THE DAILY BRIEFING
AROUND THE NFL
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With two weeks left in the 17-game schedule, Grant Gordon of NFL.com looks at the state of NFL records smashing:
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson have already propelled their teams to division titles, but individual acclaim could well be on the horizon.
As two games remain in the 2022 regular season, myriad NFL single-season records are for the taking, according to NFL Research, with superstars Mahomes and Jefferson closing in on two of the game’s most prestigious milestones.
Mahomes continues to eye Peyton Manning’s 2013 single-season record for most passing yards, while Jefferson is edging closer to Calvin Johnson’s 2012 standard for most receiving yards in a season.
Manning threw for 5,477 yards in 16 games during the 2013 season with the Denver Broncos. Through 15 games so far this season, Mahomes leads the league with 4,720 yards. Mahomes needs 758 yards to pass Manning, which would be an average of 379 yards per game. For most QBs, hitting 379 yards in a game would be a career high, but Mahomes has eclipsed that mark 12 times in his career and twice so far this season. He has games remaining against the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders to get to the record.
As for Jefferson, he has a very realistic shot of moving Megatron to the side. Johnson tallied 1,964 yards in 2012 and Jefferson has 1,756 so far in 2022. Needing 209 yards to break Johnson’s record, Jefferson needs to average 104.5 yards in each of his last two games. He’s already done that 10 times this season and in each of his last three games. He’s also surpassed 209 yards once this campaign, so Jefferson breaking Johnson’s mark on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers isn’t out of the question. And neither is Jefferson becoming the first wide receiver to hit 2,000 yards, as he’s 244 away.
Jefferson and Mahomes were previously on pace to break the aforementioned records, and with big showings over the final two games could make some history.
They aren’t the only ones closing in on milestones.
One record seemingly certain to fall is quarterback Matthew Stafford’s 2012 mark for most pass attempts in a season at 727. Already the owner of a plethora of records that he continues to build upon, Tom Brady is zeroing in on Stafford’s standard as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ QB enters Week 17 with 671 attempts and needs just 57 passes in two games. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert could also surpass Stafford’s mark as he’s thrown the ball 634 times so far this season.
Brady and Herbert are also chasing … Brady. Last season, Brady’s 485 completions set a new record and he will likely supplant himself as he enters the week with 443 completions. He needs 43 completions for a new record, while Herbert needs 55.
Though unlikely to garner the headlines, one of the more interesting records in peril is Hall of Famer “Slingin'” Sammy Baugh’s 1940 mark for gross punting average. Baugh, a do-it-all talent known mostly for his quarterback prowess, tallied a 51.4 gross punting average. Titans rookie punter Ryan Stonehouse exited his team’s game Thursday night sporting a 53.02 gross average. While other potential record-breakers have more opportunities in a 17-game season to set new marks, Stonehouse’s efforts are all the more impressive in a longer season as he’s had to maintain his stellar numbers for longer. Baugh’s record-setting punting average came in an 11-game season.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who are looking to clinch the NFC’s top seed on Sunday, could also knock down some longstanding team records.
Led by quarterback Jalen Hurts (13 rushing touchdowns) and running back Miles Sanders (11), the Eagles have rushed for 31 touchdowns, which trails the 1962 Green Bay Packers’ mark of 36 rushing scores. Driven by Hall of Famers Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung along with Tom Moore, those Packers won the ’62 NFL Championship.
Philly could also surpass a team that was a year away from a championship. The 1984 Chicago Bears had 72 sacks, while the Eagles currently have 61 team sacks.
There are two games left in the 17-game schedule, and the record books might well get rewritten.
Player Record they’re chasing Current record holder
Patrick Mahomes Single-season pass yards 4,720 Peyton Manning (5,477)
Justin Jefferson Single-season receiving yards 1,756 Calvin Johnson (1,964)
Ryan Stonehouse Single-season gross punt avg 53.02 Sammy Baugh (51.4)
Tom Brady Single-season pass attempts 671 Matthew Stafford (727)
Tom Brady Single-season completions 443 Tom Brady (485)
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NFC NORTH
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CHICAGO
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, during whose watch the conference added two schools in California, seems to be headed to the Bears. Or at least, someone has put out word he is a finalist for the president/CEO position. The Athletic:
Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren is among the finalists for the Chicago Bears’ vacant president and CEO job, team and league sources confirmed to The Athletic on Thursday. ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news. Here’s what you need to know:
Warren has interviewed at least twice with the Bears at Halas Hall, according to sources.
The Bears have been searching for a new president and CEO after Ted Phillips announced his plans in September to retire at the end of the 2022 season.
Warren became commissioner of the Big Ten in 2020 after more than 20 years working in the NFL with the Rams, Lions and Vikings.
Backstory
Warren served as the Vikings’ chief operating officer before he headed to the Big Ten. His early days as commissioner were rocky when the Big Ten canceled the 2020 season due to COVID-19. However, the conference later reversed that decision and played a shorter season.
