NFL Media's Desmond Purnell reported Wednesday that middle linebacker as the defense's second-leading tackler goes through concu sion protocol.McClain isn't the only key defender nursing a concu sion this week.Top pa s rusher also mi sed Cole Beasley Jersey a second consecutive practice on Thursday.While McClain has been Dallas' most valuable defensive player for stretches of the season, Mincey leads the team in quarterback hurries and sacks.'s defense is in danger of being shorthanded against the and his high-octane offense in the unfriendly confines of Lambeau Field.Other injuries we're tracking ahead of the Divisional Round of the playoffs:Speaking of (calf), he returned to a limited practice on Thursday. "I'm going on Sunday," Rodgers said, "." practiced in full again on Thursday, after explaining that the bye week for his sprained ankle. The defense could also get a boost with linebacker practicing on a limited basis. A -caliber player this season, Marshall mi sed the final two games of the regular season with a mid-foot sprain.Battling a calf i sue of his own, oft-injured tight end will be a for Saturday versus the . Outside of Moeaki, Seattle is a healthy team.Speedy Carolina wide receiver returned to a limited practice on Thursday, but didn't take contact. If Brown's shoulder doesn't cooperate, the will likely activate former draft bust . If you mi sed the news on Wednesday, run-stuffer will with a fractured foot.Along with running back (ankle), wide receivers (concu sion) and (shoulder, toe) were limited again on Thursday. Nothing is ever certain with a -coached team, but all three are expected to play versus the . LaFell confirmed there's .The latest Around The NFL Podcast and breaks down the Manning-Luck matchup. Find more Around The NFL content on . Alec Ogletree Jersey
refused Tuesday to reveal who will start at quarterback for in their season finale this weekend against . an 18th consecutive start for , the first of the season for Jacoby Bri sett or even Jake Fromm's first NFL game action in nearly two years.We dont have to let anybody know until tomorrow, so were just going to wait, Rivera said on a video call with reporters. We dont want to give them any head start on anything.No matter who starts, the Commanders need to helping that QB. a league-high 61 times, the product of a lack of offensive balance with the team largely abandoning the run for .ADVERTISEMENT Bri sett was 18 of 23 for 224 yards and three touchdowns in two recent games in relief of Howell. Rivera last week , who then popped up on the injury report Friday with a hamstring injury that kept him out against San Francisco.Not learning until two hours before kickoff that he'd be starting, against the 49ers in , Washington's seventh Nick Gates Jersey in a row, to give him a league-worst 19 this season.Asked about the switch back to Howell after practicing with Bri sett during the week, veteran tight end Logan Thomas said: "Both of them are obviously different. But were all profe sionals. We know how to work with either guy.It's unclear if Bri sett, and set to be a free agent again this offseason, is healthy enough to practice this week or play Sunday against Dallas.Hes just been working with the trainers and everybody, and well see how he is, Rivera said.WHATS WORKING at Philadelphia not only allowed the Niners to celebrate clinching the NFC's top seed, it boosted the Commanders' draft status. They could pick as high as second, pending the result of their game and New England's at home against the New York Jets.That would give whoever's next in charge the chance to take one of the top quarterback prospects available, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. or a standout offensive tackle.WHAT NEEDS HELPThe offense isn't the only problem, and there are plenty of holes to fill on defense, too. Cornerback Kendall Fuller, safety Kam Curl and linebacker Cody Barton are all pending free agents, and Washington will need new edge rushers after trading Chase Young and Montez Sweat prior to the deadline.STOCK UPOne of the few bright spots this season has been second-year running back Brian Robinson Jr., who averaged 4.9 yards a carry against San Francisco. Robinson has eight total touchdowns this season with 358 yards receiving to go with 708 on the ground as he has shown he can catch as well as run in the pros.STOCK DOWNRight tackle Trent Scott had a rough time filling in for injured starter Andrew Wylie. Scott was flagged three times and struggled in pa s and run blocking.INJURIESAlready depleted in the secondary, the Commanders lost two young cornerbacks to injury Sunday: Tarik Castro-Fields injured a shoulder and Christian Holmes had a concu sion.It was unfortunate, Rivera said. "They were playing pretty well. It was kind of fun to watch those guys get those opportunities."KEY NUMBER13 1/2 Points the Cowboys are favored to win by on , the second consecutive home game Washington has been a double-digit underdog.NEXT STEPSBrace for an invasion of Dallas fans, similar to 2018 when Eagles fans flooded FedEx field to watch their team clinch a playoff spot. simply by beating Washington, which they did 45-10 on Thanksgiving.___AP NFL: Johnny King Jersey
