THE DAILY BRIEFING
|
If The Season Ended Today in the NFC –
Philadelphia East 9-1 1 5-1
Minnesota North 8-2 1 6-2
San Francisco West 6-4 1 5-2
Tampa Bay South 5-5 1 5-2
Dallas WC1 7-3 2 6-3
NY Giants WC2 7-3 3 3-3
Seattle WC3 6-4 2 4-4
Washington 6-5 4 3-4
Atlanta 5-6 2 4-4
Detroit 4-6 2 4-4
After blasting the Cardinals in Mexico, the 49ers have displaced the Seahawks atop the NFC West.
The Cowboys moved ahead of the Giants, their Thanksgiving opponent, for the top Wild Card spot, after their win in Minnesota – but the beat-down Vikings are 4 up in the North with 6 to play.
The Giants are in and the Commanders are out – but these two teams meet twice in the next four weeks.
|
|
NFC NORTH
|
|
CHICAGO
QB JUSTIN FIELDS will be on the injury report with a shoulder problem that leaves his status for Sunday cloudy. Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com:
After injuring his non-throwing shoulder late in the 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields is considered “day-to-day,” according to coach Matt Eberflus.
“Obviously, you guys know the injury report comes out Wednesday and right now it’s day-to-day,” Eberflus said. “We’ll see where he is on Wednesday. So, we’ve got time, we’ll see where it is and go from there.”
Eberflus did not want to disclose the team’s plan for Fields until the league-mandated injury report comes out Wednesday, pointing to a competitive advantage of keeping the New York Jets guessing as to whether the Bears will start Fields or backup Trevor Siemian at quarterback in Week 12.
Eberflus would not say whether the team considers Fields’ injury to be season-ending.
“We have not ruled that out at this point,” Eberflus said. “We’ll see where it is on Wednesday.”
Fields landed on his left shoulder after Falcons cornerback Dee Alford tackled him on a first-down run with 1:47 to play. Because it was inside the final two minutes of the game, the Bears had to use a timeout after the officials deemed Fields was injured. Eberflus said he didn’t regret not turning to Siemian to finish the drive.
“No, no. Justin said he was good, and he went back in,” Eberflus said. “We just took the timeout and went from there.”
Fields ran again on the following play and was hit near his injured shoulder by Atlanta defensive tackle Grady Jarrett while sliding. Eberflus clarified Monday that the Bears had actually called a halfback draw, not a quarterback run, on second-and-9.
Fields said postgame that he was dealing with cramps throughout the fourth quarter. Eberflus noted his belief that the Bears had the quarterback’s cramping issues under control when choosing which plays to call on their final drive.
“We know he’s dealt with that before because obviously he puts out a lot of energy during the game and we’re going to call our plays that we think are the best there, so that’s what we did and we went with it,” he said.
Chicago has two games remaining, against the Jets and Green Bay Packers, before its Week 14 bye. The bears will weigh the longer-term effects of Fields’ injury and whether to sideline him for a period of time to preserve his health.
|
|
DETROIT
Thoughts from Dan Campbell on the impending debut of WR JAMESON WILLIAMS. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com:
Given that Detroit will barely practice with a Thanksgiving game this week, why (activate him for practice) now?
“Yeah, just to get him involved, get him around, see where he can go with it,” head coach Dan Campbell said in his Monday press conference. “I mean, he’s going to run some routes here in a minute. He and a few of our receivers, we’re going to let them — let them run a little bit and have [Tim] Boyle throw to them. And just get his legs under him from a football aspect.”
Campbell admitted there will be a learning curve for Williams, but the Lions are going to ask him to do things that he does best and can help Detroit win. The head coach also didn’t seem sure if Williams will need the full three weeks of the practice window to get ready to play.
“Yeah, it’s a good question,” Campbell said. “I mean, I think it’s just let’s see where he’s at because really the rehab that he’s done now that even though this is technically not practice if you will it’s more walk-through mode. But the things that he’ll do starting [Monday] out there live are much more football oriented. So, I think we — we’ll just see where he can go and see how fast he can get there.”
The Lions have won three in a row to improve to 4-6. The club has scored 31 points in two consecutive games and enters Week 12 No. 6 in total yards and No. 8 in points scored.
“Jamo’s been around them, he’s been in the meetings and there’s a good rapport,” Campbell said. “And when that time comes, he’ll earn the respect from his teammates like the rest of those guys have.”
|
|
NFC EAST
|
|
NEW YORK GIANTS
In a make it or break it season, QB DANIEL JONES still teeters on the edge of either outcome per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com:
The Giants don’t have any questions about Jones’ character. First-year coach Brian Daboll has done nothing but rave about the way Jones remains steady in his approach.
Schoen said after the Nov. 1 trade deadline any extension talks not settled after the bye week would be tabled until the offseason. Jones said there were no contract talks between the organization and his representatives prior to Schoen’s self-imposed deadline.
The Giants did, however, speak with running back Saquon Barkley, the face of the franchise, about a deal.
Despite Jones’ career-best quarterback rating of 58.3 through 10 games this season, his future in New York remains uncertain.
“I don’t read into it too much,” Jones told ESPN. “I’m going to control what I can and play as well as I possibly can. Then let the rest of it work itself out. That has been my mindset. I don’t think that has changed at this point.”
For the Giants, however, things are more complicated. They declined Jones’ fifth-year option earlier this year, which allows him to become a free agent after the season. Jones has proven to be a quality starter, but the Giants are waiting to see how Jones finishes the season to decide if he’s a quarterback around which they want to build.
Those are two very different distinctions.
“We’ve got [seven] games left. I mean, for all these guys, it’s going to be a continuing evaluation,” Schoen said after the bye week. “We’ll talk through it — what the market looks like, we’ll have those meetings, but it’s going to be an ongoing evaluation.”
SCHOEN’S ACTIONS AT the trade deadline gave away what he really thinks of this team. The Giants were 6-2 at the time, but with a roster they’ve conceded is flawed after an offseason limited by salary-cap constraints.
They traded away a talented player to the Kansas City Chiefs in wide receiver Kadarius Toney and did not add anyone.
