Saints’ Alvin Kamara, Colts’ Chris Lammons Issued Three-Game Suspensions
Not long after Alvin Kamara‘s sit-down with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, his disciplinary situation has been clarified. Kamara has been suspended three games for his role in a violent altercation dating back to February 2022 (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
Kamara and Colts cornerback Chris Lammons were involved in an incident which initially resulted in criminal charges being filed. The latter will also be banned for the opening three games of the season, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). Kamara and Lammons are not planning to appeal, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets, concluding this matter 18 months after the incident occurred. 
Both players were indicted by a grand jury on felony charges in March, but they reached a settlement with the victim last month. Part of that process included pleading no contest to a misdemeanor, something which brought clarity to his legal status and thus paved the way for the league’s decision on the matter to be made. Kamara was initially feared to be facing a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy last season, but delays in court proceedings pushed his case into 2023.
Earlier this week, the 28-year-old met with Goodell to discuss potential punishments. It comes as little surprise that news of the suspension has quickly followed that summit. Kamara will miss games against the Titans, Panthers and Packers as a result of this action. He will be eligible to return to the lineup in Week 4, when the Saints play the Buccaneers.
When speaking to the media earlier today, Kamara repeated his remorse regarding the situation while indicating he was unsure how the league would proceed with respect to supplemental discipline. Now, his fate has been determined and New Orleans can move forward with the other members of its backfield, one which illustrates the team’s awareness a Kamara absence was likely.
The Saints signed veteran Jamaal Williams to a three-year deal in free agency, giving them an experienced backfield presence even without Kamara being available to start the season. New Orleans also selected Kendre Miller in the third round of this year’s draft to give them further insurance. Williams and Miller will carry the load during the first three weeks of the campaign, but Kamara will still be a focal point of the team’s offense upon return.
The former first-rounder failed to earn a Pro Bowl nod for the first time in his six-year career in 2022. Still, he managed to eclipse 1,300 scrimmage yards, something he has done every year in the NFL. Kamara will be hard-pressed to replicate that success with the missed time, but the Saints appear to be well-equipped to handle his short-term absence.
Lammons, meanwhile, signed in Indianapolis recently amidst the uncertainty surrounding his status. His ban will delay his Colts debut, but the team has a limited number of experienced corners especially in the wake of Isaiah Rodgers being suspended for the season and subsequently let go. A veteran of 42 games with the Chiefs, Lammons could see signficant playing time upon reinstatement.
Latest On Ravens’ CB Situation
The Ravens appear to have their starting boundary tandem in place at the cornerback position. A number of candidates are vying for the first-team role in the slot, however.
Marlon Humphrey is in place to once again serve as the anchor of Baltimore’s secondary, but fellow All-Pro Marcus Peters is no longer in the fold. The latter signed a long-anticipated deal with the Raiders recently, marking a formal end to his Ravens tenure. Rock Ya-Sin had already been acquired as a Peters replacement, signing a one-year contract in May. The former Colt and Raider is currently dealing with a knee injury, but it is not believed to be serious (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). 
The question of who starts in the slot remains unanswered. Defensive backs coach Chris Hewitt named several contenders for the role, as detailed by The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec (subscription required). Among them is a mix of veteran and young players, as well as those with a background playing at safety as opposed to corner, and vice versa. Hewitt said the position is in an “open competition” at this point.
2022 first-rounder Kyle Hamilton played extensively in the slot as a rookie, but the trade sending Chuck Clark to the Jets paved the way for the Notre Dame product taking on full-time safety duties. The Ravens used three-safety alignments under defensive coordinator Mike McDonald, however, so keeping Hamilton at the nickel could allow the Ravens to deploy their best secondary options for extended stretches.
Other candidates for the position include Brandon Stephens and Ar’Darius Washington. The former was a third-round Ravens selection in 2021, after a college career which saw him play at both running back and corner. Stephens primarily played as a safety as a rookie, but his more common usage came at corner in 2022. Washington, meanwhile, has seen time in the slot in his limited usage since joining Baltimore as a UDFA.
2022 fourth-rounders Damarion Williams and Jalyn Armour-Davis are also contenders for a first-team role. Williams was named as a player to watch during camp, given his more natural fit as a slot corner compared to many of the team’s other options. He missed time at the start of camp due to injury, however, leaving him with ground to make up during the preseason. Hewitt added that Armour-Davis, who played on the outside at Alabama, is under consideration to be moved inside.