Kickoffs will look a Charvarius Ward Jersey lot different in the beginning next season.The league's owners approved the hybrid kickoff model at the NFLs Annual League Meeting, .With the new rule, kickers will still kick off from their own 35-yard line. However, the other 10 members of the kicking team will line up at the opposing team's 40-yard line.The return team will have at least nine blockers lined up in the "set up zone" between the 30- and 35-yard line, with at least seven of those players touching the 35. There would be up to two returners allowed inside the 20.ADVERTISEMENT Only the kicker and two returners would be allowed to move until the ball hits the ground or is touched by a returner inside the 20.Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air can be returned, or the receiving team can opt for a touchback and po se sion at the 30. Any kick that reaches the end zone in the air and goes out of bounds or out of the end zone also would result in a touchback at the 30.If a ball hits a returner or the ground before the end zone and goes into the end zone, a touchback would be at the 20 or the play could be returned. Any kick received in the field of play would have to be returned.The new kickoff rule is modeled after the XFL's kickoff rule, which was created to encourage more returns and le sen injuries on kickoffs. The NFL is hoping that the new kickoff rule will have a similar result in 2024."This is our chance to keep special teams in the game," NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay said Monday, calling the current kickoff now a dead play. "Special teams has been a part of the game forever. And, if you lose the kickoff, in our mind, you really pretty much eliminated special teams and put it on a punt play."In previous years, the NFL has moved kickoffs 5 yards closer to the other team's end zone but also placed the ball at the receiving team's 25-yard line instead of the 20-yard line following a touchback.The NFL will implement the new kickoff rule on a one-year basis, allowing it to either renew the rule or do away with it in 2025.The kickoff rule was one of the few rule changes approved by owners at this week's league meetings, including also moving the trade deadline back one week to the Tuesday after Week 9.Also, in a controversial move, the league in a change meant to protect ballcarriers.The NFL also approved a rule that will allow coaches to earn a third challenge after just one succe sful challenge. Previously, coaches needed to win both of their challenges in order to earn a third challenge.Additionally, the replay a sistant will also be allowed to review roughing the pa ser and intentional grounding penalties. However, they have to fall within objective parameters to be reviewed and overturned.Here is a full list of the changes.The A sociated Pre s contributed to this report. Sam Okuayinonu Jersey
could get another shot at a head-coaching gig. While the ' offensive coordinator is prepping for his playoff battle with the nextafter beating the , other teams are eyeing potential interviews. Speaking on NFL Network's NFL GameDay Morning, Ian Rapoport reported that the are expected to show interest in the former coach. The are also expected to reach out to Kubiak if the lose. Kubiak spent eight seasons as the ' head coach after 11 seasons running the ' offense. He in 2013 after making the playoffs the two previous seasons. He went 63-66, including 2-2 NHL Washington Capitals Jersey in the playoffs, over his eight years in Houston. The 53-year-old Kubiak has helped revamp the ' offense, which finished the season No. 8 in scoring (25.6 points per game) over the course of the season. His zone-blocking run game helped unleash for 1,266 yards. Quarterback had the best regular season of his career under Kubiak's tutelage and scheme. Kubiak is one of several retread coaches, including , , and others who are getting looks for a second chance at guiding an NFL team. Follow all the coaching visits and news with .The latest Around The NFL Podcast and predicts who will advance. Find more Around The NFL content on . Dennis Maruk Jersey
