NFL - NEWS & NOTES

HC Zac Taylor confident 0-2 Bengals will 'get back on the right track'

In the afterglow of a Super Bowl run in the 2021 season, the Cincinnati Bengals have found nothing but frustration so far in the 2022 campaign.

Back-to-back three-point losses have the Bengals sitting at 0-2 and grumbles about a Super Bowl hangover have begun.

Nonetheless, head coach Zac Taylor is confident his 2022 Bengals will look a lot more like the 2021 group shortly.

"There's a confidence here that you can't just manufacture," Taylor said in an interview with the team website's Geoff Hobson. "It's an earned confidence and our guys know that we'll get back on the right track."

History isn't in Taylor's favor, however.

The Bengals are the first team to make a Super Bowl and start the ensuing season 0-2 since 2015. That year, the Seattle Seahawks rebounded to go 10-6 before losing in the Divisional Round to the Carolina Panthers. Only six teams have followed a Super Bowl berth with an 0-2 start, with half of them failing to make the playoffs and none of them returning to the Super Bowl, per NFL Research.

Despite emerging as AFC champions last season, the Bengals' 2022 start is more consistent with years prior under Taylor. Cincinnati has now begun a season 0-2 for the third time in his four seasons. Still, Taylor's confident because he believes this is a far different ambush of Bengals than those in the 2019 and 2020 campaigns.


"We know that we've got great players," Taylor said. "We know that the character is where it needs to be, a lot of the leadership. Guys understand what our issues have been and how solvable they are, and that we just need to go forward and put together a better, complete game. I feel really good that everyone's on the same page and we'll work in that direction."

On the positive side for the Bengals has been the defense, which has given up just 43 points over the first two games. On the negative end is that franchise quarterback Joe Burrow has been sacked 13 times so far behind a rebuilt offensive line that was the franchise's focus in the offseason.

A road trip to play the New York Jets, fresh off a stunning rally to victory over the Cleveland Browns, awaits in Week 3. There are 15 games remaining for Cincinnati, but it still doesn't shake off the feeling that time is quickly running out to erase a bad start in the hopes of salvaging a good season.

"I think in the early stages of any season you've got to adjust and you start to get into your groove," Taylor said. "That's going to come for us as a team, I'm very confident in that. So far through two games, we just haven't complemented each phase the way that we need to, but it's two games into a long season. I'm confident that we're going to get there in very short order."

NFL.com

 

The NFL has suspended Steelers safety Damontae Kazee three games for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The suspension was listed on the league’s personnel notice.

Kazee went on the injured reserve list Sept. 1 with a wrist injury.


He now is eligible to return to the active roster on Monday, Oct. 10, following the Steelers’ Week 5 game against the Bills. Kazee will lose three game checks.

Kazee was the team’s third safety behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds before his injury in the final preseason game. Tre Norwood has filled in during Kazee’s absence.

He was a starter for the Cowboys last season and totaled 52 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defended and two forced fumbles.

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Xavien Howard misses practice with groin injury



Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard missed practice Wednesday with a groin injury. That’s not good news for the Dolphins four days before they play the Bills’ high-flying offense.

Howard missed a game last season with a groin injury.


Coach Mike McDaniel did not address Howard’s injury before practice.

The three-time Pro Bowler has six games and two pass breakups this season.

Offensive tackle Terron Armstead, who played Sunday despite a toe injury, did not practice Wednesday with his injury.

Tight ends Hunter Long (ankle) and Cethan Carter (concussion protocol) remained out, and edge rusher Melvin Ingram Jr. took a veteran’s rest day.

Receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (ribs) and linebacker Channing Tindall (illness) were limited.

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NFL sends warning letter to Buccaneers exec Bruce Arians for actions on sideline during game vs. Saints

The NFL has sent a message to Tampa Bay Buccaneers former head coach Bruce Arians for his role in Sunday's skirmish with the New Orleans Saints that led to Mike Evans' one-game suspension.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday on NFL NOW that the league sent Arians, now serving as Bucs senior advisor to the general manager, a warning letter noting that his actions on the sideline weren't acceptable and further actions would result in fines and penalties for himself and the team, per a source informed of the letter.

