NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Philadelphia Eagles will be without edge rusher Robert Quinn for at least the next four weeks.

NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Quinn is undergoing a knee scope this week and will be placed on injured reserve, per sources informed of the situation.

Philly acquired the 32-year-old veteran in a trade with the Chicago Bears ahead of the deadline to add firepower to its defensive line. Quinn has had a slow since moving to Philadelphia, compiling two tackles and two QB hits in five games.

Quinn seemed to be settling into the rotation before his knee got twisted in practice last week, forcing him to miss Sunday's win over Tennessee.

With five games remaining, Pelissero noted that there is optimism that Quinn will be back for the playoff push.

Coming off an 18.5-sack 202 season, Quinn has netted just one QB takedown in seven games this year. Even with the dwindling production, the veteran could be a useful rotational piece come playoff time, when the competition ratchets up.

NFL.com

 

Hopefully he is working on himself too

 

Von Miller out for season with torn ACL



When Von Miller suffered a knee injury on Thanksgiving, his initial diagnosis was that his ACL was intact and he would be able to return at some point in the 2022 season.

Miller even said that he was targeting the Week 14 matchup against the Jets to get back on the field.


But then the Bills placed Miller on injured reserve. And now Miller is out for the season.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott announced in his Wednesday press conference that after undergoing an exploratory surgery, Miller was diagnosed with an ACL tear and is out for the season.

“Very unfortunate situation for Von, obviously, and our team,” McDermott said. “We care for him, obviously, like we would any player. We know how much this means to him in terms of playing and being with the team. So, we look forward to getting him back — obviously off the field — for the rest of this season. And his leadership. And we’re certainly thinking about him as he recovers here.”

McDermott noted that Miller did have his ACL repaired during the surgery, which was performed in Texas. McDermott did not offer many other details, citing his respect for Miller’s privacy.

In his first season with the Bills, Miller still leads the club with 8.0 sacks. He also had 10 tackles for loss and 12 QB hits.

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Mark Ingram likely out for season with MCL tear



Saints running back Mark Ingram is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Ingram suffered a slight ear of his MCL and will miss four to six weeks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.


Given that the regular season ends in five weeks and the Saints are not in playoff contention, it’s hard to believe Ingram would rush back, so his season is likely over.

Ingram apologized after the loss to the Buccaneers for stepping out of bounds a yard short of a first down in a crucial set of downs that saw the Saints end up punting to set up the Bucs’ first touchdown of their fourth quarter comeback. But Saints coach Dennis Allen defended Ingram and said the knee injury was the reason he went out of bounds.

Ingram, who will turn 33 this month, is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.

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The Cowboys originally looked to be very interested in acquiring Odell Beckham Jr. for the remainder of the 2022 season, but after the free agent's visit with the team this week, things may not be as clear-cut as before.

NFL Network's Jane Slater reported Wednesday that the Cowboys did not extend an offer to Beckham at the conclusion of his visit, largely due to concerns over not being able to see him work out in person and questions regarding Beckham's availability to play this season.

Beckham Jr. is about 10 months removed from an ACL tear suffered during Super Bowl LVI, and while initial predictions were that he'd be ready to play by mid-November, that timeline has already been extended. To this end, per Slater, the Cowboys were worried that because they didn't get to see Beckham in action, moving and running routes, they had to evaluate the situation without that vital information.

With the Cowboys looking for a player who would be available to play this season and into a possible postseason run, the lack of a workout -- and what that implies about Beckham's recovery status -- has made Dallas less optimistic than pre-visit, per Slater.

In the meantime, the Cowboys leadership continues to be asked about an OBJ signing now that an official visit has concluded. In interviews this week, both head coach Mike McCarthy and owner Jerry Jones were asked about their discussions with Beckham.

McCarthy said in his press conference Wednesday that he thought the visit with Beckham went "very well," and he "liked his vibe. I enjoyed everything about our talk." But McCarthy declined to give any real update on the Cowboys' thoughts on signing Beckham at this point.

However, owner Jerry Jones was much more verbose when discussing his visit with the star wide receiver during a Tuesday interview on 105.3 The Fan. Jones also said that he had enjoyed his long meetings with Beckham, but when asked about his confidence in signing a player he hadn't seen work out after an ACL tear, Jones' answer seemed to echo these concerns over the unknowns of the situation.


"Well I'm not confident, at all. And so that's the issue. We all realize that issue of health, that issue of availability," Jones said. "You've got to take a good look at everything, not only the obvious, and that's his performance, but also any issues regarding health. So all of this we've got to come in with our eyes wide open and it has to be addressed, and that's when you can see if you can make a deal or not."

The Cowboys wined and dined OBJ over the course of a few days to endear him to Dallas over other suitors, but it looks like it's the health of the wide receiver that could have the greatest impact on any potential contract.

