HEADLINES

Buccaneers Fear Chris Godwin Sustained Dislocated Ankle

October 21st, 2024 at 10:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Buccaneers attempted to crawl back into their Monday-night matchup with the Ravens, they lost one of their long-running wide receiver starters. The team fears Chris Godwin suffered a serious injury.

The team is concerned Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle, Todd Bowles said postgame. This will stall a bounce-back season for the eighth-year veteran, who has an extensive injury history. Godwin exited the field with an air cast on his injured ankle.

This would be both a significant blow to Tampa Bay’s offense and a poorly timed setback for Mike Evans‘ longtime sidekick. Godwin is in the final season of a three-year, $60MM deal. The former Super Bowl starter has four 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, but he was on pace for a career-best total this year. Godwin caught three passes for 65 yards in the Bucs’ loss tonight, elevating him to 576 on the season. Only Ja’Marr Chase (620) has that beat.

The Bucs gave Evans a third contract this offseason, moving their longtime No. 1 target back in front of Godwin, who is playing on a deal he signed after the team franchise-tagged him for a second straight year. Tampa Bay tagged Godwin in 2021 and ’22; the second stint on the tag did not last long, leading to the $20MM-per-year agreement days later. While Godwin has done quite well for himself as a pro, the former third-round pick was poised to be a high-end free agent at season’s end.

Tampa Bay has established a pattern of letting free agents play out their contract years and convincing them to re-sign. The team went heavy in this direction this year, re-signing Evans, Baker Mayfield and Lavonte David — before tagging and extending Antoine Winfield Jr. The team has also taken this route with cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis, along with center Ryan Jensen. The recently retired center had secured a third contract when he suffered what turned out to be a career-ending knee injury; Godwin’s value for a third contract will likely take a hit as a result of Monday’s development.

In May, an update emerged indicating the Bucs, true to form, had not discussed an extension with Godwin. The productive WR had suffered a torn ACL late in the 2021 season, leaving the team shorthanded (especially after Antonio Brown‘s subsequent meltdown). Godwin, 28, did re-emerge with 1,000-yard slates in 2022 and ’23; though, he was not quite in top form in either year. Godwin posted 1,023 yards in Tom Brady‘s 2022 finale and 1,024 in Mayfield’s Tampa debut, combining for just five touchdowns in that span. He had already matched that total entering Monday night.

The Bucs have trotted out Evans and Godwin together for eight years now. While the younger receiver did not move directly into the starting lineup as a rookie, he soon became Evans’ top complementary piece, helping the likes of Mayfield, Brady and Jameis Winston. Mayfield’s second Tampa Bay arsenal will take a hit as a result, raising the stakes for the likes of Trey Palmer and third-round rookie Jalen McMillan.

Although Brown interfered with Godwin’s unquestioned role as Tampa Bay’s WR2 for a short spell, the Bucs’ pass-game hierarchy has run through Evans and Godwin for many years now. Godwin sits behind only Evans on the team’s all-time receiving list. The Penn State alum’s 7,266 yards are more than 2,000 clear of third-place Mark Carrier, illustrating the value the Bucs have coaxed from their top WRs. If Godwin is unable to come back, this will be a test to the team’s receiver development — both this season and potentially into 2025, considering the veteran’s contract status.

Jameson Williams Facing Two-Game Ban

October 21st, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Ben Levine

Jameson Williams‘ breakout season may be coming to a brief pause. According to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard (and via ESPN’s Adam Schefter), the Lions wide receiver is facing a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s PED policy.

Williams spoke to Woodyard, stating that he’s disappointed with the development and has “no choice but to take it on the chin.” 

“I’m in good spirits,” Williams told Woodyard. “[I’m] just ready to get back with the my brothers ASAP soon as possible.”

This is a tough blow for both Williams and the Lions, as the former first-round pick was putting together the strongest season of his career. In six games (four starts), Williams has already established career-highs in receiving yards (361) and touchdowns (three). His 60.2 yards-per-game mark was more than double his 2023 average, and it barely trailed Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s team-leading 66.8 yards per game.

The 12th-overall pick in the 2022 draft, Williams didn’t make his debut until that December while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college. After finishing his rookie campaign with a single catch (a 41-yard touchdown, no less), Williams got a full offseason ahead of the 2023 campaign. However, the start of his sophomore season was still delayed thanks to a suspension for violating the NFL’s gambling policy. When he returned, he was firmly behind St. Brown and Josh Reynolds on the depth chart.

