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Buccaneers Claim S Mike Edwards

November 14th, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers are big on safety reunions this year. Months after bringing back Jordan Whitehead following his two seasons with the Jets, they are greenlighting a Mike Edwards comeback.

Cut by two teams recently, Edwards is coming back to Tampa via waiver claim, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. A former third-round Bucs draftee, Edwards played four seasons in Tampa before signing with the Chiefs last year. Edwards has three career pick-sixes and has made 28 starts, but he was unable to secure much playing time with the Bills or Titans this season.

Buffalo brought in Edwards as part of its post-Jordan Poyer/Micah Hyde solution but saw Damar Hamlin commandeer the starting job alongside the re-signed Taylor Rapp. The Bills drafted Cole Bishop in Round 2, further protecting them at safety despite the exits of two seven-year starters. The Bills cut Edwards last week, while the Titans dropped him Wednesday.

The Bucs passed on Edwards last week, but his situation changed slightly. Because the Bills cut him before the trade deadline, Edwards was released. Tennessee booting him after the deadline sent the sixth-year vet to the waiver wire, and the 4-6 Bucs will pounce this time. Edwards, 28, will rejoin ex-teammates Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr. at safety.

Edwards has considerable playoff experience, being with the Bucs throughout their Tom Brady partnership and then replacing an injured Bryan Cook during the second half of last season with the Chiefs. Edwards signed one-year deals with Kansas City and Buffalo; his one-year, $1.13MM Tennessee contract will now transfer to Tampa Bay’s payroll. The part-time starter will aim to use familiar surroundings to bounce back, as 2024 has not gone especially well for him.

With the Bucs, Edwards operated as a spot starter from 2019-21; though, he did start in 11 games in that span. That stretch included a two-pick-six game against the Falcons in September 2021. Drafted as part of a Day 2 DB wave that included Winfield, Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting from 2018-20, Edwards started 12 games alongside Winfield in 2022 — after the Bucs had let Whitehead join the Jets. The team re-signed Whitehead to a two-year, $9MM deal in March.

After playing 621 defensives snaps before the playoffs with the Chiefs last season, when he started three more games and played 97% of Kansas City’s defensive snaps in Super Bowl LVIII, Edwards has logged all of seven this year. The Bucs have safety/slot Tavierre Thomas and 2023 UDFA Kaevon Merriweather stationed as second-stringers behind Winfield and Whitehead. Tampa Bay waived cornerback Keenan Isaac to make room on its roster, ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine tweets.

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Out For Season

November 14th, 2024 at 11:56am CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 14: Prescott’s surgery was a success, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News reports. The lengthy rehab process will now begin as the Cowboys consider their other quarterback options to close out the campaign.

NOVEMBER 12: The Dak Prescott surgery scenario will commence. Although rumors about a potential late-season return emerged, Prescott’s hamstring injury will ultimately shut him down.

A round of medical opinions will lead Prescott to the operating table, with Jerry Jones confirming during a 105.3 The Fan appearance (h/t The Athletic’s Jon Machota) his quarterback will undergo surgery in New York. The operation will take place Wednesday.

Considering the Cowboys’ trajectory and the nature of Prescott’s injury, it is not too surprising this is how his season will end. The Cowboys will stick with Cooper Rush in the immediate aftermath of a blowout loss to the Eagles, though veteran Cowboys reporter Newy Scruggs adds the team is bringing in Will Grier to join its practice squad. The Eagles released Grier from their P-squad last week.

Prescott, 31, is believed to have suffered a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon. Reminding somewhat of the injury that cost Tyron Smith most of his 2022 season, Prescott’s malady prompted visits with multiple doctors — including one in New York. That meeting will provide the impetus for the ninth-year QB to wrap his season. This will go down as a wildly successful Prescott year on the contract front but a poor one in terms of performance.

Signing a four-year, $240MM extension — one that raised the QB market by a staggering $5MM in terms of AAV — Prescott ranked 25th in QBR when he went down during the Cowboys’ Week 9 game against the Falcons. A scramble produced the hamstring malady, and Prescott winced as he attempted a subsequent pass. The Cowboys certainly needed Prescott to salvage what looks like a lost season. With Rush at the controls in front of Trey Lance, Dallas is likely barreling toward a regime chance due to Mike McCarthy‘s lame-duck status.

