NFL - NEWS & NOTES

I'd love to see Atlanta turn around and grab Latavius Murray.

I can't say I'm expecting it, but I certainly see the possibility. The coach and GM have both emphasized that the roster isn't really done yet and that they're still looking around the league for upgrades. The new Falcons GM was also the guy in charge of pro scouting for New Orleans when they brought in Murray, so there's definitely some familiarity and history there.

Atlanta released Qadree Ollison when they signed Wayne Gallman but then made room for Ollison on the practice squad. Officially they have five RBs in the organization now (3 roster, 2 practice squad), but one of them is return man Cordarelle Patterson. I'd say they'd do well to add one more "full time RB" to the roster.

 

mildly off topic... the Australian Football League ("Aussie rules", not our football) is now into the finals, as they call their playoffs.

Australia and their various states have been really big on fighting COVID-19. A result is that all season long, the league had to go week by week in arranging the schedule and figuring out where teams would play so that the teams would be able to travel and deal with potential quarantine times before or after matches.

In the first round of the finals, they had two matches in Adelaide (one would have been there anyway) and two in Tasmania (where there aren't even any teams). The NFL equivalent would be having a playoff game between the Cowboys and 49ers play in Charlotte and sending the Ravens and Dolphins off to Nova Scotia for their playoff game.

Here's how strict they are... one player for the Essendon Bombers briefly stopped into a grocery store to pick up his lunch order from their deli counter. The store then got the news that at least one employee tested positive and the store was declared an exposure site. The player then tested negative, but Tasmania would not allow him entry and he had to miss the match.

 

The Saints are making a move for a veteran cornerback before the start of the regular season.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Saints have agreed to acquire Bradley Roby in a trade with the Texans. There’s no word on compensation coming back to Houston at this point.

PFT

 

Clock ticks toward midnight for Steelers, T.J. Watt



As it relates to the T.J. Watt contract impasse, the clock is striking 12. Literally.

The Steelers will practice today at roughly 12:15 p.m. ET. If Watt doesn’t have a new deal, he may not be there. If he’s not there, he may not play on Sunday.

The problem continues to be the refusal of the team to abandon its refusal to fully guarantee money beyond the first year of a veteran deal. Apparently, the Steelers don’t want to set a new precedent for Watt.

But here’s the reality. If/when another player says, “But you did it for T.J. Watt!” the response would be, “Play like T.J. Watt, and we’ll do it for you.”

Stay tuned to PFT throughout the day for news on whether the Steelers do, or don’t, figure out how to end an unexpectedly protracted hold-in from one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.

PFT

 

T.J. Watt is back.

The Steelers pass rusher ended his hold-in Wednesday by fully participating in practice for the first time this season. That included the team period, which he previously has skipped.

So does that mean Watt will play Sunday absent a contract extension?

“Like I said yesterday, I’m proceeding with that assumption,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.

Watt is scheduled to speak to the media Friday.

Watt is in the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, scheduled to earn $10.09 million. The Steelers’ team policy is not to negotiate contract extensions once the regular season begins, so the sides are running out of time.

“T.J. is a professional,” Steelers linebacker Joe Schobert said, via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I train with him in the offseason. He takes his job extremely seriously. If you put him in a parking lot, he’s going to be ready to play a football game.”

Watt, 26, made the All-Pro team each of the past two seasons and was third in defensive player of the year voting in 2019 and second last season. He has 29.5 sacks the past two seasons, including an NFL-best 15 in 2020, with 77 quarterback hits, 15 pass breakups, 10 forced fumbles and 23 tackles for loss.

PFT

 

What does this even mean? Either this quote is missing some context, or the kids these days have lingo that has far surpassed me.

 

Chargers RB Austin Ekeler (hamstring) sits out Wednesday practice

Five days ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers' season opener against the host Washington Football Team, a potentially major injury concern has popped up.

Bolts standout running back Austin Ekeler did not practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury, per the team's injury report.

At practice, Ekeler, who's entering his fifth NFL season, was seen working off to the side with trainers, but did not take part in the open period.

Ekeler, 26, dealt with a hamstring injury last year that cut his season six games short, so it's certainly a situation to monitor as the the Chargers face a formidable Washington defense on Sunday.

NFL.com

 

****BREAKING****

Ravens fear Marcus Peters, Gus Edwards tore their ACLs at Thursday’s practice



The Ravens’ run of injuries in their offensive backfield reportedly continued at Thursday’s practice and they also had a key member of their defensive backfield go down during the session.

NFL Media reports that running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Marcus Peters each suffered “potentially significant” knee injuries. A follow-up noted that the team fears both players suffered torn ACLs. The Ravens cut practice short after the two players were knocked out.

Edwards’ injury follows J.K. Dobbins‘ torn ACL and Justice Hill‘s torn Achilles on the list of medical problems for Ravens backs. Ty'Son Williams and Trenton Cannon are on the active roster and the chances of Le'Veon Bell playing Monday would go up exponentially if the fear about the severity of his injury is realized.

Peters doesn’t have the same kind of company on the cornerback injury report, but his absence would be a major one against the Raiders on Monday and all the other opponents who won’t have to contend with him trying to thwart their passing games.

PFT

 

Steelers, T.J. Watt agree to deal



Just three days before the start of the season, the Steelers and pass rusher T.J. Watt have finally agreed to a new contract.

It’s a four-year extension worth $112 million and $80 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Whether Watt’s contract situation would be resolved had been a significant issue facing the Steelers for the entire offseason. Watt refused to practice during training camp and refused to participate in the preseason until he got his new deal. He finally got it in time for the regular season.

The 26-year-old Watt has been a first-team All-Pro each of the last two years and was the NFL sacks leader last season. Now the Steelers have ensured that they’ll have his services for years to come.

PFT

 

Tough breaks for the Ravens and the season hasnt even started...

 

For real…they’re gonna be rolling Jamal Lewis back out there soon at this rate

 

About damn time stupid that it took this long.

 

I know they signed Bell to the practice squad and Devonta Freeman one or both are likely being called up they may also take a look at recently released Latavius Murray

 

Ravens might want to consider sacrificing a chicken or something Right off the top of my head I cant recall a team that lost all 3 rbs o n their depth chart before the season even started.

 

At least it's RB rather than some other position. Quite a few viable RBs waiting to be signed, and it usually doesn't take very long to get RBs up and going on the plays.

 

Hey @Willie or any other Vikings people - know of a bar in Minneapolis that might be likely to be showing the Pats game this Sunday (ideally somewhere between the airport and Brooklyn Park)?

 

The Steelers obviously folded in their belief of not guaranteeing seasons after year one

 

It was the right move.

 

I dont...

 

Report: Ravens bringing in Latavius Murray



After losing a third running back for the season before the first game of the year is even played, the Baltimore Ravens are scrambling to find new backfield options.

According to Jeff Zrebiec of TheAthletic.com, the Ravens are bringing in former New Orleans Saints running back Latavius Murray with the expectation a deal will get done.