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Eagles’ Jalen Reagor To Return In Week 8

October 29th, 2020 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles will receive some good injury news for a change. Instead of being held out until after Philadelphia’s Week 9 bye, Jalen Reagor is slated to play Sunday against the Cowboys, InsidetheBirds.com’s Geoff Mosher tweets.

Reagor has suffered multiple injuries since being drafted in this year’s first round. The latest malady — a torn thumb UCL — has resulted in a lengthy IR stay. The first-year wideout has not played since Week 2.

Being classified as an IR-DTR player in advance of Philly’s Week 8 game, Reagor being on track to play represents a change of pace for an Eagles team that has endured a brutal run of injury luck on offense. At receiver, the Eagles have barely had their top three receivers play together since DeSean Jackson‘s return to the team last season. Jackson is back on IR, while Alshon Jeffery has not played since December 2019.

The veterans’ injuries prompted the Eagles to draft Reagor in Round 1, but the TCU product suffered a torn labrum in training camp. Reagor beat that recovery timetable as well, playing in Week 1.

While Reagor is on track to be back in Philly’s starting lineup, the Eagles will still have mostly second-stringers on offense. Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert remain on IR, with the latter battling a high ankle sprain and a tibia fracture. Jeffery has run into a new injury problem (calf), after spending months rehabbing a Lisfranc malady, while Miles Sanders has not practiced this week. Lane Johnson got in a limited practice Thursday, however, as he attempts to join Jason Kelce as first-unit offensive linemen in uniform Sunday. Johnson is battling an MCL issue.

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Giants Place Will Hernandez On Reserve/COVID-19 List

October 29th, 2020 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants will face the red-hot Buccaneers without at least one starting offensive lineman. They are placing left guard Will Hernandez on their reserve/COVID-19 list, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

A positive coronavirus test prompted the Giants to then send all but four of their offensive linemen home from their facility Thursday, Pelissero and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport note (via Twitter). Two coaches — defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson and outside linebackers coach Bret Bielema — joined them, according to Rapoport and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).

None of the other O-linemen, however, are considered to be high-risk close contacts of Hernandez at this point. That status would allow them to return to the team’s facility by Friday, provided they submit two consecutive negative COVID-19 tests.

Hernandez will be miss the Giants’ Monday tilt against the Bucs, but this situation looks to differ slightly from last week’s development in Las Vegas. The Raiders-Bucs game was rescheduled because the team quarantined its starting offensive line for five days, but Las Vegas placed all five blockers on its reserve/COVID list. As of now, Hernandez is the only Giants player to be placed on their respective list.

Additionally, a Bucs equipment staffer tested positive for COVID-19, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Bucs sent that staffer home, but The Athletic’s Greg Auman notes this has not yet affected players or coaches (Twitter link).

While both teams now have issues to monitor, Monday night’s game is not currently on the verge of being rescheduled. Monday will, however, be Hernandez’s first missed start as a pro. The former second-round pick has been a Giants starter since his debut in Week 1 of the 2018 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Patriots’ Julian Edelman Has Knee Injury

October 29th, 2020 at 12:32pm CST by Zach Links

The Patriots will be without Julian Edelman for at least a little while. After undergoing a procedure for his nagging knee injury, the wide receiver will be out for Sunday’s crucial game against the Bills, at minimum (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 

Last year, Edelman tallied 100 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. Even in his age-34 season, he remains a key player in the Patriots’ offense. Through six games, Edelman has 21 catches for 315 yards — less than his usual pace, though his 15.0 yards per grab represents a career watermark. Edelman opened the year with a solid showing against the Dolphins, followed by an eight-catch, 179-yard performance against the Seahawks. Since then, he’s been limited, but the hope is that the minor surgery will help him get back to his old form.

The timing is less-than-ideal for the Patriots, who have dropped three straight games and fallen to 2-4 on the year. After their 33-6 defeat at the hands of the Niners, they badly need a W against the division-leading Bills.

The Patriots have Edelman under contract through 2021 thanks to the two-year, $15.5MM add-on he signed last year. This year, he counts for roughly $9.7MM against the cap. In ’21, the Pats have him on a more affordable $6.7MM cap figure.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Jaguars’ Gardner Minshew To Miss Time?

