The Daily Briefing Wednesday, September 29, 2021

NFC NORTH

CHICAGO

It’s not as far as the move the San Francisco 49ers made to Santa Clara, but the Bears are ready to abandon the City of Chicago.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

The Bears have bought some property. And although they’re not saying that they intend to use that property for a new stadium, that’s the clear message of the acquisition.

The team and Churchill Downs Incorporated have announced that a deal was signed this week for “the entire Arlington Park land parcel in the Village of Arlington Heights.”

 “We are excited to have executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA) for the Arlington Park property,” Bears president Ted Phillips said in a statement issued by the team. “We are grateful to Churchill Downs Incorporated for their efforts to reach this point. We also appreciate the support of Mayor Tom Hayes and the Village of Arlington Heights. Finalizing the PSA was the critical next step in continuing our exploration of the property and its potential. Much work remains to be completed, including working closely with the Village of Arlington Heights and surrounding communities, before we can close on this transaction. Our goal is to chart a path forward that allows our team to thrive on the field, Chicagoland to prosper from this endeavor, and the Bears organization to be ensured a strong future. We will never stop working toward delivering Bears fans the very best experience. We will continue to provide updates on our progress at the appropriate time.”

It doesn’t mean that the Bears will definitely build a new stadium there. The goal could be to use the acquisition of the property to leverage a better deal at Soldier Field.

The CEO of Churchill Downs (which has a separate gambling relationship with the Bears) bolsters the notion that the Bears could build a stadium on the Arlington Heights property.

“This has been an extraordinarily competitive bid process,” Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO Bill Carstanjen said in the press release issued by the Bears. “Congratulations to the Chicago Bears for their professionalism and perseverance. It is clear they are committed to an exciting vision for their team and their fans. We wish them the greatest success and are excited for the opportunity this brings to the Village of Arlington Heights and the future economic development of this unique property.”

Arlington Heights mayor Tom Hayes got in on the public-comment act, too.

“I could not be more excited about the news that the Chicago Bears have signed a Purchase and Sale Agreement to buy the Arlington Park property in our community,” Hayes said. “My goal for any redevelopment has always been to put this prime piece of real estate to its highest and best use, and I can’t think of a higher and better use than this one. There is a long way to go as we begin this journey, and many issues for the community to discuss, but the Village is committed to working with the Bears organization and all stakeholders to explore this opportunity for Arlington Heights and the northwest suburban region.”

It remains to be seen whether Arlington Heights is a pawn or a player. As always, time will tell. As always, an NFL franchise will take full advantage of any and all opportunities to get the best deal they can, wherever that deal may require the team to play.

Background from The Daily Herald:

“Tonight, the Bears informed us that they signed a purchase agreement for the Arlington Park property,” Lightfoot stated. “We are not surprised by this move. We remain committed to continuing the work to keep the team in Chicago and have advised the Bears that we remain open to discussions.”

Reached late Tuesday, Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes declined to comment on the reported deal. When asked if the Bears might make an announcement as soon as Wednesday, Hayes said, “Well, we’ll see what happens.”

Spokespersons for the Bears and Arlington Park owners Churchill Downs Inc. did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Tuesday.

Arlington Park ran likely its final races Saturday, about seven months after Churchill Downs announced plans to sell the sprawling 326-acre property at Euclid Avenue and Wilke Road.

The Bears were among several entities that submitted a bid for the site before a mid-June deadline, joining a consortium led by former Arlington Park President Roy Arnold that wanted to preserve the oval and grandstand for horse racing. Other bidders included a host of mixed use developers, among them Chicago-based Glenstar Properties, Schaumburg-based UrbanStreet Group and Naperville-based Crown Community Development.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Talk of the Bears leaving Soldier Field for the suburbs is not new. George Halas first courted Arlington Heights in 1975, when he appeared at an Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce luncheon and discussed moving the team to the racetrack. The rumor mill continued to churn in the decades since, after Halas’ grandson Michael McCaskey again raised the possibility of moving to Arlington Park in 1985, among other suburban sites he explored later in the 1990s.