There are holes all over the roster. The new regime has done its best to build around Daboll’s balanced offense and coordinator Wink Martindale’s aggressive and opportunistic defense, but there are also needs at tight end, interior offensive line, middle linebacker, secondary and in the return game.
And, of course, there’s the most important position of them all.
The franchise tag for a quarterback is estimated at $31.5 million next season, according to the salary cap site Over the Cap. Jones made under $4 million this year, and five quarterbacks — Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray and Derek Carr — are currently slated to make over $31 million next season.
The Giants could absorb the hefty salary next year, with ample salary-cap space. But they also have to figure out a solution for Barkley, who seems like a prime candidate for the franchise tag in back-to-back years. The franchise tag for a running back is estimated to be in the $10-12 million range.
That would leave the Giants needing to find a middle ground with Jones or turn to backup Tyrod Taylor for a much more manageable $5.5 million.
One NFC general manager figured the Giants’ “best option” would be to re-sign Jones this offseason. Another executive with a potential NFC playoff team said there is “no way” he would build around the 2019 No. 6 overall pick, citing what he considered an inability to win in traditional drop-back situations, and the Giants’ success in Daboll’s scaled-back offense.
An NFL executive with experience negotiating contracts suggested a one-year deal for midlevel money would make the most sense for both parties. Something in the $15 million to $20 million range.
That is assuming there won’t be a big, long-term deal out there for Jones.
“He’s a bridge to the real future starter,” the executive said.
Another source pointed to the two-year, $28 million contract ($21 million guaranteed) Jameis Winston signed with the New Orleans Saints this past offseason as an example of what might work with Jones.
Jones, 25, might not be so willing to make that deal. He can likely do better on the open market. He has had more recent success than Winston and isn’t coming off a serious injury.
But there is an inherent risk to letting Jones test his value. Quarterbacks with far more fleeting success — Brock Osweiler, Nick Foles and Matt Flynn, to name a few — have been paid handsomely on the open market.
“While far from perfect, he’s young and ascending, and upward of 12 teams will need new quarterbacks next season,” ESPN NFL front-office insider Mike Tannenbaum said. “The ball-security issue that plagued him over his first three seasons [36 fumbles] is largely under control this year.”
Tannenbaum doesn’t think Jones will get anything less than $25 million per year, citing the supply and demand with the position.
Prior to the season, it seemed more likely the Giants would look to the 2023 draft for their next quarterback. That is the blueprint Schoen and Daboll used in Buffalo when they drafted Josh Allen in 2018, even after Taylor took them to the playoffs.
But if the Giants keep winning it will become difficult, although not impossible. Buffalo turned the 21st overall pick that year into Allen at pick No. 7. It cost a starting offensive lineman in Cordy Glenn and two second-round picks to make it happen.
Schoen could get creative if he’s intent on moving on from Jones. It’s still an option, albeit a risky one.
“[Jones is] doing everything we’ve asked him to do and he’s doing a really good job with it,” quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney said. “That’s all we ask him to do.”
|
|
PHILADELPHIA
Zach Berman of The Athletic on CBs DARIUS SLAY and JAMES BRADBERRY – two additions that have made a big difference in the Eagles defense:
Darius Slay never met a crowd that he didn’t entertain. There could be a laugh track to his public comments. He dubbed Eagles receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith “swole Batman” and “skinny Batman,” respectively. Get him riffing and there should be a two-drink minimum.
James Bradberry’s interviews could lull you to sleep.
It would be easy to cast Philadephia’s veteran starting cornerbacks as an odd-couple combination. It would also be inaccurate.
“Slay’s persona is that he comes off extremely goofy, but he’s really serious and observes everything,” said Eagles defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson. “James’ persona is he comes off as very stern and straightforward. However, he’s the guy that’s the sneaky funny guy. And they get along so well because they’re both goofy.”
Together they are giving the Eagles the last laugh.
Slay was acquired via trade in 2020. Bradberry signed this offseason after being cut as a cap casualty. At a young man’s position — and one that’s been a revolving door in Philadelphia in recent years — the 31-year-old Slay and 29-year-old Bradberry have been cornerstones of the Eagles’ defensive success.
“It’s the best combination right now,” said Amazon analyst Richard Sherman, a three-time first-team All-Pro at the position. “Slay is probably the best corner in the National Football League, and Bradberry is not too far behind him.”
As a cornerback and an entertainer, Slay only needs a beat to leave his mark. While answering questions after the Eagles’ Week 4 win over the Jaguars, when Bradberry paused for a moment to collect his thoughts, Slay cut in.
“Y’all aren’t asking the right questions!” he said, chiding reporters. “The right question to ask is how the Giants let this man walk out the building!”
Slay is not the only one perplexed.
A two-star recruit coming out of high school, Bradberry stepped into former All-Pro Josh Norman’s starting job with the Carolina Panthers immediately after being selected in the second round of the 2016 draft out of FCS Samford. He started 60 games over the next four seasons and was tied for seventh in passes defended (15) in 2018.
Bradberry signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Giants at the start of free agency in 2020, making him the fourth highest-paid cornerback in the league at the time. He earned a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro honors from Pro Football Focus (PFF) in his first season in New York. But, due to contract restructures, he entered the final season of the deal with a $21.9 million cap hit. That wasn’t a fit for the new Giants regime, which tried trading Bradberry but couldn’t complete a deal before or during the draft. The Giants released him on May 9, eating over $11.7 million in dead money while clearing around $10.2 million in cap space.
Because of the timing of his release, Bradberry had less of a market than he would have found had he become available in March. “I understand that it’s a business,” Bradberry said in the spring. “I’ll put my business cap on first and understand I’m an asset and they want something for me. And that’s part of the game.
“Personally, I didn’t necessarily like (the timing).”
The Eagles still had a major need at cornerback after going through free agency and the draft without adding a starter opposite Slay. Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman didn’t know for certain a player of Bradberry’s caliber was going to hit the market after other cornerback-needy teams spent or drafted players at the position, but he had preserved cap space, positioning the Eagles to remain opportunistic on players released after the draft.
“He was on our radar early,” Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said. “Good job, Howie.”
Bradberry wanted to play in a favorable scheme on a winning team, enhancing his value to potentially hit free agency in time for a lucrative deal next offseason. On May 18, he signed a one-year, $7.25 million contract, and the Giants’ cost-cutting move inadvertently bolstered a division rival.
