HEADLINES

Jayron Kearse

Ravens Expected To Sign S Jayron Kearse

December 30th, 2020 at 5:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Jayron Kearse Baltimore visit is expected to produce a deal. The Ravens are on track to add the former Vikings and Lions safety to their practice squad, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

Kearse visited the Ravens on Wednesday, trekking to Maryland shortly after an abbreviated Detroit stay. The Lions waived Kearse for violating team rules, according to the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett. Said violations included leaving the Lions’ team hotel without permission and being late for bed check (Twitter link).

This has been a bumpy year for Kearse, who spent four seasons in Minnesota. An October DUI arrest led to a three-game suspension to start this season. The Lions quickly put him to work, using him as a starter in seven games this season. The former seventh-round pick made 59 tackles and forced a fumble with Detroit. He worked mostly as a depth piece with the Vikings, starting five games in four seasons.

The post-Earl Thomas Ravens have used Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott as their primary safety starters this season. Kearse would qualify as depth ahead of a potential postseason run.

Lions Cut S Jayron Kearse

December 28th, 2020 at 1:42pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Lions are playing out the string after their embarrassing 47-7 loss to the Buccaneers last week, and now they’re making a notable move with just one game left to play. Detroit has cut veteran safety Jayron Kearse, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

Since we’re this late in the season Kearse will be going on waivers with 31 teams getting a chance to claim him. It’s interesting since Kearse had been playing a large role on defense recently, starting each of their last seven games before missing the Tampa game with an injury. Kearse was drafted by the Vikings in the seventh-round back in 2016, and spent the first four years of his career in Minnesota.

He became a special teams standout with the Vikings, and also a team captain. He signed a one-year, $2.75MM deal with Detroit back in March. He was suspended for the first three games of 2020 due to a substance abuse violation, but began playing a sizable role on defense right away that soon progressed to a near-every down role.

He’ll finish his stint with the Lions with 58 tackles, two passes defended, and a forced fumble in 11 games and seven starts. His most productive year in Minnesota was last season when he finished with six passes defended and an interception while making three starts. It’s possible that a contender with a banged up secondary takes a flyer on him for the postseason.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/1/20

October 1st, 2020 at 5:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

  • Placed on reserve/suspended list (with a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s PED policy): TE Chase Harrell

NFL Suspends Lions S Jayron Kearse

July 31st, 2020 at 2:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jayron Kearse will begin his post-Vikings career a bit late. The NFL handed the fifth-year safety a three-game suspension Friday.

This ban stems from Kearse’s October 2019 DUI arrest. The new CBA includes harsher penalties for such incidents, with three games now the DUI baseline. The Lions signed Kearse to a one-year, $2MM deal in March.

One of several Vikings cogs to leave the team in March, Kearse played in 62 of a possible 64 regular-season games with Minnesota since 2016. He started five of those contests and played 270 defensive snaps last season, when he also continued his work as one of the Vikes’ top special-teamers.

The Lions have seen some turnover at safety recently. They traded Quandre Diggs last season and traded for longtime Patriots cog Duron Harmon this year. Kearse, however, has a better chance of upward mobility in Detroit than he did playing behind Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris in Minnesota. He will have to wait for a chance to potentially see first-string action, however.

Contract Details: Brees, Mariota, Apple

March 23rd, 2020 at 9:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a closer look at the details of a few recently-signed free agent contracts:

AFC

  • Marcus Mariota, QB (Raiders): Two years, $17.6MM $7.5MM guaranteed. $2.4MM in incentives available in 2020 (60% snaps). $1.5MM in playtime and win incentives. $10MM in similar incentives available in 2021. $2MM in playoff/Super Bowl wins each year. $12MM 2021 salary escalator (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com).
  • Eli Apple, QB (Raiders): One year, $6MM. Fully guaranteed. $500K available via incentives (Twitter link via Garafolo.
  • Pierre Desir, CB (Jets): One year, ~$3.75MM. Max value of $5.5MM via incentives (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News).
  • Chad Henne, QB (Chiefs): Two years, $3.25MM. $2MM guaranteed. Max value of $7.25MM (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com).
  • Nelson Agholor, WR (Raiders): One year, veteran salary benefit. $887K guaranteed. $137K signing bonus (Twitter link via Pelissero).

