The Daily Briefing Wednesday, November 9, 2022

AROUND THE NFL

CHICAGO

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel resorted to an unusual defensive tactic against the scrambling of Bears QB JUSTIN FIELDS on Sunday.  It failed.  Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com:

As he watched Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields set an NFL record against his team’s defense, Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel figured he could try something unconventional to get him to stop.

He asked him nicely.

Fields ran for 178 yards in the Bears’ 35-32 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday, a league record for a quarterback in a single game. Midway through the third quarter, television cameras caught McDaniel’s lighthearted exchange with Fields.

“I just wanted him to stop scrambling, and it was pretty irritating because he didn’t listen at all. He didn’t take the coaching,” McDaniel explained Monday. “I think Justin is really starting to get a feel for when he can utilize his full scale of gifts, and he’s making plays more and more and becoming more and more difficult to defend. So at that stage of the game, I figured no one had asked him to stop it, so I gave that a try.

“I think other coaches can learn from my experience that he does not listen, so rely on other tactics.”

The Dolphins had high praise for Fields after Sunday’s performance. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill said after the game he didn’t know Fields was that fast, while linebacker Jaelan Phillips called Fields “a monster.”

McDaniel’s plea to Fields might have fallen on deaf ears, but it didn’t slow the Dolphins down en route to their third straight victory to keep them in the AFC playoff hunt.

GREEN BAY

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com doesn’t hesitate to turn on his Super Bowl pick:

The team I picked to get to the Super Bowl from the NFC is finished. I know, I know. They can rally and sneak into the playoffs. But ask this question: What is there about this team that gives you the idea that’s even possible?

The Packers are a mess.

They lost to the Detroit Lions on the road Sunday, to a team with a defense that came in historically bad, and in doing so looked terrible on offense. Aaron Rodgers threw three picks, two inside the 5-yard line, and the entire offense looked disjointed.

If the Lions defense can’t cure your offense, nothing can.

Green Bay is lost.

Some blame the receivers. Others will blame the injuries. Even others will blame Rodgers. It all fits.

But the reality is this team isn’t the same Packers we’ve come to expect in the Rodgers years. They don’t scare anybody on offense, which is a harsh sentence to write considering how great Rodgers has been in his career.

At 3-6, with five straight losses, the Packers don’t look to have any chance to turn it around. That’s why they are done. In the NFC, where a 9-8 record might get you into the playoffs, that would mean the Packers would need to go 6-2 in their final eight games.

Anybody see that happening? Didn’t think so.

They also lost their best pass rusher in Rashan Gary for the season with a torn ACL on Sunday. In addition, rookie receiver Romeo Doubs left Sunday’s game in a walking boot, as did starting corner Eric Stokes and running back Aaron Jones.

That’s way too much to overcome for a team that is too limited anyway.

The Packers opened the season second in my Power Rankings. They are now down to 28th. Think about that for a second. The Packers are 28th. That’s absurd.

The Minnesota Vikings, who are 7-1, have locked up the NFC North, which means the Packers’ only chance to make the postseason would be as a wild-card team. Normally, I would say it’s doable. But look at the schedule. The next three games are home against the Cowboys and Titans and then on the road to play the undefeated Eagles. They also have games left with the Vikings and the 6-3 Dolphins.

Like I said, they are done.

Aaron Rodgers watching the playoffs doesn’t seem right. But it’s happening. It’s over.

DALLAS

Owner Jerry Jones hints at a move for WR ODELL BECKHAM, Jr.  Todd Archer of ESPN.com:

If free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has interest in joining the Dallas Cowboys, the club is doing its best to let him know the interest is mutual.

Speaking on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas on Tuesday, owner and general manager Jerry Jones backed the Cowboys’ current receiving corps and shape of pass game but added Beckham “is someone we have all the appreciation in the world for what he is as a competitor and know that the Cowboys star on the helmet when he puts it on could look pretty good.”

In eight games against the Cowboys with the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, Beckham has 40 catches for 558 yards and seven touchdowns.

On Monday, coach Mike McCarthy said he has, “always been a huge fan of [Beckham],” and former and current assistants on his staff have vouched for him. Beckham is rehabbing from a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in last season’s Super Bowl while playing for the Los Angeles Rams.

“From Ben McAdoo, Joe Whitt, all the guys from the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, all the guys have nothing but great things to say about him,” McCarthy said. “I have always been so impressed with his football playing ability. I have heard so many excellent things about him over the years.”

No visits with Beckham have been set so the team can see where he is in his recovery, but normally Jones is reluctant to speak on any prospective free agents because of competitive reasons.

Beckham told Complex in a video tweeted Sunday that when he signs with his next team, he’d like it to be a multiyear situation. The Cowboys were one of four teams he mentioned.

“Whether it’s Buffalo, whether it was Green Bay calling, the Cowboys, reunion with the Giants, I want to be able to spill my last — not saying I only got three or four [seasons] left — but these next three or four years into something where I can buy a home, like I can call this place home. I’m tired of living out of two-week suitcases, I’ve done the rock-and-roll life,” he said.

The Cowboys were in discussions with the Houston Texans leading into last week’s trade deadline for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, but nothing came to fruition. They also had brief talks with the Denver Broncos regarding Jerry Jeudy, according to sources.

The Cowboys have the 25th-ranked pass offense and have not had a receiver have a 100-yard game yet this season. Jones said on The Fan he believes the passing game will improve, especially as Dak Prescott becomes more comfortable in his return from a fractured right thumb. Jones said CeeDee Lamb is giving the Cowboys everything they want as the No. 1 receiver, Michael Gallup, who tore his ACL last January and missed the first three games of the season, is improving every day and free-agent addition James Washington is close to returning from a broken foot.

