Lamar Jackson To Miss Wild-Card Game
JANUARY 15: The Ravens plan to play both Huntley and Brown in their contest against the Bengals, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Huntley was a full participant in practice on Friday, and Baltimore did not elevate Brett Hundley from the practice squad.
JANUARY 13: As expected, the Ravens ruled Jackson out for a sixth straight game. After practicing in full Friday, Huntley should be expected to return to Baltimore’s starting lineup. Though, the Ravens will not name a starter until Sunday.
JANUARY 12: Jackson missed another practice Thursday and opted to provide his own update on his injury, calling it a grade 2 PCL sprain “on the borderline of a [grade] 3” (Twitter link). The fifth-year passer said swelling remains and the knee is unstable. A grade 2 sprain is a partial tear, while a grade 3 is essentially a full tear. A setback that was initially rumored to cause a one- to three-game absence is almost certainly set to sideline Jackson for a sixth.
“I wish I could be out there with my guys more than anything but I can’t give a 100% of myself to my guys and fans,” Jackson said (on Twitter). “I’m still hopeful we still have a chance.”
This update will undoubtedly be followed by Jackson being declared out for Sunday night’s game. Even if the Ravens are to upset the defending AFC champions, Jackson’s comments make it sound like the next time he takes the field will be in Week 1 of the 2023 season.
JANUARY 11: In what is becoming a weekly update, Lamar Jackson looks to again be heading toward a Sunday in street clothes. The injured superstar is facing an uphill battle to play against the Bengals, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link).
Out with a PCL sprain since Week 13, Jackson has not practiced since the injury. Attempts to get some work in recently have not gone right, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com adds (via Twitter). While the Ravens have held out hope for a return ahead of their wild-card rubber match with the Bengals, it once again looks like it will be Tyler Huntley or Anthony Brown who receives the call for the offensively limited team.
Jackson did not practice Wednesday, and Huntley did not throw during the portion of the workout open to media, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com notes. Jackson has now missed 16 consecutive practices. Huntley, who missed Week 18, is battling tendinitis in his throwing shoulder.
The Ravens were not exactly soaring prior to losing Jackson, but they have been historically limited — for a playoff team — offensively without the former MVP. They are averaging 12.5 points per game without Jackson, a mark ahead of only the Jets during that period. Baltimore’s 75 points over its final six games are the second-fewest in the Super Bowl era, per NFL Research, painting a bleak picture for a game the NFL slotted in the Sunday-night window.
Over the past day, sources around the situation have become more pessimistic regarding Jackson’s availability, Rapoport adds. With Jackson’s knee still “not quite right,” it obviously makes sense for him not to play at significantly less than 100%. Jackson’s game hinges on his running ability, making this injury more of a hindrance for him compared to most quarterbacks. The fifth-year passer also is unsigned beyond this season, a situation that has long pointed to — particularly now that Roquan Smith is locked down — a franchise tag. The Ravens’ performance without Jackson has certainly not hurt his value.
If Jackson sits out this wild-card game, he will have missed 11 games over the past two seasons. An ankle injury sidelined him for the close of Baltimore’s 2021 campaign, which saw the team lose its final six games — despite receiving reasonably effective Huntley play — to finish 8-9. The Ravens have relied more on their defense this year, reaching the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. But this season is starting to look like a missed opportunity for the Ravens, who will need to decide on re-upping Jackson on a contract with guarantees in the Deshaun Watson ballpark ($230MM).
Ravens Still “All In” On Lamar Jackson Extension
Despite growing frustration in Baltimore surrounding Lamar Jackson‘s PCL injury, the Ravens are still interested in a long-term pact with their franchise quarterback. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the organization’s stance on their quarterback hasn’t changed, and whenever the season ends, the front office plans to “begin negotiating with Jackson with hopes of striking a long-term deal.”