“I definitely understand where his confusion is coming from,” he recently told The Athletic. “At the end of the day, that decision was out of my control. But I’m glad to be here.”
Bradberry is interested in art — he drew as a kid and even entered a few art contests — and dabbles in real estate and architecture, investing in properties throughout his home state of Alabama and working with the architect who designed a home he built in Birmingham. When he first came to Philadelphia, he said little while trying to find his way on a new team. He’s since revealed more personality, including a secret that’s not well known outside the locker room.
“He’s hilarious. He’s the type of funny that catches you off guard,” Eagles cornerback Zech McPhearson said. “When you get to really know him and he’s comfortable around you, he’ll have you laughing all day.”
“He’s back there quiet the whole meeting,” Eagles safety Marcus Epps said. “And all the sudden he’ll blurt something out and it’s the (funniest) thing of the day.”
“He’s the funniest dude on the team,” Slay said.
Bradberry’s sense of humor was influenced, he says, by the television shows he watched as a kid — “Seinfeld,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” “Malcolm in the Middle,” “Martin,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “The Bernie Mac Show.” But like much of his personality, it is not for public consumption.
“Slay is just more comfortable in front of the cameras than I am,” Bradberry said. “It’s hard to be sarcastic in front of the cameras.”
“I need to call him ‘Mr. Perfect Timing,’” Slay said, “because he’s got the perfect timing for the joke.”
Rag on Bradberry enough — and his teammates do, especially about his bald head — and he’ll respond with two words: “Exit meeting.” He’s saving his comeback for the last day of the year. The best comedians have the right walk-off joke.
“I can’t give my plan away,” Bradberry said. “That would kill the element of surprise.”
Slay fought tears after one practice, but it wasn’t from laughing.
“I’m so f—ing happy for this guy, I can’t hold it anymore,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told his team. “What a great captain this is going to be for us. First time being a captain in the NFL. He is a great leader. He is a great player. He is a great teammate. First time with that ‘C’ on his chest. Darius Slay.”
Never a captain in high school. Never in college. Never in his first nine seasons in the NFL.
The 2013 second-round pick out of Mississippi State has been regarded as one of the better corners in the league since earning first-team All-Pro honors with Detroit in 2017, when he totaled a league-high 26 passes defended. His larger-than-life personality makes it easy to typecast him as the class clown, but that overshadows the qualities that have made him a foundational part of the Eagles’ locker room.
“Everywhere I’ve been, ‘Slay puts smiles on faces, Slay laughs and smiles,’” he said. “But I’m always serious between the lines.”
Throughout his career, Slay has often appeared at high school games to support local players. He will get together with any defensive back — high school, college, NFL wannabe — to go through drills.
If a teammate needs extra work after practice to refine technique, Slay offers pointers. If somebody’s car breaks down, Slay is there to help. Lonely on Thanksgiving? You’re invited to Slay’s home. Need a good dessert? Slay brings his wife’s banana pudding.
“Slay is one of the best team leaders I’ve ever been around,” Sirianni said. “It may not always be a vocal thing. It’s just by his actions.”
Wilson and D.K. McDonald are the team’s defensive backs coaches, but Wilson said Slay could also run the room. Slay views himself as a translator of the coaching staff rather than their extension. He’ll take what’s being asked and put it in terms that can be used on the field — and he might sprinkle in some jokes for effect. “I’ve been in this position,” Slay said. “This is how I handle it.”
That personality was apparently at odds with former Lions coach Matt Patricia, and after two seasons together — and seven total years in Detroit — Slay was shipped to Philadelphia for third- and fifth-round picks on March 19, 2020, the same day he signed a three-year, $50 million deal with the Eagles.
In 2021, his age-30 season, Slay earned second-team All-Pro honors from PFF and became Philadelphia’s first Pro Bowl cornerback in a decade. He’ll likely make back-to-back appearances this season.
Slay warned against casting his post-Lions production as avenging the team that traded him. He’s long railed against a perceived lack of respect.
“I got a resume to always protect,” Slay said. “I work hard for the last name on my jersey. I got kids. That’s why I go hard.”
Slay likes to tout his ability to play wide receiver, calling himself the “short version of Randy Moss.” Sirianni even schemed Slay into an offensive play last season, when Slay compared himself to Deion Sanders. He insists he could play offense, that he settled for cornerback only because he doesn’t like to have his job dependent on somebody else.
“I just ran this hard-ass route and damn I’m open, and (the quarterback is) f—ing sacked!” Slay said. “On the DB side, you don’t got to worry about all that.”
His coverage and ball skills were on display in Week 2 against Minnesota Vikings phenom Justin Jefferson, who caught one pass on five targets with Slay in coverage. Slay notched a career-high five pass breakups and two interceptions.
“Justin Jefferson had one catch and (Slay) had two,” Brown said. “That’s a big stat.”
Bradberry and Slay have helped unlock the Eagles’ defense in 2022, which entered Week 11 ranked fourth in Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) metric.
Gannon can call coverages based on the opponent rather than compensating for a mismatch in the secondary, and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson — who leads the NFL with six interceptions — can play in more of a ball-hawking role because of the confidence Philadelphia has that its cornerbacks can remain sticky against receivers.
“They really pay attention to how receivers run their routes, how offenses try to attack,” Epps said. “They’re not guessing. They have pretty good anticipation of what’s about to come here, play this route because the offense is showing this in this situation. When you combine that with their physical attributes, there’s going to be a whole lot of plays made. That’s what they’ve been doing their whole career and what they’re doing a good job of right now.”
Since Bradberry entered the league in 2016, they are the top two in the NFL in passes defended: Slay and Bradberry both have 93 (next on the list is Jalen Ramsey at 83). When Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin previewed the Eagles ahead of their game last month, the first two players mentioned were Slay and Bradberry. “They’re highly ball-aware,” Tomlin told reporters. “They have good ball skills.”
What makes them so good at getting to the football?
“When they come out of the breaks, they drive through the man to the ball,” Wilson said. “That’s what allows them to get the PBUs or interceptions. They finish plays, they run the routes for the receivers.”
Slay didn’t want to overcomplicate it.
