Jets To Cut RB Zonovan Knight
The logjam in the Jets’ backfield has been cleared. New York is moving on from running back Zonovan Knight, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 
New York’s situation at the running back position was clouded by the Dalvin Cook signing. His addition, along with 2022 second-rounder Breece Hall, left the team with a highly-regarded tandem at the top of the depth chart. With those two in place, however, it seemed inevitable that only one of Knight or 2021 fourth-round pick Michael Carter would make the roster.
The latter, who has two years remaining on his rookie contract, will remain in the fold. The same is likely to hold true of fifth-round rookie Israel Abanikanda. That would come as little surprise, though Rapoport notes that Knight drew some interest on the trade front. It will therefore be interesting to see how many teams show a willingness to claim him on waivers. If that does not take place, he will be eligible to remain with the Jets via the practice squad.
Knight, 22, started last season on the taxi squad before Hall’s ACL tear opened the door to playing time. The former UDFA started four of his seven games, recording 300 rushing yards and one touchdown on 85 carries (good for an average of 3.5 yards per attempt). He showcased an ability to produce in the passing game as well, though, recording 100 yards on 13 receptions.
The NC State alum is one of many young backs who could find themselves in a new situation (one which could provide an increase in playing time) in the near future. Unless that happens, the Jets will presumably have a keen interest in again stashing him on the practice squad to begin the campaign.
Packers Release P Pat O’Donnell
Veteran punter Pat O’Donnell has lost the Packers’ competition for the job in 2023. The team announced on Monday that he has been released.
The 32-year-old spent his first eight years with the Bears, establishing himself as a consistent performer at the position. His run in the Windy City came to an end last year, however, when he took a deal with the division rival Packers. O’Donnell signed a two-year contract with Green Bay, but he will see it terminated after only one.
The former sixth-rounder had already been paid a $650K roster bonus, but the Packers will still see $1.25MM in cap savings with this move. O’Donnell was set to count for $2.38MM on the team’s cap this season, but that figure will drop to $750K with the decision to hand punting duties to rookie Daniel Whelan. The latter has impressed in preseason, and now he will move forward knowing he will be counted on as part of a young Packers special teams unit.
Green Bay is already relying on a rookie at the kicker position in the form of Anders Carlson. His struggles have led to questions about the team’s confidence in him leading up to the start of the regular season, but general manager Brian Gutekunst recently offered a public seal of approval. Carlson’s debut season will now take place with Whelan operating as the holder on field goals, something O’Donnell has proven to be effective at.
The latter punted 52 times for Green Bay last season, posting a gross average of 44.5 yards and a net average of 38.5. Both of those figures fell short of his career averages, leading in part to the Packers’ decision to move on. As all teams around the league sort out their special teams units in the coming days, O’Donnell will now have to seek out another new opportunity ahead of the regular season.
Giants CB Darnay Holmes Agrees To Pay Cut
Darnay Holmes‘ roster security has been a talking point for much of the offseason. To little surprise, the Giants corner will remain with the team, but at a reduced rate.
Holmes is taking a pay cut, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Financial details are unknown at this point, but the news means the 25-year-old will see less than the $2.74MM he was initially owed in 2023, the final year of his rookie contract. Releasing him would have taken his full salary off the books, which would have been an appealing move for the Giants given their cap situation.
Nonetheless, since the club is apparently prepared to deploy two rookie CBs — Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins — on the boundaries while moving Adoree’ Jackson into the slot for the first time in his career, it makes sense to have additional veteran help on hand. If Jackson does not adapt well to the nickel, where Holmes played in 2022, then Holmes could take his place. Likewise, if Hawkins should struggle in his first taste of professional action and the club is forced to move Jackson back outside the numbers, Holmes would presumably be called upon to take over in the slot.
The Giants are also rostering 2022 third-rounder Cor’Dale Flott, who appeared in 11 games (six starts) in his rookie season, as well as onetime Lions standout Amani Oruwariye. 2021 third-rounder Aaron Robinson is a likely candidate for the reserve/PUP list, which will force him to miss at least the first four games of the 2023 season.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Jaguars LB Ventrell Miller Suffers Achilles Tear
Instead of competing for playing time as a rookie, Ventrell Miller will be sidelined for the 2023 season. The Jaguars linebacker has suffered a torn Achilles, head coach Doug Pederson said (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco).
