Colts Considering Placing RB Jonathan Taylor On NFI
9:45pm: The craziness continues straight out of the workhorse’s mouth as Taylor has weighed in himself on the recent reports, tweeting out that he “never had a back pain” and “never reported a back pain.”
This could be a case of reporters running amok with a story that got out of hand without confirmations or reliable sources. It could also be some damage control from Taylor, who likely realizes the financial ramifications of being placed on the NFI list.
If Taylor’s refutation is false, one would assume there would be medical records from the team’s training staff noting the back pain as a concern. And, in order to move him to the NFI list, one would assume there would need to be documentation detailing that it happened away from the team.
If Taylor never did report back pain, this could be an inside look at the tactics the team is willing to go to in order to gain leverage in a negotiation in which it already has all the power. Speculation aside, Taylor’s response through unmediated channels is further confirmation that this relationship may be deteriorating beyond repair. And fast.
8:30pm: In a wild continuation of a situation seemingly full of pettiness, the Colts have reportedly considered placing star running back Jonathan Taylor on the non-football injury list, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59/CBS4 Sports. Things have gotten rather contentious between Taylor and the organization lately, and if the team were to pull off this transaction, the situation would only get rockier. 
Taylor has been involved in the recent conversations pertaining to the decline of the running back market, and anticipating his future active role in the situation, Taylor made it clear that he wants to begin discussions on a new deal with Indianapolis. With team owner Jim Irsay making it clear that no extension offer has been made yet, nor does he have any current intention to offer an extension, Taylor formally requested a trade. Irsay has planted his heels in the ground, expecting Taylor to honor his rookie contract, but with no indication of good faith negotiations, Taylor felt the need to stay ahead of the eight ball.
Currently, Taylor is on the team’s physically unable to perform list. He’s still rehabilitating from an ankle surgery he underwent in January, and he came into training camp complaining of back pain. Because he began experiencing the back pain while working out on his own in Arizona, it was deemed to be a pre-existing issue, stemming from outside organized football activities. This grants the team the option of moving Taylor from the PUP list to the NFI list.
That may not seem super significant as you continue to see PUP and NFI placements here and there on our Minor NFL Transactions posts, but in a volatile situation in which money is a key point of contention, this move would be a clear escalation from the Colts’ brass. Once the season begins, if a player remains on the PUP list, the team continues to pay that player for time missed. If a player is instead on the NFI list, having suffered an injury away from team-organized events, the team is able to withhold any amount of pay it chooses, up to the player’s full base salary.
According to Nick Korte of OvertheCap.com, it may not end there. The current collective bargaining agreement reportedly “opens up a path for his contract to be tolled,” something only available for NFI players in a contract year. Taylor can avoid this by returning to action by the sixth game of the regular season. The CBA also “opens up a path (for Taylor) to fail to accrue a season in 2023.” This would mean that, instead of entering the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, he would be a restricted free agent.
Moving Taylor to the NFI becomes an immediate message to the young running back: Not only are we not sure we want to pay you in the future, we’re not even sure we want to pay you now. A year removed from having led the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, it seems insane to be this dismissive to a player asking to work towards a future together. The team has yet to make the move, but it’s become clear that the two sides are nowhere near a path that leads to resolution anytime soon.
Seahawks Endure Injuries To Top RBs
Seattle fans may not be able to endure much more on the subject of running back injuries. They have already been put through the ringer as they’ve had to deal with constant absences from presumed franchise backs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. If you’re feeling triggered as a Seahawks fan, feel free to click away now, because shortly after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported an injury to rookie second-round pick Zach Charbonnet, Schefter’s colleague, Field Yates, reported similar bad news about returning starter Kenneth Walker. 
Head coach Pete Carroll told the media today that Charbonnet suffered a shoulder injury and would be out “indefinitely.” He also relayed that Walker has a groin injury and “could be out a while.” The nondescript timelines for these injuries may feel troubling to fans, but it sounds like they have more to do with the level of caution the Seahawks are operating under than the severity of the ailments.
“It just kind of crept up on him, really,” Carroll said of Charbonnet’s shoulder injury. “He didn’t get hit or anything like that. Just all the sudden, he started to feel something, so we’re just checking him out and being really cautious right now.”
With Walker, Carroll confirmed that they’re taking it “week-to-week” saying, “Because it’s a groin, we’ve got to make sure. He doesn’t feel bad. It’s not a terrible injury or anything like that. We just don’t want to aggravate it now and make it something that lingers through camp.”
