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Seahawks Place OT Stone Forsythe On IR

October 23rd, 2024 at 5:25pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks have lost yet another lineman. According to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, the team has placed offensive tackle Stone Forsythe on injured reserve. In a corresponding move, the team claimed linebacker Josh Ross off waivers from the Ravens.

A 2021 sixth-round pick, Forsythe has spent his entire career in Seattle. He’s mostly served as a backup and special teamer, although he took on a larger role in 2023 when he established career-highs in starts (eight) and offensive snaps (501).

He was thrust back into the starting lineup at right tackle for the 2024 campaign. Abe Lucas hasn’t appeared in a game this year while recovering from knee surgery, and fill-in George Fant suffered his own knee injury during the season opener. Forsythe started the next five games for Seattle before missing last weekend’s game with a hand injury. That issue ultimately landed him on IR, and he’ll now miss at least the next four games.

While Pro Football Focus has graded Forsythe as the third-worst qualifying player at his position this year, the Seahawks have clearly valued some semblance of continuity on their OL. Fortunately, there is light at the end of the tunnel, as both Lucas and Fant have returned to practice. If either of the veterans are unable to take the field this weekend, rookie sixth-round pick Mike Jerrell will likely get another start at RT.

Ross should provide the Seahawks with some depth at weakside linebacker after the team dealt Jerome Baker and a fourth-round to the Titans for MLB Ernest Jones. However, expectations shouldn’t be high, as the former UDFA has exclusively played on special teams in his 12 career games.

Dolphins Designate Tua Tagovailoa For Return From IR

October 23rd, 2024 at 4:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Signs continue to point to a Tua Tagovailoa return Sunday. The Dolphins are moving their starter into position to be activated from IR, making their return designation official (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson) today.

Buzz about Tagovailoa coming back when first eligible has persisted for weeks, and Mike McDaniel confirmed the fifth-year QB would practice this week. Tyreek Hill‘s comments about his fantasy status sure seem to reveal the All-Pro receiver’s confidence in Tua being back (and thus Miami’s pass-game potency being positioned to return).

After playing in every Dolphins game last season, Tagovailoa has missed the past four Miami contests due to his latest concussion. Head injuries overshadowed Tua’s progress in 2022, with the left-hander’s season first interrupted and then ending early due to concussions. Teams rarely place players on IR due to a concussion, but the Dolphins did so on the recommendation of medical personnel. While Tagovailoa said he was symptom-free the day after his injury against the Bills, he consulted several neurologists about his latest concussion.

The recently extended passer does not plan to wear a Guardian Cap upon return, and his latest re-emergence will prompt scrutiny due to a checkered past. But Tagovailoa’s route to collecting the full payout from a four-year, $212.4MM deal will require a return to action once cleared by doctors. The talented QB did consider retirement in 2023; he said he did not do so this time around.

This season both illustrated Tua’s importance to the Dolphins and the danger of not having a capable backup. Miami ranked first total offense and second in points last season; McDaniel’s team, despite the presences of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, sits last in scoring and 22nd in yardage through six games. Tagovailoa’s injury has sent the Dolphins into a tailspin, but they will attempt a rebound effort beginning Sunday against the Cardinals.

Teams Expected To Pursue Azeez Ojulari In Trades; Giants OLB Drew Offseason Interest

October 23rd, 2024 at 4:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants’ Brian Burns trade made their future at outside linebacker fairly clear. Burns landed a top-market extension upon being dealt to New York, and he has formed a quality tandem with Kayvon Thibodeaux, whose rookie contract can run through 2026 via the fifth-year option.

Other clubs have noticed the Giants’ plan, which has led to conversations about Thibodeaux’s current fill-in. Drafted during Dave Gettleman‘s final offseason in charge, Azeez Ojulari is having an intriguing contract year. With Thibodeaux likely to be back from a wrist injury in November, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates teams are expected to reach out to the Giants about their OLB3’s availability.

Clubs have already done some background work on Ojulari, a former second-round pick. Teams showed interest in Ojulari in August, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. With nearly two weeks remaining until the deadline, interest in the fourth-year pass rusher should pick up, as the Georgia product has put together a bounce-back start.

The Giants have seen their top rotational rusher fill in for Thibodeaux well, recording three sacks over the past two games as a starter. Thibodeaux only needs to miss two more contests; the former top-five pick returning would shuttle Ojulari back to a bench role. The Giants may not be too keen on selling just yet, as Ojulari is a key role player who is starting during a pivotal stretch for the struggling team. But New York is now 2-5 and coming off a one-sided (thanks largely to Saquon Barkley) defeat against Philadelphia. Calls about Giant players figure to pick up soon.

