Robert Griffin III - Pro Football Rumors

NFC East Links: Ryans, Sanchez, Washington

November 2nd, 2014 at 7:34pm CST by Rob DiRe

Eagles‘ inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans will miss the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon earlier today. The team will have trouble replacing him, but if they are looking for help from outside the roster, Adam Caplan of ESPN lists a few of the top inside linebackers available (via Twitter). His best options are Jonathan Vilma, Erin Henderson, Paris Lenon, Marvin Mitchell, and Nick Barnett.

Here are some other notes from around the NFC East:

Eagles‘ head coach Chip Kelly was happy with the performance of backup quarterback Mark Sanchez, saying that the offense “didn’t miss a beat,” reports Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). The team had total confidence in his ability to lead the offense, and that was evident in his first pass where he connected on a deep post with Jeremy Maclin.
Eagles‘ top receiver Maclin had high praise for Sanchez after his first game action with the team, according to Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “I don’t know the extent of [Foles’ injury], but we’ve got a guy in Mark who can step up and win some games,” Maclin said. “I’m excited about him being back there.”
Sanchez returned the favor, noting that Maclin “picked a great year to sign a one-year deal.” Maclin took the one-year deal this offseason with hopes to receive a larger extension either during or after the season.
Prior to the start of Washington’s matchup against the Vikings, thousands gathered to protest the team’s racially insensitive nickname, including Minneapolis Mayor Betsey Hodges, writes Nolan Feeney of Time Magazine.
Washington’s coach Jay Gruden has addressed a report that Robert Griffin III has alienated his teammates, reports Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. Steinberg writes that the players were responding to the team’s PR allowing more reporters in the locker room.

NFC East Notes: Romo, Bryant, RG3, Lee

November 2nd, 2014 at 10:21am CST by Dallas Robinson

After suffering two transverse process fractures in his back during Monday’s game against Washington, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will not play in today’s contest against the Cardinals, reports Desmond Purnell of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Ex-Brown Brandon Weeden, who filled in briefly for Romo on Monday night, will get the start against the league’s seventh-best defense by DVOA. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), Romo decided last night that he wouldn’t be able to go today, and the Dallas coaching staff is already preparing for Romo to not travel to London for Week 10, and instead use the time to fully heal. It’s a major development for a Cowboys team that, at 6-2, can’t afford to lose many games with the 5-2 Eagles chasing them in the standings. Here’s more from the NFC East.

Set to enter free agency this offseason unless an extension is worked out, Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant has left agent Eugene Parker and opted to team with Jay-Z and Roc Nation, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). Roc Nation, who also boasts Victor Cruz and Ndamukong Suh on its client list, might try to begin long-term contract talks with Dallas, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said in August that there was no need to accelerate the discussions. Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo tweets that as of yet, the Cowboys have only shown a willingness to discuss an extension if the terms are extremely team-friendly. The club could use the franchise tag on Bryant in 2015, which would guarantee him ~$12-14MM.
Sources tell Schefter that Washington’s decision to start Robert Griffin III against the Vikings came from upper management, rather than head coach Jay Gruden. Ownership reportedly supports Griffin more than his teammates do, as evidenced by a scene on Friday, when Griffin spoke to the media for the first time since Week 2. Per Schefter, roughly 15 teammates began shouting while Griffin spoke. Ultimately, reporters and the quarterback had to leave the locker room so Griffin could be heard — at that point, the “cheering” became even louder. According to Schefter’s colleague Britt McHenry, the third-year QB has “alienated himself” from the locker room.
When he returns from injury in 2015, Cowboys linebacker Sean Lee will likely play weakside linebacker, rather than the middle, Jones tells 105.3 The Fan in Dallas (link via Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com). Dallas will presumably rely on Rolando McClain, who has played well this season, to man MLB.

East Notes: Vick, RGIII, Benn, Patriots

September 25th, 2014 at 6:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Some people are calling for Michael Vick in New York, but Jets offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg sounds like he’s sticking with Geno Smith, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. “We’re right in the middle of developing a young quarterback,” Mornhinweg said. “We’ve discussed this. We’re going to go through some ups and downs now. When you go through a little dip, you’ve got to motor through it now.” Even if Smith’s struggles continue, it sounds like Vick will remain at No. 2 on the depth chart. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East..

