7 days agoESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Philadelphia Eagles opened the practice window for defensive end Brandon Graham (triceps) to return from Injured Reserve on Thursday, which gives him a chance to return for Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles said earlier this week that they were keeping the door open for Graham to potentially play in the Super Bowl despite the fact that he tore his triceps in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams. The 36-year-old pass-rusher has been on IR ever since, but it looks like he'll attempt to practice the remainder of this week and next in an attempt to rejoin his teammates for the Super Bowl next weekend. The Eagles would have to officially activate Graham from IR before next Saturday so that he's eligible to play. Getting Graham back would be a boost to the No. 1 overall defense, but it's unlikely he'd play more than a rotational role if he's active.
UPDATE: Graham was listed as limited in Thursday's practice.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
7 days agoThe Athletic's Vic Tafur writes that all signs are pointing to Miami Dolphins quarterbacks coach/passing-game coordinator Darrell Bevell becoming the next offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders under new head coach Pete Carroll. Bevell and Carroll coached together with the Seattle Seahawks for seven seasons, including a Super Bowl championship, so a reunion in Vegas makes plenty of sense. Carroll doesn't call offensive plays as the head coach, so hiring a trusted coach that he has plenty of experience with makes total sense. Bevell was the offensive coordinator for Seattle from 2011-17. The Raiders have already been linked to potentially going after impending free-agent quarterback
Russell Wilson, and those rumors would get even stronger if Bevell joined the fray in the desert. Bevell helped Wilson develop into one of the best QBs in the NFL in their time in Seattle.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Vic Tafur
7 days agoNFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Las Vegas Raiders re-signed defensive coordinator Patrick Graham on Thursday, according to sources. Graham's contract with the Raiders expired after the 2024 season and he had other options, including heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he ultimately was convinced to return by new head coach Pete Carroll and minority owner
Tom Brady. He has been in Vegas since he was hired as the defensive coordinator in 2022 as part of head coach Josh McDaniels' staff. Under Graham in 2024, the Raiders defense finished 25th in scoring defense, but injuries to key players on that side of the ball, including All-Pro pass-rusher Maxx Crosby, didn't make things easy. Graham served as the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants before joining the Raiders.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
1 week agoThe Buffalo Bills announced on Wednesday that they re-signed tight end
Zach Davidson to a Reserve/Futures deal. Davidson spent most of the 2024 season on the team's practice squad but was elevated to the active 53-man roster for three games. The 26-year-old only caught one of two targets for five yards on offense, though, while also seeing work on special teams. That is the only action he's seen in the NFL since the Minnesota Vikings made him a fifth-round selection in 2021 out of Central Missouri State. Davidson will continue his development with the Bills this offseason through organized team activities and training camp as he looks to win a spot on the 53-man active roster for Week 1 of the 2025 regular season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: BuffaloBills.com - Alec White
1 week agoThe Atlanta Falcons announced on Tuesday that they signed free-agent tight end
Nikola Kalinic to a Reserve/Future contract. The 28-year-old appeared in two games with the Los Angeles Rams in 2024 and previously played in the Canadian Football League from 2019-22 before joining the Indianapolis Colts. Since the end of the season in addition to Kalinic, Atlanta has signed quarterback
Emory Jones, wide receivers Phillips Dorsett,
Jesse Matthews,
Dylan Drummond,
Makai Polk and
David Sills, running back
Elijah Dotson, offensive linemen Joey Fisher, Jovaughn Gwyn, Tyron Wheatley Jr. and Matthew Cindric, defensive linemen Junior Aho, Khalid Kareem and LaCale London, and defensive backs Lamar Jackson and Benny Sapp III to Reserve/Futures deals.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Falcons Wire - Matt Urben
1 week agoThe New York Jets are working on a deal with Denver Broncos special teams assistant Chris Banjo to make him their new special teams coordinator, according to sources. Banjo served as Denver's special teams assistant each of the last two years and will be a big loss for the Broncos' special teams unit this offseason. Before beginning his coaching career, Banjo spent the last 10 years as a defensive back with the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals and specialized on special teams. In addition to interviewing with the Jets, he had interviews for the special teams coordinator jobs with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. In addition to bringing Banjo aboard the Jets, new head coach Aaron Glenn is also hiring long-time defensive coach Steve Wilks as the team's new defensive coordinator.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: 9 News - Mike Klis
1 week agoAccording to sources, the Dallas Cowboys interviewed Arizona Cardinals offensive-line coach Klayton Adams for their vacancy at offensive coordinator on Tuesday. The Cowboys have an opening at the position after promoting former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach earlier this week. Adams is considered a top candidate for Dallas and was a key architect in constructing the Cardinals' top-10 running game in 2024. He arrived in Arizona before the 2023 season alongside Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. With Adams working with the team's offensive linemen, the Cardinals ranked seventh in rushing yards per game and eighth in rushing touchdowns. Running back
James Conner reached 1,000 rushing yards in both seasons with Adams directing the offensive line. Dallas also requested an interview with Atlanta Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Sports Illustrated - Conor Orr
1 week agoPhiladelphia Eagles defensive lineman Byron Young (hamstring) will remain on Injured Reserve for their meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. It's unfortunate news for the 24-year-old, who was not activated from IR within his 21-day window. Young was designated to return from injured reserve on Jan. 8 and would practice as a full participant over the next three weeks, though he was ruled out for each contest. He'll end his campaign without logging an appearance before the hamstring injury he suffered in October, which would effectively end his year. The Alabama product was a former third-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders before finding his way to Philadelphia via waivers at the end of training camp. With the top-end talent the Eagles bolster on their defensive interior, he won't likely be more than a rotational player even when he's healthy.
