Chiefs Considering WR Acquisition?
With Rashee Rice potentially out for the season and Marquise Brown sidelined until at least the playoffs, the Chiefs may have to look for outside help at wide receiver. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport expects the Chiefs to “go out and look at options” at the position, with a trade being “at least” in consideration.
[RELATED: Chiefs Fear ACL Tear For WR Rashee Rice]
Rapoport notes that the Chiefs front office is generally “open minded” and considers every opportunity as they look to plug holes, so a trade would surely be a logical route for the WR-needy squad. Rapoport points to the team’s sudden acquisition of Kadarius Toney in 2022, which came as the organization was navigating a post-Tyreek Hill era.
One potential name that Rapoport points to is Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The Titans are currently 0-3, and if they continue going the wrong way in the standings, there’s a good chance the veteran wideout will be available at the trade deadline. Rapoport also notes that popular trade candidate Amari Cooper could fit the Chiefs payroll thanks to his low base salary, but the reporter rejects the idea of Jaguars wideout Christian Kirk fitting into the cap sheet.
Rookie first-round WR Xavier Worthy got into a career-high 45 snaps yesterday and will likely join Travis Kelce as one of Patrick Mahomes‘ preferred targets moving forward. The team has also leaned on the likes of Justin Watson and JuJu Smith-Schuster for about half of their offensive snaps through the first month of the season, and Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman got extended cameos yesterday after Rice was knocked out of the game. Rapoport notes that Brown could return to the Chiefs in time for the postseason, but it’s unlikely the offense will be hanging their hopes on the injured receiver.
As for Rice, Josina Anderson reports that the receiver is seeking “at least” a second opinion on his injured knee in an attempt to “gather additional information.” The Chiefs have also discussed “potential windows for surgery.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that there “remains uncertainty” surrounding the extend of Rice’s injury, and more tests will be required before the team can set a definitive timetable.
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne Expected To Practice This Week
After starting the year on the reserve/PUP list, Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will soon be back on the field. Coach Jerod Mayo confirmed to reporters today that the veteran wide receiver is expected to start practicing on Wednesday, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
Bourne hasn’t played since Week 8 of last season after suffering a season-ending ACL tear. The wideout was having one of his strongest campaigns prior to his injury, averaging a career-high 50.8 yards per game. Despite his uncertain status heading into the 2024 campaign, the Patriots were comfortable enough handing the veteran a three-year extension this offseason.
After inking a three-year, $15MM deal with New England ahead of the 2021 campaign, Bourne often found himself with an inconsistent role. He had a standout first season with the Patriots, collecting career-highs in receptions (55), receiving yards (800), and touchdowns (five). While poor QB play was partly to blame for his drop in production in 2022, Bourne got into only 441 offensive snaps, his lowest total since his rookie campaign with the 49ers. Those snaps were back up in 2023, with the wideout getting into 73 percent of his team’s offensive snaps prior to his injury.
While the Patriots will surely welcome back Bourne, his return shouldn’t do a whole lot to remedy a putrid offense. Jacoby Brissett has struggled under center for the Patriots this season, leading to natural calls for rookie Drake Maye to take over. Bourne will be entering an uncertain WR room that’s currently led by the likes of K.J. Osborn, Demario Douglas, and second-round rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and rookie fourth-round pick Javon Baker have generally been the odd men out, and one of those players may be dropped when Bourne is ready to join the active roster.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/30/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Rashaan Evans
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Stephen Sullivan, WR Deven Thompkins
- Released: WR Sam Pinckney
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Ramel Keyton
Rashaan Evans has landed in a familiar spot. The veteran linebacker has signed with the Falcons practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. After spending the first four seasons of his career in Tennessee, the former first-round pick spent the 2022 campaign in Atlanta. He ended up having a career year, compiling a team-leading 159 tackles to go along with two sacks and one forced fumble.
Despite the counting stats, it took Evans until last September to find another gig, this time in Philly. He lasted less than a week with the Eagles before settling in Dallas. He ended up getting into nine games with the Cowboys, but he was waived in December after getting arrested for possession of marijuana.
While it once again took him until September to find a job, he’ll step into a potential role in Atlanta, at least temporarily. The Falcons need a bit of depth following the injury to Troy Andersen. At the end of his standout performance on Sunday (16 tackles and a pick-six), the linebacker suffered a knee injury that’s been deemed day-to-day, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. With Nate Landman also sidelined, the Falcons may need some extra bodies when they take on the Buccaneers this Thursday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/30/24
Today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: S Tony Jefferson
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: WR Dee Eskridge
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: NT Quinton Bohanna, LB Tyus Bowser
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: DE Ben Stille
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DL Abdullah Anderson, CB Tre Avery
49ers WR Deebo Samuel Expected To Return In Week 4
SEPTEMBER 29: Samuel is returning sooner than expected. As first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the 28-year-old wideout expects to play in the 49ers’ Week 4 contest against the the Patriots, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter subsequently noted that the team has the same expectation.