With Reynolds no longer around in 2024, Williams has stepped up as the team’s WR2. In an offense loaded with talent, Williams has still managed to garner the second-most targets (30) on the squad. Fortunately for the Lions, they should be more than capable of overcoming Williams’ impending suspension. Tim Patrick and/or Kalif Raymond could step up at WR, and tight end Sam LaPorta could see an uptick in targets following a disappointing start to his sophomore campaign.

Kevin Stefanski Declines To Name Deshaun Watson Browns’ 2025 Starter; Dorian Thompson-Robinson Could Miss Time

October 21st, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the remainder of the 2024 campaign, the Browns will not have Deshaun Watson available at quarterback. His Week 7 Achilles tear will require season-ending surgery and lead to further speculation about how Cleveland will proceed at the position.

When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski noted Watson will undergo surgery this week to begin his rehab process. On that point, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is expected to have Packers team physician Dr. Robert Anderson perform the procedure. She adds that while consideration was given to the ‘speed bridge’ option which offers a shorter recovery timeline, the traditional operation is likely in this case. With Watson not in consideration to heal before the end of the season, the latter path is a sensible one.

A full recovery is expected for Watson, whose three-year Browns tenure has seen him play only 19 games. In the wake of this year’s struggles, Stefanski repeatedly offered public endorsements of the three-time Pro Bowler as Cleveland’s starter, stating that keeping Watson atop the depth chart was a call on his part and not that of ownership. Today, Stefanski offered further positive reviews of the 29-year-old but did not confirm Watson will hold the QB1 title once he is healthy in 2025.

“Obviously I believe in Deshaun, but I also think it’s important just to acknowledge that he just had a bad injury and a bad break for him and we’re feeling bad for him,” Stefanski said. “[I] know that he’ll bounce back, but not getting into all those things down the road. I’m looking forward to him getting the surgery and obviously getting his body back.”

Two years and $92MM in fully-guaranteed compensation remains on Watson’s pact, one which has been restructured multiple times. The resultant cap charges will make it difficult to continue with Watson absent any further adjustments, but cutting or trading him is not feasible. Stefanski noted (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand) the Browns will add a quarterback to fill the vacancy created by Watson’s injury, but it remains to be seen what role a new signal-caller will have to close out the season.

2023 fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson and free agent addition Jameis Winston remain as Cleveland’s healthy quarterbacks. A change in the backup pecking order allowed for Thompson-Robinson to take over after Watson went down, although he suffered a finger injury which forced him to leave the contest as well. Testing on the 24-year-old’s injury will take place to determine if surgery is required; Stefanski noted Thompson-Robinson should be available at some point but his Week 8 status is in question (h/t Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal).

Winston might be needed during at least the short-term future as a result. The former Buccaneer and Saint has 80 starts to his name, and as a pending free agent he has plenty of incentive to deliver a strong showing and boost his market value. Of course, Winston could find himself competing for playing time with the Browns in 2025 depending on Watson’s health status and how the team views his grip on the starting gig once he is back in the fold.

49ers Eyeing Week 10 Return For RB Christian McCaffrey?

October 21st, 2024 at 9:49pm CST by Ben Levine

While a definitive activation date hasn’t been set, it sounds like Christian McCaffrey is getting closer to his return. Coach Kyle Shanahan said there’s “hope” that the star RB could make his return following the team’s bye (per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). That Week 10 target would be dependent on McCaffrey’s continued progress in his recovery from Achilles and calf issues.

While the coach acknowledged that the running back hasn’t experienced any setbacks, he also admitted that it’d be a surprise if McCaffrey returns to practice this week and plays against the Cowboys on Sunday. A post-bye return to practice would provide the All-Pro RB with another two weeks of recovery time, and considering the performance of fill-in Jordan Mason, it’s not a surprise the organization is opting to take it slow.

McCaffrey went to Germany last month to seek treatment on his Achilles tendinitis, a lingering issue that has affected both of the player’s lower limbs. The trip apparently had a positive impact, as the RB was spotted taking part in light on-field work earlier this month. After sitting out the season opener, McCaffrey landed on IR prior to Week 2, so he was only recently eligible for activation.

The 49ers have been snake bitten by injuries this season, with Brandon Aiyuk‘s season-ending ACL tear being the latest inclusion on a long list of ailments. Despite sitting at 3-4, the defensive NFC champs only sit a game behind Seattle in the NFC West standings. If McCaffrey is indeed able to return for Week 10, he’ll provide an instant spark as the 49ers look to make a postseason push.