By far the most experienced option is Arthur Maulet. The 30-year-old signed a one-year deal last week after being released by the Steelers earlier in the offseason. Maulet has seen considerable usage in the slot over the past three seasons in particular, and it would come as little surprise if that is his primary function in Baltimore. The Ravens were linked to a veteran signing leading up to his addition, but another could be coming as well.
Zrebiec notes that the Ravens could still be in the market for a corner, though the team is focusing on its numerous internal options for the time being. The developments in the ongoing competition will be worth watching as camp practices and preseason games take place.
Buccaneers QBs Baker Mayfield, Kyle Trask Splitting First-Team Reps
The Buccaneers are continuing the evaluation process of their quarterback competition, one which has not been met with much fanfare considering the pedigree of Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask compared to predecessor Tom Brady. Both of the candidates are receiving considerable looks with the first-team offense. 
Tamp Bay is alternating Mayfield and Trask with the starters and backups during practice, as noted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Head coach Todd Bowles has, understandably, not been in a hurry to name a starter during the offseason with plenty of time remaining for one signal-caller to outperform the other. Trask said that he feels “the most ready” he has been to date in his NFL career, one which started in 2021 but has seen him attempt only nine regular season passes.
The former second-rounder has been pegged as the underdog in the competition so far, with Mayfield holding a substantial edge in experience and familiarity with the type of scheme being implemented by new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. A strong recent showing from Trask with respect to ball security, however, has helped him gain ground, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports.
A plan for how the pair will be used in preseason has yet to be sorted out, but exhibition games will obviously go a long way in determining whether Mayfield or Trask will get the nod for Week 1. The former acknowledged that earning a starting gig is nothing new to him, having had to supplant an incumbent at both the college and NFL levels. The Heisman winner and former No. 1 pick has not seen his pro career go according to plan, though, giving him signficant impetus to succeed with his fourth NFL team.
Mayfield signed a one-year, $4MM deal to compete for the starting gig after seeing his Panthers tenure flame out and serving as a Rams fill-in to close out the 2022 season. Winning the top job and delivering an encouraging performance would boost the 28-year-old’s value either on a new Tampa contract or on the open market next offseason. Plenty is yet to be determined ahead of the Buccaneers’ preseason opener next week, however.
“It’s been tight and that’s a good thing,” Bowles said of the competition, via Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times. “Obviously, you want players to compete for a spot. You don’t want anybody getting their spot. You want to earn your spot year to year. Both guys are having healthy competition. We’re just looking forward to the game.”
With neither passer standing out above the other so far, the situation in Tampa Bay will be worth watching through August. Considering the equal opportunities being given to each, a final decision on a regular season starter should not be expected for several weeks.
Bears To Sign TE Marcedes Lewis
Marcedes Lewis is set to break the record for seasons played by a tight end, but it will not take place in Green Bay. The veteran is finalizing a deal with the Bears, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets that the agreement is for one year and $2MM. 
Lewis made it clear in June that he had no intention or retiring and was in conversation with teams about a deal for the 2023 season. He will be able to do so in the NFC North, but in a new home for only the third time in his career. The 39-year-old spent the past five seasons with the Packers after 12 as a Jaguar.
As they begin the post-Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay, however, attention is being turned to the young array of pass-catchers on the team. That includes rookies Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft at the TE spot. A new Packers deal for Lewis seemed unlikely once the trade sending Rodgers to the Jets was finalized, a move which has seen a number of familiar faces on offense join him in New York.
In Chicago, Lewis will compete for a role on a young offense looking to take a step forward in the passing game in particular compared to 2022. The trade involving the No. 1 pick saw wideout D.J. Moore head to the Windy City, putting him in position to operate as the team’s top pass-catcher. At the tight end position, the recently-extended Cole Kmet will lead the group, one which now has even more of a Green Bay flavor to it.
Robert Tonyan inked a Bears deal at the start of free agency after a lengthy Packers stint. He and Lewis will have plenty of familiarity as they compete for snaps in the new-look Bears offense. The latter had the second-least productive season of his career in 2022, recording only six catches (though two of them were touchdowns). His snap share (41%) remained consistent with that of the three previous campaigns, however, showing his continued effectiveness as a run blocker.
Much of the Bears’ success on offense will be determined by the growth of quarterback Justin Fields and the production from the renovated skill-position group around him. Lewis will spend the remainder of training camp looking to carve out a depth role as the newest member of that unit, and in doing so make NFL history for longevity at his position.
