2020 October - Pro Football Rumors

Broncos DT Mike Purcell Out For The Year

October 26th, 2020 at 1:41pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Broncos may have had the worst injury luck in the NFL this season, and the hits keep on coming. On Monday, head coach Vic Fangio announced Mike Purcell would miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his foot.

Purcell had started every game this year for Denver as a run-stuffer, playing a little over 60 percent of the defensive snaps, so this is a big loss. Originally an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming back in 2013, Purcell originally carved out a role in San Francisco for a few years. He then didn’t appear in a regular season game between 2017-18 before bouncing back with the Broncos in 2019 and starting seven games.

With Pro Bowler Jurrell Casey out for the year and fellow defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones on injured reserve, the Broncos are suddenly very thin up front. They just signed and then quickly released defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, and it’s possible he gets the call once again now that there’s an opening.

Denver sits at 2-4 on the year, and just can’t catch a break on the injury front. Fortunately for Purcell he just received some financial security, as the Broncos gave him a three-year, $14.8MM extension just a few weeks ago. He’s now signed through the 2023 season and has $6.8MM in guaranteed money coming his way. He should be back in plenty of time for next season.

Jets DL Kyle Phillips Done For Season

October 26th, 2020 at 1:32pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Jets fell to 0-7 on Sunday, and they didn’t escape the loss to the Bills unscathed. Defensive end Kyle Phillips is having ankle surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the season, head coach Adam Gase announced Monday.

An undrafted rookie last year, Phillips made the Jets in 2019 and ended up playing a sizable role on defense, appearing in 15 games and starting four. While not a full-time player this time around he was still getting meaningful playing time, playing around 35 percent of the defensive snaps in a rotational role. He’ll finish the season with 11 tackles, three for a loss.

New York isn’t excelling at much these days, including getting pressure on the quarterback. Phillips is a young guy who likely would’ve seen a lot more run down the stretch as the Jets pack it in on the lost year. The Tennessee product turns 24 in May.

Patriots LB Brandon Copeland Done For The Year

October 26th, 2020 at 12:26pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Patriots got steamrolled on Sunday when they lost 33-6 to the 49ers, and now they’ll be without a key depth piece moving forward. Linebacker Brandon Copeland has told teammates he has a torn pec and is done for the season, a source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com (Twitter link).

Copeland, signed to a cheap one-year deal back in March, is a core special teamer but has also been playing a real role on defense this year. He’s played a decent chunk of the defensive snaps in a few games, and is credited with four starts. His 2020 season will conclude with 12 tackles, one for a loss.

The Penn product signed with the Ravens as an UDFA back in 2013, but he didn’t make his regular season debut until 2015 with the Lions. After two years in Detroit as a special teamer he tore a pec in the 2017 preseason, and signed with the Jets the following year where he earned a big role on defense. In 16 games and 10 starts with New York in 2018, he racked up five sacks, two passes defended, and eight tackles for loss.

Texans’ Romeo Crennel: I’m Not Looking To Trade Players

October 26th, 2020 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

With just days to go before the NFL trade deadline, Romeo Crennel says he’s telling players that he’s not looking to make more deals (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). Of course, the decision doesn’t like solely with the Texans’ interim head coach.

“Oh sure,” Crennel said when asked if the issue is a potential distraction. “With this situation, it might be more on their mind this year. I’ve talked to them and tried to reassure them that I’m not looking to trade guys.”

The cellar-dwelling Texans revamped their sideline and front office in one fell swoop this year by firing head coach/GM Bill O’Brien. The trade rumors have been swirling for weeks and it only stands to reason that the Texans are looking for a clean slate. Wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Will Fuller, for example, could be logical targets for teams in need of offensive firepower. Other notables like edge defender Whitney Mercilus, tight end Darren Fells, and running back Duke Johnson could also be worthwhile trade chips.

The Texans fell to the Packers on Sunday, dropping them to 1-6. With the playoffs effectively out of reach, many expect the Texans to work the phone lines between now and Tuesday, Nov. 3.

No Trade Offers For Saints’ Michael Thomas?

