NFL - NEWS & NOTES

David is still seeing ghosts chasing him out of the pocket.

 

Gotta give mad respect to the Panthers for this one. Interim coach, no McCaffrey, and starting their fourth string quarterback... and they win against a division rival.

Walker just put himself back on the radar of every team in the league.

 

Maybe the solution is to give only select players time off from training camp. Oh, wait...

 

Test confirm... torn ACL.

 

Report: David Njoku suffered a high-ankle sprain



Browns tight end David Njoku‘s ankle injury is apparently a bit more serious than it was initially believed to be.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Sunday night that Njoku’s injury was not believed to be serious and added that he would go for further testing on Monday. Schefter reports that the testing showed that Njoku has suffered a high-ankle sprain.


Njoku is not expected to have surgery, but he is expected to miss multiple weeks as a result of the injury.

Njoku, who signed a four-year extension with the team this offseason, had seven catches for 71 yards against the Ravens on Sunday. He has 34 catches for 418 yards and a touchdown for the season.

PFT

 

This is a shame. This guy was one of the leading members of a feel-good Jets story this year. It's been nice, not counting them out as an automatic loss each week.

 

Yep... It sure is a tough loss and will be interesting to see how the team rally's.

Michael Carter isnt too shabby tho, so now is his chance... he will take over as the starter.

 

The Jets got a win in Denver on Sunday, but they lost two important players for the season on the way to their fifth victory of the year.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh said at his Monday press conference that right tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker is out for the season due to a triceps injury he suffered in the first half of Sunday’s 16-9 win. Running back Breece Hall tore his ACL in the game and will also miss the rest of the year.


Vera-Tucker was a 2021 first-round pick and he’s been a fixture in the lineup since joining the team. He started games at right guard and left tackle before taking over at right tackle for the last three games.

His play has been a strong point for the Jets this season and the team already has three other tackles on injured reserve. Rookie Max Mitchell is the only one of them expected back this year, but he’s not back yet and that will mean Cedric Ogbuehi moves into the starting lineup against the Patriots in Week Eight.

PFT

 

Monday Night Football: Bears force four turnovers in 33-14 blowout of Patriots



The Bears forced four turnovers and rushed for 243 yards in a 33-14 demolition of the Patriots.

Chicago moved to 3-4, while New England fell to 3-4.


Mac Jones, who played only three series, was intercepted by Jaquan Brisker on his final pass of the night. Bailey Zappe quickly led two touchdown drives, but he ended up with a lost fumble and threw interceptions to Roquan Smith and Kyler Gordon.

Zappe mania took a hit after he completed 14 of 22 passes for 185 yards with a touchdown and the three turnovers. Jones was 3-of-6 for 13 yards in his return from a high ankle sprain that happened on the final play in Week 3.

The Bears, meanwhile, rolled to 390 total yards and went 11-of-18 on third down. Justin Fields rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries; David Montgomery had 15 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown; and Khalil Herbert had 12 carries for 62 yards.

The Bears scored the final 23 points after trailing 14-10 in the second quarter.

Fields completed 13 of 21 passes for 179 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Smith had an interception, a sack, a pass defensed, a tackle for loss and 12 tackles.

Patriots edge rusher Matthew Judon made 2.5 sacks, a pass breakup and four tackles.

PFT

 

Congratulations, Bears fans... I didnt see that happening. Put in a good game.

 

WEEK 7... is in the Books.

 

On the same day it was announced they lost their dynamic rookie running back for the season, the New York Jets are adding reinforcements.

The Jets are acquiring running back James Robinson from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick that could become a fifth-round selection, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

The trade comes after it was reported earlier Monday that New York running back Breece Hall was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

Off to a 5-2 start -- the franchise's best since 2010 -- New York is a buyer ahead of the Nov. 1 trade deadline and responded to the calamitous loss of Hall with an impactful acquisition.

In Robinson, New York is getting a former 1,000-yard rusher who's responded to an Achilles tear in 2021 with a promising 2022 so far.

Robinson posted a 100-yard showing in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but since then has seen Travis Etienne emerge as the Jaguars' top back.

Having lost four in a row, Jacksonville is now getting at least a sixth-rounder for the former undrafted free agent.


So far this season, Robinson has rushed for 340 yards and three touchdowns on 81 carries, with nine receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown. He'll join Michael Carter in looking to fill the vacancy left by Hall, who had just begun showcasing his potential over the last few weeks. Hall had rushed for 463 yards and four touchdowns on 80 carries with 19 catches for 218 yards and a score this year.

Though he's not the pass-catcher or game-breaker Hall is, Robinson does have big-play ability and showed in his rookie season he can be a bell-cow back if called upon.

