The Daily Briefing Tuesday, November 21, 2023
THE DAILY BRIEFING
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If The Season Ended Today – the AFC
Houston is in! Buffalo is out! It’s really tight!
Baltimore North 8-3 5-3 Kansas City West 7-3 5-1 Jacksonville South 7-3 5-2 Miami East 7-3 5-2 Cleveland WC1 7-3 5-2 Houston WC2 6-4 3-2 Pittsburgh WC3 6-4 4-3 Buffalo 6-5 3-5 Indianapolis 5-5 4-3 Denver 5-5 2-4 Cincinnati 5-5 1-5 Las Vegas 5-6 3-4 In the NFC –
If The Season Ended Today – the AFC
Houston is in! Buffalo is out! It’s really tight!
Baltimore North 8-3 5-3 Kansas City West 7-3 5-1 Jacksonville South 7-3 5-2 Miami East 7-3 5-2 Cleveland WC1 7-3 5-2 Houston WC2 6-4 3-2 Pittsburgh WC3 6-4 4-3 Buffalo 6-5 3-5 Indianapolis 5-5 4-3 Denver 5-5 2-4 Cincinnati 5-5 1-5 Las Vegas 5-6 3-4
In the NFC –
Philadelphia East 9-1 6-0 Detroit North 8-2 5-1 San Francisco West 7-3 5-1 New Orleans South 5-5 2-3 Dallas WC1 7-3 4-3 Seattle WC2 6-4 5-2 Minnesota WC3 6-5 6-2 Green Bay 4-6 3-3 LA Rams 4-6 3-4 Atlanta 4-6 3-4 Tampa Bay 4-6 3-4
The two Vikings-Lions games are Weeks 16 and 18. As it stands now, they would meet in the first round of the playoffs as well. That would be 3 Detroit-Minnesota games in four weeks. – – – Something to root for from NFL Nerd:
@NerdingonNFL If the #Jets and #Packers finish with the same divisional seed, Aaron Rodgers will return to Lambeau Field during the 2024 regular season
Both teams finishing at 3 seems plausible at the moment…
AFC East 1- MIA 7-3 2- BUF 6-5 3- #Jets 4-6 4- NE 2-8
NFC North 1- DET 8-2 2- MIN 6-5 3- #Packers 4-6 4- CHI 3-8
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NFC NORTH |
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DETROIT Albert Breer of SI.com notes that no one is demanding the Lions yield their early Thanksgiving home game any more:
Remember when people used to complain that the Lions play every Thanksgiving? That won’t be the case this week, with Detroit kicking off Thursday’s tripleheader by welcoming the Packers to Ford Field, and doing so—surprise, surprise—as the team squarely on the marquee.
And the team will do it coming off a game that served as another sign that, as we’ve said the past few weeks, this Cinderella story of 2022, the team that surged late, has become a powerhouse in ’23.
These Lions had already administered impressive beatdowns of teams like the Panthers and Buccaneers. They’d beaten the champion Chiefs on opening night, won a shootout with Justin Herbert and bounced back after their one no-show of the season, in Baltimore. Along those lines, Week 11 checked another box. The Lions didn’t have their A game with the Bears in town—but it didn’t matter because they could summon what they needed.
Detroit trailed 26–14 when it took possession with 4:15 left. Detroit won 29–26.
So what happened?
“The great players started making great plays,” one of those great players, second-year terror Aidan Hutchinson, told me from the victorious locker room postgame. “JG [Jared Goff] was going down the field, playing at a high level. Everyone was doing their jobs, man. And I really just think it’s that the great players started making great plays.”
That’s the other thing the Lions have going into Thanksgiving this year—a lot of those great players.
And that was really the starting point for the Lions’ scratching out their eighth win Sunday. On that second-to-last possession, with 4:15 showing, Goff connected on all five of his throws, good for 71 yards, and capped by a dime to Jameson Williams (drafted 10 picks after Hutchinson but hampered to this point in his career by injury and a gambling suspension) on a corner route for a 32-yard touchdown just 1:16 later.
“Great play by Jamo, man,” Hutchinson says. “I’m really happy for him. I know he had a touchdown called back last week, so he earned that one.”
The defense then forced a three-and-out that took just 14 seconds off the clock (“it just flipped,” Hutchinson says), and the offense got the ball back on its own 27 with 2:33 left, which was more than enough time for Goff to go back to work. From there, the Lions didn’t so much as face a third down until they were inside the Bears’ 10. By then, Goff had hit on 5-of-7 for 44 yards. Jahmyr Gibbs then went for six on third-and-2 from the 7, and former Bear David Mongomery chewed through the final yard to put Detroit in front.
Hutchinson closed it out with a strip sack of Justin Fields on the next play from scrimmage.
“I hit my rush that I wanted to hit,” Hutchinson says. “He ended up sitting in the pocket, I don’t think he ever really saw me; he was looking downfield. So it all worked out well. I was waiting all game to hit that rush.”
And as he hit his rush, the Lions hit 8–2, and the history that came with it.
The last time the team was 8–2, as you may have read by now, was in 1962. Dick LeBeau was on that team—as a player. So too were Night Train Lane, Alex Karras, Earl Morrall and Harlon Hill (you may have heard of the trophy named after him, which Bears QB Tyson Bagent won in 2021). My dad was an eighth-grader in Grosse Pointe, Mich., that fall, and those Lions finished two games back of Vince Lombardi’s second title team in Green Bay, which put Detroit in the consolation/third-place “Playoff Bowl” (where they beat the Steelers).