Ojulari, 24, showed plus pass-rushing form as a rookie, racking up eight sacks. The Gettleman years had not seen much in the way of investments on the edge until the Ojulari pick, with Joe Schoen‘s predecessor having dealt away Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon and not allocated much in the way of resources to replace them. Ojulari compiled 13.5 sacks over his first two seasons, reaching 5.5 in just seven games in 2022. But he totaled only 2.5 in 11 games last season, the second straight campaign that featured an Ojulari IR stint. The former No. 50 overall pick missed 16 games between the 2022 and ’23 seasons, partially pushing the Giants to upgrade via Burns.

Dexter Lawrence is the Giants’ runaway sack leader, with nine; the last part of the 2019 Odell Beckham Jr. trade still in place is certainly untouchable. Burns joins Ojulari with four, as the Giants — for all their issues elsewhere on the roster — have improved their pass rush. The Giants’ 31 sacks pace the NFL by three.

Should New York’s descent continue up until the Nov. 5 deadline, the team will likely consider dealing away pieces. Darius Slayton also figures to draw interest, having gone through a contract issue this offseason — one that concluded with only incentives added to a through-2024 deal. The Giants will need to weigh offers, but if Ojulari keeps up this pace, he will likely price himself out of the team’s post-2024 plans in free agency. Weighing a return now against a 2026 compensatory pick — for a GM who may be moving toward the hot seat — will be part of the Giants’ process as well.

QB Rumors: Falcons, Daniels, Rams, Titans

October 23rd, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons‘ offseason quarterback plan drew considerable scrutiny, and evaluators are skeptical the team will carry it out. Kirk Cousins, who sits third in the NFL with 1,830 passing yards (highlighted by a 500-yard showing against the Buccaneers), is entrenched as Atlanta’s starting QB presently. Though, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes some around the league do not believe the Falcons will sit No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons like they have planned to do. A Penix push toward a 2025 starting job would stand to bring forth Cousins trade rumors.

While nothing concrete has emerged on the Cousins front, this is not the first time execs have predicted a 2025 Falcons QB trade. Some in May predicted the long-rumored Cousins-Kyle Shanahan reunion would commence — if the 49ers become squeamish on a Brock Purdy megadeal. The Falcons have Cousins signed through 2027, though they have a clear out in 2026 — after $90MM of his $100MM guarantee will have been paid out. Penix, however, is already 24. Sitting the southpaw prospect until his age-26 season would not be optimal for the Falcons. Cousins’ 2025 money is fully guaranteed, which will be challenging for a trade. But if Penix’s development moves this situation toward a potential 2025 controversy, expect another offseason of Cousins rumors.

Here is the latest from the QB ranks:

Jayden Daniels did not practice Wednesday, moving Marcus Mariota closer to making his first start since 2022. The rib injury the Commanders QB sustained is not considered serious, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, but it would also not surprise — given the way Daniels winced after trying to return in Week 7 — if Washington exercised caution with the player who has a great chance of being the team’s first long-term QB1 in decades. Mariota played effectively against the Panthers but has not made a start since his controversial Falcons exit in December 2022.
The Titans have not seen their Will Levis development project produce notable strides. Crippling turnovers have played a key role in Tennessee’s 1-5 start, and Levis is now leading with a shoulder injury. Among qualified options, the 2023 second-rounder ranks ahead of only Deshaun Watson in QBR. As such, SI.com’s Albert Breer guesses the franchise will go into 2025 with an objective to find a new quarterback. It is still early, but at this rate, Tennessee giving Levis a third year to prove he can be a locked-in starter would be a reach. Ran Carthon‘s club would be an interesting destination, given the resources allocated to upgrading the offensive talent level around Levis this offseason.
Ditto the Rams, who have Matthew Stafford on a year-to-year arrangement. The Rams have not dangled Stafford in trades this year, separating the 16th-year veteran from Cooper Kupp, but they also did not authorize significant guarantee upgrades — like the QB sought — beyond 2024. As a result, Breer adds the team should be considered in play to draft Stafford’s heir apparent next year. Los Angeles is running out of time to land a successor who would develop behind Stafford, who is signed through 2026. Adding assets to help with that potential mission could be on the team’s mind now, as a Kupp trade would go toward that haul. The Rams and Chiefs discussed Kupp, but L.A.’s asking price — a second-rounder — may be steep for a player who has battled injuries in each of the seasons since his transcendent 2021.
Aaron Rodgers does not appear in jeopardy of missing Week 8, but the Jets quarterback is now on the team’s injury report with three maladies. The 40-year-old starter is battling hamstring, knee and ankle maladies. Rodgers’ hamstring “flared up” against the Steelers, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini tweets.

