Denzel Perryman

Chargers To Place Denzel Perryman On IR

The Chargers will place linebacker Denzel Perryman on IR tomorrow, as GM Tom Telesco told the team’s official website (video link). The team hopes to bring Perryman back later in the year.

Denzel Perryman (Vertical)

Telesco said, He just had surgery last week so it’s slow right now, but the plan with him is that he’d come back at some point during the year.”

Perryman suffered an ankle injury during a preseason contest last month, and he was required to undergo surgery as a result. Perryman has been no stranger to injuries throughout his two-year career, as pectoral, shoulder, hamstring, and knee issues have sidelined him since he entered the league as a second-round draft pick in 2015. He’s been relatively effective when on the field, however, especially against the run. Last year, the 23-year-old Perryman started 11 games and played on 45% of the Chargers’ defensive snaps, racking up 71 tackles, two sacks, and grading as the league’s No. 43 linebacker in the process, per Pro Football Focus.

Perryman will be forced to miss the first eight weeks of the regular season as a result of being placed on IR, though he can begin practicing with the club after Week 6. Los Angeles has the depth to withstand a Perryman absence, especially given that he was only expected to be a two-down player thanks to his lack of coverage abilities.

Korey Toomer is expected to start in Perryman’s stead.

Extra Points: Dolphins, Chargers, Perryman

Dolphins 2015 second-round pick Jordan Phillips may not be in the team’s long-term plans, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. At one point this offseason, Phillips was being talked up as a key part of the team’s defensive line. Now, he’s practicing as the No. 3 defensive tackle behind fifth-round rookie Davon Godchaux.

There’s still time for Phillips to play with more consistency and passion and earn a starting job alongside Ndamukong Suh, but not everyone in Miami expects that to happen. If he continues trending downward, Jackson hears he won’t be in Miami for the long haul.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

  • Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman will be out 8-10 weeks after getting surgery to repair his torn ankle ligament, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). That timeline would put Perryman on track for a mid-season return. Perryman suffered the injury in Sunday night’s preseason game.
  • Bills wide receiver Jordan Matthews has what the team is calling “a chip fracture in his sternum” and is week to week, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. For now, it sounds like the newly-acquired receiver is not in danger of missing games, but it’s a situation to keep an eye on.
  • The Cowboys are working out wide receiver Corey Washington for the second time in training camp, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. It might not be long before he is signed.

Chargers LB Denzel Perryman To Miss Time

Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman will miss at least the first four games of the regular season after suffering an ankle injury in Sunday’s preseason game, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds Perryman may require surgery.Denzel Perryman (Vertical)

Although initial reports indicated Perryman could miss only four weeks (starting today), an MRI apparently showed a more severe injury and led to a longer timeline. If Perryman does indeed miss the first four weeks of the 2017, he’ll be absent for contests against the Broncos, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Eagles.

Perryman has been no stranger to injuries throughout his two-year career, as pectoral, shoulder, hamstring, and knee issues have sidelined him since he entered the league as a second-round draft pick in 2015. He’s been relatively effective when on the field, however, especially against the run. Last year, the 23-year-old Perryman started 11 games and played on 45% of the Chargers’ defensive snaps, racking up 71 tackles, two sacks, and grading as the league’s No. 43 linebacker in the process, per Pro Football Focus.

Los Angeles has the depth to withstand a Perryman absence, especially given that he was only expected to be a two-down player thanks to his lack of coverage abilities. Joshua Perry, a fourth-round choice in 2016, should take over as the Chargers’ middle linebacker in base packages, while outside ‘backers Jatavis Brown and Korey Toomer will stay on the field in nickel situations.

Injury Updates: Sullivan, Chargers, K. Jackson

We don’t cover every NFL injury at Pro Football Rumors, but generally if a quarterback or another notable player is expected to miss time, or if an injury is considered serious, we’ll pass that news along, since those are the injuries most likely to result in a roster move. Here are a few updates from around the NFL on injuries sustained in Week 7:

  • Vikings center John Sullivan, who underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy prior to the regular season, suffered a setback and had another surgical procedure, head coach Mike Zimmer said today (Twitter links via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press). Sullivan is on the injured reserve list with the designation to return, meaning he’d be eligible to return as soon as Week 9, but according to Zimmer, the center’s odds of playing this season are minimal (Twitter link via Tomasson).
  • Ian Rapoport of NFL.com passes along updates on a pair of Chargers injuries, reporting that the team fears linebacker Denzel Perryman has a torn pectoral, while guard Orlando Franklin is believed to have an MCL injury (Twitter links). Both players were set to undergo MRIs today to assess the damage.
  • Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson will be out “for a while” due to a sprained ankle, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters today, including Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
  • Browns head coach Mike Pettine said today that Josh McCown is day to day with a shoulder injury, adding that “if our starting QB is physically able to play, we’ll start him” (Twitter links via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). Johnny Manziel, who is currently under investigation by the NFL over a recent off-field incident, would be next in line if McCown can’t go.
  • In other Browns injury news, free safety Jordan Poyer is expected to miss time due to a shoulder issue, per Pettine (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).

