Jets Work Out Shane Ray, Nate Orchard
In their quest to bolster their pass rush, the Jets worked out a pair of recognizable edge defenders today. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Gang Green brought in Shane Ray and Nate Orchard for visits (Twitter link).
Interestingly, both players worked out for the Bears last Tuesday, but obviously neither signed with Chicago. Ray, a former first-round pick of the Broncos, was among the Ravens’ final cuts before the regular season got underway. After posting 12 sacks in his first two seasons, Ray missed large portions of the next two years due to injury and is looking to show that he can still be an effective QB hunter.
Orchard, meanwhile, looked as if he would make the Dolphins’ roster after a strong preseason, but Miami surprisingly cut him prior to the first game of the 2019 campaign. He also worked out for the Lions after the Dolphins sent him packing.
In addition to Ray and Orchard, the Jets took a look at defensive ends Jamal Davis, Kasim Edebali, and Markus Jones, as well as OLB Chuck Harris.
Giants Tried To Trade Up For DE Josh Allen
Giants GM Dave Gettleman‘s oft-scrutinized decision to select Duke QB Daniel Jones with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft is about to be put to the test, as Jones will make his first career start when Big Blue takes on the Buccaneers this afternoon. Although Jones’ performance in camp and the preseason helped to quiet the criticism a bit, it’s probably not an overstatement to say that Gettleman’s career with the Giants is riding on Jones’ right arm.
Many pundits expected the Giants to select Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen with the No. 6 pick, and when Gettleman went with Jones, the Jaguars scooped Allen up one pick later. Several days after the draft, Gettleman described the decision to bypass Allen as “agonizing.” He said, “I agonized over that. I agonized. Before the draft, we discussed that thoroughly as a group — first last Friday, then again Wednesday. Obviously we had great regard for Josh Allen. But the one thing I have learned is you don’t fool around with a quarterback. If he’s your guy, you take him.”
In fact, Gettleman was so enamored with Allen that he tried to trade back up with the Jaguars to get him, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports (video link). The Giants were also armed with the No. 17 overall pick, so they may have had enough ammo to pull off such a deal, but Jacksonville wasn’t interested in passing up a talent like Allen.
Gettleman indicated post-draft that he knew of at least two teams that would have taken Jones before New York was back on the clock with the No. 17 selection, and Rapoport confirms that was the case (Twitter link). We heard earlier that the Giants also tried to trade up with Denver for the No. 10 overall selection, but they ultimately held onto the No. 17 pick and drafted DT Dexter Lawrence. Gettleman finally achieved a trade-up when he dealt pick nos. 37, 132, and 142 to Seattle in exchange for the No. 30 pick, which he used to draft CB Deandre Baker.
If Jones becomes a franchise signal-caller, this will all become little more than an interesting footnote. Allen, though, is living up to the hype thus far, having posted two sacks and seven pressures in the first two games of his career.
Jordan Reed’s Career In Doubt
Redskins tight end Jordan Reed has tremendous talent, but he can never seem to stay healthy. The one-time Pro Bowler has not played a snap in 2019 due to a concussion, and he has already been ruled out of Washington’s Week 3 contest against the Bears.
And as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports, Reed’s career is very much in jeopardy. The 29-year-old has suffered numerous concussions throughout his career, and while it’s difficult to determine the exact number, his long-term health is obviously cause for concern.
For his part, Reed would like to continue playing, but it’s possible that he will not be cleared to do so. As Schefter writes, the more time that passes without Reed coming back, the less likely it is he returns.
Reed is under contract through 2021 thanks to a five-year, $46.75MM extension he signed in May 2016. That came on the heels of a 2015 campaign in which the Florida product came just shy of posting 1,000 receiving yards and scored 11 touchdowns. His numbers were not quite as breathtaking in 2016 (66 catches for 686 yards and six TDs), but he did make his only Pro Bowl that year.
Reed suffered his latest concussion during the Redskins’ third preseason game in August.
Ben Roethlisberger Expected To Make Full Recovery
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has vowed to return to the field, and to that end, the two-time Super Bowl champ will undergo his season-ending elbow surgery this week, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
Luckily for Roethlisberger, he will not require Tommy John surgery, so Schefter’s sources say there is no concern about the signal-caller’s availability for 2020. “There is complete optimism that he will be ready to roll next season,” one source said. “No one is concerned that next year is going to be a problem.”
Although Schefter says the exact nature of Roethlisberger’s elbow injury remains unclear, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that the procedure will repair a muscle tear and does not involve any ligaments or tendons (which is in keeping with the report that TJ surgery is not required). JLC adds Big Ben’s recovery plan will include throwing in the spring.
