HEADLINES

Month: August 2023

Texans Sign TE Nick Vannett

August 2nd, 2023 at 8:48pm CST by Ely Allen

As Houston continues to deal with injuries to their tight ends room, they’ve enlisted further depth, signing veteran tight end Nick Vannett after a successful workout, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Vannett joins former Patriots tight end Dalton Keene, signed earlier this week, as new additions to the help solidify the position through training camp.

The top three tight ends on the Texans’ depth chart are currently dealing with injuries in camp. Schultz was recently sidelined after a collision with another newcomer to the team, safety Jimmie Ward. Head coach DeMeco Ryans claims that Schultz should be fine, though. Third-year tight end Brevin Jordan is dealing with a strained hamstring. Expected to take on a leading role at the position last year, Jordan disappointingly fell short of his rookie production. Health has continued to be an issue in his young career as he has missed 14 games over his first two years in the league. Second-year player Teagan Quitoriano, the team’s primary blocking tight end, is currently on the physically unable to perform list as he deals with a pulled quadriceps injury.

Vannett and Keene join a healthy group that includes veteran journeyman Eric Tomlinson, Mason Schreck, and undrafted rookie Jordan Murray. All three have typically been used in blocking and special teams roles throughout their careers. Murray had some receiving success at the FCS level at Missouri State but didn’t make much of an impact after transferring to Hawai’i last year. Tomlinson and Schreck on the other hand have both had many years of work at the NFL level without establishing reputations as pass catchers.

While Schultz will be the obvious TE1 upon his return from injury, Jordan’s step back last year puts him in a precarious situation going into Year 3. If he can’t find a way to stay on the field and take the next step forward in his development, it could open the door for Vannett or Keene to establish a more permanent role in Houston than just camp bodies.

Vannett’s best season has only seen him catch 29 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns, but that still exceeds Jordan’s greatest contributions thus far. And, while Keene didn’t make much of an impact as a third-round rookie in New England, he had a bit of a reputation as a redzone target at Virginia Tech in college. If Jordan leaves the door open wide enough in training camp, he may find himself in a battle for a roster spot.

For now, though, Vannett and Keene will fulfill their roles as camp bodies at a position that has been overcome by injuries. While rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud may not be able to establish early connections with the tight ends he’ll be relying on in the regular season, Vannett and Keene will work to make sure that their absences don’t affect Stroud’s rookie camp development.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/23

August 2nd, 2023 at 7:07pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league:

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Waived: WR Ed Lee

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Moseley reportedly had a small clean-up procedure on his knee the other day as he continues to come back from last year’s ACL tear. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, it doesn’t appear to be a major setback, and head coach Dan Campbell expects Moseley back on Monday.

The news on Harris’s retirement comes from KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson, who reports that the two sides “are parting ways as (Harris) plans to retire.” If this is truly the end of the road for Harris, then the transaction puts a cap on a five-year career that saw Harris rack up 11 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits in the NFL.

Turk was urgently brought on as an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma to compete with free agent addition Jake Bailey, formerly with the Patriots. The punter competition may be over quickly as Bailey is the only punter on the roster now.

Trice, the Steelers’ first of two seventh-round picks this year, suffered a non-contact injury at camp yesterday. His placement on injured reserve indicates that his rookie season has unfortunately come to an end before it had the chance to begin.

Colts Work Out RB Kenyan Drake

August 2nd, 2023 at 4:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Operating without their top two running backs presently, the Colts brought in a few veteran options Wednesday. Kenyan Drake, Benny Snell and Devine Ozigbo auditioned for the team, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Colts running back matters are obviously magnified, with Jonathan Taylor still not practicing. In addition to the former rushing champion’s escalating drama, the Colts lost backup Zack Moss for approximately six weeks. Moss sustained a broken arm early during training camp.

[RELATED: Teams Showing Interest In Colts’ Taylor]

Teams have called on Drake to work as a backup over the past two seasons, with the former third-round pick moving from Las Vegas to Baltimore in that span. But Drake did see steady run as the Ravens’ starter in 2022, doing so despite arriving just before the regular season began. J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards‘ injuries opened the door for the ex-Dolphins draftee, who amassed 482 rushing yards (4.4 per carry) and four touchdowns with the Ravens last season. Drake, 28, finished with at least 60 rushing yards in three of his five starts. He totaled 119 in a Ravens loss to the Giants.

