NFL - NEWS & NOTES

CeeDee Lamb says Harrison Smith choked him after a tackle



Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb says he was choked by Vikings safety Harrison Smith after a tackle on Sunday night, and the video appears to back Lamb up.

After Smith brought Lamb down at the sideline, Smith’s right arm was on the side of Lamb’s neck, while Smith used his left hand to grab Lamb under the chin.


A video on the Cowboys’ YouTube channel shows Lamb on the bench complaining to teammates about Smith.

“Man was choking the [bleeped] out of me on the sideline,” Lamb told his teammates.

The Cowboys’ website highlighted the issue and suggested Smith will get fined, but otherwise the play has largely gone overlooked. Lamb has every right to be unhappy with his treatment at the hands of Smith.

PFT

 

Just a football play. Just ask Lyle Alzado or Art Donavan.

 

Or just about any linebacker in the 70's

 

New Orleans Saints receiver Michael Thomas is out for the season.

The wideout announced Wednesday he would not return for the 2021 season after a setback in his rehab from offseason ankle surgery.

"I've always been a man of faith and these past few months my faith has truly been tested," Thomas wrote in a social media post. "As many of you know, early last season I injured my ankle and worked extremely hard over the next few months to get back in time to finish the season. Unfortunately the rehab didn't go as planned and earlier this off-season it was apparent I would need to have a procedure to repair the injury.

"Since then, the team and I have worked diligently, day and night to rehab and get me back on the field. Unfortunately, there has been another small set back which we will have to address. To my displeasure, I will not be able to make it back in time for this season but will do everything in my power to get back to the player I have always been. I know God doesn't make mistakes so I will continue to follow in his path, and can't wait to be back on the field in front of the best fans on the planet."

Earlier Wednesday morning, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Thomas had suffered a new, separate ankle injury that required the wideout to see a specialist.

Saints coach Sean Payton later confirmed that Thomas' setback "was more to do with the procedure he had" prior to this new injury, per Sports Illustrated.

Thomas has been on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) since the start of the season. He was eligible to come off the list in Week 7, but the Saints had yet to make a move. Now, he's done for the season.


Thomas opened his career with four straight 1,000-plus yard seasons and set the NFL record for receptions with 149 in 2019. But the ankle injuries have derailed the past two campaigns. The 28-year-old played in just seven games in 2020, putting off surgery to try to battle for a Super Bowl in Drew Brees' final season.

With Thomas' setback, Rapoport reported that the Saints attempted to acquire receiver help before Tuesday's trade deadline, including talks with the New York Giants about Darius Slayton, but couldn't get a deal done.

Through seven games, running back Alvin Kamara leads the Saints with 28 catches. Wideout Marquez Callaway is second on the team with 19 catches for 284 yards and three TDs.

Payton expressed confidence in the remaining wideouts going forward, telling reporters, "I thought they had a good game last week. ... These guys are tough, they're competitive, and I like them. I'm not interested in your PFF grades or any of that stuff. Obviously, you're better if you have Mike Thomas in that group, but we don't."

The 5-2 Saints sit in playoff position, but the Thomas news is the latest setback for Sean Payton's offense, which lost quarterback Jameis Winston to an ACL tear on Sunday. With 10 games remaining and no shot of the Pro Bowl receiver returning for the stretch run, Payton will now have to patch together a receiving corps.

NFL.com

 

McCaffrey back at practice, Darnold in concussion protocol



CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Sam Darnold showed up for practice on Wednesday in full pads. However, their status for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots remained very much up in the air.

McCaffrey, who has missed the last five games with a hamstring injury, has been designated for return from injured reserve and the team has 21 days to decide whether to activate him on the 53-man roster.

Darnold remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, although his attendance at practice is a positive sign.

McCaffrey went through individual drills and was seen skipping across the field and appeared to be in good spirits during the 20 minutes of practice that was open to the media. Darnold had left the field before media arrived.

The Panthers (4-4) are looking to build off last week’s 19-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons, which snapped a four-game losing steak.

If Darnold can’t play, P.J. Walker would get the start at quarterback and either James Morgan or Josh Love would be his backup. Both are currently on the practice squad. Walker has started one game in the NFL, leading the Panthers to a win over the Detroit Lions last season.

Chuba Hubbard has been handling the majority of reps at running back for the Panthers with McCaffrey sidelined. Hubbard has run for 391 yards and two touchdowns this season while averaging 3.6 yards per carry.

McCaffrey, an All-Pro in 2019, was off to the strong start before going down in the first half of Carolina’s Week 3 against the Houston Texans. He had 364 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown through the first 10 quarters of the season. He hasn’t played since.

 

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski doesn’t deny that he told players OBJ is off the team



Browns coach Kevin Stefanski had to earn his coach of the year trophy after the fact on Wednesday, dealing with a flurry of questions from reporters about receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

Here’s one specific question he was asked: Did you tell the players that Odell is not part of the team anymore?


Stefanski didn’t deny it, either with a perfunctory comment or a Mike Tomlin mic drop. Instead, here’s what Stefanski said: “I would just tell you, again, today he’s excused, and we’ll see where this goes.”