Since then, Warren has guided the Big Ten to bringing USC and UCLA into the conference in 2024 and signing a new media rights deal in August.
One other local candidate was Colin Faulkner, the Cubs’ vice president of sales and marketing and chief commercial officer. He interviewed twice with the Bears, an industry source told The Athletic.
The Bears are preparing for a major change when Phillips retires from the organization. He’s served as president and CEO for 23 years and has worked in the team’s front office for 39 years. His departure marks the end of an era in which the team thrived off the field but was inconsistent on it.
Warren’s impact on the Big Ten
Warren rebounded from a rough start to his Big Ten tenure by expanding westward to add UCLA and USC, making the Big Ten a 16-team national conference starting in 2024-25. He then orchestrated a seven-year, $8 billion media rights deal from 2023-24 to 2029-30 with Fox, NBC and CBS.
The Big Ten has two teams in the College Football Playoff this season for the first time ever and is tied with the SEC for the most New Year’s Six teams with three. Warren was hired in May 2019 to succeed Jim Delany and officially started in January 2020. He was met by the COVID-19 pandemic and received much backlash both internally and externally for his initial decision to cancel the 2020 football season. The Big Ten ended up reversing that decision and played a shortened league-only schedule, with Ohio State making the Playoff that season. — Fortuna
Few college sports leaders have experienced the lowest of lows and highest of highs in a tenure quite like Warren has — and all in fewer than three years. His fingerprints will remain, even if he is off to the NFL. Obviously, securing a massive media rights deal was one of Warren’s main priorities from the day he was hired and something that solidifies the standing of his membership. That and the additions of USC and UCLA cemented the Big Ten as a peer only of the SEC, two leagues richer and more powerful than any of the others in FBS football.
Warren had been enjoying something of a victory lap since adding the L.A. schools and nailing down that media rights deal, which is modeled similarly to the NFL with multiple over-the-air broadcast partners. Over the past month, Warren had also been celebrating the Big Ten getting two teams into the four-team CFP for the first time. He’s planned a New Year’s Eve watch party at the Big Ten headquarters in Rosemont, Ill. — Auerbach
How Warren’s possible departure affects the Big Ten
That Warren wanted to return to the NFL is not surprising. Many in the industry have long suspected he would return to the professional ranks, and it is possible he felt he needed to serve in a CEO role in order to gain consideration as a potential successor to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The timing is tough on the college sports side, though, as the Big Ten is in the middle of working on integration plans for USC and UCLA. Warren has also been working alongside the other FBS commissioners on Playoff expansion, also set to begin with the 2024 season.
And, generally, college sports are undergoing massive reform amid unprecedented outside pressure from the courts, the National Labor Relations Board and Congress. It is a time of great uncertainty, and Warren’s departure would leave the Big Ten with even more of that. — Auerbach
Why the Bears are interested in Warren
Warren was something of an outsider to the college sports world before his surprising hire in 2019, after serving as the Minnesota Vikings’ COO. Asked at the time about how he would handle media rights negotiations and the like, Warren said that every single day of his tenure had involved a negotiation of some kind, most notably the construction of a new downtown Minneapolis stadium (U.S. Bank Stadium) and a new practice facility (Twin Cities Orthopedic Performance Center) in nearby Eagan. U.S. Bank Stadium hosted the 2019 men’s Final Four and Super Bowl LII while Warren was with the Vikings. — Fortuna
The Bears know Warren well going back to the time when he was the agent representing Bears defensive tackle Chris Zorich. When he worked for the Rams, he was an associate of high-ranking team executive Jay Zygmunt, a native Chicagoan who has been close with Phillips. Warren and Bears chairman George McCaskey both have served on the NFL’s workplace diversity committee. Warren has worked for two NFC North teams — the Lions and Vikings — and knows the landscape. If the Bears hire him, they won’t even have to pay moving expenses, as Warren lives in the Chicago area with the Big Ten offices in Rosemont, Ill. — Pompei
What he would bring to the team
Warren’s experience as the Vikings’ COO likely appeals to the Bears. They’re in the process of trying to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, Ill. It’s an effort that’s currently spearheaded by Phillips. Warren would be expected to take that over — and he has plenty of experience.
Warren’s leadership helped the Vikings build U.S. Bank Stadium. It’s widely considered one of the best stadiums in the NFL. Soldier Field is not. The $1.3 billion stadium is considered the largest private construction in the history of Minnesota.
The Bears are trying to do the same in Illinois with their plans in Arlington Heights. In November, the Bears revealed their plans for Arlington Park, which was previously a racetrack. It included not only the stadium but a hotel, a sportsbook, retail spaces, commercial buildings, a residential area and other outdoor spaces. — Jahns
What they’re saying
The Bears released a statement later Thursday regarding the team’s president and CEO search: “We have not set a timeline for announcing Ted Phillip’s successor. Our search team has cast a wide net, spoken to many outstanding candidates and looks forward to introducing our next President and CEO at the process’s conclusion.”
