Dolphins Place WR Braxton Berrios On IR, Activate CB Cam Smith

October 21st, 2024 at 4:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Braxton Berrios exited the Dolphins’ Week 7 loss with a signficant knee injury, and it will lead to a notable absence. The veteran receiver/returner has been placed on injured reserve, per a team announcement. Confirming a return will not take place this season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Barrios suffered an ACL tear.

Berrios has not made a catch this season, although his absence will thin a receiving corps which has been dealt a number of blows on the injury front already this season. Most notably, Miami’s return game will suffer with him out of the fold. Berrios has averaged 14.7 yards per punt return in 2024, the highest figure of his career.

As a pending free agent, the nature of the 29-year-old’s injury will no doubt affect his market value during the spring. Berrios will sidelined for the rest of the season, leaving Miami in need of a new primary returner option. Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane could handle those duties, but their importance to the team’s offense could lead to another candidate receiving a look.

In a corresponding move, the Dolphins activated cornerback Cam Smith from IR. The second-year cover man was among the many NFL players who were moved to IR during roster cutdowns while being designated for return. As a result, he already accounts for one of Miami’s eight in-season activations. Smith returned to practice when first eligible, and this moves ensures he will not revert to season-ending IR before his 21-day activation window expires.

Smith faced high expectations as a rookie, but the second-rounder did not manage to carve out a role under then-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. He handled a notable special teams workload, something which may remain the case upon return, but it will be interesting to see if Smith can work his way up the depth chart under new DC Anthony Weaver. On the other hand, Miami’s pass defense is the best in the league at 155 yards allowed per game, so any major lineup changes in the secondary would come as a surprise.

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk Suffers ACL Tear

October 21st, 2024 at 4:15pm CST by Ely Allen

OCTOBER 21: Aiyuk is indeed out for the year, as first confirmed by Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Adding further details on the extent of the injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes Aiyuk tore his ACL and MCL; further damage may also be present. Even if not, a lengthy recovery period is now in store.

OCTOBER 20: It took a while for 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk to find his sea legs in the 2024 NFL season, and just as it appears that he found his groove, Aiyuk’s season may be coming to an end. Aiyuk left today’s loss to the Chiefs shortly before the end of the first half and was unable to return. ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry was the first to relay head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s concern that Aiyuk’s injury was a torn ACL.

Aiyuk’s name was a common one in NFL news circles this offseason as he held out for a new contract in San Francisco, at one point even requesting a trade. The 49ers eventually got him signed to an extended contract at the end of August, but missing the ramp up into the regular season seemingly proved significant on the veteran receiver’s production early this year.

In the first four weeks of the season, Aiyuk failed to eclipse five receptions or 48 receiving yards, despite being targeted 10 times in Week 3, and had not caught a touchdown. The 26-year-old had a breakout performance in a Week 5 loss to the Cardinals, catching 8 passes for 147 yards, and though he still didn’t have a touchdown, it appeared that Aiyuk was on his way back to his usual self. Last week saw a bit of regression, but hopes were still high that Aiyuk was on the come up.

Today’s game was looking like another lackluster performance in the making. On six targets, Aiyuk only had two catches for 23 yards. On his second catch of the day, Aiyuk was led over the middle by quarterback Brock Purdy, where defensive back Chamarri Conner met him with a low tackle right at the knees. Aiyuk was carted off the field with what immediately looked like a serious knee injury. Shanahan’s fears echoed what many assumed from watching the play.

Aiyuk’s absence exacerbated an already bad situation in the receiving corps. The 49ers knew heading into today that Jauan Jennings was out with a hip injury and Deebo Samuel exited the game after only a few plays with an illness. Samuel reportedly woke up feeling ill and attempted to play through his sickness but very quickly determined that he would be unable to contribute. This left San Francisco without their top three receiving options for the rest of the day.

