NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Mike Tomlin: I got ready for Davante Adams last week, I’ll get ready for him this week

NFL schedulers sent the Steelers to Las Vegas to face the Raiders in Week Six and they have them back at home to host the Jets in Week Seven, so they’ve been keeping their eyes on wide receiver Davante Adams for some time.

Adams was on the Raiders leading up to last Sunday’s game, but he did not play amid a trade request and a hamstring injury. That trade request was granted when Adams was sent to the Jets on Tuesday, so head coach Mike Tomlin and the rest of the staff now have to account for the possibility that they’ll be facing him this week.

On Tuesday, Tomlin suggested that won’t be a major consideration as they plan for this weekend.

“I was getting ready for Davante last week. I’m getting ready for Davante this week, but that’s life in the National Football League,” Tomlin said, via the team’s website. “I’d imagine his acquisition is going to create some news, not only today, but just as it pertains to this game, and I’m respectful of his talents, but I don’t imagine that his acquisition changes our approach to this game a whole lot. To be quite honest with you, we’re playing an Aaron Rodgers-led group on offense, and that means certain things. When you’ve got a quarterback who’s had the resume that he has and has had the type of success that he’s had, it’s a challenge.”

Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Tuesday that it is too early to know if Adams will be able to jump right into the Jets’ lineup and it’s hard to imagine he’ll have a full grasp of the offense if he does play, but Tomlin and the Steelers will be set if he does get the green light.

PFT
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Betting odds on this game swing 3 points with the addition of Adams to the Jets. The Jets went from 1.5 point dogs to 1.5 point favs. Id like to remind the Jets and their fans (and DraftKings) that the Jets are 2-4 and are playing in Pittsburgh where its possible Rodgers could get creamed multiple times. I cant wait to be honest.

Thats right Im hatin' on Rodgers. What could be better?

 

The Ravens’ offense leads the NFL with an average of 205.3 rushing yards per game. And the Ravens’ defense leads the NFL by allowing an average of 59.0 rushing yards per game. That means the Ravens are out-rushing their opponents by 146.3 yards per game. No other team in the NFL is even out-rushing its opponents by 100 yards a game.

The Ravens are the first team to have at least 150 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in their first six games of a season since the 1971 Raiders. If the Ravens hit 150 rushing yards and a touchdown on Monday night against the Buccaneers, they’ll be the first team in the Super Bowl era to do it in their first seven games of a season.

Baltimore is averaging 5.9 yards per carry this season, which is the best in the NFL by six-tenths of a yard, and Baltimore’s defense is allowing 3.0 yards per carry this season, which is also the best in the NFL by six-tenths of a yard.
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Run Baby Run! and stop it too.

 

Jonathan Taylor: Ankle injuries are tricky, but I’m up for the challenge

“I’m definitely feeling better this week,” Taylor said on NFL Network. “Ankles are nothing new to me. I’ve been dealing with them for quite a bit. I’m doing everything in my power to be back out there again this week. You know, the high ankles are always tricky, especially when you’re playing a high-contact sport like this. But I’m sure I’m up for the challenge. Me and the training staff in Indianapolis, we’re going to do everything that we can to be back out there this week and in the coming weeks going forward.”
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He needs to kick back, keep his legs elevated and eat cheese puffs while watching old TV shows on Me TV. Works for me anyways!

 

Defensive tackle Alim McNeill and the Lions have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension worth $97 million with $55 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday.

McNeill's new pact comes on the same day in which the Lions officially placed defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (tibia) and defensive tackle Kyle Peko (pectoral) on injured reserve. It also puts him in rarified air among interior defensive linemen, as the extension averages out to $24.25 million per season, which would be fourth in the NFL.

Thus, as McNeill, 24, will have more pressure to lead the D-line, he will be properly incentivized.

A 2021 NFL Draft third-round pick of the Lions, McNeill became an every-week starter in his second season. Despite playing in just 13 games last year due to a knee injury, McNeill posted a career-best five sacks to go with 10 QB hits, 32 tackles and a sterling 88.5 PFF overall grade.

