Month: August 2023

Which Cowboys’ upside is greater, Jabril Cox or Jalen Tolbert?

Both have disappointed since being drafted with the label of steal. Which of the two youngsters would have a bigger impact if they pan out in 2023? @cdpiglet compares.

During their respective draft years, linebacker Jabril Cox and wide receiver Jalen Tolbert both had Cowboys team insiders claiming Dallas had interested in each of them at least a round before they were eventually drafted.

During every draft, fans and scouts alike apply the label of draft-day steal pretty liberally. Insert any prospect picked near the end of the third round or later and there’ll be traits to claim will help the prospect develop into a starter. However whether it was due to injury or other factors, neither have made any real impact on the field.

Can things change in 2023? Tolbert has looked good early in camp and Cox seems healthy finally, but they need to practice well enough to earn snaps when it actually counts. They each are fighting their own battles, but what happens when they are pitted against each other?

If the Cowboys could only have one of the two options breakout, would Cox making the third-year jump be more impactful than if Tolbert became the clear fourth receiver?

Steelers RB Alfonzo Graham lost for year with torn labrum

Alfonzo Graham had a real shot to make the Steelers 53-man roster.

On Monday morning, news came out that the Pittsburgh Steelers were working out free-agent running back ZaQuandre White, we assumed it was related to the shoulder injury suffered by rookie Alfonzo Graham at Steelers training camp.

Now we have this post from Graham indicating he suffered a torn labrum and will be lost for the season. There’s been no official announcement from the team as of yet about Graham or any potential addition to replace him on the roster.

Graham was a fascinating rookie prospect. He flashed dominance at Morgan State and despite his small stature, showcased the quickness and agility to push veteran Anthony McFarland for a roster spot.

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Cardinals training camp roster preview: DL Leki Fotu

We take a look at DL Leki Fotu and his chances for making the final roster this year for the Cardinals.

The Arizona Cardinals open training camp at the end of this month, so we will do a roster review, highlighting each player currently on the roster, going over last season, their salary and cap number, questions they face and what their expected roster status will be.

Next up is DL Leki Fotu.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

News and notes from Cardinals’ Monday practice at training camp

Some information and observations from the Cardinals’ practice on Monday in training camp.

After an offday on Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals returned to State Farm Stadium for another day of practice.

While I was not in attendance to practice, many media members were, and they had observations and comments.

Below are some news and notes from those media members who were there.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

After Friday visit, Jayden Jones is forming a relationship with Rutgers football

Millville linebacker Jayden Jones spent Friday at Rutgers for an unofficial visit.

Class of 2026 athlete Jayden Jones was part of the high-profile list of underclassmen who took an unofficial visit on Friday to Rutgers football. Jones is projected to be one of the top recruits in New Jersey over the next two years.

A recruitment that is likely to go national.

A 6-foot-2 and 210-pound linebacker from Millville High School (Millville, N.J.), Jones was offered by Rutgers in late June. He also holds offers from Penn State, Pittsburgh and Temple.

The time spent at Rutgers was productive for Jones, who felt welcomed throughout the process and was able to relax with head coach Greg Schiano and the rest of the coaching staff.

“It was a great visit,” told Rutgers Wire.

“I had a fun time with my family and everyone around me.”

The unooficial visits included a campus tour, a tour of the team’s facilities and a photo shoot.

But one thing that stood out to Jones about the visit was his time spent with the staff.

“I love the coaching staff and how friendly and welcoming they are,” Jones said.

Rutgers is one of three Power Five offers for Jones. This weekend was an important one for the Scarlet Knights to further their relationship with Jones.

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In fact, Jones said that the Friday visit enhanced the standing of Rutgers in his recruitment.

“I would say so,” Jones said.

“I definitely felt welcomed and I felt a great bond with the coaches.

“I feel like I’ve definitely built a great connection with the coaches over there and I feel like it’s a very good overall school.”

 

Training camp begins on August 7 for Jones and his Millville teammates.

