HEADLINES

Year: 2023

Lions Release Marvin Jones; WR Stepping Away From Football

October 24th, 2023 at 3:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

Marvin Jones has decided to step away from football to attend to a family matter, something which will bring an end to his Lions tenure. The veteran wideout will be released later today, as noted by Justin Rodger of the Detroit News. The team has since announced the move.

Jones took to Instagram on Tuesday to address his situation. A statement from the 33-year-old reads in part, “I am stepping away from the team to take care of personal family matters. Although this was no easy decision, I cannot be the person/player that I need to be for this team as well as tend to my family from afar. This organization has been amazing showing love and support for myself and my family over the years and this time is no different.”

After three seasons (and four years) in Cincinnati, Jones first joined the Lions in 2016. That began a five-year run in the Motor City which included his best seasons. The former fifth-rounder eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in 2017, a year in which he led the league in yards per reception with 18 and matched his career-best in touchdowns with nine.

Jones later spent 2021 and ’22 in Jacksonville, serving as a dependable target in the former year in particular before seeing his playing time drop considerably in the latter campaign. Expectations for a bounce-back season were raised, however, when he re-joined the Lions this offseason on a one-year deal. That pact had a base value of $3MM and included another $2MM worth of incentives which, given his performance to date along with today’s news, will not be reached.

Detroit already had Amon-Ra St. Brown in place atop their WR depth chart before adding Jones in free agency. The latter joined the likes of Josh Reynolds, Kalif Raymond and the recently-reinstated Jameson Williams as complementary options in the passing game, one which has done well without Jones playing a notable role. The Cal product made just five catches for 35 scoreless yards in his return to Detroit. His release will create $2.2MM in a dead cap charge in 2023, along with $800K next season since his pact includes a void year.

Patriots CB Marcus Jones Out For Season

October 24th, 2023 at 1:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots have been hit hard by injuries in the secondary this season, and their situation on that front has worsened. Marcus Jones‘ injury will shut him down for the rest of the season, receivers coach Troy Brown said on Tuesday.

The fact that an offensive position coach broke the news demonstrates Jones’ versatility, and his absence will be felt on offense, defense and special teams. The 25-year-old was placed on IR last month due to a torn labrum. He was thus forced to miss at least four weeks, but today’s news means he will be sidelined until the start of the 2024 campaign.

Jones’ biggest impact as a rookie came on special teams, as he led the league in punt return yards. That earned him a first-team All-Pro nod, and showcased his long-term value for the Patriots in the third phase. The Houston alum also carved out a role for himself on defense, though, starting four games at corner and recording a pair of interceptions. Jones added 18 snaps on offense last year and one in 2023, but his absence will most acutely affect the Patriots’ secondary.

First-round rookie Christian Gonzalez is out for the year, and his injury will leave new England without their emerging No. 1 cover man. Jack Jones has also missed time this season, although he was activated in time for Week 7. With Marcus Jones out of the picture now, plenty of the team’s workload in the secondary will fall on Jack Jones and J.C. Jackson, who was brought back to Foxboro via trade after his Chargers stint came to a disappointing end.

Jones had only logged three punt returns this season, so the Patriots will be relatively unaffected on special teams with him shelved for the campaign. The team’s offense, which has generally struggled throughout the year, will also be without a gadget player as Jones turns his attention to rehab ahead of his third NFL season.

Cardinals To Place TE Zach Ertz On IR

October 24th, 2023 at 12:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cardinals have seen their offense – and perhaps their outlook for the upcoming trade deadline – take an unwanted turn. Tight end Zach Ertz is headed to injured reserve, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Ertz suffered a quad injury in Week 7, and it will keep him sidelined for an extended stretch. Going on IR will guarantee at least a four-week absence, though Garafolo notes the three-time Pro Bowler is expected to be back at some point in the season. The news could have short- and long-term implications for Arizona.

The 32-year-old has remained a consistent presence in the Cardinals’ passing game, drawing double-digit targets twice this season. Ertz has recorded 187 yards and one touchdown on 27 catches, making him the team’s third-leading receiver (albeit on one of the league’s least-productive offenses). His absence will open the door for 2022 second-rounder Trey McBride to handle a larger workload.

