Ryan Tannehill Could Return For Postseason?
The Dolphins are almost assured of making the playoffs as a AFC Wild Card team — FiveThirtyEight gives Miami a 92% chance of earning a postseason berth after yesterday’s win over the Bills — and quarterback Ryan Tannehill could potentially return in time for a Super Bowl run, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Tannehill has shed his cast from his injured left leg, and there is “real reason for optimism” that the Dolphins signal-caller could come back “at some point” during the tournament.
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Miami’s orginal plan was to consider Tannehill for Week 17 against the Patriots, but the Dolphins could clinch a playoff berth without beating New England — should the Broncos lose to the Chiefs tonight — so that would seemingly provide an extra week of rest while Miami prepares for what would be its first playoff game in eight years. However, news last week painted a grim picture for a Tannehill return, with his MCL injury being more severe than initially believed.
Backup quarterback Matt Moore has played well in two starts in relief of Tannehill, throwing six touchdowns against two interceptions while leading the Dolphins to consecutive victories. Still, Miami would surely prefer to turn back to Tannehill if he can return for a Wild Card weekend matchup against either the Steelers (the likely AFC North winner) or the Texans.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
49ers RB Carlos Hyde Has MCL Sprain
49ers running back Carlos Hyde sprained his MCL on Saturday against the Rams and will miss San Francisco’s game of the season, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Niners are set to close out the season on New Year’s Day against the Seahawks. Coach Chip Kelly has since confirmed the news.
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Hyde will finish his age-25 campaign having played in 13 games and posted career highs in nearly every offensive category. On 217 rush attempts, Hyde managed 988 yards (4.6 yards per attempt) and scored six touchdowns, while adding another three scores through the passing game. Hyde is signed through 2017, and now that he’s finished three NFL seasons, the 49ers are now allowed to extend him this offseason.
With Hyde sidelined for San Francisco’s season finale, the club could conceivably add another running back to its roster in the next week. Raheem Mostert, currently on the 49ers’ practice squad, is one obvious candidate to join Shaun Draughn, DuJuan Harris, and Mike Davis on the active roster.
Chargers Likely To Begin Coaching Search Soon
Although the Chargers have not yet formally relieved head coach Mike McCoy of his duties, the club is fully expected to do so and will commence its search for a new coach in the near future, sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
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Given that the Chargers are likely to relocate to Los Angeles, the team is now willing to expend resources in order to revamp its coaching search as it competes for talent with the Rams, who recently fired their head coach in Jeff Fisher. The Rams have already been linked to a number of candidates, including Jon Gruden, New Orleans head coach Sean Payton, and Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, although Gruden has maintained that he is not interested in returning to coaching at this time.
McCoy, meanwhile, has led the Chargers to a 5-10 record this season, and yesterday lost to the previously winless Browns. During his San Diego run, McCoy has posted a career mark of 27-36, and recently confirmed that the club has not offered him an extension (he’s currently signed only through 2016). For what it’s worth, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe indicated this morning that McCoy was unlikely to be fired after the season.
5 Key Stories: 12/18/16 – 12/25/16
Quarterbacks — and postseason chances — go down. A week after the Dolphins lost QB Ryan Tannehill for an indefinite amount of time, both the Raiders and Titans saw their starting signal-callers fall victim to injury. Derek Carr suffered a broken fibula and is unlikely to return for a playoff run, meaning Oakland will head into the tournament with Matt McGloin under center. Marcus Mariota went down with the same injury, and Tennessee subsequently fell to Jacksonville — eliminating the Titans from the postseason — with Matt Cassel leading the way. The quarterbacks Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots are likely to face in what now looks like an easy run through the AFC playoffs? Ben Roethlisberger, Alex Smith, Matt Moore, McGloin, and Tom Savage.
Jaguars fire Gus Bradley. After a three-plus year run with Jacksonville, head coach Gus Bradley was handed his walking papers after posting a 14-48 record (which translates to a .226 winning percentage, the second-lowest mark in league history). the Jaguars promoted offensive line coach Doug Marrone to interim head coach, and have seemingly already begun their search for a permanent solution. Both Tom Coughlin (link) and Kyle Shanahan (link) are thought to be candidates, while the club could also be interested in placing Coughlin in a front office role. Meanwhile, the next Jaguars head coach won’t be tied to quarterback Blake Bortles.
The search gets underway in LA. The Jaguars aren’t the only team on the hunt for a new coach, as the Rams are also looking for a new leader after firing Jeff Fisher. Los Angeles is reportedly focusing its efforts on ESPN commentator Jon Gruden, although Gruden said he has “no intention of coaching.” Kyle Shanahan is also possibly on the Rams’ list, while Saints coach Sean Payton reportedly has “sincere” interest in the position.
Legion of Boom to stay intact. All Pro safety Earl Thomas will return in 2017, dispelling any notion that he might instead opt for retirement after suffering a major injury a few weeks ago. Considered by many observers to be the key to Seattle’s defense, Thomas is among the best defensive players in the league, and his loss would have represented a significant blow to the Seahawks.
