NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Monday Night Football: Cooper Rush, DeMarcus Lawrence lead Cowboys to 23-16 win over Giants



Daniel Jones will spend the week in an ice bath. Cooper Rush may spend next week back on the bench.

Rush moved his career record to 3-0 as a starter, leading the Cowboys to a 23-16 victory over the Giants on Monday Night Football. The Cowboys moved to 2-1 and handed the Giants their first loss as they fell to 2-1.


Rush completed 21 of 31 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. That after passing for 235 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 20-17 victory over the Bengals.

Starter Dak Prescott, though, could return as soon as Week 4 against the Commanders. He had the stitches removed from his surgically repaired right thumb Monday.

But Rush did what he had to do in the two games Prescott missed, protecting the football and managing the game.

He got help from Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott, who combined to rush for 178 yards on 28 carries.

CeeDee Lamb, who dropped what could have been a 52-yard touchdown in the first half, ended up catching eight passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. He made four of his receptions for 48 yards, including a fourth-down catch and the 1-yard touchdown, on the drive that gave Dallas a 20-13 lead with 8:30 left in the fourth quarter.

Jones took a beating, getting sacked five times, pressured a career-high 24 times and taking 11 hits. DeMarcus Lawrence, who left for the locker room during the game with a foot injury, had three sacks and six tackles.

Jones completed 20 of 37 passes for 196 yards and an interception. He also ran for 79 yards on nine carries.

Jones now is 0-9 in prime-time games in his career.

Trevon Diggs, who somehow let a pick-six go through his hands earlier in the game, ended things with a pick of Jones with 1:11 left. It was his first interception of the season after he led the NFL with 11 interceptions last season. David Sills fell down while making a cut, leaving Diggs to intercept the pass.

On the same play, Sterling Shepard grabbed his knee on a non-contact play with no one around him. He had to be carted off the field.

Saquon Barkley ran for 81 yards on 14 carries, including a 36-yard touchdown run that gave the Giants their only lead at 13-6 with 5:31 left in the third quarter. He also caught four passes for 45 yards.

PFT

 

Sadly it seems like a suspension is coming even if he's okay.

 

Sterling Sheppard out for the season. Expect it to be official soon. Non-contact injury during the game. Either an torn ACL or patellar tendon. Either is no good.

 

What are you talking about? Link? He swerved to miss an animal and over corrected. He will probably get a citation, but no suspension is coming.

 

Do.you know something we don’t?

 

Yep... you nailed it. Tore his ACL.

 

Report: D.J. Reader to miss extended time with knee injury



It looks like the Bengals will be missing defensive tackle D.J. Reader for quite some time.

Reader left Sunday’s win over the Jets with a knee injury and Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Reader is expected to miss an extended period of time as he recovers. That will make him a candidate for injured reserve and he’ll have to miss at least four games if he winds up on that list.


Reader has 10 tackles and a fumble recovery this season. After his first season with the Bengals was cut short by a quad injury, Reader returned to make 15 starts last season and had 43 tackles and two sacks in those games. He added 12 tackles and a sack in the postseason.

Josh Tupou will likely step into a larger role alongside B.J. Hill for as long as Reader is out of action.

PFT

 

Joe Mixon, Tee Higgins among Bengals upgraded to full participants Tuesday



Bengals running back Joe Mixon (ankle) and receiver Tee Higgins (toe) were full participants Tuesday. Both were estimated as non-participants Monday.

Cornerback Eli Apple (ankle), tight end Hayden Hurst (groin), linebacker Germaine Pratt (knee) and tight end Mitchell Wilcox (ankle) also were upgraded to full participation.


Defensive tackle D.J. Reader (knee) will miss significant time with his injury, and he was one of three players who didn’t practice Tuesday.

Tight end Drew Sample (knee) and right tackle La’el Collins (back) also were held out of practice.

PFT

 

Kevin Stefanski: Myles Garrett will be back in the building on Thursday



Though he sustained a shoulder sprain, biceps strain, and minor lacerations in a car accident earlier this week, defensive end Myles Garrett may play in Cleveland’s Week Four matchup against Atlanta.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday that while Garrett is not in the building on Wednesday, he is expected to return on Thursday.


“Very grateful he’s OK,” Stefanski said, via Anthony Poisal of the team’s website. “Spoken to him. He’s staying home today resting, and we’ll see him tomorrow morning.”