Sources tell Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (on Twitter) that there’s no guarantee that the Redskins will hand Robert Griffin III his job back when he returns from injury. Down the line, if Kirk Cousins plays well, one has to imagine that RGIII could become trade fodder for Washington. Of course, Cousins will have to continue to build off of his strong Week 3 showing.
Former Eagles and Buccaneers wide receiver Arrelious Benn (back) has fully recovered from his back injury and will begin working out for teams soon, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Eagles cut Benn with an injury settlement earlier this month. In 37 career NFL games, Benn has 59 catches and 862 receiving yards to his credit.
The Patriots and Bears are looking at former Redskins safety Bacarri Rambo, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today (on Twitter).

More Injury Updates: Monday

September 15th, 2014 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

We passed along one round of Monday injury updates earlier today, and since then we’ve learned that the Bears will be placing Charles Tillman on their injured reserve list with a season-ending triceps injury. There are still plenty of items to round up this afternoon though, so let’s dive right in….

Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis sustained a high ankle sprain yesterday and is expected to miss six to eight weeks of action, the team announced today (Twitter link). That recovery timeline could make Lewis a candidate for the injured reserve list with the designation to return.
Jamaal Charles also appears to have suffered a high ankle sprain, though Chiefs head coach Andy Reid indicated today that it “doesn’t look to be a real severe one,” according to B.J. Kissel of KCChiefs.com (via Twitter). The timetable for Charles’ return isn’t yet clear, but it looks like Knile Davis will probably get the nod for Kansas City in Week 3.
Per Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network (Twitter link), Redskins head coach Jay Gruden said today that it’s too early to predict a return date for Robert Griffin III, but Gruden expects the signal-caller to return this season and says he isn’t an IR candidate.
Rams wideout Tavon Austin has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL and is expected to miss a couple weeks, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Dolphins guard Shelley Smith will also be sidelined for two to four weeks due to a grade two knee sprain, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).

Injury Updates: Monday

September 15th, 2014 at 11:45am CST by Luke Adams

Here are the latest updates and timelines on a number of notable injuries suffered during Week 2’s slate of games:

Robert Griffin III told reporters today, including Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter), that an MRI showed no fracture in his injured ankle. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets that the Redskins continue to be optimistic about RGIII‘s recovery timetable, suggesting that he may just miss four or five weeks.
Saints running back Mark Ingram is expected to miss about a month due to the hand injury he suffered during the club’s game against the Browns yesterday, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson figure to receive the majority of the backfield touches in Ingram’s absence.
Another running back may be sidelined for the next month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that Ryan Mathews has an MCL sprain that could keep him out for four or five weeks. Mathews is hoping to return to the Chargers sooner than that.
Giants nickel corner Walter Thurmond suffered a torn pectoral muscle against the Cardinals, and will miss the rest of the season, a source tells Pro Football Talk. Thurmond signed a one-year contract with the team in the offseason, so he may have played his last snap for the Giants.
There’s uncertainty about the timeline for Jamaal Charles‘ return, according to Schefter, who says (via Twitter) that the Chiefs running back has a sprained ankle. How soon Charles can play will depend on how well he’s able to move on it, and how it feels.
Redskins wideout DeSean Jackson woke up “sore” after sustaining a shoulder injury yesterday, but it appear he avoided any major structural damage, per Cole (via Twitter).

NFC East Notes: RGIII, Giants, Eagles

September 15th, 2014 at 8:56am CST by Luke Adams

When news first broke yesterday that Robert Griffin III had suffered a dislocated ankle during the Redskins‘ win over the Jaguars, there was speculation that he’d be out for the season, but a report from Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested the team was hopeful it would only be without Griffin for a matter of weeks, rather than months. That may be an overly optimistic view, however.

Mike Jones of the Washington Post spoke to multiple orthopedic specialists, all of whom agreed that the best-case scenario for Griffin would probably still see him sidelined for a couple months. Depending on the specific diagnosis of the injury, it could also be a season-ender for the young signal-caller.

