Ameer Abdullah - Pro Football Rumors

North Notes: McCarthy, Abdullah, Browns

November 20th, 2016 at 10:19am CST by Rory Parks

The Packers are struggling, and head coach Mike McCarthy has predictably come under fire as a result. But Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that McCarthy is not likely to lose his job, and while there has been significant conversation about McCarthy’s relationship with Aaron Rodgers, La Canfora writes that the two men share a great deal of mutual respect and that Rodgers would not support a coaching change.

That does not mean, however, that the Packers will not shake things up elsewhere. Given the overall decline in talent on the roster, GM Ted Thompson is not immune to review, and defensive coordinator Dom Capers could also be coaching for his job over the second half of the season. Some team officials also believe that the offense has become stagnant and that the offensive coaching staff could use an overhaul. Further complicating the issue is that director of football operations Eliot Wolf, long considered to be the heir apparent to Thompson, could pursue outside options this offseason, as he remains one of the more sought-after young executives in the game and he may want to capitalize on that status in case the Packers should start to fade.

Now for some more notes from the league’s north divisions:

The Lions‘ running game could get a boost down the stretch, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Per Rapoport, Ameer Abdullah, who is currently on IR with a foot injury, will meet with Dr. Robert Anderson on Tuesday to see if he can begin practicing. There is a realistic chance that Abdullah could be active in three weeks.
The Lions are no lock to win the NFC North, but they are certainly looking like the favorites at this point in the season. However, if Detroit collapses and fails to win its first division title in 23 years, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press does not believe head coach Jim Caldwell would keep his job.
Although much has been made of the turmoil in the Browns‘ front office, cornerback Joe Haden does not believe those negative vibes have trickled down to the players themselves. Per Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network (Twitter links), Haden said that although he has been in locker rooms where the players have quit, the Browns’ current roster remains engaged. Haden believes head coach Hue Jackson is a big reason for that, as the players believe in him. Haden also says the team is generally too young to have developed the cynicism that a more veteran group might harbor.
Yesterday, we took a dive into the latest notes on the AFC North.

Lions Still Deciding On IR Return Player

November 19th, 2016 at 7:08pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions have yet to decide which player they will reinstate off the injured reserve list, and the possibility remains that running back Ameer Abdullah could be the returnee, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Detroit is thought to be choosing between Abdullah and linebacker Jon Bostic, both of whom have been sidelined since early this season.

Bostic, who underwent foot surgery earlier this season, technically could have come off IR as soon as Week 8, and was participating in running drills during practice sessions during the past few weeks. He’d certainly be a welcome addition to a Lions linebacking corps that has already traded away Kyle Van Noy and will likely be without starter DeAndre Levy on Sunday against the Jaguars.

Abullah, however, would also be able to help the first-place Lions — though the club is excelling on the offensive side of the ball, most of that success has been through the passing game, as Detroit’s rushing attack ranks just 27th in DVOA. Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said earlier this month that Abdullah was a candidate to return, and he’d add a stabilizing presence to a backfield that has seen Theo Riddick, Dwayne Washington, Zach Zenner and Justin Forsett earn carries.

Caldwell also told reporters that Detroit’s record and/or playoff position won’t factor into the club’s decision on which player to activate, per Twentyman. “You look at the next game, see where you are, see what kind of injuries you have,” said Caldwell. “You make adjustments and then put yourself in the best position to win the next game. That’s how we look at it and I think that’s the only way you should look at it. There’s too many things that can happen along the way, every game is extremely important.”

Lions HC: Ameer Abdullah Could Return

November 3rd, 2016 at 12:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Could Ameer Abdullah return from IR this season? Lions coach Jim Caldwell told reporters today that he’s not ruling it out (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein).