Panthers To Start Bryce Young In Week 8

October 23rd, 2024 at 2:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Andy Dalton was involved in a car accident Tuesday. While the Carolina starter did not need to be hospitalized, Dave Canales confirmed the veteran passer sustained a thumb sprain. Dalton is not expected to play against the Broncos in Week 8.

This will push Bryce Young back into action; Canales said the former No. 1 overall pick will be at the controls in Denver. Canales hopes Dalton can return as the backup, potentially pointing to a Young path back to the full-time QB1 role even when the more experienced passer is healthy. Regardless of how this will shake out, Young is coming back after five games on the bench.

Traveling with his wife, three kids and their dog, Dalton suffered the thumb injury in the accident — which occurred a few minutes away from Bank of America Stadium, David Newton of ESPN.com notes. Neither Dalton nor his family needed to be hospitalized as a result of the wreck, but the sprain involving the QB’s throwing thumb poses a problem for his availability. Dalton did not practice Wednesday.

Rumors suggesting the Panthers were done with Young circulated following his Week 3 benching. The 5-foot-10 QB struggled mightily to start his second season, marking no notable improvement from a rough rookie year. Canales had initially said Young would be back to start in Week 3, but upon closer inspection (and conversations with ownership), the new Carolina HC benched the player the franchise mortgaged its future for in 2023. Young has seen action since, and as the losses pile up (following a Dalton-led win over the Raiders), it makes sense for the 1-6 team to give the unproven player more time.

At least four teams contacted the Panthers about Young, but the team is not interested in trading the former Heisman winner. That said, rumblings about a separation in 2025 emerged soon after the benching, as Young was “pissed” about being pulled 18 starts into his career. The Panthers’ party line pointed to Young receiving another chance in 2024, labeling the benching a reset. But a report that came out soon after Canales’ call did not depict the demotion that way, with Dalton being viewed as the starter unless an injury intervened.

Dalton’s minor injury does give the Panthers another chance to look at Young. Carolina’s offense has fared better under Dalton, as Young’s most recent start featured 84 passing yards on 26 attempts. He went 13 of 30 in Week 1. While Deshaun Watson‘s QBR (23.5) ranks last among qualified options, Young holds a 10.4 number. Young’s 34.1 mark ranked ahead of only Zach Wilson in 2023, leading the Panthers — who made some shaky decisions in terms of weaponry around their new QB last year — to add several pieces this offseason. Dalton ranks 17th in QBR this season.

Despite Diontae Johnson and Xavier Legette joining Adam Thielen at receiver and Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis coming in as high-priced guards, Young struggled to the point veterans complained about the state of the offense. That produced a strikingly quick hook, but Young’s second chance will begin soon. Denver’s defense has powered its operation this season, representing a tough spot for Young. Vance Joseph‘s unit ranks third in points and yards allowed.

Browns Designate Wyatt Teller For Return; Nyheim Hines Out For Season

October 23rd, 2024 at 1:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns have designated right guard Wyatt Teller for return from injured reserve with the expectation that he will play in Week 8 against the Ravens, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Teller suffered a sprained MCL in Week 3, sidelining him for Cleveland’s last four games with rookie Zak Zinter and veteran Michael Dunn starting in his absence.

Teller would have to be activated to the 53-man roster to suit up on Sunday, but he can practice for up to three weeks without being activated before he reverts to season-ending IR. Head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated that the veteran lineman — a six-year Browns starter — will not require an extended ramp-up period before retaking the field.

Stefanski also said that running back Nyheim Hines would not be activated from the non-football injury list this week, delaying his comeback from a freak ACL tear in a jet ski accident in the summer of 2023. Hines spent all of last season on the NFI list in Buffalo before making his way to Cleveland, where the Browns hoped he could complete his rehab and contribute to their backfield this season.

Hines began practicing on October 2, opening a 21-day window before he had to be added to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve. It will be the latter for Hines, who will miss his second season in a row, potentially putting his long-term career in jeopardy at the age of 27 in an era of devalued running backs.

The Browns will stick with Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford to lead the backfield for the rest of the year, with D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong providing rotational depth and special teams snaps. Chubb came off the PUP list last week, providing a positive development during what has otherwise been a miserable Browns season. While the player the Browns hoped could be his pass-down complement is out of the picture, Teller’s return will put the Browns in position to have their full O-line available for the first time since the 2023 opener.