Rapoport added that the league was not thrilled with Arians' actions on the sideline.

Pro Football Talk first reported the letter to Arians.

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles explained earlier this week that Arians was on the sideline because the Saints did not have a suite available for Bucs personnel. The Saints reportedly did reserve a seat in the press box for Arians.

The former coach was in the bench area, but clearly in the white stripe reserved for coaches, players and officials during Sunday's altercation, and seen getting verbally involved.

Given how Sunday unfolded, we'd expect Arians to be in a suite or the press box for Sunday's home tilt against the Green Bay Packers.

NFL.com

 

The Cleveland Browns’ improbable loss on Sunday will be fresh on everyone’s minds when they get set to host the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday in a battle of 1-1 AFC North clubs.


Both passing games have struggled with consistency through two games, and it’s entirely possible that there will be two different quarterbacks starting when they meet again in Week 18. But for now, it's Mitchell Trubisky versus Jacoby Brissett.


It’s a big game. Despite the Browns beating the Steelers twice in the 2020 season, including in the playoffs, this has been a one-sided rivalry in favor of Pittsburgh since the 1980s. And with the stench of Sunday’s utter collapse still hanging over FirstEnergy Stadium, the best way to waft it away is by beating Cleveland’s most hated opponent.


Here's four things to watch for when the Steelers visit the Browns on Thursday night on Prime Video:

1. Quarterback uncertainty. Mike Tomlin said he has “liked a lot” from Trubisky, but that the offense just isn’t scoring enough, calling it a “collective” effort. That’s all fine and good, and there’s absolutely truth in what Tomlin is saying. But the Steelers simply are not getting enough out of their passing-game weapons. On a team with Dionte Johnson, Chase Claypool, George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris, the longest reception through two games is 32 yards -- by backup tight end Zach Gentry -- on a screen pass. The downfield shots just have not materialized so far. There’s likely blame with the protection, the receivers, the play-caller, and perhaps even the ball boy. But Trubisky is a big part of this, too, and it’s possible he’s pressing some with first-round pick Kenny Pickett breathing down his proverbial neck. A QB change might not be that far off if things, you know, don’t change with the results. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada has rightfully taken some blame for the Steelers’ scoring woes, and getting off to a better start is key. The Steelers haven’t scored an opening-drive TD since Week 5 last year and have averaged 10.7 yards on their 11 opening drives under Canada since then. And these are the scripted plays? The plays they theoretically like most?! It wouldn’t be shocking for Canada to dial up an early vertical shot to test a Browns secondary that was torched by the Jets in the fourth quarter last week. As for the Browns and Brissett, he's likely the guy through November -- and he’s been fine. Amari Cooper and the other weapons will have to make the most of their opportunities with Brissett as QB, starting with this key game.
2. Run game could hold the key. The Browns are averaging a nuclear 200.5 rushing yards in the first two games of the season. Only one team (the 2019 Ravens) has averaged more than 200 rushing yards for a season, so keeping this rate up feels unlikely. Part of the reason is because of the limitations of Brissett and the passing game, but Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are as good a one-two RB punch as there is in the NFL. They’ve scored 54% of the team’s points so far and gained 51% of the team’s yards from scrimmage. If they’re not the team strength right now, then the offensive line (even with some injuries) is. The Steelers are a different defense without T.J. Watt, and they’ll have a big conundrum in this game. Stopping the Browns’ run game might not be as simple as loading up the box. Why? Well, once Watt hurt his pec in Week 1, Pittsburgh has shifted to fewer light boxes. The problem: According to Next Gen Stats, the Steelers’ defense ranks in the bottom 10 teams in the league in rush yards before contact, rush yards over expectation and RYOE average when using seven or more defenders in the box. Both Chubb and Hunt are hard to tackle, but especially Chubb. The Steelers’ tackling against the Patriots was better than it was in Week 1 against the Bengals, but it might not exactly be considered a strong suit. Pittsburgh will have its hands full.
3. Both teams banged up, but the Browns more so. Watt isn’t the only big-name defender who could be out on Thursday. Browns star Myles Garrett (neck) will play, but Jadeveon Clowney (ankle) and Chase Winovich (hamstring), who backs up both ends, will be out. Left guard Joel Bitonio (biceps) will suit up, but he likely won't be at 100 percent. Even Brissett suffered an ankle injury last week, although he’s said he’s fine. For Pittsburgh, Watt is the most notable potential absence, along with linebacker Devin Bush, who is dealing with a foot injury he suffered against New England. But Bush has been rotating with Robert Spillane, so the Steelers should be fine if Bush can’t go.
4. It all could come down to the fourth. Fourth quarters have been an adventure for both teams so far. In Week 1, the Browns led the Panthers, 20-7, entering the quarter but had to hang on for dear life in a 26-24 final. Then in Week 2 against the Jets, the Browns went down three points in the fourth, only to take a 13-point lead with fewer than two minutes left … and lose! In regulation, no less! The Steelers’ fourth quarters have been only slightly less chaotic, nearly losing to the Bengals (before they blocked an extra point and won in overtime) and then watching the Patriots control the ball for 12 minutes 19 seconds of the final quarter in a bitter loss. The Steelers beat the Browns both times last season, pulling away in two battles of attrition in the fourth quarters. Late turnovers killed the Browns both times, and they were one of the worst fourth-quarter teams in 2021, outscored by 50 points. This season, Cleveland has been outscored 34-19 in the two fourth quarters. Can Stefanski’s squad finish a tough game against a division rival? Garrett called out the Browns fans who booed at the end of last week’s meltdown. The best way he can prevent that is by making a game-changing play -- and preferably late in the game.

