Commanders WR Noah Brown Likely Out For Season
Despite being added days before the regular season, Noah Brown has settled into the Commanders’ No. 2 wide receiver role. The contending team will need to find other solutions moving forward, however.
Brown sustained what Dan Quinn called an internal “serious injury,” according to NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay. While Quinn stopped short of confirming Brown will miss the season’s remainder, the first-year Commanders HC said (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala). Brown has led the pack of Terry McLaurin sidekicks this season, being one of a few former Quinn charges to play a key role for a resurgent Washington team.
The Commanders have given Brown a 63% snap share on offense this season. Among the non-McLaurin Washington wideouts, Brown leads the way with 453 receiving yards. His most memorable contribution came when he snagged a game-winning Hail Mary from Jayden Daniels to down the Bears in October. Brown has scored a touchdown as well, helping a Commanders team that again entered training camp with significant questions about who would complement McLaurin.
It is not yet known what specific issue Brown is battling, but he was listed as having picked up a rib injury during the Commanders-Titans game in Week 13. Quinn calling this an internal injury points to something more serious, but the veteran coach praised the team’s medical staff for doing well to address this matter at the time. The bye week was not enough to minimize this matter, and it looks like Washington is going to need others to help fill the void. The team is close to having veteran slot Jamison Crowder back, at least; the second-stint Washington wideout has missed most of this season with a calf injury.
After a season with the Texans, Brown re-signed with the team on a one-year, $4MM deal. The 28-year-old pass catcher had totaled a career-high 567 yards last season. Then possessing a crowded WR depth chart, Houston moved on, leading Brown to Washington on a $1.21MM accord.
Brown had overlapped with Quinn with the Cowboys from 2021-22 and joined former teammates Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in signing with the Commanders. Washington has not seen another of its wideouts surpass 275 receiving yards this season. Third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey and veterans Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus represent the non-Brown options to supplement the team’s McLaurin-driven receiving corps.
Coaching Notes: Robinson, Bears, Jets, Rams
Zac Robinson is in his first season as an NFL offensive coordinator, quickly moving to the Falcons once Raheem Morris landed the team’s HC job. Other clubs showed interest in Robinson for OC posts as well. Before Robinson entered the coaching ranks, however, he played quarterback at Oklahoma State. Robinson started three seasons with the Cowboys, playing under longtime coach Mike Gundy. Had the latter not agreed to a recent contract restructure, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes Robinson was the school’s top replacement choice. Robinson, 41, started for the Big 12 program from 2007-09. Gundy, himself a former Oklahoma State QB, has been in charge in Stillwater since 2005. Robinson could land interviews on next year’s NFL HC carousel, and no other rumors have connected the first-year OC to the college game.
Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:
- The Bears have been connected to at least one college coach (Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman) about their now-vacant HC post, and others could be on the radar. An anonymous GM told the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora he expects the Bears to interview multiple college coaches during their upcoming search. Serving as team president since early 2023, Kevin Warren has a background in the college game stemming from his time as Big Ten commissioner. Although GM Ryan Poles is running Chicago’s search, Warren will have a major role to play in whom the team hires to replace Matt Eberflus.
- Woody Johnson is again staffing out his HC search, bringing in ex-Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman to tab the team’s next coach and GM. The latter shed some light into the process recently, indicating during the NFL on CBS podcast (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) he has already interviewed “a lot of the guys” who will be on his Jets recommendation list. Spielman having worked as an advisor during the Commanders’ recent searches points to familiar names being part of this upcoming Jets research effort. It will still be Johnson making the final call, but this is not the first time he has farmed out his hiring process. He did so in 2015 as well, using former GMs Charley Casserley and Ron Wolf ahead of the Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles hires.
- Todd Grantham has been back in the NFL for the past two seasons, serving as a Saints assistant. While Robinson is not heading to Stillwater, Grantham will indeed be going to reprise his role as a college defensive coordinator. Oklahoma State is hiring Grantham as its DC, NewOrleans.football’s Mike Triplett notes. A former Browns DC under Romeo Crennel in the 2000s, Grantham had been the Saints’ D-line coach for the past two seasons. New Orleans firing Dennis Allen will lead to a staff overhaul, and Grantham — formerly the DC at Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and Florida — will jump ship early.
