NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Texans replaced receiver DeAndre Hopkins with Brandin Cooks. Cooks’ availability for his first game with the Texans is currently in question.

Cooks was limited in Monday’s practice with a quadricep injury.

Also limited for the Texans were cornerback Phillip Gaines (hamstring), running back Cullen Gillaspia (hamstring), linebacker Jonathan Greenard (ankle), and cornerback Lonnie Johnson (hip).

That’s the extent of the initial Week One injury report for the Texans, who face the Chiefs on Thursday night in the first game of the 2020 regular season.

The Texans traded with the Rams for Cooks after the Texans traded Hopkins to the Cardinals.

NBC

 

Cooks seems very expendable. Nobody wants to keep him.

 

His dad punted for the Steelers in the 70’s and 80’s

 

Washington lists J.D. McKissic as No. 1 running back



At this time last week, most people would have predicted that the Washington Football Team’s first depth chart would feature Adrian Peterson as the team’s top running back.

That made it quite a surprise to learn that Peterson was released by Washington last Friday. Head coach Ron Rivera said that the move was made because of what they saw from the team’s other backs and they’ve now released a depth chart showing how those players stack up in the backfield.

J.D. McKissic is listed as the No. 1 back with Antonio Gibson, Peyton Barber and Bryce Love lining up behind him.

McKissic saw most of his playing time in passing situations while with the Seahawks and Lions, so there figures to be room for several backs to see playing time. Gibson may also prove to be the player to watch over the long term. The third-round pick was mostly used as a wideout in college, but drew strong reviews throughout camp and wound up getting more work than he expected over the course of the summer.

NBC

 

Cardinals, DeAndre Hopkins agree to 2-year, $54.5 million extension

DeAndre Hopkins is in a new home, and he's getting the pay increase he sought with his former team.

The Cardinals have agreed to terms with Hopkins on a two-year extension worth $54.5 million in new money, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

The new deal amounts to $27.25 million per year for Hopkins in 2023 and 2024, and includes $42.75 million guaranteed at signing.

Arizona acquired Hopkins in a trade that was influenced by his desire for a deal worthy of his play. At $16.5 million per year, Hopkins is the ninth-highest-paid receiver across the league, yet he's one of only two receivers in the entire league to be named a first-team All-Pro in each of the last three seasons. The other, Falcons receiver Julio Jones, makes the most money on average ($22 million per year) at the position in the NFL.

Simply, Hopkins wanted to be paid accordingly. Texans coach and general manager Bill O'Brien felt the team's financial outlook couldn't handle big deals for left tackle Laremy Tunsil, quarterback Deshaun Watson and Hopkins, so he sent him (and a fourth-round pick) to Arizona for running back David Johnson, a second-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick.

Hopkins becomes a key piece of an envisioned gridiron renaissance in the desert that also includes 2019 No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray, 2020 first-rounder Isaiah Simmons, safety Budda Baker, wideout Christian Kirk and running back Kenyan Drake. He's also joining a roster that includes future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, four-time All-Pro Patrick Peterson and two-time All-Pro Chandler Jones.

All of this is at second-year coach Kliff Kingsbury's disposal in 2020. Thanks to this extension, Hopkins will be available to keep racking up 1,100-plus-yard and double-digit touchdown seasons well into the decade.

NFL.com

 

Teams keep bitching about the loss of revenue is going to drop the cap next season, but they keep signing players to record contracts for a season when we could see a huge drop in the cap.

 

Kareem Hunt signs extension with Browns



Running back Kareem Hunt will be sticking around Cleveland beyond the 2020 season.

Hunt announced on Instagram that he has signed a contract extension with the Browns. According to multiple reports, it is a two-year deal worth $13.25 million with $8.5 million in guaranteed money.

The Browns signed Hunt as a free agent last year, which gave him a chance to resume a playing career that was interrupted when the Chiefs released him in 2018. That move came after the release of a video of Hunt kicking and shoving a woman and Hunt was suspended for the first eight games of last season as a result of the incident.

Hunt had 43 carries for 179 yards and two touchdowns and 37 catches for 285 yards and a touchdown in eight games after the suspension came to an end.

NBC

 

Hunt could be the starter on almost every other team. There’s only like 4 RBs in the league that he wouldn’t be a clear starter over.

 

Broncos pass rusher Von Miller injured his lower leg in Tuesday’s practice, according to multiple reports.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports Miller injured his ankle and the Broncos “fear” Miller is done for the season.

Miller is undergoing an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.

The Broncos had to make do without their other pass rusher most of last season when Bradley Chubb tore the ACL in his left knee in Week Four.

Chubb’s absence was one of the reasons Miller had only eight sacks last season, as it allowed teams to double Miller.