Stefanski added that he’s “not ruling out anybody on Wednesday,” leaving open the possibility Garrett will be on the field.

Garrett is one of several Cleveland players who won’t be on the field Wednesday. Guard Joel Bitonio (biceps), defensive tackle Tavon Bryan (hamstring), defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (ankle), linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (groin), and cornerback Denzel Ward (back, ribs) are also slated to sit out the first practice of the week.

PFT

 

Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Xavien Howard questionable for Thursday Night Football



Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was estimated as a limited participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough. He said he plans to play, but the Dolphins list him as questionable with back and ankle injuries.

Receiver Jaylen Waddle (groin), cornerback Xavien Howard (groin/glute), left tackle Terron Armstead (toe), defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (knee), safety Brandon Jones (chest) and receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. (ribs/toe) also are questionable for Thursday Night Football. All were limited in Wednesday’s walkthrough.


Tight ends Cethan Carter (concussion) and Hunter Long (ankle) will not play against the Bengals.

Offensive lineman Rob Hunt (shin), cornerback Kader Kohou (ankle) and defensive lineman Zach Sieler (hand) returned to full participation and are off the report and good to go.

PFT

 

Joey Bosa to have surgery, go on injured reserve



The Chargers got some more bad injury news on Wednesday.

Head coach Brandon Staley told reporters that defensive end Joey Bosa needs to have surgery to repair the groin injury he suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars. Bosa is expected to return to action this season, but will go on injured reserve and miss at least four games before he’ll be eligible to make that return.


The Bosa announcement follows Monday’s news that left tackle Rashawn Slater and wide receiver Jalen Guyton suffered season-ending injuries. Slater ruptured his biceps tendon and Guyton tore his ACL.

Kyle Van Noy will likely join Khalil Mack as starters on the edge of the Chargers defense. Chris Rumph and the newly acquired Derrek Tuszka are also on hand.

PFT

 

Sunday night's game between the Chiefs and Buccaneers will be played in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium as originally scheduled, the NFL confirmed Thursday.

The location of Sunday's game had been in doubt as Hurricane Ian forced the Buccaneers to practice in Miami this week as the storm hit the western Florida coast. The Buccaneers announced Thursday that the Tampa area was spared "the most damaging consequences of this powerful storm" and the team had informed the league it was ready to host Sunday Night Football.

An NFL spokesperson told reporters on Wednesday the Minnesota Vikings' U.S. Bank Stadium would be a contingency site for the game. Thursday's announcement means contingency plans are no longer necessary.

NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported that the Buccaneers plan to return to Tampa after practice on Friday.

"Our thoughts and prayers remain with the many thousands in the Southwest Florida region who have been severely impacted by Hurricane Ian," the Buccaneers said in a statement on Thursday. "We are also very thankful that the Tampa Bay area was spared the most damaging consequences of this powerful storm. We have informed the NFL, after consulting with local and state agencies, that we are ready to play Sunday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium as originally scheduled.

"We would like to thank all of the local government agencies and the thousands of emergency personnel who worked tirelessly over the past few days to ensure that our area would be ready to respond if needed. We would also like to acknowledge the Miami Dolphins organization for their assistance and hospitality in allowing us to use their practice facilities this week.

"We also want to express our sincere appreciation to the first responders and emergency personnel who are already battling the elements, saving lives, and helping our neighbors in those most impacted areas to our south.


"We will have additional information soon on ways we can join together to support our community and those most impacted by the storm."

NFL.com

 

Jameis Winston, Michael Thomas out of practice for second straight day



When Saints quarterback Jameis Winston missed practice with a back injury yesterday, both he and coach Dennis Allen said he’d likely return to the practice field today. He didn’t.

According to multiple reporters on the scene in London, where the Saints are playing a “home” game on Sunday, Winston wasn’t present for the portion of practice open to the media. Andy Dalton was quarterbacking the first-string offense, and Taysom Hill was taking some snaps at quarterback as well.


Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas wasn’t on the practice field either, his second consecutive day missing practice as well.

The Saints have several injuries to key players on offense right now, but three injured players — receiver Jarvis Landry, right tackle Ryan Ramczyk and guard Andrus Peat — all participated in practice.

It’s unclear whether Winston and Thomas will play on Sunday against the Vikings.

PFT

 

Matt Canada: I feel really good that we made corrections we need to make



Questions about who should shoulder the blame for the sluggish start by the Steelers offense have been swirling this week and one of the candidates discussed the unit’s struggles during a session with reporters on Thursday.

