Texans WR Brandin Cooks Could Give Up Money To Facilitate Rams Trade
Brandin Cooks is emerging as a popular name leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline. We heard yesterday that the Chiefs, Packers, and Rams were among the squads looking into the veteran receiver, but it sounds like Cooks may have a preference for where he lands.
[RELATED: Chiefs, Packers, Rams Looking Into Texans’ Brandin Cooks]
A source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that Cooks could be willing to sacrifice some of his 2023 salary “in order to escape the Texans and return to the Rams.” Cooks has a fully-guaranteed $18MM salary coming his way in 2023, a factor that’s complicated trade talks so far. The financials of a trade would be a whole lot easier if Cooks was willing to give up some of that money, and Florio suggests the Texans could also eat some of the contract. Indeed, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes, Houston is willing to deal Cooks. Schefter adds the Giants and Vikings as potential landing spots.
Florio compares the situation to that of the Browns and Odell Beckham Jr. from 2021. Cleveland ultimately couldn’t find a taker for OBJ, but the wide receiver willingly gave up a significant chunk of his contract to get off the squad. There doesn’t seem to be any indication that Cooks is looking to get out of Houston at any cost, but it sounds like he’d consider reducing his salary to help facilitate a trade.
Cooks spent two seasons with the Rams in 2018 and 2019. He had one of his most productive seasons during his first year in Los Angeles, hauling in 80 receptions for 1,204 yards and five touchdowns. He was limited to only 583 yards in 14 games in 2019, and he was dealt to Houston the following offseason. Since joining the Texans, Cooks has had a pair of 1,000-yard receiving seasons. In six games this year, the veteran has hauled in 28 receptions for 281 yards and one touchdown.
Cooper Kupp leads the way for Rams receivers, but Allen Robinson hasn’t been able to click during his first season in Los Angeles. The Rams will soon welcome back Van Jefferson at the position, but per Florio, the team still wants more speed at WR.
Zac Taylor: WR Ja’Marr Chase Won’t Be Placed On IR
It sounds like there’s some optimism around Ja’Marr Chase‘s ability to return from a hip injury. Zac Taylor told reporters that his star receiver will not be placed on injured reserve,per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic on Twitter. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clarifies (on Twitter) that Chase is now considered week-to-week.
This is an about-face from what we heard the other day. Chase’s hip flexor strain was expected to keep him off the field for at least four weeks, making an IR stint likely. It never sounded like surgery was an option, which provided a bit of hope that the WR would simply return whenever he felt good enough to play. Ultimately, the Bengals are banking on Chase being ready to go at some point over the next four contests.
Chase has already been ruled out for Monday’s game against the Browns, and it seems unlikely he’ll take the field in Week 9. The Bengals have a bye during Week 10, so perhaps the organization is eyeing a Week 11 or Week 12 return.
“The timing,” Taylor said when asked about the decision to keep Chase off IR (via Dehner on Twitter). “The bye week helps. The overall prognosis of how it could play out factors in to that.”
Chase suffered the injury back in Week 6 against the Saints. He still managed to take the field for Week 7, hauling in eight receptions for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Fortunately for the Bengals, the team has a relatively deep grouping of receivers to help pick up the slack while Chase is out of the lineup. Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will lead the way, but Cincy is also rostering the likes of Trent Taylor, Mike Thomas, and Stanley Morgan.
Chiefs RB Ronald Jones Wants To Be Released?
It sounds like Chiefs running back Ronald Jones wants out of Kansas City. The veteran took to Twitter last night and wrote that he “sure would like a RELEASE right about now.”
This isn’t an overly shocking development considering Jones’ lack of playing time. After spending the first four seasons of his career in Tampa Bay, Jones joined the Chiefs this offseason and was expected to pair with Clyde Edwards-Helaire in the backfield. The RB acquisition inked a one-year, $1.5MM deal with $500K guaranteed, and there was up to $3.5MM worth of incentives on the deal.
However, after joining the organization, the Chiefs added running back Isiah Pacheco in the seventh round and re-signed veteran Jerick McKinnon. Andy Reid and the Chiefs coaching staff have been rolling with CEH, Pacheco, and McKinnon through the first chunk of the season, with Jones being inactive for each of the team’s seven games. With no opportunities at playing time on the horizon, it sounds like Jones would like a fresh start elsewhere.
Of course, it remains to be seen if Jones can still be a contributor. He struggled to hold on to the starting gig during his time in Tampa Bay, and the one-year contract he got from Kansas City is probably indicative of his market (although he may have taken a discount to join a contender). The last time we saw the 25-year-old, he got into 16 games (three starts) for the Buccaneers in 2021, finishing with 492 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. Jones had two-straight 1,000-yard seasons between 2019 and 2020.