NFC

  • Drew Brees, QB (Saints): Four years, $100MM. $25MM guaranteed. Void years used in 2022-23. Brees receives no-trade clause and no franchise/transition tag can be used after 2021 (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
  • Jalen Mills, DB (Eagles): One, $4MM. Up to $1MM available via incentives (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio).
  • Thomas Davis, LB (Redskins): One year, $3.5MM. $250K available via incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Shon Coleman, T (49ers): One year, $2.2MM. $1.37MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Miles Killebrew, S (Lions): One year, $2MM. $1.137MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Jayron Kearse, S (Lions): One year, $2MM. Up to $1.25MM available via incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Pharoh Cooper, WR (Panthers): One year, $1.21MM. $300K signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).

Lions To Sign S Jayron Kearse

March 19th, 2020 at 8:51am CST by Zachary Links

Early this morning, the Lions agreed to sign former Vikings safety Jayron Kearse to a one-year, $2.75MM deal, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Kearse will be a part of the Lions’ new-look secondary, one that must figure out how to contain the pass without the services of Darius Slay.

[RELATED: Lions Trade Darius Slay To Eagles]

Late last week, Kearse took to social media to announce that he did not want to come back to the Vikings this season. He got his wish. Unfortunately for him, he might not be able to suit up for his new team when the season begins in September – a DWI arrest may result in discipline from the NFL. And, per the terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, he could see a longer ban and a steeper fine.

The Lions have moved fast to remake their defense this week, adding safety Duron Harmon, linebacker Jamie Collins, cornerback Desmond Trufant, and defensive tackles Nick Williams and Danny Shelton. Among those leaving Detroit: Slay, linebacker Devon Kennard, and DTs Damon Harrison, A’Shawn Robinson, and Mike Daniels.

NFC North Notes: Harris, Kwiatkoski, Kearse, Kilgo

March 14th, 2020 at 9:17pm CST by Marc Delucchi

The Vikings secondary was one of the most inconsistent parts of their defense last season, but safety Anthony Harris remained a star amidst an inconsistent supporting cast. While Harris is set to become a free agent, Minnesota fans should be happy to know that he has a positive view of the Vikings. In an interview on Sirius XM, Harris stated, “I love the organization.”

Here are a few more notes from the NFC North:

  • The Bears organization has seen linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski progress into a legitimate contributor since he was selected in the 4th round of the 2016 draft. However, Dan Pompei of The Athletic, reports that after signing fellow linebacker Danny Trevathan to a three-year extension, Chicago appears prepared to let Kwiatkoski leave the organization via free agency.
  • Vikings impending free-agent defensive back Jayron Kearse took to Twitter on Friday and said he does not want to return to the team. A pair of Vikings fans were engaging in common social media speculation about the various ways Minnesota could approach the offseason. When one argued that they thought Jayron wanted to stay in the twin cities, Kearse jumped in and said, “No jayron doesn’t want to come back.”
  • Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports Lions nose tackle Darius Kilgo will soon be cleared to return to action from the quadriceps injury that cost him all of last season. Pelissero further notes that Detroit has no intention of resigning Kilgo, but it’s obviously ideal for Kilgo to be back to health before entering the open market. Of course, teams would likely want to see Kilgo workout in person, but the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak could make teams more tentative to give Kilgo any guarantee if they are unable to see him in person.

Vikings Place Mackensie Alexander On IR

January 10th, 2020 at 2:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Mackensie Alexander‘s season is over. On Friday, the Vikings placed the cornerback on injured reserve, ruling him out the rest of the postseason. 

