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Jermaine Kearse

Jermaine Kearse Retires From NFL

September 29th, 2020 at 11:56am CST by Zachary Links

Jermaine Kearse is calling it a career. On Wednesday, the longtime NFL wide receiver and former Seahawks standout announced his retirement via Instagram. 

“Seattle, as a hometown kid it was a complete honor to represent you guys out there on the field,” Kearse wrote. “Thank you so much for your endless support throughout my football career. It was an honor to put on that ‘Hawks uniform and I’m so grateful I was able to help bring our first Super Bowl home!”

Kearse entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Washington. He was used sparingly in his first Seahawks season, but he found his way into the mix by Year Two. Across five seasons, Kearse notched 2,109 receiving yards for Seattle and, most notably, a Super Bowl ring for the 2013 season. In 2017, the Seahawks sent him off to the Jets in a trade for defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson. Kearse kept up the good work with Gang Green, including his best production ever in 2017 — 65 catches, 810 yards, and five touchdowns.

In 2019, a serious leg/ankle injury wiped out his would-be season with the Lions. We haven’t heard the 30-year-old’s name mentioned lately, so his retirement doesn’t come as a huge surprise. We here at PFR wish Kearse the best in retirement.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/19

August 10th, 2019 at 3:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day.

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: C John Yarbrough

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

New York Jets

New Orleans Saints

  • Released: TE Jake Powell

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Lions’ Jermaine Kearse Breaks Leg, Suffers Ankle Damage

August 8th, 2019 at 7:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

On his first drive as a Lion, Jermaine Kearse suffered severe injuries. The recently signed wide receiver sustained a broken leg and ankle damage, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Kearse was blocking on a run play, and a defender rolled into him. The veteran wideout signed a minimum-salary Lions pact earlier this summer. He required an air cast after the injury, per the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers (on Twitter).

This news could obviously mean Kearse’s Lions tenure will be brief. Detroit returns Marvin Jones from injury and has emerging talent Kenny Golladay. The team added Danny Amendola on a one-year deal as well this offseason. The Lions drafted Travis Fulgam in Round 6 and signed return man Tommylee Lewis this year, too.

Kearse, 29, spent the past two seasons with the Jets. After an 810-yard Gang Green debut season, the former Seahawks UDFA find posted just 371 last season. The Lions marked his only known workout. For a player to be eligible to come off IR during the season, he must be carried through to the 53-man roster. If the Lions place Kearse on IR before then, he cannot play for them this season.

Lions Sign Jermaine Kearse

June 6th, 2019 at 9:33am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have signed wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, according to a team announcement. It’s a one-year, $1.35MM deal with a max value of $2.3MM, including $350K guaranteed, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). 

The deal reunites Kearse with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Given their five years working together in Seattle, it shouldn’t take long for the 29-year-old to learn the playbook. Also, given the Lions’ lack of depth at the wide receiver position, there’s a clear opportunity for Kearse to make the cut and make an impact.

The Lions auditioned Kearse in late May and quickly made him an offer, but he walked away in hopes of finding something more substantial. It’s not clear whether the Lions upped the ante to get Kearse, but they managed to land him in June.

Kearse came to the Jets from the Seahawks in the Sheldon Richardson trade of 2017. Kearse went on to enjoy the best statistical campaign of his career by managing 65 receptions for 810 yards and five touchdowns in his first season with Gang Green. Last year wasn’t quite as strong, but he finished out with a 37/371/1 in the Jets’ spotty offense.

Kearse could easily wind up as the Lions’ fourth WR behind Danny Amendola, Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr. Former Saints practice standout Tommylee Lewis is also on hand.

Lions Work Out WR Jermaine Kearse

May 22nd, 2019 at 9:55am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions worked out wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, a deal is not necessarily on the horizon. The Lions made an offer to the Jets free agent, Schefter hears, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

Kearse came to the Jets from the Seahawks in the Sheldon Richardson trade of 2017. Kearse went on to enjoy the best statistical campaign of his career by managing 65 receptions for 810 yards and five touchdowns in his first season with Gang Green. Last year wasn’t quite as strong, but he finished out with a 37/371/1 in the Jets’ spotty offense.

Last year, Kearse made $5.55MM and he is probably reluctant to take a serious pay cut from that figure. Meanwhile, the Lions already boast a deep group of receivers, so they’re not exactly desperate for the veteran’s help.

Currently, the Lions have 12 receivers on the roster, including Danny Amendola, Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones Jr., Jordan Smallwood, and Tommylee Lewis.

AFC Coaching Rumors: Jets, Broncos, Jaguars, Dolphins, Browns

December 31st, 2018 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two coaches fired after the 2017 season look to have secured additional interviews about possible 2019 top jobs. Jim Caldwell will interview with the Jets, according to SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano. Chuck Pagano is now expected to interview with the Broncos, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Caldwell has already met with the Packers and been connected to the Browns’ wide-ranging search as well.

Here’s the latest from the AFC’s side of the coaching carousel.

