Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. Will Not Play During Preseason Finale
Eyebrows were raised on Saturday when Michael Penix Jr. did not suit up for the Falcons’ preseason contest against the Ravens. The first-round rookie quarterback will also be on the sidelines for Atlanta’s final exhibition contest despite not being injured. 
“Mike showed us last week enough that we don’t have to play him [further] in the preseason,” head coach Raheem Morris said after the game, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall (subscription required). “Last week, we wanted to get him out there and get a feel for what he was in a live game, wanted to see him be able answer questions and talk about it on the sideline, he did a lot of those things. We saw enough last week with Michael Penix in live stuff.”
Indeed, the No. 8 pick took part in the Falcons’ first preseason contest against the Dolphins. He started that game, completing nine of 16 pass attempts for 104 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. That action – in addition to reps during training camp, of course – will wind up being the only time Penix sees the field before the regular season, however. Starter Kirk Cousins has taken all first-team reps upon returning to health from his 2023 Achilles tear, and to little surprise he has not played so far in the preseason and will not be used next week.
Of course, Atlanta’s decision to add Cousins on a four-year, $180MM contract and then select Penix is the dominant storyline of the team’s offseason. Cousins was taken aback by the Penix selection, and owner Arthur Blank‘s latest comments on the decision confirmed the team did not intially anticipate selecting a Day 1 signal-caller. Nevertheless, plenty of consideration was given to re-vamping the quarterback position during the offseason.
A lengthy piece from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Marc Raimondi details that Raheem Morris was aware of Atlanta’s situation under center being a key reason why there was a head coaching vacancy in the winter. Arthur Smith was fired after a third straight 7-10 season, and the search for his replacement ultimately landed in Morris being brought back into the organization. His performance upon return – coupled with the play of Cousins under center – will go a long way in determining if the Falcons return to the postseason in 2024.
As the ESPN report notes, staffers within the organization were split on whether to take Penix or edge rusher Laiatu Latu in the first round. The UCLA product was seen by some as the top prospect at his position (in competition with Dallas Turner), and pass rush represented a much larger need than quarterback after the Cousins signing. Atlanta attempted to move back into the first round after the Penix selection to acquire Latu, but the latter wound up going at No. 15 to the Colts. Turner came off the board two picks later, well before the Falcons’ next selection. Of course, Atlanta has since added Matt Judon via trade to help along the edge.
The team – like many others around the NFL – was not high on the quarterback classes of the immediate future, a factor which helped inform the commitment to Penix. As Fowler and Raimondi add, other elements such as the success of the Packers’ model in developing QBs on a lengthy timeline and the expectation a top passer will be out of reach in future drafts due to strong showings with Cousins helped sway the decision. Being on the books through 2028 (if his fifth-year option is picked up) will give Penix plenty of time to acclimate to the NFL level provided Cousins remains healthy.
The latter’s base salaries for 2024 and ’25 are guaranteed, and Morris made it clear after the draft there will be no competition despite Penix being added. Especially in the wake of that stance, it is surprising the Washington alum did not see any action today and will not be on the field next week. Penix’s absence opened up more time for Taylor Heinicke, who will likely also get the start for the preseason finale.
Heinicke is believed to be on the trade block, and it would come as no surprise if he were to be moved between now and roster cutdowns at the end of the month given the presence of Cousins and Penix for 2024 and beyond. In any event, Penix will not be in position to see the field again this season unless Cousins is forced to miss time through injury for the second straight year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/24
Saturday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Deven Thompkins
Cleveland Browns
- Reverted to IR: S Brady Breeze
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): LB Jackson Mitchell
New York Giants
- Reverted to IR: TE Tyree Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: T Gottlieb Ayedze
- Waived (injury designation): DB Mekhi Garner
- Placed on IR: CB Tyler Hall
Cowboys, WR CeeDee Lamb Not Close To Extension Agreement
In recent days, the Cowboys have made renewed efforts to hammer out a CeeDee Lamb extension. The latest update on one of the team’s three key extension situations indicates plenty of work is still required. 
[RELATED: Dak Prescott Open To In-Season Extension Talks]
Dallas has reportedly offered a deal worth more than A.J. Brown‘s Eagles pact ($32MM per season) but short of $33MM annually. The top of the receiver market reached $35MM when Justin Jefferson inked a record-breaking Vikings extension this offseason. Jefferson now resides as the league’s top earner for non-quarterbacks, although a Lamb deal may not need to surpass that mark.
