Andrew Luck Still At Least A Month Away
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck returned to practice in a limited capacity this week, but Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the star signal-caller is still at least a month away from returning to game action. There was hope that Luck could return for the Colts’ Week 6 (October 16) tilt against the Titans, or, failing that, for the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Jaguars on October 22. However, it appears as though neither of those scenarios will come to fruition.
Per La Canfora, Luck made it through his initial throwing program with no setbacks, but he is likely to spend the remainder of October continuing to rehab and slowly working his way back into game shape. He has not yet practiced on consecutive days, and he will soon progress to doing so in a limited manner. Once that happens, he can begin practicing more fully.
The Colts have stumbled to a 1-3 record without Luck under center, with their only win coming against the hapless Browns. The hope was that the season could still be salvaged if he could return to the field within the next couple of weeks, but if he cannot make it back until November 5 at the earliest, Indianapolis’ season could effectively be over. The team has winnable matchups against the 49ers, Titans, Jaguars, and Bengals prior to that date, but it is difficult to envision the Colts winning more than two of those games without Luck, which would put them at 3-5 on November 5.
In the meantime, Jacoby Brissett will continue to get the nod at quarterback. He has been something of a stabilizing influence for the Colts’ offense, but until Luck returns, Indianapolis will continue to be behind the 8-ball.
Extra Points: 49ers, Patriots, Jaguars, Lions
While Brian Hoyer has certainly struggled four games into the 2017 season, it’s “difficult to imagine” the 49ers making a change at quarterback in the near future, writes Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Hoyer ranks 30th in the NFL in both quarterback rating and adjusted net yards per attempt, but he’s extremely familiar with head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s offense. Given that San Francisco is not expected to seriously compete this season, Shanahan would rather have a signal-caller who effectively runs the gameplan than turn to third-round rookie C.J. Beathard, reasons Maiocco.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Despite signing a two-year, $5MM contract prior earlier this year, linebacker David Harris is still establishing his role with the Patriots, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com details. Originally thought to be in consideration for a starting role, Harris has played all of seven snaps through four weeks. As Reiss opines, Harris is essentially being retained for his locker room leadership, as he doesn’t have a regular spot on defense or special teams. How long New England is willing to keep Harris on the active roster is an open question if his playing time doesn’t increase in the coming weeks.
- The Jaguars will be without starting center Brandon Linder when they face the Steelers on Sunday, as the club officially downgraded to out as he deals with an illness. Linder has lost a “significant” amount of weight because of said illness, tweets Hays Carlyon of 1010 XL, which could bode negatively for his return in the coming weeks. Without Linder available, Jacksonville will turn to Tyler Shatley, who started four games a season ago, at the pivot.
- Although Eric Ebron has only managed 11 receptions for 87 yards so far this season, the Lions aren’t likely to place him on the trade block in 2017, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. Detroit general manager Bob Quinn has shown a willingness to deal in past, but Ebron isn’t expected to be moved, and that’s partly due to his perceived upside. The Lions hold a $8.25MM option on Ebron in 2018, but the club could release instead of paying that tota.
Lions Won’t Activate DE Armonty Bryant This Week
The Lions will not activate defensive end Armonty Bryant from suspension before Sunday’s Week 5 contest against the Giants, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). Detroit holds a roster exemption on Bryant that expires on Monday, meaning it must either add him to the 53-man roster or release him by that time.
Detroit ranks sixth in defensive DVOA, but that’s largely because of the club’s secondary, as the Lions’ defensive line is just 17th in adjusted sack rate and 28th in adjusted line yards, per Football Outsiders. Anthony Zettel, a 2016 sixth-round pick, has given the Lions incredible production (four sacks) and currently ranks as the league’s No. 9 edge defender, per Pro Football Focus. Ezekiel Ansah and free agent addition Cornelius Washington have been serviceable, as well, meaning Detroit has more depth than originally thought.
That’s not to say a Bryant return wouldn’t be welcomed, however. Kerry Hyder, who had been penciled in as a Detroit starter, is done for the year after tearing his Achilles in the preseason, while defensive tackle Khyri Thornton won’t come back from suspension until Week 7.
