Broncos’ Alex Singleton Suffers ACL Tear
The Broncos’ sudden interest in experienced linebackers comes as a result of a significant blow. Denver will not have Alex Singleton at its disposal for the season’s remainder.
Sean Payton said Wednesday that the team’s top tackler suffered an ACL tear during the Week 3 win in Tampa. Singleton is out for the year and will undergo surgery in two weeks, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. Denver has since added both Kwon Alexander and Zach Cunningham to its practice squad; both veterans may soon be moving to the active roster.
This is an unfortunate development for all parties, as Singleton anchors Denver’s ILB group post-Josey Jewell and is set to turn 31 at season’s end. The Broncos re-signed the former UDFA in 2023 and have seen him author a prolific stretch — one that helped them rebound after a rough defensive start last season. Singleton has strung together back-to-back 160-plus-tackle seasons, not missing a game during that span in Denver.
Payton said Singleton played two thirds of Sunday’s game with the tear, but knowing the injury’s severity obviously changes the team’s plans. Cunningham and Alexander join a thin linebacking corps, which lost Jewell after the six-year contributor reunited with Ejiro Evero in Charlotte. The Broncos also lost Jonas Griffith to another season-ending injury and are without hybrid linebacker Drew Sanders due to an offseason Achilles tear. Sanders may well be back before season’s end, but the team still does not have much behind import Cody Barton. Special-teamer Justin Strnad and former UDFA Kristian Welch are in place on Denver’s 53-man roster.
The Broncos have Singleton on a three-year, $18MM contract. Initially acquired to play in Evero’s defense in 2022, Singleton signed a low-end contract after the Eagles non-tendered him as an RFA. Despite Philly seeing the Montana State alum rack up 137 tackles in his second season as a regular on its defense, Singleton was not deemed a priority for a team that has not spent much at that position in recent years. The Broncos paid Singleton in 2023, doing so despite having already given Jewell a midlevel deal. After Singleton’s 177-tackle season — complete with two 20-plus-tackle games — he ended up taking Jewell’s place as the team’s highest-paid off-ball ‘backer.
Singleton, who totaled two sacks last season and has registered six tackles for loss in two straight years, does not have any guaranteed money left on his deal post-2024. Originally a 2015 UDFA, he ended up debuting in the NFL late after a three-year stay with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. As Singleton has made up for lost NFL time, he has encountered a high hurdle. The Broncos, who rank sixth in scoring defense and third in yardage, will also face significant questions as they are set for 14 games without their 2022 find.
Broncos To Sign LB Zach Cunningham, Move RB Tyler Badie To Active Roster
Although the Broncos prevailed in Tampa and have displayed far superior defensive form compared to the early weeks in Vance Joseph‘s DC tenure, they continue to add veteran linebacker pieces. After signing Kwon Alexander, Denver is bringing in Zach Cunningham.
There are no Saints ties with Cunningham, whom 9News’ Mike Klis notes is joining the Broncos’ practice squad, but he also carries extensive experience as a second-level defensive piece. Cunningham, 29, spent last season with the Eagles after a career in the AFC South (Texans, Titans).
[RELATED: LB Alex Singleton Suffers ACL Tear]
This turned out to be an emergency hire, as the team will be tasked with playing without its top tackler (Singleton) after the $6MM-per-year player suffered a season-ending injury. Cunningham and Alexander, 30, will be vying for time — potentially soon — for a Broncos team that lost Josey Jewell in free agency. As a result, depth is thin for this group. Cody Barton is the only proven ILB left on Denver’s active roster; that may change soon.
A full-time starter for the Texans, Cunningham signed a lucrative extension in 2019. He fell out of favor during the Texans’ early-2020s dark ages, despite leading the NFL in tackles in 2020 (with 164), becoming a healthy scratch during David Culley‘s season in charge. The Titans claimed Cunningham and turned to him as a starter during a season that ended with Tennessee securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The former second-round pick battled injuries in Tennessee, starting four games to close out the 2021 season but going on IR twice in 2022. As GM Ran Carthon took over in 2023, he made Cunningham one of his many cap-casualty moves.
