HEADLINES

Woody Johnson’s View Of Jets’ Jeff Ulbrich Improved Following 49ers Interest

October 11th, 2024 at 10:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jeff Ulbrich was added to the Jets’ staff in 2021 as defensive coordinator, a role he held until this week. Now in place as New York’s interim head coach, Ulbrich has seen his stock within the organization rise over time.

The 47-year-old was not highly thought of by owner Woody Johnson after his first two years working under Robert Saleh. Ulbrich was a potential target of Johnson’s during the 2023 offseason with respect to coaching changes, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes (video link). Johnson’s view changed that winter, however, when 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan showed interest in Ulbrich as a potential San Francisco defensive coordinator replacement for DeMeco Ryans.

Ulbrich was blocked before an interview could take place that year, but he remained on the 49ers’ radar. As The Athletic’s Matt Barrows writes, San Francisco once again tried to “pry [Ulbrich] from New York” this February (subscription required). That renewed effort was unsuccessful, and the 49ers promoted Nick Sorenson to DC after Steve Wilks was dismissed. Now, Ulbrich – who spent his entire 10-year playing career in the Bay Area – is believed to be held in high regard by Jets players and staffers alike as he begins his first stint as an NFL head coach.

New York has ranked no worse than fourth in yards allowed since 2022, and the team’s total defense sits in the top five for the third time in the past four years. Ulbrich will retain play-calling duties on that side of the ball, and expectations will remain high as improvements on offense are sought out. Ulbrich followed through with Saleh’s intention of handing play-calling duties to Todd Downing, taking them away from offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in the process.

“This is more a byproduct of a different take on things,” Ulbrich said of the decision (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “I’m not saying it’s a better or worse take on things by any means, but just a different take on things, a fresh approach.”

In addition to calling plays, Ulbrich confirmed Downing will have control over the offensive game plan moving forward. Hackett will still hold the title of OC, although this week’s changes will leave him with a notably reduced role. For Ulrich, the remainder of the campaign will prove to be an audition period as he attempts to stake his claim to the full-time Jets gig. Should New York go in a different direction this offseason, though, the 49ers would represent a team to watch closely regarding another pursuit.

Texans Injury Updates: Ward, Pierce, Mixon

October 11th, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Veteran safety Jimmie Ward missed seven games last year in his first NFL season away from San Francisco after following DeMeco Ryans to Houston. He was able to return last weekend after missing the team’s previous game against the Jaguars while hurt, but after aggravating his injury, there is concern that Ward could miss multiple weeks, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.

In his return from injury, Ward first headed to the blue medical tent to get a shoulder stinger checked out. When he returned to the game, the 33-year-old aggravated his groin injury, causing him to leave the game. Afterwards, Ward was taken to the hospital to further examine his groin injury.

Wilson provided an update yesterday, reporting that imaging confirmed the initial diagnosis on the groin injury and that Ward would not play this weekend. The update left it unclear on whether or not Ward would be out multiple weeks, but given the veteran’s age and injury history, it certainly can’t be ruled out.

Here are a couple updates on other injuries in Houston:

  • On Wednesday, Wilson reported that running back Dameon Pierce had returned to practice after a four-week absence. The third-year back exited the team’s season opener with a strained hamstring after only three carries. Hamstring injuries have a tendency to nag, and this one forced Pierce to miss four games. With starter Joe Mixon injured, as well, the Texans have been making do with a rushing attack consisting of Cam Akers and Dare Ogunbowale. Akers and Ogunbowale should be receiving reinforcements soon.
  • In addition to Pierce, Houston welcomed Mixon back to practice yesterday, as well, according to Wilson. After falling victim to the now illegal hip-drop tackle in a Week 2 matchup against the Bears, Mixon has missed the team’s last three games. The veteran will hope to return to game action soon, but unlike Pierce, Mixon still holds a questionable injury status heading into the weekend.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/11/24

October 11th, 2024 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The NFL’s minor moves to close out the week:

Atlanta Falcons

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

King made a long-awaited return to the NFL this season. After sitting out of the 2022 NFL season for personal reasons and tearing his Achilles tendon in the ramp up to the 2023 season, King hadn’t been seen in the NFL in over two years. The former second-round pick out of Washington has always had talent, but injury issues have kept him consistently off the field. In 2019, the only year in which King missed fewer than five games, the talented defensive back recorded five interceptions.

Despite a standout performance on defense in Atlanta this offseason, King has seen very few snaps on defense in the regular season. King was praised for his defensive versatility throughout camp and the preseason, but thus far, the Falcons had mostly utilized the veteran on special teams.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/11/24

October 11th, 2024 at 6:18pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s practice squad moves in the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

New England Patriots

Washington Commanders

Both Moore and Hartman were released/waived from their respective 53-man rosters this week. Other teams would’ve had the opportunity to claim Hartman off of the waiver wire, but ultimately unclaimed, he returns to Washington on the practice squad.

Broncos WR Josh Reynolds To Miss Time

October 11th, 2024 at 5:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Broncos will be shorthanded at the receiver spot for a stretch. Josh Reynolds underwent finger surgery, as first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

As a result of the procedure, Reynolds will miss Denver’s Week 6 game against the Chargers. Further time on the shelf could be in store as well, per Wilson. Missing the free agent pickup for any extended stretch would hinder a receiving corps which has not posted strong numbers to date.