  • Another year, another issue with the Jets‘ OC. After John Morton‘s stay in New York featured conflict, apparently Jeremy Bates‘ did as well. A growing frustration sprouted about Bates’ play-calling, something Jets GM Mike Maccagnan became aware of, Vacchiano reports. Bates is now in limbo after Todd Bowles‘ firing, and one agent suggested the Jets would have had to fire their OC if they wanted to land impact free agents on offense. Jermaine Kearse was also not happy with Bates’ work, per Vacchiano. The Jets may have more than one major hire to make in the coming weeks. Bates spent 2017 as New York’s QBs coach before taking over for Morton.
  • The expansive Browns search thus far does not include Josh McDaniels, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com tweets. A Cleveland-area native, McDaniels was part of the Browns’ turbulent 2014 coaching search that ended with Mike Pettine. The Bengals have requested a meeting with McDaniels, but he has not yet accepted. McDaniels can interview this week because of the Patriots’ bye week.
  • The Broncos are monitoring Mike McCarthy, but no interview is as of yet scheduled, Klis tweets. McCarthy has been connected to just about every opening thus far. The 13-year Packers coach may sit this cycle out, unless he sees a perfect fit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link).
  • Rex Ryan contacting possible assistant coaches about the Dolphins‘ vacancy appears to have been premature. He is not in the running to land the Miami job, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports (on Twitter). This would have been Ryan’s third AFC East job. The former Jets and Bills coach has not been mentioned on Black Monday as a candidate for any of the eight openings.
  • The latest Leonard Fournette incident appears to have cost a coach his job. The Jaguars fired running backs coach Tyrone Wheatley on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Jacksonville is retaining Doug Marrone but is looking for a new offensive coordinator, so there will now be another position available. Wheatley just finished his second season as the Jags’ RBs coach.
  • In addition to Wheatley, the Jags are canning three other assistants — defensive backs coach Perry Fewell, offensive line coach Pat Flaherty and defensive line coach Marion Hobby, Alex Marvez of Sirius XM Radio reports (on Twitter). Both Fewell and Flaherty spent extensive time with Tom Coughlin on Giants coaching staffs. This was Hobby’s first NFL job.

AFC Notes: Colts, Texans, Pryor, Bolts

October 4th, 2018 at 6:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Anthony Castonzo will make his Colts debut on Thursday night. He’s active against the Patriots. The eighth-year left tackle has been sidelined for most of the past few months because of a hamstring injury, one he’s twice aggravated. Frank Reich said he did not intend to use an IR spot on Castonzo, and the first-year Colts coach’s confidence in the edge blocker being ready to return soon turned out to be appropriate. Castonzo participated in three limited practices this week.

Here’s the latest from the AFC, going into tonight’s intra-AFC matchup.

  • Indianapolis won’t, however, have the services of its top tackler. Darius Leonard, the NFL’s runaway tackles leader four games into his rookie season, will be out. The Colts tweeted the linebacker is not expected to dress against the Patriots. Both are technically active but are not going to play. An ankle injury is restricting Leonard, who has 54 tackles (seven for loss) and four sacks. He joins T.Y. Hilton, Marlon Mack and Kenny Moore among Colts who aren’t playing in Foxborough.
  • Seantrel Henderson‘s Texans stay did not produce much work. The one-year, $4MM free agent addition suffered a season-ending broken ankle in Week 1 against the Pats. The tackle who recently underwent surgery will be a UFA again in March but wants to return to the Texans. “Of course, I would like to be back,” Henderson said, via the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson. “I love it here.” Julie’n Davenport replaced Henderson at right tackle but was benched. Kendall Lamm‘s now playing there.
  • The AFC’s Los Angeles team has seen its wide receivers receive as much publicity as the Rams’ have, but the Chargers contingent’s quite deep in its own right. Although, it will be thinner for a bit going forward. Travis Benjamin is expected to be out for at least two weeks, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Benjamin’s been battling a foot injury this season. The Bolts hope he can return either for their Week 7 Titans game or after their Week 8 bye. L.A. still has Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Tyrell Williams, however.
  • Terrelle Pryor only played two snaps against the Jaguars. He’s not happy with his current Jets role. “It’s kind of nerve-racking. I don’t like it,” Pryor said, via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, about his usage dissatisfaction. “It is what it is, though. You get frustrated, you know? You don’t go out there and make plays. I’ve shown when the ball comes to me, I make plays. I’m a big play waiting to happen.” Noting Jermaine Kearse surpassed Pryor in Gang Green’s wideout pecking order, Mehta adds Pryor suffered a groin injury during practice last week. Pryor’s experienced persistent injury trouble during his Jets and Redskins tenures. He did not live up to expectations in Washington and saw ankle problems recur in New York this offseason. Pryor, however, is averaging 19.8 yards per catch (eight grabs for 158 yards) but has only received one target the past two weeks.

Jets WR Jermaine Kearse Likely To Miss Week 1?