The Big Ten also released a statement Thursday: “Over the course of three decades in professional and collegiate sports, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren regularly receives unique opportunities and requests for his expertise from leaders across a variety of industries ranging from professional sports ownership groups to private equity firms. The Commissioner utilizes each occurrence to listen, learn and assist every stakeholder in the most appropriate and effective manner. The Commissioner remains focused on the Big Ten Conference, its 14 member institutions and over 10,000 student-athletes in both regular season and postseason play.”
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GREEN BAY
CB JAIRE ALEXANDER says he is going to shutdown WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON this time. Ryan Young of YahooSports.com:
Justin Jefferson won’t run all over the Green Bay Packers a second time.
At least, that’s what Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander says headed into their rematch Sunday.
Alexander isn’t willing to put too much attention on the Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver — even after Jefferson racked up 184 yards and two touchdowns on 11 catches in a blowout win over the Packers in Week 1.
That outing, he said Thursday, was a “fluke.”
“You’ve just got to be real: He don’t jump in no super suit and get dressed and jump outside, you hear me?” Alexander said, via ESPN. “I don’t either, sometimes. But he [is] human, is what I’m saying. We ain’t putting too much on nobody.
“He’s a really good receiver. But at the end of the day, I’m a really good corner. We’ve got really good corners, we’ve got really good linebackers, D-line, whatever it is. You don’t want to put too much focus on that one person because it’s like, the first game, that was a fluke.”
No, it wasn’t ‘a fluke’
Jefferson’s performance on Sept. 11 didn’t look like “a fluke.”
Jefferson has 1,756 receiving yards this season, a career-high for the former LSU standout, and eight touchdowns with two regular-season games remaining. He has nine games with at least 100 receiving yards, including three of the past four games. Jefferson put up 223 receiving yards on 11 catches against the Detroit Lions earlier this month.
His receiving yards and 123 receptions both lead the league.
Stopping Jefferson is going to be key for the Packers, who need to win to keep their postseason hopes alive.
“Well, [Jefferson] is going to get his touches,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said, via ESPN. “As a matter of fact, it’s funny you ask that because I was looking at his game-by-game production, and they do a great job of moving him around. That’s why it presents some challenges. Unless you just want to go lock him and play man, which opens a new can of worms every snap, it’s hard to just account for where’s going to be. I think you’ve got to do a great job of giving him different looks, but you always got to be mindful of where he’s at on the field.”
Though Alexander is downplaying Jefferson’s performance in their first matchup to build something up before Sunday, he’s still giving Jefferson credit. He’s at least a top three receiver in the league.
“Davante Adams No. 1, and I think [Jaylen] Waddle might’ve snuck in there as of this past weekend,” Alexander said, via ESPN. “I think he’s a really good receiver.”
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MINNESOTA
We saw that QB KIRK COUSINS was trending on Twitter – and apparently it was just because of the unusual wave of praise he was receiving.
Here’s one:
@bheintzskol
The Media: Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs what an incredible duo.
Also the Media: Joe Burrow and Ja’marr Chase are electric.
Also also the Media: Kirk Cousins is lucky he has Justin Jefferson.
And another:
@HardRockSB
QBs with 25+ pass TD and 3,500 pass yds in each of the last 8 seasons:
Kirk Cousins. END OF LIST.
This man deserves more respect #Skol
More:
@christomasson
#Vikings WR Justin Jefferson on Kirk Cousins: “Everyone want to make jokes about him and stuff like that, always want to talk about him. But his numbers is showing differently.” … He’s doing whatever he needs to do in order for his team to win.”
They keep coming:
@JanikEckardt
Seasons with 4,000+ passing yards:
– Kirk Cousins (7)
– All Chicago Bears QBs ever (0)
More:
@DeOneAndShawnly
Teams are now 2-103 when trailing by 20+ at half time.
the 2 wins, are by Kirk Cousins.
Another nugget:
@PurpleSKOLVikes
Pat Mahomes 4th quarter + OT:
1,107 passing yards
7 TD
6 INT
Kirk Cousins 4th quarter + OT:
1,416 passing yards
13 TD
3 INT
This:
@sosarick
One more GWD and Kirk Cousins will hold the record for most in NFL history in a single season #Skol
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NFC EAST
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DALLAS
Dan Quinn has been in Dallas for two years:
@JoshNorris
Cowboys being the first team since 1974 to lead the NFL in takeaways in back-to-back seasons is a wild stat
– – –
The Cowboys won by “only” 14 against the Titans, but it counts the same as a win by a million. Todd Archer of ESPN.com:
The Dallas Cowboys were not going to apologize for their 27-13 win over the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night.
