NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Looks like a few teams are getting some of the early cuts out of the way - Chiefs yesterday, Saints and Seahawks today.

Chiefs tackle Roderick Johnson and Saints cornerback Brian Allen are now free agents. The others have to clear waivers.

 

1. Pittsburgh QB battle concludes. If everyone was hoping that Sunday's game would provide a clear answer as to who the Week 1 starting quarterback should be, they were sorely disappointed. Both Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett saw significant time in the preseason finale, and both had solid performances in the win. Trubisky started the game and played through the first half, going 15 of 19 for 160 yards. Pittsburgh scored on four of the six drives he led in the first half, including when Trubisky helmed a 92-yard march down the field with 1:34 on the clock that finished with a six-yard TD pass to Steven Sims. Then Pickett came in for the second half, and while the offense only put up three more points with most of the backups in, he finished 10 of 14 for 90 yards. With Sunday marking the end of preseason, we'll know sooner rather than later who the Steelers will be trusting under center in Week 1.
2. Young Lions defenders roar. The Lions offense couldn't get anything going for most of the game, but on defense some of Detroit's young stars were shining in the final preseason game. Like many players, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson only played a bit in the beginning of the game, but in that time he still showed his pass-rushing abilities. On just the third defensive snap of the game, the defense swarmed Trubisky and Hutchinson together with defensive end Charles Harris brought him down for the sack. Even playing only limited snaps this preseason, Hutchinson looks ready to attack in the regular season. Another young defender who flashed his talents was third-year cornerback Jeff Okudah, who had two tackles and one pass defended in the loss, a throw which would have gone for a touchdown otherwise. After missing much of his first two seasons with injuries, Okudah looked primed for a breakout season if he can stay healthy.

NFL.com

 

Ron Rivera says Brian Robinson is in “good spirits”



Commanders rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. is being treated in a local hospital for two gunshot wounds to his lower extremities.

He was shot during an attempted carjacking or armed robbery in Washington, D.C., the team confirmed in a statement Sunday night.


“We have been made aware that Brian Robinson Jr. was the victim of an attempted armed robbery or carjacking in Washington, D.C.,” the statement reads. “He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently being treated at the hospital, where team officials are on-site with him. We ask that you please respect Brian’s privacy at this time.”

Coach Ron Rivera, owners Dan and Tanya Snyder, president Jason Wright, General Manager Martin Mayhew, chief medical officer Tony Casolaro and director of mental wellness Barbara Roberts are at the hospital, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Rivera posted an update on social media.

“I just got done visiting w/Brian,” Rivera wrote. “He is in good spirits and wanted me to thank everyone for their kind words, prayers & support. He wants his teammates to know he appreciates them all for reaching out and he loves them all & will be back soon doing what he does best.”

The suspects tried to take Robinson’s Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, prompting a scuffle, authorities told NBCWashington.com.

Police said they recovered a gun at the site of the shooting, but two male suspects remain at large.

PFT

 

Najee Harris has been dealing with Lisfranc sprain



Steelers running back Najee Harris made his preseason debut in Sunday’s game against the Lions and then shared some details about the foot injury that he’s been dealing with throughout training camp.

Harris hurt his foot in the team’s first padded practice of the summer and told reporters that he was diagnosed with a Lisfranc sprain. He said he was given a four-to-six week recovery timeline, which leaves him on path to be 100 percent for the season opener.


“I’m just now getting over it,” Harris said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “It was getting back in my motions. I was rusty today. It wasn’t a good performance and nothing I should be proud of, either. I need to get better.”

Harris ran four times for 10 yards and caught three passes for 11 yards on Sunday. Getting back to full health should lead to more productive outings once the regular season is underway.

PFT

 

Jets officially name Sauce Gardner a starter for Week 1



The Jets don’t know if quarterback Zach Wilson will be starting against the Ravens in Week 1, but they have made a call on cornerback Sauce Gardner.

While Gardner was the fourth overall pick this year, head coach Robert Saleh said in June that everyone on the roster has to “earn your right to play football” and the team maintained that Gardner was competing with Bryce Hall throughout the preseason. That competition officially ended after Sunday’s game against the Giants when Saleh announced Gardner will be in the starting lineup.


“He’s going to be our Week 1 starter,” Saleh said, via the team’s website. “He’s been fantastic. Bryce Hall has had a really good training camp also, but at the same time with the overall body of work since OTAs, it’s clear that the kid is going to be pretty good.”

