Today’s taxi squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Dalton Keene
- Released: LS Joe Fortunato
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Jake Funk
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on practice squad IR: T Jarrid Williams
League executives are starting to wonder how long the Broncos will tolerate Nathaniel Hackett‘s growing pains. Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post spoke with NFL executives, evaluators, and coaches, with many “paint[ing] a bleak picture” of Denver’s outlook with Hackett at the helm. The head coach’s “ability to survive his first season on the job” is being discussed around the NFL, per La Canfora.
[RELATED: Which Head Coach Will Be Fired First In 2022?]
Many of the sources attribute Denver’s coaching issues to inexperience. One anonymous GM went as far as to wonder if GM George Paton may be the one to pull the plug. The team’s new ownership wasn’t responsible for hiring the current head coach/general manage pairing, and if Paton wants to save his own job, he may look to admit his mistake sooner than later.
“I hate to say it, because it’s only six weeks,” the anonymous GM told La Canfora, “but [Paton] needs to start separating himself from the coach. I like George a lot, and that’s what my advice to him would be. Keep trying to give [Hackett] help, if he’ll take it, but you also may have to be willing to admit it was a mistake far sooner than you ever imagined. This owner didn’t hire either of them. You have to be careful how hard you fight to prove this can work, because it’s been a disaster so far. And if you aren’t careful, you’re going to get fired, too.”
Before firing Hackett, there’s a chance that the organization could try to remedy the situation. Some of the sources suggested bringing in an outside consultant, with many pointing to the inexperience of the coaching staff. As La Canfora notes, Dom Capers and Jerry Rosburg are the lone experienced coaches on the staff, and the writer even suggests that the team could look to bring in Gary Kubiak as an adviser or even as interim head coach. Kubiak’s son, Klint Kubiak, is the team’s quarterbacks coach.
Still, no matter how much experience the Broncos add to the coaching staff, it still might not be enough. One executive told La Canfora that Hackett doesn’t look like he’s ready to be a head coach.
“Unless something changes quickly, I don’t think he gets through the year,” the executive said. “It looks too big for him. It looks too fast for him. The red-zone play-calling has been awful. I don’t see enough adjustments being made.”
Of course, part of the team’s issues could also be attributed to quarterback Russell Wilson, who also drew criticism from the personnel that was polled by La Canfora. Even with Wilson’s underwhelming play, many still believe he isn’t being put in a position to succeed, with La Canfora pointing to the team’s lack of RPOs and motion.
“Some of that is on the quarterback, certainly,” a GM said, “but they don’t seem to have a lot of ideas when the field gets tight, and I don’t think they have the right people in that building now to fix it.”
Amplified by the Broncos’ bevy of primetime games to start the season, their Russell Wilson partnership has not gotten off to a good start. The team has seen the nine-time Pro Bowler struggle in Nathaniel Hackett‘s increasingly scrutinized offense, inviting big-picture questions.
The Broncos are being questioned for greenlighting Wilson’s five-year, $245MM extension before he played a down with the team, but as Mike Klis of 9News notes, the team was fully committed to Wilson long-term upon trading for him. That should be expected given the trade haul the Broncos sent the Seahawks.
The Broncos viewed 2022 as a better window for their Wilson extension, Klis adds, due to the annual quarterback-market price hike. Next year will bring extension windows for Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow, with likely multiple deals coming in north of $50MM per year alongside Aaron Rodgers‘ current $50.3MM market-setting Packers pact. Wilson’s 2015 extension came in just behind Rodgers’, and his 2019 Seahawks re-up checked in as the top QB payment until Patrick Mahomes (and others) topped it in 2020.
Wilson, 33, did not leverage the Broncos in the way he did the Seahawks in the past, doing a deal despite two years remaining on his second Seahawks extension. He is under team control for seven seasons, after his previous Seahawks deals included five years of control (the extension seasons tacked onto a contract year). Wilson’s $49MM-per-year AAV sits second among NFLers presently, but the contract’s length could age well. Wilson is essentially locked in with the Broncos through 2025, with the deal’s final three years being nonguaranteed.
Of course, any talk of this contract aging well will need to included improved play. Wilson is well off his Seattle pace, sitting 24th in QBR and having completed just 59.4% of his passes through five games. Shoulder and lat trouble has affected the likely Hall of Fame quarterback over his past two games, mainly the ugly outing against the Colts, but he is not expected to miss any time because of this issue. The Broncos’ 21.4% red zone touchdown rate is well behind every other NFL team, with the 31st-place Seahawks at 38.5%, and Hackett play-calling and game management struggles have persisted — to the point the ex-Packers OC has been regularly mentioned as a one-and-done candidate.
