Latest On Panthers CB Jaycee Horn
Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn missed the final 14 games of his rookie campaign after breaking three bones in his right foot. More than 10 months later, the former first-round pick is still sidelined. As Joseph Person of The Athletic writes, the Panthers continue to bring the cornerback along slowly as he recovers from the foot injury.
“I don’t want to get into all [the training staff is] doing,” said head coach Matt Rhule. “But they’ve taken some things and said, ‘Hey, give him a couple days.’ I think we all feel really good about where it’s headed.”
Horn made an appearance at OTAs and minicamp but reported soreness after his conditioning test, according to Person. He subsequently landed on PUP, and despite being activated since, he’s yet to participate in team drills. Horn isn’t expected on the practice field for at least a few more days, but there’s some optimism that he could return by next week.
“When you come back off a broken foot, you’re gonna deal with some soreness. … If you talk to anyone with a broken foot, they’re gonna tell you that’s what they generally deal with,” Horn told Person. “So I wasn’t too concerned. I was just taking the advice of the training staff and taking it slow.”
Following a standout collegiate career at South Carolina, the Panthers selected Horn with the eighth-overall pick in the 2021 draft. He started each of his three games last season, collecting five tackles and one interception. He’s expected to slide back into the starting lineup once he’s fully healthy.
Burglary Charge Dropped Against Texans RB Darius Anderson
After being arrested last month for burglary with intent to commit assault, Texans running back Darius Anderson has been cleared of any wrongdoing. According to Mark Berman of Fox26 (on Twitter), the Harris County District Attorney’s office dismissed charges against Anderson.
According to court records, Anderson’s ex-girlfriend claimed that the athlete forced his way into her home on a July morning and didn’t leave until she locked herself in a bathroom and called police. Anderson allegedly tried to assault the woman once he entered the home, and the player took “some shoes” before leaving. Per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com, security footage ended up proving that Anderson never broke into the home.
“It’s been a nightmare that this young man has been going through,” Anderson’s agent, Harold Lewis, told Wilson. “I hope people get to know him as I do and the Texans do. He’s a great young man. It was a horrible situation. I hope no one ever has to go through that. As bad as it was, there are so many people I would like to thank through this process. I would like to thank Lovie Smith, Nick Caserio and the entire Texans organization for trusting and believing in this young man. The Texans are a family organization and they stand by their players.”
Head coach Lovie Smith told reporters that he’s happy the organization “let it play out in the system.” GM Nick Caserio had previously told reporters that there was a lot of “misinformation” surrounding the case and that he was hoping for a quick resolution.
Anderson scored 18 touchdowns in four seasons at TCU. He had one of his most productive collegiate seasons as a senior in 2019, finishing with 951 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns on 173 touches. He went undrafted during the 2020 draft, and after spending his rookie season with the Cowboys and Colts, Anderson joined the Texans late during the 2021 campaign. He inked a reserve/future contract with the organization back in January. The 24-year-old is facing an uphill battle to make the roster; at best, he was battling with Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale to be the team’s fourth RB.
Eagles WR A.J. Brown Discusses Trade From Titans
Since A.J. Brown was dealt to the Eagles, there’s been a narrative out of Tennessee that the wideout’s contract demands ultimately led to a trade. Brown is making it loud and clear that that wasn’t the case. During an appearance on NFL Network today, the Eagles wide receiver stated that he wasn’t a fan of how his stint with the Titans came to an end.
“You know, it’s a business, and I’m not upset about the trade or anything because it is a business or whatever,” Brown said (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “But to be honest, I just didn’t appreciate how it all went down, and they just kind of blamed me for it. I’m man enough to say that, however people may take it. But I have no bad blood with Tennessee. I’m moving forward. I’m happy to be here. But (there are) a lot of things people don’t know about, and they’re just pointing fingers at me. But that’s OK.”
To review: Brown and the Titans had preliminary talks on an extension during the early parts of the offseason, but after a deal couldn’t be reached, it was reported that the wideout wouldn’t be participating in offseason programs. The Titans front office didn’t blink and suddenly traded him to Philly on Day 1 of the draft, ending the former second-round pick’s three-year tenure with the organization.
