Alex Brown

NFC North Notes: Rodgers, Darrisaw, Lions

Aaron Rodgers surfaced in an NFL news cycle or two this offseason, but the reigning MVP reported to Packers training camp on time. The 37-year-old quarterback did air some grievances about his situation, and he shed more light on his complicated offseason recently. As late as the weekend before camp, Rodgers evidently was quite close to retiring. A report early during his offseason quest to leave Green Bay indicated retirement was on the table. The 17th-year veteran confirmed as such.

I mean, I felt going into the weekend before camp that I was 50/50,” Rodgers said on retirement during an appearance on the Dan LeBatard and Friends podcast (via CBS Sports). “I don’t care if people don’t believe that. That’s true. There were some things that got me to 50/50 for sure, and you know I spent a couple of days in silence and meditation and contemplation and really felt like that I should come back. There’s a lot of opportunities for growth and exciting things in Green Bay and that felt like the right thing to do.”

While Rodgers and Packers management are still not on great terms, with the sides set to huddle up after the season to determine the QB’s future, he will play a 14th season as the team’s starting QB. Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • The Vikings continue to wait on first-round pick Christian Darrisaw. The rookie left tackle is on the mend from his second core muscle surgery this year, and Mike Zimmer indicated the team was surprised this operation became necessary. “They tell me one thing and it ends up being something else,” Zimmer said, via the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson (on Twitter). “It was taken care of in January. We didn’t expect this.” The eighth-year Minnesota HC did say he expected Darrisaw to be ready by Week 1, but the Virginia Tech product has not practiced fully during camp and may take time to move into the starting lineup. Veteran backup/spot starter Rashod Hill has worked as the Vikings’ top left tackle in Darrisaw’s absence.
  • A car accident changed the Lions‘ depth chart recently. Last week, Detroit waived cornerback Alex Brown. More details emerged on why soon after. Brown was hit with four charges for his role in the accident, according to the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers, who tweets the 24-year-old defender was allegedly intoxicated while driving on the wrong side of a highway around 2am Aug. 15. This crash left two injured, including Lions teammate Charlie Taumoepeau, per Rogers (via Twitter). A 23-year-old tight end, Taumoepeau suffered a neck injury that required hospitalization. The Lions cut Brown immediately; Taumoepeau reverted to Detroit’s injured reserve after being waived with an injury designation.
  • Third-year player Kabion Ento has completed a successful conversion from wide receiver to cornerback with the Packers, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Although the 6-foot-1, 187-pound defender has yet to play in a regular-season game, the Packers have been patient with the ex-Colorado wideout. They stashed Ento on their practice squad in 2019, kept him on IR in 2020 — after a foot fracture sidelined him — and retained him via reserve/futures deal. Ento only caught 20 career passes with the Buffaloes and is now vying to land one of the Packers’ backup cornerback jobs.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/21

Here are today’s minor moves. All teams must cut their rosters to 85 players by 4pm ET on Tuesday.

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Cut: TE Pro Wells

Detroit Lions

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Cut: CB Cameron Kinley, TE De’Quan Hampton and WR Josh Pearson

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/17/21

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

West Notes: Samuel, Chiefs, Broncos

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area says the 49ers seem to be expecting top wideout Deebo Samuel, who is recovering from surgery to correct the Jones fracture in his left foot, to miss the first six weeks of the 2020 season. Indeed, the club recently signed both Tavon Austin and JJ Nelson to fill out its WR depth chart.

But Samuel’s timetable may not be quite that long. Maiocco acknowledges that workout videos posted by the talented second-year pass catcher suggest he could return sooner, and head coach Kyle Shanahan is still hoping for a Week 1 return.

“Deebo’s going to do everything he can to be in shape, but it’s hard to be in football shape until you can play football,” Shanahan said (via Keiana Martin of the team’s official website). “So, how many practices do we get him in here before Arizona? That’s going to all go into play. I’m hoping for Week 1, but not sure yet. It’s still too early.”

Now for a quick roundup of several more West division items:

  • In addition to the Austin and Nelson signings, the 49ers recently took a flier on TE Jordan Reed. As Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, Reed’s one-year pact with San Francisco includes a $1.05MM base salary with up to $750K in playing time incentives.
  • Chiefs CB Alex Brown suffered a torn ACL in Friday’s practice, as Brown himself noted on Instagram (via Nate Taylor of The Athletic on Twitter). Brown, a 2019 UDFA, spent time with the 49ers, Eagles, and Jets last summer before signing with KC’s practice squad. He got called up to the active roster in December and served as a special teams contributor down the stretch of the regular season and throughout the club’s Super Bowl run.
  • Broncos TE Austin Fort is having an arthroscopic procedure on his knee and will miss some time, as Mike Klis of 9News.com tweets. It’s more tough luck for Fort, a 2019 UDFA who was impressing in training camp for Denver last summer before sustaining a season-ending ACL tear.

Chiefs Place Darrel Williams On IR

The Chiefs placed running back Darrel Williams on injured reserve, per a club announcement. Williams has been hobbling since suffering a hamstring injury against the Raiders last week and team doctors told him that he would be unable to play for the rest of the year. 

Earlier this week, the Chiefs brought back old friend Spencer Ware, so they should be set in the backfield. Ware figures to see time down the stretch, particularly as Damien Williams battles through his rib injury.

Williams’ season ends with 141 yards off of 41 carries and three touchdowns, plus 15 grabs for 167 yards and a score through the air.

In a related move, the Chiefs promoted defensive back Alex Brown from the practice squad.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/2/19

We’ll keep track of Monday’s practice squad moves here:

Atlanta Falcons

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: WR Davion Davis

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers 

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

Jets Reach 53-Man Max

The Jets did more than just cut a 2019 third-round pick on Saturday, making nearly 40 moves to reach the Week 1 roster limit. Here’s the complete rundown of cut players:

Another spot was freed up when the Jets placed corner Austin Bless on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/19

Here are Sunday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/19

A batch of minor transactions on a busy day across the league:

Atlanta Falcons:

  • Signed: LB Richie Brown
  • Waived: OT Lanard Bonner
  • Placed on IR: DL Michael Bennett

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: LB Drew Lewis
  • Waived: LB Tre Thomas

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Signed: OL J.J. Dielman

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Claimed off waivers from 49ers: CB Alex Brown

San Francisco 49ers