Falcons S DeMarcco Hellams Suffers Ankle Injury
DeMarcco Hellams‘ efforts to secure a starting spot on defense in 2024 have come to a halt. The second-year safety is set to miss “significant time” due to an ankle injury, head coach Raheem Morris said (via team reporter Tori McElhaney). 
Hellams was selected in the seventh round of last year’s draft after pick No. 224 was included in the Bryan Edwards trade. He logged a special teams role right away during his rookie campaign, but as the season progressed he also took on defensive responsibilities. The 24-year-old ultimately made four starts late in the year, surpassing former second-rounder Richie Grant on the depth chart.
In all, Hellams totaled 40 tackles and did not allow a touchdown in coverage last season. That level of play – coupled with his third phase role – had him in line to compete for a full-time defensive spot or at least a key rotational workload in 2024. Now, his attention will turn to recovery and minimizing the time he misses during the regular season.
Today’s news means Grant will regain his starting spot in time for Week 1. That was already the way things appeared to be headed, as noted by ESPN’s Marc Raimondi, based on training camp performances. The 26-year-old took on first-team duties in 2022, racking up 123 tackles and seven pass deflections. Grant once again filled the statsheet last season (103 stops, three sacks), but he surrendered six touchdowns and a 126.6 passer rating in coverage. Those struggles led to Hellams seeing additional snaps late in the campaign, but Grant will no longer have competition for the time being.
The latter is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so a strong showing would help his market value on a second Falcons deal or one sending him to a new team. Atlanta already has one major financial commitment on the books in the form of Jessie Bates, but for 2024 Grant and Hellams constitute cost-effective starting options. The team’s depth at the safety spot will be limited for a stretch at the start of the year, though.
5 Key Stories: 8/4/24 – 8/11/24
With exhibition contests underway around the league, the 2024 regular season is nearing. Plenty of key developments continue to take place in the NFL as teams sort out a number of unsettled contract matters. In case you missed any of the past week’s top stories, here is a quick recap:
- 49ers Extension, Steelers Trade Remain Options For Aiyuk: The past few days have produced a new round of updates on Brandon Aiyuk’s future. The second team All-Pro was reported to be the subject of trade agreements with the Browns and Patriots, although New England is now out of the running. Cleveland’s package to San Francisco would have included Amari Cooper and a pair of draft picks, but Aiyuk is not interested in a Browns extension. That is the case for the Steelers, though, and Pittsburgh has re-engaged in talks. To date, no agreement has been reached in terms of a trade with the 49ers or a long-term deal, one which would pay the 26-year-old roughly $30MM per year. As San Francisco continues to entertain offers (and seek a receiver in return from any trade partner), the team is also still attempting to work out an extension which will keep Aiyuk in the Bay Area for the long-term future. A deal on that front, or a trade sending him to Pittsburgh, remain the likeliest outcomes in this fluid situation.
- Werner Lands Saints Extension: A number of veterans are set to again hold key roles on the Saints’ defense in 2024, but linebacker Pete Werner is among the ascending talents also in line for first-team duties. The 25-year-old inked a three-year extension worth a base value of $22.5MM, keeping him in the fold through 2027. Werner saw notable playing time as a rookie and has served as a full-time starter over the past two years. He set a new career high in tackles (90) last season, and expectations will remain high moving forward. The former second-rounder received a practical guarantee of roughly $17.5MM on his new deal, and he will join free agent addition Willie Gay as a central figure on the Saints’ defense this year.
- Patriots Release Smith-Schuster: The Patriots’ 2023 investment in JuJu Smith-Schuster did not pay off, and it resulted in a separation. New England released the veteran wideout, incurring a dead money charge of $7MM in the process. 2023 saw him produce only 260 yards and one touchdown while struggling to remain healthy. Smith-Schuster, 27, is in better shape from a health perspective now but he was already known to be on the roster bubble. The Patriots added at the WR spot via free agency (K.J. Osborn) and the draft (Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker) this offseason, the first of the Eliot Wolf-Jerod Mayo regime. Efforts to land Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk were unsuccessful, but Smith-Schuster will nevertheless need to find a new team in the coming weeks. The latter’s next contract will no doubt be less valuable than the $25.5MM one he signed last offseason.
