Randall Cobb Has Sprained AC Joint
9:54pm: Cobb should be ready to play be the season opener against the Bears on September 13th, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN. He has a sprain but it is not believed to be a long-term injury, and his status is day-to-day.
It is serious enough that he likely would not be able to play in the team’s last preseason game on Thursday if the starters were scheduled to play in that game.
4:23pm: The Packers and receiver Randall Cobb got some good news today, as an MRI showed that the 25-year-old has a sprained AC joint, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). While the injury is considered minor, it’s still unclear as to whether Cobb will be able to suit up for Week 1.
Green Bay could ill afford another serious injury at wide receiver, as pass-catcher Jordy Nelson is already set to miss the entire 2015 season after tearing his ACL. Cobb is now the club’s unquestioned No. 1 wideout, so losing him for any amount of time would further hamper a Packers team that finished first in offensive DVOA last season. If Cobb isn’t able to go to start the season, fellow receivers Jeff Janis and Ty Montgomery, as well as tight end Richard Rodgers, could be in line for more work.
Following Nelson’s diagnosis, the Packers reportedly checked into free agent receiver Reggie Wayne. Wayne has since signed with the Patriots, but it’s not inconceivable that Green Bay could take a look at other free agents if Cobb’s injury keeps him out for a few weeks. Donnie Avery, Kevin Ogletree, and Wes Welker are among the options still left on the open market.
Injury Updates: 8/30/15
Here are a few updates on some of the league’s more significant injury news:
- Mehta reports (via Twitter) that Williams has a muscle strain behind his knee but that there is no ligament damage. This is not expected to be a long-term injury. Jets fans may now exhale.
Earlier updates:
- We already learned that Packers WR Randall Cobb did not break his collarbone yesterday, and per Michael Cohen of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, head coach Mike McCarthy believes Cobb’s injury is not nearly as severe as Jordy Nelson‘s season-ending ACL tear. “No, I don’t think we’re (there) at all,” McCarthy said. Cobb will get further tests today to determine the extent of his injury.
- X-rays on the knee of Jets rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams came back negative, per Manish Mehta of The New York Daily News (via Twitter). Mehta adds that the team believes Williams sustained a bone bruise, though he will get an MRI today to confirm.
- Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle reports that Texans Pro Bowl offensive tackle Duane Brown, who is dealing with a finger injury, does not intend to have surgery on the finger and is on track for the regular season opener against Kansas City.
- Colts DT Arthur Jones suffered an ankle injury last night, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that X-Rays on the ankle were negative. Jones will undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of the injury.
- Although the Rams expect to have plenty of running back depth at some point this season, their Week 1 backfield could be a bit thin. We already knew that promising rookie Todd Gurley was not expected to play in the opener after he sustained a torn ACL last November, and per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), Tre Mason suffered a strained hamstring last night, calling his Week 1 availability into doubt.
Extra Points: Cobb, Pouncey, Okung
A week after losing Pro Bowl receiver Jordy Nelson to a season-ending ACL injury, the Packers are hoping fellow Pro Bowl wideout Randall Cobb doesn’t join him on the shelf. Cobb suffered a right shoulder injury during the Packers’ game Saturday against Philadelphia. The severity of the ailment is currently unknown, but one injury that has been ruled out is a broken collarbone, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted. A serious injury to Cobb would be a devastating blow to the Packers, given that their receiving corps already lost Nelson. He and Cobb combined for a whopping 189 catches (25 of which were touchdowns) and nearly 3,000 yards last year.
More from around the NFL:
- Dolphins center Mike Pouncey hurt his left knee during Saturday’s game against Atlanta and will have to undergo an MRI on Sunday. Pouncey, who is wearing a brace, vows not to miss any regular-season time, Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports (Twitter link). Head coach Joe Philbin also expressed optimism regarding Pouncey’s injury. “We think he’ll be OK,” he said, per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter).
- Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung will probably use the five-year, $66MM extension Washington signed Trent Williams to earlier today as a benchmark for his next deal, according to CBS Sports’ Joel Corry (via Twitter). Okung, who’s in a contract year, was the sixth overall selection in the 2010 draft, going two picks after Williams. Okung has since made 59 starts and one Pro Bowl, while Williams has made 70 and three, respectively.
- Don’t count on a reunion between the Giants and free agent safety Stevie Brown, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. The Giants are scheduled to work out Brown, but he has interest from “a number of teams,” according to his agent. Brown spent 2012-14 with the Giants before a brief stint in Houston this year.
- The Colts scratched running back Vick Ballard from Saturday’s game in St. Louis. That doesn’t bode well for his chances of making the roster, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Ballard has battled serious injuries over the past couple years and has played in just one game since 2012 as a result.
- Lions running back Joique Bell, who underwent knee surgery in January, is unsure if he’ll play Week 1. “I’m not going to say I’m ready to go out there and take every play and run every down, right now, but you never know how I’ll feel in two weeks,” Bell said, according to Justin Rogers of MLive.com. The fourth-year man is coming off his most productive season (1,182 total yards, eight touchdowns).
