HEADLINES

Parris Campbell

Eagles Sign WR Parris Campbell

March 21st, 2024 at 10:42am CST by Adam La Rose

Parris Campbell came to the Giants amidst notable expectations last offseason, but his time in New York did not go according to plan. The veteran wideout will remain in the NFC East for 2024, though.

Campbell has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Eagles, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter; the deal is now official, per a team announcement. The 26-year-old endured multiple injuries during much of his four-year tenure with the Colts to begin his career. He remained healthy for the final season of his rookie contract, however, posting career-high totals (632 yards, three touchdowns on 63 catches) along the way.

That production earned him a one-year, $4.7MM deal with the Giants last spring. Campbell was in place to serve as a starter in New York’s receiver room as a result of the pact, but he failed to carve out a notable role. He was a healthy scratch in Week 14, something which was unprecedented in his NFL career. That remained the case for the remainder of the campaign, limiting the former second-rounder to just 104 scoreless yards on 20 receptions.

To no surprise, Campbell will head elsewhere in a bid to rebuild his free agent stock. The Eagles already have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith firmly atop the WR depth chart, but adding secondary options has been a priority this offseason. Especially if Quez Watkins signs with a new team in free agency, Philadelphia will need added depth amongst its pass-catchers. The team signed DeVante Parker last week in a bid to fulfill that goal.

The latter represented a low-cost addition in part due to the offset language present in his Patriots contract. While that is not the case for Campbell (a free agent since the start of the new league year), he too will no doubt be joining the Eagles on an inexpensive investment. The Ohio State alum will spend the offseason looking to compete with Parker and others for a roster spot on Philadelphia’s re-vamped offense.

NFC Notes: Gannon, Allen, Campbell, Saints

December 29th, 2023 at 5:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jonathan Gannon‘s Eagles exit brought a tampering penalty against the Cardinals, who made impermissible contact with their new head coach during the offseason. New Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort reached out to Gannon shortly after the NFC championship game, after the two-year Eagles DC expressed a desire to stay in Philadelphia. Gannon did not tell the Eagles about Ossenfort’s pre-Super Bowl call or his intention to interview with the Cardinals, according to ESPN.com’s Tim McManus. This affected Philly’s timing regarding Vic Fangio, who was perhaps this offseason’s most coveted coordinator.

A consultant with the Eagles last season, Fangio was well-liked and became the team’s choice to succeed Gannon as DC. Fangio all but confirmed the timing involving Gannon led him out of town. Before Super Bowl LVII, the Eagles had expected to retain Gannon, McManus adds. When Ossenfort was in Tennessee, he put Gannon’s name on a short list of possible HCs — in the event he landed a GM job. A Jan. 29 report indicated Fangio would accept the Dolphins’ DC offer; he was officially hired Feb. 2. The Cardinals’ Gannon interview request did not emerge until Feb. 12. By that point, the Eagles were aiming to retain Gannon after Fangio had bolted. With the Eagles having demoted their new DC — Sean Desai — and given Matt Patricia play-calling duties, Gannon’s Philly return this week will be interesting.

Here is the latest from the NFC:

  • Listing Jonathan Allen as a player he expects to be traded during the 2024 offseason, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes the Commanders defensive tackle is not eager to go through another rebuild. Allen made his views on that matter fairly well known recently, after the team traded Montez Sweat and Chase Young. A losing streak commenced soon after, and Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew are expected to be fired. Teams asked about Allen at the deadline, and while the Commanders resisted, new owner Josh Harris‘ involvement in the Sweat and Young deals showed an openness to stockpiling draft capital. Allen’s four-year, $72MM extension runs through 2025. It would cost Washington $18MM in dead money to trade Allen before June 1, so it would stand to take a nice offer to pry the seventh-year veteran from D.C.
  • The Giants have phased Parris Campbell out of their receiver rotation, going as far as to make him a healthy scratch in each of the past three games. Campbell signed a one-year, $4.7MM deal in free agency, with The Athletic’s Dan Duggan noting he is losing out on $100K per-game roster bonuses with these scratches. As the Giants emphasize bigger roles for younger wideouts Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt, Campbell is preparing to leave in free agency come March. “When I came here, did I think things would be different? Of course,” Campbell said, via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. “… During free agency, the market was kind of slow for receivers, but the Giants gave me an opportunity — and that’s all I want. This coming offseason, whoever is interested in me and wants to give me an opportunity, I’ll take it.” After three injury-plagued seasons, Campbell has stayed mostly healthy over his past two. The ex-Colts second-rounder, however, has 20 receptions for just 104 yards this year.
  • It is unlikely Marshon Lattimore and Michael Thomas return this season, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill tweets. Lattimore suffered a significant ankle injury and has missed the past five Saints games. Thomas stayed healthier this year than he has since the 2010s, but the former All-Pro wideout has also missed New Orleans’ past five contests. Thomas, who may well be in his final weeks as a Saint, is down with a knee injury.
  • Six teams put in waiver claims on linebacker Christian Elliss, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. The Patriots won out. Had Elliss not garnered any claims, the Eagles wanted to bring him back on their practice squad. A 2021 Eagles UDFA, Elliss had led the team in special teams snaps at the time of his exit earlier this month.

Giants WR Parris Campbell Addresses Week 14 Benching

December 15th, 2023 at 1:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants extended their winning streak to three games on Monday, but their offense was shorthanded in the pass-catching department. Wideout Parris Campbell was a healthy scratch, a decision which he recently spoke about.

Campbell joined the Giants this offseason by signing a one-year deal with a base value of $4.7MM. Incentives added to his maximum earning potential for the season, one in which expectations were relatively high. The former Colt had managed to put together a healthy campaign in 2022, and New York did not boast a group of highly experienced and productive playmakers at the WR spot.

Things have not gone according to plan for Campbell this season, however. The former second-rounder has seen his playing time drop considerably since Wan’Dale Robinson returned to the lineup in Week 3. Campbell received 16 targets across the first three weeks of the season, but only 11 since then. Despite taking on kick return duties, the Ohio State alum found himself on the wrong side of a numbers game for the Giants’ win on Monday.

“Yeah, I definitely was shocked,” Campbell said of the decision to deactivate him, via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. “Shoot, I was more so just hurt, more than anything… hurt that I know what I put into it each and every week. And to be inactive for the first time in my career was definitely hurtful, was definitely shocking.”

Campbell battled injuries during his Indianapolis tenure, but his 63-623-3 statline last season offered a glimpse of what he is capable of producing when healthy. In his debut campaign with the Giants – who rank last in the NFL with an average of 180 passing yards per game – the 26-year-old has totaled just 104 scoreless yards on 20 receptions. Especially if tight end Darren Waller is able to return to the lineup this week, Campbell could see his 27% offensive snap share continue to fall and his role in the passing game dwindle even further.

The kick return role could await him when he is back in the lineup, however. Campbell has averaged 23.9 yards on eight runbacks this season, and special teams could be his easiest path to playing time for the rest of the season. Any production through the closing weeks of the campaign would also help rebuild some of his free agent value in advance of a likely departure this spring.

Multiple Teams Eyeing WR Trades?

October 23rd, 2023 at 11:26am CST by Adam La Rose

The countdown to the October 31 trade deadline continues, and further moves beyond the relatively minor ones which have already taken place could be coming soon. One position to watch in that regard could be that of wide receiver.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that a number of teams have “monitored” the WR market recently, and he specifically names the Colts, Panthers, Packers and Chiefs as ones to which that applies. The latter squad has, of course, already made a move at the receiver spot by reuniting with Mecole Hardman. The pick-swap with the Jets which made that possible leaves the defending champions with $3.57MM in cap space.