It’s been a while, for sure, since things looked this way in the Motor City, which is something that Hutchinson, a kid who grew up nearby in Plymouth and went to school in Dearborn and Ann Arbor, knows all too well. In fact, if the Lions win next week, it’ll mean the team will finish with winning records in consecutive years for just the second time in Hutchinson’s life.
Things have most certainly changed.
“No doubt,” Hutchinson says. “We got something special going on here. So, growing up watching the Lions, you know that’s where the ‘Same old Lions’ saying comes in. But, nah, I think this team is different, man. And it might not be our best every week, but we’re going to find a way to finish it. And really that’s all I got to say.”
It’s all he needed to say, with Thanksgiving next, a Thanksgiving he said himself that’ll be “a lot different than last year.”
Last year, of course, was like a lot of previous years. The Lions went in at 4–6 and lost.
They’ve only lost three games since.
And no one’s complaining anymore that they’ll be the first thing we see on Turkey Day.
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NFC EAST |
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PHILADELPHIA G JASON KELCE and RB D’ANDRE SWIFT walked out of the locker room together prior to the game. Kelce, Swift. Probably not an accident.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1726764795364364312
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NFC WEST |
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SAN FRANCISCO The win over the Buccaneers came with a defensive cost. David Bonilla of49ersWebZone.com:
During a Monday morning conference call, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan updated reporters on the team’s status following their 27-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Shanahan shared an injury update concerning safety Talanoa Hufanga, who sustained a knee injury in the third quarter and was subsequently ruled out. Following the game, Shanahan expressed concerns about a potential ACL injury for the All-Pro safety.
On Monday, Shanahan officially confirmed that Hufanga would be sidelined for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL. The good news is that Shanahan and the 49ers expect the injured safety to be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 season.
“They don’t think there was any meniscus or anything, so it was as clean as it could be for just being ACL,” Shanahan said.
The coach added, “He’ll need a plan for training camp, but with the time and everything, if everything goes smoothly, he should be ready for Week 1.”
In Hufanga’s absence, rookie safety Ji’Ayir Brown took the field and delivered an impressive performance, breaking up a pass in the end zone and securing an interception. Brown is set to start alongside Tashaun Gipson for the remainder of the season.
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LOS ANGELES RAMS Stop the presses.
There is still over six months until Draft Day, but at the moment, the Rams do, that’s do, have their first round pick for 2024.
The last time they picked in the first round was 2016 when they selected one of the game’s elite quarterbacks – JARED GOFF. – – – Will QB MATTHEW STAFFORD have anyone to throw to Sunday in Arizona? But Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com says he will have someone returning to hand off to:
Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp received good news Monday after further testing of his right ankle.
Kupp, who left in the second quarter and did not return Sunday, has a lateral ankle sprain and is considered day to day.
“That was positive news for us,” Rams coach Sean McVay said Monday, via Stu Jackson of the team website.
Kupp could play Sunday against the Cardinals.
“It’s a real possibility that he would be available,” McVay said. “I know he’s going to do everything in his power.”
The Rams will monitor the functionality of Kupp’s ankle this week.
Rookie receiver Puka Nacua injured his shoulder on the pass interference penalty he drew in the fourth quarter, and McVay also called him day to day.
The Rams will see the return of running back Kyren Williams this week. He has not played since Week 6 when he sprained his left ankle.
“It’ll be great to be able to get him back, his productivity, his play energy, his overall presence,” McVay said. “He’s a guy that we’ve missed.”
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AFC WEST |
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DENVER NFL Justice saw what everyone else did (except the officials) when S KAREEM JACKSON launched himself at the head of Vikings QB JOSH DOBBS. Jeff Legwold ofESPN.com:
Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson has been suspended without pay for four games for repeated violations of player safety rules, the result of his first tackle since he returned from another suspension.
Jackson lowered his helmet and hit Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs less than two minutes into Sunday’s 21-20 Broncos win.
A 14-year veteran in his fifth season with the Broncos, Jackson was notified of his suspension Monday morning by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. Runyan said in the letter, “on the play in question, you lowered your head and delivered a forceful blow to the shoulder and head/neck area of an opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact. You could have made contact with your opponent within the rules, yet you chose not to.”
Dobbs was a running back on the play, as Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson took the snap from center and pitched the ball to Dobbs, who ended up fumbling.
One of the NFL’s health and safety spotters on site directed Dobbs to undergo a concussion check following the play. Dobbs was cleared and reentered the game for Minnesota’s next offensive series.
Jackson, who was not penalized on the play, plans to appeal the suspension, sources told ESPN on Monday night. He had a four-game suspension reduced to two games on appeal earlier this season.
Jackson would forfeit $559,889 in salary if the current four-game suspension is upheld. He has been fined four times this season for unnecessary roughness for a total of $89,670 and has been ejected from two games.
He was suspended for four games after his hit on Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave in Week 7. After his appeal reduced the suspension to two games, he missed the Broncos’ Week 8 win over the Kansas City Chiefs as well as the team’s Week 10 win over the Buffalo Bills and forfeited $279,000 of his base salary.
He returned against the Vikings, playing all 74 of the Broncos’ defensive snaps.
Following the game, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was asked if he felt Jackson should have been penalized on the play.
“On the field, it felt like that,” O’Connell said. “I’ll have to go back and look at it. It tends to happen pretty fast out there, but in the moment, coming from the second level the way he did, it seemed like a pretty direct helmet-to-helmet type hit. But I’m sure [officials] saw it differently on the play. They’re officiating a fast play right there.”
Broncos coach Sean Payton said Monday morning, several hours before the NFL announced the suspension, that he had spoken to Jackson and added, “There’s nothing you can do except wait, and we’ll see where it goes.”
Dobbs said he “felt fine” after the hit and deferred to O’Connell on whether Jackson should have been penalized.