Various NFL staffers are wondering if the Wilson-Hackett partnership is sustainable, per Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus. While an AFC scout informed Kyed he believes the Broncos’ issues stem from Wilson working with new receivers — in a group that lost possession target Tim Patrick before the season — and in a new system. One of this era’s top deep-ball throwers, Wilson has graded 23rd in that area this season, per PFF.
Another personnel exec mentioned, via Kyed, chemistry issues may doom this Broncos season. Already playing without Patrick and Javonte Williams, Wilson will now be tasked with playing with a backup left tackle. Garett Bolles will not return from his lower-leg fracture this season. The team’s various hiccups have been on display due to the NFL slotting Denver into three primetime games already; the fourth — Monday night against the Chargers — figures to be another referendum on the Broncos’ trade. Considering the Wilson-Hackett acclimation issues and the Broncos’ run of injuries, the team’s top Wilson-years form might not end up emerging in 2022.
We learned earlier this week that Russell Wilson was dealing with a shoulder injury, but it doesn’t sound like the issue will force him to miss any time. The Broncos quarterback told reporters that he’s “physically ready” for Monday’s game against the Chargers, per ESPN’s Jeff Legwold.
[RELATED: Russell Wilson Dealing With Shoulder Injury]
Wilson is specifically dealing with an injury to his latissimus dorsi, and he suffered the injury earlier this month against the Raiders. He was listed as a limited participant on Thursday’s injury report, but he was spotted alongside the other starters when reporters were in the building.
“Shoulder’s feeling better, getting better every day,” Wilson said today (via Legwold). ” … I haven’t had this particular thing before, but I’ll be OK. I’ll be ready.”
Wilson has already played through the injury, so unless he somehow makes it worse, it sounds like he’ll continue to be under center for Denver. Wilson hasn’t had the best start to his Broncos tenure; he’s completing a career-low 59.4 percent of his passes for 1,254 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. He’s also continued to see less work on the ground, as his 14.6 rushing yards per game are the second-lowest of his career. The Broncos, meanwhile, rank 30th in the NFL in scoring, and their red zone offense is last in the league.
The QB has naturally started to face some criticism for his disappointing performance, especially after Denver invested $243MM in him via an extension. However, Wilson is confident he’ll turn his season around.
“Lot of season left,” Wilson said. ” … I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. … I don’t think you get motivated by [criticism]. … I can handle it, I’m built for it. I’m built for the good times and the tough times. … It’s never supposed to be easy.”
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Andre Baccellia, WR Laquon Treadwell
- Placed on IR: RB Jonathan Ward
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Daryl Worley
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Khalid Kareem
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Miller Forristall
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LS Joe Fortunato, LB Jonathan Kongbo
Detroit lions
- Signed: WR Maurice Alexander
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Rashod Berry, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Calvin Munson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Jake Funk
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Duke Dawson
- Released: RB Jason Huntley
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Marlon Mack, K Samuel Sloman
- Released: QB Kurt Benkert
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Xavier Crawford
- Released: DE Jabari Zuniga
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Ulysees Gilbert, CB Quandre Mosely
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Ty’Son Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Ra’Shaun Henry
- Released: CB Ka’dar Hollman
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DB Ja’Marcus Ingram, WR KeeSean Johnson
- Released: WR Jaquarii Roberson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: TE Seth Green
- Released: LS Tucker Addington
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LS Mitchell Fraboni
- Released: WR Darrius Shepherd, WR Vyncint Smith
Detroit Lions
- Signed: K Sam Ficken
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Micah Dew-Treadway, OT K.C. McDermott
- Released: TE Nick Eubanks
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Ty Nsekhe
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: DL Israel Antwine
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Tyler Hall, WR Tyron Johnson
- Released: DB Darren Evans
New England Patriots
- Released: OL Sebastian Gutierrez
New York Jets
- Signed: WR/KR Diontae Spencer
- Released: OL Grant Hermanns
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB David Anenih
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DT T.Y. McGill, K Sam Sloman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Ulysees Gilbert
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: CB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Brandin Bryant
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR: LB Julian Stanford
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: LB Matt Adams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DE Khalid Kareem
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: CB Thomas Graham
Denver Broncos
- Waived: OLB Jonathan Kongbo
Houston Texans
- Released from IR: DB Kendall Sheffield
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: G John Miller
- Placed on IR: OL Ben Bartch, LB K’Lavon Chaisson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: WR Albert Wilson
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: RB Jake Funk
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed of Titans practice squad: DB Theo Jackson
- Placed on IR: RB Ty Chandler
New England Patriots
- Waived: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: DT D.J. Davidson
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: RB Marlon Mack
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: CB Xavier Crawford
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: LB Genard Avery
- Released from IR: RB Kenjon Barner
Dealing with some backfield injury trouble, the Cardinals auditioned a few veterans and tried to make a waiver claim. The team’s early-week process will end with Corey Clement‘s arrival.