Offensive coordinator Matt Canada said he wasn’t interested in assigning fault for what has gone wrong in the team’s first three games and that he has “great faith” that the team will thrive when everything is “in the right place at the right time.”


“I’m not going to come up here and say ‘this should have happened, this should have happened’,” Canada said, via 93.7 The Fan. “I’m in charge. We are not producing. I’m good with that. I’m not going to do that. We had a great meeting Monday. We are not where we want to be, players see that. We know where we are. I’m not going to do that out here. We do that inside and I feel really good that we made the corrections we need to make. Until we see it on Sunday, it doesn’t matter.”

Canada’s last point is the most significant one. As long as the Steelers fall short in games, there will be calls for new voices calling plays and new players to execute them.

PFT

 

Is he still calling the offense? Then they didn’t make the adjustments needed. I’m very close to jumping on the play Kenny bandwagon too. But if Canada is calling the offense, not optimistic that things would get better. It’s so predictable and plays don’t build off each other. Plenty of talent, but a decent scheme would get the ball in their hands on the run instead of curls, outs or fades against the sideline. DJ is a YAC monster, Pickens is dynamic with the ball in his hands. Even Claypool could break some tackles and make a big play.

 

Doubt it gets better this year and if they don't hire the oc from outside it won't get better next year either.

 

Thursday Night Football: Bengals knock off Dolphins 27-15



The banged-up Dolphins put up a good fight, even after a scary injury to their quarterback, but they lost for the first time this season. The Eagles (3-0) now are the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

The Bengals beat Miami 27-15 before a Cincinnati-record crowd of 67,260 in Thursday Night Football. Cincinnati moved to 2-2 and dropped the Dolphins to 3-1.


Vonn Bell had two interceptions; Tee Higgins had seven catches for 123 yards; and Joe Burrow passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns as the Bengals looked as close to the 2021 version of themselves as they have all season.

The Dolphins won their first three games impressively, but the four-day turnaround worked to their disadvantage. They had 14 players on their injury report this week and nine had statuses entering the game, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, cornerback Xavien Howard, receiver Jaylen Waddle and left tackle Terron Armstead.

And the Dolphins had to leave Miami early Wednesday because of Hurricane Ian.

But the worst of it came in the second quarter when the Dolphins watched in horror as Tagovailoa left the field on a stretcher. He went by ambulance to a local hospital to be evaluated for head and neck injuries only four days after he was cleared of a concussion during the win over the Bills, which prompted an NFL investigation.

The Dolphins took their only lead of the game with 2:40 left in the third quarter on a 20-yard field goal by Jason Sanders, and they stayed close until the final two minutes.

The Bengals outscored the Dolphins 13-0 in the fourth quarter, with Evan McPherson hitting field goals of 19 and 57 yards before Burrow hit Hayden Hurst for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:52 left for the final margin.

Burrow finished 20 of 31.

Bell essentially ended it with a pick of Teddy Bridgewater with 3:05 remaining on a pass intended for Mike Gesicki at the Cincinnati 9-yard line. Bell returned it 46 yards to set up the Bengals’ final touchdown.

Bell had an interception of Tagovailoa in the first half when the Dolphins starting quarterback underthrew Tyreek Hill, who finished with 10 catches for 160 yards.

Bell had only two career interceptions in 96 games before Thursday.

PFT

 

Good morning, everyone.

 

Like it nice picture

 

Jameis Winston doubtful, Michael Thomas out for Saints Sunday vs. Vikings

Andy Dalton is likely to start for the Saints on Sunday against the Vikings, and he won’t have the Saints’ star receiver to throw to.

Jameis Winston, who has missed practice all week with back and ankle injuries, is doubtful for the game, according to head coach Dennis Allen. And wide receiver Michael Thomas has been ruled out with a foot injury.


The Saints flew Winston and Thomas to London for the week, so they surely thought at the time the team traveled that there was a decent chance they could play. But both have been slow to recover.

That continues a disappointing trend: Winston started the first seven games for the Saints last season and helped them to a 5-2 start, but then he was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Thomas’s injury problems have been even more severe: He missed the entire 2021 season and most of 2020.

Dalton will be backed up on Sunday by Taysom Hill. With Thomas out, the Saints’ promising rookie Chris Olave is likely to get even more passes thrown his way.

PFT