Seahawks’ Greg Olsen Suffers Fascia Tear
Seahawks tight end Greg Olsen has been diagnoses with a a plantar fascia injury, according to head coach Pete Carroll. The injury could spell the end of Olsen’s season and, in turn, his career. For his part, Olsen is hoping to recover in time for the playoffs, though the Seahawks would probably have to make a deep run to make that happen (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
Olsen suffered the non-contact injury in the fourth quarter of last night’s game and had to be helped to the sidelines. Even before he was carted into the locker room, team doctors knew that Olsen’s injury was fairly serious.
The 35-year-old joined the Seahawks on a one-year, $7MM deal this offseason, though he also has a placeholder deal with FOX Sports to start his broadcasting career once he’s done playing. Olsen also experienced foot trouble late in his Panthers tenure. He missed 16 games between the 2017-18 campaigns because of multiple foot issues. After lots of rehab, he managed to play in 14 games last year.
In nine Panthers seasons, Olsen cemented himself as one the best players in franchise history. He eclipsed 1,000 yards en route to three Pro Bowls from 2014-16 and helped the Panthers to a 15-1 season that produced an NFC championship. From 2007 through 2019, Olsen registered 8,444 receiving yards — third-most in the NFL among tight ends in that span. With the Seahawks, he’s caught 23 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown through ten games.
Texans’ CEO: Jack Easterby Won’t Be GM
The Texans will not appoint Jack Easterby as their next GM. That’s what team president Jamey Rootes told reporters earlier this week, and that was hammered home on Thursday by team CEO Cal McNair.
“Let me reiterate: Jack will not be our general manager,” McNair said when asked about the club’s Executive Vice President. “But, he will have a significant role in helping shape our future here within the Texans…(Easterby) is going to be an incredibly valuable part of our franchise moving forward as he works with our next general manager and head coach. I want to build something that our fans, players and staff are proud of. It’s okay to be under construction right now.”
The Texans kicked off their construction in earnest earlier this year by firing head coach/GM Bill O’Brien. The process has been a trying one for Texans fans, who watched running back David Johnson go on IR while DeAndre Hopkins added an all-timer to his highlight reel for the Cardinals. On the other side of the ball, cornerback Gareon Conley has been ruled out, leaving the Texans paper thin in the secondary. On the plus side, interim head coach Romeo Crennel has them in the win column, which is more than O’Brien was able to do. The Texans will look for win No. 3 this week against the Patriots.
Jets’ Adam Gase: No Talk About Tanking
The Jets are doing a tremendous job of losing their way to the No. 1 overall pick, where they could select Clemson star Trevor Lawrence. And, they’re not even trying to tank, according to head coach Adam Gase. 
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“That’s something that — nobody’s talked about that,” Gase said (via Brian Costello of the New York Post). “We can’t worry about what anybody else thinks. We know we’re trying to get guys better that are here and we’re trying to figure out ways to win games.”
So far, the Jets are 0-9, and they’re without four of the key vets they started with. Running back Le’Veon Bell, defensive lineman Steve McLendon, linebacker Avery Williamson, and cornerback Pierre Desir have all been dropped, leaving Gase with an inexperienced group that can’t seem to stay competitive.
“Some of these guys that are really young, they’re fun to coach because these guys, they’re all ears, they’re trying to do everything possible to put themselves and the team in the best position possible,” Gase said. “Last year was a good example of having success with some of these guys that a lot of people didn’t think were very good, and we were able to win some games because of it. We’ve just got to keep getting these guys better and find a way to win it at the end of game. When we get to the fourth quarter and it’s a close game, let’s go win one of these things.”
The Jets, coming off of their bye, will try to win one of these things against the Chargers this weekend. Not only will they be without Desir, they’ll also be without fellow starting cornerback Brian Poole, who was placed on injured reserve this week.
Washington Places Geron Christian On IR
The Washington Football Team has placed tackle Geron Christian on injured reserve, per a club announcement. Christian, who has been out for the past three weeks with a knee injury, will miss at least another three weeks, per the league’s new modified IR rules. 
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Up until the injury, Christian started all six of his games and played on every snap. Unfortunately, this isn’t his first trip to the IR. Two years and one week ago today, Christian was shut down with a torn MCL. At that time, the 2018 [Washington Football Team] had a record of 6-3. This time around, they’re 2-7, so they might take some extra caution before clearing Christian to retake the field.
Without Christian, Washington has installed Cornelius Lucas as the starting left tackle. However, his status is murky for this week after an ankle injury forced him to the sidelines against the Lions. With that, Morgan Moses may start on the left side against the Bengals with David Sharpe serving as the starting right tackle.
Cardinals Meet With Domata Peko
Free agent defensive tackle Domata Peko met with the Cardinals this week, per the league’s official workout sheet. Peko reportedly turned down several offers over the summer with a focus on finding the “right fit, city, and chance to win.” Now, he may find that opportunity with the 6-3 Cardinals as a fill-in for Corey Peters.
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If signed, Peko would suit up for his 15th NFL season. The 35-year-old has 208 games of NFL experience to his credit and a reputation as a reliable run-stuffer. Even if he’s only asked to play on early, obvious run downs, he could be a key contributor for the Cardinals as they make their playoff push.
After 11 years with the Bengals, Peko spent 2017-18 with the Broncos before latching on with the Ravens last November. He appeared in seven games and made three starts for Baltimore in the regular season while racking up 14 tackles. Peko has been a rock throughout his career, missing only seven games since coming into the league as a 2006 fourth-round pick. Among pure defensive tackles, Peko’s 189 career starts rank the NFL’s all-time top ten.