“I’m anticipating more effectiveness. I’m anticipating not only getting the ball out of there quick, but Dak being able to throw the ball on the move, but I see down the field some in the pass game,” Jones said. “I like what we’re doing with our intermediate game with our tight ends … We’re just getting better at receiver. We may or may not as far as adding something to the receiving corps, but if we don’t, I like where we are.”

NEW YORK GIANTS

S XAVIER McKINNEY went to Cabo on the bye week – and came back with an injury that will send shelve him for at least four weeks.  Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com:

New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney was in a hard-plastic cast and sling Tuesday after having surgery on a couple of fingers that were injured in what he described as a “freak accident” in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, during the team’s bye week.

McKinney, the Giants’ defensive signal-caller and a team captain, said the vehicle he was in tilted over during a sightseeing tour. He went to the hospital in Mexico and had surgery upon returning to the United States late last week.

The Giants’ starting safety would not commit to being able to return this season after being placed on the reserve/non-football injury list on Monday. He is required to miss at least four games.

“No timeline on it,” McKinney said when asked if he would be back this season. “I’m just trying to take it day by day, do what everybody asks me to do. That is what I’m here for. I think I’ll be fine.”

He was more confident about regaining full use of his fingers.

“Yes, my hand will be fine,” he said. “That is the good thing.”

Coach Brian Daboll did not provide many details about the incident when he spoke to reporters earlier Tuesday, saying he wanted to let McKinney explain.

Daboll did say that cornerback Aaron Robinson is likely to miss the remainder of the season because of a knee injury he suffered last month. Robinson is currently on injured reserve.

In the meantime, the Giants are likely to have rookie Dane Belton and/or Jason Pinnock, each with two career starts, step into bigger roles without McKinney.

“I think we’re all disappointed in what happened,” Daboll said. “[McKinney will] do everything he can do to get back. I feel bad for him. I feel bad for us. It’s an unfortunate thing that happened.”

McKinney repeated on multiple occasions the incident happened on a sightseeing tour.

“That is what I can tell you,” he said.

McKinney said he was in a Can-Am, which he described as a bigger version of an ATV; his original statement about the injury on Monday referred to the vehicle as an ATV. He insisted there was nothing reckless going on when the accident occurred, adding that he wanted to see the sights while being out of the country for the first time (aside from the Giants’ recent trip to play in London).

“It was just an unfortunate event what happened,” McKinney said.

The injury could affect McKinney’s pockets, since riding in an ATV during the season is prohibited by his contract. The Giants could potentially withhold pay based on his actions if he did violate the terms of his contract. McKinney said he knows that is a possibility.

“I wouldn’t be upset with it,” he said. “I take full responsibility in what was going on. I’m an accountable person.

“For me, I was more upset knowing I wasn’t going to be here for my team. But as far as that goes, I’m still going to be able to help as much as I can. I’m going to be in meetings. I’m going to be out there in practice helping as much as I can so we can keep this thing rolling.”

McKinney’s injuries will force him to miss games, at the very least, against the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys (on Thanksgiving) and Washington Commanders. He did not know when he would be able to shed the cast

“I think guys are doing different things [on their bye week], and it’s their choice how they want to spend their time,” quarterback Daniel Jones said. “You can ask Xavier. He probably regrets it, and we feel for him. I think he certainly doesn’t want to be in that situation. We’ll support him. The next guy up has got to be ready to go.”

Fellow starting safety Julian Love will inherit the green dot that signifies which player relays the play call to the defense. But McKinney’s presence will be missed. He has been a key part of a unit that is allowing 19.6 points per game, tied for eighth-best in the NFL.

“He’s a rising star in this league. It’s tough to replace,” Love said. “He’s a guy who has been holding the deep part of the field for us, been able to do some good things for us, played some fundamental football.

“I think the emphasis has to be on guys to not let it feel like there is such a big hole. That is going to take, honestly, a community of guys right now to step up and fill the roles he’s been able to play this season.”

A Can Am is a fairly hefty vehicle

NEW ORLEANS

Dennis Allen has now clearly chosen QB ANDY DALTON over QB JAMEIS WINSTON.  Zach Coons of SI.com:

The Saints turned in another dismal performance on offense in Monday night’s 27–13 loss to the Ravens, but coach Dennis Allen maintained that he never considered making a change at quarterback

Andy Dalton made his sixth consecutive start Monday and once again turned in an uninspiring performance. He ended the game 19-of-29 for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and was sacked four times.

After the game, Allen was asked whether he considered making a change behind center during the game.

“No, I didn’t,” Allen answered. “There was a lot that wasn’t good offensively tonight. There was a lot of dirty hands in that.”

Later on in the press conference when asked whether Dalton’s performance changed his commitment to the quarterback, Allen again said, “No.”

Though Dalton’s showing was far from spectacular, Allen is right to point out that the Saints offensive struggles extended far beyond the quarterback position. New Orleans also struggled to run the ball, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry in the loss.

Dalton has managed admirably across his six starts since taking over for Jameis Winston when the former No. 1 pick suffered an injury in Week 3. He’s gone 2–4 during that stretch, but three of the losses have been by just one score.

However, with Winston now healthy, Allen will likely continue to field questions about the team’s quarterback situation, especially if the struggles continue. The Saints are now a disappointing 3–6 on the year, but remain just a game out of the lead in the NFC South through nine weeks.