October 26th, 2020 at 11:09am CST by Zachary Links

Depending on who you ask, the Saints might be willing to trade Michael Thomas before the deadline. The wide receiver’s camp is working to find potential deals but, so far, the Saints have yet to receive a concrete offer for the superstar, according to PFT’s Mike Florio.

Thomas’ talent is undeniable, but his contract stands as a major hurdle. A Thomas trade would lead to a $20MM cap charge in 2021, a hit that would be compounded by Drew Brees‘ potential $22.65MM hit. If Thomas gets traded and Brees retires, the Saints would be left with $42.65MM in dead money for two players that are not on the roster.

Thomas inked a massive five-year, $100MM extension in July of 2019 that made him the highest-paid receiver of all time. Lately, he’s been at odds with the team, including a Week 5 benching for an altercation with teammate Chauncey Gardner-Johnson during practice. He’s also been limited due to injuries, including a high ankle sprain and a hamstring issue.

All in all, Thomas has appeared in just one game for New Orleans this year, giving him a stat line of three catches for 17 yards. There’s still reason to believe that Thomas can duplicate last year’s production, though he won’t match the stat line. In 2019, Thomas finished with a single-season-record of 149 receptions to go along 1,725 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

Browns’ Odell Beckham Jr. Done For Year

October 26th, 2020 at 9:39am CST by Zachary Links

Odell Beckham Jr.’s season is over. The Browns star confirmed that he tore his ACL on Sunday against the Bengals (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson).

Beckham is in his second season with the Browns, and he has yet to live up to expectations in Cleveland. He finished with 1,035 yards and four touchdowns last year, respectable numbers, but easily the worst in his career for a full season. His name has continuously popped up in trade rumors, with the team emphatically shooting down the latest round of speculation just a few weeks ago.

His production so far this season has been relatively disappointing, as the Browns have transitioned to a run-first offense that doesn’t have Mayfield chuck it too much. He didn’t top 81 yards in any of the seven games he’s played in, and outside of one three-touchdown outburst has been mostly quiet. After being forced out early from Sunday’s game, he’ll now be forced to put a lid on his season.

Cleveland traded first and third-round picks, as well as safety Jabrill Peppers and offensive lineman Kevin Zeitler for Beckham and pass-rusher Olivier Vernon back in March of 2019. Beckham is signed through the 2023 season, and there’s no easy escape hatch for the Browns. He’s set to earn $15.75MM in total compensation with $12.971MM guaranteed for injury. That’ll transition to a full guarantee if he’s on the roster the third day of the league year in the spring.

The Browns are 5-2, but they’ll have to forge ahead without their most talented offensive weapon. There should be more targets headed towards Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones, and Taywan Taylor. The Browns may also look to install one of their practice squad receivers on the 53-man roster – either Ja’Marcus Bradley or Elijah Benton.

Torn ACL For Jaguars’ Dede Westbrook?

October 26th, 2020 at 9:33am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars believe that wide receiver Dede Westbrook tore his ACL in Sunday night’s loss to the Chargers, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Westbrook will know for sure on Monday morning after an MRI scan.

Of course, a torn ACL would sideline Westbrook for the season. The Jaguars are hoping for something less severe, though it was an ugly scene, and Westbrook was in rough shape after he was carted off of the field. The injury occurred during a kickoff return towards the end of the third quarter, capping his day after four kickoff returns (with one lost fumble) and three punt returns.

The Oklahoma product had already missed time this year, playing in just two games to date. Previously, he recorded 66 grabs in both 2018 and 2019 for an average of 699 yards and four touchdowns per slate. Westbrook was hoping to get back into the offensive mix this year — instead, it sounds like he’ll have to direct his attention towards 2021.

After the 39-29 loss to the Chargers, the Jaguars are down to 1-6 on the year. After their bye, they’ll look for win No. 2 against the Texans in Houston.

Extra Points: Newton, Gase, Thomas

October 25th, 2020 at 8:19pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Patriots took an ugly loss Sunday as they got demolished 33-6 by the visiting 49ers. Things got so bad that Jarrett Stidham came in and replaced Cam Newton somewhat early in the fourth quarter and played the rest of the game. Newton had just 98 yards and three interceptions before exiting, but he isn’t in any danger of losing his starting job at the moment. Head coach Bill Belichick said after the game that Newton was “absolutely” still his starter.

