NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp was back on the practice field Wednesday for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury three weeks ago, and he looked like he’s back to full speed.

At the Rams’ joint practice with the Broncos, Kupp battled with Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II, and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said Kupp was his old self.

“I thought Coop looked great,” Stafford said after practice. “Just happy to see him running around, smiling, having fun playing ball again.”

After leading the NFL in catches, yards and touchdowns in 2021, Kupp missed half the season in 2022 and wasn’t as effective when he did play. Getting Kupp back to 100 percent would go a long way toward getting the Rams back in the playoffs.

 

Do you want to know why, if I'm Kansas City, I don't pay Chris Jones?

1. He's 29
2. Over his career, he's had (2) career years, both of which were leading up to new contract negotiations. The years in between, he was a slightly above average player. This next contract will be an over payment based on a player that plays to get paid. His guaranteed money will be his pay over the next 3-5 years. He doesn't want to have to put up another full season like he did last year to cash in, because from the outside looking in, he's a lazy player with a lot of talent. If he has to turn in another season for that big payday, he would rather do it over 10 games, rather than 17.
3. He's right, depending on his life style, which if he's willing to sacrifice $7.5M, he is probably smart with his money off the field, so he can afford it. A player that is that comfortable financially realizes, he needs one more big payday at his age to ride out that contract, then retire off the guaranteed money.

He has future bust written all over him. Figure out the first part of the season, knowing you will get the best version of him for 10 games and into a playoff run, then let the next sucker over pay for a player that will essentially, in my opinion, become a decent starter at best.

This is a player that has had two seasons out of seven that he should be applauded for, yet a few of the other seasons, he was handed unearned accolades in the form of Pro Bowls and All Pro status, based on reputation. For example in the second year of his current contract he had 27 total tackles on the year(that ranked 15th on the team, yes, there were 14 other Chiefs players that contributed more to their defense in the form of the simplest way to stop the opposing offense), 9 of which were sacks and he was given a second team All Pro honor... Really?? I get Pro Bowl, which is a popularity contest, but All Pro should be

This isn't a blanket perception on NFL players, just what I see from Chris Jones... I think the Chiefs are standing their ground for a good reason.

 

I dig your response, Irish and totally agree.

This is good info, I wasnt even aware of this till now. If Im the Chiefs GM Veach, Id sit on the offer they already offered him a couple weeks ago. Jones was great last year (29 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss, 15.5 sacks), but as you stated it lands right in place for him to seek to be the top guy on the totem-pole. Per - Ian Rapoport, The Chiefs have made a big offer, obviously not big enough. We’ll see how close he gets to Aaron Donald money…I don’t know if he’s shooting to be above Aaron Donald, but that’s the kind of ballpark.” Its kind of the way the NFL has things set up. These players know it and start drooling.

This is the part that pissed me off a little. Jones came right out and said he could "afford it" (speaking on the fines)... to me it was arrogant, boastful and just plain ol disrespectful to the Chiefs, their fans and the poor folks who pay this bloke. I took it as slap in the face personally as I still to this day cant rap my head around these kinda salaries these guys get and then they turn around and bitch about their contracts, get jealous and want what John Doe is making or more. Cant anyone professional just be satisfied?

This cracked me up... good stuff. He owes the Chiefs, lol. I think he's got it backwards.

Anyway, Jones is a guy who can take over a game defensively from time to time, he's damn good, but is he Aron Donald-esque? Is Aron Donald the GOAT at his position? Is anybody even worth the cash they make in certain positions? I'll let the debaters debate that... I just really got miffed when Jones flippantly said, so what, to the fines he was accruing.

 

The Denver Broncos' wide receiver room might have taken another hit.

Jerry Jeudy suffered a hamstring injury during Thursday's practice and will undergo an MRI, coach Sean Payton told reporters.