The Broncos rank 22nd in scoring (19.2 points per game) and are averaging only 164 yards through the air through five contests. The development of first-round rookie quarterback Bo Nix is of course a central factor in the team’s improvement on offense, but Reynolds will be missed while he recovers. The latter ranks second on the team with 183 receiving yards.

Courtland Sutton‘s name was again mentioned in trade speculation this offseason, but he and the Broncos reached agreement on additional incentives for the 2024 campaign. Sutton remains under contract through 2025, and with Jerry Jeudy having been dealt to the Browns (along with Tim Patrick‘s release) he has been leaned on as Denver’s top wideout. The team also has Marvin Mims, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, DeVaughn Vele and fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin in place at the receiver spot.

Reynolds had a strong season with the Lions in 2023, posting 608 yards and five touchdowns. Detroit showed interest in retaining the 29-year-old, but the team did not submit a market level offer. Reynolds cited the presence of head coach Sean Payton as a reason he signed with the Broncos on a two-year, $9MM pact. That investment has made him a key figure on offense, but the 3-2 outfit will need to get by without him for a short-term period.

Jags Designate Tyson Campbell For Return

October 11th, 2024 at 5:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

OCTOBER 11: To little surprise, Campbell will not be activated in time for Week 6. Pederson repeated (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco) Jacksonville’s second London matchup remains the team’s target for Campbell to return to action.

OCTOBER 9: The 1992 Chargers remain the only team to turn an 0-4 start into a playoff berth. With the NFL now at seven playoff teams per conference, that number should eventually balloon at some point in the not-so-distant future. The Jaguars came into the season with playoff aspirations, but they must climb out of this historically deep hole if they are to realize them.

Three of Jacksonville’s four losses have come by one score, and the team’s top cornerback did not finish any of those games. A piece of good news will come out of Duval County, however, as its team aims to stabilize its season. Tyson Campbell is on his way back from a hamstring injury; the Jaguars designated the veteran corner to return from IR on Wednesday.

[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]

Campbell did play in most of the Jags’ Week 1 loss to the Dolphins but has missed the past four contests. That absence duration makes him eligible to be activated in Week 6. With the Jaguars beginning their two-week London swing, they will hope to have the recently extended defender back in uniform. Though, Doug Pederson said he is aiming for (via Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer) a Week 7 Campbell return. The Jags face the Patriots in their second 2024 England tilt.

The Jags won both their London games last season, beating the Falcons and Bills. That team started 8-3; Pederson’s latest Jags outfit is far more desperate heading to England. The team’s losses to the Dolphins (albeit with Tua Tagovailoa in uniform) and Browns look worse now, though its narrow defeat in Houston showed the team is capable of pushing a higher-end opponent. The Jags then topped the Colts for the 11th straight year at home, potentially saving Pederson’s job. They will open their London slate against the Bears.

Although Trevor Lawrence and Josh Hines-Allen‘s deals came in much higher than Campbell’s offseason extension, the Jags’ third major 2024 re-up is the third-most lucrative pact in team history. The team showed tremendous faith in Campbell by agreeing to a four-year, $76.5MM deal.

The former third-round pick has enjoyed an up-and-down career, allowing eight touchdowns as the closest defender in coverage last season and six in 2022. The ’22 season, however, also featured Campbell yielding only a 78.0 passer rating and 54.2% completion rate. His 2023 numbers in those categories (128.5, 69.4) revealed some inconsistency, but the Jags still invested heavily in the Urban Meyer draftee. Campbell will attempt to justify this extension this season, though the Jags are committed to him for the long haul due to a rolling guarantee structure. Their defense, which ranks 30th in points allowed and 31st in yardage, needs all the help it can get.

Raiders Place TE Michael Mayer On NFI List

October 11th, 2024 at 4:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

Brock Bowers has enjoyed a strong start to the 2024 season, but his fellow Raiders tight end will be absent for an extended period. Michael Mayer was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list Friday, per a team announcement.

As a result of the move, Mayer will be sidelined for at least the next four games. Specifics on his situation are not yet known, but it was announced a personal matter is the cause for today’s transaction. The 23-year-old suited up for Vegas’ first three games, but he has been absent ever since.

Viewed as one of the top prospects at his position in the 2023 draft class, Mayer was selected early in the second round. That led to high expectations, and he flashed potential with 304 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 27 receptions during his rookie campaign. Known more for his well-rounder skillset than his pass-catching upside, Mayer was joined this offseason by Bowers. One of the most celebrated rookie tight ends in recent memory, the latter – selected 13th overall in April – has already racked up 28 receptions for 313 yards and one score.

Bowers will continue to be leaned on in the passing game moving forward, especially with Davante Adams absent. A deal sending the All-Pro wideout continues to be negotiated, and Bowers could soon stand alone as Vergas’ top target on offense. Week 6 will see Aidan O’Connell start at quarterback after Gardner Minshew struggled in Sunday’s loss to the Broncnos.

