Geno Smith Named Seahawks Starting QB
It’s Geno Time in Seattle. After last night’s preseason game, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll announced that Geno Smith will be the team’s starting quarterback in Week 1.
[RELATED: Seahawks Still Eyeing Jimmy Garoppolo?]
Following the offseason trade of Russell Wilson, the Seahawks have spent training camp and the preseason evaluating who will guide their offense in 2022. Smith, who’s been the team’s backup over the past two seasons, was going against Drew Lock, who was acquired from the Broncos in the Wilson trade. While Lock is younger and has more recent starting experience, Smith always seemed to be the favorite for the starting gig considering his familiarity with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s system, and this was reflected in him taking first-team snaps throughout the preseason.
Lock further lost some ground when he was forced to miss the Seahawks second preseason game while he was sidelined with COVID. He didn’t do much to help his case when he returned to the field for last night’s preseason finale, tossing three interceptions. Carroll informed the team after the contest that Smith would be the starting QB to start the season, and he later passed on the information to reporters.
“We really put him up against the competition, and Drew took his shot at him all the way throughout,” Carroll said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “Those guys … they have gotten along beautifully, they’ve supported one another throughout. They really couldn’t have done that better and in more classy, great competitor fashion. They know that they need each other and all that, and they did it right.
“But Geno, he knows our stuff and he does really well and he understands it and he can manage everything that we’re doing and he’s good about the football. He’ll give us the best chance to play great football right off the bat.”
Smith started three games last season while filling in for Wilson, going 1-2 while tossing five touchdowns vs. one interception. He hasn’t had a full-time starting gig since 2014, when he went 3-10 in 13 starts for the Jets. Lock, meanwhile, got 21 starts for Denver over the past three years, going 8-13. Following a 2020 campaign where he tossed a league-high 15 interceptions, the 25-year-old was limited to only three starts (all losses) in 2021.
Considering the uninspiring track record of Smith and Lock, it remains to be seen if Seattle would pursue an upgrade. Mostly, if Jimmy Garoppolo eventually shakes loose in San Francisco, you’ve got to wonder if the Seahawks would jump at the opportunity to add him. Plus, assuming Jimmy G would need some time acclimating himself to the offense, Carroll could still stick with his declaration that Smith would be his early-season starter.
Bills P Matt Araiza Accused Of Gang Rape In Civil Lawsuit
AUGUST 26: Araiza will not punt for the Bills during tonight’s preseason finale, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Tim Graham of The Athletic adds that he will not dress at all (Twitter link).
Araiza has issued the following statement: “The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight” (Twitter link via Schefter).
AUGUST 25: A civil lawsuit filed today accuses Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza and two other men associated with the San Diego State University football team of gang raping a 17-year-old girl last year, according to a report from Colleen Shalby and Robert J. Lopez of the Los Angeles Times.
The lawsuit was filed in San Diego County Superior Court. Araiza, who completed his four-year stint with SDSU in 2021, was one of three men named in the complaint. The other men were Zavier Leonard, who is listed on SDSU’s roster as a redshirt freshman, and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko, who is not currently on the roster. The incident took place at a party in October of 2021, and police were notified the next day.
Kerry Armstrong, who is representing Araiza, called the rape allegations false, saying his investigator spoke to witnesses from the party who contradicted the allegations. No arrests have been made, but detectives recently submitted findings to determine whether they should proceed with charges.
“It’s a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills. There is no doubt in my mind,” Armstrong told the Los Angeles Times.
Araiza broke an NCAA record in 2021 after averaging 51.19 yards per punt. Following his junior campaign, the punter declared for the NFL Draft, and he was selected by the Bills in the sixth round.
“We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021,” the Bills said in a statement. “Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case legal, we will have no other comment at this point.”
The Bills recently committed to the rookie as their starting punter when they released veteran Matt Haack, who has since caught on with the Colts. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the NFL doesn’t have the ability to punish Araiza since the alleged incident took place before he was in the league.
