Week In Review: 11/22/15 – 11/29/15
The headlines from the past week at PFR:
Key News:
- Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey was shot in the head in South Florida. We hope for a speedy recovery.
- Star defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson talks about his future with the Jets.
- Lawrence Timmons has a big cap hit coming for the Steelers, but the linebacker is hoping to get an extension done.
- The Lions have hired Ernie Accorsi to assist them in their search for a new general manager.
- Rory Parks updated us on the latest news concerning the split in the Eagles front office between Chip Kelly and Howie Roseman.
Activations:
- The Seahawks have activated cornerback Jeremy Lane, who last saw the field while picking off a Tom Brady pass in the Super Bowl and was injured on the play.
- The Bengals activated rookie offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi from their non-football injury list.
- The Panthers activated pass rusher Charles Johnson from IR-DTR this week.
QBs:
- Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning will miss at least an additional two weeks with a torn plantar fascia. Brock Osweiler, who the team apparently attempted to trade in 2014, will continue to start for the Broncos.
- The Browns just named Johnny Manziel the starter going forward, but the team will return to Josh McCown in light of a video of Manziel partying surfaces. Manziel allegedly lied to the team about the timeline regarding the video. The team has not considered cutting the former first-round pick.
Signed:
- Bills – Marcus Thigpen, WR (link)
- Broncos – Christian Ponder, QB (link)
- Cardinals – Red Bryant, DL (link)
- Eagles – Jaylen Watkins, WR (link)
- Falcons – Shayne Graham, K (link)
- Rams – Zach Hocker, K (link)
Waivers:
- Colts – claimed RB Dan Herron from the Bills (link)
- Dolphins – claimed LB Quinton Coples from the Jets (link)
- 49ers – claimed LB Ray-Ray Armstrong from the Raiders (link)
- Ravens – claimed QB Jimmy Clausen from the Bears (link)
Waived:
- Bears – Jimmy Clausen, QB (link)
- Bills – Dan Herron, RB (link)
- Falcons – Joplo Bartu, LB (link)
- Jets – Quinton Coples, S (link)
- Seahawks – Bryce Brown, RB (link)
Injuries:
- Bengals – Darqueze Dennard, CB (IR)
- Bills – Kyle Williams, DT (IR)
- Cardinals – LaMarr Woodley, LB (IR)
- Cowboys – Tony Romo, QB (out for season)
- Eagles – Nolan Carroll, CB (IR)
- 49ers – Glenn Dorsey, DL (IR)
- Patriots – Aaron Dobson, WR (IR)
- Ravens – Justin Forsett, RB (IR) and Joe Flacco (out for season)
- Saints – Keenan Lewis, CB (IR)
- Washington – Chris Culliver, CB (IR)
Suspended:
- Panthers – Wes Horton, DE (four games) and Frank Alexander (one year)
PFR Originals: 11/22/15 – 11/29/15
The original content and analysis produced by the PFR staff during the past week:
- Luke Adams took a look at the 2016 cap outlook for the Ravens. The big question the team faces is how to restructure Joe Flacco‘s cap hit in order to clear some room for free agency. Will Hill is also a candidate for an extension, and Dennis Pitta is likely to either be cut or have his salary reduced.
- In our Community Tailgate series, we post topics for discussion and encourage readers to share their thoughts in the comments section. The issues covered this week:
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- Connor Byrne wondered what the chances were that either Julio Jones or Antonio Brown could threaten Calvin Johnson‘s single-season receiving yardage record of 1,964? (link)
- How will the NFC playoff picture shake out? (link)
Geoff Schwartz Leaves Game With Fractured Leg
Giants offensive guard Geoff Schwartz exited the contest versus Washington with a fractured lower leg. He has been ruled out, and will be heading to injured reserve according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (via Twitter).
The Giants will likely look to add an offensive lineman during the week, either in free agency or from their practice squad.
The entire offensive line has been finding it difficult to stay on the field. Former first-round pick Justin Pugh was already ruled out for today with a concussion, the second-straight game he missed with that injury. Schwartz had already moved to left guard to compensate for that. Center Weston Richburg is also missing with a high ankle sprain.
John Jerry, Dallas Reynolds, and rookie Bobby Hart are seeing unexpected playing time because of the rash of injuries to the interior of the offensive line. In fact, other that the two starting offensive tackles, backup Emmett Cleary is the only other offensive lineman on the active roster.
