Eagles To Waive DE Derek Barnett
Mentioned in trade rumors before roster-cutdown day in August and prior to last month’s trade deadline, Derek Barnett did not end up being moved. The Eagles have since changed their tune.
The Eagles are waiving the former first-round pick Friday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. The seventh-year defensive end, who re-signed with the Eagles in 2022, has not seen much playing time this season. But he profiles as a player expected to draw interest, per Schefter, now that he is unattached.
Barnett’s contract contains less than $500K in remaining base salary, which would not be much of an impediment toward a waiver claim. The trade deadline having passed makes all vested veterans subject to waivers. Barnett’s deal expires after this season, though passing through waivers unclaimed would lead to an early expiration.
On another deep Philadelphia defensive line, Barnett has played just 99 snaps. The former Tennessee standout has made just three tackles (one for loss) in eight games. The Eagles made Barnett a healthy scratch against the Cowboys earlier this month, and he missed the Chiefs matchup for personal reasons. But another healthy scratch may well have been in the cards for Barnett, who has been with the Eagles since going off the 2017 draft board 14th overall.
Philly allowed Barnett to gauge trade interest in August, and the defending NFC champions explored dealing him before the Oct. 31 trade deadline. Barnett, 27, remained an Eagle; he will now see if a bigger role is out there. Although the Eagles did not bring back Robert Quinn, the team still has a bevy of edge-rushing options. Brandon Graham re-signed, and Josh Sweat is signed to an extension. Philly has edge anchor Haason Reddick tied to a three-year, $45MM deal he has outplayed, and the team used a first-round pick on Nolan Smith. Patrick Johnson, a 2021 seventh-round pick, also resides on the Eagles’ 53-man roster.
Barnett signed a two-year, $14MM deal in 2022 but went down with an ACL tear in Week 1 of last season. The Eagles reduced his pay this offseason, though the redo upped Barnett’s 2023 guarantees to $3.5MM. While Barnett was not a part of the Eagles team that ventured to Super Bowl LVII, he is best remembered for his fumble recovery — following Graham’s fourth-quarter sack of Tom Brady — that helped the team prevail in Super Bowl LII. Barnett recorded five sacks during that 2017 rookie season and registered 6.5 in 2019 and 5.5 in 2020. Not becoming an upper-echelon pass rusher with the Eagles, Barnett still started 45 games for the team.
With just about every team possessing inferior D-line depth to the Eagles, Barnett should find more playing time elsewhere. Ex-Eagles DCs reside in Arizona (Jonathan Gannon) and Cleveland (Jim Schwartz). A landing with a contender makes sense, but should a team potentially view Barnett as a multiyear option — via the exclusive negotiating rights that last until mid-March — a waiver claim to preempt a free agency situation would make sense.
49ers Fear S George Odum Will Miss Rest Of Season
Back in dominant form after a midseason slump, the 49ers did not escape their one-sided Thanksgiving win without another major injury. A week after losing Talanoa Hufanga to a torn ACL, San Francisco is likely to be without George Odum moving forward.
The veteran special-teamer left Thursday’s game after sustaining a biceps injury, and Kyle Shanahan said (via 49erswebzone.com’s David Bonilla) the All-Pro role player “most likely” suffered a tear. Odum, 30, is in his second season with the 49ers.
An MRI has since confirmed a tear, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, though with this a two- to four-month recovery, the possibility of Odum coming back late in the season remains open. The 49ers have a better injury outlook compared to 2022, when they used all eight of their IR activations during the regular season. An Odum return sounds doubtful, but the team could probably make it work roster-wise.
Odum left the game after DeeJay Dallas‘ muffed punt gave the 49ers possession in the second quarter. The 49ers may not feel this impact their secondary directly, but the depth is running thin at this position. Signed to a three-year, $5.7MM deal during the 2022 offseason, Odum has played only 37 defensive snaps this year. This comes after he logged 38 in 2022. But the 49ers are set to lose a top-tier special teams talent and a player with some starting experience on defense.
Coming to San Francisco from Indianapolis, Odum started seven games for the Colts in 2021. He has also collected two All-Pro honors for ST work, earning first-team acclaim in 2020 and second-team recognition after his first 49ers season. The former UDFA has 12 tackles this season.