AFC Notes: McCown, Chargers, Bills

Some assorted notes from around the AFC…

  • Browns quarterback Josh McCown wasn’t checked for a concussion until after today’s game, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets that the NFL will “review” whether the signal caller’s potential head injury was “handled properly.”
  • Chargers offensive lineman Orlando Franklin was carted off the field during his team’s loss to the Raiders, and Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune believes (via Twitter) the former second-rounder suffered a left leg injury. Franklin didn’t speak following the game, but Gehlken tweets that the lineman could “barely walk.”
  • Furthermore, Gehlken tweets that Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman left the stadium with his right arm in a sling. It’s believed to be a biceps injury, and the writer says the team is worried there’s a possible tear.
  • Bills coach Rex Ryan is confident that Tyrod Taylor will return following the team’s bye, reports Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News (via Twitter). Ryan also said the EJ Manuel would “100 percent” be the Bills backup quarterback.

Sunday Roundup: Ray, Eagles, Chargers

Let’s take a look a a few notes from around the league:

  • Shane Ray‘s draft stock took a hit because of a citation for marijuana possession and a toe injury, but the Missouri product was still selected in the first round, as the Broncos traded up to nab the high-ceiling pass rusher. As Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk writes, Denver hopes that Ray, who missed rookie minicamp as a result of the toe injury, will be able to participate in some capacity when the team resumes work tomorrow. As Alper points out, though, Ray’s work is likely to be limited, especially since the Broncos just lost third-round tight end Jeff Heuerman to a torn ACL at minicamp.
  • Of all the eyebrow-raising moves that Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has made during his brief tenure with the club, his decisions relating to Philadelphia’s wide receiving corps may be the most curious. But as David Murphy of The Philadelphia Daily News writes, with the addition of Nelson Agholor–a physical clone of Jeremy Maclin–the expected improvement from Zach Ertz and Jordan Matthews, and the team’s ability to shift Darren Sproles to more of a pass-catching role now that DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews are in the fold, the Eagles may actually have a more dynamic set of receivers than they had in 2014.
  • Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano says rookie Denzel Perryman will compete for time at inside linebacker with projected starters Manti Te’o and Donald Butler, but that ultimately everybody will see time on the field, ESPN’s Eric D. Williams writes. Pagano complimented his talent not only at the linebacker position, but also on special teams.
  • The Chargers don’t have a true fullback on their roster, but San Diego State product Chad Young hopes to change that, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego writes. Young has experience on his side, having been in training camp last year with the Jets. But like other fullbacks, he has seen his position fade across the NFL over the past several years.
  • Former Maryland standout Andre Monroe tried out for the Chargers during the team’s rookie minicamp, writes Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. Monroe set Maryland’s school record with 25 career sacks, 20 of which came in his last 26 games. But at 5’10” and 294 pounds, Monroe is a bit undersized for an NFL defensive lineman, and he was not immediately offered a contract by San Diego.
  • Longtime Ravens scout Joe Douglas has accepted a job with the Bears, according to a press release from the Ravens. Douglas will be Chicago’s new director of college scouting.
  • The Steelers have hired veteran NFL personnel man Rick Reiprish to join their player personnel department, writes Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Reiprish, who has over 30 years of experience in player personnel, was the Saints’ director of college scouting for 11 years until he was released in a front-office shakeup earlier this year.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Chargers Sign Four Draft Picks

With just five picks this year, the Chargers had one of 2015’s smallest draft classes, and the team nearly locked up all its draftees in one fell swoop today. According to the club’s official website, the Chargers have signed four rookies, including second-round linebacker Denzel Perryman.

In addition to inking Perryman to his rookie contract, the team also made things official with third-round cornerback Craig Mager, fifth-round outside linebacker Kyle Emanuel, and sixth-round defensive lineman Darius Philon. First-round running back Melvin Gordon, this year’s 15th overall selection, is the only San Diego draftee who has yet to put pen to paper.

As Over The Cap’s data shows, the cap numbers for the Chargers’ four signed picks will range from about $465K to $870K. Of the four players, Perryman will pull in the largest signing bonus, at about $1.734MM. Mager’s bonus will be worth approximately $662K, while Emanuel’s will come in at about $219K, and Philon will get about $121K.