The allure of the racetrack property is obvious. Along with acreage needed for a multibillion-dollar stadium to rival new arenas in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, the site contains space for complementary elements like entertainment venues, restaurants, hotels, housing, shopping and more. The property has its own Metra station and nearby access to the Route 53 express way and Interstate 90.

But the purchase of the Arlington Park property would be just a first step by the Bears toward building a stadium and moving to the Northwest suburbs. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said the team should not expect public money to help fund a new stadium, and the team has a lease to play at Soldier Field through 2033.

While Lightfoot previously has said she intended to hold the team to that lease, her statement Tuesday night also sought to highlight the viability of Soldier Field without the Bears as a tenant.

“This season, Soldier Field signed a major contract with the Chicago Fire and just last weekend Soldier Field hosted the Shamrock Series — both of which are lucrative for the Chicago Park District and local economy,” the statement reads. “These examples and others demonstrate that Soldier Field remains a very sought-after venue, and, as the mayor has said many times, overall, the city and park district must explore all options to both enhance the visitor and fan experience at Soldier Field year-round and maximize revenues.”

Arlington Park is just over 30 miles to the west (and slightly north) of Soldier Field.

Bears personnel would have a 20-mile drive from Halas Hall in Lake Forest. Which is more than 15 miles shorter than the current trek from Lake Forest to Soldier Field.

As a comparison, the DALLAS Cowboys play about 20 miles west of downtown Dallas in Arlington.  It is nearly 37 miles for the trek from the team’s headquarters, The Star, in Frisco to AT&T stadium.

DETROIT

The Lions couldn’t trade veteran LB JAMIE COLLINS, so they are waiving him. Tyler Greenawait ofYahooSports.com identifies six possible landing spots for the 31-year-old:

Jamie Collins is on the move again. The Detroit Lions announced Tuesday they’re cutting the veteran linebacker after trying to trade him.

Collins, 31, tallied 10 combined tackles with one tackle for a loss and one forced fumble in the first two games this season before being inactive for Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Collins originally signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Lions in 2020 to play with Matt Patricia following his second stint with the Patriots in 2019. After a regime change in Detroit this past offseason, Collins agreed to restructure his deal by reducing his base salary to $3.8 million, converting the remaining $5 million to a prorated bonus and adding three self-voiding years after the final two years of his deal.

Here are six teams who could be in play for Collins’ services:

Denver Broncos

At 2-0, the Broncos are looking to make a run at a playoff berth in the highly contested AFC West. But Denver needs linebackers after losing starting outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and starting inside linebacker Josey Jewell.

Chubb underwent ankle surgery recently and Jowell landed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury. It’s unclear when either will return, so Collins would be a fantastic stop-gap option for Vic Fangio’s defense and bolster the team’s shot at competing in 2021.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins need help at linebacker and Collins fits the mold of a Brian Flores defender. It certainly helps, too, that Collins played in New England when Flores coached there. While middle linebacker Sam Eguavoen looks solid, Collins could supplant any of the others on the roster.

Depending on how long quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is out, the Dolphins will likely need to rely on the defense to stay competitive this season.

New England Patriots

Any time Collins is available, the Patriots are always a likely landing spot. He spent his first three seasons in New England before being shipped to Cleveland, and then returned to the Patriots after the Browns cut him in 2019.

Collins wouldn’t jump into a starting role on a crowded Patriots linebackers room but he could become a rotational player with former teammate Dont’a Hightower and former teammate-turned-coach Jerod Mayo.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh will likely lean on its defense as Ben Roethlisberger’s ability dwindles by the week, and Collins would be a huge help.

The linebacker corps looks banged up early this season after injuries to T.J. Watt and Devin Bush, so any depth would fortify the defense in a competitive AFC North. Signing Collins would be a luxury move for the Steelers and their tight salary cap budget, but they may need some support if the offense continues to falter.

