NFC Notes: Gabbert, Lions, Packers, Seahawks
Three years ago, in the midst of a run to the playoffs, the 49ers elected to replace starting quarterback Alex Smith with backup Colin Kaepernick. That decision paid major dividends for a couple of years before the 49ers’ coaching staff and roster fell apart and Kaepernick’s career went off the rails.
With Kaepernick now on injured reserve and likely done in San Francisco, new starter Blaine Gabbert has a chance to follow in Smith’s footsteps and revive his career. Long before he lost his job to Kaepernick, Smith was the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft. He was maligned with the 49ers until 2011, when he turned his career around. Smith has since been an effective starter for both the Niners and Chiefs, and it isn’t crazy to suggest Gabbert could go down a similar road, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle opines.
Gabbert was the 10th overall pick in 2011 and had three woeful seasons in Jacksonville before joining the 49ers last year. He made his first start with the team Nov. 8 and helped lead it to a 17-16 win over the Falcons, going 15 of 25 for 185 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. As Branch writes, Gabbert has seven more starts to show 49ers brass what he’s capable of, and he could make a big statement in Seattle on Sunday. That will clearly be a tall order against the NFC’s top-ranked pass defense. Regardless, 49ers offensive coordinator Geep Chryst is hopeful Gabbert can be Smith 2.0.
“There were some similarities to what we felt Alex Smith went through,” said Chryst, who was the 49ers’ quarterbacks coach from 2011-12. “And we felt like Blaine had all this talent and, as a young player, maybe a change of scenery would be good for him.”
More on the 49ers and some other NFC teams:
- In a scathing piece, Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News refers to 49ers brass as “bizarre and mindlessly cryptic” for how it handled Kaepernick’s injury. Kawakami likens the end of Kaepernick’s time in San Francisco to that of former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, whose battle with the front office led to his departure after last season.
- Though the Lions are sitting near the bottom of the league at 2-7, their general manager opening is highly appealing, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com submits. The reasons: Detroit’s abundance of draft picks, positive salary cap situation, the return of injured linebacker DeAndre Levy in 2016, and the likelihood of the new GM having full autonomy over the football department.
- The 6-3 Packers might play Sunday’s crucial game against NFC North rival Minnesota (7-2) with only four receivers, as Jared Abbrederis is out, Ty Montgomery is doubtful and, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (Twitter link), the team won’t call up Ed Williams from the practice squad. Green Bay is on a three-game losing streak and one contributing factor has been a decline in the passing game, so having a minimal amount of targets probably won’t help Aaron Rodgers‘ cause against the Vikings – who have been stingy against quarterbacks this year. Their defense ranks eighth in the league in aerial yardage allowed, ninth in yards per attempt and 12th in passer rating.
- The Seahawks will wait another week to activate cornerback Jeremy Lane, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. Lane, who suffered ACL and wrist injuries in the Super Bowl last February, came off the physically unable to perform list two weeks ago and has been practicing since. If the Seahawks don’t activate him for their Nov. 29 game against the Steelers, they’ll have to place him on season-ending IR.
QB Notes: Osweiler, Winston, Manziel, Kaep
Three years after the Broncos selected him in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, quarterback Brock Osweiler will finally make his first career start Sunday. Osweiler has sat behind the now-injured Peyton Manning as QBs who were taken after him have garnered far more playing time. Seattle’s Russell Wilson, chosen 18 picks after Osweiler, is already a Super Bowl winner and one of the most decorated signal callers in the league. Kirk Cousins – who went 31 choices behind Osweiler – is doing a fine job in his first season as Washington’s starter. On the other hand, Nick Foles (45 picks after Osweiler) has cooled off significantly since a red-hot 2013 and is currently riding the bench in St. Louis.
The Broncos opted for Osweiler with the 57th pick in 2012 rather than someone like Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David – who went 58th – for multiple reasons, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com: 1. General manager John Elway liked Osweiler’s size (6-foot-8, 240 pounds), especially compared to the diminutive Wilson’s (5-11, 206). 2. Manning came to the Broncos that year off a major neck injury, so Denver wanted to make sure it could find an insurance policy as early as possible in the draft. In Elway’s opinion at the time, Osweiler was the best fit. We’ll begin finding out whether he can be the answer for 7-2 Denver when its struggling offense goes on the road Sunday to face 4-5 Chicago.
