Ted Ginn Jr. - Pro Football Rumors

Ted Ginn Retires From NFL

July 16th, 2021 at 5:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Veteran wide receiver Ted Ginn has announced his retirement from football. Ginn, the No. 9 overall pick in 2007, enjoyed 14 seasons in the NFL with six different teams.

“It was a hard decision, but it was one that had to be made,” Ginn said at a Friday press conference (via News5 Cleveland). “I’ve been gone 20 years, not being able to have some of the joys that you’re supposed to have as a man —being able to enjoy your parents, being able to enjoy your kids, your wife and just yourself,” Ginn said.

Ginn’s blazing speed made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the ’07 class. He didn’t quite live up to all the hype, but he outlasted many of his first-round peers. Over time, Ginn found his footing as a return man, racking up seven touchdowns on special teams plus countless highlights.

Last year Ginn spent some time with the Bears but see much action in his six games. His last full season came in 2019 with the Saints, when he caught 30 passes for 421 yards and two touchdowns. After that, New Orleans signed Emmanuel Sanders, and Ginn was pushed out.

All in all, Ginn leaves football with 33 receiving touchdowns for the Dolphins, 49ers, Panthers (2x), Cardinals, Saints, and Bears. We here at PFR wish Ginn the best in retirement.

Bears Release Ted Ginn

November 4th, 2020 at 8:38am CST by Zachary Links

The Bears have released wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The move doesn’t come as a huge surprise given Ginn’s limited playing time as of late.

Last season, Ginn caught 30 passes for 421 yards and two touchdowns for the Saints. But, once New Orleans signed Emmanuel Sanders, Ginn was left to find work elsewhere. He inked a one-year deal with the Bears, where he went on to appear in six games this year. However, he did not play in Sunday’s loss to his old friends in New Orleans and he was hardly seen on the field throughout October.

The Bears had Ginn signed for the veteran salary benefit, worth $1.187MM. The release won’t have a major impact on their 2020 cap, but it will free up an extra spot on the active roster.

Ginn leaves Chicago with a stat line of three catches for 40 yards, plus five punt returns for 24 yards. Now in his 14th pro season, it’s not immediately clear whether he’ll hook on elsewhere. For what it’s worth, Ginn said he’s “still got a few more years left” back in April.

Bears Notes: Trubisky, RB, Ginn

May 13th, 2020 at 5:53pm CST by Zachary Links

Mitchell Trubisky couldn’t have been happy about the Bears‘ decision to decline his fifth-year option, but he didn’t react poorly to the news. At least, that’s what GM Ryan Pace claimed in an interview on 670 The Score.

“We’ve always had the approach where we’re honest and we’re truthful with our players and with our staff, then we move on and we get to work,” Pace said. “That’s where it’s at. Mitch gets it. Everyone’s competing. Everyone’s focused on better results. That’s the entire team. We believe in Mitch. That doesn’t change. You can point to Kyle Fuller as a great example of a player who didn’t get his option exercised. I’d think we would say that worked out well for him and for us.”

The Bears could have extended quarterback’s deal through 2021 at cost of $24.8MM. Even though that sum would have only been guaranteed for injury, Pace turned down the option. Just three short years ago, the Bears traded up from No. 3 to No. 2 to get the UNC standout. However, he’s been inconsistent as a pro, and the success of Patrick Mahomes (the No. 10 pick in the 2017 draft) and Deshaun Watson (No. 12) have only underscored his struggles.

Of course, it hasn’t been all bad. In 2018, Trubisky finished with 24 touchdowns against 12 interceptions and a trip to the Pro Bowl as an alternate. In 2019, he regressed and finished 28th the bottom in QBR. This year, he’ll look to get his career back on track and inspire confidence in the Bears’ front office.

Here’s more out of Chicago:

There’s been some talk about the Bears’ need for a veteran running back, but Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune isn’t too worked up about it, noting the continued availability of players like Carlos Hyde, who ran for over 1,000 yards last year. For now, they’ve got Tarik Cohen and David Montgomery leading the way with Ryan Nall and UDFAs Artavis Pierce and Napoleon Maxwell rounding out the group.
New Bears wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. is entering his 14th season as a pro, but he says he still has a few tricks up his sleeve. “I can run. I can still run,” Ginn told reporters this week (via Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic). “That’s my attribute. I can run, I can catch, I can jump, I can do everything that I can possibly do to be a receiver.” Fishbain agrees and sees Ginn as a solution to one of the Bears’ biggest problems from last year. In 2019, the Bears averaged a league-low 5.67 yards per pass, down from a respectable 6.96 in 2018. With top-end speed, Ginn can give them a boost.
Despite some previous rumblings, the Bears are not planning to pursue free agent guard Larry Warford. Warford will have to find work elsewhere as he seeks a deal worth $7MM per year.

