Texans Fire HC/GM Bill O’Brien
Well we certainly didn’t see this one coming. The Texans have fired head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link).
The Texans of course are 0-4, but it’s still a pretty shocking development since there hadn’t been any recent reports that O’Brien’s job was in imminent danger. Schefter noted in a follow-up tweet that a source told him Romeo Crennel is the likely interim head coach. O’Brien clearly wasn’t expecting to get canned, as we heard just yesterday that he was taking over offensive play-calling duties and taking a more active role in the game-planning.
The Texans are a trainwreck at the moment, as not only are they winless but they’re also without their first and second-round picks in next year’s draft due to trades O’Brien made. O’Brien had recently clashed with prominent players at practice and executive Jack Easterby is now in charge of the organization for the time being, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets.
O’Brien now becomes the first head coach fired during the 2020 season, beating out contenders like Adam Gase and Dan Quinn for the honor. GM Brian Gaine was fired back in June of 2019, and O’Brien has been in complete control of the team ever since. He was formally named the general manager back in January.
The former Penn State coach and Patriots offensive coordinator made a slew of controversial moves, most notably trading away superstar DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals this offseason for relatively little in return. The Texans have a franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, but things are pretty bleak outside of him due to the lack of draft capital.
It’s been a rapid collapse for Houston after they advanced to the second round of the playoffs last year and had a huge lead over the Chiefs in the first half. O’Brien became the head coach in 2014 and while he’s earned a lot of the criticism he’s gotten, he did lead the team to the playoffs in four of his six full seasons.
The Texans started with an absolutely brutal schedule of the Chiefs, Ravens, and Steelers in their first three games, and are running out of time to turn things around. Crennel has been with the team in varying capacities since 2014 as well. He’ll take over a team with some real talent, and he has head coaching experience. He coached the Browns from 2005-08, and was more recently the Chiefs’ head coach from 2011-12.
As for their next full time head coach, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is sure to get consideration. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets to keep an eye on current defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, writing that the “team loves him and he’s seen as a serious contender for a HC job this offseason.” Meanwhile Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets that Easterby is on a “very long-term contract,” and notes that he is close with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as well as Pats exec Nick Caserio, who the Texans originally wanted to be their GM last year. Easterby is going to be heavily involved in the ensuing search process alongside owner Cal McNair, according to multiple reports.
McDaniels’ name is brought up annually in head coaching searches, and it sounds like that will be the case once again here. A handful of reporters immediately began speculating on Twitter that there could be interest in Dabo Swinney, Watson’s former coach at Clemson. That was all just spitballing and nothing sourced, but it’s fun to think about nonetheless. Watson isn’t the only connection there, as Albert Breer of SI.com tweets he’s been told Easterby is also “very friendly” with Swinney.
As for O’Brien, it’s anyone’s guess what his next move will be. Today ends a tumultuous era of Texans football, and it’ll be very interesting to see if Watson can lead the team out of the hole they currently find themselves in.
Browns Place Nick Chubb On IR
The Browns placed running back Nick Chubb on injured reserve with with an MCL injury, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced. Fortunately, the injury is not season-ending, so Chubb is expected to return later on this year. Doctors believe Chubb will miss about six weeks, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
Chubb got rolled up on in scary fashion on Sunday when his knee twisted under a Cowboys defender. Fortunately, the injury was nowhere near as bad as it looked. An MRI on Monday morning confirmed that Chubb is only dealing with mild MCL damage and not a torn ACL.
Chubb, 25 in December, has been off to a tremendous start in 2020. Through four games, he’s got 335 rushing yards off of 57 carries, good for 5.9 yards per tote. Since entering the league as a second-rounder in 2018, Chubb has averaged an eye-popping 5.2 yards per attempt. Last year, Chubb came six yards shy of 1,500 en route to his first ever Pro Bowl selection.
Per league rules, Chubb will have to sit out for at least three weeks. At minimum, Chubb will miss upcoming games against the Colts, Steelers, and Bengals. In theory, he’ll be eligible to return on Nov. 1 when the Browns face the Raiders in Cleveland, but it’s likely that he’ll need additional time to recover. In the meantime, Kareem Hunt will assume RB1 duties, with support from D’Ernest Johnson, Dontrell Hilliard, and fullback Andy Janovich.