Hopefully, Seattle fans can breathe a tiny bit easier having read that. The normal posse of former-Hurricane backup running backs was cut in half when Travis Homer signed with the Bears this offseason, so DeeJay Dallas is now taking most of the reps alongside rookie seventh-round pick Kenny McIntosh. The only other running backs on the roster taking camp snaps are Bryant Koback and Wayne Taulapapa, an undrafted back out of Washington who signed with the team two days ago.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/30/23
Here are the minor moves around the league to wrap up the weekend:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Godwin Igwebuike
Buffalo Bills
- Waived with injury settlement: CB Cameron Dantzler
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: T Devin Cochran
Cleveland Browns
- Reverted to IR from waived/injured: CB BoPete Keyes
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Izaiah Gathings, CB Anthony Witherstone
- Placed on IR: S Nazeeh Johnson
- Waived/injured: LB Isaiah Moore
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB Royce Freeman
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from PUP: T Isaiah Wynn
New York Giants
- Activated from NFI: WR Jamison Crowder
- Activated from PUP: WR Sterling Shepard
New York Jets
- Activated from PUP: WR Randall Cobb
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on reserve/retired list: FB Monte Pottebaum
- Waived: T Jarrid Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from PUP: TE Noah Fant
Igwebuike, the former safety-turned-running back, likely won’t have a role in a crowded running backs room that currently includes rookie top-ten pick Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, and Cordarrelle Patterson. He does have some experience on kick return, where he could compete with Patterson and Avery Williams for a role.
The Rams added some quality, experienced depth today in Freeman. While he’s failed to reach the success he found as a primary backup in his first two seasons, Freeman should have plenty of tread on the tires at only 27 years old with minimal usage over the past three years. Behind starter Cam Akers, Los Angeles only has second-year Kyren Williams and rookie sixth-rounder Zach Evans, so bringing in an experienced backup like Freeman should be beneficial.
The Giants add two depth pieces back to their beat-up receiving corps. Getting them back into the fold will be beneficial for training camp. Meanwhile, across the way, new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get to work with his old teammate, Cobb, once again.
The retirement of Pottebaum comes as a bit of a shock so early into camp. The Iowa-product was a part of Pittsburgh’s small, seven-man undrafted free agent class this year. Not only that, but heading into camp, Pottebaum was also the only fullback listed on the roster. He was in attendance for the Steelers’ first week of training camp, as well, but now appears to be on his way out. This doesn’t leave Pittsburgh completely high and dry as the team was already exploring the option of utilizing tight end Connor Heyward in a role more similar to what he played in college. Heyward could earn a much larger role in his sophomore season by taking on a few more snaps at fullback.
Saints DE Jabari Zuniga Retires
After three short seasons, Saints pass rusher Jabari Zuniga has chosen to hang up his cleats, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. It’s unclear for now as to why Zuniga is retiring, but after spending a good portion of his rookie year on injured reserve, health might have factored into the decision. 
Zuniga came into the league with big expectations. After redshirting his true freshman year at Florida, Zuniga burst onto the scene, leading the Gators in sacks as a redshirt freshman. He never reached an elite level of play as a pass rusher, but over three and a half seasons in Gainesville, Zuniga racked up 18.5 sacks and 33.0 tackles for loss.
He entered his redshirt senior season as an All-SEC preseason pick and started the season on a strong note, but three games into the year, he suffered a high ankle sprain that would cause him to miss time throughout the rest of the season. The recurring ankle injury hurt his draft stock a bit, but the promise shown during a strong junior season helped him to still get drafted in the third round of the 2020 Draft by the Jets.
He started his rookie year on IR for New York as he dealt with a quadriceps injury. He finally made his NFL debut after seven weeks on IR, playing sparingly against the Chiefs. That minimal usage would continue throughout the rest of the season as he never logged more than 23 percent of the team’s defensive snaps in a game as a rookie.
In his sophomore season, he failed to make the 53-man roster and spent the year on the practice squad for New York, getting called up for three games. In two of those games, he got a bit more run, even earning his first (and what would end up being his only) career sack. He once again failed to make the 53-man roster last year but would sign with the Seahawks‘ practice squad instead. Seattle would release him about a month later, and he would sign with the Saints‘ practice squad and would make one appearance on the team.
