Latest On Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey
OCTOBER 2: McCaffrey is indeed expected to play against the Cardinals in Week 4, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
OCTOBER 1: Despite McCaffrey not practicing at all this week, there remains a “strong chance” that he will be able to play on Sunday, as noted by Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Quarterback Baker Mayfield echoed the uncertainty surrounding the situation, however, so McCaffrey’s status could ultimately come down to game time.
SEPTEMBER 29: Christian McCaffrey was out of practice once again today, but there’s optimism that he’ll take the field this weekend. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Panthers believe there’s still a chance that their star RB will play on Sunday against the Cardinals.
McCaffrey suffered a quad injury during Sunday’s win over the Saints. He was also listed on last week’s injury report with ankle stiffness, but it’s uncertain if that ailment contributed to his latest injury. When asked about the injury, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo refused to say if his starting running back will play this weekend.
“Obviously, Christian is a special player, right?” McAdoo said (via ESPN’s David Newton). “He’s one of the best players in the league. We’ll take into consideration whether we have him or whether we don’t. That’s obviously up to the medical team and coach, but we’ll be ready for them if we do have him and we’ll be ready for them if we don’t.”
The two-time All-Pro has dealt with his fair share of injuries throughout his career, and he’s missed 22 games over the past two years. When he’s on the field, he’s one of the most explosive players in the NFL, and he’s shown that in his three games this season. So far this year, McCaffrey has 300 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 60 touches.
Chuba Hubbard got 10 starts as a rookie while filling in for McCaffrey, and he’d likely see a significant role if his teammate is inactive. The Panthers are also rostering D’Onta Foreman, who started three games for Tennessee last season in place of Derrick Henry.
Cowboys Notes: Dak, Rush, Washington
We heard earlier this week that Dak Prescott was eyeing a Week 5 return, but Week 6 may end up being a more realistic target. Clarence Hill Jr. of the Dallas Star-Telegram tweets that Prescott won’t start throwing until the end of this week. Assuming the QB wants more than a week to ramp up, the Cowboys’ October 16 game against the Eagles may be a more realistic return date.
Prescott has been soft tossing but has yet to progress to “real throwing.” The fact that he’s throwing at all has led some to wonder if the quarterback could even return in Week 4 against Washington. Hill completely rules out that notion, and he suggests Prescott won’t even be ready for the Week 5 contest against the Rams.
Dallas can operate with a bit more caution after backup Cooper Rush has helped guide the Cowboys to wins over the Bengals and Giants. The team can continue to operate with some flexibility after not placing Dak on injured reserve, a move that would have kept him off the field through Week 5.
More notes out of Dallas…
- Speaking of Rush, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post explores the Giants’ reasoning for moving on from the QB. After spending the first three seasons of his career in Dallas, Rush was claimed off waivers by the Giants in 2020. He had a brief stint on their practice squad before getting released, and that led to his return to the Cowboys. While Rush had fans in New York (including former head coach Joe Judge and former OC Jason Garrett), he also had some detractors, leading to the organization replacing him with Clayton Thorson. “The decision-makers with the Giants felt like they weren’t overly impressed with how he played or what his potential was,” Garrett told Dunleavy. “To me, Coop is not someone who wows you physically. Sometimes you get caught up in that. Sometimes those decisions happen.”
- Meanwhile, wideout James Washington is still a few weeks away from returning, per Hill on Twitter. The veteran receiver signed with Dallas this offseason but landed on injured reserve after suffering a foot injury. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 5, but it sounds like he’ll need a bit more time to recover. Washington spent the first four years of his career with the Steelers, including a 2021 campaign where he hauled in 24 receptions for 285 yards.
- Former Cowboys second-round pick Gavin Escobar was among two rock climbers who were found dead in a remote area near Idyllwild, CA, per the AP. The 31-year-old spent the first four seasons of his career in Dallas, appearing in 62 games. He bounced around the NFL a bit before ending his playing career in the Alliance of American Football.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa Active For Tonight’s Game
Tua Tagovailoa will be under center tonight when the Dolphins take on the Bengals. The team announced on Twitter that Tua will be active for Thursday Night Football.
[RELATED: Latest On NFL’s Investigation Into Handling Of Tua Tagovailoa]
Tagovailoa has been dealing with back and ankle injuries stemming from Miami’s Week 3 win over the Bills, with the QB later admitting that his back has been most troublesome. He went through limited practices on Tuesday and Wednesday in preparation for tonight’s game.
Tua was injured while attempting a QB sneak on Sunday, and he exited the game on the next play after Matt Milano shoved him to the ground. The QB hit his head and stumbled on to the field before heading for the sideline, prompting him to enter concussion protocol. He ended up returning and finishing the game, and while the NFL’s subsequent investigation is ongoing, it appears that the organization followed the proper protocols.
The 24-year-old has lived up to expectations during his third season in the NFL. Through three weeks, Tagovailoa has compiled 925 passing yards, eight touchdown passes, and only two interceptions while guiding Miami to a 3-0 start.
