This Date In Transactions History: Bengals Sign HC Marvin Lewis To Two-Year Extension
On this date in 2018, Cincinnati fans weren’t too high on Marvin Lewis. The Bengals head coach had just missed the postseason for the second-straight season, but it’s not like anyone would have had much faith in the team had they found a way to sneak into the playoffs. After all, Lewis had (and still has) his infamous 0-7 playoff record, with the head coach guiding the organization to first-round exits every year between the 2011 and 2015 campaigns.
So, with the team having only won 13 combined games between the 2016 and 2017 seasons, it only seemed natural to move on from Lewis, right? Nah. Instead, on January 2nd, 2018, the Bengals signed Lewis to a two-year extension that would last through the 2019 campaign. As an aside, Lewis had traditionally inked one-year extensions with the organization, so the two-year pact was met with plenty of ire.
A Bleacher Report article said the extension was a “commitment to mediocrity,” while Will Brinson of CBS Sports described the move as “stunning.” If you want a take on fan reactions, you can check out the comments section of our own article.
Lewis and the organization didn’t do much to calm fans’ nerves when discussing the extension. The coach acknowledged that he probably would have been fired in any other city (per USA Today), while Bengals President Mike Brown admitted that the team had recently “fallen short of our expectations.”
“My job is to win a World Championship,” Lewis said in a statement that day. “We have a talented roster full of veteran leaders and emerging young stars, and I am committed to making the necessary improvements to put this team in the best position to win.”
Critics of the extension were punching air through the five weeks of the 2018 season. With Lewis serving as the second longest-tenured head coach in the NFL (behind Bill Belichick), the Bengals held the top spot in the AFC North with a 4-1 record, and they entered their bye week at 5-3. Then the wheels fell off. The Bengals dropped five consecutive contests and finished the season with a 6-10 record. Raise your hand if you know what happened next. The Bengals and Lewis decided to mutually part ways with a year remaining on the coach’s contract.
Cincinnati bottomed out in 2019 with new head coach Zac Taylor at the helm, allowing them to snag Joe Burrow with the top pick. Lewis hasn’t really committed to returning to the NFL, but he’s still been connected to a number of openings. Over the past few years, Lewis has been linked to head coaching gigs in Washington and Dallas, and he interviewed for the lead position with the Texans in late December. The 62-year-old has been on the Arizona State coaching staff for the past two seasons.
When the extensions was signed three years ago today, Lewis and the Bengals organization probably weren’t envisioning their present-day status. Everyone else? I think we all saw this coming.
WR Kenny Stills Expected To Sign With Bills
After auditioning for the Bills earlier this week, veteran wideout Kenny Stills will be joining the team. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that Stills is planning to sign with Buffalo. The receiver will start undergoing COVID-19 testing, and “the team hopes he can start practicing as soon as next week.”
A part of the Laremy Tunsil/Dolphins trade, Stills was solid during his first season in Houston, and he appeared in both of the Texans playoff contests. However, the 28-year-old was cut by the Texans back in November after hauling in only 11 receptions in his 10 appearances. Between the 2016 and 2019 campaigns, Stills averaged 44 receptions for 672 yards and six touchdowns per season, so there’s a good chance he still has something left in the tank.
While John Brown is set to return to the lineup following a lengthy absence, fellow Bills wideout Cole Beasley suffered a knee injury during the Bills’ Week 16 win over the Patriots. Head coach Sean McDermott described the injury as “week-to-week” (per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques), and the wideout has already been ruled out for tomorrow’s regular season finale.
McDermott also said the team’s interest in Stills wasn’t related to the Beasley injury, meaning the veteran addition could end up playing a role alongside Brown, Beasley, and top receiver Stefon Diggs. Wideout Gabriel Davis and return man Andre Roberts seem to also have secure roles in Buffalo, but the Stills signing could end up pushing the likes of Isaiah McKenzie off the roster.
Rams Planning To Sign QB Blake Bortles
With Jared Goff being sidelined by a thumb injury, the Rams will be turning to a familiar face. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles is planning to sign Blake Bortles off the Broncos practice squad.
However, this impending signing shouldn’t add any confusion to this weekend’s depth chart. The team announced that Goff is officially out in a crucial contest against the Cardinals, with John Wolford getting the start under center. Meanwhile, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic explains (on Twitter) that the Rams will likely promote Bryce Perkins from the practice squad, meaning they’ll temporarily be holding four quarterbacks (Goff, Wolford, Bortles, Perkins) on their active roster. One or two of these quarterbacks will likely land on the Rams practice squad once Goff is ready to return.
