AFC East Rumors: Patriots, McCown, Cutler
The Patriots will be without two of their top cover men against the Jets. A late addition to the Pats’ injury report, Stephon Gilmore is out for Sunday’s game with a concussion. Gilmore was not listed on New England’s injury report prior to Saturday, but Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter) the cornerback had experienced headaches since the Buccaneers game nine days ago. Eric Rowe is out with a groin injury, leaving the Patriots shorthanded on the outside. Gilmore’s concussion setback comes after he was a game-time decision to face the Bucs due to an ankle injury. Rowe hasn’t practiced since aggravating a groin problem in Week 4. New England did not sign anyone before Saturday afternoon’s deadline, so the team will not make a practice squad promotion for depth purposes as a result of these injuries.
Here’s more from New England and other AFC East headquarters prior to Week 6 Sunday.
- Alan Branch, though, did make the trip with the Patriots to New York after being left off the travel roster for his team’s Week 5 tilt in Tampa, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports. Branch played in New England’s first four games after being re-signed this offseason. His season’s traversing a pattern Jabaal Sheard‘s did last year. After being left off the travel list for a midseason road trip, Sheard returned a week later and finished last season with 15 regular-season games played. Branch signed a two-year deal worth up to $12MM, so another healthy scratch would certainly be strange.
- When the Jets were surveying the quarterback market, they became the latest team to turn to Josh McCown‘s five-game audition with the 2013 Bears as evidence of proficiency. New OC John Morton observed McCown’s work during that stretch — one that booked him the starting gig with the 2014 Bucs and probably played a key role in coaxing the Browns to sign him a year later — and tailored Gang Green’s offense around what McCown did well that season, Bob Glauber of Newsday notes. McCown has the Jets at a surprising 3-2, with the three wins exceeding his total with the Bucs and Browns combined. The 38-year-old quarterback is completing 71 percent of his passes in Morton’s offense.
- That said, the Jets aren’t expected to let this season distract them from plans to acquire a long-term quarterback in 2018, Rich Cimini notes (on Twitter). In comparing this to the 2016 situation that saw the Jets re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick late in the offseason and then watching him regress last season, Cimini does not see the Jets turning to McCown again after this bridge season.
- Despite some outside outcries for the Dolphins to bench Jay Cutler, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald doesn’t get the feeling Dolphins players are ready to see the recently acquired veteran demoted just yet. In attempting 26 passes against the Titans, Cutler completed just 12 for 92 yards. The Dolphins plan to stick with Cutler throughout the season, although that plan could certainly be revised down the road if this offense regresses further.
Jets Waive WR Jalin Marshall
Jalin Marshall‘s four-game suspension for a PED policy violation ended, but the Jets look to be going in a different direction.
The Jets waived the second-year wide receiver on Saturday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. And the team announced the move, which ends what turned out to be a short era for the 2016 UDFA with the Jets. New York replaced Marshall on the 53-man roster with cornerback Xavier Coleman, a practice squad promotion.
This comes five days after the team activated Marshall and cut cornerback Marcus Williams, upon whom the team placed a second-round RFA tender.
Marshall worked as a rotational receiver for the Jets as a rookie but was expected to take on a bigger role going into this season, with Gang Green having released Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. But the PED suspension intervened, and the Jets now have Jermaine Kearse and Jeremy Kerley in addition to multiple mid-round draft rookies at the position.
Kerley has helped the Jets fill Marshall’s special teams roles. The Ohio State product worked as both a kick- and punt-return specialist last season.
Patriots LB Harvey Langi Involved In “Serious” Car Accident
Patriots rookie linebacker Harvey Langi was involved in a car accident in Foxborough on Friday night, the team announced.
Langi and his wife, who was also in the vehicle, suffered “serious” injuries, according to NESN.com’s Doug Kyed. While the Patriots confirmed Langi and his wife were hospitalized because of the injuries, they are not considered to be life-threatening, per Kyed and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
This occurred Friday night while the Langis’ vehicle was rear-ended while being stopped at a traffic light. The Foxborough Fire department reports it was a three-car collision.