The 49ers played their Week 12 game with three safeties — Odum and starters Tashaun Gipson and Ji’Ayir Brown. At least one roster move will come out of this latest injury setback. The team lost Jimmie Ward in free agency but added Brown in Round 3 of this year’s draft. While second-year UDFA Tayler Hawkins resides on San Francisco’s practice squad, the NFC West leaders may need to look outside the organization for a depth piece in the wake of Hufanga and Odum’s injuries.
Cowboys, Eagles Expected To Show Interest In Shaquille Leonard
Both the Eagles and Cowboys looked into linebackers before the trade deadline. While Shaquille Leonard was not mentioned in trade rumors, the former Colts standout is now available. After clearing waivers Wednesday afternoon, Leonard can seek out a free agency fit.
The two NFC East powers, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, are expected to circle back to their linebacker need. Now that a player of Leonard’s caliber is unattached, that certainly makes sense. Each is believed to have some interest here. Both teams have endured injuries at the position and obviously profile as contenders.
Dallas and Philadelphia use 4-3 looks. Leonard enjoyed one of the most prolific runs by a 4-3 linebacker in modern NFL history, dominating in Matt Eberflus‘ scheme from 2018-21 and being named to four All-Pro teams. The Colts did not view Leonard as the same caliber of player this season, keeping his snaps well down from his peak usage. Leonard is coming off a year in which he underwent two back surgeries, the second of which requiring rehab into this offseason. But he rehabbed in time to be ready for Week 1 and has played nine games this year.
Leonard, 28, is not expected to sign immediately, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating this process might take a few days. This is how the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes played out in 2021, and given Leonard’s medical issues, it would not surprise to see this market dragging for a bit. But the former second-round pick should be on track to land elsewhere and contribute this season.
Although the Cowboys drafted Micah Parsons as a linebacker, the 2021 first-rounder quickly graduated to pass-rushing duty. The Cowboys have refused to label Parsons as a pure defensive end, but he sees much of his reps at that marquee spot. At linebacker, Dallas has lost both Leighton Vander Esch and third-round rookie DeMarvion Overshown for the season. Overshown suffered an ACL tear during training camp, while Vander Esch’s neck trouble has resurfaced to the point his career may be in jeopardy. The Cowboys re-signed Vander Esch to a two-year, $8MM deal this offseason. The Cowboys have used second-year players Damone Clark and Markquese Bell, a converted safety, as their primary linebackers as of late.
Jerry Jones made it known his team was not planning to be aggressive at the deadline, displaying confidence in the team already in place. But the Cowboys did go after some linebacking help. With the Vander Esch update coming after the trade deadline, it makes sense Dallas poked around. The Eagles joined their rivals in eyeing second-level help, and they have seen their LB centerpiece — Nakobe Dean — land on IR twice this season.
Philly let starters T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White walk this offseason, devoting funds to other areas. A 2022 third-rounder, Dean became the defending NFC champs’ centerpiece player here heading into the season. The Eagles added Nicholas Morrow on a veteran-minimum deal to supplement Dean, but the former SEC Defensive Player of the Year was viewed as the anchor. Two foot injuries have stalled Dean, however, making Morrow and late-summer addition Zach Cunningham as the team’s lead LBs. Nick Sirianni was in place as Colts OC during Leonard’s first three seasons.
After voicing frustration at the Colts keeping his snaps at the 70% level, the four-time All-Pro should have his chance to craft a bounce-back arc. Pro Football Focus ranks Leonard’s 2023 work outside the top 60 among linebackers, though he did not prove a fit in Gus Bradley‘s defense. In his previous healthy season, Leonard combined to force 12 turnovers — eight forced fumbles, four INTs — despite dealing with a back problem that required surgery. Because no team claimed Leonard, the Colts are now on the hook for the remaining $6.11MM of his 2023 base salary.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/22/23
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Dan Chisena, DB William Hooper
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Justin McCray, CB AJ Parker
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Duron Harmon
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Brandon Wilson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OLB Elerson Smith
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: FB Zander Horvath
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB Darrell Henderson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Daylen Baldwin
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Deon Jackson, OL Joshua Miles
New York Jets
- Signed: DT Tanzel Smart
Although the Rams look to be expecting Kyren Williams to be activated for Week 12, they will keep Henderson around as insurance. The Rams turned to their former third-round pick immediately after injuries moved Williams and Ronnie Rivers off the roster. Despite waiving Henderson in November 2022, the Rams plugged him back in. While Royce Freeman‘s per-carry numbers (4.3) outshine Henderson’s (2.4), the latter scored two touchdowns during his latest run in Sean McVay‘s system. While the Rams waived Henderson again Tuesday, Freeman remains on Los Angeles’ active roster.