TAMPA BAY

Rookie RB RACHAD WHITE is on the rise in the Buccaneers backfield.  Greg Auman of The Athletic looks ahead at that developing story and others with Tampa Bay (and did you know that QB TOM BRADY is closing in on a record for longest run without an INT):

A week ago, when the Bucs carried the full weight of a three-game losing streak, this might have been a darker exercise.

But coming off a thrilling last-minute, come-from-behind victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Rams, a complete effort by Tampa Bay’s defense with just enough offense to win, it’s easier to visualize a happier ending to the 2022 season.

This is still a wobbly team with a losing record (4-5), but the return of defensive lineman Akiem Hicks and cornerback Carlton Davis are a reminder of how much better the Bucs can be just by getting healthy again. They’ll also see that with safety Antoine Winfield returning soon, safety Logan Ryan returning eventually and, to a lesser extent, if they can get receivers Russell Gage and Julio Jones past the persistent injuries that have limited them in the first half of this season.

For the Bucs to be 4-5 while scoring no more than 21 points in any of their four wins is a surprise given the lofty offensive expectations for this team, even after center Ryan Jensen’s knee injury in July. But they play in a bad division, so the simplest path now is to focus on winning the NFC South — not a difficult task — and let things such as NFC playoff seeding sort itself out in the final month of the season.

With that, we offer up five second-half predictions for the Bucs, remembering that the next two months will decide how Tom Brady’s time in Tampa will be framed. Win the division and a playoff game or two and they’ll avoid the disaster this season could have been. Less than that, however, must be considered a letdown.

The Bucs will win the NFC South title

This wouldn’t have felt like a bold statement at all back in August. But Tampa Bay has played poorly enough for long enough, losing five out of six games in one stretch, that fans weren’t sure what they had. The offense is still a major question mark, and the defense must show it can be consistent in sustaining a high level of play for entire games.

The Bucs have beaten their two closest challengers in the Falcons and Saints, so they need only outpace those two over the remaining eight games to have back-to-back division titles for the first time in franchise history. There’s a home playoff game that comes with that, and the most likely NFC destinations for remaining playoff games (Philadelphia, Minnesota) are teams that also have new coaches, with limited playoff experience. Not an ideal path, but nothing insurmountable.

After a 4-5 start, can the Bucs go 6-2 the rest of the way? The three toughest challenges are likely Sunday in Munich against Seattle, then a two-game stretch in December in which they are at the 49ers and home against the Bengals, two teams among the last four standing in last year’s playoffs that, like the Bucs, have underwhelmed this season.

To go 6-2, the Bucs will need to stay healthier and be much more consistent than they have been of late. They’ll need to force takeaways on defense — they have none in the last five games — and they’ll need to score more touchdowns instead of settling for field goals on offense. If they keep the current defensive personnel healthy and get the offense halfway to last year’s production, they can finish 10-7 and enter the playoffs with a decent head of steam, like they did two years ago on the way to the Super Bowl.

Evans will top 1,000 receiving yards again

It’s a cool streak that Mike Evans has steadily built up over his NFL career, a testament to his reliable play, as the only receiver in NFL history to open his career with eight straight 1,000-yard seasons. Last year, he passed Hall of Famer Randy Moss for the longest such streak, and he’s in a good position to extend that streak to nine seasons in the next two months.

Evans has 617 yards right now in eight games — he missed a game due to a suspension — and has eight remaining, so he’s on pace for 1,234, clearing the mark easily as long as he stays healthy. Four times in eight years, he hasn’t gotten to 1,000 until the final game of the season — he finished with 1,001 yards in 2017 and 1,006 yards in 2020 — so he seems to like a little drama as it relates to reaching the milestone.

Evans needs only 82 receiving yards to reach 10,000 for his career; only nine players have done that before the end of their ninth NFL season. He already has all of the Bucs’ career receiving records, and will be the first to pass 10,000 yards in rushing or receiving.

Vea reaches double-digit sacks to lead Bucs

You might have gotten good odds on this one before the season, but Vita Vea has a career-high 6.5 sacks now, putting him on pace to be the first Bucs interior lineman to reach double-digit sacks since Warren Sapp in 2000.

Vea added two more sacks Sunday, and the healthy return of Akiem Hicks next to him means opposing offensive lines can’t focus so much attention on Vea, freeing him up to collapse pockets from the front. He never had more than five sacks in a season in college or in his first four years in the NFL, so this is all uncharted territory for him.

Vea made the Pro Bowl for the first time last year, and he’ll have a good shot to make it again. He’s leading all NFC interior linemen in sacks right now and trailing only the Jets’ Quinnen Williams (7) for the NFL lead at his position. The Rams’ Aaron Donald is good for one Pro Bowl spot, of course, but otherwise, Vea’s closest competition is the Eagles’ Javon Hargrave (six sacks) and the Commanders’ Daron Payne (5.5).

Brady finishes with 25-plus TDs, 4,500-plus yards

It’s wild to think of this as a disappointment at age 45, but since he threw for 40 touchdowns in 2020 and 41 last year, a number like 25 seems pedestrian by comparison.

We’ll say he’s a little more touchdown-friendly in the second half of the season; after 10 touchdown passes in nine games, we’ll let him ramp up with 15 in his remaining eight games. He’s second in the NFL with 2,547 passing yards now, but it’s probably asking a little much to hit 5,000 as he did last year.

Brady’s best asset this season has been limiting his mistakes, with just one interception all season, good for the best TD/INT ratio in the league. He once had the NFL record for most consecutive passes without an interception (358 in 2010 and ’11), but Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers broke that with 402 straight in 2018. But now Brady has gone 373 straight without a pick, so if he can make it through the Seahawks game without one, he can reclaim the record with 30 more attempts without an interception.