Lions TE T.J. Hockenson Discusses Trade Speculation
The Lions are sitting with the worst record in the NFL at 1-6, leading to speculation that the front office could shop their veterans prior to the trade deadline. T.J. Hockenson would be one of Detroit’s more valuable trade pieces, and there have been plenty of pundits who have hinted that the tight end could be on the move before Tuesday. However, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes that the Lions have not fielded any calls on Hockenson as of Friday.
Despite the Lions’ assertion that they’re not shopping Hockenson, that hasn’t stopped the player from joking about the situation.
“It’s just like, ‘Hey’d you hear I’m getting traded?'” Hockenson told Birkett of the trade rumors. “It’s more me laughing about it than anything. I mean, if that — like I said, I love everybody in this locker room, I love being here in Detroit. I mean, but more importantly and most importantly I love playing football and so I’m going to have the opportunity to do that and that’s really what my whole role in this entire league is to do is to play football. So as long as I have that opportunity I’m good.”
Per Birkett, Hockenson said he hasn’t talked to coach Dan Campbell or general manager Brad Holmes about the rumors, and he expects to stay in Detroit through the trade deadline. On the flip side, the tight end also understands that the NFL is a business and he’s one of the more appealing trade targets on his squad.
“Listen, I’m not stupid, I know what I can bring to another team and I know here that they could, if they want something, if they want to do things for the future then I’m not stupid in that sense,” Hockenson said. “It is a business and whatever they have to do upstairs they’re going to do. And that doesn’t — there’s no hard feelings about it. There’s no, ‘Hey, I don’t like him personally’ or anything about that. That’s just how it is. So I’m not dumb or naïve in that fact.”
The 25-year-old was on pace to set career-highs in 2021 before tearing the UCL in his thumb in December. In six games this year, he’s hauled in 23 receptions for 315 yards and three scores, although a lot of that production came in a Week 4 contest that saw him finish with eight receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Hockenson has a year-plus remaining on his contract, with a bit more than $500K still due in 2022 and $9.39MM due in 2023.
AFC Notes: Ryan, Jets, Bills, Chargers
Matt Ryan has started each of his 239 appearances (including playoffs) in the NFL, but he’ll find himself behind Sam Ehlinger on the depth chart for Sunday’s game against the Commanders. Despite the sudden change of role, Ryan told Joel E. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star that he hasn’t thought about asking the Colts for a trade.
Ryan is currently dealing with a shoulder issue, and while there’s a chance he’ll be active against Washington, the QB admitted that the injury is significant. Either way, the Colts made it clear that their change atop the QB depth chart would have happened regardless of the veteran’s health. Now, Ryan will likely find himself serving as a backup for the rest of the season.
“That part is different,” Ryan said of his new role. “But I’ve also learned in this league, it’s tough to assume anything. The minute you start to make assumptions about how things are going to shake out, you just never know. For me, No. 1, it’s about getting healthy and getting myself into a position where I’m staying ready.”
Ryan also acknowledged that he was disappointed in his performance through the first seven games. While the Colts are a respectable 3-3-1, the offense has been inconsistent, with Ryan completing 68.4 percent of his passes while tossing nine touchdowns vs. nine interceptions.
“Individually and personally disappointed,” Ryan said. “As a player and a competitor, you want to be out there. You want to go. … It’s part of the deal in this league. You’ve got to produce.”
More notes from around the AFC…
- After asking for a trade and sitting out Week 7, Elijah Moore has rejoined the Jets, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter). The receiver is expected to be active for Week 8. The 2021 second-round pick has been limited to only 16 catches in six games this season, including zero catches on zero targets in New York’s Week 6 win over the Packers. That empty stat line ultimately prompted Moore’s trade request.
- Speaking of the Jets, the team made headlines when they acquired running back James Robinson from the Jaguars earlier this week. While Robinson saw a reduced role during his last few games in Jacksonville, it wasn’t necessarily because of an impending trade. Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told reporters that the team wasn’t actively shopping the running back, per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco on Twitter. The Jets initiated trade talks after losing star rookie RB Breece Hall for the season. “I have a ton of respect for James,” Pederson said. “He put himself in a position to help our football team, and now he gets a chance to do that with the Jets and wishing him well.”
- Tre’Davious White has missed the first chunk of the season while recovering from a torn ACL, but Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier told reporters that the cornerback’s return to the lineup doesn’t appear to be “that far away” (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic on Twitter). White returned to practice before Week 6, and his three-week window will soon be coming to an end. While it doesn’t sound like he’ll be active on Sunday night, there’s a good chance he’ll be back for Week 9.
- Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson had surgery yesterday to repair his patellar tendon, per NFL Network’s Bridget Condon on Twitter. The surgery generally takes around eight to nine months to recover from. The offseason acquisition ruptured the tendon on Sunday, ending his 2022 campaign prematurely.
Browns CB Greedy Williams Drawing Trade Interest
Greedy Williams recently returned to the lineup for the Browns, and rival teams are starting to look into his availability. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes that the Browns have “received multiple calls” on the cornerback. However, the reporter cautions that nothing is imminent.
[RELATED: Browns’ Kareem Hunt Available For Trade?]