For his part, Beckham has headed home to Arizona to discuss his options with family and decide what his next steps will be, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. And as he thinks things over, so will the Cowboys, as they must also decide whether they're in or out on a deal.

NFL.com

 

NFL.com is attempting to give us all a good vibe/reason to be interested in tonights football game. Here is what they say...

One year ago this week, the Rams had failed to win a game in the month of November but would embark on a hot closing streak that would eventually vault them into the playoffs, ending the 2021 season as Super Bowl champions.


At the same time, the Raiders were at a similar crossroads, winning one game between Weeks 8 and 14 and clinging to their playoff lives following the resignation of Jon Gruden. But they’d do just that, winning their final four games and back-dooring their way into the postseason with four straight wins.


Oh, how much difference a year makes.


The Rams are playing merely for pride down the stretch, now losers of six straight following their 3-3 start. No matter that injuries have decimated the defending champs or that most of those recent losses have been fairly close, competitive games.


The facts are these: The Rams currently have the worst record ever for a defending Super Bowl champ through 12 games, falling just below the 1987 New York Giants, who started 4-8 in the strike season that year. (Those Giants would finish 6-9, with four of the losses coming with replacement players.)


The Rams’ six-game losing streak is now the longest by any defending champ, and Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks ensures that they’ll finish with a losing record under head coach Sean McVay for the first time.


The Raiders’ fortunes have been almost the inverse of the Rams’. Las Vegas started the season with three straight losses and a 2-7 mark that drew calls from some for team owner Mark Davis to pull the plug on the Josh McDaniels experiment halfway into his first season.


But since then, the Raiders have won three straight, including two on the road. Beating the downtrodden Broncos was one thing, but taking down playoff contenders in the Seahawks and Chargers was a sign that the Raiders are playing their best football of late.


Here are four things to watch for when the Rams host the Raiders on Thursday night on Prime Video:

1. The Davante Adams-Jalen Ramsey show will be worth watching. As he approaches his 30th birthday, Adams is starting to reach some heights that put him among the great receivers in recent NFL history. After a five-target, one-catch, 3-yard game against the Saints in Week 8, Adams has been one of the toughest covers in the league. He has 41 catches (on 67 targets) for 664 yards (16.2-yard average) and seven TDs in his past five games and is now leading the NFL in touchdowns (12) and is on pace to better his incredible 2021 production with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. The Rams had to deal with Adams twice in the calendar year of 2021, first in the 2020 playoff loss at Green Bay and then 10-plus months later in the 2021 regular season. In those two games, Adams combined for 17 catches (on 19 targets) for 170 yards and one TD, often matched up with Rams CB Jalen Ramsey. Their rivalry has been well-documented, and though Ramsey certainly had some wins when they went head to head, it’s hard not to argue that Adams won more battles against him than he lost. Ramsey didn’t follow Adams every single time, just as he didn’t follow Seattle’s DK Metcalf (lined up across from him on 22 of 40 routes) last week. Plus, the Rams are a heavy zone team, but we will see Ramsey and Adams lock horns eventually in this game. They’re two of the best at their respective positions and certainly will take some personal pride when it comes to this battle.
2. Josh Jacobs is on a tear, but he’s also banged up. We won’t know Jacobs’ official status until 90 minutes prior to kickoff, but he's questionable. The early expectation is that he’ll try to gut through a calf injury and play in this one. But has he looked unhealthy lately? That would be a definitive no. Jacobs enters this game on a three-game 100-yard rushing streak, with the Raiders winning all three, and he’s had at least 150 yards from scrimmage in each of those games; if he can make it four straight games with 150 or more, he’d be the first NFL player to accomplish that since Ezekiel Elliott in 2016. Jacobs also has two team records in his sights: 457 rushing yards away from breaking Marcus Allen's single-season rushing mark set in 1985 and five more rushing TDs to break Pete Banaszak’s franchise season record set in 1975. The Rams rank fourth in the NFL in rush defense at 96.7 yards allowed per game, even holding the Seahawks to 90 rush yards last week without DT Aaron Donald. Donald’s ankle injury will keep him out of this game as well.
3. Another opportunity for Bryce Perkins? With Matthew Stafford shut down for the season -- and L.A. still "working through" recently claimed Baker Mayfield's status for TNF, as Sean McVay told reporters Wednesday -- the Rams’ QB options are not that appealing. John Wolford, who is questionable for Thursday, started in Weeks 10 and 13 for the Rams, who lost both games at home. Wolford struggled in both games, taking seven sacks, throwing three picks and losing a fumble with only one TD pass. But Wolford was an early-week DNP (did not practice) and could be unavailable with a neck injury. Perkins started in the loss to the Chiefs and also had his travails, completing 13 of 23 passes for 100 yards, one TD and two picks. Although he adds a dimension with his running ability (18 rushes, 81 yards, long of 23 this season), Perkins has been indecisive in the pocket and has taken six sacks on 40 dropbacks in 2022. The Rams are flat out beaten up almost everywhere offensively. The line has been decimated. Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson are out, leaving a receiving corps of Ben Skowronek, Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, Brandon Powell and others. If Perkins does start, it’s an opportunity to prove himself for 2023. After all, if he can thrive against the Raiders with this tattered Rams group, Perkins will have shown something.
4. Run game might have to be Rams’ saving grace. The Rams rank 30th in rush yards (87.3 per game) and 31st in yards per carry (3.7), but the team’s 171-yard ground game against the Seahawks offered some hope that L.A. might be able to creatively manufacture yards with such a limited passing game. Cam Akers, following a rough start to the season, had 60 yards and two TDs vs. Seattle, and McVay called on Powell and Atwell to be used extensively as runners, combining for 68 yards on end arounds, jet sweeps and the like. After the game, McVay acknowledged he’s been too slow to get Atwell involved, so look for more trickery involving him. The 2021 second-rounder hasn’t played much, but Atwell also had some moments as a receiver last week with two catches for 48 yards and Wolford underthrowing him for what would have been a TD bomb. At this stage, what is there to lose? The Rams need to generate offense any way they can, and Akers, Atwell, Powell and rookie Kyren Williams figure to get plenty of chances.