In the meantime, Pittsburgh is not throwing in the towel on the 2019 campaign, as evidenced by the team’s trade for Minkah Fitzpatrick earlier this week. The club has expressed full confidence in second-year QB Mason Rudolph, and both La Canfora (in a separate piece) and Schefter remind us that the Steelers were so enamored with Rudolph — and so convinced that the division-rival Bengals were locked in on him — that they leapfrogged Cincinnati in the third round of the 2018 draft to select him. At the time, then-Bengals HC Marvin Lewis said he felt as though the Steelers had bugged the Bengals’ war room.
In fact, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the Steelers had a first-round grade on Rudolph, which is why they believe they can remain competitive this season.
Jaguars Don’t Want To Trade Jalen Ramsey
As with most stories of this magnitude, there have been a number of pendulum shifts in the Jalen Ramsey saga since the outspoken corner requested a trade last week. The Jaguars have no shortage of potential suitors, but while the offers that rival clubs have made for Ramsey are undeniably tempting, no one has met the asking price of two first-round picks and then some. We initially heard that Ramsey could be dealt on Friday, but when Friday came, reports surfaced indicating that Jacksonville owner Shad Khan is willing to give Ramsey a record-breaking contract to keep him in a Jaguars uniform.
In keeping with those reports, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes that the Jaguars are not interested in trading Ramsey, regardless of his trade demand. If the team were so inclined, Ramsey would already be gone. However, Ramsey has not been placated by the promise of future riches — riches that most every team would be willing to give him — and he still wants out.
As Schefter observes, that sets up a potential showdown this week. After their Thursday night win, the Jaguars return to the practice field Monday, and if Ramsey really wants to force the team’s hand, he could simply not show up. He would obviously be subjected to fines for that approach, but that may be a risk he’s willing to take.
For what it’s worth, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says the Chiefs are still considered by several GMs to be the favorites to land Ramsey. Ultimately, those GMs think Jacksonville will get a first-rounder, a second-rounder, and a young player with upside in a Ramsey trade.
Antonio Brown Says He’s Done With The NFL
Embattled wide receiver Antonio Brown took to Twitter this morning to announce that he will not be playing in the NFL anymore. Brown said:
“Will not be playing in the @NFL anymore these owners can cancel deals do whatever they want at anytime we will see if the @NFLPA hold them accountable sad they can just void guarantees anytime going on 40m 2 months will see if they pay up!”
In a follow-up tweet, Brown threw shade on Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was infamously involved in a prostitution sting earlier this year. Brown said, “Kraft got caught in the parlor AB speculations fired different strokes different folks clearly.”
He then went completely nuclear and tweeted headlines from older news stories concerning sexual assault and rape allegations levied against Ben Roethlisberger and Shannon Sharpe, both of whom obviously still have prominent roles in and around the league (Twitter links). He also seemed to offer support for Patriots fans who were making death threats against Robert Klemko, the Sports Illustrated reporter who broke the story regarding Brown’s second accuser (Twitter link).
By now, most everyone is familiar with the Brown drama, and as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network observes, it sounds as if Brown just got the news that the Patriots will not be paying him the $9MM signing bonus that he agreed to when he signed with New England (Twitter link). The first $5MM of that bonus was due to be paid tomorrow, and as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com wrote in a story that was published before Brown’s tweet, the Pats were not expected to cut that check. As a result, Brown will be filing a grievance, as ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports (via Twitter).
Of course, just because the mercurial Brown says he’s done with the NFL doesn’t mean he actually is. While it seems unlikely that he will sign with another team this year — especially since the NFL could put him on the commissioner’s exempt list as soon as he signs — all it takes is one club to roll the dice. By signing Brown, a team may be paying him to sit on the exempt list, but that team would also be securing his rights if and when he comes off of that list. On the other hand, Brown’s latest tirade has led to at least 10 head coaches and/or GMs saying that their team owners will not touch Brown, whom they consider radioactive (Twitter link via Jason Cole of Bleacher Report).
For now, the NFL’s investigation into the accusations of sexual assault and rape made against Brown is ongoing. Rapoport observes that the league has concluded its meeting with Brown’s second accuser.
Pelissero notes in a separate tweet that the NFLPA is indeed prepared to represent Brown in his battle to recoup his “lost” funds. Meanwhile, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports that, despite speculation to the contrary, the XFL is not interested in Brown.
