Bills “Holding Out Hope” On Sammy Watkins
7:59pm: Watkins himself has weighed in (via Twitter ), claiming that he’s planning on playing tomorrow: “Ready to go out there and compete at the highest level!”
7:42pm: The Bills are hoping that wide receiver Sammy Watkins is able to play against the Cardinals on Sunday, but head coach Rex Ryan admitted that the chances of Watkins suiting up are “probably not real good,” according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. The likelihood of Watkins being ready to go is “50/50 at best,” tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
[RELATED: Bills Fire OC Greg Roman]
Watkins’ health has been an issue dating back to May, when the third-year wideout suffered a reportedly “minor” foot fracture. Subsequent reports suggested that Watkins could miss games at the start of the season, but he’s so far been able to plug along, though his results have been less than stellar. Through two contests, Watkins has managed only six receptions for 63 yards, though he has stayed on the field, playing in 80.4% of the Bills’ offensive snaps.
Earlier this month, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported that Watkins was likely to miss regular season action at some point, noting that while an MRI didn’t reveal any new fractures, Watkins has been playing through immense pain. It seems as though Watkins isn’t going to come close to recovering without rest, but given that Buffalo has just fired its offensive coordinator at sits at 0-2, the club needs all the firepower it can get.
Per Rodak, Ryan wouldn’t show reluctance to play Watkins on Sunday even though the pass-catcher hasn’t practiced at all during the week. “If he feels good and he’s up to it, then we’ll put him in there,” Ryan said. “If a guy’s that good, we’ll play him.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Falcons’ Keanu Neal To Make Debut Monday
17th overall pick Keanu Neal will make his NFL debut for the Falcons on Monday night against the Saints, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters, including Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Quinn said Neal “will play a lot,” tweets D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but won’t be on the field for every snap.
[RELATED: Falcons Re-Sign O’Brien Schofield]
Neal will likely split snaps with fellow safety Kemal Ishmael, who’s seen action on nearly every defensive play this season while filling in for Neal, who has been sidelined since late August with a knee injury. Ishmael has produced at a slightly below average level, grading as the league’s No. 39 safety among 70 qualifiers, according to Pro Football Focus. Atlanta’s defense as a whole, however, could certainly use a boost, as they’ve ranked 30th in DVOA through two games.
Back in August, PFR’s scouting guru Dave-Te Thomas lauded Neal’s playmaking ability while looking at the Falcons’ Impact Rookies:
Neal is a smooth, fluid mover who has done quite a nice job of making plays at the opposite side of the field, thanks to his burst, second gear, and ability to sift through traffic to get to the ball. He shows excellent ball reactionary skills, along with the quick decision-making process to close on the play with good urgency. He can change direction in an instant and does a nice job of maintaining position when challenged by lead blockers assisting vs. the ground game.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Seahawks Promote RB Terrence Magee
The Seahawks have promoted running back Terrence Magee from their practice squad to the active roster, the club announced today. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times speculated yesterday that the Seahawks were saving their open roster spot to add another back given that Thomas Rawls is unlikely to play on Sunday due to a shin injury.
[RELATED: Seahawks To Audition RB Kenny Hilliard]
Rawls is listed as doubtful for the Seahawks’ Week 3 game against the 49ers, and if he’s unable to go, Christine Michael will draw the start, head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. “[Michael is] averaging five yards a carry for a reason,” said Carroll. “He had a really good offseason. He had a terrific camp. All indications that he’s ready for a bigger load. He’s had 20-something carries so far. He’s ready to carry the ball 20-something times in a game. He could be fine with that.”
Seattle now has five running backs on it roster: Rawls, Michael, Magee, and rookies C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins. Prosise, like Rawls, is also battling an injury, as he recently broke a bone in his wrist. However, Carroll has sounded optimistic that Prosise will be able to suit up against the 49ers, according to Condotta. He and Magee could theoretically share the Seahawks’ third-down back role.
Additionally, Carroll “hinted” that the Seahawks could still employ a fullback during Week 3 despite the fact they don’t have an official FB on the roster, having recently released veteran Will Tukuafu. The most likely candidate to fill that role is tight end Brandon Williams, tweets Zach Whitman of Three Sigma Athlete.
