Packers DT Montravius Adams To Miss Time
Packers rookie defensive tackle Montravius Adams suffered a stress fracture in his foot and is expected to require a screw inserted, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). While Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy announced Adams will miss “several weeks,” Rapoport indicates Adams will be hard-pressed to be available for the start of the 2017 regular season.
Adams, the 93rd overall pick of the draft, had been expected to compete for a rotational role along the Packers’ defensive line. Clearly, that could still happen at some point later in the season, but it will be exceedingly difficult for Adams to register playing time without having had the benefit of a rookie training camp and preseason.
Adams has already practiced this year, so he isn’t eligible for the physically unable to perform list. If Green Bay wants to stash Adams without having him count towards the roster count, it will have to place him on injured reserve, and then designate him as one of two players to return from IR following an eight-week absence.
The Packers were already fairly thin along the defensive interior, especially considering that Letroy Guion will be suspended for the first four games of the season. While reserves such as Ricky Jean-Francois or Christian Ringo could potentially slide to nose tackle, Green Bay could conceivably consider outside additions. Dan Williams, Jared Odrick, Arthur Jones, and Vance Walker are the best interior lineman on the free agent market, though not all are cut out to play one-technique.
No Ezekiel Elliott Announcement This Week
The NFL will not announce a suspension for Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott this week, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link), who reports the league is still waiting for the four external advisors who attended Elliott’s meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell to complete their work.
A league announcement on Elliott’s suspension has been expected for some time, but the timeline of the implementation has been continually pushed back. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has repeatedly stated that he expects a decision on Elliott to be handed down soon, but no news was disseminated over the weekend, and now Dallas must wait until next week (at least) until it learns whether it will be without its star running back.
The NFL is reportedly wrapping up its investigation into Elliott, but Jones stood behind Elliott when addressing the media earlier this month. “I have reviewed everything and there is absolutely nothing – not one thing – that had anything to do with domestic violence,” Jones said. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com recently reported a “growing sense” that Elliott will face a league-imposed suspension. Elliott was never arrested or charged in the incident, but his accuser addressed her allegations in a statement last week.
49ers Sign WR Louis Murphy
The 49ers have signed veteran wide receiver Louis Murphy to a one-year deal, the club announced today. In order to create a roster spot, San Francisco waived/injured linebacker Jimmie Gilbert.
Murphy, a seven-year NFL veteran, has spent time with four clubs during his pro tenure, with his last stop coming in Tampa Bay. The former fourth-round pick’s best season came in 2010, when he posted 41 receptions and 609 yards for the Raiders. Health questions (a torn ACL in 2015 followed by a setback during rehab) and off-field concerns (an arrest on gun charges earlier this year) have limited Murphy’s market, but he should have a chance to compete for time in San Francisco.
While the 49ers have some intriguing options among their current receiver crop, the club lacks established players aside from Pierre Garcon and Jeremy Kerley. While Marquise Goodwin, Aldrick Robinson, Bruce Ellington, Trent Taylor, and others each have interesting attributes, Murphy is more experienced than any of them.
Gilbert, meanwhile, is expected to miss the 2017 campaign after suffering a torn ACL, as the 49ers announced earlier today. Gilbert is a rookie undrafted free agent out of Colorado.
Ravens No Longer Considering RGIII
Although the Ravens considered bringing in Robert Griffin III for a workout, the free agent quarterback is no longer on Baltimore’s radar, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. The Ravens are still assessing other signal-callers, including Colin Kaepernick, per Hensley.
Baltimore is on the hunt for another option under center while starter Joe Flacco deals with a back injury. Head coach John Harbaugh recently labeled Flacco “day-to-day,” but the Ravens still want another quarterback on the roster, especially given the struggles of incumbent backup Ryan Mallett. Although Baltimore swapped out David Olson for Josh Woodrum earlier today, that move isn’t expected to affect the team’s search for a more established quarterback.