- Rams assistant special teams coach Scott Frost is returning to Central Florida. The former Knights HC will take on that job once again, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reports. Frost coached the Knights from 2016-17, using the mid-major program as a springboard to Nebraska. Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers predecessor had caught on with the Rams this year.
- Former Jets tight end Anthony Becht coached the United Football League’s St. Louis BattleHawks last season and recently interviewed for the West Virginia HC job. Becht has also drawn interest from the NFL, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The two-year St. Louis HC, the first season coming in XFL 3.0 in 2023, has never coached in the NFL and would presumably not be too close to the HC radar were he to explore a job in the league soon.
Colts Designate C Ryan Kelly For Return
As expected, Ryan Kelly is on his way back. The Colts will have their center at practice Wednesday, with Shane Steichen announcing the Pro Bowl blocker will receive a return designation from IR.
Kelly has missed the required four games, due to a knee injury, but has been viewed as likely to be back when first eligible. That comes in a pivotal game against the Broncos, who hold the final AFC wild-card spot the Colts are chasing. The Colts are also designating linebacker Jaylon Carlies for return from IR. Indianapolis has four injury activations remaining.
Kelly is the only homegrown Colts player remaining who predates GM Chris Ballard‘s 2017 arrival. Indianapolis chose Kelly in the 2016 first round and has used him as its starting center since. Although Ballard has relentlessly used a draft-and-extend blueprint as Indy’s GM, Kelly may not be in line for a third Colts contract. He signed an extension back in 2020 and has expressed interest in another deal, but the Colts have not entered negotiations. This leaves Kelly’s post-2024 future as rather murky, highlighting the importance on this season’s stretch run for the ninth-year center’s value.
It is possible the Colts circle back to Kelly before free agency or during the legal tampering period. They proceeded this way with Kenny Moore and Grover Stewart this year, re-signing both after each hit the market. But Kelly is also closing out an age-32 season, offering a complication. He may well have a chance to test the market for the first since, seeing as his 2020 Indianapolis re-up came months before he was to hit free agency.
Kelly sits in the top 10 all time among O-line longevity as a Colt. His 118 starts rank 10th. The top two longest-running O-linemen for the Colts played center (Ray Donaldson, Jeff Saturday), so Kelly appears — especially given his contract situation — set to fall short of their respective durations. But he can certainly help the 2024 team attempt to stay in the playoff race. The Colts are 6-7; a loss to the 8-5 Broncos would all but bury them in the wild-card race. Indianapolis sits two games behind Houston for the AFC South lead as well.
ESPN’s run block win rate slots Kelly seventh among all interior O-linemen this season, and he sits 14th in that group in pass block win rate. The Colts had used rookie/potential successor Tanor Bortolini as Kelly’s replacement, but he missed Week 13 with a concussion. The team is also likely to need another fill-in start at right tackle. Steichen said (via ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder) Braden Smith is still dealing with a personal matter and is not expected to play in Week 15. Rookie Matt Goncalves started at RT two weeks ago and would appear set to stay in that role for the time being.
Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, Jozy Altidore Among New Bills Minority Owners
DECEMBER 11: The Bills will take advantage of the new NFL rules regarding private equity, as these batch of investments received approval Wednesday morning at the latest owners meetings. Carter, McGrady and Altidore are among the 10 new partners acquiring minority stakes in the AFC East franchise. Bank of America’s Mike Joo and Meritech Capital’s Rob Ward round out the group, which also includes a private investment firm (Arctos).
NOVEMBER 28: Multiple teams around the NFL have either worked out agreements to sell non-controlling shares in their organizations or have at least looked into doing so. The Bills are in position to divest in the near future. 
