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AFC South Notes: Colts, Levis, Texans

November 4th, 2024 at 8:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Anthony Richardson‘s on-field work this season created an untenable setup for the Colts, who benched their starting quarterback for 39-year-old Joe Flacco. While the Colts are not giving up on Richardson — even as rebounds from early-career benchings are less common than those leading to downward tumbles — the second-year passer will also need to adjust his preparation. The Colts want to see Richardson improve in that area, with ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder going as far as indicating the former No. 4 overall pick’s pregame prep and lack of proper awareness of his job’s importance represented a bigger reason for the benching compared to the in-game performances.

Richardson taking the unusual step to sub himself out midway through a drive became a flashpoint for the Colts, who viewed the decision in Houston as the “last straw.” It is not too surprising to see Richardson struggle with preparation, seeing as he was a one-year Florida starter who entered the draft as a raw prospect. The Colts took a gamble on a player who would not have fallen much farther in that draft, but the team that has been unable to find QB stability post-Andrew Luck is in a holding pattern now. Flacco did not produce much Sunday night in Minnesota, but Indianapolis’ adjusted plan to play the veteran and develop the rookie is still a go for Week 10.

Here is the latest from the AFC South:

  • Xavier Worthy is the last man standing among the Chiefs’ Week 1 WR trio, but the Colts were connected to the former Texas Longhorns speedster in Round 1. After hosting Worthy on a “30” visit and then being connected to them shortly before the draft, the eventual Kansas City resident confirmed he spoke with the Colts during Day 1 of the draft. Worthy said the call with the Colts ended abruptly, telling Rich Eisen the Indy representative hung up on him. The Colts had made offers to trade up for a pass catcher but ended the defensive drought to open the draft by selecting EDGE Laiatu Latu at No. 15. Worthy went to the Chiefs, via a trade with the Bills, at No. 28. The Colts circled back to their WR aim by drafting Worthy college teammate Adonai Mitchell in Round 2.
  • The Titans are hopeful Will Levis returns for Week 10, Brian Callahan said Monday. Levis returned the game after his shoulder injury but was subsequently parked to go through rehab. Tennessee has turned to Mason Rudolph over the past three games but plans to reinstall Levis as the starter, despite his early-season miscues, once he recovers.
  • The Texans became the latest team to work out La’el Collins, doing so today. Houston also brought in Tremayne Anchrum and Ike Boettger, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with Anchrum signing to the team’s practice squad. The Texans placed Kenyon Green on IR with another shoulder injury last week. Collins, now 31, has been in free agency since failing to make the Bills’ 53-man roster in training camp. The former Cowboys and Bengals RT starter has not played in a regular-season game since sustaining ACL and MCL tears in Week 16 of the 2022 season.

Titans S Quandre Diggs Suffers Season-Ending Lisfranc Injury

November 4th, 2024 at 10:54am CST by Adam La Rose

The Titans’ Week 9 win has come at a notable cost on both sides of the ball. Center Lloyd Cushenberry could very well be out for the season, and the same is also true of safety Quandre Diggs. 

The latter suffered a Lisfranc injury which will end his campaign, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. Diggs is in his first campaign with Tennessee, and he had served as a full-time starter during the 2024 slate. Now, his attention will turn to recovery ahead of free agency.

Head coach Brian Callahan said after the game – an overtime win over the Patriots – the outlook was not good in Diggs’ case. The former Lion and Seahawk was one of many veteran safeties who spent considerable time on the open market this offseason, but by early August he had a deal in place with the Titans. To no surprise, that one-year contract carried a value of just $3MM and featured a veteran minimum salary.

With expectations relatively low as a result, Diggs managed to immediately carve out a first-team role on his newest team. The three-time Pro Bowler logged a 99% snap share in eight Titans games, racking up 42 tackles. Diggs did not register any interceptions or pass breakups, and his coverage statistics (76.5% completion percentage and 147.9 passer rating allowed) certainly leave plenty to be desired. Still, this injury will create a notable vacancy in the secondary for the Titans, who rank No. 1 in total defense and against the pass.

That success has not been sufficient to overcome the team’s offensive struggles, and as such Tennessee sits at just 2-6 on the year. Expectations are not high for a second half turnaround, and the Titans (having already traded away DeAndre Hopkins) could be active sellers before tomorrow’s trade deadline. Regardless of what happens on that front, Diggs’ season is now over. He faces a lengthy rehab process, one which will no doubt affect his market value in the spring.

