NFL - NEWS & NOTES

T.J. Watt back to limited practice, George Pickens remains out

The Steelers made a significant change to their injury report on Wednesday.

Linebacker T.J. Watt returned for a limited practice after sitting out Tuesday’s session entirely. Watt is listed with an ankle injury and the move may signal that he’s on track to play against the Ravens on Saturday.

Wide receiver George Pickens does not appear to be on the same track. Pickens remained out with the hamstring injury that’s also sidelined him in the team’s last two games.

Quarterback Justin Fields (abdomen), safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back), and defensive lineman Cam Heyward (rest) remained out. Linebacker Elandon Roberts (rest) was also out while defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (groin) was a limited participant for the second day.

PFT

 

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

• Can the Chargers keep Justin Herbert upright? The quarterback enters Thursday's contest battling an ankle sprain, and he didn't exactly get sturdy pass protection during Los Angeles' blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 15, exiting early in favor of backup Taylor Heinicke. Denver, meanwhile, boasts the NFL's second-best pass rush in terms of quarterback pressure rate (38.6%), and will be up against a front that also features a banged-up Zion Johnson on the interior.

• Will the Broncos find a rhythm on the ground? Not a single Denver player has more than 475 rushing yards on the season, and no one with at least 12 carries is averaging more than 4.5 yards per carry. In other words, offense has been a relative slog for Sean Payton's group, even though the unit cracks the top 10 in points per game (24.0). Nix's mobility at quarterback certainly helps, and he might be pressed to extend plays with his legs against a Chargers defense that's tied for first in points allowed per contest.

 

Beautiful drive by the Broncos... TD, Broncos on their opening drive (7-0), marched right down the field. The o-line just blew away and annihilated the Chargers defense. I cant understand why the Chargers defense has appeared to go soft the last 2 weeks.

 

Broncos remaining schedule has them at Cincinatti, home to KC and finish on the road at Indianapolis.

Chargers finish with 2 on the road... at New England and at Las Vegas.


(Chargers come right back and make it 7-7)

 

In case you missed it last night...

 

Purdy takin care of the o-line...

 

Tyreek Hill is questionable for Sunday’s game vs. 49ers

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa returned to full participation in Friday’s practice after his hip injury limited him in the first two practice days.

He has no designation.

But will he have his two best receivers?

Jaylen Waddle (knee) is doubtful, and Tyreek Hill (wrist/personal/rest) is questionable. Waddle did not practice all week, and Hill was downgraded to limited Friday after full participation Thursday. Hill did not practice Wednesday.

Receiver Dee Eskridge (knee) is doubtful.

Thus, Malik Washington and River Cracraft are the only wideouts on the 53-player roster who aren’t on the injury report.

PFT

 

2 games today...

 

About the best option and only option for the Falcons.

 

I really enjoy watching good defenses play.

 

is it time to hang em up Capt Kirk even though you have no SB's you have made a lot of money in the NFL

 

$65M dead cap money in 2025. OUCH

For the record, this is the “expectation” of other teams around the league. There have been no internal reports or sources saying the team is planning to do this at this time.

The question is, are the Falcons responsible for any of the 2025 salary if he signs another contract? in other words, Cousins is getting his $25M salary, no matter what from the guarantee… so, theoretically, a team could sign Cousins to a league minimum contract with a $20M signing bonus and he would essentially make roughly $45M in 2025, with the Falcons paying about $23M of it. I think that how it works, if a contract has guaranteed salary left, a new contract would supplement that payment back to the original team. If cousins signs a $15M salary, Falcons would owe Cousins $10M… etc. So, WHOEVER signs Cousins, would sign him to a league minimum contract and make up an incentive through a signing bonus.

If I’m accurate on that, I will be shocked if Cousins doesn’t play another year somewhere else.

Las Vegas… anyone?