O’Connell will be at the helm of a shorthanded offense, though, with Adams out of the fold and Mayer set to miss extended period. Bringing the Notre Dame product back into the fold will give Bowers a notable complement at the TE spot, but it remains to be seen when that will take place.

Packers WR Romeo Doubs Expected To Play In Week 6

October 11th, 2024 at 3:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last week, Romeo Doubs was absent from practice and subsequently suspended for one game by the Packers. The third-year wideout has returned to the team, though, and no further issues in his case are expected.

“The one thing I’ll say about it is, I mean, it’s a pretty isolated incident,” head coach Matt LaFleur said (via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). “Like this has not happened with him before. I don’t expect it to happen moving forward.”

Shortly before the Packers announced their decision to suspend Doubs for conduct detrimental to the team, multiple reports stated Doubs was unhappy with his role in Green Bay’s offense this season. The 24-year-old currently ranks third on the Packers with 20 targets, and his 169 yards place him second on the team. His share of the passing attack has taken a step back compared to last season, but Doubs has remained a full-time starter in 2024. When speaking publicly for the first time since his suspension, he denied his workload drove last week’s absence.

“I had to make sure that I got the family together again,” Doubs said as a reference to the Packers’ receiver corps (h/t The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman). “I’d say there was some things going on off the field, so as far as just the organization and just the staff, players, there’s nothing going on within that area, so I just wanna make myself clear there.”

Doubs added he “had some things going on mentally” last week, while stating he is better now and expressing regret about how he handled the situation. The former fourth-rounder recently had a productive meeting with the team, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, positioning all parties involved to move forward. Questions were raised about a potential Doubs trade in the wake of last week’s events, but no such move is expected to receive consideration on Green Bay’s end.

Beginning again in Week 6, the Nevada product will likely handle a key role in the passing game. Doubs posted a 59-674-8 statline last season, and repeating that production could set himself up for an extension as early as this spring. For the time being, though, he and the Packers will look to put the suspension in the past and avoid any similar situations arising.

Pats, S Brenden Schooler Agree To Extension

October 11th, 2024 at 3:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

A key member of the Patriots’ special teams unit is set to remain in place for years to come. Brenden Schooler agreed to an extension on Friday, per his agency.

As noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, this will be a three-year, $9MM pact. $3.6MM is guaranteed, and incentives bring the maximum value of the contract to $10.5MM. Schooler is now on the books through the 2027 season.

This marks a considerable raise for Schooler compared to his previous AAV of $858K. The Oregon and Texas product was on track to hit restricted free agency this offseason. A tender decision has now been avoided with a long-term commitment, however.

Schooler joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2022, and he managed to make 16 appearances as a rookie. He has remained a regular ever since, but the two snaps he logged last year represent his only playing time on defense. A heavy special teams workload (between 77% and 89% each campaign) has allowed Schooler to carve out an important role, though, and that will remain the case moving forward.

Of course, the Patriots had one of league’s top special teams aces in Matthew Slater throughout his decorated 16-year career. The 10-time Pro Bowler retired this offseason, creating a notable vacancy for New England’s third phase unit. Schooler, 27, has maintained a key role in that department in 2024, and the Pats currently rank third in the league in special teams DVOA.

Now, he will continue to be counted on as an anchor in that department with Slater having transitioned to an advisory role. The Patriots entered today with ample cap space, and their spending power ranks among the league’s highest in future seasons. Absorbing this pact will not be a problem as a result, and expectations will remain high on special teams with Schooler landing a new deal.

Browns’ James Hudson Undergoes Shoulder Surgery; T Likely Out For Season

October 11th, 2024 at 2:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns’ injury woes along the offensive line continue. James Hudson – who has seen time at both tackle spots this year – revealed on social media he underwent shoulder surgery this week.

No firm timeline is in place with respect to his recovery, but Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal writes the injury is expected to be season ending. At a minimum, a stint on injured reserve should be expected. Moving Hudson to IR would ensure at least a four-game absence, but a longer period than that where he is unavailable is likely in store.

With Jedrick Wills missing time during the year and Jack Conklin remaining sidelined through five weeks, the offensive tackle spot has been in flux in 2024. Hudson has started three of his four appearances this year, filling in as needed along the line. He injured his shoulder in Week 3 but managed to suit up for the following contest. The 25-year-old has not practiced since that game against the Raiders, though, and the surgical route has now been taken.

Especially if the injury proves to shut him down for the remainder of the campaign, the timing of the ailment will be particularly problematic for Hudson. The former fourth-rounder is currently in the final year of his rookie contract, so signficant missed time will hinder his market value. It will also add further to the injury situation Cleveland has dealt with throughout the year at the tackle spots but also along the interior of the O-line.

In a positive update on that front, Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes Conklin will be active for Week 6. That will mark his first game action since the ACL tear he suffered in Week 1 last season, although head coach Kevin Stefanski did not specify what Conklin’s role will be on Sunday. If he and Wills can remain healthy, Hudson’s absence can be compensated for the rest of the way. If not, being without their swing tackle will deal a blow to the Browns’ bid to rebound from their 1-4 start.

Load More Posts