Nevertheless, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes the AAV of the Cowboys’ best offer to date is one of several issues which need to be worked out (video link). Matters such as cashflow and guarantee structure – in addition to an elevated AAV – remain points of contention where further negotiation will be required for a deal to be in place. An agreement for Lamb may be closer than one for quarterback Dak Prescott, but Garafolo’s report confirms there is still a gap to be bridged between team and player.
One of several wideouts seeking a new or upgraded deal this offseason, Lamb skipped out on OTAs and mandatory minicamp. His decision to remain away from the team during training camp has resulted in mandatory fines accruing, but the 25-year-old is attached to his rookie contract by way of the fifth-year option. As a result, those penalties can be waived by the Cowboys if/when a deal is struck and Lamb reports to the team.
Jefferson’s monster accord features nearly $89MM guaranteed, far more than the second-highest in that regard (Tyreek Hill, $54MM). Lamb will likely fall in between those two figures on his pact, but the Cowboys’ best offer in terms of locked in compensation apparently needs to be upped for an agreement to be possible. Money in the first few years of the pact (especially the signing bonus) is also a critical component for team and player; the size of the signing bonus and the length of the contract are central in determining cap hits.
Managing to keep Lamb, Prescott and edge rusher Micah Parsons in the fold beyond 2024 will be a key challenge for the Cowboys. The terms of a pact for each member of that trio – which, in the latter’s case will likely not be known for another year, in spite of team’s public stance on that front – will dictate Dallas’ cap outlook for the foreseeable future. Getting Lamb in the fold in time for Week 1 remains the expectation, but an agreement may not be as imminent as it previously seemed.
Colts Wanted To Re-Sign Gardner Minshew
When Gardner Minshew joined the Raiders in free agency, he landed an opportunity to win a starting role. That decision was made in spite of a desire on the part of his former team to keep him in place. 
Minshew signed with the Colts last offseason, following Shane Steichen from Philadelphia to Indianapolis. The latter served as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator before taking the Colts’ head coaching gig. The pair continued to work together after Anthony Richardson‘s season-ending shoulder injury thrust Minshew into the starting lineup. After proving his value on a one-year contract, though, Minshew signed a two-year, $25MM Raiders pact.
Indianapolis wanted to re-sign the 2023 Pro Bowler, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The Colts were not, however, prepared to match the $15MM in guarantees Minshew secured from the Raiders. With Richardson still in place on his rookie pact (and positioned to be at full health in time for the start of the year), the Colts elected to add Joe Flacco as a new veteran insurance option.
In Vegas, Minshew has spent the offseason competing with Aidan O’Connell for the QB1 gig. The latter had a spell atop the depth chart to close out last season, and he frequently received praise from head coach Antonio Pierce leading up to the draft. After being heavily linked with Jayden Daniels, the Raiders did not select a signal-caller in April, paving the way for a true Minshew-vs.-O’Connell competition in training camp. No decision on a winner has been made yet, but a commitment is expected after Vegas’ second preseason contest. Minshew does not plan to alter his preparation in the future regardless of if he gets the nod for 2024.
“If I knew a better way of doing things, I would have been doing it, you know?” the 28-year-old said. “So you just keep going, trust the process, continue learning and get better. And, you know, support whatever decision [Pierce] makes.”
Over $3MM of Minshew’s 2025 base salary is guaranteed, so he has a strong chance of remaining with the Raiders regardless of how the coming season plays out. If he handles a heavy workload as he did last year, attention will turn to the Colts’ plan under center and how well Flacco performs if he is called into action.
Competition Ongoing Between C.J. Beathard, Mac Jones For Jaguars’ Backup QB Role
Trevor Lawrence is entrenched as the Jaguars’ starter of the present and future given the $55MM-per-year extension he signed this offseason. It remains to be seen which quarterback will begin the season as his backup, though. 
[RELATED: Recapping Jaguars’ Offseason]
C.J. Beathard has been with Jacksonville for the past three seasons, making 13 appearances and one start (in place of an injured Lawrence in 2023) during that span. The 30-year-old beat out Nathan Rourke for the QB2 gig last offseason in advance of starting his two-year contract. While he is still on the books for 2024, Beathard has competition once again.
The Jags acquired Mac Jones via trade in March after the Patriots elected to move in a different direction under center. The Jacksonville native showed promise during his rookie season, earning a Pro Bowl nod. In the two years after that, however, Jones struggled mightily and it came as no surprise when he was dealt. A change of scenery could help rebuild his value as he approaches the final year of his rookie contract.
“It has been really close honestly,” head coach Doug Pederson said of the ongoing competition between the two passers (via John Oehser of the team’s website). “The addition of Mac was great for that room. It was great for C.J. Both those guys have really embraced the challenge. We’ve been upfront with both of them and explained exactly how camp was going to go and really both of them I think are within three or four reps of having a 50-50 split right down the middle. So, it’s been good. It’s been good competition.”