As a result of the injury, Miller will be out for the season. The news marks a blow for the fourth-rounder, who played at Florida for five years. He showed an ability to be disruptive in the run game, totaling 23.5 tackles for loss over that span. He added 7.5 sacks in college, which likely would have earned him at least a rotational role in Jacksonville as a rookie.
Now, the 24-year-old will begin the lengthy rehab process associated with Achilles tears. The timing of the injury, which occurred in the Jaguars’ preseason finale, should give him an opportunity to recover in time for the start of the 2024 season, however. Miller had collected nine tackles and a pair of sacks during Jacksonville’s exhibition contests.
The team will now move forward with a shorthanded unit at the second level of its defense. Foyesade Oluokun – who led the league in tackles last season, his first in Duval County after signing a big-money deal in free agency – will once again be leaned on heavily this year. 2022 first-rounder Devin Lloyd is also in place, and should be expected to retain a starting role in his second campaign.
Miller was in line to hold a depth position behind that pair, splitting time with the likes of Chad Muma, Caleb Johnson and Shaquille Quarterman. Given today’s news, the latter’s chances of making the Jaguars’ 53-man roster have increased, though plenty of decisions are yet to be made in the next two days.
Broncos CB K’Waun Williams To Undergo Ankle Surgery
Earlier this month, K’Waun Williams was sidelined by an ankle injury which was not immediately thought to require surgery. The situation has now changed, however, and he will miss at least some time in 2023 as a result. 
Williams will undergo surgery today, reports Mike Klis of 9News. It is unclear at this point if the 32-year-old will be placed on injured reserve ahead of roster cutdowns or be named to Denver’s 53-man roster and then head to IR. The former decision would sideline him for the campaign, while the latter would guarantee at least a four-week absence to start the year while leaving the door open to a later return. Denver7’s Troy Renck reports that Williams will be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
The former UDFA initially elected to avoid a procedure on the injured ankle, preferring to rehab the ailment in the hopes of being ready for the start of the season. That will no longer be the case now, however, and the team will need to move quickly after receiving his prognosis to decide his fate for 2023. An absence of any length will be acutely felt in the Broncos’ secondary given the starter’s role in the slot Williams was in line to retain.
The former Brown and 49er started eight of his 14 contests in Denver last season. Williams recorded one interception, seven pass deflections and strong coverage statistics in his debut Broncos campaign. That made his two-year, $5.2MM deal signed in 2022 seem like a bargain for a Denver team which already has a strong secondary led by former top-10 pick Patrick Surtain.
That unit will be shorthanded on the inside now, adding further to the injury troubles the Broncos are dealing with in 2023. The team’s WR corps has been hit particularly hard with Tim Patrick again suffering a season-ending injury, K.J. Hamler away from the team while dealing with a heart condition and Jerry Jeudy set to miss time with a hamstring issue. Essang Bassey – who played primarily on special teams in Denver last year and filled in for Williams during the preseason – is likely in line for a large defensive workload during the latter’s absence.
Lions QB Hendon Hooker To Begin Season On NFI List
AUGUST 28: Hooker will indeed begin the 2023 season on the NFI list, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. That will force the first-year passer to miss the first four games of the season, though as noted below, that was likely to happen regardless of his roster status. In light of Sudfeld’s ACL tear, it is fair to wonder if Detroit will scour the market for another signal-caller, or if the team will keep rookie UDFA Adrian Martinez as its QB3.
AUGUST 21: The Lions added Jared Goff insurance earlier this month with the signing of Teddy Bridgewater, but questions still surround their quarterback depth chart. How Detroit proceeds at the position will depend in large part on the recovery made by third-round rookie Hendon Hooker. 
