Foles Cleared To Start
- Nick Foles scared Eagles fans everywhere when he went down with a rib injury late in the team’s win over the Redskins, but the undeniably clutch signal caller will be alright for the playoffs. Tests on his ribs came back “clear”, and Foles will start this weekend against the Bears, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). It’s great news for Philly’s chances, as they look to make a second straight magical run to the Super Bowl. No matter what happens with Foles, he’s extremely unlikely to be back with the Eagles in 2019.
Latest On QBs Carson Wentz, Nick Foles
If the Eagles make the playoffs, they likely won’t have Carson Wentz under center… and that could mean extra money is coming Nick Foles‘ way. Appearing on Good Morning Football, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport discussed the various incentives in Foles’ contract, and he also touched on the Eagles potential offseason options regarding the veteran (Twitter link).
Rapoport notes that Foles has already earned $2MM in incentives this season, and he’ll earn another $250K if he can help lead the Eagles to the postseason. The veteran can also make $1MM for each playoff victory, providing him with plenty of options to boost his income. The Eagles can make the playoffs with a win today over the Redskins and a Bears victory over the Vikings.
If the Eagles do end up making the playoffs, they’ll likely be going forward without Wentz. The franchise quarterback has been dealing with a back injury for some time, and the organization has already effectively shut him down for the season. However, Rapoport says that Wentz will have a scan on his back at some point next week. The scan is intended to “see if he’s got a shot” to play in the postseason, so there’s apparently some optimism that we may see Wentz at some point during the playoffs.
Either way, the team is prepared to move forward with Wentz, as Rapoport says that “it’s clear” that Foles won’t be back in 2019. The reporter details two potential paths the organization could take with their veteran signal-caller. The front office could choose to pick up Foles’ $20MM mutual option, at which point Foles would be expected to pay $2MM to “buy” his way into free agency. Alternatively, the team could choose to franchise Foles, allowing them to then shop the player to any quarterback-needy teams.
If the Eagles season does end today, we’ll still be hearing plenty about the team’s quarterback situation throughout the offseason.
Mike Wallace Out For Week 17
- Although the Eagles surprisingly brought Mike Wallace back onto their 53-man roster without the usual IR-return practice routine, the deep threat will not play against the Redskins on Sunday. Philadelphia declared Wallace out because of his ankle injury, making the team’s move to activate him strictly for the playoffs. To make the playoffs, Philadelphia needs to beat Washington and have Chicago stop Minnesota. Wallace is not signed past this season, so it’s now possible he will end his Eagles tenure having played in only two games.
East Notes: Eagles, Sproles, Dolphins, Redskins
The Eagles will have plenty of roster decisions to make heading into the 2019 season. Two of the names at the top of the list include veteran running Darren Sproles and oft-injured linebacker Jordan Hicks, Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com writes.
After originally declaring this as his final season, Sproles has looked like a vintage version of himself, leading many to wonder if he would come back for his 15th NFL season. One person who would love to have the pass-catching back return is Eagles head coach Doug Pederson.
“I think Darren Sproles would be a great addition” for 2019, Pederson said. “He’s a great leader. he works hard, he’s a great mentor to a lot of young players. I think anybody would love to have a Darren Sproles. I mean, I would.”
He didn’t offer the same ringing endorsement for Hicks. Despite being a noted playmaker who ranks third on the team in tackles in 2018, the Texas Longhorns product has missed 21 games in his first four seasons, including four this season.
“I’ll worry about the roster in the spring when I get to the spring,” Pederson said. “Jordan’s been a big part of our success here and he helped us win the game last week and he’ll help us win another on Sunday.”
Here’s more from around the East:
- Sticking with the Eagles, thanks once again to Nick Foles, the team is currently in the fight for the last playoff spot in the NFC. Should they make it, there will undoubtedly be a contingent of fans hoping Philly will bring back the veteran in 2019. However, that is unlikely to happen, writes Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Brandt. With Foles on the books for $20MM next year, it is much more likely the Eagles do not exercise his option and make him a free agent. If he goes on another magical run in January, however, every option has to be on the table.