Last season, the Eagles used Cunningham as a 10-game starter after signing him midway through training camp. He played in 13 contests and logged every defensive snap in the team’s wild-card game, one that punctuated a season that featured a collapse. Despite the Eagles cratering, Pro Football Focus viewed Cunningham as an above-average player and graded him well in coverage. The Eagles did not bring back Cunningham, and the eight-year vet — he of 85 tackles and four pass breakups in 2023 — did not attend a training camp. As such, it would not surprise to see the Broncos hold off on an immediate promotion.
Denver is also making an interesting move at running back. After Tyler Badie showed some promise to help a struggling rushing attack against the Buccaneers, the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson adds the team is signing the young RB to its 53-man roster. Badie joins Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie UDFA Blake Watson on Denver’s active roster.
A Missouri alum the Ravens chose in the 2022 sixth round, Badie has been with the Broncos since late in the at ’22 season. He did not play last season, being stationed behind Williams, McLaughlin and Samaje Perine, but delivered his best NFL work last week. Badie, who followed Montee Ball in informing the masses of a pronunciation change as he transitioned to a Broncos RB role, gained 70 yards on nine carries and helped the Broncos close out the Buccaneers. With Williams struggling, Badie now looms as a direct threat to the contract-year starter’s playing time.
Broncos To Add LB Kwon Alexander
Familiarity with Sean Payton continues to land certain players gigs in Denver, as a handful of ex-Saints assistants are also on the second-year HC’s staff. Add Kwon Alexander to the Saints-to-Broncos pipeline.
The veteran linebacker worked out for the team, per 9News’ Mike Klis, and ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes the club is making a practice squad addition. Alexander will join the Broncos at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, where they are practicing in preparation for their Week 4 game against the Jets.
Coming back from the second Achilles tear of his NFL career, Alexander had previously auditioned for the Falcons and Vikings. The Broncos saw enough to greenlight this reunion. Alexander will join a Broncos team that already houses seven ex-Saints — Adam Trautman, Wil Lutz, Malcolm Roach, Calvin Throckmorton, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Lucas Krull and Jordan Jackson — on its active roster.
Alexander spent 2022 with the Jets and 2023 with the Steelers but was dealt from the 49ers to the Saints in 2020 and played all of the 2021 season — Payton’s New Orleans finale — with the NFC South team. Alexander, 30, started 15 games with the Saints under Payton. He aided a division champion in 2020 and recorded 3.5 sacks, despite operating primarily as an off-ball LB, in 2021
While the Broncos’ ILBs coach (Greg Manusky) was not in New Orleans during that time, ex-ILB Michael Wilhoite — Denver’s OLBs coach — was on Payton’s staff during Alexander’s tenure. Alexander also recovered a fumble against the Broncos during a 2020 matchup best remembered for the AFC West team having no active QBs due to COVID-19.
Formerly a standout Buccaneers ‘backer who earned a lucrative 49ers free agency deal in 2019 despite coming off an ACL tear, Alexander saw his first Saints season end due to an Achilles tear and sustained the same injury — albeit to his other Achilles — in November of last year. The Saints still re-signed the talented defender in August 2021. Alexander has played effectively in spurts. He started 12 games for a top-five Jets defense in 2022. Last season, Pro Football Focus graded the nine-year vet as a plus coverage ILB. Though, the Broncos will surely want to see how he looks in practices given the extensive injury history here.
Denver signed Cody Barton to start alongside Alex Singleton this offseason, letting Josey Jewell defect to the Panthers. Jonas Griffith had competed with Barton for that gig but did not make the team, suffering another major injury. Justin Strnad and Kristian Welch are in place as Denver’s second-string ILBs. Alexander will surely have a chance to move up to the 53-man roster soon.