Schwartz struggled with injury for the Giants last year, when he played in only two games after signing a not insignificant free agent contract the previous offseason. The team has yet to get a return on investment for the four-year deal worth $16.8MM and $6.2MM guaranteed. If this injury is indeed season ending, it could put his future with the team in jeopardy.
Extra Points: San Diego, Hardy, NFLPA
The city of San Diego is looking more and more like they will lose the Chargers in the near future, but Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune hopes that the organization retiring LaDainian Tomlinson’s jersey could save the team. He writes that team chairman Dean Spanos has a soft spot for his future Hall of Fame running back, and that an emotional moment of honoring him could be the impetus for a change of heart and new commitment to keep the Chargers in San Diego.
- Albert Breer of the NFL Network touches on many topics in his latest column for NFL.com, providing a few more details on Greg Hardy‘s absence from a Cowboys team meeting, and noting that the NFL will send a contingent to Mexico City for the second time in three weeks, with an eye toward getting Azteca Stadium NFL-ready for a 2016 game.
- The NFL’s general counsel Jeff Pash confirmed the the league and player’s union are having substantive talks regarding player discipline, reports Mark Maske of the Washington Post (via Twitter). In the talks, the NFL is still against including any third-party arbitration.
- Pash did make a statement over the status of the negotiations, according to Maske (via Twitter). “I don’t think we’ll get it done tomorrow. I do think… we can get there.”
AFC Notes: Palmer, McCluster, Hunter, Jackson
Carson Palmer threatening to retire if the Bengals didn’t trade him would have been one of the top stories on Pro Football Rumors in 2010, but it hasn’t been more relevant to look back on than it is now that the 8-1 Bengals are hosting the 7-2 Cardinals, with both teams in prime position to earn first-round byes in their respective conferences. As a lead up to the event, Jim Owczarski, Paul Dehner Jr. and C. Trent Rosecrans of Cincinnati.com have put together an oral history of the saga that led to Palmer leaving the team, and the Bengals to draft Andy Dalton and A.J. Green.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC:
- According to GM Ruston Webster, Titans running back and return man Dexter McCluster sprained his MCL in last night’s loss to the Jaguars (Twitter link via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com). Head coach Mike Mularkey confirmed to reporters that McCluster will be sidelined for the next two or three weeks (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com).
- Running back Kendall Hunter, who has worked out for the Jaguars and Seahawks within the last week or so, had another audition this week, earning a look from the Patriots, writes Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. New England has tried out a handful of free agent backs, including Pierre Thomas, Robert Turbin, and Daryl Richardson, since Dion Lewis suffered a season-ending ACL injury, but the club appears content to stand pat for now.
- The Ravens removed Asa Jackson from injured reserve with an injury settlement yesterday, and he has since gone unclaimed off waivers, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/20/15
Here are Friday’s practice squad signings and cuts, with any additional moves added to the list throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Yesterday the Ravens announced that they would add cornerback Jumal Rolle to the practice squad, and today we learn that he will be taking former Alabama safety Nick Perry‘s spot, according Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Head coach John Harbaugh did say the team still has plans for Perry in their future (via Twitter).
- The Ravens also announced they have signed offensive tackle Blaine Clausell to the practice squad, according to Zrebiec (via Twitter). The team cut offensive tackle Marcel Jones to make room.
Minor Transactions: 11/20/15
Let’s check in on the latest minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL….
- The Panthers have cut offensive tackle Davonte Wallace, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
- The Eagles have placed safety Jerome Couplin on injured reserve, according to the team’s official Twitter account. The team has signed safety Ed Reynolds to the active roster to replace Couplin.
Ryan Fitzpatrick Needs Surgery On Left Thumb
MONDAY, 4:55pm: Fitzpatrick insinuated that he’ll be going under the knife on Friday, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.
4:22pm: Coach Todd Bowles told reporters, including Manish Mehta of the Daily News (on Twitter) that Fitzpatrick could have surgery and he “may not be out” for the following game against the Texans. Bowles added that it is up to Fitzpatrick and the doctors as to when he has surgery (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the Post). The veteran could wait until after the season if he chooses to do so.
SUNDAY, 6:46pm: Ryan Fitzpatrick played well today after suffering a ligament injury in his non-throwing hand early in last week’s contest against the Raiders. However, it came out in the CBS production meeting that Fitzpatrick will require surgery on that thumb at some point before the end of the season, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter).
