shift back to a relief role.

If the Colts stick with their QB plan this time around, they should be able to make a better determination of Richardson’s 2025 status. The team had viewed Richardson’s preparation issues as a bigger concern than his on-field struggles, further calling into question the team’s plan to give him the QB1 gig back so soon. It is possible the team will need to shop for another starter next year, as the Panthers might. Considering where the Colts’ busy offseasons at QB since Luck abruptly left in August 2019, that would not be a welcome development. As such, Richardson making progress will be vital to the Colts’ blueprint.

Richardson, who did complete 59.5% of his passes in limited duty last season, may well need to show notable improvement from his first-half form to keep GM Chris Ballard in place due to the investment made in the raw passer. This switch back to Richardson may well put the Colts’ 2024 contention prospects secondary to long-term development — in an AFC already featuring a somewhat thin wild-card race — but Flacco’s struggles were not justifying Steichen’s previous QB call. Richardson’s form will now be the central Colts storyline for the season’s final seven games.

Vikings DC Brian Flores ‘Would Love’ To Return To Head Coaching

November 13th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Brian Flores is happy with his current job as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator, but he envisions sees a return to a head coaching gig in his future.

“Look, there’s only 32 of these jobs, so I would certainly want to be a head coach in this league again,” said Flores on the Adam Schefter Podcast, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.

Flores was hired as the Dolphins’ head coach in 2019 and led them to a 25-24 record and zero playoff appearances before his firing after the 2021 season. Flores then spent the 2022 season as a senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach in Pittsburgh before taking the Vikings’ DC position in 2023.

The longtime Patriots assistant installed an innovative defensive system upon his arrival in Minnesota, dialing up blitzes at the highest rate in the NFL in 2023, per NextGen Stats. Flores mixed heavy blitzing with simulated pressures that saw potential pass-rushers drop off the line of scrimmage into coverage, forcing opposing quarterbacks to hold onto the ball longer. Though the Vikings were not a top-10 defense in Flores’ first year as DC, he has taken them to a new level in 2024, allowing just 17.4 points per game while forcing a league-high 20 turnovers.

Flores’ success in Minnesota could earn him consideration for a head coaching gig this offseason. Three recent vacancies have been filled by defensive-minded coaches: Jonathan Gannon in Arizona, DeMeco Ryans in Houston, and Mike Macdonald in Seattle.

Flores’ path to a head coaching gig is complicated by his ongoing legal dispute with the NFL as well as four individual teams. He filed a lawsuit against the league and the Dolphins, Broncos, Giants, and Texans in 2022 alleging racial discrimination in their hiring processes. While his case against the Dolphins – which included claims that owner Stephen Ross offered Flores extra money to tank for better draft picks – was moved to arbitration in 2023, his suit against the NFL and the three other teams will proceed in open court.

Two teams have already fired their head coaches this season: the Jets and the Saints. Flores’ experience with Ross in Miami may keep him away from another involved owner in the Jets’ Woody Johnson, especially considering the drama surrounding Aaron Rodgers‘ tenure in New York. Flores’ defensive prowess may be a better fit in New Orleans, where he could pair with up-and-coming offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, though the Saints would then risk losing Kubiak to another head coaching gig in the future.

Tee Higgins Expected To Leave Bengals In 2025

November 13th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Ja’Marr Chase still on a rookie contract and Joe Burrow‘s extension not set to produce lofty cap numbers until 2025, the Bengals took advantage of circumstances to use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. Of the nine franchise- or transition-tagged players this year, Higgins became the only one not extended.

This rental setup has never looked likely to lead to a long-term deal, with a low-ball extension offer underwhelming Cincinnati’s No. 2 wideout. The sides are not believed to have engaged in substantive discussions since early 2023. As Chase puts together a dominant season that should probably be expected to net him the NFL’s top receiver contract in 2025, Higgins looks to be on the verge of relocating. The prospect of a second franchise tag looms, but it would be pricey for the Bengals.

As it stands, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the expectation is for Higgins to be elsewhere next year. Going further, Fowler offers that there is “little to no chance” Higgins is a Bengal beyond 2024. This prospect raises the stakes for the former second-round pick, whom the Bengals denied from testing free agency this year. If permitted to reach the market in 2025, Higgins figures to do very well.

The Bengals are projected to hold more than $65MM in cap space next year; that accounts for Chase’s fifth-year option number and Burrow’s cap spike. Chase counts $21.82MM on Cincy’s 2025 cap, with that number matching Higgins’ current franchise tender. Burrow’s cap hit will balloon from $29.6MM this year to $46.3MM in 2025. Still, it should not necessarily be considered a lock the Bengals pass on a tag-and-trade scenario for Higgins, as the two-time 1,000-yard receiver could certainly fetch an asset if moved that way.

Cincinnati would need to weigh how a $26.2MM Higgins tag for next year would affect its budget and whether the return would would match a potential third-round compensatory pick, one that would arrive in 2026. The Packers collected first- and second-round picks from the Raiders for Davante Adams in 2022. Higgins is not in that class, but the Dolphins received a third-rounder for Jarvis Landry in a tag-and-trade scenario in 2018. That would seem realistic for a player who has been valuable to the Bengals’ 2020s resurgence. Those are the only two WR tag-and-trade moves over the past 10 years.

