HEADLINES

Month: September 2023

NFC West Notes: 49ers, Adams, Cards, Rams

September 25th, 2023 at 9:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Recent restructures have vaulted the 49ers past the Browns for cap space. San Francisco’s $42.1MM leads the NFL by more than $7MM. GM John Lynch did not rule out some of these funds being used to add a trade piece, but the 49ers are planning roll over the bulk of the space to 2024.

“Really, we always look at the cap for three years out,” Lynch said, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. “Obviously, we have all that room this year. But really it’s to create room for future years because we roll everything over. It helps us in future years because it creates some room we’re going to need. … We’ve pretty much done what we’re going to do this year, but you never know with the trade deadline and all that.”

The 49ers created some space by extending Nick Bosa, though the team authorized a record-smashing accord that will show up on future caps, but Brock Purdy‘s rookie contract runs through 2025. During the Lynch-Kyle Shanahan era, the 49ers have not been shy about adding at the deadline, as the Christian McCaffrey and Emmanuel Sanders trades illustrate. In place as a Super Bowl contender once again, the 49ers will have some ammo to accommodate a bigger salary if they choose. For now, however, they are viewing the restructures to help down the road. Even with the projected carryover, the 49ers currently are projected to hold barely $17MM in 2024 cap space.

Here is the latest from the NFC West:

  • The Seahawks will not delay Jamal Adams‘ return for another week. Pete Carroll pronounced his highest-paid safety as “ready to go” for the team’s Week 4 Monday-night matchup against the Giants. Adams suffered a torn quadriceps tendon during the Seahawks’ season-opening Monday-nighter against the Broncos last year. The seventh-year veteran spent most of training camp on the Seahawks’ active/PUP list, and while he avoided the reserve/PUP designation, he still was expected to miss regular-season time. Additionally, Carroll said Riq Woolen and Charles Cross have a good chance to return in Week 4. Cross has missed the past two games, while Woolen was down for Week 3.
  • In 2020, the Cardinals had both CeeDee Lamb and Tristan Wirfs on their radar when they held the No. 8 overall pick. Many in the Cards’ war room believed it would be a Wirfs-or-Lamb decision, GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer notes. Isaiah Simmons instead became the selection. While Simmons did not pan out in Arizona, being traded to the Giants for a seventh-round pick last month, he was viewed as an elite-level prospect. The Lions and Giants were linked to Simmons at Nos. 3 and 4, while Wirfs and Lamb did not go off the board until Nos. 13 and 17. Simmons represents another Steve Keim misstep at linebacker. The Cardinals missed on Deone Bucannon (2014) and had slotted Haason Reddick (2017) as an off-ball player for most of his Arizona run. Zaven Collins (2021) has since been moved to the outside. Simmons moved around the Cardinals’ formation, finishing his desert run as a safety.
  • Sean McVay remains the Rams‘ play-caller, but he allowed new OC Mike LaFleur to implement new concepts upon coming over from the Jets. LaFleur added elements from the Jets and 49ers’ offenses that were not previously in the Rams’ scheme, Dan Pompei of The Athletic writes (subscription required). McVay indicated LaFleur — a Shanahan assistant from 2014-20, with the Browns, Falcons and 49ers — has earned the autonomy he received this offseason, when he came to Los Angeles shortly after a Jets separation.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/25/23

September 25th, 2023 at 7:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s practice squad transactions:

Cleveland Browns

Tennessee Titans

Cruikshank spent the first four seasons of his career with the Titans, seeing action in 44 games with the team that drafted him in the 2018 fifth round. The Arizona product spent last season with the Bears. While Cruikshank has only started four games, he has served as a regular backup to Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker. The 27-year-old defender played 414 defensive snaps for the 2021 Titans. Cruikshank, who finished last season on the Bears’ IR list, did not make the Jets’ 53-man roster after signing with the team in July.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/23

September 25th, 2023 at 6:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Sinnett joined the Bengals’ practice squad late last week. This move preceded A.J. McCarron‘s return by one day. Joe Burrow is in uniform tonight, but the Bengals will take advantage of the emergency third QB rule by bumping Sinnett up to the active roster. Jake Browning is in place as Burrow’s backup.

