HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Packers’ Jaire Alexander Undergoes Knee Surgery; CB Unlikely To Return This Season

January 1st, 2025 at 2:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Questions lingered about the status of Jaire Alexander for the closing stages of the regular season and the playoffs. The Packers corner should not be expected to return, however.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said on Wednesday that Alexander underwent knee surgery. As a result, he is likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. While this was an arthroscopic procedure, the odds point to the talented cornerback not being able to return. That said, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter does note that a Super Bowl LIX return could be in the cards. Green Bay would need to likely win three road games for that to be in play.

As was the case last season and during the 2021 campaign, Alexander has been unable to stay on the field for the Packers. He will wrap this season having played in only seven games, none since November 17. Prior to undergoing the scope, Alexander continued to reinjure his knee in practice, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein writes.

A November report indicated Alexander sustained a PCL tear, making it fairly interesting no surgery commenced at that point. The timeline here stings the Packers, though they have made do without their high-priced boundary defender in the weeks since. Part of the Packers’ effort to replace Alexander last season, Carrington Valentine has started the past six games. He has teamed with Keisean Nixon and Eric Stokes in this adjusted CB contingent.

The Pack have been largely unable to play Alexander and Stokes together. The latter, a 2021 first-round pick, saw extensive run while Alexander was sidelined with a shoulder injury in 2021 but then saw his career altered by knee and foot trouble the following season. Stokes barely played last year, as Alexander missed nine games. Stokes has made his return during a contract year; Pro Football Focus has him slotted 71st among CB regulars.

As Green Bay has Stokes on an expiring contract, Alexander has not justified his extension. Prior to Patrick Surtain‘s four-year, $96MM deal, Alexander’s four-year, $84MM pact had paced corners for more than two years. Although the 2018 first-round pick played 16 games during a Pro Bowl 2022 season, he has not followed that up with regular attendance. The 19 games missed over the past two seasons could certainly impact Alexander’s future in Green Bay.

Alexander is under contract through 2026 and is only closing out his age-27 season. We are also about a year removed from his coin-toss incident in Charlotte, which led to a one-game suspension and speculation about how the Packers would proceed. GM Brian Gutekunst shut down any trade rumors, and the Packers moved forward with their No. 1 corner. It would cost them more than $18MM in dead money to move on after this year, though that could be spread out over two offseasons via a post-June 1 release. However, the Packers would create a major need at the position by going in this direction.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Commanders Designate RB Austin Ekeler For Return

January 1st, 2025 at 1:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

Austin Ekeler was recently mentioned as a candidate to return to action before the end of the season. The veteran running back will indeed have the chance to suit up in Week 18.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

The Commanders announced on Wednesday that Ekeler has been designated for return from injured reserve. Head coach Dan Quinn said last week Ekeler could be back in the fold shortly, so the news comes as little surprise. Washington will now have 21 days to activate him.

Ekeler has been dealing with the effects of the concussion he suffered in Week 12, at least the fourth of his career. He has been on IR since the end of November as a result, but being back in the lineup would be a welcomed development for team and player. The Commanders clinched a playoff spot with the overtime in Week 17, but they are not guaranteed to finish in the No. 6 slot in the NFC’s standing they currently occupy.

As a result, Ekeler could be available as soon as this Sunday. The 29-year-old would likely return to splitting backfield duties with Brian Robinson Jr. upon return. Ekeler has recorded 107 touches this season, his first in the nation’s capital. As expected, he departed the Chargers in free agency and joined several veteran backs in finding a new team during the spring. Ekeler inked a two-year, $8.43MM pact to join the Commanders and has played in role in the league’s No. 3 rushing offense.

Robinson leads the team in production on the ground with 789 yards, though, and he will be expected to remain a key member of Washington’s offense heading into the playoffs. Ekeler could provide a notable change of pace along with production in the passing game provided he is activated no later than Washington’s wild-card game. Managing to remain healthy through the remainder of the campaign will also be key for team and player given his injury history.

Eagles TE Dallas Goedert Returns To Practice

January 1st, 2025 at 12:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Dallas Goedert went down with a knee injury at the start of December. One month later, he is in position to return to the lineup, though. The veteran tight end has been designated for return, the Eagles announced on Wednesday.

Goedert’s injured reserve stint ensured at least a four-game absence. The fact he has returned to practice after missing the minimum amount of action is an encouraging sign. The Eagles will now have 21 days to activate him, although by virtue of being locked into the No. 2 seed in the NFC the team has little need to rush Goedert back onto the field.

Still, he should be expected to be available in time for the wild-card round of the playoffs, something which will be a welcomed development for Philadelphia’s offense. Goedert has remained a steady presence in the team’s passing attack, averaging 11.6 yards per reception and recording a career-high 82.6% catch percentage. The soon-to-be 30-year-old will fall short of 50 receptions for the first time since 2020, but his presence will be key for the Eagles’ first postseason game.

