Theo Riddick - Pro Football Rumors

Broncos To Meet With Theo Riddick

July 29th, 2019 at 8:36am CST by Zachary Links

Former Lions running back Theo Riddick is scheduled to visit the Broncos, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). This marks the second visit on Riddick’s free agency tour after he huddled up with the Saints on Sunday.

The pass-catching specialist had some excellent years in Detroit, but the rise of Kerryon Johnson lessened his importance with the Lions. When the club signed C.J. Anderson this offseason, it was yet another indication that they could move on from the 28-year-old.

The Broncos already have a No. 1 running back in Phillip Lindsay, but Riddick’s soft hands could make him a strong No. 2 companion. Last year, Lindsay caught 35 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield. Riddick, meanwhile, has averaged a 62/474/2.5 stat line over the last four years, including a showing of 80/697/3 in 2015.

In addition to the Broncos and Saints, the Vikings are said to have some level of interest in the veteran.

North Notes: RGIII, Duke, Vikings

July 28th, 2019 at 10:43am CST by Rory Parks

Ravens backup QB Robert Griffin III will miss four to eight weeks after suffering a hairline fracture in his right thumb Saturday night, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Baltimore is optimistic that RGIII will be ready for Week 1, but if he cannot return on the early side of his recovery timeline, he will miss at least some regular season time. The Ravens will surely sign a free agent signal-caller in short order, as the only other QB on the roster behind starter Lamar Jackson is sixth-round rookie Trace McSorley. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic says Josh Johnson, who has been on Baltimore’s preseason roster before, makes the most sense (Twitter link).

Now for more from the league’s north divisions:

Browns RB Duke Johnson suffered a hamstring injury Saturday, and ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that the ailment could force Johnson to miss some time (Twitter link). That will not help the fifth-year back in his quest to get traded out of Cleveland.
The way that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ran his field-goal drill Saturday — having incumbent Chris Boswell and challenger Matthew Wright alternate kicks rather than having Boswell take all of his tries before resetting the drill — is a departure from the way he has done things in the past, which suggests that Pittsburgh really is open to moving on from Boswell. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic still believes it’s more likely than not that Boswell will be kicking for the Steelers in 2019, but the pressure is definitely on.
Darren Wolfson of KSTP.com says that the Vikings have some interest in running back Theo Riddick, who was released by the Lions on Saturday (Twitter link). Minnesota does not have a visit set up at this time, though Riddick will meet with at least one other team in addition to his summit with the Saints.
Orlando Scandrick visited with the Vikings last week before signing with the Eagles, and Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets that Minnesota did not extend a contract offer to Scandrick. The Vikes have worked out several CBs recently, and when asked whether the club would ultimately sign one, head coach Mike Zimmer said that’s ultimately up to GM Rick Spielman. Zimmer said, “we’re always looking for players. We’ll keep pounding the pavement” (Twitter link via Tomasson).

Theo Riddick To Visit Saints

July 27th, 2019 at 4:40pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Theo Riddick was surprisingly cut by the Lions earlier today, and he isn’t wasting any time searching for a new home. The veteran running back will take his first visit with the Saints, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

The Lions drafted Riddick in the sixth round back in 2013, and he’d been with them ever since. Riddick has always operated primarily as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, and he often shined in that role with Detroit. In each of the past four seasons, he eclipsed 50 receptions, and he was a nice safety blanket for Matthew Stafford. Riddick had been set to enter the final year of a three-year, $11.5MM extension he signed in 2016. Last year he had 40 carries for 171 yards and 61 receptions for 384 yards. His best year was in 2015, when he had 80 receptions for 697 yards.

There were some inklings that the Lions might move on, so he likely wasn’t caught too off-guard. The Lions signed C.J. Anderson this offseason, and also wanted to give promising second-year player Kerryon Johnson more playing time. The Saints aren’t going to be the only team interested in Riddick, but they’ll have the chance to sign him first. Still only 28 and never used too much as a runner, he should have plenty left in the tank physically

New Orleans’ interest is intriguing since they already have Alvin Kamara as an excellent pass-catcher out of the backfield. The Saints did lose Mark Ingram this offseason but his style of play isn’t at all similar to Riddick’s, and they also signed Latavius Murray to backup Kamara. Still, the Saints struggled for consistent receiving options behind Michael Thomas and Kamara last year, and Sean Payton can never have too many weapons. We’ll keep you posted as we hear anything else.