 

The Baltimore Ravens are sitting in a decent spot entering Week 14, but they know their next task won't be an easy one.

The Ravens meet the Steelers this weekend in Baltimore, a team they haven't defeated in over two years. They're well aware of this fact, which only stings more when considering each game has been decided by five points or fewer.

"Yeah, we know," Ravens tight end Mark Andrews said Wednesday. "We know. We're excited about the game."

Andrews' succinct answer says it all: Baltimore is tired of losing to Pittsburgh, especially a Steelers team that clawed its way into the postseason last year and is battling through a significant transition at quarterback. If ever there was a time to take down the Steelers and end their recent run of success, it's now.

Baltimore has its own flaws to address. The Ravens have been held to 13 or fewer points in two of their last three games and have struggled mightily on the ground, with starting running back Gus Edwards averaging just 2.9 yards per carry in his last two contests.

Lamar Jackson isn't likely to play this weekend, leaving the keys to the offense in the hands of backup Tyler Huntley and increasing the level of difficulty for a Ravens offense that was already having a hard time getting going. Historically speaking, Jackson's anticipated absence doesn't bode well: The Ravens are 1-5 without him since 2020, scoring their lone win in thrilling finish in Chicago in Week 11 last season. They're also averaging nearly eight fewer points per game without Jackson.

Huntley hasn't won any of his last three starts, owning a 1-3 mark as the lead man under center. Simply put, it won't be easy for the Ravens against a Steelers team that believes it is finally hitting its stride.

Pittsburgh is 3-1 since its Week 9 bye, and rookie Kenny Pickett has cleaned up his performance, playing turnover-free football in each of his last four games after accounting for nine giveaways in his first five outings. His improvement has boosted Pittsburgh's offensive output from 13.2 points per game between Weeks 4-8 to 23.3 in Weeks 10-13, providing concrete proof for why the Steelers have suddenly started to win games.

They're not perfect, of course, but they seem to have addressed their issues on the ground, too, going from averaging less than 95 rushing yards in Weeks 1-8 to more than 161 in the last four weeks. Their opportunistic defense is tied for ninth in turnovers this season, too, illustrating a run of complementary football that makes playoff hopes somewhat realistic, even at 5-7.

Pittsburgh likely won't get there if it doesn't extend its streak to five wins over Baltimore this weekend. And as Andrews indicated, the Ravens would love nothing more than to all but bury their rivals, even with a backup at quarterback.



"We're always in the chase, man," Pittsburgh running back Najee Harris said during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "As long as we have games and as long as we got another team to play, then we always feel like we're in the chase. Even with the situation we're in right now. Right now, we're just worried about stacking bricks and stacking wins.

"As of now, we'll just take it one game at a time. We're just trying to get as much wins as possible so we can be in that race."

NFL.com

 

Nick Chubb: We can’t go on what we did in the past against Cincinnati



For whatever reason, the Browns have had the Bengals’ number in recent years.

Cleveland has won the last five over Cincinnati, including a 32-13 victory on Monday night earlier this year. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is 0-4 in his starts against the club.


If you go back farther, the Browns have won eight of the last nine against their division rival.

As one of the best running backs in the league, Nick Chubb has been a significant part of those victories. In eight games against the Bengals, Chubb has rushed for at least 100 yards five times. Earlier this season, he had 101 yards with a pair of touchdowns. His best game was last season, when he put up 137 yards on 14 carries with two TDs in a 41-16 victory in Cincinnati.

