Steelers Receive Exemption For Le’Veon Bell
The Steelers have received a roster exemption for running back Le’Veon Bell as he makes his return from a three-game suspension, tweets team PR man Burt Lauten. Pittsburgh will need to clear a roster spot for Bell by 3pm CT Thursday.
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Veteran DeAngelo Williams has been the Steelers’ workhorse in the absence of Bell, as he’s rushed for more than 250 yards and two touchdowns on 66 attempts while adding 14 receptions through the air. If Pittsburgh takes the same approach as last year — when Bell returned following a two-game ban — Williams is unlikely to see much action in the coming weeks. From Week 3 to Week 7 of 2015, Williams averaged only three carries per game, letting Bell handle the workload until the latter suffered a season-ending injury in Week 8.
If the Steelers simply want to cut a fellow running back to create a roster spot, they seemingly have two options — Fitzgerald Toussaint and Daryl Richardson. Neither has been a factor on offense (they have six carries combined), but Toussaint has been with the club since 2015 and plays a large role on special teams, which could give him the edge.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Patriots To Cut DT Anthony Johnson
The Patriots will cut defensive tackle Anthony Johnson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Given that he’s not a vested veteran, Johnson will need to pass through waives before entering free agency.
[RELATED: New England Patriots Depth Chart]
New England could use its newly-created roster spot in a variety of ways, including to sign a free agent quarterback if needed. T.J. Yates is reportedly the club’s “free agent of choice,” but the Patriots haven’t made an attempt to add him as of yet, which indicates a certain level of optimism regarding Jimmy Garoppolo and/or Jacoby Brissett‘s health. New England is more interested in “bulking up” its defensive line than adding another QB right now, tweets Dianna Russini of ESPN.com, so the team could simply swap out Johnson for another DL.
Johnson, 23, signed with the Patriots in May, and despite his limited track record, lasted through final cuts to make the club’s 53-man roster. But he hasn’t contributed much in 2016, managing only 20 snaps on defense. Johnson’s only other NFL experience came with the Vikings, for whom he played seven games in 2014.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Russell Wilson Has Sprained MCL
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has a sprained MCL, head coach Pete Carroll confirmed to 710 ESPN today (Twitter link via Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com). However, Carroll says Wilson is “feeling great,” and he’s expected to be available against the Jets on Sunday, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
[RELATED: Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart]
Wilson has dealt with injury early and often this season, as he suffered an ankle injury during Week 1 that threatened to keep him out for several games. He was able to return for Week 2 against the Rams, but this latest knee ailment forced him to leave Sunday’s contest versus the 49ers. Before being sidelined, Wilson had played well, completing 15-of-23 passes for 243 yards and one touchdown. The Seahawks have a bye in Week 5, so If Wilson can make it through Sunday’s game, he’ll get an extra week of rest thereafter.
The only other quarterback on Seattle’s roster is rookie undrafted free agent Trevone Boykin, who was called into action on Sunday in relief of Wilson. In his first NFL appearance, the 23-year-old completed seven passes for 65 yards and one score. If Wilson, who began receiving treatment last night, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), goes down again, Boykin will be asked to step up.
Wilson isn’t the only member of the Seahawks’ offense nursing an injury, as running back Thomas Rawls is set to miss several weeks with a hairline fracture in his fibula.
Seahawks’ Thomas Rawls Out Several Weeks
The Seahawks will have to lean on Christine Michael for awhile, as fellow running back Thomas Rawls will be sidelined “a few weeks” with a hairline fibula fracture, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
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Rawls has been in-and-out of the lineup so far this season as he recovers from the fractured ankle he suffered at the end of the 2015 campaign. He didn’t play on Sunday against the 49ers, and in the two previous games, Rawls had managed only 19 carries, averaging a paltry 1.9 yards per attempt. Michael, now in his second stint with Seattle, will presumably continue to carry the load after scoring twice yesterday, while the Seahawks also boast rookies C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins in addition to the recently-promoted Terrence Magee.
Rawls, 23, was a revelation during his rookie season, rushing for more than 800 yards and four touchdowns in relief of Marshawn Lynch. He surpassed the 100-yard mark four times, including a memorable Week 11 contest against the 49ers, when Rawls ran for 209 yards, the second-highest total in the NFL last year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Patriots Unsure Who Will Start At QB In Week 4
The Patriots aren’t sure who will be under center in Week 4 against the Bills, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports. While one recent report suggested that New England expects to have both Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett available, Schefter says the situation is tad more uncertain. The Pats are “hopeful” that at last one of Garoppolo or Brissett will be ready to play, while there’s a chance that both could be good to go.
[RELATED: Josh McDaniels Likely To Pursue Head Coaching Jobs]
Garoppolo suffered a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder on Sunday in the team’s 31-24 win over Miami. After Garoppolo was taken out by Kiko Alonso‘s hit, Brissett was put in the game for the first time in his NFL career. The third-round rookie got the job done, completing 6-of-9 passes as he guided New England the rest of the way, and then led the Patriots to a 27-0 victory over the Texans on Thursday night.
Before succumbing to injury, the 24-year-old Garoppolo had been excellent, completing 42-of-60 passes for 498 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in wins over the Cardinals and Dolphins. At least one report suggested that the Patriots were pressuring Garoppolo to quickly return to the field — despite the fact that he reportedly couldn’t lift his arm — and he’s presumably get the start against Buffalo if healthy. Tom Brady, of course, will return in Week 5 to start against the Browns.
