HEADLINES

Year: 2023

Jets’ First- And Second-Round Picks In “Escrow”

September 16th, 2023 at 10:05pm CST by Ben Levine

The Packers are destined to eventually receive a second-round pick from the Jets following Aaron Rodgers‘ season-ending injury. However, thanks to some specific language in the trade agreement, New York’s first-round pick will likely be locked until the end of the 2023 season.

[RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Does Not Close Door On In-Season Return]

As sources explained to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, “conditions of the trade have not yet been met.” Specifically, the Packers sought and were granted terms that would protect them in the unlikely event that Rodgers was released or traded by New York. This condition technically can’t be determined until the end of the 2023 campaign, thus putting both the Jets’ 2024 first- and second-round picks in “escrow.”

The original trade terms required Rodgers to play in at least 65 percent of New York’s offensive snaps in order for the Packers to receive a 2024 first-round pick. The teams could have accounted for a season-ending injury in the trade terms, but the Packers were preparing for the Jets’ worst-case scenario.

As Jones observes, Green Bay’s request likely stems from the organization’s previous QB trade with the Jets. When the Packers traded Brett Favre to New York, the team thought they were also preventing the quarterback from eventually landing in the NFC North. Specifically, Green Bay included a clause that would have forced the Jets to give up three first-round picks if they dealt Favre to an NFC North team.

Favre briefly retired after only one season in New York, and the Jets ended up cutting him during the offseason. He was later scooped up by the Vikings, and since a free agent hypothetical wasn’t included in the trade terms, the Packers didn’t receive any compensation. As Jones notes, the NFL abolished these “poison pill” provisions in the 2011 CBA. The organization’s most-recent tactic fit under the league’s current rules, and while the terms would have done little to ultimately impact the compensation, the provision is still having an impact on New York’s trade ability.

The league doesn’t allow teams to trade future selections that aren’t under their full control. As Jones notes, the Jets could only trade their first-round selection if they add a condition on top of the current Packers’ restrictions. The Jets could also approach the Packers about revising the original terms of the deal.

Of course, considering how deep the Jets’ roster is, the only scenario where the Jets would even consider trading their 2024 first-round pick would be if a franchise-altering QB became available. The team sounds committed to Zach Wilson for the 2023 campaign, and Rodgers has left the door open for a 2024 comeback (or even a 2023 return). Still, it’s an important situation to watch when the trade market soon heats up.

Brian Burns: Panthers Extension Talks “On Hold”

September 16th, 2023 at 8:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the regular season underway, many notable extension-eligible players have turned the attention from contract talks to their performance on the field. Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns is among them.

Talks between Burns and the Panthers took place this offseason, but the parties never seemed on the verge of an agreement being reached. The 25-year-old was present for training camp, but his temporary absence in the build-up to Week 1 left his status in question until shortly before the season opener. Burns is now prepared to put that process in the rearview and pause negotiations until the winter. He will make $16MM on the fifth-year option in 2023.

“We haven’t really been in talks,” the Florida State alum said, via ESPN’s David Newton. “I told them once the season started I’m all about ball. I can’t give a thousand percent on the field and to my teammates if I’m still worried about contract negotiations.”

Burns added that he considered a training camp holdout at one point, a tactic which many players have employed to create leverage during extension talks. Instead of remaining absent from the team during the summer – or even into the start of the regular season, as Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones did for one week this year – Burns committed to playing this season without a new deal in hand. A notable gap is believed to exist with respect to asking price on what will be a lucrative accord, making it little surprise that negotiations will be tabled.

Notably, however, Newton notes that the Panthers are willing to carry on extension talks during the campaign. It will be interesting to see if either side changes its stance as the season plays out. Burns got off to a productive start in Week 1 with a pair of sacks, bringing his career total to 40 in 65 games. A strong season (like his second straight Pro Bowl year in 2022) would help his market value, and thus his chances of landing a deal close to the historic one Nick Bosa signed with the 49ers days before Week 1.

That pact carries a $34MM AAV, well outpacing the next highest edge rush deal (T.J. Watt‘s $28MM-per-year contract). The Panthers are believed to be targeting a Burns extension landing him closer to Maxx Crosby‘s annual compensation of $23.MM. A figure falling between those two baselines would come as little surprise if and when a deal is struck keeping Burns in Carolina, but it appears such a development will not take place for at least the next several months.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/16/23

September 16th, 2023 at 8:14pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s callups and adjustments heading into Week 2:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Cardinals Place DE L.J. Collier On IR

September 16th, 2023 at 7:28pm CST by Adam La Rose

2023 presented a needed change of scenery for L.J. Collier, but his debut season with the Cardinals has been interrupted. The former first-round defense end has been placed on injured reserve, per a team announcement.

