Week In Review News & Rumors

Ezekiel Elliott‘s suspension (finally) takes effect. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Elliott last week, meaning his six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations has been restored. For the time being, Dallas will roll with Alfred Morris, Rod Smith, and Darren McFadden in its backfield, but the saga isn’t over yet. Elliott’s appeal is scheduled for December 1, meaning that while he’ll miss at least four games, he could be back on the field before his full six-game ban tolls. The former first-round pick has since left the country to “clear his head” and train.

Jerry Jones v. the NFL. Elliott isn’t the only member of the Cowboys organization fighting the NFL, as Jones — the club’s owner and general manager — has also gotten in on the action. Jones reportedly feels the league’s owners are being misled on the details of commissioner Roger Goodell‘s contract extension, and has threatened to sue the NFL over the issue. Goodell, for his part, is “furious” over the delay in negotiations and the concept of a proposed performance-based pay schedule.

Martellus Bennett is a Patriot again. What a week it’s been for Bennett — the Packers cut the veteran tight end with a “failure to disclose medical condition” designation, while Bennett claims Green Bay’s medical staff wasn’t helpful in regards to his reported torn rotator cuff. Bennett, who has flirted with a post-2017 retirement, was claimed off waivers by New England, with whom he spent the 2016 campaign, and has since passed a physical. The Packers, meanwhile, will attempt to recoup a portion of Bennett’s signing bonus.

Vontae Davis hits free agent market. Bennett wasn’t the only veteran player to go through waivers this week, as the Colts cut Davis following reports that the defensive back would be placed on injured reserve. It’s been a maddening campaign for Davis, as a groin injury has contributed to his performance struggles, while he’s also had communication disputes with head coach Chuck Pagano. Indianapolis tried to trade Davis before the league’s deadline, and while clubs such as the Bills expressed interest, no deal was made. However, contending teams are now expressing interest in Davis now that he’s a free agent.

Welcome back Teddy. The Vikings now have another quarterback on their roster, and it’s the familiar face of Teddy Bridgewater, who was activated from the PUP list approximately 15 months after suffering a devastating knee injury. Whether Bridgewater will serve as Minnesota’s starter at any point this season is an open question (especially given that Case Keenum tossed four touchdowns against the Redskins today), but he gives the club another option under center. Fellow signal-caller Sam Bradford has been placed on injured reserve.

Deshaun Watson tears ACL. On a rate basis, Watson was in the midst of one of the more successful rookie campaigns in NFL history. Among first-year signal-callers since the merger, Watson ranked first in touchdown percentage and second in quarterback rating while tossing a league-leading touchdowns and scoring twice more on the ground. An ACL tear (suffered in practice) means the Texans will turn to Tom Savage as their starter, while the club also added veterans Matt McGloin and T.J. Yates.

Trades, trades, trades! The NFL’s trade deadline hit last Tuesday, and five deals were made in advance of 4pm ET. The 49ers surprisingly picked up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots, the Seahawks fortified their offensive line by acquiring left tackle Duane Brown from the Texans, the Bills got wideout Kelvin Benjamin from the Panthers, running back Jay Ajayi was shipped from the Dolphins to the Eagles, and the Jets received cornerback Rashard Robinson from the 49ers. Perhaps most notable, however, was the non-trade of quarterback A.J. McCarron from the Bengals to the Browns.

Ezekiel Elliott saga continues. Elliott’s six-game suspension was once again restored last week, but after another appeal, an administrative stay allowed the Cowboys running back to play against the Chiefs today. A three-judge panel is scheduled to rule on Elliott, and after that decision, his six-game suspension may finally be put in place for good. New reports have indicated Elliott and his legal team are open to a settlement, but the NFL isn’t interested in any sort of agreement.

Josh Gordon granted reinstatement. At long last, Gordon is now on to track to appear in an NFL game for the first time since 2014. Still only 26 years old, Gordon led the league in receiving in that 2013, managing 1,646 yards in only 14 games. He’s been suspended for much of the three-plus seasons since, but will now likely be eligible to play in Week 13. Cleveland management is set to meet with Gordon soon.

Andrew Luck finally shelved. The Colts finally capitulated and placed Luck on injured reserve after the starting quarterback had not played a down for the club in 2017. Still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Luck is expected to be fully healthy in time for the 2018 season, but with Indianapolis going nowhere fast this year, it didn’t make sense for Luck to come back. The Colts “won’t ignore” the 2018 quarterback draft class, although they now boast another competent signal-caller — Jacoby Brissett — in addition to Luck.

