MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Carr sees why Rodgers loved throwing to Jordy Nelson

It remains to be seen how much gas 33-year-old Jordy Nelson has left in the tank. In the meantime, the veteran receiver is influencing his new teammates on an off the field.

The Oakland Raiders imported Nelson not only to be a complementary weapon to Amari Cooper but to help mentor the rest of the wideout corps. According to quarterback Derek Carr, the Raiders are getting their money's worth.

"Nothing is just being left under the rug," Carr said recently, via NBC Sports Bay Area's Scott Bair. "Nothing is just being thrown out the window and not thought about. Jordy is very detailed. He wants to do everything exactly how you want it done. I see why Aaron [Rodgers] loved throwing him the ball. He knows if you're comfortable, you'll throw it to them. I think all the guys are taking note of that."

The Raiders are counting on Nelson bouncing back from a subpar season in which he struggled without Rodgers in the lineup. On paper, a trio of Cooper, Nelson and Martavis Bryant provides extreme boom-or-bust potential. If healthy, the triplets offer perfect complements to one another with Nelson patrolling the slot and offering red-zone acumen.

Per Carr, Nelson is doing his part to ensure the full potential of the Raiders receiver room is reached.

"When you add a guy like that, it just trickles down throughout the whole room of guys just their study habits," he said. "You see Jordy off to the side when another group is in, if you just look over there, he is probably just telling somebody something about a route or a technique or a coverage. He's very smart. He can read coverage like a quarterback."

The Raiders now need Nelson to translate those quarterback smarts into receiver touchdowns in 2018. (NFL.com)
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Very interesting football team offensively. I wonder how well they will do?

 

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich believes his starting quarterback will soon be throwing.

Andrew Luck will get the last word on when it happens.

Luck continues to rehabilitate from shoulder surgery that took place more than 16 months ago, cost him all of last season and almost all of this year's offseason workouts. The Colts will hold a three-day mandatory mini-camp next week, and he's not expected to throw then, either.

But he has been working out at the team complex since April, has attended team and position meetings and been learning Reich's new offense. The hope is he will start throwing sometime between mid-June and late July when the Colts report to training camp.

"I think we're real close. Again, I've never been through what he has been through. I could sit here and say what I think but It has to come from down in here," Reich said, pointing to his heart. "There's an instinct as a player that you know when you're ready to go and you keep testing it and testing it and you work with the people you're working with and you trust your instinct when you're ready to go."

The optimism sounds all too familiar to skeptical Colts' fans.

They repeatedly heard similar comments from then coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Chris Ballard after Luck had surgery for his partially torn labrum in January 2017. Yet he didn't begin throwing until early October, was shut down after two weeks because of lingering soreness in his right shoulder.

He missed all 16 games and spent the last month of season rehabbing in Europe.

Luck has continued recovering this offseason while Ballard and Reich have continued to suggest this time will be different. One indication the Colts expect Luck to come back came on draft weekend when they had a franchise-record 11 selections in the seven-round draft era and didn't take a quarterback.

Still, Luck will have the final say about the timing of his return.

"He certainly has a big say in it. He has to," said Reich, a former NFL quarterback. "Got to trust the player. Really, any player who's injured goes through the same thing. The doctors kind of give the thumbs up and there's a lot to say and you get the tests and you feel all that stuff, but at the end of the day the player's got to feel ready to go. That's been my experience at every position." (AP)

 

Josh Allen will get first-team reps at minicamp this week

The Bills drafted Josh Allen to be their next Jim Kelly, and the Bills will trying to get Allen ready for his new role quickly.

On Tuesday, coach Sean McDermott said Allen will get first-team reps at this week’s mandatory minicamp.

It will be the first time Allen takes snaps with the starting offense, and it’s the clearest indication yet that the Bills will give him every chance to win the starting job as of Week One.

A.J. McCarron had hoped to get a chance to play at least part of the season, and that may still happen. But he’s going to have to earn his playing time by showing he’s better than Allen. Unless Allen flops or gets injured.

If neither happen, the Bills could be in position to fill the void at the top of the AFC East whenever Tom Brady walks away. (PFT)

 

Luck is throwing footballs. Albeit just 10 yarders, but throwing non the less.

He swears he is starting week 1 - good for him and the Colts if that comes to fruition.

 

HOUSTON (AP) — During the Texans' nine-week offseason program, Deshaun Watson had a set of goals in mind.

The second-year quarterback out of Clemson, who is recovering from tearing his right ACL during practice last season, said he met and surpassed them by the end of the team's final veteran minicamp on Wednesday.

"Never satisfied, I always feel like I can do better," Watson said. "We'll get better. Those nine weeks I've gained a lot on and off the field. Mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually and I've been able to take my game and me as a person to another level."

Going through this rehab process is not new to Watson.