Collier is dealing with a biceps injury, and today’s moves means he will be sidelined for at least four weeks. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has not given specifics regarding the severity of the ailment, however, so he could be shut down for an even longer stretch. In any case, his bid to rebuild his value in a new setting has taken a blow, and Arizona has lost a starting member of its defense.

The 28-year-old had a highly disappointing four year run with the Seahawks, never seeing a snap share above 49% during his time with the team. He found himself a healthy scratch at times, so it came as no surprise that he departed in free agency. Likewise, few eyebrows were raised when it was learned his one-year Cardinals pact is worth the veteran minimum. Collier thus has plenty at stake this season, one in which signficant playing time should be available to him upon return.

The TCU product started in Arizona’s Week 1 loss, and he should remain a key figure in the team’s defensive front (one which lost J.J. Watt to retirement and saw Zach Allen depart in free agency this offseason). For the sake of tomorrow’s contest, at least, Eric Banks will likely be tasked with taking on a large role in the edge rush department. The latter was one of the Cardinals’ practice squad elevations for Week 2, the other being cornerback Quavian White.

To fill the open roster spot created by Collier’s injury, Arizona has signed safety Andre Chachere to the active roster. The veteran special teamer logged nine total snaps last week after being designated as one of the team’s gameday taxi squad elevations. Chachere was claimed off waivers in May from the Eagles, then stashed on the practice squad following roster cutdowns. In the meantime, Collier will turn his attention to recovery in the hopes of resuming his Cardinals campaign and helping his free agent stock come the offseason.

Broncos Place TE Greg Dulcich On IR

September 16th, 2023 at 6:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The recurrence of Greg Dulcich‘s hamstring injury will keep him sidelined for an extended stretch. The Broncos announced on Saturday that the second-year tight end was placed on injured reserve.

Dulcich missed seven games during his rookie campaign, and he reaggravated his hamstring in the same leg during Week 1. As a result, it was learned he would miss multiple games while the team took a cautious approach with his recovery. Today’s decision guarantees Dulcich will be shut down for at least the next four weeks.

The UCLA product flashed potential last year, posting a 33-411-2 statline despite missed time and the overall struggles of Denver’s passing attack. The arrival of head coach Sean Payton brought about a new role for Dulcich and high expectations that he would take a step forward in 2023 as an important member of the team’s revamped offense. Instead, he will now once again be forced to turn his attention to recovery while the shorthanded Broncos move forward in search of better production through the air.

Those efforts will be boosted by the return of wideout Jerry Jeudy, who was held out of the team’s season-opening loss due to a hamstring injury of his own. The former first-rounder will lead a receiving corps which is without Tim Patrick and K.J. Hamler, the absences of whom are compounded by the loss of Dulcich as the team’s top pass-catching tight end. The latter’s stint on the sidelines should lead to a greater involvement for Adam Trautman, one of several former Payton-era Saints who found their way to the Broncos this offseason.

Bringing Dulcich back into the fold when he is healthy will require Denver using one of its eight IR activations available during the year. It would come as no surprise if the team elected not to rush the 23-year-old back into action given his role in the offense and history of injury issues so early in his career. Nevertheless, his return will be a welcomed development for a Broncos team looking to rebound from last week’s defeat to begin Payton’s tenure at the helm.

Panthers G Brady Christensen Out For Year

September 16th, 2023 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

SEPTMEBER 16: Frank Reich made the announcement today that second-year interior lineman Cade Mays will start in Christensen’s place for now, according to Panthers staff writer Darin Gantt. He reportedly declined to specify whether Mays would start at right or left guard, though. Last week, Zavala made the start at right guard in Corbett’s place across from Christensen. That being said, Zavala played most of his college career, at Fairmont State and NC State, at left guard. This should give Reich some flexibility in how he wants to address his starting lineup with two backups at guard.

SEPTMEBER 13: Reminding of the situation to close last season, the Panthers will be without both their starting guards. Brady Christensen is now on IR. The third-year blocker sustained a biceps injury late in Carolina’s loss in Atlanta.

The injury Christensen suffered will sideline him for the rest of the season, David Newton of ESPN.com notes. Potentially a biceps tear, Christensen’s setback comes at a bad time for the Panthers, as it is not known if Corbett will be ready to return from the reserve/PUP list when first eligible. This will also derail some momentum Christensen had established as a guard. The 2024 season will be a contract year for the former college All-American.

