Raiders’ Kenyan Drake Done For Year
The season is over for Raiders running Kenyan Drake (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). After suffering an ankle fracture on Sunday, Drake will be shut down for the year and placed on the injured reserve list. 
Drake, the Raiders’ second-leading rusher behind starter Josh Jacobs, had to be carted off midway through the second quarter against Washington. WFT was leading 7-0 at the time and went on to win 17-15.
“I know he’s had significant injuries in the past,” said Jacobs (via ESPN.com). “So, I’m just praying for him right now and praying for his family. His whole family was here at the game.”
Drake’s year will end with 254 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and a solid 4.3 yards per carry average. He also added 29 grabs for 283 receiving yards and one TD through the air.
The Raiders may add another RB to join Jacobs and Peyton Barber, though Jalen Richard could be ready to return from the COVID-19 list soon. Down to 6-6 on the year, the Raiders are set for a must-win game against the Chiefs next week.
PFR Originals: 11/29/21 – 12/5/21
In case you missed it, here’s a look back at some of our recent originals:
- Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu is unlikely to top Jamal Adams‘ $17.5MM AAV, but there’s reason to believe he could approach Harrison Smith‘s $16MM/ year average, as our own Ely Allen writes. Smith inked his four-year re-up in his age 32 season; Mathieu won’t turn 30 until May. The LSU product has been all over the map, going from a five-year, $62.5MM extension with the Cardinals, to a one-year, $7MM deal with the Texans, to a three-year, $42MM contract with the Chiefs. Whether this next deal comes from KC or not, it should set a new personal watermark for the veteran.
- As rumors swirl about the future of Giants GM Dave Gettleman, we took a look back at their last house-cleaning. In a double-whammy, the Giants sacked both head coach Ben McAdoo and longtime GM Jerry Reese in December of 2017. McAdoo is now with the Cowboys as a consultant while Reese is out of the NFL.
Ravens’ Marlon Humphrey To Miss Time
The Ravens are down another key player. On Sunday, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters that the cornerback Marlon Humphrey needs an MRI for an unspecified injury and “it could be a while” before he retakes the field (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com).
The Ravens could have taken the Steelers to overtime on Sunday with an extra point, but opted to go for two instead. The decision, according to Harbaugh, was prompted by Humphrey’s early exit. The Ravens, left with just two healthy cornerbacks, lost 20-19.
The Ravens are still atop the AFC North at 8-4, but the 7-5 Bengals aren’t far behind. The footsteps will only get louder from here if they lose Humphrey for an extended stretch.
Humphrey, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2017 draft, is fresh off of back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, plus a First-Team All-Pro nod in 2019. Last year, he registered 82 stops, 2.5 sacks, one interception, and a league-leading eight forced fumbles. The 25-year-old hasn’t been quite as sharp this year, but he still ranks as the 27th best cornerback in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics.
The Ravens will know more after further testing on Monday, but they’re unlikely to have Humphrey when they face the Browns one week from today.
5 Key Stories: 11/28/21 — 12/5/21
Been busy? Let’s get you caught up with a look back at some of the NFL’s biggest stories from the past week:
- Big Ben Expected To Retire: Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to call it a career after this season. Roethlisberger has outlasted both Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, but Father Time has clearly caught up to him. His QBR ranked just 24th in the league through ten starts and, even after today’s win over the Ravens, it’s clear that he’s lost a step. As of this writing, Roethlisberger sits eighth all time in touchdown passes with the sixth-most passing yards in NFL history.
- NFL Suspends AB: The Buccaneers lost wide receiver Antonio Brown and safety Mike Edwards to suspension this week when both players were found to have violated league protocols. They’ll be eligible to return after three games, but head coach Bruce Arians says Brown might not be inserted into the lineup straight away. It’s possible that Brown could face legal consequences for his phony vaccination card and, even if he isn’t charged, the Bucs want to know that Brown is mentally prepared for the playoffs.
- CMC Done For Year: Christian McCaffrey was placed on injured reserve for the second time this year, automatically ruling him out for the rest of the season. CMC previously missed five games with a hamstring injury. This time around, it’s an ankle injury that’ll require multiple months of rehab. Between the last two years, McCaffrey has appeared in just ten games for the Panthers. In 2019, his last healthy campaign, he made a push for Chris Johnson‘s single-season scrimmage yardage record. Now, his ’21 season ends with just 442 rushing yards and one touchdown, plus 37 catches for 343 yards and one receiving TD.