That’s telling. Very telling. Stefanski was asked whether he told the team that Odell is no longer part of it, and Stefanski didn’t deny it. That’s basically an admission. And, indeed, a league source tells PFT that Stefanski did indeed make that statement to the team today.

It’s also telling that Stefanski said he hasn’t spoken to Beckham in the last 24 hours. And Stefanski declined to say whether he tried to reach Beckham.

This means that Odell is done. The only question at the point is when they release him. The reality is that they can’t indefinitely “excuse” him from practice without violating the CBA.

PFT

 

Jets-Colts Preview


INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Jonathan Taylor is thriving as the Indianapolis Colts' lead actor.

The second-year running back embraces the heavy workload, enjoys working with his supporting cast and doesn't worry about how many times he's asked to deliver. He just wants to succeed.

So four days after a physically draining game Taylor will step onto Thursday night's stage and hopes to show the football world what he can do against the New York Jets.

''I'm excited because I love playing at home and Lucas Oil Stadium is going to be rocking for a prime-time game at home,'' he said. ''That's going to be exciting - really, really exciting.''

Team owner Jim Irsay and Taylor's teammates think it's an appearance that is long overdue. Indy last hosted a prime-time game on Dec. 14, 2017, a span of more than 1,400 days.

Only two of Thursday's projected starters were around for that game: tight end Jack Doyle and cornerback Kenny Moore II. Punter Rigoberto Sanchez, long snapper Luke Rhodes and receiver T.Y. Hilton also played in that game, but Hilton will sit out this one because of a concussion.

For most of the other Colts players, including Taylor, this will be a new experience.

''We're in the market we're in,'' said linebacker Darius Leonard, a two-time All-Pro in his first three seasons. . ''Sometimes you've got to bite the bullet and play prime-time games like we did in Baltimore or San Francisco. Hopefully you win those games, get some respect and maybe you'll get it back.''

The Jets haven't been big prime-time players lately, but have a chance to rewrite the script after pulling surprise October wins over Tennessee and Cincinnati.

Mike White delivered a show-stopping performance last week by going 37 of 45 for 405 yards and three touchdown passes, setting an NFL record for completions in a first start. He also became the first player in league history to to top 300 yards with a completion percentage of at least 75% in a starting debut.

And now it's not just the Jets who want to see what White will do for an encore.

''The really cool thing about it is that there was no Herculean effort from Mike,'' New York general manager Joe Douglas said. ''It was just taking what the defense gave him, executing the offense effectively and efficiently, and making the most of his opportunity - making great decisions, throwing accurate passes. I'm so happy for Mike because this is what football is all about.''

The key, though, will be getting the Jets' defense to do its part and slow down Taylor, who has 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in five straight games - the two longest active streaks in the NFL.

Taylor has his own plan.

''They said I could be one of the best in college but that was just my mindset already, how can I be the best version of myself at each and every single level?'' Taylor said. ''''It doesn't matter how many yards you had last week or how many touchdowns you had last week, it's how many yards or touchdowns did you have this week.''''

BE LIKE MIKE

The Jets might have their version of Taylor in rookie running back Michael Carter.

On Sunday against the Bengals, Carter had 172 yards from scrimmage, the third-highest total by a Jets rookie since 1970. He had 15 carries for 77 yards with one score and caught nine passes for 95 yards. Despite using a three-man backfield committee this season, Carter's versatility has helped emerge as a potential feature back.

''He's a rookie, but he's proven he's built for this, and he's a vet in a rookie body,'' running back Ty Johnson said.

HE'S NO. 2

Indy likes the offseason investment it made in quarterback Carson Wentz.

Sorting out the battle behind Wentz has been a challenge. Second-year quarterback Jacob Eason replaced Wentz and threw an interception in the final minutes of a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, then was dropped to No. 3 on the depth chart behind veteran Brett Hundley.

On Monday, Hundley was released, giving the backup job to rookie Sam Ehlinger, a sixth-round draft pick who recently returned from a knee injury. Hundley later rejoined Indy's practice squad.

BREAKING THROUGH

Slow starts sabotaged the Jets through the first six weeks. Last week, they finally broke through with a touchdown on their opening drive - their first first-quarter points all season.

''I think the decision to cut it loose early kind of caught them off guard,'' White said. ''We were able to execute the offense from then on.''

SI

 

Thursday Night Football: Carson Wentz, Jonathan Taylor carry Colts to 45-30 win



Carson Wentz threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, Jonathan Taylor rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns, and the Indianapolis Colts rolled to a 45-30 victory over the New York Jets on Thursday night.

The Colts led 42-10 with 6:02 left to play in the third quarter before the Jets started to cut into the final deficit with a barrage of scores by third-string quarterback Josh Johnson. Taylor’s 172 rushing yards were the second-highest mark of his career and included a 78-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave the Colts their largest lead of the night.


Johnson, playing for an injured Mike White, competed 27 of 41 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns in the relief effort for the Jets. However, the hole got way too large for the Jets to keep up. White injured his forearm in the first quarter when his hand hit DeForest Buckner on his follow through.

