Broncos DL Dre’Mont Jones Discusses Impending Free Agency
Dre’Mont Jones‘ impending free agency couldn’t have come at a better time. The Broncos defensive lineman is having a career year and has likely improved his free agency stock heading into the second half of the season. Denver would like to re-sign its former third-round pick, but Jones didn’t sound overly enthused about re-signing when asked about his future.
“I am here right now,” Jones said plainly (via Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post). “…I view my standing with the franchise as, this is Dre going into Year 4, that’s all I can say.”
As Kiszla points out, Jones’ blunt remarks seem to indicate that come free agency, the player will clearly value money over “an empty promise of winning the Super Bowl.” It was assumed that a new deal could be coming for the defensive lineman after the Broncos traded Bradley Chubb to Miami, avoiding the star’s impending free agency and/or extension (Chubb ultimately inked a sizable new deal with the Dolphins). A deal for Jones could still materialize, but it sounds like the player will be betting on himself and hoping for a sizable offer from what should be a number of suitors during the offseason.
The Ohio State product has shown plenty of pass-rushing prowess throughout his career, collecting 15.5 sacks through his first three seasons in the NFL despite starting only 16 games. He’s taken on a full-time starting gig in 2022 and is en route to career-highs across the board. In eight starts, the 25-year-old has collected 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been particularly fond of his performance, ranking him 76th among 116 qualifying interior defenders, although the site did rank him within the top 20 for pass rushing.
Contract Details: Baker, O’Neill, Steelers
Despite being in the second half of the NFL season, teams are still actively cleaning up their books in anticipation of upcoming moves or future offseason transactions. We’ve compiled some of the notable financial moves below (plus an interesting note about a future Hall of Fame quarterback):
- Jerome Baker, LB (Dolphins): restructured deal. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), Baker restructured his contract and reduced his 2022 cap hit by about $2.5MM. This restructuring came on the heels of Miami’s notable trade deadline acquisitions, moves that required the front office to clear up a bit of cap. The 2018 third-round pick has turned into a consistent starter for the Dolphins. After collecting more than 300 tackles through his first three professional seasons, Baker inked a three-year, $39MM extension with the organization back in 2021.
- Brian O’Neill, OT (Vikings): restructured deal. According to Yates (on Twitter), the Vikings converted $1.8MM of O’Neill’s base salary into a signing bonus, creating close to $1.5MM in cap space. Prior to the move, the Vikings were closing in on the cap, so this should provide them with a bit more wiggle room. In 2021, the former second-round pick signed a five-year, $92.5MM extension with the organization, and he ended up earning his first career Pro Bowl nod later that season.
- William Jackson III, CB (Steelers): reworked deal. Following his trade to Pittsburgh, Jackson agreed to wipe out the remainder of his per-game roster bonuses, per Yates (on Twitter). Those bonuses were valued at around $44K per game. The cornerback is still due the remainder of his base salary, valued at around $2.7MM, and he helped saved the organization $350K against the cap. Jackson is still attached to a three-year, $40.5MM deal that he signed with Washington in 2021. He was traded to the Steelers at the deadline for a conditional 2025 sixth-round pick for a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick.
- Aaron Rodgers, QB (Packers): contract details. It’s been a while since Aaron Rodgers inked his massive three-year, $150MM extension with Green Bay, but details are still trickling out about the contract. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Rodgers’ $58.3MM option bonus in 2023 can be exercised at any time between the first day of the 2023 league year and the day before the Packers’ regular season opener. This is important timing if the Packers decide to trade their franchise quarterback this offseason. Demovsky also provides details on Rodgers’ contract in 2024. The $49.25MM in salary and bonuses is only guaranteed against injury, but it will become fully guaranteed on the fifth day following the previous season’s Super Bowl.
Raiders Sign TE Jacob Hollister
The Raiders lost a pair of key players to injured reserve today, and the organization is now starting to fill in the open roster spots. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter), the Raiders have signed tight end Jacob Hollister off the Vikings practice squad.
[RELATED: TE Darren Waller To IR | WR Hunter Renfrow To IR]
The Raiders are also signing linebacker Curtis Bolton from their practice squad to the active roster, per Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus (on Twitter). Linebacker Reggie Ragland will be taking the open practice squad spot, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
Hollister has bounced around the NFL a bit since going undrafted in 2017. In six professional seasons, the tight end has seen time in 59 games (12 starts), including a two-season stint in Seattle that saw him haul in 66 total catches. After spending much of the 2021 campaign in Jacksonville, Hollister joined the Raiders in March. He landed on IR before the end of the preseason and was later granted his release.