For Griffin, meanwhile, his dalliance with Baltimore marks the second time in the past week he’s been unfruitfully linked to a club with a quarterback need. RG3, who’s reportedly been generating “minor interest,” worked out for the Chargers last week but is unlikely to sign after Los Angeles acquired Cardale Jones from the Bills. The Seahawks also considered Griffin earlier this year, but ultimately went with Austin Davis instead.
As the Ravens continue to seek another quarterback, free agent options such as Christian Ponder, Shaun Hill, and Zach Mettenberger could potentially come into play.
Texans To Sign Marcus Gilchrist
The Texans have agreed to sign free agent safety Marcus Gilchrist to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links).
Gilchrist, 28, worked out for Houston earlier this month, and the club evidently liked what it saw from the former Jet as he continues to work his way back from a torn patellar tendon. Previous reports had indicated Gilchrist was progressing in his recovery, and he’ll now give the Texans depth at a position where the team was sorely lacking.
Given his level of experience (91 appearances, 69 starts), Gilchrist figures to be tossed into the Texans’ starting lineup immediately. He’ll likely displace Corey Moore, who has only eight career starts under his belt, in replacing Quintin Demps, who signed with the Bears in the spring.
Gilchrist had been a beacon of health until suffering the patellar tendon injury last December, as he’d started 61 consecutive games without an absence. In 2016, he picked off two passes in 13 games en route a passable 53rd-place ranking among Pro Football Focus’ 90 qualified safeties.
5 Key Stories: 7/23/17 – 7/30/17
Holdouts from star players. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald didn’t report to training camp last week as he seeks a new contract, and he wasn’t the only player to fail to report. Left tackle Donald Penn didn’t show at Raiders camp, and the veteran offensive lineman is reportedly looking for top-10 positional money. Donald, meanwhile, presumably wants to be paid like the NFL’s best defender, but Los Angeles controls his right for two more years.
Ravens hit hard by injuries. Having already witnessed Dennis Pitta and Tavon Young go down with serious injuries, Baltimore lost several more significant players to health questions this week. Running back Kenneth Dixon is out for the year with a torn meniscus, leading the Ravens to sign Bobby Rainey. Tight end Crockett Gillmore also has a meniscus injury (severity unknown), so Baltimore added Larry Donnell, while quarterback Joe Flacco‘s back issue could lead the Ravens to bring in Colin Kaepernick.
Extensions galore. With the regular season fast approaching, many clubs are working on long-term deals that will lock in key players for the years to come. Among the players who’ve signed new pacts over the past weeks: Cowboys tackle La’el Collins (link), Jaguars center Brandon Linder (link), Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (link), Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva (link), Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (link), Viking cornerback Xavier Rhodes (link), and Lions safety Glover Quin (link).
Not so Lucky Whitehead. Whitehead had one of the more eventful weeks for an NFL player in recent memory, and it all began with a case of mistaken identity. An arrest warrant was issued for the former Cowboys wideout after he failed to appear for an arraignment, but Whitehead wasn’t actually involved in the case. Nevertheless, he was still waived by Dallas. The Jets subsequently picked him up, but Whitehead is understandably miffed about the entire incident.
AFC retirements. Patriots defensive lineman Rob Ninkovich and Ravens offensive lineman John Urschel both announced their retirements over the past week, but each player is an entirely separate case. While Ninkovich is 33 years old and perhaps nearing the end of his road, Urschel is just 26. The former Baltimore center acknowledged a recent study showing the prevalence of CTE in ex-NFLers played a role in his decision, and could also be affecting the status of Steelers safety Daimion Stafford, who is also mulling retirement.
Free Agent IK Enemkpali Medically Cleared
Free agent defender IK Enemkpali has received a “clean bill of health” from Dr. James Andrews and is “100% ready to return” to the NFL after sustaining a torn ACL nearly a year ago, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Although he’s probably still best known for breaking Jets quarterback Geno Smith‘s jaw prior to the 2015 campaign, the 26-year-old Enemkpali has shown the ability to act as a reserve defensive end/linebacker since being selected in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. He appeared in 17 games from 2014-15 with the Jets and Bills, and had been slated for a larger role with Buffalo last season before injuring his knee.
