Washington CB Kyler Gordon Enters Draft
Another notable prospect has declared for the 2022 NFL draft in April. Washington cornerback Kyler Gordon will be forgoing the remainder of his college career to turn pro, per On3 Sports’ Matt Zenitz (via Twitter).
Gordon, a redshirt sophomore, has already signed with an agent, according to Zenitz. The 6-0, 195-pounder had his best season in 2021 for the Huskies. In 12 games, he registered 45 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble. The fact he played a full season is notable, as he only played in three games in 2020, following a productive 2019 campaign. He earned All-Pac 12 honors, putting him in close company with teammate and fellow standout corner Trent McDuffie.
While McDuffie is the more coveted prize in the draft, Gordon’s stock has been rising throughout the season. Scouts Inc. has most recently listed Gordon as a second-round prospect, adding him to the list of what should be a deep draft for cornerbacks in 2022.
Mike Zimmer On His Vikings Future
Days away from what may be his final game as Head Coach of the Vikings, Mike Zimmer is expressing pride in his tenure with the team. As NFL.com’s Kevin Patra writes, Zimmer says, “regardless of anything that goes on after the season, I can stand proud”. 
The quote comes from an interview the 65-year-old conducted with team broadcaster Paul Allen. He adds, “when I walk into a stadium like Lambeau [Field] or I walk into U.S. Bank Stadium and I say to myself, ‘a billion people would love to be sitting here right now and doing this job’ “.
Zimmer was hired in January 2014 to replace Leslie Frazier in what was his first head coaching position. His track record includes an 11-5 record in his second year in charge, earning the team its first NFC North crown in six years, as well as a 13-3 season in 2017 that ended with a loss in the NFC Championship game. On the other hand, it also includes back-to-back losing seasons in 2020 and 2021, and, if the Vikings lose on Sunday to the Bears, a year with double-digit losses for the first time in his tenure. Minnesota has one playoff victory in the last four seasons.
Zimmer has 71 career wins as head coach, which ranks him third in franchise history, and he is currently under contract through 2023. However, uncertainty has surrounded his position throughout the season, in which his usually-solid defensive unit ranks 31st in the league allowing over 385 yards per game. Zimmer is aware of the internal and fan-driven pressure mounting during a roller coaster season including eight one-score losses: “I do think it’s different that people can talk about your job and being let go and things like that and not understanding the effects of all your coaches, effects of all the players, effects of their families and they say it after you lose every week”.
The 7-9 Vikings end the year hosting the 6-10 Bears with many questions to be answered once the offseason begins.
Bears Place Justin Fields On Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Bears will very likely not have their rookie signal-caller available for the season finale against the Vikings. Quarterback Justin Fields has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter). 
Fields has appeared in 12 games this year, including 10 starts. For the most part, though, it has been a rookie season to forget; Fields has a 2-8 record, a completion percentage of 58.9% and more interceptions (10) than touchdown passes (seven). While he has added 420 yards and two touchdowns on 72 carries (for a healthy average of 5.8 yards per attempt), he’s also been sacked 36 times and taken a number of big hits while keeping the ball himself.
Assuming Fields is unable to play, look for Andy Dalton to get the start, as he did in Week 17’s 29-3 win over the Giants. In that case, Nick Foles would again dress as the backup. Dalton has been about what could be expected in the twilight of his career, posting a 3-2 record, 61.7% completion percentage and even (7:7) touchdown-to-interception ratio in five starts this campaign.
Given the uncertainty around Head Coach Matt Nagy beyond Sunday, this news could very well mean Fields has played his final game before a replacement coach is brought in. The 6-10 Bears end a disappointing 2021 season in Minnesota, against the 7-9 Vikings.
Cowboys’ Tyron Smith Tests Positive For COVID-19
One day after their breakout star defender tested positive for COVID-19, the Cowboys learned of another positive test from a key piece to their offense. Starting left tackle Tyron Smith has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). 
Micah Parsons tested positive on Wednesday, which in all likelihood ended his rookie season. The fact that Smith tested positive one day later, of course, makes his absence for Saturday’s game against the Eagles even more likely. Smith has already missed four games this year, including Week 15 most recently. Those absences have been related to ongoing ankle issues, and come after he was only able to suit up for two games last year. Without Smith, look for Terence Steele or Ty Nsekhe to fill in at left tackle.
The silver lining to the news for Dallas is the fact that they have already clinched the NFC East title, rendering the game against Philadelphia – which has also clinched a playoff spot – relatively meaningless. On the other hand, NFL Network’s Jane Slater reports that there are “a few players feeling under the weather today”, and that cornerback Anthony Brown has also tested positive.
The Cowboys’ COVID-19 situation will be worth monitoring in the coming days, as the team ultimately prepares for the postseason starting next week.
