NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Saturdays NFL Action...

 

1. Devin Lloyd passes the hammy test. A hamstring injury at the beginning of camp prevented Jacksonville's No. 27 overall pick from being able to prepare for his rookie season on the field until a couple days ago. Still, Lloyd told team reporter Ashlyn Sullivan on Thursday that he would be ready to go Week 1 and expressed a desire to get a tune-up in the preseason finale against the Falcons. The off-ball linebacker got his wish on Saturday. Lloyd logged 26 snaps in Atlanta and was tied for the team lead in tackles with five at the time he called it a day. He consistently completed plays to the whistle and was active in assisting on tackles. During Atlanta's second drive, Lloyd streaked around a block toward the sideline and pushed Qadree Ollison out of bounds before the Falcons RB could turn a 7-yard gain upfield for a much larger one. The play showed impressive closing speed, and it served as one of several reasons to be optimistic that Lloyd will make good on his declaration Sept. 11.
2. Desmond Ridder faces adversity, overcomes it. The Falcons' rookie quarterback experienced his first interception of the preseason on the first play of the game -- a rushed throw under pressure that was well behind Damiere Byrd on a crosser. Ridder responded by completing all five of his passes on the following possession, taking the offense 75 yards on 15 plays that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown pass to running back Tyler Allgeier. His arm showed pop, and he displayed the accuracy to match as he fit multiple balls into tight windows throughout the game. Although the offense did go stagnant for the remainder of the first half, Ridder opened the third quarter with a pinpoint 35-yard connection to Frank Darby from the shadow of his own end zone. The Falcons would eventually punt, but Ridder guided scoring drives of 75 and 85 yards directly after. He finished the game 14-of-21 for 185 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs, with the second pick coming on a "what the heck" heave to end to second quarter. Marcus Mariota's starting job is safe. There's no question of that. But Ridder is flashing the intangibles teams crave. He's well on schedule.

NFL.com

 

Fields looks really good tonight. 3 TD's

14 of 16, 156yds

 

Ridder showed he still has inconsistent mechanics at times. He got away with two interceptions vs the Lions (one was called back on a penalty, the other dropped by the defender), threw one today and had one or two other misfires that could have been risky.

He's making progress and I'm happy with what I have seen. All the same, he showed that the team made the right decision going with Mariota as the starter.

 

Why cant the Ravens just pretend all the games they play are the Preseason?

 

Kevin Stefanski: Anthony Schwartz isn’t in danger of being cut after dropped passes



Jacoby Brissett took his first turn running the Browns offense in a game on Saturday night and the quarterback’s line would have been better with a better performance from wide receiver Anthony Schwartz.

Schwartz dropped three passes from Brissett, which continued a preseason trend that has seen Schwartz fail to catch the ball when given the opportunity. After the game, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski called Schwartz “very accountable” and said he’s going to work hard to improve. Stefanski also responded to a question about whether Schwartz was in danger of being cut.


“No,” Stefanski said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “Respectfully, we are going to make sure that we deal with things that are important, which are our players and how they respond to these things.”

Brissett said he kept looking Schwartz’s way because of the confidence he has in the receiver and that he will “just continue to feed him and continue to give him opportunities.” Schwartz, who was a third-round pick last year, will have to make more of them for the Browns to continue to stand behind him.

PFT

 

Trey Flowers to sign with Dolphins



The Dolphins are adding a veteran edge defender.

Miami has agreed to sign Trey Flowers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Flowers reportedly worked out for the Dolphins earlier this week.

Originally a Patriots fourth-round pick in 2015, Flowers has spent the last three seasons with the Lions. He recorded 1.5 sacks, a tackle for loss, three QB hits, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in seven games last year.

The Lions released Flowers in March.

In 75 career games with 64 starts, Flowers has tallied 31.5 sacks, 37 tackles for loss, 86 QB hits, and 10 forced fumbles.

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Browns lose Chris Odom to a torn ACL



Defensive end Chris Odom played with Myles Garrett in high school, but he won’t be playing with him on the Browns defensive line this season.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Sunday that Odom tore his ACL during Saturday’s game. Stefanski said Odom, who signed with the team after being named the USFL defensive player of the year, was doing a nice job for the team before his injury.