The latter has already seen an uptick in receptions (29) and yards (265) compared to his rookie campaign, despite seeing a drop in snap share while splitting reps with Ertz. It will be interesting to see how McBride handles a starter’s workload as the Cardinals continue to work with Josh Dobbs at quarterback while Kyler Murray ramps up toward a return.

Ertz saw his 2022 campaign – his first full one in Arizona – come to an end in November with ACL and MCL tears. He recovered well in the offseason, but this latest ailment will put him on the shelf once again and hinder his trade value. The veteran has been floated as a potential trade chip given the rebuilding Cardinals’ 1-6 record. One week remains until the deadline, but an acquiring team would now be required to wait at least a few weeks until Ertz became available to suit up.

The longtime Eagles starter made it known this offseason that a trade which would have sent him to the Bills was nearly completed in 2021. Buffalo will likely be without tight end Dawson Knox for a stretch, but adding Ertz at this point would carry signficant financial implications. The latter has an $8.76MM salary this season (which would be prorated for an acquiring team), along with just over $10MM due next year, the final season of his current contract. Ertz’s cap hit for 2024 is $12.55MM, which always made a trade around this time a tricky proposition. Given his injury, it will be interesting to see if a market still exists for him in the coming days.

Jerry Jones: Cowboys Will Not Initiate Trade Talks

October 24th, 2023 at 10:39am CST by Adam La Rose

One week remains until the trade deadline, and conflicting reports have emerged with respect to how the Cowboys will approach the coming days. Owner Jerry Jones clarified the team’s stance during his latest appearance on 105.3 The Fan.

“The initiation of an opportunity to make a trade at this time that would help us principally has to start over on the other end,” Jones said, via Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. “I like where we are with our personnel today.”

Reports from last week suggested Dallas would be aggressive in seeking out short-term help ahead of the deadline. With the team seemingly on track for another postseason berth, it would come as no surprise if, at a minimum, depth moves were made to address the injuries suffered by corner Trevon Diggs and/or linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Subsequent reports refuted that expectation, however.

Indeed, ESPN’s Todd Archer notes that the Cowboys are likely to have a “quiet” deadline, something which Jones’ comments reaffirm. Dallas currently sits mid-pack in the NFL with respect to financial flexibility, as the team has just under $7.4MM in cap space. That would be sufficient to make at least one noteworthy move, particularly for a player on an expiring deal. Long-term financial considerations are no doubt in play in Dallas’ case, though.

The Cowboys are due to have quarterback Dak Prescott‘s cap hit explode to $59.5MM in 2024, meaning an extension will need to be worked out in the near future. Talks on that front will take place after the season, but other priorities will be in place by that point as well. Edge rusher Micah Parsons and wideout CeeDee Lamb will be eligible to sign lucrative second contracts in the spring, and plenty of future room will need to be budgeted for those investments.

Of course, the Cowboys will be open to offers made from other teams seeking to swing a deal. As Jones confirmed today, however, that path will be the only one by which a signficant alteration to Dallas’ roster is made.

Bengals Unlikely To Be Active Ahead Of Trade Deadline?

October 24th, 2023 at 9:49am CST by Adam La Rose

As yesterday’s Kevin Byard trade showed, this time of year will see contending teams pull of trades aimed at boosting a deep postseason run. The Bengals are still viewed as a team in position to serve as buyers, but it would come as a surprise if the team made an aggressive push for a deal in the coming days.

Joe Burrow‘s calf injury left he and the Cincinnati offense hobbled to start the year, but things have turned around recently. The Bengals spent their bye week at 3-3 on the year and thus still in contention for at least a playoff berth in a stacked AFC. While other contenders could make notable additions in the coming days, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes that the Bengals are not expected to be players on the trade front (subscription required).

Cincinnati has developed a reputation for frugality with respect to contract matters, but Burrow’s record-breaking deal serves as an obvious exception to that rule. With a massive commitment on the books for years to come at the quarterback spot, draft capital will of course be highly valued by the organization, one which has steered clear of short-term moves at the deadline in years past (despite the sharp uptick in notable midseason deals being worked out in recent campaigns).

As Dehner notes, offloading veteran edge rusher Carlos Dunlap to the Seahawks in 2020 represents the only trade the Bengals have made around the deadline within the past decade. Even with more than $12MM in cap space at the moment, then, Cincinnati would be following standard operating procedure if the team were to simply stand pat over the next week.

