Cowboys To Cut Taco Charlton?
One way or another, Taco Charlton won’t be with the Cowboys much longer. The Cowboys continue to seek a trade for the former first-round pass-rusher, but if they can’t find a suitable deal, they’ll release him, Ian Rapoport and Jane Slater of NFL.com (on Twitter) hear. 
With Robert Quinn set to return from his two-game ban, there’s little room for Charlton, who has not lived up to expectations so far. The 2017 first-round pick has lacked explosiveness at the pro level and a string of injuries prevented him from taking a step forward this offseason. This year alone, Charlton has already undergone two surgeries.
Given his potential, it seems likely that Charlton will hook on elsewhere if the Cowboys cut him. The 24-year-old (25 in November) will look to improve upon an iffy 2017 season in which he struggled, despite three sacks as a part timer.
Saints Won’t Place Drew Brees On IR
Saints coach Sean Payton says he does not plan to place quarterback Drew Brees on injured reserve. That means Brees will be eligible to return in less than eight weeks, which is excellent news for the Saints. 
This jibes with what we heard shortly after Brees was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his thumb earlier this week. The initial estimate was six weeks, so he’s likely on track for that same window.
If he’s out for six weeks, Brees will miss games against the Seahawks (this Sunday), Cowboys, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Bears, and Cardinals. After that, the Saints have a bye week, which would put Brees on target for a Nov. 10 return at home against the rival Falcons.
In the interim, the Saints are moving forward with Teddy Bridgewater as the starter and Taysom Hill as his lone backup. With Brees still on the 53-man roster, the club is unlikely to consider an outside arm to round out the QB room.
Jaguars To Trade Jalen Ramsey On Friday?
One of the league’s very best cornerbacks is on the block. The Jaguars seem willing and ready to move Jalen Ramsey, but they won’t deal him before Thursday night’s game against the Titans, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Instead, Rapoport hears that Friday is the “likely target date” for a trade. 
For a trade to come together between now and then, rival teams will have to step up their offers, or the Jags will have to reduce their asking price. Currently, the Jaguars are said to be seeking two first-round picks for Ramsey. Meanwhile, as far as we know, they’ve only received offers of one first-round choice from two different clubs.
Despite all the noise, Ramsey says he’s focused on balling out against the Titans.
“I have nothing bad or negative to say about anyone in the building. I don’t want to speak on it or give too much detail. I will let God do his work,” Ramsey said on Tuesday.
Jamal Adams: “I’m Focused On [The Jets]”
Jets star safety Jamal Adams caused quite the stir this week when he unfollowed the Jets on Instagram (In this day and age, that’s a big deal.) However, in a radio interview this week, Adams indicated that he isn’t looking to force a trade. 
“It’s social media. It’s outside noise,” Adams said, while refusing to explain why he created the social media drama in the first place (via Howie Kussoy of the New York Post). “I’m not focused on that..I’m focused on this team. I’m not focused on the outside noise. I’m just focused on how we can get better and get a win.”
The Jets have gone 9-25 since Adams was drafted by the club and things probably aren’t going to get better in the coming weeks as Sam Darnold remains sidelined with mono and Luke Falk runs the offense. Still, Adams says everything is cool between him and coach Adam Gase – even after Gase pulled him off the field late in Monday night’s loss due to back-to-back penalties.
“He wants to win as much as anyone I’ve ever been around. I’m sure at that point in the game he was extremely frustrated,” Gase said. “When he gets like that, and you want to go make a play, and the score’s a little lopsided like that, you get a little over-aggressive. … I thought it was a smart idea as far as just trying to do that and get him settled down.”
Gang Green – also known as the Walking Wounded – will face the Patriots on Sunday.
Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger Vows To Return
Ben Roethlisberger is done for the year after suffering a serious elbow injury and many have speculated that this could ultimately end his career. But, Big Ben, who turns 38 in March, says that won’t be the case. 
[RELATED: Big Ben Done For Year]
“The Steelers committed three years to me this offseason and I fully intend to honor my contract and reward them with championship-level play,” he said (via ESPN.com).
Thanks to his three-year, $80MM extension, Big Ben is under contract through the 2021 season. Before the injury, the buzz was centered on whether Roethlisberger would, or would not, play beyond ’21. Many doubt that Big Ben can bounce back and play next season, but both the quarterback and head coach Mike Tomlin believe he will.
“He fully intends to come back from his injury, and everything we’ve heard, we’re comfortable that’s a strong possibility,” Tomlin said.
For now, the Steelers will turn to Mason Rudolph with the newly-promoted Devlin Hodges as his backup.
