NFC North Notes: Packers, Perry, Lions
Packers coach Mike McCarthy isn’t offering up a lot of details about Nick Perry’s hand injury, but a source tells ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky that the injury is not as bad the broken hand he suffered last year. In fact, this time around, it’s only one finger that requires treatment. When Perry broke his hand last season, he had to have multiple screws placed into several broken fingers. To his credit, he didn’t miss much time after last year’s surgery and returned to action in time for the end of the regular season and the playoffs.
This is all relatively good news, but there’s still no timetable for Perry’s recovery just yet and, privately, one has to imagine the Packers sweating a bit after giving him a five-year, $60MM contract this offseason.
Here’s more from the NFC North:
- George Johnson’s first workout with the Lions this year didn’t go as planned. The veteran defensive end showed up out of shape and was told to address that before circling back. It took only two weeks for Johnson to shed ten pounds and prove himself, leading to his deal this week, Justin Rogers of the Detroit News writes. Now, the Lions are optimistic about what he can bring to the table in his second stint with the club. “He’s still the same guy that works extremely hard, heavy-handed guy that can make some things happen and the rest of it we’ll see,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “I mean, he had an outstanding year that year, and those are hard to duplicate, but he will contribute to our team.” Johnson had six sacks for the Lions in 2014.
- PFR readers don’t have a ton of faith in the Bears‘ ability to bounce back from their 0-2 start.
East Rumors: Lawrence, Jets, McAdoo, Pats
Demarcus Lawrence has won matchups with Giants right tackle Bobby Hart and Broncos right-edge protector Menelik Watson en route to 3.5 sacks in the Cowboys‘ first two games. However, the fourth-year defensive end is not big on attributing his early run of success to being in a contract year. And the former second-round pick wants to impress Cowboys management rather than pursue a UFA path.
“I mean, it’s a contract year, so what?” Lawrence said, via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News. “I want to be here forever. This year don’t define me as a player. Y’all might say it’s because it’s a contract year, but the first year I was balling. My second year I was balling. My third year I had trouble with my back, so it didn’t seem like I was there. This year doesn’t define me.”
That injury and a four-game suspension limited Lawrence to nine regular-season contests last season. He registered just four sacks after recording eight as a second-year player. Lawrence missed nine games as a rookie due to injury, so the former Boise State standout staying healthy would be a key component of his push for a second Cowboys contract.
Here’s the latest from the East divisions, shifting to a contract that didn’t come to pass.
- Jay Cutler said the Jets scheduled multiple visits for him to visit New York as a free agent, but each ended up being cancelled. Now coming to the Big Apple as the Dolphins starter, Cutler said the sides weren’t in the mere exploratory stage but also noted (via the Associated Press) the Jets weren’t “aggressive” in their pursuit of him as a then-UFA. Cutler will face former Bears teammate Josh McCown this weekend in the AFC East tilt.
- Malcolm Butler played at least 96 percent of the Patriots‘ defensive snaps in 2015 and ’16, but Eric Rowe took his place in the starting lineup last week against the Saints. The subject of trade rumors this offseason — with the Saints being the frontrunner for that would-be deal — the contract-year corner tried to brush that topic off. “This is where I play; this is where I’m happy at,” Butler said (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com), “just have to continue doing my thing.” This is the latest chapter in the Butler/Pats saga, one that looks likely to end after this season. Both Rowe and Stephon Gilmore have seen groin injuries emerge, so Butler may well return to the Pats’ starting lineup against the Texans. However, Butler’s received no indication that he’ll return to a first-string role.
- Ben McAdoo is not dismissing the idea of ceding the Giants‘ play-calling reins, but it doesn’t sound like he wants to give them up, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv notes, adding it might take a front office direction to get the second-year coach to give up that responsibility. While writing OC Mike Sullivan suddenly calling plays wouldn’t be a cure-all, Vacchiano opines that McAdoo is occasionally “lost” trying to manage the game and call plays.
Falcons Promote Joe Vellano From P-Squad
The Falcons promoted defensive tackle Joe Vellano from their practice squad and waived cornerback Deji Olatoye to make room.
This marks the second time in 2017 the Falcons promoted Vellano to their active roster, having done so before the NFC championship game as well. Vellano played in Super Bowl LI as a backup, the fifth playoff contest for which he’s dressed.
A 28-year-old ex-UDFA out of Maryland, Vellano spent 2016 with the Falcons before being signed to Atlanta’s practice squad after this past training camp. But his most notable NFL work came with the Patriots. New England deployed Vellano as a starter in eight games during the 2013 season. Vellano also collected a Super Bowl ring in being a part-time performer with the 2014 Pats.
A Ravens UDFA in 2014, Olatoye has spent time with the Chiefs, Cowboys and Falcons but has yet to play in a regular-season game.