NFL.com

 

Report: Bills’ Bobby Hart claims Titans’ Jeffery Simmons spit on him



Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Bobby Hart has appealed his one-game ban for inadvertently punching a Tennessee Titans coach, claiming the incident started after the team’s defense lineman, Jeffery Simmons, spat on him.

Per Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, Hart made the claim during his appeal on Wednesday. There is also apparently video out there of Hart’s allegation.

During the hearing, per sources, it was alleged that there’s a video from the game that shows Simmons apparently spitting on Hart, which led to the confrontation following the game during which Hart inadvertently made contact with an unnamed Titans assistant coach.

Simmons’ agent, Paul T. DeRousselle, has denied the allegation.

“Jeffery [Simmons] plays the game with a lot of passion, but he plays the game the right way,” DeRousselle said.

This isn’t the first time Simmons has been accused of spitting on an opposing player. Back in 2020, Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Marshal Yanda accused Simmons of spitting on him.

“I’ve never been spitten in my face,” Yanda said. “I literally got spit right in my face by No. 98. He needs to be put on notice by the refs, by the entire NFL. He was saying some stuff today that’s just ridiculous conduct for the NFL. I just want to put him on notice. That was ridiculous conduct.”

A ruling on Hart’s appeal is expected Thursday.

TITANS WIRE

 

Harts suspension was upheld by the NFL.

 

Second accusation on Simmons, starting to believe it. Yanda wasn't the type to make up stuff, not sure on Hart.

 

Aidan Hutchinson remains out of practice Thursday



Lions rookie defensive end Aidan Hutchinson missed his second straight day of practice on Thursday.

Hutchinson injured his thigh during the second half of last Sunday’s win over the Commanders and has been sidelined this week as a result. Hutchinson had three sacks in the first half of that game and continued playing, so Friday’s injury designations should tell us if there’s real fear of him missing this weekend’s matchup with the Vikings.


There was better news about running back D'Andre Swift‘s status. He went from limited with an ankle injury to full participation on Thursday.

Guard Jonah Jackson (finger) and defensive lineman John Cominsky (hand) missed their second straight practice. Safety Tracy Walker was also out of practice for non-injury reasons.

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Thursday Night Football: Browns roll to 29-17 win over Steelers



Deshaun who?

Jacoby Brissett didn’t play like a backup quarterback who is a short-time fill-in. On Thursday Night Football, Brissett starred, leading the Browns to a 29-17 victory over the Steelers.


Brissett, who is starting while Deshaun Watson serves his 11-game suspension, completed 21 of 31 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.

