Ravens’ Nick Boyle Done For Year
Ravens tight end Nick Boyle will be out for the year after suffering a gruesome knee injury on Sunday night, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). The severity of the injury was immediately apparent as Boyle’s left leg bent in the wrong direction.
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“It’s hard to really quantify what Nick does for us as an offense and as a team,” said Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley). “He’s a person that people gravitate towards. For me, he’s meant a ton to me, and it sucks. It sucks for him; he’s worked so hard to get to where he’s at.”
“Everyone in this locker room loves him to death, and he’s one of the most loved people on this team. We’re going to miss him dearly. We know he has our backs, and we have his. It’s just sad. It’s sad to see.”
Boyle has never been one to light up the stat sheet, but his blocking prowess has made him an integral part of the Ravens’ offense. Last year, he set new career highs with 31 catches for 321 yards and two scores. Through nine games this year, he caught 14 balls from Lamar Jackson for 113 yards and two TDs. The advanced metrics have underscored Boyle’s importance to the team, however — he often places in the top 30 at his position, even though he’s rarely targeted.
The Ravens could call on one of their practice squad tight ends — Xavier Grimble or Sean Culkin — to replace Boyle on the active roster.
Browns Reopen Team Facility
2:16pm: The Browns placed offensive lineman Chris Hubbard on their reserve/COVID-19 list, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets Hubbard indeed tested positive. However, the team reopened its facility after successful contact tracing efforts.
While the Browns remain in the league’s intensive COVID-19 protocols, they are holding a practice this afternoon. That bodes well for their game against the Texans unfolding on schedule, as each NFL game has since Week 7.
9:16am: A positive COVID-19 test has forced the Browns to close their team facility, per a club announcement. The Browns are currently slated to face the Texans on Sunday, but that game may be in jeopardy.
“Earlier this morning, the Cleveland Browns were informed that a player’s test results have come back positive for COVID-19,” the team said in a statement. “The individual has immediately self-isolated and the Browns facility is closed this morning while contact tracing is being conducted. The team will continue to hold meetings remotely (part of the NFL-NFLPA intensive protocol) and will consult with the league and medical experts on the appropriate next steps as the health and safety of our players, coaches, staff, and the entire community remains our highest priority.”
COVID-19 positives have become an almost-daily occurrence in the NFL this year, leading to safety concerns and logistical nightmares across the league. Just yesterday, the Dolphins learned that they could be without two key defenders against the Chargers — they were forced to park Christian Wilkins and Kyle Van Noy on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Cowboys Want To Re-Sign Aldon Smith
The Cowboys took a chance on Aldon Smith this offseason and, so far, it’s paid off. After resisting trade inquiries earlier this month, owner Jerry Jones confirmed that he’s interested in extending their arrangement.
“The idea here is that Aldon is getting better,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan (via Patrik Walker of CBSSports.com). “He’s a bigger man than he was when he played earlier in his career. But that has a lot of positives to it, too. But every time he’s stepping out there, he’s gaining on it, and that’s interesting to be at this stage of his career. But he’s an absolute unique in every way pressure player. We want to maximize our relationship with him. We’ve all got a good one with him. Proud of him. Proud for him. Proud that he’s given himself this chance, and we’re going to help him do it. So, as I’ve said earlier, I’m a fan of his.”
Smith’s one-year deal — which caps out at $4MM — proved to be a solid bargain. After four years away from the game, Smith has managed five sacks across nine games. He only figures to add to his career total of 52.5 sacks from here, and he figures to do it at a rate to match his production.
At the bargaining table, Jones & Co. will politely point to Smith’s age in order to tamp down the price. In turn, the 31-year-old’s camp will probably note his relatively low odometer — his off-the-field trouble arguably means that he has less wear-and-tear than your average vet. Those negotiations will be interesting to watch, especially since the Cowboys will be prioritizing a new deal for Dak Prescott.
Giants To Place Devonta Freeman On IR
The Giants will place running back Devonta Freeman on injured reserve, according to a source who spoke with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). If all goes well, he’ll be able to return after the minimum three-week period. 
Freeman joined the Giants on a one-year deal worth up to $3MM in late September. The deal came with a base value of just $1.07MM (prorated to $944K), however, with $280K in per-game active roster bonuses and other incentives. Freeman will miss out on nearly $900K in pay while he heals up, and possibly more depending on how things go from here.
The 28-year-old has averaged just 3.2 yards per carry with the G-Men and it’s been a while since he’s shown his Pro Bowl form. Injuries limited Freeman to just two games in 2018, and he averaged a meager 3.6 yards per carry in 14 games last season. That underwhelming performance led to him being ranked 41st among 43 running backs in success rate, per Football Outsiders, and his divorce from the Falcons.
The Giants have done about as well as you’d expect without Saquon Barkley on the field, though Freeman was hoping for a stronger showing given the opportunity. The 2-7 Giants will try their hand against the Eagles this week before their Week 11 bye.
Texans Gareon Conley Done For Year?
Texans cornerback Gareon Conley is unlikely to return to the field this year, according to head coach Romeo Crennel (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). Houston initially had higher hopes for Conley back in September when they first placed him on injured reserve.