“A win’s a win, and we’re going to take it and we’re going to get better from the mistakes and make sure that we’re improving,” quarterback Dak Prescott said. “But a road win, short week, you’ve got to take them all. And style points and all that, that’s for y’all who think games are won on paper.”
On paper, the Cowboys should have won by more against a Titans team that rested a number of key players, including running back Derrick Henry, and had quarterback Josh Dobbs make the first start of his NFL career. A win or loss would not have affected Tennessee’s spot in the AFC South. The Titans’ season comes down to their Week 18 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The importance of the Cowboys’ Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders will be determined by how the Philadelphia Eagles fare Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. If Philadelphia wins, it wins the NFC East and clinches the top seed in the conference. If the Eagles lose, then the Cowboys would win the division if they beat the Commanders and the Eagles lose to the Giants in their finales.
“Oh, I’m a Saints fan. Definitely,” coach Mike McCarthy said.
He’s also a fan of his team. The Cowboys have won eight of their past 10 games, with the only losses coming in overtime to the Green Bay Packers and Jaguars. For the first time since 1994-95, the Cowboys have posted consecutive 12-win seasons. On Thursday, they overcame three first-half turnovers by Prescott, including two interceptions that raised his season total to an NFL-high 14.
Coming off an emotional 40-34 win over the Eagles at AT&T Stadium on Sunday, McCarthy knew this game would be tough, calling this stretch the most difficult of the season.
“I’m in tune with the injuries and all the things that are going on,” McCarthy said. “All the little stuff. Yeah, it wasn’t clean. This was not a clean performance. We recognize that. I’m not disputing that at all. But I do know my football team. I know that they came out of a hard victory on Sunday and took a little longer to get their bodies back. That’s what Thursday night football is. It’s a tough challenge. But the most important thing is we answered the bell and we got it done.”
The Cowboys were playing their second straight game without starting linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and were working another secondary combination with Nahshon Wright playing more snaps in the nickel defense while also coming up with an interception. On offense, the Cowboys were without leading rusher Tony Pollard, who has a thigh bruise, and lost center Tyler Biadasz in the second half to a high right ankle sprain.
Biadasz’s absence caused three moves on the offensive line, with Connor McGovern moving to center from left guard, Tyler Smith moving to left guard and Jason Peters taking over at left tackle.
“It’s just a testament to how our team fights to make it through this three-game stretch,” defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence said. “I mean the body is on fire, you know? And we still overcame and got the victory tonight.”
Now they have some extra time to get ready for Washington, although the exact date of the game has yet to be set.
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PHILADELPHIA
Fantasy owners involved in Super Bowls have their eyes on this situation.
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts took part in practice Thursday — the first time he has been seen on the field since injuring his throwing shoulder against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 18.
Hurts participated in individual drills during the portion of practice open to the media, throwing a number of short and intermediate passes with decent velocity.
He was officially listed as a limited participant.
The 13-2 Eagles host the 6-9 New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Philadelphia can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win.
“We’ll continue to see how he progresses throughout the week,” coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday. “Does he have a chance? Of course he does because his body just knows how to heal. He’s a freak. We’ll see what happens as the week progresses.”
Hurts sat out of a ball-security drill in which coaches swing pads and boxing gloves at players as they run by. The other quarterbacks, Gardner Minshew and Ian Book, went through that drill.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hurts is recovering from what doctors are calling an SC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder — an injury to the joint where the collarbone meets the breastbone.
He missed the 40-34 loss Saturday to the Dallas Cowboys. Minshew got the start, going 24-of-40 for 355 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
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NFC WEST
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SAN FRANCISCO
WR DEEBO SAMUEL appears headed back to the 49ers lineup for the playoffs, if not sooner. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:
Earlier this week, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that receiver Deebo Samuel could be back at practice this week.
Now that’s come to pass.
According to multiple reporters on the scene, Samuel was practicing on Thursday for the first time since suffering knee and ankle injuries against the Buccaneers in Week 14.
Just because Samuel’s on the field does not mean he would play in Sunday’s game against the Raiders. With San Francisco having clinched the NFC West, there’s no need to rush him back. But the fact that he’s practicing now is a good sign for his potential availability for the first week of the postseason, no matter who the 49ers play.
Multiple reports also indicated that Nick Bosa and Mitch Wishnowsky were both back at practice after missing Wednesday’s session due to illness.
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LOS ANGELES RAMS
Will QB BAKER MAYFIELD be a Rams in 2023? Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com:
While the Los Angeles Rams feel secure with Matthew Stafford under center for the 2023 season and beyond, the team will have a decision to make at backup quarterback.
What was already going to be an interesting decision, with backups John Wolford (restricted) and Bryce Perkins (exclusive restricted) being free agents after this season, became even more so when the Rams claimed quarterback Baker Mayfield off waivers from the Carolina Panthers for the final five games of the season.