After Nyheim Hines got the Colts on the board with a 34-yard touchdown run, White answered back with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Moore to even the game at 7-7. White exited the game on the Jets’ next possession and did not return.

The Colts then took full control as Taylor scored on a 21-yard run and Jack Doyle caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Wentz to take a 21-7 lead. Matt Ammendola‘s 33-yard field goal cut into the Colts lead but Michael Pittman Jr. added an 11-yard touchdown catch from Wentz with 12 seconds left in the half to make it a 28-10 game at the break.

Backup guard Danny Pinter caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Wentz on a tackle eligible play and Taylor sprung free on his 78-yard touchdown run as the Colts took a commanding 42-10 lead in the third quarter. Pinter’s touchdown is the first by a Colts offensive lineman since Anthony Castanzo caught a touchdown against the New England Patriots in 2014.

The Jets then clawed back into the game on the scoreboard in what was essentially garbage time over the final 20 minutes of the game.

Johnson hit Moore for a 19-yard touchdown, tight end Ryan Griffin for a 13-yard score and running back Ty Johnson on a 22-yard touchdown as New York cut the deficit to 45-30 around a Michael Badgley field goal. Johnson nearly added a fourth score for the Jets but a pass intended for Keelan Cole was deflected at the line of scrimmage by Taylor Stallworth that was picked off by Bobby Okereke at the Colts 7-yard line to stop the rally from progressing any further.

PFT

 

Report: Browns Expected to Release Odell Beckham Jr., WR Won't Play vs. Bengals

All signs point towards the Browns releasing Odell Beckham Jr. after he was reportedly excused from practice again Thursday and isn't expected to be back in the building the rest of the week, according to ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin.

It's unknown when the expected release will happen, but Martin reported that Beckham Jr. will not suit up on Sunday against the Bengals. The wide receiver was held out of practice Wednesday, three days after a 15-10 loss to the Steelers that could've been his final Browns game.

SI

 

The key word in this is “plan,” because plans can always change. As Thursday night comes to a conclusion, however, we’re told that the Browns currently plan to release receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday.

The move is expected to be accompanied by a revised contract that reduces the team’s obligation to pay Beckham, if he’s not claimed on waivers and becomes eligible for the balance of his salary termination pay. The challenge for Beckham becomes not making the reduced salary so low that someone claims the contract on waivers.


If/when he clears waivers, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team.

Because he was on the Cleveland roster as of Tuesday, he’ll get paid by the Browns for this week. As soon as next week, he could be on a new team.

The week began with the Browns hoping to get Beckham more involved in the offense. On Tuesday, an apparently orchestrated social-media campaign began, with his father posting a video of the various instances when Beckham was open and quarterback Baker Mayfield to get him the ball. Then, Cleveland icon Lebron James tweeted “#FreeOBJ.” Trade talks with the Saints went nowhere.

It became obvious on Wednesday that Beckham won’t play again for the Browns. Coach Kevin Stefanski reportedly told the team that Beckham no longer would be part of it, and Stefanski didn’t deny it when asked whether the report was true. The team excused Beckham from practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

PFT
________
________________

Browns dont need distractions. So long OBJ.

 

Colts play Carson Wentz late in blowout, increasing chance they send first-round pick to Eagles



The Colts ended their 45-30 win over the Jets on Thursday night with a kneeldown, which is no surprise. But the fact that starting quarterback Carson Wentz took that kneeldown was great news for the Eagles.

The terms of the trade that sent Wentz from Philadelphia to Indianapolis say that the Eagles get the Colts’ 2022 first-round pick if Wentz plays 75 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps this season, or if Wentz plays 70 percent of snaps and the Colts make the playoffs. Otherwise, the Eagles get the Colts’ second-round pick.


If the Colts wanted to prioritize protecting their first-round pick, an easy way to do it would be to take Wentz out of games that have already been decided. But that’s not what they’re doing. Wentz played 100 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps on Thursday night, even though the game was never really in doubt in the second half. Wentz also played 100 percent of the Colts’ offensive snap in their 31-3 win over the Texans.

Through nine games, Wentz has played more than 99 percent of the Colts’ offensive snaps. It’s still possible that a Wentz injury could prevent the Colts from sending their first-round pick to the Eagles, but at this point the worst-case scenario for the Colts might be an injury that would force Wentz to miss the last few games of the season: That could be enough to kill any remaining hopes of making the playoffs, but not enough to drop Wentz below the 75 percent threshold.

For the Eagles, seeing Wentz play every snap is great news. Philadelphia also has its own first-round pick as well as Miami’s and is poised to be in great shape on draft day.

PFT

 

On Odell's 29th birthday, no less.

 

I don't see a problem.

 

Just to help all of you so you don't miss your game's kickoff . . . I give you this PSA.

Spoiler: PSA

 

I need to reset the time in my head, you have a guide for that?

 

I need one of those.

 

I like ya, Gid.... just funning!

 

I can travel time in that wheel. I could become the next Christopher Lloyd