Broncos Acquire Sean Payton As Next Head Coach
23 hours agoThe Denver Broncos have finalized a deal to acquire head coach Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints. In exchange, the Saints will receive a first and second-round pick from Denver. This doesn't seem like much of a surprise considering Payton has been on their radar for awhile. The Broncos were heavily pursuing DeMeco Ryans before he took the head coach job with the Houston Texans. After that, the Broncos went with their backup plan which was Payton. The 59-year-old Super Bowl winning coach should be able to give this Broncos team a boost. The biggest task for Payton is going to be to try and revive Russell Wilson after his horrendous 2022 campaign.Source: Adam Schefter
Jets Sign Diontae Spencer To Futures Deal
1 day agoThe New York Jets signed wide receiver/kick returner Diontae Spencer to a Reserve/Futures deal on Tuesday. Spencer spent some time on the Jets' practice squad in 2022 but never made it to the active roster on game day. The 30-year-old went undrafted out of McNeese State in 2019 and spent his first three seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos, catching 10 of 18 targets for 54 yards and no touchdowns in 42 games (to starts). He also returned 68 punts for 667 yards and one touchdown and returned 47 kickoffs for 1,008 yards with Denver. Spencer will serve as additional receiver depth for the Jets in 2023.Source: Jets Twitter
Trey Lance Says He'll Be 100% For OTAs
1 day agoSan Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (ankle, leg) said he's three to four weeks from being fully cleared for practice and said he'll be 100 percent healthy for organized team activities this offseason. Lance fractured his fibula and sustained ligament damage in his right ankle in Week 2 and didn't play again the rest of the season. Jimmy Garoppolo (foot) is a free agent and Brock Purdy (elbow) will miss around six months after tearing the UCL in his right elbow in the NFC Championship. If Lance doesn't suffer any setbacks leading up to the 2023 regular season opener, he figures to be the favorite to start under center for the Niners, barring an outside veteran addition at the position.
Nick Bowers, Jake Browning Sign Futures Deals
1 day agoThe Cincinnati Bengals signed tight end Nick Bowers and quarterback Jake Browning to Reserve/Futures deals on Tuesday. The team also signed defensive ends Owen Carney and Raymond Johnson III, offensive tackle Devin Cochran, safety Yusuf Corker, defensive tackle Domenique Davis, offensive guard Nate Gilliam, tight end Tanner Hudson, linebacker Keandre Jones, wide receiver Kwamie Lassiter II and cornerback Marvell Tell III to futures deals. Bowers spent all season on the team's practice squad before being elevated to the active roster for the Divisional Round win over the Buffalo Bills, but he didn't play any offensive snaps. Browning was elevated to the active roster three times in 2022, but he didn't make his NFL debut.Source: Bengals.com
Chiefs Cut Matthew Wright
1 day agoThe Kansas City Chiefs released kicker Matthew Wright from their practice squad on Monday and signed wide receiver Jerrion Ealy to their practice squad in a corresponding move. Wright kicked in two games for the Chiefs this year when Harrison Butker was dealing with back spasms, and he made three of his four field-goal tries and all eight of his extra points in those two games. He played in six total games in 2022 (four with the Pittsburgh Steelers) and finished 15-for-18 on field goals and a perfect 15-for-15 on extra points. Ealy will give KC some more receiver depth ahead of the Super Bowl after JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman and Kadarius Toney were all injured in the AFC Championship.Source: ESPN.com - Field Yates
Landon Dickerson Expected To Play In Super Bowl
1 day agoPhiladelphia Eagles offensive guard Landon Dickerson (elbow) hyperextended his right elbow in the win over the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship, but an MRI exam on Monday came back negative and he is expected to play in the Super Bowl, according to league sources. Dickerson will likely wear a brace on his elbow during practice and in the big game. The 24-year-old left the game last Sunday in the second half and was seen wearing a brace on his arm after the contest. Even if Dickerson gets the start against the Kansas City Chiefs, there's a chance that Andre Dillard could see more playing time if Dickerson has a setback or struggles in protection.Source: Philadelphia Inquirer - Jeff McLane
Patriots Sign Lynn Bowden Jr. To Futures Deal
1 day agoThe New England Patriots signed wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. to a Reserve/Futures deal for the 2023 season. Bowden spent the 2022 campaign on the team's practice squad and was active in Week 9 against the Indianapolis Colts, but he played only 14 offensive snaps and wasn't targeted at all. The former third-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 was eventually traded to the Miami Dolphins. In 10 games for the Dolphins in 2020, Bowden caught 28 of 37 targets for 211 yards and no touchdowns. The 25-year-old will remain in New England this year and will compete for an active roster spot this summer.Source: ESPN Boston - Mike Reiss
Jeff Nixon To Interview With Cowboys