Jets Open To Granting Denzel Mims’ Trade Request
AUGUST 26: The Jets plan to grant Mims’ request, Connor Hughes of SNY tweets. Although the team is obviously not planning to unload him for the sake of doing so, Mims’ career to this point will not yield the Jets much in a trade. That said, Hughes adds the team likes Mims’ fit as part of its receiving corps.
AUGUST 25: A former Jets second-round pick wants out of New York. Wide receiver Denzel Mims has requested a trade, according to agent Ron Slavin (via Brian Costello of the New York Post on Twitter).
“It’s just time,” Slavin wrote in a statement. “Denzel has tried in good faith but it’s clear he does not have a future with the Jets. Denzel vowed to come back better than ever this season and he worked extremely hard in the offseason to make that happen. Still, he has been given no opportunities to work with the starting offense to get into a groove with them. We feel at this point a trade is our only option since the Jets have repeatedly told us they will not release him. [General manager] Joe Douglas has always done right by Denzel and we trust that he will do everything in his power to find him another team where Denzel can be a contributor.”
This news doesn’t come as a shock to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, with the reporter tweeting that this has been building for a while. Slavin met with Douglas a few weeks ago, and Mims “has expressed his frustration” to head coach Robert Saleh. The receiver clearly remains unsatisfied with his role, leading to today’s trade request.
Mims had a standout career at Baylor, leading to the Jets selecting him in the second round of the 2020 draft. He didn’t do anything memorable as a rookie, but he still hauled in 23 receptions for 357 yards in nine games following a delayed start to his season. With a new coaching staff in New York for the 2021 campaign, Mims had a tough time carving out a role. While he got into 11 games, he finished with only eight receptions for 133 yards.
It’s been more of the same during training camp and preseason, as Mims has rarely participated with the first-team offense. He does lead the Jets with five preseason receptions (for 68 yards), but he’s clearly behind Corey Davis, Elijah Moore, and rookie first-round pick Garrett Wilson on the depth chart. Braxton Berrios, who finished last season with 46 receptions, was also brought back this offseason on a two-year deal, meaning Mims was eyeing a role as WR5 at best. According to Cimini (on Twitter), Mims was the seventh wideout to see the field during the Jets’ preseason opener, and he effectively held the same spot on the depth chart in the second game (when the starters didn’t play).
As a result of his apparent standing with the team, Mims already found himself on the roster bubble heading toward the end of preseason. Based on his agent’s statement, it’s a bit surprising that the Jets are apparently refusing to cut the WR. The team would see a cap savings of about $700K in 2022 and more than $1.3MM in 2023 (with only $378K in dead cap). Perhaps the front office is hoping to squeeze one more year out of Mims as some extra depth before inevitably cutting bait with him next offseason.
While the Jets can’t expect to recoup the second-round investment, there’s surely a team out there that would bank on Mims’ untapped potential. The situation isn’t entirely unlike that of N’Keal Harry and the Patriots. The former first-round pick requested a trade last year, but the receiver ended up sticking around New England for the 2021 campaign. Harry was finally traded to Chicago for a seventh-round pick this offseason.
49ers S Jimmie Ward Likely To Land On IR
It sounds like veteran Jimmie Ward is going to miss part of the upcoming season. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner writes that the 49ers safety is likely to land on injured reserve to start the regular season, which would knock him out for the first four games.
[RELATED: 49ers To Sign S Tashaun Gipson]
Ward originally suffered a hamstring injury back on August 14. The injury was described as “pretty bad,” and while the safety was expected to miss some time with the issue, it was uncertain if it’d extend into the regular season. It sounds like that’ll be the case, meaning Ward would miss at least one game for the sixth-consecutive season.
With that said, the 31-year-old has been healthier in recent years. After being limited to only 16 games between 2017 and 2018, Ward has missed only six contests over the past three years. He started a career-high 16 games this past season, finishing with 77 tackles, six passes defended, and two interceptions. Pro Football Focus ended up ranking him 16th among 92 qualifying safeties last season.