After DeAndre Hopkins‘ unbelievable touchdown grab to beat the Bills, the Cardinals will look to keep the momentum going tonight against the Seahawks.
49ers Claim Takk McKinley
3:16pm: This time, the 49ers’ claim went through. They landed McKinley through waivers Wednesday afternoon, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The 49ers have a Week 11 bye, which will allow the veteran defensive end to go through COVID-19 protocols and practice — provided he passes a physical — next week.
9:32am: The 49ers will take another shot at Takkarist McKinley, head coach Kyle Shanahan says (Twitter link via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports). The Niners were among the clubs who submitted waiver claims for the defensive end when he was first dropped by the Falcons. 
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On the first go ’round, the Bengals had the highest waiver priority of the bunch and snagged McKinley. His time in Cincinnati was short-lived – the Bengals released him after he failed his physical with the team. In addition to the Bengals, the 49ers, Browns, and Raiders also submitted claims — the 4-6 49ers have the highest priority of that group, so they should be poised to add him to the roster before the end of the business day.
Injuries have depleted the 49ers’ once-formidable defensive line. Without Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas for the rest of the year (and possibly Dee Ford), McKinley represents their best chance to salvage things and put the pressure on opposing QBs.
McKinley has 17.5 career sacks to his credit, though just one of those came in 2020 season. The UCLA product registered 13 sacks over his first two seasons. Since 2019, he’s logged just 4.5 in total. On the flipside, the first-round pick did notch seven QB hits in just 85 snaps this year.
Texans Won’t Hire Jack Easterby As GM
The Texans’ next GM remains TBD. But, no matter what, the title will not go to leading executive Jack Easterby (via Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle).
“Jack would be the first person to tell you he’s not a personnel guy,” Texans president Jamey Rootes said. “Jack will not be the General Manager of the Houston Texans. Jack realizes we need personnel expertise to put together the best football team. He doesn’t have enough time in the day. He’s working on sports science, working on nutrition. Spread the word. Jack has no intentions of being the General Manager.”
The Texans plan on naming their next GM in January. They’ll also be hiring a new head coach who, reportedly, will not be the same person as the GM. Bill O’Brien filled that dual role for the Texans up until his dismissal, and ownership would prefer to split the jobs. Romeo Crennel, the team’s 73-year-old interim head coach, may be considered for the “permanent” post, though the Texans have also been connected to Eric Bieniemy. The Chiefs’ offensive coordinator is a favorite of quarterback Deshaun Watson and his recommendation should carry some significant weight.
Panthers Rule Out Christian McCaffrey
The Panthers have officially ruled out Christian McCaffrey for Sunday’s game against the Lions. This was the expected move as CMC continues to nurse an injured shoulder. 
The good news is that McCaffrey’s season is not believed to be in jeopardy, though the Panthers will have to sort out the risk/reward of putting their franchise player on the field in the midst of a losing season. So far, he’s appeared in just three games in 2020 thanks to an ankle injury and his latest shoulder issue. Up until this season, McCaffrey had perfect attendance through his first three pro seasons.
In the seven games that McCaffrey has missed, Mike Davis has served as the Panthers’ lead back. That’ll be the plan once again when they face Detroit on Sunday. In CMC’s three games on the field, he’s totaled 59 carries for 225 yards and five rushing TDs, plus 17 catches for 149 yards and one receiving TD. Of course, this isn’t the encore that he had in mind. In 2019, McCaffrey managed 1,387 rushing yards off of 287 carries, giving him an average of 4.8 yards per tote. He also caught 116 passes for 1,005 yards through the air. All combined, he notched 19 touchdowns en route to a record-breaking four-year, $64MM extension.
Saints’ Drew Brees To Miss At Least 2 Games
The Saints will be without Drew Brees for at least a little while longer. The latest round of tests on the quarterback more or less matched the previous one, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). With cracked ribs on both sides and a punctured lung, Brees will be out for the next two weeks at the minimum. After that, the Saints’ medical staff will closely monitor Brees’ condition to assess whether he can return to the field. 
With Brees sidelined, Jameis Winston is expected to start for the Saints with his first assignment coming on Sunday against the Falcons.Winston filled in for Brees after his early exit against the 49ers, completing six of ten passes for 63 yards in the second half. This is a massive opportunity for Winston to reassert himself before free agency, even if his starting gig only lasts for a couple of weeks. The former first overall pick signed a one-year deal with the Saints back in April. Meanwhile, Brees is looking ahead to his broadcasting future, which means that Winston could be auditioning for the long-term position.
Given Brees’ impressive track record of playing through the pain — and the presence of Taysom Hill — many questioned the wisdom of Winston’s offseason decision. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to show what he can do at the helm of one of the NFL’s best teams.
Cardinals’ Corey Peters Done For Year
Cardinals defensive tackle Corey Peters will miss the rest of the year, per a club announcement. Peters has started nearly every game for the Cardinals over the past five years. Now, he’ll focus on 2021 as he rehabs from a torn patellar tendon. 
Recuperating from a knee injury is never easy, but it might be especially challenging for Peters at the age of 32. Also, on a personal level, the timing is less than ideal. The veteran is in the final season of his three-year, $12MM deal with the Cardinals and he won’t be negotiating from a position of strength as he seeks his next contract.
Peters, who will turn 33 over the summer, has started 121 games over the course of his ten-year career. The first half of his NFL journey was spent with the Falcons where he enjoyed some solid seasons, including a 2013 season in which he notched five sacks from the interior. A team captain, Peters has been a rock against the run for Arizona ever since joining the team in 2016.
The Cardinals — sans Peters — will take on the Seahawks in Seattle this week.