[RELATED: Lamar Jackson To Miss Wild-Card Game]
A source told Rapoport that the Ravens are “still all in” on Jackson, even “despite the disappointment with Jackson not being able to play in the first round.” While the team made significant progress on negotiations before the 2022 season, Jackson ended up playing out this season on his $23MM fifth-year option. The former MVP has reportedly been eyeing a Deshaun Watson-like deal.
Sources told Rapoport that the franchise tag is still the most likely scenario. However, it’s uncertain whether the organization would hit Jackson with the standard franchise tag (allowing him to negotiate with other teams while promising compensation if he leaves) or the exclusive tag (which provides exclusive negotiations but with a higher tag price).
Jackson hasn’t seen the field since early December while he’s continued to recover from a PCL injury. Rapoport observes that “Jackson would be at minimal risk of reinjury if he played” tomorrow against the Bengals, although the QB clarified this week that he’s not playing because he’s still not at 100-percent health. Last year, Jackson missed the Ravens’ lone playoff game while dealing with a bone bruise in his ankle. We could end up seeing a similar scenario this year, leading to some natural frustrations within the organization.
Yesterday, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wrote that the “powers-that-be” are “becoming frustrated to the point of exasperated with Jackson’s inability (or unwillingness) to play.” Veteran Sammy Watkins also had some strong words about his quarterback, saying that “everybody is pretty much banged up” at this point of the season. The wide receiver also seemed to question how Jackson’s impending free agency has played into his absence.
“I think the world is ready to see Lamar back on the field, doing what he do best, and get all the stipulations and contract stuff behind him,” Watkins said (via Florio). “I pray somebody talks to him like, ‘Man, just sign the deal.’ You know what I mean? And he get out there and hopefully, if . . . he’s healthy, he can just come play this Sunday. We all know that’s up to Lamar and whatever goes on. Hopefully, they get something done. The world wants to see Lamar be a Baltimore Raven for the rest of his life. . . . [T]he world wants to watch Lamar Jackson. That’s a phenom talent, a talent that you rarely come by. Things that he do on the field and things that you see, to be quite honest when he’s out there, he makes everybody play better, just to have him in that huddle. I pray that somebody reach out to him or that he’s really truly getting healthy and can play, that he wake up Thursday and be like, ‘All right, forget it. I’m playing.’ I think that would change the whole trajectory of our season.”
Panthers Request HC Interview With Ejiro Evero
Ejiro Evero continues to generate interest in coaching circles around the league. The Broncos defensive coordinator is the source of Carolina’s latest head coaching interview request (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). 
[RELATED: Broncos To Block Falcons’ Evero DC Interview]
Evero has been one of the most sought-after assistants in the early stages of the 2023 cycle. His stock rose considerably this season after he helped Denver’s defense perform at a respectable level during his first season in charge of the unit. The Broncos finished middle of the pack in scoring, and fielded the league’s seventh-best total defense – figures which are especially impressive given the team’s major inefficiencies on the other side of the ball.
The 42-year-old was offered the interim head coach title after Denver fired Nathaniel Hackett, but his preference was to close out the campaign in his DC role. He was among the first candidates interviewed by the Broncos to replace Hackett, though a number of other high-profile names (including Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh) have also frequently been connected to Denver.
Evero has caught the eye of Houston and Indianapolis as well, so he could have options available to him outside of the Mile High City depending on the Broncos’ plans. That will be true to an even greater extent if he accepts the Panthers’ request and impresses the NFC South outfit during their search process. The Broncos’ intention of blocking a lateral move to another team underscores Evero’s importance not only to them, but also the demand he is likely to be in now and in the future.
This news comes hours after Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo declined Carolina’s HC interview request. Mayo, like Evero, has established himself as one of the top defensive staffers on the market for teams looking at hires on that side of the ball. Their scheduled meeting with 49ers DC DeMeco Ryans, meanwhile, has at least temporarily been put on hold.