It would be hard for Brady to reset his best career seasons for limiting interceptions; in 2010, he had 36 touchdowns against four interceptions, and in 2016, he had 28 touchdowns against two interceptions, so he won’t challenge the ratio on either of those unless he simply goes the rest of the year without a pick.

White takes over as the Bucs’ primary running back

Leonard Fournette has disappointed this season. His 3.3-yard average is the worst in the NFL in any of the last three seasons for anyone with as many carries as he has. He doesn’t have a run longer than 17 yards, after runs of 46 and 47 yards in his first two seasons in Tampa, and rookie Rachaad White is slowly taking more and more reps at his expense.

On Sunday, White had more rushing yards. The snaps were still heavily in Fournette’s favor, but that will continue to change if Fournette underperforms.

Fournette has almost 300 more yards than White on the season, but expect that gap to narrow as the Bucs trust the rookie more and more. Fournette might end up as the team’s leading rusher, but the momentum will likely be with White at the end of the season.

Could the Bucs move on from Fournette after this season? He has only $2 million guaranteed in his 2023 base salary, but cutting him would result in $5 million in dead cap money, as opposed to an $8.5 million cap hit if they kept him. The Bucs will have major decisions to make with a ton of free agents and limited salary-cap space, but if you’re going to have the worst rushing attack in the NFL, you might as well do it inexpensively. Fournette has eight games to prove he’s worth keeping around next season.

ARIZONA

With their season teetering, the Cardinals will be without defensive sparkplug S BUDDA BAKER for a bit.  Jess Root of USA TODAY:

The Arizona Cardinals continue to deal with unfortunate injuries to key players. The latest is safety Budda Baker.

According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Baker is going to miss some games with an ankle injury.

He played in 72 of the Cardinals’ 73 defensive snaps in Sunday’s 31-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks after being questionable to play with an ankle injury.

According to Rapoport, Bakwer has a high ankle sprain and will miss at least two to three weeks. That is the hope, at least.

The Cardinals play the Rams, 49ers and Chargers over the next three weeks before they have their bye week.

The only other safeties on the roster are Jalen Thompson and Chris Banjo. Charles Washington is on injured reserve and has been close to returning.

We might see Banjo starting if Washington can come back, or we might see Isaiah Simmons in a  more extended role at safety as the Cardinals prepare for their next three games.

– – –

Mike Jones of The Athletic has a list of the NFL’s biggest blunders of 2022.  We don’t have all of them here, but this is one of them:

Cardinals extending Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim

Nothing about this move seemed justified. Sure, Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals reached the playoffs in Year 3, but they backed into the postseason after losing four of their last five games, and then got blown out by the Rams in the wild-card round. So, why extend a head coach whose teams have fizzled for three straight years? What exactly had general manger Steve Keim done to warrant an extension at the same time?

Things have gone poorly for the Cardinals ever since. Keim gave Kyler Murray a $230 million extension despite his inconsistent play and the fact he had another year left on his rookie deal. Murray has yet to validate that decision with his play this season. Kingsbury was regarded as a bright offensive mind while in the college ranks, but remained unproven in the wins column. Now, his NFL offenses have yet to reach prolific or even consistent levels and that winning track record remains elusive. The Cardinals, at 3-6, have regressed in 2022 while getting swept by Seattle and losing four of their last five.

Arizona appears to need an organizational overhaul. But with Kingsbury and Keim extended through 2027, ownership would have to eat a lot of money to conduct that reset. It might be handcuffed.

SEATTLE

Pete Carroll never mentions the name Russell Wilson in these comments, but as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com points out, it’s easy to read between the lines:

The Seahawks’ offense has been far more effective than anyone expected with Geno Smith running the show this season, and coach Pete Carroll says one of the reasons is Smith’s willingness to take a different approach to play calling.

Carroll said on Seattle Sports 710 AM that Smith wears a wristband with plays on it to make it easy for offensive coordinator Shane Waldron to quickly send in a play over the speakers in Smith’s helmet and for Smith to call the corresponding play from his wristband to the rest of the offense. Carroll said he thinks that’s a more efficient method of signaling in plays to the quarterback, but the Seahawks hadn’t done it in the past.

“If you notice, Geno’s going off the wristband, and that’s a big help,” Carroll said. “It’s smoothed things out, sped things up, cleaned things up. And that’s part of it, too. We never did that before. There was resistance to that, so we didn’t do that before.”

Carroll didn’t say who that “resistance” was coming from, but he didn’t have to: Carroll was obviously implying that Russell Wilson didn’t like calling plays off the wristband, and so the Seahawks didn’t do it.

Carroll also said Smith and Waldron have developed a good rapport with Smith trusting Waldron’s play calling.

“When Shane says something to Geno, he’s not doubting it. He’s just going with it, so there’s a real immediate flow and that accelerates all the process,” Carroll said.

Again, Carroll didn’t mention Wilson in saying that, but he didn’t have to.

A year ago, there was a widespread perception that the Seahawks were holding Wilson back. Now that the Seahawks are thriving without Wilson, while the Broncos are struggling with Wilson, perceptions have changed. Carroll is making it clear that he loves having a quarterback like Smith, who’s buying into what the coaches want to do.

LAS VEGAS

Another Mayock-Gruden first round pick is toast.  Marcus Mosher of USA TODAY:

The Raiders made a surprising move on Tuesday, releasing former first-round pick Johnathan Abram.

The Raiders shopped Abram at the deadline, but got no takers. With Duron Harmon playing more snaps, Abram saw his role decrease nearly every week. He is now subject to waivers and can be claimed on Wednesday.