NFL Postpones Chiefs-Patriots; Game Expected To Be Played Monday Or Tuesday
11:30am: The NFL is moving tomorrow’s Colts-Bears game to 4:25 p.m. ET to fill the previous Patriots-Chiefs spot, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).
11:07am: That didn’t take long. Less than an hour after news broke of Cam Newton testing positive for COVID-19, we’re now learning (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter) that tomorrow’s game between the Patriots and Chiefs has been postponed. Schefter notes that the game is expected to be played Monday or Tuesday.
“The New England-Kansas City game scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday will be rescheduled to Monday or Tuesday after positive COVID-19 tests on both teams,” the league said in a statement.
“In consultations with infectious disease experts, both clubs are working closely with the NFL and the NFLPA to evaluate multiple close contacts, perform additional testing and monitor developments. All decisions will be made with the health and safety of players, team and gameday personnel as our primary consideration.”
As the statement alludes to, Newton wasn’t the only player to test positive. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Chiefs practice squad quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has also tested positive and has been added to the reserve list. Along with practice squad QB Matt Moore, Ta’amu was the de facto third-string quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes and Chad Henne.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is skeptical the game will be played Monday considering the incubation period. Schefter somewhat echoes that sentiment, as a source told him that the game is “more likely” to be played on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, the NFL postponed Sunday’s contest between the Titans and Steelers after several members of the Titans organization tested positive for COVID-19. That number has since ballooned to 16, forcing the NFL to postpone the game indefinitely.
Patriots QB Cam Newton Tests Positive For COVID-19, Out Sunday
UPDATE, 10:50 am: ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots/Chiefs are not expected to play tomorrow at 4:25 pm ET. Rapoport adds that one option is moving the game to Monday night. Schefter tweets that in that scenario, the Patriots would leave for Kansas City tomorrow.
10:11 am: Cam Newton‘s out for Week 4. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots quarterback has tested positive for COVID-19, has been added to the COVID-19/reserve list, and is out Sunday against the Chiefs.
This is an isolated case, and no other Patriots players have tested positive, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter. Schefter adds that the organization has been doing “mass testing and re-testing.” However, Schefter also tweets that the team will no longer be traveling to Kansas City at 1:00 pm today as originally planned; instead, they’re “on standby as they await more test results and guidance from the NFL.”
“Late last night, we received notice that a Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19,” the team said in a statement. “The player immediately entered self-quarantine. Several additional players, coaches and staff who have been in close contact with the player received point of care tests this morning and all were negative for COVID-19.
“We are in close consultation with the NFL, as well as our team of independent doctors and specialists, and will follow their guidance regarding our scheduled trip to Kansas City and game against the Chiefs. The health and safety of our team, as well as our opponent, are of highest priority.”
After inking a one-year deal with New England this past offseason, Newton has led the team to a 2-1 start to the 2020 campaign. The 31-year-old has completed 68.1-percent of his pass attempts for 714 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He’s been an even bigger threat running the ball, compiling 149 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 35 carries.
The Patriots will now enter this weekend’s matchup against the defending Super Bowl champs with either Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer under center. The 24-year-old Stidham was once expected to take over the starting gig following Tom Brady‘s defection, but the signing of Newton naturally changed things. The former fourth-round hasn’t seen the field yet in 2020, and he completed two of four passes for 14 yards and a pick during his three appearances in 2019.
Hoyer has had multiple stints with New England dating back to 2009. The 34-year-old got into four contests last season (one start) with the Colts, connecting on 53.8-percent of his passes for 372 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Ravens, Marlon Humphrey Agree To $98MM+ Deal
The Ravens have agreed to a brand new five-year, $98.75MM extension with star cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). The deal, which includes $66MM in total guaranteed cash, makes him one of the league’s highest paid players at his position. The Ravens have also confirmed the extension via social media.
[RELATED: Ravens CB Tavon Young Done For The Year]
“Marlon is the type of player we want in Baltimore,” Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said. “Besides his obvious talents as a playmaking corner, he’s a passionate competitor who craves winning. We are excited that he’s going to remain with us for seven seasons.”