The 2020s have brought extreme vacillations for Prescott, who has nevertheless signed two player-friendly extensions during the decade. A fractured ankle — an injury that has affected the QB in the years since — shut down Dallas’ starter in 2020, while he then powered the team to a No. 1 offensive ranking during a 12-5 2021 season. While the Cowboys repeated their 12-5 record in 2022, Prescott led the NFL in INTs (15) upon returning from an early-season thumb injury. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year bounced back last year, earning second-team All-Pro status, before another regression defined his 2024 showing.

When Prescott went down in 2020, the Cowboys sank to 6-10. This preceded a 7-9 Washington team winning the NFC East. The Cowboys and Eagles yo-yoed in the division over the next three seasons, but McCarthy is almost certainly on his way out after this one. Dallas now sits 3-6 and will play 10 games without its starting QB this season. Jones endured steady criticism for his roster construction this year, as his Prescott and CeeDee Lamb extensions came as the owner operated passively at other positions. McCarthy’s successor will likely have a top-10 pick to use in April as a result.

Grier spent nearly two years with the Cowboys, arriving as a waiver claim in 2021 and staying on until not being retained on the 2023 roster coming out of camp. The former third-round pick rejoined Kellen Moore with the Chargers to close last season, following Bengals and Patriots stints, and caught on with the ex-Dallas OC in Philly this offseason. Grier will round out Dallas’ QB room, which remains fronted by Rush, who has been Prescott’s backup for most of the former fourth-round find’s career.

It would stand to reason Lance would receive extended time moving forward, given the Cowboys’ situation, but McCarthy confirmed Rush will see at least one more start. Lance’s rookie contract expires at season’s end, while Rush’s two-year, $4MM deal wraps after this campaign as well.

Thanks to the mammoth re-up he inked in September, Prescott is tied to to the Cowboys through the 2028 slate. The latest Prescott deal featuring no-tag and no-trade clauses, the contract will need to be adjusted in 2025, as it carries an untenable $89.9MM cap number.

Titans Release S Mike Edwards

November 13th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

It seemed hard to fathom, but Mike Edwards‘ tenure in Tennessee was even shorter than his stint in Buffalo. A week after signing with the Titans following his release from the Bills, Edwards has now been released a second time in just eight days, according to Titans senior writer/editor Jim Wyatt.

In Buffalo to start the year, the former Buccaneers and Chiefs defender was stuck behind Taylor Rapp, Damar Hamlin and second-round rookie Cole Bishop in the rotation at safety. The Bills attempted to make him available for the trade market shortly before the deadline but failed to offload the 28-year-old, so they decided to release him.

Edwards signed a one-year, $2.8MM deal with the Bills more than a week into free agency this offseason, despite interest that Buffalo had shown in Julian Blackmon. The agreement did not produce notable playing time, as the former third-round pick saw just seven defensive snaps in three games for the Bills over the first nine weeks of the season.

It was actually Edwards who asked for the release from Buffalo. A day later, Edwards found his next contract in Nashville, presumably coming in to replace starting safety Quandre Diggs after a season-ending Lisfranc injury. Outside of starter Amani Hooker, the Titans have two young safeties on their roster: Mike Brown and Julius Wood. Brown is a third-year player who had just 58 snaps on defense on the year before matching that season-total in a start last week. Wood is an undrafted rookie who has played exclusively on special teams.

It was presumed that Brown may take a bigger role while Edwards learned the defense, so it wasn’t a complete surprise that he got the start while Edwards remained inactive this week. Today’s release, though, is a bit surprising. He leaves Tennessee having not played a single snap. It’s unclear what the reason was for his release, and it’s unclear what his plans are moving forward, but Edwards will likely aim to stay at his next destination a bit longer.

Jets S Chuck Clark Designated For Return From IR

November 13th, 2024 at 9:19pm CST by Ely Allen

A year after missing the entire 2023 NFL season with a torn ACL, Jets safety Chuck Clark finally returned to the field as a starter for his new team this year. Unfortunately, Clark found himself on injured reserve once again six games into the 2024 NFL season. After the minimum required four missed games, Clark is now being designated to return from IR, per Brian Costello of the New York Post.