- Dolphins vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum is not expected back with the team in 2019, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes. The move would end his four-year run with the team. Head coach Adam Gase is expected to be retained. Salguero also has heard a few of the names as possible replacements include Dan Marino and Dawn Aponte.
- Following the release of D.J. Swearinger, one of the Redskins’ top needs this season has quickly become safety, Ben Standig of NBC Sports writes. Coupled with the potential departure of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the Redskins would be down both of their safeties heading into 2019. Should they address the issue in the draft, the team could target Alabama’s Deionte Thompson or Virginia’s Juan Thornhill, two of the top-ranked prospects at free and strong safety, respectively.
Eagles Notes: Foles, Wentz
- Over in Philadelphia, it’s been Deja Vu for the Eagles as Nick Foles has come in cold off the bench to lead them to a couple of crucial wins. Foles has the Eagles on the verge of making the playoffs after they were all but eliminated, and is really helping his future value in the process. With Foles set to be a free agent after the season, Tim McManus of ESPN took a look at Foles’ potential suitors this offseason, and what type of contract he might be looking at. McManus lists the Jaguars, Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Redskins as some of the potential landing spots, and thinks he’ll end up with a deal somewhere in the Case Keenum range of $18MM per year. Foles will have at least one more chance to boost his stock in Week 17 against the Redskins.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/24/18
Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Cincinnati Bengals:
- K’s Ty Long (BC CFL), Tristan Vizcaino
Detroit Lions:
- LSs Justin Drescher, Taybor Pepper, Zach Triner; TE Erik Swoope; RB Kerwynn Williams
Indianapolis Colts:
- S Harold Jones-Quartey; LB Chris Odom; WR Brian Quick; Julius Warmsley
Kansas City Chiefs:
- LB Josh Keyes, RB Terry Swanson
New York Giants:
- DEs Tobi Antigha (SASK), Jake Ceresna (EDM); QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CALG); WRs Bryant Mitchell (EDM), Jordan Williams-Lambert (SASK); RB Terry Williams
Philadelphia Eagles:
- WRs Carlton Agudosi, Marken Michel (CALG), Devin Smith; DB Mercy Maston (EDM); LBs Alex Singleton (CALG), Jameer Thurman (CALG)
Pittsburgh Steelers:
- QB Max Browne; LB Sam Eguavoen (SASK); DE Avery Ellis (OTT); WR Dominique Rhymes (OTT
Tennessee Titans:
- WRs Kaelin Clay, Kalif Raymond; LB Tyrone Holmes; RB Akeem Hunt; DE Hau’oli Kikaha; LB Anthony Winbush
Washington Redskins:
- QBs Max Browne and Joe Callahan, WRs Tre McBride and Carlos Henderson, TE Jace Amaro, OTs Isaiah Battle and Cyrus Kouandjio, DE Hau’oli Kikaha and LB Corey Nelson
This time of year, a lot of teams are auditioning guys for potential reserve/futures deals to be a part of their 90-man rosters for 2019. It’s also common to see a lot of CFL guys getting looks this time of year, because players participating in the 2018 CFL season aren’t eligible to sign NFL contracts until after the regular season is over.
Eagles To Activate Mike Wallace From IR
The Eagles are not assured of continuing their Super Bowl title defense past Week 17, but they will add a key reinforcement going into their final regular-season game.
Mike Wallace will be activated from IR, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Eagles also promoted cornerback Josh Hawkins from their practice squad, and NFL reporter Geoff Mosher tweets Philadelphia waived corners De’Vante Bausby and Chandon Sullivan to make room on its 53-man roster.
The Wallace move is interesting considering he did not return to practice before this activation. Teams are given three weeks’ worth of evaluation time for IR-return candidates to practice in order to determine if they will return to the active roster or remain on IR for the rest of the season. With the Eagles in win-or-go-home (with help required) territory, they are moving fast to an all-hands-on-deck approach, it appears.
Wallace has only played in two games with the Eagles, his fifth NFL team. The veteran deep threat suffered a broken fibula in Week 2. He will join a team that now has Golden Tate in the fold, with the Eagles’ Tate-Wallace-Alshon Jeffery–Nelson Agholor–Jordan Matthews top five serving as one of the most experienced groups in the game.