Mayfield, who is playing this season on his fifth-year option, will be a free agent this offseason. He said Wednesday that he hasn’t given much thought to what is beyond the final two games.
“I’m a free agent after this, so I really haven’t given it much thought, to be honest with you,” Mayfield said. “Just trying to roll with one day at a time. We’ll see. Should be interesting, but all that doesn’t start till March anyway, so we’ll see how it goes.”
And although Mayfield impressed against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, completing 24 of 28 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns — he said he’s not trying to prove anything with these final two games in Los Angeles.
“[Just] continuing the improvement and being comfortable in the system and just showcasing my abilities and just the ability to lead,” Mayfield said.
But as the Rams and Mayfield have discussions about whether he will be back in Los Angeles next season, here are a few factors that will go into that decision.
What Mayfield wants
Ultimately, Mayfield may not want to stay in Los Angeles simply because he has a chance to compete for a starting job elsewhere. The better he plays — as he did on Sunday against the Broncos — the less likely it is that he will re-sign with the Rams.
Despite Stafford being in the concussion protocol twice this season and now on injured reserve with a spinal cord contusion, the team isn’t concerned about any effects of that going forward. However, Stafford will be 35 next season, so Los Angeles will likely take his age into consideration along with whether that could affect his ability to play all 17 regular-season games going forward.
But Mayfield may decide, after spending a month-plus in the Rams’ system, that he wants to be coached by Sean McVay and his staff and that he’d prefer to back up Stafford than to compete for a starting job elsewhere for a team with less talent around him.
Mayfield’s possible salary
Even if Mayfield and the Rams both wanted him in Los Angeles in 2023, what it would take for that to happen from a salary perspective matters. The Rams are currently projected to have $1.7 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap, but the front office has shown in the past that they can be creative enough to find space for moves they want to prioritize.
One contract that could be similar would be the deal the Pittsburgh Steelers gave Mitch Trubisky: A two-year deal for $14 million that could rise to a maximum value of $27 million with incentives. Only $5.25 million of that contract was guaranteed, but Trubisky also signed with a chance to start in Pittsburgh, which won’t be the case in Los Angeles unless Stafford is injured.
It could also look like the deal quarterback Teddy Bridgewater signed with the Miami Dolphins last offseason. Bridgewater, signed to back up Tua Tagovailoa, agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million with $6.5 million guaranteed. That contract is also easier to give out when combined with a quarterback on a rookie deal; in comparison to the $8.25 million Tagovailoa made in 2022, Stafford has a cap hit of $20 million in 2023 and $49.5 million in 2024.
What the Rams need to prioritize
Even if the Rams could create the cap space that would allow them to re-sign Mayfield as their backup quarterback, there’s also the question of whether they want to prioritize that spending on a backup quarterback.
For the past three seasons of Wolford backing up Jared Goff and then Stafford, Wolford had a cap hit of less than $1 million. McVay said when having conversations with general manager Les Snead and the rest of the front office about how to prioritize that spending, it first depends on: “What type of money do we have to allocate?”
“And you always start with your own roster, right?” McVay said. “Re-signing your own guys that are free agents. Then you look at what are the external ways to be able to onboard certain players. What is your draft capital? … As you’re really trying to fill out your whole team, you’ve got to understand, alright, how much money do you have that you can allocate to be able to spend in that offseason?”
The Rams could, of course, bring Wolford back if the contract with Mayfield doesn’t work out or they could find a cheaper option. The Rams do have six draft picks — one in the second round, one in the third, three in the sixth and one in the seventh — that they could use to find a cheap backup solution for the next few years.
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SEATTLE
The coach and quarterback of the Seahawks both have history with this week’s opponent, the Jets. Brady Henderson of ESPN.com:
Geno Smith will face the team that drafted him when his Seattle Seahawks host the New York Jets on Sunday at Lumen Field, but the Pro Bowl quarterback didn’t give any impression that he considers it a so-called revenge game.
More like a must-win.
Smith was asked during his weekly media session Thursday whether there’s anything extra to the matchup given his history with the Jets.
“Not anything for me,” Smith said. “I really just feel like the importance of it is we need a win so we can get into the playoffs. Obviously, there will be some speculation, some talk about that. It comes with the territory. It’s to be expected. I got a lot of love for the Jets, the organization, and a lot of people that are still there that were there when I got drafted. So for me, and this team, it’s business as usual, another week to prepare and a tough challenge for us to go out there and try to get this win. We need it.”
Smith spoke fondly of his four seasons with the Jets, a rocky tenure that included a 12-18 record as a starter and an infamous locker room altercation that cost him his starting job. Smith, a second-round pick in 2013, was about to enter his third season in the summer of 2015 when teammate IK Enemkpali punched him, leaving him with a broken jaw. By the time Smith returned late in the season, Ryan Fitzpatrick was having a career year that would keep him in the starting role for most of the 2016 campaign.
