MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

The Washington Post’s Mark Maske reports Deshaun Watson won’t be suspended for making contact with a referee in the Browns’ Week 2 loss to the Steelers.

Watson, per Maske, could face a fine from the NFL for his two face mask penalties and for bumping into the ref after getting into a heated exchange with the Steelers sideline late in the game. Watson’s struggles continued Monday night, as he completed 52 percent of his pass attempts for 235 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while losing two fumbles.

 

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said the team would “reduce the verbiage” in offensive play calling.

The Broncos struggled to get to the line of scrimmage in a timely manner during their Week 2 loss to the Commanders, and Payton was forced to use multiple timeouts to avoid delay of game penalties. “I think, No. 1, the first thing that we always try to look at -- but we have to do a better job of as coaches -- is reduce the verbiage,’' Payton said Monday, adding that Russell Wilson would perhaps wear a wristband with play calls on it. He said the team would try to “get to the line of scrimmage spontaneously” in the coming weeks. Wilson and the Broncos struggled with this very issue during their disastrous 2022 season, often failing to get a play in on time. Wilson has drawn criticism for giving pep talks in the huddle while the play clock winds down. Payton’s frustration with Wilson and the offense has been plain to see through two weeks of the regular season.

 

Translation:. Wilson is not as smart as QBs iwnorked with when coaching the saints so we will dumb it down

 

Houston QB C.J. Stroud has faced the 3rd-highest pressure rate through two games, according to Next Gen Stats.

The rookie has been pressured on 44.4 percent of his dropbacks so far this season, which makes it even more impressive that he’s completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 626 yards, two touchdown, and no interceptions in his first two starts. However, he has also been sacked 11 times, which is due in large part to the Texans being without four starting offensive linemen last week. That sack total is concerning for any team, but especially for the Texans, who saw David Carr’s trajectory altered thanks to being repeatedly sacked and under pressure early in his career.

 

The sacks are concerning, but so are the amount of dropbacks. He's throwing the ball a lot. Some real baptism by fire going on there.

 

Same with Richardson and Young as far as getting baptized... Young seems to be really struggling, imo.

 

neither one should be starting yeah I get baptism by fire but there is also save the guy until we have something around him.

 

Justin Fields said he has played too “robotic” this season and wants to play more instinctively.

“I felt like I wasn’t necessarily playing my game,” Fields said of his poor Week 2 outing against the Bucs, when he completed 54 percent of his passes and threw one touchdown and two picks. “I felt like I was robotic ... not playing like myself. My goal this week is to ... play football how I know how to play football. That includes thinking less and going out there and playing off instincts.” When asked why the Bears offense has struggled so mightily this season, Fields answered, “Coaching.” Perhaps this could mean more rushing attempts for the mobile Fields, who has just four designed carries through two weeks. Overall, he has 13 rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown this season. Fields drafters likely won’t find a better alternative on the waiver wire. He should remain in lineups this week against Kansas City.

 

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Anthony Richardson remains in the league’s concussion protocol.

Richardson won’t practice Wednesday. He removed himself from Sunday’s game against Houston after slamming his head on the turf and recognizing concussion symptoms. The rookie was in for a big day, with two rushing touchdowns in the first quarter before exiting for Gardner Minshew. Richardson drafters should have a backup plan ready for Week 3. He’ll likely sit against the Ravens if he’s still in the protocol on Friday.

 

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Joe Burrow (calf) won’t be fully healthy “probably for some time.”

After tweaking his lingering calf injury in Week 2 against the Ravens, Burrow is iffy to suit up Monday night against the Rams. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said Tuesday that he’s unsure whether Burrow will be a go for Week 3 and he’s not expected to practice until late in the week, if at all. Even if Burrow can gut it out, Rapoport said, he won’t be fully healthy for quite a while. His calf issue could be disastrous for fantasy managers who drafted him, Tee Higgins, or Ja’Marr Chase.
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Thats really tough for the Bengals.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said at his Monday press conference that the plan is for Trevor Siemian to get the start this time around. Siemian replaced Browning against the Packers and Browning will be the second quarterback into the game this time.

Joe Burrow remains out of practice with a calf injury. Siemian and Browning are competing to back him up. Reid Sinnett is also on the roster, but he did not play against Green Bay.

Siemian joined the Bengals as a free agent this offseason. He was 15-of-28 for 121 yards and an interception last Friday while Browning was 10-of-17 for 95 yards and an interception.

 

They rushed Burrow back and now they are paying the piper. Calf injuries are not something that you can easily come back from. The Bengals might as well ride it out and get a nice draft pick in the top ten. If they don’t put him on IR They will just keep pushing him to play and reaggrivate the injury.

 

I suppose thats a possibility, but Id like to think Taylor and company are smarter than that. Im thinking about Browning and Siemian getting chances (go with the hot hand) and the ride it out for at least the 1st half of the season, then have healthy Joe in for a playoff push.

 

Pump the brakes there, Willie. IF they go with Browning and Siemian for the 1st half of the season - there would be no playoff push.