Seahawks Designate Abraham Lucas For Return From PUP List; George Fant In IR-Return Window

October 23rd, 2024 at 12:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Abraham Lucas‘ health issues have forced the Seahawks to make a few adjustments over the past two seasons. One of them involved a reunion with George Fant. Both tackles have been largely out of the mix for Seattle this season.

The Seahawks are slowly seeing some returns, however; both Fant and Lucas are back at practice. For Lucas, this is a designation from the reserve/PUP list. Fant is being designated for return off IR. Both players have 21 days to be activated.

This is a long time coming for Lucas, who has spent most of the year recovering from surgery. Lucas, who missed 11 games last season due to a knee injury, has been Seattle’s first-string right tackle since he was drafted in the 2022 third round. He and 2022 first-round LT Charles Cross played key roles in Geno Smith‘s surprising resurgence, but while Cross has been generally available, his counterpart has not. Pete Carroll went so far as to call Lucas’ knee injury chronic, and his rehab arc has supported the dismissed HC’s assertion.

Although the Seahawks’ new coaching staff has pushed back on the “chronic” label, this group has also seen the Washington State alum take longer than expected to come back. Lucas suffered the knee injury in Week 1 of the 2023 season and was not activated until Nov. 30 of last year. He returned to finish the season but needed a procedure done soon after. The recovery from said procedure had defined Lucas’ year to this point.

It should be expected the Seahawks will give Lucas multiple weeks to practice before activating him. Lucas will need to show good form upon return, and it will be interesting to see if he reacquires his job under a new coaching staff. Fant, 32, has considerable experience at both tackle spots, beginning with a run in Seattle after a college hoops career. The veteran has started 74 career games, including Week 1. Fant went down 13 plays into the season, though, suffering a knee injury against the Broncos.

Signed to a two-year, $9.1MM deal, Fant came back to Seattle as a swingman but presumably viewed Lucas’ situation as a selling point. Fant also worked as a three-year Jets starter and filled in for a depleted Texans O-line last season. Tytus Howard‘s return from injury resulted in a shift to guard, with the Texans keeping Fant at RT. It will be interesting to see if the Seahawks follow suit.

With Fant likely closer to a return than Lucas, he would have the first crack at the job. The 32-year-old blocker will be set to step back in for Stone Forsythe, whom Pro Football Focus has graded as the NFL’s third-worst tackle regular this season. Forsythe has started the past five games at right tackle for the 4-3 Seahawks.

Aidan Hutchinson Could Make Return By Super Bowl

October 23rd, 2024 at 12:24pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Lions are favored by Vegas oddsmakers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl after beating the Vikings in Week 8, as the 49ers fell to the Chiefs.

If Detroit makes it all the way to New Orleans on February 9, they could receive a massive boost in the form of injured defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who broke his tibia and fibula in Week 6.

Hutchinson successfully underwent surgery to repair his broken bones last week, with head coach Dan Campbell offering a four-to-six month timetable for his recovery. However, doctors discovered during surgery that Hutchinson suffered no ligament or nerve damage in the injury, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, indicating that he might be able to beat Campbell’s original prognosis and return in time for the Super Bowl, which is set for just under four months after his injury on October 13.

“I would never count him out,” said Campbell after Hutchinson’s surgery. “I would say if anybody can make it back it would be him.”

While Hutchinson’s injury shocked many who watched it on live television, it was a clean break without any additional complications, simplifying the repair and recovery process for the star edge rusher’s leg. The injury also fortuitously took place at AT&T Stadium in Arlingon, Texas, with nearby Baylor University Medical Center designated as the Level 1 trauma center for any major injuries that happened during the game. Baylor’s medical director of orthopedic trauma services is Dr. Alan Jones, one of the nation’s experts in tibia and fibula repairs, placing Hutchinson in good hands immediately after his injury.

Those factors will give Hutchinson an outside chance at playing in the Super Bowl should the Lions advanced through the playoffs and win the NFC Championship Game in January. His injury brought Hutchinson’s Defensive Player of the Year campaign to a screeching halt, but it’s still possible he could help Detroit hoist an even more important trophy if all goes right.

Ravens Open RB Keaton Mitchell’s Practice Window

October 23rd, 2024 at 11:33am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens’ league-leading rushing attack seems like it could not get any better, but Baltimore has some additional backfield help on the way with Keaton Mitchell expected to open his 21-day practice window this week, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. This is now official.

Mitchell suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last December, ending his 2023 season and landing him on the reserve/PUP list to begin this year. Before his injury, he broke out as an electrifying undrafted rookie running back with 8.4 yards per carry across eight games and 47 rushing attempts.

