5 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles wide receiver
DeVonta Smith (hamstring) is not practicing again on Friday. After picking up a hamstring injury in the win over the division-rival Washington Commanders last Sunday in the NFC Championship, Smith has been held out of practice all week. However, there shouldn't be much concern around his status for Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs since the Eagles have another week-plus before the big game. As long as the 26-year-old wideout can return to practice next week, he should be fine to play against the Chiefs. In the Eagles' three playoff victories over the Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams and Commanders, Smith had four catches apiece on 12 total targets for 121 receiving yards and no touchdowns. He sat out the Week 18 regular-season finale but had four touchdowns through Weeks 14-17.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Brooks Kubena
5 days agoThe Dallas Cowboys interviewed Detroit Lions running backs coach/assistant head coach Scottie Montgomery for their offensive-coordinator opening, multiple sources told ESPN Dallas' Todd Archer. The Cowboys have now interviewed Montgomery, Arizona Cardinals offensive-line coach Klayton Adams, Atlanta Falcons tight ends coach Kevin Koger and former Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey for their offensive-coordinator position under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Montgomery has been with Detroit the last two years. Before that, he was the Indianapolis Colts' running backs coach and also spent three years as the head coach at East Carolina University. The Cowboys are looking for a new offensive coordinator after promoting Schottenheimer as their next head coach.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
5 days agoUpdating a previous report, the New York Jets are hiring Detroit Lions tight ends coach/passing-game coordinator Tanner Engstrand as their new offensive coordinator. Engstrand will follow new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn from Detroit, giving the Jets a first-time head coach and first-time offensive coordinator going into the 2025 season. The 42-year-old Engstrand started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of San Diego in 2005-06 before eventually becoming the assistant head coach of the Toreros from 2013-17. He then became Michigan's offensive analyst in 2018 and the offensive coordinator of the DC Defenders of the UFL in 2020. Engstrand entered the NFL as an offensive assistant for the Lions in 2021 and was promoted to TEs coach in 2022 under head coach Dan Campbell.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
5 days agoCarolina Panthers wide receiver
Adam Thielen said after the 2024 regular season that he planned on evaluating his future this offseason before committing to a return for a 12th year in the NFL. Thielen was limited to 10 games last season due to injuries, but it sounds like he's leaning toward returning in 2025 for another season. "Yeah, I think I still have some more football in me. We'll see how that plays out in the next few weeks," Thielen said. The 34-year-old pass-catcher is a two-time Pro Bowler who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings before signing a three-year, $25 million deal with Carolina in 2023. Despite a tough two seasons with the Panthers, Thielen admits quarterback
Bryce Young's improvement last year and head coach Dave Canales have been important in his decision-making progress. Although he played in only 10 games in 2024, he did average 12.8 yards per catch.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Mail Sport - Ben Nagle
5 days agoThe Dallas Cowboys are interviewing Arizona Cardinals offensive-line coach Klayton Adams for their offensive-coordinator position in-person on Friday, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Adams is considered the favorite to land the job on new head coach Brian Schottenheimer's coaching staff. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said this week that Dallas was searching for an offensive coordinator who is "outstanding" in the running game, and Adams would fit that bill. Arizona's rushing offense finished seventh in the NFL in rushing yards during the 2024 season, and running back
James Conner had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns the last two years under Adams. With Schottenheimer being a first-time head coach, it's unclear if he'll be calling offensive plays for the Cowboys in 2025.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Mike Garofolo
5 days agoSNY's Connor Hughes reports that the expectation is that Detroit Lions tight ends coach/passing-game coordinator Tanner Engstrand will be named as the new offensive coordinator for the New York Jets, according to sources. The Jets were also making a run at Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach/passing-game coordinator Nick Caley for the offensive-coordinator position, but he has informed them that he's not interested and is seeking other jobs around the league. In addition to likely bringing on Engstrand, the Jets hired Steve Heiden as their offensive-line coach this week. Engstrand joined Detroit in 2020 as an offensive assistant and was promoted to his current role in 2022. Many viewed him as a possible candidate to take over for Ben Johnson as the Lions offensive coordinator, but he will instead follow first-time head coach Aaron Glenn to New York.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
5 days agoThe New York Jets made a run at Los Angeles Rams tight ends coach/passing-game coordinator Nick Caley for their vacancy at offensive coordinator, but Caley has let it be known that he's not interested in the job, according to sources. Caley currently works with Mike LaFleur, who was fired by the Jets previously as the offensive coordinator. Under first-time head coach Aaron Glenn, New York has question marks at the quarterback position if future Hall of Famer
Aaron Rodgers does not return for another season in 2025. Caley has drawn interest from other teams around the league, so he still has other options. He reportedly interviewed for the Houston Texans' offensive-coordinator role on Thursday and also interviewed for the same position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night. Caley joined the Rams in 2023 after coaching tight ends with the Patriots for six seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: SNY - Connor Hughes
5 days agoNFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with Anthony Campanile as their new defensive coordinator on Friday, according to sources. Campanile was most recently the linebackers coach/running-game coordinator for the Green Bay Packers. This will be his first gig as defensive coordinator in the NFL under first-time head coach Liam Coen. The 42-year-old started as a coach in the NFL as a linebackers coach from 2020-23 with the Miami Dolphins before working with Green Bay last season. The Packers ranked seventh in the league in rushing defense at 99.4 yards per game allowed and third in the NFL in yards per carry (4.0) in 2024. When he was with the Dolphins, Miami's defense allowed an average of 4.2 yards per carry (10th in the NFL) and 106.4 yards per game on the ground (sixth in the league).