“I haven’t had a chance to watch it,” Dobbs said after Sunday’s game. “That’s something I’ll check out. I’ve got to take care of the football. Third-and-1, I’m trying to make a play, get the first down, keep us on the field, move the sticks. I’ll let the coaches and everyone else figure that stuff out with officiating. But at the end of the day, I’ve got to take care of the football in that situation, especially to start the game.”
The Broncos are riding a four-game win streak and will face two other teams hoping to stay in the playoff race — the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans — over the next two weeks. The Broncos then play at the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 10 at SoFi Stadium and at Detroit Lions on either Dec. 16 or Dec. 17.
Jackson said last week he had talked to league officials to seek “clarity” on tackling, including the plays for which he had been penalized. After his earlier suspension, Jackson’s teammates were quick to defend him, especially safety Justin Simmons, who took exception to the league’s letter to Jackson last month notifying him of the suspension as well as the narrative that Jackson is a dirty player based on the fines and ejections.
“Even referring to the letter that was sent to Kareem that, in so many words, called him a dirty player, that bothers me as a teammate,” Simmons said at the time. “I would not be half the player I am if it wasn’t for Kareem, if it wasn’t for the knowledge he has bestowed upon me, both on and off the field.
“The whole ‘dirty player’ analogy we’re kind of trying to stick to his name and his reputation is, excuse my language, absolute bulls—.”
Simmons defended Jackson again on social media Monday night after the suspension was announced.
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KANSAS CITY Scott Kacsmar:
@ScottKacsmar Chiefs could still get there, but they really screwed themselves with bad decisions at the WR position.
I like Justin Watson as an occasional deep shot receiver. He’s not someone who should have 11 targets to lead all players in a game like this.
And whether it’s age or health, Kelce is not as elite this season.
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LOS ANGELES CHARGERS EDGE JOEY BOSA is headed to IR. Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com:
Chargers pass rusher Joey Bosa is headed to injured reserve.
He will miss at least four games, and head coach Brandon Staley said it is “to be determined” whether Bosa will return this season.
Bosa sprained his right foot in Sunday’s loss.
He was carted to the training room after going down with 13:06 left in the first quarter and returned to the sideline in street clothes, wearing a boot and on crutches.
In eight games this year, Bosa has 6.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and eight quarterback hits.
He has not played every game in a season since 2019.
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AFC NORTH |
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BALTIMORE Like QB AARON RODGERS, the season of TE MARK ANDREWS has a chance of resuming after being feared over. Childs Walker of the Baltimore Sun:
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday that tight end Mark Andrews has an “outside chance” to play again this season after tests showed his ankle injury was not as severe as initially feared..
Andrews was injured by a hip-drop tackle from Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on the Ravens’ first drive last Thursday. Harbaugh said after the game the injury was serious and likely season-ending.
“Nothing’s completely definitive yet,” he said Monday. “My understanding is, in talking with our trainer and doctors, that it wasn’t as bad as initially feared right after the game. … It’s a little cleaner than we thought based on the MRI. He’s going to be involved with Dr. [Robert] Anderson down there in Charlotte over the next few days, and we’ll know more.”
Harbaugh declined to say when Andrews might have a chance to return under the most optimistic scenario. “I don’t want to say that it’s definitive by any stretch, but there is some optimism,” he said.
In the absence of Andrews, their leader in touchdown catches and receptions for first downs, the Ravens will turn to second-year tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar and also ask more of their wide receivers.
“I have total confidence in those guys,” Harbaugh said of Likely and Kolar. “They’re going to get in there and get their shot and do a great job with it. … When [Mark] gets back, we’ll just be that much stronger for it, whenever that is.”
Harbaugh didn’t want to characterize Andrews’ mood regarding the injury. “There’s no bigger competitor,” he said. “Nobody wants to be out there more than Mark Andrews.”
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CLEVELAND A note:
@Coach_BWilliams Here’s a crazy stat for you. The Browns & Chiefs have same record, and the Browns have scored more pts this year than the chiefs. – – – Albert Breer of SI.com makes the case that the Browns are so good elsewhere, they can win with indifferent play at QB:
The Browns are really good, they know it, and now it’s all hands on deck to get what they can from whoever is playing quarterback. And that’s a reality that was delivered on Wednesday, when the world found out that whoever the quarterback is won’t be Deshaun Watson.
Maybe it’ll eventually be 38-year-old former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, who will join the team Monday.
For now, it’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
And it was the fifth-round rookie who entered the huddle with 1:18 left Sunday, the ball on the Cleveland 35, the game with the Steelers tied at 10, and a message from veteran running back Kareem Hunt waiting for him.
“I came in like—Let’s go win this game. Be patient. Go out there and play football. We know you can,” Hunt told me afterward.
Thompson-Robinson went out and showed he could. He first found Elijah Moore in a dead spot in the coverage for 15 yards. He then hit Hunt for five yards in the flat, Amari Cooper on a slant for eight, and, finally David Njoku on a hitch for 11 yards to put the Browns in easy field goal range. And by the time Dustin Hopkins banged a 34-yard game-winning field goal through to get Cleveland the 13–10 win, and to a 7–3 mark, Thompson-Robinson had earned his respect.
“There was a ton on the line,” Hunt says. “I’ve seen him grow. He came in with a different mentality [this week]. Attack every practice like it was a game, just preparing himself. I feel like he was very prepared. … I’d seen him making the right reads, throwing good, catchable balls for us, and letting the playmakers make plays.”
Of course, doing that in a single spot is different than being an actual playoff quarterback, which is what the Browns are really looking for in Watson’s absence.
