HEADLINES

Year: 2023

Saints DE Payton Turner To Undergo Surgery

September 11th, 2023 at 10:01am CST by Adam La Rose

The Saints’ edge rushing contingent suffered a blow on Sunday, and it will be shorthanded for some time. Defensive end Payton Turner suffered a turf toe injury and will undergo surgery as a result, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football.

Turner exited the game early in the second quarter and was unable to return. That led to reports of the turf toe injury, which have now been confirmed to require surgery. The former first-rounder will now miss time in his third season in New Orleans, one in which his future with the organization will likely become clearer.

Ahead of training camp getting underway, it was noted that Turner was not a lock to make the Saints’ 53-man roster. Getting cut would have marked an underwhelming run to his time in New Orleans, but not an entirely surprising one. The 25-year-old made just 13 appearances across the 2021 and ’22 seasons, finding himself a healthy scratch at times. He has yet to start a game, and the free agent departure of Marcus Davenport did not clear a path for a first-team role for Turner.

The Houston alum was pegged for a backup role behind Carl Granderson last month, and it was indeed the latter who lined up opposite Cameron Jordan on Sunday. A rotational workload would have still provided Turner an opportunity to take a step forward in terms of production compared to his first two campaigns (during which he collected just three sacks and 12 QB pressures) and in doing so help his chances of securing a roster spot in 2024 and beyond. Now, his attention will turn to recovery while he is sidelined.

In Turner’s absence, the Saints will still lean heavily on Jordan and Granderson as starters. The team also has Tanoh Kpassagnon, who was re-signed in the offseason, in place as a depth option. New Orleans used a second-round pick this past April on Isaiah Foskey, and he could see a gameday role moving forward if Turner misses considerable time. Foskey was inactive during Week 1.

Colts Likely To Resume Jonathan Taylor Trade Talks; Packers No Longer Involved

September 10th, 2023 at 11:13pm CST by Rory Parks

The Colts had reportedly set August 29 — the day when teams were required to finalize their 53-man rosters — as the deadline to trade running back Jonathan Taylor. It was clear, however, that roster cutdown day was merely a “loose” deadline that was set in the hopes of expeditiously resolving a difficult situation for a maximum return.

Unsurprisingly, trade talks involving Taylor are likely to resume, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Taylor is presently on the PUP list and is therefore required to miss the first four games of the season, but sources tell Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Taylor is healthy and could pass a physical today if he were required to do so. As such, the contract-year back plans to be ready to play as soon as Week 5, when he is first eligible to take the field.

According to Rapoport, there remains a possibility that Taylor will again suit up for the Colts, but the odds of that happening are slim. After all, the rift between player and team formed when Indianapolis refused Taylor’s request for an extension this offseason, and there is nothing to indicate that the club’s stance in that regard will change.

Instead, it seems more plausible that Taylor will be traded. In order for that to happen, the Colts may need to reduce their asking price, which was reportedly either a first-round pick or a package similar to what the 49ers paid for Christian McCaffrey last year. During their trade talks with the Dolphins, Indy is believed to have asked about Miami wideout Jaylen Waddle, and Schefter notes that the team targeted promising second-year receiver Christian Watson in its conversations with the Packers (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder).

Rapoport writes that Green Bay offered two mid-round picks in exchange for Taylor — for whom it was willing to authorize a top-of-the-market contract — though he says the club is now out of the running. The Dolphins, who were also prepared to pay top dollar for Taylor, remain a viable landing spot. As the first few weeks of the season unfold, of course, it is also quite possible that other clubs will enter the mix.

The Bears and Broncos were rumored as potential suitors at the end of last month. This year’s trade deadline is October 31.

NFL Staff Rumors: Commanders, Packers, Colts, Cardinals, Rams

September 10th, 2023 at 9:54pm CST by Ely Allen

The Commanders had the biggest offseason front office staff change of any other franchise as Josh Harris became the new team owner in Washington. There are plenty of issues that need to be addressed throughout the organization, and surely, Harris will be getting to all of them, eventually. Early this morning, though, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports gave some insight into what may be a top priority for the new executive.

While recent rumors surfaced claiming that another change to the team’s name was imminent, Jones reports that, for now, they will remain the Commanders, as a name change “isn’t being seriously considered at this time.” While getting back to a winning culture and reconnecting with the community are certainly among the top priorities, the biggest issue is reportedly finding a new stadium to play in.