“He allows us to do what we do,” Lynch said (via Wagoner). “He’s a safety who plays like a safety but also covers like a corner. He’s often times our best cover man, so it’s a big loss. But we got to find a way to step up.”
Assuming Ward does miss some time, the 49ers would likely turn to former cornerback Dontae Johnson, Tarvarius Moore, or George Odum. The 49ers also recently signed safety Tashaun Gipson.
Patriots Release CB Malcolm Butler From IR
Malcolm Butler could play in 2022, after all. The Patriots released the veteran cornerback from IR with an injury settlement, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). It is a six-week injury settlement, Field Yates of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter), suggesting a recovery timetable that could allow for an October return.
Following a preseason opener where he got an extended look alongside backups, Butler was absent from practice before later landing on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. That transaction meant Butler wouldn’t be eligible to play for the Patriots during the 2022 campaign, although his two-year contract left the door open for a return in 2023. Instead, the two sides decided to move on, meaning the cornerback can now join another team and potentially play this upcoming season.
This officially ends Butler’s second stint in New England. His first stint saw him evolve from UDFA to Super Bowl hero following his game-winning interception in Super Bowl XLIX. Butler ended up spending four seasons in New England, earning a Pro Bowl nod and two Super Bowl rings (plus a major what-if SB loss where he was relegated to one special teams snap). He inked a five-year, $61MM deal with the Titans in 2018, and he made it three seasons through that deal before earning his walking papers following the 2020 season.
He caught on with the Cardinals prior to the 2021 campaign, but right before the start of the regular season, he announced that he was retiring from the NFL for personal reasons. Despite his time away, the Patriots clearly believed that he could still be productive when they gave him a two-year deal. Assuming Butler wants to stick around the league, a cornerback-needy team will surely come knocking sooner than later.
Release Candidates: Dolphins RBs Myles Gaskin, Sony Michel
The Dolphins completely revamped their running backs depth chart this offseason, and that will naturally lead to some tough decisions when it comes to roster cuts. While we don’t have full clarity yet on how the RB room will shake out, we can pretty confidently say that at least two offseason acquisitions will make the roster. Chase Edmonds earned the biggest contract of the bunch, and he’s expected to carry over his versatile, pass-catching role from Arizona to Miami. Meanwhile, while Raheem Mostert has struggled to stay healthy recently, his familiarity with Mike McDaniel‘s system makes him a lock to make the squad.
That leaves only a handful of spots for more than a handful of RBs. As Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald recently wrote, the team could end up opting for cheaper options as they look to fill in the depth chart behind Edmonds and Mostert. That means one or both of Sony Michel and Myles Gaskin could earn their walking papers before the season begins.
Michel was the Dolphins’ third notable running back signing. Following a disappointing final season in New England, the former first-round pick bounced back in 2021 with the Rams. He ended up starting seven of his 17 games, collecting 973 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 229 touches. The veteran also has extensive postseason experience, having earned rings with the Patriots and the Rams (including a 2018 playoff run when he had six touchdowns). The thing is, Michel is due $2.1MM next season, with only $500K guaranteed. It’s a drop in the bucket when it comes to the whole roster, but it’s still a lofty salary for what could ultimately be a third running back.
Meanwhile, Gaskin is the primary holdover from last year’s squad. Over the past two seasons, Gaskin has collected 1,818 yards from scrimmage in 27 games (17 starts). He’s also shown that he can be productive in the passing game, hauling in 90 receptions over that same span. However, similar to Michel, Gaskin is probably making too much for an end-of-the-depth-chart RB. The 25-year-old is set to make $2.5MM next season, but the team could recoup all of that money if they let him go.
If a spot does open on the depth chart, it seems like Salvon Ahmed would likely earn the gig. Ahmed actually had a stint on McDaniel’s squad in 2020 before joining Miami. The former undrafted free agent has gotten into 18 games for the Dolphins over the past two years, collecting 646 yards on offense. The Dolphins’ other RB options, including Zaquandre White and Gerrid Doaks, profile more as practice squad players, which probably bodes well for one of Michel or Gaskin to make the 53-man roster.
