4 days agoNFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that former New Orleans Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi is likely to become the Denver Broncos' special teams coordinator, although the Broncos will conduct a full search for the position. Although Rizzi was a candidate for the Saints' full-time head-coach position -- the Saints are also the only team with a vacancy at the position that hasn't been filled -- the job is expected to go to Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Philadelphia Eagles. Rizzi has 16 years of experience in the NFL, including the last six years in New Orleans, and he was initially hired by the Saints by current Broncos head coach Sean Payton. After the Saints fired Dennis Allen in 2024, Rizzi took over as the team's interim head coach and led the team to a 3-5 finish down the stretch in his first go as a head coach. If he joins Denver, he could bring long-time assistant Phil Galiano with him.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL.com
4 days agoESPN's Kevin Seifert reports that the NFL had its fewest number of concussions during the 2024 season since it began tracking the injury in 2015, according to the league. The total of 182 concussions reported during games and practices in the preseason and regular season represented a 17% drop from 2023. The previous low for the same timeframe was 187 concussions in 2022. "We're very pleased with the concussion numbers but not at all suggesting that the work is done," said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer. "We still have a lot to do to continue to make the game safer and reduce not only concussions, but to reduce avoidable head impact." The league attributed the drop in head injuries to a number of factors that included helmet quality and the mandatory use of Guardian Caps for most players during training camp and regular-season practices.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN.com - Kevin Seifert
4 days agoAccording to The Baltimore Banner, Baltimore Ravens kicker is facing three more sexual-assault allegations from massage therapists that have accused him of misconduct. Nine massage therapists in the Baltimore area have now accused Tucker of inappropriate behavior, with all of the incidents reportedly occurring from 2012 to 2016, his first five seasons in the NFL. On Thursday, Tucker wrote that The Baltimore Banner "takes innocuous or ambiguous interactions and skews them so out of proportion that they are no longer recognizable. This is desperate tabloid fodder." Tucker's conduct caused some therapists to refuse to work with him and resulted in two spas banning him. The 35-year-old seven-time Pro Bowler is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but he could be subject to discipline under the NFL's personal-conduct policy heading into next season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Baltimore Banner - Julie Scharper, Brenna Smith and Justin Fenton
5 days agoThe Chicago Bears signed free-agent wide receiver
Maurice Alexander to a Reserve/Futures deal on Friday, according to KPRC's Aaron Wilson. New head coach Ben Johnson is poaching Alexander from the Detroit Lions after the 28-year-old spent the last three years in Detroit. The former undrafted free agent out of Florida International has only appeared in four NFL games, though, with all of them coming back in 2022. In his four games for the Lions, he caught his only target for a gain of seven yards. Alexander will head to Chicago with a firm grasp of Johnson's offensive concepts, although he will still be a long shot to make the 53-man active roster to begin the 2025 season out of training camp. He will most likely stick on Chicago's practice squad next season.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
5 days agoThe Jacksonville Jaguars interviewed Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator Grant Udinski for their offensive-coordinator job on Friday, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. There is a lot of intrigue around the 28-year-old, as he's now interviewed for five offensive-coordinator jobs around the league this cycle. He started out as Minnesota's assistant to the head coach/special projects in 2022 and was promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2023 before being given his current title this past season. Udinski started his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2019 with Baylor and then followed Matt Rhule to the Carolina Panthers in 2020 to be a coaching assistant. If he were to land in Jacksonville as the offensive coordinator, he'd serve as first-time head coach Liam Coen's right-hand man.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
5 days agoKansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) returned to a full practice on Friday and was subsequently removed from this week's final injury report. Taylor was also a full participant in Wednesday's practice before being downgraded to limited on Thursday. The 27-year-old offensive lineman dealt with a knee injury late in the regular season but has not missed either of the team's playoff wins over the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills, so it's not a surprise that he's fully expected to play in Super Bowl LIX next Sunday, Feb. 9, in New Orleans against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Chiefs might limit Taylor's reps in practice again next week, but it will purely be for rest purposes. Expect him to be off next week's injury report as well and be active on Super Sunday against the Eagles.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chiefs.com
5 days agoNFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Dallas Cowboys have hired Arizona Cardinals offensive-line coach Klayton Adams as their new defensive coordinator. Adams had a second, in-person interview with the Cowboys on Friday and has landed the gig under first-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Schottenheimer will call plays for the Cowboys offense in his first year as the head coach. The 41-year-old Adams was with the Cardinals the last two seasons. Arizona ranked seventh with 144.2 yards per game on the ground in 2024 and second in yards per carry (5.3). Although Dallas' top running back,
Rico Dowdle, had 1,079 yards this year, the Cowboys only had six rushing touchdowns. They are hoping the addition of Adams will make their ground game more prolific. Before joining the Cardinals, Adams spent four years with the Indianapolis Colts, working with tight ends and serving as assistant O-line coach.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
