Buccaneers RB Chase Edmonds Facing Multi-Week Absence
The Buccaneers improved to 2-0 on Sunday, but their running backs room was dealt a blow in the process. Chase Edmonds suffered an MCL sprain, reports NFL insider Jordan Schultz. 
Schultz notes that Edmonds suffered a grade 2 sprain, and will miss between four and six weeks as a result. That timeline would open the door to a stint on injured reserve for the 27-year-old. Players placed on IR are required to miss at least four weeks.
Edmonds joined the Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth the league minimum following his release from the Broncos. Denver acquired him at the trade deadline from the Dolphins, as he was part of the package Miami sent in the Bradley Chubb deal. That move marked an end to Edmonds’ time in South Beach, one which began on a two-year, $12MM contract in free agency. The former fourth-rounder earned that pact in free agency following his time with the Cardinals.
Edmonds saw an incremental uptick in playing time during each of his seasons in Arizona, recording a career-best 592 rushing yards (on an average of 5.1 per carry) in 2021. His performances with the Dolphins and Broncos after that failed to match that production, making it little surprise that he was a Broncos cap casualty this offseason. His Tampa Bay deal allowed him the opportunity to take on a backup role in the aftermath of Leonard Fournette‘s release request being granted, something which paved the way for 2022 third-rounder Rachaad White to take on starting duties from the outset of the 2023 season.
Tampa Bay has White, as well as undrafted rookie Sean Tucker and former third-rounder Ke’Shawn Vaughn in place as healthy options in the backfield. The latter has yet to suit up this year, but that could change in the wake of Edmonds’ injury. Head coach Todd Bowles said, via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, the team currently plans to rely on its in-house options at the RB spot. That group of backs will look to carry on the Buccaneers’ early success while Edmonds is sidelined for an extended stretch.
Lions’ James Houston Suffers Fractured Ankle
Expectations were high for James Houston entering the 2023 season, but his campaign will be put on hold for an extended stretch. The Lions edge rusher suffered a fractured ankle in Week 2, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Further testing will be done today to determine if surgery is necessary, Rapoport adds. Regardless of if a procedure is needed, though, Houston is facing an absence of at least six to eight weeks. The news marks a disappointing turn for the 24-year-old who was looking to build off his surprising production in his rookie season.
Houston announced his presence with a pair of Thanksgiving Day sacks in his NFL debut, and he remained productive after earning a spot on the active roster following that performance. The fifth-rounder totaled eight sacks and 13 pressures on the season, despite seeing the field for only 32% of defensive snaps. A repeat of his 2022 play was thought to be in store, something which would have presumably earned him an uptick in playing time.
Instead, Houston is now likely headed to IR given the severity of the injury. Through two games in 2023, the Jackson State product has totaled just one tackle while remaining in a rotational role. His absence will nevertheless be missed on a Lions team which has registered only one sack so far this season. Improvement in that department was expected in part due to Houston’s success as a rookie as well as the promise shown by 2022 No. 2 selection Aidan Hutchinson.
The latter will remain the anchor of Detroit’s pass-rush contingent, with Charles Harris and brothers Julian Okwara and Romeo Okwara in place. Josh Paschal is on IR, so the Houston injury leaves the Lions even thinner on the edge. In the linebacking corps, the team will continue to lean on Derrick Barnes on the outside, and special teamer Anthony Pittman could be in line for at least a rotational defensive role moving forward.
Rams’ Cam Akers Back On Trade Block?
After his tenure with the Rams seemed to be over in 2022, Cam Akers could find himself on the move soon. The running back will be a healthy scratch in Week 2, as first reported by Jay Glazer during Fox Sports’ pregame show. 
Glazer adds that the Rams are looking to trade the 24-year-old. Akers expressed his confusion regarding the situation on social media, but it appears as though his career could take him out of Los Angeles in the near future. He is thus in a similar circumstance to the one he found himself in last year.
The Rams deactivated Akers in Week 6 last year, and head coach Sean McVay confirmed not long after that the team was seeking a trade partner. That seemed to mark an end to his time in Los Angeles, with issues related to his role and communication with the coaching staff being cited as the cause for the apparent split between team and player. In the end, though, the Rams turned down trade offers in advance of the deadline.
That left the former second-rounder in place ahead of the final year of his rookie contract. Fully recovered from his 2021 Achilles tear, Akers was in line to serve in a notable early-down role to start the 2023 campaign. He handled 22 carries in Week 1, though he managed to turn those opportunities into just 29 rushing yards. For today at least, the Rams will likely to turn to 2022 fifth-rounder Kyren Williams as their lead back.
