Latest On Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s Future
Matthew Stafford‘s Super Bowl defense didn’t get off to the best start when the QB was sidelined for much of the summer with an elbow issue. The veteran struggled for much of the regular season before ultimately landing on injured reserve in early December. With Stafford set to turn 35 years old in February while collecting a growing list of ailments, there have been some pundits questioning whether he could hang up his cleats following the 2022 campaign.
During an appearance on his wife’s podcast earlier this week, Stafford rejected the notion that he’d retire following the season. When asked by Kelly Stafford if he was planning on calling it a career, the QB quickly responded “oh no,” per Larry Holder of The Athletic.
Both Stafford and the Rams have generally downplayed his injuries. The quarterback’s elbow injury wasn’t expected to impact his throwing ability, and while his numbers were generally down across the board, the organization generally attributed the struggles to Stafford’s inability to develop a rapport with his offense prior to the regular season.
Stafford’s latest injury, a spinal cord contusion, isn’t expected to be a long-term issue and should still allow the veteran to enjoy a “healthy offseason.” Stafford also missed a pair of games this season while in concussion protocol. The former first-overall pick has generally been healthy throughout his career; after missing 19 games through his first two seasons in the NFL, Stafford only missed eight games over the following 11 years, with all of those games missed coming during the 2019 campaign.
Stafford also has plenty of financial incentive to stick around the NFL. The QB inked a four-year, $160MM deal with the Rams back in March, with the organization giving their Super Bowl-winning signal-caller $135MM in guaranteed money.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Steven Montez
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Lance Lenoir, WR Jerreth Sterns
Patriots LS Joe Cardona Done For Year
One of New England’s longest-tenured players is done for the season. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports (via Twitter) that long snapper Joe Cardona has a torn tendon in his foot and won’t play again this season.
The 30-year-old suffered a partial tear in his foot earlier this month, but he still managed to play through the injury in Week 15. It’s uncertain if Cardona made the injury worse by playing, but either way, he won’t be back on the field until the 2023 campaign. Reiss notes that the veteran is expected to be fully recovered by the spring.
Cardona made a name for himself when he became the fourth long snapper in NFL history to be drafted, with the Patriots selecting the Navy product in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. Cardona hasn’t missed a game since joining the organization, appearing in all of New England’s 127 regular season games and 13 playoff games over that stretch. During his time with New England, Cardona has earned a pair of Super Bowl rings. He was also named to the organization’s ‘All-Dynasty Team’ in 2020. Cardona inked a four-year extension with the Patriots in 2018 that is set to expire following this season.
Elsewhere on the injury front, receiver DeVante Parker and cornerback Jalen Mills will both be out again for the Patriots this weekend when they take on the Bengals. Running back Damien Harris, cornerback Jack Jones, and receivers Tyquan Thornton and Jakobi Meyers are all questionable for this weekend.
Saints CB Marshon Lattimore Closer To Return, WR Jarvis Landry To IR
The Saints revealed some good and bad news on the injury front today. Coach Dennis Allen told reporters that cornerback Marshon Lattimore continues to progress, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football (on Twitter). However, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reveals (on Twitter) that wideout Jarvis Landry is heading to injured reserve.
Lattimore has been sidelined since October after suffering a lacerated kidney. The Pro Bowler has missed nine games with the injury, but Allen told reporters that the defensive back is “as close as he’s been” to returning to the field. The Saints will continue to monitor Lattimore, and while it sounds like he’ll be back before long, there’s no guarantee that he’ll play against the Browns this weekend.
Landry suffered an ankle injury that limited him to only 19 offensive snaps in Week 15. An ankle injury also forced the veteran wideout to miss most of October and a bit of November. With his placement on IR, Landry wouldn’t be allowed to return to the Saints until the postseason.
Landry hasn’t put up big numbers during his first season in New Orleans, hauling in 25 receptions for 272 yards and one touchdown. Still, when he’s been active, he’s played at least half of the Saints offensive snaps, and he’s effectively served as the team’s WR2 behind rookie Chris Olave.
The veteran’s placement on IR is poor timing for the Saints, as Olave has also been ruled out this weekend with a hamstring injury. Tre’Quan Smith will likely lead the depth chart, with Rashid Shaheed and Marquez Callaway also soaking up snaps.
Titans’ Ryan Tannehill Likely Out For Season
DECEMBER 22: It will be Willis, for this week at least, at quarterback for the Titans. Vrabel ruled out Tannehill for the Titans’ Week 16 rematch against the Texans. This will be Willis’ second start against the Texans.
DECEMBER 21: Ryan Tannehill‘s ankle injury could ultimately end his season. According to Paul Kuharsky, the Titans quarterback’s injury could require surgery and “will very likely end his season.”
[RELATED: Ryan Tannehill Unlikely To Play In Week 16]
Tannehill suffered a right ankle injury during Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. While the veteran QB only missed one series, he dealt with significant pain after returning to the game. Tannehill suffered an injury to the same ankle earlier this season, forcing him to miss a pair of games.
We heard yesterday that Tannehill was facing an uphill battle to play in Week 16, and as Kuharsky notes, offensive coordinator Todd Downing spoke as if third-round rookie Malik Willis will start against the Texans. Coach Mike Vrabel also gave the young signal-caller a vote of confidence this week.
