Rams Place LB Von Miller, Eight Others On Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Rams have placed nine more players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including linebacker Von Miller. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), the following players have been sidelined:
T Tremayne Anchrum Jr.
- DB Antoine Brooks Jr.
- G Bobby Evans
- DB Jake Gervase
- LB Von Miller
- LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
- DB Kareem Orr
- LB Troy Reeder
- LB Christian Rozeboom
The Rams are now up to 25 players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. While the organization will surely activate some players prior to Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, they’ll still have a long list of absences for the contest. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and wideout Odell Beckham are among the other Rams players who were already stashed on the list.
Yesterday, commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL wasn’t planning on postponing or cancelling any upcoming games. The Browns and WFT are among the other teams that are dealing with more than 20 players on the COVID list.
WFT Places Eight Players On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Washington Football Team added another eight players to the reserve/COVID-19 list today, writes ESPN’s John Keim. The leaves WFT with a staggering 18 organization players on the list, 14 of which have been placed on the list this week alone.
[RELATED: NFL Considering Changes To COVID-19 Protocols]
WFT currently holds the last playoff spot in the NFC, and they’re set for a crucial showdown with the Eagles on Sunday. While the organization will surely activate a handful of players from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to this weekend, there should still be plenty of absences. As Keim notes, nine of the 18 players who are currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list are usual starters, including five of their top six defensive linemen. The team also has only two healthy tight ends on the roster, and their receivers corps could also be depleted.
“We’ve dealt with adversity all year,” said WFT quarterback Taylor Heinicke. “We’ve had guys go down and step up and play; it’s just more for this week. We have confidence in all our guys. It should be an interesting one Sunday, but I feel good about it.”
Head coach Ron Rivera said he hasn’t heard any discussions of canceling the game against the Eagles. Earlier tonight, commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that the NFL wasn’t planning on postponing or cancelling any games.
The current WFT players are listed on the reserve/COVID-19 list (h/t to Keim on Twitter):
- DT Jon Allen
- QB Kyle Allen
- CB Troy Apke
- DE William Bradley-King (practice squad)
- LB Milo Eifler
- S Darrick Forrest
- CB Kendall Fuller
- TE Temarrick Hemingway (practice squad)
- LB Khaleke Hudson (also on IR)
- DT Matt Ioannidis
- T Cornelius Lucas
- LB David Mayo
- TE Sammis Reyes
- DT Tim Settle
- WR Cam Sims
- DE James Smith-Williams
- DE Montez Sweat (also on IR)
- DE Casey Toohill
Broncos Add S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, WR Travis Fulgham To Practice Squad
The Broncos have added two notable names to their practice squad. The team announced that they’ve signed safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and wideout Travis Fulgham to the taxi squad.
Clinton-Dix spent much of the offseason and preseason with the 49ers, but he was let go before the start of the regular season. He ended up spending much of the 2021 campaign on the Raiders practice squad, but he managed to get into 13 special teams snaps in two games with the organization. The 28-year-old was cut by the Raiders last week.
The Cowboys signed the former Pro Bowler in 2020 but released him before the start of the regular season. Prior to these struggles landing a steady gig, Clinton-Dix did not miss a game from 2014-19. He worked as a starter throughout that stretch, making the Pro Bowl with the Packers in 2016 and ranking as an upper-echelon safety (per Pro Football Focus) with the Bears in ’19. Clinton-Dix could end up being forced into Denver’s lineup if any of Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns, and/or P.J. Locke are forced to miss Sunday’s game.
For an Eagles receiving corps decimated by injury last season, Travis Fulgham played a big role. He caught a game-winning touchdown pass to help the depleted Eagles past the 49ers and ended his season with 38 receptions for 539 yards and three touchdowns. Prior to last season, however, Fulgham had never caught a pass as a pro. He was waived by the Eagles back in August, and he’s had brief stints on Philly and the Dolphins practice squad this year.