Saquon Barkley: Giants Were Not In Play During 2024 Free Agency
With some notable exceptions (Kirk Cousins, Antonio Brown among them), few players have come up more frequently at PFR during a two-year period than Saquon Barkley. The current Eagles running back’s past two offseasons have continued to generate content, especially as Barkley shows vintage form on his new team.
Hard Knocks revived the Giants-Barkley divorce storyline, but the seventh-year back said the 2023 offseason mattered more in the grand scheme. The Giants memorably franchise-tagged Barkley and joined the Raiders and Cowboys in not paying their tagged performer at the July deadline. That set in motion a chain of events that led Barkley to Philadelphia.
HBO’s maiden offseason voyage offered memorable content, including a Barkley phone call with Giants GM Joe Schoen the former did not know was being recorded. Barkley brushed off that component and said during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show the Giants were never a true consideration for him this year (video link).
Schoen asked Barkley to allow the Giants an attempt to match an offer he received, but the team’s powwow before this year’s franchise tag application deadline showed little descent when it came to Schoen and assistant GM Brandon Brown‘s preferred strategy of not tagging the veteran RB a second time. The Giants did not circle back and attempt to re-sign Barkley after not tagging him, and the talented back hit the open market (to John Mara‘s chagrin, given where Barkley chose to sign) with a few offers. Barkley’s path out of New York, despite the RB repeatedly indicating he hoped to finish his career there, was set in motion in 2023.
While Barkley jokingly expressed regret Schoen did not alert him of the recorded call, thus negating the RB a chance to play up drama for TV purposes, he revisited to a gripe from last year regarding what he perceived to be Giants-driven reports of the sides’ negotiations. The team had offered Barkley around $13MM per year in the winter of 2023, before re-signing Daniel Jones at the 11th hour and then tagging the more talented player, but dropped the AAV on its final offer before upping the guarantee to around $22MM. Though that was an impressive guarantee on a depressed RB market, the Giants’ proposal ended up short-selling Barkley based on what he received as a free agent. Barkley ended up collecting the $10.1MM franchise tag sum and then securing $26MM guaranteed at signing from the Eagles.
The Texans offered Barkley more than $11MM per year, while the Bears, Chargers and Ravens were in the mix as well. Chicago pivoted to D’Andre Swift, doing so before Barkley committed to Philadelphia, while Los Angeles went with ex-Greg Roman options in Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Houston traded for Joe Mixon, giving the longtime Cincinnati starter $13MM guaranteed at signing, while Baltimore turned steady Derrick Henry rumors into a signing. The Giants were not among the four teams to submit Barkley an offer in March.
The Giants ended up with Devin Singletary at three years and $16MM ($9.5MM guaranteed at signing). Thus far, Barkley has made a big difference for an Eagles offense that has dealt with injuries.
Although a Barkley drop in Week 2 opened the door to a Falcons comeback win, he scored five combined touchdowns in Weeks 1 and 3 to propel the Eagles to wins in Brazil and New Orleans. The 27-year-old back leads the NFL with 351 rushing yards. While Barkley carries significant injury risk, he is off to a strong start after joining Philly hours into the legal tampering period.
Panthers To Place Adam Thielen On IR
Just as the Panthers’ passing attack awakened, it will be without its most experienced option. Adam Thielen, who caught a touchdown pass in Carolina’s Week 3 win, will be shut down for a while.
Thielen suffered a hamstring injury, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets the Panthers will place the veteran wide receiver on IR. This move will give the 2023 free agency pickup time to recover ahead of the midseason point.
Hamstring maladies can certainly linger, and it might not be a lock Thielen comes back when first eligible. The 34-year-old wideout sustained what ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler calls a fairly significant injury. The Panthers saw a hamstring injury sideline Jaycee Horn for 10 games in 2023, with the IR move involving the cornerback sidelining him for almost all of Frank Reich‘s short-lived tenure. Thielen will be shut down until at least Week 8.