Following a disappointing five-year stint with the Jaguars, Bortles signed a one-year deal with the Rams during the 2019 offseason. He proceeded to appear in three games last season, completing a single three-yard pass. After going unsigned throughout the 2020 offseason, Bortles joined the Broncos in September following an injury to Drew Lock. He was eventually released by Denver and landed back on their practice squad.
In 78 career games, Bortles has completed 59.3-percent of his passes for 17,649 yards, 103 touchdowns, and 75 interceptions. The two quarterbacks currently ahead of him on the depth chart, Wolford and Perkins, have yet to appear in an NFL game.
Rams QB Jared Goff To Undergo Thumb Surgery
Jared Goff‘s regular season has likely come to an end, but it sounds like the quarterback could return if the Rams make the playoffs. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Goff will undergo surgery tonight on his broken thumb. There hasn’t been any definitive word that the 26-year-old will miss the Rams’ crucial season finale against the Cardinals, but all signs are pointing to John Wolford being under center on Sunday.
Schefter adds (on Twitter) that the surgery that Goff underwent “gives him the best chance of an optimum result without a delay in return,” with the organization eyeing a postseason comeback. Meanwhile, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic tweets that left tackle Andrew Whitworth could also be back for the start of the postseason, and that “alignment” could have been a contributing factor in Goff’s decision to go under the knife. We heard earlier today that Goff was battling a dislocated and broken thumb on his throwing hand. Surgery always seemed inevitable, but initial reports indicated that Goff was pushing to play this weekend.
The Rams control their own playoff destiny, as they can reach the postseason with a win over Arizona. Instead of having Goff under center, they’ll likely turn to Wolford, a former undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest. The 25-year-old started his career with the Jets before a stint in the AAF where he led the league in touchdowns. He joined the 49ers organization back in 2019 and has primarily been on their practice squad over the past year-plus.
If Goff’s season is indeed over, the former first-overall pick will have finished with a career-high passing percentage of 67.0. He also threw for 3,952 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan Discusses Jimmy Garoppolo’s Future
Jimmy Garoppolo has been limited to only six games in 2020, and with the veteran quarterback accounting for more than $53MM in cap charges in 2021 and 2022 (vs. only $4.2MM in potential dead cap), there have naturally been some questions about whether he’ll stick around San Francisco. Today, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan put the kibosh on rumors.
Shanahan told reporters that he believes “Jimmy’s going to be our quarterback next year” (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic on Twitter). The head coach was also quick to dismiss Garappolo’s salary, noting that “that’s how much they cost” when asked about the quarterback.
ESPN’s Nick Wagoner (via Twitter) passes along a detailed answer from Shanahan, where the head coach detailed how teams evaluate every position during the offseason.
“You can’t say anything with certainty,” Shanahan said. “You don’t sit here and make promises on anything. When you build a football team, it’s your job to put the best team together year in and year out.
“Now, you look into every avenue and you see if there’ something out there that can get you a ton better. That’s the same answer for every position but look at Jimmy, look what he’s done, look where he’s at financially. We better have a very good answer if you’re going to find something better than that because Jimmy has shown in one year that he’s the guy who can take us to the Super Bowl and I also think that Jimmy is going to get a lot better the more he plays.”
It was only a year ago that Garoppolo had a standout 2019 campaign, although his performance did dip in the postseason (including a Super Bowl loss where he tossed a pair of interceptions). The 49ers went 3-3 in the 29-year-old’s six starts this season, with Garoppolo completing 67.1-percent of his passes for 1,096 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Saints Claim WR Jake Kumerow
“Touchdown Jesus” has found a new home. After getting cut by the Bills earlier this week, wideout Jake Kumerow has been claimed by the Saints (per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter).
The 28-year-old receiver joined the Bills practice squad back in September, and he ultimately made six appearances for Buffalo, with most of his playing time coming on special teams. Kumerow played 17 total offensive snaps for the Bills, hauling in a single one-yard touchdown reception.
Following stints with the Bengals and Patriots to begin his career, Kumerow became a fan favorite in Green Bay. He ultimately spent three seasons with the Packers, including a 2019 campaign where he collected 12 receptions for 219 yards and one score. Kumerow also went to school at Wisconsin–Whitewater, earning a pair of first team All-WIAC nods.
While Kumerow will presumably continue to play a special teams role in New Orleans, he should also have a chance at some offensive snaps. After all, the Saints currently have five wide receivers (Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Bennie Fowler, Deonte Harris, and Marquez Callaway) sitting on IR. Kumerow will have a chance to compete against Emmanuel Sanders, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Juwan Johnson during the Saints’ regular season finale next weekend.
QB Mike Glennon To Start For Jaguars On Sunday
The Jaguars are turning back to Mike Glennon. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the veteran quarterback will start for Jacksonville tomorrow.
