The Official 2024 NFL Offseason Discussion Thread

[Bobby Barrows]

Kirk Cousins has tested positive for COVID for the second time in his career.

 

[Bad News Booty]

NOOOOOOOO

Shit had me dying


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Doom]

Coach Todd Bowles: Tom Brady away from Tampa Bay Buccaneers to 'deal with some personal things'​

ESPN

TAMPA, Fla. -- Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will be away from the team for a period of time to "deal with some personal things," coach Todd Bowles said Thursday.

Bowles said Brady's absence was discussed in advance and that he will return after next week's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 20.

"This is something we talked about before training camp started," Bowles said. "We allotted this time because he wanted to get in and get chemistry with the guys and go through two weeks of training camp, knowing he wasn't going to play the first two games. He didn't want to take away reps from Blaine [Gabbert] and Kyle [Trask], as well as 'Griff' [Ryan Griffin] going into these next two games, knowing it's something he needs to handle."

When asked if the issue was health-related, Bowles said, "It's a personal issue. That's all I can tell you."

Bowles said he has a "pretty high level of confidence" that Brady will be the starting quarterback in Week 1 at the Dallas Cowboys.

Bowles had previously announced that Brady would not play in the preseason opener Saturday against the Miami Dolphins.

Brady had excused absences Aug. 3 -- his previously scheduled off day and also his 45th birthday -- and last Friday. The Buccaneers as a team were off last Thursday.

Bowles said he did not have concern about missed time, largely because of Brady's experience and work ethic. He said he doesn't believe it will disrupt the offense's progression, even as Brady has worked to gain chemistry with new teammates such as wide receivers Julio Jones and Russell Gage and tight end Kyle Rudolph.

When asked if he was worried Brady's personal issue impacted his commitment to the team, Bowles said, "Per our conversation, I am not worried, no."

Dang. I hope he gets things situated.

 

[Daddy Deville]

Looks like Zack Wilson tore his acl feel for the kid thought he improved through the last few games

 

[Daddy Deville]

 

[Doom]

New York Jets QB Zach Wilson out 2-4 weeks after suffering bone bruise, torn meniscus, sources confirm​

ESPN

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson will miss two to four weeks after an MRI exam Saturday morning revealed a bone bruise and a meniscus tear in his right knee, sources confirmed.

The Jets believe there is a chance Wilson could be ready for the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, a source told ESPN. Without Wilson, Joe Flacco, 37, moves to the top of the depth chart, followed by Mike White and Chris Streveler.

Wilson will undergo a surgical procedure, but the meniscus doesn't need a full repair, only a trim, a source said. The arthroscopic surgery is expected to determine whether Wilson will miss closer to two weeks or four, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The New York Post first reported on Wilson's injuries and timeline.

This is a huge break for the Jets. Things looked bleak as Wilson, drafted second overall in 2021, limped to the locker room Friday night at Lincoln Financial Field. He was injured on the Jets' second series and ninth play from scrimmage against the Philadelphia Eagles.

It was a noncontact injury, as Wilson, scrambling out of the pocket, tried to cut inside instead of running out of bounds. His knee buckled on the grass field, and he went down. Wilson left the game and went immediately to the locker room.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

 

[Doom]

 

[Doom]

 

[Swerve]

That is a good one.

 

[Daddy Deville]

Was bout to post this

 

[Doom]

Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow says his appendix ruptured, prompting surgery​

ESPN

CINCINNATI -- What initially felt like discomfort for Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow turned into a more serious and pressing matter, he said Wednesday.

In his first news conference since his appendectomy on July 26, Burrow said his appendix ruptured, which prompted surgery. The third-year player will continue his progress on Wednesday when he participates in team drills at practice for the first time since the procedure.

It's part of the plan to get Burrow ready for the start of the regular season on Sept. 11.

Burrow said he is looking to add weight and return his body to its pre-surgery form ahead of the team's Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He said he is not expecting to play in the preseason. "I think it will be OK," Burrow said. "We have a good plan as far as nutrition and weight room and all that stuff. I feel good right now and just going to keep feeling better."

Information available at the time indicated that it was more of a routine procedure. However, that proved not to be the case once Burrow was examined.

