Jets’ Jamien Sherwood Done For Year
Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood will miss the rest of the year with a torn Achilles tendon (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The Jets will place Sherwood on injured reserve today, opening up a spot on the 53-man roster. 
[RELATED: Jets’ Wilson To Miss 2-4 Weeks]
Sherwood has been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal year for the Jets. Head coach Robert Saleh has started him four times out of five games, a testament to the Auburn product’s on-field leadership.
“With Jamien, it’s almost like: ‘Hey man, you don’t have to communicate for everybody.’ The amount of stuff he gets out of his mouth, pre-snap wise, with regards to close calls, checks and all of it is fascinating for a rookie,” Saleh said recently (via Joey Chandler of NJ.com). “He’s very, very confident. He knows everybody’s job and so our confidence of him with the green dot is fine.”
Of course, the Jets also watched Zach Wilson exit Sunday’s loss with a PCL injury. The quarterback will be out for at least two weeks and possibly up to four weeks as the Jets try to salvage their season.
Jets’ Zach Wilson To Miss 2-4 Weeks
Some relatively good news for the Jets. Zach Wilson‘s knee injury will only cost him 2-4 weeks of action (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). 
Wilson effectively diagnosed himself after Sunday’s game, telling reporters that his “loose” knee indicated a PCL injury. His Monday morning MRI backed that up, so he should be able to return sometime in November. Unfortunately, the Jets might not have much to play for at that point. They’re now 1-5 following yesterday’s drumming at the hands of the Patriots.
Wilson completed 6-of-10 passes for 51 yards before his second quarter exit. For the year, Wilson has completed 57.5% of his throws for four touchdowns against nine interceptions. Now, the Jets will turn to his understudy, Mike White. White went 20-of-32 for 202 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in his pro debut.
“Yeah, I’m confident in myself,” White said after the game (via ESPN.com). “I’m mostly confident in the guys we have in that locker room, the leaders we have. The coaching staff, too.”
The confident White will make his first start on Sunday when the Jets face the Bengals.
Patriots’ Jonathan Jones Done For Year
Jonathan Jones‘ season is over. After being placed on IR last week, the Patriots cornerback is now set for season-ending shoulder surgery (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
Initially, the Patriots hoped to have him back as soon as Week 10. Now, Jones’ 2021 will end with 20 stops and one interception in six games.
The sixth-year pro worked his way up from UDFA to regular inside defender with the Pats, grading out as the No. 5 cornerback in the league last year, per Pro Football Focus. For what it’s worth, they weren’t quite as fond of his 2021 performance to date, viewing his work as barely top-100 worthy.
Jones, whose $7MM-per-year Pats extension runs through 2022, will have some time to get healthy in advance of his walk year. He’s set to collect a $5.4MM base salary next year while carrying a cap hit of $8.2MM.
In the meantime, the Patriots will move forward with J.C. Jackson, Jalen Mills, Joejuan Williams, and Myles Bryant as their CBs. They could circle back to some of their recently-auditioned cover men like Brian Poole, D.J. Hayden, and De’Vante Bausby, but they’d ideally like to have Shawn Wade return to the lineup. Wade missed Sunday’s win over the Jets with a concussion but could be ready in time for the Chargers on Halloween.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Zach Allen, LB Chandler Jones (story)
Denver Broncos
- Waived: LB Barrington Wade
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: OL Logan Stenberg
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: TE Daniel Helm
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return: DE Justin Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Sheldrick Redwine (from Panthers’ practice squad)
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: DT Josiah Bronson
New York Jets
- Released from IR: OT Teton Saltes
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers: QB Reid Sinnett (from Dolphins)
- Waived: LS Rick Lovato
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from reserve/suspended list: DL Jordan Willis
49ers “Would Guess” Jimmy Garoppolo Starts Next Week
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan won’t guarantee much for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Following last night’s loss to the Colts, Shanahan told reporters that he “would guess” Garoppolo starts under center in Week 8. 
“I would guess so,” Shanahan said (via Jennifer Lee Chan of NBCSportsBayArea.com). “I will watch this tape and see if guys are healthy, first of all, and know where our guys are at. It was good for Jimmy to get healthy enough to play in this game today.”
That probably has more to do with Lance’s knee sprain than anything. Garoppolo threw for just 181 yards and one touchdown against two interceptions and a lost fumble on Sunday. And, had it not been for Lance’s Week 5 injury, Garoppolo probably would have been holding the clipboard.
A calf injury sidelined for one game, but San Francisco’s bye week coupled with Lance’s injury put Garoppolo under center this week. Shanahan added that he didn’t see “a ton of bad decisions” from his one-time franchise QB, but it sounds like he’ll go back to Lance as soon as possible.
In five games this year, Jimmy G has completed 64.8% of his passes for 1,106 yards and six TDs against four interceptions. Lance, of course, was less-than-perfect in his Week 5 start, but the 49ers didn’t trade two future first-rounders to have him sit behind Garoppolo.
Jets’ Zach Wilson Suffers Knee Injury
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson believes that he suffered a PCL injury in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Patriots. After the game, Wilson told reporters that he heard a “pop” and that his knee felt “loose” (via The Athletic). 
[RELATED: Jets Strongly Considered Keeping Darnold]
Wilson’s description would be consistent with a PCL injury, but doctors won’t know for sure until he undergoes an MRI today. The injury occurred in the second quarter, when he was tackled by Patriots linebacker Matt Judon.
Depending on the severity, a PCL injury may or may not be a season-ender. In this case, the Jets would probably err on the side of caution. Gang Green is 1-5 after yesterday’s loss, so it’s unlikely that their late-season games will matter much.