No Jamaal Charles for playoffs. The Chiefs opted to bring linebacker Justin March-Lillard off injured reserve last week, meaning that running back Jamaal Charles won’t be rejoining the club for a postseason run. Charles landed on IR in early November, but he likely would have been cleared for the playoffs had Kansas City decided to wait. But given the club’s lack of depth at linebacker, the Chiefs decided to go with March-Lillard instead.
Patriots Activate Jacoby Brissett
After something of a false start, the Patriots activated quarterback Jacoby Brissett from injured reserve Wednesday. To make room, they waived rookie defensive tackle Woodrow Hamilton (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com). Brissett returned to practice at the tail end of November, opening a three-week window during which New England had to place Brissett on the active roster or keep him on IR for the remainder of the season.
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Brissett, of course, started two games for the Patriots while Tom Brady was on suspension and backup Jimmy Garoppolo was injured. While posting a record of 1-1, Brissett completed 28 of 46 passes for more than 300 yards, and while he didn’t throw any touchdowns, he did score on the ground against the Texans in the midst of a 27-0 shutout in Week 3. The 24-year-old Brissett suffered a thumb injury during that contest, however, and while he started in Week 4, he was thereafter placed on IR after undergoing surgery.
Garoppolo has been the subject of recent trade speculation, and given that he’s only signed through the 2017 campaign, it’s certainly fair to wonder if the Patriots will ship him to the highest bidder during the offseason. Such a move would allow Brissett, a third-round pick earlier this year, to become Brady’s understudy as the club’s new backup QB.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Mario Williams Not Contemplating Retirement
Though the struggles that plagued him during the latter portion of his Bills career have followed him to Miami, Dolphins defensive end Mario Williams says he has no plans to retire following the season, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “No, no,” Williams said. “I don’t want it to end like this.”
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Williams, 31, has missed several games this season with a nagging ankle injury, but has rejected any thought that he might head to injured reserve (though he did allow that he may require surgery once the season concludes). The ankle ailment and his poor play have led Williams to be demoted off the Dolphins’ starting unit, as he’s been usurped by Andre Branch and has played on less than half the club’s defensive snaps. When he has been able to stay on the field, Williams has posted only 1.5 sacks and graded as the league’s No. 58 edge defender, per Pro Football Focus.
Williams inked a two-year, $17MM deal with Miami this spring, but at this point, it seems unlikely that he’ll see the second season of that contract, a notion that Jackson reported earlier this month. The Dolphins can release Williams next year and save $8.5MM while incurring only $2MM in dead money.
Notable 2017 Pro Bowl Incentives/Escalators
The NFL announced the 2017 Pro Bowl rosters earlier tonight, and aside from determining which players will spend a week in Orlando early next year, the rosters also dictate several important bonuses and/or contract escalators for individual players. Former NFL agent and current CBSSports.com contributor Joel Corry has rounded up the notable incentives earned tonight, and we’ll pass those along below. As Corry notes (Twitter links), only first ballot Pro Bowlers who actually participate in the game (unless injured or playing in the Super Bowl) can earn bonuses, which are typically paid out by the end of March.
Here are the notable Pro Bowl bonuses and escalators that were preliminarily netted this evening (all links to Corry’s Twitter):
Incentives
- Raiders G Kelechi Osemele, $300K (link): Under general manager Reggie McKenzie, the Raiders have employed what is often referred to as an “all cash” salary cap management system, wherein prorated signing bonuses are rarely used while base salary guarantees, roster bonuses, and — as evidenced by the number of Oakland players on this list — incentive clauses are heavily employed. Osemele, the league’s highest-paid interior offensive lineman, is signed through 2020 with cap charges north of $10MM in each season.
- Colts P Pat McAfee, $250K (link): McAfee, who signed a five-year extension with the Colts in 2014, ranks third in the NFL in net punting average at 42.8 yards. The Indy special teams unit ranks fourth in the league in DVOA, while McAfee himself has been worth four points of field position on punts, third-best in the AFC.
- Raiders S Reggie Nelson, $250K (link): Nelson sat on the free agent market until April, but has rewarded the Raiders for signing him by earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl season. The 33-year-old Nelson, who’s posted four interceptions after leading the NFL with eight picks in 2015, is in the middle of a two-year, $8.5MM deal.
- Raiders T Donald Penn, $200K (link): Penn is the definition of stability, as the veteran left tackle hasn’t missed a game since becoming a starter during his rookie season in 2007. Penn signed a two-year, $11.9MM contract with the Raiders this spring, and is set to count $6.1MM against Oakland’s cap in 2017.
- Raiders C Rodney Hudson, $100K (link): The third member of the Raiders’ offensive line to earn a Pro Bowl bonus, Hudson is the fourth-highest paid center in the league, earning $8.9MM annually. The No. 4 center in the NFL this year according to Pro Football Focus, Hudson is signed through the 2019 campaign.
- Titans RB DeMarco Murray, $100K (link): After a putrid season in Philadelphia during which he barely topped 700 yards rushing, Murray has rebounded since being traded to the Titans, and is currently second in the league with 1.224 yards on the ground. He’s scored nine rushing touchdowns, and has added three more scores thorugh the air.
