Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery Cleared For Contact
Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has been cleared for contact, an important hurdle in his gaining authorization to take the field on game day, as head coach Doug Pederson told reporters, including Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). However, it’s still unclear as to whether Jeffery will be available when Philadelphia faces Tennessee on Sunday.
Jeffery, who is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, participated in individual work last week but is now cleared for 11-on-11 sessions. The Eagles wanted quarterback Carson Wentz to get a week of full contact drills under his belt before being inserted into the starting lineup, and could conceivably take the same approach with Jeffery.
Jeffery, 28, originally signed a one-year, $9.5MM deal with the Eagles in the spring of 2017, but Philadelphia was impressed enough with his production to extend him on a four-year, $52MM pact in December. While Jeffery post a somewhat disappointing 57 receptions and 789 yards last year, he did manage to get into the end zone nine times (second-most of his career).
The Eagles’ wide receiver corps could desperately use Jeffery, especially after the club placed Mike Wallace on injured reserve last week. Philadelphia’s depth chart is currently comprised of Nelson Agholor, Jordan Matthews, Kamar Aiken, and Shelton Gibson.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Fred Ross
Miami Dolphins
- Waived from injured reserve: QB Bryce Petty
5 Key NFL Stories: 9/16/18 – 9/23/18
Patriots acquire Josh Gordon. With a serious need at wide receiver, New England sent a fifth-round to Cleveland in exchange for Gordon, who had finally worn out his welcome with Browns head coach Hue Jackson & Co. Initial reports indicated the Patriots would only receive a seventh-round pick in return if Gordon doesn’t spend 10 games on their roster, but that seventh-rounder is now part of the trade regardless, leading to speculation that New England pressured the Browns into sending more compensation their way. Gordon joins a Patriots receiving corps that includes Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, Phillip Dorsett, and (starting in Week 5) Julian Edelman.
Jimmy G done for season? Details are sparse on the condition of 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo given that he was just injured this afternoon, but San Francisco fears that he suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs. Garoppolo attempted to stay in bounds on a sideline run, but his knee buckled just before he made contact with a Kansas City defender. The 49ers have already lost running back Jerick McKinnon to an ACL tear, and Garoppolo’s absence could sink any postseason hopes San Francisco may have had. 2017 third-round pick C.J. Beathard would take over as the 49ers’ starter if Garoppolo is out.
Lions almost had Gronk. Reports surfaced over the offseason suggesting Rob Gronkowski had been on the trade block in New England, but it wasn’t clear (until today) just how far along talks had progressed. The Lions nearly made a trade for Gronkowski earlier this year, but when the All-Pro got word of the potential deal, he did all he could to scuttle any agreement. Gronk refused to answer phone calls from Detroit, and indicated he’d rather retire than leave the Patriots and Tom Brady. New England ultimately canceled the trade, and reworked Gronkowski’s contract to include more incentives in 2018.
Steelers taking offers for Le’Veon Bell. Although they previously indicated they had no interest in dealing him, the Steelers are now listening to trade proposals for Bell, who has refused to show up this season due to his unhappiness with his franchise tag. It’s unclear if Pittsburgh is actively shopping Bell or simply taking calls, and it’s also unknown if any teams have reached out. Any club that acquires Bell would not be allowed to offer him a contract extension, and it would be responsible for any prorated portion of his franchise tender.
Baker time in Cleveland. The Baker Mayfield era has officially begun, as Hue Jackson will announce Monday that the No. 1 overall selection is now the Browns’ starting quarterback. Mayfield took over for an injured Tyrod Taylor on Thursday night and ultimately led the Browns to their first win since the 2016 season. With Mayfield’s promotion, three of five first-round rookie quarterbacks are now starters, with the Bills’ Josh Allen and the Jets’ Sam Darnold joining Mayfield as their respective teams’ top signal-callers.
49ers Fear Jimmy Garoppolo Has Torn ACL
The 49ers fear starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a serious knee injury in Week 3’s contest against the Chiefs, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted following the game that an ACL tear is the fear for Garoppolo, and an MRI could confirm the news by Monday.
Garoppolo took a hit while running along the sideline in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game and looked to have injured his left knee. Trainers escorted him off the field via cart, and he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of Week action.
Losing Garoppolo would be a devastating blow for a 49ers team that had playoff aspirations entering the 2018 campaign. San Francisco has already lost one if its projected offensive focal points — free agent addition Jerick McKinnon — for the year after he suffered a torn ACL during training camp. Another knee injury, this time to Garoppolo, could further derail San Francisco’s postseason hopes.