Los Angeles Rams

Collins could be the missing piece to finish building the rock-solid Rams defense.

The defensive line and secondary are elite, but the Rams could use another inside linebacker in Collins. Los Angeles has a lot of youth in the middle and a veteran like Collins could only help the unit.

New York Giants

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham coached Collins during his two best seasons in New England. He would likely welcome his old protégé in New York.

The Giants don’t have much at linebacker except for Blake Martinez, so Collins could slide into his old role on Graham’s defense at SAM or play alongside Martinez at the WILL spot. Neither Lorenzo Carter nor Tae Crowder would beat out Collins for one of the starting jobs, either. New York doesn’t have the cap space to pay for Collins right now, but he would certainly be a boost for their defense.

NFC EAST

PHILADELPHIA

S K’VON WALLACE is IR’d with a separated shoulder.  Mike Kaye of NJ.com:

@mike_e_kaye

#Eagles safety K’Von Wallace will be heading to the Injured Reserve with a separated shoulder.

Isaac Seumalo suffered a Lisfranc injury – as first reported by

@BrelandFOX29

 – that will require season-ending surgery and therefore will also be place on the Injured Reserve.

Seumalo, who lacks an “I” for a last name vowel slam, is a guard.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

CB RICHARD SHERMAN stepped out of his West Coast comfort zone to visit the Buccaneers on Tuesday.  Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Once upon a time, many moons ago, Richard Sherman taunted Tom Brady following a Seattle Seahawks win over the New England Patriots, famously asking the QB: “You mad, bro?”

Now, Brady is recruiting Sherman to join him for a potential Super Bowl run in Tampa Bay.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday morning that Sherman is headed to Tampa for a visit with the Buccaneers, per sources informed of the meeting.

It’s Sherman’s first free-agent visit. Pelissero previously reported that the 33-year-old had received interest from multiple teams in recent weeks.

The veteran corner drew interest early in free agency, but teams weren’t willing to meet his asking price.

Then Sherman dealt with an ongoing legal situation. A July incident led to his arrest on five misdemeanor charges — including driving under the influence and second-degree criminal trespass — after he crashed his SUV in a construction zone and later tried to force his way into a family member’s home.

The arrest was originally reported as a domestic violence incident, but police said Sherman didn’t physically assault anyone; he pled not guilty to all charges and pledged to seek help. Pelissero reported that, according to a person close to Sherman, he has been doing magnetic therapy and speaking with a therapist since the incident, helping him work through many issues he didn’t have the tools to address before.

The veteran corner is reportedly back to his pre-Achilles tear weight, dropping 15 pounds this offseason. When healthy, Sherman has proven he can still cover NFL receivers. He might no longer be the player who wiped out a whole side of the field in Seattle, but he remains able to stick with receivers and make plays.

The Bucs make perfect sense to pursue Sherman.

Tampa’s secondary has been littered with injuries. Sean Murphy-Bunting (elbow) went down early in Week 1. Jamel Dean (knee) exited in Week 3. And Carlton Davis has been on the injury report with abdomen and rib issues. Dean appears to have escaped a serious knee injury, but his status is in doubt for Week 4 against the Patriots, per Pelissero. It’s one more reason the Bucs are pushing to get a deal done with Sherman, Pelissero added.

It got so bad this past Sunday against the L.A. Rams that career special teamer Dee Delaney, who’d previously played a whole four snaps on defense since entering the league in 2018, saw 51 plays in the secondary against Matthew Stafford.

That just won’t do for the Super Bowl champs.

If Sherman is looking for a place where he can best impact a playoff team with Super Bowl aspirations, the Bucs look like the perfect fit.

Sherman, born and raised in LA, went to college at Stanford and has played professionally for the Seahawks and 49ers.

And Wednesday morning, reports came out that Sherman was signing with the Buccaneers.