Abram was the third first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Raiders. He is the fourth first-round pick to be released by the team since 2019.

Abram started 34 games for the Raiders in four seasons, totaling 255 tackles and eight tackles for a loss. He also recorded three interceptions and 12 pass deflections.

– – –

Mike Jones of The Athletic has a list of the NFL’s biggest blunders of 2022.  We don’t have all of them here, but this is one of them:

Raiders hiring Josh McDaniels

Despite a strong finish to a tumultuous 2021 and an improbable playoff appearance, the Raiders declined to name interim coach Rich Bisaccia the permanent replacement for Jon Gruden. Bisaccia went 7-5 at the helm and was well-respected by players, but Mark Davis instead rolled the dice and hired longtime Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who lasted just two seasons (2009-2010) as head coach of the Broncos.

Davis hoped a second chance would produce better results. But, once again, McDaniels has been a major disappointment. Regarded as one of the best offensive minds in the game, he has been anything but for Las Vegas. He has an established quarterback in Derek Carr, an All-Pro receiver in Davante Adams, a workhorse back in Josh Jacobs and one of the best tight ends in Darren Waller. Yet the offense is wildly inconsistent, as is McDaniels’ play-calling. Waller has missed time with injury, but the Raiders still have enough on offense to produce better results.

Three times this year, the Raiders have lost after blowing 17-point leads. Talent deficiencies abound on defense, but one of McDaniels’ biggest overall problems is getting players to buy in. His critics cite poor leadership skills as one of his biggest flaws. Davis envisioned McDaniels catapulting his team into the ranks of the contenders. But instead, at 2-6, the Raiders appear headed for a top-five draft pick, and McDaniels again seems inept outside of Bill Belichick’s shadow.

BALTIMORE

Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com with an update on the team’s health heading into the bye week:

Taking a three-game winning streak into their bye week, the Ravens now have more time to get their injured players healthier.

Running back Gus Edwards (hamstring) sat out Monday night’s victory over the Saints, but Head Coach John Harbaugh expects the physical running back to return after the bye to face the Panthers in Week 11.

“Gus will be back next game, that’s the plan,” Harbaugh said during his Tuesday press conference.

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson played 11 snaps during his Ravens debut, was targeted twice and caught one pass for 16 yards. Another reception was negated by a penalty for an illegal man downfield. Jackson injured his hamstring, but Harbaugh said, “He should be fine coming back from the bye.”

The bye week comes at a good time for veteran pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul, who “tweaked” his ankle during the Saints game, according to Harbaugh. Pierre-Paul played a season-low seven snaps, as the Ravens decided to take a cautious approach. Outside linebacker Justin Houston was the defensive star of the game with 2.5 sacks and an interception, and the Ravens didn’t allow a touchdown until the fourth quarter of their 27-13 victory.

Harbaugh opted not to play Pierre-Paul after his injury with the defense performing so well.

“He kind of tweaked his ankle a little bit,” Harbaugh said. “Nothing too serious, it just wasn’t something that we felt like we wanted to challenge too much with the way the game was going. He should be fine coming back from the bye.”

Hmmm. Sean Payton went on the ManningCast and noted that both he and QB LAMAR JACKSON could be available to a lucky team in 2023.  Larry Brown of Larry Brown Sports:

Payton joined ESPN2’s Manningcast version of “Monday Night Football” for the Week 9 matchup between his former team the Saints and the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson was playing well, and the Mannings noted how Payton was a big Jackson fan going back to when the quarterback left Louisville for the NFL Draft.

Peyton asked Payton what stands out to him about Jackson.

“The number one thing is I have the chance to be a free agent. He has a chance to be a free agent. I would say that first,” Payton joked. “But on a serious note, I think we’ve seen him get the ball down the field … man, he’s explosive. I think he’s become a better down-the-field thrower … the late nights that this guy … he drives you crazy trying to come up with a defensive scheme to plan for.”

Jackson and the Ravens did not reach agreement on a contract extension prior to the season, which is why Jackson will become a free agent. The Ravens don’t want to lose Jackson, but the amount of guaranteed money is a sticking point in his contract talks.

We’ve already seen Payton work behind-the-scenes to try and pair with Tom Brady. If another team were set to make a run at Jackson, Payton would love to be involved somehow as a coach-QB pairing.

CLEVELAND

Jake Trotter on the 3-5 Browns:

What we know: The Browns boast one of the top rushing offenses in the NFL. Nick Chubb is second in the league in rushing (841 yards), averaging a whopping 5.64 yards per carry with a league-best 10 rushing touchdowns. Kareem Hunt, staying with the Browns past the trade deadline, remains one of the NFL’s top backup backs. And the offensive line, led by Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio, continues to dominate the line of scrimmage.

What we don’t know yet: How good is this Browns defense? Thanks to a series of rough performances to begin the season, the Browns rank just 27th in defensive efficiency. But Cleveland is also coming off its best outing of the year, completely shutting down Joe Burrow and the Bengals on Monday Night Football. The talent is there, headlined by All-Pro pass-rusher Myles Garrett. If the Browns can find consistency, especially in the fourth quarter, the defense could begin to meet its lofty preseason expectations.

PITTSBURGH

RB JAYLEN WARREN is ascending in Pittsburgh.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

As the Steelers emerge from their bye at 2-6, there’s one and only one motivation. Win.

To make that happen, the coaching staff will be willing to shake things up.

And while it’s our understanding that this doesn’t mean running back Najee Harris will be benched (yet), Jaylen Warren will get more touches moving forward, per a source with knowledge of the team’s plans.