For what it’s worth, Gaskin leads the Dolphins in carries this offseason, while Michel has contributed -2 rushing yards on four touches. The coaching staff will use the next week to determine how to proceed, but if preseason has been any indication, it seems like Michel may be the odd man out.
Latest On Cowboys WR Michael Gallup
Cowboys wideout Michael Gallup avoided being placed on the physically unable to perform list today, which is “[a] sign [the team] remains hopeful he can play at some point in September,” as ESPN’s Todd Archer tweets.
“He hasn’t had any setbacks,” coach Mike McCarthy told reporter. “He’s doing really well.”
Gallup tore his ACL during Week 17 of the 2021 season, putting his status for the start of the 2022 campaign in doubt. Last week, the receiver started running routes for the first time since suffering the injury, a major milestone as he looks to return to the practice field. The Cowboys will have one more week to decide Gallup’s early-season status; if he’s placed on the physically unable to perform list, he’ll be forced to sit out the first four games of the regular season.
Gallup was limited to nine games last season thanks to a calf injury that forced him to miss half the season. He finished the campaign with 35 receptions for 445 yards and two touchdowns. Thanks in part to 2019 and 2020 seasons where Gallup hauled in a combined 1,950 receiving yards, the Cowboys handed him a five-year $62.5MM extension this past offseason.
When Gallup is ready to return, he’ll likely join CeeDee Lamb and rookie Jalen Tolbert in the starting lineup. Assuming Gallup is sidelined for at least a game or two, the likes of James Washington, Noah Brown, and/or Simi Fehoko could see increased reps.
AFC East Notes: Bills, White, Moss, Patriots, Jets
The Bills are hoping Tre’Davious White can avoid a stint on the PUP list to begin the regular season. While speaking to reporters, GM Brandon Beane said the team is going to “run out the clock” when it comes to White’s roster spot in the hope that he’ll progress over the next week.
“We don’t have the final answer,” Beane said (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic on Twitter). “I can’t sit here and say, ‘He’s going to be here on this day.'”
The cornerback tore his ACL last November, and while reports have indicated that he’s progressing well in his return to the field, it’s still uncertain if he’ll be ready to go for Week 1. White landed on the PUP to start training camp, but the team will have to make an important decision on him as they reduce their roster to 53 players. If White is placed on PUP to begin the regular season, he’ll miss Buffalo’s first four games.
The former first-round pick has spent his entire career with the Bills, earning All-Pro nods in both 2019 and 2020. In 11 games last season, White collected 41 tackles, six passes defended, and one interception.
More notes out of the AFC East…
- To enter Bills camp, there was an expectation that free agent acquisition Jamison Crowder would battle with holdover Isaiah McKenzie for the starting slot receiver role. As Buscaglia writes, the team has given every indication that McKenzie has won that position battle, and Crowder’s training camp struggles may have put him on the roster bubble. Despite his assessment, Buscaglia later opined that the veteran’s experience will ultimately earn him a spot on the 53-man roster.
- Elsewhere on offense, it sounds like the Bills are ready to roll with a RB committee. Buscaglia writes that both Devin Singletary and rookie James Cook could end up seeing extensive work outside of the red zone, while Zack Moss is expected to serve as the team’s goal-line running back. Moss has gotten an extensive look during the preseason, and while the writer hints that the coaching staff could be showcasing him for a trade, he also acknowledged that the team has been happy with the RB’s performance during training camp and preseason.
- Before rookie wideout Tyquan Thornton went down with a shoulder injury, the Patriots were fielding offers on their receivers, according to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus. However, it now “seems unlikely” that the Patriots would subtract from the grouping of Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, and Nelson Agholor. Meanwhile, the trio of Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Kristian Wilkerson, and Tre Nixon are competing for limited roster spots, while Ty Montgomery‘s best chance of making the roster may be as a running back.