Pederson added that Lawrence will not play during the Jaguars’ preseason game against the Buccaneers on Saturday. That decision will leave plenty of reps available for Beathard and Jones as they continue to vie for the backup gig. Teams are allowed an unlimited number of gameday elevations for players to dress as an emergency third quarterback in 2024, so many will likely only carry two passers on the 53-man roster.
Jones’ base salary ($2.79MM) is guaranteed in full, so cutting him would create a dead cap charge of the same amount. Moving on from Beathard, by contrast, would create $1.9MM in savings and incur only $500K in dead money. The play of both quarterbacks in the preseason will of course be a key factor in Jacksonville’s decision, but the financial implications will no doubt be taken into account as well.
Minor NFL Transaction: 8/16/24
Friday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Ike Boettger
- Waived: LB Jackson Mitchell
- Reverted to IR: G Nash Jensen
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Tyler Coyle, LS Rex Sunahara
- Waived: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle
- Waived (injury designation): S Brady Breeze
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Joe Gaziano
- Released: DE Rasheem Green
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: QB Anthony Brown
Green was let go after failing to disclose a physical condition, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. The 27-year-old has bounced around the league after playing out his rookie contract, playing with the Texans (2022) and Bears (2023) following his four-year Seahawks stint. Green signed with Jacksonville late last month, giving him the chance to compete for a depth role. He will now return to free agency, but without being healthy it will likely be some time before he finds another contract.
Browns Notes: Chubb, Vrabel, Cooper, Hicks
Nick Chubb‘s 2023 season ended with a major knee injury which required two surgeries to repair. The four-time Pro Bowler started training camp, as expected, on the active/PUP list. He could be activated at any point, but missed time to start the campaign would come as no surprise.
A roster projection from The Athletic’s Zac Jackson predicts Chubb will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list (subscription required). Such a designation would require at least a four-game absence as Chubb continued to recover. The 28-year-old’s Week 1 availability has been a question mark throughout the offseason, although Cleveland has remained optimistic he will be able to suit up at some point in 2024.
Chubb agreed to a pay cut this offseason, putting to rest speculation the Browns could move on. Only one year remains on his contract, however, so returning to full health and his previous form will be critical for his future. Once roster cutdowns take place later this month, a decision on placing Chubb on the PUP list or leaving the door open to a debut before Week 5 will be made.
Here are some other notes out of Cleveland:
- Mike Vrabel did not land a head coaching position after his Titans ouster, but he joined the Browns in March. The 49-year-old will work as a consultant on Kevin Stefanski‘s staff. Those efforts have included work in a number of capacities this offseason, but Vrabel said (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand) he will not have a role on gamedays. Needless to say, an under-the-radar gig in 2024 will likely not help his chances of landing a HC (or coordinator) job during the 2025 hiring cycle.
- Wideout Amari Cooper worked out a restructure by having most of his base salary converted into a signing bonus and $5MM in incentives added for 2024. On the latter point, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes the pending free agent will collect $500K for a second-team All-Pro nod or $1MM for first-team honors. A five-time Pro Bowler, Cooper has yet to receive All-Pro recognition during his career. In addition, Jones details that he will receive between $1MM and $4MM based on individual and team performances. A season of 1,251 or more yards without a playoff berth would land on the low end of that range, while 1,400+ yards and a Super Bowl would lead to maximum earnings.
- Linebacker Jordan Hicks has been out of practice since August 4 with an undisclosed injury, and Stefanski called him “week to week” (h/t Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk). The 32-year-old signed a two-year, $8MM pact in free agency and he is slated to start at linebacker with his new team. Being to return to the field for even a brief period before Week 1 would thus be a welcomed development for team and player in his case.
Patriots HC Jerod Mayo: QB Competition ‘Definitely Isn’t Over’
At the onset of training camp, Jacoby Brissett resided atop the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart. That came as little surprise, considering the attention being placed on developing No. 3 pick Drake Maye at a slow pace. 
Head coach Jerod Mayo made it clear, however, that the door remained open for the latter to earn the Week 1 nod with a strong showing in camp and the preseason. With two of the team’s three exhibition contests in the books, Maye has done enough to at least keep himself in consideration. Mayo’s most recent comments on the matter confirm no decision on a starting passer has been made yet.
“We have three more days of training camp practices, and it’s our job as coaches to evaluate and the competition isn’t over,” the first-year head coach said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “They have to show not only themselves and the coaches [but] also their teammates.”