On the other end of the spectrum, the 0-6 Panthers are unlikely to assume a buyer’s stance in a bid to add much before the deadline. However, Carolina has been connected to pursuit of help at the WR spot during the season, so a move in that regard would not come as a complete shock. Perhaps the most likely outcome at the position would involve a deal sending former second-rounder Terrace Marshall out of Charlotte. The latter has been granted permission to seek a trade.

The Colts have made notable investments at the WR spot via the draft in recent years, using a second-round pick on Alec Pierce in 2022 and a third-round selection on Josh Downs this past April. That pair has given the team depth and complimentary options behind leading receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who is in a contract year. Pittman is willing to wait on extension talks until after the season, but he is well aware of the market he could command if he delivers another strong season in his walk year. Sitting at 3-4 and knowing starting quarterback Anthony Richardson will miss the remainder of the season, Indianapolis is in an interesting position with respect to how they approach the rest of the season from a roster-building standpoint.

Embracing a youth movement on offense with Jordan Love under center, the Packers have a highly inexperienced pass-catching corps. Green Bay was initially connected to a desire to add a veteran presence at the WR spot, but later in the offseason head coach Matt Lafleur expressed confidence in his youthful receiving group. That has resulted in plenty of playing time for the likes of Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed, though the Packers have struggled on offense over the past several weeks. The 2-4 outfit has just over $8.6MM in cap space to use on a potential addition.

With respect to potential targets (beyond those already frequently mentioned as trade chips), Fowler names Kendrick Bourne (Patriots) and Parris Campbell (Giants) as veterans who could be on the move. The former fell out of favor with the coaching staff last season, but he has seen a spike in playing time and production so far this year. The latter battled injuries in Indianapolis but flashed potential ahead of his move to New York, which has not yet worked out as planned. Both players are set to hit free agency in March.

Other teams – like the Dolphins with their recent Chase Claypool addition – have already been involved in the receiver market, and clubs/players not named above will no doubt be worth watching as well. For the time being, though, notable specifics have emerged at the position as the deadline draws nearer.

Giants To Sign WR Parris Campbell

March 16th, 2023 at 12:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

Another former Colt is on his way to the Giants during this year’s free agent period. The Giants have agreed to terms on a deal with wideout Parris Campbell, as first reported (on Twitter) by The Score’s Jordan Schultz. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets that it is a one-year contract, while Mike Garafolo of NFL Network adds that it is worth $3MM (Twitter link). The deal has a maximum value of $7MM, per Joel. A Erickson of the Indy Star (on Twitter).

Campbell had a forgettable first three seasons in Indianapolis, as he struggled to stay healthy. Numerous injury problems limited him to just 15 games played from 2019-21, a highly disappointing development given his college production and status as a second-round pick. Things took a positive turn this past campaign, however.

The 25-year-old easily set career highs in a number of categories in 2022. He registered 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns, as he was finally able to put together a full, healthy season. Campbell ranked second on the Colts in receiving yards, as the team struggled throughout the season to muster a capable passing attack. The Ohio State alum nevertheless helped his free agent stock with his production.

Campbell represented one of several depth receiver options in this year’s less-than-stellar class of available wideouts. Given his age, and proven ability (albeit in only one year) to remain on the field, he could represent valuable upside on this new deal. His departure will leave the Colts – a team which already boasted an underwhelming WR corps outside of Michael Pittman Jr. – even thinner at the position, one which is likely to once again be a priority for them in the latter stages of free agency and the draft.

By heading to New York, Campbell will join linebacker Bobby Okereke in signing with the Giants after a stint with the Colts. The 6-0, 208-pounder will provide the team with a new secondary wideout as they look to re-work their pass-catching corps. That effort has resulted in a trade which saw them acquire Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, something which should boost the team’s passing efficiency in the middle of the field. Campbell can help in that regard, or on the perimeter as a starting-caliber option on a low-cost, potentially high-upside deal.