August 31st, 2018 at 7:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets fear wide receiver Jermaine Kearse may miss Week 1 after undergoing a medical procedure to treat an abdominal injury, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Kearse’s timetable for return isn’t exactly clear, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. Kearse could conceivably recover in time for the season opener, or perhaps miss a few weeks with the injury. As Costello notes, Kearse’s ailment is “impossible to predict.”

If Kearse is sidelined, the Jets will need to turn to the other receiving options on their roster. Without Kearse in tow, New York would likely use Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, and Terrelle Pryor as their starting wideouts in three-WR sets. Gang Green could also conceivably grab a pass-catcher off waivers or via trade in the coming days.

Kearse, 28, enjoyed the best statistical campaign of his career in 2017 by managing 65 receptions for 810 yards and five touchdowns. He’s entering the final season of his contract, and is scheduled to make $5.55MM during the upcoming season.

AFC East Notes: Jets, Kearse, Maye, Patriots

July 18th, 2018 at 8:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although there’s been some speculation the Jets could release veteran wideout Jermaine Kearse in the coming months, Kearse seems likely to stick on New York’s roster, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. Gang Green would save $5.5MM by cutting Kearse prior to the beginning of the regular season, and the club has a well-stocked depth chart at receiver that includes Terrelle Pryor, Robby Anderson, and Quincy Enunwa, among others. However, the Jets certainly don’t need any extra cap space (they’re seventh in the league with more than $20MM in reserves), and Kearse is viewed as a high-quality locker room presence. Perhaps most importantly, Kearse posted the best statistical campaign of his career in 2017 by managing 65 receptions for 810 yards and five touchdowns.

Here’s more from the AFC East:

  • The Patriots are expected to keep four or five running backs on their Week 1 roster, but Rex Burkhead, Sony Michel, and James White are the only current locks, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. Burkhead and Michel, the latter of whom New England selected in the first round of the 2018 draft, figure to split early-down work, while White will take on his familiar role as the Patriots’ passing game back. Brandon Bolden is likely to make New England’s squad thanks to his special teams ability, which sets up a showdown between Jeremy Hill, Mike Gillislee, and undrafted free agent Ralph Webb for the club’s final spot. Webb, notably, received a $70K signing bonus in order to latch on with the Patriots, so he could be a surprise addition to the team’s roster.
  • In a separate piece, Reiss also takes a look at the Patriots‘ wide receiver corps, and notes Julian Edelman (who will begin the year on the suspended list), Chris Hogan, Jordan Matthews, and Cordarrelle Patterson are near certainties for New England’s Week 1 lineup. Former fourth-round pick Malcolm Mitchell, who’s been beset by injuries during his short career, is not a lock for the Patriots’ roster, per Reiss, nor is Kenny Britt. The Patriots exercised Britt’s 2018 option earlier this year, but he’s only guaranteed $150K for the upcoming season. Rookie Braxton Berrios and former first-rounder Phillip Dorsett are among the other New England pass-catchers vying for looks.
  • Jets safety Marcus Maye underwent offseason surgery to correct an ankle issue, but New York is hopeful the second-year defensive back will be available for the start of training camp, per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Maye, a second-round pick out of Florida in 2017, started all 16 games alongside fellow rookie Jamal Adams, but graded as a bottom-15 safety among 84 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Jets head coach Todd Bowles wants both Maye and Adams to make “mental improvements” in the second NFL seasons, per Mehta.

Extra Points: Jets, Kearse, Redskins, Reed, Titans, Ravens

June 30th, 2018 at 9:24pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

There’s been a lot of discussion about which Jets players could get cut, but one name not frequently mentioned has been wide receiver Jermaine Kearse. Still, Kearse apparently isn’t guaranteed a roster spot, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Post. Mehta writes that since Kearse’s $5MM salary is non-guaranteed, he could be cut “if other pass catchers impress in training camp and the preseason.”

While Mehta describes Kearse as someone who was a “positive influence” in 2017 who helped “change the culture in the locker room”, the Jets may still decide they want to get a longer look at some of their younger guys in a year they aren’t likely to compete for a playoff spot anyway. Mehta notes that Kearse’s $5.5MM cap charge is greater than the next four receivers on the depth chart’s put together. Kearse is welcoming the challenge, saying he’s “not going to make it easy” for any of the young players to step up and force him off the roster.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The Redskins could move on from Jordan Reed after this season, according to Rich Tandler of NBCSports Washington. Reed was one of the best tight ends in the game for a while, but injuries have derailed his career the past couple years. The guaranteed money in his contract is up after this year and if he can’t prove he can stay healthy in 2018, the team “might not have any choice but to let him go” next offseason writes Tandler.
  • Titans rookie Jordan Veasy has a real shot at making the team, according to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. The undrafted receiver from Cal has reportedly “caught the ball well in practices” and “proven to be a pretty savvy route runner” this offseason.
  • Another undrafted free agent with a good chance of making his team’s roster is Ravens wide receiver Janarion Grant, according to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com. Mink writes that Grant has impressed as a kick returner this offseason and has real shot at sticking as the Ravens’ primary returner after Michael Campanaro left in free agency.
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