October 29th, 2020 at 12:21pm CST by Zach Links

Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew has been diagnosed with multiple fractures in his right thumb, plus a strained ligament (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). With that, his availability is in question for the Jags’ next game against the Texans after the bye week. 

Minshew has been in pain since Oct. 11, when he suffered the injury in the team’s last meeting with the Texans. Jaguars staffers only just found out about Minshew’s injury this week, which means they may prompt them to start backup Mike Glennon in Week 9.

The injury would help to explain his recent performance. Against the Chargers, Minshew completed just over half of his passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He was also sacked multiple times early on, which didn’t help matters either.

Last year, Minshew went 6-6 as the Jaguars’ starter while setting franchise records in yards (3,271) and touchdowns (21) for rookie QBs. This year, he’s gone 1-6 with 1,855 yards and 13 touchdowns against five interceptions.

In other Jaguars injury news, return specialist Dede Westbrook has been ruled out for the rest of the year with a torn ACL. Fortunately, Minshew’s injury is far less severe.

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Poll: Will The Buccaneers Regret Signing Antonio Brown?

October 29th, 2020 at 9:52am CST by Zach Links

Bruce Arians said it would never happen. Tom Brady never stopped pushing. Ultimately, the future Hall of Famer got his way — the Buccaneers inked Antonio Brown to a one-year deal this week, equipping Brady with the most talented group of targets he’s ever had.

“He looks fantastic,” Arians said of Brown, following his first practice in Tampa (via ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine). “I think we had really good conversations today, he and I. He was in the meetings and everything. And he’s working with…the strength staff. He looks in great shape. Yeah, [he’ll be] ready to go next week.”

The Bucs are hoping that Brown can quickly shed the rust as Chris Godwin recovers from finger surgery. Godwin might not be available for their Week 9 contest against the Saints, setting the stage for Brown to make an impact in his return game.

At the same time, many feel that Brown’s volatility will ultimately backfire on the Buccaneers, who currently lead the NFC South with a 5-2 record.

“Mark my words, it’s going to be a problem,” said one anonymous executive who has worked with Brown. “You have no idea the stories we could tell you about this guy. Everything is a struggle. … There were plenty of valid reasons why [Arians] didn’t want anything to do with him a year ago. Unless this guy has completely reinvented himself, and done a complete turnaround, this is going to get ugly.”

Will Brown’s baggage ultimately outweigh his upside? Vote in PFR’s latest poll (link for app users) and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

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Packers Inquire On Texans’ Will Fuller

October 29th, 2020 at 8:51am CST by Zach Links

The Packers are among the clubs showing interest in Texans wide receiver Will Fuller, according to Aaron Reiss of The Athletic (on Twitter). Nothing is imminent at the moment, but things could pick up between now and Tuesday’s trade deadline.

[RELATED: Teams Calling Texans On Fuller, Cobb]

Reiss also hears that the Texans are not interested in a full-on fire sale, though many observers are skeptical. Their firing of head coach/GM Bill O’Brien seemed to signal the start of a revamp, and they’re not playing for much this year with a record of 1-6. They’re also in the midst of their bye week, which would give them extra time to acclimate post-trade.

Fuller, who is playing on a $10.16MM fifth-year option salary, profiles as an interesting rental option for contenders. Through seven games, he’s been Deshaun Watson‘s favorite target, catching 31 passes for a team-high 490 yards and five touchdowns. The Texans could parlay Fuller into draft capital, but they seem to be telling teams that they’d rather keep him (and Brandin Cooks) for the long haul. For what it’s worth, interim head coach Romeo Crennel has been telling players not to worry about getting traded.

“With this situation, it might be more on their mind this year,” Crennel said when asked if the issue is a potential distraction. “I’ve talked to them and tried to reassure them that I’m not looking to trade guys.”

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49ers Rumors: Pettis, Samuel, RBs, Reed

October 28th, 2020 at 6:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is the latest out of San Francisco. More injuries have cropped up for the 49ers, causing them to alter a previous strategy. But the 4-3 team received good news on the health front as well.