Jets To Sign QB David Fales
The Jets have agreed to sign quarterback David Fales in advance of this week’s game against the Patriots, according to Manish Mehta of the Daily News. Fales will serve as the No. 2 QB behind Luke Falk, who has been thrust into the starting role. 
To put it mildly, the Jets’ current quarterback situation is a tire fire. Starter Sam Darnold is out with mono and can only hope to return in time to face the Eagles in Week 5. His absence pushed Trevor Siemian into the starting job, but his season ended midway through his first start when his ankle was contorted, resulting in serious ligament tears. Falk, the club’s No. 3 QB, is now set to make his first Jets start against the league’s greatest dynasty of all-time.
Fales has familiarity with Adam Gase‘s system thanks to their time together in Chicago in 2015 and Miami in 2016-2017. In two games for the Dolphins, Fales completed 29 of 43 throws.
Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey On Trade Demand
For those of you just tuning in, Jaguars defensive back Jalen Ramsey wants out. Teams are interested – and some have offered a first-round pick for the Pro Bowler – but the Jaguars are seeking two first-round picks, which may throw a wrench into things.
On Tuesday, Ramsey addressed the swirling trade rumors with reporters. Here’s a look at the highlights from his presser, plus more on the situation:
- “I have nothing bad or negative to say about anyone in the building. I don’t want to speak on it or give too much detail. I will let God do his work,” Ramsey said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Then, when asked why he wants out of Jacksonville, Ramsey said: “I’m super excited to play this Thursday….if I’m still here“
- Ramsey says he and his agent are not the ones who leaked the trade request (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The corner says he didn’t want it out in public, because he didn’t want it to be a distraction to his teammates. Meanwhile, as of Tuesday AM, he has yet to discuss
- GMs around the league think the Chiefs will go hard in a pursuit of Ramsey, CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora tweets.
- A note from Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter) – Ramsey’s agent, David Mulugheta, has landed huge deals for clients Michael Thomas, Landon Collins, Kevin Byard, and Earl Thomas in 2019. Ramsey’s trade request could put him in the same class. The Jaguars have been unwilling to give him a big extension, but other teams seem ready to do it.
Jets’ Sam Darnold Eyeing Week 5 Return
Jets quarterback Sam Darnold is eyeing a Week 5 return against the Eagles, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. Darnold, of course, missed last week’s contest with mono and is still feeling sluggish as he recovers. In a few weeks, doctors say he’ll be ready to take the field again. 
The Jets’ QB situation went from bad to worse on Monday night after Trevor Siemian‘s ankle folded like a Slinky. Siemian is out for the year, leaving young Luke Falk as the club’s de factor starter.
Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, showed flashes of promise last year, though he finished out with only 17 touchdowns against 15 interceptions in 13 games. This year, the Jets were excited to see what he could do, but all they’ve seen so far was his start in a losing effort against the Bills.
At minimum, the Jets will be without the USC product for their contest against the Patriots on Sept. 22. On Oct. 6, after their early bye, they might just have Darnold back in action.
Giants’ Manning Won’t Waive No-Trade Clause
Eli Manning might not be happy about being benched for Daniel Jones, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll ask for a trade. The Giants quarterback has no immediate plans to waive his no-trade clause and facilitate a deal, sources close to the QB tell SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano. 
There are plenty of reasons for Eli to stay – New York has been his home for 16 years, he has a small family with four kids, and it’s also unlikely that another team would be willing to take on his contract. Many of Manning’s struggles could be blamed on the Giants’ lack of talent and never-ending string of injuries in recent years, but it’s clear that the veteran is a shell of the player that he once was.
Given his $23.2MM salary this year and his iffy showing in the first two games of the season, there’s no obvious fit for Manning anywhere in the league. Of course, if Manning finds himself itching to play, and a QB-needy team is willing to try and turn back the clock, things could change between now and the Oct. 29 deadline.
The Giants would probably like to see Manning retire a Giant and continue to mentor Jones in the interim. Still, it’d be hard for them to say no if Manning asked for a trade.
Latest On Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey
The Jaguars are seeking two first-round picks in a trade for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. Furthermore, that asking price is just the starting point. 
[RELATED: Two Teams Offer One First-Rounder For Ramsey]
Ramsey, naturally, is a wanted commodity. He won’t turn 25 until October and is still under contract at below market rates through 2020 thanks to his rookie contract and fifth-year option. At the same time – it’ll cost a bundle to extend Ramsey on a long-term deal and two first-round picks is a lot to surrender.
As Breer notes, the asking price is not completely out of the realm of possibility, especially in light of the package – featuring two-first rounders – that the Texans shipped to the Dolphins to acquire Laremy Tunsil. For now, the asking price is too rich for the blood of most teams, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. But, things could quickly change.