MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Im feeling ornery tonight (per usual), so I decided to pick on Dak. Last year he had 15 INT's and proceeded to say he wasnt going to be like that this season this, he has 4 through 5 games so far... Id say he's on pace, lol.

I feel better now... have to vent occasionally. Picking on the Cowboys is therapeutical to me.

 

Tua Tagovailoa on pace to break NFL passing yardage record

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is on pace to break the NFL’s single-season passing yardage record.

Tagovailoa has a league-high 1,614 passing yards this season. In a 17-game season, that puts him on pace to throw for 5,488 yards.

That total would put him just ahead of the all-time mark set of 5,477 yards by Peyton Manning in a 16-game season in 2013.

Tagovailoa has a comfortable lead in the passing yardage race (Kirk Cousins is second with 1,498 passing yards this season) and also leads the NFL with 9.7 yards per pass and 13.6 yards per completion. In the Dolphins’ high-octane offense, Tagovailoa may put up historic numbers if he stays healthy.

PFT

 

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• QB remains day to day with a rotator cuff contusion, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per sources. Watson didn't practice Monday but did do some throwing. His status for Week 6 remains TBD after missing Cleveland's Week 4 loss.

 

Anthony Richardson is out for at least four games after being placed on injured reserve, but it may take him longer to get back on the field.

Head coach Shane Steichen told reporters in his Wednesday press conference that there currently is no timetable for Richardson’s return.

“We’ll continue to evaluate that process,” Steichen said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan.

When asked if he expects Richardson to return this season, Steichen said, “We’ll see. We’re still evaluating with the doctors.”

Surgery also remains a possibility, with Steichen saying, “We’ll survey everything. We’ll look at everything. We’ll see what happens, what the doctors say with the final deal.”

Richardson suffered a reported Grade 3 AC joint sprain in his right shoulder during Sunday’s victory over the Titans. He had to exit the game midway through the second quarter after taking a hit to the shoulder on a designed run.

The No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Richardson has completed 60 percent of his passes for 577 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He’s also rushed for 136 yards with four TDs.

Gardner Minshew is expected to start for as long as Richardson is out.

 

Based on incentives, Minshew will make 2 million more this year. Good for him. I'm rooting for him.

 

Yeah...$230M man...

Meanwhile the exile, who actually PLAYED while injured for us... is 3-1 and in first place in their division. Before everyone goes bashing the NFC South, the Falcons and Saints are 3-2 also... Their defense is the real hero this season, but I would put our defense up against theirs any day of the week. Baker took us to the playoffs and won, when healthy. Now he's doing the same for Tampa.

I know, I know... Get over it.. That contract though, it eats at me every time he misses a game.

 

That contract is now the norm.

Yeah, get over it. You should be pissed because him not playing reduces the odds of the team winning.

 

Kevin Stefanski: PJ Walker will start if Deshaun Watson is unavailable

The Browns are making a chance at backup quarterback.

Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday that if Deshaun Watson can’t play on Sunday, PJ Walker will start at quarterback over rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Walker is currently on Cleveland’s practice squad, having joined the team on Aug. 30 after the Bears released him. He was elevated to the active roster for Week 4 to serve as Thompson-Robinson’s backup.

Stefanski said Walker will get the starter reps in the week’s first practice with Watson sidelined.

“Just felt like it was the right decision for the team,” Stefanski said in his press conference. “I think PJ’s been here now for a month-plus, getting a better understanding of what we do. But just felt like it was the right decision for the team.”

Stefanski added that Walker has fit in well since becoming a part of the club, touting the quarterback’s ability to throw to all areas of the field.

“I think with a veteran, he’s played in some games, he’s won some games. Obviously, PJ’s not 40, but he’s won some games,” Stefanski said. “He’s been around a little bit. He’s played in different systems. He’s getting comfortable with what we do here and he’s got a great demeanor, great way about him.

“If PJ does end up playing, you’re just looking for him to be the best version of himself.”

Walker was 2-3 as a starter with the Panthers last season. In six total appearances, he completed 69.4 percent of his passes for 731 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA in the spring, completed 19-of-36 passes for 121 yards with three interceptions in the Week 4 loss to Baltimore.

“Dorian’s a young player. Very excited about his future,” Stefanski said. “He’s a young player but he’s a great teammate, so he’s going to support whoever’s in there. And he’s got to be ready to play — as you guys know. You’ve got to always stay ready.”

