Eagles Release QB Nick Mullens
Following their acquisition of Gardner Minshew, the Eagles have cut a quarterback. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team has released Nick Mullens.
[RELATED: Jaguars Trade QB Gardner Minshew To Eagles]
Mullens had spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, seeing time in 19 games (16 starts). While San Francisco only went 5-11 in those 16 starts, Mullens still put up respectable numbers, completing 64.5-percent of his passes for 4,714 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. That included a 2020 campaign where the 26-year-old tossed 12 touchdowns while guiding the 49ers to a 2-6 record in eight starts.
Mullens inked a one-year deal with the Eagles back in June, and he was expected to serve as a third quarterback behind Jalen Hurts and Joe Flacco. However, the organization pivoted a bit this morning, acquiring Minshew from the Jaguars. As a result, Mullens earned his walking papers, making him a free agent.
Considering the quarterback’s starting experience, there’s a good chance Mullens finds another gig as a backup. In fact, several reporters (including Brian Costello of the New York Post and Ralph Vacchiano of SNY) speculate that Mullens could be an option for the Jets. Besides his connection to current head coach (and former 49ers defensive coordinator) Robert Saleh, Mullens is also familiar with current Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who had spent the previous four years serving as San Francisco’s passing game coordinator. Plus, as Vacchiano tweets, the Jets got a recent up-close look at Mullens; the team participated in joint practices with the Eagles this week, and Mullens completed 10 of his 14 pass attempts in last night’s preseason contest.
Jaguars Trade QB Gardner Minshew To Eagles
Minshew Mania is heading to Philly. The Jaguars are trading quarterback Gardner Minshew to the Eagles, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Jacksonville will receive a conditional sixth-round pick. That sixth-round pick could turn into a fifth-round pick if Minshew plays in at least 50-percent of his team’s snaps in three individual games, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
With the Jaguars landing the first-overall pick and can’t-miss prospect Trevor Lawrence, Minshew found himself in the rumor mill for much of the offseason. The organization naturally wanted to see what they had in Lawrence before making a hasty decision on their other signal caller, but the writing was on the wall when coach Urban Meyer announced Lawrence as the Week 1 starter. While Minshew would have been a reliable contingency plan in the event of an injury to Lawrence, the Jaguars were apparently looking to cash in on their number-two quarterback as soon as possible. Today’s move means C.J. Beathard will slide in as Lawrence’s definitive backup.
While Minshew probably would have been that definitive backup quarterback in Jacksonville, he’ll now find himself third on the depth chart in Philly. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter), today’s trade has done nothing to shake up the Eagles depth chart, as starter Jalen Hurts and backup Joe Flacco have solid holds on their jobs. So, as Rapoport notes on Twitter, the Eagles are acquiring Minshew as a reclamation project/developmental piece, with the reporter noting that the front office loves to “collect and develop talent at the most important position.” In fact, the team considered using a late-round pick on a developmental quarterback during the 2021 draft (per Rapoport); instead, they used a 2022 late-round pick on a 25-year-old with 23 games of experience.
Considering his production, Minshew could find himself eventually climbing the depth chart in Philadelphia. The team committed more than $3MM to Flacco, so it’s most likely that the team carries three quarterbacks for much of the season. Minshew has cap number of $898K in 2021 and $1.01MM in 2022, providing the Eagles with a low-cost option as they try to get clarity on their quarterbacks situation in 2021.
Minshew transformed from a little-known, 2019 sixth-round pick into a sensation during his rookie campaign. Filling it for Nick Foles, Minshew ended up starting 12 of his 14 games, completing 60.6-percent of his passes for 3,271 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. He also guided the Jaguars to a 6-6 record during his 12 starts. The Jaguars took a clear step back in 2020, but Minshew still put up solid numbers. While Jacksonville went only 1-7 in Minshew’s eight starts, the quarterback still completed 66.1-percent of his passes for 2,259 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He’s also shown some versatility outside of the passing game, collecting 497 rushing yards on 96 career carries.
Eagles Cut RB Kerryon Johnson From IR With Injury Settlement
Kerryon Johnson is a free man. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the Eagles have waived the veteran running back from IR with an injury settlement. This means Johnson is now free to sign elsewhere.
The former second-round pick was waived by the Lions earlier this offseason, and he was quickly scooped up by the Eagles. The 24-year-old was expected to have some kind of role behind Miles Sanders, but a knee injury quickly derailed those plans. Johnson suffered the injury earlier this month, and after getting waived by the organization, he reverted to Philly’s IR.
Had Johnson remained on IR through the start of the regular season, he would have been ineligible to play for the Eagles this season. With today’s move, Johnson will now have an opportunity to play elsewhere in 2021.