With Evero now on the list of Carolina’s HC targets, here is the updated breakdown of their search:
- Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Interviewed
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Broncos): Interview requested
- Ken Dorsey, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Jim Harbaugh, head coach (Michigan): No longer on radar
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interview requested
- Jerod Mayo, inside linebackers coach (Patriots): Interview declined
- Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Interview expected
- DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview postponed
- Shane Steichen, offensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview 1/14
- Steve Wilks, interim head coach (Panthers): Interviewed 1/10
Free Agent Stock Watch: Geno Smith
With the Seahawks’ season now over, attention will turn away from the team’s surprising trip to the playoffs and towards an offseason filled with questions at the quarterback position. Geno Smith played his way into a significant raise in 2023, but whether he will remain in Seattle will be a key storyline. 
Smith, 32, flamed out as the Jets’ starter after two seasons in New York. That span was followed by six straight campaigns spent as a backup, the role he was expected to remain in for the duration of his NFL career. His play while briefly filling in for Russell Wilson in 2021 made it unsurprising that he was brought back on a one-year deal this past offseason, but the base value of that contract ($3.5MM) made the team’s intentions clear.
It was former Bronco Drew Lock – part of the package Denver sent Seattle in the blockbuster Wilson trade – who was expected to earn the No. 1 spot over the course of the summer. Instead, Smith won out the training camp competition, and quickly rewarded the Seahawks for putting their trust in him. By Week 6, it was reported that a full-time commitment to the West Virginia alum could be in the cards.
Smith generally continued his impressive play throughout the season, one in which the Seahawks were able to clinch the NFC’s final playoff spot during Week 18 despite expectations being tempered considerably in the wake of Wilson’s (and All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner’s) absence. Smith led the league in completion percentage (69.8%), throwing for a franchise-record 4,282 yards along the way. His performance earned him a Pro Bowl nod and allowed him to double his earnings through incentives. That $7MM price tag will surely be comfortably exceeded in free agency – something the veteran is acutely aware of.
“Football is a business,” Smith said prior to today’s 41-23 loss to the 49ers, via ESPN’s Brady Henderson. “A lot of people have a lot of decisions to make, and that’s where I’ll leave it at. I feel great about where I stand with this organization and my teammates and everybody else, but it’s always a business first. So I look at it like that. I understand that, and I’ve got to handle my business as well.”
The Seahawks currently rank in the top-five in the league in terms of 2023 cap space after transitioning to a younger core at most positions. That has them well-positioned to absorb a new deal for Smith carrying a significant raise, but it could also pave the way for a contract keeping Lock in the Emerald City for the short- or medium-term future. Head coach Pete Carroll routinely praised the 26-year-old upon his arrival, despite his underwhelming tenure with the Broncos. Lock is also a pending UFA, though his market will be clouded by having sat as Smith’s backup all season.
In any event, the Seahawks have reportedly been convinced by Smith’s performance to commit to him on a new contract. An alternative, especially in light of his unique rise back to a starter’s role after years as a No. 2, could be a franchise or transition tag, which Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network confirms is a real possibility (video link). Where Smith’s next deal comes from – and what form it takes – will certainly be worth watching over the coming weeks.
For what it’s worth, Smith himself said after the ‘Hawks wildcard round loss to the 49ers that he wants to finish his career in Seattle and that he expects to be back with the team in 2023 (via Henderson).
Buccaneers Expected To Retain HC Todd Bowles
The Buccaneers are preparing for their wild-card matchup on Monday night, but the weekend has already produced a significant (if unsurprising) development for the team. Tampa Bay is expected to retain head coach Todd Bowles in 2023 barring an “unforeseen change of heart,” reports Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. 
Stroud notes that the outcome of the Bucs’ upcoming contest against the Cowboys will not affect the front office’s view of Bowles, who guided the team to an up-and-down performance throughout the season and was reported in December to be likely to be retained. Tampa ended up with an 8-9 record, which was still good enough to win the NFC South and set the team up with a home playoff game.