Maye only played one series in Week 1 of the preseason, but that total quadrupled last night against the Eagles. The North Carolina alum completed six of 11 pass attempts for 47 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. That marked a step forward from his limited production (and opportunities) last week, and Brissett has not filled the statsheet when on the field so far. The 31-year-old has gone a combined 3-for-10 for 17 scoreless yards and one interception in preseason action.
Brissett signed a one-year, $8MM pact in free agency to return to the Patriots and serve as a bridge starter. He has 48 starts to his name split across time with the Colts, Browns and Dolphins along with his previous New England stint. After the team turned down considerable interest for the third overall pick and used it on Maye, though, it was clear he represented the passer of the future – and potentially present – pending his ability to acclimate to the NFL level this offseason.
Mayo added that both signal-callers will play on August 25, New England’s preseason finale. A final decision will no doubt only be made after that contest, with Brissett and Maye’s respective showings being taken into consideration. As Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and (in all likelihood) Bo Nix prepare for Week 1 starting gigs as first-round rookies, Maye could soon join them in that respect. It will be interesting to see how Brissett performs in the final practices of training camp and the upcoming exhibition game as he attempts to delay Maye’s debut.
Vikings Sign QB Matt Corral
The Vikings announced on Friday that quarterback Matt Corral has been signed. To make room on the roster, first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy was placed on IR following his season-ending meniscus surgery. 
McCarthy’s injury confirmed Sam Darnold‘s place atop the QB depth chart for Minnesota, but it thinned the team’s number of healthy options behind him. Corral will join Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall in competing for a roster spot. In Corral’s case, of course, his efforts on that front will double as an attempt to return to the NFL.
The 25-year-old entered the league as a third-round pick of the Panthers. A member of 2022’s poorly-regarded quarterback class, Corral suffered a preseason Lisfranc injury and was sidelined for his entire rookie campaign as a result. Carolina brought in Andy Dalton before selecting Bryce Young first overall last offseason, and Corral’s performances in exhibition games were not sufficient to land him a roster spot.
The Panthers intended to keep Corral in the fold via the practice squad, but the Patriots put in a claim and prevented that from happening. The Ole Miss alum’s time in New England proved to be short-lived, though, as he found himself on the exempt/left squad list before being let go in September. No team put in a waiver claim the second time around, leaving him as a free agent. A lack of interest at the NFL level led to a deal with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions.
Corral’s decision to sign with the team left him in competition with Adrian Martinez for the starting QB role. The latter went on win league MVP honors while helping lead the Stallions to the inaugural UFL championship (earning himself an NFL audition in the process), but the former did see some game action. Corral made a total of five regular and postseason appearances, including three starts. He posted a 2:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio along with an 81.0 passer rating during that time.
Now, Corral will look to at least earn consideration for a practice squad spot with the McCarthy-less Vikings. He will share snaps with Mullens, who has one year remaining on the $4MM pact he signed in 2023, and Hall, who will be attached to his rookie contract through 2026.
Titans Place Marlon Davidson On IR
Marlon Davidson was in position to log a depth role during his second season with the Titans in 2024, but that will not turn out to be the case. The fourth-year edge rusher was placed on IR due to a biceps tear Friday, per a team announcement. 
Davidson did not live up to expectations during his tenure with the Falcons. The former second-rounder registered only one sack in 19 games with Atlanta before ultimately being released in October 2022. That led to a brief stint on the 49ers’ practice squad the following year before Davidson found a deal with Tennessee. He made five appearances late in the campaign, logging a career-high 48% defensive snap share.
Davidson re-signed with the Titans in May, receiving an extended look after the team’s only draft addition along the edge came in the seventh round. The 26-year-old posted one sack, 10 tackles and a pair of QB pressures during his brief spell with Tennessee, and he was in position to compete for a depth role in 2024. Instead, his attention will now turn to recovery.
If Davidson were to be released via an injury settlement, he would be free to join a new team. Failing that, however, he will be sidelined for the entire campaign ahead of reaching free agency next spring. The Titans will move forward with the likes of Harold Landry, Arden Key and Rashad Weaver along the edge. Davidson was capable of taking snaps inside as well, but the team will rely on Jeffery Simmons, Sebastian Joseph-Day and T’Vondre Sweat along the D-line in his absence.
In a corresponding move, Tennessee signed defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson. The 28-year-old is a veteran of 33 games in the NFL, making appearances with a different team in each of his five seasons to date. If Anderson survives roster cutdowns at the end of the month, the Titans will mark a sixth employer as he eyes a rotational role for 2024.