The Patriots are set to make the trip to New York to face the Jets on Saturday afternoon. Langi’s designation on the Patriots’ injury report is a back injury, Reiss tweets. He is out for Sunday’s game.
An undrafted rookie out of BYU, Langi received a large signing bonus to join the Patriots. He’s on the active roster but has played in one of New England’s five games this season, Week 2 against the Saints.
Colts Place Jack Mewhort On IR
The Colts injury bug hits again. Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star reports (via Twitter) that offensive guard Jack Mewhort is headed to the injured reserve. The lineman’s knee swelled up yesterday, and a subsequent MRI revealed that he needed surgery.
Mewhort, 26, has started each of his 45 NFL games since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2014. This isn’t the first time the lineman has experienced knee issues. After suffering an injury during the 2016 preseason, Mewhort missed the first few weeks of the regular season. He went on to play in 10 games for the Colts, but his campaign ultimately ended on the IR.
This is yet another blow to a Colts offensive line that has allowed 18 total sacks this season. The team has previously lost Denzelle Good and Deyshawn Bond, although neither of those players were as essential as Mewhort. While Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance in 2017 (he only ranks 48th among 72 eligible guards), he was rated much higher in previous seasons. With Mewhort done for the season, one of Le’Raven Clark, Mike Person, or Kyle Kalis could be promoted to the starting lineup.
Fortunately, there is some good news for the Colts. ESPN’s Mike Wells tweets that tight end Jack Doyle has cleared the concussion protocol and will play on Monday night. The 27-year-old missed last week’s game against the 49ers.
Falcons Waive RB Brian Hill
With receiver Mohamed Sanu set to miss tomorrow’s matchup against the Dolphins, the Falcons have made a roster change. ESPN’s Vaughn McClure reports that the team has promoted wideout Marvin Hall from the practice squad. To make room on the roster, the team notably waived running back Brian Hill, who was a fifth-round pick in this past year’s draft.
Hill had a standout career during his time at Wyoming, especially during the 2016 campaign. He ultimately compiled 1,860 yards and 22 touchdowns on 349 carries, earning him a spot on the All-Mountain West’s first team. The running back garnered interest from multiple teams during the draft process, and he was ultimately selected in the fifth round by the Falcons. It was initially thought that the rookie could serve as a “power back” alternative to Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
However, the 21-year-old struggled during the preseason, compiling only 41 rushing yards on 26 carries (1.6-yard average). He made a brief appearance during his team’s Week 4 loss to the Bills, but he’s yet to compile a single carry. Following his release, former undrafted rookie Terron Ward will presumably slide up to the team’s third running back spot.
Hall, 24, has bounced around the league since going undrafted out of Washington in 2016. Besides the Falcons, he’s had brief stints with the Raiders and Cardinals, but he’s yet to see the field for a regular season game. He’ll presumably slide beneath Andre Roberts and Nick Williams on the team’s wide receiver depth chart.
NFC Notes: Lions, Shepard, Redskins, Wilson
Recently appearing before a congressional subcommittee regarding brain injuries in football, former Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy said his former organization didn’t want him speaking about CTE.
“The moment I said anything about it, I had two calls telling me I shouldn’t talk about it,” Levy said (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com). “I don’t know if it was because it was CTE, or if it was because it’s just the general NFL rule of, like, only football. Only talk about football, only think about football. I posted simply the research … and I was told not to talk about it the first day it was out. And I’m just, like, you know, it could have just been locker room culture. Nobody wants to talk about anything other than football. But it didn’t sit well with me when I’m talking about brain injuries.
“It’s my brain. It’s not my shoulder, it’s my brain. It controls everything I do, it controls everything we think, everything we feel. And if I don’t have the right to speak about that as a player, I think it really speaks about the culture of the NFL, of what those conversations are. I think that’s indicative of the conversations that we don’t hear. The closed-door conversations between owners. They still are trying to find ways to silence us.”
The Lions responded to their former player’s statement, saying “[w]e are aware of his comments and we strongly disagree with this claim that anyone from our organization tried to silence him.”