- Prescott Seeking Historic AAV; Cowboys Making Progress On Lamb Talks? Speculation continues to swirl regarding how the Cowboys will sort out extension talks with quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver CeeDee Lamb. The former is reportedly attached to an asking price above $55MM per season; that would make his next deal the most lucrative one in league history in terms of AAV. Prescott cannot be franchise tagged next year, holds a no-trade clause and is set to carry major cap hits in 2024 and ’25. While no deal on that front appears imminent, the Cowboys may be closer to inking Lamb. Jerry Jones does not feel a sense of urgency in getting a deal done with the All-Pro, one which will reach or at least approach the top of the receiver market ($35MM per year). A Micah Parsons mega-extension looms next year, but at least one major pact could be on the books by that point.
- Chiefs Extend Butker: A number of extension priorities remain in the waning weeks of the summer for the Chiefs, but one has been taken care of. Kansas City worked out a four-year, $25.6MM deal with kicker Harrison Butker. He is now the league’s highest-paid kicker in terms of annual compensation ($6.4MM) and guarantees ($17.75MM). The 29-year-old has proven to be a highly consistent contributor during his career, one in which he has posted a field goal accuracy rate of at least 88.9% five times in six years. Butker (who was set to enter a walk year) has proven to have one of the strongest legs in the league, and he will be counted on to remain a key contributor for the defending champions for years to come.
Jaguars To Sign S Tashaun Gipson
As he hoped, Tashaun Gipson has indeed landed a deal for the 2024 season. The veteran safety is set to sign with the Jaguars on a one-year contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Gipson’s playing future has been the subject of speculation this offseason. The 34-year-old spent the past two seasons in San Francisco, and the 49ers were known to be open to re-signing him. The team opted to take a patient approach and allow Gipson to decide on his next steps. Now, he is set to play at least one more year and return to a familiar team in doing so.
Gipson played in Jacksonville from 2016-18, retaining a full-time starting role during that time. The former UDFA had one of his most productive campaigns in 2017, notching four interceptions and seven pass deflections. His first stint in Duval County was followed by a one-year tenure with the Texans and then two-year spells with the Bears and 49ers. Now, Gipson will attempt to find a role upon returning to Jacksonville.
Of course, the Wyoming alum will be sidelined for the first six weeks of the campaign due to a PED suspension. Gipson will be eligible to take part in the remainder of the preseason, but he will be sidelined for the beginning of the regular season provided he makes the roster. Jacksonville has Andre Cisco, Terrell Edmunds and Daniel Thomas in the fold at the safety spot. Andrew Wingard is currently on the mend, while free agent addition Darnell Savage is spending time at slot corner.
The Jags signed Adrian Amos last week, and he too is a veteran capable of providing experienced depth in the secondary. Gipson will use the coming weeks to compete for a roster spot in a crowded safety room. Jacksonville entered today with nearly $27MM in cap space, so today’s low-cost move will not carry significant financial implications.
Steelers Activate DL Dean Lowry
Dean Lowry has missed considerable time ahead of his first Steelers season, but he will now be cleared to practice. The veteran defensive lineman was activated from the active/PUP list on Sunday, per a team announcement. 
Lowry began his career with the Packers, spending six seasons with the team. After serving in a rotational role during his rookie season, the former fourth-rounder developed into a starter and consistent producer along the defensive interior. He recorded between 32 and 47 tackles each season between 2017 and ’22, totaling 13.5 sacks during that span.
Last offseason, Lowy signed a two-year, $8.5MM deal with the Vikings. His intra-divisional move was short-lived, however. The 30-year-old suffered a pectoral injury which limited him to nine games, and for the second straight season he finished the year on IR. To little surprise, the missed time led to Lowry being let go in March.
Not long after his release, though, the Northwestern alum signed with the Steelers. Lowry landed another two-year pact, this time worth $5MM (albeit with only $1.25MM in guarantees). He spent the past several months rehabbing the injury, but today’s move means he will now be able to practice. With two preseason games remaining, he could also see limited action in Pittsburgh’s exhibition schedule.
The Steelers have veterans Cameron Heyward, Larry Ogunjobi and Montravius Adams in the fold along the defensive interior. That trio is joined by 2023 second-rounder Keeanu Benton and seventh-round rookie Logan Lee as roster cuts loom. Now healthy, Lowry will spend the coming weeks aiming to carve out a role as part of the unit.