The Browns had no trouble moving the ball against the T.J. Watt-less Steelers, rolling to 376 yards. Cleveland’s offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage as Nick Chubb rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, while Kareem Hunt added 47 yards on 12 carries.

Amari Cooper caught seven passes for 101 yards and a touchdown, and David Njoku made nine catches for 89 yards and a touchdown.

Browns fans, who haven’t gotten over the collapse by their team last week, watched as the Steelers went 63 yards in seven plays, using up only 1:25. Chris Boswell‘s 34-yard field goal drew the Steelers to within 23-17 with 1:48 left.

But George Pickens was offsides on Boswell’s onside kick, which went out of bounds after the Browns didn’t cleanly field it a second consecutive week. The Steelers, with only one timeout remaining, stopped the Browns and forced a punt. They got the ball back at the Cleveland 4-yard line with nine seconds left.

The Browns tacked on a touchdown on the final play as Denzel Ward recovered the ball in the end zone as the Steelers’ two laterals took them backward.

Mitch Trubisky was 20-of-32 for 207 yards and, with the Steelers 1-2, surely will hear calls for Kenny Pickett to start next week.

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Jacoby Brissett: David Njoku always tells me he’s always open



Browns tight end David Njoku had one of the best games of his NFL career on Thursday night, catching a career-high nine passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett said afterward that he plans to keep going back to Njoku often.

“He always tells me he’s always open,” Brissett said. “Every time in the huddle he’s like, ‘I got you, I got you, I got you.'”


A first-round pick of the Browns in 2017, Njoku played out his rookie contract and then signed a four-year, $56.75 million contract extension this year. Brissett said he expects Njoku to keep getting better.

“He’s doing a great job and he’s still got so much room to grow,” Brissett said.

The Browns would love to see Njoku keep playing the way he did on Thursday night.

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The most noteworthy play of the game might be Okorafor "blocking" Anthony Walker, Jr. We'll definitely be hearing more about it, and fans of both teams should be pissed off at Okorafor.

Quick context = third quarter, Steelers ahead by one point, Steelers have the ball at the 50 yard line. A 35-yard gain to Cleveland's 15 gets wiped out because Okorafor was too far downfield blocking Cleveland's linebacker. Instead of extending the lead to 4 or 8 points, Pittsburgh ends up having to punt - and the following drive by Cleveland resulted in the field goal that put the Browns ahead for the rest of the game.

Steelers fans should be pissed because Okorafor was four yards downfield when he initiated the block and six yards downfield when he followed up. He was beyond the Cleveland 45-yard line - past the end of the "Brownie" artwork. He definitely should have known he was way more than one yard downfield, making it an obvious flag that even NFL refs would have a hard time missing. So he wiped out one of Pittsburgh's best drives simply by being a dumbass.

In a game that ended up with both an on-sides attempt by the Steelers AND a chance for them to win with a Cal-Stanford ending (minus the unfortunate tuba player), killing such a good drive with such a bad mistake was a clear game-changer.


Browns fans ARE pissed because it was a dirty play by the Steelers lineman. The initial "block" was a blow to the helmet, while the follow-up was turning around and jumping on him after he was already on the ground.

The actual injury (knee) to Walker may have been due to incidental contact as it appears James Daniels stepped on Walker's leg as he was engaged with another Browns defender. But the shot to the head that put Walker on the ground wasn't exactly clean, and the follow-up belly flop was just plain wrong.

 

But, he's back on the practice field today.

 

Not good as Vikings fan

 

Week Three of the 2022 NFL season kicked off on Thursday with a win by the Browns and it continues with 14 more games on Sunday, which means that the 28 teams in those games submitted their final injury reports of the week on Friday.

The teams playing on Monday night won’t release their final injury reports until Saturday and are not listed here.


Ravens at Patriots

The Ravens expect to have wide receivers Devin Duvernay (concussion) and Rashod Bateman (personal), but left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) is set to miss another game after being listed as doubtful. RB J.K. Dobbins (knee), CB Marlon Humphrey (groin), TE Isaiah Likely (groin), CB Marcus Peters (knee), WR James Proche (groin), CB Brandon Stephens (quad), and Damarion Williams (ankle) are all listed as questionable.