Luckily, the team saw the NFL debut of first-round Florida receiver Ricky Pearsall, who was activated off the NFI list on Friday. Purdy was throwing to Pearsall, fourth-round rookie Jacob Cowing, Ronnie Bell, and Chris Conley. The four were targeted for a combined 12 of Purdy’s 31 pass attempts, reeling in a combined six balls for 81 yards. Even with Samuel expected back after recovering from illness, if Aiyuk is out for an extended period, the four who played today are going to need to take some big steps up to support the offense.

For Aiyuk, that holdout seems perfectly justified now. If Aiyuk hadn’t fought for the contract like he had, he would still be on a contract year and headed towards free agency after suffering a serious, potentially season-ending knee injury. Tomorrow’s tests will determine just how long Aiyuk may be out. If it is indeed a torn ACL, his four-year, $120MM contract with $76MM guaranteed may provide a bit of solace in an otherwise devastating situation.

Buccaneers Place CB Jamel Dean, WR Kameron Johnson On IR

October 21st, 2024 at 3:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bucs’ secondary will be shorthanded for tonight’s game and a notable stretch beyond that as well. Cornerback Jamel Dean was placed on injured reserve Monday, per a team announcement.

Dean is dealing with a hamstring injury, and a multi-week absence was recently floated as a possibility. Today’s move ensures he will be sidelined for at least the next four games, something which will be acutely felt at the cornerback spot for Tampa Bay. Dean has remained a full-time starter in 2024, his sixth season with the Buccaneers.

The former third-rounder saw a notable jump in playing time during the 2020 campaign, and since then he has been a staple in the secondary. Especially with Carlton Davis being traded away in the offseason, Dean’s presence has been key this year. He has amassed 43 tackles and four pass deflections while not allowing a touchdown in coverage. With Tampa Bay ranking 29th against the pass this year, losing a first-team corner contributor will hinder the team’s ability to improve over the short term.

2022 fifth-rounder Zyon McCollum has handed starting duties this season, and he will be counted on to remain a central figure on Tampa’s defense moving forward. Tykee Smith has had a strong rookie campaign in the slot, but it will be interesting to see who takes over for Dean on the perimeter. Free agent addition Bryce Hall is uncertain to return this season after he suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle in Week 2; with Dean now out of the picture, the team’s CB depth will be tested.

In addition to Dean, undrafted rookie receiver Kameron Johnson has been moved to IR. The latter has made four appearances this season, seeing rotational usage on offense and special teams. Bringing him back into the fold, just as in Dean’s case, will require using an in-season activation.

On that note, the Bucs activated defensive end Earnest Brown from IR in time for tonight’s contest against the Ravens. Brown had his 21-day practice window opened on October 9, so the team had time to wait with respect to activating him, but he will now be positioned to make his season debut. Tampa Bay has six IR activations remaining.

Seahawks QB Geno Smith Aiming For 20-Year Career

October 21st, 2024 at 1:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

Geno Smith has enjoyed a strong starting tenure in Seattle, and the 34-year-old is under contract through next season. He does not intend to hang up his cleats any time soon, though.

“My goal is to play 20 years,” Smith said during an interview with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “My idol Kobe Bryant [and] another idol of mine, Tom Brady, they both were able to play 20 years. So, you know, that’s something I’m chasing. Honestly, I really feel like I can.”

2024 marks Smith’s 12th season in the NFL, so he has a long way to go to reach his goal. His career began with two underwhelming campaigns as a Jets starter, a span which was followed by several years without handling a full-time starting gig. The former second-rounder made only 15 appearances and five starts from 2015-21, and it appeared at that point he would not manage to land another opportunity to lead an offense.

Following the trade which sent Russell Wilson out of Seattle, though, Smith was positioned to compete for the starting gig with Drew Lock in 2022. The veteran wound up starting every game and helping guide the Seahawks to the playoffs en route to a Pro Bowl nod and Comeback Player of the Year honors. That earned him a new deal, although things did not go as planned last year.