Deals are in place with a group of new would-be shareholders totaling 10.7% of the Bills, Ben Fisher of the Sports Business Journal reports. That collection of individuals is set to be joined by Arctos Partners, which will take on a 10% stake. The agreements could receive ratification as early as next month’s league meeting.
As Fisher notes, the group which is on track to acquire minority stakes includes Rob Palumbo (5.6% share), Theresia Gouw (2%), Sue McCollum (1.7%), and Tom Burger (1.4%). All have a business background from various sectors, and Burger’s group of investors includes NBA Hall of Famers Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady along with former Toronto FC player Jozy Altidore. Approval from at least 24 of the league’s 32 owners will be required for their respective purchases to go through.
“Earlier this year, the Pegula family retained Allen & Company to explore the potential sale of a non-controlling, minority interest in the Bills,” a team statement reads. “Since then, there has been a significant amount of interest, and our focus has been on finding the right partners for our organization. The process is ongoing, and any potential investor cannot be confirmed or finalized until it is approved by the NFL.”
Per Fisher’s report, financial terms – which will be tied to the Bills’ valuation – are not known. Provided the sales go through in the near future, majority owner Terry Pegula will be left with a stake of roughly 79% of the franchise he purchased in 2014. The 73-year-old will maintain control over the organization moving forward, but he could soon have a number of new partners.
Michigan CB Will Johnson, DT Mason Graham Declare For Draft
Next year’s NFL draft is expected to see two Jim Harbaugh recruits land in the top 10. Both defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson have resided high in mocks for a while now, and both have now dispensed with any drama regarding their 2025 statuses
Graham is entering the draft, per ESPN.com, having hired Drew Rosenhaus as an agent. Not long after the D-tackle’s declaration, ESPN’s Jordan Reid notes Johnson will follow suit. Graham’s representation expects him to land in the top five of next year’s draft, while Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest ESPN.com big board places the Michigan standouts at second (Johnson) and fifth (Graham) overall.
A four-star recruit in 2022, Graham did not redshirt and played three seasons for the Wolverines, who benefited from the ascending prospect’s work during their 2023 national championship run. Graham, 21, combined to total 6.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. Graham collected first-team All-Big Ten honors last season.
Also a four-star prospect back in 2022, Johnson notched a Michigan-record three pick-sixes during his time in Ann Arbor. He intercepted nine passes in his three seasons with the Big Ten program, notching two of his three pick-sixes this season despite only playing in six games.
Johnson earned first-team All-Big Ten acclaim as a sophomore in 2023 and second-team all-conference honors in 2022. He then earned a defensive MVP nod in last season’s CFP championship game. A foot issue sidelined Johnson this season, and it would surprise if the 6-foot-2 corner played in the school’s upcoming bowl game.
Harbaugh successor Sherrone Moore said he expects some of his players to pass on that non-playoff outing to prepare for the draft. Seeing as these two are Michigan’s top prospects, it should be expected neither suit up again for the university following the declarations. Johnson and Graham going in the top five would follow Aidan Hutchinson as the second of Harbaugh’s Wolverines recruits to be drafted that high.
Bill Belichick Weighing North Carolina Offer
Bill Belichick‘s avenue back to the NFL may close soon. Although it is still believed the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach’s preference is a return to the league, he looks to have a path available that take him away from that pursuit.
The North Carolina talks have reached a place where it is believed an offer is out to Belichick, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Ralph Russo and Brendan Marks report. This is not a done deal, but the sides are negotiating. That said, The Athletic reports the parties are apart on multiple key terms. Belichick interviewed twice with Tar Heels representatives recently; the school is looking to replace Mack Brown, who served as the program’s HC on two occasions.
The ACC school hopes to have Belichick onboard soon, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who notes the ball should be considered in the coach’s court. This would be Belichick’s first college coaching position. While his father spent decades as a college coach — including a three-year span with the Tar Heels in the mid-1950s — this would be a radical move considering the timing and his stature within the NFL.
