Bucs LB Kwon Alexander Has Torn ACL
Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander suffered a torn ACL against the Browns on Sunday, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) first indicated Sunday that Tampa Bay feared Alexander had torn his ACL.
A season-ending injury will not only put an end to Alexander’s 2018 contributions, but signify a devastating development for Alexander’s free agency hopes next spring. Alexander is scheduled to become a free agent in March, and had been engaged in extension negotiations with Tampa Bay. He’ll now be facing a lengthy recovery period, which could put a cap on his next contract.
A fourth-round pick in the 2015 draft, Alexander has started 46 games over three-plus years with the Buccaneers. This season, he’d posted 38 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one sack while grading as the No. 53 linebacker among 79 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. With Alexander sidelined, the Buccaneers moved strong-side linebacker Adarius Taylor to the middle and inserted Jack Cichy into the game, but Cichy later left with a knee injury of his own.
If Tampa Bay is forced to look outside its organization for reinforcements, free agent linebackers such as Brian Cushing, Jonathan Freeny, Derrick Johnson, Kevin Minter, and Lawrence Timmons could conceivably be on the club’s radar.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Jets’ practice squad: C Nico Falah
- Placed on IR: G Ronald Leary
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Detrez Newsome
- Waived: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Deontay Burnett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from IR: CB Amari Coleman
Bucs Notes: Coordinator, Vea
The Buccaneers made a major change this week, firing much-maligned defensive coordinator Mike Smith and replacing him with Mark Duffner. The Bucs’ defense had picked up right where they left off in 2017, and had been an absolute sieve, leading for calls to fire Smith for weeks now. While Bucs fans will be happy that anyone other than Smith is calling the defense, some in Tampa Bay’s locker room apparently were hoping the team would go in a different direction for their interim coordinator.
There “was strong support by the players for Bucs DL Coach Brentson Buckner to take over the defense”, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (Twitter link). It’s notable that the team apparently didn’t go with the players’ first choice, and it will be interesting to watch how things play out with Duffner. His first test will be stopping Baker Mayfield and the Browns this Sunday.
- Speaking of the Buccaneers, rookie first round pick Vita Vea will make his first ever start this Sunday, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link). Vea, the talented young defensive tackle from Washington, will start because Gerald McCoy is missing the game due to injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Da’Mari Scott, LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- Waived/injured: LB James Burgess
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: CB Demetri Goodson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Dexter McDougle
- Waived/injured: DT Destiny Vaeao
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Devante Bond
- Released: WR Freddie Martino
Practice Squad Updates: 10/16/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Jake Eldrenkamp, WR Blake Jackson
Green Bay Packers
- Cut: WR DeAngelo Yancey
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Josh Ferguson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR K.J. Brent
- Cut: QB Phillip Walker
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Craig James
- Cut: CB Jalen Myrick
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Chris Campbell, WR Shane Wynn
- Cut: DB Darius Hillary, WR Tanner McEvoy
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Kalif Raymond, DE Myles Humphrey
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB B.J. Bello, DT Winston Craig
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Keenan Reynolds
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Ruben Holcomb, CB David Rivers
- Cut: OT Jarron Jones, RB Dare Ogunbowale
NFL Workout Updates: 10/16/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. Links to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise noted.