Contract Details: 5/13/20

May 13th, 2020 at 9:33am CST by Rory Parks

We will round up the contract details of recent signings/restructures right here as they come in today:

Ted Ginn Jr, WR (Bears): One year. Veteran salary benefit worth $1.187MM. $137.5K signing bonus, $1.05MM salary ($750K guaranteed). Cap charge of $887,500 (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
Cooper Rush, QB (Giants): Restructure. One-year, $1.25MM. $100K signing bonus. $900K salary ($50K guaranteed). Up to $250K in per game active roster bonuses (Twitter link via Wilson).

Clearly, while Rush got some guaranteed cash through his restructure — as opposed to the non-guaranteed $2.113MM tender he was scheduled to play on — it “only” amounts to $150K. So that may not tell us too much about Big Blue’s plans for him.

Bears To Sign Ted Ginn Jr.

April 30th, 2020 at 12:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears have agreed to a one-year deal with veteran wideout Ted Ginn Jr., according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Ginn, 35, indicated earlier this month that he didn’t plan to retire. A return to New Orleans never seemed likely after the Saints signed Emmanuel Sanders, but Ginn has now landed in Chicago where the Bears were in need of another pass-catcher.

While the Bears have Allen Robinson at one outside receiver position, and Anthony Miller in the slot, they were looking for a speed option to compete with Javon Wims for their third receiver role. Ginn has played between 55-65% of his club’s offensive snaps in recent seasons, and he figures to settle in at that rate Chicago in 2020.

Last season, Ginn caught 30 passes for 421 yards and two touchdowns. While he was once a prolific return man, Ginn hasn’t played a special teams role in the past few years. That shouldn’t be an issue in Chicago, where the Bears already employ Cordarrelle Patterson.

Ted Ginn Jr. Says Retirement Can Wait

April 15th, 2020 at 7:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Even at the age of 35, wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. says he still has more in the tank (via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). The free agent is looking for his next deal after spending the last three seasons with the Saints.

“I’ve still got a few more years left in me,” said Ginn, who first entered the league in 2007.

After 36 games (22 starts) with the Saints, Ginn will likely have to don a new uniform next year. New addition Emmanuel Sanders figures to replace him as the veteran of the group and they’re well stocked with Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Deonte Harris, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Emmanuel Butler, and Tommylee Lewis also under contract. The Saints could be tempted to pounce on one of this year’s talented rookie WRs, if one happens to slip, but, either way, there’s no clear spot for Ginn on the 53-man roster.

For his career, Ginn has posted 409 catches for 5,702 yards and 33 touchdowns. And, in his salad days, he was a solid return man. Across 13 seasons, he’s also suited up for the Dolphins, 49ers, Panthers, and Cardinals.

Saints To Activate Ted Ginn

December 22nd, 2018 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ted Ginn‘s return to practice may lead to a quick re-emergence in a Saints game uniform. The Saints activated their veteran deep threat off IR, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Just given the IR-return designation Wednesday, Ginn may well suit up to face the Steelers on Sunday. New Orleans waived tackle Cornelius Lucas to clear space on its 53-man roster, Nick Underhill of The Advocate reports.

The Saints used both of their IR-return slots on wide receivers this season, with Ginn’s activation following Tommylee Lewis‘. While Lewis is more of a special teams cog, Ginn returning to the Saints’ rotation would stabilize their fluid receiver situation. Michael Thomas has continued to carry the load for New Orleans, but the NFC-leading team has not found aerial consistency beyond its No. 1 target.

In the second season of a three-year contract, Ginn has not played since Week 4. An ankle injury sent him to IR. In the Saints’ first two games, he caught nine passes for 123 yards. Last season, Ginn served as a top option for Drew Brees, posting 787 yards and four touchdown receptions.

Tre’Quan Smith has served as New Orleans’ de facto No. 2 wideout but has not been especially reliable. Despite lacking much in the way of passing-game depth, the Saints have motored to 12-2. They are one win away from clinching home-field advantage in the NFC for the first time since 2009.

Saints Designate WR Ted Ginn Jr. For Return

December 19th, 2018 at 5:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have designated wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. to return from injured reserve, according to Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link).