There’s a small chance that neither Garoppolo or Brissett will be healthy enough to play next week, according to Schefter. In that case, the Patriots would sign a free agent quarterback, and T.J. Yates, who recently met with the club, would be an “ideal candidate.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Browns’ Josh McCown Out 2-4 More Weeks
Browns quarterback Josh McCown will be miss two-to-four more weeks after strain and hairline crack in his left shoulder, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
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In the meantime, the Browns will rely on rookie third-rounder Cody Kessler to manage the offense. Against the Dolphins today, Cleveland has also mixed in QB-turned-receiver Terrelle Pryor, who completed three-of-five attempts for 35 yards. The Browns also agreed to terms with veteran Charlie Whitehurst last week, who would be next in line should Kessler go down.
McCown, 37, went 1-7 as a starter for the Browns last season. In his one game under center for Cleveland this year, the veteran completed 20 of his 33 passes and threw two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Josh McDaniels Likely To Pursue HC Jobs
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels appears ready to jump back into head coaching, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who says that McDaniels will look to secure a top job this offseason.
[RELATED: Latest On Patriots’ Quarterbacks]
As La Canfora notes, McDaniels’ stock could be at an all-time high at the moment, meaning he’s in a position to “cash in” while landing a new position. In his second stint as New England’s play-caller, McDaniels has helped lead the club to several playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title in 2015. This season, McDaniels has dealt with turnover at quarterback, but still managed to guide the Patriots offense en route to a 3-0 start.
McDaniels, of course, has already had one go-round as a head coach, as he led the Broncos from 2009-10. After beginning his Denver tenure with an 6-0 record, McDaniels proceeded to post a 5-17 record from there on out, losing the team amid reports of micromanagement. He was fired midway through the 2010 campaign, then spent a year with the Rams before returning to the Patriots.
Now 40, McDaniels was linked to the Titans and Dolphins vacancies last offseason, but never officially interviewed for either position.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
5 Key Stories: 9/18/16 – 9/25/16
Injuries take a major toll in Minnesota. The Vikings had already dealt with enough injury scenarios for one season, as they’d lost quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for the season following a torn ACL. But after finding a new QB in Sam Bradford, the health concerns haven’t stopped, as Adrian Peterson is now done for at least eight weeks after tearing 
his meniscus Peterson, for his part, believes he’ll be able to return from IR after the minimum eight-week absence. Some in the Vikings organization have questioned Peterson’s decision to undergo surgery, but the club’s ownership/front office still support their All Pro back. Meanwhile, left tackle Matt Kalil has also landed on IR (and is unlikely to return this season), while defensive tackle Shariff Floyd will miss six weeks after knee surgery.
No Brady? No problem. Jimmy Garoppolo was excellent for the Patriots in last Sunday’s win against the Dolphins, throwing three touchdowns before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. Third-string rookie Jacoby Brissett picked up where Jimmy G. left off, leading New England to a 27-0 victory over the Texans on Thursday. The only problem? Brissett is now injured as well, having suffered a thumb sprain during the Houston contest. The Patriots have met with free agent QBs T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree, but both Garoppolo and Brissett could be ready for Week 4. Week 5, this guy returns.
No more ASJ in TB. The Buccaneers cut ties with former second-round pick Austin Seferian-Jenkins, waiving the tight end after he was arrested for DUI on Friday morning. This was ASJ’s second DUI, as he was also arrested on the charge in 2013 while at the University of Washington. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder 
appeared in just 16 total games in his first two seasons and made 12 starts, combining for 42 receptions on 77 targets to go with 559 yards and six touchdowns. Seferian-Jenkins is on waivers through Monday, but given that the Bucs are reportedly worried about his well-being, it’s possible he won’t be claimed.
Seahawks get busted. The Seahawks were docked their 2017 fifth-round pick for violating the league’s rules regarding contact practices in the offseason, while the club will also lose a week of OTAs and face a fine of $400K. Head coach Pete Carroll personally will have to pay $200K in fines for his role. The NFL and NFLPA’s agreement on excessive contact in offseason workouts was breached on June 6th when Carroll’s team doled out hard hits during OTAs. This is not the first time that the Seahawks have run afoul of these regulations and, therefore, they were docked a draft choice in addition to the fines.
NFC East suspensions. Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson finally has a date for the appeal of his 10-game suspension. The meeting will take place on October 4, meaning Johnson will play on Sunday against the Steelers before Philadelphia enters its Week 4 bye. If Johnson’s ban is upheld, he won’t be able to return until mid-December — he’d get to face the Ravens, Giants, and Cowboys to close the season. Dallas edge rusher Randy Gregory, meanwhile, dropped his appeal of his own 10-game suspension. Gregory is already in the midst of a separate four-game ban, so he won’t return to the field until Week 15.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Adrian Peterson Thinks He’ll Return From IR
Vikings running back Adrian Peterson believes he will be ready to play when he’s eligible to return off injured reserve in eight weeks, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Peterson was placed on IR yesterday, but thanks to the NFL’s new injured reserve rules, he’s able to come back in two months if healthy.
[RELATED: Vikings Sign Ronnie Hillman]
However, according to those in the Vikings organization, Peterson’s optimism is somewhat unwarranted, and there is still doubt as to whether Peterson can return to the field in 2016, per Pelissero. Doctors will have to wait at least one month before determining if the veteran back has any shot at playing again this year.
A pair of surgeons told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press earlier this week that had Peterson opted to have the injured portion of his meniscus removed rather than repaired, he could have returned to the field in weeks, not months. But doing so could have presented problems for Peterson later in his career and during his post-football life, as such a procedure can lead to arthritis in the knee.
That decision by Peterson has reportedly led some Vikings to express “private” frustrations, as some teammates believe that Peterson could have played thorough the injury. But the “top” of the franchise — presumably the front office and/or ownership — are accepting of Peterson’s decision, and are hoping the veteran back returns in 2017.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/24/16
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
New York Jets
- Signed: FB Julian Howsare (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post)