Humphrey, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2017 draft, was previously cuffed through the 2021 season via the fifth-year options. Per league rules for the fifth-year option on first-round picks, he was in line for the average salary of the league’s No. 3 – No. 25 highest-paid CBs, which came out to just over $10MM. His new pact will give him $19.5MM per annum, and $37MM paid out by March of 2021.
Humphrey, 24 in July, started nearly every game for the Ravens last year en route to his first career Pro Bowl selection and first ever First-Team All-Pro nod. Along the way, he notched three interceptions, recovered three fumbles, returned two of them for touchdowns. In the interest of equal time: the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 37th best cornerback in the NFL; solid standing, though most evaluators and fans would probably rank him higher.
Humphrey is just the latest corner to hit the jackpot this year, following extensions for Jalen Ramsey (five-year, $105MM deal), Byron Jones (five years, $82.5MM), Tre’Davious White (four years, $70MM), and Darius Slay (three years, $50.05MM). After losing slot corner Tavon Young for the season, the Ravens will be banking on Humphrey more than ever in 2020.
Bears Bench Mitchell Trubisky For Nick Foles
The move many predicted would inevitably happen came in Week 3, as the Bears benched Mitchell Trubisky in favor of Nick Foles. Even though the thought coming into the season was that Trubisky would be on a short leash, it was still a bit of a surprise considering Chicago had started 2-0.
Foles promptly led the team on a huge comeback, as the Bears beat the Falcons 30-26 after trailing 26-10 late in the fourth quarter. He finished his 2020 debut 16/29 for 188 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Trubisky was 13/21 for 128 yards and a touchdown and no turnovers, so it’s not like there was any one specific moment that led to his benching.
After Trubisky led his own furious rally in Week 1 against the Lions there was a lot of talk that he had made a fourth-year leap, but obviously head coach Matt Nagy didn’t feel that way internally. Nagy insisted after the game that he just wanted to enjoy the win and didn’t know who his quarterback would be in Week 4, but it would be pretty shocking to see them go back to Trubisky now after making the switch.
It’s not too often you see a 3-0 team with quarterback drama, and it’ll be very interesting to see what happens moving forward. Chicago of course traded for Foles from Jacksonville this offseason, but Trubs won the training camp battle. The Bears declined his fifth-year option back in May, so Trubisky will be a free agent at the end of the year.
If Foles takes the job and runs with it, it’s possible we’ve seen the former second overall pick throw his last pass with Chicago. That being said, it wouldn’t be at all surprising if Foles is banged up or ineffective and Trubisky is back out there within a couple of weeks. Buckle up.
Bears Fear Tarik Cohen Has Torn ACL
Hopefully this week (or any week) aren’t as bad as last week was for injuries around the NFL, but unfortunately we already have our first report of a season-ender to pass along today. The Bears fear running back Tarik Cohen has a torn ACL, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Needless to say, Cohen will be done for the season. It unfortunately dampens the mood a bit around a team that’s otherwise feeling great on the heels of their latest comeback victory. Chicago is now 3-0 on the year, although there’s now officially a quarterback controversy with Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky.
Cohen’s role didn’t look like it was going to be huge this year, but he did have a handful of touches in each of the first two games. He was a big factor in the passing game before going down on Sunday, drawing six targets. Cohen just signed a three-year extension worth $17.25MM in new money exactly a week ago, so obviously his timing couldn’t have been any better.
It’s still a tough blow for the North Carolina AT&T product, but he should be able to make a full recovery in time for the 2021 season since it happened early enough. Cohen’s best season was in 2018, when he rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns and added another 725 and five through the air.
He was also a first-team All-Pro as a return specialist that year. His production dipped last season as his yards per reception went from 10.2 to 5.8, but his absence will still leave a big hole for whoever is under center moving forward.
49ers DE Nick Bosa Has Torn ACL, Done For Season
Sep. 27: In addition to the torn ACL, Bosa sustained further cartilage damage in his left knee, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports. The 49ers are hopeful that the extra damage will not delay Bosa’s return, and the club remains optimistic that he will be back in time for the start of the 2021 campaign. Bosa will undergo surgery this week.
Sep. 21: Nick Bosa is done for the year. The 49ers announced that their star pass rusher has indeed suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, as head coach Kyle Shanahan hinted at the injury following yesterday’s win.