Titans Fear Season-Ending Achilles Injury For C Lloyd Cushenberry

November 3rd, 2024 at 5:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Titans collected an overtime win on Sunday, but their offensive line suffered a notable blow in the process. Center Lloyd Cushenberry departed the contest with an ankle injury which now threatens to sideline him for the remainder of the campaign.

As veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky notes, the ailment is suspected to be an Achilles injury. Head coach Brian Callahan said in his post-game press conference the situation is “not real positive” with respect to either Cushenberry or safety Quandre Diggs. When sentiments like that are immediately expressed, testing often confirms the worst-case scenario.

If Cushenberry is indeed out for the year, Tennessee will be without a key figure up front. The 26-year-old severed as a full-time starter for four seasons with the Broncos, generating a strong market after finishing his rookie contract. Cushenberry inked a four-year, $50MM pact with the Titans in free agency, sending him to a new team and establishing high expectations upon arrival. The LSU product has nod had the start he or the Titans wanted, but losing him for an extended period would still mark a notable loss for the offense.

Cushenberry ranked 10th amongst qualifying centers in terms of PFF grade last season, his best showing in that respect during his career. At this point, he currently sits only 31st with a career-worst mark of 55.2. The former third-rounder had been charged with 13 pressures allowed entering today’s contest as the Titans have struggled up front with a number of new faces along the O-line.

Corey Levin – elevated from the practice squad ahead of Week 9 to provide interior depth – took over at center once Cushenberry went down. Moving forward, Daniel Brunskill may be the top choice in the middle if health elsewhere on the line allows it. Brunskill filled in at right guard Sunday with Dillon Radunz out of the lineup; if the latter were to return in time for Week 10, Brunskill could move to center with Levin handling backup duties once again.

$30MM in guarantees are present in Cushenberry’s deal, including $26MM locked in at signing. As a result, his status will be key for Tennessee as the team looks to find continuity up front. If the worst-case scenario is confirmed, attention will turn to his recovery process and an attempt to be available in time for Week 1 in 2025.

Titans’ DE Arden Key Drawing Trade Interest; Latest On Lions’ EDGE Search

November 3rd, 2024 at 9:43am CST by Rory Parks

The Cardinals are interested in the Giants’ Azeez Ojulari, and Arizona’s search for a pass rusher has not stopped there. Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required), the Cards have also reached out to the Titans to discuss a trade for defensive end Arden Key.

[RELATED: Titans Will Not Trade DL Jeffery Simmons]

Key, 28, is under club control through 2025 and is due a manageable $6.5MM salary next season. So even though the 1-6 Titans are obvious sellers at this year’s deadline, they do not need to move Key if they do not get an offer to their liking.

That said, New York is setting a high price on Ojulari, which could in turn boost Tennessee’s leverage in any talks involving Key (although Big Blue is reportedly unlikely to recoup more than a Day 3 selection for Ojulari, regardless of any posturing to the contrary). Key, a former third-round pick of the Raiders, struggled to find his footing with the Silver-and-Black, but he established himself as a useful complementary edge defender by posting 11 sacks and 32 quarterback hits over the 2021-22 seasons, which he split between the 49ers and Jaguars.

He turned that performance into a three-year, $21MM contract with the Titans in the 2023 offseason, and he recorded six sacks and 12 QB hits in his first year in Nashville. This year, he has tallied three sacks and six QB hits through seven games, and Pro Football Focus has assigned him a strong 70.3 pass rush grade.

The 4-4 Cardinals, who surprisingly find themselves at the top of a muddy NFC West picture, have been hit hard by injuries along the defensive line, and GM Monti Ossenfort recently confirmed that he has explored deals that could bolster his club’s pass rush.

At the end of October, Lions head coach Dan Campbell indicated that Detroit could soon be making a move to address its EDGE corps, which has lost both Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport for the season. Armando Salguero of Outkick.com named Key as an “outside possibility” for the Lions, although Key’s performance in Tennessee’s recent loss to the Detroit – two sacks and six total tackles – could have caught the eye of Campbell & Co.

The Lions have already been connected to the Browns’ Za’Darius Smith, and both Russini and ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirm that Detroit has indeed checked in on Smith. Salguero, meanwhile, names the Panthers’ Jadeveon Clowney and the Saints’ Chase Young as other possible targets for the Lions.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/24

November 2nd, 2024 at 7:30pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor NFL moves including standard gameday practice squad elevations for Sunday’s slate of games:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/24

October 31st, 2024 at 9:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Los Angeles Rams

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Will Levis To Remain Titans’ Starter Once Healthy

October 31st, 2024 at 6:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Will Levis last played in Week 6 as he continues to recover from an AC joint sprain. The second-year quarterback has not developed as hoped this season, but he should return to the top of the depth chart when healthy.

Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz indicated on Thursday (via team reporter Jim Wyatt) Levis is expected to serve as the team’s starter once he returns to action. Veteran Mason Rudolph has handled QB1 duties with Levis on the mend, overseeing the team’s offense in blowout losses to the Bills and Lions. Tennessee sits at 1-6 on the year, so a run at the postseason during the latter stages of the campaign would be a surprise.

Especially with that in mind, getting Levis as many reps as possible once he is healthy is a logical goal for Tennessee. Selected with the No. 33 pick last spring, the 25-year-old took over from Ryan Tannehill midway through his rookie season. He did not deliver many strong outings from a statistical standpoint, but offseason changes (highlighted by Brian Callahan taking over as head coach) were aimed at giving Levis a better environment to develop in. Turnovers in particular were a major issue prior to his injury, however.

Overall, Levis’ touchdown-to-interception ratio sits at 13:11 and he has fumbled 10 times in his career. The Penn State and Kentucky product has been sacked 43 times in only 14 starts, an illustration of the Titans’ need for improvement along the offensive line but also Levis’ required development as a passer. The team’s receiving corps no longer features DeAndre Hopkins, but Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd will again provide him with plenty of experience in the pass-catching corps upon return.

Levis has been a limited participant in practice both days this week, continuing a trend dating back to when Rudolph first took over. The latter is a pending free agent, and whether or not he is offered another Titans deal will no doubt be influenced by his performances while atop the depth chart. Levis can be expected to reclaim that spot relatively soon provided he does not encounter setbacks in his recovery.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/24

October 29th, 2024 at 8:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the most recent practice squad transactions from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

The Vikings cut Gaskin from their active roster on Tuesday, but as a vested veteran, he did not need to pass through waivers before re-signing to Minnesota’s practice squad. Gaskin played in the Vikings’ first five games this season, but has not appeared since October 6. His familiarity with the offense could lead to activations from the practice squad if Minnesota needs running back depth.

Herndon will join the Saints after playing in Jacksonville for six seasons, with 83 total appearances and 34 starts for the Jaguars since 2018. The veteran cornerback only started five games over the last two years, but played in 15 games for almost 900 snaps as a rotational member of the Jaguars’ secondary. His experience could lead to quick elevations from the practice squad once he learns the Saints’ defense.

The Commander signed the 30-year-old Hart to give them more depth at offensive tackle. The veteran has 67 starts and 98 total appearances over his eight-year career, though he hasn’t played in the NFL since a 2022 stint with the Bills.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/29/24

October 29th, 2024 at 7:37pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest transactions from around the NFL:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Murray suffered a torn pectoral in the Bears’ loss to the Commanders on Sunday, thinning out Chicago’s offensive line depth. He played 37 snaps at left guard in Week 5 in relief of an injured Tevin Jenkins, who left Sunday’s game with another injury. After full participation in practice last week, Larry Borom should be ready to be activated from injured reserve to reinforce the Bears’ offensive line before Week 9.

The Texans officially played Diggs on injured reserve after tests confirmed a season-ending ACL tear, a non-contact injury that occurred in Houston’s Week 8 victory over the Colts. With Nico Collins already on IR, C.J. Stroud will turn to Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz to keep the offense afloat until Collins returns. Diggs’ injury could heavily affect his market in free agency after requiring the Texans to remove the final three years of his contact to facilitate his trade from the Bills.

Sutton is eligible to play for the first time this year after serving an eight-game suspension for violation of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He was suspended after he was arrested for domestic battery by strangulation in March, leading to his release by the Lions. The Steelers then signed him to a one-year deal in June before the league handed down his suspension in July, forcing Pittsburgh to turn to Beanie Bishop at nickel.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/24

October 28th, 2024 at 7:13pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Cowboys defensive lineman Sam Williams has already been ruled out for the 2024 season thanks to a torn ACL, and now he’s been slapped with a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy (via Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram). The unpaid suspension went to effect prior to Week 8, and the player will be eligible for reinstatement prior to Week 11. The punishment stems from Williams’ reckless driving charge from 2023.

The Colts lost a key special teamer for the season in Trevor Denbow, as Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star reports that the player suffered “injuries to multiple ligaments and cartilage” during yesterday’s game. Denbow has appeared in 65 percent of his team’s ST snaps over the past two seasons, and he’s been limited to only six defensive snaps over that time.

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