The Ravens have since added Melvin Gordon, lessening the need for Drake to come back. Although Dobbins has been connected to contract dissatisfaction (a topic the Colts are becoming well versed in), he should be healthier compared to his 2022 version. Edwards also remains under contract. Drake is also three years removed from being transition-tagged by the Cardinals. The Alabama product totaled back-to-back seasons with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards from 2019-20, topping out at 1,162 in ’19, when the rebuilding Dolphins dealt him to Arizona.

Snell played out his Steelers rookie contract last season, while Ozigbo saw scant work as a Broncos backup in 2022. Without Taylor and Moss, the Colts are down to Deon Jackson, ex-Rams UDFA Jake Funk and fifth-round rookie Evan Hull in the backfield.

Taylor, who underwent ankle surgery earlier this year, was believed to be healthy — per Jim Irsay, at least — before camp. Rumblings of a back injury — which Taylor has directly denied — sprang up, leading to controversy about the Colts shifting the 2021 rushing champion from the PUP list to the NFI list. That move would put Taylor’s salary at risk and make this uglier than it has already gotten. Irsay has said the Colts are not trading the contract-year back, despite his request. But the team has run into a major issue with a player who had said earlier this offseason he still wished to retire with Indianapolis. With no contract offer having emerged and a trade request issued, we are a long way from that sentiment.

Colts Sign WR Amari Rodgers

August 2nd, 2023 at 3:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two teams have cut Amari Rodgers in the past year. A third will give the former third-round pick a chance. Rodgers reached an agreement to join the Colts on Wednesday, the team announced. The team waived wideout Johnny King to clear a roster spot.

The Texans waived Rodgers last week, joining the Packers in doing so. The former Clemson wide receiver is no longer attached to his rookie deal, with no one claiming it after the Texans cut. Houston had claimed Rodgers midway through last season, using the No. 1 waiver priority to do so. Rodgers is believed to have requested the Texans waive him.

Rodgers has been unable to impress as a pro, working mostly as a return specialist. The Texans did give the ex-Trevor Lawrence college target some receiver run after claiming him last year. Rodgers caught 12 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown during six games with Houston. That reception count topped his 26-game total as a Packer; Rodgers caught just eight passes with Green Bay.

Catching the Packers’ attention as a slot option, Rodgers broke through for the ACC power as a senior in 2020. The 5-foot-9 pass catcher totaled 77 receptions for 1,020 yards and seven touchdowns during Lawrence’s finale. Rodgers surpassed 400 receiving yards during Lawrence’s two underclassman seasons but has not been able to turn that college production into a pro role of note.

Letting the injury-prone Parris Campbell walk in free agency, the Colts used a third-round pick on North Carolina slot option Josh Downs. They also signed veteran inside option Isaiah McKenzie. These two look to have Indianapolis’ slot responsibilities locked down, but a practice squad opportunity could also benefit Rodgers. Though, he will try to make Indy’s active roster before taxi squads enter the equation at month’s end.

Seahawks Likely To Pursue D-Line Help

August 2nd, 2023 at 3:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks have made offseason defensive line changeovers a regular occurrence during the 2020s, but they went through their best effort this year. Up front in Seattle’s 3-4 defense, three free agents may well be called upon to start — on a defense that features 2022 signee (and 2023 extension recipient) Uchenna Nwosu as its edge-rushing anchor.

Seattle made Dre’Mont Jones the centerpiece of its free agency plan, giving the ex-Denver starter a three-year, $51MM deal. Jones is naturally taking up residence with the first-stringers. Two lower-cost additions join him tup front at this point in camp. The returning Jarran Reed and Mario Edwards are in place as Seattle’s other starters during camp work, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes.

Despite Reed and the Seahawks completing an unexpected divorce in 2021, the sides remained on relatively good terms. After seasons with the Chiefs and Packers, Reed agreed to return on a two-year, $9MM deal. Edwards, who spent last season with the Titans, signed for just above the veteran minimum (one year, $1.32MM) shortly after the draft. Nevertheless, the former Raiders second-rounder has opened as a defensive end opposite Jones in DC Clint Hurtt‘s 3-4 scheme.

The Seahawks sought Edwards for his run defense, and Condotta adds the team has been intrigued by the ninth-year vet’s ability against ground attacks. The Seahawks ranked 30th against the run last season. Pro Football Focus has not viewed Edwards, 29, as the steadiest run defender in recent years. But the advanced metrics site placed him among the top 25 edge players against the run in 2022. Edwards has seen extensive time on the interior as well over the course of his career.