But as Chubb said on Wednesday, every game is different. And Sunday’s game in Cincinnati will be a different test.

“It’s a new game,” Chubb said, via Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. “It’s a new week. We can’t go on what we did in the past. We have to look at it as today and right now. All that happened in the past, it doesn’t do anything for us now, so come in today and get back to work.”

Chubb also noted he’s sure the Bengals will be out for a bit of revenge.

Cincinnati is playing its best football of the season, having won four in a row against the Panthers, Steelers, Titans, and Chiefs after the Halloween loss to Cleveland. We’ll see if Burrow and company can come out on top or if Chubb and the Browns will keep their win streak alive on Sunday.

PFT

 

]NFL.com is attempting to give us all a good vibe/reason to be interested in tonights football game. Here is what they say...

Amszon really got a good deal with the improved schedule on Thursday night. The Rams injuries just put a damper on their defending season. Wofford sucks so bad that they made a claim on Mayfield. I’m sure Amazon would love to have them push the truth about them so that they could have zero ratings. The only people watching tonight will be those that are looking for a good excuse to pound a few beers. I guarantee you Amazon isn’t getting any new prime accounts to watch this game tonight. Even the Rams family members wouldn’t get caught dead on camera tonight, especially if they live in LA and have their image to protect. There will probably be a Raiders home game feeling for the game.

 

Well, ima tune in. It still has potential to be an entertaining game and the Raiders are playing some decent football. I like football, lol and I was just busting NFL.com's chops a bit.

I usually, circumstances permitting, stream multiple games in the evening, so if the NFL game is a snoozer, I still have the NHL stuff going on also.

You made a good point in your first sentence. It was a great schudeled game, but who knew the Rams would be so ripped up with injuries. At the start of the season or when Amazon and the NFL were scheduling, however that works, this would have been a game to drool over, but as it turns out... the Rams just didnt have any luck this season.

 

Travis Kelce closing in on seventh consecutive 1,000-yard season



Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce already owns the NFL record for 1,000-yard seasons by a tight end, but he’s threatening to put that record out of reach.

Kelce has 968 receiving yards this season, so if he adds 32 more on Sunday against the Broncos, he’ll reach 1,000 on the year. That would make 2022 Kelce’s seventh 1,000-yard season, having reached that milestone every year since 2016.


Not only does Kelce have the record, but no other tight end is close: Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten and Rob Gronkowski each had four 1,000-yard seasons, which is the second-most for a tight end in NFL history.

George Kittle and Darren Waller each have two 1,000-yard seasons, and no other active tight end has more than one. Kittle probably won’t reach 1,000 yards this season and Waller certainly won’t, which means it will be five years before anyone even has a chance to catch Kelce’s record — and by that point, Kelce will probably have more than seven 1,000-yard seasons.

With 9,974 receiving yards in his career, Kelce is likely to top 10,000 career yards on Sunday. Only four other tight ends — Gonzalez, Witten, Antonio Gates and Shannon Sharpe — have reached 10,000 career yards.

The 33-year-old Kelce looks like he has a few more good years left in him, and he’s playing with a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Patrick Mahomes, so by the time he’s done, Kelce may own every tight end receiving record.

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Pretty amazing.

 

Gotta say I'm happy that the news is breaking now about the Falcons starting Desmond Ridder. The Falcons finally have their bye this weekend. Good to get the media circus out of the way now when there isn't even a game, so they can hopefully get all the reactions out of the way and have somewhat normal practices before the games resume next week.

I'm also happy that Ridder is finally going to get to play. I wish they had worked him in for a couple of series each game for the last four or five games. If they did and he had played well, they might have gone whole hog and made him the starter a couple of weeks ago. And if they worked him in and he struggled, we wouldn't have had the non-stop media questions on when they're going to start him.

But even with Mariota starting, Ridder was the backup and was always one play away from being needed full time. It makes a whole lot of sense to get him at least a few series here and there of regular season work.

 

I’m looking forward to seeing Ridder!

 

Been watching the Rams game for an hour... just realized Mayfield is in. Im NOT paying attention very closely.

 

Cool... I'm wrapping up some database work now, but I'm going to record the replay on NFL-N and watch it either late tonight or tomorrow morning.

I heard McVay was going to make him active, but I didn't think there was any chance he'd be playing significant action already. Best guess is the offensive coaches built a sort of script for him, taking plays he knew from previous teams (including college) and simply working out how to translate between the Rams terminology and the lingo he already knew.

 

Mayfield actually has played good so far tonight.

 

I wonder how many browns fans just shit their pants?

 

Fixed it for ya.

 

Mayfield throws a dot to win the game. 230 million guaranteed for a serial sex addict, or a QB who can win a game with two days practice?

 

That was an amazing performance by Mayfield.