Jeudy pulled up during an end-around run, grabbing what appeared to be his hamstring, per multiple reporters on the scene. According to NFL Network's James Palmer, Jeudy looked visibly upset as he was helped to the cart to exit the field. The wideout also needed help getting off the cart to enter the facility.

A serious injury would be a brutal blow for Jeudy.

The former first-round pick, who hasn't burst out in his first three seasons in Denver, is projected to have a significant role in Sean Payton's offense.

Last season, he generated career highs with 67 catches, 972 yards and six touchdowns -- not exactly the output the club had in mind in 2020 when it selected him over CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson. But there were signs of life, as Jeudy earned 91.6 receiving YPG over the last five weeks of 2022, fourth in the NFL during that span.

With Payton now at the helm, the hope was Jeudy would finally break out. Now, that future could be on hold, depending on the severity of the issue. The 24-year-old has missed nine games in the past two seasons due to injury.

Thursday's injury is the latest to hit the Broncos' receiver room during training camp. Tim Patrick tore his Achilles tendon. KJ Hamler was waived after being diagnosed with a mild heart disorder (he could be brought back). If Jeudy's injury forces him to miss multiple games, it would thrust second-round rookie Marvin Mims Jr. into an even more significant role than he's earned in camp opposite Courtland Sutton.

NFL.com

 

Cardinals trading Isaiah Simmons to Giants for 2024 seventh-round draft pick

Isaiah Simmons' well-publicized position change didn't last through the end of the preseason in Arizona.

The Cardinals traded the former first-round selection to the New York Giants in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round draft pick, the team announced on Thursday.

"Isaiah did everything we asked of him," Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters on Thursday. "Moving forward this is the best way we want to play football against other people."

Simmons' tale in Arizona revolved around a lack of fit. The 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year entered the NFL as an obvious tweener at linebacker, but his rare blend of size, speed and athleticism made most personnel executives salivate over the thought of what Simmons could become.

Arizona began its new era under Ossenfort and Gannon this offseason with an open mind, allowing Simmons to push for a switch to safety, the same position he'd occupied when he began his collegiate career at Clemson. Instead of unlocking Simmons' potential with the change, it ended with him packing his bags to New York after two preseason games.

NFL.com

 

Seems like a steal for the Giants.

 

Titans may have found their Derrick Henry successor

Since becoming the Tennessee Titans' full-time starting running back in 2019, Derrick Henry has led the NFL in carries in three of the last four years.

But as the former two-time NFL rushing champ gets up there in age (he turned 29 in January), the Titans likely want to lighten Henry’s load.

Enter Tyjae Spears, a third-round pick in the 2023 draft out of Tulane who’s turned a lot of heads during training camp and the preseason, and has a strong case to be the Titans’ No. 2 back behind Henry when they open the season against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 10.

Spears has made impact plays in both of Tennessee’s preseason games. He had a 33-yard touchdown run to kick off the scoring in Saturday’s 24-16 win over the Minnesota Vikings in which he hurdled safety Lewis Cine before bolting to the end zone untouched. He reached a top-end speed of 20.3 miles per hour, per Reel Analytics.



“Tyjae is a coachable kid, wants to do it right,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel told reporters after the game. “That was a really cool play. But most importantly, him leaping over the guy and the ball not being away from his body was probably the most impressive.”

The week before that, Spears had a more modest 13-yard scamper against the Chicago Bears, but he showcased great vision to bounce outside, split three defenders and he hit All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson with a Henry-like stiff arm to extend the play.



Through two preseason contests, Spears has 89 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 carries. Among RBs with 10 or more preseason carries, Spears ranks first in yards per carry (6.8) and yards after contact (5.62), per Pro Football Focus.

YARDBARKER
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He may be doomed... I drafted him in an L4SN League.

 

Steelers paid Cam Heyward top of the market money at age 31. He played the first 3 years at a very high level. In the last year of that 4yr deal. Jones is a game changer. They should pay him.

