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Byron Pringle

Commanders Release WR Byron Pringle

September 6th, 2024 at 5:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Byron Pringle remained with the Commanders by taking a deal in July, but he is not in the fold for at least the time being. The veteran receiver was released on Friday, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: Recapping Commanders’ Offseason]

Pringle spent the 2023 campaign in Washington under offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy after the pair worked together in Kansas City. The 30-year-old was available for the full season, but he only started one contest and logged an offensive snap share of just 17%. That was balanced out by a notable special teams workload.

Not long after training camp started, Pringle inked a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum to remain with the Commanders. He survived roster cuts, but vested veterans have their base salaries ($1.13MM in this case) become fully guaranteed just before Week 1. For that reason, teams sometime elect to briefly cut such players immediately before the start of the season. It will be interesting to see if Pringle – whose deal does not include any money in the form of a signing bonus – is brought back in short order.

Washington moved on from 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson by trading him to the Eagles. That move was one of many which saw players added before the current Josh Harris/Adam Peters/Dan Quinn regime took over find new teams this offseason, and it came after a reported clash with Bieniemy which took place last year. Dotson was set operate as a complementary receiving option in 2024, but his absence has created a vacancy for that role.

Martavis Bryant‘s comeback efforts produced a Commanders contract, but he was let go ahead of the roster cutdown deadline. With Pringle out of the picture (for now, at a minimum), Washington’s receiver room is led by returnees Terry McLaurin, Dyami Brown and Jamison Crowder, free agent addition Olamide Zaccheaus, third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey and recent pickup Noah Brown. The Commanders will save $985K in cap space via the Pringle release.

Commanders Re-Sign WR Byron Pringle

July 31st, 2024 at 9:38am CST by Sam Robinson

Despite the Commanders parting ways with Eric Bieniemy, one of the former OC’s Chiefs charges is still in the team’s plans. Byron Pringle agreed to terms to stay in Washington on Wednesday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.

Pringle rejoined Bieniemy in Washington last season, after having spent 2022 with fellow ex-Chiefs staffer Ryan Poles in Chicago. The sixth-year veteran worked as a rotational backup with the Commanders and should be expected to play a similar role this season. The Commanders have announced the signing.

Although Pringle debuted in 2019, he is set to turn 31 in August. The Chiefs rostered the former UDFA from 2018-21, and the Kansas State product’s most memorable season came for Kansas City’s 2021 edition. Pringle caught 42 passes for 568 yards and five touchdowns that season, operating as an auxiliary weapon for the Chiefs’ final Tyreek Hill-fronted receiving corps. The sides separated after that season, but Pringle will have come continuity once again.

That season is the outlier for the 6-foot-1 target, as he has not eclipsed 200 receiving yards in any other year. After starting four games for the 2022 Bears, Pringle followed Bieniemy to Washington in what turned out to be a one-and-done season for the longtime Kansas City OC. Pringle caught 14 passes for 161 yards with Washington last season, starting one game for a team that deployed a locked-in top three at receiver. One of those pass catchers — Curtis Samuel — has since moved on.

The Commanders’ passing attack will still run through Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, but Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense still features some tertiary-level wideouts that will not make Pringle a roster lock. The team drafted Luke McCaffrey in Round 3 and added Olamide Zaccheaus earlier this offseason. Former third-rounder Dyami Brown remains with the team, with Jamison Crowder and ex-Kingsbury Cardinals cog Damiere Byrd signing as well. With 16 practice squad spots available, the Commanders stand to have some options — Pringle now among them — for their WR insurance spots.

The Giants also recently worked out Pringle, but he will receive another bid to make the Commanders’ roster. Pringle did not spend any time on last year’s Washington practice squad, but given the moves the team has made this offseason, it probably should not be considered automatic he lands with the team’s initial 53.