Harmon will join team No. 3 this season. The former Patriots Super Bowl winner, a Raider in 2022, began the season with the Ravens. The Bears signed Harmon off Baltimore’s practice squad last month. Harmon, 32, would represent a veteran safety presence for a Browns team that just lost Rodney McLeod for the season.
Cardinals, WR Marquise Brown Discussing Extension
The negotiating period involving the standout wide receivers from the 2019 draft class primarily occurred during the spring and summer of last year. This crop brought eventful developments — from the A.J. Brown trade to the Deebo Samuel trade request to the Steelers deviating from their primary one-contract receiver pattern to extend Diontae Johnson — leading up to Week 1.
Brown, Samuel, Johnson, Terry McLaurin and D.K. Metcalf signed extensions — two-, three- and four-year deals among the group — between April and August of last year. This all transpired as Marquise Brown requested and received a trade, going from Baltimore to Arizona. Considerable changes have taken place in the time since that trade, leading Brown into some uncertain territory.
Kyler Murray struggled in 2022, a season that ended with the Pro Bowl passer suffering an ACL tear. The Cardinals then booted Kliff Kingsbury and GM Steve Keim, who had signed off on bringing Brown to the desert in a trade package involving a first-round pick. After the Cardinals pivoted to a rebuild, Brown loomed as a logical trade candidate. But Arizona was uninterested in dealing its top wideout. Brown had sought a long-term extension during the 2022 offseason. And, despite a new regime in power, Brown looks to remain in the Cardinals’ plans.
The fifth-year wideout confirmed (via the Arizona Republic’s Bob McManamon) his agent and the Cardinals have begun negotiations on an extension. Brown, 26, is playing out his fifth-year option season. Keim signed off on picking up the ex-Ravens first-rounder’s option upon trading for him last year, but Brown has played in out in an unexpected environment — one that featured eight Joshua Dobbs starts after the team cut Colt McCoy just before the season. Still, Brown wants to remain with the Cardinals beyond his rookie contract.
“I want to be in Arizona,” Brown said, adding (via McManamon) he “100%” expects to sign a new Cardinals contract. “The feel from it is they want me here, too. I leave that to my agent and I just do what I’ve got to do on the field.”
Brown’s option represents the only notable money tied up in the Cardinals’ receiving corps. Rookie-deal players Rondale Moore and Michael Wilson are among Brown’s sidekicks, and Jonathan Gannon brought Zach Pascal with him — on a low-cost deal — from Philadelphia. Brown sought a trade out of Baltimore due to both the Ravens’ run-based style and the presence of Murray, whom Brown helped to a Heisman Trophy in 2018. Brown did not match even his second-best Ravens season in his first Cardinals slate, totaling 709 receiving yards. This year, his yards-per-game number is down from 2022 — 59.1 to 44.2 — though the 5-foot-9 target has already topped his TD total from last season, scoring four.
Murray being back stands to aid Brown as well, potentially boosting his value down the stretch in this contract year. The 2019 draft’s WR muscle came from Rounds 2 and 3, and the teams involved in those negotiations had those players in contract years in 2022. With a fifth-year option in Brown’s contract, the Cardinals had more time. GM Monti Ossenfort has exclusive negotiating rights with Brown until the March legal tampering period.
Brown would be an interesting commodity on the 2024 market. As of now, Mike Evans and Tee Higgins are en route to headline the 2024 class. But both could conceivably end up staying with their respective teams — via another extension (in Evans’ case) or the franchise tag (in Higgins’) — and create another buyer’s market rivaling this year’s wideout landscape. Brown has a 1,000-yard season on his resume (2021) and would command a nice contract, but a strong finish to this season would better his chances of a lucrative second deal. It would be unlikely if Brown approached the McLaurin-Metcalf-Samuel tier ($23.2-$24MM per year), but aiming for the kind of pact Johnson fetched (two years, $36MM) would seemingly be reasonable for the Oklahoma-developed speedster.
