To help create cap space as they acquired Bradley Chubb‘s fifth-year option salary (initially), the Dolphins included Chase Edmonds‘ two-year, $12MM deal in their Tuesday trade with the Broncos. Edmonds joins a Denver backfield already housing veterans in Melvin Gordon and Latavius Murray. Gordon’s up-and-down Broncos tenure has now included a demotion, effectively, with Murray playing a big role since being signed off the Saints’ practice squad. Fumbles have continued to plague Gordon in 2022, leading to the reduced workload despite a starting role. Broncos GM George Paton said the Edmonds trade would not affect Gordon’s starter status, calling the former Cardinals change-of-pace back “another piece to the puzzle.” It will be interesting to see how the Broncos proceed once Mike Boone is ready to return from IR. The team has five injury activations remaining this season.
Midway through his eighth season, Gordon (75 carries, 263 yards, four fumbles) is on pace for career lows in totes and rushing yards. Edmonds is on Denver’s 2022 cap sheet at just more than $1.1MM; that number spikes to a nonguaranteed $5.7MM in 2023. Gordon and Murray are both on expiring contracts. Here is the latest from the AFC West:
- The other player coming to the AFC West via pre-deadline trade, Kadarius Toney is expected to make his debut for the Chiefs on Sunday night. Andy Reid pointed to Toney being in uniform against the Titans, via the Kansas City Star’s Herbie Teope (on Twitter). Toney has not played since Week 2. After he battled myriad injuries as a rookie, the former Giants first-round pick encountered issues with both hamstrings this season. The mercurial speedster, who has missed 12 career games, will attempt to stay healthy as he joins a Chiefs team that has started to see steady production from its post-Tyreek Hill receiving corps.
- Shifting to the Chargers‘ receiving corps, Keenan Allen is aiming to avoid a lost season. The Chargers have ruled out their five-time Pro Bowl target due to the hamstring injury he suffered back in Week 1. Allen experienced a setback earlier this season but returned on a limited snap count in Week 7, but the 10th-year veteran said (via ESPN.com’s Lindsey Thiry) he exited the Bolts’ bye week feeling worse than he had before. Allen added that he was not 100% when he played in Week 7 and would not return again until he was full-go. After posting four 1,100-plus-yard seasons over the past five years, Allen has seen his absence hurt Los Angeles’ passing attack — one likely also impacted by the rib injury Justin Herbert suffered earlier this year. Mike Williams is also navigating an extended injury absence due to a high ankle sprain.
- The hits keep coming for the Chargers. They will be without former first-round defensive lineman Jerry Tillery this week. Brandon Staley said the rotational D-tackle suffered a back injury weightlifting this week. Despite not starting and the Bolts not picking up his fifth-year option, Tillery has played 43% of the team’s defensive snaps this season.
I really would question the length of Staley’s stay in Los Angeles if this season does not produce some notable results. His coaching has been absurd at times, and the defense is too up and down again after some noticeable investments. The Chargers do best when they put more of their linemen on the field, and though Tillery’s run defense is questionable, the Chargers hurt themselves when they play too much nickel or use two down linemen. That’s one reason that their run defense has been bad, other than Tillery or Murray not excelling. Most of this is simple decision making by the coaching staff, hence my earlier comment.
As for Denver, Mike Boone and Chase Edmonds can do a lot of the same things. Boone is of course Payton’s guy from Minnesota, and he’s played hard in his few snaps. Edmonds may offer slightly more as a receiver and Boone slightly more between the tackles, but neither are plodding power runners who will the majority of their snaps inside. Gordon is the closest back that profiles as such, but he’s pretty balanced overall. Murray, despite his size and the way he’s been running lately, is not really a power back himself. So it will be interesting to see if Denver works Gordon in between the tackles when they have their full complement of backs, or if he continues to stay on the sidelines.
They need to get rid of Lombardi. Absolutely baffling to have such a predictable and timid offense with Justin Herbert.
I would agree. The Chargers’ wins seem to derive entirely from the talent of individual players on either offense or defense. It baffles me how many poor coaching decisions get bailed out by superb individual play with this team.
Mr. Unlimited spent his week vacationing in Mexico – instead of in Denver with the medical staff/trainers, his playbook, and his fellow QBs in the film room.
Kadarius Toney will be injured by halftime and won’t play next week. I’d bet a nickel on it.
You owe all of us a nickel.