He later caught on with the Vikings’ practice squad and was promoted for a pair of games. With Darren Waller sidelined for at least the next four games, Hollister will likely see some playing time behind expected fill-in Foster Moreau.
Bolton has seen time in six games since the beginning of the 2021 season, including a single appearance for the Raiders earlier this season. His signing to the active roster comes on the heels of Blake Martinez‘s decision to retire earlier today. Ragland, a former second-round pick, started nine of his 17 games for the Giants in 2021. The 29-year-old has 279 tackles across five NFL seasons.
Chargers Waive DL Jerry Tillery
The Chargers have moved on from a former first-round pick. The team announced that they’ve waived defensive lineman Jerry Tillery.
The Notre Dame product was selected by the Chargers with the 28th-overall pick in 2019. The defensive lineman had a difficult time carving out a consistent role in Los Angeles through his three-plus seasons with the organization. After serving as a backup during his rookie campaign, he started 26 games between 2020 and 2021. He’s been back to a situational role in 2022, starting none of his seven appearances. He’s collected eight tackles and one sack this year, and had he earned enough snaps, he would have graded as a middle-of-the-road interior defender, per Pro Football Focus (with the site giving him a nod for his pass-rush ability).
Tillery’s Chargers career will end with him having collected 106 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 54 games (29 starts). The 26-year-old had his fifth-year option declined back in May, so the team won’t be on the hook for any future money. If a team claims Tillery off waivers, they’ll be responsible for paying the $1MM-plus remaining on his pact for this season.
“Jerry has been a valued member of our organization since arriving in 2019, and I want to thank him for all his contributions to the Chargers,” said general manager Tom Telesco (via the team’s website). “This was not an easy decision but, after careful consideration, it was a necessary one that is in the best interest of both team and player. We wish Jerry all the best moving forward in his career.”
The Chargers brought in a number of defensive linemen this past offseason, including Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, and rookie Otito Ogbonnia. That grouping will be more than capable of soaking up Tillery’s defensive snaps.
Saints Designate OL Trevor Penning For Return
Trevor Penning is getting closer to his NFL debut. The Saints rookie offensive lineman has been designated to return from injured reserve, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football (on Twitter).
The Northern Iowa product was one of the best offensive lineman prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he ended up going 19th overall to the Saints. The rookie made immediate headlines during training camp when he got into fights with teammates on three consecutive days.
Then, during New Orleans’ preseason finale, Penning suffered what was thought to be a “bad case of turf toe.” However, the injury was later revealed to be a ligament tear in his injured foot. Considering the timing and severity of the injury, there was some initial fear that Penning may have to miss his entire rookie campaign. However, we heard last month that the organization was eyeing a November return. Penning appears to still be on that return timeline, and at the very latest, he’ll be back on the field by early December.
“I’m definitely counting the days,” Penning said today of his impending NFL debut (h/t to Terrin Waack of NOLA.com). “It’s been hard. Today was my first day watching walk-through in person, so that was kind of hard to see. I’m like shoot, I really want to get back out there.”
Penning was expected to replace the departed Terron Armstead in the starting lineup. James Hurst has since run away with the starting left tackle gig, and with Ryan Ramczyk entrenched at right tackle, Penning may be eyeing a backup role when he’s ready to hit the field. Ramczyk is currently nursing an injury (along with Erik McCoy and Andrus Peat), so a role could also open up sooner than later.
Steelers Place K Chris Boswell On IR, Activate S Damontae Kazee
The Steelers are up a defender but down a key special teamer. The team announced that they’ve activated safety Damontae Kazee from IR and placed kicker Chris Boswell on injured reserve.
Kazee inked a one-year, $1.19MM deal with the Steelers back in May after having spent the 2021 season in Dallas. The 29-year-old suffered a broken arm and dislocated wrist towards the end of the preseason, landing him on IR after 53-man rosters were set. Kazee returned to practice in October.
Kazee has plenty of starting experience, starting 15 games for the Cowboys in 2021 and 34 games for the Falcons between 2017 and 2020. The veteran will serve as an experienced option behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds.
“At the end of the day we have to make plays, get turnovers, give our offense another opportunity to go score some points,” Kazee said (via the team’s website). “We just have to trust our keys. Trust everything the coaches are giving us. Execute the plays. At the end of the day, they can call out any play. We just have to execute it. That’s what we need to do more.
“We just have to work together. We’ve got to be brothers. You just have to do your job so your brother can do his. Everybody’s job is important. Make sure we do what we have to do, execute the plays and come out with a win.”