A notable market formed for Thielen following his 2023 Vikings release, and the Panthers won out with a three-year deal worth $25MM. Thielen, who commanded a $14MM guarantee at signing, was far and away Carolina’s top pass catcher last season. His 1,014 receiving yards led an anemic Panthers offense by nearly 500. Carolina, however, has since remade its receiving corps by trading for Diontae Johnson and using a first-round pick on Xavier Legette. This duo will be called upon to pick up the slack while Thielen rehabs.
Thielen’s injury occurred on his diving TD catch from new starter Andy Dalton. This will mark the former UDFA’s first missed game action since the 2021 season, when he missed four contests. Thielen now has three 1,000-yard seasons on his resume, which produced two Vikings extensions and his current Panthers pact. At 34, however, the Division II product is the NFL’s oldest active wideout.
While Thielen’s post-2024 Charlotte future is in doubt due to his age and nonguaranteed salary, this year’s edition will certainly miss the dependable possession target. Johnson is coming off a career-high 122 receiving yards with Dalton having taken over for Bryce Young, but this will thrust two of Carolina’s young targets — Legette and second-year cog Jonathan Mingo — into heavier workloads. It will be interesting to see how the younger pair responds now that more will be expected following Dalton’s strong showing.
Lions C Frank Ragnow Sustains Torn Pec
The Lions are set to be without their Pro Bowl center for an extended period. Frank Ragnow suffered a torn pectoral muscle during the team’s Week 3 win, Dan Campbell confirmed Tuesday.
Campbell said during an appearance on 97.1’s Costa & Jansen with Heather (via ESPN.com’s Eric Woodyard) the veteran blocker wants to keep playing. The Lions look to have dodged a bullet, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating it is a partial tear. Still, Ragnow should be expected to miss time.
[RELATED: Lions’ Marcus Davenport Out For Season]
“He’s tough; he’s stubborn, so he wants to go, and he always wants to go, but this is something we’re still talking about right now,” Campbell said. “I’m not entirely sure what we’re gonna do with him. A lot of it is where is he gonna feel by middle or end of the week, but he does have something in there and he did play through some of this last week.”
Last year showed pectoral tears are not season-enders, with the Lions among the teams to see successful rehab efforts commence. C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down with a torn pec in Week 2 and made it back in time for the Lions’ regular-season finale. Bills DT DaQuan Jones and Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox also returned from September pec tears. Ragnow, who has missed extended time in just one of his previous six NFL seasons, may be shut down for a while, but given that this is a partial tear, his recovery timetable may not be nearly as lengthy as the above-referenced trio’s from 2023.
Attached to the lucrative extension he signed in 2021, Ragnow missed most of that season — a 3-13-1 campaign that began this Campbell- and Brad Holmes-overseen rebuild effort — due to a toe injury. Ragnow played four games in 2021 but was on the field for 16 games in 2022 and 15 last season. Both those showings produced Pro Bowl nods for the former first-round pick.
A second-team All-Pro twice (as Jason Kelce gobbled up first-team honors for an extended period), Ragnow has started all 83 NFL games he has played. The former No. 20 overall pick is one of two Bob Quinn-era investments in place on a well-built O-line, joining left tackle Taylor Decker. The Lions used Evan Brown as Ragnow’s primary replacement in 2021; Brown left in free agency last year. Ragnow, 28, did not miss a snap against the Cardinals, who now employ Brown.
Detroit brought back Graham Glasgow in 2023 and re-signed the veteran guard this year. Glasgow has a background at center, having played there for the Broncos in 2022 and with the Lions in Ragnow’s 2018 rookie year; the latter worked at left guard to start his NFL run. Dan Skipper, who saw time as a sixth O-lineman against Arizona, has played guard at points in his career; he and Glasgow give the team options. The Lions also have former UDFAs Michael Niese and Kayode Awosika as backup interior O-linemen on their 53-man roster. Awosika has been with the team since 2022, Niese since 2023.
Panthers Receiving Trade Inquiries On Bryce Young; QB Expected To Start Again In 2024
Bryce Young‘s status continues to be a lead early-season storyline, and conflicting reports about the second-year passer’s future have emerged. For now, Young will sit behind Andy Dalton. The organization’s plan beyond that remains unclear.