Steelers Place Diontae Johnson, Kendrick Green On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Ahead of their season finale against the Ravens on Sunday, the Steelers may be without their top wide receiver and a starter on their offensive line. Diontae Johnson and rookie center Kendrick Green have been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala).
Losing Johnson would be a huge blow to Pittsburgh’s passing attack, as he has recorded 100 catches for 1110 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games so far this year. Johnson had a massive game in Week 13 against the Ravens, making eight catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He would have a good chance of repeating that sort of performance in Week 18, given the beleaguered state of the Ravens’ cornerback room.
Green, a third round pick this past April, has started in all 15 games he has been available for this season. His absence could hinder the improved Steelers’ running game and overall pass protection, which has been a talking point for the team since the beginning of the campaign. Pittsburgh also placed starting corner Joe Haden on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday.
The Steelers visit Baltimore on Sunday, needing – just like the Ravens – a victory and help from other AFC results to make it into the postseason.
Kirk Cousins Wants To Finish Career With Vikings
It hasn’t been a banner year for Kirk Cousins and the Vikings. Still, the quarterback says that he has every intention of staying in Minnesota. 
“[I] certainly want to be a Minnesota Viking for the rest of my career,” Cousins said this week (via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press).
Of course, that’s not necessarily up to Cousins, who remains under contract through 2022. The Vikings don’t have much say in the matter either — the 33-year-old (34 in August) is due a fully-guaranteed salary of $35MM next season with an eye-popping cap hit of $45MM.
Cousins’ stats have been solid since joining the Vikings in 2018, but he’s taken the team to the playoffs just once (2019) in four years. Meanwhile, in the regular season, he owns a 32-29-1 record as the Vikes’ starter.
“Certainly disappointed whenever you’re not playing in the playoffs,” Cousins said. “But really my focus is on the Bears right now and I don’t think a lot about the big picture. There’s plenty of time to do that in the offseason. … When we get to the offseason, get this thing behind us, you have time to evaluate and work through it more.”
No matter what, the Vikings will have to do something about Cousins’ contract given their cap situation. Ultimately, an cap-smoothing extension seems far more likely than a trade or anything else.
NFL Teams Could Lose Draft Picks For Interview Violations
Teams could be docked draft picks for poor conduct during the NFL Draft interview process, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. If club officials are found to be “disrespectful, inappropriate, or unprofessional,” their team will lose a draft pick between Rounds 1-4 and be fined no less than $150K.
[RELATED: Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson Enters NFL Draft]
“We aim for dignity, respect and professionalism,” league exec Troy Vincent said. “It’s that simple.”
According to the memo, individual club employees could also be subject to fines and suspensions. Meanwhile, the league also announced plans to change the evaluation process. The Wonderlic test, for example, is now off the table.
The interview process has led to controversy in the past. In 2010, Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland asked a young wide receiver by the name of Dez Bryant if his mother a prostitute. And, in 2016, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn inquired on cornerback Eli Apple‘s sexual preference. Both Ireland and Quinn apologized for their behavior — under the new guidelines, such conduct would cost their teams significant draft capital.
The new rules will be in full effect at the 2022 Combine, which begins on March 1st in Indianapolis.
Aidan Hutchinson Enters NFL Draft
It’s official. This week, Michigan defensive end and potential No. 1 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson announced that he’ll forgo his remaining eligibility to enter the 2022 NFL Draft. 
“My Michigan legacy is complete, and it was truly the best time of my life,” Hutchinson said (Twitter link). “Onward and upward to the 2022 NFL draft. Thank you for everything, Wolverine nation and beyond.”
Hutchinson tallied 62 tackles, 14 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, and one fumble recovery in his final year on campus. His performance earned him consensus All-American honors and the Lombardi Award, positioning him as the best lineman in college football. He also placed as the runner-up in Heisman voting, a rare feat for defenders.
The 6’6″, 265-pound edge rusher is firmly in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick, along with the likes of Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux and Alabama tackle Evan Neal. The selection, of course, will be owned by either the Jaguars or Lions, depending on how Week 18 shakes out.
In addition to Hutchinson, Michigan defensive tackle Christopher Hinton and wide receiver Daylen Baldwin also declared for the April draft.
Latest On Antonio Brown
The Antonio Brown saga continues. On Thursday morning, AB tweeted a screenshot of an exchange with trainer Alex Guerrero, accusing Tom Brady‘s business partner of pocketing unearned cash (Twitter link via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com). Unfortunately, AB did more than just air dirty laundry — he also appears to have shared his own private bank account information.
Brown’s latest social media snafu may negate any sympathy earned by the statement he issued last night. Through his attorney, Brown explained that he has a bone fragment and ligament damage in his ankle, plus an MRI to prove it. He also alleged that head coach Bruce Arians ordered him to play to play, despite knowing that he was hurt. Brown says that when he refused, Arians responded by saying “you’re done” and gesturing with a finger across his throat.