Bryant, who was banned for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, has been suspended three times in the past year. The Lions claimed Bryant off waivers from the Browns last October, and while he appeared in just five games in 2016, he did tally an impressive three sacks during his short campaign. In the best season of his four-year career, 2015, Bryant totaled 14 appearances and 5.5 sacks.
Poll: Best NFC Free Agent Addition?
A quarter of the NFL season is now in the books, which means we can accurately grade each and every free agent signing, right? Right?
Even if that’s not the case, it’s still possible to get a sense of how free agents are playing and whether they’re living up to their contacts through four games. After taking a look at the AFC on Friday, today we examined the best free agent signing on each NFC club before asking you to vote on the top overall NFC addition.
One note: we only looked at newcomers, so free agents that re-signed with their original clubs (Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short or Cardinals edge rusher Chandler Jones, for example) aren’t included. On to the list!
Arizona Cardinals
- Antoine Bethea, S: General manager Steve Keim & Co. have made a habit of adding aging veterans — especially on the defensive side of the ball — with success, and the Cardinals have seemingly done so again in the form of Bethea. Playing alongside Tyrann Mathieu and another age-30+ defensive back in Tyvon Branch, Bethea has managed one interception and three pass breakups while helping Arizona to the No. 12 ranking in defensive DVOA. And his three, $12.75MM deal can be easily escaped if he does begin to show signs of wearing down later on in 2017.
Atlanta Falcons
- Dontari Poe, DT: After narrowly missing out on a Super Bowl title earlier this year, the Falcons decided to run it back, returning in 2017 with much of the same roster. Poe was Atlanta’s major addition on defense, as the club waited until the athletic defensive tackle’s market fell enough to allow it to ink him to a one-year, $8MM pact. Poe, who was regularly playing more than 1,000 defensive snaps with the Chiefs, is on pace to play on roughly 750 defensive snaps this season, and limiting his action could be helping his overall performance. Through four games, the Falcons are 13th in pressure rate, up from 20th in 2016.
Carolina Panthers
- Julius Peppers, DE: Peppers, now in his second stint with the Panthers, was hardly Carolina’s most high-priced free agent signing this spring. That honor goes to $55MM man Matt Kalil, who has been — perhaps unsurprisingly — underwhelming at left tackle. The Panthers are playing Peppers on a reduced snap count, and the 37-year-old has already put up 4.5 sacks through a quarter of the season. He’s an absolute freak of nature who can still bend the edge with ease.
Chicago Bears
- N/A: The signing of free agent Mike Glennon clearly hasn’t worked out, as the veteran signal-caller was benched after four games. The rest of Chicago’s additions, a list that includes cornerbacks Marcus Cooper and Prince Amukamara and wideouts Markus Wheaton and Kendall Wright, have also been sub-par. Quintin Demps could have been the choice here, but he’s now on injured reserve after breaking his arm.
Dallas Cowboys
- N/A: The Cowboys allowed most of their secondary to walk out the door during free agency, and veteran Nolan Carroll was their only real external addition. He’s been one of the worst defensive backs in the league in 2017.
Detroit Lions
- Ricky Wagner, T: Detroit upgraded at both right guard and right tackle this offseason, swapping out Larry Warford and Riley Reiff for T.J. Lang and Wagner. Although both new Lions linemen have been efficient thus far, the nod goes slightly to Wagner. Both Lang and Wagner are earning the same $9.5MM annual salary, but Wagner is three years younger and under team control for a longer period. Additionally, the Lions average more yards (4.41 to 3.04) when running around the right end than through the center/guard.
Green Bay Packers
- Jahri Evans, G: In a sequence that is completely out of character, the Packers actually signed a number of outside free agents over the past several months, including cornerback Davon House (a former Packer) and front seven defenders Ahmad Brooks, Quinton Dial, and Ricky Jean-Francois. But the best newcomer is on the offensive side ball, as Jahri Evans has played every snap for Green Bay. A lifelong Saint until 2017, Evans has helped the Packers’ offensive line to a No. 3 ranking in adjusted line yards at a cost of only $2.25MM.
