Category Archive a1

Byadmin

 Bengals coach reveals RB’s status for Steelers game

However, Schultz noted that Brown is going to do everything he can to take the field in a game the Bengals must win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Cincinnati also needs the Broncos and Miami Dolphins to lose.

Here’s the latest injury update on Brown, which comes from Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

Chase Brown injury update
According to the Cincinnati Inquirer’s Kelsey Conway, head coach Zac Taylor says that Brown will be a game-time decision and said “we’ll see” when asked if Brown would be able to play. Right tackle Amarius Mims is in the same boat.

Per the team’s official injury report, Brown has not practiced over the first two days of the week. Cincinnati has not released its final injury report of the week yet, so it remains to be seen if Brown will be able to get any work in on Thursday. As of now, we would expect the Bengals running back to draw a questionable tag.

Mims’ outlook appears to be a bit more positive because he was at least able to log limited sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mims is dealing with hand and ankle injuries.

If Brown can’t go, trade deadline acquisition Khalil Herbert figures to serve as the lead back after he handled all of the work upon Brown’s exit last week. The only other healthy running back on the active roster is Trayveon Williams. Cincinnati has Gary Brightwell and Kendall Milton on the practice squad, also.

Byadmin

Colts predicted to sign 3-time Pro Bowl quarterback to $15 million deal

At least, in the eyes of CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, the Colts could afford to bring in a three-time Pro Bowler to compete with the former No. 4 overall pick.

Benjamin predicted the Colts will sign New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr to a one-year $15 million deal after a projected release this offseason.

“After playing through multiple injuries in 2023, the former Raiders veteran succumbed to them in Year 2 with New Orleans, appearing in just 10 contests as the Saints made a long-awaited coaching shift. Going on 34, with a long but inconsistent resume, his release would save the team up to $30 million,” Benjamin wrote.

This would be a massive shock to the Colts offense. While Richardson has some questions to answer as the potential franchise quarterback, Carr would be yet another retread veteran to don the horseshoe.

Signing Carr to a $15 million wouldn’t guarantee he is the starter over Richardson, but that’s not insignificant money. It would signal the Colts are seriously preparing for the event that Richardson fails.

While Carr’s 40 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 27 games over the last two seasons may seem like an improvement, his low-ceiling production has been seen before in Indy.

It’s difficult to imagine Chris Ballard doing this type of deal if he remains the general manager, but anything can happen in the NFL, especially if a new regime comes in.

Byadmin

Packers $48 million superstar named to 3rd career Pro Bowl roster

This is Jacobs’ third career Pro Bowl nod, but it is his first time representing the Packers and resultingly his first time representing the NFC. He has 1,285 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns this season. He has 340 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown as well.

When Jordan Love was injured the Packers leaned heavily on Jacobs. He has been worth every penny and will be a big reason the Packers will be able to compete with any team in the playoffs. Jacobs, Rashan Gary and Xavier McKinney were all named to the Pro Bowl this year. Unlike Jacobs, McKinney and Gary are first-time selections.

The Packers’ first-round opponent is yet to be decided, but it will be either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles or Los Angeles Rams. The Packers have not played the Buccaneers this year, but Jacobs found success against the Rams and Eagles this year. Jacobs had 104 total yards against the Eagles in week one in Brazil. He had 94 total yards and a touchdown in Los Angeles.

Jacobs has seemingly gotten better as the temperature drops. Playing in Philadelphia in January could be a good matchup for him.

Byadmin

aron Glenn knows why Lions star Kerby Joseph was snubbed from Pro Bowl

Then, there’s the Pro Football Focus numbers: Joseph ranks first in overall and coverage grade, and 13th in run defense grade. Joseph’s completion rate allowed (59.3%) and passer rating (74.8) rank second and seventh, respectively, among safeties who have played at least 80% of their team’s coverage snaps.

Joseph’s snub didn’t even come from the fans, as he ranked first in voting among free safeties in that portion of the vote, which counts as one-third. Where Joseph fell short was in the players and coaches portion, each of which counts as one-third, also.

So, that begs the question: how did the people who are supposed to know ball the most not vote for Joseph, who is clearly having an elite season? Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn knows the answer.

“I think we all know that, but it is what it is,” Glenn said, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic.

As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press points out, Glenn is referring to the idea that Joseph is considered a dirty player, a label he has been given by some after injuring tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Tyler Higbee last season.

Joseph was also labeled a dirty player by former Lions and current Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who called the safety “dirty as [expletive]” right after the hit on Higbee.

Hockenson, who was once teammates with Joseph in 2022, has since stated that he doesn’t believe Joseph was intentionally trying to hurt him.