Smith wouldn’t become a full-time starter again until he beat out Drew Lock this offseason in the competition to replace Russell Wilson. He was asked how he didn’t become bitter given how he lost his starting job in New York.
“I think that was an amazing time for me to grow and to become even more of a selfless individual,” he said. “Obviously, we have our own goals, and the way things transpired wasn’t in my plans or what I thought would happen, but it happened, and so you kind of take the approach you can’t cry over spilled milk. Also being a great teammate to the guys around me, not letting that hinder me from helping them succeed in any way that I can. That kind of became my career for a while, just being a great teammate and trying to help guys get better and doing whatever it took to help the team win outside of playing.”
Backing up Fitzpatrick gave Smith time to reflect, he said.
“It had been the first time I hadn’t played or started since I was maybe 10 years old,” he said. “I’d been playing football for a long time, started many seasons, and then, boom, something happens where now you’ve got to sit. It was different, it was challenging, but also taught me a lot and helped me grow.”
Smith threw 25 touchdowns over his first two seasons while committing a combined 41 turnovers, the third-most in the NFL in that span. But between his career day in the 2014 finale and a strong showing in the 2015 preseason, Smith felt he was ready to make a jump before his broken jaw put those hopes on hold.
“I really felt good about where I was and thought I was taking the next step, and I kind of held onto that thought process throughout the entirety of my career,” he said. “You’re right, I was very excited. Obviously a freak accident, things happen and you don’t wish for that on anybody. But it was an incredible moment for me to learn but also to practice resilience and patience. It took a lot of patience. It took a lot of hard work to even have an opportunity to compete again as a starter after all that stuff happened. I was appreciative of all the things that I went through, and obviously I was able to turn it around and make it a positive.”
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, perhaps attempting to absorb some of the scrutiny that will be on Smith this week, brought up the unceremonious ending to his own tenure with the Jets when asked about any conversations he has had with Smith about facing his former team. Carroll was fired after going 6-10 in his lone season as the Jets’ coach in 1994.
“Really, we’re kind of going as partners in crime in that we were both there and it didn’t quite work out right at the end,” Carroll said. “So, we’re just sharing the experience a little bit.”
The Seahawks have lost five of their past six games after a 6-3 start and now sit one game out of the NFC wild-card standings. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives them a 27.4% chance to claim one of the available wild-card spots. They wouldn’t necessarily be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the Jets, but they would need several things to go their way in addition to a win over the Rams in Week 18.
Smith ranks fifth in Total QBR at 63.4, nearly 20 points higher than his mark over his first nine seasons. But his production has dipped of late, with only two touchdowns over the past two games and five interceptions in as many weeks. That stretch has coincided with a drop-off in Seattle’s run game.
Asked for his assessment of Smith’s play in recent weeks, Carroll said the signal-caller can be “cleaner” with some of his mechanics.
“We can get a little bit cleaner on stuff and it’s really just technical stuff that I think could make a difference,” he said. “You’ll always hear me say that we need to play better around him to help him in all ways. But he knows he can clean a few things up. We’re being really, really strict about it, and he’s really on it. Just trying to make sure that he gives everything his best opportunity to function at a really high level. There’s just been a few plays here and there, little footwork things, and stuff like that, that we’re talking about. It’s really minor stuff, but yet it may have an impact.”
Smith is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March with his one-year, $3.5 million contract set to expire. He also has an additional $3.5 million available in incentives and would likely earn all of that if Seattle makes the playoffs.
Smith was asked if he has thought about his future beyond this season.
“My future is going to be great,” he said. “I always think that. … I’m always thinking positive on that note. But the future for me is right now, today, going out there having a great practice and getting ready for Sunday.”
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AFC WEST
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LAS VEGAS
Yesterday, we had Bill Barnwell’s list of possible destinations for QB DEREK CARR. Today, Mike Florio has his thoughts:
The benching of Raiders quarterback Derek Carr becomes a clear and obvious indication that the team is done with him. During Thursday’s PFT Live, we addressed the difficulties inherent to trading Carr.
In a nutshell, the Raiders can’t trade him before $40.4 million in injury guarantees flip to full guarantees. Any informal deal to trade him on the first day of the league year in March would be completely unenforceable. The new team could back out, leaving the Raiders holding a $40.4 million bag.
Also, Carr has a no-trade clause. As we’ve said in the past, however, it’s not as important in quarterback deals; no team will trade for a quarterback who doesn’t want to join that team — especially not with a $40.4 million obligation from the moment the trade happens.
So, yes, the Raiders quite possibly will have to cut Carr. Either way, he’ll have a new team in 2023. When he does, where will it be?
Here’s a broad-as-possible list of the teams that possibly would consider him.
Commanders: They’re perpetually looking for solutions at quarterback, and former Raiders coach Jack Del Rio is on the staff there (at least for now) as defensive coordinator.