Colts Waive LB Shaquille Leonard
NOVEMBER 22: As expected, Leonard cleared waivers today, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Detached from his lucrative Colts contract, the standout linebacker is now a free agent.
NOVEMBER 21: After steady complaints about his diminished role, Shaquille Leonard will be changing teams. The perennial All-Pro linebacker will shockingly become available; Leonard announced Tuesday the Colts are cutting him. Indianapolis has announced the separation.
This comes barely two years after the Colts authorized a record-setting extension for the former second-round success story, but Leonard has not been a fit in Gus Bradley‘s defensive system. After an injury-plagued 2022, Leonard has not returned to a full-time workload this season. Although Leonard bristled about his usage, Fox59’s Mike Chappell notes he did not ask the Colts to cut him.
A force in Matt Eberflus‘ defense, Leonard signed a five-year, $98.5MM extension before the 2021 season. The Colts owe Leonard $6.11MM in remaining base salary this season — should no team claim him — and the AFC South club is on the hook for an additional $8MM in dead money due to prorated signing bonus. This cut’s full cost to the Colts will not be determined until waivers process.
Certain teams do have the cap space to pick up the remainder of Leonard’s 2023 base salary, a move that would help the Colts on the financial front. But ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes Leonard is expected to clear waivers. No fully guaranteed money is attached to this contract beyond 2023. This will set up one of the more interesting in-season free agency derbies in recent years.
“Shaq is the ultimate competitor and has been a fan favorite since he arrived as a rookie in 2018,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said. “We are incredibly grateful for his contributions to the team and the city of Indianapolis over the last six seasons. … He will always be a valued member of the Horseshoe.”
Leonard, 28, earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2018, 2020 and ’21 and was a second-team choice in 2019. The Division I-FCS product became a turnover-forcing machine during Eberflus’ four-year run as Indy’s DC. In 2021 alone, Leonard caused an astounding 12 turnovers — four INTs, an NFL-most eight forced fumbles — to help the Colts to the playoff precipice. Over the course of his career, Leonard has forced 17 fumbles and intercepted 12 passes.
The 49ers, Browns, Cardinals and Bengals each hold more than $10MM in cap space, while a handful of other teams carry more than $7MM. It would be interesting to see if a team submits a claim in an effort to secure Leonard’s rights beyond 2023; his current contract runs through 2025. The Bears come to mind as a team that could be interested, as they have made buyer’s trades despite holding one of the league’s worst records in back-to-back years. Eberflus also coached Leonard throughout his Indianapolis tenure, though Chicago did spend top-five ILB money on Tremaine Edmunds this offseason. T.J. Edwards signed a midlevel Bears deal as well, potentially cutting Chicago off early here. The Cowboys and Eagles pursued linebackers at the deadline as well — Nick Sirianni was on Frank Reich‘s Colts staff for three years — while the Steelers have lost two regulars for the season.
Leonard is also coming off a year in which he underwent two back surgeries. After a summer 2022 procedure did not clear up the issue, Leonard was eventually shut down in November of last year. He ended up playing three games in the Reich-Jeff Saturday season, also suffering a concussion and a broken nose, but was ready to go for Week 1 of this year. Bradley, however, refused to use Leonard as his play-calling predecessor did. Leonard (454 defensive snaps) logged a 70% snap rate this season. His snap shares from 2018-21: 98%, 98%, 93%, 98%.
In addition to Leonard being unhappy with his role under Bradley, Pro Football Focus ranks the once-dominant defender outside the top 60 among off-ball linebackers this season. Leonard has made 65 tackles in nine games, but just two of those were for losses; the sixth-year ‘backer also does not have a fumble forced, fumble recovered or an INT this season.
The Colts have used Zaire Franklin on more defensive plays (634), and the recently re-signed E.J. Speed has logged 357 defensive snaps. This duo will represent a lower-cost pair compared to Leonard, whom the Colts did not believe was living up to his lucrative contract. The Colts could have hung on and saved some money by cutting Leonard in 2024; that move would have created $12MM in cap savings for the retooled team. But the now-Shane Steichen-led squad will attempt to make a playoff push without one of the most productive defenders in franchise history.
It will obviously be interesting to see where Leonard lands and if he can prove Bradley and Co. wrong. Claims for Leonard must be submitted by 3pm CT Wednesday. Beyond that, Leonard figures to have a few suitors in free agency.