Dehner names running back Samaje Perine and tight end Hayden Hurst as potential low-cost targets for the Bengals. Acquiring either would mark a reunion with the depth contributors and give the team added insurance for an offense which has fallen well short of expectations so far. Perine signed with the Broncos in search of an expanded workload this offseason, but he has recorded double-digit touches only twice this season. Hurst, meanwhile, was part of the Panthers’ offensive renovations but he, like most other Carolina skill-position players, has failed to put up signficant numbers to date. Both players have multiple years left on their contracts, a factor which would dissuade interest on the Bengals’ part.

Plenty of time remains for Cincinnati to join the Eagles and, presumably, a list of other teams in their pursuit of upgrades for the stretch run. For now, though, signs point to the Bengals holding firm in lieu of sacrificing future assets for a short-term gain.

Bears, Jaylon Johnson Discussing Extension

October 24th, 2023 at 8:55am CST by Adam La Rose

Despite not being on the trade block, Jaylon Johnson‘s future with the Bears has been uncertain throughout 2023. The contract-year corner recently spoke about his situation, and revealed that more clarity on his fate in 2024 and beyond may be coming.

Johnson made it clear this offseason that he wanted to re-up with the Bears, but little progress has been made on contract talks. The 24-year-old changed agents in advance of the regular season, one in which he has maintained his starting role as part of a young Chicago CB contingent. Johnson had a career day in Week 7 with a pair of interceptions, including a pick-six. His ‘money counting’ touchdown celebration led to questions regarding whether or not it was a reference to his contract status, which he later answered emphatically in the affirmative.

Bears GM Ryan Poles has been willing to see the 2023 season play out in Johnson’s case, and the presence of recent draftees (Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith) at the CB spot have threatened to make Johnson expendable. However, a recent report indicated Chicago is not interested in seeking out a trade partner for the Utah product. Johnson has nevertheless pondered about the possibility of being dealt ahead of the October 31 trade deadline, something which would become a moot point if extension talks produced an agreement. Slight progress appears to have been made on that front.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s a process, it’s a process,” Johnson said during an appearance on 670 The Score’s Parkins & Spiegel Show. “But things are, I would say, starting to hopefully, to ramp up. We’ll see kind of where things go, especially in this next week… Because I mean, to me, it’s different and just talking and really just, ‘OK, well, let’s try to figure something out, let’s try to figure something out’ versus things getting done. So I’m just looking forward to seeing what actually gets done.”

As his remarks demonstrate, nothing is imminent with respect to a deal being worked out. Still, the fact that the parties are discussing a deal with only one week remaining until the trade deadline confirms a desire exists on both sides to continue their relationship beyond 2023. Johnson has not only doubled his interception total for his career compared to where it stood before last week’s game, he has posted a personal best in completion percentage allowed (47.8%) through five games played. He could thus be a core player for the rebuilding Bears for years to come if an agreement can be reached on a multi-year pact.

Failing that, the franchise tag could come into play. The one-year tender would check in at a cost of roughly $19.5MM, and the team’s preference would no doubt be a long-term contract carrying a lower AAV than that. If talks with Johnson are indeed picking up, it will be interesting to see how much progress is made in the coming days as the Bears prepare for the trade deadline.

Titans, Eagles Agree To Kevin Byard Trade

October 23rd, 2023 at 10:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles have made a signficant addition to their secondary. Philadelphia has agreed to a trade which will see them acquire safety Kevin Byard from the Titans, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that fellow safety Terrell Edmunds, along with 2024 fifth- and sixth-round picks will be headed back to Tennessee. The Eagles have long been named as a candidate to make an addition in the secondary – particularly at the safety spot – and now that has taken place. The move marks an end to Byard’s seven-plus year run in Nashville.

With that said, this move will represent a homecoming for the Philadelphia native. Byard’s time with the Titans appeared to be on shaky ground in the offseason, with new general manager Ran Carthon approaching him (unsuccessfully) about agreeing to a pay cut. In spite of that, the 30-year-old made it clear he was not looking to be moved out of Tennessee. He ultimately agreed to a restructured contract, a move which lowered his base salary to $4MM this season.