This past offseason, new head coach Mike Macdonald incrementally committed to Smith as Seattle’s starter over trade acquisition Sam Howell. Through the first seven weeks of the 2024 campaign, Seattle sits at 4-3 with Smith leading the NFL in passing yardage (along with attempts and completions). The West Virginia product sought out an extension this summer, but no talks on that front took place. As things stand, he is set to earn $25MM next year, including a guaranteed base salary of $12.7MM. A raise in line with the QB market’s upward trend would not come as a surprise if Smith continued to deliver solid performances this year, while an extension would ensure he remained in the Emerald City moving forward.

“I prepare, I eat the right things and take care of my body so it allows me to you know still be fast at 34,” Smith added. “I guess I’m not supposed to, I don’t know, but you know I think when I’m in my forties I think I’ll still be fast.”

With respect to when his playing career does come to an end, Smith noted he intends to return to his alma mater in a coaching capacity. If all goes according to plan, however, it will be several years until he begins his next football chapter.

Chiefs CB Jaylen Watson Suffers Fractured Ankle; 2024 Return In Question

October 21st, 2024 at 12:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Receiver injuries have been a central storyline for the Chiefs in 2024, but the team’s secondary will also be shorthanded moving forward. Cornerback Jaylen Watson suffered a fractured ankle on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Further testing will take place today to determine to severity of the injury. The outcome of that process, Rapoport adds, will dictate whether or not Watson will be available later in the season. Missing him for the remainder of the campaign would deal a notable blow to Kansas City’s cornerbacks room.

Watson carved out a notable role as a rookie in 2022, making six starts and logging a 56% snap share on defense. His workload took a step back last season, although the former seventh-rounder remained a regular on defense and special teams. L’Jarius Sneed was franchise-tagged this offseason before ultimately being traded to the Titans, a move which came as little surprise given Kansas City’s preference to devote cap resources elsewhere. It also opened up a full-time starting role for Watson this year.

The 26-year-old has played nearly every defensive snap so far in 2024, serving as a key figure on one of the league’s top defenses. Kansas City ranks fifth in points allowed this year and 10th in total defense; the team’s play against the pass in particular has been less impressive than in other areas, though, so thinning out the CB room could present a challenge. Watson has allowed a completion percentage of 51.7% and a passer rating of 73.9 as the nearest defender this year, both the best figures of his career.

The Chiefs still have first-team All-Pro Trent McDuffie in place at the cornerback spot, and he will continue to be leaned on heavily without Watson available for the time being. More clarity will emerge in the latter’s case based on testing, but at a minimum a stint on injured reserve (ensuring a four-game absence) should be expected. Ahead of the 2025 offseason – during which he will first be eligible for an extension – any missed time on Watson’s part will be unwelcomed by team and player, but that situation is now in play.

Browns’ Deshaun Watson To Undergo Achilles Surgery

October 21st, 2024 at 10:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Out for the remainder of the 2024 campaign due to his Achilles tear, Deshaun Watson‘s attention will soon turn to rehab. The Browns’ starting quarterback is set to undergo surgery in the near future.

Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is currently giving thought to the ‘speed bridge’ procedure as an alternative to the traditional Achilles repair. In recent years, the new technique has allowed for players to return to practice along a shorter timeline, as evidenced last season by Aaron Rodgers. The procedure (whichever form it ultimately takes) will begin Watson’s process of returning to full health with an eye on the 2025 campaign.

The 29-year-old’s Cleveland tenure has included a number of sub-par performances, but it has also been defined by missed time. Watson was sidelined for the first 11 games of the 2022 season through suspension, and a shoulder injury limited him to only six contests last year. The surgery which shut him down last season was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who will likely handle Watson’s upcoming Achilles procedure. Either way, his campaign will be brought to an end after less than seven full games played.

