Tyler Eifert - Pro Football Rumors

AFC Notes: Eifert, Edelman, Charles

October 1st, 2017 at 11:55am CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a quick swing around the AFC as the early afternoon slate of games gets underway:

Bengals TE Tyler Eifert‘s most recent injury has further clouded his free agent case, as Paul Dehner, Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes. Eifert, who is in a contract year, is again experiencing back problems, and it is uncertain when he will return to the field. As Dehner observes, the Notre Dame product is in something of a catch-22. He either suits up at less than full health, which could hurt his performance and therefore his next contract, or he could wait until he is 100% healthy but not be on the field at all, thereby reinforcing his injury-prone reputation. Dehner says the franchise tag could still be in play for Cincinnati, as it would come at a relative bargain ($9-10MM) considering Eifert’s ability, but even a one-year deal at that value might be too much for the Bengals to stomach in light of Eifert’s health concerns. He may ultimately have to settle for a one-year “prove-it” deal to reestablish his value in 2018.
Julian Edelman underwent surgery to repair his torn right ACL within the past week, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. Reiss adds that everything went according to plan for the Patriots wideout, who expects to return at full strength in 2018.
Jamaal Charles had his best game with the Broncos last week, rushing nine times for 56 yards and a score, and his surprising success, along with the imminent return of Devontae Booker, have created a good problem for the Broncos, as Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post writes. Denver OC Mike McCoy said all three of his top backs — C.J. Anderson, Charles, and Booker — will get their fair share of reps, and there will not be a set number of carries for any of them.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link) says Ravens RB Alex Collins will get an increased workload in the team’s contest against the Steelers today. Collins, who was promoted off Baltimore’s taxi squad several weeks ago, has looked like the most explosive back on the roster in his limited reps, so he will get an opportunity to show what he can do in a more featured role.

Bengals TE Tyler Eifert To Miss Time

September 25th, 2017 at 5:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert is expected to miss “multiple weeks” as he recovers from a back injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). On a positive note, Eifert won’t require surgery for his ailing back, per Schefter.

Eifert, of course, is no stranger to injury, as he’s appeared in only 39 of a possible 67 games since entering the NFL as a first-round pick in 2013. His back ailment dates back to the latter part of the 2016 campaign — after missing the first seven games of last year with an ankle issue suffered in the Pro Bowl, Eifert was placed on injured reserve in December after experiencing back pain.

The Bengals were without Eifert in Sunday’s loss to the Packers, and will go forward with internal options Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah, while fullbacks Ryan Hewitt and Cethan Carter are also capable of playing tight end. Cincinnati faces the division-rival (and similarly winless) Browns in Week 4, then takes on the Bills before a Week 6 bye.

Eifert, 27, is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency next spring after his fifth-year option expires.

Extra Points: Vikings, Bradford, Dolphins

September 18th, 2017 at 2:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Depending on how rehab on his knee goes, the Vikings believe Sam Bradford can return next week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (on Twitter). The quarterback is believed to have a bone bruise, a source tells NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). The plan for right now is to see how his knee responds to an injection this week and then take from there.

On Sunday, the Case Keenum-led Vikings lost badly in Pittsburgh, so the team is hoping to get its best QB back on the field in time for the home contest against Tampa Bay.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

The Dolphins filed a missing persons report on linebacker Lawrence Timmons when he went AWOL on Saturday, according to TMZ. The police found Timmons at LAX on early Sunday morning as he was looking to board a flight to Pennsylvania. At that point, a team employee met him at the airport and traveled with him. TMZ hears that Timmons was going to Pennsylvania to meet with a child of his and her mother.
Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower’s MCL injury was diagnosed as the 2-3 week variety by two different doctors, Rapoport tweets. The key Pats defender should be back either this week or next based on that timeframe. Problems with his right knee forced Hightower to start training camp on the PUP list and he was forced out of the season opener after aggravating it. Hightower earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2016 and re-upped with the Pats this offseason on a four-year deal that could pay him as much as $43.5MM.
Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert is battling back and knee injuries and his status for Sunday’s game against Green Bay is uncertain, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). For now, it doesn’t seem like a long-term issue, but it’s a situation worth monitoring given Eifert’s previous health troubles.
Punter Matt Darr worked out for the Bills and agent Brett Tessler (on Twitter) claims that it went very well. Darr had a 46-yard career average before his release from Miami earlier this month.