Boswell missed Week 8 with a groin injury, and despite getting an extra week of rest with the bye, he’ll now be sidelined for at least the next four games. The veteran kicker has connected on 12 of his 16 field goal attempts and all nine of his extra point tries this season. Nick Sciba filled in for Boswell in Week 8, but the Steelers recently signed Matthew Wright off the Chiefs practice squad to fill in for Boswell going forward.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/10/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Herb Miller
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: OT Jordan Steckler
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Jake Funk
- Released: RB Phillip Lindsay
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Kendall Blanton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Derrick Kelly, LB Kenny Young
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Terrell Burgess
Injury Updates: Cowboys, Vikings, Steelers, Seahawks
Ezekiel Elliott is expected back this weekend. After the star running back missed Week 8, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that he expects Elliott to be back on the field against the Packers on Sunday, per Jon Machota of The Athletic (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Elliott himself told Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that his knee is getting better and the swelling has decreased (Twitter link). If the RB does return this weekend, he acknowledged that he’ll wear a knee brace.
Elliott has started each of his seven appearances this season. While his 63.3 rushing yards per game is about on-par with his recent performance, his yards-per-touch is currently a career-low mark (4.1). Backup Tony Pollard showed up when he earned an opportunity to start prior to the bye, finishing with 131 rushing yards on 14 carries. Despite the numbers, Jones made it clear that he’s sticking with Elliott atop the depth chart.
“There’s no argument,” Jones recently said of replacing Elliott as the starting RB. “Zeke’s ability to punish, Zeke’s ability to deliver, Zeke’s ability, what he does for us in pass protection, and, frankly, Zeke’s ability to make big plays are there, and we’re going to go as Zeke goes. I really mean he’s that integral to our success this year.”
Some more injury notes from around the NFL…
- Meanwhile, Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith is about two or three weeks away from returning to practice, Stephen Jones recently said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas News on Twitter). If Smith requires his entire three-week window to get back into game shape, then the lineman could be eyeing a late-December return. The veteran offensive lineman suffered a hamstring injury during training camp that’s sidelined him for the first chunk of the season.
- While Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. landed on injured reserve earlier this month thanks to an ankle issue, the injury likely won’t require surgery, coach Kevin O’Connell said (via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Twitter). Smith Jr. hasn’t started a game yet this season but has put up his standard numbers, hauling in 22 catches for 168 yards and two touchdowns through seven games.
- Damontae Kazee is expected to be activated off IR this week, and the Steelers safety provided some information on the injury that’s knocked him out for the first few months of the season. In addition to breaking his whole forearm, Kazee also suffered a dislocated wrist that “popped back into place during surgery,” per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor on Twitter. When he next takes the field, he’ll be armed with a padded brace to protect his arm. Kazee joined the Steelers this past offseason after starting 15 games for the Cowboys in 2021. Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged how much veterans like Kazee and trade-deadline acquisition William Jackson III will help the defense. “Anytime you get veteran presences, it is an asset to you,” Tomlin said (via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic). “Been-there, done-that guys, and those guys are that.”
- Seahawks linebacker/special teams ace Cullen Gillaspia injured his knee on Sunday and will need surgery, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson (on Twitter). Fortunately, the injury isn’t as bad as initially feared, but Gillaspia is still expected to be sidelined for some time. The former seventh-round pick joined the Seahawks practice squad back in September, but he’s since appeared in six games while playing the majority of Seattle’s special teams snaps.
Rams Designate OL Coleman Shelton For Return
The Rams should soon get some reinforcement on the offensive line. The team announced (on Twitter) that they’ve designated guard Coleman Shelton for return from IR.
After serving as a backup for his first three seasons in the NFL, Shelton earned the starting right guard gig heading into the season. He quickly moved over to center to fill in for the injured Brian Allen, starting four games between the two positions. The veteran suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 4, an injury that was expected to knock him out for four to six weeks.
Shelton appears to be on track for that initial return timeline, and the Rams will now have three weeks to activate him from injured reserve. Coach Sean McVay hinted earlier this week that Shelton could be activated as soon as this weekend, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic (on Twitter).
The 27-year-old’s return should help provide some stability to what’s been a shaky offensive line. Allen has since returned to the lineup, and with Shelton back, the Rams will have the ability to play around with their options at offensive guard. Bobby Evans has struggled mightily in 2022, ranking 80th among 81 qualifying guards on Pro Football Focus’ rankings. Alaric Jackson has fared much better and will likely keep his starting gig even with Shelton back in the lineup.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/9/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OT George Moore, OT Alex Taylor
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Jeff Cotton
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels
- Placed on IR: RB D’Vonte Price
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Jalen Elliott
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DL Christopher Hinton, OT Austen Pleasants
New York Giants
- Released: DT Aaron Crawford