“If I see the ball, I get the ball,” Slay said. “I want the rock. The rock gets you a lot of money.”
When Bradberry identified the best part of playing with Slay, he didn’t mention the laughs. He mentioned the passes. Bradberry is used to being his team’s top cornerback. With Slay on the other side, teams are less compelled to throw the ball in that direction, resulting in more opportunities for Bradberry.
“That’s my goal — not to play like a No. 2, but I’m cool with being the No. 2,” Bradberry said.
With Bradberry on a one-year contract, there’s no saying whether his exit meeting retorts will come after he plays his last game for the Eagles. But the franchise found a partnership that works, and it’s seeing the benefit for a defense that has cycled through cornerbacks since winning the Super Bowl five seasons ago. Slay and Bradberry have helped put the Eagles in a position to do it again.
Even if the personalities contrast, the profiles are comparable. The Eagles went a decade trying to find a No. 1 cornerback. Now they have two — and it’s why they might be the best in the NFL.
“Tandem? Me and JB? Yeah, for sure,” Slay said. “We turn the ball over. Knock the ball down. Guys ain’t catching it.”
|
|
WASHINGTON
Two teams that are stalking an NFC playoff berth from behind are about to get a key reinforcement. For the Lions, rookie WR JAMESON WILLIAMS has started to practice.
And for the Commanders, EDGE CHASE YOUNG is going to be activated. John Keim of ESPN.com:
The Washington Commanders will activate defensive end Chase Young to the 53-man roster, but coach Ron Rivera said he’s still not sure if Young will play Sunday.
Washington had until Wednesday to activate Young, or he would have been placed on injured reserve for the rest of the season. The Commanders (6-5) play the Atlanta Falcons (5-6) on Sunday.
“We will work him with the intent if he’s ready to play he’ll play,” Rivera said. “If not, we’ll wait another week.”
Young tore his right ACL on Nov. 14, 2021, and doctors used a graft from his left patella tendon to help repair the right knee, lengthening the recovery process. Young started practicing on Nov. 2, starting his 21-day window to be activated.
Rivera has said several times that for Young the issue remains his confidence in the knee.
“The biggest thing we want to see is where he consistently cuts it loose,” Rivera said. “We want to make sure he’s confident, no hesitation. … You start to see it, especially when he’s not thinking about it. I watch it very closely and every now and then check to make sure it’s fine. We want to make sure because the last thing we want is for him to get back out there and hurt it again.”
Rivera said once Young starts playing, he’d likely receive between 12-to-16 snaps and somewhere near the end of the season increase that total to the mid 20s or 30s. Rivera pointed out that Young will have practiced only nine times in that 21-day window, which makes it more imperative to slowly integrate him into game action.
|
|
NFC SOUTH
|
|
ATLANTA
A disappointing sophomore season for TE KYLE PITTS could now be over.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts and defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham have been placed on injured reserve and both will miss a minimum of four games.
A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that surgery is “likely” for Pitts’ MCL injury, but Falcons coach Arthur Smith said nothing has been confirmed as they are still seeing doctors and receiving opinions about a potential tear and the severity of it.
“I’m not a doctor, but an MCL sprain, that’s usually what happens — there’s varying degrees and where they are in the knee,” Smith said. “I’ll let the medical experts handle it.”
Pitts injured the knee in the third quarter Sunday against Chicago at the end of a catch-and-run when Eddie Jackson tackled him just above the knee. Pitts was on the ground and then quickly jogged off the field. He then went into the blue medical tent briefly before walking slowly toward the locker room.
Pitts, the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, has been playing through “a lot” this season, Smith said, including a hamstring injury that forced him to miss Atlanta’s Week 5 game against Tampa Bay.
“He has such a huge impact on this team,” Smith said. “I know the numbers aren’t as gaudy as they were as a rookie and he’s been playing through a lot, and he’s a tough guy and he has had a huge impact.”
Coming off of a 1,000-yard rookie season — the second 1,000-yard season for a rookie tight end in NFL history — Pitts ended up playing in a different offense asking him to do different things.
He became more of a complete player at his position, particularly focused on improving his blocking in the offseason, and Smith has said multiple times he has been happy with what Pitts has done in 2022. Pitts has 28 catches for 356 yards and two touchdowns this season, off the pace from the 68 catches, 1,026 yards and one touchdown he had as a rookie.
Smith pointed to the plays Pitts made outside last year, compared to times this season where he couldn’t quite open up at the same speed, as part of what he was referencing when talking about what Pitts was playing through in 2022.
But he made it clear Pitts is big a part of Atlanta’s offense.
“People just look at the stats, and his impact on winning has been enormous for us,” Smith said. “There are certainly times we haven’t been in sync and the way we play at times where you do have to sacrifice some passing numbers.
“The guy is a great teammate. He doesn’t pout like a lot of guys with that amount of hype because he’s a real person and that’s why we love him. He’s a real teammate, and the future is really bright for him and that’s why we’re so excited to have him in this organization.”
The Falcons could look to a combination of tight ends Parker Hesse, MyCole Pruitt, Anthony Firkser and Feleipe Franks, who has been dealing with a calf injury, to replace what Pitts had done for Atlanta while he’s out.
– – –
Let’s salute RB CORDARELLE PATTERSON. Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com:
Cordarrelle Patterson thought about crying once he reached the end zone Sunday afternoon. Then he saw his Atlanta Falcons teammates running toward him to celebrate, and those emotions — they fell away really fast.
Patterson had made an NFL living as a special teams star, and Sunday was the culmination of it as he set the all-time record for kick return touchdowns on a 103-yard return in the second quarter of the Falcons’ 27-24 victory over the Chicago Bears, his ninth kick return for a touchdown.
“I was trying to shed a tear,” Patterson said. “They wouldn’t let me. It was good.”
The return broke the tie he had been in with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington, who had eight kick return touchdowns in their careers.
On his record-setting return, Patterson started from the “A” in Atlanta’s end zone, took it out of the end zone and up the middle of the field and got a key block from Troy Andersen as he ran through Chicago’s coverage. He ran between Bears kicker Cairo Santos and defensive back Elijah Hicks at the Falcons’ 45-yard line — that’s when he knew he had a chance at the touchdown — then sprinted the rest of the way. Hicks almost tackled him from behind at the Chicago 5-yard line, but his diving attempt just missed Patterson.