Trade deadline primer. With the NFL’s trade deadline only two days away, rumors are everywhere. Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton could possibly be available, while Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll strongly denied tight end Jimmy Graham could be used as a trade chit. Seattle is on the lookout for an offensive tackle, however, with the Bills’ Cordy Glenn and the Texans’ Duane Brown among the club’s possible targets. Meanwhile, clubs are asking the Lions about retired wideout Calvin Johnson‘s rights, while Detroit tight end Eric Ebron is also purportedly on the block.

Jaguars fortify their defense. Jacksonville made a massive — both in terms of magnitude and the player in question’s size — acquisition over the weekend by sending a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for defensive tackle Marcell Dareus. The Jaguars, who already rank first overall in defensive DVOA, hope they’ll be able to motivate Dareus into improving their run defense. Buffalo, meanwhile, wasn’t actively shopping Dareus, but general manager Brandon Beane has now cleared a hefty contract from the Bills’ books while removing a player in Dareus who may not have bought into the club’s culture. In addition to acquiring Dareus, the Jaguars also inked linebacker Telvin Smith to a four-year, $44MM extension.

Stalwart left tackles go down. Joe Thomas had never missed a snap during his NFL career, but he’s now on injured reserve after suffering a torn triceps in Week 7. The Browns will now lose the opportunity to trade Thomas — something they likely had no interest in doing anyway — and will go forward with Spencer Drango at left tackle. The Eagles, meanwhile, lost their blindside protector when Jason Peters suffered a torn ACL, and could now be open to acquiring another left tackle via the trade market.

Anquan Boldin wants to play. Boldin surprisingly retired just weeks after signing a one-year deal with the Bills earlier this year, but now he wants back in the league. The only problem? Buffalo still controls his rights, and has no plans to release Boldin to the open market. While the Bills’ front office says there’s a small chance Boldin could return to Buffalo, the veteran wideout reportedly wants to play closer to his Florida home. The Bills are open to trading Boldin, but aren’t expecting much in the way of offers.

Dwight Freeney finds a home. At long last, Freeney is back in the NFL after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Seahawks. Seattle was on the hunt for defensive line depth after losing Cliff Avril for the rest of the season, and Freeney was among the best edge rushers available on the open market. Freeney, who said he was close to hanging up his cleats after garnering little offseason interest, will earn a prorated $1MM base salary, plus an additional $8K for each game he’s on the 53-man roster.

Quarterbacks go down in Green Bay, Arizona. Aaron Rodgers will be sidelined for at least eight weeks after suffering a broken a collarbone in Week 8, and while there’s a chance he could return later this year (and into the postseason), some reports indicate that the Packers aren’t expecting Rodgers back. Green Bay won’t add a veteran quarterback, meaning 2015 fifth-round pick Brett Hundley will handle starting duties. The Cardinals, meanwhile, will be without Carson Palmer for eight weeks, as well, as the veteran signal-caller broke his left arm on Sunday. Like Rodgers, could conceivably play again this season, but if Arizona is out of contention, it’s unlikely he’ll return.

Zeke’s suspension on hold…again. Ezekiel Elliott was granted yet another temporary restraining order last week, ensuring his availability for the Cowboys’ Week 7 contest against the 49ers. Next up is a hearing on October 30, meaning that Elliott should be available in Week 8, as well. However, the NFL is pushing for an expedited hearing (with a target date of October 27). And despite reports to the contrary, the league has no interest in discussing a possible settlement with Elliott.

NaVorro Bowman stays in the Bay Area. After securing his release from the 49ers, Bowman signed on with the Raiders, inking a one-year deal worth $2MM. The veteran linebacker will be able to “double dip,” as the lack of offset language in his San Francisco deal means he’ll be able to collect a paycheck from both the 49ers and Raiders. The Niners had originally agreed to trade Bowman to the Saints a week ago, but Bowman wanted to hit free agency and choose his next club. He had a visit lined up with the Cowboys before signing with Oakland.

Colin Kaepernick alleges collusion. With no teams showing serious interest in Kaepernick despite several injuries around the league, the free agent signal-caller initiated a collusion lawsuit against the NFL, accusing the league’s owners of keeping him unemployed because of his social activism. Kaerpernick has a broader goal in mind, however, as he reportedly wants his lawsuit to lead to the termination of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement. All the latest on Kaepernick and the NFL’s anthem protests can be found here.

Beast Mode suspended. Marshawn Lynch was banned for one game after making contact with an official in Thursday night’s Raiders victory. Lynch, who was ejected following the incident, is appealing the suspension. League spokesman Joe Lockhart seemingly indicated Lynch would also be heavily fined for the contact, but the league is surprisingly not hitting Lynch with a financial penalty.