When on the field, Watson has not managed to reclaim his previous form. The three-time Pro Bowler faced massive expectations given the package (including three first-round picks) Cleveland paid to acquire him from the Texans along with the fully-guaranteed contract which convinced him to join the Browns. Another two years remain on that $230MM pact, with $92MM still owed. The team’s consecutive offseason restructures has Watson on track for record-breaking cap hits ($72.94MM) in 2025 and ’26, and any kind of extension to flatten those figures would be difficult to justify given his growing list of injuries and subpar play. For that reason, a trade to get out of the contract would of course be unfeasible.

Cleveland is set to receive a small cap credit next year based on the $13.9MM portion of Watson’s 2024 compensation which is insured (h/t CBS Sports’ Joel Corry). Still, that will offer little reprieve in terms of the issue presented by the pact and Watson’s inability to meet expectations so far. While some of the contract is still insured for next year, Corry notes that is not the case for 2026. Team and player thus have plenty of incentive to avoid any further lengthy absences.

While Watson weighs his options, the Browns will move forward with Dorian Thompson-Robinson (provided he does not require a lengthy stint on the sidelines from the finger injury he suffered yesterday) and Jameis Winston under center. The pecking order between the two switched ahead of Week 7, and it will be interesting to see how it shakes out over the remainder of the season.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson Tears Achilles

October 21st, 2024 at 10:30am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 21: An MRI confirmed on Monday Watson has, in fact, torn his Achilles (h/t Rapoport). His season is over, and attention will turn toward his Week 1 availability for the 2025 campaign.

OCTOBER 20, 10:00pm: When speaking about Watson’s injury after Cleveland’s loss, Stefanski confirmed the team’s fear is an Achilles tear. Further testing will be needed for confirmation, but in all likelihood Thompson-Robinson (who himself exited the contest due to a finger injury) or Winston will be leaned on for the remainder of the campaign.

2:20pm: Deshaun Watson remained atop the Browns’ quarterback depth chart to begin Week 7, but he has since exited the team’s ongoing contest. Watson suffered a non-contact injury affecting his right leg (video link), and he was carted off the field shortly thereafter.

Watson has since been diagnosed with an Achilles injury, per a team announcement. A tear has not been confirmed yet, but the possibility of that season-ending ailment is obviously high. Cleveland does indeed fear Watson suffered a tear, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Further testing will be needed to confirm the worst-case scenario, but if that does take place the Browns will be forced to look at other quarterback options. Questions have been raised throughout the year about a change under center with Watson struggling mightily in 2024. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has repeatedly offered endorsements of the blockbuster trade acquisition (and not at the behest of ownership), who remains attached to the five-year, $230MM deal he signed upon arrival. That pact is guaranteed in full, ensuring Watson will remain in place beyond this season.

The former Texans Pro Bowler is owed $92MM over the final two years of his pact, and restructures have left him positioned to carry massive cap hits during that span. Likewise, any decision to cut him would lead to enormous dead money charges, while finding a trade partner would be impossible without sending notable draft capital to an acquiring team. For the time being, attention will turn to his recovery process after a second consecutive season-ending injury.

Watson dealt with a shoulder ailment which limited him to six games last year. Considering he was suspended for the first 11 contests of the 2022 campaign stemming from his sexual misconduct lawsuits, missed time was already a key element of his Browns tenure. Presuming the 29-year-old is indeed facing a torn Achilles, that will be the case to an even greater degree. Given the recovery timeline for such injuries, being healthy in time for the start of the 2025 campaign will likely be a challenge.

In the meantime, newly-promoted backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson will take over. The 2023 fifth-rounder made three starts during his rookie campaign, one during which the Browns cycled through several signal-callers and landed on Joe Flacco as their preferred starter. The veteran did not receive an offer to remain in Cleveland during free agency, however, and he took the Colts’ QB2 gig. Thompson-Robinson saw Tyler Huntley (who was eventually released) and Jameis Winston added to the mix this spring.