The 59-year-old took over as head coach from his defensive coordinator role in the wake of Bruce Arians‘ retirement. However, Bowles retained play-calling duties on that side of the ball during the campaign, assigning the title of co-DCs to Kacy Rodgers and Larry Foote. Stroud notes that it remains Bowles’ intention to remove himself from the role of play-caller down the road, which would likely lead to one of Rodgers or Foote taking on those responsibilities.
Bowles inherited plenty of expectations given the Bucs’ success under Arians and with Tom Brady under center. However, the team never managed a winning streak longer than two games during the season, struggling to find consistency on offense in particular. Set back considerably by injuries up front, Tampa ranked just 25th in the league in scoring with an average of 18.4 points per game. That has fueled speculation regarding Brady’s future with either Tampa Bay or a number of other interested clubs, and led to calls for offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich to be replaced.
On defense, Bowles led his unit to a better statistical performance. Tampa Bay surrendered the ninth-fewest yards per game in the league, and tied for 13th in scoring defense (allowing 21.1 points per contest). Still, the Buccaneers found themselves involved in several high-scoring affairs in 2022, along with more than one lopsided defeat, illustrating their inability to consistently produce on both sides of the ball on any given day.
Tampa Bay heads into Monday’s game as slight underdogs, and their hot-and-cold season leaves plenty of room for doubt regarding their ability to pull off the upset. Even if the team’s season comes to an end at that point, however, they will have continuity on the sidelines heading into next year.
Falcons Request DC Interviews With Jerry Gray, Ryan Nielsen
The Falcons have reportedly hit a roadblock with their first target to take on their vacant defensive coordinator position. Two new names have quickly emerged as candidates the team is interested in meeting with, however. 
Atlanta has put in an interview request with Packers defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Jerry Gray, per Benjamin Albright of KOA Colorado (Twitter link). A sit-down is expected to take place next week, Albright adds. That news comes as little surprise, given the fact that Gray was quickly named as a candidate to replace Falcons DC Dean Pees following his retirement announcement.
Gray, 60, has NFL coaching experience dating back to 1997. His time on the sidelines at the pro level began in Tennessee, and includes a stint as the Bills’ DC from 2001-05. Gray ultimately found himself back with the Titans in 2011, when he took charge of their defense. His unit put up generally sub-par numbers during his time in Nashville, aside from his first year in charge where the team’s defense ranked eighth in scoring.
In addition, the Falcons have their eyes on the Saints’ Ryan Nielsen, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic tweets. The 43-year-old has exclusively worked with New Orleans during his time as an NFL staffer, beginning with the team in 2017. He spent five years working strictly with the defensive line, before being promoted to the role of co-DC this past offseason.
That move was necessitated by Dennis Allen being promoted to New Orleans’ head coach, of course, and increased Nielson’s importance (along with that of Kris Richard) to the Saints’ defense. The unit delivered a strong performance in 2022, ranking fifth in the league in yards allowed and ninth in scoring. That wasn’t enough to guide the Saints to a postseason berth given their offensive struggles, but it likely boosted Nielson’s stock as a high-end coordinator candidate.
Either option would bring significant experience to the rebuilding Falcons’ defense, so they could be serious candidates for the job. Atlanta is expected to cast a wide net in their search for Pees’ successor, however, so their list of interviewees is likely to grow in the coming days.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/14/23
Today’s minor moves in advance of the second day of Super Wild-Card Weekend:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: S Ar’Darius Washington
- Elevated: WRs Andy Isabella, Binjimen Victor
- Placed on IR: WR Tylan Wallace
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR John Brown, DT Eli Ankou
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DE Raymond Johnson, LB Keandre Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: OL Lester Cotton, RB La’Mical Perine
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: T Blake Brandel
- Waived: C Greg Mancz
New York Giants
- Elevated: RB Jashaun Corbin, WR Kalil Pimpleton
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/14/23
Broncos To Block Falcons’ Ejiro Evero DC Interview Request
JANUARY 14: Atlanta will not have the opportunity to meet with Evero, it appears. The Broncos are expected to block the Falcons’ request, as first reported by Denver7’s Troy Renck (on Twitter). Veteran Cardinals reporter Mike Jurecki corroborates that sense, and adds that Denver is not expected to allow Evero to take part in any potential DC interviews (Twitter link). That news comes as little surprise, given his head coaching candidacy with the Broncos in particular, but it will leave the Falcons to look elsewhere for Pees’ successor.