5 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith (illness) returned to a limited practice session on Friday and was removed from this week's injury report. Smith was under the weather and missed practice on Thursday, but he was feeling better a day later and should be just fine to suit up next Sunday, Feb. 9, to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles still have another full week of practice, but the 24-year-old Smith should be a full-go for all three of those sessions. In addition to having a strong regular season in his second year in the league in 2024, Smith has been a key defender for the Eagles in three postseason games, recording 16 tackles (seven solo), four sacks and a forced fumble. During the regular season (16 games), he had 42 tackles (21 solo) and 6.5 sacks. Smith has been a key role player for the No. 1 defense in the NFL.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
5 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles offensive guard Landon Dickerson (knee) and center Cam Jurgens (back) both missed practice for a third straight day this week on Friday, but the Eagles removed them from the final injury report. The Eagles still have another week before they take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, but this means that both Dickerson and Jurgens should be active for the big game, barring any setbacks in practice next week. This is big news for an Eagles offensive line that is one of the best in football when both Dickerson and Jurgens are on the field. Dickerson injured his knee in the win over the division-rival Washington Commanders last Sunday in the NFC Championship, forcing Jurgens into the contest after he suffered a back injury the week prior in the Divisional Round win over the Los Angeles Rams.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
5 days agoDespite not practicing at all this week, Philadelphia Eagles tight end
Dallas Goedert (ankle, rest) was removed from Friday's final injury report. It means that the Eagles were merely resting their starting tight end this week ahead of next weekend's big game. Fantasy managers should fully expect Goedert to be active for Super Bowl LIX next Sunday, Feb. 9, when the team takes on the Kansas City Chiefs. Goedert also missed two practices last week but was active in the NFC Championship win over the division-rival Washington Commanders and caught seven of eight targets for 85 yards. The 30-year-old has been heavily involved in three playoff wins over the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Commanders, catching 15 of his 18 targets for 188 yards and a touchdown. Expect him to have a big role against KC.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
5 days agoDespite not practicing at all this week, the Philadelphia Eagles removed wide receiver
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) from Friday's final injury report. It means that despite Smith picking up a hamstring injury in the NFC Championship win over the division-rival Washington Commanders, he's fully expected to suit up for Super Bowl LIX next Sunday, Feb. 9, versus the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith will likely be back on next week's injury report and might even miss a practice or two, but he should be fine to play next weekend and will be needed if the Eagles are to upset KC in the big game. The 26-year-old not practicing at all this week was likely more of the Eagles just wanting to rest their No. 2 wideout with an extra week off before the Super Bowl. Smith will be looking for his first touchdown of the postseason next weekend.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
5 days agoPer Michael Baca of NFL.com, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have promoted former passing-game coordinator Josh Grizzard to offensive coordinator. The Bucs just went through a weird situation with ex-offensive coordinator Liam Coen's fascinating way of finding a new job. However, it didn't take them long to fill the vacancy, as they promoted from within to find their next play-caller. Grizzard has spent the last decade-plus in the NFL, cutting his teeth with the Miami Dolphins as a quality control coach before moving to wide receiver coach of the team in 2022. He'd then find his way to Tampa Bay and worked extensively with Coen over the past season to provide one of the NFL's better offenses and one of the franchise's most productive of all time. We'll see how the offense shakes out in 2025.
--Alex CiullaSource: Michael Baca
5 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles running back
Kenneth Gainwell (knee, concussion) is deemed questionable for next Sunday's meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs. Gainwell picked up a concussion in his team's win against their division-rival Washington Commanders last weekend and, unfortunately, hasn't been able to practice since sustaining the injury. He'd handle only five touches before leaving on Philly's first drive of the second half. The good news is that the 25-year-old will get an extra week of rest before squaring off with the reigning Super Bowl champions. However, he'll still need to gain clearance from an independent neurologist before taking the field. If, for some reason, Gainwell can't play in the Super Bowl, rookie running back
Will Shipley will again act as a change of pace for superstar teammate
Saquon Barkley.
--Alex CiullaSource: Philadelphia Eagles
5 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham (triceps) is officially listed as questionable for next Sunday's contest with the Kansas City Chiefs. The former Michigan Wolverine was starting to heat up in the back half of the season, picking up 2.5 sacks over his last three outings before landing on injured reserve with a triceps tear in Week 13. While it was initially thought that Graham would be out for the remainder of the season, he had his 21-day practice window opened up earlier this week and followed that up with back-to-back limited sessions. It's excellent news for the 36-year-old -- and the team -- as despite missing six games in the regular season, he still clocked in at fifth on the Eagles in sacks. Graham will be one to monitor over the next week or so.
--Alex CiullaSource: Philadelphia Eagles
5 days agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Skyy Moore (abdomen) is listed as doubtful for next weekend's Super Bowl matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. The third-year pro suddenly popped up with a core muscle injury in late October and was immediately placed on injured reserve. Moore was designated to return from IR earlier this week and practiced in a limited capacity over the last two days but isn't yet ready to return to in-game action. With another week of practices on tap before the post-season's finale, the 24-year-old still has a shot to elevate his status for the big game. The last time we saw Moore appear in a contest was before the team acquired fellow wideout
DeAndre Hopkins, so it will be interesting to see how he's deployed when he's finally healthy. It is unclear whether that will be before their meeting with the Eagles, so expect Hopkins and
Justin Watson to continue to round out Kansas City's WR rotation in the meantime.
--Alex CiullaSource: Kansas City Chiefs
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