Clark‘s troubles staying on the field do not date back to his time in Baltimore. The former Ravens strong safety only missed two games over the first six years of his career, but since being traded to New York, he has missed 21 games. He missed all 17 games in 2023 with a torn ACL and has missed four more since being placed on injured reserve.

Despite Clark missing the entirety of his only season under contract with New York, the Jets elected to keep him around, re-signing him and fellow free agent Ashtyn Davis while watching Jordan Whitehead walk in free agency. The Jets held an offseason competition for the starting two jobs between Clark, Davis, and Tony Adams after Adams and Whitehead started most of last year. Clark ended up beating out Davis to start the first six games of the season alongside Adams, with Davis getting playing time here and there off the bench.

Instead of Davis taking over for Clark in the starting role, as was initially thought to be the preferred course of action, veteran Jalen Mills took over starting duties in Clark’s absence. If Clark is able to return soon, it will only bolster some impressive safety depth for a defense that already ranks third in passing yards allowed this season. His tackling prowess could help improve a run defense that ranks 26th in yards allowed, though.

Initially sidelined with the diagnosis of a high-ankle sprain, the minimal four-game absence was expected, allowing Clark to potentially return to the field this week in time for a Sunday night matchup against the Colts. The NFL has since flexed the matchup to noon. If Clark isn’t quite ready to return this week, an additional two weeks could be available for recovery as the Jets’ bye week falls right after the team’s contest versus Indianapolis.

The Jets won’t have too much wiggle room after that, though, as today’s transaction opens a 21-day practice window for Clark. If the 29-year-old safety is unable to return by the close of that window, he’ll revert to season-ending IR.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/24

November 13th, 2024 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed off Commanders’ practice squad: CB Chigozie Anusiem

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): TE Jack Stoll

Falcons Designate OLB Lorenzo Carter For Return From IR

November 13th, 2024 at 7:36pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons have spent the last four weeks without starting outside linebacker Lorenzo Carter. Carter’s absence is the result of an unexpected stint on injured reserve following a concussion suffered in a Week 6 win in Carolina. According to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Carter has officially been designated to return from IR.

The situation began on the first Wednesday of the week following his last game appearance. The week’s initial injury report showed that Carter was in the NFL’s concussion protocol. He had originally been placed on the team’s injury report under the designation of “illness” after not practicing, but Atlanta updated the designation to “concussion” by the end of the day. Carter missed the team’s next two practices before ultimately being ruled out for the Falcons’ next game.

What made the sequence of events so surprising is that concussions rarely warrant a stint on IR. At a minimum, we’ve seen players navigate the league’s concussion protocol in days. To see Carter being ruled out for four weeks because of the head injury added some uncertainty to his situation.

Carter had been the starter across from Matt Judon for every game before hitting the IR, except for one in which the team only started one outside linebacker. In his extended absence, James Smith-Williams took over the starting job across from Judon, with Arnold Ebiketie filling into the rotation a good amount, as well.

Despite trading for a star pass rusher in Judon, the Falcons pass rush has been virtually nonexistent in 2024. Atlanta ranks dead-last in the league in sacks (9), despite sitting at 15th in the NFL in quarterback hurries and 14th in quarterback knockdowns. Currently, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett leads the team with 2.5 sacks, Judon is second with 1.5, and five other players add a sack each.

Carter’s return to the field may not elevate the Falcons’ pass rush into an elite unit — his career high sack total is five — but at the very least, his eventual addition provides another weapon to a struggling unit. Today’s transaction opens the 21-day practice window for Carter. If, at the end of the three week-period, he’s unable to be activated, Carter will return to season-ending IR. He was limited in practice today.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/24

November 13th, 2024 at 6:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers continue to deal with injuries on special teams. As a result, they’re bringing in the 33-year-old veteran out of Miami (FL). O’Donnell spent eight years in Chicago as the Bears’ primary punter before playing a season in Green Bay. If Mitch Wishnowsky‘s back injury forces him to miss game time, O’Donnell could see his first NFL action since 2022.

Broncos Designate Josh Reynolds For Return

November 13th, 2024 at 5:48pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Broncos have designated wide receiver Josh Reynolds for return from injured reserve and opened his 21-day practice window, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.