Commanders, WR Byron Pringle Agree To Deal

July 25th, 2023 at 12:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the second straight year, Byron Pringle has found a new home on a one-year deal. The veteran wideout is set to join the Commanders, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Pringle won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs as a rookie, but it was not until his third and final season in Kansas City that he delivered a notable statistical performance. The former UDFA totaled 568 yards and five touchdowns on 42 receptions in 2020, while adding 621 kick return yards. Those totals earned him a path to continued signficant playing time in free agency.

The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Bears last March, earning $4MM guaranteed. The move came after former Chiefs exec Ryan Poles had been hired as Chicago’s new general manager. Pringle logged a snap share of 46%, his second-highest total, but a calf injury led to an IR stint and limited him to 11 games played with the Bears. Pringle made just 10 catches operating in one of the league’s lowest-volume passing attacks.

Now, he will again look to earn a spot on a new team while attempting to remain healthy in the process. By joining the Commanders, Pringle will reunite with Eric Bieniemy. The latter served as offensive coordinator of the Chiefs during Pringle’s time there, and he is now at the helm of the offense in Washington. Pringle could emerge as a capable depth option if he is able to replicate his success in Bieniemy’s offense.

Washington has Pro Bowler Terry McLaurin set atop the WR depth chart, along with veteran Curtis Samuel and recent draft picks Jahan Dotson (first round, 2022) and Dyami Brown (third round, 2021). Pringle will spend training camp looking to carve out a role amongst that group, knowing that a solid season could boost his free agent market next year.

Bears Activate WR Byron Pringle From IR

November 13th, 2022 at 1:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bears added to their receiving corps during the trade deadline, but the team received another boost at the position ahead of today’s game against the Lions. The team announced that Byron Pringle has been activated off of IR.

A calf injury sidelined the veteran in September, after he had made three appearances and only two catches at the beginning of his debut season in Chicago. The 28-year-old joined the Bears on a one-year contract this offseason following his four years in Kansas City.

He did so coming off a career-high 42 catches, 568 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. That led to high expectations for a notable role within the Bears’ receiving corps, but Pringle was certainly part of the team’s struggles through the air. His absence was nevertheless felt given Chicago’s lack of proven options at the position. Given the time at which Pringle was designated to return, he needed to be activated before Week 10 to be eligible to return this season.

Since he was, he will re-join a WR room led by Darnell Mooney and which saw a notable arrival at the deadline when Chicago acquired Chase Claypool from the Steelers. The Bears entered today’s action ranked last in the league with an average of just 148 passing yards per game. Despite his lack of early production, then, Pringle being back in the fold will be a welcomed development.

A resurgent Bears offense led by quarterback Justin Fields has taken steps forward in recent weeks, with the former first-rounder’s rushing ability being a driving force. The team has seemingly continued their positive trend so far against Detroit, with Fields going 9-of-13 for 104 yards and one touchdown, and Pringle contributing one of those receptions. With 151 rushing yards, the ground game has been key once again, but the veteran could help Chicago’s efficiency through the air improve while boosting his own free agent stock.

Bears To Place OL Lucas Patrick On IR, Designate WR Byron Pringle For Return

October 26th, 2022 at 1:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another injury will sideline Lucas Patrick during his first Bears season. After undergoing surgery to repair a hand injury, Patrick sustained a toe malady that required him to be carted off the field Monday night.

The Bears plan to place Patrick on IR on Wednesday, Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times tweets. While this will be Patrick’s second extended injury hiatus, it will be his first time on IR this season. His previous absence covered most of training camp. Patrick, a two-year Packers starter, returned to action in Week 1.

Signed to a two-year, $8MM deal, Patrick followed new Bears OC Luke Getsy from Green Bay. Brought in to play center, Patrick has lined up at both center and guard this season. The hand injury affected his status at center, leading to guard work upon returning. But the Bears had Patrick at center against the Patriots. Chicago is already playing without longtime left guard Cody Whitehair, who remains on IR. Whitehair, who suffered a knee injury in Week 4, is eligible return to practice next week.