After the Jets and Steelers waived Mann this year, he secured another chance in Philly. The team brought Mann onto its practice squad last week, moving their punter of the past two seasons — Arryn Siposs — off their roster. Mann is in his fourth NFL season; the former sixth-round pick served as the Jets’ punter from 2020-22.

With Quez Watkins inactive, Allen received his first opportunity to suit up for an NFL game. The two-time Olympian 110-meter hurdler has been on the Eagles’ practice squad for the past two seasons. A former wideout at Oregon, Allen devoted much of his 20s to track, becoming one of the best 110 hurdlers in U.S. history. Since landing on the Eagles’ 90-man offseason roster in 2022, Allen has worked as a two-sport athlete.

Lions To Place T Matt Nelson On IR

September 25th, 2023 at 6:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions’ swing tackle for the past three seasons, Matt Nelson will be sidelined for an extended period due to the ankle injury he suffered in Week 3. This will further deplete a Lions tackle group that required the full depth chart to close out Sunday’s win.

Starting for the injured Taylor Decker, Nelson exited the field on a cart. Dan Campbell said Monday he will be placed on IR and will need surgery. The Lions sustained multiple injuries at tackle Sunday, the team’s second game without Decker available this season.

With the longtime left tackle out, the Lions moved Penei Sewell to the blind side. Nelson started at right tackle but lasted just 18 plays. The Lions moved practice squad elevation Dan Skipper into Nelson’s place, but the recently reacquired blocker also went down. The team finished the game with fifth-round pick Colby Sorsdal playing opposite Sewell.

Nelson, 28, is in his fourth Lions season. He is due for unrestricted free agency in March, and a potential season-ending surgery will obviously hurt his chances of scoring a notable payday. A former UDFA out of Iowa, Nelson stepped in for an injured Decker in 2021; Decker went down with a season-ending hand injury that year. When Decker returned in 2022, he and Sewell stayed healthy to keep Nelson on the sideline after his 11-start ’21 slate. The Lions re-signed Nelson to a one-year, $1.3MM deal in March.

The Lions brought Skipper up to their active roster using a gameday elevation transaction; they can do so again ahead of Thursday’s Packers matchup. A William & Mary alum, Sorsdal arrived as this year’s No. 152 overall pick.

Decker logged an estimated limited practice — a designation used due to the Lions having a Thursday matchup in Week 4 — on Monday. The eighth-year blocker suffered an ankle injury during Detroit’s opener. The Lions also played Sunday’s game without right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who is potentially facing a multiweek absence. A Thursday assignment increases the chances the veteran guard is down for Week 4; Graham Glasgow started in place of Vaitai against the Falcons.

Bengals’ Joe Burrow Active For Week 3

September 25th, 2023 at 5:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

5:51pm: The increased rumblings of Burrow progress will lead to the fourth-year star suiting up for the Bengals against the Rams tonight. Burrow is in uniform and active for Cincinnati’s Week 3 game.

12:23pm: Throughout the week, questions have lingered regarding whether or not Joe Burrow will be able to suit up for the Bengals’ upcoming Monday night contest. An answer remains elusive at this point, but the team may very well have its starting quarterback available tonight.

Burrow continues to deal with the effects of his calf injury suffered in training camp, one which was aggravated in Week 2. In the time since Cincinnati’s second straight loss to open the campaign, it has become clear Burrow will need to play through considerable pain to be available in the immediate future. Given the team’s 0-2 start on one hand, and the enormous long-term commitment made in Burrow on the other, opinions are split on how the Bengals should proceed.

Russini notes, however, that things are “trending in the right direction,” meaning the progress made over the weekend by Burrow (who has been urging team officials to let him play) has continued. Adding to that notion, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports the team is prepared to go ahead with its franchise cornerstone under center barring a setback in advance of kickoff. The former No. 1 pick’s presence would no doubt be a welcomed sight for the Bengals as they look to avoid dropping to 0-3.