The Saints liked enough of what they saw to sign Zuniga to a reserve/futures contract, keeping him on the roster for 2023. Instead, Zuniga made the decision to walk away from the game. It could be that the injuries he suffered lingered throughout the following seasons enough to keep him from ever reaching 100 percent. Regardless, he’s made his decision, and for now, his time in the league is over.
With the roster spot opened up by Zuniga’s departure, the Saints have signed offensive guard Koda Martin, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN. Martin was waived earlier this week but will make his way back to camp to fill the vacancy formed by Zuniga’s retirement.
Latest On Cowboys G Zack Martin’s Holdout
Year in, year out Cowboys guard Zack Martin is a top-ten offensive guard in the league. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), up until last year, Martin was a perennial top-five guard in the NFL, more often than not ending up in the top two. Years ago, when he signed an extension with the team, he got paid like the top guard he was. But years later, after multiple reworked deals and the rising contracts of younger guards, Martin has been unhappy with his compensation, leading to the holdout he is currently staging. 
Despite Martin’s persistence in holding out, Cowboys owner/president/general manager Jerry Jones doesn’t seem interested at all in adjusting Martin’s deal in a way that rewards him for performing at the top of his position. He dropped two sounds bites today, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic, explaining why he doesn’t plan on taking any action. The first put the blame on star defender Micah Parsons. Jones claimed that the team will “need the money to pay” other players like Parsons in the future. The second sound bite claimed he already got his reward five years ago.
“Nothing,” Jones said in response to what needed to happen in order to resolve the situation. “He’ll come to camp when he comes to camp. There’s no resolution. There are a lot of consequences if he doesn’t.” The consequences that Jones is referring to are the daily $50K fines that Martin incurs with each missed day at training camp. So far, Martin has racked up $250K of fines.
“He’s been at the top of the money all the way through,” Jones claimed, “drafted high and got a lot of money, got a lot of money over the years. It’s just hard to get it all. The bottom line is: nothing needs to happen.”
Currently, Martin’s contract gives him the eighth-highest annual average value (AAV) at his position. Yes, he makes a lot of money as the eight-highest paid offensive guard in the NFL, but after delivering as a top player at the position for so long, one could argue he’s severely underpaid. Martin is only set to make $13.5MM this year as two other guards in the league have contracts with AAVs of over $20MM.
Jones claims he’s worried that caving in to Martin’s demands will put him in a situation in which he can’t pay anyone else, according to Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News. “You make an adjustment like that, all of the sudden, you don’t have the money to go pay the guys that are in their first contract that you need to pay.” It’s unclear whether Jones has learned from the mistakes made in the Ezekiel Elliott contract, or if he has just ironically forgotten his own past actions, but these comments are antithetical to his own previous transactions.
This is one of two recent outbursts we’ve seen from team owners of players who are upset with their contract situations. In both instances, the owners seem to think they’re in the right, falling back on bargaining agreements and “how things are done.” In the process, they seem to be alienating the best players on their rosters. Jones very well may end up saving money by not adjusting Martin’s deal, but he may end up losing one of the best guards in the NFL in the process.
Bengals To Sign Former XFL QB Reid Sinnett
Following the calf injury that will keep star quarterback Joe Burrow out for most, if not all, of the preseason, the Bengals have decided to add another camp body to their quarterbacks room. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Cincinnati plans to sign former XFL quarterback Reid Sinnett in order to help manage through the preseason. 
This is not Sinnett’s first stint on an NFL squad. He originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers in 2020 out of San Diego. He also previously spent time with the Dolphins (twice) and Eagles before finding his way to the XFL. He never made any NFL appearances, but he did spend time on the active rosters in both Miami and Philadelphia.
In the XFL, Sinnett got his first professional playing time with the San Antonio Brahmas. Unfortunately, his time on the field was cut short. After only starting one game as a pro, Sinnett was placed on injured reserve after suffering a broken foot.
Sinnett is likely not a threat to push Bengals backup quarterbacks Trevor Siemian or Jake Browning for playing time, and he’s obviously not going to challenge Burrow upon his return, but Burrow went down early into training camp, and the Bengals have a long way to go before they start playing football that matters. Going through the preseason with only two active quarterbacks is just not a viable option, so Sinnett gets more NFL experience under his belt to help Cincinnati get through camp without putting too much on Siemian and Browning.