Speaking of absences, Deebo Samuel exited yesterday’s loss to the Chiefs after getting into only four snaps. Shanahan has since revealed that the wide receiver has since been hospitalized with fluid in his lungs, which Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes is technically pneumonia. Shanahan noted that Samuel’s illness first popped up on Sunday morning, and after the receiver was struggling to breathe during the early portion of yesterday’s game, it was decided the player should exit the contest (per Barrows).

Shanahan also said he’s unsure when Samuel will be able to return to the lineup. When coupled with Aiyuk’s season-ending injury, this could make the 49ers especially light at WR this weekend. Jauan Jennings had a standout Week 3 performance and should lead the depth chart, although the veteran missed yesterday’s game with a hip issue. Ricky Pearsall should also have an opportunity for a significant role. After getting shot in the chest in early September, the first-round rookie made his season debut yesterday, hauling in three catches while getting into 48 snaps.

Tua Tagovailoa Will Practice This Week, Hoping To Play In Week 8

October 21st, 2024 at 9:48pm CST by Ben Levine

OCTOBER 21: When speaking to the media on Monday, McDaniel confirmed that Tagovailoa will return to practice this week. His 21-day activation will therefore be opened shortly, and with full medical clearance the Pro Bowler will be in position to return for Miami’s next game.

OCTOBER 19: Tua Tagovailoa is zeroing in on his return to the field. Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told his team that the starting quarterback is expected to start practicing next Wednesday. If all goes well, there’s “hope” that Tagovailoa will be under center for Miami in Week 8.

This timeline would mark a minimum stay on injured reserve for the QB. Tagovailoa landed on the shelf after Week 2, when he suffered his third concussion in two years. It was uncertain if the former first-round pick would even continue his NFL career, much less take the field when first eligible. McDaniel provided some optimism to the situation earlier this week when he admitted that he expects his starter to return in 2024. Now, it sounds like the league’s 2023 passing leader is intending to play against the Cardinals next Sunday.

Per Russini, the organization and the player used his IR stint to evaluate his future, which included visits with multiple specialists. Fortunately, Tagovailoa hasn’t dealt with any lingering issues from his latest concussion, and Russini writes that the signal-caller would play in Week 7 if he was eligible.

Tagovailoa’s return should provide a spark to a Dolphins offense that has struggled mightily during his absence. After finishing second in the NFL last season with 29.2 points per game, the Dolphins are averaging a league-worst 12 points per game in 2024. The team has turned to the likes of Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley to guide the offense in recent weeks. That duo has combined for 397 passing yards in their three starts; for comparison’s sake, Tagovailoa threw for 338 yards in the season opener. For this weekend, Huntley is still expected to be the team’s starting quarterback.

If Tagovailoa does indeed return for Week 8, there’s a chance the Dolphins could find themselves at 2-4. The organization will be counting on the former fifth-overall pick to turn around their season,

Steelers Sign CB C.J. Henderson To Active Roster

October 21st, 2024 at 9:15pm CST by Ben Levine

C.J. Henderson has earned a promotion to Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Steelers have signed the practice-squad cornerback to the active roster.

The former first-round pick joined the Steelers practice squad in late September. While today’s move comes after Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson aggravated his shoulder injury last night, Rapoport notes that Henderson was also drawing interest from other cornerback-needy squads. By adding Henderson to the active roster, the Steelers now control the player’s fate this season.

The ninth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Henderson showed flashes as a rookie with the Jaguars, hauling in an interception to go along with 36 tackles. He ended his rookie campaign on IR with a shoulder injury, and he only got into two games with Jacksonville in 2021 before getting dealt to Carolina. He ultimately spent two-plus seasons with the Panthers, finding himself in and out of the starting lineup. Pro Football Focus was never especially fond of Henderson’s performance, with the site often giving him one of the worst positional grades in pass coverage.

After hitting free agency this past offseason, Henderson quickly caught on with the Texans. He was among the team’s final cuts, and it took him about a month before he got an offer from the Steelers.

Joey Porter Jr. and Jackson have soaked up the majority of Pittsburgh’s snaps at CB this season, although the latter has been limited in each of the past two weeks while dealing with his shoulder injury. With Beanie Bishop Jr. penciled in as the nickelback, James Pierre has been tasked with filling in during Week 6 and Week 7, with the former UDFA getting into a season-high 35 snaps yesterday. With only those four aforementioned CBs on the active roster, Henderson could be in line for a role if Jackson if forced to miss any time.