JANUARY 13: The Falcons are in need of a new defensive coordinator after veteran Dean Pees announced (for the third, and what is expected to be final, time) his retirement. They are eyeing a replacement who has generated plenty of other interest during this year’s coaching cycle.
Atlanta has requested an interview with Broncos DC Ejiro Evero for the opportunity to hold the same title with the Falcons, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). Seeing as a hire taking him from Denver to Atlanta would constitute a lateral move, the Broncos have the option of denying the request.
The same is not true, of course, of the head coaching inquiries Evero has received. The 42-year-old is a candidate to replace Nathaniel Hackett in Denver, an opportunity he earned after guiding the team’s defense to a respectable performance on the season, especially within the context of the team’s immense struggles on offense. The Broncos had the league’s seventh-best total defense in 2022, Evero’s first season as a defensive coordinator.
His risking stock has also been reflected by the interest shown in him externally. The Colts had an interview with Evero yesterday, and the Texans are also set to meet with him during their HC search. Given his age, relative lack of coordinator experience and background on the defensive side of the ball, Evero could be considered an outside option to land a HC gig this offseason. Today’s request, if granted, would give him another option to consider outside the Mile High City, though.
The Falcons had Pees at the helm of their defense for the past two seasons. During both campaigns, the unit struggled across the board as the team worked their way out of multiple cumbersome contracts to set up their rebuild. That process will be aided by the fact Atlanta is projected to have the second-most cap space in the league, and that they hold three of the upcoming draft’s top 76 picks.
The Falcons thus have plenty of potential to augment a defense led by d-lineman Grady Jarrett and cornerback A.J. Terrell. Evero would have vastly experienced shoes to fill if he were to replace Pees, but he would represent a noteworthy addition for the Falcons if he were to land the position.
Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Declines Panthers HC Interview
We can cross one candidate off the list of Panthers head coaching options. According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones (via Twitter), Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo will not be interviewing for the job. Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston was first with the news (on Twitter).
A few days after we learned that the Panthers had requested an interview with Mayo, the Patriots revealed that they were working on a new contract with the coach that would keep him in New England for the foreseeable future. Mayo later backed out of his defensive coordinator interview with the Browns, a development that wasn’t particularly surprising since Mayo effectively has the same role in New England. However, it’s telling that Mayo is also rejecting head coaching opportunities, an indication that he could emerge from the Patriots negotiations with a new job title.
Elsewhere on the OC front, the Panthers have scheduled an interview with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for Wednesday (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter). However, there are some question marks surrounding the interview status of 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. We heard yesterday that an interview still hadn’t been scheduled due to logistical reasons, and while the organization still hopes to interview the coach, Joe Person of The Athletic tweets that an interview may not happen depending on the length of the 49ers’ playoff run and the progress of the Panthers’ coaching search. Person adds that the organization still needs to conduct an in-person interview with another minority candidate to comply with the Rooney rule.
With Mayo off the board (and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh no longer on the radar), the current list of candidates includes:
- Jim Caldwell, former head coach (Lions): Interviewed
- Ken Dorsey, offensive coordinator (Bills): Interview requested
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interview requested
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Interview requested
- Frank Reich, former head coach (Colts): Interview expected
- DeMeco Ryans, defensive coordinator (49ers): Interview postponed
- Shane Steichen, offensive coordinator (Eagles): To interview 1/14
- Steve Wilks, interim head coach (Panthers): To interview 1/10