There are two important caveats to keep in mind with Caldwell’s comments. One is that linebacker Jon Bostic returned to the practice field this week and was seen running on Wednesday. The Lions can only bring one player back from IR and Bostic certainly seems primed to be that guy. Secondly, Caldwell is notoriously coy when it comes to his interactions with the media. Publicly, he says he’s not shutting the door on Abdullah coming back, but that should perhaps be taken with a grain of driveway salt.

In the first month of the season, Abdullah was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his left foot. Typically, that injury is a season-ender. Heading into the season, the Lions were hopeful that Abdullah would anchor their backfield, but he was ultimately shut down after two appearances.

Since then, the Lions have shuffled through a number of different looks in the backfield as Theo Riddick and Dwayne Washington have also dealt with injuries. Assuming everyone is healthy for Sunday, the Lions will be starting Riddick with Washington, mid-season pickup Justin Forsett, and the agile Zach Zenner in support.

Lions Work Out Jonas Gray, Daniel Thomas

September 30th, 2016 at 7:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions are thin at running back after placing Ameer Abdullah on injured reserve last week, so they’re taking a look at free agents that are available on the open market. Detroit worked out Jonas Gray, Daniel Thomas, and Mike James, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Gray, 26, is most known for his brief tenure in New England, which featured a 201-yard, four-touchdown rushing performance against the Colts in November 2014. That showing represented a significant portion of Gray’s production as a rookie. All told, he amassed 89 carries (37 in the Indy game) for 412 yards and five scores in eight contests. Gray has also spent time with the Dolphins and, most recently, the Jaguars.

In four seasons with Miami, Thomas ran for 1,480 yards off of 409 attempts, good for just 3.6 yards per carry. In 2014, he saw time in 12 games, rushing for 168 yards off of 44 carries, and proceeded to sign with the Bears, but didn’t make the final roster. The 28-year-old Thomas was out of the league entirely in 2015 as he made the rounds on the workout circuit, but had a brief second stint with the Dolphins before being cut earlier this month.

Jame, like Gray, has one notable game under his belt, a 2013 contest against the Seahawks where he ran for 158 yards on 28 carries as a member of the Buccaneers. Those yards, however, represent nearly half of his career total, and James hasn’t been a key contributor since. After spending the 2015 campaign on Tampa’s practice squad, he was waived with an injury settlement earlier this month.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Ameer Abdullah Placed On IR, Done For Season?

September 25th, 2016 at 10:05am CST by Zachary Links

SUNDAY, 10:05am: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweeted earlier this morning that the Lions were hopeful that Abdullah would return from IR shortly after the team’s Week 10 bye. However, a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter shortly thereafter indicated that the Lions believe Abdullah has a torn ligament in his left foot and will miss the remainder of the season.

WEDNESDAY, 08:38am: The Lions have placed running back Ameer Abdullah on injured reserve, as Justin Rogers of The Detroit News tweets. The Lions have confirmed the news via press release.

Abdullah injured his foot on Sunday and it was initially believed to be a sprain. Yesterday, the tailback visited Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte and apparently received some bad news. It’s not necessarily known if Abdullah suffered a fracture, but – at minimum – his sprain was more severe than initially thought. Thanks to the league’s new IR rules, Abdullah is not necessarily done for the season, of course. In theory, Abdullah could come back in two months and suit up as soon as Week 11.

With Abdullah out, the Lions will give more carries to Theo Riddick. Of course, Riddick is more of a pass-catching specialist than a workhorse back, so we can expect to see additional work for rookie Dwayne Washington as well. Washington is a bit of an unknown, but coach Jim Caldwell has been talking him up all summer.