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
6 days agoNFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that former Stanford head coach David Shaw and the Detroit Lions agreed to a multi-year deal on Thursday for him to serve as the team's new passing-game coordinator, according to sources. The 52-year-old worked with new offensive coordinator John Morton with the Denver Broncos. Shaw served as the Broncos' senior personnel executive in 2024, while Morton was Denver's passing-game coordinator under head coach Sean Payton in both 2023 and 2024. He held the Stanford head-coaching gig from 2011-2022 and had double-digit wins in five of his six seasons at the helm. This will be his first coaching job since then. Both he and Morton will try to pick up where Ben Johnson left off after molding Detroit's offense into one of the highest-scoring units over the last few seasons.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
6 days agoThe Houston Texans have requested to interview
Brian Johnson for their vacant offensive-coordinator position. Johnson is currently the passing game coordinator with the Washington Commanders. He was the offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. After that, Johnson joined the Commanders staff last offseason, but he might be done with that after one season. It's no surprise that Johnson is getting looked at for OC jobs after the season
Jayden Daniels put together this past season. He did a fine job as the Eagles offensive coordinator, so maybe it's time for him to try it again.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Aaron Wilson
6 days agoThe Houston Texans have interviewed Grant Udinski for their vacant offensive-coordinator position. Udinski has been popular this offseason given this is his fourth interview. He also interviewed with the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before talking with Houston. Udinski is currently the assistant offensive coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach with the Minnesota Vikings. He has done an excellent job there especially with helping
Sam Darnold shine in that system. The Texans have been talking with a handful of coaches for their vacant OC job, so it's unclear who is the favorite for this job.
--Andy Webb - RotoBallerSource: Adam Schefter
6 days agoKansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (knee) was downgraded to a limited practice on Thursday after he was a full-go in the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Although mid-week downgrades are never a good thing, we suspect the Chiefs are just giving the 27-year-old a little extra rest before the Super Bowl next weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was held out of the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos and benefitted from the first-round bye in the playoffs. Taylor has suited up for both of the Chiefs' playoff wins over the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills and should be available for KC in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, barring a setback with his knee during practice next week.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Chiefs.com
6 days agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Skyy Moore (abdomen) had his practice window opened on Thursday to return from Injured Reserve and he was listed as limited. While Moore remains on IR, it means that he now has a shot to be activated in order to play in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, Feb. 9, versus the Philadelphia Eagles. The 24-year-old landed on IR with a core-muscle injury back on Oct. 24 but is feeling good enough to return to the practice field. The former second-round selection was not expected to be able to return for the Chiefs' playoff run, though, so even though he's back at practice, there's no guarantee KC will make him active for the Super Bowl. In six games in 2024 before his injury, Moore only saw three receptions and couldn't haul any of them in. If Moore is active against the Eagles, don't expect him to be on the field much, if at all, in New Orleans.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Kansas City Star - Jesse Newell
6 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith (illness) was under the weather on Thursday and did not practice with the rest of the team. Smith practiced in full on Wednesday but popped up on this week's injury report due to an illness. With Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs not coming until Sunday, Feb. 9, the 24-year-old has plenty of time to rest up, so it would be a surprise if he's not available for the big game next weekend. The first-round selection in the 2023 NFL draft (30th overall) has improved in his second year in the NFL, recording 42 tackles (21 solo), 6.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, 11 QB hits and a forced fumble in 16 regular-season games (10 starts) for the Eagles' top-ranked defense. While Smith isn't a star for Philly's defense, he's been plenty productive. Expect him to play against the Chiefs on Super Bowl Sunday.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
6 days agoPhiladelphia Eagles offensive guard Landon Dickerson (knee) and center Cam Jurgens (back) were both listed as non-participants in practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday. With an extra week off before Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Eagles are resting most of their banged-up players. Dickerson injured his knee in the NFC Championship win over the division-rival Washington Commanders. Jurgens was active for the game but didn't start before entering the game later after Dickerson was injured. We'd expect both players to be active for the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 9, but their injuries will be closely monitored leading up to the big game. Philly has an advantage with their elite offensive line, but if both Dickerson and Jurgens are slowed down by their injuries, it could give KC's defensive line an edge.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Philadelphia Eagles
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