Magee, 23, went undrafted out of LSU in 2015. After spending most of of last season bouncing on and off the Ravens’ practice squad, Magee lasted on the Rams’ roster until cutdowns earlier this month.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Extra Points: Bolt, Hillman, Dolphins, Dak
Track stars have enjoyed a steady history of NFL crossovers or being sought-after commodities, but Usain Bolt has created his own tier in that sport and resides as an all-time great athlete. However, he did not want to follow in the footsteps of Bob Hayes, Willie Gault, Renaldo Nehemiah or Michael Bates by converting into an NFL player.
Offers came his way, however.
“I used to watch [the NFL] when I was younger,” Bolt said on the Dan Patrick Show, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “The hits guys would take kind of turned me off. I never thought about going but I’ve gotten offered and people have asked.”
The 6-foot-5, 207-pound Jamaican did not specify which teams offered him or what kind of interest surfaced as he made his historic ascent over the past eight years, but given how much faster he is than other nations’ best sprinters, he could have displayed a different level of pure speed on the gridiron. That said, the lankier sprinter peaks after around the 50-meter mark, blazing by competition in the second halves of 100-meter dashes, so his otherworldly gifts might not be best suited for the short-area bursts football requires.
However, much like the alternate reality of a potential LeBron James NFL path, the 6-foot-5 Bolt creates an interesting what-if scenario due to his stature. Although, despite being a nine-time Olympic champion and owner of the world record in each of the three events in which he competes, Bolt has never played football. The Cavaliers superstar excelled at the game until becoming a one-sport athlete after his junior year of high school.
Here’s more from around the league amid Week 3.
- Newly signed running back Ronnie Hillman‘s deal with the Vikings is a one-year pact worth the prorated league minimum of $760K, and contains no guaranteed money, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). The Broncos owed Hillman $400K in guaranteed salary when they cut him three weeks ago, but his contract with them had offset language, per Mike Klis of 9News. That means the Broncos won’t have to pick up the tab if Hillman’s on the Vikings’ active roster for nine weeks.
- John Fox‘s team enters a Sunday-night Cowboys tilt at 0-2, but the second-year Bears coach didn’t second-guess his team for passing on fourth-round pick Dak Prescott in the draft. “Truth be told, I don’t know how much we would be talking about Dak,” Fox said, via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. “A lot of it in this case has been the opportunity, and he’s made the most of it. I’m not downgrading what he’s accomplished, but it’s how a lot of guys make their mark. Everybody starts off as a nobody, they get an opportunity, they have success, and now everybody’s aware of them.” Prescott enters Week 3 having completed 63% of his passes for 519 yards in relief of Tony Romo. He’s yet to throw a touchdown pass
- As they did through most of an offseason that began with Lamar Miller joining the Texans, the Dolphins are again scrambling at running back now that Arian Foster suffered another injury. This has led to scrutiny of Miami’s ground game. “I understand what they’ve done with that offensive line down there; it makes sense in a lot of ways,” one NFC personnel man said this week, via Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, “but I see good, technically sound pass protectors. Which one of those guys is a [butt]-kicker? Which one of those guys buries people? And they’re relying on Arian Foster. He’s injured this week, right? Is that a surprise? I don’t know about all that coming together.” The Dolphins are currently playing once-projected No. 1 overall pick Laremy Tunsil out of position at left guard, and Mike Pouncey is out due to injury. The Fins rank 27th in rushing through two games and will now go with a committee in all likelihood to replace Foster while he’s sidelined.
Connor Byrne contributed to this report.
Chargers Waive Andre Williams
Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver‘s injuries and the team’s apparent need for running backs notwithstanding, the Chargers waived Andre Williams, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter).
The Chargers addressed another area of need with the roster spot, promoting Asante Cleveland from their practice squad. Antonio Gates is doubtful to play on Sunday with a hamstring injury.