The Lions also announced that they have signed running back George Winn and linebacker Zaviar Gooden to the practice squad. To make room, guard Chase Farris and wide receiver Isaac Fruechte have been cut.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Lions, Saints, Vikes, Chiefs

September 8th, 2016 at 8:50pm CST by Zachary Links

Second-year man Ameer Abdullah is atop the Lions’ depth chart at running back, but they won’t rely on him as a workhorse, according to head coach Jim Caldwell (via Kyle Meinke of MLive.com). “Do I think that he’s durable enough to do it? Absolutely,” Caldwell said. “Do I think he’s strong enough to do it? Absolutely. I just don’t think that’s his cup of tea.” Abdullah, a second-round pick last year, averaged 4.2 yards per carry on 143 attempts as a rookie, but he didn’t eclipse the 16-rush mark in any of his 16 appearances. He’s also coming off shoulder surgery that limited him throughout the offseason, as Meinke notes. Pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick and another second-year player, Zach Zenner, are among the Lions’ other backfield options.

More from around the NFL on opening night of the 2016 season:

Saints head coach Sean Payton says that he preferred cornerback Sterling Moore to Cortland Finnegan because he’s better in man coverage and a younger player, as Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets. The Saints signed the 26-year-old Moore on Tuesday after releasing Finnegan, 32. Payton isn’t sure how much Moore will help in Week 1 against Oakland, but the coach likes his versatility, intelligence and short-area quickness (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com).
Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson has changed representation, hiring agents Jonathan Perzley and Brian Mackler of Sportstars NYC, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets.
A pair of free agents – defensive end Rufus Johnson and outside linebacker/DE Sadat Sulleyman – worked out for the Chiefs on Thursday (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). Johnson, whom New Orleans took in the sixth round of the 2013 draft, made his first career appearance last season as a member of the Patriots. Sulleyman, undrafted this year from Portland State, didn’t survive the Broncos’ final cuts. He worked out for the Bengals on Wednesday.
There was no shortage of big news Thursday: Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets; the Steelers inked guard David DeCastro to a massive contract extension; and five-time Pro Bowl running back Marshawn Lynch hasn’t closed the door on returning to the league.
In case you missed it, the PFR staff weighed in with its 2016 NFL predictions Thursday.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

NFC Notes: Cards, Abdullah, Redskins, Eagles

July 1st, 2016 at 7:11pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

As their second-round pick approached in the 2015 draft, the Cardinals were in the midst of informing running back Ameer Abdullah over the phone that they were going to take him 55th overall. However, as shown on the new Amazon documentary series “All or Nothing,” the Lions traded a spot ahead of Arizona during the Cardinals’ discussion with Abdullah and stole the ex-Nebraska standout at No. 54 (link via Steven Ruiz of USA Today). With their Abdullah dream dashed, the Cardinals waited to address the position until the third round, selecting ex-Northern Iowa runner David Johnson 86th overall. Johnson emerged as a key member of the Cardinals’ offense as a rookie, totaling 1,038 yards (581 rushing, 457 receiving), averaging 4.6 yards per carry and piling up 12 touchdowns (eight rushing, four receiving). Abdullah, with 780 yards (597 rushing, 183 receiving), 4.2 YPC and three scores (two on the ground, one in the air), wasn’t nearly as successful in 2015.

Lions’ Ameer Abdullah Has Shoulder Surgery

May 26th, 2016 at 11:02am CST by Zachary Links

11:02am: Abdullah should be cleared by the end of the month, a source tells Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com.

10:58am: Lions running back Ameer Abdullah underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in January, according to a source who spoke with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. As of this writing, Abdullah “could miss the rest of the offseason” and it is not clear whether this injury could sideline him for the start of the regular season.

The running back hurt his shoulder in the Lions’ December win over the Saints but toughed it out and played in the team’s final two games against the 49ers and Bears. After the season was over, he went to famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews for his operation. Abdullah is said to be ahead of schedule in his rehab, but the Lions intend to proceed cautiously until training camp, Birkett writes.

Last year, the Lions selected Abdullah in the second round and it didn’t take long for his hype train to pick up steam. Ultimately, however, Abdullah found himself in a time share and did not put up the kind of gaudy numbers that some fans expected. In total, the 22-year-old (23 in June) ran for 597 yards off of 143 carries (4.2 yards per carry) with two rushing touchdowns. He also got involves in the passing game, recording 25 catches for 183 yards and one score. Abdullah’s highest rushing total (77 yards) came during his ill-fated performance against the Saints in December.

