Carson Wentz‘s broken finger will force him to miss at least the next four weeks. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Commanders have placed their starting quarterback on injured reserve.
Rapoport notes that there’s hope Wentz can return to the lineup when first eligible. The veteran QB will be allowed to return from IR in Week 11 against the Texans, meaning he’ll miss the Week 10 MNF matchup against his former team, the Eagles.
Wentz suffered a fractured finger in his throwing hand last Thursday, an injury that ultimately required surgery. The veteran was initially given a return timeline of four to six weeks, but Wentz expressed interest in playing through the injury. That clearly didn’t end up being the case; the QB was already ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Packers, and the Commanders are now putting him on the shelf for the three following games, as well.
Wentz has been inconsistent during his first season in Washington. The 29-year-old has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,489 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions, although seven of those scores came in the first two weeks. Wentz and the Commanders offense struggled again in Week 6, with the QB only completing 12 of his 22 pass attempts for 99 yards. Coach Ron Rivera made headlines prior to that Week 6 victory when he attributed the team’s place in the NFC East standings to the “quarterback” position, although he later walked back those comments and defended his role in the team’s decision to acquire the QB from Indy.
As our own Adam La Rose previously pointed out, Wentz’s absence could end up impacting the draft picks that the Commanders sent to the Colts. The 2023 third-rounder sent to Indy will convert to a second-rounder if Wentz plays in 70% or more of the Commanders’ snaps this season. Wentz can still hit that mark if he misses four games, but the Commanders would barely have more than a game’s worth of wiggle room remaining.
Taylor Heinicke, who is in his third season with the organization, will take over under center. He dressed for only one regular season contest in 2020, but he made a name for himself in the playoffs in a one-score loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions. That landed him a two-year extension laden with playing-time incentives. He started all but one regular season contest he appeared in last year, going 7-8 and completing 65% of his passes. Washington is also rostering fifth-round rookie Sam Howell.
Apke returns to Washington after being released just over two weeks ago. At his peak, Apke earned the starting free safety job for Washington over Sean Davis after filling in some during the prior year for injured starter Montae Nicholson. After struggling at the position, Apke lost the starting job and transitioned to cornerback. His role since losing the starting safety job has mostly been on special teams, where he had been a contributor earlier on in his career.
Patrick is being placed on injured reserve after an awkward collision on the sideline with a member of the media led to a torn ACL. He becomes the fifth Bronco to suffer the dreaded knee injury since training camp, following wide receiver Tim Patrick, running back Javonte Williams, cornerback Ronald Darby, and running back Damarea Crockett.
Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki recently emerged as a potential trade candidate. The tight end doesn’t seem overly focused on the latest rumblings, telling reporters that he hasn’t asked the front office for clarity about the report.
“No,” Gesicki responded when asked if he’s reached out to the Dolphins (h/t Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post). “I mean, I think I just kind of like I said, I just kind of go about my business. Whatever happens, happens. And I’ve been here for five years now. I love it here. I’m happy to be here. And if I stay here, which I mean, I would assume, I would. I’m excited to continue to be here, make plays and you know, help the team win and move forward and all that kind of stuff for the rest of season.”
Gesicki is coming off his best game of the season, with the tight end hauling in six catches for 69 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Vikings. However, the 27-year-old has been limited to only 101 yards in his other five appearances, with receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle commanding the bulk of the targets. Despite his inconsistent offensive role, Gesicki made it clear that he hasn’t asked for a trade.
“Nah,” Gesicki said when asked if he’s requested a trade.” I mean, I think these coaches also understand what I’m capable of. And I think, you know, Sunday was a good, you know, showing of that just, you know, a couple of opportunities to go out there and make plays. And that was my thing. I don’t know when the opportunity is gonna come, but I gotta keep preparing as if they’re gonna come.”
More trade notes from around the NFL…
The Seahawks have made cornerback Sidney Jones available, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. While the organization would prefer to keep the veteran, they’re willing to listen to offers with Jones buried on the depth chart. Michael Jackson and Tariq Woolen are holding down the fort as the outside cornerbacks, and Tre Brown will eventually work his way back into the lineup. Jones is playing on a one-year deal following a career season in 2021. In 16 games (11 starts) for Seattle, the cornerback compiled 66 tackles and 10 passes defended.