Here are some more QB notes from around the league:
- Buccaneers rookie Jameis Winston has notified CNN that he could sue the network if it goes through with its Sunday plan to broadcast “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary about college campus rape, according to ESPN. The documentary centers on Winston’s rape investigation from his time at Florida State and includes the first public interview with his accuser, Erica Kinsman. “We urge CNN to reconsider the reckless decision to proceed with the broadcast of this deeply-flawed documentary in the face of the overwhelming evidence the film’s producers consciously and intentionally failed to adhere to any accepted journalistic standards,” Winston’s lawyer wrote in a letter to CNN.
- The Browns decided earlier this week that second-year man Johnny Manziel, not veteran Josh McCown, will start the rest of the season under center. Head coach Mike Pettine was committed to McCown earlier this season, but Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer opines that he made the choice because it’s time to truly see what Manziel can do. At 2-8, the Browns need to find out whether Manziel, a first-rounder in 2013, can be the answer going forward. If not, they might need to spend another top pick on a QB in next year’s draft. If the draft were today, they’d pick No. 1, which has often been a prime spot to land a franchise passer. Manziel has acquitted himself well statistically this season, especially in a 372-yard effort in a loss to Pittsburgh last Sunday, and will obviously need to continue doing so in order to convince the Browns to use their first-rounder on another position.
- After the 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick landed on season-ending injured reserve with a torn left labrum earlier Saturday, his brother tweeted that he played four and a half games with the injury. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora subsequently deduced that Kaepernick sustained the injury during a Week 4 loss to Green Bay. The 49ers are now acknowledging that they did examine Kaepernick’s shoulder after the Packers game, though they concluded at the time that he didn’t suffer a significant injury (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee).
AFC East Notes: Jets, Dolphins
The latest news regarding a pair of AFC East clubs:
- Fifth-year Jets defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson – making just under $7MM this year – is due for a new contract in the offseason, which he says has motivated him this season. “I know that I’m underpaid right now and I’m gonna play like … I’m somebody that needs to be paid,” Wilkerson told Steve Serby of the New York Post. Wilkerson has four straight seasons of at least five sacks – including seven already this year – and knows he’ll be on the receiving end of a blockbuster payday in the offseason. He just isn’t sure which team will give it to him. “[S]omebody’ll pay me if the Jets don’t,” he said. The Jets weren’t able to lock up Wilkerson during the summer, and the 26-year-old shut down negotiations entering the season because he didn’t want them to serve as a distraction.
- Like Wilkerson, Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie could also be in another uniform in 2016. As Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News writes, Cromartie has struggled this season and what’s left of the four-year, $32MM deal he signed last winter won’t be difficult for the Jets to get out of during the offseason. Unlike Wilkerson, the 31-year-old Cromartie isn’t concerned about his long-term status. “The only thing I can control is finishing this year on a high note. That’s it. I can’t put myself in a position where I’m thinking, ‘What’s going to happen after this season?’ My goal is to try to help bring a Super Bowl here.”
- Dolphins interim coach Dan Campbell has gone 3-2 since taking over for the fired Joe Philbin and has his team in the playoff hunt in the AFC. While it’s unlikely that 4-5 Miami ultimately reaches the postseason, it could help Campbell’s cause that he and Dolphins football czar Mike Tannenbaum have a good relationship. “He’s really just helped me get my feet wet here,” Campbell told Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald. “I would say a lot of it is behind-the-scenes-type things that he’s helped me take care of, from who sits on the plane to handling things down at the stadium.” Added Tannenbaum, “Dan and I have a great partnership. We collaborate and discuss a lot of different things.”
Justin Hunter Fractures Ankle, Out For Season
MONDAY, 1:29pm: Mularkey confirmed today that Hunter is undergoing surgery on his broken ankle, and will be placed on injured reserve (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). Practice squad wideout Tre McBride will be a candidate to be promoted to the active roster as the team determines how to replace Hunter, tweets McCormick.