- While cornerback Sauce Gardner and wideout Garrett Wilson are expected to play important roles for the Jets next season, their other first-round pick may see more of a complementary role. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post writes that Carl Lawson, Quinnen Williams, Sheldon Rankins, and John Franklin-Myers are expected to start along the defensive line, meaning Jermaine Johnson will have to compete with Jacob Martin for the role of “situational rusher.” “However I can help the team win is honestly how I look at it,” Johnson said. “I practice like I’m a [undrafted] free agent anyway, so I don’t really care. It’s like I’m fighting for my life. That’s how I am, what I believe and how I practice — and it just lines up perfectly with what Coach Saleh is all about: Practicing hard, balls to the wall, giving 110 percent not only for yourself but for the team.”
Latest On Steelers QB Situation
It’s been assumed that the Steelers would roll with Mitchell Trubisky as their starting quarterback before eventually handing over the reins to rookie Kenny Pickett. However, head coach Mike Tomlin suggested that the team is still evaluating their options when it comes to the QB1. As ESPN’s Brooke Pryor tweets, Tomlin said that this upcoming week’s practices will determine a number of spots on the roster, including the “starting quarterback position.”
As Mark Kaboly of The Athletic wrote last week, the Steelers have had a focused plan as they guide their rookie quarterback up the depth chart. While Pickett had a standout performance as the third quarterback in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener, his promotion to QB2 wasn’t attributed to his performance…it was attributed to the strict roadmap created by Tomlin, offensive coordinator Matt Canada, and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan.
“Yeah, we’ve got a system in place,” Canada told Kaboly. “Coach, we’ve had this thing mapped out since I don’t know when. We’ll continue to stay right on our plan and see where it goes.”
Many assumed the plan would see Trubisky starting at least a handful of games, especially since the veteran has exclusively taken first-team snaps in practices. The thing is, the quarterback plan hasn’t been communicated to anyone outside of Tomlin/Canada/Sullivan, with third QB Mason Rudolph even admitting that he knows “nothing about that process of what they are looking for.” So, while Trubisky was the assumed starter, the coaching staff may have always intended to have Pickett under center for Week 1.
Speaking of Rudolph, it’s clear that the 27-year-old is the third QB on the depth chart, and it remains to be seen if he’ll stick around for the start of the season. Kaboly recently wrote about the situation, noting that the Steelers haven’t actively shopped Rudolph…but they also haven’t received any calls. The writer opines that it makes more sense to keep Rudolph around as insurance, and the front office could recoup a compensatory pick when he inevitably leaves after the season. The Steelers also have Chris Oladokun around, but despite his seventh-round status, there’s a better chance he lands on the practice squad.
Packers Work Out Four Kickers
The Week 1 status of Packers kicker Mason Crosby is up in the air, and the organization is eyeing some free agents in case they need reinforcement. According to ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson, the Packers worked out kickers Matt Ammendola, Chase McLaughlin, Chandler Staton, and Parker White today (Twitter link). The team also auditioned punter Cameron Dicker.
Crosby underwent knee surgery during the offseason, landing him on the physically unable to perform list. The Packers haven’t said if the veteran will be ready to go for the start of the season, but today’s workouts indicate that the Packers are planning to roll without him.
The Packers recently signed Ramiz Ahmed to fill in for Crosby, and the Packers are likely considering a competition for that potential early-season work. Ammendola and McLaughlin are the two kickers with NFL experience; Ammendola connected on 68.4 percent of his field goal tries last year while McLaughlin converted 71.4 percent of his own.
Crosby had a down year in 2021, converting only 73.5 percent of his field goal attempts (his worst percentage since 2017). Still, the Packers legend has connected on 81.1 percent of his field goal tries throughout his 15-year career. While Green Bay may temporarily roster a second kicker to open the season, there’s a good chance that fill-in will be demoted to the practice squad once Crosby is back to full health.
Dicker, an undrafted rookie out of Texas, spent the early part of the preseason with the Rams. Pat O’Donnell was brought in this offseason to replace Corey Bojorquez as the starting punter, and there’s a good chance that the team is just preparing their contact list in case of an injury.