- Panthers Fire OC Joe Brady: The injuries haven’t helped, but the Panthers were also unhappy with offensive coordinator Joe Brady. On Sunday, the Panthers fired the 32-year-old and replaced him with senior offensive assistant Jeff Nixon. Ranked just 28th in total offense, the Panthers will look for better results next week when they take on the Falcons.
- Seahawks Sign Peterson: Adrian Peterson is back, this time with the injury-battered Seahawks. Seattle inked the legendary running back to a practice squad deal last week before quickly elevating him to the varsity squad. On Sunday, Peterson became the first player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown with six different teams. That TD wound up being a difference-maker as the Seahawks beat the Niners 30-23.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: LS Beau Brinkley, RB Tavien Feaster, LB Joe Walker, LB Tahir Whitehead, CB Jace Whittaker
- Placed on IR: S James Wiggins
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: DE Steven Means
- Promoted: RB Qadree Ollison
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: DB Robert Jackson, RB Nate McCrary
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Frankie Luvu
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: WR Auden Tate
- Promoted: G Keaton Sutherland, WR Pooka Williams, RB Trayveon Williams
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: RB Damarea Crockett
- Waived: WR Tyrie Cleveland
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: LB Tavante Beckett, LB Rashod Berry, DE Bruce Hector
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: C Justin Britt, LB Christian Kirksey
- Promoted: S Jonathan Owens, RB Jaylen Samuels, DL Chris Smith
- Waived: CB Cre’von LeBlanc
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from IR: DT Jay Tufele
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: TE Matt Bushman, FB Sutton Smith, WR Dillon Stoner
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: WR Brandon Powell, RB Mekhi Sargent
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: RB Jake Bargas, DB Myles Dorn, DE Kenny Willekes
- Waived: DE Eddie Yarbrough
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper, DB Steven Parker, DB Jarren Williams
New York Jets
- Signed: K Alex Kessman
- Waived: K Matt Ammendola
- Promoted: DE Ronald Blair, TE Dan Brown, RB Austin Walter
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Jared Mayden
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: DL Carlos Davis
- Promoted: OL Chaz Green
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: LB Tyrell Adams, WR River Cracraft, LB Justin March
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: RB Adrian Peterson (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Logan Woodside
Vikings Activate DT Michael Pierce
SATURDAY: Pierce is now back on Minnesota’s active roster. The Vikings moved Pierce to their game-day 55-man squad Saturday, putting the mammoth D-tackle in position to play for the first time since Week 4.
WEDNESDAY: The Vikings have designated nose tackle Michael Pierce for return from the injured reserve list, per a club announcement. After missing his last seven games, Pierce is finally on the verge of retaking the field. 
Pierce enjoyed a great Week 1, collecting two sacks, two tackles for loss, two QB hits, and seven tackles against the Bengals. After that, he was clearly less than 100% and limited to just two tackles over the next three games. Then, when his elbow injury flared up against the Browns, the Vikings were forced to put him on IR.
Pierce, 29, spent his first four seasons with the Ravens. He joined the Vikings on a three-year, $27MM deal in 2020, but missed the year after opting out. His contract tolled, so he remains under club control through 2023.
The 5-6 Vikings could activate Pierce as soon as this week, allowing him to play against the winless Lions. They may also get some additional bulk up front if Dalvin Tomlinson is able to come off of the COVID-19 list.
NFL Mulled 6-8 Game Ban For Antonio Brown
Earlier this week, the NFL hit Antonio Brown, Mike Edwards, and free agent defensive back John Franklin III with three-game bans for violating COVID-19 protocols. Initially, however, the league was considering six-to-eight game suspensions for those players (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
[RELATED: NFL Suspends Antonio Brown, Mike Edwards]
An eight-game ban would have trickled into the playoffs for Brown and Edwards. Thanks to NFLPA negotiations, both players will have a chance to return in a few weeks. According to Bucs head coach Bruce Arians, it’s not a given that Brown will be activated straight away, and Pelissero hears that’s legitimate. The team first wants to ensure that Brown is focused on football and adhering to the league’s rules. Beyond that, there’s also a non-trivial chance that the players could be facing legal entanglements, since falsifying vaccination cards is a federal crime.
Brown, 33, has been productive on the field, but he’s missed time thanks to a lingering ankle injury and time on the COVID list. Before the suspension, Brown was on pace for another 1,000-yard season with 29 grabs for 418 yards and two touchdowns in five games. Now, he’ll finish shy of that mark for a third straight year.