Levy, 30, spent his entire eight-year career in Detroit. After being named as a second-team All-Pro in 2014, the linebacker signed a lucrative extension with the organization. However, a hip, knee, and meniscus injury ultimately forced him to hang up his cleats, and he’s since spent his team advocating for CTE awareness.
“I don’t think the owners are in touch with it,” Levy said. “It’s a business. We’re a number. Our brains and bodies are disposable.”
Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFC…
- Matthew Stafford is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s matchup against the Saints with an ankle injury, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Lions quarterback is expected to play. The 29-year-old is one pace for one of his most efficient NFL season, as he’s completed 64.2-percent of his pass attempts for 1116 yards, nine touchdowns, and only one interception.
- The Giants placed three wideouts (Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, and Dwayne Harris) on the injured reserve this past week, and it looks like they’ll be without another top receiver for at least this weekend. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets that wideout Sterling Shepard is out for tomorrow’s contest in Denver. The former second-rounder has hauled in 22 receptions for 263 yards and one touchdown this season.
- Back in 2012, the Redskins had selected quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth round despite using the second-overall pick on fellow quarterback Robert Griffin III. However, as former offensive coordinator (and current 49ers head coach) Kyle Shanahan explains, the team was actually eyeing another notable signal-caller with that fourth-round selection. “Actually, our goal was we were going to take Russell Wilson in the fourth round knowing what type of offense we were going to run, and we wanted to pair some guys with that, but he went before that,” Shanahan said (via Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee). “And we had Kirk ranked high. He was there in the fourth. He fell that far, so we thought it made a lot of sense for the organization.”
Latest On LB NaVorro Bowman
If you were surprised when the 49ers released veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman yesterday, you weren’t alone. Some of the player’s former teammates told Mindi Bach of NBC Sports Bay Area that they were blindsided by the move.
“I’m shocked. I didn’t see the writing on the wall,” said lineman Daniel Kilgore, who had been teammates with Bowman for seven years. “It’s tough, man. We spent a lot of time together. Our families have spent a lot of time together.”
“I think everybody was pretty surprised,” echoed offensive tackle Joe Staley. “I have nothing but positive things to say about NaVorro and the leader he’s been and the player he’s been here. He’s a great person. A hell of a teammate.”
After having approached Bowman about a reduced roll, both sides began seeking a new destination for the linebacker. While the 49ers reportedly had a deal lined up, the destination wasn’t appealing to Bowman. Ultimately, the team decided to appease the 29-year-old and release him instead. Coach Kyle Shanahan understands that some of his players may not understand the transaction, but he hopes they recognize that it was done for the betterment of the team.
“I hope they respect what our intentions are, and that no matter how hard it is, we are going to do what is best for this team,” Shanahan said. “I know whenever you are talking to a group of guys that lost a brother in that way, a good friend to everybody, it’s always a tough conversation. But I think our team, we’ve got a strong team, and I think our team will respond.”
Let’s check out some more notes pertaining to Bowman…
- Bowman is apparently generating plenty of interest. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says (via Twitter) that as a result, the player isn’t expected to sign any later than Monday. The reporter adds that the release will be made official later today.
- The Broncos aren’t among the team that have expressed interest in the linebacker, reports Troy Renck of ABC Denver7 (via Twitter). A source told the reporter that the team is “not in the market” for Bowman, which makes sense when you consider their linebacker depth. Even with Shane Ray out for the time being, Denver is still holding eight linebackers on their active roster.
- Earlier this week, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area observed Bowman’s drop in production. The reporter noted that the linebacker “appears to have slowed down dramatically, and the coaching staff has determined he is a liability in coverage.”