Ezekiel Elliott‘s suspension reinstated: The NFL’s ongoing legal battle with Elliott took another turn last week, as the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the league, a decision which resulted in the restoration of the Cowboys running back’s six-game ban. Elliott still has options — he can re-file in either New York or Texas and keep himself on the field — but if he and his team don’t take action, he’ll be suspended until November 24, the day after Dallas’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Chargers. If Elliott decides to accept his ban, the Cowboys will turn to Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden as their primary backs.

Cardinals acquire Adrian Peterson: The Saints quickly abandoned any plans they had to utilize Peterson in 2017, as they shipped the former All Pro to Arizona for a conditional 2018 sixth-round pick. Peterson had lost time to fellow backs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara in New Orleans, and had posted only 27 rushing attempts through four games. Peterson says he did not request a trade, but he’ll now have a chance to be the lead back for the Cardinals, who subsequently released veteran Chris Johnson. General manager Steve Keim & Co. didn’t take much of a risk in acquiring Peterson, as Arizona owes him only ~$700K for the rest of the season.

Giants lose all their wideouts: Not only is Big Blue now winless to start the season, but it’s witnessed injuries to their top four wide receivers. Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle), Brandon Marshall (ankle), and Dwayne Harris (foot) are all out for the rest of the year, while Sterling Shepard is expected to miss multiple weeks with a health issue of his own. New York has added several pass-catchers in recent days, but the club is not interested in a reunion with Victor Cruz (despite his best lobbying efforts). As if the Giants’ receiving problems weren’t enough, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has now been suspended indefinitely following multiple incidents.

Texans down their best defenders: J.J. Watt (tibial plateau fracture) and Whitney Mercilus (torn pectoral) are both out for the rest of the year, leaving Houston with only Jadeveon Clowney as the club’s only star along its front seven. For Watt, who is arguably still the NFL’s best defensive player, this latest injury means he’s now been sidelined by health questions in each of the past two seasons. For what it’s worth, the Texans did agree to terms with free agents Lamarr Houston (link) and Kendall Langford (link), but neither of those players can be counted on to replace the production of Watt and/or Mercilus.

End of an era in San Francisco: After unsuccessfully attempting to trade him, the 49ers released veteran linebacker NaVorro Bowman, who had spent his entire career in the Bay Area. San Francisco had actually agreed to ship the former All Pro to New Orleans, but Bowman preferred to become a free agent and pick his next club. Thus far, the Raiders have expressed the most interest, and Bowman will meet with Oakland in the coming days.

Danny Trevathan punished by NFL. Following a jarring helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams on Thursday, Trevathan was suspended two games by the league, meaning he’ll miss the Bears’ contests against the Viking and Ravens. Trevathan can appeal the ban, however, and possibly see it reduced. From an on-field perspective, Chicago can ill-afford to lose another linebacker, as Jerrell Freeman is already on injured reserve while fill-in Nick Kwiatkoski is dealing with a pectoral issue. Adams, thankfully, escaped the violent play with only a concussion.

Quarterback returns on the horizon. Andrew Luck could potentially return for the Colts by Week 6, although his lack of practice time could delay that timeline. Luck didn’t practice last week, and would likely need some sort of ramp up period before getting back to game action. Still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Luck would give Indianapolis a massive boost if he can return in the near future. Vikings signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater, meanwhile, should be ready to play by Week 7, which could complicate a Minnesota quarterback room that includes an injured Sam Bradford and backup Case Keenum.

Darren Sproles done for season, possibly career. Sproles suffered both a broken arm and a torn ACL on the same play in Week 4, meaning he won’t play again during the 2017 campaign. Whether or not he’ll return in 2018 is something of an open question — Sproles had indicated he’d retire following this year but backtracked on confirming it ahead of this season. Now that won’t finish out what could have been his final NFL season, Sproles could rethink his position. The Eagles signed old friend Kenjon Barner to join a backfield that includes LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood, and Corey Clement.

Canadian Football League in the news. The CFL was linked to two out-of-work quarterbacks this week, as both Colin Kaepernick and Johnny Manziel were attached to north of the border clubs. The Montreal Alouttes reached out to Kaepernick regarding his interest in joining the league, but Kaepernick reportedly doesn’t want to sign with a CFL team. Manziel, meanwhile, has been barred from playing in the CFL this season but is eligible to join the league in 2018.

Dolphins reinstate Lawrence Timmons. Miami allowed Timmons to return to the club following an indefinite suspension, one that was levied after Timmons went AWOL during the Dolphins’ Week 2 contest. Timmons reportedly visited his old team — the Steelers — during Miami’s Week 1 bye and expressed his regret at signing in South Beach. On the field, Timmons’ return is important given that the Fins already lost rookie ‘bakcer Raekwon McMillan for the season.