WR Jakobi Meyers (knee) headlines a list of eight questionable Patriots. S Kyle Dugger (knee), S Joshuah Bledsoe (groin), DB Cody Davis (calf), DT Davon Godchaux (back), LB Raekwon McMillan (thumb), DB Adrian Phillips (ribs), and CB Jalen Mills (hamstring) make up the rest of the group.

Bills at Dolphins

The Bills are down four defensive players for Sunday. S Micah Hyde (neck), CB Dane Jackson (neck), DT Jordan Phillips (hamstring), and DT Ed Oliver (ankle) have all been ruled out. WR Gabe Davis (ankle) is listed as questionable, but said he’s going to play. S Jordan Poyer (foot), TE Dawson Knox (foot), C Mitch Morse (elbow), and DT Tim Settle (calf) are also listed as questionable.

The Dolphins also have a key defensive player on their injury report. CB Xavien Howard (groin) is listed as questionable after limited practices the last two days. T Terron Armstead (toe), WR Cedrick Wilson (ribs, toe), and DT Raekwon Davis (knee) received the same designation. TE Cethan Carter (concussion) and TE Hunter Long (ankle) will not play.

Lions at Vikings

Lions DE Aidan Hutchinson (thigh) returned to practice on Friday and is listed as questionable. RB D'Andre Swift (elbow), TE T.J. Hockenson (hip), and center Frank Ragnow (foot) are in the same category. DL John Cominsky (hand) and G Jonah Jackson (finger) won’t play.

The Vikings ruled S Harrison Smith (concussion) and CB Andrew Booth (quad) out for this weekend. LB Eric Kendricks (toe) is listed as questionable.

Eagles at Commanders

G Landon Dickerson (foot) is listed as questionable, but the rest of the Eagles are ready to go.

The Commanders ruled out DE Casey Toohill (concussion) and DT Daniel Wise (ankle). DE James Smith-Williams (abdomen) and LB David Mayo (ankle) are considered questionable.

Chiefs at Colts

K Harrison Butker (ankle) and DE Mike Danna (calf) are out for the Chiefs this weekend.

The Colts will be without LB Shaquille Leonard (back) for the third straight week, but WR Michael Pittman Jr. (quad) and WR Alec Pierce (concussion) are set to return. T Bernhard Raimann (ankle) is also out and DE Yannick Ngakoue (back) is listed as questionable.

Saints at Panthers

The Saints listed QB Jameis Winston (back, ankle) and RB Alvin Kamara (rib) as questionable for Sunday. CB Paulson Adebo (ankle), T Ryan Ramczyk (elbow), TE Taysom Hill (rib), and S Marcus Maye (rib) are also listed as questionable. CB Alonte Taylor (knee) is the only player who has been ruled out.

CB Donte Jackson (hamstring) and Stantley Thomas-Oliver (Achilles) are questionable to be in the Panthers lineup.

Bengals at Jets

T La'el Collins (back) missed practice all week, but he’s listed as questionable and head coach Zac Taylor is optimistic about his chances of playing. TE Hayden Hurst (groin) is also questionable and LB Germaine Pratt (knee) is listed as doubtful.

Jets WR Corey Davis (knee) is listed as questionable after limited practices the last two days. TE C.J. Uzomah (hamstring) is also questionable to face his former team and T George Fant (knee), DE John Franklin-Myers (toe, quad), S Jordan Whitehead (calf), and DL Quinnen Williams (foot) make up the rest of that group. QB Zach Wilson (knee) will miss at least one game.

Texans at Bears

T Austin Deculus (ankle), TE Brevin Jordan (ankle), and CB Isaac Yiadom (thigh) are out for the Texans. TE Pharaoh Brown (shoulder), DT Maliek Collins (knee), and DT Kurt Hinish (foot) are all listed as questionable.

LB Roquan Smith (hip) is questionable for the Bears after missing practice all week. CB Jaylon Johnson (quad) is also listed as questionable. LB Matthew Adams (hamstring), S Dane Cruikshank (hamstring), and TE Ryan Griffin (Achilles) are out this weekend while WR Velus Jones (hamstring) is tagged as doubtful.