This injury, which will cost Patrick at least four games, will lead Sam Mustipher back into Chicago’s lineup at the position. After Pro Football Focus graded Mustipher as one of the NFL’s worst centers in 2021, the advanced metrics site has him slotted 14th at the position near this season’s halfway point. Mustipher, whom the Bears benched ahead of Week 7, re-emerged to play a key role in the team rushing for 243 yards in their upset win over the Patriots on Monday. Sans Whitehair, the Bears are likely to stick with the Mustipher-Michael Schofield–Teven Jenkins interior setup that finished out Week 7.

Additionally, Chicago will start Byron Pringle‘s IR-return window, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Pringle is returning to practice Wednesday. This represents good news for the Bears, with today being the first day Pringle was eligible to practice. The free agency pickup suffered a calf injury earlier this season. The Bears have used only one of their eight allotted injury activations this season.

A former Patrick Mahomes auxiliary target, Pringle signed a one-year, $4.13MM deal with the Bears this offseason. Chicago brought in a host of cogs to work alongside Darnell Mooney this year. Three of those — Pringle, N’Keal Harry and Velus Jones — have missed a chunk of time due to injury. The Bears used their first IR activation on Harry earlier this month. Pringle caught 42 passes for a career-high 568 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. In a low-volume Bears passing attack, the former UDFA was sitting on two catches (for 33 yards) when he went down earlier this season.

Bears Place WR Byron Pringle On IR

September 27th, 2022 at 12:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bears’ passing game has been the league’s worst so far, and it will be shorthanded for the time being. The team announced on Tuesday that wideout Byron Pringle has been placed on IR. As a result, he will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks. 

Pringle injured his calf during Sunday’s game against the Texans. He made one catch in the game, only his second of the season as he begins his tenure in Chicago, the team which ranks last in the league with an average of only 99 passing yards per game.

The former UDFA spent the first three years of his career with the Chiefs. He saw an increased workload with each passing season, culminating in a 49% snap share last year. With the increased opportunity, Pringle put up carer-highs across the board, totaling 568 yards and five touchdowns on 42 catches. In free agency, he followed new Bears general manager Ryan Poles to the Windy City on a one-year, $6MM deal.

This marks the second significant injury Chicago is dealing with at the position. N’Keal Harry, whom the team traded for from the Patriots in July, is still on the mend from the ankle surgery he underwent last month. He was initially expected to miss at least the first two months of the season, so the Bears are likely to be without two of their top pass-catchers for the foreseeable future.

In their absence, Chicago will lean more heavily (inasmuch as the team’s low-volume passing attack will allow) on the likes of No. 1 Darnell Mooney, fellow free agent signing Equanimeous St. Brown and third-round rookie Velus Jones Jr. With the spot opened up by the move, the Bears signed linebacker Joe Thomas to the 53-man roster from their practice squad. He appeared in Sunday’s contest after being a game-day elevation, seeing action both on defense and special teams.

Injury Rumors: Evans, Pringle, Linderbaum, Savage, McKethan

August 6th, 2022 at 2:00pm CST by Ely Allen

As practices start to ramp up leading into the preseason, injuries are starting to rear their ugly heads. Here are a few rumors on injuries we’ve seen so far:

  • It appears that Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has suffered a minor hamstring injury, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. Laine reports that, despite a history of nagging hamstring issues, this minor injury will be no threat to Evans’ Week 1 status. Hamstring injuries caused Evans to miss a game last season and forced him to injured reserve in Week 14 of the 2019 season. Evans has shown incredible resiliency, as the 13 games played in 2019 were the least he’s ever played in a season. He’s had a strong history of never letting injuries keep him out for long and never keeping him from reaching the 1,000-yard receiving mark.
  • Wide receiver Byron Pringle joined the Bears after a bit of a breakout season with the Chiefs last year. Chicago head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters that, unfortunately, Pringle’s debut with the Bears may be a little delayed, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The fourth-year receiver out of Kansas State suffered a quad injury that Eberflus says will cause him to “be out for some time.” Pringle’s only history with injuries in the NFL came two years ago when he spent three weeks on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
  • One of the Ravens’ two first-round picks, center Tyler Linderbaum suffered a lower leg injury this week that should hold him out for a short time, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “It’s not a serious thing,” head coach John Harbaugh explained after Friday’s practice. “It’s going to be probably at least a week…It could be two weeks. We’ll see.” Linderbaum, the first ever center that Baltimore has utilized a first-round pick on, is expected to take the starting job as a rookie and will play a large role in a comeback season for a Ravens team that saw their 2020 season derailed by a litany of season-ending injuries.
  • While trying to cover wide receiver Amari Rodgers in one-on-ones yesterday, Packers safety Darnell Savage suffered a hamstring injury and was forced to sit out the rest of practice, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Savage downplayed the severity of the injury when talking to reporters. “I don’t think it’s a concern,” Savage said. “It’s a fast-people injury. Some of those things you can’t avoid. I’ll just handle it the right way…and I’ll be alright.”
  • Giants fifth-round pick Marcus McKethan suffered an ACL injury yesterday and will be out for his entire rookie season, according to Field Yates of ESPN. The offensive guard out of North Carolina was a reserve depth piece on New York’s line and was not expected to have much of an impact during his first NFL season, but a season-ending injury to any of a team’s players is never good news.

Bears Sign WR Byron Pringle

March 17th, 2022 at 7:29pm CST by Ben Levine

New Bears general manager Ryan Poles is recruiting his former Chiefs players to Chicago. The Bears are signing receiver Byron Pringle, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).

Pringle is inking a one-year, $6MM deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The wideout will get $4MM in guaranteed money.

Poles was the Chiefs’ director of college scouting when Kansas City signed Pringle as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State in 2018. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve, Pringle established a minor role in the Chiefs offense, appearing in 29 games for the team between 2019 and 2020.

He took it to another level in 2021, having a career year ahead of his free agency. Pringle finished the season with 42 receptions for 568 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games (five starts). The 28-year-old also started two of the Chiefs’ three playoff games, hauling in 12 catches for 82 yards and three scores. Pringle also has extensive experience on special teams, returning 25 kicks this past season.

The Bears will be hard pressed to replace Allen Robinson, but Pringle should easily slide into the depth chart. Darnell Mooney is expected to lead the way for Chicago in 2022.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/17/21

March 17th, 2021 at 9:03am CST by Zachary Links

Today’s the deadline for teams to extend tender offers to their restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-Tendered: 

ERFAs

Tendered: 

Non-Tendered:

  • .

Chiefs Promote CB DeAndre Baker

December 19th, 2020 at 2:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several weeks after signing DeAndre Baker, the Chiefs are prepared to use the former first-round pick in a game. The defending Super Bowl champions promoted the second-year cornerback to their active roster Saturday.

The Chiefs added the former Giants draftee to their practice squad a month ago, doing so shortly after the Broward County State Attorney’s Office (Fla.) dropped armed robbery charges against him. Baker’s arrest on several felony charges led to the Giants cutting him.

Baker struggled as a rookie, allowing a 116.2 passer rating on passes thrown his way and allowing 61% of those throws to be completed. Pro Football Focus graded him as one of its worst defenders in 2019. The Chiefs are taking a chance on the former Georgia prospect, who was facing prison time until recently.

Baker was alleged to have committed armed robbery a party at gunpoint in May. Originally, Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar was charged as his accomplice, but the Broward State Attorney’s office declined to pursue charges against him. The story only became stranger from there, including payoff allegations against attorney Michael Grieco, who was once representing Dunbar. But both cornerbacks have moved forward with their respective careers.

Kansas City also promoted Stefen Wisniewski and linebacker Emmanuel Smith and activated wideout Byron Pringle from IR.

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