“He’s got an injury that he’s working through and he’s had it evaluated. It’s not where it needs to be,” Crennel said.
Conley underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery earlier this year, a minor procedure that typically cleans up lingering issue. Unfortunately, he’s experienced complications in his recovery. Conley has been going through the rehab process and trying new treatment options, but his ankle hasn’t responded well to any of it.
The Texans turned down Conley’s fifth-year option, bypassing a $10.244MM placeholder that would have been guaranteed for injury only. In theory, that should have positioned the cornerback for a tremendous platform opportunity. Instead, he’s now facing the prospect of limping into the open market after making just $1.892MM in base pay this year.
The former Raiders first-round pick quietly impressed as Johnathan Joseph‘s replacement last year. He started in six of his eight games for the Texans, compiling 27 tackles and 11 passes defended. He also started both of Houston’s playoff games, collecting 11 tackles and one sack.
Packers’ John Lovett Done For Year
Packers fullback John Lovett will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a bad break for the special teams regular, who has now ended both of his pro seasons on injured reserve. 
Lovett played quarterback at Princeton before signing with the Chiefs last year as an undrafted free agent. With the Packers, he’s seen time at fullback, tight end, and running back, but he’ll mostly be missed in the third facet of the game. Rookie Josiah Deguara — who was initially set for those H-back snaps — is also out with a torn ACL, so the Packers will have to look elsewhere for help. That could mean new work for Jace Sternberger, or a step up for a practice squader like Dax Raymond or Dominique Dafney.
The Packers, sans Lovett, will look to advance to 7-2 this weekend when they take on the Jaguars at Lambeau Field.
Latest On Jets’ Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold won’t just end the season. After consulting with several specialists, the Jets quarterback says the possibility of shoulder surgery is “not on the table,” (Twitter link via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). 
Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, has been limited throughout the year. With his team now at 0-9, many would argue that surgery is the sensible move, especially since the Jets aren’t exactly committed to him beyond 2020. The Jets may be in line to draft Clemson superstar Trevor Lawrence in the spring, a move that would immediately put Darnold on the trading block.
A fresh start would probably benefit Darnold, though opinions are split on what exactly he has to offer. Recently, one NFL GM told Mike Sando of The Athletic that Darnold’s ceiling appears to be much lower than back in his USC days.
“Darnold has talent,” the GM said. “You just wonder if they have ruined it. He has played behind a poor offensive line, has had no weapons, he was throwing to really Jamison Crowder as his No. 1. If the Jets keep losing and get the top pick, you could see another team that needs a quarterback and has a better supporting cast acquiring Darnold in the offseason figuring maybe he can be an average starter, and you can win with that.”
For now, Darnold will focus on rehabbing his shoulder. It’s not clear if he’ll be active for Week 11 against the Chargers, but he does have the benefit of the bye week.
Penn State’s Journey Brown Retires From Football
Penn State running back Journey Brown will retire from football after learning of a serious heart condition, head coach James Franklin announced (Twitter link via Audrey Snyder of The Athletic). Brown, who was once considered to be a potential first-round prospect, was found to have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy while going through COVID-19 testing in September. 
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Brown led the Nittany Lions with 890 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. His strong finish pushed his NFL stock even higher — the 5’11” tailback averaged 118.6 yards per contest over his last five games. In Penn State’s win over Memphis in the Cotton Bowl, Brown went off for 202 yards and two touchdowns with just 16 carries. That will stand as Brown’s final game on the field.
“I finally had the opportunity to showcase what I was born to do and, hopefully, set myself up to achieve my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL,” Brown wrote in a statement. “Unfortunately, the dream will never be realized as I have been diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which will force me to medically retire from the game of football. The pain of not being able to play the game I love anymore hurts and I can’t explain how I am feeling right now.”
We here at PFR wish Brown the best in retirement.
Latest On Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey
After getting a second opinion on his injured shoulder, Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey has been told that he may be able to play next week against the Lions, sources tell NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). That’s excellent news for CMC, who was previously thought to be facing a much more serious issue. 
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McCaffrey will be sidelined for Sunday against the Bucs, but it no longer sounds like his season is in jeopardy. It’s safe to say that he’s eager to get back on the field — McCaffrey has appeared in just three games this year thanks to an ankle injury and his latest shoulder malady. All in all, he’s got 59 carries for 225 yards and five rushing TDs on the year, plus 17 grabs for 149 yards and one score through the air. Before this, McCaffrey had perfect attendance through his first three pro seasons.
Without CMC, the Panthers will continue to rely on Mike Davis as their primary running back. The veteran has done pretty well with the first-string unit, racking up 353 yards off of 85 carries plus 43 catches for 278 receiving yards. The Panthers will need Davis to be at his best this week in order to beat the Bucs and snap their four-game losing streak.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/20
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Devon Kennard, CB Byron Murphy
- Placed on IR: Kevin Peterson
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Marlon Humphrey
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon
- Placed on IR: LB Adarius Taylor
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Baker Mayfield
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Tyrone Crawford
- Claimed off waivers from Colts: DL Ron’Dell Carter
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Graham Glasgow
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Matthew Adams
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Mecole Hardman
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: WR Preston Williams (story)
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers from Giants: CB Corey Ballentine