In his freshman season at Clemson, Watson tore the ACL in his left knee during practice as well. Having been through it before and knowing the work he put in, Watson wasn't surprised about his progress.

"I kind of knew where I was going to be," Watson said. "I put the time, effort and work in every morning. Just been grinding, so I'm not surprised at all. I'm right where I need to be and where I want to be."

Despite having to recover from the injury, Watson feels as if he is ahead of where he was this time last year.

In 2017, Watson was selected No. 12 overall by the Texans and participated in the offseason program. During his second offseason in the NFL, his experience from the past year is paying dividends now.

"I'm light years away from where I was last year coming in," Watson said. "Just a rookie knowing what I knew from college and what I learned in the pre-draft and what I learned in the QB room. Everything was going so fast, a lot of information at that time.

"Having a full season and offseason with Coach (Bill) O'Brien and Coach Sean Ryan I've been able to advance my game and take my game to a whole other level. It's been great."

O'Brien has seen first-hand the improvement and development of the young quarterback.

"With the work ethic he has and the mindset that he has you're going to get better at knowledge of the offense, knowledge of the defense and your own mechanics," O'Brien said.

"There's just been a lot of improvement in a lot of different areas. He'll keep it going over the next five weeks and he'll be ready for training camp."

Heading into this year's training camp for the Texans, unlike in some past seasons, there is no doubt who will be taking the reps with the main offensive unit.

 

Head coach Doug Pederson said this week that everyone on the Eagles still views it as Carson Wentz‘s team, but that Nick Foles remains the starting quarterback as they put a wrap on their offseason program.

The reason for that is that Wentz is “not ready” to play after last year’s torn ACL and getting to the point where he is ready to play will be Wentz’s focus in the weeks leading up to training camp. The quarterback said Wednesday that there will be some “little benchmarks” and one “last hurdle” from a medical standpoint.

That hurdle is clearance for full contact and Wentz isn’t sure exactly when that will come.

“It’s hard to say I need X to be ready,” Wentz said, via Philly.com. “I think, at the end of the day, I just need to be cleared for contact. Like you see out here, I’m doing quite a bit. I think, come camp, I’ll keep progressing and doing more and more. To finally be cleared of that contact issue is really the last hurdle, and I feel I’ll be ready whenever that is.”

The Eagles haven’t put a definitive plan in place for the preseason in the event Wentz is cleared for contact ahead of their exhibition games, but have indicated playing in them isn’t a requirement to get the start against the Falcons on the first Thursday of the 2018 season. (PFT)

 

Rosen’s strong minicamp doesn’t change Bradford’s status as Cardinals’ starter

The Cardinals used the 10th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft on quarterback Josh Rosen, and reports out of minicamp suggested that he is showing all the talent the team thought he had. But that doesn’t mean he’ll start as a rookie.

Sam Bradford remains the Cardinals’ starter and the Cardinals’ website suggests that there’s really no competition at all in training camp: Bradford is the starter.

Nonetheless, Rosen was impressive by all accounts, picking up the offense quickly and showing good accuracy and arm strength on the practice field. The Cardinals obviously liked Rosen enough to use a Top 10 pick on him, and they saw everything they hoped to see.

Given Bradford’s history, there’s a good chance he’ll be injured and unavailable at some point sooner rather than later, and Rosen will be given the starting job. But if Bradford is healthy, it appears he’ll start Week One no matter how well Rosen performs in training camp. (PFT)

 

Rosen is already the best QB on that roster and by far the best QB drafted this year.

 

We'll see in about 3-4 years....

 

Should only take 2. Maybe less.I

 

Doubtful, but I'm getting wiser in my old age..Not predicting anything in the fickle bitch that is the NFL.

 

Yeah. I believe in this era. If you don't show promise within 32 games. Ehh. Probably not happening. Only early draft QB that panned out over time that I can currently think of is Alex Smith. And he lost his job to Colin Kapernick at one point.

 

Btw I am an East coast guy(Boston obviously). Watching Phoenix sports the last couple months. I truly think Rosen is the real deal.

 

Report: Baker Mayfield not ready to compete with Tyrod Taylor



A year after the Browns thrust then-rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer into a Week One starting role, the Browns appear intent to do the opposite, keeping quarterback Baker Mayfield on ice for as long as possible.

If that’s the plan, Mayfield is making it easier to implement. Here’s an assessment of the competition, if there is one, between Mayfield and Tyrod Taylor, from Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer: “This is where I tell you that, based on the six practices of OTAs and minicamp that were open to the media, Mayfield did not look ready to compete with Taylor for the No. 1 quarterback job.”

Of course, Mayfield has a habit of taking over quickly, like he did as a walk on at Texas Tech and then as a transfer at Oklahoma. And if Mayfield somehow becomes the clear-cut best option in Cleveland, the Browns may have no choice but to play him.