Belichick, 72, moving to college now would effectively close the book on his long-held push to break Don Shula‘s career wins record. At 333, Belichick is 14 victories away. The longtime Patriots leader, though, was surprised by the lack of interest that came after his New England ouster this year. The Falcons interviewed him twice, while the Commanders spoke with him in a non-official interview. The other HC-seeking teams steered clear, potentially providing a preview of what could happen in 2025. Rather than risk being shut out again at an advanced age, Belichick has secured a chance to coach again — albeit in college at a rather interesting time for that level.
The transfer portal, conference shifts and an evolving compensation setup have injected chaos into the college game, and Jones adds some believe NIL is a factor in the Belichick talks. Salary is an issue as well. The Tar Heels had Brown on a salary outside the top 40 among Division I-FBS coaches. Brown had been tied to a deal paying roughly $5MM per year. Belichick was believed to be making more than $20MM on average with the Patriots.
Connections to the Cowboys, Giants and Jaguars have surfaced over the past few months, but none of those jobs are available. These North Carolina talks could certainly double as an effort to command attention from those teams, though the negotiations being this far down the road may pass the point of a leverage play. Considering Belichick’s age, however, a North Carolina deal now would probably prevent him from becoming an NFL HC again. No team has hired a head coach beyond age 66; Belichick will turn 73 in April.
This year brought major changes to Belichick, who had been an NFL HC or assistant in every previous season since 1975. He has since held various media roles, including regular spots on ESPN’s Manningcast and the CW’s Inside the NFL. In addition to indicating during a Pat McAfee Show appearance he would use the Tar Heel program as a way to prepare qualified players for their NFL futures, Belichick said he is also open to remaining a media presence. Though, that may not even be Plan B for the legendary leader at this point.
“I’m open to a number of thoughts,” Belichick said (h/t the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) Sirius XM’s Let’s Go. “I’ve had an interesting year this year working in somewhat of an analytical and media role. Football at either the college or the professional level does interest me and I would explore those opportunities as well and ultimately see what everybody has to offer and what would be the best fit for me and potentially another organization. Or it could be in the media.”
Although it is widely believed higher-ups in the Falcons organization moved Arthur Blank off his initial goal of hiring Belichick this year, the team also passed on a short-term Belichick partnership in hopes Raheem Morris would be around longer. While Belichick is not believed to be seeking the kind of autonomy he had in New England, the age hurdle will come up for however much longer he attempts tot land another NFL gig. Both the 49ers and Rams pursued him for DC roles, but Belichick instead chose the media path while determining his next move.
A North Carolina landing would provide Patriots-like autonomy, albeit on a competitive tier with many moving parts and one without a level playing field. We will soon find out if arguably the greatest coach in NFL history will, largely due to a lack of interest around the league, make one of the most surprising moves in coaching history.
Joe Burrow To Lobby Bengals To Re-Sign Tee Higgins
With Ja’Marr Chase‘s run of monster games bolstering his case to surpass Justin Jefferson as the NFL’s highest-paid receiver, the prospect the Bengals separate their long-running wide receiver tandem increases. Higgins has long been expected to leave Cincinnati in 2025, be it in free agency or potentially via a tag-and-trade transaction.
The Bengals have Joe Burrow signed to the second-most lucrative quarterback deal, and Chase is playing his way toward a contract that will likely eclipse Jefferson’s $35MM-per-year pact. The Bengals have not seriously negotiated with Higgins since the first half of 2023, and in becoming the only team to tag a player this year and not extend him, the team cannot reenter talks with its No. 2 wideout until season’s end.
Signs point Higgins out of town, but Burrow said he will make a strong effort to see that his most experienced receiver stays. This could set up an interesting showdown, as the star quarterback obviously could wield significant influence in this matter and others involving personnel if he so chose.
“Those discussions are ongoing,” Burrow said (via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby) of a post-2024 future with Higgins. “I’m confident that I think we’re going to do what it takes to bring Tee back. I know that I’m going to do what it takes to get him back and so is he. We’ve had those talks. Those are going to be offseason discussions. But I think we’re excited about that opportunity.”