- Patriots fullback James Develin suffered a broken tibia in Friday’s loss to Carolina, and ESPN’s Mike Reiss tweeted that the hope is recovery from surgery will take six to eight weeks. However, David Chao – the former team doctor for the Chargers – responded that it could actually take Develin six to eight months to return (Twitter link).
NFC Notes: RGIII, Packers, Saints
The Packers will have some work to do in the next couple of weeks as they look to reduce their current 88-man roster to 53. Even though they need to trim a third of their preseason roster, general manager Ted Thompson told Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com that he’ll still be eyeing the waiver wire prior to the regular season.
“We look, like everybody else,” Thompson said. “We do a lot of that work and we do it every week, so it’s non-stop because games are played on Monday and Thursday and Friday and Saturday, so it’s non-stop. We’re always trying to catch up.”
“It could be guys that you would potential consider trading for or putting in a claim for or that sort of thing. It runs the gamut because you’re kind of guessing what the home team, so to speak, wants to do with a player. The home team might love this player and you know you’re not going to get your hands on him, so you move on. At the same time, you find guys from time to time where the teams aren’t quite as attached to.”
Let’s check out some more notes from the NFC…
- Washington general manager Scot McCloughan is “determined to change [the] team culture,” reports ESPN.com’s Ed Werder (via Twitter). Those changes would include moving on from quarterback Robert Griffin III.
- Kirk Cousins may not only be starting this evening’s preseason game for Washington, as ESPN’s Dianna Marie Russini tweets that the plan is to have the former fourth-rounder start Week 1.
- Evan Woodbury of NOLA.com writes that wideout Willie Snead‘s strong preseason has put the player in a position to make the Saints. “I think he’s done well. He’s very competitive. He’s got some real good football instincts,” said coach Sean Payton. “He’s right there in the thick of it, competing for playing time, competing for a roster spot. He made a couple of plays tonight. He’s doing a good job.”
- Drew Brees‘ role as the Saints number-one quarterback is obviously safe, and rookie Garrett Grayson seems to have a solid hold on the number-three spot. That leaves Luke McCown and Ryan Griffin competing for the backup spot, and Woodbury writes that McCown appears to be leading the competition.
- Former Canisius power forward Chris Manhertz is trying to catch on with the Saints as a tight end, and Brett Martel of the Associated Press writes that the former Bills project is using Jimmy Graham (a former basketball player) as inspiration. “Absolutely,” Manhertz said. “It’s really amazing to see how smoothly (Graham) made the transition and where he’s at now, and playing at a high level.”
Community Tailgate: 8/27/15
We’re still a few weeks away from the start of regular-season battles on the NFL gridiron, but there’s no offseason when it comes to debate amongst fans. This summer, we launched a new series here at PFR known as the Community Tailgate. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
Today, we’re discussing defensive lineman Mike Daniels and his contract demands. The Packers want to lock Daniels up, but with the regular season just two weeks away, the two sides are “far apart” on extension negotiations. Set to earn a base salary of $1.542MM in 2015, Daniels is looking for a salary in the neighborhood of $10MM annually. The Packers, meanwhile, have made multiyear proposals averaging “several million less” per year.
At first glance, $10MM per season seems pretty steep for the former fourth round pick, who only has one season as a starter under his belt. However, Daniels’ camp seems to be inspired by recent deals for Corey Liuget and Cameron Heyward, who each cracked an AAV of $10MM on their recent pacts. On the other hand, the Packers have talked players like Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga into signing below-market deals to help keep their core in tact, and they could be putting pressure on Daniels to do the same.
Do you think Daniels deserves a deal in the vicinity of $10MM per year? What kind of contract do you think he’ll get? Let us know in the comments!
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/15
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves..
- The Buccaneers announced (via Twitter) that they have waived kicker Brandon Bogotay, waived/injured linebacker Orie Lemon, and signed long snapper Brandon Hartson. The Bucs added a notable kicker in Connor Barth on Wednesday night.
- The Patriots announced that they have released defensive lineman Antonio Johnson, tackle Mark Asper, and linebacker Cameron Gordon, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Patriots also waived/injured defensive end/tight end Jake Bequette, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Bequette was a third-round selection back in 2012.
- The Eagles waived/injured linebacker Emmanuel Acho with a thumb injury that required surgery, according to a league source who spoke with Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Acho, 24, has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Eagles. He started two games in 2014 and played 23 percent of the defensive snaps.
- The Packers signed former Lafayette wide receiver James Butler after a tryout, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Press Gazette tweets.
Letroy Guion Suspended Three Games
AUGUST 27: Guion has lost his appeal, meaning his suspension will remain at three games, the NFL announced today (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports).
JULY 23: The NFL has suspended Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion for the first three games of the regular season as a result of his offseason arrest, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. According to Demovsky, Guion is planning to appeal the penalty, with his agent and lawyers preparing his case after they were notified of the suspension earlier this week.
Guion, who turned 28 last month, was arrested in February when police found 357 grams of marijuana and an unloaded gun in his truck. The case was settled in March when Guion accepted a plea deal, at which point the Packers re-signed the veteran defensive lineman to a one-year, $2.75MM contract.