The have been hit hard by injuries over the past two seasons and the bad luck carried over into the first week of training camp. On the first day of full-padded training camp practices, the Eagles were dealt a ma sive blow to the strongest unit on their defense. The Eagles announced Monday defensive tackle -- the team's biggest free agent acquisition this offseason -- was held out of the first practice with an upper-body injury and will be out multiple weeks. Defensive end is also listed as "week-to-week" with a lower-body injury.It's unclear how long both players will be out, but the amount of time both defensive linemen are projected to mi s is significant.The Eagles signed Hargrave to a three-year, $39 million deal this offseason to solidify the defensive line on the interior. Playing Hargrave in a one-gap scheme next to was expected to benefit both pa s rushers in their quest of sacking the quarterback and disrupting the pocket. Hargrave got pre sure on 14.2% of his pa s rushes last season, third in the NFL behindand() -- and that was as a nose tackle in a 3-4 front.Fortunately for the Eagles, they do have some significant depth at defensive tackle. , who the Eagles signed to a three-year deal in the 2019 offseason, will slide into Hargrave's spot next to Cox and still provide that pre sure up the middle.On the positive side of things, Philadelphia's decision to re-sign last week looks a lot better -- he Jerick McKinnon Jersey will play a more significant role with Hargrave sidelined. Jackson was expected to get his share of snaps at defensive end, where he split time on the edge with the and as an extra pa s rusher before signing with Philadelphia, but he will kick inside in Hargrave's absence. Now that Jackson is starting at defensive tackle, the Eagles won't be using him on the edge as much -- at least until Hargrave returns. will take over as the No. 3 defensive tackle, but the Eagles lack depth behind him. Philadelphia could sign a veteran if Hargrave mi ses a significant amount of time.Curry fills that role as an extra defensive end, splitting time with for snaps. Barnett's injury also played a major factor in the Curry signing, especially with the "week-to-week" designation. The regular season opener is le s than four weeks away, so Barnett could be back in time for the Week 1 tilt with Washington, but he will have to acclimate himself into football shape. Barnett is the starter opposite of at defensive end, meaning his injury opens up playing time for Curry and Sweat.Curry is the favorite to start opposite Graham in place of Barnett, with Sweat taking over the No. 3 defensive end role he was supposed to slide into before the team re-signed Curry last week. and will battle for snaps as the No. 4 defensive end.Right guard and wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside are listed as "day-to-day" with lower-body injuries. Both players were also absent for the first full-padded practice. Cameron Thomas Jersey
The are banking on third-year offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. to take the next step this season. With the departure of Jermaine Eluemunor in free agency, Munford Jr. is expected to step in as the full-time starter at right tackle.In 10 starts last season six at right tackle and four at left tackle the former Buckeye surrendered four sacks and 28 QB pre sures and scored an 80.4 run-blocking grade.Munford Jr. was Las Vegas' top depth offensive lineman in 2023, as he often filled in for the injured Eluemunor and Kolton Miller at both tackle positions. Though he displayed his ability to play both left and right tackle last season, offensive line coach James Cregg believes Munford Jr. The 24-year-old played 81% of his collegiate snaps at left tackle in his five-year career at Ohio State. Here is what Cregg had to say about Munford's performance in 2023, why he's Montrezl Harrell Jersey a better fit at left tackle, and his development this spring:"Especially watching the latter part of last year, he really jumped out at me a lot, and hes been a good fit over there," Cregg said. "His athleticism, hes untapped. Hes still learning. Hes a raw football player. Hes still developing in my opinion. Hes getting better every practice. Hes getting more comfortable over there, but I think hes kind of like talking about Dylan Parham hes natural on the left, like you put him on the left he can totally do it. Thats what he did in college, he played both sides. He played more left than right, but he can go both directions. You saw it last year he can go step in for Kolton Miller when he needed to, and hes been a pleasant surprise over there at right. Hes getting better too, so Ive been really fired up about him."Raiders OL coach James Cregg said they moved guard Dylan Parham to the right side because "we're going to run more wide zone and he is more natural on that side ... his footwork is better." Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) Munford Jr. will have a crucial role on Las Vegas' offensive line in 2024. The former seventh-round pick's versatility will be a valuable a set, but the Raiders must find a clear answer at right tackle. If Munford Jr. can be that answer, the Silver and Black's offensive line could be one of the best units in the league. Landry Shamet Jersey