No Deal For Bengals, Tyler Eifert

September 10th, 2017 at 10:22am CST by Rory Parks

Although the league does not impose a deadline for non-franchised-tagged players to sign a multiyear extension with their club, the Bengals impose a “soft” deadline to get such extensions done. That deadline is the day before the regular season opens, and as Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer writes, it has come and gone without a new deal for the Bengals and tight end Tyler Eifert, who is eligible for unrestricted free agency next year.

We heard back in July that the extension cases for Eifert and LB Vontaze Burfict were difficult to analyze, for a number of reasons. However, the club was able to reach a three-year deal with Burfict several days ago, despite that fact that he will be suspended for the first three games of the 2017 season.

Eifert, when healthy, is one of the best tight ends in the game, and he just turned 27 two days ago. Under the fifth-year player option, Eifert will earn $4.782MM in 2017, and per Owczarski, Cincinnati is not opposed to using the franchise tag on him next season if he produces the way he did in 2015, when he hauled in 52 catches for 615 yards and a whopping 13 touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl selection. The tag number for tight ends next season is projected to be right around $10MM, which sounds fairly reasonable for a player of Eifert’s caliber.

That would make Eifert close to the highest-paid tight end in the game in terms of average annual value. Seattle’s Jimmy Graham currently leads all tight ends in AAV, as he earns $10MM per season, though two of Eifert’s 2011 draft classmates, Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Washington’s Jordan Reed, are not far behind, and both of them top Graham in terms of total contract value. Considering Reed’s injury history, Eifert could certainly point to Reed’s deal (five years, $46.75MM with $14MM guaranteed) as a reasonable benchmark for his own contract.

Eifert’s injury history could complicate matters, although both sides want to get a deal done. If Eifert can stay on the field for all of 2017, there is a good chance that the two sides can agree to a long-term deal next offseason.

AFC Notes: Bills, Steelers, Bengals

August 31st, 2017 at 7:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bills sent big-money defensive tackle Marcell Dareus home before their preseason game against the Ravens last week after he violated a team rule, leaving general manager Brandon Beane unsure if the two-time Pro Bowler is part of the solution. Asked this week if Dareus is on board with what the team is trying to build, Beane told Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (via Mark Inabinett of AL.com): “I don’t know. Time will tell. It was disappointing, as I said, after that game. He was contrite yesterday and said the right things. Actions speak louder than words. Time will tell. Hopefully, he is. We hope he’ll play to his potential. We know what kind of player he can be. We hope to see that on the field.” Even if the Bills are fed up with Dareus, who has multiple suspensions on his resume, moving on from the cornerstone defender in the near future would be extremely difficult because of the structure of his contract. The Bills inked Dareus to a six-year, $91.5MM extension in September 2015.

AFC Notes: Bengals, Osweiler, Hali

July 23rd, 2017 at 11:38am CST by Rory Parks

Tyler Eifert and Vontaze Burfict are both entering their contract seasons, and while the Bengals have not allowed a Pro Bowl player to leave via free agency who is under the age of 32 since 2011, both players present unique considerations. Both are justified in aiming to be paid at the top of the pay scale for their respective positions, but Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer says Burfict, because of his injury history and run-ins with the league’s player safety rules, is more likely to receive a contract like Dont’a Hightower‘s (four years, $35.5MM with $17MM in guarantees) than Luke Kuechly‘s (five years, $61.8MM with $34MM in guarantees). Also, given Hightower’s difficult time in free agency this season, it is unclear whether Burfict will want to try his luck on the open market.

Eifert’s own injury history could hinder his financial prospects, though league sources indicate he is in line for a five-year pact with an AAV of roughly $9MM. Unlike Burfict, however, the franchise tag is an option for Eifert if the two sides cannot hammer out a long-term deal this year, although both parties are motivated to get something done.

Now for more from the AFC:

Brock Osweiler apparently still has a chance to start for the Browns in Week 1. Although Cody Kessler and DeShone Kizer are considered the most likely candidates to open the season under center, a lot will depend on Kizer’s development. As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes, if Kizer does not develop as anticipated during training camp — he has progressed well to this point, but things can always change when the pads are on — then Osweiler could reenter the mix as a challenger to Kessler.
Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich is entering his contract year, but at this point, he does not foresee himself playing for anyone other than New England, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes. Ninkovich was drafted by the Saints in the fifth round of the 2006 draft and spent several years with the Dolphins, but his career did not blossom until he signed with the Pats in 2009. Since 2010, he has posted at least four sacks per season as a versatile defensive end/linebacker, including three consecutive eight-sack seasons from 2012-14. He is so grateful for his time in New England that, when asked if he could envision himself playing for another club, he said, “I wouldn’t do that.”
Tamba Hali‘s Twitter rant last night drew quite a bit of attention, but the Chiefs linebacker says he is not considering holding out and he has not been told he is not in the team’s 2017 plans. He said he simply wants to play more (Twitter link). Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star says (via Twitter) that Hali did address the matter internally back in January, and he was told by head coach Andy Reid to just “keep getting better.” That obviously did not sit well with Hali, who apparently stewed about it for some time before unleashing a bit last night.
Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union wonders what, if anything, Trai Turner‘s recent four-year, $45MM extension could mean for Jaguars center Brandon Linder, who was drafted one spot behind Turner in the 2014 draft. Linder started his career at right guard but was moved to center last season after missing 13 games due to a shoulder injury in 2015. He has missed 15 total games in his career, and it sounds as if Jacksonville will simply allow him to play out his contract because of that injury history. If contract talks do commence this year, it will be interesting to see if Linder gets paid like a center or if he receives a deal that suggests he could return to right guard in the future.

Bengals Place Tyler Eifert On IR

December 26th, 2016 at 1:38pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals are shutting down two of their brightest stars for the final game of the season. Tight end Tyler Eifert is headed to injured reserve one day after A.J. Green was told that he will not be taking the field again in 2016. The Bengals also announced that guard Clint Boling is being placed on IR.

This has been a frustrating year for Eifert. Heading into the fall, many expected the tight end to elevate his game to a new level and help take attention away from Green. Unfortunately, he’s been banged up the whole way and his season ends with just eight games played thanks to his injured ankle and back. The Bengals are 5-9-1 after Saturday’s loss to Houston and one has to wonder if they would be playoff bound if they had Eifert healthy for the whole year.

The Bengals wrap up the season against the Ravens on New Year’s Day. As of this writing, they are slated for the No. 8 pick in the draft.

A.J. Green Won’t Play Tonight, Likely Done For Season

December 24th, 2016 at 2:33pm CST by Ben Levine

2:33pm: Although the Bengals aren’t gunning for a playoff spot in Week 16 for the first time since 2010, the coaching staff still had Green embedded in its Week 16 game plan. This decision came down from ownership, Bob Holtzman of ESPN.com reports. “The rug got pulled out from under us,” one source told the reporter, who characterizes some in the organization as being unhappy about this course of action.

Green still made the Pro Bowl but will finish 36 yards shy of his sixth 1,000-yard season in as many tries. Cincinnati, though, has Green signed through the 2019 season and evidently doesn’t view these final two games of a lost season as worth the risk for its cornerstone skill-position player.

11:55am: Following news that Green would likely be shut down for the season, many assumed it was the Bengals’ attempt at keeping Green out of harm’s way as the organization switched their focus to next season.

Well, while that certainly holds merit, it may not be the entire story. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Green doesn’t only have a partially torn hamstring. The wideout has also suffered a partially torn tendon that is still healing.

8:57am: A.J. Green is out for tonight’s game, and it sounds like the star wideout’s season is over. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Green will not play in tonight’s game against the Texans, and he notes that the organization isn’t planning on playing the wideout in either of the team’s two remaining games. This is a bit of surprise, as we heard earlier this week that Green was planning on playing this weekend.
Green suffered a hamstring tear in late November, and initial reports hinted that the receiver was going to miss the remainder of the season. However, subsequent reports indicated that the tear wasn’t as severe as initially thought, leading to some optimism that Green would see the field again this season. The wideout added more fuel to that fire with his quotes earlier this month.

“I want to get back,” he said. “No matter what type of season we have, I’m not the type of guy to cash it in. So, whenever it’s ready, I’ll be ready to go. But, I’m not going to rush it because I’m not going to have this be a continuing issue.”

If Green is unable to suit up for the rest of the season, he’ll fall 36 yards short of his sixth-straight 1,000-yard campaign. In 10 games this season, the wideout hauled in 66 catches for 964 yards and four touchdowns. The Bengals have relied on wideouts Brandon LaFell and rookie Tyler Boyd during Green’s absence.

The 5-8-1 Bengals have struggled through injuries this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Running back Giovani Bernard tore his ACL in late November, ending his campaign early. Tight end Tyler Eifert missed the team’s first six games after struggling through ankle and back injuries, and the Bengals will be sitting the 26-year-old for tonight’s game. To make matters worse, starting running back Jeremy Hill is listed as questionable for this evening’s contest.