Injuries, injuries, injuries. Several contenders lost key players to health issues last week, including the Ravens, who saw All Pro guard Marshal Yanda join a ever-growing list of Baltimore contributors that is done for the year. Tight end Greg Olsen is done for at least eight weeks after suffering a broken foot, but there’s hope he could return to the Panthers later in 2017. Elsewhere in the NFC South, Falcons edge rusher Vic Beasley is expected to miss at least a month with a hamstring ailment, but he won’t go on injured reserve. And the Chargers’ string of poor injury luck continued, as No. 1 corner Jason Verrett decided to undergo season-ending knee surgery.

Adversaries get new deals. The NFL is still expected to extend commissioner Roger Goodell through the 2021 season, although the contract has taken a bit longer than expected to get done. That may have been because Cowboys owner Jerry Jones reportedly attempted to influence the process in the hopes of expanding the field of candidates. The NFLPA, meanwhile, re-elected DeMaurice Smith as executive director, although civil rights lawyer Cyrus Mehri is expected to contest the results.

Andrew Luck possibly nearing return. While the Colts are without Luck during Week 3 (but still winning), Indy could see its franchise quarterback back on the field in the near future. Week 6 is looking like a realistic date for Luck’s return, meaning the Colts would need to get through only two more games — against the Seahawks and 49ers — with Jacoby Brissett under center. If Indianapolis can hold onto against the Browns today, the club would be in a much better position if/when Luck comes back.

Dolphins’ linebacker room shaken up. Free agent addition Lawrence Timmons went AWOL prior to Miami’s Week 2 game, and has since been suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. Not only that, but Timmons took a bizarre trip to visit his old team — the Steelers — during the Dolphins’ Week 1 bye. Miami has since acquired former first-round linebacker Stephone Anthony from the Saints, although that deal was reportedly in the works before the Timmons saga began.

Su’a Cravens won’t play in 2017. The Redskins officially placed Cravens — who considered retirement earlier this year — on the reserve/left squad list, ensuring that he won’t suit up this season. Cravens had been planning to report to Washington, but that won’t happen now. He wants to continue his career in 2018, but it’s unclear if that will happen with the Redskins.

Bengals reshuffle staff after 0-2 start: The Bengals have scored nine points in two games and fired their offensive coordinator as a result. OC Ken Zampese is out in Cincinnati, and the team promoted quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor to its top offensive post. The son of longtime NFL assistant Ernie Zampese, Ken Zampese just began his second season as Bengals OC. But he did not appear to win over his players, who may or may not have assembled something of a mutiny to force the franchise to make a key change. Lazor’s previous OC gig ended when the Dolphins fired him from that post in November 2015. As a result of Cincy’s rampant struggles, longtime starter Andy Dalton may not be free from a demotion. Some Bengals players are also voicing support for a Colin Kaepernick signing.

Raiders re-up Donald Penn, again: Reporting late during the preseason after a lengthy holdout, the longtime left tackle received a belated extension after starting the season. The Raiders and Penn agreed to a two-year, $21MM extension. Despite Penn being 34, he’s remained one of the game’s best left tackles and is now signed through his age-35 season. Penn playing for Oakland in 2018 would mark a five-year Raiders run, and this contract leaves open the possibility of a 2019 stay as well. Penn won’t make top-10 left tackle money like he sought, but his new $10.5MM deal represents a healthy raise from his previous two-year, $14MM extension signed in 2016.

David Johnson out for months: The Cardinals’ hopes at returning to the playoffs encountered a significant barrier early this week, when their All-Pro running back opted for wrist surgery. He of more than 2,100 yards from scrimmage last season, Johnson will be out for months and is now on IR. Arizona signed both D.J. Foster off the Patriots’ practice squad and re-signed Chris Johnson, bringing the latter back for a third season. CJ2K started for the Cards in 2015 but was not nearly as productive as his successor.

More Pro Bowlers go down: Week 2 brought brutal injuries to some of the NFL’s best, with Marshal Yanda and Greg Olsen‘s seasons set to be cut short. While Olsen’s broken foot looks to shelve him “for several weeks,” Yanda broke his ankle and is out for the season. This continues a vicious spate of maladies for the Ravens, who also placed Danny Woodhead on IR this week. Yanda, though, has been a vital Baltimore cog for many seasons. He signed an extension in 2015 and has made six consecutive Pro Bowl teams. Olsen’s booked Pro Bowl spots in each of the past three campaigns.

More PED-related trouble for Brian Cushing: The Texans linebacker will serve a 10-game suspension after testing positive for performance-enhancing substances. This will be the second such ban Cushing’s served in his nine-year career. The Pro Bowl ‘backer served a four-game ban for this offense in 2010. After appealing the 2010 suspension, Cushing will not fight this one and began serving it in Week 2.