Latest On Broncos QB Teddy Bridgewater
This past weekend, there were some rumbling that Broncos quarterback (and impending free agent) Teddy Bridgewater was eyeing a multiyear deal worth $25MM per season. However, the QB dismissed those rumors when speaking with reporters earlier today.
“Until it comes from me, it’s not true,” Bridgewater said (h/t to Andrew Mason on Twitter). “That’s what happens during this time of year. You see numbers come out. You try to put a value on a guy so that if things don’t work out with the team that he’s playing on, it’s, ‘Oh, he wanted too much money.’ I’ll tell you right now, I haven’t mentioned anything about a deal. My primary focus is trying to help this team win football games and trying to get into the playoffs. The rest will take care of itself. My job is to play football. All that other stuff, that’s for my agent and my advisors. I’m here to help this team be a better football team every day.”
Bridgewater’s agent was also quick to shoot down the reports.
“Teddy is focused on the season and winning football games,” the QB’s agent, Kennard McGuire, told Mike Klis of 9News on Twitter. “Anything outside of that is completely false.”
While it isn’t a surprise that Bridgewater and his camp denied the rumors, it’s also not outrageous to suggest that the quarterback could earn that kind of money in free agency. The 29-year-old is having one of his best NFL seasons, completing 67.6 percent of his passes for 2954 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions (he’s also added 96 yards and two touchdowns on the ground). He’s also gone 7-6 as a starter and kept the Broncos in playoff contention. A $25MM salary would be middle-of-the-road among starting QBs, and with a rising cap, that could very well be the going rate for a player of Bridgewater’s caliber.
NFL Considering Changes To COVID-19 Protocols
With COVID-19 cases surging across the NFL, commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed that the league and the union are considering revisions to the league’s protocols.
“The thing that made us successful is keeping safety first,” Goodell said (via Alber Breer of TheMMQB on Twitter). “And second, being willing to adapt at all times.”
Earlier today, we learned that the NFL was considering tweaking a rule that would allow vaccinated, asymptomatic players who have tested positive to return to the field sooner (via Mark Maske of The Washington Post on Twitter). This followed a tweet from the NFL Players Associations earlier today that pushed for changes to protocol, including a request for daily testing.
“The NFL decided to take away a critical weapon in our fight against the transmission of COVID-19 despite our union’s call for daily testing months ago,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “We’re talking to our player leadership & to the NFL about potential changes to the protocols so that we can complete the season.”
Meanwhile, Goodell also said the spike in COVID cases won’t lead to any postponements or cancellations.
“There has not been any discussion about [postponements] and we will confident in our protocols,” the commissioner said (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones on Twitter).
Cowboys OT Tyron Smith To Miss Week 15
Tyron Smith won’t be on the field this Sunday when the Cowboys take on the Giants. The left tackle aggravated his ankle injury and won’t play this week, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter). Fortunately, head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters that he doesn’t think “it’s a surgical situation” (via Gehlken) meaning Smith should be able to return to the lineup sooner than later.
Smith missed three games earlier this season while dealing with the same ankle injury, so this is probably a frustrating development for the 31-year-old. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the lineman has been dealing with bone spurs in his ankle. Smith has otherwise started all 10 games for the Cowboys this season.
The offensive lineman was limited to only a pair of games in 2020 while he dealt with a neck injury. The seven-time Pro Bowler hasn’t had a fully healthy season since 2015, and he went on a remarkable run of 13-game seasons between 2016 and 2019.
With Smith out of the lineup against the Giants, the Cowboys will likely turn to either Terence Steele or Ty Nsekhe at left tackle.
Chiefs Add K Elliott Fry To Practice Squad
Elliott Fry has found a new home. The kicker has signed with the Chiefs practice squad, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
South Carolina’s kicker from 2013-16, Fry converted 66 of 88 field goal attempts during his collegiate career. After going undrafted in the 2017 draft, Fry had a brief stint in the Alliance of American Football. Since then, he’s logged many NFL workouts and spent time on a handful of practice squads, including stints with Bears, Ravens, Panthers, and Buccaneers.