With the team so quickly veering from its Young path, trade inquiries are coming in. Several teams have reached out to the Panthers about Young’s availability, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Beyond those clubs, others have debated an overture internally. The offseason looms as the most likely trade window, Schefter adds.
Dave Canales said this week the team was not interested in moving Young right now, and while the rookie HC had said following the Chargers’ blowout win the 2023 No. 1 overall pick would remain the starter, Dalton received word hours later he would take over. Panthers players had grown frustrated with Young, who is not coming especially close to developing — albeit in suboptimal circumstances — in the way the franchise had hoped when it traded a bounty to the Bears for the draft slot last year. And debate around the league about the Panthers’ long-term direction with Young is coming out.
When the Panthers benched Young, word out of Charlotte depicted the change as a permanent benching instead of a move to merely reset the former Heisman winner’s confidence. However, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates the Panthers indeed aim to turn back to Young at some point this season.
The Jets took this route with Zach Wilson in 2022, allowing the embattled QB to climb back up the depth chart — with an assist from a Mike White injury — after veterans were wildly disappointed in the player’s showing. While Schefter adds the door is indeed open to Young returning this season, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini is bearish about the Alabama alum’s long-term Carolina outlook (subscription required).
Young had been reassured the Panthers were in this for the long haul, only to see the team scrap a plan it formed in 2023 and then doubled down via several acquisitions this offseason. Young was believed to be “pissed” at the Panthers’ about-face, and although the team is not planning to trade the 5-foot-10 passer now, Russini reports this relationship is fully expected to end in 2025.
A veteran Panther informed Russini that Young kept making the same mistakes. Despite the Panthers signing guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis and then trading for Diontae Johnson to improve on a poor offensive setup, Young sits last in QBR by a wide margin through two games. The second of which produced a paltry 84 passing yards on 26 attempts. Young is averaging a nonfunctional 4.4 yards per attempt this season, and Russini adds that despite any damage control coming out of Charlotte, he is done as the hopeful long-term Panthers QB1.
Young’s scout-team performance this week offered the Panthers some renewed hope for a rebound, per Rapoport, who adds the team had viewed its previous starter as “overwhelmed.” Though, even if the Panthers may well be planning to give Young another shot later this season, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones offers this relationship is “forever altered.”
Jones affirms the Panthers “blindsided” Young with news of the benching but echoes Rapoport’s reporting that the diminutive QB will have another chance to start this season. Neither Russini nor Jones dispute David Tepper being involved in the benching, though the latter pushes back that the oft-criticized owner was not the sole driver behind the move. Most around the league, however, believe Tepper was involved in this benching, Russini offers.
Tepper is believed to have been the driving force behind the Young draft choice last year. Both GM Scott Fitterer and HC Frank Reich announced they shared the view, with separate research efforts producing a consensus between the since-fired HC-GM combo. Though, rumblings out of Charlotte had tied Reich to C.J. Stroud — even after the quickly fired coach had denied strong consideration was given to the Ohio State product. That is well in the past, and the Panthers are now nearing a cliff with the player they chose.
Two years remain on Young’s rookie contract, and roster bonuses of $3.17MM and $4.78MM are respectively due in 2025 and 2026. The Cowboys took on Trey Lance‘s fully guaranteed rookie contract, while the Broncos and Jets agreed to split Wilson’s 2024 money. The Panthers will have an impossible task finding value near what they gave up if they were to unload Young, with Jones reporting a Day 3 pick would be most likely the highest return the team could expect.
Carolina gave up D.J. Moore, its 2024 first-round pick (No. 1 overall) and 2023 and ’25 second-rounders to climb from No. 9 to No. 1. The Texans had backed out of a three-team trade that would have sent them the top pick and the Panthers No. 2 overall, and after Carolina had also discussed No. 3 with Arizona, the NFC South club then dealt directly with Chicago to obtain No. 1. With Young 2-16 as a starter, that move has deteriorated into one of the worst NFL decisions in a rather bad period for QB missteps.