Given the ease which which his 2023 earnings could be absorbed – along with the fact no guaranteed money is in place in 2024, the final year of his deal – Byard represented an attractive trade chip. He was recently reported to be the subject of interest from teams, but doubts remained regarding the compensation Tennessee could fetch in return. Instead of seeing Byard potentially become a cap casualty in the offseason, the Titans will now receive a pair of Day 3 picks along with a short-term replacement in Edmunds, who signed a one-year deal this offseason.

The picks exchanged here will be the Eagles’ highest pick in the 2024 fifth and sixth rounds, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones tweets. Both are conditional selections, per GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer. It is unknown at this point what conditions are included here, but this will bring an end to an eight-season partnership between Byard and the Titans.

Byard earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro acclaim in 2017 and ’21, and he has remained productive across his time in Nashville. He has recorded multiple interceptions every full year since his rookie campaign, and eclipsed 100 tackles twice. His ball production and coverage marks have taken a step back this year, but he will be joining a more talented defense upon arrival with the Eagles, a team which has lost a number of key members of its secondary since their Super Bowl appearance.

That included the free agent departure of both Marcus Epps and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Philadelphia has been in search of a true replacement for the latter’s playmaking in particular early in the season. Byard will have the chance to take on a starting role alongside Reed Blankenship (when healthy) in the team’s new-look safety arrangement. Their performances when paired together will go a long way in determining the secondary’s success, especially given the season-ending injury suffered by slot corner Avonte Maddox.

The Eagles entered today with roughly $4.3MM in cap space, so this move will likely be the most notable one the reigning NFC champions can afford. Still, it proves the team’s all-in approach as they look to go one step further than they did last year. From Tennessee’s perspective, meanwhile, this move will invite questions about Carthon and Co. being willing to part with other veterans. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry are not believed to be on the block, but at 2-4 it would not come as no surprise if the Titans were to act as sellers in other moves ahead of the October 31 deadline.

Broncos CB K’Waun Williams Likely Out For Season

October 23rd, 2023 at 10:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the league’s most injury-prone teams in recent years, the Broncos have not seen as much trouble on that front to start this slate. But they have been without their slot cornerback throughout the year. That is expected to continue the rest of the way.

K’Waun Williams underwent foot surgery just before the regular season, and the Broncos expressed hope the veteran corner could return during the campaign’s second half. That is no longer on track, with 9News’ Mike Klis reporting Williams needed another surgery, one that is expected to prevent him from playing this season.

The surgery Williams underwent Aug .28 did not work, per Klis, leading to the need for a more extensive second operation, which took place Monday. This second procedure is set to sideline the 10th-year veteran for around three months. Barring an unlikely Broncos surge from 2-5 to the divisional round, Williams will not see the field during what would have been his age-32 season.

This is familiar territory for the Broncos, who have seen unavailability largely define their slot position post-Chris Harris. Denver slid the All-Decade corner to more of an outside role in 2019, upon signing ex-Vic Fangio Bears pupil Bryce Callahan. But Callahan missed all of that 2019 season and battled injuries in 2020 and ’21, missing 12 more games between his final two Denver slates. Letting Callahan walk in free agency after firing Fangio, the Broncos signed Williams — to a two-year, $5.2MM deal — to replace him. Williams played in 14 games last season but underwent knee surgery. Despite changing defensive staffs once again, the Broncos retained Williams this offseason.

Williams spent five seasons as the 49ers’ primary slot corner, coming over after a stint with the Browns. This will likely end up being the otherwise-reliable vet’s second full-season absence; he missed all of 2016 with bone spurs in his ankle, leading to a grievance. Williams re-established himself in San Francisco and joined Patrick Surtain in Denver’s secondary last season. But this contract-year injury will obviously hinder his 2024 market and, given his age, potentially threaten to wrap his career.

The Broncos have used both Essang Bassey and Ja’Quan McMillian in the slot this season. Denver waived Bassey earlier this month and gave the job to McMillian, a 2022 UDFA.

Latest On Broncos’ Deadline Plans; Interest In Jerry Jeudy Cooling?

October 23rd, 2023 at 9:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos snapped their skid of home losses, holding off the Packers in Week 7. But thanks to the team’s blown leads against the Raiders, Commanders and Jets, it is 2-5 heading into its Chiefs rematch. Already moving on from Frank Clark and Randy Gregory, the Broncos will have more decisions to make soon.