The Panthers remain without their starting right guard — Austin Corbett — due to the ACL tear he suffered in Week 18. Corbett began the season on the reserve/PUP list. He is ineligible to return until at least Week 5. Christensen, who lines up at left guard, is now out until at least Week 6.

Carolina re-signing center Bradley Bozeman revealed a plan for the team to return the same five O-linemen from 2022, doing so despite changing coaching staffs this offseason. But it will be a bit before that vision can be realized. Christensen joined Corbett in going down just before the close of last season. The former third-round pick suffered a broken ankle in the Panthers’ season finale, and while he returned ahead of Corbett, more time away will now be required.

Viewed as a tackle earlier in his career, Christensen moved to guard on a full-time basis during the 2022 offseason and started 17 games. Chandler Zavala, a rookie fourth-round pick, started opposite Christensen against the Falcons. Chosen due partially to the injury trouble the team was experiencing at guard, Zavala will be a Panthers starter for the foreseeable future.

Cade Mays, Calvin Throckmorton and rookie UDFA Nash Jensen reside as options to replace Christensen. The Panthers added Throckmorton off waivers from the Saints in August. Mays started two games last season, and while he made offseason strides, Zavala beat him out for the starting job. Jensen did not see any game action in Week 1. Throckmorton made 20 starts from 2021-22 with New Orleans; he represents an interesting option as the Panthers prepare to face the Saints in Week 2.

49ers Place CB Samuel Womack On IR

September 16th, 2023 at 4:40pm CST by Ely Allen

SEPTEMBER 16: San Francisco officially announced the move today, confirming that Womack will be unavailable for the foreseeable future while he treats his knee injury. While not yet a permanent solution, the 49ers have opted to promote Swilling (mentioned below) as a standard gameday elevation from the practice squad. Swilling has yet to appear in an NFL game, so if needed, he will be making his NFL debut tomorrow.

SEPTEMBER 15: The depth of the 49ers’ cornerback group will continue to be tested as second-year corner Samuel Womack has been placed on injured reserve, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. This absence stems from a practice injury that affected the 24-year-old’s MCL.

There’s been mixed speculation on the seriousness of the injury and the timetable for a return. Womack won’t require surgery, which should lessen the recovery time needed and help him to avoid a season-ending IR stint. Instead, he will heal on his own and rehabilitate in an attempt to make it back to the field this year.

So, Womack be on short-term IR with the potential to return. When he will be able to return, though, is still up for speculation. Some have classified him as out indefinitely, insinuating that it’s too early to estimate when he could come off of the injured list. Others have pinned it as a likely six- to eight-week absence. It’s mostly tricky due to the finicky nature of knee injuries. They can be difficult to diagnose perfectly and can require lengthy recoveries.

In Womack’s rookie season last year, he began his career with a Week 1 start in Chicago. Over the remainder of the season, his role slowly diminished into short rotations and special teams appearances. Sometimes, he would get a decent look on defense, twice playing over half the team’s snaps on that side of the ball. More often (seven times), he failed to see the field on defense at all, solely playing on special teams. Week 1 of this year saw that inconsistent role continue as Womack played sparsely on defense, mainly appearing with the special teams unit.

Womack’s potential to play in the slot was once again usurped by starter Deommodore Lenoir. When Lenoir wasn’t in the slot, offseason addition Isaiah Oliver manned the nickelback role. San Francisco likes to start Lenoir in the slot, flanked by Charvarius Ward and Ambry Thomas on the perimeters. When Thomas subs out, Lenoir will shift outside and Oliver will fill his slot.

Womack was the only depth behind those top-four on the roster with rookie cornerback Darrell Luter on the physically unable to perform list with a bone bruise as a result of a hyperextended knee. With both Womack and Luter out for at least three more weeks, the 49ers may need to get creative. The team has three practice squad cornerbacks (Shemar Jean-Charles, Qwuantrezz Knight, and Tre Swilling) who can provide depth, if needed.

A.J. Green Announces Retirement

September 16th, 2023 at 4:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 16: Green’s retirement was already fairly official after his original announcement back in February, but today, it became ceremoniously official. The Bengals agreed to sign their former seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to a one-day contract in order to allow him to retire in Cincinnati.

The move makes perfect sense considering Green spent 10 years of his 12-year career in stripes. When he had originally announced he was hanging up his cleats, he had just finished a two-year stint with the Cardinals. Now, he’ll end his career just as he began it: a Bengal.

FEBRUARY 6: Not long after making it clear he was contemplating hanging up his cleats, A.J. Green has decided to end his career. The wideout announced on Monday (via Instagram) that he is retiring from the NFL.