Los Angeles Rams
- Andrew Whitworth, T: Perhaps no other club made a larger upgrade at one position than the Rams did in going from draft bust Greg Robinson to Whitworth at left tackle. The entire Rams’ offense, including quarterback Jared Goff and Todd Gurley, has gone from looking completely incompetent to leading the league in points scored. Even at the age of 35, Whitworth leads all tackles in pass rush productivity and has allowed only one pressure, per Pro Football Focus.
Minnesota Vikings
- Mike Remmers, T: The Vikings overpaid for both Remmers and left tackle Riley Reiff, but both deals have allowed Minnesota to return to average along the offensive line, a massive step-up from their 2016 front five. Remmers is earning nearly half of what Reiff is making but ranks slightly ahead of the former Lion in PFF’s offensive tackle rankings. Additionally, Remmers hasn’t allowed a sack this season, and the Vikings have been much better at running right than left.
New Orleans Saints
- Larry Warford, G: Warford replaced another player on this list (Jahri Evans) and has continued to perform as a solid NFL guard. On an offensive line that’s seen some reshuffling due to injuries to Terron Armstead and Zach Strief, the Saints’ interior — which also includes left guard Andrus Peat and center Max Unger — has remained stable. New Orleans has been excellent at running up the middle, as the club ranks sixth with 4.62 yards per carry behind its center or guards. The Saints control the 26-year-old Warford through the 2020 campaign.
New York Giants
- N/A: Brandon Marshall has yet to top 70 yards receiving in a game, and managed only two receptions in Weeks 1-2. And the signing of fullback/tight end Rhett Ellison never made sense given how much 11 personnel (one back, one tight end) the Giants run. He’s earning $4.5MM annually and has five total receptions.
Philadelphia Eagles
- LeGarrette Blount, RB: Although he’s not going match his NFL-leading 18 rushing touchdowns from 2016, Blount has already shown that he’s worth the one-year, $1.25MM deal he inked with the Eagles earlier this year. He’s averaging 5.9 yards per carry thus far, and he figures to be even more involved in Philadelphia’s offense following injuries to Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood. Tough as ever, Blount managed 127 of his 136 Week 4 yards after contact.
San Francisco 49ers
- Brandon Fusco, G: The 49ers and new general manager John Lynch spent a good deal of money this offseason, handing $10MM+ in guarantees to veterans such as wide receiver Pierre Garcon (who’s been average at best) and linebacker Malcolm Smith (who suffered a season-ending injury in August). The most astute signing, however, may have been guard Brandon Fusco, who signed for just $1.4MM total. He’s played every offensive snap for San Francisco and graded as the NFL’s No. 18 guard, per PFF, making him a remarkable value.
Seattle Seahawks
- Luke Joeckel, G: Joeckel’s one-year, $8MM contract with the Seahawks never made much sense, as the former draft bust hasn’t performed in the NFL and probably didn’t have much of a free agent market. He’s not even playing tackle, which makes the salary all the more confusing. But PFF grades Joeckel as the No. 26 guard in the league, meaning he’s been a starting-caliber offensive lineman through four contests. Plus, it’s hard to fault nearly any single-season pact, no matter the cost.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DeSean Jackson, WR: Jackson hasn’t been the perfect complemenet to Mike Evans that many projected — while he’s still averaging a robust 17.8 yards per catch, his catch rate is at a career-low 48.3%. Jackson led the league in yards gained off defensive pass interference a season ago, but he’s garnered only one DPI for 15 yards in 2017. Always only play away from a long-distance score, Jackson can still live up to his contract if Tampa Bay’s offense starts clicking.
Washington Redskins
- D.J. Swearinger, S: In a defensive backfield that’s without Su’a Cravens (left squad list) and DeAngelo Hall (PUP list), Swearinger — who left the Cardinals for a three-year deal in the nation’s capital — has helped stabilize the Redskins’ secondary. Through a quarter of the season, Washington ranks sixth in defensive DVOA under new coordinator Greg Manusky, a 19-spot leap from 2016.
So, what do you think? Which of the free agents has been the best signing through a quarter of the 2017 season? Vote below, and leave your thoughts in the comments section:
Who was the best free agent addition in the NFC?
