Panthers Place Kemoko Turay On IR
Kemoko Turay‘s Panthers tenure has proven to be rather short-lived. The veteran edge rusher was placed on injured reserve Monday, per Joe Person of The Athletic. 
Turay was one of several outside linebackers who visited Carolina before he landed a deal. The 29-year-old was set to compete for a rotational role along the edge with the Panthers, but today’s move will keep him sidelined for the season. Turay’s contract did not include any guaranteed money, so the team will not have any dead cap charges to deal with.
The Panthers added Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum in free agency, and that pair is set to start on a team which no longer has Brian Burns or Yetur Gross-Matos along the edge. Questions have been raised about Carolina’s depth, though, and the loss of Turay could lead them to circle back to the other options which auditioned last month. That list includes Carl Lawson, Yannick Ngakoue and Marquis Haynes.
Lawson recently worked out for the Cowboys, but he (like the other two) remains unsigned at this point. In any event, the lack of veteran depth options for the time being means K’Lavon Chaisson will still have plenty of reps available during training camp. The former Jaguars first-rounder has not lived up to expectations in the NFL, and he will attempt to get his career on track with the Panthers.
In a corresponding move, Carolina added quarterback Jake Luton, as first reported by Person. The 28-year-old will return to the Panthers after spending time on their practice squad last season. Luton has bounced around the league since he made the lone three starts of his career with Jacksonville in 2020. Carolina was on the lookout for a depth QB addition with backup Andy Dalton sidelined due to a quad injury. Luton will give the Panthers another camp body alongside Bryce Young and Jack Plummer while Dalton rehabs.
Eagles Sign LB Shaquille Quarterman
Philadelphia will have an additional option in the linebacking corps for the remainder of training camp. The Eagles have an agreement in place with Shaquille Quarterman, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The signing is now official, per a team announcement. 
Quarterman entered the league in 2020 after being drafted by the Jaguars. He was a regular in Jacksonville over the course of his rookie contract, making 65 combined regular and postseason appearances. The 26-year-old did not make any starts on defense, though, with most of his playing time coming on special teams.
The 2021 season saw Quarterman total 3o tackles while logging his largest defensive workload (142 snaps). His third phase contributions over the following two years were not enough to land him a new Jaguars pact, however, leading to a lengthy stay on the open market. The former fourth-rounder visited the Bears last month, but he will be headed to Philadelphia for at least the next few weeks.
The Eagles have undergone a number of changes at the linebacker spot this offseason after the team’s underwhelming end on defense to close out the 2023 campaign. Nicholas Morrow took a deal with the Bills, while Zach Cunningham and Shaquille Leonard remain unsigned. Philadelphia added Devin White and Zack Baun in free agency before drafting Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Those new faces will join returnee Nakobe Dean in competing for defensive playing time.
Quarterman will attempt to carve out a role as part of that group, presumably on special teams. The Eagles’ upcoming preseason contests will give the Miami alum a chance to earn a 53-man roster spot. Philadelphia entered Monday with over $25.5MM in cap space, so this addition (which will no doubt be for one year and the league minimum) will not affect the team’s financial outlook.
5 Key Stories: 7/28/24 – 8/4/24
As training camps continue around the league, a number of big-ticket contracts have been worked out recently. More are likely on tap, but several notable pacts have ended speculation about players’ short- and long-term futures with their respective teams. In case you missed any of the top developments from the past week, here is a quick recap:
- Buccaneers Extend Wirfs: The Buccaneers’ final major piece of financial business was taken care of with left tackle Tristan Wirfs agreeing to an extension. The All-Pro worked out a five-year, $140.6MM deal, making him the league’s top earner at both tackle positions. Wirfs has exceled on the right and left in his brief but decorated career, leading many to expect he would move to the top of the pecking order. The 25-year-old secured just over $88MM in guarantees, and he is positioned to remain Tampa Bay’s anchor up front for the foreseeable future. Wirfs attended training camp but did not participate in padded practices until the deal was in place, something he and the team expressed confidence in working out. Now that the contract has been finalized, the Bucs can turn their attention to other matters. Thanks to the fifth-year option, Wirfs is on the books through 2029.
- Dolphins, Hill Agree To Restructure: Tyreek Hill’s desire for a new Dolphins pact resulted in a restructure agreement. The 2023 receiving leader landed $90MM over the next three years, including $65MM in guarantees. No new years were added to the pact, making this deal a unique resolution to Hill’s situation. No guaranteed salary previously existed after the 2024 campaign, leading to the five-time All-Pro’s attempts at securing a raise. His $30MM-per-year pact has been surpassed as the receiver benchmark this offseason, but the restructure ensures he will remain amongst the league’s highest-paid wideouts. Hill’s prior goal of topping the market was a factor in his trade out of Kansas City, but he made it clear he wanted to remain in Miami while adding financial security for the coming seasons. That goal has been met, and the Dolphins now have Hill, fellow receiver Jaylen Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa attached to big-money deals.