Last season, Millville finished the season 12-2 and won their last nine games. They won the Group 4 state championship, beating Northern Highlands 18-14 in a game played at Rutgers in SHI Stadium.

“Just go out there and ball out,” Jones said.

“I feel like I will have a great season and as a team, I feel like we will have a great season and get the three-peat.”

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Judge rejects Commanders LB Jamin Davis plea bargain in reckless driving case

Jamin Davis missed practice Monday.

Washington Commanders linebacker Jamin Davis could face possible jail time after a Loudoun County judge rejected his guilty plea Monday from a reckless driving incident in March 2022.

On March 28, 2022, Davis was cited for driving 114 mph in a 45 mph zone in Loudoun County. He pleaded not guilty in Loudoun County District Court to reckless driving — which is speeding more than 20 miles above the limit, in excess of 85 mph — but the courts found him guilty, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.

He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a fine and had his driver’s license suspended. Davis had originally requested a jury trial to appeal the conviction but later accepted a plea deal that would require a maximum of eight days in jail.

However, on Monday, the judge rejected the plea, and Davis is set for a scheduling conference on Thursday at 1 p.m. ET.

The judge rejected Davis’ plea because the area in which Davis was speeding is a heavily trafficked area. In addition, the judge cited Davis’ “not terrible but not clean” record.

Davis had previously been charged with reckless driving on Dec. 19, 2021, after driving 89 mph in a 65 mph zone. However, it was reduced to 84 mph, and Davis paid a $150 fine.

Head coach Ron Rivera said the following about Davis after his press conference Monday.

“He’s going through the legal process, and as he goes through it, we just got to be here and be supportive of him and understand that this is the legal process that he has to go through,” Rivera said.

The Commanders are back on the practice field Tuesday for Day 6 of training camp.

Raiders signing former Chiefs LB Darius Harris

Raiders are signing former Chiefs LB Darius Harris

Do you remember last season when the Raiders faced the Chiefs and a little known linebacker named Darius Harris put up a combined 10 tackles and a sack against the Raiders? It seems Josh McDaniels remembers. And it surely played in a hand in the Raiders decision to sign the free agent linebacker.

That was a career game for Harris in just his fifth career start.

Harris went undrafted out of Middle Tennessee State in 2020. He appeared in just 11 games over his first two seasons in Kansas City. Then last season, he would appear in all 17 games, starting four of them.

His eight solo tackles were the most in his career while his 10 combined tackles was tied for the second most. And that sack was the first of his career.

The Raiders are going to find out if that was the start of bigger things for Harris who prior to last season did most of his work on special teams.

Throwback Tuesday? Now Falcons edge Kemoko Turay helps Rutgers get first Big Ten win

Kemoko Turay helped Rutgers to their first ever Big Ten win.

Kemoko Turay is a freakish athlete, who could be able to help the Atlanta Falcons off the edge. During four standout years at Rutgers, Turay did a little bit of everything.

Including, blocking a field goal attempt as Rutgers got their first win as a Big Ten program.

Turay signed with the Falcons over the weekend, putting the long and athletic edge rusher on a team that could use his ability. Rutgers fans know what he can bring to a team, as he was a dominant force for the Scarlet Knights.

The block came in the 2014 season, the first that Rutgers was in the Big Ten. Late in their Week 6 game against Michigan, Turay rose up and blocked the field goal with his left hand.

It was an impressive – and inspiring – athletic display given that Turay didn’t come off the edge and didn’t penetrate the Wolverines’ blocking scheme. Instead, he was in the middle of the line and rose up to make the block on the field goal attempt.

Rutgers would beat Michigan 26-24.

Turay was a tremendous ambassador for Rutgers, earning an invite to the 2018 Senior Bowl.

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In his four seasons at Rutgers, he had 103 total tackles and 15.5 sacks. He had 20.5 tackles for a loss, amounting to 130 yards for a loss.

Rutgers ended their first season in the Big Ten with an 8-5 record and an emphatic Quick Lane Bowl win over North Carolina.

Turay has battled injuries during his NFL career. He was a second round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 NFL draft.

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