That’s because the rest of the team is super impressive. Sunday was the seventh time in 10 games that the Browns’ defense has held an opposing offense under 300 yards—the Steelers only crossed midfield on three of their 13 possessions—and the fourth time it’s held an offense to 10 or fewer points. The run game was a little stagnant against a tough Steelers defense, mustering 93 yards, but has been productive otherwise, having churned out over 150 yards on the ground in four of its previous five games since the bye.
As for whoever will wind up filling the void left by Watson’s absence, it might be Thompson-Robinson, who was a modest 24-of-43 for 165 yards and a pick. It might be Flacco.
Whoever it is won’t have to be Superman, based on how well the Browns have played to this point around a tumultuous quarterback situation. But they will need something from the position, which is really what Thompson-Robinson was able to give them in a few key spots Sunday. And the pressure on that quarterback to keep doing so will be there, with the expectations the other guys have for the team as a whole.
“The ceiling is as far as we can take it,” Hunt says. “We just find a way to win, no matter what. We got to just find a way to win and play as a team. That was a team win.”
We know the Browns are capable of those.
How their quarterbacks figure into those going forward is the question.
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PITTSBURGH Mike Tomlin, perhaps with a shove from ownership, has moved on from OC Matt Canada. Mark Kanobly in The Athletic:
The Pittsburgh Steelers fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada following Sunday’s 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
“I appreciate Matt’s hard work and dedication, and I wish him the best moving forward in his career,” coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement.
The Steelers’ offense ranks 28th in the NFL in yards per game and points per game.
Pittsburgh had a slow day offensively against Cleveland and didn’t score until the third quarter when running back Jaylen Warren had a 74-yard touchdown run just 50 seconds into the second half. Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett only threw for 106 yards and no touchdowns in the loss. The second-year quarterback has just one touchdown pass in his last five games.
With the loss, the Steelers fell to 6-4 and fell behind the AFC North rival Browns (7-3). Pittsburgh is clinging to a wild-card spot, a half-game ahead of the Buffalo Bills (6-5) entering a Week 12 game at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Why fire Canada now? The Steelers have been going about their business differently lately with new general manager Omar Khan. Now that’s trickled down to the coaching staff. The Steelers never fire coaches midseason, which makes Canada’s departure somewhat surprising even though his offense has ranked in the bottom half of the league since he took over two years ago.
This move screams of coming from the top with Art Rooney II. Rooney has had a hands-on approach with coordinators in the past, dismissing Bruce Arians and hiring Todd Haley. — Mark Kaboly, Steelers senior writer
What the move says about Kenny Pickett With so much invested in Pickett and his lack of taking a step forward this year, the Steelers had two choices — move on from Canada or bench Pickett. This move pretty much assures the Steelers still have hope that Pickett is worth the 20th pick in 2022.
This means to me that Pickett is the QB for at least the next two years. The question is, why wasn’t this a move the Steelers made 10 months ago? — Kaboly
Kevin Patra of NFL.com with the plan going forward:
Steelers QB coach Mike Sullivan and RB coach Eddie Faulkner will share the coordinator duties in the wake of Canada’s firing, NFL Network Insiders Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported. Faulkner is expected to take over as interim OC, and Sullivan, who has previous coordinator experience with the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will handle the play-calling.
Longtime Steelers follower Mike Florio, as usual, has thoughts:
Just a few weeks after being moved from the booth to the sideline, Matt Canada has been moved completely out of the stadium.
Now what?
At one level, it’s amazing to think that a 6-4 team would make a change like this two days before Thanksgiving. It’s working. They’re winning. They’re relevant. They’re competitive.
But the offense stinks. They’ve been outgained every week. For most of the year, they’ve had no identity. No rhythm. No flow. No broader strategy to rope-a-dope a defense into thinking one thing is coming before doing something unexpected.
On Sunday, it was basically the Jaylen Warren show.
It also was a shitshow, with 10 total points, receiver Diontae Johnson reportedly being carried away from a member of the coaching staff, head coach Mike Tomlin having to get involved in the kerfuffle, and running back Najee Harris making post-game comments making it clear that he was at the end of his rope.
So what’s next? We’re still pressing for more details as to how the offense will operate moving forward (we’re currently hearing things that conflict a little bit with published reports elsewhere). Someone else will be running the show (running backs coach Eddie Faulkner, apparently). Someone else will be calling the plays (quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan, reportedly). Someone else will have the mandate to change the tire on a moving car.
It’s not impossible. In December 2012, the 9-3 Ravens fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, elevated Jim Caldwell into the job, and won the Super Bowl.
That said, Caldwell was an established coach. Someone who had taken the Colts to the Super Bowl, just three years earlier.
Also, Kenny Pickett in his second season is not Joe Flacco in his prime.
Really, the heart of the problem could be that Pickett just isn’t it. He’s serviceable. He’s competent. But he does nothing that makes anyone say, “Wow.” No big throws into tight spots. Limited mobility.
It’s entirely possible that the Steelers got it wrong by making the Pitt product a first-round pick in 2022. And it will be interesting to see, in the short term, whether the new offensive brain trust becomes tempted to pivot to Mitch Trubisky (or whether they’d even be allowed to do it) and, in the long term, whether the Steelers will be in the market for, say, Justin Fields or Kyler Murray or Kirk Cousins or someone else for 2024.
– – – The Steelers are bulking up at linebacker. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:
The Steelers signed Myles Jack to their practice squad on Monday and they are adding another experienced linebacker on Tuesday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that they are signing Blake Martinez off of the Panthers practice squad.
Martinez signed with the Panthers earlier this month after ending the retirement he announced while playing for the Raiders in November 2022. Martinez retired to focus on a lucrative Pokemon trading card business, but returned after being banned from selling cards on a prominent online marketplace.