NFL rules prohibit Bengals brass from negotiating with Higgins, but Burrow can certainly lobby his five-year teammate to stay. That will be difficult to pull off, however. The Bengals’ Chase-over-Higgins preference in terms of extension priority has long been known, with the former’s All-Pro-level season only reinforcing that stance. Higgins, 25, also will not be likely to accept a hometown discount. The Bengals kept him out of free agency this year via the franchise tag, and if the team passes on a 2025 tag (as the early rumors indicated it would), the bet will be Higgins defects not long after the legal tampering period begins.
Higgins did say he will factor in his relationship with Burrow and the Bengals, but the team made him a lowball offer in 2023 — a deal not believed to be close to $20MM on average. It will take more than $20MM per year for a team to land the former second-round pick in free agency.
“Like y’all said, this could be my last season [with the Bengals], so I definitely appreciated it, for sure,” Higgins said of playing another nationally televised game with Burrow and Co. “I love those guys to death. … The relationships are more important. Financially, that’s going to come.”
Higgins’ 58.9 yards-per-game number is in line with what he averaged during his most recent 1,000-yard season (2022), when he posted 59.6 per contest. But injury trouble took him off the field for five games, keeping his yardage total at 581 through 13 games. Higgins will also follow Packers wideout Christian Watson‘s lead in going through a study to determine the cause of his recent soft-tissue injury trouble, Baby adds. Higgins trudged through hamstring issues as a rookie and then missed time in 2023 and ’24. Higgins suffered hamstring and quadriceps injuries during separate practices this season, sidelining him for five games in total.
A strong finish will drive up the Clemson alum’s market. Higgins stands to be the top WR free agent prize, should the Bengals pass on a second tag that would come in at $26.2MM. His current $21.8MM number proved more palatable for the Bengals due to Burrow’s extension not yet producing big cap numbers. In 2025, however, Burrow’s cap hit will swell to $46.3MM.
The Bengals are not a restructure-happy team, but Burrow pushing them could at least keep the door open to a restructure — pushing more money into future years — to create more cap space for a second Higgins tag. That might not go over too well with Higgins, who would then see the team take two free agency years away, but it would be a way for Cincinnati to retain its WR2 for a bit longer.
It will be interesting to see what kind of role Burrow plays, and how receptive the organization is to its quarterback’s wishes. Defensive changes are likely coming to help maximize Burrow’s skills, after Cincy’s defense restricted this year’s team. How the club navigates the Higgins matter will also be a key issue, as it could impact Burrow’s satisfaction with management.
49ers Not Changing Aim Of Signing Brock Purdy To Long-Term Deal
Evidenced further by the events of this offseason, quarterbacks possess unrivaled leverage. Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love rose to the top of the NFL’s salary hierarchy for a period, joining Joe Burrow on that perch without similar accolades. Dak Prescott then smashed through that ceiling to a watershed contract, using unique leverage against the Cowboys to secure the league’s current highwater deal.
As we discussed at a few points this year, teams are not taking a chance of passing on paying a second-tier (or lower) quarterback a top-market rate. The 49ers have seen Brock Purdy become a revelation since being the last pick in the 2022 draft, with Kyle Shanahan‘s pieces operating at their best with the former Iowa State prospect at the controls. While Purdy has not been confused with a top-tier talent, he has been effective since Jimmy Garoppolo‘s December 2022 foot injury gave him the keys to a high-powered offense.
[RELATED: Assessing Purdy’s Extension Candidacy]
The 49ers are not planning to be the team that passes on a QB payment to seek a lower-cost alternative, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating they are indeed eyeing a long-term Purdy extension. The sides cannot begin true negotiations until January, but it appears another 49ers offseason contract saga — this one perhaps the most complicated — is on tap.
49ers CEO Jed York said early this offseason that the team was preparing for a future with Purdy on a high-end contract. In the months since, the NFL has seen five more QBs surpass $50MM AAV. Prescott soared to $60MM per year, inking that deal hours before the Cowboys’ season opener. Purdy, 24, does not carry the leverage Prescott did — a bargaining position secured due to Dallas’ previous contractual dealings with its QB — but he does play by far the sport’s most important position. That proved a sufficient weapon for Lawrence, Love and Tua Tagovailoa this offseason. Still, some rumblings around the league pointed to forthcoming hesitancy on the 49ers’ part. Thus far, no such trepidation exists.