1 day agoCarolina Panthers running backs coach Jeff Nixon has an interview scheduled with the Dallas Cowboys for their offensive coordinator position, according to a league source. Nixon was the Panthers' play-caller last year after Joe Brady was fired, and he did a nice job with running backs D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard in 2022 after the team traded Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers. Dallas is looking for a new offensive coordinator after parting ways with Kellen Moore, who quickly landed on his feet as the Los Angeles Chargers' new offensive coordinator. The Cowboys plan to have head coach Mike McCarthy call the offensive plays in 2023. Former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who was on Dallas' staff as an analyst this year, is another candidate for the position.Source: The Athletic - Joe Person
Derek Carr Added To Pro Bowl Roster
1 day agoLas Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has been added to the 2023 Pro Bowl roster for the AFC. With the Pro Bowl being in Las Vegas this year, this could end up being his farewell to the city and organization. The Raiders benched Carr the last two regular season games and are expected to trade him this offseason. Carr has been the Raiders' starting QB for the last nine seasons after he was drafted in 2014 out of Fresno State. The 31-year-old veteran disappointed in 2022 with All-Pro receiver Davante Adams at his disposal, completing 60.8 percent of his 502 pass attempts for 3,522 yards, 24 touchdowns and a career-high-tying 14 interceptions in 15 regular season games. Carr's 2023 fantasy value will depend on where he lands.Source: PFF - Ari Meirov
Tyler Huntley Replacing Josh Allen In Pro Bowl
1 day agoBaltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley has been named to the 2023 Pro Bowl as the replacement for Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (elbow). Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will also be replacing Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Huntley threw only two touchdown passes in 2022, by far the fewest for a QB selected to a Pro Bowl since the 1970 merger, according to ESPN Stats & Information. With Lamar Jackson (knee) injured the last six games, Huntley threw for 658 yards, which ranked 48th in the NFL this year. Alternates Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), Justin Herbert (shoulder) and Jackson are all injured. Lawrence rebounded in his second NFL season, completing 67.3% of his passes for 4,113 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions.Source: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
Chiefs Defense Picks Up Five Sacks In AFC Championship Win
2 days agoThe Kansas City Chiefs defense played well in a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship on Sunday. The Chiefs picked off Joe Burrow twice while adding five sacks on the way to punching their ticket to the Super Bowl. Kansas City was led by Chris Jones, who contributed two sacks, while Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson added an interception each. Kansas City will now have two weeks to get ready to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.Source: NFL.com
Skyy Moore Sees Seven Targets In AFC Championship
2 days agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver Skyy Moore caught three of his seven targets for 13 yards in a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship. Moore also contributed a clutch 29-yard punt return late in the fourth quarter that set the Chiefs up for the eventual game-winning field goal with three seconds left on the clock. Moore saw extra work with JuJu Smith-Schuster leaving with a knee injury in the second quarter as the rookie's seven targets were a season-high. The rookie wideout now has four catches for 13 yards across his team's two playoff games this postseason. He has two weeks to prepare to take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.Source: NFL.com
Harrison Butker Hits Game-Winning FG In AFC Championship
2 days agoKansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made all three of his field goals and added two extra points in a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship. Butker drilled field goals from 43, 24, and 45 yards out. His final field goal of the game came with three seconds left in the game and broke a 20-20 tie, propelling the Chiefs to the Super Bowl. Butker has hit all five of his field goals in his two playoff games this postseason. He will now have two weeks to get ready to take on the Philadelphia Eagles.Source: NFL.com
Mecole Hardman Catches Two Balls In AFC Championship
2 days agoKansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman caught two of his three targets for 10 yards and added seven yards on two carries in a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship on Sunday. Hardman was making his first appearance in a game since injuring his pelvis in Week 9. He didn't make it through the contest unscathed, however, as he appeared to aggravate the injury after making a catch in the third quarter. Hardman's status for the Super Bowl is now in question, although he has two weeks to rest up.Source: NFL.com
Cardinals To Interview Mike Kafka Tuesday
2 days agoThe Arizona Cardinals will interview New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for their head-coaching position on Tuesday, according to a source. Kafka is also a candidate for the Indianapolis Colts' head-coaching gig and previously interviewed with the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans. He's a popular candidate this cycle after an impressive first year as the Giants' play-caller. The 35-year-old began his NFL coaching career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017 and earned a promotion to quarterbacks coach in 2018-19 before adding the title of pass-game coordinator last year. Arizona also plans to interview Lou Anarumo and Brian Callahan this week and have already looked at Ejiro Evero, Brian Flores, Aaron Glenn, Vance Joseph and Sean Payton.Source: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero