NFL - NEWS & NOTES

So you’re a millionaire and you ride in a car with no license plate and firearms. You can take the man out of the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of the man.

 

BINGO!

It didn't feel like they unleashed him completely, but it was a big difference from that Thursday Night nonsense where he stayed in the freaking pocket all night long. And hey, it helped to let him roll out and run some. Who would have EVER guessed that it would be a good idea to move a guy with 4.44 speed out of the pocket from time to time?

 

Stupid is as Stupid does!

 

This morning's not exactly earth-shaking news out of Flowery Branch... the Falcons are releasing former second round pick Marlon Davidson.


The defensive lineman from Auburn has been repeatedly set back by injuries and multiple stints on the COVID reserve list, managing to appear in just 19 of 40 total games since he was drafted.

He has been on IR since the start of the season. The announcement didn't say if he was medically cleared this week or if there was an injury settlement involved. I'm guessing he was cleared, which means any other team needing defensive line depth might want to go back and look at his college tape and see if he's a system fit. Seriously, the potential is there if he lands with the right coaching staff and defensive scheme.

The odd thing about it is the braintrust in Atlanta SHOULD be considering themselves in dire need of more help on the defensive interior front, but in recent weeks they have released nose tackle Anthony Rush and now Davidson while their only addition is bringing prospect Jalen Dalton (injured in preseason) back to the practice squad. But he was drafted for the previous coaching staff's 4-3 Under system, and the Falcons now play a base 3-4 with Dean Pees as the defensive coordinator.

Pees, head coach Arthur Smith and GM Terry Fontenot decided he's not a system fit, or perhaps they just gave up on waiting for him to stay healthy long enough to contribute.

 

Bears send Robert Quinn to Eagles



It’s Dream Team, Part Two.

As the 6-0 Eagles emerge from their bye, they’re doing it with a new addition at pass rusher. Per multiple reports, the Bears are trading Robert Quinn to the Eagles.


Quinn set a team record with 18.5 sacks in 2021. He has one sack through seven games in 2021.

Quinn has a salary of $12.8 million this year. He’s signed through 2024, at salaries of $13.9 million in 2023 and $12.9 million in 2024.

The Bears reportedly weren’t “actively shopping” Quinn in the offseason. Apparently, some passive shopping has recently occurred, and the Bears continue to tear it down (in the aftermath of a signature win) and the Eagles keep trying to build it up.

PFT

 

T.J. Watt returns to Steelers practice



Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin called it “highly unlikely” that linebacker T.J. Watt would be activated from injured reserve in time to play against the Eagles this Sunday, but the 2021 defensive player of the year is moving closer to his return.

Watt participated in practice on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his pectoral in the first game of the season. He can be activated at any point in the next three weeks, but will be shut down for the season if he does not get activated by that deadline.


The Steelers have a bye in Week Nine, so their Week 10 game against the Saints looks like a good bet for Watt’s return to action.

The Steelers also confirmed that they will not activate wide receiver Calvin Austin before his own return window closes. The fourth-round pick will now miss the remainder of the year after hurting his foot this summer.

PFT

 

Report: Ezekiel Elliott likely out this week



Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott did not practice on Wednesday because of a knee injury he suffered during last Sunday’s win over the Lions and a report Wednesday indicates he won’t be playing this weekend.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said that Elliott suffered a knee sprain and Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that it’s a Grade 2 MCL sprain. Hill adds that Elliott also suffered a deep thigh bruise and that he is expected to miss this weekend’s game against the Bears.


The Cowboys have a bye in Week Nine, so Elliott would have an extended period to rest before they return to face the Packers on the road in Week 10.

Tony Pollard has split time with Elliott this season and he would be in line for even more playing time if Elliott isn’t on the field this Sunday.

PFT

 

Rashod Bateman, Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters are questionable for Thursday night

Ravens receiver Rashod Bateman appeared on the practice report Tuesday with a foot injury.

The good news is he practiced fully Wednesday after not practicing Tuesday. The bad news is the Ravens list him as questionable for Thursday Night Football.


Bateman missed two games with a foot injury before returning for Sunday’s win over the Browns. He had four catches for 42 yards.

In five games this season, Bateman has 15 receptions for 285 yards and two touchdowns.

Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (hamstring) and Marcus Peters (quad) were full participants again Wednesday but still are questionable.

Tight end Mark Andrews (knee), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), linebacker Josh Bynes (quad), running back Gus Edwards (knee) and cornerback Brandon Stephens (oblique) also are questionable.

Bynes returned to a limited practice Wednesday after sitting out the first two practice days. Edwards was limited all week.

Andrews, Stanley and Stephens were full participants Wednesday.

Defensive end Calais Campbell (illness) will not play against the Bucs. The Ravens ruled him out after he didn’t practice all week.

Offensive guard Ben Cleveland (foot) had another full practice and does not have a designation.

PFT

 

For a 4th round pick.

 

The other interesting twist for me is that since we've already played 7 games, the Eagles will only be paying $7.53 million of his base for this year. Philly wouldn't have been able to pick up his $12.8 million base at the start of the season without doing the kind of funky restructuring that got them into cap hell in the first place. But with $10.1 million cap space available (per OverTheCap) they can do it now.

The dead money hit that the Bears take on next year's cap from his bonus is actually more than the amount they save on his base this year. But they take that hit next year - and his base salary and other incentives for next year are now off the books. Factor in that they can roll over whatever they don't use from the savings on his base salary from this year, and they actually are freeing up a lot of cap. I see $8.475 million dead money hit, $14 million savings on base and workout bonus, and potentially $7.53 million rollover from this year's base that now goes to Philadelphia. Net is a little more than $13 million in potential savings for next year's cap.

But they had to give up Robert Quinn to get it. If I'm the GM, would I rather have $13 million more cap space next year and an extra Day 3 draft pick, or would I rather have Robert Quinn for my defense?

Hmmm.... Quinn had 18.5 sacks last season. My entire Falcons team had 18.0 sacks last season. So for me it's an easy choice - I'd keep Quinn.

 

TRADE

Chiefs acquire Kadarius Toney from Giants



When Patrick Mahomes gets back from the bye week, he’ll have another offensive weapon at his disposal.

The Chiefs have acquired receiver Kadarius Toney from the Giants in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick and a 2023 sixth-round pick.


Jordan Schultz of theScore.com was the first to report the move, which PFT has confirmed.

Toney, the 20th overall pick of the 2021 draft, has struggled to stay healthy in his first two seasons. He’s been dealing with a hamstring injury for much of his second year and hasn’t played since Week Two. Toney had a pair of carries for 23 yards in New York’s season-opening victory over the Giants. But then he caught two passes for 0 yards on three targets in the Week Two win over the Panthers.

In 10 games as a rookie, Toney caught 39 passes for 420 yards.

The Chiefs made some significant moves in the offseason to turn over their receiving corps, trading Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins, signing JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and drafting Skyy Moore. Smith-Schuster and Valdes-Scantling each had over 100 yards in Kansas City’s Week Seven victory over San Francisco.

Once Toney is healthy, he’ll be another talented option for Mahomes — who also has tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Mecole Hardman, among others — to choose from.

PFT

 

Here are the top matchups to watch in this Week 8 tilt: RAVENS VS BUCCANEERS

Ravens WR Devin Duvernay vs. Bucs CB Jamel Dean


(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis III is out, and Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman is questionable, which could leave this matchup as the most compelling one when the Ravens take to the air.

Duvernay and Dean both have elite speed, but Dean’s size and length might be able to frustrate the smaller Duvernay at the line of scrimmage in press coverage. If he’s given too much room, though, Duvernary’s route-running ability could create problems for Dean.

Bucs LBs Lavonte David & Devin White vs. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson


Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Containing Lamar Jackson is no small task, but in theory, the Bucs have the perfect linebacker tandem to make it happen. David and White have the range and athleticism to keep Jackson from breaking big plays on the ground, but their inconsistency so far this season is cause for concern.

If White in particular continues to miss assignments and bee too aggressive, Jackson will make him pay not just on the ground, but with big plays down the middle off play-action. These linebackers have to stay disciplined if they want any chance of slowing down Jackson.

Bucs QB Tom Brady vs. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson


(Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)

Yes, Jackson makes the list twice, because even though these two won’t be on the field at the same time until the game is over, it’s still a rare matchup between the GOAT and the New Era at the game’s most important position.

Brady has all the rings and records, but Jackson’s rare skill set has already allowed him to do things the NFL has never seen before. Brady’s experience and track record of excellence speak for themselves, but even 20 years younger, Jackson has some tricks up his sleeve that even a seven-time Super Bowl champ wishes he did.

This is a must-see matchup between two of the best to ever play quarterback in the NFL.

Ravens K Justin Tucker vs. Bucs K Ryan Succop


(Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images)

Another matchup between two guys who won’t actually be on the field at the same time (outside of pregame warmups), but this game could easily come down to the respective right legs of these two men.

Tucker is already a Hall of Famer, and the most automatic kicker in the game today. If he walks out on the field, no matter the distance, everybody watching thinks he’s got a shot.

Succop has been the Bucs’ most dangerous scoring weapon all year long, and while that’s a terrible truth, he’s obviously vital to the team’s success, and has been incredibly reliable so far this season.

Story originally appeared on Buccaneers Wire

 

Reports: Ja’Marr Chase out multiple weeks with hip injury



Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said on Thursday that wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase would probably miss practice due to hip soreness and it looks Taylor might have been underselling things when it comes to Chase’s condition.

According to multiple reports, Chase is set to miss multiple weeks as a result of the hip injury he’s been dealing with the last couple of weeks. He first appeared on the injury report last week and put up eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Falcons, but it appears that playing made things worse.


With an expected absence of multiple weeks, an injured reserve stay may be coming for the wideout.

Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd will remain top targets while Chase recovers from his injury. Mike Thomas, Trent Taylor, and Stanley Morgan are the other wideouts on the 53-man roster in Cincinnati.

PFT

 

I think it might be time for Tom Brady to hang em up he's has nothing to prove,he's done it all MVP's won multiple SB GOAT nothing to prove

 

Thursday Night Football: Ravens run away from Bucs, 27-22



The Ravens ran 74 plays. They gained 453 yards, including 231 rushing yards. They picked up 27 first downs.

Most of the damage was done in the second half.


The Ravens ran away — literally — from the Buccaneers, 27-22. Baltimore improved to 5-3 and Tampa Bay fell to 3-5 in losing its third consecutive game.

 

Buccaneers edge rusher Shaq Barrett has an Achilles injury.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles announced the injury in his postgame interview.


Barrett will undergo an MRI on Friday to confirm the tear, but Achilles injuries are easily diagnosed.

“It doesn’t look good,” Bowles said.

Barrett, who had four tackles, three for loss, and a sack before leaving, left the locker room on crutches and wearing a boot, Sara Walsh of NFL Media reports.

He was injured on an 11-yard run by Gus Edwards with 12:13 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bucs entered the game with a host of injuries to receiver Russell Gage (hamstring), offensive guard Luke Goedeke (foot), cornerback Carlton Davis (hip), cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting (quad), safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (concussion), tight end Cameron Brate (neck) and defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (foot).

PFT

 

1. Ravens got out of character in the first half before turning it around. For a minute now, “Ravens Football” has been synonymous with running the ball. Not every play. Not in every critical situation. But it has been the foundation of the offense that (theoretically) has been tailored to Lamar Jackson’s strengths. And that’s what made the Ravens’ first-half offensive approach so confounding: They had a 32-7 pass-run ratio, counting the two sacks, and that was with Mark Andrews getting hurt early in the second quarter. It was even more shocking considering the Panthers just ran all over this Bucs defense four days earlier. Part of it was because of who the Ravens had healthy (and who they didn’t have), but you just knew it couldn’t be sustained at that pace. And what do you know? On Baltimore’s first play of the second half, Jackson took off on a zone read for 25 yards. They ran it five straight times that drive, and it ended with a game-tying touchdown. The second half was vintage Ravens offense, even if some of the names on the jerseys were quite different. It helped them deliver a big road victory in a short week.
2. Are the Buccaneers cooked? Thursday night games tend to favor the home team because of the short week and the benefits that come with not having to travel. And make no mistake: Both teams limped into this game because of injuries and some tough recent games. But after taking a 10-3 lead, Tampa Bay looked absolutely gassed. The offense punted six straight times, a streak that started after scoring on the first two drives. And the defense allowed three touchdown drives -- the shortest of which was 77 yards -- to a Ravens offense without its top two pass-catchers and its top running back banged up. The blocking was listless. The tackling was atrocious. And the energy was nil. Then came the mental errors. Tom Brady had the Bucs inside the Ravens’ 10-yard line, down 24-13 with just under six minutes left. Two blatant penalties later and Tampa was forced to kick the field goal, and they never had a shot to win thereafter. The Bucs are 3-5 and suddenly in serious trouble.
3. Baltimore’s ‘unlikely’ power source on offense. Coastal Carolina tight end Isaiah Likely was a popular study among the “Draft Twitter” hive, and it’s fair to say we can tip our hats to that crew. Back in the preseason, Likely was a standout with 12 catches for 144 yards and a score, and the thinking was that the Ravens might have the kind of two-headed TE attack they’ve nearly cornered the market on for the better part of two decades. Prior to Thursday, Likely hadn’t even surpassed his preseason receiving totals through seven games. But in this game, he looked like a future star, catching six of his seven targets for 77 yards and a beautiful, back-of-the-end-zone TD. With Andrews out of the game early in the second quarter, Likely emerged. Once Andrews returns to the field, we would love to see more “12 personnel” packages with Likely and Andrews running routes together. It might someday be the next great Ravens duo at the position.
4. Tom Brady missed some layups on Thursday. Brady’s nightmare season rolled along Thursday. Had you not watched a single play of the game and merely looked at his stat line (26 of 44 passing, 325 yards, TD) you might assume the Bucs killed themselves with penalties and turnovers. But they really didn’t. And this game, of course, was not all about Brady’s execution. But his propensity for missing layup throws is almost stunning. You watch something look so automatic for so long, and it just becomes bizarre. There was the overthrow to a wide-open Mike Evans in the end zone early in the game. Throwing the ball into the turf in the third quarter, a solid four yards in front of his target. Then there were back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter: an overthrow to Kyle Rudolph in the end zone followed immediately by a misfire to Evans (whom Brady wanted to do something else on the route, apparently) on the goal line. Prior to the Bucs’ final TD drive, Brady was 1 for 5 on red-zone throws. And now he’s amid his first three-game losing streak since 2002. A long year getting longer.
5. Tough night for injuries for both teams. If you’ve followed either the Bucs or Ravens this season, or both perhaps, you’re well aware that neither team has had much luck in the injury department. Really, since before the season. Well, Thursday only made things worse. The Bucs lost Bucs OLB Shaquil Barrett to an Achilles injury, and the speed with which he was ruled out made it all the more concerning. The Ravens had it worse during the game. WR Rashod Bateman (foot) and TE Mark Andrews (shoulder) were both ruled out, and RB Gus Edwards (hamstring) never came back in after leaving the field in the fourth quarter. The Ravens somehow got better after the slew of injuries, but the Bucs certainly did not after losing Barrett.

Next Gen stat of the game: Devin Duvernay reached a top speed of 20.19 mph on his 15-yard TD run, the third time Duvernay has reached 20-plus mph as a ball carrier this season. Only Tyreek Hill (four) has reached 20-plus mph more times this season.


NFL Research: Isaiah Likely's 77 receiving yards against Tampa Bay were the most by a rookie tight end in a prime-time game since his teammate Mark Andrews in Week 16, 2018 (had 83 receiving yards vs Chargers).

NFL.com

 

Ravens rookie TE Isaiah Likely shines in prime-time win over Buccaneers

The Baltimore Ravens watched key offensive playmakers drop like flies in the first half of Thursday's 27-22 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews (shoulder) and No. 1 wide receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) were sidelined in the second half as the Ravens trailed 10-3 at halftime.

Up to the plate stepped rookie tight end Isaiah Likely.

The rookie shined in the second half, finishing with six catches for 77 yards and his first career touchdown, which gave the Ravens their first lead of the night.

"It felt great," Likely said of his first TD, via the official transcript. "I mean, always giving thanks to God and just really just living in the moment. My motto is just being where your feet are and not living dwelling on the past, not living too far in the future and just being where your feet are and playing every play like it's your last."

With his top two targets on the sideline, Lamar Jackson leaned on Likely in the second half, trusting the rookie to make plays in traffic. Likely's 77 receiving yards versus Tampa were the most by a rookie tight end in a prime-time game since his teammate Andrews in Week 16, 2018 (83 versus the Chargers). He also recovered the onside kick to ice the contest.

Likely owns good hands and the ability to create space on routes. Thursday night was the culmination of hype for Likely that began during training camp and preseason action.


"What you've seen from him, I've been seeing it," Jackson said of the rookie. "I've been talking about it since camp, OTAs. He showed up and showed out. He got his first touchdown, prime-time game. Hats off to him; I'm proud of him, I'm happy for him."

Likely said he knew he needed to step up without Andrews and Bateman.

"It was really just a confidence thing," he said. "It was them looking, Rashod and Mark just looking the offense in the eyes and telling [us], 'Y'all got this. Whether we're there or not, y'all got this.' Just having us be the offense we are."

Likely wasn't the only player who stepped up. Demarcus Robinson netted six catches for 64 yards, including a big third-down catch and run, and Devin Duvernay added four catches for 31 yards and two carries for 33 yards with a touchdown.

"Of course, to see Isaiah step up, we saw it in training camp and preseason games, and Duv has been doing it all year," coach John Harbaugh said of the secondary receivers. "D-Rob had a heck of a game; he came out and made some big plays for us getting up the sideline. Duv did it, not just in the passing game, but the run game as well. I thought both running backs did a great job; all three running backs did a great job. It was a team effort; it was an all-around team effort."

Harbaugh noted after the game that the injuries to Andrews and Bateman aren't expected to be serious, which is great news for a Ravens team that has an extended break before facing New Orleans in Week 9 on Monday night, then a bye in Week 10.

Even when Andrews and Bateman return, Likely proved Thursday he should still be a major factor for Baltimore's offense as the Ravens gear up for a run at the AFC North title.

NFL.com

 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 27-22 loss on Thursday night added intrigue to the Carolina Panthers-Atlanta Falcons game Sunday afternoon.

With the Bucs falling to 3-5, the winner of the Panthers-Falcons bout will own first place in a woeful NFC South division.

Atlanta sits at 3-4 entering the week and would be a win up on the Bucs with a victory. A Panthers win would create at least a three-way tie in the division (New Orleans could also move to 3-5 with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders). By virtue of a 3-0 division record, Carolina would own the division tiebreaker heading into Week 9.

"We do understand that it is a division game," Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota said Thursday, via the Associated Press. "You've got to create somewhat of a lead in your division, you want to create separation. This is where it starts."

The Falcons have leaned heavily on the run game through seven weeks, ranking fifth in rushing and 31st in passing. They're one of only three teams with more rush yards than pass yards in 2022 (Bears, Giants).

Meanwhile, the Panthers, who traded their best player, Christian McCaffrey, last week, could make a stunning rise to the top of the division. P.J. Walker's brilliant game against the Bucs last week gave Carolina its second division win of the season (Week 3 vs. New Orleans). While they're 0-5 versus the rest of the league, the Panthers can remain undefeated in the NFC South by knocking off the Falcons on the road.

"We knew what (McCaffrey) meant to this team," Walker said, via the AP. "We knew what he brought to the table, but we still had to go out there and execute and go out there and play at a high level."


Walker faces a Falcons pass defense that is banged up and ranks last in the NFL in yards allowed. A good game from the former XFL quarterback and Carolina would vault from season-over mode to division leader under interim Steve Wilks.

NFL.com

 

That first half from the Ravens was strange, and it felt like a flashback of the Bears vs Washington game a few weeks ago. Dual threat quarterbacks are never going to be Joe Montana in the pocket, and trying to turn them into pure pocket passers takes away the most dangerous part of their game.

In the second half they went back to letting Lamar Jackson be Lamar Jackson, and Tampa didn't have any answers. The way Baltimore used run plays to set up short pass routes was fantastic, and Jackson's accuracy bordered on silly.

I was hoping Brady would get shut out without a TD pass yet again. But I do have to give credit to Julio for scoring that late TD. The game was on the line (fourth and goal) and he had two defenders between him and the end zone. Julio lowered his shoulder and dove between them to get the ball over the goal line. Not bad for an old guy who's hurt all the time.