SUNDAY, 6:01pm: After Titans receiver Justin Hunter had to be carted off the field with an injury during his team’s 27-10 loss to Carolina on Sunday, head coach Mike Mularkey referred to the ailment as “not good.” Mularkey was correct, as Hunter fractured his right ankle, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). As a result, Hunter will miss the rest of the season, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider reports (via Twitter).
Hunter, 24, caught four passes Sunday, giving him 22 for the season. Prior to his injury, the third-year man was on track to easily eclipse the career-high 28 receptions he amassed in 2014.
NFC Notes: Packers, Saints, Eagles
A look around the NFC. . .
- Although the Packers’ offense is slumping, head coach Mike McCarthy said after Sunday’s 18-16 loss to Detroit that he won’t take play-calling duties away from coordinator Tom Clements. “I like the way our staff works, and I like the way they work with our players,” McCarthy stated, per ESPN’s Jason Wilde. McCarthy called Green Bay’s offensive plays from 2006-14 before deciding to give the role to Clements this year.
- The 4-6 Saints are entering their bye week, and Larry Holder of NOLA.com writes that it’s the perfect time for head coach Sean Payton to fire defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and give Ryan’s job to defensive assistant Dennis Allen. Payton brought in Allen after Ryan’s defense finished 31st in the league last season. Led by Ryan, the Saints have allowed 130 points over the last three weeks – including 47 in an embarrassing defeat in Washington on Sunday. Afterward, Payton said that “we’re not going to discuss any of those types of changes, certainly not right now.”
- While Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford hasn’t been particularly good this year, Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer submits that Sunday’s output by backup Mark Sanchez was a prime example of why nobody should call for Sanchez to take over the starting job. After an injured Bradford left the Eagles’ game against Miami with Philadelphia leading 16-13, Sanchez came in and failed to help the team to victory – even throwing a costly interception – in a 20-19 defeat. The season’s on the brink for the 4-5 Eagles, and Sielski doesn’t expect their playoff chances to stay alive for long if Bradford misses time and Sanchez has to be the No. 1 signal caller.
- Jeff McLane of the Inquirer believes that Eagles head coach and football czar Chip Kelly‘s decision to trade for Bradford in the offseason was a worthy gamble. However, Kelly could be done in by his failure to surround Bradford with a sturdier offensive line and better receivers, McLane opines.
Julian Edelman Suffers Broken Bone In Foot
The Patriots improved to an AFC-best 9-0 on Sunday with their last-second, 27-26 win over the Giants, but the victory comes at a cost: Wide receiver Julian Edelman broke a bone in his foot and will miss significant time, reports Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo (Twitter link).
Edelman left in the first half of Sunday’s game with an injury to fifth metatarsal, which could keep him out until at least the playoffs, per Garafolo (Twitter link). According to Dr. David Chao of SiriusXM (via Twitter), surgery is the quickest way to return from this injury – known as a “Jones fracture” – and, barring setbacks, the timetable for recovery should be approximately six to eight weeks. Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant suffered the same injury in Week 1 and returned in Week 8. Edelman will undergo surgery Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
The 29-year-old Edelman, who caught four passes for 53 yards against the Giants, leads the Pats in receptions (61) and is second in both yards (692) and touchdowns (seven). Prior to his injury, he was on pace to finish with at least 90 catches for the third straight year. He appeared primed to eclipse the 100-reception and 1,000-yard barriers for the second time each, and had already hauled in a career high in TDs. His loss comes on the heels of the season-ending ACL tear suffered last week by teammate Dion Lewis, a running back who was one of the Pats’ best weapons pre-injury. Of quarterback Tom Brady‘s 251 completions this season, 97 have gone to Edelman and Lewis.
