NFC South Notes: Panthers, Falcons, Hardy
Earlier today, we checked in on a few updates out of the NFC East. Now, let’s turn our attention to one of the conference’s other divisions and round up the latest news and rumors from around the NFC South….
- With Mike Tolbert on IR-DTR, DeAngelo Williams unlikely to return in Week 5, and Jonathan Stewart also banged up, the Panthers intend to take a look at veteran free agents this week, as Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer details. “We’re going to have to look at some guys from the outside. And we’ll see,” said head coach Ron Rivera. “Without Jonathan available last week and potentially not available this week we need to have an insurance policy just in case so we’re going to have to take a look.”
- Falcons offensive lineman Joe Hawley is undergoing an MRI today to determine the severity of his knee injury, but the team doesn’t feel as if it will be a season-ender, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Still, with Hawley expected to be sidelined for at least the near future, Atlanta will work out free agent lineman Uche Nwaneri this week, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), Greg Hardy is being advised to try to move his court date back and sit out the entire 2014 season rather than resolving his case in November and potentially returning for the home stretch. Cole explains that underperforming or risking injury in the final few weeks could diminish Hardy’s value significantly heading into free agency, though considering he’s likely facing a lengthy suspension once his domestic violence case is resolved, the Panthers defensive end figures to see his stock sliding either way.
- Buccaneers rookie wideout Mike Evans is expected to be sidelined for two or three weeks with a groin strain, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap wonders (via Twitter) if the Saints will consider firing or demoting defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after how his unit has performed in September.
NFC Notes: Eagles, Bridgewater, Panthers
Despite scoring 21 points in a loss to the 49ers, the Eagles offense was shut out during the game. They scored on a blocked punt, and interception return, and a punt return. When speaking after the game, head coach Chip Kelly was very critical of the team’s ability to run the football and block along the offensive line, writes Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Dailey News (via Twitter). “We got lumped up front,” said Kelly. “They created pressure with three and four rushers. [We] tried to put in quarterback’s hands.”
The Eagles could not run the ball, and Kelly attributes that to the troubles along the offensive line, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). “We’re not very good up front right now,” said Kelly.
The team is without starting offensive linemen Jason Kelce and Evan Mathis due to injury, and Lane Johnson is set to return to game action next weekend after serving a four-game suspension. They also lost left tackle Jason Peters for portions of the past two games, last week to an ejection and today due to injury.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC:
- Vikings‘ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was brilliant in his first NFL start, but he left the game late in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. X-rays came out negative, and he will undergo an MRI tomorrow. The question is whether or not he will be ready to play this Thursday against Green Bay, and head coach Mike Zimmer is optimistic on his quarterback’s chances. “I assume he’s going to play,” said Zimmer. “Teddy’s pretty dang tough.”
- After Bridgewater left with the injury, the Vikings turned to former first-round pick Christian Ponder once again. Ponder was prepared to be back in the starting lineup, but has come to terms with the team’s commitment to Bridgewater.“Football is a crazy game and injuries unfortunately always happen. I’ve got to be prepared, God forbid something happens to Teddy. It’s Teddy’s team,” Ponder said. “Teddy, he was the first-round pick this past year and that’s the direction they’re heading. For me, I’m going to prepare to play if something happens, but I’m here to support Teddy and help him any way I can.”
- The Panthers‘ running game has struggled this season with injuries to Mike Tolbert and Jonathan Stewart, in addition to a limited Cam Newton. It only got worse today, and DeAngelo Williams left the game early and was not able to return, writes Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer. The team had to play two undrafted free agents in the backfield, and will have trouble finding replacements if those injuries persist all season.
Sunday Roundup: Suh, Jets, Steve Smith
It has been fairly obvious for some time that Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh would be leaving Detroit at the end of the year, and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter confirms that the Lions are preparing to move on without him. However, Schefter adds another wrinkle, writing that Suh would love to play in New York, either for the Jets or Giants.
However, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that the Jets have too much money tied up in their defensive line to be a serious suitor, and Mike Florio of Pro Football talk adds that there is no indication that the Giants would want Suh. Citing Schefter, Florio does add that the Bears and Cowboys will definitely be interested.
Now for some more links from around the league:
- In a full-length piece, Cimini writes that the Jets‘ most pressing contract concern might center around linebacker David Harris, the “glue” to head coach Rex Ryan‘s defensive unit. Although Muhammad Wilkerson‘s contract situation has received more attention, Harris will be a free agent at year’s end, whereas Wilkerson will still be under club control.
- Steve Serby of the New York Post writes that the Jets‘ worst-case scenario–that Geno Smith would continue to struggle with his turnover problem, triggering calls for Michael Vick to take over–has come true. Given that Ryan is coaching for his job, another poor showing from Smith this week could lead to Vick’s promotion. Like Serby, Cimini believes that Smith’s job could be on the line today.
- Not only are the Jets inconsistent on the field, they are also facing internal struggles. In a separate piece, Schefter writes that some members of the Jets front office are disenchanted with the way GM John Idzik has built his roster. Not only do they believe Idzik was not aggressive enough in pursuing upgrades at cornerback, an issue that has received a lot of publicity, but they also feel that Idzik should have used his ample salary cap space to further address the wide receiver, pass rusher, and return specialist positions.
- Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes that the Ryan Tannehill/Joe Philbin dilemma is not the only player/coach rift on the Dolphins.
- Rich Tandler of ESPNWashington.com says to look for the Redskins to promote safety Philip Thomas from the practice squad to the active roster–assuming they do not go outside the organization for help–and that one of the tight ends currently on the practice squad, Ted Bolser and Je’Ron Hamm, could also be on the way up, depending on the status of Jordan Reed and Niles Paul.
- Ira Kaufman of the Tampa Tribune tweets that the Buccaneers have only two players remaining from their 2010 club: Gerald McCoy and Demar Dotson.
- In a series of tweets, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes that the Panthers did not cut Steve Smith because they thought he could no longer perform at a high level. Instead, they worried that Smith would be “divisive” in the team’s young locker room. Smith refused to take a pay cut and ultimately asked for his release.
NFC South Links: Smith, Glennon, Hankins
One of the biggest free agent moves of the offseason was the release of Steve Smith by the Panthers, leading to Smith’s signing with the Ravens. In David Newton’s mailbag for ESPN, he discusses whether the team’s general manager David Gettleman regretted letting Smith go. While Newton notes that Gettleman rarely speaks to the media, it would be hard to imagine him being excited to face a Smith hungry for revenge this weekend.
Here are some more links from around the NFC South:
- The Charlotte Observer put a page together where Panthers‘ fans could share their favorite Smith memories in anticipation of his first game against his former team.
- Quarterback play alone cannot propel a Buccaneers‘ team that has been abysmal in all facets of the game through three weeks, but Mike Glennon will have a chance to stake his claim to the starting job, writes Andrew Astleford of Fox Sports Florida.
- Gary Shelton of the Tampa Bay Times imagines where the Buccaneers‘ franchise would be had they ever made the right choice in selecting a quarterback, citing Tom Brady and Joe Montana as players they had a chance to take. He also notes that the team had Doug Williams and Steve Young, who went on to win Super Bowls with the Redskins and 49ers, respectively.
- Buccaneers‘ head coach Lovie Smith was expected to straighten out a franchise that ws run amok in recent years, but his plans have been torn apart, writes Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. The plan stared to go awry with the implosion of free agent quarterback Josh McCown, who was eventually benched due to injury, although he showed little in his action to that point. The broken hand suffered by star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy only further weakened the 0-3 Buccaneers.