With Akers set to hit free agency at the end of the season, it is doubtful the Rams would be able to land any signficant draft capital in the event they were to deal the Florida State product. Nevertheless, a parting of ways could be in the best interests of all parties involved in this situation. Akers’ status moving forward will remain worth watching closely as the Rams prepare to take on the 49ers later today.
AFC South Notes: Skoronski, Colts, Hughes
The Titans’ offensive line was shorthanded for their Week 2 contest against the Chargers due to Peter Skoronski‘s absence. The first-round rookie was declared out in advance of Sunday’s game, but the reason why has since been revealed.
Skoronski underwent an appendectomy, as noted by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That will lead to an absence of at least one week given his recovery including the team’s game today, though further missed games could ensue as well. The 22-year-old served as the Titans’ left guard starter in Week 1, confirming the team’s plans of using him on the inside to begin his NFL career. The No. 11 pick worked as a tackle in college, and his play at Northwestern has led to high expectations in the short- and long-term future for him on a Titans O-line which saw a number of changes this offseason.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC South:
- The Colts made an early commitment to Anthony Richardson as their starter during his rookie season, naming him the No. 1 after a single preseason game. That move came as little surprise given owner Jim Irsay‘s remarks hinting he would see the field early and often, along with the work the team’s new coaching staff put in during the spring and summer to tailor the offense to his skillset. As SI’s Albert Breer notes, head coach Shane Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter quickly moved on from the split first-team reps approach in training camp to give full attention to Richardson (the No. 4 pick in the draft) as the focal point of the offense in part due to the limited amount of reps modern camps give teams in developing young players compared to years past.
- Indianapolis saw Zack Moss return to the backfield on Sunday, but the team’s run game was still shorthanded with Jonathan Taylor on the PUP list and Evan Hull on injured reserve. The latter is sidelined until at least Week 6, but a lengthier absence could be in store. In spite of that, the Colts do expect Hull to be back in the fold at some point in 2023, as noted by Joel A Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. With Taylor’s future still up in the air, a return to at least a depth role would be a welcomed sight in Hull’s case.
- In need of some in-season financial wiggle room, the Texans recently restructured the contract of defensive end Jerry Hughes, ESPN’s Field Yates notes. The 35-year-old is in the final season of his two-year Houston deal, and the move created $2.14MM in cap space. Hughes’ 2023 cap hit now sits at just over $4.1MM, though the team is also scheduled to have a cap charge of over $2MM next season due to the void years present on his pact. The Texans currently have just under $4MM in cap space to work with.
Brian Burns: Panthers Extension Talks “On Hold”
With the regular season underway, many notable extension-eligible players have turned the attention from contract talks to their performance on the field. Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns is among them. 
Talks between Burns and the Panthers took place this offseason, but the parties never seemed on the verge of an agreement being reached. The 25-year-old was present for training camp, but his temporary absence in the build-up to Week 1 left his status in question until shortly before the season opener. Burns is now prepared to put that process in the rearview and pause negotiations until the winter. He will make $16MM on the fifth-year option in 2023.
“We haven’t really been in talks,” the Florida State alum said, via ESPN’s David Newton. “I told them once the season started I’m all about ball. I can’t give a thousand percent on the field and to my teammates if I’m still worried about contract negotiations.”
Burns added that he considered a training camp holdout at one point, a tactic which many players have employed to create leverage during extension talks. Instead of remaining absent from the team during the summer – or even into the start of the regular season, as Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones did for one week this year – Burns committed to playing this season without a new deal in hand. A notable gap is believed to exist with respect to asking price on what will be a lucrative accord, making it little surprise that negotiations will be tabled.
Notably, however, Newton notes that the Panthers are willing to carry on extension talks during the campaign. It will be interesting to see if either side changes its stance as the season plays out. Burns got off to a productive start in Week 1 with a pair of sacks, bringing his career total to 40 in 65 games. A strong season (like his second straight Pro Bowl year in 2022) would help his market value, and thus his chances of landing a deal close to the historic one Nick Bosa signed with the 49ers days before Week 1.
That pact carries a $34MM AAV, well outpacing the next highest edge rush deal (T.J. Watt‘s $28MM-per-year contract). The Panthers are believed to be targeting a Burns extension landing him closer to Maxx Crosby‘s annual compensation of $23.MM. A figure falling between those two baselines would come as little surprise if and when a deal is struck keeping Burns in Carolina, but it appears such a development will not take place for at least the next several months.