The team’s offense has of course leaned heavily on Saquon Barkley and the ground game for much of the season, and the passing attack has dealt with inconsistency at times. Provided quarterback Jalen Hurts along with wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are healthy in time for the opening round of the playoffs, though, expectations will be high for the unit. Goedert will reprise his role atop the tight end depth chart upon return and thus serve as a key secondary option in the passing game.

The Eagles have four IR activations remaining, but like all other playoff teams they will soon receive two more. Bringing Goedert back into the fold before or after their regular season finale is therefore possible, but in any event his return will be a key development as the team eyes a Super Bowl run.

Patriots Likely To Play Drake Maye In Week 18

January 1st, 2025 at 12:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

JANUARY 1: Maye said on Wednesday he is feeling good and expects to play (h/t ESPN’s Mike Reiss). Mayo repeated his stance that healthy starters will suit up for Week 18, so that should be expected in Maye’s case.

DECEMBER 30: One week remains in the Patriots’ season, a campaign which has witnessed a number of unwanted developments. With New England’s loss on Saturday and the Giants’ win yesterday, though, a silver lining could emerge in the form of the No. 1 pick in the draft.

[RELATED: Updated Draft Order]

Losing in the regular season finale against the Bills would lock up the top spot, meaning the Patriots will have a notable incentive to avoid a fourth win on the campaign. As a result, head coach Jerod Mayo was asked if resting starters – including quarterback Drake Maye – would be on the table. He replied that such a move is being considered at this point, although he later said injuries will be the only factor driving the decision to rest players next week.

“My expectation is if the guys are healthy, then they’re expected to be ready to go out there and play,” Mayo clarified (via Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal). “Again, we’ll have to see how the week goes.”

Mayo noted Maye is not currently in the NFL’s concussion protocol, but added that could change later today. In the event the No. 3 pick were to enter the protocol, he would be all-but assured of missing the season finale, something which would pave the way for veteran Jacoby Brissett to handle starting duties on Sunday. The pending free agent was replaced by Maye as New England’s starter midway through the campaign, a move which set him up to depart on the open market this spring.

Maye’s development will be a key determinant in the Patriots’ ability to return to contention, and adding high-end talent via the draft this spring will of course also be imperative. Holding the top pick would be significant if the team were to add its preferred prospect (with Heisman winner Travis Hunter likely being the target of the No. 1 selection) or entertain the possibility of trading down.

With the Bills being locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture, they could rest a number of starters on Sunday. That could help the Patriots’ chances of pulling off an upset win, although choosing to do the same with Maye and Co. would be a move understandably aimed at securing the top pick.

Panthers Designate RB Miles Sanders For Return

January 1st, 2025 at 11:18am CST by Adam La Rose

Miles Sanders‘ Panthers tenure is likely to come to an end after the year, but he could suit up one last time for the team this Sunday. The veteran running back has been designated for return from injured reserve.

As a result, Sanders will be able to practice in advance of Carolina’s season finale. Such a move would likely not have been made if his high ankle sprain had not healed to the point where playing in Week 18 would be feasible. The 27-year-old has been on IR since late November.

During his Eagles tenure, Sanders demonstrated considerable efficiency and set a new career high with 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in the final year of his rookie contract. As expected, he managed to parlay that success into a notable deal; his four-year, $25.4MM Panthers contract was the most lucrative handed out to a running back in 2023. Things have not gone according to plan since his arrival, however.

Sanders played 16 games last year, but his 31% snap share and 129 carries both represented career lows. Chuba Hubbard surpassed him on the depth chart, something which has remained the case through to the current campaign. In spite of Hubbard’s strong play and the decision to draft Jonathon Brooks last April, Carolina initially intended to keep Sanders in place. The team’s stance about moving on changed in advance of the trade deadline, but no deal was ultimately worked out.

Given the time missed due to injury and his spot in the RB pecking order, Sanders has only recorded 237 scrimmage yards and one touchdown to date in 2024. With Brooks on the shelf with another ACL tear and Hubbard unavailable for the season finale, though, he could receive a notable workload against the Falcons. A strong showing could help rebuild his value to an extent, but with no guaranteed salary on his deal beyond this season a release would not come as a surprise. Sanders is due a $1MM roster bonus shortly after the start of the new league year, so being let go before that point would be a feasible move on Carolina’s part.

Brooks’ second ACL tear clouds his availability for the 2025 season, but with Hubbard inking a long-term extension recently his status as the Panthers’ lead back moving forward is assured. Sanders could be auditioning to potential suitors on Sunday provided he is brought onto the active roster in time to play. Carolina has one IR activation remaining.