“Was a very, very good pass rusher,” Stefanski said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “Had a knack for it. Did a nice job in practice. Had some good moments in these preseason games. Very, very disappointed for him. We talked about it last night, injuries are a very, very unfortunate part of this game that we play and coach, and we hate to see guys lose a year.”

Odom last appeared in an NFL game with Washington in 2019.

The Browns got better news about two other injuries. Safety Grant Delpit left the game with a hip injury and right guard Wyatt Teller hurt his knee, but Stefanski said both players are going to be fine.

PFT

 

Final...

 

Steelers and Lions up now... Im tuned in!

 

The Steelers Lions game you could watch unlike the Vikings preseason games

 

Jets and Giants wasnt bad either.

 

1. Jets defense brings the juice; Mims raises his value. Robert Saleh's defense made a preseason statement with a hard-hitting display in the first half, and it left several of their New York rivals reeling. Michael Carter II stood out among several great defensive efforts from Gang Green. The second-year cornerback burst around the edge to help score a big third-down sack along with teammate Quinnen Williams, and followed that up with an interception on the next Giants possession. Rookie Micheal Clemons proceeded to make matters worse for the Giants with a powerful crunch of their quarterback, but it was Kwon Alexander's fumble-inducing hit of Antonio Williams that sent the Jets' sideline into an absolute frenzy. The Jets' starting D played its portion with their hair on fire, allowing no more than 100 yards of offense, forcing four punts and holding the Giants to a field goal in the red zone. On a day when quarterback Joe Flacco (pick six) and running back Michael Carter (lost fumble) had their woes on the final preseason game, the Jets defense looks primed to attack the Ravens in Week 1. Highlighting the offense for the Jets, aside from QB Chris Streveler who led another thrilling comeback win, was wide receiver Denzel Mims, who produced eight receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown just three days removed from his trade request from the team.
2. Davis Webb steps up in Tyrod Taylor's absence. In a game where the Giants defense matched the intensity of their intercity rivals, Taylor's exit from the preseason finale with a back injury made the Giants quarterback situation take precedence. Webb, the Giants' third-string QB, answered the door when opportunity knocked. The Cal product played more than three quarters for the Giants and did so efficiently, completing 30 of 38 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Webb did most of his damage during the second half, continuously reviving a Giants lead with scoring drives in three of the team's last five possessions (one of which was a mad scramble with 22 seconds left in the game). With Taylor's status up in the air, Webb all but secured a spot on the team entering Year 2 and may very well be Daniel Jones' backup for Week 1 in Tennessee. Having a day on that Giants defense was journeyman linebacker Austin Calitro, who scored a pick-six TD, found a fumble recovery and tallied five tackles ahead of Tuesday's final 53-man roster cut.

NFL.com

 

So much for that "grit" from the Lions.

 

Reports: Brian Robinson shot multiple times in robbery attempt against him



Commanders rookie running back Brian Robinson was shot multiple times in a robbery attempt, JP Finlay of NBCSportsWashington.com reports.

Finlay reports it’s non-life threatening, and Robinson is in stable condition.


Tom Pelissero of NFL Media adds that at least two bullets struck Robinson in the lower body.

Robinson, 23, appeared to be leading the running back competition with Antonio Gibson. He did not play in Saturday night’s preseason loss to the Ravens.

In the first two preseason games, Robinson ran 14 times for 57 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 15 yards.

The Commanders made him a third-round draft choice out of Alabama, where he spent five seasons.

UPDATE 7:30 P.M.: Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan reports Robinson was the victim of a carjacking when he was shot in Washington, D.C., and police still are searching for the suspects.

 

Thats just terrible news.

 

T.J. Watt and Diontae Johnson exit with injuries, but Mike Tomlin says they’re fine



Steelers fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

In Pittsburgh’s preseason game today, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and wide receiver Diontae Johnson both exited with injuries. But head coach Mike Tomlin said both are fine.


Tomlin told CBS at halftime that if this were a regular season game, both players might have returned, and the Steelers don’t have any concerns that either injury is a long-term problem.

Watt hurt his knee and Johnson hurt his shoulder during the first half of a third and final preseason game in which Tomlin chose to play most of the Steelers’ starters.

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