AFC Notes: Manning, Osweiler, Manziel
The latest on some AFC quarterbacks:
- Peyton Manning‘s dreadful 2015 season reached a new low Sunday when he completed just 5 of 20 passes for 35 yards and four interceptions in the Broncos’ 29-13 loss to the Chiefs. Head coach Gary Kubiak removed Manning from the game in the second half in favor of backup Brock Osweiler, but Kubiak took the blame for Manning’s poor showing afterward. Kubiak said that he “made a bad decision” in playing Manning, who entered the game with a rib injury (Twitter link via Troy Renck of The Denver Post). Kubiak added, “Peyton is our quarterback,” per Renck (via Twitter).
- Osweiler was better than Manning on Sunday, completing 14 of 24 passes for 146 yards, a touchdown and an interception. But he doesn’t expect to parlay that into increased playing time. After the game, the fourth-year man echoed Kubiak and threw his support behind Manning. “Peyton is our QB,” he said, according to Renck (Twitter link). “We all support him 100 percent. I don’t expect to start.”
- Browns head coach Mike Pettine will have a hard time taking the starting job away from Johnny Manziel and giving it back to Josh McCown after Manziel’s Sunday showing, writes Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. Though the Browns dropped a 30-9 decision to Pittsburgh, Manziel was impressive in completing 33 of 45 passes for 372 yards. In Manziel’s previous start, a 31-10 loss to the Bengals in Week 9, the second-year man hit on 15 of 33 throws for 168 yards. From at least a statistical standpoint, then, Manziel significantly improved this week. Pettine acknowledged as much, saying (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com), “He took a big step forward.”
Sam Bradford Has Sprained AC Joint, Concussion
Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford had to leave his team’s 20-19 loss to Miami in the third quarter Sunday with injuries after a sack by Dolphins linebacker Chris McCain. It turns out Bradford suffered a concussion and a Grade II sprain in the AC joint in his left shoulder, according to the Philadelphia Daily News’ Les Bowen (Twitter links: 1; 2). While Bowen speculates that the shoulder injury isn’t one that should keep Bradford out long, the unpredictable nature of concussions leaves his status going forward murky.
At 4-5, the Eagles are fighting for their playoff lives and are about to face two games in a short span – one next Sunday against the Buccaneers, the second a few days later on Thanksgiving (in Detroit) – so a banged-up Bradford doesn’t seem to bode well for their postseason chances.
AFC West Notes: Broncos, Chargers
A look around the AFC West as Friday wraps up. . .
- Despite entering last Sunday 6-0, there was skepticism regarding whether the Broncos were true Super Bowl contenders. But their defense erased it in suffocating a lethal Packers offense, writes Troy Renck of The Denver Post. In their 29-10 rout, the Broncos made the NFC’s best quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, look far below average in holding him to a shockingly low 77 yards on 22 attempts. Thanks in part to its destruction of the Rodgers-led Packers, Denver’s defense is atop the league in sacks, points per game, yards per game and yards per play, and Chuck Pagano – the head coach of the Broncos’ next opponent, the Colts – is well aware of the unit’s dominance. “When you put the tape on, they are very reminiscent of the 2000 (Baltimore) Ravens,” Pagano said. “They have talent on all levels.”
- Broncos cornerback Chris Harris, one of the driving forces behind their their success, doesn’t see much parity in the NFL. “There are probably five teams that can win a Super Bowl each year. And everybody else is just there, really,” he told Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today. In assessing the league’s four currently undefeated teams – including his own – Harris said, “If you’re 7-0, you’re mainly good because you’re great. But you’re also good because you’ve got some games where it’s just a huge mismatch, and that isn’t the goal.”
- Chargers general manager Tom Telesco bought low last offseason when he signed cornerback Patrick Robinson to a one-year, $1.25MM contract, a move that now looks like one of the best value pickups of the 2015 free agent class. The sixth-year man has held opposing quarterbacks to a horrid 45.9 passer rating the 23 times they’ve thrown his way, per Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune. That rating is easily the best among Chargers corners. Brandon Flowers, their most established CB, has been torched to the tune of a 136.5 rating on 45 attempts this season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/6/15
Here are Friday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL, updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Walter Powell (Twitter link via the team)
- Cut: OT Chris Martin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR/QB Tyler Murphy (link via the team’s website)