For a complete breakdown of which draft picks have and haven’t signed their rookie contracts, be sure to check out our tracker.

Chargers GM On Gurley, Gordon, Collins

Some draft prognosticators had the Rams selecting Todd Gurley at No. 10, but Chargers GM Tom Telesco wasn’t expecting him to be the pick. Telesco told Alex Marvez of SiriusXM (audio link) that he thought St. Louis was set at the position with incumbent Tre Mason in the backfield. It turns out that the Gurley selection altered the Bolts’ draft plans at the last minute and forced them to make a move. Here’s more from Telesco’s chat with Marvez…

  • Telesco explained that after Gurley came off the board at No. 10, he started making calls to other teams. He didn’t expect the University of Georgia star to be available at No. 17, but he did feel compelled to move up in the draft to get a running back after he was taken. The Chargers, of course, moved from No. 17 to No. 15 in order to draft Melvin Gordon.
  • The GM said that the Chargers have kept in touch with La’el Collins‘ agent and they continue to “compile information” on his off-field situation. A number of teams are getting background information on the LSU tackle and individual players are working hard to recruit him.
  • Sixth-round pick Darius Philon could see action as an inside pass rusher in nickel packages, Telesco said. He also said that the team will find a role for inside linebacker Denzel Perryman, whom they drafted in the second round.

Pauline On Gurley, Bengals, McKinney, RBs

After his citation for marijuana possession, the expectation is that Missouri linebacker Shane Ray could fall out of the first round and that’s an opinion shared by many in his camp, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net writes. Earlier today, we learned that teams that wouldn’t have had a chance to land Ray before are now inquiring on him, with both GMs and owners doing their homework. Here’s Pauline’s latest:

  • The Dolphins are hoping that Todd Gurley doesn’t get selected in the top 10. If the running back is still on the board, Miami will happily snag him at No. 14, per Pauline.
  • As of now, there’s a very good chance the Bengals take an offensive tackle in round one and they’re said to be looking at Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi, among others.
  • Linebacker Benardrick McKinney spent an extensive amount of time the past few days talking with the Broncos and Cowboys. If Kevin Johnson is unavailable when the Cowboys are on the clock in round one, they will strongly consider either McKinney or Eric Kendricks, Pauline hears.
  • There’s a good possibility that Oregon cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is still available when the third round begins. While teams like his film and cover skills, his knee injury from last December has some clubs concerned. Recently, PFR’s Rob DiRe wrote that he expected Ekpre-Olomu to experience a dropoff in draft stock from last year to this year, but not this severe. Had he gone pro last season, the Oregon notable may have had a chance to be a first-round pick.
  • There are a number of running back-needy teams who might wait until the fourth round before drafting at the position, due to the quality and depth available this year. David Cobb and Buck Allen have been brought to Pauline’s attention as fourth round types that can contribute off the bat and Miami junior Duke Johnson is also getting buzz.
  • Alonzo Highsmith, senior personnel director for the Packers, is pushing hard for Denzel Perryman at the bottom of round one. If Green Bay takes the Miami notable, the team would then push Clay Matthews to the outside. The belief is Green Bay still values a cornerback with that first pick and Eric Rowe continues to be in the mix, but Perryman is also a possibility.
  • Don’t be surprised if tight end Wes Saxton is drafted much earlier than presently predicted, as teams are high on his speed and athleticism. Saxton, a South Alabama product, could go as high as the fourth round. Notre Dame tight end Ben Koyack is also getting additional attention.

Draft Visits: Jets, Jags, Steelers, Lions

Draft day is only a week and a half away, but teams are still bringing in prospects for visits and working them out, as they try to compile as much information as possible on this year’s draft class. Here are a few Monday updates on the latest visits and workouts:

  • Leonard Williams, DL (USC); Dante Fowler Jr., DE/OLB (Florida): Making their previously-reported visits to the Jets this week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
  • Denzel Perryman, LB (Miami): Visiting the Jaguars today, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
  • Darryl Roberts, CB (Marshall); Bryce Callahan, CB (Rice); Steven Nelson, CB (Oregon State): All visiting the Steelers today, according to Wilson (Twitter link).
  • Jamison Crowder, WR (Duke): Has had private workouts with Panthers, Buccaneers, and Texans, per Wilson.
  • Carl Davis, DT (Iowa): Visiting the Lions today, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
  • David Johnson, RB (Northern Iowa): Visiting the Falcons today, according to Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
  • Marcus Hardison, DL (Arizona State): Visiting the Bengals today and generating a lot of interest around the league, per Gil Brandt of NFL.com (Twitter link).
  • Bud Sasser, WR (Missouri): Visiting the Broncos today, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post.