The latter is currently on the non-football injury list as he continues to recover from the ACL tear which ended his college career. That was the expected move to open training camp, but an important decision will need to be made as roster cutdowns loom. Teams will be required to trim their 90-man squads to 53 by August 29, though players with an NFI designation do not count toward the total.
Players who begin the season on the NFI list are required to miss at least the first four games of the season, something which will likely happen in any event in Hooker’s case. The Tennessee product has said, on the other hand, that he is ahead of schedule in his rehab. That process has involved individual drills conducted after training camp practices, giving the team opportunities to track his progress. Depending on how much further along his recovery is by next week, Detroit could elect to not only start the season with Hooker on the NFI list, but keep him there throughout his rookie campaign.
In that event, the team would have the option of tolling the first season of his four-year rookie contract. With 2023 slated to essentially be a redshirt year for the 25-year-old, such action would likely come as little surprise. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports, however, that the Lions are not considering tolling Hooker’s first year, instead planning on placing him on the active roster at the first opportunity.
Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that no firm decision has been made as of yet with respect to Hooker’s short-term future. The Lions have Goff, Bridgewater and Nate Sudfeld in place as healthy signal-callers at the moment, but Hooker will receive plenty of attention if and when he does get an opportunity to play given his success with the Volunteers and draft stock prior to the ACL injury.
“Once we start hearing… like, ‘Hey, this guy’s coming on,’ we get the, ‘OK, you guys may have a decision to make sooner than later,” Campbell said when asked about Hooker’s status. “But we’re not even going to worry about it right now.”
Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Bengals
Following their run to the Super Bowl in 2021, it came as no surprise that the Bengals were once again a force in the AFC last year. A last-minute loss to the Chiefs in the conference title game ended their season but confirmed Cincinnati’s status as one of the league’s heavyweights. This offseason saw the franchise begin to face the task of retaining as many core players as possible, something which will become increasingly challenging.
At the top of the priority list sits an extension for quarterback Joe Burrow. After seeing Jalen Hurts, then Lamar Jackson and, most recently, Justin Herbert sign the NFL’s largest contracts in succession, a clear market has been set for Burrow. The Bengals have yet to hammer out a monster deal with their franchise signal-caller, but in the midst of negotiations on that front, they have kept much of their nucleus intact while making another investment aimed at better protecting him.
Free agency additions:
- Orlando Brown Jr., T: Four years, $64MM ($31.1MM guaranteed)
- Nick Scott, S: Three years, $12MM ($3MM guaranteed)
- Irv Smith Jr., One year, $1.75MM ($400K guaranteed)
- Trevor Siemian, QB: One year, $1.32MM ($153K guaranteed)
- Sidney Jones, CB: One year, $1.13MM
- Cody Ford, OL: One year, $1.08MM
In 2022, each of the Bengals’ three most lucrative deals given to outside free agents were earmarked for offensive linemen (guard Alex Cappa, tackle La’el Collins and center Ted Karras). That came as no surprise, with Burrow’s sacks taken representing a major issue in need of resolution. The new faces up front helped the Bengals finish mid-pack in that respect (44) last year, but the play of left tackle Jonah Williams left enough to be desired that another major investment was deemed necessary. 
Brown, 27, headlined a free agent class which featured a number of young right tackle options (as he himself once was), but few blindside blockers with his pedigree. The four-time Pro Bowler had a highly successful pair of seasons in Kansas City, continuing to earn solid but unspectacular PFF grades while helping the Chiefs turn their own offensive line renovation into another Super Bowl triumph.
Brown played out the 2022 season on the franchise tag after turning down an extension offer which included a higher AAV and guaranteed money. The Chiefs’ 2022 offer was for six years, however. Turning down that pact paved the way for a longer-than-anticipated stay on the open market this year, with Browns’ desire to remain a left tackle limiting the degree of interest teams showed in him (although the Jets and Steelers were among those which explored a deal with the Oklahoma product).
Nevertheless, Brown — whom the Chiefs wanted to retain but declined to tag for a second time — will be able to continue blocking for an elite AFC quarterback, as has been the case throughout his career. The former Ravens third-rounder played alongside Jackson before his desire to play LT full time led to his trade to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. If Burrow joins the other signal-callers in winning an NFL MVP award in 2023, Brown will likely have played a significant role in that feat.
