HEADLINES

Month: October 2016

Extra Points: Jets, Kubiak, Broncos, Las Vegas

October 12th, 2016 at 9:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the league…

  • Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com sees similarities between this year’s Jets team and the 2007 squad, with Todd Bowles and Mike Maccagnan playing the roles of Eric Mangini and Mike Tannenbaum. Both squads were tentative about going all-in as they looked towards the future, although Fitzgerald believes that 2007 squad did a better job of evaluating prospects. The big X-factor is quarterback Christian Hackenberg, who the writer compares to 2006 draftee Kellen Clemens.
  • Fortunately for the Jets, Muhammad Wilkerson is the only player whose “roster status is “relatively firm.” The team is still a “massive rebuilding project,” according to Fitzgerald, and the writer believes the team could ultimately look to deal some of their veteran talent for future assets.
  • The Broncos are serious about Gary Kubiak‘s recovery. How serious? ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reports (via Twitter) that the team doesn’t want anyone to talk to their head coach about football while he’s recuperating. Meanwhile, Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post wonders if interim coach Joe DeCamillis could become a “viable” head coach.
  • On Tuesday, the Nevada State senate approved a bill that would “potentially pave the way for an expanded convention center and an NFL-ready stadium” in Las Vegas, writes Jeff Gillan of News3LV.com. The bill will now head to the general assembly, who could deny the plan to fit a new stadium under the boosted “room tax.”

Jordan Cameron Mulling NFL Future

October 12th, 2016 at 7:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Following his fourth concussion in four years, Jordan Cameron‘s NFL future may be in doubt. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins tight end will miss this weekend’s game against the Steelers, and the reporter notes that the veteran “could be out an extended period as he mulls his NFL future.”

Jordan CameronCameron is set to miss his third straight game, with the player and team being very cautious when it comes to his recovery. Salguero notes that the 28-year-old is “quite concerned about his longterm health.” The former fourth-rounder signed a two-year, $15MM deal with the Dolphins prior to the 2015 season, and he reworked his contract this past winter.

Cameron had a career year in 2013, when he established career-highs in receptions (80), receiving yards (917), and touchdowns (seven). The tight end hasn’t come close to matching that production over the past two-plus seasons, compiling 67 receptions, 870 yards, and six touchdowns in 29 games.

Dion Sims has filled in as the Dolphins starting tight end, with MarQueis Gray serving as the back-up. The team recently signed journeyman Dominique Jones, as well.

Giants Work Out Shaquille Riddick, Carlos Thompson

October 12th, 2016 at 7:29pm CST by Ben Levine

The Giants worked out a pair of linebackers today, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan (via Twitter): Shaq Riddick and Carlos Thompson. The auditions are a bit surprising, as Shaq Riddickthe Giants don’t appear to have any injury concerns among their linebackers. Furthermore, the team promoted rookie linebacker Deontae Skinner to the active roster yesterday.

Riddick, a former fifth-round pick, has yet to see the field after one-plus season in the NFL. The 23-year-old spent the entire 2015 campaign with the Cardinals organization, but he was released prior to this season. He briefly caught on with the Cardinals practice squad, but he was subsequently cut. Riddick had six sacks during his senior season at West Virginia.

Thompson, 24, went undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2015. The former defensive end spent all of 2015 with the Texans, but he was waived in late August. Thompson had 29 tackles during his senior season at Mississippi.

Buccaneers Work Out Sealver Siliga, 10 Others

October 12th, 2016 at 6:55pm CST by Ben Levine

The Buccaneers have been busy during their bye week, as ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that the team worked out five players today: linebackers Quentin Gause and Brandon Hepburn, defensive tackle Sealver Siliga, defensive end Chris McCain, and wide receiver Da’Ron Brown. Howard Balzer (via Twitter) adds the names of six more players who auditioned for the Bucs: wide receivers Matt Hazel and Jamal Robinson, linebackers Jason Fanaika and Randell Johnson, tight end Clay Burton, and cornerback Robertson Daniel.

With starting defensive lineman Robert Ayers, Gerald McCoy, and Clinton McDonald missing this past weekend’s game, the Buccaneers are seeking some reinforcement up front. Siliga, 26, would automatically become one of the team’s most experienced lineman, as the former undrafted free agent has 26 career games under his belt. The defensive tackle played in 13 games for the Patriots in 2015 (four starts), compiling 28 tackles. Siliga briefly caught on with the Seahawks this past offseason, and he visited the Buccaneers back in September. McCain, another former undrafted free agent, appeared in 18 games for the Dolphins between 2014 and 2015, collecting seven tackles and two sacks.

The Buccaneers may be valuing depth when it comes to Hepburn and Gause, as the team only has four linebackers on the roster. Hepburn is the most experienced of the two, although the former Florida A&M standout hasn’t played an NFL game. Still, the 26-year-old has bounced between the Lions, Eagles and Cowboys over the past four years. Gause, a rookie linebacker out of Rutgers, previously spent time with the Eagles and Patriots.

The Buccaneers decision to audition Brown may be an indication that wideout Cecil Shorts won’t be ready for next week’s game. Brown, a seventh-round pick by the Chiefs in 2015, was released by the Patriots’ practice squad earlier this month.