The Browns could keep Walker on the practice squad to play him, using another one of the standard elevations. Cleveland used Walker’s first standard elevation for him to serve as the backup QB in Week 4.

PFT

 

You can have Trubisky. Frankly, you can have Pickett too.

 

Does it? He's 2-1 this season, but one of those two wins was despite him. The Bengals game was won by the defense playing lights out. He looked as rusty as he looked through 6 games in 2022. So far, the teams we really need him to step up, the Steelers, Bengals and ravens, he's 2-4. The two win, he didn't have to play well as the defense held the Ravens to 3 points and the Bengals to 3 points. What has Watson done in 9 games to make you believe he really lifts this offense to a high level in this league?

If your argument is that the alternative is a 5th round rookie... That's an argument against Berry, who I really like actually. He should have been more prepared in case Watson goes down though. They eliminated competition for their $230M man, that's all.

My problem is this... Mayfield was cleared, probably shouldn't have played, but he cared more about winning and his teammates than stats, so he played and was lambasted for it in the media and ultimately from management when he was replaced. This time around, Watson is cleared to play. and he "didn't feel like he was 100%" so he sat and went to get a second opinion. This is his MO, he doesn't play when he doesn't believe he has the best opportunity to look like a top rated passer. If there is a hang nail on his throwing finger, he is going to come out of the game. He did it in Houston, and now he is doing it in Cleveland.

YOU should be Pissed that the doctors and coaches think he should be in the huddle and he personally says, naw I'm good.

 

For the top passers in the league...

When was the last time a player was out of the league for nearly two full seasons and received the top contract at their position?

 

I have become a fan of P.J. Walker after watching him play for Carolina, so I'm hoping he does well if he gets a chance.

If he does, it will rub Carolina's nose in their personnel decisions. They had Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker all in hand - but didn't even want to keep any of them in spite of nearly winning the division when Darnold returned from IR and took over as the starter. They could easily have resigned Mayfield or Darnold, kept their #1 wideout and their four first and second round draft picks.

Instead they went with the "blow everything up and start fresh" approach. So they do have a future franchise QB, but they're short on draft picks to build a team around him and have given up two of their best weapons. Apparently they didn't pay attention to how that strategy has been working out for Chicago.

The crazy thought is that if the wheels come off in Chicago (again), the Carolina trade might mean the Bears end up with the #1 AND #2 picks in the 2024 draft.

 

Deshaun Watson not on practice field Thursday

It’s looking more likely that P.J. Walker will be starting at quarterback for the Browns against the 49ers this weekend.

Reporters at the open portion of practice report that Walker is running the first-team offense in practice for the second straight day. Deshaun Watson is not out on the field with the rest of the team as they prepare for Week Six.

Despite sounding confident he’d be ready to go, Watson did not play in Week Four because of a right shoulder injury and he has not practiced since the Browns returned from their Week Five bye. Friday will bring more word from head coach Kevin Stefanski and the release of the team’s injury designations, but it does not seem like a return to action is in the cards this week.

Reporters noted that left guard Joel Bitonio (knee) and tight end David Njoku (face, hand) were also not seen on the practice field for the second day in a row.

PFT
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FWIW...

Cleveland offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was adamant on Thursday that Watson remaining sidelined was not a matter of toughness.

“I would never, ever, ever doubt his toughness — never. I would never doubt his toughness,” Van Pelt said in his press conference. “I’ve seen him play, I’ve seen him do some amazing things, fight through amazing things. That is not the issue at all — whatsoever.

“If I’m a running back and I can’t run full speed, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make it. I might be cleared medically, but I can’t operate with my strength, which is my legs as a runner. So, same as a thrower for him. I would never, ever, ever doubt his toughness. He’s tough as nails.”

 

Danielle Jones is still not at practice today, leaving his availability in doubt for his next game this weekend... Tyrod Taylor is set to step in.

Missing that game puts more pressure on him to win the INT Trophy... he's currently tied with, Mac Jones and Jordan Love with 6.

Stay tuned.

 

Danielle?! Is that a typo or some sort of Freudian silp?

 

Nah, just truth in advertising...

 

I didnt know I did that, but it is funny.

 

Im slow... but after further review, I need to clean off the monitor, that was brilliant!

 

Brand new $160 million contract for a 1-4 record, 2 TDs and 6 INTs... Danielle fits perfectly.

Reminds me of a joke from 1995. How many blondes does it take to screw the New York Jets?

One... Boomer.