Jets: Mike White is due to be a free agent, and Zach Wilson is reportedly done. Carr could be an upgrade over the other options.
Patriots: If they’re done with Mac Jones (or if Jones is done with them), could they find a way to coach up Carr? It would be an intriguing wrinkle, given that former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels decided after one year that Carr isn’t the answer.
Dolphins: What will they do about Tua Tagovailoa, who is entering the final year of his contract? A decision is due on his fifth-year optioning May 2023. A bigger decision could be made about whether to keep a quarterback who has become a perpetual risk for his next concussion.
Ravens: Carr, in theory, becomes an option, in the event they trade Lamar Jackson. But they’d have to retool their offense much more by pivoting to Carr than if they’d simply shift to Tyler Huntley.
Titans: All options ultimately could be on the table at quarterback in Nashville, depending on how the current season ends.
Texans: They’ll be looking for a quarterback, and most presume they’d draft one. It would be fitting to have the brother of David Carr come to Houston and thrive.
Colts: After Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan, the Colts would prefer to exit the revolving door of veteran quarterbacks. Carr could be better than any of the others they’ve added.
Giants: David Carr won a Super Bowl with the Giants, albeit as a backup. Many assume they’ll keep Daniel Jones. Is Derek Carr a better overall player? That’s something for the front office and coaching staff to decide.
Lions: The assumption has gone from Jared Goff out to Jared Goff in for 2023. That was before Derek Carr became available.
All of the NFC South: Every team in the worst division in football has no clear, established quarterback. Every one of them could (should) evaluate Carr.
Seahawks: Geno Smith and Drew Lock are both set to be free agents. If nothing else, Carr could provide a little leverage to get Geno to have more reasonable contractual expectations.
Rams: Yes, the Rams. Matthew Stafford won a Super Bowl last year. But he’ll be 35 in February. And it’s an old 35. He’s had more than a few injuries, and we possibly only know about some of them. He also has $57 million in compensation that becomes fully guaranteed in March 2023. Given the cap hit from last year’s extension, however, the Rams may have no choice but to bite the bullet on their second consecutive regrettable quarterback contract.
Nowhere: Carr may retire, if he meant the things he has said in the past about only playing for the Raiders. Most recently, Carr said this when signing his latest contract: “I’ve only wanted to be a Raider. And I told my agent, I said ‘I’m either going to be a Raider or I’m going to be playing golf, like I don’t want to be playing anywhere else.’ That’s how much this place means to me.”
He may feels differently now that “this place” has let him know there’s no place there for him. If he changes his position on only ever playing for the Raiders, he will have options.
Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com on the same topic:
In the event the Raiders explore an upgrade, with current Buccaneers QB and longtime McDaniels partner Tom Brady among the splashiest possibilities, where might Carr end up in 2023? Keeping in mind that the veteran has a no-trade clause that could allow him to control his fate, here’s an early rundown of logical suitors:
Long shots
Colts
You’d think Indy will pivot from its unceasing commitment to veteran retreads after this year’s Matt Ryan flop, but can we really put this one past Jim Irsay, especially if a new coach convinces himself Carr can be rejuvenated in fresh scenery? He’s at least a half-decade younger than Ryan, and would conceivably welcome a shot to play with Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. and a solid defense. They’ve got the cap space to make it work.
Giants
Giants fans buying into Daniel Jones’ future won’t like this, and truth be told, Jones at 25 may well be the better bet for a transitioning New York roster. But Brian Daboll’s squad is already on the verge of playoff contention, and Carr, plus other more proven additions, might be enticing considering how much cap space ($59M) they have at their disposal.
Patriots
No one is quite sure what to make of Mac Jones, who wouldn’t have to be dumped even if Carr were acquired, but Bill Belichick is surely getting a little impatient when it comes to getting proven QB production post-Tom Brady. New England has plenty of cash (projected $55M in 2023 cap space) to make this work, and the team already has a major connection to McDaniels, who might be willing to work with his old friends if, for example, Brady is coming his way anyway.
Saints
Both Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston figure to be playing elsewhere in 2023, and while their cap situation is always a mess, they don’t exactly have the ammo to easily grab a top QB prospect in the draft, having traded away their first-rounder. Coach Dennis Allen, meanwhile, knows Carr from his time as Raiders coach, leading the team in 2014 when Carr was drafted. Should Allen depart, of course, that connection would vanish.
Seahawks
Carr may or may not be an upgrade on Geno Smith, whose career resurgence but recent slide will leave them in a unique position ahead of the 2023 draft. Seattle feels more likely to invest in a young QB with one of its top picks, but with a lot of cap space, maybe they double-dip at the position, as they did years ago when first adding Russell Wilson.
Top contenders
Buccaneers
Tom Brady seems bound to be elsewhere in 2023, either via retirement or free agency. And coach Todd Bowles may or may not be safe, meaning they could be looking at quite a clean slate. But with so many veteran weapons, from Leonard Fournette to Mike Evans to the defense, team brass will surely be more interested in a quick fix. Carr, meanwhile, would theoretically get a cleaner path to the postseason in the NFC South.