“I’ve seen a lot of maturity and growth, seen the way that his reps are coming in our show team and trying to get him to act like the starting quarterback and lead that unit and communicate our language, the call that’s on the card, the operation, the snap count, the cadence, whether we go on the ball the next play,” Vrabel said (via Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean). “All those looks that we try to give him, I’ve seen a lot of maturity and growth in that regard.”
Willis didn’t look completely hopeless during his two starts, although the coaching staff limited him to only 26 pass attempts between the two games. With Derrick Henry in the backfield, the Titans should have enough to get past the Titans in Week 16.
The Titans would surely prefer their veteran QB under center against the Cowboys and Jaguars, but it’s not like he was doing a whole lot to help their playoff chances. While Tennessee currently sits atop the AFC South, they’ve dropped four straight, with Tannehill throwing three touchdowns vs. two interceptions over that stretch.
Notable 2023 Pro Bowl Incentives
The NFL announced their 2023 Pro Bowl rosters this evening. Besides the ability to list the accolade on their career resume (plus the monetary bonus that comes from participating in and winning the game), many players had a financial incentive for wanting a Pro Bowl nod. We’ve collected some of the notable Pro Bowl contract incentives below, most via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter (unless noted).
WR Davante Adams, Raiders: $250K- TE Mark Andrews, Ravens: $250K
- LT Terron Armstead, Dolphins: $650K
- LB Demario Davis, Saints: $500K
- WR Tyreek Hill, Dolphins: $250K
- CB Marlon Humphrey, Ravens: $250K
- WR Terry McLaurin, Commanders: $250K (via CBS Sports’ Joel Corry (on Twitter))
- S Jordan Poyer, Bills: $500K
- QB Geno Smith, Seahawks: $500K
Geno Smith‘s contract bonus came via a specific incentive that required not only Pro Bowl recognition but 20 touchdown passes, according to Yates (on Twitter). Smith hit that TD mark back in Week 13. The impending free agent is set to cash in following a breakout campaign during his age-32 season.
Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard has a more complex bonus worked into his contract. According to CBS Sports’ Joel Corry (on Twitter), Howard is one step closer to earning a $1MM bonus thanks to his Pro Bowl nod, but he’ll also need Miami to improve in either wins, points allowed, TDs allowed, total defense, interceptions, average net yards allowed per rushing play, or turnover margin.
Speaking of the Dolphins, the organization saved a chunk of future money since one of their players didn’t make the Pro Bowl roster. As Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald tweets, Tua Tagovailoa‘s fifth-year option would have increased from $22MM to $28MM if he earned a Pro Bowl nod.
Titans Place OL Dillon Radunz On IR
The Titans are bracing for bad news surrounding their starting QB, but the team had some other injuries to deal with today. Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter) reports that Tennessee has placed offensive lineman Dillon Radunz on injured reserve.
[RELATED: Titans QB Ryan Tannehill Will Likely Miss Rest Of Season]
Radunz suffered a torn ACL on Sunday, according to Paul Kuharsky. The lineman’s placement on IR already meant he was going to miss the rest of the regular season, but the ACL tear means he’ll probably miss a portion of the 2023 campaign, as well.
The 2021 second-round pick started only one of his 12 appearances as a rookie, and he had a similarly limited role through the first chunk of the 2022 season. He started four games for the team between Weeks 5 and 12, and he played a portion of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 13 and Week 15. Pro Football Focus has given Radunz one of the top pass-blocking scores at his position and one of the lowest run-blocking scores.
Radunz joins fellow offensive linemen Taylor Lewan and Jamarco Jones on injured reserve. The Titans added some depth at the position today, adding Zack Johnson to the practice squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/21/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Brandin Bryant
- Released: DT Kendal Vickers
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Tyree Gillespie
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DL Aaron Crawford, WR Jason Moore
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Tae Crowder
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/22
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): CB Justin Layne
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return: RB Chase Edmonds
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: DL Christopher Hinton
- Placed on IR: DL Joe Gaziano
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Daviyon Nixon
- Waived: RB Tony Jones Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: QB Josh Dobbs
Bears Place LB Jack Sanborn On IR
Jack Sanborn‘s season has come to an end. The Bears have placed the linebacker on injured reserve, according to The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain (on Twitter).
Sanborn suffered an ankle injury during Chicago’s loss to the Eagles on Sunday. With only three games remaining on the schedule and the Bears out of playoff contention, Sanborn won’t be eligible to return this season.
The undrafted rookie has been a bright spot on Chicago’s defense this year. The Wisconsin product mostly played on special teams to start the season, but following the trade of Roquan Smith, Sanborn took on a larger role on defense.
Since Smith was shipped to Baltimore, Sanborn has started six games while collecting 60 tackles and a pair of sacks. For his efforts, the rookie was ranked 37th among 84 qualifying linebackers, per Pro Football Focus, with the website giving him a top-10 mark at the position for his pass-rushing prowess.
The Bears quickly filled Sanborn’s spot on the roster by signing linebacker Elijah Lee off Kansas City’s practice squad. The six-year veteran got into 16 games for the Browns in 2021 before catching on with the Chiefs this past offseason. He ended up appearing in five games this year, collecting six tackles. The Bears also added linebacker Kuony Deng to the practice squad today.