Reed, 30, operated more as inside pass rusher during his first go-round with the Seahawks, a period that saw the former second-round pick parlay a 10.5-sack 2018 season — in the team’s 4-3 alignment of the era — into a two-year, $23MM deal. The Seahawks, however, are stationing Reed at nose tackle, per Condotta. This would mark a considerable shift from the imposing Al Woods manning the post. But Reed and Jones are in line to be the team’s two D-tackles when the Seahawks shift into sub-packages. As the sub-base ratios keep skewing toward the former, Reed may not end up spending too much time as a true nose tackle.

The Seahawks do not have much experience behind their top three, however, with Bryan Mone on the team’s active/PUP list. Mone suffered an ACL tear in December and is a candidate to start the season on the reserve/PUP list, which requires at least a four-game absence. The Seahawks should be expected to look for more veteran help on their D-line before the season starts, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com adds. Condotta views a search for outside help as likely as well.

Notable D-linemen on the market include Ndamukong Suh, Akiem Hicks, Michael Brockers and Matt Ioannidis. The Seahawks did use fourth- and fifth-round picks on D-linemen (Cameron Young and Mike Morris), but after a surprising playoff berth last season, the team can further fortify its front with one of these vets or via a younger, lower-profile addition.

Raiders Work Out LB Jaylon Smith

August 2nd, 2023 at 2:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders have gone through some turnover at linebacker over the past two offseasons. Most recently, two-year starter Denzel Perryman relocated — to Houston — despite Las Vegas being interested in another deal.

Jayon Brown also played out his one-year contract last season, leaving Divine Deablo as the team’s lone returning second-level regular. The team did sign Robert Spillane in March and use a sixth-round pick on Amari Burney. But the prospect of another veteran addition has been on the Las Vegas radar for a bit now.

The team is looking into that prospect Wednesday, with The Score’s Jordan Schultz noting Jaylon Smith is in Vegas today for a workout (Twitter link). The former Cowboys starter spent last season with the Giants, starting 11 games to run his career start count to 69. Smith made 88 tackles and recovered a fumble last season, which was an unstable year for the Giants at linebacker. Pro Football Focus graded Smith as the No. 60 overall off-ball ‘backer in 2022.

Smith lost his starting spot in Dallas early during the 2021 season and ended up being released. His profile has taken a hit over the past two years, coming after the Cowboys gave the Notre Dame alum a big-ticket extension in 2019. Dallas signed Smith to a six-year, $68.4MM re-up during the ’19 offseason. Fond of long-running contracts, the Cowboys cut bait two seasons into that deal. Smith finished the 2020 season with a career-high 154 tackles, completing his second straight season with 140-plus stops.

Raiders DC Patrick Graham coached Smith, 28, briefly during his Giants tenure. The Giants took a flier on the former second-round pick during the 2021 season, after both the Cowboys and Packers cut him. Smith ended up re-signing with the Giants in September 2022, rising from the practice squad into a starting role. The Giants had cut Blake Martinez, who soon signed with the Raiders before retiring in-season (to go full throttle with an evidently lucrative side hustle), and seen Darrian Beavers suffer an ACL tear in the preseason. Beavers is now healthy, and the Giants have Bobby Okereke anchoring their ILB corps.

Lions DE Romeo Okwara Addresses Pay Cut, Slow Recovery From Achilles Tear

August 2nd, 2023 at 1:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Lions’ new regime settled in during the 2021 offseason, it gave Romeo Okwara a three-year, $37MM contract. This marked a massive raise for the former UDFA, who had played out a two-year, $6.8MM Detroit deal.

The eighth-year veteran ran into complications early in the life of that contract. Okwara suffered an Achilles tear in Week 4 of the 2021 season, and it took him until Week 14 of the 2022 campaign to come back. In between those games, the Lions had drafted Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal and added James Houston as a promising UDFA. Romeo’s younger brother, Julian Okwara, remains on the roster as well. As does former first-rounder Charles Harris, who also took a pay cut to stay this offseason.

This offseason, the elder Okwara agreed to a $9MM pay cut that reduced his 2023 base salary to $2MM. The 28-year-old pass rusher will count just $5.6MM on Detroit’s cap sheet. Because a 2024 void year exists on this contract, it would cost the Lions $5.5MM in dead money to release Okwara this year. Having missed 25 games over the past two seasons, Okwara certainly would not have been likely to do well in free agency had he refused the pay cut.