Speaking of Seattle, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times can’t envision the Seahawks making a significant move at the trade deadline. While Seattle has made deadline moves in the past, the team currently seems focused on building their core from within. The team also has little cap space to work with, making a big splash unlikely.
Following his benching in Week 5, it was reported that Commanders cornerback William Jacksoncould be looking for a fresh start elsewhere. However, the defensive back denied reports that he wants to be traded (per ESPN’s John Keim on Twitter). Jackson was ruled out for Week 6 with a back injury, and it sounds like he’s unlikely to play in Week 7. Jackson is attached to a three-year, $40.5MM deal, but teams have expressed interest ahead of the Nov. 1 deadline.
The Panthers were planning to cut Robbie Anderson before they found a taker in the Cardinals, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). Considering the prospect of just eating his salary, the Panthers made out well in the deal, securing a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick from Arizona.
Particularly in the NFC, the early part of this season has brought considerable parity. Many would-be contenders have stumbled out of the blocks. Two 2-4 NFC squads — the Cardinals and Saints — will match up tonight in a game that will put the loser in an early-season bind.
A 2-4 start does not bring the historic uphill battle 0-3 does. Since the playoffs expanded to six teams per conference in 1990, four squads — including the 49ers last season and the 2019 Titans — have rebounded from that record to reach the conference championship round. The 1993 Oilers crafted a more remarkable pivot, rallying to earn a bye. No 2-4 team has ever reached a Super Bowl, however.
The Broncos are probably the most disappointing of the 2-4 lot. Their Russell Wilson–Nathaniel Hackett marriage has produced a spree of listless outings, leading to social media backlash and big-picture questions. Denver’s offense ranks 32nd in scoring and has particularly struggled coming out of halftime. The Broncos’ offense has accounted for three third-quarter points all season, turning up the heat on Hackett, who joined Kevin O’Connell and Dan Quinnas Broncos HC finalists.
This staggering unproductivity has marginalized a dominant defense, one that has seen 2021 draftees Patrick Surtain II and Baron Browning — after an offseason position change — take second-year leaps. Denver has the 18th-toughest schedule remaining, per Tankathon, though the team has both Chiefs contests still to come. As injuries mount for the once-promising team, its road to the playoffs appears difficult.
Cleveland and Pittsburgh join Denver at 2-4 but are just one game back of the AFC North lead. The Browns’ controversial Deshaun Watson acquisition led most to temper expectations for this season, with Watson banned 11 games. Cleveland also enjoyed a favorable early-season schedule, but the Jacoby Brissett-led team is 1-3 in games in which it has been favored. The Browns (10th-easiest remaining schedule, record-wise) brought back Jadeveon Clowney this offseason and have Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward on top-market contracts. Both Garrett and Ward have missed time, and Joe Woods‘ defense ranks 30th. Although the Browns have hoarded cap space — likely because of Watson’s contract — their quarterback-in-waiting’s cap number spikes from $9.4MM to $54.9MM from 2022 to ’23, placing a bit more emphasis on this season’s result.
The Steelers (11th-easiest remaining schedule) upset the Buccaneers despite most of their secondary joining T.J. Watt in missing Week 6, but the team is making a transition at quarterback. The Steelers’ Mitch Trubisky acquisition, his Week 6 rally notwithstanding, did plenty to create the early-season hole. Kenny Pickett figures to make the bulk of the starts the rest of the way for a team that has not finished under .500 since 2003.
Initial Jaguars optimism has faded somewhat, after a three-game skid. Trevor Lawrence has climbed to 13th in QBR, from 28th as a rookie, and Travis Etienne‘s health is starting to pay dividends. The front-seven investments the Jags made this year have led to improved talent defensively; Mike Caldwell‘s unit ranks ninth in points allowed. Jacksonville (13th-toughest remaining schedule) also plays in a division featuring winning teams with major questions, though its perennial struggles against presumptive non-threat Houston indicates Doug Pederson‘s team may be at least a year away from contending.