– – –

QB TOM BRADY’s goal of playing to age 45 once seemed borderline absurd.  Now, that’s just a starting point.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com:

When Tom Brady eventually switched his “10 more years” retirement plan to the year in which he turns 45, the end of the line for his football career became fixed at 2022.

In an interview with Wall Street Journal Magazine regarding the launch of the Brady clothing line, Brady reconfirmed that he’s definitely playing through 2022.

“Beyond that, I don’t know,” Brady said. “Maybe it’s another year after that; maybe it’s two. I’ll have to see where I’m at with my family. That’s probably the overriding factor — what I’m missing out on.”

He also made it clear that he doesn’t want to miss out on feeling like he could still get it done.

“I don’t want to be out there and suck,” Brady said. “You think I want to go out there and look like I’m 44 years old? I want to look like I’m in my prime.”

So what will he do after the playing phase ends?

“I don’t think anything will match my football career,” Brady said. “I think it’s too hard to replicate that level of energy and output and adrenaline. That’s kind of why I want to go until the end, because I want to make sure I don’t look back and go, ‘Man, I could still do it.’”

Based on his arm and his mind, he could still do it to 50 and beyond. The challenge becomes his legs. Having the ability to move quickly enough to get away from pressure and avoid taking hits. The more he’s hit, the more likely he gets hurt. And the more inevitable it becomes that he calls it quits.

At this point, the best approach is to enjoy the show. It ends when it ends. No one knows when the ending will arrive, presumably including Brady.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

Receiving reinforcements for the Ravens as they head to unbeaten Denver.  Myles Simmons ofProFootballTalk.com:

Head coach John Harbaugh said on Monday to anticipate a pair of moves at receiver this week and now they’ve come to pass.

The Ravens announced on Wednesday morning that they have designated first-round pick Rashod Bateman and Miles Boykin to return from injured reserve. That means both receivers can practice with the team and their 21-day window to be placed on the 53-man roster has begun.

Bateman suffered a groin injury in August and underwent surgery to repair the issue. Boykin suffered a hamstring injury early on in training camp.

Baltimore drafted Bateman at No. 27 overall in an effort to improve the team’s pass game after finishing last in the category in 2020. With free-agent signee Sammy Watkins also in tow, the Ravens have improved to No. 18 in passing yards on the young season.

Bateman and Boykin’s return should only aid in that process.

The Ravens face the Broncos in Denver this week.

Which reminds us – we always kind of thought a 66-yard field goal would be kicked at Mile High in Denver.  So if 66 was established as about the limit of PK JUSTIN TUCKER’s indoor sea level range – what would it be in Denver on Sunday (maybe with a gentle breeze behind him).

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS

The Colts are shopping RB MARLON MACK. These tweets from Adam Schefter of ESPN.com and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com:

@AdamSchefter

One reason Colts’ RB Marlon Mack didn’t play Sunday is because, per league sources, the team is considering trading him. Mack’s on a one-year deal, he’s healthy and still can be productive.

@TomPelissero

The #Colts and RB Marlon Mack have agreed to mutually seek a trade, per sources. Mack is fully healthy after last year’s Achilles tear. But Jonathan Taylor as the bell cow and Nyheim Hines recently extended, Mack is hoping for opportunities elsewhere.

THIS AND THAT

TWO-WAY CANDIDATES

As part of the push to have Angels P/DH Shohei Ohtani named the greatest player in baseball history, ESPN.comasked its correspondents to nominate the best candidate for two-way dominance on each team.  We expect to see a lot of pass rushers who could be tight ends, let’s find out:

The end of MLB’s regular season is near. And we can all agree that one player this season knocked our socks off with one of the best two-way performances in all of sports — ever.

Shohei Ohtani does it all for the Los Angeles Angels. For our NFL fans unfamiliar, Ohtani, a Japanese-born pitcher/DH, led the league in home runs for most of the season and has remained an ace for the Angels on the mound. He’s the favorite to be named AL MVP. All of this after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2018.