Williams, who will return to waivers, arrived in San Diego after the Chargers submitted a successful waiver claim for him after the Giants cut him before the season. Considering the Bolts stood third in the waiver-priority hierarchy, Williams could generate some interest from teams stationed further down the line in that pecking order. If he passes through waivers, the third-year running back will become a free agent for the first time.
Gehlken points out (Twitter link) Williams will still receive Week 3 regular-season pay and posits the Chargers could bring him back Monday if he clears waivers.
The former Giants fourth-round pick did not play in a game for the Chargers, and the team’s decision to jettison him leaves just Melvin Gordon, rookie UDFA Kenneth Farrow and recently signed Dexter McCluster as the Bolts’ healthy ball-carrying contingent. Oliver and Woodhead are out for the season with injuries, and McCluster has split time at running back and wide receiver in his career. Gordon’s health continues to be paramount for the 1-1 team.
Williams has a 700-plus-yard rushing season to his credit, in 2014, but the physical runner hasn’t shown much in terms of elusiveness. The former Boston College standout holds a 3.2 yards-per-carry figure for his career.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lions Cut Aaron Dobson
Aaron Dobson could be back on the workout circuit again after the Lions made the decision to waive the former Patriots wideout in advance of their Week 3 game against the Packers, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The Lions, who are without DeAndre Levy and Antwione Williams for Sunday’s game, promoted linebacker Zaviar Gooden from their practice squad, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.
Since Dobson is in his fourth season, he does not have enough service time to qualify as a vested veteran. He will head to waivers and would have an interesting employment case since five teams saw enough to give him auditions in between his failure to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster and his signing with the Lions.
The former second-round pick’s Lions stay didn’t last long, however. He did not make it a week. Dobson worked out for the Jets, Eagles, Chargers, 49ers and Lions this month.
Provided no one claims him on waivers or signs him subsequently as a free agent in the event he reaches free agency again, the Lions could look to re-sign Dobson after their linebacker situation improves.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
John Elway Addresses Brock Osweiler Situation
After orchestrating the strangest quarterback succession plan for a defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history, John Elway has observed the Broncos get off to their fourth straight 2-0 start. However, the player he attempted to re-sign before the bidding escalated out of his comfort zone struggled in his first big audition with the Texans.
Brock Osweiler‘s second start against the Patriots came in a 27-0 New England victory Thursday night, and Elway, albeit in a lighthearted tone, addressed the events of this spring that led to Osweiler venturing to Houston and 2015 third-stringer Trevor Siemian eventually ascending to the Broncos’ starting job.
“A lot of times those deals you don’t make are the best ones,” Elway told Dave Logan and Susie Wargin of KOA radio on Friday (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
“Obviously it was a tough night for Houston last night and — but things move on. You try to make the best decision when you have to make it. . . . Excluding last night, we really felt good with the way everything’s fallen, the way we went into camp, and we’re really excited with the guys who are playing the position for us now.”
As Florio points out, Elway’s initial response came with a lighthearted tone, but this is not the first time the sixth-year Broncos decision-maker opened up on the Osweiler situation.
In August, Elway pointed to Osweiler’s perceived slight when the eventual Super Bowl champions benched him for Peyton Manning in Week 17 of last year. That comment came four months after Elway initially addressed the 25-year-old quarterback’s defection in March.
The Broncos reportedly offered Osweiler $64MM before he signed the four-year, $72MM deal with the Texans but are now paying rookie-deal prices to their top two quarterbacks. The benching for Manning may well have induced Osweiler to seek a path elsewhere, so the Broncos might not have been battling on equal footing as they attempted to keep their former second-round pick in free agency. It’s marked an interesting situation for both teams, who each started 2-0 with victories over a 2015 playoff team.
Osweiler completed 24-of-41 passes for 196 yards and an interception against the Jacoby Brissett-led Patriots. For the season, the 6-foot-7 passer has completed 60% of his throws (231.7 yards per game) and has thrown three touchdown passes and four INTs. Operating a more ground-based attack, Siemian’s at 68% with 222 yards per game and one TD pass and three INTs.