Martinez played in four games with the Raiders in 2022 and three games for the Giants in 2021 before tearing his ACL. He played in 77 games for the Packers and Giants over the previous five seasons and has 706 tackles, 13 sacks, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries over his entire career.
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AFC SOUTH |
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INDIANAPOLIS He once was on the short list of the game’s top linebackers. Now, LB SHAQUILLE LEONARD finds himself on the waiver wire. Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com has the what, but not the why:
The Indianapolis Colts are emerging from the bye week without one of the fixtures to their defense over the last few years. On Tuesday, Indianapolis released linebacker Shaquille Leonard. The former All-Pro confirmed the news on social media with a post saying his farewell to the franchise and the city.
“Indy, I want to thank you for accepting me and my family with open arms,” Leonard wrote. “These past six years has been nothing but incredible! Through the good times and bad time y’all stood by my side. I apologize for not bringing that trophy back to the 317. The energy at Lucas Oil has been nothing but amazing and I thank you for every memory. I’m thankful to play for such an amazing fan base. I love you guys and wish the Colts nothing but the best!”
Colts owner Jim Irsay also took to social media in the aftermath of the move to reminisce about Leonard’s tenure, while also acknowledging that the NFL is a “tough business.”
“Colts Nation will always remember The Maniac’s palpable energy on the field with each tackle, interception, punchout, and fumble recovery,” Irsay said in a statement. “Off the field, he’s a servant leader and assisted numerous families in both his hometown and the Indianapolis community. We’re thankful for Shaq and the contributions he made to our organization. We wish him and his beautiful family the best moving forward.”
Leonard — who requested to go by his middle name, Shaquille, over his first name, Darius, in 2022 — arrived in Indianapolis in 2018 as a second-round draft pick out of South Carolina State. He immediately made an impact for the Colts, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading the league in tackles. Over his tenure, he was a first-team All-Pro three times and named to the Pro Bowl four times.
In recent seasons, however, injuries have plagued Leonard. He was limited to just three games in 2022 due to offseason back surgery, suffering a concussion in Week 4 of that year, and then was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season in Week 10 after suffering a setback with his back injury. Leonard has been able to suit up and start in nine games for the Colts this season and has posted 65 tackles.
Leonard will now go through the waiver process and can be claimed by any team in the league. If a team does claim him, they’d owe him roughly $6 million in base salary for the rest of the season. Leonard is also under contract through 2026 but carries lofty cap hit totals and is owed a base salary of $13.6 million in 2024, $14.8 million in 2025, and $19.1 million in 2026. With that in mind, it seems most likely he’ll clear waivers and then be free to sign a more palatable deal with a team in the NFL after that.
Landing spots
Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers linebacker room has been decimated with injuries. So much so, that they needed to lure Myles Jack out of retirement to help fill the void. Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander both suffered season-ending injuries recently and were starting Mykal Walker on Sunday against the Browns after he was previously on the practice squad. Leonard could realistically come in and compete for a starting job or insert himself into the rotation with Walker, Jack, and Elandon Roberts to help stabilize this group for Pittsburgh.
Buffalo Bills Buffalo could use depth at the linebacker spot as this defense has been hit with several key injuries this season, including Matt Milano. That’s not even mentioning that the Bills also lost linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last offseason, so there is a hole here that Leonard could help fill. Tyrel Dodson and Terrel Bernard have been the starting linebackers, and Leonard could be a rotational option that the Bills could target if he clears waivers.
Philadelphia Eagles If Leonard wants to be a legitimate contributor to a Super Bowl contender, the Eagles make all the sense in the world as a landing spot if he becomes a free agent. Philly has been leaning on Zach Cunningham and Nicholas Morrow as its linebacker duo after sending Nakobe Dean to injured reserve with a Lisfranc injury. Leonard would be an ideal complement to Cunningham and Morrow to help bolster this position group for the postseason. It’s also worth pointing out that there is familiarity here with head coach Nick Sirianni, who served as the Colts offensive coordinator from 2018-2020 and saw firsthand what Leonard is capable of when firing on all cylinders.
Chicago Bears If Leonard clears waivers and is looking for a team to latch on with to go on a deep playoff run, the Bears aren’t a fit. However, there is a relationship here with Chicago with head coach Matt Eberflus. He was Leonard’s defensive coordinator in Indy when he first entered the league in 2018 and during his most prolific years in the league. If Leonard is looking to rekindle that magic, then Chicago makes some sense.
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AFC EAST |
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NEW ENGLAND Which QB will the Patriots send out to do battle with QB TOMMY DeVITO of the Giants? Bill Belichick either doesn’t know or he isn’t saying. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com:
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick will be making the call on the team’s starting quarterback for this week’s game against the Giants and he wasn’t in a sharing mood when it came to his thoughts on the matter on Tuesday.
Mac Jones has started every game this year, but he was pulled in favor of Bailey Zappe for the final drive of the team’s Week 10 loss to the Colts. Will Grier is also on the 53-man roster and Malik Cunningham is on the practice squad, but Belichick didn’t bite when asked at his press conference if he’s made a decision about who will be under center on Sunday.
“I’ve told all the players the same thing: Be ready to go. Hopefully they will be,” Belichick said.
Belichick was also asked if the players know who is going to be starting even if he isn’t going to be making a public announcement.
“We’ll let you know on Sunday,” Belichick said.
Belichick said that he’ll let what’s best for the team be his guide on the call at quarterback, but their 2-8 record indicates that the best answers for the Patriots may not currently be in the organization.