Green Bay had been bracing for a possible suspension for Guion, though the club hoped it would just be for a game or two, notes Demovsky. Assuming the league’s decision stands, the Packers will be without multiple defenders to start the season, since Datone Jones was also suspended for the first game of the regular season due to a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
In his first season with the Packers in 2014, Guion started all 16 regular season contests as the team’s nose tackle, establishing new career highs in tackles (41) and sacks (3.5).
Mike Daniels, Packers Far Apart On Contract
With defensive lineman Mike Daniels heading into a contract year, the Packers identified the fourth-year defender as a player they wanted to lock up to a new deal this offseason. However, with the regular season just two weeks away, Daniels and the Packers are “far apart” on extension negotiations, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Daniels, 26, became a starter on Green Bay’s defensive line last season for the first time, and responded with an excellent year, compiling 47 tackles and 5.5 sacks. According to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required), Daniels was the league’s eighth-best 3-4 defensive end, recording a grade of +18.8, which placed him right between Jurrell Casey and Haloti Ngata.
Set to earn a base salary of $1.542MM in 2015, Daniels is seeking a significant raise on any new deal. Per McGinn, the former fourth-round pick is looking for a salary in the neighborhood of $10MM annually, while the Packers have made multiyear proposals averaging “several million less” per year. With the two sides in disagreement over Daniels’ value, negotiations recently broke off, though they could resume at any time, since the Iowa product has indicated he doesn’t mind negotiating into the regular season, writes McGinn.
$10MM per year for an interior defensive lineman with just one season as a starter under his belt may seem excessive, but recent extensions for similar players suggest Daniels could make a case for such a salary. Corey Liuget and Cameron Heyward recently signed five-year extensions with the Chargers and Steelers respectively for annual salaries of $10.25MM+, and Daniels’ reps may point to those players as comparables.
On the other hand, the Packers could point to players like Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga, who have recently signed new below-market contracts to remain in Green Bay, and argue that to keep the team’s core intact, Daniels and other players may have to be willing to accept similar deals. If Daniels doesn’t see it that way, and the Packers are reluctant to increase their offer substantially, the team may have to decide in 2016 whether to franchise the defensive lineman or let him walk — and I expect the franchise tag would be a little too pricey for the team’s liking.
Still, there’s plenty of time before that point to agree to terms on an extension, so we’ll see if the two sides can bridge that gap in the coming weeks.
NFC Notes: JPP, Mathis, Wayne
According to three sources informed of his recovery, Jason Pierre Paul‘s rehab is “progressing very well,” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes. However, it’s not clear if the Giants star will be in uniform Week 1 against the Cowboys. It’s also not clear when the Giants will get a chance to examine JPP’s hand to get a better read on his situation. Here’s more from the NFC..
- Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (on Twitter), that even though Evan Mathis‘ workout went well, there are “a lot of issues” preventing a deal from happening. The biggest roadblock, unsurprisingly, is Mathis’ asking price. Carroll indicated that the Seahawks can’t offer the guard the $5.5MM salary he earned last year with the Eagles. The Seahawks may have to wait and see if Mathis gets that kind of cash elsewhere. If he doesn’t, then he could bounce back to them, Condotta tweets.
- Reggie Wayne considered waiting for the Packers, but the team did not confirm its interest before Wayne decided to sign with the Patriots, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets.
- Washington worked out fullback/tight end Evan Rodriguez today, according to John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The versatile Rodriguez spent time on Tampa’s practice squad last year and made five starts with the Bears in 2012.
AFC East Notes: Wayne, Dolphins, Patriots
Reggie Wayne should provide the Patriots with a new weapon on offense but cornerback Malcolm Butler says he’ll also provide the team with some intangible value, D.J. Bean of WEEI.com writes.
“Just his knowledge of the game: knowing where to be, knowing where to line up, knowing how to release on the cornerbacks,” Butler said when asked what stood out. “Just all of the savvy things that veteran receivers know.”
Wayne’s production was up and down with the Colts ever since the team made the switch from Peyton Manning to Andrew Luck. Now, the Patriots are hoping that he’ll click with Tom Brady. Here’s more from the AFC East..
- Now that the Packers are down a receiver, James Walker of ESPN.com wonders aloud if the Dolphins could use wide receiver Rishard Matthews as trade bait. Miami currently has at least five capable receivers in Jarvis Landry, Greg Jennings, Kenny Stills, first-round pick DeVante Parker, and Matthews, so they can afford to part with one. If the Dolphins can get a third- or fourth-round pick for Matthews, who is a former seventh-round pick in the final year of his contract, that would be a worthy trade, Walker writes.
- Patriots rookie cornerback Darryl Roberts has a significant wrist injury that could threaten his season, according to Adam Caplan and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Pats selected the Marshall product in the seventh round of the 2015 draft.
- Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald took a crack at projecting the Patriots’ 53-man roster. If Roberts’ wrist injury keeps him out for an extended period of time, Guregian writes that veteran Bradley Fletcher could have a greater chance of making the roster.