Glennon had started three games in a row before the Jaguars turned to Gardner Minshew last weekend. While Jacksonville predictably got blown out by the Ravens, Minshew still completed 22 of his 29 pass attempts for 226 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions (he also lost a fumble). With Jacksonville aiming for presumed first-overall pick Trevor Lawrence, you’ve got to wonder if the organization is turning to the quarterback who gives them the worst shot at winning against the Bears this weekend.
The 31-year-old Glennon has started three games this season, completing 61-percent of his passes for 600 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. For comparison’s sake, the 24-year-old Minshew has completed 66.1-percent of his passes for 2,259 yards, 16 touchdowns, and five interceptions. The Jaguars even briefly turned to sixth-round rookie Jake Luton, who had two touchdowns and six interceptions in three starts.
There is a bit of intrigue in Glennon starting, as the veteran famously signed a lucrative three-year, $45MM deal with the Bears in 2017. After one season and only four games started, Glennon was released by Chicago. Since his stint with the Bears, the former Buccaneers draft pick has spent time with the Cardinals and Raiders. He signed with the Jaguars this offseason, and after getting cut at the end of preseason, he caught on with the practice squad.
Eagles Activate WR DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson is back. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Eagles are activating the wideout from IR. The veteran is expected to play against the Cowboys tomorrow.
After being limited to only three games in 2019, Jackson has once again been hampered by injuries in 2020. After appearing in Philly’s first three games, he was sidelined for three weeks by a hamstring injury. He suffered an ankle sprain during his Week 7 return, landing him on injured reserve.
It’s been four years since Jackson’s had a 1,000-yard season, but he was productive during his two-year stint with the Buccaneers, finishing with 1,442 receiving yards. The 34-year-old has been limited to only seven total games since returning to the Eagles via trade in 2019. During his second stint with the Eagles, Jackson has hauled in 22 receptions for 314 yards and two scores.
The Eagles wide receiver corps have struggled to stay on the field this season, with the team starting six different wideouts (Jackson, Greg Ward, Jalen Reagor, Travis Fulgham, John Hightower, and Alshon Jeffery). For one of the few times this season, the Eagles should have a fully stocked depth chart for quarterback Jalen Hurts in his third career start.
Giants QB Daniel Jones Starting On Sunday
Daniel Jones will be back under center for the Giants tomorrow. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the quarterback will start against the Ravens on Sunday.
Jones has missed a pair of games this season due to ankle and hamstring injuries, including last week’s loss to the Browns. While the 2019 sixth-overall pick was a limited participant this week, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the quarterback looked better in practice and is showing renewed energy. With Jones returning to the lineup, Colt McCoy, who has led the Giants to a 1-1 record in two starts, will return to his backup role.
Jones has struggled a bit during his sophomore campaign. While his completion percentage is up (62.6 percent), he’s only thrown for 2,462 yards and eight touchdowns (vs. only nine interceptions) in 12 games. For comparison’s sake, the 23-year-old compiled 3,027 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions during his rookie season.
Despite his inconsistent production, head coach Joe Judge made it clear that Jones is the Giants quarterback of the present and future.
“To me it’s a string of moments watching Daniel work,” Judge said (via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). “Watching the respect he has in the locker room. Watching him lead throughout this season. I think he’s demonstrated a level of toughness and leadership and knowledge on the field that gives us confidence to put him out there and build with Daniel.”
Patriots Sign K Roberto Aguayo To Practice Squad
The Patriots are adding a former second-round pick to their practice squad. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that New England is signing kicker Roberto Aguayo to their practice squad.
Following a standout career at Florida State, Aguayo was selected with the 59th-overall pick by the Buccaneers in 2016, making him the first kicker since 2005 (Mike Nugent, Jets) to be selected in the second round. Aguayo struggled throughout his rookie campaign, connecting on only 71-percent of his field goal attempts. During the 2017 offseason, he ended up getting replaced by Nick Folk (ironically, which we’ll get to in a sec), and the kicker hasn’t appeared in a regular season contest since that time.
Since the 2017 campaign, Aguayo has had stints with the Bears, Panthers, and Chargers, and he hasn’t had a gig since the end of the 2018 preseason. Now, he’ll have a chance to make an NFL comeback by participating on New England’s practice squad.
Of course, the 26-year-old’s going to have a tough time cracking New England’s roster; their current starter, (you guessed it) Nick Folk, has connected on a career-high 92.6-percent of his field goal attempts and 26 of his 28 extra point tries. The 36-year-old Folk is set to hit free agency following the season, so Aguayo could be auditioning for a role in 2021.