Packers LB Rashan Gary Open To Extension
Packers linebacker Rashan Gary tore his ACL in November, and that ended up delaying whatever chance he had at earning an extension. The former 12th-overall pick is now playing on his fifth-year option, and Gary acknowledged to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that he’d be open to signing an extension now or after the season.
Gary made his return to the field in Week 1, and while the linebacker is certainly aware of his impending free agency, he’s more focused on regaining his old form.
“I’ve just been going through my rehab process and just trying to get back and focus on me,” said Gary
Gary remains on a pitch count for the Packers. He was limited to only 12 defensive snaps in Week 1, but he was still plenty productive; ESPN Stats & Information listed Gary with three pressures on seven pass-rush attempts. Demovsky writes that Gary should see an increase in snaps tomorrow against the Falcons, but the linebacker will continue to be on a pitch count.
“I felt I could’ve seen a lot of things just a little quicker,” Gary said of his season debut. “But for my first game back in live action, what I needed to feel, what I needed to see, I felt like I did.”
It took a few seasons for Gary to justify his draft investment, but he broke out in 2021 when he finished with 9.5 sacks and 28 QB hits. He looked like he was taking another step forward in 2022, collecting six sacks in nine games. Then the linebacker suffered a torn ACL in November, and instead of earning a big-money deal, he’ll be playing the 2023 campaign on a $10.89MM salary.
Gary probably has a long way to go to catch up to Nick Bosa‘s record-breaking $170MM deal with the 49ers, but the Packers defender could be in line for a significant pay day next offseason if he’s productive in 2023.
Extra Points: Jefferson, Maye, International Pathway Program
An undrafted wideout is working his way back to the field following a tragic car crash earlier this year. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, the 49ers worked out Louisiana receiver Michael Jefferson today.
Jefferson earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2022 after finishing with 51 receptions for 810 yards and seven touchdowns. Thanks to his performance, the receiver was projected to be a mid-round pick in the 2023 draft. However, Jefferson was injured in a car accident in April that killed another driver, and the player required multiple surgeries.
He was expected to resume his career in 2024, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier this month that Jefferson had been cleared by doctors to “fly, take physicals and join a team.”
It sounds like his first opportunity could come in San Francisco. The 49ers are currently stashing four receivers on their practice squad in Willie Snead, Chris Conley, Tay Martin, and Isaiah Winstead.
More notes from around the NFL…
- Saints safety Marcus Maye got six months of probation stemming from a 2021 driving under the influence charge, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. Maye will have his drivers license suspended for six months as a result of the plea deal, and he was also given 50 hours of community service with the opportunity to buy them out. Maye allegedly crashed into another car while driving on the Florida Turnpike and was initially charged with driving under the influence, DUI/damage to property and person, and leaving the scene of the crash. The player also continues to deal with a civil suit from the driver of the other car who is seeking $30K due to injuries.
- The NFL International Pathway Program has expanded in scope since it’s inception in 2016, with the 2023 iteration allowing teams from the AFC West and NFC North to allocate an extra roster spot to an international player. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, the NFL will provide an international player exception to all 32 teams starting in 2024. There are currently 24 active players who participated in the International Pathway Program.
- The NFL has established an ownership committee that will evaluate current ownership rules, potentially allowing “institutional capital” to invest in teams, per Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal. As Liz Clarke, Nicki Jhabvala and Mark Maske of the Washington Post write, this committee could open the door to private equity firms buying stakes in teams, following the ownership rules previously established by the NBA, MLB, and NHL. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports that the committee includes Falcons owner Arthur Blank, Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt, and Broncos owner Greg Penner.
Jets Notes: Rodgers, Whitehead, Mosley
Aaron Rodgers underwent surgery on his torn Achilles in Los Angeles yesterday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Jets quarterback posted on Instagram that the surgery “went great” and he’s “on the road to recovery.”
While Rodgers is now focused on his rehab, the fallout from the future Hall of Famer’s season-ending injury continues. According to Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, Rodgers was not a fan of the play calls that involved cut blocks, and he voiced his displeasure to the coaching staff. Two of the QB’s four snaps on Monday night involved the cut block, including the play that injured Rodgers.
Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, who spent years blocking for Rodgers, also noticed the team’s peculiar blocking strategy.
“I blocked for Aaron for a decade,” Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari told The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. “I’ve gotten a lot of s— from him about cutting and pretty much the rule of thumb, at least working with him, is you don’t cut unless Aaron says so in the huddle or at the line of scrimmage. And that’s no dig at Aaron. … When people were defending and saying that’s what they’re supposed to do, I was like: Well, clearly there’s miscommunication. Because if your coach is telling you to do that, then he doesn’t know Aaron. And I know for a fact, Aaron definitely has probably brought it up. So I’m like: You’re not all on the same page. Again, that’s not the reason why (the sack) happened. There’s so many other factors.”
Blame has also been placed on MetLife Stadium’s turf. Michael Rosenberg of SI.com spoke to three experts on Achilles tendons, and while they acknowledged that turf could certainly cause injuries, it’s unlikely to cause this type of injury.