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NEW YORK JETS The Jets are sending QB ZACH WILSON all the way down to the number 3 slot as QB TIM BOYLE will start the big Black Friday game. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (we highlight the part that says Boyle’s history say he will play about like Wilson has):
The New York Jets, performing at a historically poor level on offense, benched quarterback Zach Wilson on Monday, another crushing blow for a player once considered the future of the franchise.
This marked the third benching in the past 13 months for Wilson, who might have played his last game for the Jets. The No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft will be replaced by Tim Boyle, who will start Friday against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium.
Trevor Siemian will be signed from the practice squad and will serve as Boyle’s backup on Friday, coach Robert Saleh said. Wilson will be the No. 3 quarterback under the NFL’s new emergency-quarterback rule.
Saleh said he made the quarterback change to “give [Boyle] an opportunity, a different style of quarterback. It’s really just to give him an opportunity to see if we can do something with the offense.”
The move has long-term implications for the Jets, whose grand plan was to have Wilson learn under Aaron Rodgers for a year or two before returning to the starting position — an arrangement endorsed by Rodgers. That no longer seems likely, as Wilson played his way out of the No. 2 job.
Saleh believes Wilson will have “a really good career in this league,” but he declined to comment on Wilson’s future with the organization, saying that will be addressed in the offseason. He said the Jets haven’t considered releasing Wilson.
“Like I said, it’s not all on him, but there are things that he needs to be better at,” said Saleh, who claimed recently that it would be “lazy” to single out Wilson for the many ills on offense. “And this is just another situation to see if we can get another guy an opportunity to see if something can change.”
Wilson was pressed into action on the fifth play of the season, when Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles. Under Wilson, the Jets managed only nine touchdown drives in nearly 10 full games while posting the worst red zone and third-down efficiency in modern NFL history.
Saleh, who arrived with Wilson in 2021, stood by the former BYU star until Sunday night, when he pulled him late in the third quarter of a 32-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Afterward, Saleh was noncommittal on his quarterback plans — a sure sign he had run out of patience.
“When things aren’t getting done, change has to be made, and I understand that,” Wilson said after the game — a 7-for-15, 81-yard performance in which he failed to complete a single pass to a wide receiver.
For the season, Wilson is ranked 30th out of 31 qualified passers in QBR (30.7), with only six touchdown passes. In three years, he’s 11-20 as a starter, with 21 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.
Wilson was benched twice last season, prompting the organization to trade for Rodgers. Instead of acquiring a proven veteran to serve as the backup, the Jets opted to keep Wilson as Rodgers’ understudy — a decision by general manager Joe Douglas that might have compromised the season.
“You could always play the hindsight-is-20/20 game, but we felt like we did what was best for the organization, best for the team,” Saleh said. “It’s been an unfortunate series of events when you look at all the injuries on the line and just the things that have transpired since the start of the year.”
Saleh offered a cryptic answer when asked if there was anything the team could have done differently during the pre-draft process in 2021.
“You know what? Actually, I’ve got my thoughts,” he said. “I’ve shared them with Joe, but I’m not going to get into it here with you guys.”
Wilson is signed through 2024, with virtually no chance of having his fifth-year option for 2025 picked up. The deadline is early May 2024.
Boyle, 29, is an NFL journeyman who has played for the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. His only three starts came in 2021 for the Lions; he went 0-3 with three touchdowns and six interceptions. In Sunday’s relief outing, he completed 7 of 14 passes for 33 yards and an interception.
He was released by the Jets at the end of the preseason, then landed on their practice squad. He was signed to the roster when Rodgers was injured.
“I think a part of my strength is being able to get the ball out of my hands quick, and the decisiveness, I think, is a part of my game that I lean on,” Boyle said Sunday night.
Rodgers reportedly is hoping to return Dec. 24 from Achilles surgery but has said it’s contingent on the Jets being in playoff contention. They’re not. Saleh confirmed Rodgers has a specific date in mind, but he wouldn’t reveal it.
“All of it’s a moot point until he’s cleared by doctors,” Saleh said.
The Jets (4-6) have lost three straight games, with only 31 points scored. Their third-down efficiency is 23% and their red zone rate is 26%, both last in the NFL and the worst since the 1970s, when that data started to be tracked.
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THIS AND THAT
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2024 DRAFT Chad Reuter of NFL.com with the current 2024 draft order (and team needs):
This is a look at the first-round order for the 2024 NFL Draft heading into Week 12 of the 2023 NFL season, along with the top five needs for each team. The order is determined by record, using strength of schedule as the first tiebreaker (click here to see a full list of the draft-order tiebreakers). Keep in mind — teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today are marked as PL (short for playoffs) in the order below. The draft order for playoff teams is determined by the results of postseason play.
1 Chicago Bears PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE CAROLINA PANTHERS Bears’ biggest needs: OT, IOL, WR, TE, Edge
Cole Kmet has blossomed into one of the Bears’ most reliable pass-catchers. Former Green Bay tight ends Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis have made little impact in the passing game, however, so Chicago will likely explore Day 3 options at the position.
2 Arizona Cardinals Biggest needs: CB, WR, DT, Edge, IOL
Rookie Michael Wilson missed the team’s loss to Houston with a shoulder injury but has played well when healthy. Rondale Moore did play against the Texans but remains far too inconsistent week to week. He must produce more plays like his opening-drive score on Sunday (his only catch of the day) or he might be fighting off more rookies for playing time in 2024. Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ leading receiver, Hollywood Brown, is a free agent after the season.
3 New England Patriots Biggest needs: QB, CB, TE, OT, WR
New England’s cornerback room has been a source of recent drama, with the team opting not to bring J.C. Jackson to Germany in Week 10 because of a lack of reliability and then releasing second-year defender Jack Jones at the start of their Week 11 bye. Jackson could be a cut candidate this offseason due to his sizable 2024 salary, and nickelback Myles Bryant is an impending free agent, so changes are coming to the Patriots.