“I was telling some guys on the sideline, like, ‘Who was this guy?’ He was like 10 yards back, this little [guy] is fast,” Patterson said. “I’m glad he didn’t get me, man. He did a good job trying to get me.
“The rest is history, man.”
Patterson was surprised Chicago, one of the other teams he has played for in his career, kicked to him and said he wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t see many more returns the rest of the season.
Patterson said after the game it hadn’t hit him yet he has the record and that it probably would when he saw his family later that day — and that the ball would probably end up going to his children. As he left the locker room after the game, he briefly chatted with quarterback Marcus Mariota and then left, clutching the record-setting ball in his right hand as he walked out.
Earlier in the game, Patterson had fumbled on a run, turning the ball over. The fumble bothered him. The next time he touched the ball, he ran annoyed, as if he wanted to make up for his mistake.
It ended up as an NFL record.
“It’s pretty cool,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said, “when a guy breaks an NFL record.”
It was Patterson’s first kick return for a touchdown since 2020, when he led the league in kick returns (35), return yardage (1,017), longest return (104 yards) and touchdowns (one).
|
|
NFC WEST
|
|
SAN FRANCISCO
Another win for QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO who Coach Kyle Shanahan tried to run off. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com:
For most of this offseason, it was assumed that Jimmy Garoppolo‘s time in San Francisco was done. But Garoppolo eventually agreed to return for another year, Trey Lance was lost for the season in Week Two, and now it’s Garoppolo who has the 49ers making another playoff run.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is grateful.
“Jimmy’s doing a great job,” Shanahan said after Monday night’s 38-10 win over the Cardinals. “Jimmy always has. When Jimmy’s been healthy out there, we’ve had our guys around him, he plays at a high level, and I think he did that today as good as he has. We’re very fortunate to have him.”
Garoppolo completed 20 of 29 passes for 228 yards, with four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Cardinals. With Garoppolo playing the way he has, the 49ers are going to be a tough team to beat in the postseason, as they have been every year that a healthy Garoppolo has been in San Francisco.
A couple of tweets from Tim Kawakami of The Athletic. This when the 49ers momentarily struggled on Monday:
@timkawakami
I also enjoy the Enraged 49ers Fans’ double screech: -“Garoppolo’s terrible!”
And…-“Why doesn’t Shanahan call more passes!”
Perfect
And this:
@timkawakami
The 49ers are 6-0 in games when Garoppolo plays and doesn’t throw an INT.
They’re 0-3 when he throws an INT. He’s been 6/0 in the last three games, all wins. And they’re definitely looking like a Super Bowl contender.
|
|
LOS ANGELES RAMS
So, did QB MATTHEW STAFFORD clear the concussion protocol too soon or did he re-concuss himself on Sunday? In any case, he is back in the protocol per Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:
For whatever reason, the Rams dragged their feet about putting quarterback Matthew Stafford back in the concussion protocol. Per a league source with knowledge of the situation, the foot-dragging is over.
Stafford has re-entered the protocol, three days after exiting it.
Although coach Sean McVay would never admit that Stafford had a concussion, it’s not called the “ankle sprain protocol.” The fact that Stafford had to progress through a multi-step process to secure clearance to play clearly implies that he was indeed concussed. And he’s now concussed again.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Stafford is back in the concussion protocol.
It took more than a day for it to happen. And it’s possible that the Rams and/or the relevant doctors finally got pressured by the league and/or the union to make the call. Regardless, Stafford is now back in the protocol.
In six days, the Rams visit the Chiefs in Kansas City. It’s a rematch of a memorable shootout from November 19, 2018.
Since then, both teams have appeared in two Super Bowls. Both teams have won one. Currently, however, the Rams are imploding under the weight of a “fuck them picks” reckoning — and the Chiefs are the best team in the league.
|
|
AFC WEST
|
|
DENVER
RB MELVIN GORDON III has fumbled his way out of Denver.
The Broncos waived running back Melvin Gordon III on Monday after he fumbled Sunday — for the fifth time this season — in an overtime loss to the Raiders, Denver’s sixth loss in seven games.
Gordon, 29, is the Broncos’ leader in carries (90) and rushing yards (318) this season. But in Sunday’s 22-16 loss, Gordon fumbled at the Raiders’ 2-yard line just before halftime.
Though Broncos guard Quinn Meinerz recovered the fumble, kicker Brandon McManus’ 25-yard field goal attempt was blocked on the next play. A touchdown would have given the Broncos a 17-7 halftime lead; a field goal would have given them a 13-7 lead.
“He’s a true pro, he’s done a lot of good stuff here … we thought it was best for the team and we moved on and wish him the best of luck, think it’s great for him to have a fresh start,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said Monday.
It was Gordon’s second fumble this season at the opponent’s 2-yard line or closer to the goal-line. Gordon fumbled at the Seattle Seahawks’ 1-yard line in the Broncos’ season-opening 17-16 loss.
Gordon’s fumble in a Week 4 loss to the Raiders was returned for a touchdown.
“I was sick about it, obviously,” Gordon said after Sunday’s loss. “I kind of know what comes after that at this point. I shot my own self in the foot. I am a little salty because I was feeling it [Sunday]. That happened and I kind of knew that I was going to have to find a way to get back in rhythm. I knew it was going to be tough. I tried to make splashes here and there after it but my share of opportunities kind of dwindled after that, so that’s my fault.”
Since Javonte Williams suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4, Gordon has bristled at times about his role in a struggling offense — the Broncos are last in the league in scoring at 14.7 points per game. After Sunday’s fumble, Gordon didn’t get another carry until there was 13 minutes, 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Latavius Murray, 32, was signed off the New Orleans Saints practice squad Oct. 4 and has led the team in rushing attempts (63) since despite having played one fewer game than Gordon over that span. The Broncos also signed Marlon Mack to the roster earlier this month, but he does not have a carry.
Gordon’s ouster comes as running back Chase Edmonds, who the Broncos acquired as part of the trade of outside linebacker Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins, suffered a right ankle injury Sunday and left the stadium wearing a walking boot on his lower right leg and ankle. Hackett said Monday that Edmonds has a high ankle sprain and will miss “a lot of time” because of the injury.