- Saints‘ defensive tackle John Jenkins did not travel with the team to Dallas for their matchup with the Cowboys, reports Brett Martel of the Associated Press (via Twitter). He notes that his absence is not injury related, and that Jenkins was also a healthy scratch last week against the Vikings.
NFC Notes: Panthers, Lions, Saints, Giants
As we wait to see whether the Eagles can take sole possession of the top spot in the NFC with a win tomorrow in San Francisco, let’s round up some notes from around the conference….
- Offensive lineman Garry Williams landed on injured reserve for the third time in four years today, and while it’s an unfortunate break for both Williams and the Panthers, the team protected itself against injury in its one-year extension for the veteran, according to Brian McIntyre (Twitter links). Williams’ base salary drops from $650K to $373K on IR, and he’ll miss out on nearly $100K in per-game roster bonuses.
- While Kyle Meinke of MLive.com initially scoffed at the notion that injured linebacker Stephen Tulloch may have placed his last game with the Lions, he notes that the team could save more than $3MM by cutting the linebacker in the offseason, which is money that could be put toward re-signing Ndamukong Suh or another player. Meinke isn’t advocating for Tulloch’s release and doesn’t necessarily view it as likely, but the combination of the 29-year-old’s ACL injury and cap figures make it a possibility.
- Mike Triplett’s latest Saints mailbag at ESPN.com deals primarily with questions about Drew Brees‘ potential longevity as he enters his late-30s, and whether it’s realistic to expect New Orleans to be a Super Bowl contender as long as Brees has one of the league’s largest contracts.
- Meanwhile, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com fields Giants-related questions in his Saturday mailbag, including one on how the team might balance the workload for free agent signee Rashad Jennings and rookie Andre Williams going forward.
Minor Moves: Saturday
We’ll continue to update you on all of today’s minor transactions right here, with the latest moves added to the top…
- In addition to cutting Gabe Miller, as noted below, the Redskins have also waived defensive lineman Robert Thomas, who had been promoted from the practice squad for Thursday’s game, the team announced today (Twitter link). I expect if Thomas clears waivers, there’s a good chance he’ll rejoin Washington’s taxi squad.
- The Colts have promoted linebacker Andrew Jackson to their active roster, tweets Aaron Wilson. To make room, the team waived-injured fullback Mario Harvey.
Earlier updates:
- The Panthers have signed running back Tauren Poole from their practice squad, tweets Wilson. The team also placed offensive tackle Garry Williams on injured reserve.
- The Patriots have signed defensive lineman Casey Walker from the Panthers‘ practice squad, the team announced. To make room, the Pats placed defensive lineman Sealver Siliga on injured reserve with a designation to return.
- The Redskins have waived linebacker Gabe Miller, tweets agent Brett Tessler. The 26-year-old was originally drafted by the Chiefs as a defensive end. He was converted to a tight end during his stops with the Seahawks and Bears before returning to defense with Washington. He made his first career tackle on Thursday against the Giants.
Extra Points: Lions, Jets, Panthers
Jets and Lions fans may be avoiding each other prior to the teams’ matchup this weekend in New York. However, both groups of fans seem to have similar opinions regarding a potential trade for a notable cornerback. Let’s take a look at who the fans are hoping to acquire…
- When asked by a reader if the Lions could pursue Cowboys defensive back Morris Claiborne, ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein replied that it’s not very likely. However, if the Lions suffer another injury, they may reconsider.
- ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini echoes that sentiment, saying a Jets trade for Claiborne makes little sense. The writer also explains why the deal wouldn’t make sense for the Cowboys, considering all the dead money they’d take on by dealing the former first-rounder.
- Furthermore, Cimini can’t envision the team acquiring another wide receiver, even if Eric Decker‘s injury continues to linger.
- ESPN.com’s David Newton defends Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula, attributing the team’s struggles to an unhealthy quarterback, new wideouts and a new offensive line.
