Falcons Place Return Specialist Jakeem Grant On IR
After signing with the Falcons on Saturday, Jakeem Grant‘s season has already come to an end. The team announced that the return specialist was placed on injured reserve today.
[RELATED: Falcons Sign Return Specialist Jakeem Grant]
Grant made it through only one full practice before going down. Per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the special teamer suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday that forced him off the practice field.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a shocking development for Grant, who has suffered through a list of injuries in recent years. After signing with the Browns ahead of the 2022 campaign, Grant suffered a torn Achilles tendon that ended his season before it began. The veteran suffered another season-ending injury during the 2023 preseason, this time thanks to a ruptured patellar tendon.
Prior to his run of injuries, the former sixth-round pick was one of the most dynamic returners in the NFL. Grant collected six return touchdowns through his six healthy seasons, including a pair of kickoffs of more than 100 yards. Grant also showed some flashes on offense, including a 2020 campaign with the Dolphins where he hauled in 36 catches for 373 yards.
Considering his special teams prowess, teams were willing to look past his recent injury woes. Grant was a popular name on the workout circuit this offseason, getting looks from the Eagles, Saints, and Jets. Grant could potentially play again this season if he’s able to work out his release with the Falcons.
In Atlanta, Grant was likely going to be competing with the likes of Ray-Ray McCloud and Avery Williams for return snaps. He also could have seen a role on offense, especially following Rondale Moore‘s season-ending injury.
Panthers Eyeing CB Depth Following Dane Jackson Injury
The Panthers are down a cornerback. Dane Jackson suffered a hamstring injury that could sideline him for up to six weeks, per ESPN’s David Newton. Head coach Dave Canales described the injury as “significant” (via Newton), and considering the suggested timeline, there’s a good chance Jackson starts the season on the IR.
This was an unfortunate development for Jackson, who was in line for a significant role in Carolina’s secondary. The cornerback signed with the Panthers back in March after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Bills, where he started 28 of his 52 appearances (and five of his six playoff games).
With the Panthers, Jackson was expected to soak up some of the snaps left over following the departures of Donte Jackson and Jeremy Chinn. Jaycee Horn is still penciled in atop the depth chart, but the rest of the team’s cornerbacks corps lack experience. That grouping includes the likes of Troy Hill, Lamar Jackson, rookie fifth-round pick Chau Smith-Wade, and recent addition Anthony Brown.
Even before Jackson’s injury, the team was searching for some reinforcement at the position. The team worked out Jerry Jacobs before adding Brown, and they were connected to Stephon Gilmore at various points of the offseason. Joseph Person of The Athletic writes that it’s unknown “what the recent engagement has been” on the Gilmore front, but the writer still says Jackson’s injury will once again put the Panthers in the cornerback market.
Rashee Rice Likely Available For Week 1?
With the start of the regular season rapidly approaching, it’s seeming increasingly likely that Rashee Rice will be available for Week 1. A source told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that the NFL hasn’t met with nor interviewed the Chiefs wideout about any of his offseason legal issues, a major indication that Rice will be allowed to play at the beginning of the campaign.
[RELATED: Chiefs WR Rashee Rice: “I’ve Learned So Much”]
As Florio notes, there are two possible paths to Rice being unavailable for the start of the 2024 season. The receiver could be suspended without pay under the Personal Conduct Policy. However, the NFL won’t take any action until the legal process is played out. Florio notes that even if Rice’s case was resolved today, there still wouldn’t be enough time for the NFL to complete a disciplinary process that now includes a third party.
The second path would be the Commissioner Exempt list, but Florio believes this is an unlikely outcome. While Rice’s felony charge would fall under that “paid leave” umbrella, Florio notes that the NFL generally reserves the Commissioner Exempt list for domestic violence cases. Further, Florio opines that if the receiver was indeed destined for this list, the move would have already happened. To top it off, the NFL provided a statement to PFT hinting that an eventual unpaid suspension is the likelier outcome:
“We have been monitoring developments in the matter. Following the conclusion of the legal process, the NFL will review the matter under the Personal Conduct Policy.”
This offseason has been one filled with legal issues for the second-year pro. Rice is facing a total of eight felony charges stemming from a hit-and-run incident in Dallas on the evening of March 30. About a month later, Rice was accused of punching a photographer at a Dallas nightclub. That latter incident likely won’t lead to charges, although it could still be grouped into a potential suspension.
So, while Rice will likely eventually face NFL punishment, it probably won’t come until the legal process is completed. Until then, the wideout will be allowed to play for the Chiefs.
Rams Waive K Tanner Brown; Rookie Joshua Karty Wins Kicking Competition
The Rams have settled on their starting kicker. The team announced that they’ve waived Tanner Brown, meaning sixth-round rookie Joshua Karty has won the kicker competition.
Karty is coming off a standout career at Stanford. The kicker earned a pair of first-team All American nods while converting 85 percent of his field goal attempts and 98.6 percent of his extra point tries. That performance helped elevate him above the standard grouping of undrafted kickers, with Karty being the first kicker off the board (and one of only two overall alongside Cam Little) during the 2024 draft.