  • Dante Pettis looks to be off the trade block. The 49ers lost Deebo Samuel and Richie James to injuries during their win against the Patriots, and Kyle Shanahan said the team is now no longer likely to trade Pettis, via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News (on Twitter). Shanahan previously confirmed the team was trying to deal the 2018 second-round wideout, who has fallen out of favor after showing flashes as a rookie. Pettis may receive another chance soon. The ex-Washington Husky standout has played sparingly on offense and special teams this season but has not caught a pass in nearly a year.
  • As for Samuel, he is set for another multiweek absence. The second-year receiver suffered a hamstring strain that will keep him out of Sunday’s game against the Seahawks. Shanahan expects his No. 1 wideout to miss San Francisco’s Week 9 game against Green Bay as well. Samuel has not enjoyed much time to build on his strong rookie season, with this hamstring setback coming after he missed a few months because of a foot fracture.
  • While Jeff Wilson became the latest 49ers running back to go down, the team received good news regarding one member of its backfield. The 49ers designated Tevin Coleman to return from IR Wednesday, opening the door to the veteran back playing in Seattle after a six-week absence. Should Coleman return, the 49ers will only be down two backs — Wilson and Raheem Mostert. The 49ers also designated Jordan Reed and K’Waun Williams to come off IR. The team has three weeks to activate its IR-DTR players.
  • The fifth of San Francisco’s running backs to see time this season, JaMycal Hasty, opted to stay in San Francisco despite offers to leave. Three teams expressed interest in poaching Hasty off the 49ers’ practice squad, per agent Scott Casterline, but the rookie UDFA preferred to stay and wait for an opportunity with a team that has been known to use running back committees under Shanahan, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. Hasty, now on the team’s 53-man roster, has averaged 5.2 yards per carry in three games.
  • Before signing offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom to their practice squad, the 49ers also brought former Bears starter Ted Larsen and ex-Dolphins first-stringer Evan Boehm for workouts. The 49ers, who are expected to be without starting center Weston Richburg until perhaps Week 12, lost replacement Ben Garland recently.
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Cardinals Bring Back DL Josh Mauro

October 28th, 2020 at 6:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Plenty has changed since the Cardinals last employed Josh Mauro, but the journeyman defensive lineman is headed back to Arizona to play for Kliff Kingsbury‘s staff.

The Cardinals signed Mauro off the Jaguars’ practice squad Wednesday, bringing the former Bruce Arians-era cog back to the desert. Mauro has not played yet this season, with a five-game suspension shelving him.

Mauro initially arrived in Arizona in 2014, signing with the Cards after a stay on the Steelers’ practice squad. Similar circumstances will lead him back to Arizona. The Cardinals, who let Mauro walk in free agency in 2018, placed starting defensive end Zach Allen on IR this week.

A run-stopping defensive end, Mauro was with the Cards from 2014-17. He made 26 starts under then-DC James Bettcher and followed him to New York for a one-season Giants stay in 2018. Mauro, 29, landed with the Raiders and Jaguars in the years since. Mauro has now twice been suspended for PEDs, with his first such ban coming in 2018.

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Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/20

October 28th, 2020 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

  • Activated from IR: WR Isaiah Coulter

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

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Bengals Expected To Sign G Quinton Spain

October 28th, 2020 at 5:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals’ visit with Quinton Spain will likely lead to a signing. The veteran guard has been going through coronavirus testing protocols and is on track to sign with the Bengals, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

This marks a key week for Cincinnati’s offensive line. The Bengals will soon have Spain and B.J. Finney on their roster. They acquired Finney, a former Steelers center, from the Seahawks in Wednesday’s Carlos Dunlap deal.

Spain started every game for the Bills last season, helping their run game transform from one of the NFL’s worst in 2018 to a top-10 attack. The Bills cut Spain this year, however, turning to new guards. Spain has started 66 career games, working as a first-stringer for the Titans and Bills since 2015.

The Bengals have seen Joe Burrow pressured constantly this season. He has taken an NFL-high 28 sacks. Left tackle Jonah Williams, right tackle Bobby Hart and center Trey Hopkins did not practice Wednesday due to injury, creating an even bigger need for the rebuilding team.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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