As we wait for more details on RGIII, here’s more from around the NFC East:

In Mike Garafolo’s recap of Sunday’s action for FOX Sports, he notes that “there are those in the Redskins‘ locker room” who believe Kirk Cousins is a better option for the team in the long run that Griffin, though none would say so on the record. Meanwhile, Joel Corry of CBSSports.com notes (via Twitter) that if Cousins lights it up in RGIII’s absence this season, Washington could have a real decision on its hands regarding Griffin’s fifth-year option for 2016.
The Giants were one of the most active teams in the NFL this offseason, signing 10 free agents to multiyear contracts. However, as Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News observes, following the club’s 0-2 start, it’s fair to wonder whether all those moves were worth making.
The existing relationship between Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and Colts GM Ryan Grigson allowed the two teams to complete the preseason trade that sent kicker Cody Parkey to Philadelphia in about “a nanosecond,” as Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer details.

Robert Griffin III Has Dislocated Ankle

September 14th, 2014 at 10:39pm CST by Rory Parks

10:39pm: While many original estimations had Griffin missing the season after dislocating his ankle early on in the Redskins’ blowout victory over the Jaguars, the team is still hoping for positive news. Nothing will be certain until he goes for an MRI tomorrow, but the team hopes that Griffin will have to miss no more than four or five weeks with the injury, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

3:14pm: Citing his colleague Chick Hernandez, Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com reports that Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has dislocated his left ankle. Tandler adds that Griffin will likely be sidelined for an extended period of time, possibly the entire season. However, an MRI will be needed to determine the severity of the injury and make a final determination.

Major Injuries: Week 2

September 14th, 2014 at 10:31pm CST by Rory Parks

Here at Pro Football Rumors, we tend to stay away from injury news and report instead on issues concerning player movement, transactions, etc. However, when there is a major injury to a star player, the potential roster impacts of such an injury are readily apparent. As such, we will update this post with those injuries from Week 2 that could significantly alter a team’s personnel decisions going forward.

Chiefs‘ star players Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry were both ruled out of today’s 24-17 loss to the Broncos (via Twitter). Head coach Andy Reid said both players had suffered ankle injuries, reports Field Yates of ESPN (via Twitter). Charles will have an MRI tomorrow to test the seriousness of his injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Earlier, we saw that Bengals‘ receiver A.J. Green went down with a toe injury. Green said after the game that his toe is not broken and that he hopes to play next week, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter). Pro Football Talk reports that a league source believes Green should Dr. Anderson in Charlotte to rule out a Lisfranc injury (via Twitter).
Chargers‘ running back Ryan Mathews suffered a sprained MCL in the team’s impressive 30-21 victory over the Seahawks, reports Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego. He will undergo further tests to see the extent of the injury.
The Rams‘ versatile playmaker Tavon Austin exited today’s 19-17 win over the Buccaneers with a knee injury, reports Nick Wagoner of ESPN (via Twitter). The extend of the injury is unknown, and Austin will have more tests tomorrow.
Buccaneers‘ defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was also injured in that game, reportedly breaking his hand, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). It has yet to be determined whether or not McCoy will be able to play through the injury.
Bears‘ star cornerback Charles Tillman left the Sunday Night Football game with a triceps injury, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter). Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune notes that it was a right biceps injury just like this one that forced Tillman to miss a huge chunk of the 2013 campaign (via Twitter).
Giants‘ cornerback Walter Thurmond suffered what is thought to be a strained pectoral muscle in the team’s 25-14 loss to the Cardinals, reports Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Post (via Twitter). He will receive an MRI tomorrow to confirm.
Another key piece to the Giants‘ defense, Jon Beason, suffered a toe injury, according to Vacchiano (via Twitter). Vacchiano notes that the team is worried considering a toe injury on the same foot caused him to miss nearly the entire offseason.

Earlier Updates

Dolphins RB Knowshon Moreno has suffered a dislocated elbow and is expected to miss four to eight weeks, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
We learned earlier today that Griffin suffered a dislocated ankle and could miss the remainder of the season, depending on the severity of the injury.
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III suffered an injury to his left ankle, and Washington receiver DeSean Jackson injured his shoulder in today’s game against the Jaguars. The team announced (Twitter links) that neither player will return to the game.
Meanwhile, Bengals receiver A.J. Green suffered a toe injury in today’s game against the Falcons and will not return, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com.

East Notes: Griffin, Brent, Branch

August 24th, 2014 at 12:20pm CST by Rory Parks

Robert Griffin III struggled in the Redskins‘ third preseason game against the Ravens on Saturday night, and that has led to a great deal of chatter as to whether he or backup Kirk Cousins represents the team’s best option under center. Redskins’ legend Joe Theismann weighed in on the conversation in the fourth quarter of last night’s game (as transcribed by Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post) stating:

“Let’s stop beating around the bush. Kirk Cousins has played much better at the quarterback position than Robert Griffin III has…Now, if there was a quarterback competition, it wouldn’t be a competition. Kirk Cousins would be the man I believe [head coach Jay Gruden] would have to go to.”