Cardinals Place DE L.J. Collier On IR
2023 presented a needed change of scenery for L.J. Collier, but his debut season with the Cardinals has been interrupted. The former first-round defense end has been placed on injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
Collier is dealing with a biceps injury, and today’s moves means he will be sidelined for at least four weeks. Head coach Jonathan Gannon has not given specifics regarding the severity of the ailment, however, so he could be shut down for an even longer stretch. In any case, his bid to rebuild his value in a new setting has taken a blow, and Arizona has lost a starting member of its defense.
The 28-year-old had a highly disappointing four year run with the Seahawks, never seeing a snap share above 49% during his time with the team. He found himself a healthy scratch at times, so it came as no surprise that he departed in free agency. Likewise, few eyebrows were raised when it was learned his one-year Cardinals pact is worth the veteran minimum. Collier thus has plenty at stake this season, one in which signficant playing time should be available to him upon return.
The TCU product started in Arizona’s Week 1 loss, and he should remain a key figure in the team’s defensive front (one which lost J.J. Watt to retirement and saw Zach Allen depart in free agency this offseason). For the sake of tomorrow’s contest, at least, Eric Banks will likely be tasked with taking on a large role in the edge rush department. The latter was one of the Cardinals’ practice squad elevations for Week 2, the other being cornerback Quavian White.
To fill the open roster spot created by Collier’s injury, Arizona has signed safety Andre Chachere to the active roster. The veteran special teamer logged nine total snaps last week after being designated as one of the team’s gameday taxi squad elevations. Chachere was claimed off waivers in May from the Eagles, then stashed on the practice squad following roster cutdowns. In the meantime, Collier will turn his attention to recovery in the hopes of resuming his Cardinals campaign and helping his free agent stock come the offseason.
Broncos Place TE Greg Dulcich On IR
The recurrence of Greg Dulcich‘s hamstring injury will keep him sidelined for an extended stretch. The Broncos announced on Saturday that the second-year tight end was placed on injured reserve. 
Dulcich missed seven games during his rookie campaign, and he reaggravated his hamstring in the same leg during Week 1. As a result, it was learned he would miss multiple games while the team took a cautious approach with his recovery. Today’s decision guarantees Dulcich will be shut down for at least the next four weeks.
The UCLA product flashed potential last year, posting a 33-411-2 statline despite missed time and the overall struggles of Denver’s passing attack. The arrival of head coach Sean Payton brought about a new role for Dulcich and high expectations that he would take a step forward in 2023 as an important member of the team’s revamped offense. Instead, he will now once again be forced to turn his attention to recovery while the shorthanded Broncos move forward in search of better production through the air.
Those efforts will be boosted by the return of wideout Jerry Jeudy, who was held out of the team’s season-opening loss due to a hamstring injury of his own. The former first-rounder will lead a receiving corps which is without Tim Patrick and K.J. Hamler, the absences of whom are compounded by the loss of Dulcich as the team’s top pass-catching tight end. The latter’s stint on the sidelines should lead to a greater involvement for Adam Trautman, one of several former Payton-era Saints who found their way to the Broncos this offseason.
Bringing Dulcich back into the fold when he is healthy will require Denver using one of its eight IR activations available during the year. It would come as no surprise if the team elected not to rush the 23-year-old back into action given his role in the offense and history of injury issues so early in his career. Nevertheless, his return will be a welcomed development for a Broncos team looking to rebound from last week’s defeat to begin Payton’s tenure at the helm.
A.J. Green Announces Retirement
SEPTEMBER 16: Green’s retirement was already fairly official after his original announcement back in February, but today, it became ceremoniously official. The Bengals agreed to sign their former seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to a one-day contract in order to allow him to retire in Cincinnati.
The move makes perfect sense considering Green spent 10 years of his 12-year career in stripes. When he had originally announced he was hanging up his cleats, he had just finished a two-year stint with the Cardinals. Now, he’ll end his career just as he began it: a Bengal.
FEBRUARY 6: Not long after making it clear he was contemplating hanging up his cleats, A.J. Green has decided to end his career. The wideout announced on Monday (via Instagram) that he is retiring from the NFL. 
Green, 34, spent the past two seasons in Arizona as part of a veteran-laden Cardinals team. He played a considerable role in the team’s 2021 success, securing 54 catches and 848 yards. That earned him a one-year deal this past offseason, though he put up far less noteworthy numbers across 15 games played. In January, it came as little surprise when he hinted that 2022 would be his final season in the pros.
Green’s stint in the desert was preceded, of course, by a highly-acclaimed one with the Bengals. The fourth overall pick in 2011, he played nine seasons in Cincinnati, highlighting the Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis era which saw him earn plenty of individual accolades and lead the team to consistent regular season success.