The deck seems to be stacked in Taylor’s favor, however. And here’s another possible reason for it, one that won’t get mentioned during many/any press conferences: G.M. John Dorsey may be betting on someone other than Hue Jackson coaching the team next year, and Dorsey may want Mayfield to be handled not by Jackson but by his successor.

Regardless, Mayfield was picked to be the long-term starter. Whether that includes short-term remains to be seen. (PFT)

 

That last point is an interesting thought, but I do not think that will be the reason Mayfield won’t see the field as long as Taylor is healthy. I feel like that could backfire drastically if the GM does not let Jackson coach him up. I can see this team winning anywhere from 4-8 games this year, and I think 6-8 wins should guarantee Jackson returns...anything less and he’ll be on the hot seat.

 

I agree with SK that the last point makes sense. For different reasons though. I don't believe Jackson is Dorsey's long term answer. While I don't love his picks this year. Dorsey has a better track record then most evaluating talent in the league. Concerning both players and coaches. I think he lets Taylor, who I think is a decent level starting QB, play out 8-12games. winning maybe 25% of them and then going with Mayfield. He brings in his own good offensive mind to replace Jackson next year, while getting a top 10 draft pick to pair with Mayfield and Ward for the future with his guy running things.

 

How will Sam Darnold develop?

The Jets have made it clear that Darnold, their highest-drafted quarterback since Joe Namath in 1965, is going to get every chance possible to win the starting job by Week 1.

The No. 3 overall pick saw a fair share of first-team reps this offseason, and his workload gradually increased.

If Darnold doesn't play well, he can watch McCown and/or Teddy Bridgewater closely and prepare for a debut that will likely come during his rookie year. In the long term, however, the expectations are immense.

"I think people are going to look back," Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said. "I honestly think they're going to look back 20 years from now and say that this is the moment that the Jets shifted into a new gear — that they became a great team."

Johnson clearly believes that Darnold is ready to stand up to the pressure and expectations.

"He is focused on football," Johnson said. "He's not a flashy guy. I think he's a good fit with New York. There's nothing about him that looks like he has that deer in the headlights feel. I think he'll be fine."

Can Bridgewater be a wild card?

The Jets closed one door at quarterback in May when they waived 2016 second-round pick Christian Hackenberg, and some see the competition for the top job as a two-man race between Darnold and McCown. But Bridgewater could prove to be something of an X-factor after building a positive buzz by steadily earning more reps this spring.

If Bridgewater can continue to show he has recovered from a devastating 2016 knee injury, he could become a larger part of the starting quarterback conversation. Alternatively, the Jets could try to trade him to a quarterback-needy team for a quick payout, especially if another team suffers the same kind of major injury at the position — the same scenario that compelled the Vikings to acquire Sam Bradford when Bridgewater went down. (USAToday)

 

Josh Rosen: Sam Bradford “helping me out a ton”

Word from Arizona at the end of the team’s offseason program was that rookie Josh Rosen has done well, but that Sam Bradford remains the likely choice to start at quarterback for the Cardinals come September.

Trying to keep that spot on the depth chart hasn’t gotten in the way of Bradford aiding Rosen’s transition to the professional level, however. Bradford told Rosen after the draft that he would be an “open book” for the first-round pick and Rosen said Bradford’s been true to his word.

Rosen said during minicamp that Bradford has been “helping me out a ton” and that he’ll return the favor any way he can during his rookie season.

“I think it speaks to him as a person and how he’s willing to embrace the competition and the team aspect,” Rosen said, via AZCentral.com. “And I’m the same way. Regardless of starter-backup, I want the Arizona Cardinals to do the best possible because I want to be in a Super Bowl. If at least for this year the best way to do that is have Sam starting, then so be it, and I’m going to push him every single day.”

Between Bradford’s injury history and Rosen’s draft status, the chances that the rookie will wind up in the lineup this year seem pretty good. If Bradford’s tutelage helps him thrive when that chance comes, the change will likely be a permanent one. (PFT)

 

Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is sticking to the same pre-training camp plan that he employed last summer and that means he is headed to California to work with quarterback tutors Tom House and Adam Dedeaux before returning to Jacksonville late next month.

While that approach is the same as the past, the situation waiting for Bortles and the Jaguars is far different in 2018 than it was in 2017. The Jaguars are coming off a division title and two playoff wins that eliminate the underdog label they wore last season while raising the bar on expectations.

“I think from what we did last year, I think the expectations have kind of changed a little bit,” Bortles said, via the Florida Times-Union. “Within the locker room, they were definitely different last year, and I think they are only going to continue to change and grow and get higher. I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s going to be a good challenge and it will be a good year.”

Bortles faced questions well into camp last year about whether he would remain the team’s starting quarterback, but is in a much more comfortable spot this year. His ability to meet the challenges ahead will determine if that comfort level remains as high as the expectations. (PFT)

 

Bortles is a joke of a QB. The Good news is that Jacksonville will never go anywhere with him at QB.