Doing so would greatly boost their postseason chances, something of importance given the franchise’s position in a Super Bowl window. If Burrow is destined to play through the nagging injury for most (if not all) of the season’s remaining games, Monday would simply represent the first full contest of meeting that challenge since aggravating his calf. The team’s options under center if Burrow is unable to finish the game are, however, a group which faces plenty of question marks.

Jake Browning is the Bengals’ only other quarterback on the active roster, and he has one regular season pass attempt to his name. Knowing Burrow’s uncertain status for Week 3, Cincinnati spent two days last week adding signal-callers (Reid Sinnett and A.J. McCarron) to the practice squad. It will be interesting to see how the team handles its two gameday elevations before kickoff, as the number of QBs dressing for the contest will go a long way in illustrating the confidence held in Burrow’s ability to suit up.

Arrest Warrant Issued For Chargers CB J.C. Jackson

September 25th, 2023 at 4:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

J.C. Jackson‘s on-field situation has not developed as planed with the Chargers, and his off-field status continues to take unwanted turns as well. An arrest warrant has been issued for the high-priced cover man.

Failure to attend a probation violation hearing in Attleboro District Court is the cause for the warrant, reports MassLive’s Chris Mason. Jackson had initially been charged with criminal speeding in 2021 (during his time with the Patriots), but he failed to take a ‘Brains At Risk’ program which was mandatory as a result of his arrest. He also did not pay a $300 fine and failed to appear in court last week, leading to the warrant being issued.

Jackson was a healthy scratch on Sunday, a move which came as a surprise given the progress he had been making in his recovery from a ruptured patellar tendon early in the season. Mason’s report indicates no clear link between the benching decision and today’s news; likewise, Jeff Howe of The Athletic states the two are not related (subscription required).

The former UDFA was arrested last December for what was termed a ‘non-violent family issue.’ Jackson wound up being limited to five games in 2022, though his missed time came about only through injury, not suspension. The campaign was still a signficant disappointment, given the five-year, $82.5MM deal he signed in free agency as part of the Chargers’ efforts to fortify their defense.

Jackson struggled in his limited game action in 2022, although his first two performances this season offered a glimpse of improvement in coverage. After the Chargers gave up 24 points on 367 passing yards in Week 3, it will be interesting to see how Jackson figures into the team’s defensive game plans moving forward. No guaranteed base salary remains on his contract, but he is owed a $5MM roster bonus of the third day of each league year through its conclusion in 2026.

Colts Sign CB Chris Lammons To Practice Squad

September 25th, 2023 at 4:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

4:05pm: Lammons’ time on the open market has proven to be rather short-lived. Per a team announcement, he has signed onto the Colts’ practice squad.

3:43pm: As is the case for Alvin Kamara, Monday marks the end of Colts cornerback Chris Lammons‘ suspension. Unlike the Saints running back, the latter is now on the lookout for a new home.

The Colts announced they have released Lammons, meaning he will not be given the opportunity to carve out a role upon his return to game action. Both he and Kamara were issued three-game suspensions to begin the campaign stemming from the violent altercation they were involved in during the 2022 Pro Bowl weekend in Las Vegas.

The players reached a settlement with the victim this past July, and entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor charge. Despite having previously been indicted by a grand jury on felony charges, then, it appeared likely Kamara and Lammons would be facing six-game personal conduct violations. The former met with commissioner Roger Goodell days before the bans were handed down.

Kamara’s pedigree as a five-time Pro Bowler (along with the the placement of Jamaal Williams on IR) will see him take on starting duties right away, but Lammons was never in line for such a signficant role with the Colts. The 27-year-old has played almost exclusively on special teams in his career, which began in Miami but saw him spend the next three seasons in Kansas City.

Lammons had a brief spell with the Bengals after being claimed off waivers, but he signed with the Colts in July. That move seemed to give him the opportunity to continue his third phase role at a minimum, though Indianapolis’ lack of experienced cover men could have paved the way to defensive playing time. Instead, the former UDFA is now a free agent.