“It’s not like we didn’t recover the ball … it’s unfortunate we didn’t get three points after that,” Gordon said Sunday. “… We still had two quarters left, we still had a chance to get points after that, so it wasn’t the end of the world, but unfortunately for me it was something that happened.”
Gordon played 41 games for the Broncos over the last three seasons, scored 22 total touchdowns (19 rushing, three receiving), but also had 12 total fumbles in that time, nine of those recovered by the Broncos’ opponents.
|
|
AFC EAST
|
|
NEW YORK JETS
QB ZACH WILSON is on the cusp of being benched. Zack Rosenblatt in The Athletic:
:ast week, Zach Wilson told reporters: “I still believe nobody outside of this building knows what they’re talking about.”
Inside the Jets’ building, the team has decided Wilson’s performance isn’t good enough. Monday, coach Robert Saleh was unwilling to commit to Wilson as the starter for Sunday against the Bears, pulling back from what had been steadfast support of his quarterback.
“We’re keeping everything on the table,” Saleh said. “I’ve got to be able to sit back — I think we all have to be able to sit back — and just look at what’s best for this organization and this team.”
Wilson’s performance against the Patriots in Week 11 (9 of 22 for 77 yards and a 50.8 QB rating) didn’t sit well with some in the team locker room. The defense permitted just three points and yet the Jets still wound up losing 10-3. That came just two games after Wilson threw three interceptions in another loss to New England.
Wilson didn’t help himself after Sunday’s game, when he had a chance to put responsibility for the loss on his shoulders and refused.
So now, the winds — not the ones that bothered him in New England — are blowing in the direction of his benching, an improbable (but warranted) turn of events for the 2021 No. 2 pick. Should Saleh sit Wilson, the Jets would start Mike White or Joe Flacco, the other two quarterbacks on the active roster. The Jets also have veteran Chris Streveler on the practice squad.
“It’s not always about the quarterback,” Saleh said, “but there’s also an evaluation process to make sure that we’re doing what’s best for the organization, and that’s at every position.”
It’s a far cry from how Saleh spoke about the quarterback position after Wilson’s first loss to the Patriots, when he said Wilson would remain the starter for the rest of the season, barring injury. Wilson isn’t hurt. And Saleh’s willingness to bench him says a lot about how bad things have gotten.
Wilson, in a way, wound up being a victim of the Jets’ unexpected success. This was supposed to be a developmental season for him, one in which he could take his lumps while the Jets improved on last season’s 4-13 record to put themselves in position to compete for the playoffs in 2023.
Instead, they went into their bye week with a 6-3 record, powered by one of the NFL’s best defenses. Wilson needs more seasoning before he’s ready to quarterback a playoff team. The Jets need a quarterback capable of operating their run-heavy offense and making the necessary throws when the rushing attack isn’t working — as it wasn’t in both Patriots losses.
And Wilson just hasn’t been that guy. According to Pro Football Focus, Wilson is the worst quarterback in the NFL this season when passing while under pressure. He leads the league with 11 turnover-worthy plays in those situations. Wilson has also thrown only four touchdowns in seven games — Flacco threw four against the Browns in Week 2 — and his completion percentage (55.6) is the worst among quarterbacks to start at least two games this season.
There have been 95 quarterbacks drafted in 2000 or later to start at least 20 games. Wilson ranks 92nd of 95 in terms of EPA (expected points added) per dropback through 20 starts. As a team, the Jets are 25th in passing offense, 22nd in scoring and graded as the league’s worst offense by PFF.
“I do think we’ve got a championship-quality defense,” Saleh said. “I do think we have really good players on offense. I do think, from a schematic standpoint, we’re right there with everyone else, but just trying to evaluate to see how we can get this offense going a little bit.”
Some players have expressed frustration with the passing offense, most notably rookie receiver Garrett Wilson on Sunday, when the Jets could muster only 103 yards of total offense and just 2 yards after halftime.
“This s— is not OK. Straight up,” he said. “This is not OK. How many total yards we have? That s— is not going to fly.”
Asked how the Jets can fix the passing game, Garrett Wilson said: “Things that we see and don’t call out, it’s just gotta start getting called out. This is unacceptable. Nobody wants to feel like this, but that’s not enough. You’ve gotta do something about it. Hopefully this is a wake-up for some people in the facility to get on our details.”
Wilson and Denzel Mims were visibly frustrated on multiple occasions during the game when Zach Wilson missed them down the field.
Saleh said he was OK with Garrett Wilson’s comments after the game, and he seemed to agree with the sentiment behind them, too.
“It’s unacceptable,” Saleh said of the offense’s performance. “It’s not NFL football, so everything is just being talked about. How can we be better? How can we be better as coaches? How can we call the game better? How can we game plan better? How can we execute better? How can we change practice? So, yeah, the quarterback is part of the pile of stuff that’s being talked about and it’s something that we’ve got to find an answer to.”
Maybe the answer to those questions is simply Mike White or Joe Flacco.
The Jets wouldn’t be the first team in playoff contention to switch quarterbacks late in the season, though it is certainly unusual.
In 2000, the Ravens were 5-3 with Tony Banks at quarterback but replaced him with Trent Dilfer after two straight losses and four weeks without an offensive touchdown. The Ravens finished 12-4 and eventually won the Super Bowl, powered by a great defense.
In 1999, Doug Flutie led the Bills to a 10-5 record but was replaced for the last game of the regular season and the playoffs by Rob Johnson, a decision that coach Wade Phillips later said was ordered by Bills owner Ralph Wilson. The Bills won in Week 17 but lost in the first round of the playoffs.
More recently, in 2017, the Bills (5-4) benched Tyrod Taylor for Nathan Peterman. The change didn’t last long — Buffalo went back to Taylor after Peterman threw five interceptions in his first start.
So what does the future hold for the Jets? They have a difficult slate the rest of the way, though a game against a 3-8 Bears team that could be without quarterback Justin Fields is a good place to begin. After that, they have back-to-back road games against the 8-2 Vikings and 7-3 Bills, home games against the streaking Lions and 3-7 Jaguars, and then two road games to end the season against the 6-4 Seahawks and 7-3 Dolphins.