Broncos, Justin Simmons Had Contract Talks
The Broncos and starting free safety Justin Simmons briefly engaged in contract talks before the regular season started but have since tabled them, as Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post writes. Simmons is eligible for free agency in March, and he previously stated that he would like to remain in Denver on a long-term basis.
It sounds as if the two sides could reopen talks at any time. GM John Elway has made a habit of hammering out extensions with players in-season, and with seven current starters playing out their contract years, it makes sense for Elway to use some of the $13.6MM in cap space created by Joe Flacco‘s recent restructure to take care of one or two of those players before the season ends.
Elway and new head coach Vic Fangio are fans of Simmons, who may not be a household name but who is a young and promising talent with the type of versatility that Fangio prioritizes. The 2016 third-rounder was one of just three players in the league to play all of his club’s defensive snaps in 2018, and he has posted seven interceptions in his brief career.
With respect to getting a deal done during the season, Simmons said, “[w]e’ll see where we’re at (later in the season) and if something is going to get done, it will. If not, we’ll see where we’re at after the season. Not worried about it.”
Browns Promote CB Robert Jackson From Practice Squad
Robert Jackson, come on down. The Browns, who are dealing with injuries to several of their top corners, have promoted Jackson from the practice squad, the team announced.
Both Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams are dealing with hamstring injuries, and their availability for Cleveland’s Week 3 showdown with the Rams on Sunday night is in doubt. That could spell trouble given Los Angeles’ potentially explosive aerial attack, and while Jackson likely won’t be the guy the Browns turn to, he could play a support role and contribute on special teams if he’s activated.
Jackson, who signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of UNLV last May, spent six weeks of the 2018 season and the first two weeks of the 2019 campaign on the Browns’ practice squad. He appeared in all four of the team’s preseason contests this year, recording six defensive tackles and two special teams tackles. He takes the roster spot of Elijah McGuire, who was waived yesterday.
To fill Jackson’s spot on the taxi squad, the Browns brought back fellow CB Donnie Lewis.
Cardinals’ GM: “We’re Not Trading Patrick Peterson”
Reports yesterday suggested that the Cardinals had inquired on star Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who recently requested a trade. It’s difficult to know the extent of Arizona’s interest in Ramsey, but those rumors did reignite some chatter around the Cardinals’ own stud CB, Patrick Peterson.
Peterson, who is currently serving a six-game ban for violating the league’s PED policy, requested a trade in 2018, though he walked back that request in January 2019. But in April, reports of tension between P2 and the team surfaced again, and then Peterson was hit with the suspension.
Although the three-time First Team All-Pro said in July that he’d like to be a Cardinal for life, Arizona’s reported interest in Ramsey led to some speculation as to whether the Cards would part with Peterson. However, Arizona GM Steve Keim said during a radio appearance Friday morning that Peterson is not going anywhere.
“We’re not trading Pat and that’s something we’ve been very consistent with,” Keim said (via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com). “You always ask yourself, does a move make us better or worse? To lose someone like Pat Peterson would make us worse.”
Due to tampering considerations, Keim would not address the Ramsey situation. However, he said that the team’s decision to restructure Chandler Jones‘ contract had nothing to do with an impending move, as some believed. The club’s cap space had shrunk to less than $1MM, and the restructure was just about creating flexibility.
Injury Notes: 9/20/19
Here are the latest significant injury-related notes from around the league:
- Marshall Newhouse, whom the Patriots signed last week, will serve as the club’s starting left tackle until Isaiah Wynn returns, per Doug Kyed of NESN.com (via Twitter).
- As expected, Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson will not play in Week 3, but the club is still optimistic about the availability of Alshon Jeffery and Dallas Goedert, as Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com tweets.
- Buccaneers LB Devin White will not play this weekend, per Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link).
- Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard is out of the concussion protocol and will play in Week 3 per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (via PFT). Rookie QB Daniel Jones will be making his first start, so Shepard’s presence will be especially helpful.
- The Seahawks are getting closer to full strength, as both WR David Moore and defensive end Ezekiel Ansah are expected to play in Week 3, per Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk. We had already heard that Ansah was likely to make his Seattle debut this weekend, but Moore’s return is earlier than expected, even after we learned at the end of August that he would avoid IR.
- Top Jets defenders C.J. Mosley and Quinnen Williams are not expected to play this week, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. The Week 3 outlook is also bleak for WR Demaryius Thomas and LB Jordan Jenkins.
- Tyler Kroft‘s Bills debut may be put on hold for awhile longer. Kroft was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, but as Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes, Buffalo HC Sean McDermott told reporters that Kroft injured his ankle in Thursday’s practice and will undergo further evaluation.