4 Chicago Bears See Pick No. 1 for analysis of the Bears’ needs.
5 New York Giants Biggest needs: RB, DT, OL, QB, TE
Saquon Barkley had 140 total yards of offense and two scores against Washington on Sunday, but his recent comments regarding future contract negotiations are not very encouraging if you’re a Giants fan. Matt Breida is also set to hit the open market this spring, so the club will likely have interest in the draft’s top backs even if the two-time Pro Bowler returns.
6 Tennessee Titans Biggest needs: OT, WR, Edge, RB, DT
Derrick Henry managed just 38 yards on 10 carries in Sunday’s lopsided loss to Jacksonville, turns 30 in January and is not under contract for next season. The Titans may let the veteran test free agency this time around, instead building their backfield around Tyjae Spears and a Day 2 or 3 pick.
7 Washington Commanders Biggest needs: Edge, LB, WR, OT, CB
Sam Howell faced pressure all day in the team’s loss to the Giants, with each of his three interceptions occurring with defenders in his face. The Commanders hope injured rookie interior linemen Braeden Daniels and Ricky Stromberg bounce back to aid Howell’s cause in 2024, and the team could add a bookend to compete with Charles Leno Jr. for the left tackle spot.
8 Atlanta Falcons Biggest needs: QB, WR, CB, Edge, DT
Atlanta’s inconsistent quarterback play has limited wideout Drake London’s effectiveness as a playmaker, and the team’s in-season trade for Van Jefferson has not produced the intended results. With London and 2022 undrafted rookie Josh Ali the only Falcons wideouts currently under contract in 2024, the team must prioritize rebuilding its receiver room.
9 Green Bay Packers Biggest needs: OT, S, IOL, CB, RB
The Packers’ running back depth is being challenged yet again in 2024, with Aaron Jones and rookie Emanuel Wilson suffering injuries in the team’s win over the Chargers. AJ Dillon hits free agency in the spring, and Jones has only one year left on his current deal.
10 New York Jets Biggest needs: OT, IOL, QB, S, WR
With each passing week, it seems less likely that Zach Wilson returns to New York to back up Aaron Rodgers in 2024. If the Jets trade or release the former No. 2 overall pick in the coming months, I’d expect them to look for another promising prospect during the first two days of the draft to learn from Rodgers for a year or two (if the veteran stays healthy) before taking the reins.
11 Los Angeles Chargers Biggest needs: CB, RB, DT, TE, WR
Austin Ekeler’s fumble was one of a handful of troubling Chargers red-zone miscues in their loss at Green Bay. The veteran has missed time due to injury this year, is set to hit the open market (as is backfield mate Joshua Kelley) and will be 29 by the time next season starts. Barring a new agreement between Ekeler and the team, the Chargers will likely be in search of another young back in April.
12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Biggest needs: QB, IOL, LB, S, CB
The interior of the Buccaneers’ offensive line has not been the same without center Ryan Jensen, who has missed significant time over the last two season due to injury. If Tampa moves on from the 32-year-old this offseason, expect second-round pick Cody Mauch to remain inside. But the rest of the line’s interior could look different, with Matt Feiler and Aaron Stinnie both set to hit free agency.
13 Los Angeles Rams Biggest needs: OT, CB, Edge, S, K
The Rams have not truly replaced future Hall of Fame left tackle Andrew Whitworth since their Super Bowl LVI victory. Finding a top-notch blind-side protector to keep Matthew Stafford healthy should be a priority.
14 Las Vegas Raiders Biggest needs: QB, OT, IOL, RB, DT
Unless Aidan O’Connell can bounce back from a three-interception outing against Miami to prove he deserves the starting job in 2024, it would appear the Raiders will be in the quarterback market again this offseason. Turning back to the benched Jimmy Garoppolo is still an option, but that seems unlikely.
15 Indianapolis Colts Biggest needs: WR, CB, DT, S, LB
Third-round pick Josh Downs looks like a bargain based on his performance in the slot, but the team’s most reliable receiver, Michael Pittman, is heading toward free agency. If the Colts can’t match the bag he’s likely to receive from another franchise, they should look to the draft for another top dog.
16 Denver Broncos Biggest needs: S, TE, DT, CB, Edge
Denver invested in veteran free agents Zach Allen and D.J. Jones in recent years, but it still fields one of the worst run defenses in the league. Jonathan Harris will be a restricted free agent and Mike Purcell is scheduled for unrestricted free agency this spring, so the Broncos should be looking for young talent up front.
17 Cincinnati Bengals Biggest needs: OT, WR, TE, DT, Edge
Losing Joe Burrow for the season is a devastating blow to the Bengals’ playoff hopes. It’s possible he’s made his last throws to receivers Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins considering the veteran wideouts are due to hit free agency in March. If the Bengals don’t re-sign Boyd and/or Higgins, the Bengals should use at least one of their early picks on a partner for Ja’Marr Chase on the outside.
18 Buffalo Bills Biggest needs: DT, S, Edge, WR, CB
Team captain Micah Hyde and Taylor Rapp are impending free agents, which means the Bills could be addressing the safety position in 2024. Rapp suffered a neck injury against the Jets on Sunday and his tests came back negative, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
PL New Orleans Saints Biggest needs: OT, OG, WR, CB, LB
The Saints have shifted around their offensive line, with Andrus Peat moving from left guard to left tackle to replace benched second-year OT Trevor Penning. Peat is among the team’s impending free agents on the O-line, though, so the team might have to add a blocker early in the draft.