The team recently hired Thad Sheely as a consultant in the endeavor. Sheely was instrumental “in the development of MetLife Stadium more than a decade ago.” With FedEx Field routinely being considered one of the league’s worst facilities, the brass has been working with local governments in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia to discuss potential sites or public funding.

The organization would ideally like to have a site selected by the end of 2024, while the construction of a stadium that can “host major events like a Final Four and Super Bowl would take about four years” more. The team’s current lease at FedEx Field is active through 2026.

Here are some other recent staff updates from around the NFL:

  • The Packers announced the addition of Maureen Smith as the team’s new chief financial officer last month. Smith comes to the NFL from the MLS, where she most recently served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Minnesota United FC. Beginning her career as a CPA in public accounting, Smith now has “more than 20 years of diverse experience across the sports, healthcare, consulting, and finance industries.
  • The Colts made an effort at the end of August to replace the analytics value lost in John Park‘s departure for Dallas and George Li‘s departure for Carolina. Indianapolis hired Greg Starek as their new director of football analytics, according to Nate Atkins of the Indy Star. Starek joined the 49ers last year as a senior performance analyst after a career as a data scientist for the San Francisco Giants of the MLB. He’ll continue to carve out his space in the NFL in Indy.
  • The Cardinals brought in a new executive to focus on the business side of the team last month. According to Cardinals director of editorial content and senior writer Darren Urban, Jeremy Walls is that new executive, serving as the team’s new chief operating officer. Walls most recently spent the last several years in Miami with the Dolphins.
  • The Rams experienced a departure in their staff near the end of last month, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Former director of football affairs Jacques McClendon has left the team to join the WME Sports agency. McClendon will now be an agent working in the agency’s coaches and executives division.

NFC Restructures: Armstead, Lawrence, Okereke

September 10th, 2023 at 9:00pm CST by Ely Allen

As if they needed to, the 49ers made moves yesterday to increase their already NFL-leading unused salary cap space up to $42.29MM in 2023 (Overthecap.com). This time, San Francisco addressed the contract of defensive tackle Arik Armstead, according to Field Yates of ESPN.

The 49ers came to an agreement with Armstead, who’s currently playing on a five-year, $85MM contract, to convert $14.72MM of his 2023 base salary into a signing bonus while adding an additional void year to the end of his current deal. The moved resulted in $11.78MM becoming available in cap space for the 2023 season.

We mentioned yesterday that the additional cap space for the 49ers could have multiple uses that benefit the team. The obvious immediate benefit is that San Francisco should have plenty of flexibility around the trade deadline to make any necessary additions.

If second-year quarterback Brock Purdy decides to continue adding to his flawless regular season record and the team deems that no additions are necessary, the 49ers will be able to roll over unused cap space into 2024, when they’re projected to be $40MM over the salary cap. They’ll likely still make additions or adjustments in the offseason that will make it a closer call but having over $42MM of cap space to play with is insanely valuable.

Here are a couple of other restructures from another 2022 NFC playoff squad:

  • Shortly after rewarding defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence with a four-year, $87.5MM contract extension, the Giants have restructured his new deal for a bit of maneuverability in the team’s cap space, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Lawrence’s 2023 base salary of $2.25MM was reduced down to $1.08MM with the difference of $1.17MM being converted into a signing bonus. This is a standard move at the start of the year to help create a bit of flexibility in the team’s salary cap.
  • New York also adjusted the contract of new linebacker Bobby Okereke, according to Raanan. Okereke’s 2023 base salary of $1.9MM was also reduced to $1.08MM with the $820K-difference being converted into a signing bonus. Along with Lawrence’s above restructure, the team was reportedly able to clear up about $1.55MM of cap space for 2023.

Bills Announce Winners Of Position Battles

September 10th, 2023 at 7:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The Bills have been monitoring a number of position battles this preseason and, with tomorrow night’s season-opener approaching, it’s about time we learned who the winners are. Head coach Sean McDermott spoke with the media and let them know just who’s going to be starting against the Jets on Monday Night Football.

The only job that went as was predicted was right guard, where, according to Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News, rookie second-round pick O’Cyrus Torrence has earned the starting nod over incumbent starter Ryan Bates. Bates got his first action as a full-time starter last season, playing in 15 games, and while he’s performed admirably for Buffalo over the years, Bates has never been considered a top option at the position. Now, the rookie out of Florida will get a chance to line up between center Mitch Morse and right tackle Spencer Brown, while Bates will serve as a primary backup at all three interior offensive line spots.