Higgins, 25, has some work to do to hit 1,000 yards during the season’s second half. He is sitting on 341, having missed five games due to injuries. These issues will affect his market, though plenty of teams will be interested in a player who has long been considered a potential No. 1 wideout playing in the role of a WR2 thanks to Chase’s presence. Higgins totaled 1,091 yards in 2021 and helped the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI; he then hit 1,029 to boost the team back to the AFC championship game. A 2023 season plagued by injury and Burrow’s wrist setback limited Higgins last year, and no significant extension talks transpired this offseason.

Teams called on Higgins at the past two deadlines; the Bengals, as expected, did not bite. Higgins remains key to Cincy’s hopes at steering this season toward a wild-card berth. The 6-foot-4 weapon joined Trey Hendrickson in requesting a trade this offseason but soon acknowledged he considered an exit unlikely. The Bengals are not believed to have offered a deal that came especially close to $20MM per year when negotiating in 2023. With the market having spiked (and with Chase’s likely 2025 extension poised to raise the ceiling higher), Higgins should expect to do better than $20MM per annum if he tests the market next year.

The Bengals have not seen Jermaine Burton progress much as a rookie but have seen sporadic production from 2023 sixth-rounder Andrei Iosivas, who has 17 receptions for 228 yards and four touchdowns this season. With a potential Higgins exit on the radar for a while, the Bengals have had time to map out their receiver situation. They would still likely pursue more help to replace Higgins, and it looks like — whether a separation comes through a free agency defection or a tag-and-trade maneuver — that reality will come to pass next year.

Titans Release S Mike Edwards

November 13th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

It seemed hard to fathom, but Mike Edwards‘ tenure in Tennessee was even shorter than his stint in Buffalo. A week after signing with the Titans following his release from the Bills, Edwards has now been released a second time in just eight days, according to Titans senior writer/editor Jim Wyatt.

In Buffalo to start the year, the former Buccaneers and Chiefs defender was stuck behind Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin and second-round rookie Cole Bishop in the rotation at safety. The Bills attempted to make him available for the trade market shortly before the deadline but failed to offload the 28-year-old, so they decided to release him.

Edwards signed a one-year, $2.8MM deal with the Bills more than a week into free agency this offseason, despite interest that Buffalo had shown in Julian Blackmon. The agreement did not produce notable playing time, as the former third-round pick saw just seven defensive snaps in three games for the Bills over the first nine weeks of the season.

It was actually Edwards who asked for the release from Buffalo. A day later, Edwards found his next contract in Nashville, presumably coming in to replace starting safety Quandre Diggs after a season-ending Lisfranc injury. Outside of starter Amani Hooker, the Titans have two young safeties on their roster: Mike Brown and Julius Wood. Brown is a third-year player who had just 58 snaps on defense on the year before matching that season-total in a start last week. Wood is an undrafted rookie who has played exclusively on special teams.

It was presumed that Brown may take a bigger role while Edwards learned the defense, so it wasn’t a complete surprise that he got the start while Edwards remained inactive this week. Today’s release, though, is a bit surprising. He leaves Tennessee having not played a single snap. It’s unclear what the reason was for his release, and it’s unclear what his plans are moving forward, but Edwards will likely aim to stay at his next destination a bit longer.

Jets S Chuck Clark Designated For Return From IR

November 13th, 2024 at 9:19pm CST by Ely Allen

A year after missing the entire 2023 NFL season with a torn ACL, Jets safety Chuck Clark finally returned to the field as a starter for his new team this year. Unfortunately, Clark found himself on injured reserve once again six games into the 2024 NFL season. After the minimum required four missed games, Clark is now being designated to return from IR, per Brian Costello of the New York Post.

Clark‘s troubles staying on the field do not date back to his time in Baltimore. The former Ravens strong safety only missed two games over the first six years of his career, but since being traded to New York, he has missed 21 games. He missed all 17 games in 2023 with a torn ACL and has missed four more since being placed on injured reserve.

Despite Clark missing the entirety of his only season under contract with New York, the Jets elected to keep him around, re-signing him and fellow free agent Ashtyn Davis while watching Jordan Whitehead walk in free agency. The Jets held an offseason competition for the starting two jobs between Clark, Davis, and Tony Adams after Adams and Whitehead started most of last year. Clark ended up beating out Davis to start the first six games of the season alongside Adams, with Davis getting playing time here and there off the bench.

Instead of Davis taking over for Clark in the starting role, as was initially thought to be the preferred course of action, veteran Jalen Mills took over starting duties in Clark’s absence. If Clark is able to return soon, it will only bolster some impressive safety depth for a defense that already ranks third in passing yards allowed this season. His tackling prowess could help improve a run defense that ranks 26th in yards allowed, though.

Initially sidelined with the diagnosis of a high-ankle sprain, the minimal four-game absence was expected, allowing Clark to potentially return to the field this week in time for a Sunday night matchup against the Colts. The NFL has since flexed the matchup to noon. If Clark isn’t quite ready to return this week, an additional two weeks could be available for recovery as the Jets’ bye week falls right after the team’s contest versus Indianapolis.

The Jets won’t have too much wiggle room after that, though, as today’s transaction opens a 21-day practice window for Clark. If the 29-year-old safety is unable to return by the close of that window, he’ll revert to season-ending IR.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/24

November 13th, 2024 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed off Commanders’ practice squad: CB Chigozie Anusiem

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): TE Jack Stoll
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