While Jennings had a monster performance in Samuel’s absence in Week 3 — catching 11 passes for 175 yards and three scores — San Francisco still lost the game, and the club will be happy to have the former First Team All-Pro back in the fold.
SEPTEMBER 16: The 49ers are down another offensive star. Receiver Deebo Samuel suffered a calf strain yesterday that will sideline him for several weeks, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
[RELATED: 49ers To Place RB Christian McCaffrey On IR]
According to 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, Samuel believes he suffered his injury late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss. The 49ers only played a handful of additional offensive snaps before the game ended. It doesn’t sound like Samuel will require an IR stint, but Shanahan also hinted that this will be more than a one-game absence.
The 49ers were already operating without star RB Christian McCaffrey, with Samuel soaking up a handful of leftover snaps in the backfield (behind Jordan Mason). Samuel was naturally impressing in the receiving game, averaging 82 yards through his first two contests. That marked his highest average since his 1,405-yard receiving effort in 2021, and it was also a major step up from his 54.4 yards-per-game-mark between 2022 and 2023.
Attention will now turn to the team’s remaining offensive star in Brandon Aiyuk. The wideout is coming off a drama-filled training camp and preseason that included a hold-in and a trade request. That ended up culminating in the receiver earning a contract worth $30MM annually, and the fifth-year pro will now be called upon to help guide the team’s receivers. Through two games, Aiyuk has hauled in only six catches for 71 yards, and he had a notable dropped touchdown in Week 1.
With Samuel out, Jauan Jennings will likely see an uptick in playing time. The Super Bowl LVIII standout got into 38 offensive snaps yesterday, and he was the only receiver outside of Samuel and Aiyuk to see a significant role. Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell got into a combined 15 snaps, while Jacob Cowing didn’t garner an offensive snap. Rookie Ricky Pearsall will also eventually be inserted into the conversation, although there’s a good chance he’s back after Samuel.
Dolphins To Start QB Tyler Huntley In Week 4
The Dolphins will have a new QB under center on Monday night. Coach Mike McDaniel told reporters (including Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) that Tyler Huntley will start at quarterback vs. the Titans.
[RELATED: Tua Tagovailoa Making Strides In Recovery]
Huntley’s promotion to QB1 seemed increasingly likely as Skylar Thompson was limited at practice all week with a rib injury. McDaniel acknowledged as much to reporters, noting that it was “supremely obvious” that Huntley “had what it takes” to guide the offense (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques).
Thompson got the first chance to fill in for Tua Tagovailoa, but the former seventh-round pick was knocked out of the team’s Week 3 loss with a rib injury. Tim Boyle ended up finishing that contest, but the veteran will revert to his standard backup role in Week 4 (per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe).
While Tagovailoa is showing positive signs in his recovery from yet another concussion, the starter doesn’t have a definitive return timeline. The team snagged Huntley off Baltimore’s practice squad following Tagovailoa’s Week 2 head injury, but with less than a week of practice time before Week 3, it seemed inevitable that Thompson would get the Week 3 nod. Following Thompson’s ugly performance last weekend, the Dolphins staff continued to give the third-year pro a vote of confidence (per Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald), a sign that he could be inserted back into the starting lineup when he’s healthy.
For the time being, Huntley will have a chance to run with the job during Tagovailoa’s absence. The former UDFA spent the majority of his career in Baltimore serving as Lamar Jackson‘s backup. Huntley went 3-6 as a starter between the 2021 and 2023 campaigns. That included an infamous 2022 season where he earned a Pro Bowl nod despite starting only four games. In total, the 26-year-old has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 1,957 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He’s also collected 509 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 115 attempts.
Huntley hit free agency this offseason and caught on with the Browns. Cleveland unsuccessfully shopped the backup before releasing him during final cuts. He was quickly added to the Ravens practice squad to serve as the third QB behind Jackson and Josh Johnson.
Steelers Monitoring WR Market?
The Steelers struck out in their offseason pursuit of a top-end wide receiver, and it sounds like the team continues to explore the trade market at the position. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Steelers are expected to monitor the WR market ahead of the trade deadline.
The organization subtracted from their wide receiver corps when they traded Diontae Johnson during the offseason. The team didn’t do a whole lot to replenish their depth, adding Van Jefferson and rookie third-round pick Roman Wilson to a receivers room that included the likes of George Pickens and Calvin Austin. The Steelers showed they were considering reinforcement when they were deeply involved in the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes, but the 49ers WR ended up rejecting the Steelers to sign an extension with San Francisco.