- Moore Signs Bears Extension: Keeping in line with a number of other receivers, D.J. Moore inked a long-term deal representing a raise. The Bears signed him to a four-year, $110MM extension which will keep him on the books through 2029. The 27-year-old enjoyed a career year during his debut Chicago campaign, and instead of playing out the last two seasons of his previous pact (which did not include guaranteed salaries) he secured over $82MM in locked in compensation. Moore will be joined at the WR spot by trade acquisition Keenan Allen and first-round rookie Rome Odunze, so his role in the passing game with quarterback Caleb Williams will be worth watching. Still, the ex-Panther should remain a focal point on offense after Chicago allowed him to jump the line in terms of other in-house extension priorities.
- Decker Becomes Latest Lions Extension Recipient: The Lions have been busy working out monster extensions on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, and that effort continued with Taylor Decker. Detroit’s longtime left tackle signed a three-year, $60MM extension which will keep him in place through 2027 and includes just under $32MM guaranteed. The 29-year-old has spent his entire career in the Motor City, and he will join right tackle Penei Sewell in retaining his position for the foreseeable future. The latter is the league’s highest-paid right tackle, whereas Decker’s new deal moves him into seventh in AAV for blindside blockers. The Lions’ offensive line will once again face high expectations in 2024 as the team looks to build off the success of last season.
- Godchaux Land Patriots Extension; Judon Resolution Nearing? Questions were raised at the start of training camp with respect to how the Patriots would proceed with defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and edge rusher Matt Judon. The former has joined the long list of in-house players who signed new deals this offseason, inking a two-year extension worth up to $21MM. Godchaux, 29, has been with New England for the past three years and has served as a full-time starter. His pass rush production has remained minimal, but his play against the run earned him a new deal two years after his previous extension. Judon, meanwhile, has returned to practice after a brief absence related to his lack of an extension. The situation between the four-time Pro Bowler and the Patriots appears to have improved, although Judon remains tied to $7.5MM in compensation for 2024, the final year of his pact. Whether or not the latest turn of events is quickly followed by an agreement will be worth watching closely.
Packers To Host Jonathan Garibay; Latest On Team’s K Competition
The Packers recently waived rookie kicker James Turner. That made the team’s competition at that position a two-man battle instead of three, with incumbent Anders Carlson and free agent signing Greg Joseph remaining in place. 
As those two continue to compete for a roster spot, though, Green Bay will still check in on other options. The team is set to bring in Jonathan Garibay for a workout, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports. Garibay previously had a deal with the Cowboys in 2022, but he did not see any regular season game action. The Texas Tech product spent last season in the UFL, missing only one of his kicks.
That success could give him the opportunity to compete with Joseph and Carlson. The latter received a vote of confidence from Green Bay in his rookie season, but inconsistency down the stretch and in the playoffs made it clear he would need to fend off other kickers in 2024. Carlson, 26, has not been the top producer to date in training camp, as noted by Matt Schneidman of The Athletic (subscription required). Joseph has been more accurate on his summer attempts, but no final call needs to be made for quite some time.
“There’s competitive position battles going on throughout the team and we’re going to have constant conversation about it,” special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said of where things stand with the kickers (via Schneidman), “and we’ll sit down collectively and make a decision when the time comes.”
Three years remain on Carlson’s rookie deal, whereas Joseph signed a one-year contract following the end of his Vikings tenure. The 30-year-old has a career accuracy of 82.6% on field goals and 90.1% on extra points, and continuing his strong summer during the preseason will help his chances of landing the job in Green Bay. Without any guarantees on his deal, though, Joseph will not have any assurances in the coming weeks. Garibay’s performance – if his workout translates to a contract – will be worth watching as well.
Rams Not Looking To Trade WR Tutu Atwell
The top of the Rams’ receiver depth chart is set with former Triple Crown winner Cooper Kupp and 2023 rookie sensation Puka Nacua. The team’s decision to retain Demarcus Robinson leaves them with a number of familiar pass-catching options, although it could limit Tutu Atwell‘s involvement. 
The latter saw the field for only 10 offensive snaps during his rookie season, but he has taken on a larger workload in the years since then. Atwell saw a 40% snap share in 2022, and that figure rose to 64% last season, one in which Kupp missed considerable time due to injury. One year remains on Atwell’s rookie contract, but any interest from an outside suitor will likely not lead to a trade.