More notes out of New York…
- Jordan Whitehead was a standout in Week 1 for the Jets, with his performance earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week. The safety also managed to secure one of his season-long incentives in just one game, with his three interceptions earning him a $250K bonus, per ESPN’s Field Yates. Whitehead signed a two-year, $14.5MM deal with the Jets last March.
- As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes, Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley had his $17MM non-guaranteed salary locked in during the season opener. After being limited to only two games during his first season with the Jets, Mosley has emerged as a defensive leader in New York over the past two seasons, collecting 326 tackles in 33 games. The veteran inked a five-year, $85MM deal with the Jets back in 2019.
- While the Jets continue to scour the market for some reinforcement at quarterback, Zach Wilson will be the definitive QB1 moving forward. While Rodgers will be sidelined for the entire 2023 campaign, the veteran quarterback still had a lasting impact on his younger counterpart. “I feel like I’ve been trying to copy every little thing he’s doing, from his footwork to the coaching tips he has given us,” Wilson said today (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “He’s done an amazing job, more than we could ask for as quarterbacks.”
Injury Notes: Clark, Dulcich, Eagles
Frank Clark will be sidelined for a few weeks. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Broncos defensive end will miss “a couple weeks” after suffering a hip injury during yesterday’s practice.
Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like this is a long-term issue, and there’s been no indication that Clark will land on injured reserve. Per Rapoport, the veteran is considered week-to-week.
The former Pro Bowler was cut by the Broncos back in March before eventually landing in Denver. As Troy Renck of Denver7 notes, Clark has struggled to establish a role in Denver, with the 30-year-old serving as a situational pass rusher during the season opener. Clark finished that contest with a pair of tackles while appearing in 25 defensive snaps.
This comes with Baron Browning sitting on PUP, so Clark’s role could be made even more uncertain when his teammate returns. A few weeks off the field probably won’t help his case for a significant role in Denver.
2022 ended Clark’s three-year stretch of earning Pro Bowl nods, but he was still productive with the Chiefs. In 15 games, the pass rusher compiled 39 tackles and five sacks. He showed up during Kansas City’s run to a Super Bowl championship, collecting another seven tackles and 2.5 sacks in three games.
More injury notes from around the NFL…
- Greg Dulcich is once again dealing with a hamstring injury. After missing seven games for the Broncos during the 2022 season, the tight end will once again miss multiple weeks while dealing with a hamstring injury in the same leg, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The organization intends to take it slow with Dulcich, meaning it could be a bit before he returns to the field. The 2022 third-round pick finished his rookie campaign with 33 catches for 411 yards and two touchdowns.
- A trio of Eagles players were ruled out early for Thursday Night Football. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported yesterday that running back Kenneth Gainwell (ribs), cornerback James Bradberry (concussion), and safety Reed Blankenship (ribs) would all be sidelined for Philly’s Week 2 matchup against the Vikings. The Eagles did get some good news, however, with defensive tackle Fletcher Cox being declared active for tonight’s game after being listed as questionable with a rib injury.
- Rams wideout Puka Nacua didn’t practice today thanks to an oblique injury, according to Schefter. The rookie fifth-round pick was a standout during his NFL debut, garnering 15 targets from Matthew Stafford. Nacua ultimately finished the contest with 10 catches for 119 yards. With Cooper Kupp sidelined, the Rams may need to dig into their wide receiver depth against the 49ers.
- Patriots cornerback Jack Jones landed on injured reserve before the season opener, keeping him off the field for at least the first month of the season. Per Albert Breer of TheMMQB, the 2022 fourth-round pick has an injury split in his contract, meaning the organization can lower Jones’ base salary from $870K to $475K as long as he sits on IR. That ends up being a loss of $22K per week for Jones.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/14/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: S Macon Clark
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Lewis Kidd
- Placed on IR: C Jack Anderson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Luq Barcoo, RB Greg Bell
- Released: CB Anthony Brown
- Placed on IR: Josiah Scott
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Jacques Patrick
- Released: G Jordan Roos
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DE William Bradley-King
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed off Raiders practice squad: CB Sam Webb
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: WR Britain Covey, P Arryn Siposs
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: DT Cameron Heyward (story)
- Promoted: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed off Raiders practice squad: G McClendon Curtis
- Signed off Buccaneers practice squad: OT Raiqwon O’Neal
With Jaycee Horn being placed on IR, the Panthers added some cornerback depth by snagging Sam Webb of the Raiders practice squad. The former UDFA got into all 17 games for Las Vegas in 2022, finishing with 36 tackles. He was cut by the Raiders at the end of the preseason before landing back on their practice squad.
Five Teams Inquired On Nick Bosa’s Availability
Nick Bosa was a popular name on the trade market before he inked his record-breaking extension with the 49ers. According to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, five teams reached out to the 49ers about Bosa’s availability.