With Garoppolo sidelined, the 49ers turned to backup C.J. Beathard for the remainder of their loss to the Chiefs. Beathard, a third-round pick in the 2017 draft, started five games for San Francisco before it acquired Garoppolo near last year’s trade deadline. The Iowa product completed 55% of his passes for 1,430 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions, and posted the second-lowest passer rating among NFL quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts.
The 49ers picked up Garoppolo from the Patriots in exchange for a second-round pick last November, and subsequently inked him to a five-year, $137.5MM extension after he won all five of his starts in the Bay Area. Through two starts this season, Garoppolo had managed 467 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Packers Unlikely To Re-Sign Clay Matthews?
The Packers are unlikely to re-sign pass rusher Clay Matthews, according to Bob McGinn of BobMcGinnFootball.com, who reports Green Bay would let Matthews walk in free agency if the season ended today.
Matthews, 32, is in the final season of a five-year, $66MM extension he signed in April 2013. Next year, he’s scheduled to earn a base salary of $10.4MM and count for roughly $11.338MM on Green Bay’s salary cap. A new deal for Matthews could reduce his 2018 cap figure, especially if it contains a signing bonus that would prorate over the life of the pact, and Matthews recently indicated his representatives have discussed an extension with the Packers.
“My agency and upstairs have had talks,” Matthews said. “We’ll see where it goes. At the same time, I’ll just go out there and do my things and let the pieces fall where they may. “I’ve been here going on 10 years, so I’d like to obviously add a few more to that. I’m not in control of that. All I can control is what I do on Sundays, and hopefully it’s a big year.”
Of course, the primary reason there are conflicting reports on Matthews is that the season isn’t over: the Packers don’t have any impetus to address Matthews’ contact at this point, but the veteran linebacker could conceivably change the club’s mind over the course of the year. While Green Bay may be inclined to let Matthews leave via free agency next spring, it doesn’t appear that any strategy is set in stone.
As Matthews has aged, the Packers have reduced his snaps. Over the past two years, Matthews averaged only 566 snaps per season; conversely, from 2012-15, he saw action on 801 plays per year. That reduced usage may have helped Matthews’ play, as he graded as the NFL’s No. 22 pass rusher last season, per Pro Football Focus, which assigned Matthews his best marks since the 2012 campaign.
La Canfora’s Latest: Steelers, Bengals, Bucs
Antonio Brown‘s decision to skip practice on Monday represented a culmination of months of tension between the Steelers and their All-Pro receiver, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Brown was upset earlier this year after being told that his personal trainer and social media manager would no longer be welcome on Pittsburgh’s practice field, and some within the organization believe his multi-day absence during training camp — ostensibly due to a injury — was instead related to his disappointment. Ultimately, the Steelers believe Brown simply wants to win, but there is reportedly also concern with the club that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger‘s close relationship with offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner (and his subsequent influence on play-calling) could cause more strain in the locker room.
Here’s more from La Canfora:
- Bengals running back Joe Mixon could potentially return to the field in time for Week 4, per La Canfora. Mixon underwent knee surgery immediately following Cincinnati’s Week 3 Thursday night victory, and initial assessments indicated he could be sidelined two-to-four weeks. However, because the Bengals played mid-week in Week 3, Mixon’s timeline could be sped up, meaning he could return to action when Cincinnati faces Atlanta next Sunday. A second-round pick in 2017, Mixon was outstanding during the Bengals’ season opener, averaging more than 5.5 yards per carry on the ground while adding five receptions in the passing game. Backup Giovani Bernard is holding down the fort while Mixon is out, while the Bengals also have Mark Walton and Thomas Rawls on their running back depth chart.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick is unlikely to be replaced as the Buccaneers‘ starting quarterback no matter how he fares against the Steelers on Monday night, reports La Canfora. While Jameis Winston will come off suspension prior to Week 4, Fitzpatrick has been among the league’s best quarterbacks through two games, as he leads the NFL passing yardage while racking up eight passing touchdowns. Fitzpatrick has internal support within the locker room (and especially from Tampa Bay’s offensive line), so the club’s coaching staff is unlikely to make a change any time soon. The Buccaneers face the Bears in Week 4 before heading into a bye the following week.
- The Raiders will move to Las Vegas either in 2019 or 2020, and they could potentially need a temporary stadium for the 2019 campaign if no extension with the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority can be reached. With that in mind, the Raiders have contacted the city of San Diego about playing there next season, says La Canfora, who notes that such as possibility is viewed as remote. More likely, the Raiders will play one year in Oakland, or spend next season sharing Levi’s Stadium with the 49ers.