Bears, DE Yannick Ngakoue Agree To Deal
The top edge rusher still on the market has found a home. Yannick Ngakoue has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Bears, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
Schefter adds that the contract includes $10MM guaranteed, with a maximum value of $10.5MM. Ngakoue made out very well for himself financially considering how tepid his market appeared to be for much of the offseason. It does not come as a surprise, however, that he will head to the Windy City in 2023.
The Bears – a team which recorded a league-worst 22 sacks last season – were named as a team to watch in June. A report from that time indicated Ngakoue was seeking between $8MM and $10MM on his next contract, a figure which outpaces what Leonard Floyd and Frank Clark were able to secure (in terms of base compensation) from the Bills and Broncos, respectively. Bears GM Ryan Poles has been rather public about his ongoing desire to land an upgrade on the edge, and this move has allowed that to come to fruition.
Ngakoue, 28, had originally stated his desire to sign a multi-year deal with a contending team. Securing a long-term commitment from any team has proven elusive to date in his career, though. The former second-rounder has played for five teams in his seven years in the NFL, remaining productive at every stop. Ngakoue has recorded at least eight sacks every year, but his struggles against the run have limited his overall effectiveness and thus his ability to find a stable home.
The Maryland alum changed his stance last month, indicating he did not see the chances of his next team to compete for a Super Bowl as a make-or-break factor in his decision-making process. After a 3-14 season last year, the Bears certainly qualify as a team which is not expected to be among the heavyweights in the NFC. Despite head coach Matt Eberflus having a background with the Colts, where Ngakoue played last season, the pair have never worked together.
The Bears entered Thursday with the most cap space in the league, holding over $28MM in available funds. A sizeable investment in Ngakoue will eat considerably into that total, but if he can remain consistent as a pass-rushing presence, he will prove to be an effective addition as Chicago looks to take a needed step forward on defense.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/23
Thursday’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Austin Ajiake
Houston Texans
- Activated from PUP list: DE Chase Winovich
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: RB Austin Walter
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Mark Gilbert
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Jarrid Williams
- Released: OL Bobby Evans
New England Patriots
- Waived (injury designation): LB Terez Hall
New Orleans Saints
- Reverted to IR: T Scott Lashley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: RB Alfonzo Graham
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DL Curtis Brooks
- Placed on IR: DT David Bada
Falcons Waive Feleipe Franks; TE Facing Extended Absence
Feleipe Franks has encountered an injury which will interrupt his Falcons tenure. Atlanta announced on Thursday that they have waived the hybrid quarterback/tight end with an injury designation. Jordan Schultz of the Score reports Franks suffered a torn tendon in his foot, which should sideline him for roughly three months (Twitter link). 
The former UDFA entered the league as a signal-caller, but the team began transitioning to tight end last summer. Franks has yet to see much usage on offense in either capacity, logging only 68 offensive snaps to date. He has been a contributor on special teams, though, and an increased pass-catching role could have been in the cards for a team lacking in proven weapons in that regard.
Franks, 25, will revert to IR after clearing waivers. During his missed time, the Falcons will still have a tight end tandem facing considerable expectations. Kyle Pitts will look to return to full health and reach his potential as a former top-five pick, while trade acquisition Jonnu Smith and recent signing MyCole Pruitt should provide capable run blocking in head coach Arthur Smith‘s ground-based scheme.
On a busy day in Atlanta, the team also waived/injured wideout Chris Blair and defensive lineman Ikenna Enechukwu. Offensive lineman Ethan Greenidge has been placed on IR, meaning he will not be eligible to play during the 2023 season. Absences from each of those three players will not have the same effect as that of Franks, who should at least be able to retain his third phase duties upon return.
With the roster spots opened by the above moves, the Falcons have added Michal Menet, Matthew Gotel, Caeveon Patton and Mathew Sexton (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2). No member of that quartet has regular season NFL experience, so they could face an uphill climb to secure a 53-man roster spot during cutdowns. While they vie for an NFL opportunity, Franks will focus on rehab and minimizing the time he misses in his third year in Atlanta.
Ravens Have Discussed Extension With RB J.K. Dobbins
J.K. Dobbins remains absent from Ravens training camp, having been placed on the PUP list nearly two weeks ago. The running back’s current status is clouded by speculation that his current designation is not the result of an actual ailment but rather a hold-in for an extension. A resolution is being discussed at this point. 
Baltimore has been in talks with Dobbins on a potential extension, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (video link). Nothing is imminent at this point while the 24-year-old remains sidelined, but progress on negotiations could result in a deal being worked out. Dobbins is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, one which has seen him miss considerable time due to injury.