Browns C Luke Wypler To Undergo Ankle Surgery
Luke Wypler was carted off the field during the Browns’ preseason opener. Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed on Saturday the second-year center suffered a broken ankle and he will undergo surgery as a result.
Wypler now faces a lengthy absence, something which will add further to Cleveland’s depth issues along the interior of the offensive line. Center in particular is a question mark due to injuries suffered this summer. Prior to today’s news, Brian Allen was placed on injured reserve in July as a result of a calf injury.
The former Ram signed with the Browns in free agency after being let go earlier in the offseason. Allen was set to provide his new team with veteran experience in the middle, but in the wake of his injury situation he has since been released. Ethan Pocic remains on track to hold down starting center duties, but depth behind him will now be a concern.
Nick Harris departed in free agency, leaving Wypler in place to log second-team duties at the center spot. If the latter is sidelined for an extended period, Cleveland could be forced to seek an outside depth addition before or during roster cutdowns. The team currently has just under $30MM in cap space, so a signing would be feasible from an economic standpoint.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, Wypler made five appearances and one start as a rookie. He split his time between center and right guard during that span, allowing two pressures and no sacks in pass protection. The 23-year-old was positioned to once again see spot-start duties in the middle of the O-line in the event Pocic were to miss time, but he will now turn his attention to recovery.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/24
Saturday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Jayden Peevy
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: G Chasen Hines
- Placed on IR: OL Kion Smith (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DL Marquiss Spencer, LB Luquay Washington
- Waived: LB Easton Gibbs
- Placed on IR: Breiden Fehoko
Seattle Seahawks
- Reverted to IR: DT Matt Gotel
LB Devin White Addresses Bucs Departure
Part of the Eagles’ retooling efforts at the linebacker spot this offseason included signing Devin White. The former No. 5 pick only landed a one-year deal, but it came as little surprise when he departed the Buccaneers considering the way his Tampa Bay tenure ended. 
White’s efforts to secure a top-of-the-market extension were unsuccessful, and that promoted a trade request in April. The Buccaneers did not move on, though, sticking with their plan of keeping him in the fold for 2024 on his fifth-year option. The 26-year-old began the campaign in his usual first-team role alongside Lavonte David, but a foot injury suffered in Week 3 limited his effectiveness for an extended stretch.
After being briefly sidelined, White seemed set to return to action in Week 15. He did not play, however, and reports suggested his decision not to suit up stemmed from learning K.J. Britt would retain a starting role even though White was healthy. Head coach Todd Bowles offered a denial on that front, but in any case the matter of White’s foot injury and the timeline of his return to action was a point of contention.
“A certain person wanted me to come back,” the LSU alum said during an appearance on The Pivot podcast (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “They wanted me to come back, and I just didn’t feel like I was ready. I felt like when I came back, I would’ve [known], and he didn’t like it. He didn’t like that I wasn’t ready on his terms.”
White declined to name the member of the organization in question, but he noted it was not Bowles. He did add, however, that his spring trade request led to a change in the way he was viewed by some in the team. The issue over his decision to play at less than 100% and then delay returning to action longer than necessary (at least, in the eyes of some) compounded that point.
“It was already downhill when I asked for the trade,” the former Pro Bowler said. “Everybody loved me at first, but when I asked for the trade and tried to do what was best for me, that turned everybody against me. Not everybody, but some higher-up people.”
Leading up to free agency, Bucs general manager Jason Licht confirmed the team had other priorities to handle this offseason when asked if White – who logged a rotational role once back on the field to close out the campaign – would be retained. In the end, the latter inked an Eagles deal worth $4MM and he will spend the remainder of the offseason competing for a starting gig. With White and the Buccaneers having gone their separate ways, both parties can now start over in 2024.
Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Addresses CeeDee Lamb Extension Talks
With none of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb or Micah Parsons having been extended this offseason, questions remain regarding their respective Cowboys futures. Owner Jerry Jones addressed one of the team’s contract situations at practice on Thursday. 