Considering the running back’s youth and experience, there’s a good chance he’ll find another gig. Johnson spent three seasons in Detroit, including a rookie campaign where he collected 854 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. However, he struggled to match that production in 2019 and 2020, and he was limited by injuries in both 2018 and 2019 (and, now, 2021).
Raiders Waive LB Te’von Coney
The Raiders have once again moved on from Te’von Coney. The team announced this evening (via Twitter) that they’ve waived the linebacker.
Coney made a name for himself during his four seasons at Notre Dame. In 50 games (29 starts), the 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker compiled 314 tackles, seven sacks, and 24.5 tackles for loss. Despite his standout performance, Coney went undrafted in the 2019 draft.
In two-plus seasons with the organization, Coney has already been waived three times. He spent the majority of his rookie season on the Raiders practice squad, and he remained unsigned for much of the 2020 campaign before rejoining the Raiders earlier this month. Coney was set to earn $660K in 2021.
The Raiders have been busy adding to their linebackers corps in recent days. The team acquired Denzel Perryman from the Panthers, and they took a look at free agent Patrick Onwuasor. Las Vegas could be without Nicholas Morrow for the foreseeable future, and backup linebacker Javin White is also dealing with an injury, so it’s a bit surprising that they’ve now decided to subtract from their depth.
Poll: Who Will Be The Patriots Starting QB?
Considering Cam Newton‘s 2020 struggles coupled with the Patriots’ decision to invest a first-round pick in a quarterback, many assumed rookie Mac Jones would take over as New England’s starter in 2021.
Not so fast.
Following the draft, Bill Belichick came out and said Newton would remain the team’s starter until he was unseated. Belichick has stuck with that sentiment throughout the offseason and into the preseason, even if the former MVP’s hold on the starting gig has started to show some cracks.
For starters, earlier this month, we heard that Jones had narrowed the gap between himself and Newton with a strong training camp. Then, Newton was recently sidelined due to a “misunderstanding” over COVID-19 protocols. While Newton’s absence stemmed from a team-approved visit to an out-of-state doctor, NFL Network’s Mike Giardi recently tweeted that there was “a level of frustration internally” with the entire situation. In fact, one member of the organization told the reporter that Newton’s recent absence “opened a window of opportunity” for the rookie, and Belichick acknowledged earlier this week that Newton’s absence would provide Jones with a chance to show what he’s got.
Naturally, Belichick surprised a few when he went back to Newton as the starter during today’s joint practice with the Giants. As Jeff Howe of The Athletic wrote, this decision gave “off the appearance nothing has changed in the race for the No. 1 job.” So, just more confusion in regards to the starting gig.
Jones has earned glowing reviews for his consistent play during practice, while Newton has merely shown glimpses of consistency. The duo has been relatively even during their preseason contests, and their statistics only help to cloud the quarterbacks depth chart.
There are merits to starting either one of the two quarterbacks. Newton didn’t get a fair shake during his first season in New England; he got a late start to training camp, dealt with a depleted set of offensive weapons, and had a bout with COVID. On the flip side, he guided the Patriots to one of the worst passing offenses in the NFL. While there could still be some upside with Newton, the consensus opinion seems to be that his 2020 performance is more indicative of his future production than his standout campaigns with the Panthers.
The main argument in the pro-Jones camp is that he’s not Newton, but there are some other reasons to believe in the rook. While Jones certainly isn’t (and probably will never be close to) Tom Brady, the 6-foor-3, big-armed quarterback would appear to be a better fit in Belichick and Josh McDaniels‘ successful offense. Jones has also impressed with his decision making and ability to grasp the offense. On the flip side, we shouldn’t put a lot of stock in practice and preseason. Plus, Belichick traditionally buries his rookies; Jones probably wouldn’t be an exception.
While we’ll likely get our answer in the next few weeks, we’re putting the question out to you: who will be the Patriots starting QB to start the 2021 season? (In before someone jokes about Brian Hoyer or Jarrett Stidham taking the reigns). Let us know in the poll below, and share your thoughts in the comments.
Vikings Hosted OL Roderick Johnson
After getting cut by the Texans last week, Roderick Johnson has earned his first work out since becoming a free agent. The veteran offensive lineman auditioned for the Vikings today, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
Johnson, a fifth-round pick by the Browns in 2017, had spent the majority of his career in Houston. After getting into only one game through his first two years in the NFL, the lineman saw a larger role in both 2019 and 2020. Johnson got into 28 games (with six starts) through those two seasons, including a 2020 campaign where he appeared in 245 offensive snaps.
The 25-year-old re-signed with the Texans this offseason, collecting $350K in fully guaranteed cash. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this month, and he earned his walking papers after getting activated.
