HEADLINES

Johnnie Troutman

RFA Tender Decisions: 3/9/16

March 9th, 2016 at 9:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Unrestricted free agent news will obviously dominate the day, but several clubs also had to make decisions on whether to offer tenders to restricted free agents. We’ll round up those decisions here:

Tendered

Non-Tendered

Chargers Place Johnnie Troutman On IR

September 29th, 2015 at 3:38pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers have lost one of their starting offensive linemen for the season, as Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (via Twitter) that the club has placed guard Johnnie Troutman on injured reserve, ending his year.

Troutman, who turns 28 in November, was San Diego’s right guard in 2014, starting all 15 games he played for the team, a year after stepping in as the Chargers’ left guard. Even after the club signed Orlando Franklin in the offseason, it looked like Troutman would resume his duties at right guard this year, but he suffered a broken foreman in August.

As Gehlken tweets, Troutman had been rehabbing and said just yesterday that he would “definitely” return to action for the Chargers this season. However, San Diego could no longer afford to use one of its 53 roster spots on him, and had to move him to IR.

D.J. Fluker and Chris Hairston have seen action at right guard in Troutman’s absence.

Extra Points: J. Thomas, Chargers, Rex, Jets

August 14th, 2015 at 9:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look around the league as preseason action continues on this Friday evening…

  • Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas fractured a finger during tonight’s preseason game against the Steelers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). It doesn’t sound like he’ll miss any regular season action, however, as Rapoport says the hope is the injury will affect Thomas — Jacksonville’s top free agent addition — “minimally.”
  • More injury news, this time out of San Diego, where head coach Mike McCoy confirms to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter) that guard Johnnie Troutman (broken arm) and linebacker Tourek Williams (broken foot) “will be out for some time.” However, the club doesn’t plan to place either player on injured reserve at this time.
  • Former Jets — and current Bills — head coach Rex Ryan blames the media for his firing, telling Andrea Kremer of HBO that he and Jets owner Woody Johnson‘s friendship couldn’t overcome pressure from the outside. “We talk like brothers. I know Woody never wanted to fire me,” Ryan said. “I could’ve been his coach for 20 years, that’s what Woody wanted. There’s no question Woody wanted that.”
  • On the subject of the Bills claiming linebacker IK Enemkpali (who broke Jets QB Geno Smith‘s jaw), Jets guard Willie Colon wasn’t surprised. “Rex is Rex,” Colon told Brian Costello of the New York Post. Colon played under Ryan from 2013-14.

2015 Proven Performance Escalator Raises

January 16th, 2015 at 8:21pm CST by Dallas Robinson

According to the NFL’s contractual bargaining agreement, players drafted in rounds three though seven are entitled to raises during the fourth year of their respective rookie contracts. The pay bumps are tied to playing time — a player must have played in 35% of his team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or averaged 35% playing time in said snaps for the duration of his first three years in the league. If one of these thresholds is met, the player’s salary is elevated to the level of that year’s restricted free agent qualifying offer — that figure was $1.431MM last year, and will inflate commensurate with the salary cap increase. Players selected in the first or second round, undrafted free agents, and kickers/punters are ineligible for the proven performance escalator.

Here are the players who will see their 2015 salary rise due to the PPE, courtesy of Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap.

Bengals: George Iloka, S; Mohamed Sanu, WR

Bills: Nigel Bradham, LB

Broncos: Malik Jackson, DL; Danny Trevathan, LB;

Browns: Billy Winn, DL

Cardinals: Bobby Massie, T

Chargers: Johnnie Troutman, G

Colts: Dwayne Allen, TE; T.Y. Hilton, WR

Dolphins: Lamar Miller, RB; Olivier Vernon, DE

Eagles: Brandon Boykin, CB; Nick Foles; QB

Falcons: Lamar Holmes, T

Jets: Demario Davis, LB; Antonio Allen, DB

Packers: Mike Daniels, DL

Panthers: Josh Norman, CB

Patriots: Alfonzo Dennard, CB

Raiders: Miles Burris, LB

Rams: Chris Givens, WR; Trumaine Johnson, CB

Ravens: Gino Gradkowski, C

Saints: Akiem Hicks, DT; Corey White, CB

Seahawks: J.R. Sweezy, G; Russell Wilson, QB

Steelers: Kelvin Beachum, T

Texans: Brandon Brooks, G; Jared Crick, DL; Ben Jones, G

Titans: Coty Sensabaugh, CB

Vikings: Robert Blanton, S: Rhett Ellison, TE; Josh Robinson, CB; Jarius Wright, WR

Washington: Alfred Morris, RB

Chargers Place Johnnie Troutman On IR

December 22nd, 2014 at 5:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers announced that they have placed Johnnie Troutman on injured reserve, as Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post tweets. To replace him, the Bolts have signed offensive tackle Kenny Wiggins.

Troutman, 27, suffered a knee injury in last weekend’s victory against the 49ers. Troutman isn’t looked upon favorably by the advance stats, but he has started all 15 games to date this season at right guard. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has him ranked No. 77 out of 79 qualified interior linemen with a -25.1 overall rating. Troutman will be eligible to hit the open market this offseason.

Wiggins was with the Chargers in 2013 but he was unable to stick with the club after being released in late August. The 6’6″, 314-pound lineman has had previous stops with the Ravens and 49ers.