Lions Release RB Theo Riddick

July 27th, 2019 at 8:24am CST by Ben Levine

The Lions have moved on from one of their longest-tenured players. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team has released running back Theo Riddick. His roster spot will be taken by defensive lineman Mike Daniels, who signed with Detroit yesterday.

The Notre Dame product has been with the Lions since he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. The running back soon became one of Matthew Stafford‘s favorite targets, as Riddick has finished with at least 50 receptions per season since 2015. Actually, as our own Dallas Robinson pointed out, the 28-year-old has garnered more pass targets than rush attempts in half of his NFL seasons, and his career 3.6-yards-per-carry indicates that he’s much more dangerous in the passing game.

Despite his production, there was some speculation that the Lions could move on from the veteran. Riddick agreed to a three-year, $11.5MM extension with Detroit back in 2016, and he was set to count for $4.625MM on the team’s 2019 salary cap. Now, the Lions will only be left with ~$963K in dead cap.

Furthermore, the running back had one of his worst NFL seasons from a statistical standpoint, and the Lions added veteran C.J. Anderson and rookie Ty Johnson to pair with Kerryon Johnson and Zach Zenner. While none of those players possess the pass-catching prowess of Riddick, it was clear that the veteran was the odd man out.

Riddick is still relatively young, and plenty of teams could use a top-notch third-down back. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the running back quickly catch on with a brand-new organization.

Release Candidate: Lions RB Theo Riddick

July 11th, 2019 at 9:44pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Calling Theo Riddick a running back is a bit misleading, as he’s really more of a pass-catcher than a ball-carrier. In three of his six seasons with the Lions, the 28-year-old Riddick has garnered more pass targets than rush attempts. He’s been a valuable asset in Detroit’s receiving game, but is he a lock to remain on the club’s roster in 2019?

The Lions’ run game has been a disaster for most of Matthew Stafford‘s tenure under center. Detroit famously went without a single-game 100-yard rusher from 2013 until September of 2018, when rookie Kerryon Johnson accomplished the feat against the Patriots. Johnson is expected to handle the majority of the Lions’ carries next season, although Detroit management has refrained from labeling him a “bellcow.” The Auburn product posted 641 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 118 attempts last year, but missed most of the second half of the campaign with a knee injury.

Detroit set out to add at least one more option to its backfield this offseason, and general manager Bob Quinn & Co. zeroed in on a pair of Rams alums. First, the Lions inked Los Angeles restricted free agent Malcolm Brown to a two-year, $3.3MM offer sheet, but the Rams ultimately matched those terms and retained the 26-year-old. The Lions looked elsewhere on the market and found fellow ex-Ram C.J. Anderson, signing the veteran to a one-year pact worth $1.5MM.

Johnson and Anderson are locks for the Detroit roster, so assuming the Lions keep four running backs, Riddick will compete with Zach Zenner and sixth-round rookie Ty Johnson for a roster spot. If the Lions feel as though they need a dedicated pass-catching back, Riddick should be safe. If not, or if Detroit thinks Kerryon Johnson will handle enough receiving work on his own, the Lions could retain the special teams skills of Zenner and take a flier on a minimum salary player like Ty Johnson.

Riddick’s contract — not his talent — is his true barrier to making the Lions’ roster. The Notre Dame product agreed to a three-year, $11.5MM extension with Detroit in 2016, and he’s set to count for $4.625MM on the team’s 2019 salary cap. If the Lions release Riddick, they’ll clear all but ~$963K of that total.

There’s an argument to be made that if the Lions wanted to cut Riddick, they would have already done so. But it’s also possible that Detroit will wait until the regular season is closer to part ways with Riddick. He’d have little leverage at that point, and could probably be pressured into accepting a pay cut (or simply re-signing with Detroit at a cheaper rate after being released).