Dalton is tied to a two-year, $10MM contract, and he appears set for a long runway as the Panthers’ emergency fix. Whether the Panthers’ 2024 plan involves another Young look or not, trade rumors — after many QBs drafted in 2021 and ’22 have been moved — are unlikely to cool down before this year’s deadline. Assuming the Panthers stick to their guns and retain Young throughout this season, trade rumblings are almost definitely to follow — perhaps ahead of a deal that gives Young a true fresh start — in 2025.
Browns LT Jedrick Wills To Debut In Week 3
Jedrick Wills did not suffer an ACL tear, but a knee injury has kept the four-year Browns left tackle out of action since Week 9 of last season. The string of missed games will stop today for the contract-year blocker.
The Browns have listed Wills as active, and TheLandOnDemand.com’s Tony Grossi indicates the former first-round pick will be the team’s left tackle starter opposite from Dawand Jones. While Wills is back, Jack Conklin — after making his return from an ACL tear last week — is out.
Although an MCL sprain was primary issue impacting Wills’ lengthy absence, he missed all this time due to also sustaining PCL damage and bone bruises in his injured right knee. Wills missed all of Cleveland’s offseason program and training camp but avoided the reserve/PUP list. That will allow a Week 3 debut, whereas a PUP placement would have required a four-game absence. Conklin missed all of Browns camp as well, but he had suffered an ACL tear for the second time as a pro. Conklin is also secure with a third lucrative contract, while Wills is playing for his second.
Seeing his fifth-year option ($19.7MM) picked up in May 2023, Wills must answer questions in a pivotal year. He can begin that effort in earnest against the Giants today, and the Browns now have four of their five O-line starters healthy. The Browns have guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller signed beyond 2024, and center Ethan Pocic‘s three-year deal runs through 2025.
Conklin’s most recent extension covers him through 2026, but no guarantees are still in place post-2024 on that contract. Conklin, 30, will need to show he can stay healthy this season. That effort is not going especially well so far, with the ninth-year tackle logging two full practices before being limited Friday and out today. Conklin should be expected to return next week, per Grossi, but this is obviously a situation to monitor given the former first-rounder’s injury past.
Wills, 25, has started every game he has played (53) since the Browns made him the 10th overall pick in 2020. This included a 15-game 2020 season and a 17-game 2022 effort. Pro Football Focus graded Wills as a mid-pack tackle from 2020-22, before assigning him a worse grade last season.
Next year could present a host of interesting options for tackle-needy teams. As of now, Wills joins Ronnie Stanley, Garett Bolles and Cam Robinson as veteran LTs unsigned. The Rams’ Alaric Jackson is also out of contract after this season. Extensions may well thin this crop, but Wills is younger than this lot and could have nearly 70 starts on his NFL resume after this season.
Of course, the Alabama alum will need to show he has recovered from his troublesome knee malady to set himself up for a big payday — either from the Browns or a tackle-seeking team in free agency — come 2025.
Former Dolphins Super Bowl-Winning RB Mercury Morris Dies At 77
Known for his role on the Dolphins’ perfect 1972 season and being one of that storied team’s lead ambassadors, Mercury Morris died Saturday night. Morris’ son announced his passing Sunday morning.
Born Eugene Morris, the shifty ball-carrier played a lead role for an NFL dynasty. He stepped in as the Dolphins’ lead halfback in a backfield that featured Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka. While Csonka was the engine for those Miami offenses, he and Morris formed a lethal tandem that powered the Dolphins during a run-heavy NFL era.
The Dolphins ventured to three straight Super Bowls from 1971-73. Although Jim Kiick operated as Csonka’s primary complement during the 1971 season, Morris — a 1969 third-round pick out of West Texas A&M — stepped in as Miami’s top HB during the ’72 slate. In addition to that 17-0 Dolphins season being among the most celebrated in American sports history, Morris teamed with Csonka to become the NFL’s first 1,000-1,000 backfield. The former landed on exactly 1,000 rushing yards in that 14-game campaign, with Csonka finishing with 1,117 to help a Dolphins team that played without starting quarterback Bob Griese for much of that perfect season.