He added that he just wanted to get the youngster Stidham some more game experience by throwing him out there in a contest that was already decided. Newton now has five interceptions and no passing touchdowns over his past two games since returning from catching COVID-19. It’s unclear whether the virus messed with his conditioning or if anything else is ailing him, but his play has dropped off dramatically from his hot start as a member of the Patriots. Whatever the case, it doesn’t sound like Belichick is planning on making a switch under center anytime soon.

Here’s more from around the league:

Adam Gase first conceded publicly that he was mulling giving up play-calling duties a couple of weeks ago, and he finally made the plunge on Sunday. Gase handed off the responsibilities to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains for their Week 7 game against the Bills, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports. New York got off to a hot start and they actually led Buffalo at halftime, before completely collapsing and only gaining four total yards in the second half. The last 30 minutes may have changed Gase’s mind, and he said after the game that play-calling will be a week to week decision. He also insisted the decision to give it up was his and his alone.
Major waves were made last week when we heard that the Saints could potentially be open to trading Michael Thomas in the wake of his antics that got him suspended for one game for fighting a teammate in practice, but it doesn’t sound like New Orleans’ leadership is seriously considering the idea. Head coach Sean Payton immediately responded to a tweet about the report, mocking the idea that actual ‘insiders’ said any such thing (link via Katherine Terrell of the Athletic). While Thomas probably won’t be dealt he is still hurt, and now Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports that there’s a good chance Thomas isn’t ready for Week 8 against the Bears due to his hamstring injury. Thomas tweaked his hamstring while working his way back from the high ankle sprain he suffered back in Week 1. With Emmanuel Sanders on the COVID-19 list, the Saints could be without each of their top two wideouts still when they go up against a tough Chicago defense next week.
After rookie Sam Sloman has looked quite shaky to start the year, the Rams went out and signed kicker Kai Forbath earlier this week. But since Forbath wasn’t able to enter the facility until today due to COVID-19 protocols, he won’t be the kicker for their Monday Night Football game against the Bears. That means Sloman will have at least one more chance to prove he deserves the job. Under the bright lights of a nationally televised game with his competition breathing down his neck, the pressure will certainly be on.

49ers RB Jeff Wilson Has High Ankle Sprain

October 25th, 2020 at 6:49pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The hits just keep on coming for the 49ers. San Francisco picked up a dominant win over the Patriots on Sunday to get them back on track, but not without picking up more significant injuries.

Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain on a touchdown he scored late in the game, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced. That would mean Wilson is set to miss multiple games, and a stint on injured reserve (minimum three-game absence) is quite possible. San Francisco’s whole roster has been besieged by injuries, but especially their backfield.

Wilson was filling in for Raheem Mostert as the starter, who went down last week against the Rams shortly after returning from a previous injury. Fellow running back Tevin Coleman is currently on injured reserve with a knee issue, although he should be back soon.

For the time being the 49ers will likely go with a committee approach, with Jerick McKinnon and undrafted rookie JaMycal Hasty splitting time. Wilson was having himself a game before going down, turning 17 carries into 112 yards and three touchdowns. He originally signed with the 49ers as an UDFA out of North Texas in 2018.

Ryquell Armstead Done For Year Due To COVID-19

October 25th, 2020 at 6:10pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

For most NFL players who have tested positive for COVID-19, it has meant an absence of a game or two followed by a relatively quick return. Unfortunately that’s not going to be the case for Jaguars running back Ryquell Armstead.

Armstead is still dealing with complications from the virus and is not expected to play again this season, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. It’s a scary situation, as Schefter reports that Armstead has been hospitalized twice and has had significant respiratory issues. The same sources did say that Armstead is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2021 season, which is great news.

Obviously there are things more important than football, and thankfully it sounds like Armstead is going to be alright. After Leonard Fournette was cut it initially looked like Armstead was set to take over as Jacksonville’s starting running back, but obviously that hasn’t happened.

Instead James Robinson has taken over that role and thrived in it. A 2019 fifth-round pick out of Temple, Armstead appeared in all 16 games as a rookie with the Jags last year, starting one. He turned 35 carries into 108 yards, and added 14 receptions for another 144 and two scores. Here’s to hoping his recovery is as swift as possible.