Dolphins To Sign CB Eli Apple
Former Bengals cornerback Eli Apple‘s long wait on the free agent market has come to an end. Days after star cornerback acquisition Jalen Ramsey underwent surgery for a knee injury, the Dolphins have reached out for veteran starting experience, signing Apple to a one-year deal, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Miami lost Ramsey this week to a knee injury that required a full meniscus repair. It was originally reported that Ramsey may just miss the start of the season, but more recent reports have delineated a timeline that doesn’t see Ramsey return until December. Ramsey was obviously a big part of the team’s plan in the secondary moving forward. The Dolphins immediately started looking for options to attempt to negate his absence, also working out veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau and Anthony Averett before ultimately signing Apple.
It looked like a starting duo of Ramsey and Xavien Howard would shape up to be one of the league’s best, with strong young talent like Kader Kohou, Keion Crossen, and rookie second-round pick Cam Smith rotating in. New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio also had plans of working Ramsey at nickel more often, based on his recent success in that role with the Rams. In this situation, Kohou, Crossen, Smith, or Nik Needham would come on when the team needed extra defensive backs on the field and play on the outside while Ramsey shifted in. Apple’s consistent presence on the outside changes that plan.
First, let’s start with what Apple does bring to the table. A former first-round selection taken five picks after Ramsey in 2016, Apple has been a consistent starter over his career, starting 78 of the 88 games he’s appeared in. He’s struggled with injuries in the past, having never played every game of a given season, but in every season but two, he’s been available for at least 14 games. Not only does he have starting experience, but he’s got playoff experience, as well.
With that being said, Apple has never been considered a top player at the position. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Apple has never ranked higher than 61st in the league. Last year, the site credited Apple with allowing a 99.8 passer rating in his coverage area. So, while Apple provides them with the starting experience, Miami may be hoping that they will still get some of their best play out of their incumbent corners.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald suggests that Apple’s experience will make him a top candidate to start outside opposite Howard. Apple’s main competition should be Kohou, who started 13 games as an undrafted rookie last year out of Texas A&M-Commerce. Jackson foresees a situation in which Kohou could take the role that Fangio envisioned for Ramsey, starting on the outside then shifting in to the slot when the team needs three cornerbacks on the field. If Apple can earn the starting spot on the outside, though, Kohou would become the immediate primary nickel cornerback.
Past that, much of the plan remains the same. A healthy Needham becomes a strong rotational piece as Crossen and Smith continue to develop in the early years of their careers. Thanks to the injuries that forced Kohou and Crossen into starting time last year, the Dolphins have a relatively deep group at cornerback that should absorb the temporary loss of Ramsey well. That’s not to say that this group won’t be significantly better once Ramsey returns, but while he’s gone, the addition of Apple combined with the capabilities of Miami’s younger defensive backs should hold the team over until Ramsey’s back.
Dalvin Cook Receiving Interest From “About Five” Teams
JULY 29: Cook went on ESPN today to discuss his visit plans prior to tomorrow’s date with the Jets. According to Rich Cimini of the network, Cook confirmed tomorrow’s plans but claimed that, as of right now, no other visits are in the books. He did say that “thing are definitely heating up,” and a Patriots visit has been rumored for a couple days now, so there’s a chance he could be shipping up to Boston in the coming days, as well.
As for the Jets, Cook pointed to their roster as a factor that piqued his interest. The team, the coaching staff, and the prospect of playing in an offense with Rodgers all certainly contributed to his desire to take tomorrow’s visit. It will be interesting to see if he comes away from New York tomorrow with a new deal or not.
JULY 28: Since being released by the Vikings back in early-June, veteran running back Dalvin Cook has been a bit hush-hush about his free agency. Rumors and speculations have come from all over without any hint of how much was true, but today, during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, Cook informed Patrick that “probably about five” teams have shown legitimate interest in acquiring his talents.
As soon as Cook was released, early speculation was pointed at his hometown Dolphins and the Broncos. It was established fairly soon after that Denver was unlikely to bring Cook aboard. The team apparently felt confident in a 1-2 punch of the recovering Javonte Williams and career-RB2 Samaje Perine. There seemed to be quite a bit of back and forth between Cook and Miami, but in the end, the Dolphins never gave Cook an offer worth taking.