Winston has 80 starts to his name, but so far this season he has only attempted a single pass. Thompson-Robinson’s status as backup for today will give him the opportunity to stake a claim to the first-team role for the coming weeks. If he should struggle in that capacity, Winston will be available as an experienced option. Either way, Watson should not be expected to be on the field any time soon.

Raiders To Place QB Aidan O’Connell On IR

October 21st, 2024 at 9:46am CST by Adam La Rose

Aidan O’Connell‘s time as the Raiders’ starting quarterback in 2024 has proven to be short-lived. The broken thumb he suffered on Sunday will lead to an extended absence.

O’Connell is expected to miss four to six weeks, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The second-year passer will seek a second opinion on his diagnosis, he adds. Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report, meanwhile, that O’Connell is headed to injured reserve.

As a result, the 26-year-old will miss at least the next four games. O’Connell began the year as Vegas’ backup, but veteran free agent addition Gardner Minshew did not live up to expectations. That led to the Raiders’ QB competition re-starting midway through the campaign, with O’Connell taking over in Week 6. He was unable to lead the team to a win in that contest, and he suffered the injury early in Vegas’ loss to the Rams yesterday.

The Raiders now sit at 2-5 on the year, adding further uncertainty to the team’s direction under center moving forward. O’Connell remains attached to his rookie contract through 2026, while Minshew was added on a two-year pact in the spring. The latter’s contract includes guarantees for 2025, but it would still come as no surprise if another pursuit of an upgrade at the position were to take place during the coming offseason. Vegas showed interest in a move up the draft order in April, specifically targeting a reunion between Jayden Daniels and head coach Antonio Pierce. That did not come to pass, as expected, creating the need for the Minshew-O’Connell competition during the summer.

Neither passer was particularly impressive before Minshew’s experience gave him a slight advantage. Despite being replaced, the journeyman will now find himself atop the depth chart for the foreseeable future. Minshew, 28, could stake his claim for the 2025 QB1 gig in Vegas with a strong showing over the coming weeks, although expectations have been lowered for a Raiders offense which no longer features All-Pro wideout Davante Adams. At a minimum, Minshew could increase his value in the eyes of potential offseason suitors.

Undrafted rookie Carter Bradley could be promoted from the practice squad in the wake of today’s news to give Vegas two healthy quarterbacks. If not, the team could be in the market for a temporary addition to serve as Minshew’s backup. As O’Connell turns his attention to recovery, his timeline should allow him to return later in the year.

Eagles’ James Bradberry Making Progress In Rehab, Unsure Of Role When Healthy

October 21st, 2024 at 8:56am CST by Adam La Rose

James Bradberry has yet to make his season debut, one which will double as his first action since transitioning from corner to safety. The veteran is moving closer to full health, though.

“I would hope to eventually come back,” Bradberry said (via Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “I don’t really know the timeframe right now. It’s a day-by-day process. But it’s definitely getting better week by week.”

Bradberry was mentioned in trade talk leading up to the roster cutdown deadline, but he survived cuts at the end of August. Not long after, however, he was moved to injured reserve upon suffering a leg injury which did not require surgery. The rehab process was expected to take several weeks, and it remains to be seen when Philadelphia will open his 21-day return window.

Whenever Bradberry is back in the fold, he will join an Eagles secondary which added considerably at the cornerback spot during the draft. The team’s first-round pick, Quinyon Mitchell, has served as a full-time starter on the perimeter opposite Darius Slay. Second-round rookie Cooper DeJean, meanwhile, has ascended to the top spot on the depth chart for slot corners. At safety, the activation of Sydney Brown in time for yesterday’s win gave the Eagles another healthy option on the backend.

When asked about what his on-field role will be once he is activated, Bradberry admitted is unsure at this point. The 31-year-old has started each of his 37 combined regular and postseason games with the Eagles over the past two years, but a reduction in workload is expected by all parties moving forward with the team transitioning to younger defensive backs. Bradberry is under contract through 2025, and he is set to carry a $7.82MM cap hit next year.