The Rams have Atwell in their plans for at least one more season, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes. The former second-rounder has totaled 781 yards and four touchdowns to date, averaging 13.7 yards per reception. That figure demonstrated his abilities as a deep threat, although the 5-9, 165-pounder can also be used in the run game and as a returner. A strong showing in at least one capacity will be needed for him to earn a second contract with Los Angeles.
Atwell, 24, is due a base salary of $1.47MM in 2024. A trade would yield that amount in cap savings for the Rams while generating a modest dead money charge ($414K). Los Angeles is not in immediate need of financial flexibility, however, so it comes as little surprise a trade is not being sought out. Likewise, Atwell’s modest production and status as a pending free agent would stand to limit his market value.
The Louisville alum will look to take another step forward in 2024 while the Rams attempt to duplicate their offensive success from last season. A healthy Kupp and an effective follow-up campaign from Nacua would go a long way in meeting that goal, but it will be interesting to see if Atwell can carve out a regular role in his fourth Los Angeles season.
Latest On Patriots, Matt Judon
AUGUST 4: Judon continues to participate in practice after his brief holdout, as Reiss observes. Multiple sources tell Reiss that the situation has “simmered” but is still unresolved since Judon’s contract has not yet been adjusted.
AUGUST 1: The Patriots ended one contract dispute yesterday by reaching an extension agreement with defensive tackle Davon Godchaux. The future of edge rusher Matt Judon remains a key talking point, however. 
The latter did not participate in Monday’s padded practice, the first one of training camp. Judon was then absent altogether from Tuesday’s practice with communication ongoing between he and Patriots decision-makers. Wednesday was an off day for New England, and it allowed for head coach Jerod Mayo to have what he described as a “great meeting” with the four-time Pro Bowler.
“I have a great relationship with Matthew,” Mayo said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “I have a great relationship with the players. We’re moving forward… I always encourage those guys to come in and speak with me, or speak with [de facto general manager] Eliot [Wolf]. That’s what it is and those things should happen inside those walls.”
One year remains on Judon’s deal, and he is due $7.5MM in 2024. That figure includes a $6.5MM base salary which will not become guaranteed until just before Week 1. The 31-year-old joined Godchaux in expressing frustration with how numerous other in-house players received deals this offseason, the first of the Wolf-Mayo regime. Judon has reportedly received offers for a revised contract – not unlike the added incentives which temporarily ended his 2023 holdout – though he has publicly denied that.
In any case, the former fifth-rounder is taking part in Thursday’s practice, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald notes. That is an encouraging sign in this situation, although until a restructure or extension is worked out questions will continue to linger over Judon’s short- and long-term future with the organization. Having amassed 32 sacks in 33 Patriots games, he is positioned to remain a key member of the team’s front seven for at least one more year.
The Grand Valley State product was limited to just four games last season due to a biceps tear, however. His age and injury represent factors which could lead Wolf and Co. to hesitate with respect to giving out a long-term deal or, perhaps, even a one-year bump in pay. After a number of updates earlier in the week suggesting tensions had boiled over in this situation, though, a positive development appears to have taken place.
Bo Nix Moving Ahead Of Jarrett Stidham In Broncos’ QB Competition?
The Broncos appear to have narrowed their quarterback competition to two contenders. As expected, trade acquisition Zach Wilson lost out on first-team reps during training camp this week, increasing the attention shown to incumbent Jarrett Stidham and first-round rookie Bo Nix. 
[RELATED: Recapping Broncos’ Offseason]
The latter has long been expected to take the reins at some point in 2024, as Day 1 passers often see regular season action at some point in their rookie campaigns. Nix, 24, is a veteran of 61 starts in college and is better positioned than most to handle first-team duties right away. At a minimum, the Auburn and Oregon alum will not start the year occupying the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
Nix is still a strong candidate to earn the Week 1 nod, though. The 12th overall pick “appears to have edged past” Stidham in recent practices, Mike Klis of 9News writes. Both signal-callers received first-team reps, but Klis notes the rotation has left the door wide open for Nix to continue impressing Sean Payton and the coaching staff. Indications from June pointed to him being the favorite in the long run, so this latest update comes as little surprise.
Stidham made a pair of starts to close out the 2023 season, Payton’s first as head coach in Denver. The soon-to-be 28-year-old took over once it became clear Russell Wilson‘s tenure in the Mile High City had realistically come to a close. The longtime Seahawk’s release paved the way for multiple additions, and Wilson’s arrival came shortly before the decision to select Nix – one Payton confirmed was the Broncos’ Plan A all along.
Improved play on offense will be critical for Denver in 2024, and more efficiency in the passing game is needed for the team to return to the postseason. Plenty of time remains for Nix’s potential to be realized at the NFL level, as he could be retained through 2028 via the fifth-year option. The Broncos’ evaluation period before a decision on that front could still very well begin as early as Week 1 of his rookie season.