The Eagles added Wallace on a one-year, $1.9MM deal that bumped up to north of $2.5MM thanks to at least one easily attainable incentive. However, Philly may end up getting three games from Wallace. The Eagles must beat the Redskins, who they defeated in Washington three weeks ago, and have the Bears topple the Vikings to make the playoffs.
Nick Foles Good To Go Next Week
- Eagles quarterback Nick Foles was briefly knocked out of today’s win over the Texans after suffering a hit from Jadeveon Clowney. While backup Nate Sudfeld made a brief appearance, Foles was able to return to the game and lead Philly to a much-needed victory. It also sounds like the veteran’s status for next week isn’t in doubt, as Foles told reporters that he is doing “great” (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). The signal-caller did acknowledge that he had X-rays taken after the game.
[SOURCE LINK]
Carson Wentz Had Prior Back Issues
- Carson Wentz is set to join Newton in ending his season early, with back trouble shelving the Eagles‘ franchise passer. This, however, is not the first back issue Wentz has dealt with in his career. Wentz discovered a stress fracture in his back during his redshirt year at North Dakota State, Tim McManus of ESPN.com reports. This injury, suffered prior to his North Dakota State tenure, healed fairly soon and is not related to his current setback, per McManus. Still, this may be something for the Eagles to monitor as they determine how to proceed with Nick Foles or a possible replacement backup this coming offseason.
Jets Notes: Anderson, McCarthy, Shell
Robby Anderson can be kept away from unrestricted free agency for one more year. The Jets wide receiver will be a restricted free agent next spring, and although he wants an extension, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News notes the expectation is the Jets apply a second-round tender to the talented wideout. That would cost them approximately $3.12MM. Due to Anderson’s issues off the field, the Jets will continue to monitor him as a long-term investment, per Mehta. An RFA tender allows them to do so at a relatively cheap rate.
Additionally, Mehta reports the Eagles‘ deadline offer for Anderson was a fourth-round pick. The Jets declined, and the Eagles surrendered a third-rounder for Golden Tate. Although the Jets are more solidified at quarterback than they have been in many years, this season has not gone as well for Anderson as the Josh McCown year did. After a 941-receiving-yard, seven-touchdown 2017, Anderson is at 541 yards and five scores entering Week 16.
Here is the latest out of Jets headquarters:
- Anderson figures to be part of the Jets’ skill-position corps in 2019, but there figure to be some changes. Sam Darnold does not appear to have a cornerstone weapon among this contingent yet, and Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv writes the Jets need to use some of their $100MM-plus in projected cap space to bring in better weapons for their young passer. Beyond Le’Veon Bell, whose path may well lead to the Big Apple, Mark Ingram and Tevin Coleman are big-name running backs who are months from free agency. The wideout situation figures to involve Tate, though he will be 31 next season, along with John Brown, Tyrell Williams, Randall Cobb and Jamison Crowder. The Jets also have Jermaine Kearse and Quincy Enunwa playing on expiring deals.
- As for who will be coaching this to-be-determined Darnold supporting cast, Mike McCarthy should be atop Gang Green’s target list, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com writes. McCarthy’s experience as a head coach and background with offense should endear the Jets to the longtime Packers coach. The Jets have opted for defensive-minded coaches for decades — Bill Parcells, Al Groh, Herm Edwards, Eric Mangini, Rex Ryan and Todd Bowles, dating back to 1997 — and are probably leaning toward changing course.
- Davis Webb dressed for his first game as a Jet on Saturday against the Texans. He remains behind Darnold and McCown on the depth chart, but due to injuries elsewhere, the Jets opted to make Webb part of their 46-man game-day contingent as a reward for solid practice play, Bowles said (via Mehta, on Twitter). With McCown winding down his age-39 season, Webb could possibly be a candidate to be Darnold’s backup in 2019.
- Brandon Shell will head to IR because of a knee injury, but the Jets expect their right tackle starter to return by OTAs, Matt Stypulkoski of NJ.com notes. Shell’s precise injury is not known, but Stypulkoski adds he did not tear an ACL or MCL. A full-time New York starter for the past two seasons, Shell is under contract through 2019.