AFC South Rumors: Tunsil, Colts, Jaguars

January 28th, 2023 at 6:37pm CST by Ely Allen

Left tackle Laremy Tunsil has truly found a home in Houston. After being traded to the Texans from Miami in 2019, Tunsil has made the Pro Bowl in every season except for last year, when he missed 12 games after undergoing season-ending thumb surgery. After another stellar season this year, Tunsil has his eyes on finishing his career in Houston, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, an expensive ask for the last place team of the AFC South.

Tunsil will head into a contract year next season and has intensions of resetting the market for NFL tackles. 49ers left tackle Trent Williams currently leads the position in average annual value with a deal worth $23.01MM per year. Tunsil isn’t hurting for money. His most recent deal had an AAV of $22MM. If the Texans intend to keep Tunsil in Houston long-term, they will likely need to reset the market for the position. A new deal for Tunsil could fetch an amount in the neighborhood of $24-25MM per year.

Tunsil is certainly worth it. He has consistently been one of the league’s top blindside blockers since coming to the Texans, saving his best season for just before negotiations for an extension. Tunsil ranked as the 10th best offensive tackle in the league this year, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), boasting the best pass block grade of any tackle. That grade was certainly reflected in his production as he only allowed three quarterback hits and 17 pressures on the season.

Tunsil is working towards an All-Pro honor and a record-setting deal this offseason, and he’s put in a strong body of work towards both goals.

Here are a few other rumors from the AFC South, starting with a pair of free agents from the Hoosier State:

  • Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell put himself in a good position heading into free agency this year with his best season to date. After missing 34 games in his first three seasons, the former second-round pick finally got to play a full, healthy season in Indianapolis. He stepped up when the Colts needed receivers behind No. 1 wideout Michael Pittman, finishing second on the team with 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns. While his injury history may cause the Colts to hesitate on a long-term deal, Campbell showed that he has a role in the offense and provided a strong audition for any suitors this offseason. Campbell told Mike Chappell of FOX59 in Indianapolis that he would “absolutely” embrace a second contract with the Colts.
  • Colts linebacker Bobby Okereke also had a strong contract year, finishing second on the team with a career-high 151 total tackles and six tackles for loss. This is the second strong season in a row for the 26-year-old who had 132 total tackles last year and tacked on two of his three career interceptions for good measure. Ranking as the league’s 21st best linebacker, according to PFF, Okereke had his best season since he graded out as the 9th best linebacker playing limited snaps in his rookie season. The changes in the Colts’ coaching staff may provide a hurdle for Okereke’s return, but if he isn’t able to come to an agreement with the team that drafted him, Okereke’s final season with the horseshoe on his helmet should set him up for a decent paycheck with a new team. Okereke spoke with Chappell about the possibility of exploring free agency, pointing out that his former defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, has since departed for a windier city.
  • A bright spot in the Jaguars‘ season this year was the performance of key additions to the wide receivers room. After shelling out what many thought was too much money for receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, both players had career years that contributed to the team’s overall success. A key reason for those strong performances was wide receivers coach Chris Jackson who, according to Mia O’Brien of 1010 XL radio station, informed head coach Doug Pederson that he will be accepting the wide receivers coaching position at the University of Texas. Jacksonville will be on the lookout for a new position coach to lead a group next year that may lose veteran Marvin Jones to free agency but should add former Falcon Calvin Ridley following one year of his indefinite suspension.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/8/22

January 8th, 2022 at 4:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Colts Activate WR Parris Campbell From IR

January 8th, 2022 at 12:12pm CST by Ben Levine

With the Colts focused on a potential postseason run, they’ll be welcoming back a member of their offense. The team announced today that they’ve activated wideout Parris Campbell from injured reserve. The team has also promoted cornerback Anthony Chesley, safety Will Redmond, and defensive tackle Chris Williams from the practice squad.