Clement will join Arizona’s practice squad, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The former Eagle was part of a running back workout that also included Devontae Booker, Ty’Son Williams, Trey Edmunds and T.J. Pledger, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. The Cardinals also, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter), tried to claim Tony Jones Jr. off waivers from the Saints, joining the Broncos in that regard. The Seahawks’ waiver priority landed them Jones on Monday.
While Clement will have a tough time producing a more memorable NFL performance than his Super Bowl LII outing — his role as the Philly Special point man preceding a long touchdown reception in the Eagles’ upset victory — he has been in the league for five seasons now. Clement went to training camp with the Ravens this year but did not last with the team beyond mid-August, but he also auditioned for the Jaguars between that transaction and Tuesday’s.
Clement, 27, spent four season with the Eagles but played as a Cowboys backup in 18 games last season. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry (33 totes, 140 yards) with Dallas and played 61% of the NFC East champions’ special teams snaps. The former UDFA held a special teams role throughout his Philly tenure as well. He also surpassed 400 scrimmage yards during the 2017 and ’18 seasons, totaling eight touchdowns in that span. The Eagles’ ensuing Miles Sanders addition ended up bumping Clement down the depth chart.
James Conner, Darrel Williams and Jonathan Ward all left Week 5’s Cardinals-Eagles tilt with injuries, leaving Eno Benjamin as the last man standing. The Cards entered Tuesday without a running back on their 16-man practice squad.
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Maxx Williams
- Released: WR C.J. Board
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Kobe Smith
- Released: DT Christopher Hinton
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Jared Mayden
- Released: CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
Cleveland Browns
- Released: QB Josh Rosen
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Harvey Langi
- Released: TE Dominique Dafney
Houston Texans
- Signed: KC McDermott
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Tino Ellis, DT Jaylen Twyman
- Released: CB Chris Steele, DT Markaviest Bryant
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Robert Foster
Rosen’s short stint with the sixth NFL franchise of his career has come to an end, for now. Rosen joined the Browns in the offseason and battled with Joshua Dobbs and Kellen Mond for backup positions behind temporary starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett while Deshaun Watson fulfills his 11-game suspension. Rosen lost out to Dobbs and Mond, eventually signing on to Cleveland’s practice squad, where he’s stayed until now. Rosen will likely continue to search for a team that he fits with, since he does not have to clear waivers as a vested veteran. It may behoove him to contact two teams he has a history with as both San Francisco and Miami have suffered injuries in their quarterback rooms.
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: TE Miller Forristall
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: WR Kendall Hinton
- Placed on IR: T Garett Bolles (story), CB Ronald Darby (story), LS Jacob Bobenmoyer (story)
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Maurice Alexander
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Elijah Lee, K Matthew Wright
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Curtis Bolton, CB Javelin Guidry
Miami Dolphins
- Released from IR: LB Calvin Munson
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed off waivers (from Saints): RB Tony Jones Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: LB Kenny Young
Young continues to struggle to find a long-term home in the NFL. After Baltimore drafted him and traded him in his second year to the Rams, it took Young over a full season with the team to earn a starting role. When he was finally starting on a consistent basis, Los Angeles traded him once again to Denver where he started six straight games before being inactive for the remainder of the year. Young signed in the offseason with the Raiders but was released ahead of roster cut deadlines. He signed to the Buccaneers practice squad days before the season started and was active for the last four weeks, only playing on special teams. He’ll likely land on another practice squad somewhere in the league, perhaps with one of his former teams as both Baltimore and Los Angeles have experienced some injuries to their linebacker depth.