Ginn was placed on IR in October after suffering a knee injury. Because he’s already missed eight weeks of action, Ginn is eligible to return to the active roster at any time. Now that Ginn has returned to practice, New Orleans has opened a three-week window during which it must either place him on its 53-man roster, or leave him on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

Each NFL team is allowed to bring two players back from IR, and the Saints have already done that with one player (return man Tommylee Lewis). As such, New Orleans had only one IR/return spot left, and the club was said to be deciding between Ginn and reserve offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus.

The Saints have evidently decided adding a veteran presence to their wide receiving corps is more critical than bolstering their offensive line depth. Since Ginn went down, New Orleans has been using a rotation opposite Michael Thomas, with Tre’Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood, and Austin Carr all seeing time.

Ginn, 33, inked a three-year, $11MM deal with the Saints in 2017, and posted 53 receptions for 787 yards and four touchdowns in his first season in New Orleans. In four games this season, Ginn had managed 12 catches for 135 yards and two scores.

NFC Notes: Saints, Seahawks, Lions, 49ers

December 13th, 2018 at 9:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints cut Brandon Marshall on Wednesday, but head coach Sean Payton says New Orleans could still re-sign the veteran wideout, tweets Nick Underhill of the Advocate. Marshall, 34, has miraculously never made a postseason appearance during 13-year NFL career, but that could change if he ends up back with the Saints. Meanwhile, another mid-30s pass-catcher might be close to returning to the field in New Orleans, as Payton told reporters Ted Ginn Jr. could be nearing activation. Ginn, who underwent knee surgery in October, is reportedly one of two candidates under consideration to be activated from the Saints’ injured reserve list, the other being offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus.

Here’s more from the NFC:

The Seahawks will likely have interest in re-signing linebacker Mychal Kendricks after he serves a sentence for insider trading, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). “He wants to be part of this thing so badly, but he doesn’t get to this time around,” head coach Pete Carroll said of Kendricks after the latter was placed on injured reserve earlier this week. “We’ll look forward to getting him back next time and keep him with us.” Kendricks will face sentencing in January, but as Henderson notes, Carroll’s comments could be an indication Seattle doesn’t expect Kendricks to serve a lengthy term. Technically, Kendricks could be facing 30-to-37 months in prison.
Ezekiel Ansah has likely played his final down for the Lions after going on IR Tuesday, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Ansah, 29, played the 2018 campaign under a one-year, $17.1MM franchise tag, but it’s extremely unlikely Detroit will use that tender again next season. While he’s historically been limited by nagging injuries, Ansah typically didn’t miss many games until this year, when he’s only managed seven appearances. Ansah may need to take a one-year, pillow contract in 2019 to re-establish his value, but it doesn’t seem like that deal will come from the Lions.
The 49ers are already armed with the eighth-most projected cap space in 2019, and they could create even more by parting ways with several veterans this offseason, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Sunday was a pointed example of exactly which aged players could be on the chopping block: wideout Pierre Garcon missed a fourth consecutive game with injury, while linebacker Malcolm Smith and defensive tackle Earl Mitchell saw their snaps either reduced or eliminated altogether. With their quarterback of the future already locked into a long-term deal, San Francisco could spend the upcoming offseason re-tooling other parts of its roster.

Saints Deciding Between Ted Ginn, Josh LeRibeus For IR-Return Spot?

December 10th, 2018 at 6:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints could make a high- or low-profile IR-return move in the coming days. Both Ted Ginn and offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus remain candidates to return from IR this season, Sean Payton said.

“Rehab is going well. It’s still an option,” Payton said of a return from one of these players (via Fox 8 Live). “Both he (Ginn) and LeRibeus, I would say are on schedule. … I’m encouraged by how both of those guys are doing.”

Only one of these players can return this season. The Saints used one of their IR-boomerang slots on wideout/specialist Tommylee Lewis.

This decision presumably hinges on how Ginn’s recovery looks, with the starting wide receiver a once-integral part of New Orleans’ aerial attack. Ginn underwent surgery in October and is eligible to return from IR this week. But with the 33-year-old deep threat having yet to practice since the IR designation, it’s unlikely he’d be ready to go for Week 15 against the Panthers — even if the Saints use the IR-return spot on him this week.

New Orleans has featured a rotating cast of Michael Thomas sidekicks this season, with rookie Tre’Quan Smith being the most frequent complementary piece deployed. Ginn caught nine passes for 123 yards in the Saints’ first two games and recorded 787 receiving yards last season.

LeRibeus filled in as a spot starter up front in three games this season. He played in 16 Saints games in 2017. The 29-year-old lineman also is recovering from an ankle injury and would seemingly be the backup plan in case Ginn cannot come back.