Vikings first-round pick Christian Darrisaw is sidelined after undergoing a second surgery on his groin, keeping him off the field indefinitely. Minnesota also recently let go of offensive tackle Evin Ksiezarczyk, so it makes sense that the front office is in the market for some reinforcement at the position.
Raiders Worked Out LB Patrick Onwuasor
The Raiders were apparently motivated to add a linebacker today. Before they acquired Denzel Perryman from the Panthers, the Raiders worked out veteran linebacker Patrick Onwuasor, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Panthers Trade LB Denzel Perryman To Raiders]
The former undrafted free agent out of Portland State turned into a reliable starter for the Ravens. Onwuasor ultimately spent four seasons in Baltimore, collecting 234 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles in 58 games (32 starts). The 28-year-old joined the Jets during the 2020 offseason, but he landed on IR in early September. He was activated two months later before getting placed on IR once again, ending his season.
Onwuasor ended up getting into only one game for the Jets in 2020, appearing on eight special teams snaps without recording a tackle.
Las Vegas could be without Nicholas Morrow for the foreseeable future, and backup linebacker Javin White is also dealing with an injury. Thanks in part to that depleted depth, the Raiders acquired Perryman earlier this evening from Carolina. That trade would presumably take the Raiders out of the running for Onwuasor, although the team could look to bring in multiple players as they try to replace Morrow’s production.
Texans Worked Out LB Tahir Whitehead
Tahir Whitehead got a look from the Texans earlier this week. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Houston hosted the free agent linebacker. The veteran presumably left the team without a deal.
[RELATED: Texans To Sign CB Rasul Douglas]
The 2012 fifth-round pick had a productive stint with the Lions to begin his career. Whitehead spent six seasons in Detroit, and he averaged 70 tackles and 5.8 tackles for loss between the 2014 and 2017 seasons. That four-year stint earned Whitehead a three-year, $19MM deal from the Raiders, and the linebacker started all 32 games for the organization before getting his walking papers in 2020.
The 31-year-old caught on with the Panthers last offseason, and he started each of his first eight games for his new squad. However, Whitehead saw a reduced role as the season went on, and he only saw 15 defensive snaps from Week 11 to the end of the season. The linebacker finished his lone season in Carolina with 51 tackles and one interception.
The Texans were busy revamping their linebackers corps this offseason, bringing in eight free agents and one rookie. However, Zach Cunningham and (perhaps) free agent acquisition Christian Kirksey are the only sure things on the depth chart, meaning a free agent like Whitehead could still come in and claim a roster spot.
Falcons Worked Out QB Blake Bortles
Before the Falcons signed Josh Rosen yesterday, the team took a look at another disappointing former first-round pick. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), Atlanta worked out Blake Bortles recently.
The former third-overall pick has only seen the field for three games since the 2019 season. He spent the 2020 season bouncing on and off the Broncos active roster and practice squad, and he ended the campaign on the Rams practice squad. He signed a deal with the Packers earlier this offseason, but he was cut by the organization last month.
Bortles, of course, disappointed during his five seasons with the Jaguars, where he completed only 59.4-percent of his passes for 92 touchdowns and 58 interceptions. More notably, he had a 24-49 record as a starter, although he did have a three-game postseason run with Jacksonville in 2017.
The Falcons were hunting for a quarterback following the season-ending injury to backup A.J. McCarron. Rosen will likely step up as Matt Ryan‘s primary backup, and the team is also rostering rookie UDFA Feleipe Franks. If Rosen and/or Franks prove that they’re not worth their roster spot, perhaps the organization would give Bortles a second look.
Saints Place Tommylee Lewis On IR
To make room for kicker Aldrick Rosas and safety Jeff Heath, the Saints effectively moved on from a veteran today. The team announced that they’ve placed Tommylee Lewis on injured reserve.
[RELATED: Saints, S Jeff Heath Agree To Deal]
While the NFL recently made it easier for players to return from injury, that still doesn’t apply to players placed on the IR prior to the regular season. In order for a player to be “eligible to be designated for return” from IR/NFI, they need to be on the 53-man roster after final cuts (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter). This means players who are placed on IR during preseason are effectively sidelined for the season. It’s uncertain what ailment Lewis is dealing with, but the 28-year-old could conceivably negotiate an injury settlement if he hopes to see the field in 2021.
Lewis has spent the majority of his NFL career in New Orleans, seeing time in 39 games. He made a name for himself as a key returner, collecting 45 punts for 404 yards and 27 kicks for 617 yards. He also got some run on offense, compiling 30 touches for 306 yards and two touchdowns.
The former undrafted free agent signed with the Panthers last August but was waived before the start of the regular season. He caught on once again with the Saints, and he proceeded to get into five games. He re-signed with the organization back in July.