Terrance Williams Facing Suspension
The Cowboys expect wide receiver Terrance Williams to receive a two-to-four game suspension stemming from his May arrest in the near future, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
Williams won’t be handed a ban before Dallas’ Sunday tilt against Seattle, as the NFL doesn’t feel allowing a player to practice all week only to be suspended on a Friday is in the competitive interests of the game. But the feeling inside the Cowboys’ organization is that Williams will likely be notified of his impending punishment early next week, per Moore.
Williams was arrested in May after allegedly crashing his vehicle into a light pole, but he was never charged with driving under the influence. Instead, Williams faced a misdemeanor charge of public intoxication, a violation which was dismissed after Williams completed an alcohol awareness course and paid for damages, but the NFL still holds the right to issue its own response.
The Cowboys knew a Williams suspension was coming when they re-signed fellow wideout Brice Butler earlier this week, reports Moore. Butler joins a Dallas receiver depth chart that also includes Cole Beasley, Tavon Austin, Deonte Thompson, Michael Gallup, and Allen Hurns.
Extra Points: Bills, McCoy, Chargers, Texans
Delicia Gordon, the ex-girlfriend of Bills running back LeSean McCoy, will hold a press conference on Friday to explain why she is “certain” McCoy was involved in a July home invasion that left her battered and bloodied, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. While Georgia police haven’t yet uncovered any direct evidence linking McCoy to the incident, Gordon is offering a $20K reward for information tying McCoy to the crime. Reports earlier this month indicated McCoy was not expected to face charges stemming from the invasion, while the NFL also hasn’t expressed any interest in suspending him. On the field, McCoy is questionable for Sunday’s contest against the Vikings as he deals with a rib injury.
- Chargers defensive tackle Corey Liuget is suing athletic trainer Ian Danney for $15MM in damages after Danney allegedly injected the former first-round pick with a banned NFL substance, as Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com details. Danney reportedly told Liuget he was using an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory to treat pain, but Liuget alleges the substance led to his four-game performance-enhancing drug suspension. Liuget ultimately accepted a hefty pay cut from Los Angeles, as his pay was slashed from $8MM to just $935K (with more money available via incentives). As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, Danney treats dozens of NFL players, so this case could be crucial on a league-wide basis.
- The Texans are open to moving veteran defensive back Kareem Jackson back-and-forth between safety and cornerback, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes. Jackson, a longtime corner, shifted to safety this offseason to replace Andre Hal, but moved back to corner against the Titans in Week 2. Now 30 years old, Jackson graded as just the No. 95 cornerback in 2017, per Pro Football Focus, so lining him up in that position certainly has its risks. Houston head coach Bill O’Brien said Jackson’s role will be determined on a week-to-week basis, and where Jackson lines up will affect whether Aaron Colvin (cornerback) or Justin Reid (safety) is viewed as a starter.
- Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell is a name to watch in NFL circles, according to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. A general manager brought up Campbell’s name this summer, per Breer, and another executive mentioned Campbell after the Cylcones competed with Oklahoma last weekend. Campbell, who was highly successful at Toledo before taking over the Iowa State program in 2016, finished with an 8-5 record last year.
Eagles WR Mike Wallace Hopeful He Can Return This Season
The Eagles placed wideout Mike Wallace on injured reserve Wednesday after he suffered a broken fibula in Week 2, but the veteran pass-catcher is optimistic he can make a 2018 return, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). “As long as I’m healthy, I know they’ll bring me back in,” Wallace said.
A broken fibula generally heals in roughly six weeks, so there’s every reason to think Wallace would come back this season. Because he’s on injured reserve, Wallace must miss at least eight games before returning, so he should have ample time to recover. If the Eagles designate Wallace as one of their IR/return players, he can begin practicing in six weeks. Once Wallace returns to practice, Philadelphia would get a three-week window during which it could activate him.
Wallace, 32, inked a one-year, $1.915MM deal with the Eagles this spring in order to replace Torrey Smith as the club’s deep threat. After posting 52 receptions for 748 yards and four touchdowns with the Ravens in 2017, Wallace managed just three targets and zero catches for Philadelphia before going down.
With Wallace down, the Eagles are relying on Nelson Agholor, Kamar Aiken, Shelton Gibson, and the recently-signed Jordan Matthews as their wideouts. Alshon Jeffery, still working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery, returned to a limited practice this week.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/20/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
Arizona Cardinals
- QB Malik Zaire; RB Troymaine Pope; WR Bennie Fowler (link)
Atlanta Falcons
- C Hroniss Grasu (link)
Cleveland Browns
- DT Brian Price (link)
Houston Texans
- LB Azeem Victor; CB Arrion Springs (link)
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Ufomba Kamalu (link)
Miami Dolphins
- TEs Billy Brown, Austin Traylor (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Azeem Victor; CB Tony Lippett; S Marwin Evans (link)