Ohtani’s performance got NFL Nation thinking: Who in the NFL would absolutely crush it on both sides of the ball? So, we picked 32 players — one from each team — who have the skills, background or attitude to be a potential dual threat in the NFL. Some of these players actually played completely different positions in high school and college, and the others just have many useful ball, blocking or foot skills.

Picture this: Chase Young as a tight end, Micah Parsons as a running back, DeAndre Hopkins as a defensive back and Travis Kelce as a defensive end (or quarterback). What a different — and extremely fun — world the NFL would be. But it actually is well within these players’ skill sets to perform well in these positions, and some of their coaches agree.

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Two-way candidate: LB Micah Parsons

Did you see what he was able to do as a defensive end against the Chargers with just two practices? Why couldn’t he play running back? Parsons had a sack and four quarterback hits, and gave tackle Storm Norton so many fits that the Chargers had to focus on him even more.

As a senior at Harrisburg (Pa.) High School, he had 1,239 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns.

Given his physical traits, ability and what he has shown so far, why not? — Todd Archer

New York Giants

Two-way candidate: S Jabrill Peppers

We’ve already seen it. Peppers did it all at Michigan, playing wildcat quarterback, running back and returner at Michigan. He finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2016. Some NFL scouts thought running back was his best position. His coaches with the Giants think he could play there in the NFL, too.  — Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles

Two-way candidate: OT Jordan Mailata

There’s no one in the NFL more uniquely qualified to play both ways. Have you ever watched his old rugby highlights? Not only did the Aussie truck people when he had the ball for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, he doled out bone-crushing hits on defense.–Tim McManus

Washington Football Team

Two-way candidate: DE Chase Young

No team has just one guy that could serve in this role, but Young is a tremendously gifted player. Had he wanted to play tight end in college, he could have excelled. In high school, he played on the basketball team at powerhouse DeMatha (Md.). “If he wanted to be a Division I basketball player, he could have been,” Mike Jones, his coach at DeMatha, said. “You could see his talent and size and his work ethic.”   — John Keim

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

Two-way candidate: S Eddie Jackson

Bears coach Matt Nagy has flirted with using Jackson on offense for years. The former Pro Bowl defensive back is explosive when the ball is in his hands. He has six career defensive touchdowns on interceptions and fumble returns. Jackson was also a former high school wide receiver in Florida. As a senior, Jackson was listed as the No. 54 wide receiver prospect in the country by ESPN, but he played defense for Nick Saban at Alabama. — Jeff Dickerson

Detroit Lions

Two-way candidate: NT Alim McNeill

There’s no way that a 6-foot-2, 330-pound nose tackle should be moving the way he does. McNeill played some short-yardage running back at Sanderson High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, scoring 18 career touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. But he was actually a star on the baseball diamond, earning three all-conference selections while batting .355 as a senior. He gave up the right field position in baseball to focus on football, becoming a second-team AP All-American at NC State, and now is a rookie contributor to the Lions as a third-round pick.   — Eric Woodyard

Green Bay Packers

Two-way candidate: LB Ty Summers

No, the inside linebacker hasn’t played quarterback since he was at Reagan (TX) High School, but Rice University offered him a scholarship to be a quarterback. He changed his mind, however, when TCU offered him — as a linebacker. Still, the speedy Summers thinks he could have made it in the NFL as a dual-threat runner and passer.  — Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings

Two-way candidate: WR Justin Jefferson

We got a glimpse of Jefferson’s many talents on the football field outside of catching touchdowns when he turned an end around into an 11-yard pass to K.J. Osborn at Cincinnati. But the 22-year-old receiver’s physical tools extend beyond football. Just ask Vikings running back Dalvin Cook, who frequently invites Jefferson over to his home to shoot hoops.