Aside from the Broncos, the Raiders (minus-5 in point differential) are probably the most interesting team here. Las Vegas’ new regime paid up for Davante Adams and extended prior-regime investmentsDerek Carr, Darren Waller and Maxx Crosby. Those moves have thus far led to close losses. The Raiders (ninth-easiest remaining schedule) are 1-4, with their Patrick Graham-coordinated defense ranking 28th. The AFC West does not appear as menacing as initially projected, and 1-4 is not the death sentence 0-3 is historically. But this Raiders retooling effort will need multiple offseasons, the next one including (presumably) a first-round pick.
Rallies against the Falcons and Raiders, respectively, lifted the Saints and Cardinals to 2-4. Both teams are also just one game out in their parity-fueled divisions.
Arizona’s three-extension offseason (Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury, Steve Keim) has not instilled much confidence this will be the year the Murray-led operation becomes a serious threat. Arizona (15th-toughest remaining schedule) ranks 22nd both offensively and defensively, and its DeAndre Hopkins-less receiving corps led to numerous pass-catching combinations. The team has traded for both Marquise Brown and Robbie Anderson, but the Hopkins sidekicks will not share the field together for a while due to Brown’s injury. Kingsbury is already considering ceding play-calling duties.
The Saints (seventh-easiest remaining schedule) have again run into receiver staffing issues. Jarvis Landry has missed most of the season, and Michael Thomas‘ foot injury will lead to Thursday being the former All-Pro’s 29th missed game since 2020. Jameis Winston‘s back fractures have turned Andy Dalton into New Orleans’ regular starter. While the Dalton investment (one year, $3MM) has proven important, Dennis Allen‘s defense — a top-five unit in each of the past two seasons — ranks 29th.
Do any of the other sub-.500 teams — most of which residing in the rebuilding sect — have a chance to rebound this season? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this year’s collection of struggling teams in the comments section.
As the investigations into Commanders owner Dan Snyder persist, some of his peers may be testing the waters about removing him from his post. Colts owner Jim Irsay floated that possibility at the owners’ meetings Tuesday.
Irsay said there is merit to removing Snyder as the Washington owner and added “there potentially could be” 24 votes from ownership ranks to oust the embattled leader, via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala (Twitterlinks). No NFL owner has ever been removed from his post via vote.
Irsay added no vote is likely to take place at this week’s meetings but added that such a historic measure could occur once Mary Jo White’s written report from this latest NFL investigation — one centered around Washington’s alleged workplace misconduct and financial improprieties — emerges.
“I believe there is merit to removing him as owner of the [Commanders],” Irsay said. “There’s consideration that he should be removed. … I just think that once owners talk among each other, they’ll arrive to the right decision. My belief is that — unfortunately — that’s the road we probably need to go down. And we just need to finish the investigation. But it’s gravely concerning to me the things that have occurred there over the last 20 years.”
Irsay saying a Snyder removal is in play certainly suggests he is not alone in voicing support to boot the Commanders leader from his 23-year post — a tenure that has both reduced Washington’s competitive standing and brought numerous scandals. Snyder, as he has done for years, is not considering selling the team. A Commanders statement, via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), following Irsay’s comments indicated as such.
Snyder is being investigated by the league and the House Oversight Committee. These investigations follow a previous NFL probe, which wrapped during the 2021 offseason and led to Snyder being fined $10MM and receiving what amounted to a de facto suspension. Snyder pushed back on the notion he was barred from day-to-day responsibilities with his franchise, and a recent report indicated he is back at work without restrictions.
The prospect of owners warming up to a Snyder removal vote has surfaced in a few recent reports, bringing this seminal topic to the forefront. Irsay’s remarks, however, run counter to Jerry Jones‘ take on this matter. The Cowboys owner does not appear to view a Snyder ouster as a front-burner issue.
“No, I don’t think that’ll be something discussed today,” Jones said, via USA Today’s Jori Epstein (on Twitter). “That’s more a media thing than it is an internal thing. … No, I don’t think that’ll be a highlighted item at all.”
Jones’ comments come after a bombshell ESPN report indicated Snyder was gathering dirt on a handful of NFL owners. That report also noted Snyder had “lost Jerry” regarding support. Contrary to that report, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds (video link) Jones still supports Snyder. Jones carries a great deal of weight among owners, so he certainly represents a vital ally for an owner who has lost support of select other owners.
Still, given Irsay’s comments, last week’s report appears to have moved the needle among ownership. Whether a Snyder vote happens in the near future or not, these past several days have brought the most smoke regarding his potential exit.