Following the trade, Brown was similarly critical of the Titans organization, noting that they never came close to offering him his asking price during negotiations. He also admitted that the Titans wouldn’t have even had to pony up and match the extension that he ultimately got from Philly (four years, $100MM), and he seemed to insinuate that it was Tennessee’s negotiation tactics that already resulted in a trade.
While Brown says he’s not upset about the trade, that hasn’t stopped him from talking about the Titans. He even recently took to Twitter to point out that fellow fourth-year wideouts Deebo Samuel, Terry McLaurin, and D.K. Metcalf all got their sizable extensions…but none of them were traded.
Now in Philadelphia, Brown will be looking to build a quick rapport with Jalen Hurts while guiding a WR room that also features DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Zach Pascal, and Jalen Reagor.
Bears Work Out CB Vernon Hargreaves
The Bears worked out a trio of cornerbacks today. Per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter), the team auditioned Vernon Hargreaves III, Davontae Harris, and Isaiah Johnson. The team also hosted defensive lineman Trevon Coley and Josh Mauro.
Hargreaves inked an extension with the Texans last offseason and entered the 2022 campaign as a starting cornerback. The former first-round pick started five of his eight games with Houston, collecting 27 tackles and one interception. He was released in November and ended up catching on with the Bengals for their Super Bowl run, starting one of his four regular season games. Despite being inactive for the Super Bowl, Hargreaves was penalized 15 yards for taunting following an end-zone interception by teammate Jessie Bates.
Harris has seen time with five different organizations since entering the NFL in 2018. He most recently got into six games with the Chargers and 49ers last season. Johnson had stints on the Cowboys, Steelers, and Cardinals practice squads in 2021 but didn’t get into a game.
The workout isn’t necessarily an indictment on projected starters Jaylon Johnson and rookie Kyler Gordon. Instead, the team could be looking for some depth to compete with the likes of Lamar Jackson, Kindle Vildor, BoPete Keyes, and Greg Stroman for backup reps.
Coleman started 29 games for the Browns between the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He’s only seen time in 13 games since that time in stints with the Colts and Cardinals. He joined the Titans last offseason but injured his foot during the preseason, knocking him out for the season. Mauro was an on-and-off starter for the Cardinals, and after two seasons serving in a similar role with the Giants and Raiders, he returned to Arizona for the 2020 and 2021 campaign. He got into five games last season, collecting one sack.
Ravens Notes: Biegel, Linderbaum, Ojabo, Roster Bubble
Vince Biegel‘s season has ended before it even started. The Ravens linebacker suffered a torn Achilles on Thursday and will miss the 2022 season, per the team’s website.
The linebacker has bounced around the NFL during his four years in the league, spending time with the Packers, Saints, and Dolphins. Following a 2020 season where he compiled 59 tackles and 2.5 sacks in a career-high 15 games (10 starts) with the Dolphins, he was limited to only two tackles in five contests with Miami in 2021. He caught on with the Ravens this offseason, and according to Ryan Mink of the team website, Biegel had made a strong impression during the first few days of camp.
“Vince was fighting to make the team,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He would have had a great chance to make it, because he’s just a solid, tough, talented guy who does everything exactly right as hard as he can.”
The Ravens were already eyeing a depleted linebackers depth chart with Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo sidelined. The team’s current options consist of Odafe Oweh, Justin Houston, Daelin Hayes, Steven Means, and a handful of rookies.
More notes out of Baltimore:
- Fortunately, there was some good news on the Ravens’ injury front. While first-round rookie center Tyler Linderbaum limped off the field during practice, an X-ray confirmed he avoided a major injury. “He’s going to be fine,” Harbaugh said (via Mink). “Didn’t get stepped on, kind of just … It’s a physical drill there, and [he] came up a little sore. They’ve looked at it, X-rayed it. They’ll do an MRI on it to make sure, but all indications are it’s nothing serious at all.” Beside the rookie, the Ravens have veteran Patrick Mekari to step in at center.
- We previously heard that Ojabo’s brief holdout was an attempt to get more guaranteed money in the third year of his rookie contract. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the rookie ended up getting $700K of that 2024 base salary guaranteed. As our own Ely Allen previously pointed out, the player selected just before Ojabo at 44th overall is John Metchie III, who received $800,000 (55.61%) of his third year guaranteed. The pick immediately after Ojabo at 46th overall is Joshua Paschal, whose guaranteed third-year money dropped dramatically to $275,000 (22.02%).