Eric Winston On NFLPA Extending DeMaurice Smith
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith received a unanimous vote of confidence in being extended earlier this week. Smith’s term will run through at least 2021 and possibly longer. That year looms as a critical year for the NFLPA since the current CBA expires after the 2020 season.
NFLPA president Eric Winston discussed the decision to keep Smith in his current post, rather than open that position up to an outside challenger in March.
“Is that the way Apple does it?” the recently released tackle said of the prospect of a full-scale election process (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “Does Apple open up for their CEO spot? Does Tim Cook have to run against someone every three years? Does the Commissioner run against someone? Is that how the NFL does business? I think that’s silly.
“I think there’s a time and a place for elections, but again, this isn’t a public office. And that’s sort of what we had three years ago, and guys overwhelmingly rejected that thought. … So I kind of reject the notion that there needs to be a street fight every three years or every four or five years to decide if we have the right guy. I don’t think that necessarily healthy for the union and I don’t think frankly that’s how good companies are run.”
Smith has served in this post since March 2009 and led the way toward hammering out the current CBA on which the league’s operating. He will now have a chance to negotiate the next one and has already proclaimed the ensuing agreement won’t be completed without a “significant” work stoppage.
Cyrus Mehri emerged as a top potential challenger to Smith, but the 14 members of the selection committee did not end up allowing him to make a legitimate push.
“You’d have to ask them,” Winston said of the committee’s decision. “I mean obviously I know he ran as if this was a public campaign and frankly maybe he thought it was for whatever reason, but he didn’t do the homework and understand what the process was and how the process has changed. But obviously he didn’t move the needle with guys and frankly a lot of the things he said we’re going forward with already, so there wasn’t a lot of new criticism and what he said was a lot of what people said three years ago and that was kind of similarly rejected as well three years ago.”
As for if Smith had any role in manipulating the process to make sure it was harder to replace him? Winston shot that down quickly.
“I think it’s a slap in the face when you start talking about that because … I can tell you De Smith has nothing to do with the resolution process,” Winston said. “He’s in the back, he offers his opinion when he’s asked and that’s it. The board, the executive committee, and the guys run the resolution process.
“This was run through resolution so we had a committee, again we studied it all year and then guys decided what process was best for them. We ended up talking about this for an hour during meetings. Going back and forth, ‘OK, should it be unanimous? Should it not be unanimous? Should it be a two-thirds vote here?’”
West Notes: Bolles, Bucannon, Chiefs, Hawks
Despite the Broncos fearing multiple severe injuries for left tackle Garett Bolles, the rookie suited up for practice on Thursday and has a chance to play against the Bills. Vance Joseph (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post) said the team thought Bolles’ injury, determined to be a bruise on his lower left leg, was more serious than it ended up being. Joseph said the first-round pick is “getting better fast” but is obviously hesitant about proclaiming him ready to return to the starting lineup. Bolles has fared well in his first two games, prior to being carted off in the third quarter of the Broncos’ Week 2 win.
Bolles said he also “thought it was serious” and will not rush back. Denver’s bye comes in Week 5, so holding Bolles out for two games would make sense. But his return to practice, on a limited basis, so soon bodes well for a possible return against the Bills or Raiders before the week off.
Donald Stephenson initially received the call to replace Bolles at left tackle Sunday, but utility man Allen Barbre ended up seeing more time there. Barbre and Max Garcia were alternating at left guard, but the veteran played tackle with the Eagles at times in recent years and provides versatility if the Broncos aren’t keen on throwing Stephenson — whom they replaced at right tackle in free agency with Menelik Watson — back out there. Bolles represents the fourth left tackle starter in four seasons for the Broncos, who have also seen numerous players line up with the first-stringers on the right edge in that time.
Here’s more from the Western divisions prior to tonight’s NFC West matchup.
- Deone Bucannon‘s lengthy recovery from an ankle injury, one he re-aggravated just before Week 1, could produce the Cardinals inside linebacker returning to action in Week 3, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic notes (on Twitter). Bruce Arians said (via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com) Bucannon’s “getting real close” to returning but would be on a snap count if he did so against the Cowboys. The Cards have used Karlos Dansby and first-rounder Haason Reddick as starters while Bucannon’s been out. Bucannon underwent surgery in May.
- Speaking of injury returns, it sounds like the Chiefs are planning to make cornerback Steven Nelson one of their IR-boomerang players. The third-year corner is eligible to come off IR in Week 9, and Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star notes that return is likely. For the time being, the Chiefs have gotten by with 2016 practice squad promotion Terrance Mitchell operating as Marcus Peters‘ top complement. However, Pro Football Focus rates Mitchell and Phillip Gaines — the former third-round pick whom Mitchell usurped late last season — as its Nos. 96 and 100 full-time cornerbacks through two games. A core muscle injury sidelined Nelson, K.C.’s primary slot defender last season.