The drop-off in guaranteed money from Brown to Scott and the other additions illustrates the degree to which the Bengals have turned their attention to retaining homegrown core contributors. The latter should still be counted on early in his Cincinnati tenure in particular, having proven himself worthy of a starting role during his final Rams campaign. Incremental increases in playing time over his first three seasons in Los Angles were followed up by a major jump in 2022.
Scott, 28, responded with career-highs across the board, notching a pair of interceptions while excelling in run defense. Weaknesses in coverage were exposed, however, leaving plenty of room for improvement within what should be a strong Cincinnati secondary. The Bengals could move on as early as next offseason given the structure of Scott’s deal, providing plenty of motivation to at least repeat last year’s statistical success.
The top of Cincinnati’s tight end depth chart has once again seen movement, with Smith being brought in as a pass-catching option. Injuries have defined the former second-rounder’s career in large part, as he missed the entire 2021 campaign and was limited to only eight contests last year. The flier taken on him by the Bengals could prove to be worthwhile if Smith can deliver on the promise shown when he was on the field in Minnesota. It is fair to wonder, however, where he will sit in the pecking order in a passing offense clearly led by wideouts Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.
The backup quarterback spot has been up for grabs this offseason for the first time in the Burrow era. Siemian has only made six starts since his Broncos tenure ended in 2018, and he bounced around to five different teams between that point and his arrival in Cincinnati. The 31-year-old has managed to piece together a respectable career after entering the league as a seventh-rounder, but his underwhelming play (along with that of former UDFA Jake Browning) during the summer could very well leave the Bengals in the market for an addition under center before the regular season kicks off.
Re-signings:
- Germaine Pratt, LB: Three years, $20.25MM ($7MM guaranteed)
- Max Scharping, G: One year, $1.28MM ($175K guaranteed)
- Jalen Davis, CB: Two years, $2.43MM ($150K guaranteed)
- Joe Bachie, LB: One year, $1.16MM ($75K guaranteed)
- Trayveon Williams, RB: One year, $1.23MM ($53K guaranteed)
- Trent Taylor, WR/PR: One year, $1.23MM ($53K guaranteed)
- Drew Sample, TE: One year, $1.23MM ($53K guaranteed)
- Mitchell Wilcox, TE: One year, $1.04MM ($25K guaranteed)
- Michael Thomas, S: One year, $1.17MM
- Cal Adomitis, LS: One year, $870K
Pratt is one of many Day 2 picks who have turned into dependable Bengals starters in recent years. The 27-year-old 
delivered personal bests in tackles (99), sacks (one), interceptions (two) and pass deflections (10) last season. The latter figure demonstrated his strengths in coverage, something which would have set him up well for a deal elsewhere on the open market despite the glut of capable options at the position in 2023.
Instead, the former third-rounder will remain in Cincinnati and reprise his role as an important member of the defense’s second level. That unit helped the Bengals rank seventh against the run in 2022, and similar success would not come as a surprise given the retention of several defensive mainstays in the past two years. While Pratt generally receives less acclaim than many other Bengals contributors, his continued presence will be welcomed on a team seeking to retain as many 20-something players as it can.
That goal has resulted in a slew of other low-cost depth deals, including one for Williams. In a year in which the Bengals’ backfield future was in doubt for quite some time, the former sixth-rounder appeared to be in line for an increased role in 2023. Williams has yet to score a touchdown during his limited usage, but his 5.5 yards per touch average points to potential in a complementary role. He will once again be able to serve in that capacity, but a deal giving him a larger opportunity down the road will likely need to come from another team.
Bills Begin Roster Cuts, Release 7
Teams have until Tuesday afternoon to get their 90-man rosters down to 53, but a number of them are deep into that process already with the preseason now in the books. The Bills trimmed their roster on Sunday by releasing the following seven players:
- DT Cortez Broughton
- WR Isaiah Coulter
- S Jared Mayden
- T Garrett McGhin
- WR Dezmon Patmon
- TE Jace Sternberger
- LB DaShaun White
Each player, with the exception of White, has regular season NFL experience, although none have much in the way of game action. Sternberger is the most notable name on the list, given his time with the Packers to start his career. The former third-rounder had plenty of expectations after his career at Texas A&M, but things did not go according to plan in Green Bay.