Riddick can still be a valuable player as a pass-catcher, but it’s hard to see the Lions being comfortable with his near $5MM cap charge, especially given the projected workload of Johnson and Anderson. Therefore, Riddick could find himself on the free agent market later this summer.

Injury Updates: Patriots, Colts, Lions, Redskins

October 19th, 2018 at 9:36pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The final injury reports for Week 7 came out earlier today, and there was a lot of news. Lots of key players will be missing their team’s games, while others will be returning after extended absence. One notable rule-out was the Patriots declaring that starting right tackle Marcus Cannon would miss their game against the Bears. It’s a big loss for New England, especially in a week where they have to go up against Khalil Mack. Mack will now be lining up across from a backup tackle, and could end up making life miserable for Tom Brady.

Here are more injury updates from around the league:

The Colts have been the most injured team in recent memory the past few weeks, but are finally getting some good news. Star receiver T.Y. Hilton has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, but is ready to make his return this week. Unfortunately for Indianapolis, they’ll still be without tight end Jack Doyle and receiver Ryan Grant as well as several key contributors on defense like safety Clayton Geathers and defensive tackle Denico Autry.
The Lions will be without running back Theo Riddick, who went down during the team’s win over the Packers. Riddick has been operating as the Lions’ third down back, and rookie Kerryon Johnson should get more run with him out of the way. On the bright side, the team looks like it could be getting back pass-rusher Ezekiel Ansah, who hasn’t played since Detroit’s Week 1 loss. Ansah is listed as questionable but practiced all three days this week.
The Redskins will be thin on pass-catchers, as Jamison Crowder has been ruled out for the team’s game against the Cowboys while Paul Richardson is listed as doubtful. Washington promoted Jehu Chesson from the practice squad yesterday, signaling they weren’t expecting Richardson to play. Tight end Jordan Reed should see a ton of looks as the Redskins’ receiving corp is completely depleted.

For a rundown of every team’s injury situation, you can view all 32 injury reports over at ProFootballTalk.com.

Extra Points: Cowboys, Rams, Brockers, Lions, Dunlap

April 16th, 2018 at 9:29pm CST by Micah Powell

After much speculation, Cowboys defender Byron Jones confirmed on Monday that he will be switching from safety to cornerback in 2018, the Dallas Morning News’ Jon Machota writes.

Viewed as a versatile defender coming out of college, Jones played cornerback as a rookie in 2015 and a safety the past two seasons. New defensive backs coach Kris Richard preferred him at the former.

“I think it will be a good move for me and the team. I’m always open to making position changes, as long as I’m in the best position to succeed. If [Richard] believes my best position is corner, then I’m down.”

Richard knows a thing or two about getting the best from bigger cornerbacks. With the Seahawks, Richard oversaw Richard Sherman’s ascent to one of the premier corners in the league. What remains to be seen is if the team prefers him on the boundary or in the slot. In 2017, rookies Chidobe Awuzie and Jourdan Lewis showed plenty of promise on the outside.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

In a press conference on Monday, Rams defensive lineman Michael Brockers told reporters he tore his MCL in the team’s playoff loss to the Falcons in January, ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez tweets. During that game, the sixth-year defender sat out the second half. The good news for Los Angeles is that Brockers took part in team activities on Monday, but they’re not in pads until training camp.
If any Lions players are moved in draft-day deals, some of the names that make sense include Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick and Jake Rudock, ESPN’s Michael Rothstein writes. Those names all come to mind after the team added veterans in LeGarrette Blount and Matt Cassel in the offseason.
The goal is for the Bengals to sign both Carlos Dunlap and get a new deal with Geno Atkins, Bengals.com writer Geoff Hobson notes in a mailbag. Both Dunlap’s and Atkins’ deals run through the 2018 campaign.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to be deposed in the next two weeks in Colin Kaeperncik‘s collusion case against the league, USA Today’s A.J. Perez writes. Seahawks general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll are also on the docket to be deposed.