Extra Points: Goodell, Gordon, Streater, Bears
The NFLPA has the NFL in a vulnerable spot, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The union currently has no real power in personal conduct cases, but if Roger Goodell wants the NFLPA to work with him, he’ll have to give up some of that power. Right now, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith appears to be playing some chess with Goodell and Florio writes that if he wants a real victory, he shouldn’t bend at all given the position Goodell is in. Here’s more from around the NFL..
- With one more strike under the new drug program, Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon faces banishment. Some may be worried that Gordon won’t stay on the straight and narrow upon his return, but receivers coach Mike McDaniel isn’t concerned, writes Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. “Without a doubt (he understands it),” said McDaniel. “There’s no question in my mind. Now, do I think originally he understood the ramifications of his actions before he ever had a slip-up? Probably not, but it happens as it goes. That’s one thing I’ve really been taken aback by is how much responsibility he’s definitely taking and he needs to continue to take. But he’s definitely taking (it) on himself. It doesn’t sit well with him that he’s in this situation.”
- Rod Streater‘s agent indicated that the wide receiver will be back in a matter of weeks, but Raiders coach Dennis Allen says it’s too early to know if he’ll be back this season, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- The Bears worked out five safeties when they brought in linebacker Darryl Sharpton yesterday, tweets Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune. Those safeties were former Viking Jamarca Sanford, Shamiel Gary, Kimario McFadden, Pierre Warren, and Anthony Walters, who was with the team last year.
- The Panthers tried out former Browns running back/fullback Chris Ogbonnaya, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports (on Twitter). The Panthers’ backfield could use some reinforcements with Mike Tolbert on the IR-DTR and injuries to Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams.
Minor Moves: Thursday
We’ll keep tabs on Thursday’s practice squad signings as cuts, as well as minor 53-man roster transactions, in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day….
- Can the Ravens just make up their minds already? A source tells Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun that the club has re-signed wide receiver Deonte Thompson to the practice squad. Thompson, who was released twice by Baltimore in five days, will earn more than the usual $6,300 per week that taxi squad players make. The speedy receiver will bump someone from the practice squad but it’s not yet known who will be dropped to make room.
Earlier updates:
- The only team in the NFL that came into today with a spot available on its 53-man roster has filled that opening, as the Redskins announced they’ve promoted defensive tackle Robert Thomas from their practice squad (Twitter link). An undrafted free agent out of Arkansas, Thomas had been on Washington’s taxi squad since the start of the season.
- Running back Lache Seastrunk has been removed from the Panthers‘ practice squad, with Carolina signing running back Tauren Poole to take his place, according to the club (Twitter link).
- The Rams have made a small adjustment to their practice squad as well, re-adding wideout Justin Veltung to replace tight end Brad Smelley, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
- After spending the season to date on the reserve/non-football illness list, defensive end Mike Catapano has been moved to the Chiefs‘ injured reserve list, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes. It’s not clear what sort of ailment is plaguing Catapano, but the new designation indicates he won’t play for Kansas City this season.
Workout Notes: Beauharnais, Brown, Lewis
With injuries piling up and rosters changing, a number of players have had workouts with various teams in anticipation of week four action.
Here are some of the players who have had workouts with teams recently:
- Free agent linebacker Steve Beauharnais worked out for the Chargers today, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The linebacker has worked out for six clubs since being waived by the Patriots, including an audition for the Bucs yesterday.
- The Ravens worked out cornerback Jalil Brown, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Brown has formerly played for the Dolphins and the Chiefs. They also worked out two former Bears’ tight ends, Kellen Davis and Matthew Mulligan, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
- The Seahawks worked out M.D. Jennings, Tommie Campbell, R.J. Stanford and Jerome Murphy, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
- The Panthers worked out Marcus Davis, LaDon Hudson, and Willie Snead, reports Wilson (via Twitter).
- The Vikings worked out running back Dion Lewis, tight ends Jake Stoneburner and Ryan Otten, and quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.