So far this year, McNeill has a 79.8 grade with eight tackles and 2.5 sacks through five games for the 4-1 Lions.

NFL.com

 

It's a good move for the Vikings cause they need depth at rb Ty Chandler and Gaskin there ok but being that Aaron Jones is banged up Akers is okay Sam Darnold needs run game, Vikings see what you got it's a put up or shut up type of game in the NFC North

 

And people tell me I’m not qualified to be an NFL GM because of how I run my fantasy dynasty teams…

 

Oh man, you'd never hear that from me.

 

Chris Olave out, Rashid Shaheed to undergo meniscus surgery

The Saints have some significant injury issues as they prepare for Thursday’s game against the Broncos.

Head coach Dennis Allen said in his Wednesday news conference that receiver Chris Olave (concussion) is out. That’s no surprise, as Olave went into concussion protocol on Sunday and the Saints are on a short week.

Also at receiver, Rashid Shaheed has a meniscus injury and is out. Allen said Shaheed is headed to Los Angeles for surgery. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted the surgery is to determine whether the receiver will be sidelined for multiple weeks or the rest of the regular season.

That means quarterback Spencer Rattler won’t have either of the team’s top two receivers for Thursday’s game. Shaheed leads with 349 yards, and Olave is second with 280 yards.

Taysom Hill (rib) is also unlikely to play, as he’ll be listed as doubtful.

Kickoff between the Saints and Broncos is set for 8:15 p.m. on Thursday night.

PFT
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Rattler is going to have to be lights out and either throw the ball to himself or run baby run.

 

Nick Chubb injury: Browns star RB details journey back from gruesome knee injury as he's set to return Week 7

Star Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb is nearing a return to the field. Chubb has been out since Week 2 of last season, when he suffered a devastating knee injury during a Monday night game against the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

On the eve of his return, Chubb detailed his feelings about both the injury itself and the support he has received from the Browns organization and the city of Cleveland over the last year-plus, in a first-person article at The Players' Tribune.

"Damn, I really did that s*** again."

That was my first thought after I went down against Pittsburgh last season. When you get hurt like I got hurt, the weird thing is that you don't even really feel anything. But you hear everything. You hear that weird silence in the crowd. You can sense your teammates kind of gathering around you.

You're hearing a lot of "It's gonna be alright, bro."

That's never a good sign. Once guys start getting down on one knee, you know it's pretty bad. If it's my teammates praying over me, maybe it's just a bone bruise. Maybe I'll be back by the playoffs.

But now I got Steelers praying over me?

That's when you know it's serious. The dark thoughts start creeping in.

Widely considered arguably the league's best pure runner during his time in the NFL, Chubb is a four-time Pro Bowler who has averaged 5-plus yards per carry in every season of his career. He signed a three-year, $36.6 million contract but agreed this offseason to renegotiate his salary for the 2024 season, dropping his cap number by $9.9 million. Chubb said in his Players' Tribune post that the Browns never considered not bringing him back -- but for an interesting reason.

"When my agent called me to tell me the news, he said, 'I've never actually had a front office tell me anything like this. But they said that part of the reason they never entertained cutting you is because of how much you mean to the city,'" Chubb said. "That really meant the world to me. Look, I know the deal. I had no guaranteed money left. The Browns had all the leverage. They could've left me high and dry, like so many guys in this league. But they had my back. You all had my back."

That reasoning inspired Chubb to take the following stance on his comeback: "There's only one thing left to do now. I gotta pay ya back."

CBS

 

I don't want a guy to get injured, but I'd like him to hurt sometimes.

 

Thats a good point... I wish no injury on anyone, even Rodgers, just like you said... but he may get pancaked and sandwiched a few times. Now Im hungry!

 

That's funny

 

Cooper Kupp will participate in individual drills on Wednesday

Rams receiver Cooper Kupp continues to make progress in his return to play from an ankle injury.

Head coach Sean McVay said Kupp will do individual drills and get in a workout on Wednesday, though he will not participate in every aspect of practice. But, McVay noted Kupp could play in Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders.