So how might that athleticism translate to Jefferson playing both offense and defense? “I feel like he could play some safety or something,” Cook said. “He’s tough.” — Courtney Cronin

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

Two-way candidate: CB Avery Williams

This answer is kind of easy because first-year head coach Arthur Smith has already hinted at it as a possibility for the rookie fifth-round pick. Williams entered the league as a corner — he showed promise there in the preseason, though he has only played three defensive snaps through three games — with the expectation that he’d make a difference as a return man. And it’s his skill as a punt returner that makes him tantalizing as an offensive option. It all starts on special teams for Williams, though.. — Michael Rothstein

Carolina Panthers

Two-way candidate: S/LB Jeremy Chinn

The real question is: Where can’t Chinn play? He played linebacker, nickel corner and some safety for the Panthers as a rookie in 2020. He is playing safety and linebacker this season. He was a star defender at Fishers (IN) High School, but he also averaged 6.9 yards per carry as a running back. Chinn defines what coach Matt Rhule likes to call a positionless player. — David Newton

New Orleans Saints

Two-way candidate: QB Taysom Hill

Hill is the obvious answer, considering he already has 14 career special teams tackles, a blocked punt and a punt deflection in addition to his do-everything role as a QB/RB/FB/TE/WR/KR. And he has never met a collision he doesn’t like when he tries to run through tacklers in the open field.

The only question is what position the 6-foot-2, 221-pounder would play on defense, but running back Alvin Kamara decided that safety would be the best fit. — Mike Triplett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Two-way candidate: DT Vita Vea

Who doesn’t want to see the 347-pound Vea as a ball carrier after he chased down running back Ronald Jones in training camp, and after he put together quite the high school highlight reel?

Vea averaged 12.3 yards per carry as a senior at Milpitas (CA) High School. He has played nine career offensive snaps for the Bucs, lining up at fullback. He even caught a one-yard touchdown pass in 2019. — Jenna Laine

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Two-way candidate: WR DeAndre Hopkins

Hopkins was a star defensive back at D.W. Daniel (SC) High School, where he had a whopping 28 interceptions. He went to Clemson as a cornerback, only to get moved to receiver when injuries at the position required more bodies. Hopkins also had scholarship offers to play basketball from multiple colleges. Now, Arizona won’t ever move him to defensive back, but he has the experience, knowledge and hands to jump in for a play or two during, say, a Hail Mary. — Josh Weinfuss

Los Angeles Rams

Two-way candidate: CB Jalen Ramsey

There were two recurring names in the debate over the Rams’ best potential two-way-player: Ramsey and safety Jordan Fuller. Ramsey earned the nod in a nonscientific poll, however. “He’s so athletic and he always messing around like he’s going to play running back,” running back Darrell Henderson said. “He showed me his high school highlights and he’s pretty good on offense.”

The 6-foot-1, 208-pound Ramsey starred as a cornerback, receiver and running back at Brentwood Academy (TN) before he went on to play corner at Florida State. “His position could convert easy,” receiver Robert Woods explained. “He has the height, length and speed. Good hands, too.” — Lindsey Thiry

San Francisco 49ers

Two-way candidate: OT Trent Williams

There are many options here, but Williams is considered one of the NFL’s unique players because of his combination of physical traits and size. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk envisions the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Williams being able to wreck shop as an interior pass-rusher as well as he protects quarterbacks.  — Nick Wagoner

Seattle Seahawks

Two-way candidate: LB/FB Nick Bellore

There’s no need to get hypothetical here. The Seahawks already have a two-way player in Bellore. He began his career at linebacker as an undrafted free agent with the Jets in 2011, then began his transition to fullback in 2017 with the Lions. That’s where he played in 2019 and 2020 with Seattle, before a rash of injuries to Seahawks linebackers this summer forced him into double duty. That meant going back and forth between meeting rooms and getting jokingly called a traitor by the offense. Bellore had 11 tackles over Seattle’s final two preseason games.