In a huge shock on defense, last year’s sixth-round draft pick Christian Benford has won the starting outside cornerback position opposite veteran Tre’Davious White, per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. Benford did start five games last year for the Bills as a rookie, but the 22-year-old was certainly not a favorite to win the starting job this season.

Buffalo really hoped to see last year’s first-round pick Kaiir Elam take control of the position in 2023. Elam started six games in 13 appearances as a rookie but failed to stake his claim as a permanent starter heading into his sophomore season. Benford also had to beat out incumbent starter Dane Jackson, who started 14 games at the position last year. Everything pointed to one of Jackson or Elam starting with White this season, but Benford beat the odds and will line up with the first-team defense tomorrow.

Finally, on the defensive side of the ball, Terrel Bernard has joined Benford as a surprise winner of a starting gig, earning the honors of starting at middle linebacker next to veteran Matt Milano, according to Skurski. Another draft pick from the 2022 Draft, Bernard beat out presumed favorite Tyrel Dodson for the starting job left vacant by the exit of Tremaine Edmunds in free agency.

Dodson has started five games over his first three seasons in the league but has really only come in on rare occasions on defense or for special teams. Despite not winning the starting job, Dodson should still get plenty of run as he and Tyler Matakevich are the only healthy backup linebackers on the roster. Bernard, though, will be the one to take the field with the first-team defense alongside Milano and third-round rookie Dorian Williams.

There you have it. A couple of surprises join with an expected result to put three young players in the starting lineup for tomorrow night’s game. Torrence will get a chance to start in his NFL debut, while Benford and Bernard will take the step up into starting roles to begin their sophomore seasons.

NFL Owners Attempted To Establish Player Salary Ceiling During CBA Talks

September 10th, 2023 at 4:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2023 offseason saw four quarterbacks – Jalen Hurts (Eagles), Lamar Jackson (Ravens), Justin Herbert (Chargers) and, most recently, Joe Burrow (Bengals) earn the title of the league’s highest-paid player. The position has seen a major uptick in value in recent years, something which has obvious roster-building implications.

The QB market’s market has grown at a noticeably higher rate than that of the salary cap, leading to mega-contracts for emerging passers and cost-cutting at other positions. NFL owners responded during the most recent round of CBA negotiations by considering the implementation of a maximum player salary, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The idea was quickly shut down by the player’s association, though, leaving no upper limit on the annual compensation players can earn.

With Burrow’s $55MM AAV making him one of seven passers to earn at least $45MM per year on average, the appeal of a player cap is easy to see. The proposed idea would have instituted a system similar to that of supermax deals in the NBA, which dictate the earnings of star players (instead of teams and players individually negotiating monster contracts on a case-by-case basis). With the salary cap set to continue growing at a major rate with the arrival of new media rights deals and gambling revenue, QBs in particular are likely to see their market surge for years to come.

Given the upward trajectory of the cap, it is certainly interesting to wonder how owners wished to structure a leaguewide player ceiling and what figure they were prepared to arrive at as a maximum salary. Quarterbacks would no doubt be the players most affected by the proposal, but other positions – including receiver, edge rusher, cornerback and, as illustrated in recent months, defensive tackle – have seen healthy growth as well. An upper limit on quarterback earnings would likely have a trickle-down effect on the top earners at other positions.

That point would be especially true since the NFL, unlike the NBA, does not have a luxury tax to allow teams to significantly exceed the cap limit when making high-profile additions. In any event, the current CBA runs through the 2030 campaign, so plenty of time remains before the next round of talks between owners and the NFLPA. Where the league and its highest-paid players sit financially speaking at that time will influence how willing the owners are to make a second attempt at instituting a similar proposal to the one already floated.

Ravens RB J.K. Dobbins Suffers Torn Achilles

September 10th, 2023 at 3:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

3:37pm: Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed after the game that Dobbins has indeed suffered an Achilles tear. His season is now over, and questions will be raised about his financial future with his rookie contract set to expire in March. The Ravens ran for 110 yards in a 25-9 win on Sunday, but their ground game has taken a major blow given today’s news.

3:03pm: Expectations were high to start the season for J.K. Dobbins, who is set to hit free agency at the end of the campaign. He may do so coming off of another massive injury.

