NFC East Notes: Cousins, Foles, Cowboys
The record-setting contract extension the Lions awarded quarterback Matthew Stafford on Monday will raise Redskins signal-caller Kirk Cousins‘ asking price and make it even more difficult for the team to re-sign him at season’s end, Mike Jones of the Washington Post points out. With Cousins scheduled to hit free agency next winter, the Redskins could place the franchise tag on him for a third straight year if there’s no deal in place prior to free agency, but that would mean guaranteeing him upward of $34MM. Jones expects the Redskins to apply the transition tag for a lesser cost – $28MM – and ultimately lose Cousins to a team willing to give him a massive long-term deal. The Redskins wouldn’t be entitled to any compensation in that scenario.
More from the NFC East:
- Eagles quarterback Nick Foles hasn’t taken the field this preseason because of an elbow injury. Specifically, Foles has a flexor strain and inflammation around a nerve in his right elbow, a source told Les Bowen of Philly.com. While the source indicated that Foles had the same problem during his time with the Chiefs last year, it won’t affect his place on the Eagles’ roster or his regular-season availability, Bowen notes. The plan remains for him to back up Carson Wentz beginning in Week 1.
- Cowboys tight end Rico Gathers has been dealing with a concussion for two weeks and could head to injured reserve as a result, Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes. An IR placement for Gathers would keep him out of game action for at least the first eight weeks of the season and deprive Dallas of a burgeoning weapon. The former Baylor basketball player and 2016 sixth-round pick was a shoo-in to make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster prior to his injury, Davison relays. Gathers’ absence would leave the Cowboys with the experienced James Hanna as their No. 2 tight end behind Jason Witten, though he’s coming off a season lost to injuries and isn’t a receiving threat.
- Owner Jerry Jones says that Jaylon Smith will have an “accelerated approach” towards the upcoming season (Twitter link via Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram). That’s a departure in philosophy from before, when Jones said the team would be deliberate in its approach with the Notre Dame product.
- Tight end Will Tye, defensive ends Kerry Wynn and Romeo Okwara, wide receiver Dwayne Harris, kicker Aldrick Rosas and offensive lineman D.J. Fluker aren’t sure bets to make the Giants’ roster and could be on the block, James Kratch of NJ.com observes. Although, given that trades in the NFL are rare and nobody from that group holds much appeal, Kratch doesn’t expect Big Blue to make any deals in the coming days.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.
Latest On Ezekiel Elliott
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott‘s appeal of his six-game suspension will last into a second day, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Elliott, who’s fighting a ban stemming from domestic violence allegations, faced off with the NFL on Tuesday, but there’s “no end in sight,” per Rapoport.
While Elliott may miss the first six games of the season, there’s actually a strong chance he’ll be on the field for the Cowboys’ opener against the NFC East rival Giants, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says (Twitter link via Rob Guerrera of NBC Sports Radio). Elliott suiting up for Week 1 will occur if he files a lawsuit against the league, which Florio expects to happen.
One issue Elliott’s camp continues to have is an inability to access to the notes from Tiffany Thompson’s interviews with the league, Josina Anderson of ESPN tweets. Thompson, Elliott’s ex-girlfriend who accused him of domestic violence on June 22, 2016, has credibility issues, according to the running back. However, hearing officer Harold Henderson barred Elliott’s side from including her interviews with the league in the appeal hearing. Regardless, Elliott’s team has to explain how she suffered bruising during the week of June 22, 2016. Their contention is that “virtually all of the alleged victim’s injuries were outside the timeline,” Anderson reports (on Twitter).
The notion of Elliott’s suspension being delayed until next season if he doesn’t achieve the desired result during the appeal process has come up in recent days, and it doesn’t seem that Tuesday’s events have closed the door on that possibility.
West Rumors: Raiders, Broncos, Cards, Rams
The Raiders have activated rookie cornerback Gareon Conley from the active/PUP list, the club announced today, adding that Conley is practicing for the first time on Tuesday. Conley, of course, slid to the 24th overall selection in the draft following rape allegations, but he was eventually cleared and won’t face charges. While he still needs to get up to speed, it’s possible Conley could become a starter sooner rather than later. Fellow cornerback Sean Smith –who’s facing his own legal troubles — has been demoted from Oakland’s starting lineup, meaning Conley could see expanded action during his rookie campaign.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two West divisions:
- Veteran safety T.J. Ward may not be the only player the Broncos are open to trading, as the club could also listen to offers for fourth-year receiver Cody Latimer. speculates Troy Renck of Denver7 (Twitter link). Latimer, a second-round draft choice in 2014, has never broken out in Denver, as he’s posted 16 receptions over three seasons. However, he’s still young (25), plays special teams (41% of the Broncos’ ST plays a year ago), and offers intriguing measurables (here’s his MockDraftable profile). And perhaps most importantly, Latimer could be had for minimal cost, especially given the rise of fellow receivers Jordan Taylor and Kalif Raymond in Denver, as Renck details.