That meshes with comments made earlier today by coach Mike Tomlin. Harris, a 2021 first-rounder who was solid as a rookie, has been criticized for excessive dancing and hesitating. Undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2022, Warren gradually has gained more and more admirers by running hard.

It’s part of a broader effort by the coaching staff to make changes aimed at winning more games. The Steelers need to win seven of the final nine games of the season in order to avoid Tomlin’s first losing record of his 16-year career as the team’s head coach.

For the season, Harris has 108 carries for 361 yards, good for an average of 3.3 yards per carry. Warren has 29 carries for 153 yards, an average of 5.3 per attempt.

Obviously, the running back position isn’t the only problem. But Harris, a presumed breakout player this season, could be getting less work and, eventually, could be sliding behind Warren on the depth chart.

Tomlin needs a 7-2 finish to avoid the dreaded and unprecedented losing season.

INDIANAPOLIS

A little on the history of the Colts new play caller, Parks Frazier from Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com:

Now, starting Sunday against the Raiders, the play-calling duties will belong to assistant Parks Frazier, according to NFL Media.

Frazier, 30, is in his fifth season with the Colts, joining the staff as one of Reich’s original hires in 2018. The former Northeast Mississippi and Murray State quarterback spent his first two years as an assistant to the head coach, “helping with the practice plan, call sheets and scripts,” per Tom Pelissero. After one season as offensive quality control coach, Frazier was elevated to assistant QBs coach in 2021, then pass game specialist/assistant QBs coach this year.

Prior to joining the Colts, Frazier spent three years coaching at the collegiate level, first as a defensive quality control assistant for Samford and Middle Tennessee State, then as a graduate assistant at Arkansas State. He also has a history with current Eagles coach Nick Sirianni, who was previously Reich’s OC. In his time as assistant to the head coach, according to the Indianapolis Star, Frazier would communicate with both Reich and Sirianni from the coaches’ box, offering in-game tips on opposing tendencies.

Reich and Frazier were so close, in fact, that the former even officiated the latter’s wedding with another ex-Colts employee.

Frazier’s promotion to play-caller keeps with the Colts’ sudden theme of trusting less experienced coaches with greater responsibility, seeing as Indy also had assistants with coordinating experience, including QBs coach Scott Milanovich and offensive line coach Chris Strausser, on staff following Saturday’s surprise hire.

BUFFALO

Bills Mafia is awaiting word on the injury to QB JOSH ALLEN.  Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com:

Monday saw a flurry of reports and official comments regarding the injury suffered by Bills quarterback Josh Allen when his elbow was bent awkwardly and violently late in the Week Nine loss to the Jets. On Tuesday, there was no news.

As noted during Tuesday morning’s PFT Live, the words uttered by coach Sean McDermott on Monday painted a much different picture when considered with the audio and video of his delivery of the message. He seemed anything but upbeat; indeed, McDermott came off as borderline glum.

On Tuesday night, receiver Stefon Diggs tweeted, “Rejoice…” Given the broader context, with Bills Mafia holding it breath like the real mafia sweating out a search warrant, Diggs may have been conveying good news, in vague fashion.

Regardless, the issue remains far from resolved. Allen has an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament. It didn’t stop him from launching a bazooka shot to Gabe Davis late in the game. But the extra stress on his arm surely didn’t make things any better.

Come Wednesday, there will be news — one way or the other. Allen will practice, or he won’t. He’ll be limited, unless he isn’t. And to the extent that Allen misses time in practice, backup Case Keenum will get the first-team reps in advance of a game against the team he took to the NFC Championship during his one-year stint in Minnesota, five years ago.

Wednesday morning’s update, from Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com doesn’t move the ball forward much:

– Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is day-to-day with a right elbow injury to the ulnar collateral ligament and related nerves, according to coach Sean McDermott, and will not practice Wednesday.

His status remains uncertain for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.

“We’ll see,” McDermott said when asked if Allen would play in the game.

“We will see how he does,” McDermott said. “We use common sense and, obviously, we factor a lot of things in, a medical report being one of them and our doctor’s wisdom and knowledge.”

McDermott declined to say if Allen has thrown since Sunday and if he has sought a second medical opinion.

NEW YORK JETS

This from Rich Cimini of ESPN.com:

New York Jets (6-3)

What we know: The Jets are a very good defensive team, and that will allow them to compete with the so-called elite teams. They have at least one takeaway in every game and have held four of their past six opponents under 200 passing yards. Defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback D.J. Reed are having career years, and Sauce Gardner is a candidate for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. It’s a resilient team — 3-3 when facing double-digit deficits, compared to 3-40 in the previous four seasons.

What we don’t know yet: Quarterback Zach Wilson still isn’t good enough to carry the offense for four quarters, so it’s fair to wonder how they’d fare in a shootout-type game. They have enough playmakers, especially with rookie wide receiver Garrett Wilson heating up, but he needs to be managed because of his penchant for mistakes. He needs a ground game; they’re 6-0 when scoring rushing touchdowns.

THIS AND THAT

COREY SIMON

Former NFL player Corey Simon is now a Republican member of the Florida Senate.  Glenn Erby of YahooSports.com:

The Philadelphia Eagles have another former high draft picking transitioning to a career in politics as Corey Simon is now a Florida state senator.

Simon has defeated incumbent Loranne Ausley for Florida’s Senate District Three with about 53% of the vote to Ausley’s 47% in the latest returns Tuesday evening.

Simon became a star in Tallahassee under Bobby Bowden and the FSU Seminoles.

The Eagles chose Simon with the sixth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, and he played professionally for Philadelphia, Indianapolis Colts, and Tennessee Titans.