The rookie had an especially strong showing during the Rams’ preseason opener. Karty connected on both of his field goal attempts plus the game-winning extra point. Most notably, he got all of the team’s looks at the position, so the writing was on the wall for the other kicker on the roster.
Brown went undrafted out of Oklahoma State last offseason. He spent the entirety of his rookie campaign on the Rams practice squad, failing to leap the likes of Lucas Havrisik and Brett Maher. Brown should get another shot following 2021 and 2022 campaigns where he nailed 88.6 percent of his FG tries.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/24
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Daylen Baldwin, RB Hassan Hall
- Released (with injury settlement): WR Jeff Smith
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on PUP: RB Robert Burns
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: RB John Kelly
- Waived (with injury settlement): LB Quincy Roche
Buffalo Bills
- Waived-injured: WR Bryan Thompson
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR (with injury settlements): OT J.D. DiRenzo, TE Curtis Hodges
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: LB Alec Mock
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Essang Bassey
- Waived-injured: LB DaRon Gilbert
- Reverted to IR: WR Antoine Green
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Chris Russell
- Released from IR (with injury settlement): CB Don Callis
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Savion Jackson, LB Shaq Quarterman
- Waived: TE Ben Mason, CB Chris Wilcox
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Jordan Kunaszyk
- Waived-injured: LB Jabril Cox
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Kaleb Ford-Dement
- Waived: RB Zander Horvath
- Released from IR (with injury settlement): WR Jermaine Jackson
New York Jets
- Released from IR (with injury settlement): WR Hamze El-Zayat
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived-injured: WR Tarik Black
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR (with injury settlement): NT Matthew Gotel
Raiders Sign QB Nathan Peterman
Nathan Peterman‘s NFL journey has landed him back with the Raiders. The organization announced today that they’ve signed the veteran quarterback. In a corresponding move, the team waived/injured wide receiver Keelan Doss.
Peterman is most known for tossing five interceptions during the first half of his NFL debut, but he’s since garnered a reputation as a steady backup QB. He had a nearly four-year stint with the Raiders, making only brief cameos in relief of Derek Carr. He also had a two-year stay with the Bears between 2022 and 2023. In total, Peterman has gone 1-4 in his five career starts.
The veteran signed with the Saints back in March but was cut loose earlier this month. The Raiders will now take a chance on a player who’s not only familiar with the organization, but also the playbook. As Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal observes, Peterson played the last two seasons in Chicago under new Raiders OC Luke Getsy, so it shouldn’t take the QB long to get his feet wet.
Bonsignore notes that Peterman might have simply been added to soak up preseason snaps. However, he could also provide an upgrade at QB3 over the likes of Anthony Brown Jr. and UDFA Carter Bradley (and behind Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell).
Doss has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted in 2019, including a handful of stints with the Raiders. He most recently spent two years with the Chargers, hauling in six catches for 33 yards.
CB Stephon Gilmore To Visit Vikings
While Stephon Gilmore has flirted with a pair of his former teams this offseason, the one-time Defensive Player of the Year still hadn’t garnered a workout during this free agency cycle. That’s apparently about to change, as the veteran cornerback is set to meet with the Vikings tomorrow, per Josina Anderson.
The Vikings haven’t been connected to Gilmore this offseason. However, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes that the organization has “maintained interest” in the veteran for some time.
Minnesota’s cornerback situation has changed considerably over the past few months. Fourth-round rookie Khyree Jackson died tragically in a car accident back in July, and second-year contributor Mekhi Blackmon suffered a torn ACL early in training camp. The organization still has holdovers like Byron Murphy and slot CB Josh Metellus, and the Vikings previously added Shaquill Griffin, Fabian Moreau, and Nahshon Wright to the mix.
Still, Gilmore would provide the Vikings with another dependable cornerback on an uncertain depth chart. Following the end of his successful four-year stint with the Patriots, Gilmore has spent time with the Panthers, Colts, and Cowboys since the 2021 campaign. The defensive back has still graded out favorably by Pro Football Focus over that span, and since being limited to eight games with Carolina in 2021, he’s topped 1,000 defensive snaps in each of the past two years.
Despite the consistency, Gilmore has struggled to find a job this offseason. After spending the 2023 season with the Cowboys, Gilmore stated a desire to stick with Dallas, although there were few developments on that front. Gilmore also flirted with another former squad in the Panthers, and he recently hinted that he’d be open to a reunion with the Patriots. We’ll see if the Vikings’ interest finally leads to a deal.
Falcons Hoping To Trade QB Taylor Heinicke?
The Falcons invested heavily in the quarterback position this offseason. As a result, the team may be shopping their lone holdover at the position. As Josh Kendall of The Athletic writes, the Falcons staff is “behaving like it would prefer to get some trade value for Taylor Heinicke” vs. keeping him around as a QB3.