- While Cardinals linebacker Deone Bucannon was recently removed from the active/PUP list, it’s an open question as to whether he’ll be ready Week 1, writes Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic. The Cardinals have the depth to withstand a short Bucannon absence, as they signed Karlos Dansby, Josh Bynes, and Philip Wheeler and drafted Haason Reddick this offseason. But a Bucannon injury will be felt, as he played on nearly three-quarters of Arizona’s defensive snaps last season, managing 89 tackles in the process. He’s signed through 2018 under the terms of his fifth-year option.
- Rams tight end Temarrick Hemingway will require surgery for a fractured fibula and is out indefinitely, tweets Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News. Hemingway, who appeared in eight games last season after being drafted in the sixth round, has been challenging for a rotational role behind fellow tight ends Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee, per Bonsignore, which makes Hemingway’s injury all the more devastating. Los Angeles could conceivably sign another tight end before the season begins, although high-profile free agents like Gary Barnidge or Ladarius Green probably aren’t a fit.
- On Monday, the California Supreme Court ruled that special taxes may be raised via citizen’s initiative through a simple majority, instead of the two-thirds majority that was previously required, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union Tribune. While those new rules won’t help bring the Chargers back to San Diego, it could allow the city to eventually lure another club to the region. However, the Chargers’ 2016 stadium measure received only 43.64% of the vote, per Acee, meaning taxes wouldn’t have been raised even under the new conditions.
Colts QB Andrew Luck Won’t Go On PUP
The Colts intend to carry quarterback Andrew Luck onto their initial 53-man roster rather than place him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, head coach Chuck Pagano tells Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Vontae Davis Has “Significant” Groin Injury]
That Indianapolis doesn’t plan on placing Luck on the PUP list does not mean he’ll be ready for the club’s season opener against the Rams on September 10 (or any of the Colts’ early-season contests). Instead, the decision to not put Luck on PUP only indicates he won’t be forced to miss the year’s first six games. Luck’s health status as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery has been murky, and neither Luck nor team owner Jim Irsay has committed to Luck playing in Week 1.
As of late July, Colts general manager Chris Ballard indicated the club would not sign another backup quarterback, instead opting to use veteran Scott Tolzien in place of Luck. Behind Tolzien, Indy doesn’t boast much experience, as Stephen Morris and Phillip Walker are the only other signal-callers on the roster. Tolzien is the only Colts passer aside from Luck with any starts under his belt, and he’s only started three career games.
Broncos QB Paxton Lynch To Miss Time
Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch is expected to miss “a couple” regular season contests while dealing with a shoulder sprain, head coach Vance Joseph told reporters, including Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter links).
If Lynch is sidelined for the early portion of the season, the Broncos would be forced to turn to 2017 undrafted rookie Kyle Sloter to act as Trevor Siemian‘s backup. The only other quarterback currently on the Denver roster is rookie Chad Kelly, who is on the non-football injury list. Kelly is expected to spend his first NFL season on injured reserve, so he isn’t an option to serve as a No. 2 quarterback.
If they aren’t comfortable rolling with Sloter as their only reserve signal-caller, the Broncos could look to the free agent market in search of another quarterback. Colin Kaepernick, whom Denver was interested in prior to the 2016 campaign, stands out as an obvious solution, and Joseph said “every option will be considered” when questioned specifically about Kaepernick, per Jhabvala. Other free agent passers include Christian Ponder (who spent time with the Broncos in 2015), Robert Griffin III, Shaun Hill, Zach Mettenberger, and Bruce Gradkowski.
Lynch, a first-round selection in 2016, lost Denver’s starting quarterback job to Siemian through his performance in training camp and the preseason. Given that he’s only set to miss a few games, Lynch probably isn’t a candidate for injured reserve/designated to return unless his injury worsens. Instead, the Broncos will be forced to carry at least three quarterbacks (Siemian, Lynch, and a backup) while Lynch recovers.
Ravens LB Albert McClellan Done For Season
Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan has suffered a torn ACL and will miss the entirety of the 2017 campaign, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
To say Baltimore has been hit hard by injuries this offseason would be a massive understatement. A number of key Ravens have already been lost for the season, including running back Kenneth Dixon, tight end Crockett Gillmore, cornerback Tavon Young, and offensive linemen Alex Lewis and Nico Siragusa. Quarterback Joe Flacco, meanwhile, is also dealing with back issues, although he’s expected to return in time for Week 1.