A former second-round pick, Campbell has spent most of this season rehabbing from foot surgery. The Colts’ would-be slot receiver sustained the injury in Week 6, but it looks like he could meet the rehab timetable initially provided. Before that point of the season, the 24-year-old had appeared in five games (three starts), hauling in 10 receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown.

Campbell missed nine games as a rookie and was absent for 14 last season. He suffered a knee injury in September 2020 that knocked him out of his sophomore NFL campaign. While Campbell recovered from that PCL issue this offseason, he has missed nine more games due to the foot problem. The good news is that Campbell will have a healthy offseason for the first time in a while (assuming he makes it through the rest of the year unscathed).

Redmond, 28, joined the Colts in mid-December. He’s seen time in two games for Indy, with all 22 of his snaps coming on special teams. Chesley, a former undrafted free agent out of Coastal Carolina, has seen time in eight games for the Colts this season, collecting three tackles and one fumble recovery. Williams went undrafted out of Wagner in 2020 and has spent the past two years with the Colts organization, collecting two tackles in seven games this season.

Colts Designate Parris Campbell For Return

December 30th, 2021 at 12:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Injuries have defined Parris Campbell‘s NFL career thus far. His latest, however, may not keep him out for the rest of this season. Campbell returned to practice Thursday, Colts owner Jim Irsay tweets.

A former second-round pick, Campbell has spent most of this season rehabbing from foot surgery. The Colts’ would-be slot receiver sustained the injury in Week 6, but it looks like he could meet the rehab timetable initially provided.

Campbell missed nine games as a rookie and was absent for 14 last season. He suffered a knee injury in September 2020 that knocked him out of his sophomore NFL campaign. While Campbell recovered from that PCL issue this offseason, he has missed nine more games due to the foot problem.

Prior to his latest setback, Campbell caught a 51-yard touchdown pass in the Colts’ Week 6 win over the Texans. The Ohio State product, if healthy, would stand to be a nice auxiliary weapon for Indianapolis.

Campbell’s health history obviously makes him a luxury target for the Colts. His injuries and T.Y. Hilton‘s expiring contract will make wide receiver a need for the Colts in 2022, but they will at least be a bit deeper at the position once Campbell suits up again this season.

Parris Campbell Undergoes Foot Surgery

October 22nd, 2021 at 11:22am CST by Sam Robinson

A Colts second-round pick in 2019, Parris Campbell has been unable to stay healthy as a pro. The young wide receiver underwent another surgery Friday (Twitter link), one that will shelve him for a while.

Campbell suffered a foot injury during the Colts’ Week 6 win over the Texans, continuing a troublesome trend for the former Ohio State standout. It is not certain if this injury — like Campbell’s knee malady sustained in Week 2 of last season — will knock him out for the year, but he is back on IR and not in Indianapolis’ aerial equation for the foreseeable future.

The Colts are not shutting Campbell down for the season just yet, with Frank Reich indicating a two- to three-month rehab effort is on tap, via CBS4’s Mike Chappell (on Twitter). A late-December return, it appears, would be the best-case scenario. Campbell having a chance to play again this season may hinge on the Colts (2-4) being in contention in the AFC South.

This is obviously familiar territory for Campbell. In addition to the serious knee injury he encountered last season, he suffered a broken foot as a rookie and dealt with a hernia issue and a broken hand that year. Campbell played in seven games as a rookie and just two in 2020. This season, he suited up for five Colts contests and topped 50 receiving yards in each of the past two. He got there with one catch in Week 6, hauling in a 51-yard TD from Carson Wentz in Indy’s 31-3 victory.

The Colts have T.Y. Hilton back and still have Zach Pascal as an auxiliary pass catcher. They join blossoming talent Michael Pittman Jr. Hilton and Pascal are free agents after this season, while Campbell is signed through 2022. Though, his injury issues will likely prompt the Colts to make a significant receiver investment in the offseason.

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