Alexander was already ruled out for Saturday’s divisional round game against the 49ers after undergoing arthroscopic surgery for a lateral meniscus tear. They got past the Saints without him, but he’ll be badly missed this week as they push to reach the NFC title game.

The Vikings’ remaining group of active cornerbacks – Trae Waynes, Xavier Rhodes, and Holton Hill – will be tasked with holding down the fort yet again as they face the Niners’ potent offense. They’ll be joined by CB Nate Meadors, who was called up to the 53-man roster to take Alexander’s place.

If the Vikings lose to the Niners, that could mark the end of Alexander’s career in purple. The cornerback is scheduled to reach free agency in March.

The Vikings will also be without safety Jayron Kearse, who has been ruled out for this week. On the other side of the ball, the Vikings are keeping their fingers crossed for Adam Thielen and his stitched ankle.

League Notes: Burfict, Goodell, Kearse, Rivers

November 16th, 2019 at 7:05pm CST by Marc Delucchi

In an exclusive interview with Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required), controversial Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict laid into the league and did not seem to leave any thought unspoken. Burfict, who is currently serving a suspension that began after Week 4 and spans to the end of the season, was adamant that his behavior does not compare to Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who was recently suspended indefinitely after swinging a helmet at Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Burfict also detailed the suspension process, including the appeal meeting he had with league executives. The former Bengals linebacker claims the league had already decided on the suspension prior to the meeting and had no interest in hearing his side of the story. On top of some colorful language used at the expense of multiple execs, the piece offers an interesting view into Burfict’s place in the Raiders locker room.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Vikings safety Jayron Kearse may not be in Minnesota for much longer given the tone of his tweets today. This morning Kearse tweeted out that he was “excited” for his future, but when a fan replied asking if the Vikings will be a part of his future, Kearse replied “No.” Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press noted the back and fourth and added that Kearse did not answer him on Friday when Tomasson asked if he would start in tomorrow’s game against the Broncos given Anthony Harris‘ injury. Tomasson speculates that Andrew Sendejo could instead be the starting safety.
  • Longtime Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers‘ contract expires at the end of this season and set to turn 38 in December, it would not be a shock for the veteran to declare this his last professional season. However, Rivers remains noncommittal on his future, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN. Rivers still has a desire to play in the Chargers new stadium when it opens in 2020, but wants to take some time after the season ends to evaluate where he is physically and mentally before making any final determination.

NFC North Notes: Pineiro, Cousins, Vikings

October 29th, 2019 at 6:26pm CST by Marc Delucchi

The Bears‘ kicking woes continued Sunday when Eddy Pineiro missed a 41-yard field goal attempt as time expired in a 17-16 loss to the Chargers. Matt Nagy is not publicly wavering from Pineiro, though, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. Nagy said, “We love Eddy. We’ve got all the faith in the world in him.” Chicago, of course, has struggled to replace kicker Robbie Gould since the team let him go in 2015. Last postseason, the Bears were eliminated after then-kicker Cody Parkey missed a 43-yard field goal in a 16-15 loss to the Eagles. Nagy did not shy away from making the team’s kicker situation a front-and-center issue throughout the offseason. However, the second-year Chicago coach is sticking with Pineiro going forward.

Here’s more from around the NFC North:

  • Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has not been consistent during his time in Minnesota, despite stringing together some strong weeks to help his team to a 6-2 record. Cousins signed a fully guaranteed, three-year, $84MM contract in March 2018. Now that Cousins is exactly halfway through his contract, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune examines what to make of Cousins’ tenure in Minnesota and whether the team will look at extending him.
  • Five misdemeanor charges surfaced for Vikings safety Jayron Kearse, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. Among them: operating a vehicle while intoxicated, carrying a pistol while intoxicated and carrying a gun without a permit. Kearse was arrested Sunday. Considering Kearse has been mostly a backup in his Vikings career and is playing on an expiring contract, this may not bode well for his status with the team going forward.
  • The Packers were interested in Jets wideout Robby Anderson, but the fourth-year player — like most of Tuesday’s trade candidates — will stay put.
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