The wide receiver also posted a text exchange with Arians (Twitter link) detailing his ankle malady. Arians, for his part, has said that he didn’t know that Brown was injured. At least, he didn’t know that Brown was too injured to play in that moment. That’s where the two stories truly diverge — Arians already knew about the problematic ankle that sidelined Brown earlier in the year, but he seems to be saying that Sunday’s sideline blowup was about something else.
As of this moment, Brown technically remains on the Buccaneers’ roster. But, as Arians told reporters over the weekend, he is “no longer a Buc.” It had been speculated that the Buccaneers were holding on to Brown in order to keep him away from other teams, but he won’t be hooking on with anyone for the 2021-22 playoffs.
“Once my surgery is complete,” said Brown in the statement. “I’ll be back to 100%… looking forward to next season.”
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/4/22-1/5/22
Here are Tuesday and Wednesday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Breon Borders, LB Markus Golden, OL D.J. Humphries, LB Devon Kennard
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Zach Kerr, LB Tanner Vallejo, TE Maxx Williams (from IR)
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Marlon Davidson, S Jaylinn Hawkins, TE Hayden Hurst, WR Tajae Sharpe, LB James Vaughters
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Willie Beavers
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Josh Oliver
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Kevin Toliver
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Darryl Johnson, LB Haason Reddick, TE Tommy Tremble, QB P.J. Walker
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Yetur Gross-Matos
Chicago Bears
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jesper Horsted (remains on IR), OLB Charles Snowden
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Trenton Irwin, DB Trae Waynes
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Scotty Washington
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Vonn Bell, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, DE Trey Hendrickson, C Trey Hopkins, G Quinton Spain, DT B.J. Hill, RB Joe Mixon
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Elijah Lee, LB Tony Fields
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Nick Mullens, S Tedric Thompson
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB D’Ernest Johnson, RB Dexter Williams
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Jovante Moffatt
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Quinton Bohanna, LB Micah Parsons (story), LB Keanu Neal
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Tyler Coyle, T Isaac Alarcon, CB Kyron Brown
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Josh Ball
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: DT Josiah Bronson
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE McTelvin Agim, LB Baron Browning, DB Bryce Callahan, LB Bradley Chubb, LB Jonathon Cooper, DB Mike Ford, WR Jerry Jeudy, T Bobby Massie, WR Tim Patrick, NT Mike Purcell, DB Caden Sterns, LB Stephen Weatherly
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Tyrie Cleveland
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kalif Raymond
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Joel Heath, TE Hunter Bryant (from NFI)
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Elgton Jenkins, T Dennis Kelly, S Darnell Savage, WR Amari Rodgers, DE Kingsley Keke
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: K J.J. Molson, LB Ray Wilborn
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Billy Turner
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Danny Amendola, TE Antony Auclair, LB Ron’Dell Carter, T Tytus Howard, RB David Johnson, DB Lonnie Johnson, WR Chris Moore
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: K Dominik Eberle, TE Paul Quessenberry
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: Luke Rhodes
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Dan Arnold (remains on IR), TE Jacob Hollister, WR Jaydon Mickens, DT Jay Tufele
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Hammond
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: P J.K. Scott
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: DB Josh Jackson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Carl Nassib, G Jordan Simmons, TE Darren Waller
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Kamaal Seymour (from NFI)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jared Cook, LB Damon Lloyd (remains on IR)
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Nick Vigil, QB Kirk Cousins, T Brian O’Neill
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Chris Herndon, DE Tashawn Bower
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Parry Nickerson
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Ryan Ramczyk, DB Dylan Mabin
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Kevin White, TE Ethan Wolf
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Albert Huggins
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Jordan Miller
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Korey Cunningham, DE Dexter Lawrence, T Matt Peart (remains on IR), NT Danny Shelton, WR Darius Slayton
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Omari Cobb, CB Ka’dar Hollman
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: NT Woodrow Hamilton
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Tevin Coleman, TE Tyler Kroft, DE Quinnen Williams
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Isaiah Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR KeeSean Johnson
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR John Hightower, RB Craig James, TE Noah Togiai
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Dallas Goedert
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Zach Banner, LB Devin Bush, DB Arthur Maulet, RB Anthony McFarland, LB Joe Schobert, DE Chris Wormley
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Anthony Miller, WR Steven Sims, WR Tyler Vaughns
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Joe Haden
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Dontae Johnson, DB Jimmie Ward, DB Ambry Thomas, CB Deommodore Lenoir
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Blessuan Austin
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Gavin Heslop, DE Alton Robinson, DT Myles Adams, DT Al Woods
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jaelon Darden, P Bradley Pinion
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Monty Rice
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Tress Way, G Ereck Flowers, RB Antonio Gibson
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Deshazor Everett, DB William Jackson