If the Bucs welcome Brown back immediately after the suspension, he’ll retake the field on Dec. 26th against the Panthers.
Texans To Extend Tremon Smith
The Texans have agreed to a one-year extension with cornerback/return man Tremon Smith, according to Aaron Wilson of Sports Talk 790. The deal, which keeps Smith under club control through 2022, includes a $1.1MM base salary. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds that Smith also gets a $150K signing bonus, a $50K workout bonus, and a $100K roster bonus, thereby raising the value to $1.4MM. If he hits certain incentives, Smith could max out at $1.6MM (Twitter link).
Smith has averaged 26.0 on kickoff returns this year while appearing on ~80% of the Texans’ special teams plays. He’s also seen a little bit of time on defense, appearing on 14% of the team’s snaps. He might not be a star, but he’s a key cog in the third facet of the game. The Texans clearly value his work – Smith is the first Texans player to score an extension since the start of the 2021 season.
After stops with the Chiefs, Colts, Packers, and Eagles, Smith seems to have found a home in Houston. It also helps that he’s playing under the tutelage of Frank Ross, who was also his special teams coordinator in Indianapolis.
Ross and Smith will see their former team tomorrow as the Texans look to improve on their 2-9 record.
This Date In Transactions History: Giants Fire Ben McAdoo, Jerry Reese
The Giants cleaned house on this date in 2017. Not willing to wait until the offseason, the Giants fired head coach Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese in one fell swoop. 
[RELATED: Giants To Fire Dave Gettleman?]
It’s not uncommon to see head coaches and GMs canned on the same day, but it’s somewhat rare to see it happen during the season. Still, the Giants were 2-10, and owner John Mara‘s mind was made up.
“This season has been incredibly disappointing for the organization and our fans, and while it would be ideal to make these kinds of decisions at the conclusion of the season, we simply felt now is the time to prepare for a fresh start,”Mara said in a statement. “I have great respect for both Jerry and Ben. Jerry has worked tirelessly for this franchise for 23 years. He has always communicated in a straight forward and honest manner.”
The Giants enjoyed great success during Reese’s tenure – including two Super Bowl championships – but became more and more reluctant to move up draft day towards the end of his run. In ’17, his final draft in New York, he failed to strengthen the Giants’ Swiss cheese offensive line even though it was one of the team’s most glaring and longstanding needs. So, after a total of 23 years with the Giants organization, he was out.
Ditto for McAdoo, once an NFL darling for his work as Aaron Rodgers‘ position coach. He joined the Giants in 2014 as Tom Coughlin‘s offensive coordinator. Two years later, he was installed as the head coach. At the time, the Giants felt that they were choosing the coach best suited to guide Manning. They also felt compelled to promote him since other clubs were ready to poach him. Year One went well enough – his Giants finished 11-5 before Rodgers & Co. sent them packing in the playoffs. Less than a year later, he was out with a combined 13-15 record.
McAdoo is now with the Cowboys as a consultant while Reese is out of the NFL. Meanwhile, history may repeat itself in New Jersey. The Giants are reportedly set to part ways with Reese’s replacement, Dave Gettleman — his aggressiveness has not yielded a better offensive line. The team also fired OC Jason Garrett recently and it’s not a certainty that second-year head coach Joe Judge will return in 2022.
Seahawks To Promote Adrian Peterson
The Seahawks are promoting Adrian Peterson from the practice squad (Twitter link via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). With that, Peterson is set to play against the 49ers on Sunday afternoon. 
Peterson signed with the Seahawks’ taxi squad on Wednesday, providing insurance for Seattle’s badly battered backfield. Already without starting running back Chris Carson, the Seahawks will also be without backup Rashaad Penny for a while. Travis Homer, who has performed well in a very limited sample size, remains questionable with a calf injury. That’s left Alex Collins in the lead role — he’s registered 395 yards and two touchdowns this year off of 101 totes.
Peterson, 36, has just 27 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown so far this year, from his time with the Titans. His last full-time action came in 2020 with the Lions, when he recorded 604 yards and seven rushing touchdowns with a so-so 3.9 yards per carry average.
He might not be the player he once was, but Peterson could help the Seahawks’ struggling offense move the chains in small doses. He’ll also have a chance at history — another 367 rushing yards will put him in the 15,000-yard club for RBs.