[RELATED: 49ers, Nick Bosa Agree To Extension]
According to Glazer, these potential suitors were hoping the 49ers wouldn’t agree to a long-term deal with the impending free agent, who was holding out for a new contract. San Francisco naturally shut down all inquiries before signing Bosa to an extension.
Bosa held out throughout the summer as he pushed for a new contract, and the 49ers ultimately handed him a massive five-year, $170MM extension. The contract made Bosa the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, and despite the inquires from other squads, the pass rusher should remain in San Francisco through at least the 2028 season.
It’s not a shock that rivals teams expressed interest in acquiring Bosa. The former second-overall pick has been a force when healthy, especially over the past two seasons. Between 2021 and 2022, Bosa collected 34 sacks, 40 tackles for loss, 80 QB hits, and six forced fumbles. This culminated in him winning Defensive Player of the Year last season.
The 49ers had reportedly been budgeting for a Bosa extension for some time, and the organization never seemed to consider a future without their star pass rusher. Both Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch publicly said that Bosa would not be traded despite the long-running negotiations, and the pass rusher didn’t add any fuel to the fire by keeping mostly quiet throughout the ordeal.
The team had to deal with a public trade request last offseason when Deebo Samuel reportedly asked out of San Francisco. However, the wideout didn’t engage in a hold out, and he ended up inking a three-year extensions with the 49ers.
Tarik Cohen Expected To Sign With Panthers Practice Squad
Tarik Cohen is on the comeback trail. The veteran running back intends to sign with the Panthers practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Jordan Schultz was first with the news. Joe Person of The Athletic notes that Cohen will sign assuming he passes his physical tomorrow.
Cohen hasn’t seen the field for an NFL game since the 2020 campaign, when he tore his ACL and MCL and fractured his tibial plateau during Week 3. He spent the subsequent 2021 season on PUP before hitting free agency in 2022. While training last May, Cohen ruptured his Achilles tendon, delaying his comeback another year. Last month, the RB indicated that he was ready to continue his NFL career, and the Panthers are the team to give him the shot.
It didn’t take long for the former fourth-round pick to emerge as a productive offensive weapon. Following a rookie season where he collected more than 700 yards from scrimmage, Cohen earned an All-Pro nod with the Bears in 2018 after finishing with 1,169 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. Cohen was also a standout on special teams that season, leading the NFL with 411 punt return yards.
His yards-per-touch dropped to 4.7 during the 2019 campaign, but Cohen still managed to produce 669 yards from scrimmage. The Bears ended up rewarding him for his three productive years, signing the RB to a three-year, $17.25MM deal prior to the 2020 campaign. Cohen boosted that aforementioned yards-per-touch number to 5.8 in the first two-plus games of the 2020 campaign before suffering his career-altering injury.
In Carolina, he’ll be joining a backfield that’s still finding itself in a post-Christian McCaffrey era. The Panthers handed out one of free agency’s largest RB contracts when they inked Miles Sanders to a four-year, $25.4MM deal. The team also still has Chuba Hubbard as their top backup, but they lack experienced depth behind their top duo. Former UDFA Raheem Blackshear is on the active roster, while Spencer Brown and Jashaun Corbin are stashed on the practice squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/12/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: OL Kyle Fuller
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Lamar Jackson
- Released: WR Dezmon Patmon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OL Michael Jordan
- Released: TE Austin Allen
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks, WR Jared Wayne
- Released: RB Larry Rountree
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Jack Anderson, RB Tyler Goodson, TE Jordan Murray
- Released: RB Jason Huntley, TE Johnny Lumpkin, WR Mike Strachan
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Ty Shelby
- Released: OT Austen Pleasants
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Miller Forristall, P Brandon Wright
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Lucky Jackson
New Orleans Saints
- Released: WR Jontre Kirklin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Jacob Copeland
- Released: DB Luq Barcoo, RB Greg Bell
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Greg Eiland, OT Jason Peters (story)
- Released: QB Holton Ahlers, S Brady Breeze
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/12/23
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: DL Joe Gaziano
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived from IR: DL Tautala Pesefea Jr.
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: OT Jack Conklin (story)
- Signed to active roster: G Michael Dunn
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: P Ty Zentner
- Signed: DL Michael Dogbe
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reinstated from reserve/did not report: DT Chris Jones (story)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: K Brett Maher
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: RB Myles Gaskin
New York Jets
- Reinstated from reserve/suspended: CB Brandin Echols (story)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived from IR: WR Charleston Rambo
Michael Dogbe has found his next gig after getting waived by the Jaguars during final cuts. The former seventh-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cardinals, appearing in 40 games. He took on a bigger role over the past two years, compiling 55 tackles in 29 appearances. He joined Jacksonville this offseason before earning his walking papers.
Myles Gaskin is back on an active roster following an unceremonious end to his Miami tenure. The running back had 1,818 yards from scrimmage across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but he saw a limited role with the Dolphins in 2022. He joined the Vikings practice squad at the end of the preseason and was elevated to the active roster for their season opener.