“I don’t expect not to have CeeDee Lamb,” Jones said when asked about the record-breaking wideout’s regular season availability (via ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry). “I don’t have a sense of urgency about getting [an extension] done,” he added.
Lamb himself is among those who offered a quick reaction to Jones’ comments on social media. The All-Pro continues to engage in a training camp holdout while negotiations on an extension continue. Team and player have been in contact recently, although nothing appears to be imminent with respect to an agreement being reached. While too much could be read into Jones’ remark, it at least ensures he is not concerned about Lamb’s absence continuing into the preseason.
The 25-year-old has been away from the team throughout the offseason. Lamb is attached to his rookie contract (by virtue of the fifth-year option), and as a result the mandatory daily fines he is accumulating can be waived by the Cowboys once a deal is in place. The Oklahoma product has been connected to an asking price which would make him the league’s highest-paid receiver (and non-quarterback), although it may take less than $35MM per season to get him back in the fold.
Dallas has made an offer as recently as late July, and Jones has made it clear in the past several months he is willing to remain patient on the Lamb front. That has remained the case for Prescott and Parsons, and the latter’s pending mega-deal is being taken into account even though he is still on the books for two more years. The Cowboys’ cap situation for years to come will depend on how things shake out with that trio, but it appears more time will elapse before any tangible movement is seen on the contract front with at least one of its members.
Cardinals Host Carl Lawson
Carl Lawson continues to draw interest around the league. The veteran edge rusher recently visited the Cardinals, per ESPN’s Field Yates. 
[RELATED: Cardinals Extend Zaven Collins]
Lawson lined up a visit with the Dolphins in April, but that did not produce a deal. Remaining on the market deep into the offseason, the 29-year-old has also met with the Panthers and Cowboys. He now has the chance to join the Cardinals, a team looking for depth options along the edge as the regular season nears.
Arizona signed Marquis Haynes on Tuesday, and he will provide the team with a veteran presence over at least the coming weeks. That move came in the wake of BJ Ojulari being lost for the season. The 2023 second-rounder suffered an ACL tear, sidelining him until the start of next year at the earliest. Lawson could help further fill the void created by Ojulari’s injury.
The Auburn alum established himself as a full-time starter during his time with the Bengals (2017-20). Lawson’s production earned him a three-year, $45MM deal with the Jets in free agency, but an Achilles tear delayed his debut campaign with the team by one year. The former fourth-rounder served in a first-team role in 2022, totaling seven sacks and 26 QB pressures. Last year, though, he fell out of favor and played only six games.
The Cardinals currently have more than $33MM in cap space, so another signing at the edge spot would not be a problem. Lawson’s poor showing in 2023 would also keep his price down, although three unsuccessful visits (and counting) demonstrate the hesitancy shown on the part of several teams to commit to a deal. It will be interesting to see if Arizona bucks that trend or moves on to other options options at the position.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/24
Thursday’s minor moves around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Stephen Sullivan
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Carlos Davis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LS Rex Sunahara
- Waived: CB Faion Hicks
Dallas Cowboys
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Corey Crooms
Green Bay Packers
- Reverted to IR: CB Don Callis, WR Rory Starkey
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Breeland Speaks
- Waived (injury designation): DE De’Shaan Dixon
New Orleans Saints
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Tommy Hudson
New York Jets
- Reverted to IR: WR Hamze El-Zayat
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Jalen Elliott
- Waived (injury designation): S Nate Meadors
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Mario Kendricks, CB Willie Roberts
- Waived: DT Rodney Matthews
- Waived (injury designation): DT Matt Gotel
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: G Ryan Johnson
- Placed on IR: G Silas Dzansi
Dixon exited Jacksonville’s Tuesday practice early, and head coach Doug Pederson confirmed on Thursday he has suffered a torn ACL. The former UDFA started his career with the Jaguars, making three appearances as a rookie in 2022. He resided on the team’s practice squad last season, and he could remain in the organization by reverting to IR in the event he goes unclaimed.
Speaks will take Dixon’s place as he aims to translate an effective UFL campaign into a return to NFL action. The 28-year-old earned Defensive Player of the Year honors while playing for the Michigan Panthers. He collected 9.5 sacks in the spring, and that production has landed him the chance to carve out a roster spot with Jacksonville. Speaks last played with the Chiefs in 2018.