The Ravens’ lead running back is feared to have suffered a torn Achilles during the team’s Week 1 contest against the Texans, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He adds that an MRI is required to confirm a diagnosis, but in such a scenario, the news would mark the second season-ending injury of Dobbins’ brief NFL career.

The former second-rounder suffered a knee injury which included an ACL tear in the 2021 preseason. He missed his second Baltimore campaign in its entirety as a result, and questions lingered about his ability to return to full health last season. Dobbins was eased back into action, and he ultimately underwent a cleanup procedure in October. The decision to do so proved to be effective considering his production upon return.

Dobbins averaged 6.96 yards per carry in the final four games of the regular season, and he recorded 105 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in Baltimore’s postseason loss to the Bengals. With his injury seemingly in the past, Dobbins appeared to be well-positioned for a strong season in 2023, something which would have had considerable financial implications moving forward. The Ohio State alum expressed frustration with his contract status, though the team has indicated on multiple occasions that they want to keep him in the fold.

Extension talks have already taken place, but if the injury does prove to be an Achilles tear, Dobbins’ value will obviously suffer greatly. Running backs as a whole saw their market continue to take a step back this offseason, and essentially a second campaign missed in its entirety would leave the 24-year-old with a weaker negotiating position. For the time being, the Ravens will move forward with a shorthanded RB room.

Backup Gus Edwards and special teamer Justice Hill will be in line for an increased role in Dobbins’ absence, something of significance for the former in particular since he too is headed for free agency in March. Baltimore also retained undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell on the active roster, and he will likely see game action presuming Dobbins is indeed set to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

Vikings QB Kirk Cousins Addresses Future

September 10th, 2023 at 2:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

Plenty of veterans made their way out of Minnesota this offseason, but quarterback Kirk Cousins is still in place for at least one more year. He recently spoke about his future with the Vikings (or another team) as he enters the final year of his contract.

Cousins is set to earn $30MM this season, after it became clear he would not sign another Vikings extension this offseason. Talks on a new contract are expected to take place after the campaign but before his deal expires in March, something which would take him to free agency for the second time in his career. That leaves the 35-year-old with plenty to prove this season, something he is acutely aware of.

Cousins admitted he is playing for his job when speaking to the media. He added, “that’s kind of the life you live. And I think when you take that seriously, that lends itself to having success more days than not” (h/t ESPN’s Kevin Seifert).

Both team and player have expressed an openness to continuing their relationship, one which has seen Cousins earn $155MM to date in Minnesota. The four-time Pro Bowler will earn another signficant payday on a new deal in 2024 if he continues his strong play from last season, in which he threw for the second-most yards of his career (4,547) and helped lead the team to a 13-4 record. Cousins has cashed in on a number of occasions, and he has done particularly well in securing guaranteed money in his career. Doing so again will require a strong season, as Minnesota could move on if he regresses or suffers an injury.

“Tom [Brady] made the point that there is no entitlement in the NFL,” Cousins added. “And if there is entitlement in the NFL, that organization is probably doing it wrong. I think it’s healthy when players need to go out every day, and nobody is entitled to anything… If it ever isn’t that way here, I would be the first one to complain and say, ‘I sense some entitlement, and let’s change that.”

As Seifert’s colleague Adam Schefter notes, Cousins’ contact – which includes four void years for salary cap purposes – does not expire until after the deadline to apply franchise tags. Minnesota will have likely made a decision on his future by that point, something which will be worth watching given the lack of long-term successors in the organization. Many expected the Vikings to be aggressive in drafting a passer in April, but they did not add one until the fifth round (Jaren Hall).

For that reason, Seifert notably reports that Minnesota was not in on Trey Lance trade talks. The former 49ers top-three pick was dealt to the Cowboys for a fourth-round selection after a quick negotiating process which included a few other teams. The fact the Vikings steered clear of Lance leaves their QB situation beyond 2023 something to monitor.

Patriots Place CB Jack Jones On IR, QB Matt Corral On Exempt/Left Squad

September 10th, 2023 at 1:33pm CST by Ely Allen

SEPTEMBER 10: Howe reports that Corral was absent from the Patriots’ facility on Friday and Saturday, meaning he missed out on practice, walkthrough and team meetings in advance of today’s contest. He adds New England is still determining Corral’s future with the organization. Given the left squad designation, the team will have time to sort out its next move. Kyed adds, meanwhile, that the Patriots never seemed to be contemplating waiving Corral, despite the report from earlier on Saturday that they were doing so. This situation will remain worth watching until further clarity emerges.