Commanders
Ron Rivera can insist they need a long-term answer at QB all he wants, but few teams are perpetually hunting for mid-tier veterans like Washington. They’ll have plenty of financial flexibility if/when they cut or trade Carson Wentz, and assuming Rivera sticks around with his staff, Carr has ties to Jack Del Rio, the second-hand man; Del Rio was the Raiders’ coach during Carr’s 2015-2016 breakout, when the QB led a 12-3 start before going down with an injury.
Jets
They aren’t necessarily flush with excess cap space, but few GMs will probably be more motivated to add a proven name under center than Joe Douglas. The Jets have hung in the AFC playoff picture this year almost entirely in spite of their QB play, with Zach Wilson now on the bench indefinitely. The roster is pretty much ready to go on every other front, which is why Carr himself would likely also relish the opportunity to swap colors in the conference.
Texans
Consider them dark-horse favorites, not because their lineup screams playoff material, which should matter to Carr at this point in his career, but because of the family connection: Derek’s brother, David, was the franchise’s first draft pick and QB, and Derek has said publicly he wished the Texans had drafted him coming out of Fresno State. It’s also possible they’ll be starting fresh at head coach again, perhaps giving Carr an opportunity to team up with a fresh offensive mind in a division that tends to be more winnable than most.
Titans
Is Carr clearly better than Ryan Tannehill? Maybe not. But he is younger and, at least as of this year, more durable. Perhaps most importantly, he’d be less expensive; Tannehill is owed $38M in 2023, but Tennessee can save upwards of $27M by cutting or trading him. As a bonus, Carr has an established connection with offensive coordinator Todd Downing, who spent three years with him on the Raiders, most notably as a trusted QBs coach.
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LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
The Chargers are in the playoffs – and they may have EDGE JOEY BOSA back. Lindsay Thiry of ESPN.com:
Los Angeles Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa returned to practice Thursday for the first time since undergoing groin surgery after Week 3 and said after the workout that he’s feeling the best he has in “years.”
“I’m feeling really good. It’s kind of revitalizing, honestly. This was something that really caused me a lot of pain and kind of stress throughout the last couple of years, and I’ve gotten to a point where I was used to it and I didn’t understand how much was really wrong,” Bosa said. “Obviously, it sucks to miss all this time, but its honestly something that I really, really needed to get done.”
Bosa, 27, explained that he’d dealt with nagging groin issues for two years before it tore completely in a 38-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 25.
“It’s something that I could train through and get strong enough to play, but to be able to do everything that I want to do,” Bosa said, before trailing off and shaking his head. “A lot of workarounds. This offseason was babying a lot of things, working around a lot of things. I came in saying I was feeling as good as I have in a long time, which I was, but it’s been a long time since I’ve actually been able to feel good and push things the way I want to.”
The Chargers have designated Bosa to return from injured reserve, opening a 21-day window for the team to decide whether to activate him.
The Chargers are 9-6 and clinched their first playoff berth since 2018 on Monday with a 20-3 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. With two games remaining in the regular season, they are the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture.
After undergoing individual workouts for several weeks, Bosa expressed some concern about football conditioning but otherwise was optimistic that he could be ready to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (5-10) at SoFi Stadium.
“I’m feeling really good, and I kind of made it a point not to come back until I felt confident in myself and being able to perform in a game and not just go out there for three reps at practice and feel decent,” Bosa said. “I’m feeling very good.”
Bosa’s return is expected to provide a significant boost for a defense that has recently experienced a total turnaround. After allowing an average of 25.8 points through Week 13 (ranked 30th), the Bolts have produced the league’s top-ranked unit over the past three games, allowing an average of 11.3 points per game.
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AFC SOUTH
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TENNESSEE
Not only was QB RYAN TANNEHILL not around for Thursday’s loss in Dallas – he won’t be available for the Week 18 showdown with Jacksonville. Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:
When Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill had ankle surgery last week, there was reportedly an outside chance that he would be able to play again this season.
The Titans all but slammed the door shut on that possibility on Thursday. Tannehill has been placed on injured reserve, which means the Titans would have to make the AFC Championship Game in order for him to be eligible to return to action.
That feels like an even longer shot than Tannehill’s return and a loss in Week 18 to the Jaguars will keep the Titans out of the playoffs altogether.
Linebackers Bud Dupree (pectoral) and Zach Cunningham (elbow) also went on injured reserve Thursday. Both players had already been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Cowboys.
The Titans also signed linebacker Sam Okuayinonu, running back Jonathan Ward, and linebacker Andre Smith to the active roster. Ward will likely be helping to fill in for running back Derrick Henry on Thursday night as Henry has been listed as doubtful to play.
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