Reynolds landed on injured reserve on October 12 after undergoing finger surgery. He also was wounded in a shooting two weeks later outside of a Denver nightclub, though he was only treated for minor injuries.

The veteran receiver was a full participant in his first practice in a month, per the Broncos’ official injury report. Denver is well behind the Chiefs in the AFC West, but they remain in contention for a wildcard spot with a 5-5 record through 10 weeks. Reynolds’ return will add an experienced target into an offense that is averaging just 186.6 passing yards per game, the sixth-fewest in the NFL.

Reynolds’ absence did allow the Broncos to give more snaps to their young receiving corps, with rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele both seeing increased playing time in recent weeks. Franklin has disappointed after a productive career at Oregon, catching just 15 of his 29 targets for 144 yards in nine games. Vele, however, has been able to make up much of Reynolds’ production with an 81.5% catch rate and 35.8 yards per game, just shy of Reynolds’ 36.6 yards per game to start the season.

Reynolds will have 21 days to practice with the team before he must be added to the active roster. Otherwise, he reverts to season-ending injured reserve and would not play again this year.

Dolphins Waive LB David Long

November 13th, 2024 at 4:24pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Dolphins made a somewhat shocking move by waiving linebacker David Long on Wednesday to make room for waiver claim tight end Jack Stoll, according to a team announcement.

Long was voted by his teammates to be a team captain in Miami at the start of the season, making his midseason departure a surprise after starting six of the Dolphins’ eight games this year. Anthony Walker took over Long’s starting role in the last two games, and the arrival of former Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson via waivers made Long surplus to requirements in Miami.

Instead, the Dolphins prioritized Stoll to add another tight end to their roster after Alec Ingold missed Monday night’s game with a calf injury. The 2023 Pro Bowler played 39% of the team’s offensive snaps when healthy this year, consistent with his usage since head coach Mike McDaniel‘s arrival in 2022. The Dolphins’ use of heavy personnel required them to add another tight end in case Ingold’s absence extends into Week 11.

Despite losing his starting job this season, Long could still draw interest on waivers from a team looking for linebacker depth. He was in the second year of a two-year, $10MM contract with the Dolphins signed during the 2023 offseason, per OverTheCap. Miami will eat a dead cap hit of at least $2.21MM – the 2024 prorated portion of his signing bonus – plus $444,444 in guaranteed salary if Long is not claimed off waivers. If another team claims Long, they will owe him $2MM for the rest of the year and the Dolphins will not be on the hook for his remaining guaranteed salary. If Long clears waivers, he will become a free agent and can sign with whatever team he likes, while Miami will have a $2.65MM dead cap hit on their books.

The Eagles waived Stoll on Tuesday to make room on their 53-man roster for the activation of left tackle Jordan Mailata from injured reserve.

Eagles Activate Jordan Mailata From IR

November 13th, 2024 at 3:16pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Eagles activated starting left tackle Jordan Mailata from injured reserve on Wednesday, per a team announcement.

Mailata injured his hamstring in Week 6, landing him on injured reserve and sidelining him for at least four games. The fifth-year tackle kept his absence to a minimum, returning to practice as soon as he was eligible after Week 10. Mailata’s activation puts him in line to start in the Eagles’ crucial Week 11 divisional matchup with the Commanders on Thursday night.

Mailata has been a crucial part of the Eagles’ offensive line since he earned a starting role in 2020. The 2018 seventh-round pick struggled with injuries in his first two NFL seasons, but has largely stayed healthy since. His ascendance from developmental former rugby player to star offensive tackle has resulted in two extensions from the Eagles totaling $130 million over seven years.

The 27-year-old Australian began the 2024 season with the same consistency he demonstrated over the previous three years, allowing just eight pressures and one sack across 185 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His absence, along with an injury to All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson, has taken the Eagles’ normally-reliable offensive line to the bottom of the league. Their 27 sacks allowed are the 10th-most in the NFL, and their 10.2% sack rate is the third-highest.

Philadelphia has relied on Fred Johnson to play both tackle spots this season. However, the former Florida Gator has struggled in the first stretch of extended playing time in his career, allowing 32 pressures and seven sacks across his 193 pass-blocking snaps, per PFF. With Mailata returning to the starting lineup opposing Lane Johnson, the Eagles’ offensive line will be at full-strength for the first time since Week 6.

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