AFC North Notes: Flacco, Eifert, Browns

October 21st, 2016 at 8:37pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens announced that quarterback Joe Flacco was back at practice today. It’s a positive step forward for the QB after he was diagnosed with irritation in the joint of his throwing shoulder and missed practice earlier in the week. Still, it’s not clear whether he will play on Sunday against the Jets. If he can’t go, Ryan Mallett will get the start and the Ravens will likely look to sign another QB to back him up. David Fales, currently on Baltimore’s practice squad, would be the obvious candidate.

Here’s more from the AFC North:

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis says that the team will soon determine whether tight end Tyler Eifert will be make his 2016 debut on Sunday, as Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com writes. Lewis doesn’t have a timetable on Eifert, but he says that it will not be a game-time decision. Eifert, of course, was scheduled to return from ankle surgery earlier this month but suffered a setback when he hurt his back.
The Browns worked out offensive tackle Darrion Weems on Friday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Weems, 28, had played on roughly a third of Denver’s offensive snaps this season before being waived last week, but graded as one of the worst interior lineman in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
Given the health issues on their roster, the Ravens should be expected to make at least one transaction before Sunday’s game against the Jets, argues Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro is one option to be promoted to the active roster thanks to his special teams prowess, per Zriebec, while corners Asa Jackson and Robertson Daniel also stand a chance to be signed since the Ravens are dealing injuries to their defensive backfield.

AFC Notes: Flacco, Incognito, Jets, Bengals

October 19th, 2016 at 9:45pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has irritation in the joint of his throwing shoulder and was withheld from practice Wednesday to try to improve the situation, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s not immediately clear whether Flacco will be ready to play against the Jets on Sunday, though head coach John Harbaugh believes he has a “legitimate chance” (via Marc Sessler of NFL.com). If Flacco can’t go, Baltimore will probably look to add a quarterback to place behind Ryan Mallett. The Ravens don’t have any QBs on their practice squad.

Here’s more from the AFC:

With the Bills’ Richie Incognito preparing to face his former team, the Dolphins, this week, the guard revisited the 2013 Bullygate scandal in Miami that led to a three-month suspension and left him unemployed for a year and a half. “I’m still searching for the lesson in all of it,” Incognito told Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel. League investigator Ted Wells concluded Incognito subjected then-teammate Jonathan Martin to “a pattern of harassment” that included racial slurs. “Jonathan and I were close friends. I cared about him,” Incognito said of Martin. “If anybody was there for Jonathan it was me.” Martin left the Dolphins amid the scandal in 2013 and spent parts of the next two seasons with the 49ers and Panthers. He’s now retired. Incognito has since held his own in Buffalo, which signed him to a one-year contract in February 2015. He went to his second Pro Bowl last season and subsequently re-signed with the Bills on a three-year, $15.75MM deal with $5.4MM in guarantees. “I can sleep good at night knowing what happened and what my actions were. I’m not saying I was a saint. But I sleep well at night knowing what I did,” added Incognito, who maintains that Martin and his camp concocted a false narrative.
The Jets benched quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick in favor of Geno Smith on Wednesday, but Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News isn’t exactly convinced the move will energize the 1-5 team. Restarting the Smith era is “destined to fail,” writes Mehta, whose reasons include the 26-year-old’s poor on-field production since entering and the lack of maturity he has shown in his four NFL seasons. Mehta expects Smith to quickly flame out in his latest audition, thereby paving the way for second-year man Bryce Petty to take the reins under center.
Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a back injury Oct. 3, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Thanks to both his back issue and offseason ankle surgery, the 2015 Pro Bowler hasn’t yet debuted this year. That could change Sunday against the Browns, per Dehner, who notes that Eifert was merely a limited participant Wednesday and will need to partake in a full practice before rejoining the Bengals’ lineup. The Bengals have gone a disappointing 2-4 this year without Eifert, who’s coming off an outstanding season. With 52 receptions, 615 yards and 13 touchdowns, the ex-Notre Dame star logged career highs across the board last year.
The Patriots worked out receiver Dres Anderson and linebacker Trevor Reilly on Wednesday, tweets Doug Kyed of NESN. Anderson went undrafted from Utah last year and spent some time with the 49ers, though he didn’t see any regular-season action. Reilly suited up 29 times and made 10 tackles with the Jets over the previous two seasons.

Zach Links contributed to this post.