Packers Place TE Luke Musgrave On IR, Sign RB James Robinson From Practice Squad
In a skill-position group flooded with first- and second-year performers, Luke Musgrave has operated as one of the cadre’s starters. The Packers will not be able to continue the rookie tight end’s development for a while, however.
The team moved Musgrave to IR on Wednesday, shutting him down until at least Week 16. This comes after Musgrave needed to be hospitalized for an abdominal injury sustained during the Packers’ win over the Chargers.
Released from the hospital, Musgrave will still need extensive recovery time. He did not leave the game due to the injury, but Matt LaFleur called the issue a “scary situation.” This adds to Musgrave’s run of injuries this season. After suffering a concussion in October, the second-round pick left a Week 7 game due to an ankle injury.
Avoiding moves for veteran pass catchers post-Aaron Rodgers, the Packers drafted two tight ends and three wide receivers. The team paired its batch of rookie weapons with NFL sophomores Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure. Chosen with the pick obtained from the Jets in the Rodgers trade (No. 42 overall), Musgrave has started nine games. He has caught 33 passes for 341 yards and a touchdown, playing 71% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps. Third-round pick Tucker Kraft stands to see more work now. A South Dakota State alum, Kraft has five receptions for 43 yards this season.
In addition to the Musgrave move, the Packers placed running back Emanuel Wilson on IR. A rookie UDFA, Wilson had resided as Green Bay’s third-stringer behind Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. The Pack will enter their Thanksgiving game without Jones as well. The standout back suffered an MCL sprain. This will leave Dillon atop the depth chart, with the recently reacquired (via the Patriots’ practice squad) Patrick Taylor in place as a backup.
The Packers will add James Robinson as more insurance. Rather than being a mere gameday elevation, the former Jaguars 1,000-yard rusher is now on the Packers’ 53-man roster. The former UDFA sensation’s career has not been the same since he suffered an Achilles tear late in his second season. Robinson has been with three teams — the Patriots, Giants and Packers — this year. The Jets nontendered Robinson as an RFA in March; he caught on with the Packers last month.
Green Bay also signed wideout Bo Melton from their P-squad and used gameday elevations on fullback Henry Pearson and safety Benny Sapp III ahead of their Lions tilt.
Austin Corbett Lands On IR; Panthers G To Miss Rest Of Season
Austin Corbett spent much of this year rehabbing an ACL tear. The veteran Panthers guard returned before the midseason point, coming off the reserve/PUP list. But he will finish the season with another injury designation.
The Panthers placed Corbett on IR on Wednesday. Another knee malady will sideline him. Corbett sustained another injury to his left knee, though Panthers.com’s Darin Gantt confirmed this issue is not ACL-related. But Corbett’s season is done. The veteran blocker indicated he suffered an MCL injury.
Corbett’s 2023 campaign will wrap after four games. While the sixth-year guard spent most of this year rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered in Week 18 of last season, he exited the 2022 slate having not missed a start since 2019. The Panthers have played most of this season without their starting left guard, Brady Christensen.
The Panthers gave Corbett a three-year, $26.25MM deal in March 2022. This led Corbett from Los Angeles to Charlotte; a productive Rams tenure created a midlevel market for the former Browns second-round pick. Corbett started 57 consecutive games from 2019-22, becoming a key cog for two playoff-bound Rams teams in that span. Moved into Los Angeles’ lineup shortly after an in-season trade in 2019, Corbett later started all four Rams postseason games during the team’s 2021 Super Bowl LVI charge.
Carolina did not play a game with both its starting guards this season, with Christensen going down with a biceps injury in Week 1. The Panthers did not activate Corbett until Oct. 24, completing an odyssey that began in January. Christensen suffered a broken ankle in that damaging season finale in New Orleans but was ready to go by training camp. Corbett, 28, suffering a second injury to his left knee will make him a cut candidate in 2024.
Corbett is tied to a $10MM cap number next season, the final year of his contract. No guarantees remain on the deal. With the Corbett-Christensen tandem assembled during Matt Rhule‘s run as head coach, it would make sense to see Carolina explore alternatives — especially after Corbett’s recent run of bad luck. Then again, the Panthers retained their offensive line coach — James Campen — to work with Frank Reich. And Reich’s status, despite being hired this year, is very much in doubt for 2024.