“Obviously, a massive pay cut,” Okwara said, via MLive.com’s Kyle Meinke. “But it’s one of those things, like, part of the business, part of the game. But at the same time, I try to look at those things as separate from my experience of helping this team get to the Super Bowl, and see through what I want to accomplish here, all those things.

“Unfortunately, I feel like the business side gets in the way. At the end of the day, I try to see it as something bigger than myself, and not make it about myself, even though I’m the one taking the pay cut.”

Okwara’s injury occurred nearly 11 months before the start of the 2022 season, representing plenty of time for him to recover from surgery. But Okwara’s surgery did not repair the damage, per Meinke, who adds the Notre Dame alum needed a second procedure five months after the first. This caused the delay in Okwara’s recovery timetable, and it limited him upon returning for the season’s final five games. A regular starter before the Achilles tear, Okwara worked as a reserve upon coming back. He only exceeded the 40-snap threshold in one of those games. The eighth-year vet has been working as a reserve during camp as well, per Meinke.

Hutchinson and Houston finished first and second in sacks among rookies last year, with 9.5 and eight, respectively. Houston got there despite not debuting until Thanksgiving. Romeo Okwara led the Lions in sacks in two seasons — in 2018 (with 7.5) and 2020 (10) — but has essentially lost two seasons. The Lions have him looming as an intriguing wild card during training camp this year, and the 32-game starter will attempt to carve out a role alongside the team’s host of rookie-contract D-ends.

Joe Tippmann Not In Mix For Jets’ C Job?

August 2nd, 2023 at 11:50am CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets did not make Connor McGovern a high priority this offseason, waiting until just before the draft to re-sign him. A three-year Jets center starter, McGovern signed a one-year deal worth $1.92MM.

Although McGovern may eventually be asked to step aside for second-round pick Joe Tippmann, that point might not come in Week 1. McGovern and veteran Wes Schweitzer are the top two players battling for the job, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter).

Pegged as a player set to make a push to start going into camp, Tippmann is running third in this competition. Robert Saleh said the team would like to have a winner here after its second preseason game. Seeing as the winner in this competition will be the center on the highest-profile Jets team in over a decade, this matchup takes on a bit more importance. The Jets have big question marks at both tackle spots, and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is coming back after a triceps tear ended his second season. The team’s first-string center will obviously play a critical role on the team’s first Aaron Rodgers-piloted offense.

The Jets chose Tippmann 43rd overall. That draft status suggests the Wisconsin product will be asked to start, but the AFC East may feature two O-lines with Connor McGoverns in first-string roles (the Bills signed the former Cowboys guard in March). This would, of course, not be new territory for the elder of the NFL’s blocking McGoverns; the Jets have used the former Broncos draftee as their starting center throughout the 2020s.

McGovern, 30, missed just two games over the course of the three-year, $27MM deal the Jets authorized in 2020. This year’s center market featured several free agents re-signing for lower-end money. Ethan Pocic (Browns), Jake Brendel (49ers), Garrett Bradbury (Vikings) and Bradley Bozeman (Panthers) returned to their respective teams. While this quartet all received between $4MM and $6MM per year to re-sign, it left McGovern with fewer opportunities. The Jets guaranteed the veteran starter just $1.25MM.

Pro Football Focus graded the Mizzou alum as a top-10 center in each of the past two seasons, but despite GM Joe Douglas being in power when the Jets initially signed McGovern, the team made it a priority to select Tippmann early. They also gave Schweitzer a bigger contract, signing the ex-Atlanta and Washington interior O-lineman to a one-year, $5MM deal in March. That pact came with $3.17MM guaranteed. That contract suggests an even matchup with McGovern, despite the latter’s experience in New York.

Schweitzer, who will turn 30 next month, has made 60 career starts. Twenty-four of those came in Washington. PFF rated Schweitzer 27th among centers last season, though he only played in seven games due to a lengthy concussion-induced absence. The advanced metrics site rated Schweitzer as a top-10 guard in 2021, however. The loser of the competition could represent interior O-line depth alongside Tippmann’s heir apparent role, but New York’s tackle situation complicates that from a numbers perspective.

Raiders To Re-Sign TE Jacob Hollister

August 2nd, 2023 at 11:16am CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after releasing O.J. Howard, the Raiders are reuniting with Jacob Hollister. The six-year veteran tight end is back with the team Wednesday, Tashan Reed of The Athletic tweets.