Escalators
- Browns T Joe Thomas, $1.5MM 2017 roster bonus escalator (link): Thomas is due a roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year, and that bonus’ value has now increased from $1MM to $2.5MM. That bonus could factor in (in a minimal way) to any trade talks the Browns might have with other clubs, but Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson has been adamant that the Browns won’t deal Thomas.
- Titans LB Brian Orakpo, $200K 2017 base salary escalator (link): Orakpo’s 2017 base salary will increase to $5.95MM after he was selected to the Pro Bowl and played in more than 65% of the Titans’ defensive snaps. Orakpo, who has posted 11 sacks during his second season with Tennessee, is signed through 2018.
- Titans DT Jurrell Casey, $100K 2017 base salary escalator (link): Casey, 27, is arguably one of the more underpaid defenders in the league, as he’s due only $36MM from 2014-2018. His 2017 base salary will now increase to $5.9MM in 2017, and he’s also due a $200K roster bonus next spring.
Earl Thomas Still Considering Retirement
After suffering a broken bone that ended his season earlier this month, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas tweeted out a message that indicated retirement had crossed his mind following the injury. While some observers believed that Thomas was simply caught up in the emotion of the moment, Thomas told The Rich Eisen Show today that he still hasn’t decided whether he’ll return to Seattle in 2017.
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“Yeah, I’m kind of enjoying just waking up in the morning without the pressure,” Thomas said (link via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk). “Peace is starting to return to me, bro, and I think that’s my ultimate goal in life. I just want to have peace. But I can say when I went back to the [Seahawks practice facility] the other day, my competitive juices came right back. I don’t know, man. I’m kind of caught in between right now. … I’m never going to step on a football field half-heartedly. … But if I have any doubts, I don’t want to play the game.”
A Thomas retirement would be a massive blow to the Seahawks’ defense, as the 27-year-old is generally considered the best safety in the NFL. It’s difficult to gauge the level of Thomas’ interest in retirement given that he suffered a serious injury just weeks ago, and as such, it’s perhaps too early to consider the Seattle defense without Thomas’ presence. But if Thomas does hang up his cleats, the Seahawks would have to scramble — possibly either through free agency or by using draft picks — to replace their defensive center fielder. Indeed, as Alper astutely notes in the linked piece, Seattle’s front office surely wants to learn of Thomas’ plans before the new league year begins next spring.
Signed through the 2018 campaign, Thomas is set to have cap charges of $10.4MM in each of the next two seasons.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/20/16
Tuesday is typically a busy workout day for NFL teams, and the level of activity only increases near the end of the season, when clubs are looking at players who might be candidates for reserve/futures contracts. Here are today’s tryout notes:
- The Buccaneers worked out quarterback Sean Renfree, defensive end Alex Bazzie, linebacker Deon Lacey, and Spanish rugby star Inaki Villanueva (as a tight end), reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Renfree, 26, spent last season as Matt Ryan‘s backup in Atlanta, and has auditioned for a number of clubs this year without being offered a deal.
- The Lions worked out a pair of free agent tight ends — David Ausberry and Gabe Hughes — at the end of last week, tweets Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. PFR reported earlier this year that Ausberry tore his Achilles during a November 2015 tryout with New York, and has presumably been rehabbing ever since.
- Former Chicago linebacker Khaseem Greene tried out for the Chiefs, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link). Greene started six games for the Bears from 2012-14, and has spent time on a few other NFL rosters, but hasn’t appeared in the NFL in two years.
- The Jets met with quarterback Mike Bercovici; tight ends M.J. McFarland, Gannon Sinclair, and Jason Vander Laan; and wide receiver Dez Stewart, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Bercovici, a 2016 favorite of some NFL draftniks, went to camp with San Diego but didn’t make the final cut.
- The Titans worked out former Oakland/New York defensive end Shelby Harris today, tweets Caplan. Harris, 25, played in eight games over the past two seasons with the Raiders.
- The Texans met with cornerback Mitchell White, who has spent the past three years in the Canadian Football League, according to Caplan (Twitter link).
- The Patriots auditioned defensive tackle Jeoffrey Pagan, reports Doug Kyed of NESN (Twitter link).
Jaguars Sign LB Marcus Rush Off 49ers’ PS
The Jaguars have signed linebacker Marcus Rush off the 49ers’ practice squad and placed offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi on injured reserve, the club announced today.
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Rush, 25, went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2015 and had spent the past two years on San Francisco’s taxi squad. He starred during the 2016 preseason, leading the NFL with six sacks during exhibition season. But that performance wasn’t enough for Rush to land a spot on the 49ers’ active roster, and (somewhat surprisingly), Rush didn’t earn a promotion this week even after San Francisco cleared roster space by placing several players on IR.
Poutasi, meanwhile, was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2015 draft, but the new Tennessee regime waived him after only a single season. The 22-year-old spent the majority of the 2016 campaign on Jacksonville’s practice squad, but did end up starting one game after being promoted in mid-November.