The Ohio State alum missed the entire 2021 campaign after tearing his ACL, LCL and meniscus, and his return to action last season was met with caution. Dobbins played four games before undergoing a cleanup procedure which required another IR stint. He came back in time for the final four games of the regular season (during which he eclipsed the 100-yard mark twice and averaged 6.96 yards per carry) and the team’s wild-card loss to the Bengals. Dobbins scored a touchdown and recorded 105 scrimmage yards in that game, despite a relatively light workload.
Usage has been a sticking point for the former second-rounder during much of his Ravens tenure. Dobbins ran for 805 yards and nine touchdowns after supplanting Mark Ingram in the lead role midway through his rookie season, and his return from the second knee surgery last year demonstrated his remaining efficiency. It thus came as little surprise that an extension was under consideration in June (despite the continued presence of running aficionado Lamar Jackson and highly-regarded backup RB Gus Edwards), but Dobbins’ lingering absence was predated by his public remarks calling the business side of his future “very hard.”
As the 2023 offseason has illustrated, the current financial landscape for running backs is not encouraging. The missed time due to the knee injury will hurt Dobbins’ negotiating position, but his production and lack of a workhorse role when on the field should breed confidence he has plenty of mileage still to come. The franchise tag could be an option next offseason, but fellow 2020 draftees Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike are also entering the final year of their rookie deals. Both could be in Baltimore’s long-term plans.
All eyes will be on when Dobbins returns to the field to acclimate to new offensive coordinator Todd Monken‘s scheme, one which is expected to include a larger emphasis on the passing game. Especially if an extension can be worked out by the start of the season, though, the former should be a focal point of the Ravens’ offense on the ground beyond 2023.
49ers, CB Anthony Averett Agree To Deal
An injury to one depth cornerback has resulted in the signing of another in San Francisco. The 49ers have agreed to a deal with Anthony Averett while placing Terrance Mitchell on IR, per a team announcement. 
Averett spent the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens, seeing a notable jump in playing time with each passing campaign. The former fourth-rounder served as a full-time starter in 2021, and he posted career-highs in tackles (54), interceptions (three) and pass deflections (11) that year.
Those numbers only earned him a one-year contract on the open market, though, and Averett spent the past season with the Raiders. The 28-year-old was limited to just seven games in his lone Vegas campaign, with thumb and toe injuries leading to IR stints. Averett put up lackluster numbers as part of a Raiders secondary which struggled throughout the season, leading to his lengthy stay on the open market this time around.
The Alabama product will now join a 49ers defense which is among the league’s best in the hopes of carving out a depth role. San Francisco has Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir in place as starters on the boundary, where Averett has spent the majority of his career. His 27 career starts would give the team notable experience if Averett is called into action, presuming he manages to cement a spot on the 53-man roster over the next several weeks.
Mitchell has seen time with six different teams during his eight years in the NFL, including the Titans last season. He was in position to add further to that list in San Francisco, but by being placed on IR he will sidelined for the entire 2023 campaign. The 31-year-old will turn his attention to rehab in advance of next year’s free agent period.
Titans Release OL Jamarco Jones
The right tackle situation in Tennessee remains in flux, with one competitor for the starting role being let go. The Titans announced on Thursday that Jamarco Jones has been released. 
The 27-year-old was involved in a pair of scuffles during training camp practices this week, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Turron Davenport. Jones took part in a confrontation with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on Tuesday, then executed a crackback block earlier today. The dust-ups caused by his actions will see his time in Nashville cut short with one year remaining on his contract.
Jones was due $2.45MM this season, but moving on post-June 1 will allow the Titans to see $2MM in cap savings. That financial benefit will be balanced against the loss of a potential right tackle starter to open the season. The gambling suspension handed down to Nicholas Petit-Frere will leave him unavailable for the first six weeks of the campaign. Jones, who started seven of his 36 career games with the Seahawks, had been receiving first-team reps during practice as a contender to fill in for Petit-Frere in the short term.
That will no longer be the case, but Tennessee does have recent signing Chris Hubbard available to win the RT job. The former Steeler and Brown could have a clear path to the starting spot with first-round rookie Peter Skoronski being used at guard and Jones now no longer in the picture. The latter will need to move quickly to find a new home with training camps well underway.
Jones did not play in 2022, after spending much of the season on IR. That missed action, coupled with the reason for his Titans release, will surely hinder his market as a free agent. Finding an opportunity as a swing tackle will likely be the best-case scenario for the former fifth-rounder. The Titans, meanwhile, will move forward with what they hope will be more orderly practice sessions and a sufficient number of contingences regarding their offensive line situation.