- Guard Ben Powers could find himself on the trade block depending on the status of Ben Cleveland and Tyre Phillips, writes Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Powers has 19 career starts, so he’d surely appeal to a squad seeking some guard depth. Meanwhile, Zrebiec writes that running back Mike Davis could be fighting with Tyler Badie and Justice Hill for two open roster spots. The veteran was brought in this offseason to provide some depth while J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards return to full health, but he may not be needed if the duo is ready for the start of the season.
- In a stock report of Baltimore’s minicamp, Zrebiec provides a handful of interesting tidbits related to the Ravens. Fourth-round rookie Isaiah Likely will find himself behind Mark Andrews on the depth chart, but he also “seems close to certain to have a notable Week 1 role with the Ravens.” Meanwhile, versatile defensive back Brandon Stephens has been preparing to play cornerback after starting 11 games at safety last season.
- The Ravens’ other fourth-round rookie tight end, Charlie Kolar, had sports hernia surgery earlier this week, per Zrebiec. “It’s a thing that was lingering from college,” Harbaugh said. “He actually had a sports hernia from college, had a surgery. They’re going to redo that one as well. We’ll get it cleaned up now. I think he felt like he could manage it, but it’s gotten to the point where it needs to be fixed.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Marcell Ateman
- Released: OL Eric Smith
- Activated from PUP: TE Maxx Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Tae Hayes
- Waived: LS Thomas Fletcher
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on PUP: LB Anthony Barr
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Darrius Shepherd
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Austin Trammell
- Waived/injured: TE Kyle Markway
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Browns): DB Nate Meadors
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated off NFI: S Minkah Fitzpatrick
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: TE Jordan Matthews (story)
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB De’Vante Bausby
- Waived (injury designation): LB Drew White
Injury Updates: Patriots, Burrow, Poyer, Giants, Falcons
James White remains without a return timetable. The veteran is still sidelined following hip surgery, and Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets that it’s uncertain when the long-time Patriots RB will return to the field.
The longest-tenured member of the Patriots offense could ultimately land on PUP, but Howe notes that the organization will wait a few more weeks to evaluate White’s progress. The RB suffered a hip subluxation injury last September, limiting him to only three games during the 2021 season. White had 496 yards from scrimmage during his first non-Tom Brady season in 2020, but he topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage in both 2019 and 2018.
Fortunately for the Patriots, the organization still has Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson atop their depth chart, but it’s tough to replace the pass-catching prowess of White. The organization also used a pair of draft picks on RBs Pierre Strong Jr. (fourth round) and Kevin Harris (sixth round).
More injury notes from around the NFL…
- Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow had an appendectomy last week, and it’s unlikely we see him until the regular season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Burrow likely won’t play during the preseason. Rapoport estimates that the QB could return two to four weeks after his initially surgery, and he’ll likely participate in throwing sessions while limiting his hits during practice.
- Bills All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer hyperextended his elbow yesterday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). While the injury will keep Poyer off the field for a few weeks, he’s expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. The veteran defensive back has only missed a pair of regular season games since joining the Bills in 2017.
- Giants fourth-round safety Dane Belton suffered a broken collarbone, reports ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (via Twitter). While the rookie will be sidelined for the foreseeable future, the organization is holding out hope that he’ll be good to go for the start of the season. There’s a better chance he lands on IR following final cuts and will then be activated at some point in October. The Iowa product had already made a strong impression at training camp, according to Raanan.
- Falcons defensive tackle Vincent Taylor ruptured his Achilles, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein (on Twitter). The injury will force Taylor to miss the 2022 season. The 28-year-old joined the Falcons back in April. The journeyman has appeared in 40 career games, including a single start with the Texans in 2021.
Dolphins Fallout: Brady, Payton, Beal
There have been persistent rumors that the Dolphins’ pursuit of Tom Brady included a scenario where the quarterback would have become a minority owner of the franchise. As ESPN’s Jeff Darlington tweets, this hypothetical was never very realistic. If Brady wanted to both own and play for a team, the vote would have needed to go through a vote of all owners. It’s very unlikely that vote would have passed.
“Current policy stipulates that a current player or coach could have a financial interest in his or her club but only under an agreement affirmed by a vote of the 32 teams,” Darlington cites. “Among the considerations could be salary cap implications.”