Saleh wouldn’t say Monday who he was considering to start if he does bench Wilson, but White would be the logical choice. Saleh elevated him to the No. 2 spot in Week 8, demoting Flacco to third string. The idea was to get an opportunity to evaluate White, Saleh said, in the event Wilson got injured. Instead, White — a fan favorite — could simply replace him.
The Jets saw the best and worst of what White can do last season when he filled in for an injured Wilson. He became a cult hero after his first start, when he went 37 of 45 for 403 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in a win over the Bengals. It was offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur’s passing offense at its best — Wilson didn’t throw for more than 300 yards for the first time in his career until the Week 8 loss to the Patriots.
But two weeks after White’s debut, he threw four interceptions in a loss to the Bills, Flacco took over for a week against the Dolphins and Wilson closed out the year. White, who was clearly outplayed by Flacco in this year’s training camp, completed 64.8 percent of his passes in the preseason with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 96.1 passer rating.
The 37-year-old Flacco started the first three games of this season, which Wilson missed due to a knee injury. In that stretch, Flacco led the NFL in pass attempts (155) and was averaging 300.3 passing yards per game. Wilson has played in four more games — but has only 34 more pass attempts.
Flacco is much slower than Wilson and with a struggling offensive line, the lack of mobility was an issue in losses to the Ravens and Bengals, when he was sacked seven times. But Flacco also guided the Jets to an improbable come-from-behind win against the Browns in Week 2, when he threw for 307 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions and had a 110.7 passer rating.
The Jets’ offensive line is in worse shape now than when Flacco last played. Left tackle Duane Brown is back, but playing through a lingering shoulder injury. Guard/tackle Alijah Vera-Tucker is out for the season, tackles Max Mitchell and George Fant are both on injured reserve and right guard Nate Herbig missed last week with a shin injury that’s expected to linger for the rest of the year. The offensive line allowed 11 pressures and three sacks against the Patriots.
But no matter who starts against the Bears, and beyond that, the Jets just need a quarterback who can steer the ship and lead a playoff-caliber roster. This is a team lacking production from the most important position.
In the offseason, the discussion will turn to whether the Jets should sign a veteran like Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr or Gardner Minshew to replace Wilson, or make a blockbuster trade for someone else. But for now, the Jets just need competence at quarterback.
Wilson isn’t providing that.
|
|
THIS AND THAT
|
|
2023 DRAFT ORDER
Dan Parr and Eric Edholm look at the current draft order and match-up some needs:
This is a look at the first-round order for the 2023 NFL Draft heading into Week 12 of the 2022 NFL season, along with the top three 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 Houston Texans
1-8-1 · Strength of schedule: .490
Biggest needs: QB, WR, DT
EE: The Texans have had to rely on the likes of Maliek Collins, Thomas Booker, Roy Lopez, Kurt Hinish and Michael Dwumfour at defensive tackle. That’s just not going to work in 2023. Houston’s opponents are averaging nearly 180 rush yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry.
2 Carolina Panthers
3-8 · .482
Biggest needs: QB, CB, DL
DP: There are needs in a lot of places for the Panthers, so defensive line gets a spot on the list this week, replacing wide receiver. Carolina has building blocks in Brian Burns and Derrick Brown, but the complementary pieces are not yet in place.
3 Chicago Bears
3-8 · .544
Biggest needs: Edge, DL, OL
DP: The Bears have lost seven of eight, they face teams with winning records in three of their next four games and Justin Fields is injured. They’re trending toward making their highest draft pick since they selected Mitch Trubisky second overall in 2017.
4 Las Vegas Raiders
3-7 · .417
Biggest needs: OT, Edge, DL
EE: Kolton Miller is a building block when healthy. Rookies Dylan Parham and Thayer Munford Jr. also have shown promise in Year 1. But Munford looks like a better option inside than at right tackle, a position that has been a black hole for Las Vegas this entire season. Josh McDaniels knows his offense can’t keep being held back by poor blocking on the edge.
5 Seattle Seahawks
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE DENVER BRONCOS
Broncos’ record: 3-7 (.446)
6 Detroit Lions
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE LOS ANGELES RAMS
Rams’ record: 3-7 (.486)
7 Jacksonville Jaguars
3-7 · .500
Biggest needs: DL, CB, TE
EE: Cornerback Tyson Campbell looks like a young star in the making. But the four other primary options at corner have been sub-par or worse. Jacksonville can cut Shaquill Griffin without too much of a hit in 2023, so we expect the team to comb the draft options at the position for more help.
8 Houston Texans
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE CLEVELAND BROWNS
Browns’ record: 3-7 (.539)
9 Pittsburgh Steelers
3-7 · .584
Biggest needs: OT, CB, DL
EE: All three levels of the defense might need help, and the draft is likely to supply some of that. The Steelers could use more youth up front, a change in personnel at linebacker and possibly some additional pieces in the secondary with a handful of DBs set to hit free agency.
10 Philadelphia Eagles
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Saints’ record: 4-7 (.469)
11 Arizona Cardinals
4-7 · .527
Biggest needs: OL, CB, Edge
DP: There wasn’t much that went right for the Cardinals’ defense in Mexico City, but the pass rush was especially lacking. Arizona failed to sack Jimmy Garoppolo and pressured him just six times on 29 dropbacks.
12 Green Bay Packers
4-7 · .589
Biggest needs: WR, S, TE
DP: The tight end spot is going to require the Packers’ attention this offseason, with backup Josiah Deguara the only Green Bay player at the position who doesn’t have a deal that voids or expires in 2023.
13 Detroit Lions
4-6 · .612
Biggest needs: QB, DB, DL
DP: Jared Goff’s production has been quite ordinary (64.1 completion percentage, 179.3 yards per game, 3:1 TD-INT ratio, 91.7 rating) over the last few games, but the Lions have still won three in a row. Now it’s looking like the 2023 first-round pick acquired from the Rams could give Detroit a better chance to land a top quarterback in the draft than its own first-rounder.
14 Indianapolis Colts
4-6-1 · .509
Biggest needs: QB, WR, Edge
EE: The Colts have gone the veteran route at quarterback, almost on an annual basis, to address big needs at the position. They also drafted backup types such as Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger in that same timeframe. The approach likely needs a changeup this offseason.