SEPTEMBER 9: Patriots second-year cornerback Jack Jones suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday at practice that immediately put his game status in doubt for tomorrow’s season opener, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic. After confirming that Jones wouldn’t be available in Week 1, Howe speculated that a multi-week absence could be in the cards for the young defender. Well, Mike Reiss of ESPN was able to confirm today that Jones has been placed on injured reserve, guaranteeing he will miss at least the first four games of the 2023 season.

The loss of Jones certainly hurts the quality of the team’s cornerback depth, but overall, the Patriots still look strong at the position. With rookie first-round pick Christian Gonzalez joining veteran Jonathan Jones in the starting lineup, New England should be set up well for Week 1. The team also has Marcus Jones and Jalen Mills providing depth behind the starters.

The Patriots’ transaction announcement also disclosed that they are placing quarterback Matt Corral on the exempt/left squad list. According to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, Corral reportedly left the team without notice. This makes Corral’s “not injury related” appearance on the practice injury report this week make a bit more sense. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network explained that going this route immediately clears a roster spot for New England without the need to place Corral on waivers.

The Patriots filled one of the open two roster spots by signing practice squad quarterback Bailey Zappe to the active roster. Last year’s fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky will now be the primary backup behind starting quarterback Mac Jones despite being released during final roster cuts back in August.

To fill the other roster spot, the team signed practice squad running back Ty Montgomery to the active roster, as well. Montgomery will provide depth and variety off the bench behind Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott. While both Stevenson and Elliott have shown an ability to receive out of the backfield at some point in their careers, Montgomery clearly has an edge at that ability after converting from wide receiver after his rookie year.

Finally, the team will reportedly only be using one of their two allowed practice squad promotions for tomorrow. Veteran linebacker/special teamer Calvin Munson will get the call up for the season opener against the Eagles.

Bills’ Von Miller Uncertain To Return In Week 5

September 10th, 2023 at 12:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

SEPTEMBER 10: Miller says that his knee was cleared even before the decision was made to put him on the PUP list (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). However, Miller still has “steps to take” before he is football-ready, and per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network, it is unclear if the second-year Bill will suit up when he is first eligible in Week 5.

AUGUST 29: The Bills will play it safe with Von Miller. Finishing up a rehab effort from a second ACL tear, the future Hall of Famer is not slated to come off Buffalo’s PUP list before today’s deadline.

Miller will move from the Bills’ active/PUP list to the reserve/PUP, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. This will sideline Miller for at least four games. Miller has expressed confidence in his early-season readiness, and GM Brandon Beane said it was possible the dominant pass rusher suited up in Week 1. But the Bills will play the long game with their top pass rusher.

Considering the Bills’ path with Tre’Davious White, this Miller transaction certainly does not surprise. White suffered a torn ACL during the Bills’ Thanksgiving game in 2021; he did not make his 2022 debut until the team’s Thanksgiving contest in Detroit. That marked the only time White and Miller have played together, with the defensive end going down during the holiday tilt. Miller, 34, should not be expected to be out as long as White. But he will not be back until at least October.

This marks a different post-ACL path for Miller, who returned for Week 1 of the 2014 season despite suffering his first tear in December 2013. Miller returned to play in 16 games and finish with 14 sacks that year, but the circumstances are a bit different this time. Miller is going into his 13th season and already has a full-season absence (2020, due to an ankle malady) on his resume. The Bills also made an important adjustment to their pass-rushing group, signing ex-Miller Rams teammate Leonard Floyd.

Floyd, 30, agreed to a one-year, $7MM deal with the Bills in June. While Beane said the Bills targeted Floyd regardless of Miller’s status, the former top-10 pick also represented an insurance addition. Floyd and Gregory Rousseau will lead the way for the Bills to start the season, with A.J. Epenesa and Shaq Lawson in place as backups. Epenesa has drawn trade interest, but after the Bills sent Boogie Basham to the Giants earlier Tuesday, it should be expected the Iowa alum will stay put.

Miller is going into the second season of a six-year, $120MM extension. The All-Decade defender chose the Bills over the Cowboys and Rams last year and notched eight sacks to start his Buffalo tenure. Miller will miss games against the Jets, Raiders, Commanders and Dolphins. He can begin practicing ahead of Week 3 but cannot be activated until Week 5.

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