- Do the Seahawks miss Jermaine Kearse? Seattle’s offense has largely sputtered in its first two games, and Doug Baldwin does see a hole where Kearse — traded to the Jets for Sheldon Richardson — departed. “Specifically on the football field, just the intricacies that he did in our offense, guys aren’t used to doing it, they didn’t have to do them, because Jermaine was so willing and able to do it, now guys are being called to do those things and that is another challenge for us,” Baldwin said, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Paul Richardson and third-round rookie Amara Darboh are seeing more time, Richardson especially, after Kearse’s exit. Baldwin leads Seattle’s wideout contingent with 107 air yards; no other Hawks pass-catcher has 80.
Saints Release FB John Kuhn
No, this is not a repost. For the second time this month, the Saints have released fullback John Kuhn, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Kuhn Release Makes Room For DL Kendall Langford]
The Saints dropped Kuhn from the roster after roster cutdowns took place on Sept. 2. On Sept. 6, Kuhn was re-signed only to get another pink slip two weeks later.
Kuhn, 35, has made a name for himself as a tough, durable fullback. However, not every team in the league employs a lead blocker, so employment opportunities for Kuhn are somewhat limited. If history is any indication, he might be back on the Saints’ roster before long.
Last year, Kuhn graded out as Pro Football Focus’ ninth-best fullback. The veteran’s 79.7 score was roughly in line with his career average. In addition to blocking, he also got some touches including four rushing touchdowns and 16 catches for 70 yards and one passing TD.
Packers Place OL Jason Spriggs On IR
The Packers have placed offensive lineman Jason Spriggs on injured reserve, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Spriggs, a swing tackle, was held out of the Week 2 game with an injured hamstring. Apparently, that hammy is going to keep him out anywhere from eight weeks to the remainder of the season. 
The Packers made Spriggs a second-round pick in 2016 in part because of his versatility. The Indiana product allowed only one sack in his last three seasons on campus and also held his own at guard during Senior Bowl practices. His injury comes at an unfortunate time for Green Bay as starting tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga are both listed as questionable with injuries of their own.
Putting Spriggs on IR will create room for the addition of Ricky Jean-Francois.
Jets Sign Kalif Raymond To Practice Squad
Kalif Raymond‘s muffed punt cost him a spot on the Jets’ roster earlier this week. On Thursday, he was welcomed back, but this time he’ll be on the practice squad. 
“I’m not going to give any excuses,” Raymond said of his costly error in Week 2 against the Raiders (via ESPN.com). “You’ve got to catch the ball. On a punt return, you got to do it. That’s one of the easier kicks of the game that I took for granted.”
Raymond is technically listed as a wide receiver, but he has yet to catch a pass in his two NFL seasons. He earned his spot on the 53-man roster exclusively for his return skills, but the Jets felt they could no longer stick with him after he muffed two punts in Week 1 (both recovered by the Jets) and muffed another in Week 2.
The Jets are expected to put Jeremy Kerley on punt return duty in Week 3 against Miami.
Packers’ Nick Perry To Have Hand Surgery
Packers linebacker Nick Perry is set to undergo hand surgery, coach Mike McCarthy told reporters on Thursday. The timetable for his recovery is not clear at this time. 
“Violent football player. He plays physical,” McCarthy said of Perry. “You look at his play style, that’s really part of his game, the violence he plays with, with his hands.”
Perry has been through this before. Last season, he underwent hand surgery and missed only two games before returning for the end of the regular season and postseason. Last year, he was able to play through the pain with a club on his surgically-repaired hand. It’s not yet known if he’ll go that route this time. After the operation, McCarthy says the team should have a better handle on his treatment plan.
Last year, Perry notched career highs in starts (12), sacks (11) and tackles (52). Prior to 2016, he had only 16 career starts and 12.5 sacks to his credit. The Falcons, Colts, and Jets all expressed interest in him this offseason, but the Packers retained him with a five-year, $60MM deal, making hm one of the league’s highest-paid 3-4 outside linebackers.
While Perry is out, the Packers will be relying more on August pickup Ahmad Brooks. Brooks missed the Week 2 game with a concussion, but he is expected to play on Sunday against the Bengals.
Jets To Sign DE David Bass
The Jets have signed defensive end David Bass, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). To make room, the team has waived outside linebacker Freddie Bishop. 
Bass spent the last two seasons with the Titans. In 2015, he set career highs in games (16) and starts (seven) and recorded 1.5 sacks and on interception. His production dipped last year as he appeared in 13 games and played in just over 20 percent of the Titans’ snaps. The Titans opted to use him more on special teams, employing him on 45 percent of those snaps. Bass joined the Seahawks in May and appeared in each of their first two games, but he was cut loose earlier this week.
The 0-2 Jets will take on the Dolphins at home on Sunday in search of their first win.