NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Dolphins aren’t winning without Tua. They probably won’t make the playoffs.

 

The most insane trade scenario with Carr would be one that gets rendered after June 1…




With the Raiders getting multiple top 50 picks…





Because it includes Davante Adams.

 

The raiders would be in total rebuild mode if they traded Adams too.

 

Davante Adams expresses support for Derek Carr but declines to address the future



Davante Adams admitted this summer he declined the Packers’ long-term contract offer, which was more than the Raiders, to precipitate a trade to Las Vegas. Returning to the West Coast was part of his reasoning. Reuniting with his college quarterback, Derek Carr, also played a part.

Carr was supposed to be in Las Vegas longer than Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.


“It just wasn’t really a point in my career that I was willing to sacrifice Aaron not being there after a year or two, so my decision was to be here [in Las Vegas],” Adams said this summer.

Now, Carr appears on his way out of Las Vegas after his benching Wednesday. He needs to be healthy enough to pass a physical to be released before $40.4 million in injury guarantees become fully guaranteed.

So, where does that leave Adams?

“I’m not going to sit here and go on and on, but obviously I support my guy,” a subdued Adams said, via video from Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “We’ve got to finish this season out the best way we can possible with all things considered at this point. Anything else that you guys got, you can leave that for coach or for Derek.”

Adams has 88 catches for 1,290 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, but now he faces the prospect of not having Carr as his quarterback. Adams was asked whether Carr’s situation changes how he views where he is.

“Well, we’ve got two games left,” Adams said. “We got the Niners this week and then we’ve got another game to go and finish, so that’s really all I’m focused on.”

Adams said he has talked to Carr since the quarterback stepped away from the team with an excused absence to avoid the obvious distractions, and the two likely will talk again tonight.

He admitted Carr was a big reason he agreed to be traded from the Packers.

“I don’t think anybody was excited about it in here,” Adams said of Carr’s benching, via Mark Anderson of the Associated Press. “I wouldn’t be here right now if he wasn’t here. I think everybody knows how I feel about him.”

Jarrett Stidham will start the final two games of the season with Chase Garbers as the backup.

PFT

 

Bears claim Michael Ojemudia off waivers, cut Taco Charlton



The Bears claimed cornerback Michael Ojemudia off waivers Wednesday, a day after the Broncos waived him. The team announced the move.

They waived defensive end Taco Charlton in a corresponding move.


The Broncos selected Ojemudia in the third round of the 2020 draft out of Iowa. He appeared in all 16 games with 11 starts as a rookie, registering 62 tackles, six pass breakups and four forced fumbles.

Ojemudia has played only five games the past two seasons, two in 2021 and three this year.

Charlton joined the Bears on Nov. 16, signing with them off the Saints’ practice squad. He appeared in five games, totaling three tackles.

The Bears also announced they signed cornerback Greg Stroman Jr. to their practice squad. He has appeared in 20 NFL games with three starts with the Commanders from 2018-20.

Stroman has 38 tackles, one interception, four pass breakups and one forced fumble.

He rejoins the Bears after spending the offseason and preseason with them before his departure Aug. 30.

PFT

 

Four things to watch for in Cowboys-Titans game

Not long ago, Thursday’s Dallas Cowboys-Tennessee Titans game figured to have critical playoff ramifications. Now it’s a game where one team can rest some players if it so chooses -- but it’s likely not the team you think.


The 7-8 Titans will host this game amid a freefall, losers of five straight and three of those games by double-digits. Sunday’s loss to the one-win, one-tie Houston Texans in Nashville, however, might have represented the low-water mark of the Titans’ recent skid.


And yet this game is semi-irrelevant to their playoff hopes.


Titans head coach Mike Vrabel understands that his team’s chances of making the playoffs really come down to what happens in the Week 18 game at the Jacksonville Jaguars. The winner of that contest will win the AFC South and host a playoff game. In other words, the Titans could lose six straight by dropping Thursday’s game against Dallas and still get in.