Wilson completed 6-of-10 passes for 51 yards before his early exit. The Jets then turned things over to backup Mike White for his NFL debut. White — who figures to be the Jets’ QB1 for at least a little while — went 20-of-32 for 202 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Panthers, Dolphins Favorites To Land Deshaun Watson?
The Deshaun Watson sweepstakes could be down to two teams. In addition to the Dolphins, the Panthers have also presented the Texans with a strong offer, according to PFT. 
The Texans would likely accept the Panthers’ latest proposal, according to PFT’s source, but Watson’s the one who really holds the cards. Thanks to his no-trade clause, he can veto any destination he doesn’t like. Fortunately for the Panthers, they’re on his short list of preferred teams, unlike the Eagles. Denver has also been said to be in the mix, but it’s shaping up to be a two-horse race and the Broncos aren’t in it at the moment.
We’ve had conflicting word on the Panthers’ level of interest all month long. Just last week, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports heard the Dolphins have effectively been bidding against themselves. Still, Watson won’t be parked on the commissioner’s exempt list if he’s traded, so it stands to reason that other teams could try and outbid the Dolphins.
And, just hours ago, head coach Matt Rhule benched Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter. After the game — a 25-3 loss to the Giants —Rhule told reporters that Darnold will “be our quarterback next week.” It remains to be seen whether he’ll be their QB come November 3rd.
Latest On Colts, Marlon Mack
Earlier this month, the Colts promised Marlon Mack that they’d try to trade him elsewhere. But, as it stands, it doesn’t sound like teams offered enough for the running back (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
The Colts have received calls with reported interest from the 49ers, Panthers and Saints. However, the Niners aren’t quite as RB-needy as they were just a few weeks ago — JaMycal Hasty has been cleared to play against the Colts tonight while GM John Lynch says he’s bullish on Elijah Mitchell and Trey Sermon. Fellow RB Jeff Wilson could also return in a matter of weeks. Lynch characterized his talks with Indy as casual, given his relationship with GM Chris Ballard, but there’s little doubt that he’ll be paying attention to Mack this evening.
Prior to his Achilles setback, Mack totaled 1,999 rushing yards between 2018 and ’19. Behind Jonathan Taylor this year, Mack has gained 97 yards on 25 carries, good for 3.9 yards per tote. Of course, that’s been in a small sample size, so Mack is hoping to show his stuff elsewhere as a regular.
“I’m definitely young,” Mack said earlier this year. “That’s the thing. In this business as a running back, they say I’m an old man already, but I’m only 25…That’s why it’s like, ‘Man, I’ve got to go out there and get it now.’ Next year teams may be like, ‘Yeah, I don’t want that old running back.’”
5 Key Stories: 10/17/21 – 10/24/21
Been busy? Let’s get you caught up with a look back at some of the NFL’s biggest stories from the past week:
- Dolphins, Texans talking Watson trade: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is in “win now” mode, which means that the Deshaun Watson trade talks have been picking up. The Watson news has been coming in fast and furious over the past week, including this critical bit of info — the embattled QB will not be placed on the exempt list if he is traded. The Dolphins are not alone in their pursuit, however — the Panthers, Eagles, Broncos, and other clubs have been in talks with the Texans.
- Dolphins’ HC Flores on hot seat: Brian Flores has been quick to back up Tua Tagovailoa as his quarterback. However, there’s no guarantee that he’ll be the Dolphins’ head coach for much longer. The ‘Fins losing streak has Flores on the hot seat and his locker room status isn’t helping. Said one source who spoke to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, “There is a really negative vibe down there right now. A lot of players do not trust (Flores). Flo thinks he is a player’s coach, with an open-door policy, but I know a number of players who would tell you they don’t really think he is approachable enough, or flexible.”
- Ravens’ Stanley done for year: Ronnie Stanley opted for another surgery, officially shutting him down for the rest of 2021. The Ravens are now without their All-Pro left tackle, in addition to a number of other key players. Stanley became the team’s 17th Ravens player to reach IR, more than any other team in the league.
- Eagles’ Dillard drawing trade interest: Despite Andre Dillard’s mini-resurgence, the Eagles are listening to trade inquiries on the former first-round tackle. A “quality” Round 2 or 3 selection could be enough to pry him loose between now and Nov. 2, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Elsewhere in the NFC, the Seahawks are entertaining calls on defensive lineman L.J. Collier. Given Collier’s performance to date, he can probably be had for a Day 3 draft choice.
- Broncos trade for Vikings’ Weatherly: As we prepare for bigger moves ahead, the Broncos and Vikings completed a pre-deadline trade sending defensive end Stephen Weatherly to Denver.
Steelers’ Melvin Ingram Drawing Interest
The Steelers have been receiving trade inquiries on pass rusher Melvin Ingram, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Even though Ingram hasn’t necessarily impressed in Pittsburgh, teams are interested in adding his experience at an affordable salary. 
Another club would only have to pay Ingram the prorated portion of his $1.075MM base salary, since the Steelers have already paid his $2.925MM signing bonus. It’s not clear which teams have called on the veteran, but RapSheet notes that the Chiefs have been on the lookout for edge help. The Chiefs were also among the teams to meet with Ingram in the offseason, prior to his July deal with Pittsburgh.
The Steelers appear to be listening on Ingram, per Rapoport, a sign that a deal could come together soon. The Steelers have a little over week until the Nov. 2 trade deadline if they want to turn the 32-year-old into future draft capital.
Ingram’s knee trouble held him to just seven games for the Chargers last year. But, before that, he notched 49 career sacks en route to three straight Pro Bowls from 2017-19. He had exactly zero sacks in 2020, but Pro Football Focus gave him a solid 76.3 pass-rushing score, good for top-20 among all OLBs/DEs.
So far this year, Ingram has ten tackles, one pass defensed, and one sack across six games.