North Notes: Steelers, Lions, Riddick, Pack

March 26th, 2017 at 4:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a quick spin around the NFL’s two North divisions:

Although the Steelers are proceeding as if veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will return in 2017, the club is still expected to search for a long-term successor in the draft, according to Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com. “I think we’ve been in that mindset for the last several years, that’s what this business tells us to be in,” said Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin. “We better start sharpening our sword in terms of evaluation of quarterbacks and what’s available to us or potentially available to us, that’s just due diligence. So yes, we have.” Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert also indicated earlier this year that his team would start to look for a Roethlisberger replacement at some point, a course of action PFR suggested when assessing Pittsburgh’s top offseason needs.
Lions running back Theo Riddick had surgery on both wrists near the end of last season, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who adds those operations forced Riddick to be placed on injured reserve in December. Riddick, who still managed 53 receptions in an injury-shortened 2016 campaign, is expected to be available for the beginning of OTAs. Detroit is still expected to upgrade its backfield this offseason, meaning the club could target options either through free agency (where a number of backs are still unsigned) or the draft.
Christine Michael‘s new contract with the Packers is a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal that includes a $25K signing bonus, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Thanks to the MSB, Michael will earn $800K but only count for $640K against Green Bay’s cap. Michael, 26, is one of only three running backs currently on the Packers’ roster along with Ty Montgomery and Don Jackson.

Lions Place Theo Riddick On IR

December 31st, 2016 at 3:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Lions already ruled Theo Riddick out of a potential elimination game on Sunday night, but if the team advances to the playoffs, it won’t have its top healthy running back’s services.

Detroit placed Riddick on IR to end his season, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. He’s missed the past three games with a wrist injury and will now have a full offseason to recover from the malady. The Lions signed wide receiver Jace Billingsley off their practice squad, Michael Rothstein reports.

Should the Lions either beat the Packers or receive help with a Redskins loss, they will have to use their backup running backs in the playoffs. Zach Zenner, Dwayne Washington and the recently re-signed Joique Bell represent the Lions’ backfield contingent heading into their pivotal Week 17 contest.

The recently extended Riddick finished his fourth season with 728 yards from scrimmage. Following Ameer Abdullah‘s early-season injury, the former passing-down back became the Lions’ top ground option. Riddick’s career-high 357 rushing yards still lead the team despite the 25-year-old back playing in just 10 games.

Last month, a report pointing to a possible Abdullah return emerged. Nothing has transpired on that front since. Both Zenner and Washington have amassed 265 rushing yards this season for a Lions rushing attack that ranks 30th, but Zenner is averaging 3.9 yards per carry compared to the rookie’s 2.9.

Lions, RB Theo Riddick Agree To Extension

September 10th, 2016 at 9:25am CST by Zachary Links

SATURDAY, 9:25am: The Lions have confirmed the extensions for both Riddick and Martin, with general manager Bob Quinn releasing a statement:

“We are excited to announce contract extensions for Sam Martin and Theo Riddick. Both players have earned these extensions through their hard work that dates back to 2013 when both joined the Lions. I would like to thank Sam, Theo, and their representatives for their hard work assisting us in our goal of completing these extensions prior to the start of the regular season. I’m very pleased that both players can join their teammates in fully concentrating on our opening game.”

FRIDAY, 11:10am: The Lions have agreed to a contract extension with running back Theo Riddick, according to a source who spoke with Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a three-year deal worth $12.75MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Last season, Riddick caught 80 passes (most of any running back in 2015) for 697 yards and three scores. This year, he is slated to get a good amount of work behind primary tailback Ameer Abdullah. Abdullah figures to get the bulk of the carries thanks to his speed and agility, but Riddick will be in on passing downs and should get a good number of targets from Matthew Stafford.

Riddick, who turned 25 this spring, was slated to hit the open market after the 2016 season. It seems like Riddick did pretty well on this deal, especially when considering that Giovani Bernard‘s new contract with the Bengals is only worth a little more at $15.5MM over a three year period. Riddick is roughly the same age as Bernard, but Bernard has shown to be a more well-balanced running back.

This has already been a busy day for the Lions as they extended punter Sam Martin minutes ago.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.