As the weeks rolled on with no deal, two other AFC East teams entered the fold as the Jets and Patriots began to show interest. Both teams have been active in adding new talent this offseason. The Patriots added JuJu Smith-Schuster to their wide receiving corps and seemingly finished second in the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes. Adding Cook to a backfield led by Rhamondre Stevenson could be extremely attractive for new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
New York added wide receivers Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb to a corps that already rostered Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis. All these weapons were brought in to provide new quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a strong offensive cast. They do have a solid, if not unproven, group of running backs in Breece Hall, Michael Carter, and rookie Israel Abanikanda. Adding a veteran like Cook could be beneficial for the room, but it certainly isn’t a necessity. Cook is set to visit the Jets this Sunday.
So, who are the five teams? Assuming the Broncos, who ruled themselves out early, aren’t on the list, the Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots should make up three of those teams. The fourth AFC East team, the Bills, was mentioned as a possibility as Cook entertained the idea of playing with his little brother, James, according to Zach Dimmitt of Sports Illustrated.
It’s unclear who the fifth team would be. Our early speculations listed the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Commanders as early possibilities, but no serious interest has been reported from any of these teams. Regardless of who the fifth suitor happens to be, it still seems like there is at least an 80 percent chance that Cook ends up in the AFC East.
Patriots, OLB Matt Judon Have Discussed New Deal
Since joining the Patriots on a four-year, $54.5MM contract, outside linebacker Matt Judon has been a star. He seems to want to stay in New England for the foreseeable future, and one would assume the Patriots would like nothing more than to keep him around and producing. While Judon won’t talk to the media about anything contract-related, according to Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal, it does sound like some conversations between the two parties have taken place. 
After five years in Baltimore, Judon gave New England the first double-digit sack total of his career. He followed that up this past season by topping that double-digit sack total with 15.5 sacks, a new career high. After only amassing 34.5 sacks during his time with the Ravens, Judon has exploded onto the scene with 28.0 sacks in only two years as a Patriot.
With his production exceeding expectations, naturally, a new deal that reflects his output has been brought up by the media. Despite Judon’s insistent secrecy, some comments that he made today hinted at some discussions having taken place between him and some team brass.
Last year saw Judon restructure his contract to lessen his cap hit going into the 2022 season. Seeing as he is set to account for the 19th highest defensive cap hit in 2023, it would behoove both parties to seek an adjusted deal. Judon could help clear some cap space for New England, while the Patriots could kill three birds with one stone by lowering Judon’s cap number, giving him a bit of a raise as a reward, and keeping him in town for a few more years.
With discussions on the brain, reporters inquired about whether or not Judon was staging a “hold-in” over the first few days of camp. He had participated in a limited capacity for the first two days of training camp but progressed towards more involvement today.
“Me and the guys talked about it,” Judon said in response to the allegations, “and we both felt like, ‘Alright, we can do that for two days. Then we can ease into things.'”
So, it looks like Judon’s soft “hold-in” has trickled out and returned to full participation. It was, presumably, a passive-aggressive communication that he is still hoping to work towards a new deal. It sounds like both parties have interest in getting something done, but wanting it and getting it done are two different things. It seems that there is still a ways to go in these discussions, but there is a hint optimism.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/23
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league as we head into the weekend:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released with NFI designation: CB Trayvon Mullen
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Kyron Brown, WR Andy Isabella
- Waived/injured: CB Cameron Dantzler
- Waived: WR Jalen Wayne
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: RB Tiyon Evans
Denver Broncos
- Activated from PUP: WR Kendall Hinton
- Signed: WR Michael Bandy
- Waived: WR Nick Williams
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Trey Quinn
- Waived/injured: WR Tom Kennedy
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: OLB Jonathan Garvin
Houston Texans
- Waived: OL Dylan Deatherage
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived/injured: LB Sterling Weatherford
New England Patriots
- Activated from PUP: DE DaMarcus Mitchell
New York Jets
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: WR Diontae Spencer
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Wayne Taulapapa
- Waived: CB Montrae Braswell
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: OL James Empey
Mullen was placed on the NFI list two days ago. Apparently, his failure to disclose the non-football injury led to his release. Claimed off of waivers early into the offseason this year, Mullen has spent a good amount of time in Baltimore but has yet to see any game time. The Ravens hoped he might add some depth to their secondary, but with today’s transaction, the former second-round pick hits the free agent market.
Dantzler, a former third-round pick in Minnesota, also finds himself available in free agency after a short stint with the Bills. After signing with his second team of the offseason last month, Dantzler was waived with an injury designation.