Mitchell was a consistent presence on the sidelines during Ravens training camp while he was in the early stages of his rehab, and more recently participated in a workout on a side field during practice. Now, he’ll be able to ramp up his participation and gradually integrate into the Ravens backfield rotation.

Baltimore has an ideal situation for Mitchell’s recovery, with Derrick Henry firmly established as the lead back and Justice Hill filling third-down duties. Mitchell will not need to assume a major role in the offense and can work as a change-of-pace back as he ramps back up to full strength.

The Ravens will want to avoid any setbacks like they faced with J.K. Dobbins in 2022 after he recovered from an torn ACL the year before. Dobbins required an additional clean-up surgery during the 2022 season and did not regain his breakaway speed until the following year.

If Mitchell is able to bring even a fraction of his 2023 explosiveness to the Ravens this season, their run game could hit another level, even though the Baltimore ground attack’s 6.2 yards per attempt and 210.9 yards per game already lead the NFL by significant margins.

Seahawks, Titans Agree To Swap LBs Jerome Baker, Ernest Jones

October 23rd, 2024 at 11:30am CST by Sam Robinson

Ernest Jones is heading back to the NFC West, being involved in a second trade this year. The Titans and Seahawks have a linebacker-for-linebacker swap lined up, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.

The Seahawks are sending Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick to the Titans for Jones, who was originally dealt from the Rams to the Titans in August. The contract-year linebacker will head back to the Pacific Time Zone to finish up his free agency audition. It’s a 2025 fourth, per Brady Henderson of ESPN.com.

This marks the second Titans seller’s trade of the day, with the move coming hours after the team agreed to send DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs. This checks in as a slightly lower-profile deal, but Tennessee secured a better return for Jones compared to Hopkins. Collecting a conditional fifth-round pick for the former All-Pro receiver, the Titans now have Baker and a fourth coming back. Like Jones, Baker is in a contract year.

As the Rams informed Jones this offseason would not be extended in 2024, his camp received permission to negotiate a trade. While Jones had said he did not request a trade out of Los Angeles, the Rams agreed to one in short order. L.A. collected a fifth-round pick for Jones and a sixth. Despite the season being nearly half over, the Titans did better in their Jones return.

Overall, Tennessee did quite well in the two Jones trades. The team gave up only a 2026 fifth-round pick but has obtained Baker, a 2025 fourth-rounder and a 2026 sixth in exchange. The Seahawks will bet on the younger linebacker while the Titans retool.

A former Rams starter who played a role for the Super Bowl LVI team before being highly productive from 2022-23, Jones has started five games with the Titans. He leaves Tennessee with 44 tackles (second on the team) with three TFLs and two pass deflections. Jones, who briefly teamed with UFA addition Kenneth Murray in Tennessee, led the 2023 Rams in tackles with 145 — to go with 4.5 sacks and 14 TFLs. This came after Jones teamed with Bobby Wagner as a starter in 2022.

The Seahawks had used free agency to staff their LB position, though they did not make the kind of commitment there the Titans did via their three-year Murray pact. Seattle signed Baker and Tyrel Dodson, bringing in the former as a street free agent following his Dolphins release. Baker’s second 2024 relocation will come after he started all five games he played with Seattle. Baker made 30 tackles (two for loss) and forced a fumble during his brief Seahawks stint.

Pro Football Focus has Baker and Jones ranked alongside each other among off-ball ‘backers this season, placing Baker 46th and Jones 47th. PFF has Baker rated as a superior coverage linebacker, though Jones checked in as a top-15 overall option at LB in 2023. He will now have a chance to use the Seahawks as a springboard to a nice 2025 payday.

Baker being nearly three years older explains the compensation in this trade. Baker will turn 28 on Christmas Day; Jones will be 25 next month. The Seahawks hold exclusive negotiating rights with their newly acquired defender until the March legal tampering period.

In Miami, Baker worked as a hybrid player of sorts. He showed the type of blitz acumen that has boosted the profiles of Demario Davis and Devin White. The former third-round pick notched 22.5 sacks in six Dolphins seasons, topping out at seven under Brian Flores in 2020. Baker did not assimilate as easily into Vic Fangio‘s defense last season, but he will now go from one ex-Raven assistant’s scheme to another by moving from Mike Macdonald‘s defense to Dennard Wilson‘s.

While Jones is tied his third-round contract, Baker is attached to a one-year deal worth $7MM. The Seahawks, however, already paid Baker a $4MM roster bonus; he is due barely $1MM in prorated base salary. As Baker joins Murray on a 1-5 Tennessee team, Jones will team with Dodson as a pair of contract-year LBs for a 4-3 Seattle team.

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