NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Diabate with a safety, very nicely done. Eagles coaches were pissed.

 

I'd like to throw Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon in for consideration.

 

Purely as a duo, a healthy Mitchell and McCaffrey will be tough to top. I'd take them over Cook and Hall.

Interesting follow-up from NBC Sports that I saw earlier today... the top teams for rushing yards last season all had running quarterbacks. So which team had the most rushing yardage purely from the RBs? Turns out it was Atlanta, led by Allgeier and Patterson, plus contributions from now-injured Avery Williams and Caleb Huntley.

I'm hoping Huntley will be back - he failed his physical at the start of camp (coming back from ACL injury suffered late last season) and was waived-injured. He's now a free agent. Considering he has just the one season of league tenure and will be dirt cheap on the cap, somebody out there is going to get a beast of a RB for a bargain price when he's back to full health in another two months or so.


Ultimately, my optimism for Atlanta's 2023 season isn't about Bijan or the offense at all. Last year, injuries to defensive linemen meant that a six-pack of undrafted guys and career practice squad projects / rejects played over 1200 total snaps on the d-line, while a sudden rash of injuries in the secondary had the team promoting a guy from the practice squad and making him an instant starter. The defense really was THAT much of a disaster, and yet the team still went 7-10.

This year they had the cap space to stock the defense with actual NFL players. Injuries will be unavoidable, but this season I doubt anyone will be on the practice squad on Tuesday, called up on Wednesday and starting on Sunday.

 

Hated to see all those injuries last night. (6 Eagles)

 

Browns QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson on blindside block: I want to stick my nose in there

Quarterbacks don’t often level defenders with blindside blocks, but Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson did so in Thursday night’s preseason game.

With Browns running back Demetric Felton running the ball, Thompson-Robinson ran toward Eagles safety Terrell Edmunds in pursuit and knocked him to the ground. It was an unusual play for a quarterback and an illegal play for anyone, and Thompson-Robinson was called for a personal foul for a blindside block. Thompson-Robinson acknowledged afterward that he was wrong but said he always wants to do everything he can to help a teammate.

“I have a sweet spot for Felt. When he has the ball I want to stick my nose in there. But Coach Stefanski definitely let me have it after that one. No penalties. I definitely have to work on that going forward,” Thompson-Robinson said.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that he told Thompson-Robinson he can’t cost the team 15-yard penalties, but also said he loves his young quarterback’s approach.

“I didn’t like that penalty and he knows that rule that you can’t block back. I love the kid’s effort. I love the feistiness. I love that he wants to throw his body around, and his teammates love that. But I don’t love hurting the team with a penalty,” Stefanski said.

A rookie fifth-round pick out of UCLA, Thompson-Robinson has impressed this preseason and made a good case that he deserves a roster spot. Even if he was a little too eager to make a play when throwing that block.

 

Wide receiver Denzel Mims’ time with the Lions is coming to an end.

According to multiple reports, the Lions waived Mims on Friday. The move will come with an injury designation as Mims has not practiced the last two weeks because of ankle and calf injuries.

The Lions traded a sixth-round pick to the Jets for Mims and a seventh-round pick, although the compensation was conditional to Mims making the 53-man roster in Detroit. He’s not going to make the team, so there will be no pick heading back to the Jets for the 2020 second-round pick.

 

The injury that ended cornerback Zech McPhearson’s participation in Thursday night’s game against the Browns will also end his season.

According to multiple reports, McPhearson tore his Achilles when he was injured in the second quarter of the game. The Eagles will put him on injured reserve at some point in the near future.

McPhearson had six tackles and a pass defensed before he got hurt. He also returned one punt for 10 yards.

The Eagles picked McPhearson in the fourth round of the 2021 draft. He played every game in his first two seasons and saw most of his playing time on special teams. He had 30 tackles, a sack, and two passes defensed in the regular season and two tackles in four playoff appearances.

 

Denzel Mims - waived.

 

Jadeveon Clowney is headed to Baltimore.

According to multiple reports, Clowney has agreed to terms on a contract with the Ravens. Clowney visited with the Ravens recently and also spent time with the Jaguars, but Jacksonville will have to look elsewhere for edge rusher help this season.

Clowney spent the last two seasons with the Browns, but was inactive for the season finale last season after making critical comments about the team. The Browns released Clowney in March.

He had 65 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery during his time in Cleveland. Clowney has also played for the Titans, Seahawks, and Texans since Houston selected him first overall in 2014.

Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, and Tyus Bowser are also in the edge rusher mix for the Ravens, although Bowser has not practiced since being placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp.

 

1 year worth up to $6M.

 

Lotsa fights in practices this season, per usual. Why its permitted without NFL action in fines and punishment, let alone coaches out there endorsing it, is amazing to me.

 

Falcons running back Bijan Robinson saw his first NFL preseason action on Friday night, and he made the most of his limited playing time.

Robinson took his first carry for a 12-yard gain. Later, on a short pass route, Desmond Ridder didn’t put the ball exactly where Robinson was expecting it, but Robinson reached back and made a one-handed catch to secure it.

“It felt awesome,” Robinson said, via TheAthletic.com. “It was definitely a blessing to be out there and to show little snippets of the gift God has given me. I know it’s the preseason, but I was ready to go.”

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith liked everything he saw from Robinson.

“Bijan Robinson operated fast. It certainly didn’t look too big for him,” Smith said.

Robinson and the rest of the Falcons’ top offensive players sat out the first preseason game, didn’t play a lot on Friday night and may not play the third preseason game. But even Friday night’s brief glimpse of Robinson is sure to excite Falcons fans.

NBC

 

From the WTF files...

The Chargers are due to host the Saints for a preseason game on Sunday. A tropical storm, the first in 84 years, is also due to arrive in L.A. on Sunday.

And the game, inexplicably, is still on.

Via Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, the game will be played as scheduled on Sunday, at 4:05 p.m. PT.

 

Cool, I get to see Pickett.

 

Tomlin is enjoying this start. Good stuff.

 

That was great!

 

If your a fan of the Steelers, you've got to be very well pleased. Hell of a half all around.

 

Not good...

There is an injury concern with one of the Dolphins young offensive players.

De’Von Achane was carted to the locker room after being examined in the blue medical tent on the sideline during Saturday’s game against the Texans, according to multiple reporters on the scene.

Achane, a rookie third-round pick out of Texas A&M, exited the game in the third quarter.

In the first half, Achane had an impressive 20-yard carry on third-and-14 to move the chains. His last play in the third quarter was a 6-yard run.

In all, Achane has 27 yards on six carries in Saturday’s game against the Texans. Last week, he had 10 carries for 25 yards against the Falcons.

NBC