Given the suspension and his role in the incident which led to the ban, it will be worth watching how interested teams around the league are in adding Lammons. With 42 games to his name, though, he could be a serviceable depth addition for clubs in need of in-season reinforcements.

Ravens Re-Sign QB Josh Johnson, Place WR Tylan Wallace On IR

September 25th, 2023 at 3:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 25: To little surprise, the Ravens have brought back Johnson by re-signing him to the active roster, head coach John Harbaugh announced on Monday. Releasing the veteran was simply a case of roster gymnastics and a move which allowed a healthy option at another position to dress on Sunday.

The spot allowing Johnson to return to Baltimore was opened by wideout Tylan Wallace being placed on IR, per a team announcement. The latter has appeared in 29 games across three seasons with the Ravens, playing primarily on special teams. A hamstring injury will shut down the 24-year-old for at least the next four weeks, though, while the team looks to rebound from yesterday’s overtime loss.

SEPTEMBER 23: The Ravens’ backup quarterback situation has become clearer for the time being. Josh Johnson was released on Saturday, per a team announcement.

As a result of the move, only Tyler Huntley remains on the active roster to serve as QB2 behind Lamar Jackson. Johnson’s time in the organization may not be over, however. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports Baltimore’s preference would be to retain the latter via the practice squad. In any event, this marks the latest chapter in Johnson’s journeyman tour around pro football.

The 37-year-old signed with the Ravens this offseason, beginning his third stint with the franchise. Baltimore had attempted to add him last December, while Jackson was dealing with what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury. His latest pact brought Johnson – a veteran of the NFL, UFL, AAF and XFL – back to the Ravens and gave him a chance to win the backup job in the preseason.

Huntley had been dealing with a hamstring injury to start the year, so Johnson dressed as the backup for Weeks 1 and 2. Moving on from Johnson (at least temporarily) is a sign that Huntley, the Ravens’ starter for most of the end of 2022 in Jackson’s absence, including the team’s wild-card loss, is now fully healthy. The former UDFA will resume QB2 duties beginning tomorrow.

The Ravens released Anthony Brown (who made one start for them last season) earlier this month, leaving the team without a developmental passer on the taxi squad. That adds further to the likelihood Johnson will be brought back in the near future, though as a vested veteran he is not subject to waivers. Johnson is free to sign with any interested party, and 2022 saw the latest example of him leaving one team’s practice squad (Denver) to join another’s active roster with a greater chance of playing time (San Francisco). A repeat of that move could now take place in 2023, as the Ravens move forward with the familiar Jackson-Huntley pairing under center.

Saints’ Derek Carr Suffers AC Joint Sprain

September 25th, 2023 at 2:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Dennis Allen confirmed on Monday that Carr is dealing with an AC joint sprain. That means the worst-case scenario is not in play, with Allen acknowledging the team “dodged a bullet” in this instance. Carr is now week-to-week, though Allen declined to immediately rule him out for Week 4. Winston and fourth-round rookie Jake Haener are in place on the Saints’ active roster, but the latter is serving a six-game PED suspension. Any missed time by Carr would thus leave the team shorthanded under center.

SEPTEMBER 24: The Saints saw quarterback Derek Carr exit their Week 3 loss on Sunday, and it may take some time before he next takes the field again. Carr is facing at least a short-term absence due to a shoulder injury, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Carr was slow to get up after taking a sack in the third quarter, and he was taken to the locker room before being ruled out shortly thereafter. The 32-year-old underwent X-rays at a local hospital, but Rapoport notes testing revealed a more serious injury appears to have been avoided. For now, Carr is believed to have suffered an AC joint sprain.

The four-time Pro Bowler was released from hospital in time to fly back home with the team, ESPN’s Katherine Terrell notes. That adds a slight bit of optimism to this situation, with multiple reports confirming Carr’s ailment is not season-ending. Any missed time would nevertheless be a notable blow to a franchise which has had to deal with a slew of availability issues under center in recent years.