Actually, Bellore is a three-way player when you count special teams, where he is Seattle’s captain. He is a backup at linebacker and is still playing some fullback, playing two snaps there in Week 2. — Brady Henderson

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills

Two-way candidate: CB Tre’Davious White

While White is now an All-Pro defender and one of the league’s top cornerbacks, he originally went to LSU as a wide receiver after playing quarterback and cornerback at Green Oaks Magnet (LA) High School. Why the switch to corner? There were two pretty good players ahead of him at receiver — Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.

Instead, he switched to the defensive side of the ball and the rest is history. He also returned punts in college and had three return touchdowns. With his speed, White could also be a great weapon for the Bills’ offense. — Alaina Getzenberg

Miami Dolphins

Two-way candidate: CB Xavien Howard

There’s a reason why Howard seems to know what quarterbacks and wide receivers are thinking on the field — he played both positions at Houston Wheatley (TX) High School. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

New England Patriots

Two-way candidate: WR Gunner Olszewski

In fairness to Olszewski, this might be under-selling him. He is really a three-way player. He played defensive back at Bemidji State — he had three interceptions as a senior — before switching to receiver with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He was named an All-Pro return man in 2020. So that’s defense, offense and special teams, although Olszewski hasn’t yet played D in a regular season game. He is an emergency option, similar to Troy Brown and Julian Edelman in past years. — Mike Reiss

New York Jets

Two-way candidate: CB Justin Hardee

Hardee could play in all three phases if they let him. He makes his living on special teams, most notably as a gunner, but he is listed as a cornerback and actually broke into the NFL as a wide receiver. He was a receiver at Illinois, where he caught 72 passes in four seasons. — Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens

Two-way candidate: S DeShon Elliott

Growing up in Texas, Elliott idolized Emmitt Smith and wanted to play running back. But high school coaches saw how Elliott loved to hit and put him on defense. Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell believes Elliott could make an impact on offense.

“I’m not sure if he ever played running back, but I know his style of play as a defender,” Campbell said. “He’s physical and fast, and I think he’d be a force downhill. You could see him wanting to make linebackers and DBs pay. That’s his type of mentality.” — Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals

Two-way candidate: DE Trey Hendrickson

Hendrickson is known for being a solid defensive end, but during his days at Apopka (FL) High School, he was an offensive threat, too. He had 547 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for an Apopka team that won a state title his senior year. He also blocked three kicks on special teams. Given Hendrickson’s flexibility on the edge of the Bengals’ defense, it’s not hard to see him being a potential tight end in some unique packages. — Ben Baby

Cleveland Browns

Two-way candidate: DE Myles Garrett

After dominating pickup basketball games over the offseason (until coach Kevin Stefanski “retired” him), launching home runs in Jarvis Landry’s celebrity game and declaring (maybe justifiably?) that he’d “beat the brakes off” Logan Paul in a boxing match, if he wanted to — what would stop Garrett from also taking on, say, tight end in football?

“He could probably play any position he wanted,” said Browns guard Joel Bitonio, who, by the way, noted he would “definitely not” want to play both ways (“I am not in that type of shape,” he said).  — Jake Trotter

Pittsburgh Steelers

Two-way candidate: P Pressley Harvin III

Hear me out. There might be better athletes on the Steelers’ roster, but the rookie punter could be a three-way player. At 6-foot, 255 pounds, he is built like a linebacker, and he threw an absolute dime of a touchdown on a fake punt in college at Georgia Tech. In youth football, Harvin was an offensive lineman  — Brooke Pryor

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans

Two-way candidate: CB Desmond King II

Justin Reid voted for fellow defensive back King, who also has returned punts and kicks during his four seasons in the NFL. “With how Desmond has been returning each ball he caught for about 25-plus [yards], I say he’ll be a mean slot receiver too, if they put him on the offensive side of the ball,” Reid said.