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Andrew Whitworth, T 24% (325)
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LeGarrette Blount, RB 18% (254)
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D.J. Swearinger, S 12% (163)
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Jahri Evans, G 11% (156)
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Julius Peppers, DE 8% (107)
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Dontari Poe, DT 6% (83)
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DeSean Jackson, WR 5% (65)
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Mike Remmers, T 4% (51)
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Ricky Wagner, T 3% (48)
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Luke Joeckel, G 3% (47)
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Brandon Fusco, G 2% (33)
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Larry Warford, G 2% (30)
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Antoine Bethea, S 1% (16)
Total votes: 1,378
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/7/17
Bears’ Willie Young Expected To Miss Rest Of Season
Already down several key players due to injury, the Bears look to have lost another. A torn triceps injury will shelve outside linebacker Willie Young for the season’s remainder, Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports. The Bears have yet to announce this, currently slotting Young as doubtful for their Monday-night game against the Vikings.
This setback will require surgery, per Wiederer, and strip the Bears of another starter. They’re already down defenders Jerrell Freeman and Quintin Demps — each residing on IR — while wideouts Kevin White and Cameron Meredith were previously lost to severe injuries.
Young is in his fourth season with the Bears. The team extended him last year, with the $13.55MM pact running through next season. This will reduce the Bears’ outside linebacker rotation to Pernell McPhee — who’s also experienced extensive injury troubles since coming to Chicago — Leonard Floyd and Sam Acho. Wiederer adds the Bears will consider promoting Isaiah Irving off the practice squad; the team signed Howard Jones earlier this week.
The 32-year-old Young has two sacks and seven tackles this season. He now has 26 sacks since coming to the Windy City in 2014. Most of Young’s guaranteed money came during this season, so the Bears may have a decision to make after the season. However, Young has a history of overcoming severe maladies. He bounced back from an Achilles’ tendon tear in December 2014, played in 16 games in 2015 and earned the Chicago extension on which he’s currently playing.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
- Andre Williams will return to the Chargers‘ active roster after the team announced the promotion of the running back from the practice squad. Los Angeles waived safety Dexter McCoil to make room on the 53-man. Branden Oliver being ruled out because of a hamstring injury led to this switch. Williams played one game last season but fared well, rushing for 87 yards against the Chiefs in Week 17. McCoil played in all 16 Bolts games as a rookie and two this season.
- Cliff Avril‘s neck injury prompted the Seahawks to promote defensive end Branden Jackson from their practice squad, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports. To make room, Seattle waived linebacker Justin March-Lillard. Jackson played in three games with the Raiders last season.
- The Jets promoted outside linebacker Freddie Bishop from their practice squad. Wide receiver Jalin Marshall is eligible to return after serving a four-game suspension, but it doesn’t look like he will be active Sunday in Cleveland.
NFC North Notes: Bradford, Adams, Lions
Despite Sam Bradford having expected to have a good idea about his Monday-night playing status after the Vikings‘ Saturday practice, the quarterback is officially listed as questionable for Week 5. Considering the starting signal-caller was declared out during the past two work weeks for Minnesota’s Week 3 and Week 4 games, this is progress. But Mike Zimmer (via Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, on Twitter) either doesn’t look to have seen much more from Bradford over the past two practices compared to Thursday’s, or he’s keeping encouraging news close to the vest. Although the coach said his preferred passer looks “good,” this is likely going to be a game-time decision — one that could end up with Case Keenum starting a fourth consecutive game.
Here’s the latest from the rest of the NFC North, continuing on the injury front in Green Bay.
- Davante Adams has surmounted the concussion protocol and expects to suit up for the Packers against the Cowboys, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. This would come as a slight surprise given the severity of the hospitalization-forcing hit Adams absorbed the last time he was on a game field, but the fourth-year wide receiver did have an extra three days to go through the protocol. Demovsky heard Adams was cleared just before the team boarded the plane for Dallas, and Mike McCarthy said earlier this week he would have a good idea about Adams’ playing status by that time. Adams also suffered a concussion last season but was cleared without missing a game.
- With each passing game, the chances are increasing the Lions will cut Eric Ebron rather than pay him the $8.25MM he’d be owed in 2018 via the fifth-year option, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes. Ebron has played in all four Detroit games but only has 11 catches for 87 yards. Meinke notes fourth-round rookie Michael Roberts could serve as a replacement at a fraction of the cost next season.