Although Sean Payton‘s team is believed to be open for business, some pushback has come with regards to how far it will go to stockpile draft capital at the midseason point. The Broncos are prepared to listen on anyone — with the possible exception of Patrick Surtain, who is not believed to be available — but are not planning a sell-off, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes. Barring big offers, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms the team is not on track to be an aggressive seller.

[RELATED: Assessing Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton’s Trade Candidacies]

No team has parted with a higher-profile batch of talent in-season over the past five years than the Broncos, who have moved Demaryius Thomas (2018), Emmanuel Sanders (2019), Von Miller (2021) and Bradley Chubb (2022). And Payton will surely want to recoup some draft capital, especially considering what the franchise needed to give up for him and Russell Wilson. Despite George Paton‘s GM title, Russini confirms Payton will be closely involved in any trade. Considering what the Broncos gave up in terms of compensation and draft capital to land Payton, it has been widely assumed Paton has drifted to second in the personnel hierarchy.

Defensive pieces should be considered more likely to go, per Russini. Denver has a Pro Bowl safety, in Justin Simmons, and veteran linebacker Josey Jewell is in a contract year. None of the Broncos’ post-Gregory/Clark edge rushers are in walk years, however. Defensive tackle D.J. Jones is signed through 2024, though he was added to play in Ejiro Evero‘s defense. Simmons would stand to generate the most interest, given his status as one of the NFL’s best safeties, but Kareem Jackson‘s four-game suspension effectively takes him off the market. The 35-year-old veteran has not played particularly well this season, but his absence — coupled with Caden Sterns‘ season-ending injury in Week 1 — may prompt the Broncos to stand down on Simmons..

More buzz has surrounded Denver’s offensive talent, but the Broncos are not necessarily committed to moving Jerry Jeudy. Although the former first-round pick landed in trade rumors last October and throughout the offseason, he is unlikely to generate an offer close to the level the organization sought. Denver wanted a first-rounder for Jeudy this offseason, but his slow start probably will not lead any team to hand over such a return. Even a second-rounder will probably be difficult to come by, with Denver7’s Troy Renck noting interest has diminished in the talented but inconsistent receiver. While interest remains, Renck mentions a third-rounder as potential compensation. The Broncos drafted Jeudy 15th overall three years ago.

Jeudy’s $12.99MM fifth-year option salary is fully guaranteed; that component has been an issue for teams. Courtland Sutton has fared better this season, and the sixth-year wideout played a lead role in helping the Broncos beat the Packers on Sunday. Sutton, 28, has been viewed as less likely to be traded than Jeudy. But the Broncos still having Jeudy under contract in 2024 gives them time. Sutton is signed through 2025, and with no guarantees on the books beyond this year, flexibility exists in the four-year, $60MM contract.

The Broncos should be expected to make a seller’s trade or two, per Renck, and another loss to the Chiefs would seemingly accelerate a desire to collect a couple of assets. The Broncos also travel to Buffalo after their Week 9 bye. With Simmons, Jeudy and left tackle Garett Bolles signed through 2024, the team will need to weigh its trade chips’ potential future contributions against any offers that come in before the Oct. 31 deadline.

Regarding one of the players the Broncos already jettisoned, Clark remains a free agent. After dangling the ninth-year veteran in trades, the Broncos moved on via release. Payton said Clark grumbled about a lack of playing time, which led to the cut.

“Frank was frustrated with the snaps, or lack thereof,’’ Payton said, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. “We brought him in hoping that we could get more from him. In fairness to Frank, I don’t think he ever felt like he was getting enough in a row to play well, and yet, some of the other younger guys were earning those spots.”

Clark, 30, did not have much of a chance to see steady snaps. The Broncos used him as a backup in Week 1, and he missed the next three games due to a groin injury sustained in practice. Clark, who has been linked to a Chiefs reunion, played just 11 defensive snaps in his return to action against the Jets. The Broncos activated Baron Browning off the reserve/PUP list Saturday and teamed him with starters Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto in Week 7.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/23

October 23rd, 2023 at 7:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s practice squad additions and subtractions:

Dallas Cowboys

Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans Saints

Tennessee Titans

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