After eclipsing 70 rushing yards in Miami’s two wins during the AFC playoffs, Morris led the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns for a 1973 Dolphins team that went 12-2 and beat superior regular-season competition (Oakland, Pittsburgh, Dallas) compared to its unbeaten predecessor. Morris averaged a career-best 6.4 yards per carry that season and joined Csonka in helping Miami win Super Bowl VIII while attempting just seven passes in a one-sided win over the Vikings.
Miami’s 1974 team played without Morris for all but five games, and the veteran back did not suit up for the team’s loss to the Raiders in a divisional-round classic. Morris, who also returned three kickoffs for touchdowns during his first three NFL seasons, earned three Pro Bowl selections. He played seven seasons with the Dolphins, continuing after Csonka and Hall of Fame wide receiver Paul Warfield left for the short-lived World Football League in 1975, but saw his career impacted by a knee injury sustained during the 1974 preseason.
Morris, who finished his career with the Chargers in 1976, accumulated 4,133 career rushing yards in eight seasons. Among running backs, Morris’ 5.1 career yards-per-carry average trails only Marion Motley (5.7), Jamaal Charles (5.4), Nick Chubb (5.3) and Jim Brown (5.2). Among RBs to play past the 1970 merger, Morris ranks third in YPC.
Sentenced to 20 years in prison for cocaine trafficking in 1982, Morris served 3 1/2 years after the Florida Supreme Court overturned his conviction. The Pittsburgh native would regularly tout the Dolphins’ perfect season, which annually involves the surviving team members toasting after the NFL’s final unbeaten goes down.
Chiefs To Bench LT Kingsley Suamataia
The Chiefs expressed confidence in Kingsley Suamataia as Patrick Mahomes‘ blindside protector this offseason, but after a rough day against the Bengals, the defending champions are changing course.
Suamataia did not make it out of Week 2 as Kansas City’s left tackle starter, and the team will turn to his backup tonight against the Falcons. Wanya Morris will start tonight, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Suamataia had beaten out the 2023 third-round pick in training camp, but the Chiefs will sit the struggling rookie.
Trey Hendrickson beat Suamataia for two sacks, leading to the Chiefs parking the BYU product on their final drive Sunday. Andy Reid said both Suamataia and Morris would play against the Falcons. With the news of Suamataia’s benching emerging, it will be interesting to see what the split between the two — who appear to again be battling for the job — will be in Week 3.
Kansas City traded up one spot (via San Francisco) for Suamataia in the second round, climbing to No. 63 to land a player connected to the team late in the pre-draft process. The Chiefs did not re-sign 2023 stopgap Donovan Smith, whom the team had brought in after letting Orlando Brown Jr. defect to the Bengals during last year’s free agency period. Smith, 31, remains a free agent.
The team had wanted to extend Brown in 2022, with some in the building growing frustrated after the 2021 trade pickup turned down a six-year extension offer. Brown had cited insufficient guarantees as the reason he passed on the proposal, and while he played well to help the 2022 Chiefs to a championship, the team passed on a second franchise tag. This led to the team paying Jawaan Taylor, who surfaced as a left tackle option before the team quickly installed the ex-Jaguars starter at his natural RT position. Taylor led the NFL in penalties last season, but the $20MM-per-year player remains in place as Kansas City’s other starting tackle.
Morris started four games in place of an injured Smith last season; the Oklahoma alum surrendered a pair of sacks and 27 pressures when on the field, per PFF, resulting in a 55.6 overall grade. The Chiefs then prioritized a potential upgrade, drafting the 21-year-old Suamataia, a 2023 second-team All-Big 12 blocker who then beat out Morris for the gig after a spring and summer competition.
It certainly should not be discounted Suamataia regroups and reclaims the job he initially won, but for now, the Chiefs will turn to Morris after their offense struggled in Week 2.