If Tua was forced to miss any time, the Dolphins would be in good position to temporarily replace his spot in the lineup after inking Teddy Bridgewater this offseason. Seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson is also on the active roster, and it sounds like all three QBs will be active for tonight’s game.
Chiefs-Bucs Matchup To Remain In Tampa
SEPTEMBER 29: Although the Bucs are preparing for the game in Miami, the NFL will keep Sunday’s matchup in Tampa. The Bucs announced that, after coordination with local and state agencies following Hurricane Ian’s impact, the game will be played as scheduled.
SEPTEMBER 28: NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said the Chiefs-Bucs game remains on schedule for Sunday night in Tampa. However, if this storm forces a change, it will be played Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
SEPTEMBER 26: With Hurricane Ian heading towards Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers are preparing contingency plans for this weekend’s home game against the Chiefs. The team announced that they’ll practice in Miami for the rest of the week, but there’s been no update to this weekend’s game.
The team will be practicing at the Miami Dolphins’ Baptist Health Training Complex. The Dolphins are expected to depart for Cincinnati on Wednesday, at which time the Buccaneers will be free to use their facilities.
The organization will continue to consult with the NFL and local officials regarding the status of Sunday night’s game against the Chiefs. However, at the moment, there have been no changes to the 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff.
What if the Buccaneers are unable to host Sunday night’s game? Things might get a bit dicey. Per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington on Twitter, the NFL is unlikely to use Miami as a new game site, even with the Dolphins on the road for Week 4. That’s because if Tampa Bay faces “devastating impact,” then the NFL doesn’t want to risk using state resources to relocate the game.
That doesn’t mean the game would be postponed. Instead, the Buccaneers and Chiefs would likely play at a neutral site, with Darlington suggesting Minneapolis. The Vikings will be in London for this weekend’s game against the Saints.
Titans Sign DL Mario Edwards Jr. Off Jaguars Practice Squad
The Titans have snagged a veteran defensive lineman off a division rival’s practice squad. The team announced that they’ve signed Mario Edwards Jr. off the Jaguars’ practice squad and on to their 53-man roster. To make room, the Titans waived linebacker Derrek Tuszka.
Edwards has never lived up to his second-round billing, but the defensive lineman has still seen time in 86 games across seven professional seasons. The veteran spent the previous two seasons with the Bears, collecting six sacks despite only starting one of his 27 appearances. He was released by Chicago at the end of the preseason and subsequently joined Jacksonville’s practice squad.
The 28-year-old won’t knock Jeffery Simmons out of the starting defensive tackle spot, but he’ll provide some additional pass-rushing prowess along the defensive line. His ability to play defensive end could also help him see some defensive snaps.
Tuszka was claimed off waivers from the Steelers in early September, and after being inactive through the first two weeks, he earned a start on Sunday with Bud Dupree and Ola Adeniyi sidelined.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/22
Only one practice squad move to pass along:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: TE David Wells
Wells has spent time with eight different organizations since going undrafted out of San Diego State in 2018. He got into three games with the Cardinals last season, including one start.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/22
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Reinstated from suspension: OL Bobby Hart
- Released: DT Prince Emili
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: LB Arron Mosby
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: OL Jason Peters (story)
- Promoted: QB Will Grier, TE Sean McKeon
New York Giants
- Promoted: DL Henry Mondeaux, DB Fabian Moreau
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: Kaylon Geiger
Latest On Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz, WR Michael Gallup
SEPTEMBER 26: Although a run of Gallup-related optimism emerged this week, the Cowboys will still opt for caution regarding the fifth-year wideout. Gallup will not play against the Giants in Week 3, Jane Slater of NFL.com tweets. The Cowboys are hopeful Gallup, who got in three limited practices leading up to this Giants matchup, can make his debut against the Commanders next week. Gallup did not suffer a setback, Slater adds (via Twitter). Schultz is expected to miss the game as well, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.
SEPTEMBER 21: There’s some good news on the Cowboys’ injury front. According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter), tight end Dalton Schultz avoided a serious knee injury and shouldn’t miss much time. Gehlken also tweets that wide receiver Michael Gallup could make his season debut on Monday night against the Giants.
Schultz suffered a knee injury during Sunday’s win over the Bengals, but an MRI later revealed that his injury could have been much worse. The tight end is specifically dealing with a PCL injury, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer (on Twitter), and he’s currently considered day-to-day. Jerry Jones cautioned yesterday that Schultz could end up sitting out Week 3, but if that’s the case, it sounds like it should only be a one-week absence.
The tight end had a strong season in 2021, finishing with 808 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Through two games this season, the 26-year-old has hauled in nine receptions for 80 yards.
Meanwhile, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said it’s “certainly possible” that Gallup takes the field on Monday night (per Gehlken on Twitter), while Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News tweets that Gallup will indeed play but will be on a snap count. The receiver tore his ACL in Week 17 of the 2021 season, and he later inked a five-year, $62.5MM extension with Dallas this offseason.