Green, 34, spent the past two seasons in Arizona as part of a veteran-laden Cardinals team. He played a considerable role in the team’s 2021 success, securing 54 catches and 848 yards. That earned him a one-year deal this past offseason, though he put up far less noteworthy numbers across 15 games played. In January, it came as little surprise when he hinted that 2022 would be his final season in the pros.

Green’s stint in the desert was preceded, of course, by a highly-acclaimed one with the Bengals. The fourth overall pick in 2011, he played nine seasons in Cincinnati, highlighting the Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis era which saw him earn plenty of individual accolades and lead the team to consistent regular season success.

The Georgia product enjoyed immediate success in the NFL, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie. He would repeat that feat in each of the next four seasons, and once more in 2017. The latter campaign was the seventh consecutive in which he was named a Pro Bowler. In 2012 and 2013, Green also earned Second-Team All-Pro honors as one of the league’s most accomplished wideouts.

During his career, the 6-4, 207-pounder established himself as a premier receiver in terms of possession (receiving 100 or more targets eight times) and scoring ability (registering 70 touchdowns, including double-digit majors in three seasons). He was not limited in terms of usage, however, as his 14.5 yards per reception average indicates. His impressive career totals are slightly more noteworthy given the fact that he missed the entire 2019 season due to an ankle injury.

Despite his time spent on the sidelines, Green finishes his career with 10,514 receiving yards. That ranks 44th all time in NFL history, and fourth among active players. He sits second on the Bengals’ franchise list, behind only Chad Johnson. One of the top receivers of his generation, Green is hanging up his cleats with no regrets.

“I’ve never been a man of many words, so I’ll keep this short,” his Instagram post reads. Thank you. Thank you to all who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my career. Special thank you to the University of Georgia, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals for the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I’ve stayed true to the game and it owes me nothing. Be blessed… The next chapter begins.”

Jets Sign K Austin Seibert To PS, Rule Out K Greg Zuerlein

September 16th, 2023 at 3:35pm CST by Ben Levine

3:35pm: An updated report informs that the move will reportedly be adding Seibert to the practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. He and linebacker Samuel Eguavoen will be called up from the taxi squad as gameday elevations for tomorrow’s game.

Wilson also reports that practice squad quarterback Tim Boyle will be signed to the active roster to serve as Zach Wilson‘s backup. The vacancy created on the practice squad by Boyle’s promotion will be the one filled by Seibert’s addition. In order to make room on the active roster for Boyle, wide receiver Irvin Charles has been waived.

1:53pm: With reports coming in from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, we can confirm that the Jets have officially downgraded Zuerlein to out for tomorrow’s matchup with the Cowboys. As most teams choose not to carry more than one kicker on their roster, this will require New York to make an addition to the team for tomorrow.

After a successful workout yesterday, Seibert has won the backup kicking job for the Jets, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. As mentioned below, Seibert is the most experienced of the three who tried out after spending his rookie season in 2019 making 86 percent of his kicks as the full time kicker for the Browns. He’s bounced around a bit since then and will now get a new opportunity in New York.

Even if Zuerlein is only out short-term, the job is a good opportunity for Seibert to showcase his in-game kicking abilities to other teams in the NFL who may be in need of a kicker down the line.

9:17am: With Greg Zuerlein questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Cowboys, the Jets were busy figuring out a contingency plan yesterday. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Jets worked out three kickers: Matthew Wright, Austin Seibert, and Caleb Shudak.

Seibert has the most experience of the bunch, with the former sixth-round pick getting into 30 games since 2019. Since appearing in 16 games a rookie, the kicker has bounced around the NFL, spending time with the Browns, Bengals, and Lions. He most recently got into three games for Detroit in 2022, connecting on three of his five field goal attempts and all 12 of his extra point tries.

Wright has seen time in 23 games, including a 2021 campaign where he appeared in 14 games for the Jaguars. He split the 2022 season between the Steelers and Chiefs, converting 12 of his 14 FG tries and all seven of his XPs. Shudak was busy during his lone NFL appearance, contributing 10 points during an appearance with the Titans in 2022.

Zuerlein suffered a groin injury during practice on Thursday, and Robert Saleh has declared the starting kicker 50/50 for tomorrow (per ESPN’s Rich Cimini). The head coach also acknowledged that the injury isn’t serious, so it sounds like the Jets may just need a one-week replacement at the position.

“Joe [Douglas] and the staff, they’re on it, to get all these kickers in for a workout to see which one would be best available come Sunday,” Saleh said (via Andrew Crane of the New York Post). “But gotta roll with the punches.”

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