--Alex CiullaSource: Charean Williams
1 week agoAccording to Alec White of the team, the Buffalo Bills have re-signed quarterback
Shane Buechele (neck) to a one-year deal. The Texas native spent the entirety of the 2024 season on injured reserve with a neck injury he sustained in the preseason and was previously a member of the Bills' practice squad in 2023. Buechele went undrafted out of SMU in 2021 and was signed by Kansas City, though he never recorded a snap. He'd then get a year off in 2022 before finding his way to Buffalo the following season. The 27-year-old's collegiate profile is nothing of note, brandishing one season with more than 3,100 passing yards and 23 touchdowns. However, his familiarity with Buffalo's system makes him a valuable emergency option should anything happen to the players ahead of him. He'll now attempt to work his way to their 53-man roster in 2025.
--Alex CiullaSource: Alec White
1 week agoPer Grant Gordon of NFL.com, Washington Commanders tight end
Zach Ertz told reporters on Monday that he still intends to play football in 2025. "I still want to play football next year," said Ertz. "I just want to make that clear that I'm not retiring." The 34-year-old was a valuable safety valve for rookie QB
Jayden Daniels this season and had one of his better campaigns in recent memory. Ertz went on to say he felt rejuvenated this year and believes he can still get better. He also made it clear that he'd like to play in Washington again in 2025 if they'll have him. Whether that's the case remains to be seen, but he's undoubtedly played himself into another contract and still has the drive to play.
--Alex CiullaSource: Grant Gordon
1 week agoHouston Texans cornerback Jalen Pitre (pectoral) had successful surgery on his torn pectoral muscle and is on track to be available for the team's offseason activities. "My recovery is going well," Pitre said. In 12 games before his injury, Pitre had 65 tackles (six for loss), a forced fumble, an interception and eight pass breakups while moving back to his natural nickel position with the Texans. Losing Pitre in their secondary was tough for Houston's defense, as it became easier for opponents to run the ball against them. With both Pitre and Jimmie Ward (foot) injured, Myles Bryant became the team's primary nickelback. The 25-year-old former second-round pick is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, which means he's eligible for an extension. Staying with the Texans is something he's very much interested in, and that could become a reality if he stays healthy and plays up to his abilities in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
1 week agoCincinnati Bengals All-Pro wide receiver
Ja'Marr Chase is entering the final year of his rookie deal with the team in 2025 after not being able to agree on a new contract last offseason. This offseason, director of personnel Duke Tobin said a long-term extension for Chase will be "a priority for us." The Bengals should expect Chase's representation to ask for significantly more than what Cincy's final offer was last year after he led the NFL in receiving yards (1,708), receptions (127) and touchdowns (17) to capture the receiving Triple Crown. The 24-year-old will be a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year. When everything is said and done, Chase will be the league's highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. The Vikings'
Justin Jefferson reset the WR market with a four-year deal worth $140 million, which Chase will exceed. For good reason, Chase will be the first WR off the board in fantasy drafts in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Kelsey Conway
1 week agoNFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Los Angeles Rams quarterback
Matthew Stafford plans to continue playing in 2025. Stafford was non-committal as to whether he'd return for a 17th NFL season after the Rams' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. Although it's now clear he wants to keep playing, there's still uncertainty as to whether it will be in L.A. The 36-year-old signal-caller revised his contract with the Rams before the 2024 season and will carry a $49.6 million salary cap number into this year. If the Rams were to trade Stafford in a post-June 1 move, they'd save $27 million. They'd save $23 million by designating him as a post-June 1 cut. However, the Rams don't currently have any immediate plans to replace Stafford. Injuries are a concern, but he still has elite arm strength and threw for 3,762 passing yards, 20 TDs and eight interceptions in 16 regular-season games.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
1 week agoPhiladelphia Eagles offensive guard Landon Dickerson (knee) and center Cam Jurgens (back) were both listed as non-participants for the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Dickerson injured his knee in the win over the division-rival Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship last Sunday. Jurgens, meanwhile, was active despite suffering a back injury the previous week, although he did not start against Washington. Dickerson's knee injury forced Jurgens into the game against the Commanders. Philadelphia has one of the best offensive lines in football, but the health of both Dickerson and Jurgens will perhaps be the biggest storyline heading into the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. The good news is that Dickerson and Jurgens will have an extra week to recover for Super Bowl LIX.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
1 week agoPhiladelphia Eagles running back
Kenneth Gainwell (concussion, knee) did not take part in practice with the rest of the team on Wednesday after suffering a concussion on Sunday in the win over the division-rival Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship. In addition to being in the league's concussion protocol this week, the 25-year-old backup running back is dealing with a knee injury. It means his status for Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs is up in the air, but the good news is he'll have an extra week to recover with the game not taking place until Sunday, Feb. 9. Still, Gainwell's status for the big game is currently up in the air. If he is unable to gain clearance to play against KC,
Will Shipley would be the primary change-of-pace back for the Eagles behind stud rusher
Saquon Barkley. Gainwell only has 10 touches for 58 scrimmage yards in three playoff games this year.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
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