Jets To Place Eric Decker On IR

October 12th, 2016 at 6:45pm CST by Zachary Links

6:45pm: The Jets have official placed Decker on the injured reserve, reports Randy Lange of NewYorkJets.com.

For what it’s worth, coach Todd Bowles said his team is prepared for the significant subtraction.

“He’s been out two weeks now,” he told Lange. “We kind of knew if he didn’t respond, he may have to go that route and the other guys have been getting reps, so it’s not as bad as it would seem to be.”

9:56am: The Jets are placing Eric Decker on injured reserve, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The team has since confirmed the news via press release."<strong

Recently, Decker explained that treatment for his partial rotator cuff tear would come down to pain management. Instead, it turns out that he’ll need surgery to fix the tear. The surgery will likely be a season-ender, so we shouldn’t expect to see No. 87 on the field in eight weeks.

“Of course, there’s going to be pain. Everyone plays with pain. This is a physical game,” Decker told Daniel Popper of the New York Daily News recently. “So I don’t expect myself to be 100 percent at some point. It’s just getting to where it’s manageable and…I can still play the same game that I need to play.”

Decker, 29, enjoyed his best season as a Jet last year, catching 80 passes for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns. Through three games this year, Decker has nine receptions for 194 yards and two scores.

The Jets filled Decker’s spot on the roster earlier today when they plucked cornerback Nick Marshall off of the Jaguars’ practice squad. The team also added reinforcements at receiver by claiming Jeremy Butler off waivers from the Bucs yesterday.

Practice Squad Updates: 10/12/16

October 12th, 2016 at 6:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the Steelers made a notable practice squad move when they signed running back Karlos Williams. Here’s the rest of today’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals 

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: OL Anthony Fabiano

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

Washington Redskins

Ravens Claim OL Billy Turner Off Waivers

October 12th, 2016 at 3:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens have claimed offensive lineman Billy Turner off of waivers, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Turner was cut loose by the Dolphins on Tuesday. To make room, linebacker Chris Carter has been released.Billy Turner (featured)

Turner started 12 games for the Dolphins last year. This year, the team shifted him to the bench and he still did not produce to their liking in his reduced role. In five games (two starts), Pro Football Focus rated him as the 75th best tackle out of 76 qualified players this season. He earned a poor overall grade of 31.8 in 63 pass block snaps and 34 run block snaps.

Now, the Ravens are hoping that a change of scenery will breed better results. A former third-round pick, Turner played tackle collegiately but he moved to the interior for Miami. The Ravens recently added guard Vlad Ducasse, so it will be interesting to see what their O-Line looks like by the end of the week.

Justin Houston Cleared To Practice

October 12th, 2016 at 1:39pm CST by Zachary Links

Chiefs linebacker Justin Houston has been given the green light to resume practice activity, as ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher tweets. Houston is currently on the physically unable to perform list, but the team can take him off the list on Monday. Justin Houston

The Chiefs placed Houston on the PUP list to start the season, meaning that he would be out of action for at least six weeks. Once Houston is taken off of the PUP list, he will be allowed to practice for 21 days before the team has to activate him. The team is hoping that Houston will be able to hit the ground running, but it’s not immediately clear when he might make his in-game debut.

So far, the team has just five sacks through four games this season. KC needs Houston on the field, but they won’t rush him if he’s not ready. The Chiefs take on the rival Raiders this Sunday. Houston, in theory, could be activated on Sunday Oct. 23 against the Saints.

Lions DT Haloti Ngata To Miss Time

October 12th, 2016 at 1:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Lions defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is expected to miss 2-3 weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He is currently undergoing tests to confirm that timetable. Haloti Ngata (vertical)

Ngata left the Lions’ 24-23 win over the Eagles with a shoulder injury. So far in this young season, the advanced metrics haven’t been fond of Ngata’s play. He ranks as the 58th best interior defender in the league out of 111 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus. His pass rush score of 69.6 would put him in at least the middle of the pack, but he has earned an atrocious 48.7 mark for his run defense.

In his first season in the Motor City, Ngata started 15 games, posting 15 tackles and 2.5 sacks. This spring, the Lions re-upped him on a two-year pact worth $12MM with $6MM fully guaranteed.

The Lions rank 21st in the NFL in run defense this season.

Browns OL Joel Bitonio To Miss Time

October 12th, 2016 at 12:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Browns guard Joel Bitonio has a mid-foot injury and will be out for an extended period of time, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets. Bitonio has been playing through the injury for some time, but that has only exacerbated the issue. Joel Bitonio (vertical)

Last year, Bitonio was placed on IR in December when an ankle injury forced him out of action. He was rated as the No. 33 guard in the NFL by Pro Football Focus when he was shut down last year. This year, through five games, PFF has him rated as the ninth-best guard in the league. He has earned an overall grade of 83.3 with roughly even scores for his pass blocking and run blocking.

The Browns have had terrible luck with injuries so far this season and Bitonio is just the latest starter to go down. It remains to be seen how long the 25-year-old will be sidelined for.

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