Abdullah is slotted in as the Lions No. 1 running back with Theo Riddick, Stevan Ridley, and Zach Zenner in support. The team also has seventh-round pick Dwayne Washington fighting for playing time.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Attaochu, Bowman, Bridgewater

July 5th, 2015 at 8:20pm CST by Rob DiRe

Earlier today, Rory Parks gave us a roundup of some notes from some early Sunday NFL news, including an update on Chris Borland‘s post-NFL life, Marcus Mariota’s potential holdout, and a couple of notes on the Saints, Browns, and Broncos.

Now, for anyone who was too busy watching the USA defeat Japan 5-2 in the World Cup, here are a couple more pieces of NFL news that trickled across the landscape this evening:

Second-year pass rusher Jeremiah Attaochu only had two sacks in limited snaps as a rookie, but is focused on improving that number in 2015, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. He writes that Attaochu trained in combine-related drills for much of last offseason, but is focused on football-specific drills and getting reps in practice to prepare him for an increased role with the Chargers this year.
The Dolphins signed Zackary Bowman this offseason to compete for the starting cornerback job across from Brent Grimes, but right now the leader for that spot is Jamar Taylor, writes James Walker of ESPN. Bowman hasn’t stood out in minicamps, and Walker writes he has about a 50 percent chance of making the final roster, depending on how many cornerbacks the team keeps on the depth chart.
The Vikings are excited about Teddy Bridgewater and how he got stronger as the season went on in 2014, especially offensive coordinator Norv Turner, writes Tom Pelissero of USA Today in his offseason report. With Adrian Peterson, Kyle Rudolph, Matt Kalil, and Brandon Fusco all back healthy on available, and Mike Wallace added to the fold, Bridgewater is ready to break out as leader of the offense.
Detroit Lions’ beat writer Dave Birkett addressed a number of issues on a Q&A with Ste Hoare of TheRouteTree.com. Birkett believes that Ameer Abdullah will begin the season as a complement to Joique Bell in the role Reggie Bush filled, but expects him to eventually emerge as the feature back. He also addresses the concern that first-round pick Laken Tomlinson’s interest in the medical field could leave him to an early retirement in the vain of Borland, but Birkett does not believe the team is worried and writes that the Lions encourage his interests off-the-field.

Minicamp Notes: Texans, Bengals, Browns, Lions

June 20th, 2015 at 8:01pm CST by Rob DiRe

As minicamps break, beat writers love to write (and we all love to read) quick notes about players and position groups who are either surprising or disappointing us.

Here are a few links to some of the best stories and observations coming out of minicamps from around the league:

The Texans minicamp has completed, and John McClain of the Houton Chronicle notes that Brian Cushing, Jadaveon Clowney, and Louis Nix all should contribute in 2015. McClain also picks Brian Hoyer as the best chance to start, although he writes that Ryan Mallett has terrific upside.
The Bengals didn’t get immediate returns from A.J. McCarron after drifting him on Day 3 in 2014, but he is impressing the coaching staff this offseason. The team says he is developing into a starting-quality quarterback, according to Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. However, while he isn’t an immediate threat to take the starting job, the perennially underwhelming Andy Dalton could be on a shorter leash if the coaching staff has faith in McCarron.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com gives her five takeaways from Browns’ minicamp, including the how good the offensive line and secondary should be, Josh McCown emerging as the clear starter at quarterback, Johnny Manziel still being a work in progress, and the lack of a go-to receiver on the roster.
Two players on the Lions who might contribute more than expected are rookie runing back Ameer Abdullah and second-year defensive tackle Caraun Reid, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The team comes out of minicamp high on both players, as well as their secondary, but may add a veteran tackle at some point, according to Birkett.