"It wasn't normal appendicitis that you hear about," Burrow said. "I didn't really feel much. Just getting checked out and had some discomfort so we thought we'd get it checked out. Turns out I had it. So we had to get it fixed."

While Burrow was on the mend, he watched practices from a medical cart. Even though he couldn't participate, Burrow said he wanted to be with his teammates so he could mentally get back into the swing of things with the defending AFC champions.

"You're in a hospital for however many days and you start to feel like a sick person," Burrow said. "So you want to get back out with the guys and feel healthy again."

He declined to reveal how much weight he lost because of the surgery. Burrow said doctors permitted him to start tossing footballs two weeks after the procedure.

On Sunday, he ramped things up with his first official practice. He participated in individual drills and took all of the throwing reps during a 7-on-7 drill, an audible that indicated how good he was feeling. Burrow said that he lacked the preferred velocity on his throws, a side effect of the surgery.

"When they cut into you and do all that stuff your core is going to lose some muscle and some strength just getting that back," Burrow said.

This marks the latest preseason abnormality for Burrow since he entered the NFL. In 2020, his rookie preseason was upended by COVID-19 and featured no games. Last year, Burrow played one series in the preseason finale following major knee surgery that ended his rookie season.

"I'd like to have a normal offseason at some point," Burrow said. "That would be great. Going into the season feeling as good as I can, but that hasn't been the reality for three years. Make the most of what you got.

"We'll try again next year."

Yikes!

I'm glad he's alright after hearing about the news. Wishing him a quick recovery before the season starts.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

He'll likely be out for all of preseason.

 

[Doom]

Derwin James' now the NFL's highest paid safety.

Los Angeles Chargers star Derwin James agrees to $76.4M deal, becomes NFL's highest-paid safety, source says​

ESPN

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Chargers and All-Pro safety Derwin James have agreed to terms on a four-year, $76.4 million contract extension, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The deal has an average annual value of $19.13 million and resets the safety market, making James the highest-paid safety in NFL history, a source told Schefter.

The Chargers announced Wednesday that James signed a multi-year contract extension but did not disclose terms.

James agreed to the deal one day after Chargers coach Brandon Staley described the star safety as an "impact player" and the "heartbeat of our defense."

"When I see him, I'm like, 'That's a defensive back,' because he can play anywhere," Staley said Tuesday. "He can play either safety spot, he can play corner. ... He can rush the quarterback and make an impact as a blitzer, he can make an impact in man-to-man coverage, and then he can make an impact in zone defense, whether he's playing low or high -- and he's our signal-caller and the heartbeat of our defense."

James reported to training camp on July 26 but remained a "hold-in" over the past three weeks, missing 14 practices as contract negotiations continued. He did participate in team walk-throughs and individual agility drills, however, while keeping a constant presence among teammates on the sideline.

Staley expressed confidence that James would be physically ready to participate in football activities when a deal was reached, saying "there is no one that has more pride in his performance and his ability to be in shape, mentally and physically, to do the job at the highest level than him."

James, 26, is a key playmaker on a defense that has heightened expectations this season after a significant upgrade in personnel.

The Chargers acquired outside linebacker Khalil Mack in a trade with the Chicago Bears to form a pass-rushing duo with Pro Bowl edge Joey Bosa, signed Pro Bowl cornerback J.C. Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million contract in free agency and also added defensive linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson and Morgan Fox.

With James' extension, the Chargers ensure that they have several of the NFL's top defensive playmakers under contract for the foreseeable future, including Mack, Bosa and Jackson.

The 17th overall pick in the 2018 draft, James was entering the fifth and final season of his rookie contract and was scheduled to earn slightly more than $9 million. He has 257 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five interceptions and three forced fumbles in his career.

James earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl recognition as a rookie before playing only five games in 2019 because of a foot injury. He also missed the entire 2020 season because of a knee injury.

In 15 games last season, James recorded 117 tackles (tied for No. 3 in the NFL among all defensive backs), intercepted two passes, forced three fumbles and had two sacks.

Following an appearance in his second Pro Bowl in February, James underwent surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder. A week before he reported to training camp, James told ESPN that he felt healthy.

 

[Swerve]

He really got paid!