Extra Points: Seahawks, Vikings, Lions, Pats
Free agent offensive tackle Branden Albert is still in the Seattle area after working out for the Seahawks on Monday, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Albert, 32, had reportedly been set to meet with the Giants at some point this week, but as of last night, he hadn’t yet left for New York. Whether that means he’s close to a contract with the Seahawks is unclear, but Albert would almost certainly be an improvement over Seattle blindside protector Rees Odhiambo, who currently ranks as the worst tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus. The Giants, too, could use help along the offensive line, as Ereck Flowers and Bobby Hart have posted below-average results through five games. Albert, of course, had an eventful offseason that included a “retirement” after being traded from the Dolphins to the Jaguars.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- The Vikings should offer an extension to backup quarterback Case Keenum, opines Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Keenum has been called on to appear in four games (three starts) in relief of Sam Bradford, who is still dealing with knee complications. He’s performed well, completing 64.5% of his passes for four touchdowns and zero interceptions, but his contract — like those of Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater — expires after the 2017 season. An extension would allow Minnesota to lock in a quality reserve for another year or two, while giving Keenum more cash and the possibility of competing for a starting job in 2018. Bradford has already been ruled out for Sunday’s contest against the Packers, so Keenum will earn a fourth start.
- Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will require a four-month recovery period after undergoing surgery on a torn bicep Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). As had already been reported, Ngata won’t be able to return to the Lions this season, but that injury timeline means he should be fully healthy by the time free agency opens in 2018. Ngata isn’t under contract for next year, and the soon-to-be 34-year-old interior defender has flirted with retirement in the past. It’s unclear whether he intends to continue his career for another season.
- Given his lengthy injury history, it would be “shocking” to see Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert garner a long-term contract like Zach Ertz, Travis Kelce, or Jordan Reed, all of whom earn more than $8.5MM annually, opines Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Eifert, who was placed on injured reserve on Thursday, has only appeared in 39 games over four-plus seasons in the NFL. While his talent is immense (13 touchdowns in 2015), Eifert simply can’t stay on the field, a fact which makes the franchise tag — at a cost north of $10MM — an unlikely option for Cincinnati in 2018. Instead, a one-year, “prove-it” deal for the 27-year-old pass-catcher could conceivably make more sense for both sides.
- The Patriots currently have three rookies on the various NFL reserve lists, but only one will be able to return in 2017, as Doug Kyed of NESN tweets. Offensive lineman Andrew Jelks, an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt who is currently on the non-football injury list, can come back under PUP rules, meaning he must miss six weeks of the season. After that, New England has a five-week window during which it can activate Jelks. Tackle Antonio Garcia, a third-rounder from Troy who’s on the non-football illness list, and defensive lineman Keionta Davis, a UDFA on non-football injury, aren’t eligible to return this season, per Kyed.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/13/17
Reaction To 49ers’ NaVorro Bowman Release
The 49ers ultimately released veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman today after failing to find a suitable trade partner, but at least one club did have interest in Bowman, general manager John Lynch told reporters, including Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Lynch said the 49ers likely could have dealt Bowman to that particular team, but Bowman didn’t want to play for that unidentified club. Given that it’s unlikely a non-contender would have interest in an expensive two-down linebacker, it’s possible Bowman’s misgivings were geographical in nature, although that’s entirely speculative.
Here’s more on Bowman and the 49ers:
- Bowman is reportedly “excited” to become a free agent and have the ability to pick his next team, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). As Florio reported earlier today, Bowman didn’t have any offset language in his 49ers contract, meaning he can collect his fully guaranteed San Francisco salary and earn money from his new club. As such, Bowman will take home the rest of his $4.7MM guarantee plus whatever he can wrangle on the open market.
- An offensive coach who faced Bowman earlier this year tells Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (Twitter link) that while Bowman can no longer run like he used to, he’s still a solid tackler. Although Bowman remains a capable run defender, he’s a liability in the passing game. Hypothetically, that could be a problem for Bowman in a league where defenses play nickel on two-thirds of snaps.
- One team that likely won’t be pursuing Bowman is the division-rival Cardinals, whom Mike Jurecki of 98.7 FM (Twitter link) don’t have any interest in the 29-year-old linebacker. Arizona has made a habit of inking aging defensive players (Dwight Freeney, Antoine Bethea), but that apparently won’t be happening with Bowman. The Cardinals are set at inside linebacker with Karlos Dansby and Deone Bucannon.
- The 49ers will absorb $4.774MM in 2018 dead money as a result of releasing Bowman, the same total they would have taken on had they traded him, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap writes in his analysis of the transaction.