Even as Purdy is not being mentioned as a Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes peer in terms of abilities, he has done quite well to keep the 49ers’ machine humming. Last year’s QBR leader ranks sixth in that metric this season, doing so despite Brandon Aiyuk going down before midseason and Christian McCaffrey barely factoring into the year. Trent Williams has also missed recent games. While Purdy will check in with worse numbers than his strong 2023 season, he has proven more on the field than Lawrence or Love to enter high-stakes negotiations. Purdy has also been a better run-game threat compared to 2023, totaling 282 rushing yards thus far this year after accumulating 144 in 16 games last season.
The 49ers, however, also could use Shanahan’s QB-friendly system against their current starter once negotiations commence. The prospect of jettisoning Purdy — or even delaying a payment — due to the impact Shanahan and the talent around him have made on the QB’s career could be part of the talks, but it does not sound like the 49ers are seriously considering a pivot from Purdy once he commands a lucrative extension.
The team that entered long-running talks with Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa and Aiyuk over the past three years will now be tasked with hammering out a megadeal for a player it chose with the final pick in the draft. San Francisco’s upcoming negotiation promises to be the most interesting of the bunch.
Jason Pierre-Paul Seeking NFL Return
Veteran edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul is “in great shape and ready to come in and contribute,” according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Pierre has not played in the NFL for almost a year. He played in two games for the Dolphins in 2023 after they signed him from the Saints’ practice squad, where he made one appearance as a game day elevation.
Pierre-Paul played a total of 30 snaps between defense and special teams in 2023, but only recorded two tackles (one for loss) and zero sacks. He also appeared in 26 games for the Buccaneers and the Ravens in 2021 and 2022, but recorded just 5.5 sacks across both years after at least 7.0 in his last six healthy seasons.
Pierre-Paul’s 94.5 career sacks may tempt a playoff contender in need of pass-rushing help, but Pierre-Paul’s age and lack of recent production limits his upside. The former All-Pro will turn 36 on January 1, and few players at any position have been able to maintain their effectiveness at that age, much less as an edge defender where athleticism is paramount.
If Pierre-Paul receives any interest from an NFL team, it will most likely begin with a stint on a practice squad where he can prove himself in practice and earn game day elevations to audition for a playoff roster spot.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/10/24
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: C Keith Ismael
Carolina Panthers
- Released: WR Dax Milne
Chicago Bears
- Released: RB Demetric Felton
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Kaden Davis, WR Jaelen Gill, K Riley Patterson, OT Julian Pearl
- Released: DT Michael Dwumfour
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB K.J Cloyd
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Jeremiah Martin
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Pheldarius Payne
- Placed on injured list: DT Trysten Hill
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: G Jerome Carvin, RB Myles Gaskin
- Released: LS Tucker Addington, P Matt Haack
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: QB Jake Luton, DT Tyler Manoa
- Released: DT Marquan McCall
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- Released: OT Alex Leatherwood
New England Patriots
- Released: LB Keshawn Banks
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Kyle Hergel
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Ross Blacklock, QB Tim Boyle, CB Ekow Boye-Doe, CB Azizi Hearn
- Placed on injured list: C Jimmy Morrissey
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: P Ty Zentner
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Curtis Bolton, T Kellen Diesch, K Brayden Narveson
Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins has made just 64.0% of his field goal attempts this season, which includes two misses from inside 40 yards. Patterson kicked for Cleveland when Hopkins was injured at the end of last season, and his addition to the practice squad indicates that head coach Kevin Stefanski is considering a similar change this year.
The Titans signed Narveson as insurance for starter Nick Folk, who is dealing with an injury, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Narveson began the season as the Packers’ kicker, but after missing five of his 12 field goal attempts, all of which came inside of 50 yards.