Osweiler’s exit helped free up funds for the Broncos to re-up potential 2017 free agents Brandon Marshall and Emmanuel Sanders this summer, and while it’s not a given Siemian and Paxton Lynch will be a better investment yet, Denver has benefited from not having a franchise-quarterback salary on its payroll for the first time since 2011.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Promote Andrew Adams, Waive Michael Hunter
The Giants have swapped one rookie defensive back for another. James Kratch of NJ Advance Media reports (via Twitter) that the team has promoted safety Andrew
Adams and waived cornerback Michael Hunter. The pair of moves are an attempt to replace safeties Mykkele Thompson and Darian Thompson, who are both struggling through injuries.
Waiving Hunter is a bit of a curious move, especially since the team promoted the rookie earlier this week. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets, the Giants’ indecisiveness ultimately cost the team $26K in salary. The undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State could be re-signed to the Giants practice squad as soon as Monday, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (via Twitter).
Adams is an undrafted rookie out of UConn. In 44 career games with the Huskies, the safety compiled 263 tackles and nine interceptions. As Roster Resource shows, Adams will be joining safeties Thompson, Landon Collins, and Nat Berhe.
Jaguars Cut Bryan Walters, Promote Rashod Hill
The Jaguars have cut a veteran wideout in favor of a local offensive lineman. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports (via Twitter) that the team has cut 
receiver Bryan Walters and promoted offensive tackle Rashod Hill.
The Jaguars were struggling for offensive line depth following injuries to Kelvin Beachum and Brandon Linder. If the duo misses this weekend’s game, the team would have had only one reserve lineman on the roster (assuming two of Tyler Shatley, Patrick Omameh and Chris Reed would be inserted into the starting lineup). As a result, the team decided to promote Hill, who was originally signed as an undrafted rookie out of Southern Miss. The rookie actually grew up in Jacksonville and played high school football at Ed White High School.
Following a relatively productive 2015 campaign, Walters found himself as the Jaguars’ sixth wideout entering 2016. The former Seahawks and Chargers receiver set career-highs with Jacksonville last season, compiling 32 receptions, 368 yards, and one touchdown. The 28-year-old didn’t make an appearance through the Jaguars’ first two games this season.
Latest On Tony Romo’s Recovery
There’s no update on a return date for Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, but ESPN.com’s Todd Archer reports that the veteran signal-caller is recovering nicely from the compression fracture in his back. The 36-year-old even went as far as to throw some passes before last weekend’s victory over the Redskins.
“He’ll just keep doing more unless there’s something that concerns us, but right now everything is looking great,” executive vice president Stephen Jones told Archer, “and he’s feeling good and certainly feels good about the progress he’s making.”
Romo was injured midway through the preseason, and the quarterback was originally given a six- to 10-week recovery timetable. Instead of placing Romo on the injured reserve (and opening an additional roster spot), the team kept the veteran on their roster with the hope that he’d be back in early November. There was initially hope that Romo could return for his team’s Oct. 30 game against the Eagles, but Archer notes that the following week’s contest against the Browns may be more realistic. Of course, Jones wasn’t eager to declare a definitive timeframe for Romo’s return.
“There’s a good chance you’ll probably see him practice and he may not play in a game in terms of contact,” Jones said. “Now, we’ve got to manage through that as we get closer to that time.”
Romo only played in four games in 2015, tossing five touchdowns and seven interceptions. He played 15 games in 2014, completing nearly 70-percent of his throws for 3,705 yards, 34 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Rookie Dak Prescott has filled in admirably for Romo through two games, leading the Cowboys to a 1-1 record.
As Archer notes, the team may have rushed Romo back too quickly last season. After missing seven games with a broken collarbone, the quarterback returned for only two contests before breaking the same bone. Fortunately, considering Prescott’s success so far, the team has no reason to rush back their veteran leader.
“I think every injury is different, so everybody wants to say, ‘Well, you rushed him back last time and he got hurt,’” Jones said. “I think unfortunately it was a tough lick there that happened to hit him just right again. At the same time we’re not going to unless he’s ready and the doctors feel he’s ready, then we won’t push it.”