The injury is obviously a massive blow to the 49ers defense, as the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year was establishing himself as one of the top rushers in the game. The former second-overall pick earned a Pro Bowl nod last season after compiling 47 tackles, nine sacks, and a forced fumble. He had another forced fumble during the 49ers’ Week 1 loss to the Cardinals.
If there’s any consolation, Bosa should be good to go for the start of next season. Plus, other than core muscle surgery during his time at Ohio State, Bosa has generally stayed healthy during his playing career.
The 49ers are dealing with injuries throughout their roster. It sounds like defensive tackle Solomon Thomas also suffered a torn ACL, while defensive end Dee Ford is sidelined with a neck injury and cornerback Richard Sherman is sitting on IR with a strained calf. The offense isn’t immune; the team has a depth-chart worth of wideouts sidelined (including Deebo Samuel), tight end George Kittle is dealing with a knee ailment, and running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman will be out this weekend against the Giants. Fortunately, it sounds like quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo‘s high-ankle sprain isn’t too serious.
The team has already added Ziggy Ansah to their squad, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the organization signs some more depth along the defensive line.
Panthers Place Christian McCaffrey On IR
The Panthers have placed Christian McCaffrey on injured reserve, per a club announcement. The running back’s high-ankle sprain will keep him out of action for a minimum of three weeks, per league rules. 
The Panthers will monitor McCaffrey’s recovery, but it’s likely that he’ll need more than the minimum IR stint to get back to 100% health. At the very least, he’ll be out for games against the Chargers, Cardinals, and Falcons. He’ll be eligible to return on Oct. 18 when the Panthers take on the Bears in Carolina, but they won’t be able to bank on his availability.
For now, the Panthers figure to turn things over to Mike Davis, who finished Sunday’s game with eight catches for 74 yards. Before that, McCaffrey was his usual stellar self in the season opener, rushing for 97 yards. And, even in a trying 2019 fo rthe team, McCaffrey still managed 1,387 rushing yards off of 287 carries, giving him an average of 4.8 yards per tote. He also caught 116 passes for 1,005 yards through the air. All combined, he notched 19 touchdowns on the year, paving the way towards his record-breaking four-year, $64MM deal in the offseason.
As of this writing, Trenton Cannon represents the only other RB on the depth chart behind Davis. They also have fullback Alex Armah on hand, but practice squad running back Reggie Bonnafon seems a likely call-up for this week. Beyond that, they may want to explore the free agent market if McCaffrey is out for an extended period.
Giants Sign Devonta Freeman
It’s officially official. On Wednesday morning, the Giants announced the signing of running back Devonta Freeman. To clear a spot for him on the active roster, the Giants have placed wide receiver Sterling Shepard on injured reserve with a turf toe injury.
[RELATED: Giants Place Sterling Shepard On IR]
It’s a one-year deal worth up to $3MM, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network adds that the contract has a base value of $1.07MM (prorated to $944K) and includes $280K in per-game active roster bonuses (Twitter link). Freeman can earn up to $1.15MM in rushing yards/TD incentives, he will earn $250K if he makes the Pro Bowl, and he will pull down another $250K if he gets a First Team All-Pro nod.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus claims that his client “turned down more money from other teams because he likes the opportunity with the Giants best.” That may or may not be typical agent spin. Not long ago, Freeman was one of the NFL’s highest-paid running backs. But, since his fall from the top, he’s had a hard time finding the type of money he’s accustomed to.
The 28-year-old turned down a Seahawks offer believed to be worth a concrete $3MM and rebuffed inquiries from the Eagles earlier this offseason. Freeman’s tepid market coupled with his pickiness led to a divorce between him and his longtime agent, leading him to Rosenhaus.
It’s been a while since the 28-year-old has flashed his Pro Bowl talent. Injuries limited Freeman to only two games in 2018, and he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 14 games last season. That underwhelming performance led to him being ranked 41st among 43 running backs in success rate, per Football Outsiders.
In New York, he’ll look to carve out a role following Saquon Barkley‘s season-ending injury. It’s not a given that he’ll be the Giants’ lead back right off the bat, as Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman are also on the depth chart.