Raiders To Sign QB Desmond Ridder

October 21st, 2024 at 8:32pm CST by Ben Levine

With Aidan O’Connell heading to IR, the Raiders are adding some quarterback depth. The team is signing Desmond Ridder off the Cardinals practice squad, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

[RELATED: Raiders To Place QB Aidan O’Connell On IR]

Ridder was a fourth-round pick by the Falcons in 2022. The former Cincinnati star went 2-2 as a rookie after replacing Marcus Mariota as Atlanta’s QB1, and he spent the majority of last season as the team’s top quarterback. He ultimately started 17 games during his two-season stint in Atlanta, going 8-9 while completing 64 percent of his passes for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also added another five touchdowns on the ground.

The QB was briefly replaced by Taylor Heinicke during the 2023 season. While Ridder eventually returned to the starting lineup, it was clear he didn’t have a future in Atlanta. After the organization added Kirk Cousins via free agency this offseason, Ridder was dealt to the Cardinals for wideout Rondale Moore.

Ridder was competing to be Kyler Murray‘s backup in Arizona but ended up losing the competition to Clayton Tune. The third-year pro later landed on the Cardinals practice squad, where he’s spent the first two months of the season.

Now, he could have an opportunity to play in Las Vegas. O’Connell fractured his thumb during yesterday’s loss, leaving the Raiders with Gardner Minshew and undrafted rookie Carter Bradley as their only two QBs. Minshew, who leads the NFL with 10 turnovers, was replaced as the starter two weeks ago. While the former Jaguars standout will likely slide back to the top of the depth chart, there’s a good chance he’s on a short leash, perhaps opening the door for a Ridder cameo.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/24

October 21st, 2024 at 8:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/24

October 21st, 2024 at 7:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers

  • Activated off IR: DL Jonathan Ford
  • Released: LS Matt Orzech

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, today’s moves were purely procedural. After returning to practice earlier this month, Jonathan Ford was nearing the end of his activation window. To avoid the defensive lineman landing on season-ending injured reserve, the Packers activated the former seventh-round pick to the active roster. That meant the Packers needed to carve out a spot, and long snapper Matt Orzech was the temporary casualty. However, Silverstein says Orzech will land back on the roster later this week following more roster machinations.

Meanwhile, the Giants added Armon Watts to the active roster following the lineman’s stint on the team’s practice squad. It sounds like rival teams may have forced the Giants hand. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes, other teams expressed interest in the former Bears starter, forcing the Giants to secure Watts services now (vs. continuing to stash him on the taxi squad).

Elsewhere in New York, Haason Reddick was officially activated from the Did Not Report list today. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Jets now have a two-game roster exemption to officially add the pass-rusher to the 53-man roster.

Saints To Sign WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

October 21st, 2024 at 5:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Marquez Valdes-Scantling has found his next gig. The veteran wideout is signing with the Saints, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.

[RELATED: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling To Visit Saints]

The receiver worked out for the organization earlier today. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Valdes-Scantling also received interest from the Colts, Commanders, and “other” squads. Ultimately, he landed a job in New Orleans.

Following a two-year stint with the Chiefs, the former Packers draft pick caught on with the Bills this past offseason. Valdes-Scantling got into each of Buffalo’s first six games, hauling in only a pair of catches despite getting into close to 40 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Following the Bills’ acquisition of Amari Cooper last week, MVS was cut loose, allowing him to resume his career elsewhere.

He’ll now land in New Orleans, where he could quickly see a role in the WR-needy offense. Chris Olave missed yesterday’s game as he continues to recover from a concussion, and the team recently lost wideout Rashid Shaheed to season-ending meniscus surgery. Considering the team’s dwindling depth, it’s no surprise that they were involved in the Davante Adams sweepstakes prior to the Jets-Raiders trade. The organization has also been connected to Mike Williams, whom Gang Green is seeking to move now that it has landed Adams.

MVS has never been confused for a WR1, but the veteran should provide the Saints with a steady presence in their receivers room. The wideout collected 687 receiving yards as recently as 2022, and he topped 400 receiving yards in each of his four seasons with the Packers. Of course, his 2023 campaign left a bit to be desired, as he set new career-lows in receptions (21) and receiving yards (315).

Still, as mentioned, the Saints will take what they can get. During Thursday’s loss to the Broncos, the team was forced to rely on the likes of Bub Means, Mason Tipton, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. to lead their WR grouping. Even when Olave returns to the field, MVS should be able to carve out a role with the Saints.

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