He was selected to the 2004 Pro Bowl.

BEST ROOKIES

ESPN experts assess the 10 best rookies of 2022 and some other issues:

The 2022 NFL rookie class continues to look extremely strong through nine weeks. Four running backs are already over 400 rushing yards, while six receivers have surpassed 300 receiving yards. Nine first-year defenders have multiple sacks, seven have multiple interceptions, and the class has combined for 48 sacks and 28 picks to date. Four quarterbacks have gotten at least one start, and teams are getting mostly effective play from their rookie offensive linemen.

So how do the rookies stack up so far? Let’s rank the top 10 at midseason. We polled our own Matt Bowen, Jeff Legwold, Matt Miller and Jordan Reid for their personal lists and combined them to make a consensus ranking of the top 10 rookies. Our experts then weighed in on each player who made the list, along with a few who fell just short. Finally, they picked out a riser to watch, an underperforming first-rounder and an overperforming late-rounder, and took a quick look at the first-year quarterback situations.

Let’s jump in at No. 1 with a standout cornerback.

1. Sauce Gardner, CB, New York Jets

Stats: 44 tackles, 2 INTs, 13 passes defended

Drafted: No. 4

Why he’s here: Gardner had a bit of a learning-curve moment on Sunday when he allowed a 42-yard reception to Bills receiver Stefon Diggs on Buffalo’s first play from scrimmage. But then he did what he has done all season — settle in and do quality work, including hauling in his second interception of the season. His completion percentage against over expectation is minus-10.1%, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Legwold

Going forward: He might have gotten off to a slow start to the season, but he has since emerged as not just the best rookie cornerback but also one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks in general. Look for more of the same the rest of the way as Gardner continues to get acclimated to the pro game. He could finish 2022 as one of the top five corners in the NFL and is certainly a Pro Bowl candidate. — Miller

2. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Stats: 43 catches, 618 yards, 2 TDs

Drafted: No. 11

Why he’s here: Smooth in the route tree and showcasing the vertical stretch ability to float past defenders, Olave has impressed as a perimeter target early in his NFL career. The rookie has already logged seven explosive-play receptions this season, and his ability to separate opens up opportunities at the second level of the field, too. — Bowen

Going forward: Despite the Saints’ inconsistencies at quarterback, Olave has quickly turned into the team’s top pass-catcher and leads all rookies with 14.9 air yards per target. With Michael Thomas (toe) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) battling injuries, expect the rookie to continue to play a big role. — Reid

3. Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans

Stats: 148 carries, 678 rushing yards, 20 catches, 98 receiving yards, 4 total TDs

Drafted: No. 107

Why he’s here: Pierce is the offense in Houston, and even as defenses load up to stop him, his powerful style of running keeps the chains moving. His 40 rushing first downs are not only far and away the most among rookies but also fourth overall among all NFL players. Pierce’s power, vision and effort as a runner are outstanding, and he’s a legit Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. — Miller

Going forward: He is sixth in the league in rushing, has a 75-yard touchdown run this season and consistently pounds out the yards after contact (2.1 per carry) with a growing pile of broken tackles already in his wake. The future is bright for Pierce. — Legwold

4. Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Stats: 111 carries, 570 rushing yards, 12 catches, 48 receiving yards, 7 total TDs

Drafted: No. 41

Why he’s here: He didn’t begin the season as the starter, but Walker has quickly entrenched himself as one of the Seahawks’ key offensive playmakers. With seven rushing TDs — all coming in the past five games — he’s on a quick path to outplaying his second-round draft slot. He joins the Jets’ Breece Hall as the only rookies averaging over 5 yards per carry. — Reid

Going forward: Walker is the closer for this Seattle offense as a rookie with veteran traits. His lateral quickness, body control and finishing power show up late in games. In the fourth quarter, he has scored six of his seven touchdowns and is averaging 7 yards per tote. And he can handle the volume to wear down opposing defenses. — Bowen

5. Tariq Woolen, CB, Seattle Seahawks

Stats: 31 tackles, 4 INTs, 8 passes defended, 1 TD, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 blocked kick

Drafted: No. 153

Why he’s here: Another Seahawk on the list here. Woolen has played every defensive snap for the Seahawks in six of the past seven games. And for a player some expected to take a little more time to get acclimated — he was a cornerback for only one full season in college — he has been calm in coverage. He consistently makes plays on the ball, intercepting or defending 20% of the targets thrown his way, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Legwold

Going forward: Woolen has the length, physicality and instincts to excel no matter the assignment. He has a strong Defensive Rookie of the Year case, and he looks like a Pro Bowl-caliber player and a franchise building block moving forward. — Miller

6. Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets

Stats: 42 catches, 521 yards, 2 TDs

Drafted: No. 10

Why he’s here: A prime target in New York’s defined pass game, Wilson is a sudden mover with dynamic playmaking traits. And his recent run of production shows his ability to work all three levels of the route tree. He trails only Green Bay’s Romeo Doubs among rookie wide receivers with 4.7 yards after the catch per reception, and he has picked up 25 first downs. — Bowen

Going forward: Quarterback Zach Wilson has been inconsistent since returning from injury, but his rookie wideout is already one of his favorite targets. Garrett Wilson’s 68 targets trail only Olave among rookies (35 of which came from Zach Wilson). Finding the end zone is the next step of his development, but the yards are already coming in bunches for the Ohio State product. — Reid

7. Jack Jones, CB, New England Patriots

Stats: 24 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 passes defended, 1 TD, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