Darlington details the chaos that could have followed Brady’s brief retirement if the QB decided to become an owner/player in Miami. Not only would Brady have had to get out of his Buccaneers contract, but he would also need rival organizations (including Robert Kraft in New England, Joel Glazer in Tampa, and many AFC foes) to agree to the arrangement. These organizations wouldn’t have necessarily been denying Brady’s chance to be an owner; rather, they would have been denying his chance to join a key opponent.
Some additional details regarding the Dolphins’ punishment:
- Brady and former Saints coach Sean Payton will not face any discipline for their role in the Dolphins’ tampering. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), there were “no findings or discipline” besides those levied to the Dolphins organization.
- Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes that Dolphins vice chairman Bruce Beal, who was suspended and fined for his role in the tampering scandal, may have been the reason the whole story “blew up.” Per Florio, Beal had been telling friends about Miami’s pursuit of Brady for more than a year. The executive wasn’t discreet, and Florio implies that his behavior may have come back to bite the organization.
- Tom E. Curran of NBC Boston explored (on Twitter) what may have led to Brady’s “dalliance” with the Dolphins back in 2019. In August of that year, Brady inked a “phantom” two-year, $70MM extension with the Patriots that was actually a year-to-year, incentive-laden deal. So, with Brady “resigned to leaving,” he started considering his exit plan, and that included some flirting with Miami. As Curran notes, the Patriots’ unwillingness to truly extend Brady doesn’t excuse the QB, but it does illustrate “how betrayed Brady felt by August 2019.“
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/22
Today’s minor moves
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: WR Trevon Clark
Carolina Panthers
- Reverted to IR: WR Andrew Parchment
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Daylen Baldwin
- Waived: S Nate Meadors
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Max Borghi
- Placed on IR: RB Damarea Crockett, WR Tim Patrick (story)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Maurice Alexander
- Waived/injured: RB Greg Bell
Houston Texans
- Signed: LS Harrison Elliott
- Activated from PUP: DB Tristin McCollum
- Waived-injured: WR Davion Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR D.J. Montgomery
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: G Beau Benzschawel
- Waived/injured: G Jared Hocker
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from NFI: DB Elijah Campbell
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: TE Brandon Dillon
New York Giants
- Placed on exempt/left squad: OT Matt Gono*
New York Jets
- Activated from NFI: RB Tevin Coleman, TE Jeremy Ruckert
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from PUP: TE Richard Rodgers
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Master Teague
- Placed on IR: RB Jeremy McNichols
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Terrell Bonds, OL Willie Wright
- Waived/injured: DB Chris Williamson
- Placed on IR: C Daniel Munyer
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB De’Vante Bausby
- Waived/injured: LB Drew White
*Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic (on Twitter), Gono has left the squad due to an undisclosed physical issue. The lineman will meet with a doctor tomorrow, which should provide some clarity.
49ers WR/TE Jordan Matthews Tears ACL
Jordan Matthews‘ quest to change positions took a major hit this week. The 49ers wideout-turned-tight end tore his ACL during practice on Monday, reports Can Inman of the San Jose Mercury (on Twitter). The veteran will be placed on injured reserve.
Matthews announced his plan to switch to tight end last offseason, and he added 30 pounds in preparation for his new role. The 49ers decided to ease the former receiver into his new position, so Matthews ended up spending the majority of the 2021 campaign on San Francisco’s practice squad. The 30-year-old apparently made good use of his time, with Inman noting that the veteran had “made strides” in converting to the tight end position over the past year. Inman also described Matthews as a “strong contender” to make the 53-man roster. Now, the player will have to wait another year to prove he can stick at the position.
The former second-round pick made a name for himself as a receiver on the Eagles. Between the 2014 and 2016 seasons, Matthews averaged 891 receiving yards and more than six touchdowns per season. Since then, he’s bounced around the league a bit, mostly alternating stints with the Eagles and 49ers. He’s also spent time with the Bills and Patriots.
Fortunately for the 49ers, they have plenty of options behind starting tight end George Kittle. Ross Dwelley has seen time in 60 games over the past four seasons, and the team is also rostering the likes of Charlie Woerner, Tyler Kroft, Troy Fumagalli, and Tanner Hudson.