Fry spent much of the 2020 campaign on the Falcons practice squad. He managed to get into his lone NFL game with Atlanta, converting his lone field goal attempt and one of his two extra point tries. He was expected to vie for the Falcons’ job this year, though he was a longshot to beat out Younghoe Koo. Fry spent the first part of the 2021 campaign bouncing on and off the Falcons’ practice squad, and he’s been a free agent since mid-November.
The Chiefs don’t necessarily need a kicker at the moment, although Harrison Butker is currently converting a career-low 87 percent of his field goal attempts. However, as Pelissero notes, COVID cases continued to spike around the NFL, so the Chiefs are adding some insurance in case Butker is suddenly sidelined.
Browns RB Kareem Hunt Expected To Miss Week 15
It sounds like the Browns will have to play without two key players on Saturday against the Raiders. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that running back Kareem Hunt and cornerback Troy Hill are considered week-to-week and aren’t expected to play this weekend.
[RELATED: Browns Place Eight Players On COVID-19 List]
This is unfortunate timing for Hunt, who just returned from a calf injury that he suffered in Week 6. Hunt was limited to a season-low 20 offensive snaps on Sunday after suffering an ankle injury, an ailment that will likely knock him out for additional contests. The running back had 1,145 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns during the 2020 campaign, but he’s been limited to only 560 yards and five scores this season.
“That is the nature of the beast,” Stefanski said (via Andrew Gribble of the team’s website). “Obviously, you hate injuries, and the competitor that Kareem is, you hate that he is going through this, but he has to rehab and get back as soon as he can.”
Hill has gotten plenty of run in Cleveland’s secondary this season, but his injury couldn’t come at a worse time. Cornerback Greg Newsome II is currently in concussion protocol, while safety Ronnie Harrison is dealing with an ankle injury. The Browns will presumably add another defensive back to their roster prior to Saturday night.
Cardinals Sign CB Breon Borders
Breon Borders is heading to Arizona. The Cardinals have signed the veteran cornerback off the Titans practice squad, reports Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
The defensive back spent most of the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Titans organization. He started five of his six appearances in 2020, finishing with 27 tackles, five passes defended, and one interception.
After getting waived during the offseason, Borders re-signed with Arizona, and he’s spent much of the 2021 campaign bouncing between their active roster and the practice squad. In total, he’s seen time in 11 games this season, collecting five tackles. The 26-year-old played mostly on special teams this year, and he hasn’t played a defensive snap since late October.
Borders will presumably see a similar role in Arizona. Byron Murphy Jr., Robert Alford, Marco Wilson, and Antonio Hamilton seem to have secured their spots atop the depth chart. The organization also has Kevin Peterson and Jace Whittaker stashed on the practice squad.
Latest On Urban Meyer, Jaguars Coaching Staff
Following a damning report from this past weekend that detailed tensions between Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer and both his players and staff, Shad Khan has apparently stepped in. According to Josina Anderson (on Twitter), the Jaguars owner “addressed the coaching staff in person” following Saturday’s report.
[REPORT: Jaguars Players, Coaches Frustrated With HC Urban Meyer]
During the meeting, Khan still expressed confidence in his coaching staff, but he encouraged his staff to improve the players’ cohesiveness. The owner also specifically addressed the weekend report, noting his dismay that news like that would leak out of the organization. Finally, Khan didn’t provide any “definitive assurances nor any discouragement” about the coaching staff’s status for the rest of the season or next year.
Meanwhile, Anderson also hears that staff confirmed that Meyer reportedly belittled coaches in a meeting, declaring that he himself was a “winner” and insinuating that his fellow coaches were “losers.” These coaches also lamented the feeling of “not being on the same page” as their HC, with some coaches feeling “unappreciated [and] undermined.”
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, tensions surrounding Meyer have “boiled over with multiple run-ins with players and other coaches in recent weeks.” Pelissero’s report included a number of anecdotes, including telling notes about veteran wideout Marvin Jones‘ apparent dissatisfaction with his HC, Meyer’s (mis)handling of his coaching staff, and Meyer’s handling of running back James Robinson.