 

I don't question his ability, I question his heart. He is motivated entirely by money and once he gets it in this contract, I believe he will fade away. He'll get up for a couple of games and save his good stuff for a playoff run... which in reality is where you need him the most, but to pay him what he wants.. pfft, if it's anyone else that might not make the playoffs, his career might be over as soon as he signs a contract. He's smart enough to know this is his last big payday and he is willing to sit out a number of games to minimize risk of injury and get to the 2024 free agency period where he will undoubtedly make bank.

 

It sounds like the Broncos won’t have receiver Jerry Jeudy for their season opener.

Jeudy will be out for “several weeks” with the hamstring injury he suffered during Thursday’s joint practice with the Rams, according to a report from NFL Media.

 

Kupp says he will be good to go come season opener.

 

Steelers vs. Falcons: Week 3 NFL preseason preview



As the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons for each team’s third preseason game. it seems an appropriate time to take a brief look at the series history, as well as a look forward to some things we might see. Kickoff is set for Thursday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Steelers hold a 15-2-1 record against the Falcons in regular season games. While the end results are utter domination, the individual games don’t play out so one-sided. Only once in the last eight meetings has the game been decided by more than a touchdown. Three consecutive games during that eight-game stretch went to overtime, with each team going 1-1-1.

The most recent meeting was last December with the Steelers victorious 19-16. The Falcons mounted a comeback after being down 19-6 late in the third quarter. The Steelers tried to run out the clock on their final drive but ended up punting with 53 seconds left. Pressley Harvin’s punt would pin down Atlanta at the 2-yard line and Minkah Fitzpatrick would intercept Marcus Mariota on the next play to end the Falcons hopes.

What’s new in Atlanta
The Fitzpatrick interception would be the last play as a Falcon for Mariota. He was benched in favor of rookie Desmond Ridder who would finish out 2022 and will start 2023 at QB. Free agent signee Taylor Heinicke will back up Ridder.

The Falcons attempted to bolster their defense (23rd in points allowed, 27th in yards allowed) with the signings of S Jesse Bates, DL Calais Campbell, DL David Onyemata, and former Steeler Edge Bud Dupree. Ohio State’s Edge Zach Harrison would be added in the third round of the draft.

On offense, the Falcons ranked third in rushing yards, so of course they used the No. 8 overall pick in the draft to select RB Bijan Robinson, followed by the selection of OL Matthew Bergeron in the second round. The Falcons have now invested three top-10 picks in a row in the skill positions, starting with TE Kyle Pitts (2021), WR Drake London (2022), and now, Robinson. If Atlanta is playing their starters it will be a challenge for the Steelers linebackers and secondary to corral all three of these guys.

For the Steelers, Mike Tomlin has again said that all healthy players will see the field for Pittsburgh. Other than Jaylen Warren’s 62-yard touchdown run the Steelers haven’t got much going on the ground in the first two preseason games. Look for more of a focus on the run game and see if the Steelers have success against those Falcon defensive reinforcements lining up around two-time Pro Bowl DT Grady Jarrett.

SBNATION

 

Colts vs Eagles tonight also. Richardson is set to go for the Colts and the Eagles arnt playing their starters last I heard (YAHOO).

They been fighting at practice, some will be fighting for a spot on the 53.

 

Regarding the game in Falconsville... NFLN is saying kickoff is at 730 et, SB said, 630et... chances are they got the right night, hopefully.

 

I touched on Jones career thus far... He has been a game changer in 2 of his 7 seasons, both were contract years. I am only reading between the lines. I wouldn't pay, you would, which is what makes the NFL world go round.

 

Dammmm, Steelers making it look so easy. Harris running, Pickett with great passing. Better save some of that for the regular season.

 

Its kinda curious to me that the Falcons wouldnt give their starters a series or 2 just to check things out.

 

Pickett needs to improve that QB rating

 

He needs his own raticator machine. Off the charts, so far, but lets see how it goes.