“The plan for Michael Gallup is to get him a full week of work,” coach Mike McCarthy said (via Watkins). “He hasn’t had that yet. Hopefully when we get to the end of it, we’ll be able to make a decision. I think I talked about this last week, I really don’t see Michael going through a second padded practice, I thought his work last week was excellent. He frankly, did a little more than we anticipated in the beginning of the week. We’re going to try and give him a full slate this week and see how it goes.”
Latest On Panthers HC Matt Rhule’s Job Status
SEPTEMBER 25: Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who cites sources informed of the Panthers’ thinking, team owner David Tepper is planning to remain patient with Rhule, and no coaching change is imminent at this time. The fight and effort that Rhule’s charges have displayed is working in his favor, although Rapoport is clear that improvement will need to happen sooner rather than later in order for Rhule to remain in his post.
Rhule is 10-25 as an NFL head coach, and under his watch, the Panthers are 1-25 in games in which they allow 17 or more points, the worst mark in the league since Rhule was hired in 2020.
SEPTEMBER 24: The 2022 season always seemed like it was going to be a make-or-break year for Panthers head coach Matt Rhule. Following an 0-2 start to the season, some league sources already believe the coach will be ousted sooner than later. Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post opines that Rhule will be coaching college football by the start of the 2023 season.
Further, multiple agents pointed to the Panthers as the first franchise to have a coaching vacancy this season, with some already considering which of their clients would be best for the gig. Meanwhile, “two high-ranking NFL officials” don’t think Rhule will be sticking around for much longer; one estimated that the coach would need an insane winning streak to keep his job, while another guessed that Rhule will be canned before the Panthers’ Week 13 bye.
Of course, this isn’t all that shocking considering Carolina’s lack of success with Rhule at the helm. After going 5-11 during his first season as head coach, the Panthers went 5-12 in 2021. Last year’s iteration of the team was 5-5 in mid-November, but the Panthers closed out the campaign with a seven-game losing streak. Tack on the team’s two losses this season, and it’s been a bit since the Panthers earned a W, and that’s already led to whisper of Rhule’s demise.
Rhule got his first head coaching opportunity at Temple in Philadelphia, where he had spent years as an assistant under Al Golden. He took his first Power 5 opportunity as the head coach at Baylor, following the scandal that led to Art Briles‘s dismissal. He took the Bears from 1-11 in his first season to 11-3 in his third season and rode that success straight to the NFL.
A handful of league sources told La Canfora that Rhule was ready to jump at the LSU gig when it opened up about a year ago. Even if the coach can’t secure a job of “that magnitude,” the reporter notes that Rhule’s name was quickly tossed around as a candidate for the Nebraska job following Scott Frost’s dismissal. La Canfora also expects Rhule to continually be connected to college vacancies over the coming weeks, and if the Panthers continue to struggle, it might not take a whole lot for him to jump ship…and it doesn’t sound like anyone from the Panthers organization would stop him.
Bills S Micah Hyde Done For Season
9:20pm: Poyer is not expected to play tomorrow, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). The news confirms what was feared about the status of his foot injury, and means that Buffalo will indeed be without both members of their highly-touted safety duo against the Dolphins.
10:40am: The Bills have suffered a major blow to their secondary. Safety Micah Hyde will miss the rest of the season with a neck injury, agent Jack Bechta announced on Twitter. The veteran is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2023 season. Hyde will land on injured reserve later today.
Hyde suffered a neck injury during Monday’s win over the Titans. The injury limited him to only 64 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in Week 2, and he was held out of practice all this week. While Hyde had already been ruled out for Week 3 prior to today’s news, there wasn’t any hint that the injury would ultimately sideline him for the entire 2022 campaign.
While the Bills have been rolling through the first two weeks of the season, it’ll be hard for them to make up the absence of Hyde, who has established himself as one of the team’s defensive leaders. The veteran had one of the best seasons of his career in 2021, finishing with 74 tackles, five interceptions, and 10 passes defended. He finished the season ranked fifth among 92 qualifying safeties on Pro Football Focus. Through one-plus games in 2022, the 31-year-old was still plenty productive, with PFF ranking him 21st among 67 qualifying safeties. Hyde totaled seven tackles between his two appearances.
NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe tweets that fourth-year safety Jaquan Johnson will likely slide into the starting lineup in place of Hyde. Johnson saw time in 44 games between his first three seasons in the NFL, but he was limited to only one start while mostly playing a special teams role. He’s already seen a jump in playing time in 2022, with the 26-year-old compiling three tackles through two games. The Bills don’t have much else for depth at strong safety, with Jordan Poyer and 2021 sixth-round pick Damar Hamlin serving as the other safeties on the roster.
Speaking of, the Bills are also awaiting the status of Poyer for tomorrow’s contest against the Dolphins, as the safety is currently dealing with a foot injury and is “very much questionable,” per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic (on Twitter). If Poyer is forced to sit out tomorrow’s game, the Bills will be eyeing an inexperienced safeties corps heading into a showdown with a Miami offense that scored six touchdowns last weekend.