Chicago Bears
- CB Quinten Rollins (link)
Cleveland Browns
- C Jake Eldrenkamp (visit), WR Chad Hansen, WR Blake Jackson, WR Korey Robertson, WR Damore’ea Stringfellow (link)
Detroit Lions
- T Cole Gardner, G/T Austin Pasztor (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- WR K.J. Brent, WR Krishawn Hogan (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Khari Lee, G Brandon Thomas (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Deontez Alexander, G Jeff Allen, WR J.J. Jones, WR Austin Proehl (link)
Miami Dolphins
- DE Will Clarke, DT Winston Craig, T Antonio Garcia, DE Alec James, T Dieugot Joseph, DT Lewis Neal, T Corey Robinson, DT DeShawn Williams (link)
New York Jets
- WR J.J. Jones, S Charlie Miller, RB Donnel Pumphrey, C Jon Toth, T Toby Weathersby, RB Ralph Webb (link)
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB B.J. Bello, S Ibraheim Campbell, DT Winston Craig (visit), CB Dexter McDougle, CB Quinten Rollins (Twitter links via Balzer and Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LB Devante Bond (link)
Washington Redskins
- G Oday Aboushi, G J.J. Dielman, G John Jerry (link)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/15/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Coleman Shelton, RB Brandon Wilds
- Cut:WR Bernard Reedy, RB Jalen Simmons
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: RB Mark Thompson, LB Alvin Jones, OL Randin Crecelius
- Cut: DB Kai Nacua, WR Andre Levrone
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Garret Dooley
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Skai Moore
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Ronald Zamort
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Ruben Holcomb
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Devin Ross
- Cut: WR Chad Hansen
More Bucs Extension Targets Surface
- Ali Marpet became the latest Buccaneers starter to sign a lucrative extension, joining Mike Evans and Cameron Brate in doing so this year. More re-ups could be on track. Kwon Alexander and the Bucs are still talking an extension, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. While Stroud writes it’s uncertain if the Bucs want to pay Alexander like a top-tier linebacker — they have Lavonte David on the books at $10MM per year — he’s on the radar. As is fourth-year left tackle Donovan Smith, who’s in a contract year. Despite rarely being viewed as a productive player by Pro Football Focus, Smith is well thought of among Bucs brass, per Stroud. Adam Humphries is another player the Bucs would like to retain, though they have a crowded receiver room. Chris Godwin‘s emerged as Tampa Bay’s No. 3 man and may be Evans’ top complement if DeSean Jackson ($10MM non-guaranteed salary in 2019) isn’t back next year. Humphries’ contract expires after this season.
Buccaneers Fire DC Mike Smith
The Buccaneers have fired defensive coordinator Mike Smith, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Linebackers coach Mark Duffner will serve as Tampa Bay’s interim DC, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Smith’s firing shouldn’t come as a total surprise, as the Buccaneers have fielded one of the NFL’s worst defenses this season. Tampa Bay ranks dead last in points allowed per game (34.6) and 31st in yards per game, and has allowed a whopping 82 points over its past two contests, both of which were losses. The Buccaneers are now on pace to give up the most points in NFL history, per Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Advanced metrics aren’t a fan of Smith’s Buccaneers defense, either, as the club ranks last in Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA, which measures overall efficiency. Tampa Bay also ranks poorly in pace stats, as the team is 31st in both yards allowed per drive and points allowed per drive. All of Football Outsiders’ metrics were calculated before the Buccaneers gave up 34 points to the Falcons on Sunday.
The Buccaneers attempted to revamp their defense over the offseason, especially along the defensive line, where they acquired Jason Pierre-Paul via trade, signed Vinny Curry and Beau Allen, and drafted Vita Vea in the first round. However, Tampa Bay ranks just 27th in adjusted sack rate. That’s an untenable lack of pressure, especially given the Buccaneers’ problems in the secondary, where starters Chris Conte and Vernon Hargreaves are on injured reserve.
Smith, 59, was hired as Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator prior to the 2016 campaign, and the Buccaneers made him the NFL’s highest-paid DC, per Rapoport (Twitter link). While the Bucs’ defense finished a respectable 13th in defensive DVOA in 2016, the unit fell to 32nd in 2017 before its struggles continued into this season. Smith, of course, was the Falcons’ head coach from 2008-14, compiling a 66-46 record during that time.
Duffner, meanwhile, offers a wealth of coaching experience, both at the collegiate and pro level. He’s been with the Buccaneers since 2016, and has previously held linebacker coach positions with the Bengals, Packers, Jaguars, and Dolphins. Duffner served as Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator (in addition to his positional duties) in 2001-02.
Buccaneers To Closely Evaluate Jameis Winston, Still Unsure Of Long-Term Future
- Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) reports that Jameis Winston‘s job with the Buccaneers is pretty secure for the time being, but the rest of the season will be critical in determining Winston’s long-term future with the club. He is under club control through 2019 under the fifth-year option, but that option would cost the Bucs $20.9MM and is guaranteed for injury only, so if Winston performs poorly but remains healthy, Tampa Bay could conceivably cut ties after the 2018 season.