“There’s a possibility that he’ll play, but we’ll see how today goes,” McVay said, via Jourdan Rodrigue of TheAthletic.com. “He’s trending in the right direction, but we’ll see exactly what that means as the week progresses.”

Kupp has not played since Los Angeles’ loss to Arizona in Week 2. He has recorded 18 catches for 147 yards with a touchdown so far this season.

Additionally, the Rams have opened offensive lineman Joe Noteboom’s 21-day practice window as he returns from injured reserve. Noteboom has also been dealing with an ankle injury suffered in Week 1.

Los Angeles has signed receiver Xavier Smith to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and added offensive lineman Heron Christian to the practice squad.

PFT

 

Marvin Harrison Jr. will practice on Thursday

There is some positive news on the injury front for the Cardinals.

Via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, coach Jonathan Gannon told reporters in his Thursday press conference that receiver Marvin Harrison (concussion protocol) will be on the field for practice.

Harrison suffered his concussion during the first half of the Week 6 loss to the Packers. The Cardinals do not play until Monday night, giving the receiver an extra day to return.

Harrison will be no-contact during Thursday’s session.

The No. 4 overall pick of this year’s draft, Harrison has 17 receptions for 279 yards with four touchdowns.

Additionally, Gannon confirmed defensive lineman Bilal Nichols is out for the season due to the latest stinger he suffered. Gannon noted the Cardinals ran “a bunch” of tests before deciding to shut him down for 2024.

Kicker Matt Prater is slated to return from injured reserve at some point after he was placed on the list this week. And Gannon noted there’s a “good chance” right tackle Jonah Williams will be back at some point in 2024.

Playing the Chargers on Monday, the Cardinals’ first injury report of the week will be released later on Thursday.

PFT

 

Giants receiver Malik Nabers is on track to return to the field Sunday.

The independent neurological consultant examined Nabers on Thursday afternoon and cleared the rookie from concussion protocol, the team announced. That means Nabers can return to all football activities.

The Giants added a groin injury to Nabers on Thursday’s practice report, but Nabers was a full participant.

He missed the past two games after hitting his head on the ground late in the loss to the Cowboys on Sept. 26. He returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant.

He has 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns in four games.

 

The Broncos dusted the Saints, 33-10 as both rookie QB's struggled.

Where was Courtland Sutton? Nix didn’t look his way once, for the first zero-target game of Sutton’s career.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Broncos-Saints (via NFL Pro): The Broncos defense generated 14 quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) in their Week 7 win over the Saints, tied for the most quick pressures by a defense in a game this season. In Weeks 1-6, the Broncos generated a league-high 51 quick pressures.

NFL Research: After Sean Payton beat the Saints on Thursday, NFL head coaches are now 2-6 in their first road games against their former team of 10-plus seasons, since the 2000 season. The only prior win had been by the Chiefs’ Andy Reid in Week 3 of the 2013 season, beating the Eagles in Philadelphia.

 

Anthony Richardson is starting... Johnathan Taylor is 'out'.

Shane Steichen

 

49ers' Ricky Pearsall expected to make debut vs. Chiefs, less than two months after suffering gunshot wound

Less than two months after he was shot in an attempted robbery, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall is expected to make his NFL debut in Sunday's Week 8 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones.

The 24-year-old Pearsall, a first-round draft pick of the team in April, returned to practice this week, marking his first on-field activity since before Aug. 31, when he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest.

49ers general manager John Lynch hinted earlier Friday that Pearsall would have "a chance" to suit up against the Chiefs.

"I think it's trending in a good direction," Lynch told San Francisco's KNBR. "To Ricky's credit, after a horrific situation, he responded extremely well physically and attacked the work to get himself back."

Pearsall was briefly hospitalized following the shooting that left him injured, which occurred during a struggle in which a teenager allegedly tried to rob the wide receiver in San Francisco. The fact Pearsall avoided severe damage to his organs was "nothing short of miraculous," Lynch said at the time.

The Florida product technically has three weeks to be activated from the reserve/non-football injury list, or else he'll be required to miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

CBS
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Pretty cool story, hope he does well.