Per Fowler, the Browns could consider moving on from a handful of veterans following a 2-5 start to the season, including four consecutive losses. While the front office could prioritize a strong roster in anticipation of Deshaun Watson‘s eventual return, the team is eyeing tough upcoming matchups against the Bengals, Dolphins, and Bills. Ultimately, it could be in Cleveland’s best interest to focus on next season.
Williams suffered a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve in September. He returned to the lineup in Week 6, collecting one tackle while appearing in about half of his team’s defensive snaps. He saw a smaller role in Week 7, getting into only 14 percent of the defense’s snaps. Williams will continue to see a role for the time being, but he might take a backseat once Denzel Ward returns and joins Greg Newsome II and Martin Emerson Jr. in the lineup.
After missing the entire 2020 season with a shoulder injury, Williams started eight of his 16 games for Cleveland in 2021. In his 28 appearances heading into this season, the former second-round pick collected 88 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
Patriots Receiving Calls On RB Damien Harris, S Jabrill Peppers
With a 3-4 record and coming off an embarrassing Monday Night Football loss, it’s been speculated that the Patriots could start selling. While we’ve previously heard that receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne are on the block, it sounds like rival teams are sniffing around at some other players in New England.
According to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus (on Twitter), the Patriots have received calls on running back Damien Harris and safety Jabrill Peppers. However, the reporter is quick to clarify that the Patriots are not actively shopping the two players. Kyed also passes along that the team has also received calls on receivers Jakobi Meyers and DeVante Parker.
Harris is set to hit free agency following the season. The former third-round pick had a standout season in 2021, finishing with 15 rushing touchdowns. He had 246 yards and three touchdowns through his first four games this season, but a hamstring injury forced him to miss most of Week 5 and all of Week 6. He returned on Monday night but was limited to only three carries. Over that same three-game span, Rhamondre Stevenson had collected 364 yards from scrimmage, so there’s a chance the Patriots are ready to give the second-year pro the full-time gig.
After being limited to only six games last year, Peppers joined the Patriots on a one-year deal. He’s started one of his seven appearances this season, collecting 20 tackles. He’s seen an inconsistent role in New England, with only two of his contests featuring him in more than 40 percent of New England’s defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus has been fond of his limited role, ranking him 29th among 87 qualifying safeties.
The Patriots have a crowded receivers depth chart, so it’s no surprise that Meyers and Parker are now being included in the rumor mill. Meyers had a career year in 2021 with Mac Jones, and despite shaky QB play this year, he’s continued to be New England’s most consistent WR. In five games, Meyers has hauled in 26 receptions for 355 yards and two scores. After being acquired from the Dolphins this past offseason, Parker has topped 60 yards in three games (including an 156-yard outburst in Week 3) but couldn’t hit 25 yards in his other three appearances (including a pair of shutouts).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: FB John Lovett
- Released: LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Gerri Green
- Released: WR Reggie Roberson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: CB Anthony Chesley
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/27/22
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: DB Daryl Worley
- Promoted: LB Devon Kennard, NT Isaiah Mack
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DL Demetrius Taylor
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Jaleel Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: S Nolan Turner
- Promoted: CB Don Gardner, LB J.J. Russell
More On Bears, Robert Quinn Trade
The Eagles made a splash earlier today when they acquired defensive end Robert Quinn from the Bears, and it sounds like Chicago is picking up most of the player’s tab. According to Albert Breer of TheMMQB (on Twitter), the Bears are picking up $7.1MM of Quinn’s remaining 2022 salary. This means Philly will only be responsible for around $700K, which is the veteran’s minimum.
[RELATED: Bears To Trade DE Robert Quinn To Eagles]
It was speculated that the Bears were able to garner a fourth-round pick because they would be covering much of Quinn’s 2022 salary. The lineman is in the middle of a five-year, $70MM deal, but he has non-guaranteed base salaries of $14MM in 2023 and $13MM in 2024.
Quinn was rumored to be on the block for the rebuilding Bears, but considering the player’s salary, it presumably took a bit to find a trade partner. When the team was ultimately offered a fourth-round pick from the Eagles, GM Ryan Poles said he jumped at the opportunity.
“It just made too much sense in what we are trying to do here in building a championship team,” Poles said of his trade haul (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “I know the Eagles are really fortunate to have him. Part of the tough part about this job is having to make tough decisions. You also know that you are tweaking the fibers of your locker room.
“That’s really where you have to compartmentalize those two different areas,” Poles added (via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin on Twitter). “You know, for the future I think it’s going to give us the ability to continue to grow and build our foundation that we’re trying to build. That is the exciting part.”
Poles provided more insight into trade negotiations, noting that assistant GM Ian Cunningham, who previously worked in the Eagles front office, “was instrumental” in getting the trade done, per Cronin. The general manager also wouldn’t commit to any more trades taking place, adding that “it’s hard to tell” if trades will materialize and “there’s not a ton going on right now.”