With none of his 2025 base salary guaranteed, Bradberry could again find himself as a cut or trade candidate next offseason. His value to Philadelphia will depend on his performance once he is brought onto the active roster, something which could take place soon. Bradberry will account for one of the Eagles’ six remaining in-season activations.

Haason Reddick, Jets Agree To Adjusted Contract; Reddick To Report To Team

October 20th, 2024 at 9:59pm CST by Rory Parks

9:59pm: Cimini clarifies that Reddick is not guaranteed to receoup the money he lost in fines, as initial reports suggested. Instead, the incentives referenced in the prior reports will give Reddick the chance to earn that money back.

7:29am: Haason Reddick‘s holdout is over. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report, Reddick and the Jets have agreed to an adjusted contract, and the two-time Pro Bowler will report to the team tomorrow morning.

The new deal is not an extension; for the time being, Reddick is still out of contract at season’s end. However, according to Schefter, New York has agreed to “waive” over $12MM of fines that Reddick accumulated as a result of the holdout in order to convince the edge defender to report.

Of course, as Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post points out and as we have observed previously, the fines cannot technically be waived, since Reddick is not attached to a rookie contract. As such, it could be that the new agreement simply includes some mechanism — Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com suggests an increase in base pay — to cover the fines. Indeed, we heard just last week that, after the regular season got underway, the Jets had offered Reddick a reworked one-year deal that would have allowed him to recoup all of his fines while giving him the chance to earn more than the $14.25MM he was originally scheduled to make in 2024.

Despite optimism that the previous proposal would be enough to bring Reddick into the fold, the 30-year-old sack artist rejected it and continued his push for a multiyear accord. That decision, along with his decision to stage the holdout in the first place, was against the advice of his former agency, CAA, who dropped Reddick as a client earlier this month. Reddick subsequently hired Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha to help facilitate a resolution.

Although the Rosenhaus/Matha hiring led to renewed hope that player and team could achieve detente, the Jets remained adamant that they would not entertain a multiyear pact, and they also granted Reddick permission to seek a trade. Owner Woody Johnson, though, continued to express his desire to have Reddick play for Gang Green, and Schefter notes that Johnson was “very involved” in bringing this matter to a close. Peter Schrager of FOX Sports elaborates on that point, reporting that Rosenhaus flew in for the Jets’ contest against the Bills last week and had a lengthy conversation with Johnson prior to the game. Those conversations continued with GM Joe Douglas in the following days.

Now that Reddick — who was acquired via trade with Philadelphia this offseason — has finally agreed to join his new teammates, perhaps Douglas & Co. will be more amenable to an extension, with Rosenhaus himself stating this morning that he will continue to work towards that goal. As it stands, Reddick has not received any new money and has simply agreed to play out the remainder of the season for the $9.5MM that he was already due to earn on his Eagles-constructed deal (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). As noted above, Reddick was due to make $14.25MM in 2024, but his holdout has led to lost game checks, and while the Jets are prepared to cover the fines in some way, they are apparently not reimbursing him for the lost salary upfront; as Albert Breer of SI.com reports, Reddick can recover that money (and then some) via sack-based incentives, playing time, honors, and team-based incentives.

The Jets may be 2-4, but they recently acquired WR Davante Adams via trade and clearly believe they can make a postseason run. New York’s defense has generally played up to expectations, as that unit presently ranks second in yards per game and seventh in points per game. The team’s 20 sacks are the third-highest total in the league, and Reddick — who has posted double-digit sacks totals in four consecutive years — can certainly help maintain that production. His presence will help to offset the loss of third-year pro Jermaine Johnson, who sustained a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 2.

According to Cimini, Reddick could suit up for New York’s bout with the Patriots next week, although that will naturally depend on his conditioning. More clarity on that front will emerge when Reddick starts to practice.

As Schefter notes, Reddick is the first player in a decade to hold out beyond Week 1 of the regular season and then receive an adjusted contract.

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