Pickens has averaged 57 yards per game through the first three weeks of the season, but the only other Steelers pass catchers to average more than 30 yards are Austin (36) and tight end Pat Freiermuth (33). With Justin Fields (or potentially Russell Wilson) guiding the offense, the receiving numbers will naturally be capped, but the organization’s lack of top-end depth makes them a natural suitor for a WR.
Graziano points to DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk as potential trade targets depending on how the next few weeks go. The team’s QB play will also likely determine the team’s trade-deadline strategy, but as long as the Steelers remain competitive, there’s no doubt the front office will be looking to improve any spot on the roster.
Bills LB Terrel Bernard Expected To Avoid IR
SEPTEMBER 28: Bernard expressed a desire to return to action in time for Week 5 (h/t Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic). He has already been ruled out for tomorrow’s contest, but by not going on IR he is eligible to suit up at any time. Bernard’s status over the coming days will be worth monitoring.
SEPTEMBER 21: Some good news on the Terrel Bernard front. The Bills linebacker isn’t expected to land on injured reserve, according to Sean McDermott (per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic). While the head coach admitted that he can’t say anything definitive, he felt the Bills wouldn’t have “to go in that direction.”
[RELATED: Bills LB Terrel Bernard Suffers Pec Strain]
“Don’t know anything else right now,” McDermott said when asked about a potential IR stint for Bernard (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). “I don’t think so, but still I can’t make that statement with 100% certainty right now. But I feel like we won’t have to go that direction.”
Bernard exited Buffalo’s Week 2 win over Miami after getting into only 14 defensive snaps. The linebacker fortunately avoided the worst-case scenario, with his pectoral injury proving to be a strain vs. a full tear. McDermott later confirmed that Bernard would miss multiple weeks. The team was afforded some extra time to determine any IR machinations considering their 11-day break between Week 2 and Week 3. Before today’s encouraging news, Bernard had already been ruled out for Monday night.
The former third-round pick had a breakout campaign in 2023, finishing with 143 tackles and 6.5 sacks. The Bills intended to be especially reliant on the third-year pro in 2024, as Matt Milano is sidelined indefinitely with a biceps tear. A four-week absence for Bernard would stress the team’s LB depth, although it sounds like they’ll only have to temporarily deal with a depleted depth chart.
Former seventh-round pick Baylon Spector stepped in for Bernard last Thursday and ended up playing a position-high 62 snaps while compiling 10 tackles. Dorian Williams will also help to soak up many of the snaps at linebacker, with the likes of Nicholas Morrow and Joe Andreessen representing the team’s depth at the position.
Jaguars TE Evan Engram Not A Candidate For IR
Evan Engram is set to miss his third consecutive game while he continues to nurse a hamstring injury, as the Jaguars have already ruled out their tight end for tomorrow’s game against the Texans. Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like the player will be sidelined for much longer. Speaking to reporters yesterday, coach Doug Pederson said “next week looks promising” regarding Engram’s potential return (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco).
Considering the optimistic outlook, Engram also isn’t a candidate for injured reserve, according to Pederson (via CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones). That move would keep Engram off the field until at least Week 8.
Engram suffered his injury while warming up for Jacksonville’s Week 2 matchup with the Browns. The veteran tight end proceeded to miss both Week 2 and Week 3, marking his first absences since he joined the Jaguars ahead of the 2022 campaign. The former Giants first-round pick was limited to only a five-yard catch during the season opener, but the Jaguars are surely hoping he can eventually provide a spark to the offense. Engram is coming off a career year in 2023 where he hauled in 114 catches for 963 yards and four touchdowns.
With Engram out of the lineup, Brenton Strange has stepped up as the team’s TE1. The 2023 second-round pick has collected five receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown this season. Luke Farrell has climbed the depth chart to the TE2 role, while Josiah Deguara had a brief Week 3 cameo as the team’s third tight end.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/24
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: OT Germain Ifedi
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (story)
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: LB Ty Summers
After suffering a pectoral injury in Week 2, Ja’Whaun Bentley officially landed on injured reserve today. With the linebacker expected to be sidelined for the rest of the season, the player willingly gave up his captaincy to safety Kyle Dugger, per Ben Volin of The Boston Globe.
Ty Summers was promoted from the practice squad for each of the Giants’ first three games, so the team had no choice but to sign the linebacker to the active roster. The former seventh-round pick has exclusively played on special teams for the Giants this season, and he hasn’t seen the field for a defensive snap since he was with the Packers in 2021.