15 Atlanta Falcons
5-6 · .412
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, DL
DP: Quarterback slides off the needs list for now, with sources telling NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport the Falcons love the development of rookie Desmond Ridder, who is waiting in the wings should Marcus Mariota move in the wrong direction.
16 Los Angeles Chargers
5-5 · .460
Biggest needs: WR, OT, DL
EE: It remains to be seen whether Jamaree Salyer could play right tackle next season once Rashawn Slater returns from injury. If Salyer’s not the answer at the position, the Chargers can’t keep trying their current options there.
17 Washington Commanders
6-5 · .531
Biggest needs: QB, CB, OL
DP: Credit Taylor Heinicke for earning the starting job, but we’re going to need to see more winning before moving quarterback down the needs list here. Heinicke’s career record as a starter is now 11-11, including the playoffs.
18 New York Jets
6-4 · .515
Biggest needs: OL, S, QB
EE: Even with a strong showing in a Week 9 upset of the Bills, Zach Wilson’s continued struggles in the big picture — especially against New England — bear watching. Drafting a quarterback two years after they took Wilson second overall feels like it’s far short of being a lock. But the possibility of taking an interesting project a bit farther down in the draft is something to keep an eye on.
PL Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5-5 · .481
Biggest needs: QB, DB, DL
DP: The Bucs last spent a first-round pick on a cornerback in 2016, when they drafted Vernon Hargreaves, who is currently out of the league. They could find themselves back in the market at the position this offseason with Jamel Dean in a contract year.
PL Denver Broncos
PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS THROUGH THE MIAMI DOLPHIN
49ers’ record: 6-4 (.413)
Broncos’ needs: OL, WR, CB
EE: The Broncos must get the offensive line right next season for the offense to have a chance to flourish. They’ve used seven different O-line combinations this season, and few of them feature the requisite athleticism to match Russell Wilson’s skill set. Expect significant changes to this group in the offseason.
PL Seattle Seahawks
6-4 · .452
Biggest needs: Edge, WR, LB
DP: In addition to the three positions listed above, the interior offensive line is a spot to watch for the Seahawks. Starting center Austin Blythe and guard Phil Haynes have deals that expire in 2023.
PL New England Patriots
6-4 · .461
Biggest needs: OL, WR, DL
EE: The continued shuffling on the offensive line and the recent injury to center David Andrews makes clear that the Patriots no longer have a bedrock group up front any longer, despite drafting Cole Strange in Round 1 this year. I believe there will be significant changes up front in New England next year.
PL Cincinnati Bengals
6-4 · .466
Biggest needs: CB, OT, DL
EE: Chidobe Awuzie’s torn ACL and the continuing trials of Eli Apple make cornerback a position the Bengals almost certainly will address. But after drafting DBs Dax Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt in Rounds 1 and 2 this year, it wouldn’t be stunning to see director of player personnel Duke Tobin attack both lines of scrimmage at some point through the draft.
PL New York Giants
7-3 · .442
Biggest needs: QB, WR, interior OL
DP: The Giants’ leading receiver, Darius Slayton, is on pace for fewer than 750 receiving yards and is due to reach free agency this offseason. If Daniel Jones is back at quarterback in 2023, GM Joe Schoen has to give him more help on the perimeter.
PL Tennessee Titans
7-3 · .466
Biggest needs: OL, TE, WR
EE: Treylon Burks’ development is mildly encouraging, even with a stint on injured reserve. There’s also Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Robert Woods in tow, but the Titans theoretically could cut Woods this offseason and not incur a dead-money hit. The need here is to add a vertical threat to help stretch the field for more deep throws.
PL Baltimore Ravens
7-3 · .529
Biggest needs: WR, Edge, CB
EE: Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul have been godsends, but how long will they have left after this season? Odafe Oweh is one young building block, and David Ojabo could be an asset in time. Houston, Pierre-Paul and Steven Means are all free agents in the spring. They’ll almost certainly add depth.
PL Dallas Cowboys
7-3 · .534
Biggest needs: DB, OL, WR
DP: Dallas has spent a middle-round pick on a receiver in each of the last two drafts (Simi Fehoko, Round 5 in 2021; Jalen Tolbert, Round 3 in 2022), but the team is getting almost no production from them. Fehoko, who is currently on injured reserve, and Tolbert have combined for five catches for 36 yards this season.
PL Buffalo Bills
7-3 · .554
Biggest needs: OL, S, LB
EE: There will still be a need on the interior of the offensive line next year. Rodger Saffold and Mitch Morse will be 35 and 31 years old, respectively, and they have not dominated in 2022. Neither has Ryan Bates, who has been average this season after the Bills matched an offer sheet from the Bears to keep him.
PL Kansas City Chiefs
8-2 · .485
Biggest needs: OT, DL, WR
EE: The trade for Kadarius Toney and the recent emergence of Skyy Moore make the receiver room look pretty strong at the moment. But Mecole Hardman and JuJu Smith-Schuster are pending free agents who could walk, and Toney’s injury history can’t be ignored. It’s a position they still could address, depending on how free agency shakes out.
PL Minnesota Vikings
8-2 · .524
Biggest needs: DB, WR, DL
DP: Sunday’s knockout via the Cowboys highlighted Minnesota’s need to get stronger in the trenches, including on a defensive line that could part with Jonathan Bullard and Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency.
PL Philadelphia Eagles
9-1 · .452
Biggest needs: DB, Edge, DL
DP: The Eagles recently signed Ndamukong Suh and Linval Joseph to bolster the interior defensive line for the stretch run, and they might be looking for help in that area again come the offseason. The contracts for Suh and Joseph run through the end of this season, and the deals for Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave void in 2023.
TEAMS CURRENTLY WITHOUT A FIRST-ROUND PICK
Cleveland Browns 3-7
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE HOUSTON TEXANS
Los Angeles Rams 3-7
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE DETROIT LIONS
Miami Dolphins 7-3
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK ACQUIRED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS TO THE DENVER BRONCOS
New Orleans Saints 4-7
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
San Francisco 49ers 6-4
TRADED FIRST-ROUND PICK TO THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
|
|