This revelation came as surprise to Jets fans, as well as Costello himself (via Twitter). Because the injury is on Fitzpatrick’s non-throwing hand and he was active this week, the expectation was that while his thumb might limit him, it would not cost him availability that would force Geno Smith back into the starting lineup.
Surgery could cause Fitzpatrick to miss time. CBS speculated that the veteran quarterback could elect to have the surgery on Friday, after a Thursday Night Football showdown with the Buffalo Bills (via Twitter). That would give him an extra few days to heal in time for a November 22nd game against the Houston Texans.
The exact quote from Fitzpatrick on whether or not he will have the surgery Friday is unclear, and Costello transcribes some of his words (via Twitter).
“Yes. I have to get surgery at some point,” said Fitzpatrick. “I don’t know. It’s still kind of up in the air.”
Costello spoke with David J. Chao M.D., who did not think Fitzpatrick would have to miss any games if he had the surgery on Friday making that an optimal date for the procedure (via Twitter). Chao reiterated that message in response to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, saying it would be a blow to the Jets if he had to have the surgery (via Twitter).
Smith might not get a chance to start and the Jets probably wouldn’t need to bring in a veteran backup if Fitzpatrick could avoid missing a game, but having surgery with such little recovery time is no sure thing.
Ben Roethlisberger To Miss “A Few Weeks”
9:32pm: Adam Schefter confirms initial suggestions that Roethlisberger will miss next week’s game against the Browns and rest during the following bye week (via Twitter). He does add that the Steelers quarterback is likely to return to action in Week 12 against the Seahawks.
5:53pm: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger left today’s victory over the Raiders with a foot injury. Initial X-rays on the foot were negative, reports Richard Graves of Sky Sports UK (via Twitter). He adds that Roethlisberger will have an MRI tomorrow.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the injury is actually a mid-ankle sprain, and should hold Roethlisberger out a few weeks (via Twitter). Pittsburgh has the Browns next week followed by the bye week, and the veteran signal-caller will likely be re-evaluated after that (via Twitter). The team originally believed he had suffered a Lisfranc injury, and were relieved that it was not so severe.
While Roethlisberger will rest the next two weeks, Albert Breer of NFL Network writes that the timetable for his return will depend on how he responds to treatment (via Twitter). Breer believes the actual return date is up in the air, while Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that he might miss several more games past the next two weeks (via Twitter).
The Steelers will now look to Landry Jones, who finished the game strong for the team. Pittsburgh will continue to lean heavily on Antonio Brown and the running game. Michael Vick will serve as the backup, but he was injured last we saw him and the team could consider bringing in a third option during the week.
49ers Notes: Kaepernick, Tomsula, Bush
Blaine Gabbert played well enough to win, but no matter how he fared the bigger story is the tension that has risen between Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers organization. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that based on the current climate, “it is virtually certain [Kaepernick] is not back in San Francisco in 2016, according to team and league sources.”
Kaepernick’s 2016 salary becomes fully guaranteed on April 1st, and it is unlikely the team would want that number on their books if they aren’t committed to him, and La Canfora describes the situation as beyond repair.
Here are a few more notes coming out of San Francisco:
- While La Canfora believes the situation cannot be turned around, Conor Orr of NFL.com writes that the 49ers coaching staff still believes in Kaepernick as the starting quarterback going forward.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a look at the idea behind Kaepernick’s contract, and what direction the 49ers will go in from here. One option Fitzgerald believes the team could explore would be asking Kaepernick to take a pay cut in the offseason by threatening to release him in late March, when he’d be unlikely to receive a contract comparable to what they can offer.
- Even though Gabbert played well and got the win, head coach Jim Tomsula would not name him the starter going forward, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayAreas.com. “Gabbert was our starter today,” said Tomsula. “And I don’t have a comment past that.”
- Kaepernick has been the focus of much of the 49ers’ woes this season, but Tim Kawakami of InsideBayArea.com writes that he is far from the only one on the hot seat during a bad start to the season. He points out that Tomsula, offensive coordinator Geep Chryst, general manager Trent Baalke, and owner Jed York as members of the organization in a no-win situation.
- 49ers’ running back Reggie Bush is planning to sue the city of St. Louis after suffering a possible career-ending injury after slipping on the concrete at the Edward Jones Dome, writes La Canfora. Bush will likely seek gross negligence, given the danger of having the slippery surface so close to the field.