Enemkpali seemed to a favorite of former NFL coach Rex Ryan, as the latter was in New York when Enemkpali was drafted and then acquired him off waivers even after the Smith incident. With Ryan no longer coaching in the league (and his longtime defensive assistant Dennis Thurman also currently unemployed), it remains to be seen if a club will take a chance on Enemkpali.
Crockett Gillmore To Undergo Knee Surgery
Ravens tight end Crockett Gillmore will undergo meniscus surgery on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Baltimore will be able to further assess Gillmore’s condition once the operation is complete, per Rapoport.
Meniscus injuries typically require one of two treatments: either a trim, or a full repair. A trim will typically allow a player to return much more quickly following the surgery. A full repair, meanwhile, is better for the long-term health of the player’s knee, but often requires a season-long absence. Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon, for example, recently underwent a repair, meaning he’ll miss the 2017 campaign.
Baltimore’s tight end depth has already been reduced this offseason, as Dennis Pitta was released after suffering a possibly career-ending injury, while Darren Waller is suspended for the entire season. Maxx Williams and Ben Watson, meanwhile, are recovering from injuries, leading the Ravens to sign veteran tight end Larry Donnell earlier today.
Gillmore, 25, was last productive during the 2015 season, when he posted 33 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns. In 2016, Gillmore appeared in only seven games, while dealing with back and knee injuries.
Buccaneers Sign Marqueston Huff
The Buccaneers have signed free agent safety Marqueston Huff, the club announced today. Tampa Bay also signed wide receiver Jhajuan Seales and waived wide receiver and Thomas Sperbeck and safety Alex Gray.
Huff, 25, has already enjoyed stints with two other clubs — the Ravens and Chiefs — this offseason. After Baltimore withdrew Huff’s restricted free agent tender, Huff signed on with Kansas City, but his tenure with the Chiefs didn’t last long. Kansas City cut ties with Huff after he spent fewer than three months on its roster.
A former fourth-round pick, Huff has primarily been a special teams player throughout his three-year NFL career, as he’s appeared in 41 games but only posted one start. Last season with the Ravens, Huff played in 11 games but saw action on just 32 defensive snaps. He played on nearly half of Baltimore’s special teams snaps, though.
Tampa Bay has boasted one of the league’s worst safety tandems for several years running, but the club made several additions to the position this offseason. The Buccaneers used a second-round pick on Texas A&M defensive back Justin Evans, and also signed free agent J.J. Wilcox to two-year pact.
Malik McDowell Could Miss 2017 Season
Seahawks rookie defensive tackle Malik McDowell could potentially miss the season after being involved in an ATV accident, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). McDowell suffered a concussion and facial injuries in the mishap, per Mike Garafolo and James Palmer of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Seattle released a statement today indicating McDowell is currently undergoing care in Michigan. McDowell himself, meanwhile, tweeted that his injuries are not career- or life-threatening, and added that he expects to rejoin the the Seahawks soon.
Given that he’s unable to practice, McDowell has been placed on the reserve/did not report list, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. To fill McDowell’s roster spot, the Seahawks have signed fellow defensive tackle Rodney Coe, per Condotta.
McDowell, a Michigan State product, was the Seahawks’ first selection in the draft and the No. 35 overall pick. Originally holding the No. 25 selection, Seattle traded down three times — acquiring a bevy of extra draft capital in the process — before picking up McDowell at the top of the second round.
A defensive tackle for the Spartans, McDowell had been expected to also play defensive end for the Seahawks. While Seattle is well-stocked along the defensive line, the club was surely hoping to see what it had its rookie interior defender in 2017. If McDowell is forced to miss his rookie campaign, defensive linemen such as Jarran Reed, Ahtyba Rubin, Dion Jordan, and Marcus Smith could see more playing time.