 

Burrow needs at least a four week stay on IR. He will be in and out of the lineup all season if he doesn’t rest and let it heal.

 

You may be right. After further thought, which isnt easy, half a season is overkill. I just think if the Bengals can keep their heads above water for a 3 or 4 week period, maybe Burrow will be good to go, but that team is in deep stuff if he's not healthy, said: CAPTAIN OBVIOUS.

I believe as pointed out previously, they may have rushed him back to soon as it is and they already admitted he wasnt 100% last week, so that raises another question, since this is the' Monday Morning QB' thread, why did he play in the first place?

Point being, I agree, Lym... depending on backup QB's is a recipe for disaster. I just think they may have put too much emphasis on Joe playing this early in the season.

(tried to back pedal my way out of that previous post I wrote)

 

Try Moonwalking instead. That still wouldn't work but it looks a lot more gracious.

 

The Bears big news Wednesday continues. After the team announced starting left tackle Braxton Jones went on IR with a neck injury and defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned to focus on his health and his family, the team released backup quarterback Nathan Peterman.

The move sets up Tyson Bagent to take over as Justin Fields’ primary backup moving forward.

The Bears initially signed P.J. Walker to be QB2, but Walker failed to perform with any type of consistency through training camp and the team decided to release him before the regular season.

Bagent was an intriguing undrafted free agent from Shepherd University. While at college he put up ridiculous numbers, like 17,034 career passing yards and 159 passing touchdowns. It took time for Bagent to earn reps over the summer, since he was working behind both Walker and Peterman, but he shined in preseason action. Bagent didn't play much in the first preseason game, but he completed 4-5 passes for 35 yards. In the second game he was incredibly efficient again, and completed 9-10 passes for 76 yards. Bagent added a rushing touchdown, too. His production dipped a bit in the preseason finale- 7-14 for 43 yards and an interception- but he ran for another touchdown and proved he deserved a spot on the team's 53-man roster.

This does not mean Justin Fields' starting job is in danger, only that Bagent is continuing to develop at Bears practice and that he's earned the trust of the team to play if needed.

NBC SPORTS/CHICAGO

 

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud remained limited on Wednesday’s practice report with a right shoulder injury. He initially popped up on the report with shoulder soreness last Friday.

He said Wednesday that he feels “almost 100 percent.”

“I feel blessed,” Stroud said. “I feel good. Football is a physical sport. It’s what I signed up for, but my body is fine. I feel all right.”

He sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder as a redshirt freshman at Ohio State in 2021 but played through the injury. He said he is going through the same treatment he used in college.

Left tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee) returned to limited work after missing last Sunday’s game. Safety Jimmie Ward (hip), wide receiver Robert Woods (rest), tackle George Fant (ankle/knee), wide receiver Tank Dell (thigh), safety Eric Murray (concussion), and defensive end Jonathan Greenard (knee) also were limited.

Linebacker Denzel Perryman (hand/wrist) and Jalen Pitre (chest) did not practice. Cornerback Tavierre Thomas (hand) is expected to miss the next two weeks.

NBC

 

Zac Taylor sees “encouraging” signs on Joe Burrow’s calf, will take it day by day



Bengals coach Zac Taylor does not yet know whether quarterback Joe Burrow will be available Monday night against the Rams, but the early signs have been encouraging.

Taylor told Rich Eisen that the Bengals will take their time evaluating Burrow’s calf injury but that that so far things are looking positive.

“It’s been an encouraging early part of the week,” Taylor said. “I’ve learned enough in my five years here to not assume anything. We’ll just take it day to day with him. He’s been a little sore early in the week, but we’ll see how it goes. Fortunately we get an extra day here.”

Burrow suffered the calf injury during a training camp practice, and then aggravated it in Sunday’s loss to the Ravens. Taylor indicated that the Bengals will be cautious with Burrow and not put him on the field if there’s any risk of making the injury worse.

“The No. 1 thing is Joe’s health, and making sure he’s healthy in the short term and the long term,” Taylor said.

Despite the Bengals’ 0-2 start and Burrow’s injury, Taylor said he feels good about where the team is heading. That feeling will be hard to sustain if the Bengals fall to 0-3 on Monday night.

NBC

 

The Panthers aren’t being coy about their quarterback plans for Sunday’s game in Seattle.

Bryce Young did not practice because of an ankle injury for the second straight day on Thursday and the team said he’s not expected to play against the Seahawks when they announced the day’s full injury report for the week.

Andy Dalton has been working with the starters at practice and is now in line to make his first start with the team. The Panthers will be the fifth team that Dalton has been a starter for over the course of his NFL career.

Jake Luton signed to the practice squad this week and will be elevated to serve as Dalton’s backup.

Edge rushers Brian Burns (ankle) and Justin Houston (calf) were limited participants in practice along with running back Miles Sanders (pec). Linebacker Chandler Wooten (knee) went from limited to full participation.

NBC