- The Lions will want to hang onto Ziggy Ansah, but their top pass rusher’s age, recent injury history and sporadic production since 2016 — sacks in just three of the past 20 regular-season games — will make the 29-year-old defensive end a franchise tag candidate, Meinke writes. Meinke doesn’t envision, at least as of now, the Lions making a long-term commitment to Ansah based off this recent work sample. Nothing’s emerged on an extension front since March, when the Lions were planning a re-up. Questions about the Ghana native’s actual age surfaced earlier this year as well. Needless to say, the next three-plus months will be big for the 2014 first-round pick. It cost $16.9MM to franchise a defensive end this year, so that number could approach or surpass $18MM in 2018.
- The Bears are likely to have a full-on skeleton crew at inside linebacker Monday night. With Nick Kwiatkoski doubtful to return from a pectoral injury sustained in Week 2, per Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter), the Bears would be without their top three inside ‘backers. Danny Trevathan will serve his one-game suspension Monday night, and Jerrell Freeman (pec) is on IR. Christian Jones and a to-be-determined player will start there against the Vikings.
Cowboys Activate David Irving
David Irving served his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, and the Cowboys activated the defensive end from the reserve/exempt list in advance of Week 5.
Irving is expected to play Sunday against the Packers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He will join a Cowboys pass rush suddenly buoyed by Demarcus Lawrence, who’s gotten off to a dominant start with 7.5 sacks.
Once signed off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Irving became a key contributor for the Cowboys last season. He registered four sacks and graded as the NFL’s No. 29 interior defender, according to Pro Football Focus. The 24-year-old Irving will join Tyrone Crawford and Benson Mayowa as Lawrence’s top supporting-casters.
This will be Irving’s third Cowboys season. A former UDFA out of Iowa State, he played in 12 Dallas games in 2015.
NFC Notes: Folk, Hyde, Eagles
Buccaneers kicker Nick Folk missed three field goals in his team’s five-point loss to the Patriots on Thursday night. We’ve already learned that the team will be auditioning several free agent kickers this week, and Folk acknowledged that this is all part of the business.
“You have to be able to evaluate yourself, look at it and improve, learn, see what went wrong, make the corrections and move forward,” he told ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine. “Just go out there and swing. Don’t make it too hard. It’s not real hard when you get down to it.”
After connecting on more than 87-percent of his field goal attempts last season, Tampa Bay opted for the veteran over former second-rounder Roberto Aguayo. So far, Folk has only made six of his 11 attempts, and coach Dirk Koetter told Laine that he’s been surprised about the player’s struggles.
“When we decided on Nick as our kicker — I’ve told you guys this many times — whoever our kicker is, I’ve got total confidence in him,” Koetter said. “I think Nick was kicking very well up until a week ago. He had a rough day against the Giants, he came back, and the one day we kicked in practice [this week] he kicked very, very well. We had no reason to think Nick wasn’t going to kick well last night.
“There are a couple there that you’re expecting him to make. When I say, ‘We’re disappointed today’ at opportunities that we missed, that’s at a lot of different positions. That’s certainly one.”
Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFC…
- 49ers running back Carlos Hyde is on pace to have one of his best NFL seasons, as he currently owns a career-high 4.9-yard-per-carry mark. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com observes that the 27-year-old is having this success on a contract year, and it could lead to a hefty contract. Of course, part of the player’s improvement can be attributed to getting into shape, as general Manager John Lynch said on 95.7 The Game. “He got lighter and in much better shape. It’s showing. It’s paying dividends on the field. So we’re thrilled with the way he’s playing. He’s got to continue to do it,” Lynch said (via Cam Inman of MercuryNews.com).
- Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood is set to miss tomorrow’s game, which would currently leave the team with LeGarrette Blount, Corey Clement, and Kenjon Barner. Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com notes (via Twitter) that none of those players are threats in the passing game, so he wonders if the team could promote Byron Marshall from the practice squad. The Oregon product appeared in three games last season, collecting three receptions for ten yards and 19 carries for 64 yards.
- In case you missed it, second-round rookie defensive tackle Malik McDowell — who suffered a severe concussion in a July September ATV accident — could potentially return to the Seahawks this season.