Drafted: No. 121

Why he’s here: Who would have thought that Jones, a fourth-round draft pick, would be a seamless replacement for premier free agent J.C. Jackson in New England? Well, Patriots coach Bill Belichick, for one. Jones has been a rock star as a nickel cornerback and is the Patriots’ long-term future at the position. When teams target him in coverage, they have minus-11.9 expected points added, which trails just Gardner among rookie corners (NFL Next Gen Stats). — Miller

Going forward: It’s difficult for any rookie to earn Belichick’s trust, especially on defense, but Jones has done just that. He has been especially effective in the Patriots’ zone looks and on special teams, and his explosiveness means he will block some kicks in his career. — Legwold

8. Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions

Stats: 20 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 1 INT, 22 pressures

Drafted: No. 2

Why he’s here: Hutchinson has been one of the few bright spots for a defense that has struggled mightily this season, displaying tremendous effort and showcasing a knack of getting to the QB. He has made game-changing plays for Detroit, including an interception of Aaron Rodgers at the goal line on Sunday. — Reid

Going forward: Watch for more impact plays from Hutchinson versus the run and the pass. We know he can set an edge, with strong hand usage and physical play. And he’s showing development as a pass-rusher, too, with the ability to disrupt the pocket. — Bowen

9. Tyler Linderbaum, C, Baltimore Ravens

Stats: 9 starts, 93.7% pass block win rate

Drafted: No. 25

Why he’s here: Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Linderbaum is “all ball,” and it’s true through nine weeks. Baltimore is the league’s No. 2 rushing team (168.1 yards per game), thanks in part to Linderbaum’s 76.5% run block win rate (fifth among rookies). He has played all but two snaps this season (549 of 551). — Legwold

Going forward: Much like Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey did last year, Linderbaum has solidified an offensive line at center. He was considered one of the most all-around solid players in the 2022 draft class, but he’s still exceeding expectations, playing as one of the top centers in the league and potentially receiving Pro Bowl attention. — Miller

10. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Stats: 33 catches, 369 yards, 2 TDs

Drafted: No. 8

Why he’s here: London has the 6-foot-4 physical profile to stretch the seams or isolate as a boundary target in the pass game. London leads the Falcons in routes run (187) and targets (56), but Atlanta’s lack of throwing volume has limited his total production. The Falcons are last in pass-play percentage at just 46.9% and average 22.3 pass attempts per game. So we still haven’t seen London reach his rookie ceiling in that offense. — Bowen

Going forward: The first receiver drafted this year has flashed when given opportunity, making the most of his role in a run-heavy offense. Twenty-two of his 33 catches have gone for a first down, but more volume could open up another level of his game. — Reid

Just missed

Travon Walker, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars: The No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft has flashed rare physical traits, posting 2.5 sacks — including 1.5 over his past three games — an interception and 16 pressures. The Jaguars have asked a lot of him, too. Walker has dropped into coverage on 49 snaps this season. — Legwold

Devin Lloyd, ILB, Jacksonville Jaguars: Lloyd leads all rookies in tackles (69 after nine games), while also pulling down two interceptions, defending seven passes and recovering a fumble. He was tossed into the deep end right from the start after getting drafted 27th overall and hasn’t played fewer than 90% of the defensive snaps in any game. — Legwold

Charles Cross, OT, Seattle Seahawks: With fellow rookie tackle Abraham Lucas on the right side, Cross has started from Day 1 at left tackle in a resurgent offense. The ninth overall pick has played all but four of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps, and his 89.0% pass block win rate and 76.1% run block win rate both rank among the league’s top six rookies. — Legwold

Also received votes: Kyle Hamilton, George Pickens, Breece Hall, Jamaree Salyer, Jalen Pitre, Kaiir Elam, Derek Stingley Jr., Jaquan Brisker, Jordan Davis, Abraham Lucas

Which rookie is rising through nine weeks?

Legwold: Abraham Lucas, OT, Seattle Seahawks (No. 72 pick). We just talked about Cross on the left side, but Lucas has put some quality train-coming-down-the-tracks moments on the game tape on the right side. His 92.9% pass block win rate is tops among rookie tackles, second among all rookie offensive linemen (Linderbaum) and in the top 50 leaguewide. He saw more than 450 pass-block snaps in his final season at Washington State, but Lucas is now also showing a physical presence in the run game.

What is going on with the rookie quarterbacks?

Bowen: Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett — the class’ lone first-round QB — has made some poor decisions with the ball (eight interceptions), but I do see plenty of poise in the pocket. He has completed 67.9% of his passes for 962 yards and two touchdowns. And he does a good job using his mobility when necessary, scoring twice more on the ground.

The tape on New England’s Bailey Zappe shows us he can operate as a rhythm passer, delivering the ball on time. And Tennessee quarterback Malik Willis’ lack of throwing volume makes it tough to truly evaluate his progress at this point.

Which first-rounder is underperforming right now?

Miller: Treylon Burks, WR, Tennessee Titans (No. 18 pick). Selected to be the team’s replacement for A.J. Brown, Burks has yet to live up to expectations. There were struggles in training camp, and now Burks has been out with a turf toe injury since Week 5. Olave and Wilson have become go-to targets for their teams, but Burks hasn’t produced much for the Titans. He has just 10 catches for 129 yards and zero touchdowns over four games played.

Which late-rounder is overperforming right now?

Reid: Jamaree Salyer, OT, Los Angeles Chargers (No. 195). Rashawn Slater is not an easy offensive lineman to replace, but since stepping in for the injured franchise left tackle, Salyer has been outstanding. The sixth-rounder has been consistent in pass protection, posting an 89.2% pass block win rate (fifth among rookies), but he has been just as reliable as a run-blocker.