The 11-4 Cowboys are already in the playoffs, having beaten the Eagles in a spirited, back-and-forth win Sunday. But they still technically have a lot to play for.


Dallas is guaranteed to be no worse than the NFC’s fifth seed, but the NFC East crown and No. 1 NFC seed remain up for grabs. The Cowboys can do their part by winning Thursday and in the finale at Washington and have the Eagles lose their final two at home to the Saints and Giants. It will be tough for Dallas to earn the NFC’s top seed, but there’s a path: winning the NFC East, plus having the Vikings and 49ers each drop at least one game over the next two weeks.


It’s not often when two teams in the playoff hunt meet this late in the season and the one with the (far) worse record has considerably less on the line than the better club does, but here we are.


Here are four things to watch for when the Titans host the Cowboys on Thursday on Prime Video:

1. Will Mike Vrabel opt to rest some Titans players on Thursday? If there was a surprise this week, it was that the occasionally ornery Vrabel didn’t swat away questions about resting players in this fairly meaningless game. It appears that he’s considering the pros and cons of doing just that. “I think we’ll have to prepare this week and see where guys are on Wednesday and even Thursday before we ultimately make a decision and see who you feel like could have a setback or who could need some time,” Vrabel said. “Those we’ll have to look at.” Other than quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whose ankle injury is expected to keep him out at least through the regular season, there are other critical Titans players who are expected to rest. They include running back Derrick Henry (hip); linebackers Denico Autry, Dylan Cole, Zach Cunningham and Bud Dupree; starting offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere; and defensive backs Kristian Fulton and Amani Hooker. The Titans will also be without defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (ankle), perhaps their best defender. Expect to see some unfamiliar faces for Tennessee in this one.
2. Dallas has some injury issues, too. The Titans aren’t the only banged-up club. The Cowboys have a few notable injuries, although they’re in far better shape than their opponents. Tony Pollard, who is questionable with a thigh injury, is 12 yards shy of 1,000 rushing. But on Tuesday, Micah Parsons was a surprise addition to the list; he was limited in Tuesday’s practice with a hand injury and is also questionable to play. Defensive ends Demarcus Lawrence (foot) and Sam Williams (concussion) also appeared, but have no game statuses. LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck) has already been ruled out this week. Owner Jerry Jones seemed to indicate Pollard should be good to go versus the Titans, and there doesn’t seem to be too much concern about Parsons. It will be interesting to see whether Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy starts pulling key players if Dallas gets a sizable lead. The Cowboys do still have some personnel matters to work out, such as giving wide receiver T.Y. Hilton more action and figuring out their best cornerback options with the playoffs fast approaching.
3. Malik Willis still can change the trajectory of his season. It has been a tough run for the third-round pick who has been tasked with coming off the bench for a few stretches this season with Tannehill out, and it’s looking as if Willis will need to start the next two games at the very least -- and possibly a playoff game, if the Titans make it. Willis had a few moments in the loss to the Texans, including his first NFL rushing touchdown, but he was sacked four times in the first half and picked off twice in the fourth quarter, including on the game-sealing play. He’s been thrown into some big moments, such as the start against Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium. But perhaps Willis can play a cleaner game with this one being a lower-pressure affair. His accuracy has been spotty at best, but some of that can be blamed on a porous offensive line and inconsistent playmakers. These next two starts, especially this one versus Dallas’ strong pass rush, might give the Titans a better idea of where Willis is in his development and how he might factor in with the team in 2023.
4. Can T.Y. Hilton be a playoff asset for the Cowboys? Some were surprised when the Cowboys pivoted away from signing Odell Beckham Jr. and toward signing Hilton, who had been unemployed since the Colts let him go this past offseason. Gearing up for action the past few weeks, Hilton made his season debut against the Eagles Sunday, playing 12 snaps and catching only one pass on one target. But boy, did it count. Hilton hauled in a 52-yard grab – which matched his longest reception since 2018 – on a third-and-30 play midway through the fourth quarter. That allowed the Cowboys to tie the game on CeeDee Lamb’s second TD of the game. It was clear the Cowboys could use another wideout, even with nice contributions from Noah Brown. Michael Gallup hasn’t returned to his 2019 and 2020 form, and Hilton remains one of the few deep-shot options on the roster. This is the perfect type of game, against a familiar opponent he’s had some big games against over the years, for the Cowboys to continue working Hilton into the offense more. They might need him more than some people realize when the postseason starts.