Carolina also placed cornerback Dicaprio Bootle on IR. Picked up this summer after the Chiefs waived him, Bootle started in two Panthers games and played in eight for the 1-9 team.
Colts Leaned Toward Deactivating Shaquille Leonard For Rest Of Season
Shaquille Leonard remains on the waiver wire, though the decorated off-ball linebacker is likely to hit free agency after this afternoon’s deadline. In the unusual position of being cut during his age-28 season, the sixth-year defender is now an interesting piece for contenders to pursue.
The Colts did not believe they were receiving value from the four-time All-Pro and decided to cut bait now as opposed to doing so after the season. This will stand to benefit Leonard, as ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes Indianapolis DC Gus Bradley had informed the veteran he would be a healthy scratch in Week 12. It is also likely the Colts would have continued to deactivate Leonard for the rest of the season, Holder adds.
Leonard said he asked for a November meeting to assess his progress from a two-surgery 2022, per the Indianapolis Star’s Nate Atkins. Granting the meeting Monday, Bradley confirmed the healthy-scratch plan for Week 12. On the players’ off day Tuesday, Chris Ballard indicated Leonard would be cut — a decision the former Colts centerpiece called “shocking.” Coaches had informed Leonard his playing time — down noticeably from his 2018-21 usage — would be reevaluated as the season progressed, and the turnover-forcing dynamo had voiced frustration about the new role in Bradley’s defense.
“I always say that they say [complaints] are OK until you step on toes. I said that two weeks ago and I still stand by it,” Leonard said, via Holder, of his comments regarding playing time. “I don’t know if that played a part. Do I think it plays somewhat of a part in it? Yes, because they could see it as a distraction. But I tried to be respectful with my answer.”
Zaire Franklin leads Colts linebackers in snaps, with 634. Leonard logged 454 in nine games. The improved play of E.J. Speed contributed to Leonard’s reduced time as well, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, who doubles down on the notion Leonard will clear waivers today. The Colts re-signed Franklin (three years, $10MM) in 2022 and reupped Speed (two years, $8MM) this offseason. Leonard was attached to the NFL’s second-most lucrative LB accord (five years, $98.5MM). While no guaranteed money remains on the deal post-2023, a team would be responsible for $6.11MM in ’23 base salary were a claim submitted.
Speed will now move forward as Indy’s starting weakside linebacker. Pro Football Focus rates Speed, a 2019 fifth-round pick who has primarily been a backup, as the Colts’ top linebacker this season. When Franklin missed the team’s Week 9 game against the Panthers, Leonard’s playing time did not return to his pre-2022 level. Instead, the Colts used second-year UDFA Segun Olubi more frequently. This effectively displayed writing on the wall for Leonard in Indianapolis, despite the former second-round pick having produced one of the best four-year runs for any player in franchise history.
While Leonard certainly could prove the Colts wrong for their effective demotion in Bradley’s system, the team will save more than $16MM in cap space for 2024. With both Franklin and Speed under contract beyond this year, Indy will take a look at how this more cost-effective tandem performs during this season’s stretch run. Still, Leonard offered one of the more impactful periods by an off-ball linebacker this century. He is the only active player with at least 15 sacks and 10 interceptions over the past six years. It will be interesting to see what role his new team will have him playing to close out the season.
Steelers Fire OC Matt Canada
Matt Canada will not be given an opportunity to close out a third season as Steelers offensive coordinator. While Canada had long been expected to be fired after this season, Mike Tomlin instead informed the third-year OC of an in-season dismissal Tuesday morning.
The Steelers will pivot to a co-OC setup of sorts to replace Canada, 51. Running backs coach Eddie Faulkner will take over in the coordinator role, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who adds quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan will move into the play-calling role. Tomlin is not believed to have made the final call here, with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac reporting owner Art Rooney II insisted this move be made. That being the case would add intrigue to a Steelers offensive situation that has been one of the NFL’s worst for years, though Tomlin (via The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly) has since said he made the call.
Sullivan has been an OC with the Giants and Buccaneers previously; he has been with the Steelers since 2021, Canada’s first OC season. Faulkner has been in place as Pittsburgh’s RBs coach since 2019. Faulkner, 46, will play a lead role in game planning, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. But Sullivan, 56, will be the assistant given headset responsibilities.