Raiders at Titans

LB Denzel Perryman (ankle) and WR Hunter Renfrow (concussion) will not play for the Raiders. RB Josh Jacobs (illness) is listed as questionable, but he did not travel with the team on Friday. DT Neil Farrell (shoulder), C Andre James (concussion), S Trevon Moehrig (hip), and DE Bilal Nichols (shoulder) join Jacobs in the questionable category.

LB Ola Adeniyi (neck), S Ugo Amadi (ankle), LB Bud Dupree (hip), and T Taylor Lewan (knee) are all out for the Titans. WR Kyle Philips (shoulder) is listed as doubtful and LB Zach Cunningham (knee) got their lone questionable designation.

Jaguars at Chargers

Jaguars CB Shaquill Griffin (hip) is listed as questionable. They did not give any other injury designations.

QB Justin Herbert (ribs) is set to be a game-time decision for the Chargers. WR Keenan Allen (hamstring), TE Donald Parham (hamstring), and T Trey Pipkins (foot) are also questionable for the Chargers. CB J.C. Jackson (ankle) and C Corey Linsley (knee) are listed as doubtful.

Falcons at Seahawks

G Elijah Wilkinson (not injury related) is out for the Falcons, but no one else received an injury designation.

The Seahawks ruled DE Shelby Harris (glute, not injury related) out and they listed S Joey Blount (hamstring) and CB Justin Coleman (calf) as doubtful to be in the lineup. S Quandre Diggs (knee) is their lone questionable player.

Rams at Cardinals

The Rams ruled C Brian Allen (knee), CB Cobie Durant (hamstring), WR Van Jefferson (knee), and CB David Long (hamstring) out. S Jordan Fuller (hamstring) carries a questionable tag into the weekend.

WR Rondale Moore (hamstring) and LB Ezekiel Turner (ankle) are out for the Cardinals. RB James Conner (ankle) will be a game-time call after drawing a questionable designation.

Packers at Buccaneers

WR Sammy Watkins (hamstring) is out for the Packers. T David Bakhtiari (knee), WR Randall Cobb (illness), TE Marcedes Lewis (groin), and WR Christian Watson (hamstring) are all listed as questionable.

The Buccaneers will not have WR Chris Godwin (hamstring) and DT Akiem Hicks (foot). They also expect TE Cade Otton (not injury related) and T Donovan Smith (elbow) to miss the game after listing them as doubtful. RB Leonard Fournette (hamstring), WR Russell Gage (hamstring), WR Julio Jones (knee), and WR Breshad Perriman (knee) are listed as questionable, but QB Tom Brady (finger) received no injury designation.

49ers at Broncos

TE George Kittle (groin) is set to make his first appearance of the season, but G Daniel Brunskill (hamstring), RB Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle), and TE Tyler Kroft (knee) are out for the 49ers. DE Arik Armstead (foot) and T Colton McKivitz (ankle) are listed as questionable.

WR Tyrie Cleveland (hamstring), LB Jonathon Cooper (hamstring), WR K.J. Hamler (knee, hip), WR Jerry Jeudy (rib, shoulder), LB Josey Jewell (calf, knee), DE Dre'Mont Jones (neck), G Quinn Meinerz (hamstring), DT Mike Purcell (elbow), CB Patrick Surtain (shoulder), and T Billy Turner (knee) make up a sizable questionable contingent for the Broncos. CB Darius Phillips (hamstring) is the only player ruled out.

 

The biggest bummer from Thursday night's game is that the insane catch by George Pickens wasn't on actual television.

BUT... it looks like NFL-N is airing the game at 10am ET tomorrow morning (Saturday). Watch it or DVR it if you can.

 

Tyreek Hill: 2-0 Dolphins vs. 2-0 Bills is going to be crazy, we’re looking forward to it



Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill can’t wait to face the Bills on Sunday.

Hill knows the Bills are widely regarded as the best team in the NFL, but he says he and his teammates are up to the task.