The Georgia product enjoyed immediate success in the NFL, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie. He would repeat that feat in each of the next four seasons, and once more in 2017. The latter campaign was the seventh consecutive in which he was named a Pro Bowler. In 2012 and 2013, Green also earned Second-Team All-Pro honors as one of the league’s most accomplished wideouts.
During his career, the 6-4, 207-pounder established himself as a premier receiver in terms of possession (receiving 100 or more targets eight times) and scoring ability (registering 70 touchdowns, including double-digit majors in three seasons). He was not limited in terms of usage, however, as his 14.5 yards per reception average indicates. His impressive career totals are slightly more noteworthy given the fact that he missed the entire 2019 season due to an ankle injury.
Despite his time spent on the sidelines, Green finishes his career with 10,514 receiving yards. That ranks 44th all time in NFL history, and fourth among active players. He sits second on the Bengals’ franchise list, behind only Chad Johnson. One of the top receivers of his generation, Green is hanging up his cleats with no regrets.
“I’ve never been a man of many words, so I’ll keep this short,” his Instagram post reads. Thank you. Thank you to all who have supported, encouraged, and inspired me throughout my career. Special thank you to the University of Georgia, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals for the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I’ve stayed true to the game and it owes me nothing. Be blessed… The next chapter begins.”
Titans’ Ryan Tannehill Was Available In Pre-Draft Trade?
Much has been made about Ryan Tannehill‘s future with the Titans over the past two offseasons, given his age and contract status. The veteran signal-caller has been mentioned in trade talks with a pair of quarterbacks added in the past two drafts, and he may have come close to seeing his Tennessee tenure end this past April. 
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that “a few teams” around the league believed Tannehill was available to be acquired via trade before the 2023 draft. The 35-year-old was indeed named as a player to watch on the trade front not long before the draft began, with the Titans being linked to a number of rookie passers. They ultimately traded up to select Will Levis with the No. 33 pick, giving them a presumed Tannehill successor.
The latter had nevertheless received a vote of confidence from new general manager Ran Carthon one month earlier, putting him on track to retain his QB1 status for at least the start of the 2023 campaign. His Week 1 performance – 16-of-34 passing, 198 scoreless yards and three interceptions – in the team’s loss to the Saints was reminiscent of his 2022 struggles. Tannehill dealt with a number of injury issues last season and his drop-off in play led to speculation the team could move on despite one year remaining on his contract.
The former Dolphins top-10 pick’s deal carries a $36.6MM cap hit, and trading or releasing him would have cleared up funds while paving the way for Levis to take on starting duties right away. The latter had injury concerns of his own entering the league, however, and the Titans remain intent on keeping he and Malik Willis sidelined as developmental options for the time being. With an heir apparent seemingly in place and Tannehill set to hit free agency in March, though, it will worth watching how the team handles the veteran moving forward.
Tannehill is one of many experienced QBs who have been floated as Jets trade targets in the wake of Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear. New York did homework on the Pro Bowler this past offseason before seeing the preferred route of acquiring Rodgers come to bear. For the time being, the Jets would rather sign a street free agent than give up draft capital to add to their QB room. If that mindset changes, though, they could be among the teams who have at least recently shown interest in pulling off a Tannehill swap.
Commanders’ Chase Young Cleared To Play In Week 2
The wait for Chase Young‘s 2023 debut is about to end. The Commanders removed the former No. 2 pick from the Friday injury report after he was given clearance to return to game action. 
Young will suit up for Washington’s contest against the Broncos on Sunday, as was hoped after he was ruled out for the regular season opener. The injury-plagued defensive end had been dealing with a neck stinger suffered in the preseason, and the team understandably gave him time to practice in a controlled environment to evaluate him before inserting him into the lineup.
The Ohio State alum practiced on a limited basis last week and this past Wednesday. Over the past two days, however, he was a full participant, proving he dealt with live contact as expected. Still, Young is likely to play on a pitch count in his return to the field, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson notes. Having him back in the fold will give the Commanders a boost along the defensive front, and provide Young the opportunity to put together a healthy campaign moving forward.
Doing so would be crucial considering how important the 2023 season is for Young’s future. The 24-year-old has been limited to just 12 games since winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020. It thus came as little surprise when the Commanders declined his fifth-year option, a move which puts him on track for free agency. A productive year would set Young up for a multi-year commitment from the Commanders or at least make the franchise tag a viable option.
With 7.5 sacks as a rookie, expectations for continued career ascent have been present ever since. Young has managed just 1,5 since then, though, despite the presence of fellow former first-rounders Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Montez Sweat along the team’s defensive front. That quartet will be at full strength on Sunday, and plenty of attention will be on Young’s performance to begin his contract year.