While he’s primarily served as a backup during his six-year NFL career, the 31-year-old McClellan started 11 games in 2016 (the second time he’s done so). On 603 defensive snaps, McClellan posted 52 tackles and one sack but earned negative grades from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him as the league’s fourth-worst edge defender.
McClellan has two years left on a three-year, $3.75MM pact he signed prior to the 2016 campaign. He’s scheduled to count for $1.2MM and $1.45MM on Baltimore’s salary cap in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
Jets Have Shopped CB Marcus Williams
The Jets have gauged trade interest in cornerback Marcus Williams recently, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link), who adds New York has “been selling” all offseason.
[RELATED: Jets Shopping Matt Forte]
Given that Gang Green is set to embark on a full-scale rebuild, the concept of dealing Williams doesn’t come as a complete surprise given that he’s entering the final year of his contract. A restricted free agent, Williams is scheduled to earn $2.746MM in 2017, although none of that total is guaranteed. That’s a reasonable figure for a 26-year-old defensive back who appeared in 13 games and played on 457 defensive snaps a season ago. Pro Football Focus assigned Williams middling grades, ranking him as the No. 67 corner among 110 qualifiers.
Williams isn’t projected to start for the Jets next season, as Buster Skrine and Morris Claiborne hold that honor. Instead, Williams — if not traded — will serve as a valuable backup and special teams player. In 2016, Williams played on roughly 20% of New York’s special teams snaps.
Broncos Have Discussed T.J. Ward Trade
The trade market is heating up. The Broncos have received calls on safety T.J. Ward and have had trade conversations about him, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link) reports Denver is actually initiating the trade talks on Ward (instead of waiting for other teams to contact them).
[RELATED: Click Here For The Latest Broncos Rumors]
It’s not immediately clear which teams have called on Ward, but it stands to reason that multiple contenders have expressed interest. Ward, 30, holds appeal as a two-time Pro Bowler on an expiring contract, though his $5.7MM cap number is a bit on the high side. Ward graded out as just the No. 50 safety among 90 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, so he may not be the elite player he once was.
Back in May, Ward expressed interest in finishing his career in Denver and the two sides reportedly had preliminary talks about an extension. We haven’t heard much on that front over the last three months, so those conversations appear to be on the back burner.
Other notable players reportedly on the trade block include Jets running back Matt Forte, Browns cornerback Joe Haden, and Browns offensive lineman Cameron Erving. A significant trade also went down on Tuesday morning as the Niners shipped tight end Vance McDonald to the Steelers.
Jets Shopping RB Matt Forte
The Jets have gauged the trade market for running back Matt Forte, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. He’s healthy now, but it will still be difficult to find a taker for his contract. 
Forte is owed $4MM in guaranteed salary for the coming season, a huge number for an aging running back on the back nine of his career. I’d imagine that the Jets will have to eat at least half of that money in order to make a deal happen.
Following eight productive seasons with the Bears, Forte joined the Jets last offseason on a three-year, $12MM deal with $8MM guaranteed. Forte went on to record career-lows in rushing yards (813), receptions (30), and receiving yards (263) during his first season with the team.
The 31-year-old was once one of the league’s top running backs, but knee and shoulder injuries have caught up with him. He was placed on IR in December of last season after admitting that he played with a torn meniscus for much of the year.
The Jets are planning to use Forte and Bilal Powell as their lead backs, but they’ll gladly reconfigure things if they can find someone to take on the money owed to Forte.
Colts DB Vontae Davis Suffers Injury
Bad news for the Colts. Defensive back Vontae Davis will be missing multiple weeks with a groin injury, coach Chuck Pagano told reporters. He added that the injury is “significant.” 
[RELATED: Colts Center Ryan Kelly To Miss Time]
Davis was being counted on to start at left cornerback opposite of Quincy Wilson. Now, the Colts will have to lean more heavily on utility man Darius Butler as well as recent free agent pickups Corey White and Chris Culliver.
Last year, Davis was hampered by a ligament issue in his ankle, though he managed to tough it out and play in 14 of Indy’s regular season games. This time around, it’s a more serious injury that will require some serious rest.
Davis has been a pillar of the Colts’ defense ever since joining the team in 2012. He earned Pro Bowl nods in 2014 and 2015 and his performance was further validated by his exceptional marks from Pro Football Focus. Davis earned an insane 95.1 overall score in 2014 and followed it up with a solid 81.9 mark in ’15. Last year, PFF had Davis as one of the ten worst qualified CBs in the NFL.