The Jets have another new starter at the other cornerback spot in D.J. Reed and the hope is that the duo is part of an across the board upgrade for a defense that finished dead last in yards and points allowed a year ago.

 

I wonder how long it will take to get better? A gunshot in your leg muscles could screw them up bad.

 

Does kinda put a damper on things.

 

I'm not sure if teams are making the announcements yet, but more of the early cuts are coming in. According to the NFL site, the Browns have released WR Javon Wims, while the Vikings have released CB Tye Smith. There are many more, but those are two tenured veterans released by teams that I know folks here watch closely.

No news at all yet from the Steelers or Falcons. Bears have had some cuts but no vested veterans yet.

 

For anyone who hasn't seen it yet, here's the RB prospect you need to pick up for your fantasy team:

 

Jimmy Garroppollo to stay as a backup in SanFran on a 1yr, 6.5M contract.

 

I really did think he was gone

 

That’s a great contract.

 

I really thought this was the most plausible solution. They couldn't keep him under the original contract and no one was trading for him. I guessed at 8M in compensation. Little high.

 

And he still might be at some point before the trade deadline.

It's an interesting deal. It's fully guaranteed with a no-tag and no-trade clause (he must consent to whatever trade occurs). So he gets $6.5M as a backup, he's free and clear at the end of the season, and he adds to his reputation as a team-first kind of player - which certainly won't hurt his next contract.

 

The Titans have acquired offensive lineman Dennis Daley in a trade with the Panthers, the team announced Monday night.

Tennessee received Daley and a seventh-round selection in the 2024 draft from Carolina in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2024 draft.


The Panthers made Daley a sixth-round draft pick in 2019, and he has appeared in 34 career games with 21 starts. Daley has seen action at left tackle (13 games), left guard (seven games) and right guard (one).

Daley played 15 games in 2021, including nine starts. Daley started five games at left guard and four games at left tackle a year ago.

He played 31 snaps at guard for the Panthers in the team’s preseason finale against the Bills on Friday night.

In college, Daley played two seasons at South Carolina after transferring from Georgia Military College. He started 23 of the final 24 games while playing left tackle in 2018 and second half of 2017 after beginning the season at guard.

PFT

 

Sony Michel of the Dolphins... he gone.

 

Panthers acquire WR Laviska Shenault from Jaguars in trade

Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. is receiving a change of scenery in his third NFL season.

The Jaguars traded Shenault to the Carolina Panthers on Monday in exchange for a 2023 seventh-round draft pick and a 2024 sixth-round selection, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported.

The Panthers announced they sent undisclosed draft compensation to Jacksonville in the deal.

Shenault, 23, has posted two NFL seasons above the 600-yard threshold, but he struggled in 2021, scoring zero touchdowns after reaching the end zone five times as a rookie.

Injuries, which date back to his college days at Colorado, have held Shenault back. He suffered hamstring and shoulder injuries the past two seasons with the Jaguars and saw his role reduced by the end of last season.

Carolina had been on the hunt for offensive talent, so the trade makes sense from that standpoint. Some thought the Panthers might have interest in Jets wide out Denzel Mims -- who formally requested a trade last week -- because Mims played for Panthers head coach Matt Rhule in college. But Carolina went in a different direction with another young talent.

Not done dealing, the Panthers also sent offensive lineman Dennis Daley and a 2024 seventh-round draft pick to the Titans in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round selection. Daley, a 2019 sixth-round pick of the Panthers, has played tackle and guard over the past three seasons with 21 starts in 34 games played.

NFL.com

 

Kenyan Drake visiting Ravens



The Ravens are looking for some help at running back.

Free agent Kenyan Drake is visiting Baltimore today and will sign with the Ravens if all goes well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.


The Raiders made one of the worst free agent signings of 2021 when they signed Drake last year, paying him $11 million for one season and 254 rushing yards. The Raiders cut Drake last week.

But while Drake was a major disappointment in Las Vegas, he has played well at times in his career, and can make plays as a runner, receiver and kickoff returner. He may be able to contribute to a Ravens backfield that has struggled with injuries and could stand to add some depth. With Gus Edwards on the physically unable to perform list and J.K. Dobbins‘ status for Week One still unknown, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Drake starting for the Ravens in the opener against the Jets on September 11.

PFT

 

Howard is going to go down as a miss for me.

 

I don't think you're alone. Still baffles me, too. Had all the tools and potential, just couldn't mentally adjust to an NFL game, made that much harder by injuries.