It looks like has a different relationship with the than ever had.When asked about the trade rumors surrounding him this offseason, Brees was able to confidently laugh them off. As he told reporters on Wednesday, the would have come to him first if they were thinking of making a deal."I would have people come and, 'So I hear you're getting traded to Tampa,'" Brees . "Oh, OK, great. And then the next week, it's like, OK, who is it this week? Buffalo? Or wherever else. So I lost track. But again, I know that if things like that were taking place that I have the type of relationship with our team, our organization, that I would know about those things. So when I hear them second-hand or from a media outlet or whatever, I don't really pay it much attention."When Graham was dealt, he described a followed by an intense curiosity surrounding his destination.But Ed Reed Jersey the reality is, there's probably no situation where a player is intensely involved in trade negotiations unle s a deal needs to be worked out on the other end. As ludicrous as dealing Brees sounds right now, would anyone have been completely surprised given the ' turnover this offseason?In addition, would involving Brees in those talks be good busine s? Probably not.The good news, though, is that Brees wouldn't deny sticking around a lot longer when asked about his contract on Wednesday. Though it runs through 2017, the balky cap numbers could be prime for an extension to even out the money.When asked about the po sibility, he had this:"I mean, listen, if there was, I wouldn't say anything about it, just like there's a lot of things that I won't comment on from a contract standpoint," Brees said. "Because those conversations are between me and our organization, and that's the stance I'll always take on that."The latest Podcast grading the prime-time games and highlighting the Week 1 matchups. Find more content on . Anthony Lawrence II Jersey
"Just win, baby" was Al Davis' favorite saying during his nearly 50-year run with the organization. During that time, Davis, who initially served as the franchise's first succe sful coach before becoming the club's general manager and part owner, enjoyed a lot of winning while helping the Raiders become one of the NFL's bedrock franchises.No profe sional football franchise was more succe sful than the Raiders from 1963-85. During that span, the Raiders won 12 division championships, an AFL title and three Super Bowl titles. They made the playoffs 15 times while advancing to 10 conference title games. The Raiders suffered only two losing seasons during that span.The succe s of the Raiders during that time helped them become one of the NFL's most popular teams. Their physical nature (they led the NFL in personal foul penalties in '76, their first championship season) also resulted in them being one of the league's most polarizing clubs. But regardle s of whether or not you cheered for Braylon Edwards Jersey them, the talent the Raiders po se sed during those years, and the succe s they had on the field, was undeniable.With the start of the 2020 season just around the corner, we decided to create the Raiders' all-time 53-man roster, built the way modern teams create their 53-man rosters. Before we dive into the roster, here's a rundown of some of the tougher decisions that were made for final cuts.Big-name roster cuts: It was hard leaving George Blanda, Marv Hubbard and Pete Banaszak, three Raiders legends, off the roster. Blanda, an iconic Raider, had already put together a Hall of Fame career by the time he joined the Raiders as a 40-year-old kicker/backup quarterback in 1967. Hubbard, a fullback, was a three-time Pro Bowler who retired with a whopping 4.8 yards per carry average. Banaszak, a halfback, spent 13 seasons in Oakland (leading the league in rushing touchdowns 1975) and was a key member of the Raiders' first Super Bowl team.Daryle Lamonica over Rich Gannon: There's no denying Gannon's succe s in Oakland. The 2002 league MVP, Gannon earned four consecutive Pro Bowl selections with the Raiders while guiding the franchise to its most recent Super Bowl appearance. But the nod ultimately went to Lamonica, who won two league MVP awards in Oakland while leading the Raiders to their first Super Bowl. Lamonica, who led the league in pa sing in 1969 and in touchdown pa ses on two other occasions, posted a 62-16-6 overall record as the Raiders' starting quarterback.Clem Daniels over Clarence Davis: Davis is firmly entrenched in Raiders lore. His in the '74 playoffs ended the ' two-year reign atop the NFL. His 137 rushing yards in Super Bowl XI helped the Raiders rush for a then-Super Bowl record 266 yards. But Davis' regular season numbers pale in comparison to what Daniels achieved during his seven seasons in Oakland. A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Daniels, the team's first 1,000-yard rusher, led the AFL in rushing in 1963 while helping Oakland post its first winning season. He also played a significant role in the Raiders' first Super Bowl run in 1967.Now that we've tackled the roster's toughest decisions, let's take a look at the Raiders' all-time, 53-man roster.Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are denoted with a (*).OffenseStarterBackupDepthQBKen Stabler*Jim PlunkettDaryle LamonicaRBMarcus Allen*Bo JacksonClem DanielsFBMark van EaghenWRFred Biletnikoff*Jerry Rice*WRTim Brown*Art PowellSWRCliff BranchJames JettTEDave Casper*Todd ChristensenLTArt Shell*Harry SchuhLGGene Upshaw*Steve WisniewskiCJim Otto*Dan MosebarRGWayne HawkinsGeorge BuehlerRTHenry LawrenceLincoln KennedyThere was no drama as far as selecting the Raiders' starting quarterback. While Plunkett () is extremely deserving of his backup spot, making "The Snake" the starter was an obvious choice. The league's MVP during the 1974 season, . During that span, he led the NFL in touchdown pa ses and completion percentage on two separate occasions. Stabler also guided Oakland to five straight AFC championship games as well as the franchise's first Super Bowl win at the end of the 1976 season.Running back was also a pretty easy choice. While the Raiders have had some good ones, the starting job went to Allen, the franchise's all-time career rushing leader. The 1985 NFL MVP, earned him MVP honors following the Raiders' 38-9 win over Washington in Super Bowl XVIII. Complementing Allen is Jackson, his teammate in Los Angeles from 1987-90. The first athlete to be named an All-Star in two different sports, in three of his four seasons with the Raiders.You'll be hard-pre sed to find a better group of tight ends and receivers than the ones on this roster. This unit includes four Hall of Famers in Casper, Brown, Biletnikoff and Rice. Branch, the only member of this group to play in a role in all three of the Raiders' Super Bowl wins, . Another member of this group that deserves more Hall of Fame consideration is Christensen, who led the NFL in receptions on two separate occasions.The Raiders' offensive line is nearly as loaded as their receiving corps. Leading the way here is the Hall of Fame trio of center Jim "Double O" Otto, left guard Gene Upshaw and left tackle Art Shell. During the trio's seven seasons together, the Raiders' offense led the league in scoring three times while finishing second and third in that department on two other occasions.DefenseStarterBackupDepthLDEHowie Long*Ben DavidsonDTOtis SistrunkChester McGlocktonNTReggie KinlawRDELyle AlzadoLOLBPhil VillipianoRILBDan ConnersGus OttoLILBMatt MillenGreg BiekertROLBTed Hendricks*Rod MartinLCBMike Haynes*Terry McDanielRCBWillie Brown*Lester HayesSSFSJack TatumVann McElroyDave GraysonThe Raiders' defense boasts at least one Hall of Fame player at each level. Starting on the defensive line, the Raiders boast an all-time great in Long, an eight-time Pro Bowler who played a key role in the Raiders' '83 championship team. that also included Alzado, whose 2.5 sacks against the in the opening round of the '83 playoffs helped jumpstart the Raiders' Super Bowl run., headlines the Raiders' linebackers. A menace on special teams due to his penchant for blocking kicks, Hendricks won a Super Bowl with the before winning three more during his time with the Raiders. He spent seven seasons playing alongside Martin, whose three interceptions during the Raiders' 27-10 win over the in Super Bowl XV r. The Raiders' linebacker room also includes Mack, who earned three Pro Bowl and two All-Pro nods during his four seasons in Oakland.The Raiders' secondary may be their most talented position group. The unit includes two current members of the Hall of Fame (Haynes and Brown), with Woodson being eligible for induction in 2021. The Raiders' defensive backfield also includes the intimidating duo of Atkinson and Tatum, helped fuel the NFL's best rivalry during the '70s. Hayes, a member of the NFL's All-Decade team for the '80s, won Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the NFL with 13 interceptions during the 1980 season. Three years later he and Haynes helped in Super Bowl XVIII. Speaking of Super Bowls, against the is one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history.Special teamsStarterDepthKPRay Guy*LSPRTim Brown*Cliff BranchKRTim Brown*Bo JacksonA former first-round pick, Janikowski, a Pro Bowler in 2011, made the NFL's longest field goal of the season three years in a four-year span. His 63-yard boot in 2011 tied the NFL record, a record that was broken by in 2013. Oakland's kicker for 17 seasons, Janikowski's 1,799 career points as a Raider is a franchise record.The second pure kicker to earn induction in Canton, Guy, a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro, was the Raiders' punter during each of their three Super Bowl wins. In Super Bowl XVIII, prevented po sible disaster while also showcasing his athletic prowe s.Along with being a prolific receiver, Brown was also an elite returner. As a rookie, Brown was the NFL's best kick returner, returning a kickoff 97 yards for a score. He also returned three punts for scores during his career, leading the league in punt return yardage gained in 1994. Denard Robinson Jersey