New Orleans inked Carr to a four-year, $150MM deal in March not long after his Raiders tenure came to an official end. His addition raised expectations for the Saints’ offense, though his 1:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 80.2 passer rating through two games left plenty to be desired. Carr has a history of playing through pain dating back to his time with the Raiders, so it will be interesting to see how aggressive he is in returning while the team weighs the risk involved given their investment made in him.

With Carr sidelined, Jameis Winston took over at QB to finish the game on Sunday. The former No. 1 pick went 10-for-16 with 101 passing yards, but New Orleans blew a 17-0 lead established with Carr playing to ultimately lose 18-17 to the Packers. Winston took a pay cut to remain with the Saints this offseason despite the Carr addition. After losing his starting gig to an ACL tear in 20121 then being supplanted as QB1 by Andy Dalton last year, Winston could again be positioned to see first-team action moving forward.

The Saints’ next contest is a Monday night game against the Buccaneers, with whom Winston spent his first five seasons. Even if Carr’s injury proves to be a minor one, it seems likely the latter will be forced to miss at least the upcoming Week 4 tilt. New Orleans will, however, receive a boost in the ground game with Alvin Kamara set to return from his three-game suspension to open the campaign. Especially with fellow running back Jamaal Williams on IR, Kamara should see a notable workload right away in his 2023 debut. The Saints’ longer-term offensive outlook could, however, take a hit if Carr is shut down for an extended stretch.

Chargers WR Mike Williams Suffers ACL Tear

September 25th, 2023 at 11:30am CST by Adam La Rose

11:30am: An MRI confirmed Williams has torn his ACL, per Rapoport. The news confirms he will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign, though ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Williams is expected to be available for the start of training camp in 2024. Given his importance to the Chargers’ offense, however, that point will come as little consolation as the team prepares to move forward without him.

8:47am: The Chargers picked up their first win of the season on Sunday, but their offense suffered a major blow in the process. Wideout Mike Williams left the contest with a knee injury, and it may cost him the remainder of the campaign.

An MRI is scheduled for Monday, but for now the team fears Williams’ knee injury could be season-ending, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (video link). The 28-year-old went down in the third quarter of Los Angeles’ win over Minnesota, and he needed to be carted off the field. That led to concerns a lengthy absence could ensue, and that would certainly be the case if testing were to confirm the worst-case scenario.

Williams is no stranger to injury, having played a full season only once in his seven-year career. He has dealt with back ailments on a number of occasions, including a herniated disc in his rookie campaign and a fracture suffered in Week 18 of last season which kept him out of the Chargers’ wild-card loss. This latest injury is of a different variety, but it will nevertheless be a signficant one if it proves to shut Williams down for the remainder of 2023.

The Clemson alum is currently in the second season of his three-year, $60MM extension. That pact took the place of a potential 2022 franchise tag, and ensured the Chargers would have the tandem of Williams and Keenan Allen intact through 2024. Both wideouts are set to hit free agency at the end of next season, but an extension for either or both could be in order since they are each scheduled to count for more than $32MM against the cap next year.

Williams was off to a good start to the campaign, especially in yesterday’s contest. Allen, too, has had a highly productive first three weeks (posting 402 yards and a pair of touchdowns on a league-leading 32 receptions); the Chargers will need the latter to continue those performances if Williams does indeed miss the remainder of the campaign. 2021 third-rounder Josh Palmer – who enjoyed a career-year in 2022 with 72 catches and 769 yards – will take on a larger role in Williams’ absence.

The same will likely be true of rookie Quentin Johnston. One of four wideouts taken in a four-pick span in the first round of April’s draft, the TCU product entered the league with signficant expectations but plenty of competition for snaps and targets. If Williams is forced to miss signficant time, Johnston (who has played only 48 snaps to date) could find himself in a starter’s role. His ability to shoulder an increased workload could go a long way in keeping the Chargers’ passing offense intact through the remainder of the campaign.

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