“It’s going to be a crazy game, two 2-0 teams, division game,” Hill said, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “It’s going to be crazy. Atmosphere is going to be crazy. Attitude, energy all over the field. The best is supposed to want to play the best. You shouldn’t run from no challenge. I know this team is looking forward to it.”

Hill said he’s been reminding some of his younger players that they just need to go out there and do what they do well.

“I don’t say they fear the Bills,’ Hill said. “Probably a little more respect. For me, my message to them is it’s just another football game. Do what we’ve been doing our whole life. And let’s be fast. You see this offense is electric, and one thing NFL defenses fear is speed.”

Despite some significant defensive injuries that could make it tough to stop Hill, the Bills are 5.5-point favorites against the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday.

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A great match-up... must see TV. Looking forward to this one. Should see a ton of points in this game... Having said that, it will be a defensive struggle.

 

Packers place Sammy Watkins on IR



The Packers will be without receiver Sammy Watkins for at least four weeks.

Green Bay announced on Saturday that the club has placed Watkins on injured reserve.


Watkins is dealing with a hamstring injury. He was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice but didn’t participate on Thursday or Friday and was ruled out for the Week Three matchup against Tampa Bay.

Watkins caught three passes for 93 yards in the victory over the Bears last week. He has six receptions on seven targets for 111 yards on the season.

The Packers have been dealing with multiple injuries in their receiving corps this week. Allen Lazard missed one practice and was limited in the two others but he is expected to play. Rookie Christian Watson (hamstring) didn’t practice on Thursday or Friday and is questionable. Randall Cobb (illness) didn’t practice all week and is questionable.

As a corresponding move for Watkins going on IR, the Packers signed running back Patrick Taylor to the 53-man roster off the practice squad. The club also elevated receiver Juwann Winfree to the roster for Sunday’s game.

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Bills safety Micah Hyde (neck) placed on injured reserve, to miss rest of 2022 season

The Buffalo Bills' quest toward a Super Bowl title in 2022 will have to be done without one of their defensive leaders.

Safety Micah Hyde (neck) is being placed on injured reserve on Saturday and will miss the rest of the season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports, per Hyde's agent Jack Bechta.

The Bills have since announced Hyde's placement on IR.

"Unfortunately, client Micah Hyde will be put on IR today due to his recent neck injury," Bechta tweeted Saturday. "Fortunately, we expect a healthy return for No. 23 in 2023."

Hyde sustained the neck injury during Monday night's win over the Tennessee Titans, which forced an early exit he did not return from. Hyde had already been ruled out for Week 3.

Dealing with Hyde's absence will be a new problem for the Bills defense. The 10-year veteran has missed just two games over the course of his five seasons in Buffalo, and his rapport with Jordan Poyer made for one of the NFL's best safety tandems.

Hyde amassed 257 tackles, 14 interceptions, 35 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown in 79 starts for the Bills since landing in Buffalo ahead of the 2017 season.


Fourth-year safety Jaquan Johnson is expected to start in Hyde's place, NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reports. Johnson, 26, has appeared in 46 games since arriving as a sixth-round pick in 2019 and found an INT during his first career start last season.

The loss of Hyde continues what has been an injury-laden start to the season for a Bills secondary that has two rookies Kaiir Elam and Christian Benford starting at cornerback. Dane Jackson (neck) figures to be out for an extended period of time after sustaining a scary injury on Monday night, and the return of top cover man Tre'Davious White awaits as he continues to rehab an ACL tear from last year.

While there is a silver lining with Hyde expected to make a full recovery for next season, the Bills lose a prominent voice in the back end of a stellar defense.

The Bills (2-0) go on the road to face the Miami Dolphins (2-0) on Sunday.

NFL.com

 

Ravens’ J.K. Dobbins expects to make season debut vs. Patriots



Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins is ready to make his 2022 debut.

Dobbins, who missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL, expects to play tomorrow against the Patriots, according to multiple reports.


Kenyan Drake, Mike Davis, and Justice Hill have been playing at running back for the Ravens, but they haven’t been effective. Lamar Jackson has more rushing yards than all the Ravens’ running backs combined through two games.

The Ravens hope Dobbins can get the running game moving.

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