NFL.com

 

Id bet your right on this scenario. Its the best way to reel in as much return as possible, including picks.

Carr already has a potentially lengthy list of teams needy of a starting QB and the addition of Adams in some sort of package would really sweeten the pot... allowing for potential 'blockbuster' type deals.

No way do I for one second think Jarrett Stidham is the future of the Raiders also. Raiders will be hard pressed to address their own QB situation once again.

 

David Njoku: We’ve got to finish strong, give the Commanders hell



The Browns have no playoff aspirations of their own at this point in the season, but they can still play spoiler for others.

Sunday brings a matchup with the Commanders and a loss to the Browns would deal a big blow to their chances of advancing in the NFC. Browns tight end David Njoku said “we have no one to blame but ourselves” for the position that the team is in at this point, but that the only thing to do is “get back to work, pick up the pieces and finish it strong.”


“This is a big test to see who loves this game as much as they say they do, number one,” Njoku said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “Number two, I know me, I know the tight end group, we’re going to give it our all — I know the whole team will. I have no doubt that we’re going to put our best foot forward and give the Commanders hell.”

The Browns close out the season with the Steelers and the results in Week 17 could leave the Steelers with playoff hopes for the Browns to snuff in the finale as well.

PFT
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Give em hell, Browns!

 

Davante Adams: Derek Carr gave everything he had, he’s the reason I’m a Raider



Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams has been close friends with quarterback Derek Carr since the two of them played together at Fresno State, and Adams was eager to play with Carr in Las Vegas. So it’s no surprise that Adams is unhappy about Carr’s benching, and about the likely departure of Carr this offseason.

Adams wrote on Instagram that Carr is the whole reason he wanted the Packers to trade him to the Raiders.


“This man gave everything he had. The reason I’m a Raider,” Adams wrote. “One of the most disciplined and loving people I know. Got my bruddas back through whatever.”

Adams added a middle finger emoji that he said was directed at anyone who “can’t respect it.”

That raises the question of whether Adams will be back in Las Vegas last season. When the Raiders traded for him and signed him to a lucrative contract extension, there seemed to be little doubt that they were invested in him for the long term. But if Adams doesn’t want to be there without Carr, and if the Raiders now view themselves as going in a new direction with a new franchise quarterback, Adams could on the verge of getting traded for the second consecutive offseason.

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Ive kept pretty much quiet on this subject till now. Carr and the offense is not the problem in Raidersville. Its the Head Coach and that siv of a defense. Raiders blew leads, some of them multi-score leads late in ballgames and that killed their season. Seems as if Carr is the scapegoat and some of it deserving, but the Raiders have bigger issues in my opinion than Carr at QB.

 

THIS!!!

I agree 100%

 

Deebo Samuel returns to 49ers practice



Earlier this week, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that receiver Deebo Samuel could be back at practice this week.

Now that’s come to pass.

According to multiple reporters on the scene, Samuel was practicing on Thursday for the first time since suffering knee and ankle injuries against the Buccaneers in Week 14.

Just because Samuel’s on the field does not mean he would play in Sunday’s game against the Raiders. With San Francisco having clinched the NFC West, there’s no need to rush him back. But the fact that he’s practicing now is a good sign for his potential availability for the first week of the postseason, no matter who the 49ers play.

Multiple reports also indicated that Nick Bosa and Mitch Wishnowsky were both back at practice after missing Wednesday’s session due to illness.

PFT

 

Dobbs to start at qb for titans vs Cowboys and Henry will sit out.

 

I'm gonna watch that game(Normally I don't catch Thursdays). I'm rooting for Dobbs but I think he'll struggle.