On a devastating day for the Jets, they responded by making a big move and an emphatic statement that they have every intention of cashing in on their sensational start through seven weeks.

NFL.com

 

Prime Video on Thursday Night Football Sùcks IMO

 

1. Justin Fields is just scratching the surface of his potential. Last week, the Bears tried to force Fields to play in a style that doesn't fit his skillset. This week, they let him do what he does best, and the results proved it was the right call. Fields completed 13 of 21 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception (off a deflection), and he also led the Bears in rushing with 82 yards and one touchdown on 14 attempts. For perhaps the first time in his career (unless we count last season's Monday night showing in Pittsburgh), Fields was consistently effective in key scenarios, helping the Bears convert 11 of 18 third-down attempts and gaining 10 of them via a Fields pass or run. Most importantly, Monday night felt like a long-awaited breakthrough for Fields and the Chicago offense. The Bears tossed their scheme aside and adapted to their quarterback, who is still taking way too many crushing hits, but continues to stand tall and deliver passes with rushers bearing down on him. It paid off handsomely and gave us a glimpse of what Chicago's future could look like with Fields, provided they keep letting him play his brand of football.
2. The Patriots have a quarterback controversy. Bill Belichick can claim his decision to replace Mac Jones with Bailey Zappe was part of his game plan, but the immediate results and eventual decline suggest otherwise. Jones started the game and struggled, completing 3 of 6 passes for 13 yards and an ugly interception, while Zappe's insertion jump-started New England's offense, leading to two touchdowns and a 14-10 lead in a game in which the Patriots lacked energy offensively prior to Zappe's arrival. At halftime, Belichick said both quarterbacks would play in the second half -- and then Jones spent the entirety of the final two quarters on the bench. Zappe was clearly the better option in this contest, but New England's change in offensive approach with Zappe (e.g., more play-action passes) also raised an eyebrow, suggesting New England feels more comfortable mixing it up with the rookie in the game. So did Zappe's second-half performance, which paled in comparison to his instant success of the first half. He admitted afterward he can't afford to "fall off like I did," failing to keep the positive momentum going in the third and fourth quarters. That admission, while honest, also adds to the uncertainty regarding the position. This storyline isn't going away any time soon.
3. Extra time to prepare paid off for Luke Getsy. Chicago's offense was putrid in its prime-time loss to Washington in Week 6, a game the Bears likely wish they had back because of some key coaching errors in crucial situations. Given 10 days to prepare for Belichick's Patriots, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy capitalized. Chicago got Fields moving early with designed rollouts and runs, allowing the athletic quarterback to evade New England's pass rush and find throwing windows early and often. A healthy mix of handoffs to David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert revealed a potent one-two punch in the backfield, resulting in 124 rushing yards and a touchdown on 27 attempts. Combining Fields' ability to extend the play and find open targets with the Montgomery-Herbert rushing attack was a remarkably wise decision from Getsy, producing an effective Bears offense folks in Chicago haven't seen in years. It was only one game, but it sure felt like a turning point for this new staff and its young cast of playmakers.
4. Chicago's defense makes a statement. The narrative this week will revolve around Fields' performance in Foxborough, but we'd be remiss to overlook the Bears' defense. Chicago forced four turnovers on the night, intercepting Jones and Zappe three times and recovering a fumble that led to a key field goal just before the half. Oddly enough, Chicago created virtually zero pressure against Zappe and Jones, yet the Bears were able to force turnovers with a defensive backfield that has two emerging studs in Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon (pay attention to them, folks -- they're good) and a well-known star in Roquan Smith. The Bears were also able to take a close game at halftime and turn it into a blowout, forcing two straight three-and-outs to start the second half while their offense tacked on six points via field goals. Two fourth-quarter interceptions punctuated a total team victory for the Bears, who will fly back to Chicago with wide smiles after recording the franchise's first win in Foxborough in its history.
5. Belichick's historic moment will have to wait another week. The Patriots coach entered Monday night with a chance to surpass the legendary George Halas in all-time wins (including playoffs). All he had to do was defeat Papa Bear's team. On paper, the Patriots appeared to have the upper hand, but instability at quarterback and an inability to sustain drives and avoid turnovers doomed the Patriots. By the time Montgomery scored from one yard out early in the fourth, it was clear Belichick wasn't going to make history in storybook fashion. Instead of quietly acknowledging a landmark victory in a Hall of Fame career, Belichick will instead spend the next week attempting to correct New England's many mistakes and reposition them for success following a game that stands as a clear setback for the 3-4 Patriots.