Heinicke had a successful run in Washington between 2021 and 2022, guiding his squad to a 12-11-1 record as a starter. That performance helped earn him a two-year, $14MM deal with his hometown Falcons last offseason, where he was expected to provide former third-round pick Desmond Ridder with some competition. Heinicke ultimately got four starts for Atlanta, going 1-3 while completing a career-low 54.4 percent of his passes.
The Falcons rebooted their QB position this offseason. First, they handed Kirk Cousins a lucrative contract, providing the organization with some veteran consistency at the position for the first time since the Matt Ryan era. The team later surprised many when they also added first-round QB Michael Penix Jr., a decision that definitively locked up a second QB spot on the 53-man roster.
While the team generally carried three QBs in 2023 while taking advantage of the league’s emergency quarterback spot, that might not be the case in 2024. Kendall says the team may prefer to just stash a young option on the practice squad as a QB3, and that means Heinicke (along with current QB4 Nathan Rourke) would likely be on the outside looking in.
While the Falcons would surely prefer to trade their quarterback, it may be easier said than done. Teams won’t be willing to give up a whole lot if they expect the Falcons to eventually cut Heinicke, and any QB-needy squads may just prefer to take their chances in a post-preseason bidding war. On the flip side, Heinicke doesn’t necessarily break the bank with his $4.5MM cap hit, and his starting experience could be valuable for teams seeking a dependable QB2. All the Falcons need is one suitor, but the team shouldn’t expect more than a late-round swap for the 31-year-old.
Patriots Eyeing OT Depth?
With the Patriots now out of the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes, the team will pivot to improving other offensive positions. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Patriots are expected to “turn their full attention” to acquiring offensive tackle depth. The organization could consider a number of different routes as they seek reinforcement, including a trade, a veteran free agent, or an inexperienced tryout player.
[RELATED: Latest On Patriots G Cole Strange’s Knee Injury]
With Trent Brown now out of the picture, the Patriots lack experience at both offensive tackle spots. At the moment, there are four clear candidates for the two starting gigs (per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald): Chukwuma Okorafor, Vederian Lowe, Calvin Anderson, and rookie third-round pick Caedan Wallace. One team source told Kyed that Okorafor and Lowe are likely in the lead at the moment, although Anderson was recently playing with the starters while Okorafor nursed an undisclosed injury.
As Kyed notes, Jerod Mayo is hoping to have his Week 1 starters locked in before the team’s third preseason game. So, if the Patriots plan to bring in another option at the position, the acquisition will only have a couple of weeks to make a good impression.
The current free agent market includes the likes of Donovan Smith, David Bakhtiari, D.J. Humphries, and Jason Peters. If the rebuilding Patriots intended to bring in one of these veterans, they probably would have already done so. More likely, the Patriots will continue to explore the trade market for some depth, and they could also hold out for players who shake loose at the end of the preseason (although that won’t help their starting lineup uncertainty).
Whatever combination of players the Patriots settle on for their offensive line, it’s unlikely to stick throughout the entire regular season. Former first-round guard Cole Strange will eventually return from a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. Whenever Strange comes back, the Patriots could consider moving Michael Onwenu back to offensive tackle, although the recent extension recipient has exclusively played guard throughout training camp.
QB Jarrett Stidham To Start Broncos Preseason Opener
When the Broncos take the field for their preseason opener tomorrow, it won’t be first-round pick Bo Nix under center. Instead, journeyman Jarrett Stidham will be starting the contest, as head coach Sean Payton told reporters on Friday (via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post).
[RELATED: Bo Nix Moving Ahead Of Jarrett Stidham In Broncos’ QB Competition?]
While recent reports indicated that the Broncos rookie may have leaped the veteran for the QB1 spot, Payton will be sticking with the same hierarchy that he’s rolled with for much of the offseason. As Gabriel notes, Stidham got first-team reps at minicamp, OTAs, and training camp, and the coaching staff isn’t planning to deviate from that plan on Sunday. However, the team will eventually give Nix an opportunity to play with the other Broncos starters, as Payton revealed that the Oregon product will start Denver’s second preseason game.
“I just think right now, certainly he’s been here, his experience,” Payton said of Stidham (via Gabriel). “Next week it’ll be Nix, but we’re focused on this game and I would say that it’s just where we’re at.”
Of course, all of the team’s quarterbacks will end up seeing the field on Sunday. Payton said Stidham will play “Phase 1” of the contest before giving way to Nix. The rookie will get his chunk of reps before Zach Wilson gets a look.
Considering Nix’s draft stock and Stidham’s underwhelming career stats, it seems like only a matter of time before the rookie takes the top spot on the depth chart. We heard recently that the 12th-overall pick appeared “to have edged past” Stidham for the starting gig, and at the very least, we learned Nix wouldn’t start the year occupying the No. 3 spot on the depth chart. With 61 college starts on his resume, Nix is better positioned than other rookie QBs to immediately take the reins, but it sounds like the Broncos are still going to take it (relatively) slow with their first-round investment.