Patriots Notes: Dugger, Cunningham, Offseason
The Patriots have 15 impending unrestricted free agents, a group that’s headlined by safety Kyle Dugger. The former second-round pick has turned into one of New England’s most dependable defenders, but there’s a good chance he hits free agency after the season.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, “prior extension talks didn’t generate much momentum” towards a long-term deal, leading to the belief that Dugger wants to test the market. The Patriots are armed with a bit of leverage, as the team could choose to slap Dugger with the franchise tag. Doug Kyed previously noted that the franchise tag could be in play if the two sides don’t agree to a long-term deal. The 2023 franchise tag value for safeties was at $14.46MM.
Dugger previously expressed an interest in sticking around New England, but there haven’t been many updates this season regarding an extension. The fourth-year player has started all 14 games for the Patriots in 2023, collecting 88 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
More notes out of New England…
- There’s plenty of uncertainty surrounding Bill Belichick‘s future in New England. Regardless of who’s running the Patriots front office this offseason, Doug Kyed of the Boston Globe expects the organization to spend big. Thanks to the league’s cash-spending floor, the Patriots will need to spend at least $98MM to hit the $216MM requirement. The front office should have far more money to play with; if the Patriots take a similar approach to their pricey 2021 offseason, Kyed projects that they could commit upwards of $194MM to free agency (especially via signing bonuses).
- Belichick told reporters that the Patriots attempted to keep quarterback Malik Cunningham before he landed on the Ravens’ active roster. The undrafted rookie spent the entire season shuffling between New England’s active roster and practice squad, with the organization experimenting with the player at both quarterback and wide receiver. As Reiss notes, the Ravens ultimately sold Cunningham on their system and the presence of Lamar Jackson.
- Considering the Patriots’ struggles at the quarterback position this season, it was a surprise that Cunningham never got a shot to run the offense. Offensive tackle Trent Brown told Sophie Weller of AtoZ.com that “everybody on the team” thought the rookie should get a look under center. Brown also admitted that Baltimore was an ideal spot for his former teammate. “It’s funny because I told him months ago if they ever called, if anybody, that’s the team where he should go,” Brown said of the Ravens. “It was almost like I saw it coming…And that’s really good for him to actually get a real chance to play his real position.”
- Tight end Mike Gesicki inked a one-year deal with the Patriots this offseason, but things haven’t gone as planned during his first season with the team. Through 14 games, the veteran has hauled in 22 catches for 189 yards and one touchdown, and he’s on pace for his lowest offensive output since his rookie campaign. Despite the struggles, Gesicki is remaining positive about his experience in New England. “Control what you can control, coming in here every day and having a good attitude and being positive and enjoying it,” the tight end told Reiss. “Because at the end of the day, you’re playing in the NFL, meeting new guys, and playing for the greatest coach to ever do it. So there’s a lot of things you can take away from it. And we still have another four games. You never know how we can finish this thing and have some bright spots.”
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/21/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: NT Carlos Davis
Detroit Lions
- Released: OL Michael Schofield
New York Jets
- Signed: FB Nick Bawden
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DT Taylor Stallworth
Taylor Stallworth has found a new home after getting cut by the Titans back in November. The veteran spent the majority of his stint in Tennessee sitting on injured reserve, getting into six defensive snaps in one appearance. The journeyman has spent time with six different squads since going undrafted out of South Carolina in 2018. He got into 32 games with the Colts between 2020 and 2021, collecting 28 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/23
Today’s minor moves:
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: OL Cameron Erving, CB Shemar Jean-Charles
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: DT Timmy Horne
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: RB Anthony McFarland Jr.
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: RB Jeremy McNichols
Anthony McFarland Jr.‘s stint with the Steelers has come to an end after three-plus seasons. The former fourth-round pick got an extended look as a rookie, collecting 167 yards from scrimmage on 39 touches. Over the past two-plus seasons, he’s compiled only 66 yards on 14 touches, with the RB being firmly behind Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren on the depth chart. That duo will continue to command the majority of the snaps at the position, with Godwin Igwebuike now serving as Pittsburgh’s RB3.
Raiders Waive DE Malik Reed
Malik Reed‘s stint in Las Vegas has come to an end. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders are waiving the veteran edge rusher.
After spending the preseason with the Dolphins, Reed caught on with the Raiders’ practice squad back in September. He eventually worked his way up to the active roster and got into four games this season, compiling three tackles while playing a limited role on defense.
The former UDFA had a strong start to his career in Denver. The Nevada product got into 15 games as a rookie before collecting eight sacks in 16 games (13 starts) in 2020. He added another five sacks to his resume in 2021, but after getting traded to the Steelers in 2022, he went on to see a reduced role on defense.
Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce have commanded the majority of the snaps opposite Maxx Crosby this season. The Raiders have played around with multiple players at the fourth spot on the depth chart. Isaac Rochell got the first shot at the gig before being replaced by Reed in November. Reed got into four games in his new role but didn’t see the field on defense over the past two weeks, with Janarius Robinson earning the leftover snaps.
Chargers’ Joey Bosa Returns To Practice
The Chargers’ season is all but over, but the team should be welcoming back their defensive star for the stretch run. According to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, the Chargers have designated pass-rusher Joey Bosa to return from injured reserve.
Bosa landed on injured reserve in late-November after suffering a foot sprain. The Pro Bowler was seen crying as he was carted into the locker room during that Week 11 loss, leading some to believe he could be done for the season. However, it sounds like Bosa will at least try to return in 2023, although his 21-day window for activation exceeds the days left in the regular season.