QB Dak Prescott Addresses Cowboys Extension Talks
Dak Prescott is one member of the oft-discussed trio of Cowboys who have yet to sign an extension this offseason. Negotiations have been ongoing through the start of training camp, which the MVP runner-up has participated in. 
The latest update on the matter indicated the next move belongs to Prescott’s camp as Dallas continues to try and also hammer out deals for wideout CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons. Prescott cannot receive the franchise tag, and only an extension can smooth out his projected 2024 cap hit of $55.13MM. That gives him considerable leverage, although he has repeatedly said finances are not his primary concern on a new Cowboys pact.
“You understand what a brotherhood means, not only for just this team but the fraternity of the NFL and the players,” Prescott said when asked about where things stand (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “The money is out there and the money can happen. It can be done. There’s ways to make everything work for both ways. That’s in that sense it’s always about pushing the envelope for the next man.”
Those remarks carry a similar sentiment to the one Prescott expressed earlier this week with respect to moving the top of the QB market. $55MM per year remains the benchmark after Joe Burrow landed that figure on his Bengals extension last offseason and Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) and Jordan Love (Packers) matched it in 2024. A Prescott accord could take the position to new heights, though the terms the 31-year-old is seeking are not known.
Lamb continues to hold out of training camp as he seeks an extension at or near the top of the receiver market. At least one offer has been made as negotiations continue, and Prescott noted Lamb remains hopeful a deal on his end will be struck to pave the way for a return to the team. Unlike veterans, players attached to their rookie contracts (such as Lamb) can have the fines incurred by training camp absences waived.
All Prescott and Lamb negotiations must take into account the fact that Parsons is eligible for an extension of his own. Owner Jerry Jones recently confirmed a monster Parsons contract has not been forgotten about relative to the Cowboys’ other priorities. The team’s top edge rusher is under contract through 2025, though, whereas Lamb and Prescott are pending free agents. The latter does not appear close to striking a deal, but he remains optimistic one can be worked out allowing him to meet his stated goal of remaining in Dallas.
“I’ve never truly cared about the number whether it was the first time in the franchise tag and the negotiations or now,” Prescott added. “That’s why I said I have an agent that I’m confident in and a front office that we can figure out something for both of us that makes sense.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/24
Saturday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Anthony Brown
- Re-signed: S Clayton Isbell
- Waived (injury designation): TE Curtis Hodges
- Released: DB Kiondre Thomas
Houston Texans
- Waived (injury designation): T Jaylon Thomas
New Orleans Saints
- Waived (injury designation): WR Jermaine Jackson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers (from Jets): TE Kevin Foelsch
- Waived (injury designation): TE McCallan Castles
Brown’s workout with the Panthers obviously went well, as he now has a deal in place. The 30-year-old was unable to find a permanent home last season as he continued to rehab a torn Achilles from the year prior. Brown will spend the rest of the summer with a team seeking out depth at the CB spot, and his experience from his Cowboys days could help him secure a roster spot. Doing so could pave the way for at least a rotational role ahead of free agency in 2025.
Patriots QBs Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye To Share First-Team Reps
To little surprise, Jacoby Brissett has found himself atop quarterback the depth chart this offseason as the Patriots develop first-round rookie Drake Maye. The latter will have the opportunity to spend at least some time with the starting offense during training camp, though. 
“[I]t’s the second week of training camp,” head coach Jerod Mayo said when addressing the media (h/t Pro Football Talks’ Myles Simmons). “We have a game here a week from now. He’ll have an opportunity to go out there and participate with, if you want to call them ‘The Ones,’ but we mix and match.”
Maye overtook Bailey Zappe for the backup spot during the spring as part of ongoing acclimation process. The most recent update on New England’s competition made it clear, however, that Brissett would open training camp as the projected starter. Mayo confirmed at that point Maye would have the opportunity to claim the Week 1 gig if he were to significantly impress during summer practices and, of course, the preseason. The Patriots’ upcoming exhibition schedule will offer more clarity on where things stand.
The Patriots turned down considerable interest in the No. 3 pick, and doing so allowed them to select Maye as their QB of the future. The North Carolina product did not live up to expectations in 2023, but his performance the year before, coupled with his age, leave him with notable upside. Brissett was added in free agency to serve as a stop-gap starter if needed, a role he will hold until Maye is given the reins.
New England has made a number of moves at the receiver position this offseason, and retaining Rhamondre Stevenson means the team’s running game will have continuity in 2024. Questions remain regarding the Patriots’ offensive line, though, and working out a starting unit before using Maye in live (regular season) action would be a sensible approach. The team is in no hurry to move Brissett down the depth chart, but he will not have a monopoly on first-team action during the build-up to preseason action.