MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Baker Mayfield: Our guys are ready and itching to go



Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield played two series in Sunday’s matchup against the Falcons, his only action in the 2021 preseason.

He played well, going 6-of-10 for 133 yards with a 22-yard touchdown pass to receiver KhaDarel Hodge. Head coach Kevin Stefanski called the quarterback “sharp” in his postgame press conference.

Mayfield said he and the rest of the team are eager to get the regular season underway.

“I know our guys are ready,” Mayfield said, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “They’ve been itching to go. We can feel that — how close it is. Just all that preparation you put in throughout the offseason and ever since you lost to the Chiefs in January, we’ve been working to this point right now, and I think our guys are ready to go. A few more things to clean up. The worst part of this business is the cuts that we have to make, unfortunately. It sucks, but we have a good group, so it’s hard.”

The Browns begin the year where they ended the 2020 postseason — in Kansas City for a matchup with the Chiefs.

PFT

 

Colts QB Carson Wentz placed on reserve/COVID-19 list

Carson Wentz won't be returning to team drills at Colts practice after all.

The quarterback was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, along with starting center Ryan Kelly and receiver Zach Pascal.

 

The Dallas Cowboys culled their quarterback room on cut-down day.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported that Dallas waived quarterbacks Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci, per sources informed of the decision.

The moves make Cooper Rush the backup to Dak Prescott in 2021.

The Cowboys could bring one of the signal-callers back to the practice squad after they clear waivers.

NFL.com

 

Dwayne Haskins expected to make Steelers' initial 53-man roster

Most of today's news will skew negative, with cut-down day inducing a trove of firings across the NFL. On the flip-side, however, there are positive stories about players earning roster spots.

One of those resides in Pittsburgh, where Dwayne Haskins has earned a job out of training camp.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the former first-rounder is expected to make the initial 53-man roster with the Steelers, per sources informed of the situation.

The No. 15 overall pick in 2019, Haskins was cut by Washington after playing in just 16 games over a year-and-a-half. The swift exit from D.C. was highlighted by struggles both on and off the field.

In Pittsburgh, coach Mike Tomlin has preached patience with Haskins. The coach noted early after signing Haskins that he wanted the young QB to focus first and foremost on the off-field aspect of being a professional before worrying about playing.

By all accounts, Haskins has improved in all areas. Coaches have raved about his approach to film study, and his play on the field has improved. The box scores might not be sterling, but Haskins has improved reading the field, and his howitzer of an arm remains strong. If he can smooth out the inconsistent errors, he could become an interesting player once again.

For now, he'll sit and learn behind Ben Roethlisberger. Mason Rudolph, who just signed a contract extension this offseason, is expected to be the backup, even as Haskins pushed him for the No. 2 job this offseason. A year watching Big Ben prepare and learning from the Steelers coaching staff could help revamp Haskins' stock in 2022.


Unless the Steelers are making a surprise decision to keep four QBs on the roster, Haskins winning a job indicates veteran Joshua Dobbs is the odd man out, at least for now.

NFL.com

 

The Patriots have cut their second veteran quarterback of the day: Brian Hoyer.

Hoyer was officially released today, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. That news comes after the shocking news that Cam Newton was cut today as well.

 

Rumor has it they want to re-sign Hoyer. I don’t understand the “cut and re-sign” theory. Can anyone explain?

 

Good question... and he probably will re-sign. This is the rest of the article;

Unlike Newton, it wouldn’t be surprising if Hoyer returns to the Patriots. Hoyer has been with the Patriots for years over multiple stints, and he might have told the team he’ll gladly re-sign with them once all the dust settles from the hundreds of roster moves going on in the NFL today.

But for the moment, the Patriots are down to just rookie Mac Jones on the active roster, Jarret Stidham on the physically unable to perform list, and no other quarterbacks on the roster at all.

PFT

 

Hmmm . . . .

Everyone laughed me back in the pre-draft thread when I had Mac Jones as the 2nd QB off the board.