Sternberger logged only 18 games across two seasons with the team, and his last NFL action came in 2020. He bounced around to the Commanders and Steelers after his time in Green Bay came to an end, and he played in the USFL this past spring. The 27-year-old led the league in receiving touchdowns with the Birmingham Stallions, which landed him an opportunity with the Bills. He will instead wind up on their practice squad or find himself in search of another new NFL home.
Depth along the offensive line, especially at the tackle position, has been a talking point for Buffalo this summer. McGhin, who has bounced around several teams’ practice squads in his career, has made two career appearances – though they both came in 2019. Especially if Buffalo elects not to add more experienced fill-in options up front in the coming days, he could find himself on the team’s taxi squad.
Giants Waive RB James Robinson
Like many teams around the league, the Giants have already made a number of cuts ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for 53-man rosters to be finalized. Per a team announcement, running back James Robinson is among the players who have been let go. 
Robinson’s career started far differently than it has gone in recent years. The former UDFA recorded 1,414 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns as a rookie in 2020. The Jaguars eventually saw former first-rounder Travis Etienne assume the role of lead back, however, which made Robinson a luxury in the backfield. The latter was dealt to the Jets midseason in 2022.
With Breece Hall having suffered an ACL tear, the door appeared to be open for Robinson to take on a somewhat notable role. Instead, he received only 29 carries, and his 2.9 yards per attempt average made it an easy decision for New York not to retain him. Robinson briefly found a home in free agency by signing a two-year deal with the Patriots, but his tenure there proved to be very short lived.
The 25-year-old was released after he was unable to remain healthy through the spring. That left him on the open market once again until the onset of training camp, where he landed a deal with the Giants. The absence of Saquon Barkley at the time, which was sparked by his contract situation, gave Robinson an opportunity to win at least the third RB spot. Barkley is back in the fold, though, along with Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray.
In addition to Robinson, the Giants have waived defensive tackle Kevin Atkins, defensive back Darren Evans, defensive tackle Donovan Jeter and wideout Collin Johnson. Defensive linemen Tashawn Bower and Brandin Bryant, along with offensive tackles Korey Cunningham and Julien Davenport and receiver Jaydon Mickens were released. Lastly, wideout Bryce Ford-Wheaton was placed on injured reserve, meaning he will be sidelined for the 2023 season.
Latest On Browns K Cade York
Cade York‘s performance this summer has led to questions about his standing as the unchallenged kicker for the Browns in 2023. He has consistently received praise from the organization, but that took a slightly different form recently. 
York was selected in the fourth round of last year’s draft, a move which came one year after Cleveland’s attempt to select Evan McPherson one year earlier. The latter is instead with the Bengals, while the former is attempting to solidify his roster spot with the Browns. York converted 24 of 32 field goals as a rookie, along with 35 of 37 extra point attempts.
Over the past several weeks, things have not gone according to plan for the 22-year-old. York went just 4-for-8 on field goals in the preseason, although he made each of his eight extra points. However, he also missed two kicks (one field goal, one extra point) on plays which were nullified by penalty. As a result, speculation has increased that the Browns would be well-suited to look elsewhere at the position before the start of the regular season.
“I think all of those type of things, as you know, we always keep those internal as we get through this week,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said when specifically asked if York will in place for Week 1. “But I’ll reiterate, I think Cade is very, very, very talented” (h/t Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com).
Both Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry have previously been much more definitive in their statements indicating York is in the team’s short- and long-term plans. The LSU product had a field goal blocked late in the Browns’ loss in their preseason finale last night, adding further to his underwhelming statistics. Plenty of roster decisions need to be made in the coming days, including how to proceed with York. A number of veteran kickers are still on the open market, but the Browns could give him a more concrete vote of confidence by steering clear of the other options available.