 

I think they became just the 3rd team to blow 4 games with a 14 point lead at halftime.

PREDICTION BOUND TO GO WRONG
carr ends up in new england with adams following shortly after Bill takes them to the superbowl were they beat the 49ers lead by tom brady

 

Bears: “No timeline” for announcing new team president/CEO




The Bears are looking for a new president and CEO. On Thursday, a report emerged that Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren has emerged as a “strong candidate” for the job.

The Bears have responded by pointing out that there is no timetable for announcing the successor to long-time team president Ted Phillips.

“We have not set a timeline for announcing Ted Phillips’ successor,” the Bears said. “Our search team has cast a wide net, spoke to many outstanding candidates and looks forward to introducing our next President and CEO at the process’s conclusion.”

Warren, 59, spent 15 years with the Vikings. He was the team’s COO for the final five years of his tenure.

Warren is one of the names that often emerges in chatter and speculation as a potential successor to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Perhaps a return to the NFL would be a precursor to a step into the ultimate captain’s chair.

PFT

 

Thursday Night Football: Cowboys do enough to beat undermanned Titans 27-13



The Cowboys kept their NFC East hopes alive, at least until Sunday, with a 27-13 victory over the Titans.

The Cowboys improved to 12-4, a game and a half behind Philadelphia. The Eagles play the Saints on Sunday and in need of one win in their final two games to win the division and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.


The banged-up and undermanned Titans had nothing to play for Thursday night, needing to beat Jacksonville in Week 18 to win the AFC South. They lost their sixth game in a row to fall to 7-9.

If the Cowboys had any pregame thoughts about pulling some key starters at halftime, that disappeared in three quarters of lackluster play. The Cowboys led only 10-6 at halftime after Dak Prescott turned the ball over three times.

They were up only 17-13 into the fourth quarter.

The Cowboys, though, scored on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter, with Dalton Schultz getting his second touchdown of the game and Brett Maher his second field goal, to pull away.

Prescott went 29-of-41 for 282 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble on a botched snap with center Tyler Biadasz, who departed on a cart in the third quarter with an ankle injury.

CeeDee Lamb caught 11 passes for 100 yards, Schultz seven for 56 and T.Y. Hilton four for 50.

Joshua Dobbs, making his first career start after arriving eight days ago, went 20-of-39 for 232 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He won the job for next week, keeping rookie Malik Willis on the bench, as the Titans try to extend their season without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill among others.

Titans defensive back Kevin Byard had both picks of Prescott and six tackles.

PFT

 

Alvin Kamara set to play Sunday, Chris Olave listed as questionable



Saints running back Alvin Kamara missed two days of practice this week, but he is on track to play against the Eagles on Sunday.

Kamara, who was absent due to a quad injury and personal reasons, returned for a full practice on Friday. He did not receive an injury designation on the team’s final injury report.

There’s less certainty about wide receiver Chris Olave‘s availability. He was limited all week with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable.

Safety Justin Evans (shoulder), cornerback Marshon Lattimore (abdomen), linebacker Pete Werner (hamstring), and linebacker Chase Hansen (knee) are also questionable to play.

Safety Marcus Maye (shoulder), guard Andrus Peat (ankle), and running back Dwayne Washington (illness) have been ruled out.

PFT

 

He's out. May be back week 18

 

Chargers activate Joey Bosa, waive Sony Michel



Joey Bosa is back.

The Chargers pass rusher appeared in only three games this season before a groin injury resulted in his placement on injured reserve. He has been activated for the Week 17 game against the Rams.

To create a roster spot for Bosa, the Chargers waived veteran running back Sony Michel.

Michel appeared in 10 games this year. He last played in Week 11.

The Chargers are getting healthy at the right time. If they stay that way, they can be a dangerous opponent in the playoffs.

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Cardinals won’t have DeAndre Hopkins on Sunday



Arizona’s best receiver won’t be available to catch passes from their fourth starting quarterback of the year.

The Cardinals have downgraded DeAndre Hopkins to out for Sunday’s game at Atlanta, with a knee injury.