“I know Kerby pretty well. I’ve played with him. I don’t necessarily think it was [intended to injure],” he said back in April. “You go back on the tape and you see what happened. I don’t think it was [intentional]. I just want to make sure it wasn’t and that’s why I’m using my voice here. Players protect players. That’s in any facet of the league. You don’t want a defensive guy head-hunting or knee- hunting, and the same thing for an offensive guy.”

Can we totally confirm that Joseph did not make the Pro Bowl because of the label he has seemingly picked up? No, but with his snub being so egregious, and with the view coming from Glenn, it certainly holds at least some weight.

Byadmin

Raiders predicted to sign promising backup to $11 million contract to address need

Las Vegas seemed destined to select a signal caller in the 2025 NFL Draft, but after winning the last two games, their draft position has plummeted to the No.8 overall pick heading into Week 18 after holding the No.2 pick just a few weeks ago. There are a plethora of quarterback-needy teams ahead of them in the current draft order, including the New York Giants (Pick 4) and Tennessee Titans (Pick 2).

The draft is still months away, so there is still a chance the Raiders will be in a position to select a signal caller. But CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin believes Las Vegas will go down the veteran quarterback route once again and sign Pittsburgh Steelers backup Justin Fields in 2025 free agency. Benjamin projects Fields’ contract with the Raiders will be for one year at $11 million.

“Summoned to open the Steelers’ season under center as Wilson recovered from injury, the former Chicago Bears first-rounder has been equally dynamic as erratic when asked to win through the air, though his Pittsburgh debut was more efficient,” Benjamin wrote. “He remains something of a high-upside unknown.”

If Las Vegas can’t land one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft, who many believe is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward, signing Fields to an affordable one-year deal to serve as a bridge would be a savvy move by the team.

Fields started the first six weeks of the season for the Steelers while Russell Wilson dealt with a calf injury. The 2021 No.11 overall pick posted a 4-2 record and totaled ten touchdowns to just two turnovers. Fields showed a ton of promise and has grown as a passer, completing 65.8% of his passes during that six-game stretch to begin the year.

Selecting a quarterback would be the ideal scenario for Las Vegas, but if the team knows they will not be in a position to select a signal caller in April, signing Justin Fields in free agency in March would be a nice move.

Byadmin

3 Minnesota Vikings who were snubbed despite team’s 6 total selections

Only three tackles make the initial Pro Bowl roster from each conference, and it’s hard to argue against the likes of Lane Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles, Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions and Tristan Wirfs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but O’Neill doesn’t get the respect he deserves for locking down the right side of Minnesota’s offensive line.

He’s allowed just two sacks and 18 total pressures this season, per PFF’s advanced stats. That includes a herculean stretch midseason that saw him allow zero QB pressures or hurries in four consecutive games. It’s no coincidence, either, that that stretch started in Week 9, which was Minnesota’s first game with Cam Robinson replacing the injured Christian Darrisaw on the left side.

Darnold has been sacked 46 times this season, fourth most in the NFL. Maybe that worked against Minnesota’s offensive linemen this season. But Vikings fans have a legitimate gripe with O’Neill missing the cut. He’s been a stabilizing force this season and was the team’s top Pro Bowl snub.

LB Blake Cashman
The hometown kid — Cashman went to Eden Prairie High School — has been a boon for Minnesota’s defense. He would likely be a lock for this year’s Pro Bowl had he not missed three games with a toe injury.

Still, in 13 games, he’s racked up 104 total tackles, and his 4.5 sacks over that span is an elite number among interior linebackers. Only Lavonte David of the Bucs has comparable stats in terms of both tackles (113) and sacks (5.5), but it took him 16 games to get there.

One of the most impactful free agent additions in the NFL this season, Cashman is a lesser-known player fully deserving of Pro Bowl recognition.

S Josh Metellus
Shoutout to Vikings Nation, as Metellus ranked first at his position in the fan voting. That’s awesome, considering your average NFL fan has probably never heard his name before. That could soon change after Metellus doubled down on what was a breakout 2023 season.

Working against Metellus when it comes to the Pro Bowl is his position, as he’s not deployed by Flores like a traditional strong safety. He’s a hybrid player who spends most of his time in the box, more like a linebacker or even a slot corner. His PFF grade of 87.7 in run defense would rank top-five among safeties, but this player does it all, entering Week 18 with 98 total tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Unfortunately for Metellus, the fan vote is only part of the voting process. A player listed as a safety, on a team that deploys Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum as their starters at that position, probably makes it hard to justify giving Metellus the nod. He’s more than deserving, though, as one of the most versatile defensive backs in football.