King was a running back and defensive back at East English Village Preparatory Academy (MI), where he set a school record for career rushing yards and ran for 2,360 yards as a senior. — Sarah Barshop

Indianapolis Colts

Two-way candidate: TE Mo Alie-Cox

Alie-Cox was a dominant power forward who played above the rim while helping the VCU men’s basketball team reach the NCAA tournament four times. At 6-foot-5, 267 pounds, he has the size and speed to supply a pass rush off the edge at defensive end. It also doesn’t hurt that Alie-Cox has a 7-foot-2 wingspan.  — Mike Wells

Jacksonville Jaguars

Two-way candidate: WR Jamal Agnew

This was an easy search since Agnew is already a two-way player. Really, a three-way player since he is an All-Pro kick returner. Agnew is now a receiver, but Detroit drafted him in the fifth round in 2017 as a cornerback. He made the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro as a kick returner but also played some on defense — and has caught two passes. The Lions moved him to receiver in 2020 and he caught 13 passes for 89 yards. The Jaguars signed him to be a kick returner, but he has played 19 snaps on offense through three games. He also has a 109-yard touchdown return on a missed field goal.  — Michael DiRocco

Tennessee Titans

Two-way candidate: WR Julio Jones

Exhibit A for Jones would be back in 2015 when he caught Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander 85 yards down the field after Alexander intercepted Matt Ryan in the end zone. There’s actually a 3-minute-long highlight reel of Jones’ defensive highlights, which includes a jarring hit to prevent Cowboys defensive back Jeff Heath from intercepting a pass and a textbook tackle he made on Saints CB Marshon Lattimore after an interception.

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos

Two-way candidate: WR Kendall Hinton

Led by Von Miller, there are plenty of Broncos who often say they would like the chance to put in a little double duty, but Hinton is likely the only player on the roster who could pull it off in an NFL game. He is best known for filling in at quarterback against the Saints last season, but he has worked at cornerback during practice, including regular turns on the scout team defense against the Broncos starting offense.  “We did work him there some initially, because we like Kendall and wanted to give him a chance to show what he could do,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said.

Kansas City Chiefs

Two-way candidate: TE Travis Kelce

The Chiefs’ star pass-catcher played quarterback at Cleveland Heights (Ohio) High School and began his collegiate career as a signal-caller before moving to tight end. He was also reportedly recruited by colleges to play defensive end. At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Kelce might not have classic pass-rush skills, but he is enough of an athlete to pull it off. He is a quick study and understands the game. Who’s to say he couldn’t make for a serviceable rush end? — Adam Teicher

Las Vegas Raiders

Two-way candidate: WR Zay Jones

If general manager Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden have said it once, they have said it a million times: Jones is the most physically fit player on the Raiders roster. No, he is not the fastest, nor is he the biggest. But imagine Las Vegas gambling and playing him as a mirror image of himself at outside cornerback. He already understands route concepts and, with his athleticism, can stay in receivers’ pockets. He could even use his core-strength elevation technique to unnerve opponents from the defensive side of the ball. Plus, with hands better than any defensive back, imagine the picks. — Paul Gutierrez

Los Angeles Chargers

Two-way candidate: S Derwin James Jr.

James plays just about every position in the secondary — free safety, strong safety, corner. He even joked one day they could put him on the D-line. All through training camp, he was battling with Keenan Allen, one of the best receivers in the game. Switch roles? Derwin would hold his own. Said offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, “I know this being around Derwin a little bit — I’ll put my money on him against anyone.”

James was hurt all of last season and much of the season before. But this season, back healthy and feisty, he has 12 solo tackles and a quarterback hit. Put him at wide receiver and I’m guessing he’d bat those defensive backs away and get himself into the end zone for the Chargers. He once was asked where he preferred to play and answered, “Wherever the ball is.” That would include offense as well, I’d guess. He’s a stellar player with hops and hands. The Chargers need him, obviously, on defense, but he’s one who could cross the aisle and be great. — Shelley Smith