The Steelers are 6-4, but their offense has struggled throughout Canada’s third season. Pittsburgh holds a minus-29 point differential, being in the historically strange position of holding an over-.500 record after having been outgained in each of its 10 games this season. Canada’s struggles predate this year as well. The Steelers have not produced a 400-yard offensive game since the 2020 season, Randy Fichtner‘s last as OC.
The team’s 249-yard outing in Cleveland represented its 58th straight game coming in below 400 yards. The Steelers’ most recent such outing came in Week 2 of the 2020 season. Kenny Pickett, who completed 15 passes for just 106 yards against the Browns’ menacing pass defense in Week 11, has not taken a step forward in his second season. The 2022 first-rounder’s status is secure for the time being, but the Pitt product may soon be on the clock as well.
Prior to the Browns matchup, Canada had been expected to be given a chance to foster Pickett improvement to close out the season. Tomlin kept Canada on as OC — to the chagrin of many — after Pickett put together a promising stretch to close out a statistically unimpressive rookie season. Instead, this will be the first Steelers OC in-season coordinator removal since Bill Cowher relieved Ray Sherman of play-calling duties during the 1998 slate. That was not technically a firing, since Sherman finished out the season in a lesser role. This will mark rare territory for the old-school franchise. But the Steelers have been a defense-dependent outfit for years, transitioning from the “Killer B’s” era to a period of low-octane offense that has encompassed most of the 2020s.
Tomlin initially hired Canada as quarterbacks coach in 2020, but the longtime HC did not renew Fichtner’s contract for the 2021 season, promoting the ex-Maryland leader ahead of Ben Roethlisberger‘s final season. This marked Canada’s first NFL coaching gig. Prior to joining the NFL ranks, Canada had been an OC at seven schools (Indiana, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin, NC State, Pitt, LSU, Maryland) from 2007-18. Finishing his Maryland tenure as interim HC amid a scandal involving former HC D.J. Durkin, Canada surfaced with the Steelers despite not coaching during the 2019 season.
While it could certainly be fair to say Canada did not have an above-average quarterback during his tenure, Tomlin will aim to see if someone else can coax better Pickett play. Roethlisberger was a shell of his Hall of Fame version by the time Canada took over, and Mitch Trubisky did not inspire confidence to start last season. Pickett, however, has flatlined during this year’s opening stretch. Pickett ranks 28th in QBR and has managed only six touchdown passes in 10 games. He finished his rookie season with seven in 13 contests. The in-state product’s yards per attempt (6.1) and completion percentage (60.5) figures are down from 2022 as well.
As a team, the Steelers rank 29th with 14 touchdowns this season. They only put up 30 points twice during Canada’s OC tenure, and this edition ranks 31st with 170 passing yards per game. Although the team missed Diontae Johnson and Pat Freiermuth for extended spans this season, Pickett’s slow development predated those injuries. The Steelers have also enjoyed quality health along their offensive line throughout Pickett’s tenure.
This still figures to be an uphill battle for Faulkner and Sullivan, with the 2024 offseason likely to serve as a pivotal Pickett point. But the team will attempt to salvage what could still be a playoff season. Tomlin famously has never had a losing season, and the historically high-floor operation will reassemble pieces to keep that streak going.
Sullivan’s OC opportunities came from 2012-13 (Tampa Bay) and from 2016-17 (New York). Sullivan previously ran the Bucs’ offense during Greg Schiano‘s HC tenure, which covered the end of Josh Freeman‘s run and a handful of starts from then-rookie Mike Glennon. After the Giants received the last of Odell Beckham Jr.‘s dominant seasons in 2016, they struggled amid injuries in 2017. While the team fired Ben McAdoo late in the ’17 campaign, Sullivan finished that season. He was out of football for two seasons following the 2018 slate, which he spent as the Broncos’ QBs coach.
Faulkner and Canada had worked together in the college ranks, with Faulkner following Canada from Northern Illinois to Wisconsin. Faulkner spent six seasons at NC State, being on staff at the ACC program before Canada. Faulkner handled a number of duties with the Wolfpack, but he was last a coordinator during a two-year stay (2009-10) at Ball State. Sullivan will bring 22 years’ worth of NFL assistant experience to his new role, while Faulkner joined Canada in having never coached in the pros until Tomlin offered him a job.