The Chargers have three games remaining on their schedule. The team has lost three of their four games since Bosa went down, including a 42-point loss to the Raiders that ultimately led to the ousting of head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco.
In his nine games this season, Bosa has compiled 6.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and six QB hits. The veteran has played much of the season with a broken toe, an injury that forced him to miss one game. This is the second-straight season that Bosa has landed on injured reserve, with the 28-year-old missing 12 games in 2022 thanks to a core muscle injury.
Bosa has also missed chunks of game in five of his eight NFL seasons. In his three healthiest seasons, he’s compiled a total 34.5 sacks.
Rams Activate RB Ronnie Rivers From IR
DECEMBER 21: Out for more than two months, Rivers will return to action tonight. The Rams will use one of their IR activations on Rivers, moving him back into position as a Williams sub alongside Freeman. The NFC West team now has one IR activation remaining this season.
DECEMBER 19: The Rams could soon be adding some depth to their backfield. The team announced that they’ve designated running back Ronnie Rivers for return from injured reserve.
After getting into eight games as a rookie, Rivers entered the 2023 campaign as the Rams’ third running back. He appeared in each of the team’s first six games this season, collecting 75 yards from scrimmage on 17 touches. He also saw a significant role on special teams, getting into more than half of his team’s ST snaps through six games.
Rivers suffered a knee sprain back in Week 6 that ultimately required a stint on injured reserve. He was first eligible to return from IR in late-November, so the RB needed at least an additional month of recovery before returning to the field.
The Fresno State product went undrafted in the 2022 draft. He had brief stints with both the Cardinals and Seahawks before landing on the Rams practice squad.
The Rams running back room looks a bit different than when Rivers last played. Kyren Williams is now back from injury and commanding most of the snaps at the position, and fill-ins Zach Evans and Royce Freeman have reverted to their backup roles. The Rams would have to carve out another spot on the depth chart if they want to activate Rivers, although practice-squad RB Darrell Henderson could also argue for a roster spot.
Jets Place DL Quinton Jefferson On IR
Quinton Jefferson is done for the season. The Jets have placed the veteran defensive tackle on injured reserve, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. To fill the open roster spot, the Jets have signed defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes to the active roster.
Jefferson will miss the rest of the campaign with a hip issue. It’s uncertain exactly when the defensive lineman suffered the injury, but he was limited to a season-low 11 defensive snaps this past weekend.
The 30-year-old joined the Jets this past offseason on a one-year deal. He ended up starting all 14 of his appearances with his new squad, compiling a career-high 6.5 sacks to go along with 34 tackles and one forced fumble. Pro Football Focus only graded Jefferson 96th among 132 qualifying interior defenders, although the site did give him a positive grade for his pass rushing.
The former fifth-round pick has had multiple stints with the Seahawks over the years, including a 17-game run with the organization in 2022. In 103 career games, Jefferson has compiled 26.5 sacks.
Holmes joined the Jets back in August before ultimately earning a spot on the practice squad. He’s earned a pair of promotions this season, collecting a single tackle in two games. The former fourth-round pick got into 25 games with the Vikings through his first three seasons in the NFL.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Daniel Arias
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: RB Jake Funk
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OT Badara Traore
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Chris Williams
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DB Keidron Smith
- Released from IR: S Dallin Leavitt
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Zach McCloud, WR Jaydon Mickens, WR Juwann Winfree
- Released: G Lewis Kidd
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB E.J. Perry
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DT Marquan McCall
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB William Hooper, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Jacques Patrick
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Jalen Elliott
- Designated to return from IR: S Elijah Riley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Vi Jones
- Released: LS Evan Deckers
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: C James Empey, G Jordan Roos
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LS Tucker Addington
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/23
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed off Browns practice squad: DT Tommy Togiai
- Waived: DL Travis Bell
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: RB Melvin Gordon III
- Placed on IR: RB Keaton Mitchell (story)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return from IR: LB Tanner Muse
With Keaton Mitchell done for the season, the Ravens are adding a veteran to their active roster. Gordon has spent the entire season with the Ravens organization, compiling 99 yards on 16 touches in two games. He’ll now have a spot on the 53-man roster for the rest of the season, serving as the team’s RB3 behind Gus Edwards and Justice Hill.
Colts Suspend WR Isaiah McKenzie, CB Tony Brown
The Colts have suspended a pair of players for the rest of the 2023 campaign. According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, receiver Isaiah McKenzie and cornerback Tony Brown have earned three-game suspensions for “conduct detrimental to the team.”
Holder admits that it’s uncertain what the players did to warrant the suspensions, but a source disclosed that the “nature of the violations rose to a level where severe punishment” was necessary. Both players were inactive this past weekend.
McKenzie joined the Colts this past offseason after having spent the previous five seasons in Buffalo. After finishing 2022 with career-highs in receptions (42) and receiving yards (423), McKenzie hasn’t seen nearly as big of an offensive role in Indy. In 13 games (tw0 starts), McKenzie has hauled in 11 catches for 82 yards. He’s also served as the team’s primary punt returner.
After bouncing around the NFL to begin his career, Brown joined the Colts prior to the 2022 campaign. He got into 16 games last season, compiling seven tackles and one sack. He had 10 tackles and an interception in 12 games this season, with the majority of his playing time coming on special teams.
The Colts weren’t done making roster moves today, with the team announcing that they’ve signed Tyler Goodson to the 53-man roster. The running back was promoted for each of the last three games, collecting 88 yards on 16 touches. With Jonathan Taylor and Zack Moss both questionable for Week 16, Goodson could see a significant role on Sunday.