Miller has 106 sacks since the Broncos made him a first-round choice in 2011. He has played 135 of a possible 144 games in his career. Miller began 2013 with a suspension, and after playing nine games that season, tore the ACL in his right knee, ending his season.

Miller, who tested positive for COVID-19 during this offseason, considered opting out of the 2020 season. Now, he could see his season finish before it begins.

NBC

 

More details are emerging about Von Miller‘s lower leg injury, and none bringing good news for the Broncos pass rusher.

Miller injured a tendon in is ankle on the last play of practice, Adam Schefter of ESPN reprots.

Miller is expected to need surgery, which likely ends his season.

 

Scratch Denver off the list of possible playoff teams

 

And Nick Chubb is one of those four.

 

If he wasn’t suspended for half of his season last season he probably would be desired over Chubb. He was the leading rusher his last full season

 

And Chubb came within an incompetent Head Coach of winning the rushing title last year.

It's going to be fun watching these two guys this year. Deja Vu of Byner / Mack ???

 

Add Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the list of players getting their contract extensions done before the start of the regular season.

Ramsey and the Rams have been talking about a deal for some time and the Rams announced that it was done on Wednesday morning.

The team announced that it is a five-year deal and multiple reports peg the extension as being worth $105 million with $71.2 million guaranteed at signing.

The deal comes shortly after Tre'Davious White set a new bar for cornerback contract and ends White’s stay at the top of the heap. Ramsey’s $21 million average annual salary is also the highest for any defensive back in league history.

Getting the contract done should allow the Rams to drop back below the salary cap. They were $400,000 over the limit and had until Wednesday afternoon to rectify the situation.

NBC

 

Things don’t look good for Von Miller to play this season, and coach Vic Fangio acknowledged that, but the Broncos aren’t ready to count out their star pass rusher yet.

“There’s a chance of [Miller’s season being over],” Fangio said. “It’s too early to say for sure, but he’s definitely out for awhile.”

Miller is seeking a second opinion from Dr. Robert Anderson after injuring a tendon in his ankle. He likely will need surgery, which Fangio said would happen “sooner rather than later” if the second opinion concurs with the initial diagnosis.

Fangio said Miller would go on injured reserve at some point regardless. The new injured reserve rules allow for players to come off the list after 21 days, though it will be late in the season, if at all, that Miller gets back on the field.

Miller, who had eight sacks last season, certainly won’t get to have the bounce back season he openly talked about as his goal for 2020.

“Von has had a hell of an offseason,” Fangio said. “I didn’t see him obviously in the offeason, but I talked to him a number of times in the offseason. When you don’t see something with your own eyes, you’re hesitant to believe or buy in, but I could just tell by the way we were talking and the things he was doing that he had a mindset that he was going to come out and have a hell of a season. When we finally did get back together, it was true. So I’m sad that he’s not going to be able to have the season he worked for, because it would have fun to watch for me, for him, for you, for everybody. So on a personal basis, as it relates to Von, everybody’s sad and disappointed for him. As it relates to our team, yeah, we’re disappointed. Anytime you lose anybody you’re disappointed. But we will move on, and we will make it work.”

Miller was injured at the end of Tuesday’s practice, perhaps ending his season before it begins.

“It was just a normal play,” Fangio said. “He just rushed around the edge. He never hit the ground. Never looked bad. If you looked at the video, you would think nothing happened, but it did.”

The Broncos now look forward, hoping Bradley Chubb can return from the ACL that knocked him out last season. He did not practice last week after discomfort in his knee during a Aug. 29 practice. They have Malik Reed and Jeremiah Attaochu behind Miller at the other outside linebacker spot.

“We’ll move forward, never forgetting Von, obviously, and hoping that he returns at some point this year,” Fangio said. “The good thing about his injury is once it’s healed it’s healed. It’s not one of those where he’ll have lingering affects.”

NBC

 

Yes. He is.

 

Its on tonight... finally! Last time these two teams met, 82 points were scored. Im thinking something similar will happen tonight.

In a screwed up world, this is just what the doctor ordered.

 

Will, I’ll ask for everyone since no one that I know of knows the answer to this head scratcher: What does the “W” on your avatar signify?

Walleyes? (Best unis in all sports.) Univ. of Washington? (The colors are kinda right.) West Meath? (Everything is better when there’s an Irish reference.)

Curious minds want to know ...

 

Well, to be honest, in my quest that never ends to find Minnesota Vikings avatar's, I stumbled across the Vikings logo with a 'W' on it. I believe its intent was to signify, 'win or winning', so I thought it was cool and could also double as my monogram (W for Will).

In my best, Paul Harvey voice; "Now you know the rest of the story... Good............ Day?"