PL Minnesota Vikings Biggest needs: QB, Edge, DT, OG, LB
The Vikings signed 31-year-old former starter Anthony Barr last week after losing Jordan Hicks to injury. Barr, Hicks and Troy Dye are impending free agents, so I expect undrafted rookie Ivan Pace and 2022 third-round pick Brian Asamoah (who has battled injury this season) to be fighting for reps against some new competition at linebacker next season.
PL Seattle Seahawks Biggest needs: LB, OG, S, DT, Edge
Bobby Wagner’s return to Seattle has been a resounding success, but he’s a free agent again after the season. Former first-rounder Jordyn Brooks is also set to hit the market after the team declined to pick up his fifth-year option. There isn’t much depth behind the two starters. Look for the ‘Hawks to invest a Day 2 pick in a ‘backer to bolster the middle of the defense.
PL Arizona Cardinals PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE HOUSTON TEXANS
See Pick No. 2 for analysis of the Cardinals’ needs and the playoff teams section of this article for analysis of the Texans’ needs.
PL Pittsburgh Steelers Biggest needs: CB, IOL, WR, DT, OT
Joey Porter Jr. was a steal at the top of the second round this year and should be a fixture in the Steelers’ secondary for years to come. But the rest of Pittsburgh’s cornerback group carries plenty of question marks, as only Porter, 12-year veteran Patrick Peterson and injured rookie Cory Trice Jr. are currently signed for next season.
PL Dallas Cowboys Biggest needs: OT, RB, C, DT, CB
Tyron Smith has been one of the best left tackles in the NFL over the past decade, when healthy. The impending free agent missed time earlier this year due to injury and played 17 games total over the previous three seasons. It’s tough to imagine the team ignoring the tackle position in the top half of the draft.
PL Miami Dolphins Biggest needs: OT, IOL, S, TE, WR
Miami’s offensive line might look quite different next season: Terron Armstead is still a solid left tackle but has a significant 2024 cap figure and has only played 14 or more games three times in 11 seasons; the team did not pick up right tackle Austin Jackson‘s fifth-year rookie option; and center Connor Williams and guard Robert Hunt are both in line to become free agents.
PL San Francisco 49ers Biggest needs: OT, IOL, TE, Edge, DT
San Francisco did not select any offensive linemen in this year’s draft, likely with the expectation that 2021 second-round pick Aaron Banks, 2022 fourth-round pick Spencer Burford and 2020 fifth-rounder Colton McKivitz would step up. Even if one or two of those former picks are still starters in 2024, the team might look to draft additional linemen in April to push for playing time.
PL Jacksonville Jaguars Biggest needs: Edge, OG, CB, WR, OT
The Jaguars made headlines during the 2022 offseason when they signed Christian Kirk and Zay Jones to big free-agent deals. Both had productive debut campaigns in Jacksonville, but while Kirk has continued to be a go-to target for Trevor Lawrence in Year 2, Jones has struggled to stay healthy and is now dealing with an off-field issue. Calvin Ridley, whom they acquired at last year’s trade deadline, has shown glimpses of his previous game-breaking form, and should garner considerable interest on the open market this spring. So the team may be forced to find another playmaker in the draft.
PL Houston Texans PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE CLEVELAND BROWNS Texans’ biggest needs: CB, DT, Edge, TE, OT
Dalton Schultz has been a reliable option for C.J. Stroud during his impressive debut season, but the veteran tight end is set to re-enter the marketplace come March. Even if the Texans lock up Schultz on a long-term deal this offseason, they should add depth at the position in the draft.
PL Kansas City Chiefs Biggest needs: DT, OT, WR, CB, LB
Many teams will be interested in securing Chris Jones’ services if he becomes a free agent in March. The team might need to replace free-agents-to-be Derrick Nnadi and Tershawn Wharton up front, as well.
PL Baltimore Ravens Biggest needs: DT, RB, WR, OG, CB
The Ravens receivers stepped up against the Bengals after tight end Mark Andrews suffered a serious ankle injury early in the first quarter. Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman will be around in 2024, but Odell Beckham, who had his best game since 2019 vs. Cincinnati, and Nelson Agholor, who scored a 37-yard touchdown on Thursday, are free agents after the season.
PL Detroit Lions Biggest needs: WR, OG, CB, DT, Edge
Aidan Hutchinson’s strip-sack sealed the Lions’ win over the Bears on Sunday, but Justin Fields was thriving for most of the contest and the team’s edge defenders have not produced consistently in recent weeks. With Charles Harris and Julian and Romeo Okwara headed for free agency, Detroit could have some work to do at the position this offseason.
PL Philadelphia Eagles Biggest needs: RB, Edge, WR, LB, CB
D’Andre Swift has been everything the team hoped when it traded for the running back during this year’s draft. His strong play could earn him significant free-agent interest, however, and Kenneth Gainwell is the only back under contract beyond this season.
TEAMS WITHOUT A FIRST-ROUND PICK
Carolina Panthers TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE CHICAGO BEARS Biggest needs: Edge, WR, CB, LB, IOL
Backups DJ Johnson and Amaré Barno are the only edge rushers under contract for the Panthers beyond this season. Brian Burns will be in demand if Carolina allows him to hit the open market, and Yetur Gross-Matos might draw interest, as well.
Cleveland Browns TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE HOUSTON TEXANS Biggest needs: S, OT, Edge, DT, LB
Injuries to starting offensive tackles Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills Jr. are testing the Browns’ depth. Fourth-round pick Dawand Jones was holding up alright in place of Conklin, but Jones has battled an injury of his own in recent weeks. With Conklin missing more than half the team’s games in two of the past three seasons and Wills entering a contract year, Cleveland should address the position in the top half of the draft. |