Hollister, 29, spent the 2022 offseason in Las Vegas, but the Raiders placed him on IR and then released him from the injured list via a September settlement. Hollister, however, made his way back to the team in November and played in three games as a Raider during a busy travel year.

The Seahawks and Vikings also employed Hollister in 2022. Minnesota added him weeks after the Vegas injury settlement, using the former UDFA in three games before seeing the Raiders pluck him off their practice squad. After the Raiders reunion, Hollister made another return trip. The Seahawks, who acquired Hollister via trade from the Patriots during the 2019 season, brought the Wyoming alum back via a practice squad deal late in the season. Hollister did not see any game action during his second Seattle stint.

Las Vegas has been busy at tight end this offseason. The Darren Waller trade preceded a second-round move at the position, with Notre Dame prospect Michael Mayer representing the team’s new cornerstone tight end. The Raiders also signed veteran Austin Hooper. A backup last season, Jesper Horsted re-signed with the team in March.

Hollister has a history with Josh McDaniels, having been a Patriots post-draft signee back in 2017. Considering the makeup of the Raiders’ roster, ex-Patriot status is certainly not irrelevant. Only the Seahawks have used Hollister as a receiving regular. The former Will Dissly fill-in caught 558 yards and six touchdowns between the 2019 and ’20 seasons. Hollister totaled eight receptions in two Patriots seasons, both of which featuring Rob Gronkowski atop the depth chart, and did not catch a pass last year.

DB Rumors: Elam, Panthers, Bolts, Bucs

August 2nd, 2023 at 10:28am CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills have hoped to plug Kaiir Elam into their starting lineup opposite Tre’Davious White, but the 2022 first-rounder remains in a position battle. Elam is battling 2022 sixth-rounder Christian Benford and veteran Dane Jackson for the boundary job opposite White, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Elam played 477 defensive snaps as a rookie, but even as White did not debut until Thanksgiving, the younger Buffalo Round 1 corner only started six games. Benford started five of the nine he played, while Jackson led Bills corners with 14 first-string appearances in 2022. The Bills would clearly prefer Elam seize the role, but for now, the Washington product has not distinguished himself as a surefire starter.

Here is the latest from NFL secondaries:

  • Asante Samuel Jr. resides in a similar boat, needing to fend off a lower-profile challenger. Thus far, it appears Samuel has fallen behind Ja’Sir Taylor for the Chargers‘ slot cornerback role. As it appeared in June, Taylor looks to be the favorite to open the season as the Bolts’ slot player, Daniel Popper of The Athletic notes. Samuel’s shaky run defense has concerned the Bolts, per Popper, with Taylor — a 2022 sixth-round pick — seeing time ahead of the second-generation pro as an outside corner last year due to tackling ability. With primary 2022 slot defender Bryce Callahan unsigned, Taylor and Samuel are battling for the position. Despite Samuel’s experience (27 starts) and draft pedigree (Round 2), he may well open the season as the top backup behind a Taylor-J.C. Jackson–Michael Davis trio. Having Samuel as a depth piece would certainly benefit the Chargers, with Jackson attempting to come back from a ruptured patellar tendon.
  • The Panthers have played without first-round pick Jaycee Horn for extended stretches, and the 2021 top-10 pick spent time rehabbing another injury this offseason. Horn did not say how he injured his foot this spring, but he is 100% early in Panthers camp. Ditto Donte Jackson, who missed eight games last season due to an Achilles tear. Both starting corners have received full clearance, GM Scott Fitterer said recently.
  • Although the Buccaneers have re-signed Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean in free agency over the past two years, they let Sean Murphy-Bunting leave in March. Murphy-Bunting, who had spent time in the slot in Tampa Bay, left for Tennessee. The Bucs are holding an expansive slot competition in training camp. Zyon McCollum, Dee Delaney, Josh Hayes, Christian Izien and Anthony Chesley are all vying for the gig, Todd Bowles said (via Buccaneers.com’s Brianna Dix and Scott Smith). Delaney and Chesley have both bounced around the league, while Hayes and Izien are rookies. Some of these players will not end up on the Bucs’ 53-man roster, but it is interesting to see a five-man competition for this role. A 2022 fifth-round pick who played 277 defensive snaps last year, McCollum may have the lead here. Bowles expects the second-year cover man to play a big role in the nickel spot, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets.
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