Theismann continued to sing Cousins’ praises after the game ended. Former Redskin Brian Mitchell, an analyst on the team’s post game show, disagreed with Theismann’s assessment, stating that Griffin, not Cousins, gives Washington the best chance of winning. For what it’s worth, Liz Clarke of the Washington Post writes that Griffin rejects the belief that he has regressed this preseason.

Now for some more notes from the league’s east divisions:

Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com points out the obvious flaw in Theismann’s analysis, writing that, since there never was a quarterback competition in Redskins camp–Griffin entered the offseason as the undisputed starter–there is no way to determine whether Griffin or Cousins would have won such a competition. If the starting job was up for grabs, Cousins would have had a chance to work with the first team offense against the Ravens’ first-team defense, and no one can say how that would have altered the evaluation.
Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPNDallas.com reports that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expects a decision from the league regarding a potential suspension for DT Josh Brent “imminently.” Jones has previously stated that the team will have a roster spot for Brent if the NFL allows him to play.
Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News writes that undrafted free agent wideout Corey Washington has had a monster preseason for the Giants and has thrust himself into serious consideration for a roster spot.
Jordan Ranaan of NJ.com tweets that it will be a few days before a final diagnosis is made on Geoff Schwartz, and in a full-length piece Ranaan describes how the Giants might go about replacing him.
In a pair of articles, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post offers a little more on Schwartz, some Giants‘ roster machinations, and he describes the quality performances displayed by a few of the Giants’ younger players.
I rounded up a few Eagles links here.
In the wake of Alan Branch‘s recent arrest, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reexamines the financial ramifications the Bills would face if they were to release Branch.
Marc Sessler of NFL.com writes that Bills coach Doug Marrone is open to shopping for a new backup quarterback. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com wonders (via Twitter) if the team would consider Luke McCown if he is cut by New Orleans, as the Saints and the Bills have a similar offensive system.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe describes how the new practice squad rules could impact several players on the Patriots‘ roster bubble.
Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe provides a closer look on how the Patriots will pare their roster down to 75 players by Tuesday’s deadline.
The Jets released six players earlier today.

East Notes: Vick, Bills, Dolphins, RGIII

July 24th, 2014 at 5:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, John DeMarzo of the New York Post asked former Texans GM and current NFL analyst Charley Casserly to weigh in on the Jets‘ quarterback situation. “I don’t see it happening in training camp,” Casserly said when asked if Michael Vick will unseat Geno Smith for the starting job. “It’s Geno’s job to lose and he can’t lose it in camp. Vick is coming in to be the backup. [He may start] if Geno disintegrates, but that’s hard to happen…I’m not sure you have a good answer if you have to go to Vick. You ride this thing with Geno and see how he develops.” More out of the AFC and NFC East..

A prospective Bills ownership group that includes Jon Bon Jovi has conducted a feasibility study into buying the NFL franchise and building a stadium in Toronto, a person close to the situation tells John Wawrow of the Associated Press. The study identified at least three potential stadium sites, two in Toronto, including one on the waterfront, and another in the suburb of Mississauga. The Bon Jovi group has not said they would relocate the team, but Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says that he has no doubt the group’s intentions are to move the Bills to Toronto.
Pro Football Talk recently ranked all 32 teams in the NFL and placed the Dolphins at No. 31. Miami coach Joe Philbin doesn’t quite agree with that, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. “I don’t think he knows the guys in our looker room or the guys that come to work in this building every single day from top to bottom,” Philbin said. Still, the ranking raised enough eyebrows in the Miami front office that owner Stephen Ross called Philbin to discuss it.
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III has take a few shots at former coach Mike Shanahan and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, but he took his biggest dig today, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “You don’t go from the ability to read defenses one year and not have that ability the next, so I don’t believe that one bit,” Griffin said. “And it’s really just a good thing to have two coaches that believe in you. Sean and Jay have done a great job. They’ve given me a lot on my shoulders in that quarterback room and I cherish that. You want to be asked to do more or just to do the bare minimum.”