 

I don't think cutting Newton proves Jones is better than the QBs in his draft class.

 

I get to see whether or not I was right in suggesting that Mac should be the pick over Zach for the Jets based on floor/ceiling concepts.

Basically, I had Jones going to NY in the perfection portion of my mock based on the idea that he is possibly better prepared to run an offense at the professional level than Wilson in the early going. It would give the team that drafts him a more sound footing to begin rebuilding the offense around as compared to the many x factors that Wilson brings to the tables, both of the good and bad variety.

It appears that I may have gotten the idea that Mac was ready to be a professional on day one right, considering he beat out a seasoned veteran to seize the job. Now I'll get to watch the two of them duel it out in the division to get a couple more answers:

• Will Zach Wilson be the reason Saleh remains or is gone in NY by the end of his rookie contract?
• Does Mac Jones ability to manage a game early on give the Patriots a chance to pass up the Bills and Josh Allen within a couple seasons?
• Will Wilson reach his ceiling and make the Jets contenders or will NY be looking at another passer within 4 seasons?
• Will Mac's ceiling be the reason why he can adequately run the Patriots offense but never get them back to dominating the AFC East?

 

Cowboys claim Will Grier



Dak Prescott has a new backup.

The Cowboys have claimed quarterback Will Grier off waivers, a day after the Panthers released him. Grier joins Cooper Rush as the two quarterbacks behind Prescott on the Cowboys’ depth chart.

PFT

 

Those are great questions and provide for a really interesting view/observation as things unfold in the East. Those questions are exactly why i'll be tuned in more interestedly as never before just to watch how it all works out. Seems to be lots of very cool story-lines coming up this season.

 

The AFCE is always a one team race for the division title. It was the patriots for 20 years, now it’s buffalo

 

We didn’t need that to laugh at you Lym, there are plenty of other reasons!

 

Ryan Pace: There’s no need to rush Justin Fields



Bears General Manager Ryan Pace is standing by the team’s decision not to start rookie quarterback Justin Fields.

Pace said today that the Bears are confident in their plan to make Andy Dalton the starting quarterback and have Fields learn from the sideline.

“There’s no need to rush Justin,” Pace said.

But there is one major reason that Pace and head coach Matt Nagy could change their minds: If the Bears aren’t winning games with Dalton at quarterback, Pace and Nagy will be on the hot seat. At that point, the one and only way for Pace and Nagy to save their jobs is to show Bears ownership that Fields is developing into a franchise quarterback. And Fields can’t show that unless he’s playing.

So while Pace and Nagy may not want to rush Fields right now, it’s easy to envision a scenario in which Dalton falters early in the season, and Pace and Nagy decide they’re in a rush to find out if Fields can save their season, and their jobs.

PFT

 

Carson Wentz optimistic about his availability for season opener

Carson Wentz got in 11-on-11 work Thursday, the first time since July 29 he has participated in practice. Wentz underwent foot surgery and then spent five days on the COVID-19 reserve list.

Colts coach Frank Reich said Wentz got the majority of team reps Thursday.

“We didn’t totally pull off the reins,” Reich said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan.

The plan, though, is for Wentz to get work Monday and then be full-go Wednesday. Barring a setback, Wentz is expected to start against the Seahawks on Sept. 12.

Wentz said he is in a “pretty good place” despite the missed time, adding he is “optimistic” he will start Week 1.

PFT

 

Wentz also talked today about he isn't and doesn't plan to get vaccinated. So he may end up missing time this season regardless of injury.

 

why does it seem so many QBs are against getting vacinated

 

My wife would tell you that privileged white guys who grow up being told their shit doesn't stink fit squarely in the demographic for non-vaxxers. But Tom Brady apparently got one, if Arians is to be believed, so it's definitely not just that. I won't get into my opinion on it, but living in Florida, I feel like I see enough of it daily to have an inkling... And it doesn't surprise me to hear that Wentz is saying the things he is.