Next Gen stat of the game: Justin Fields completed 6 of 7 passes for 104 yards on the run, and rushed 12 times for 63 yards and one touchdown on designed runs.


NFL Research: Chicago's 33-14 win over the Patriots was the highest-scoring game for the Bears with Justin Fields in the starting lineup since he was selected 11th overall in 2021.

NFL.com

 

I didn't see the game but it sounds like they let Justin Fields be Justin Fields which can be quite awesome

 

For sure. Can't fit a square peg in a round hole. Develop him but give him room to breathe.

 

Cowboys acquire DT Johnathan Hankins from Raiders in trade

The Dallas Cowboys made a move to bolster their defensive line depth ahead of the NFL's Nov. 1 trade deadline.

NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that the Cowboys are acquiring defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins from the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2023 sixth-round pick, per sources informed of the move. Dallas also receives a 2024 seventh-rounder back in the exchange.

A former second-round pick by the Giants in 2013, Hankins has been a solid interior defender, particularly against the run. In 10 seasons with the Giants (four), Colts (one), and Raiders (five), Hankins has netted 366 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 47 QB hits, and 14.5 sacks. The 30-year-old has 10 tackles and one QB hit in five games with Vegas this season.

The Cowboys own the NFL's fiercest pass rush but have been middling against the run. Hankins' addition will provide depth along the interior, particularly in early-down situations. It's a timely move for the Cowboys, who face a Chicago Bears offense in Week 8 that ripped off 243 rush yards Monday night against New England.

NFL.com

 

Rams’ early-down offense is by far the worst in the NFL



It’s been an unusually bad year for the Rams’ offense by Sean McVay’s standards. After ranking in the top 11 in yards each of his first five seasons as the head coach, the Rams sit 26th in that category through six games this year.

A big reason for that is the team’s lack of efficiency on first and second down. That’s put Matthew Stafford and the passing game in tough spots on third down, often being faced with third-and-long situations.

The Rams haven’t just been bad on early downs, either. They’ve been downright atrocious. This chart from Ben Baldwin shows the Rams in the lower left corner all by themselves as not only the least efficient rushing offense on first and second down, but the least efficient passing offense, too.



Looking at Stathead, there are some clear examples of what has made the Rams offense so bad on first and second down. For starters, they’re gaining an average of 4.6 yards per play on those downs, worst in the NFL. That’s not helped by the fact that Stafford has thrown seven interceptions on first and second down, tied for second-most. And he’s been sacked 15 times on early downs, which is fourth-most.

Those negative plays have been crushing for the Rams offense, keeping them behind the chains and making life difficult on third down. What’s amazing is the Rams have one of the best third-down offenses despite often being in third-and-long.

According to Stathead, their average distance to go on third down is 7.4 yards, third-highest in the league. Their average gain of 6.2 yards is tied for third-best and their conversion rate of 43.4% is the seventh-highest in the NFL.

Their third-and-long frequency has made the offense one-dimensional on third down, too. They’ve run the ball only 13 times on third down, the third-fewest in football. By comparison, they’ve thrown it 60 times on third.

The moral of the story is that the Rams need to be better on first and second down because by some minor miracle, they have one of the most efficient third-down offenses despite often having more than 7 yards to go to pick up the first.

The ground game is a big problem because on first and second down, the Rams are averaging a league-worst 3.2 yards per carry. It’s hard to stay ahead of the chains when your running backs can’t pick up at least 4 yards per attempt.

Story originally appeared on Rams Wire

 

Their tied with the packers now. Do they have a mini fridge?

 

NFL suspends Frank Clark for two games under Personal Conduct Policy



The 5-2 Chiefs won’t have Frank Clark for the next two games.

The league has suspended the Kansas City defensive end under the NFL’s Conduct Policy.



The punishment arises from felony weapons charges filed in 2021 against Clark. The case was resolved in September after Clark pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 40 hours of community service.

Clark was arrested in Los Angeles in March 2021, after the car in which he was riding was pulled over for not having a license plate. A police officer noticed a weapon in the vehicle. Two weapons, including an uzi, were recovered.

The Chiefs are on a bye this week. Clark will be eligible to return to the roster on Monday, November 14, following the team’s Week 10 game against the Jaguars. They face the Titans in Week Nine.

The NFL’s announcement makes no mention of appeal rights, which implies that the case has been fully resolved. The two-game suspension possibly was the result of a negotiated compromise between the NFL and Clark.

Clark, who had only 4.5 sacks in 14 games last year, has 3.0 sacks in seven games this season. He joined the Chiefs via trade from the Seahawks in 2019, the same offseason in which Kansas City traded pass rusher Dee Ford to the 49ers.

PFT