Philadelphia Eagles sign former first-round pick out of Georgia
The Philadelphia Eagles have signed former Georgia Bulldogs safety Lewis Cine off the Buffalo Bills‘ practice squad ahead of the NFL playoffs. Cine is the sixth Georgia Bulldog on the Eagles’ active roster (most of any team in the NFL).
Cine joins former Dawgs Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, Kelee Ringo, and Nakobe Dean in Philadelphia.
Cine, a former Minnesota Vikings first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, appeared in just one game for the Bills this season. Cine’s NFL career has been disrupted due to injuries.
In 2022, Cine suffered a severe leg injury during his rookie season. He returned for the 2023 NFL season, but did not look like himself. He has played in 11 career NFL games and has one career tackle. Cine has primarily had a role on special teams. The newest Philadelphia Eagle recorded 11 tackles, one interception and a sack in a preseason game this year, so he has the potential to be a productive NFL player.
The former Georgia standout was defensive MVP of the 2022 national championship game.
Cine is still a young NFL player with immense potential.
Former Georgia QB Stetson Bennett to have a larger role with the Rams in Week 18 NFL tilt
Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett will have a larger role with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. Bennett will serve as the Rams’ backup quarterback.
Los Angeles is resting starting quarterback Matthew Stafford since the Rams have already clinched an NFL playoff berth. The Rams will start No. 2 quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with Stafford out.
Garoppolo will make his first start since Oct. 31, 2023 with the Las Vegas Raiders. Garoppolo will start against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday (Jan. 5) at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
For Bennett, this will be his third time serving as the Rams’ backup quarterback this season. Bennett was Los Angeles’ backup in weeks 1 and 2 while Garoppolo served a two-game performance enhancing drug suspension.
Garoppolo seeks to guide the Rams to victory over Seattle to ensure Los Angeles ends up as the No. 3 seed in the NFC. The Seahawks are eliminated from the playoffs.
Against the New Orleans Saints, Bowers finally broke Mike Ditka’s 63-year old record for rookie tight end receiving yardage. Ditka’s record stood at 1,076 yards, and Bowers surpassed him and is now at 1,144 receiving yards. Bowers also set the record for most rookie tight end receptions in a season with 108 receptions.
In his record-setting performance, Bowers caught seven passes for 77 yards en route to a Raiders’ win.
He joins his former Georgia teammate Ladd McConkey in breaking records as a rookie in the NFL. McConkey is on the Los Angeles Chargers, who are heading to the playoffs after their Saturday win against the New England Patriots.
Bowers is on a 4-12 Raiders team that has suffered a disappointing season with sloppy quarterback play.
The Raiders will more than likely be on the hunt for a new quarterback, whether that’s through free agency, or the draft, where they could pick Carson Beck, Bowers’ former quarterback, in the later rounds if they miss out on the top quarterback prospects.
A former Georgia Bulldogs DB in the NFL accomplishes a rare feat.
Former Georgia Bulldog Kamari Lassiter has already made a major impact for the Houston Texans in just his rookie season. After being drafted in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, he beat out former Ohio State cornerback Jeff Okudah for the starting job.
One of Lassiter’s top plays this season occurred on Christmas vs. the Baltimore Ravens. The Texans pinned the Ravens at their own three-yard line when Lassiter tackled former legendary Alabama running back Derrick Henry in the end zone for a safety. Those two points were the Texans’ only points in their 31-2 defeat to the Ravens.
Lassiter is currently tied for ninth in defensive rookie of the year odds, according to BetMGM. He is also ranked as the 10th rookie DB according to PFF, with a 70.1 grade (subscription required). He has shown potential as a rookie, and next year, Georgia Bulldogs fans could be excited about his development.
Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver, who most recently played for the New York Giants, finds a new NFL home
Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie signed with the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad. McKenzie began the 2024 NFL season with the New York Giants before the Giants waived him after reaching an injury settlement.
McKenzie, who is healthier now, is in his eighth season in the NFL. McKenzie was a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft and played with the Indianapolis Colts a year ago.
In 2023, the former Georgia standout recorded 11 catches for 82 receiving yards and three carries for 14 rushing yards with Indianapolis. McKenzie has also played for the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos in his NFL career.
The Dolphins are signing McKenzie to provide depth at wide receiver and as a return specialist. McKenzie finished the 2023 season with 23 punt returns for 204 yards and six kickoff returns for 152 return yards. McKenzie has one career NFL punt return touchdown.
Miami lost wide receiver Grant DuBose for the season last week. Dolphins wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Dee Eskridge are both also dealing with injuries.
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Isaiah McKenzie had a career-best 42 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns with Buffalo in 2022.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck again. Nick Chubb left the game early against the Chiefs with a foot injury. Later he came back out on crutches, and the team medical staff revealed that he suffered a broken foot.
It’s the worst case scenario for Chubb, who will more than likely be out the remainder of the season. The injury could also mean the end of his Cleveland Browns career, too.
What did fans and media say on social media after Nick Chubb’s injury?
This is sickening and heartbreaking. Nick Chubb is one of those players you hate when your team plays against but love to watch. Just an overall great dude. Wish his nothing but the healthiest and safest recoveries https://t.co/KcPTpOnK6d
Three-round 2025 NFL mock draft has four Bulldogs selected.
PFF released its latest three-round 2025 NFL mock draft, and four Georgia Bulldogs were selected in this draft, including three in the first round. With Georgia players potentially graduating, declaring for the draft, or entering the transfer portal, the Bulldogs are working on signing recruits to replace these Georgia players.
Here are the Bulldogs selected in PFF’s mock draft:
No. 10: S Malaki Starks, Cincinnati Bengals
Starks has progressed ever since Georgia recruited him in 2021. He was a part of the championship squad in 2022, became a Consensus All-American in 2023, and could win a major award in 2024.
The Bengals need significant help in the secondary, especially at safety, and with Starks, Cincinnati will get a rangy safety with an elite football IQ. The Bengals have been looking for a Jessie Bates replacement and Starks could be that.
Other mock drafts have picked Mykel Williams higher, but even with the slide, Williams lands in a perfect spot. Philadelphia needs reinforcements at the edge, with Brandon Graham retiring and Josh Sweat heading into free agency. The Eagles already have several Georgia Bulldogs on their roster, including Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, and Nakobe Dean in their front seven.
No. 56: OG Tate Ratledge, Baltimore Ravens
Ratledge has been a stalwart guard for five years at Georgia. In the past three seasons, he’s earned over an 80 PFF grade in pass-blocking and over a 69 PFF grade in run-blocking. The Ravens need offensive line reinforcements, especially in the guard spots.
A former Georgia running back takes over NFL head coaching vacancy.
The Chicago Bears promoted former Georgia Bulldogs running back Thomas Brown as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Brown’s promotion came after the Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus on Friday.
Eberflus’s time at the helm ended after two-and-a-half years with a 14-32 record. Eberflus’ firing comes after a six-game losing streak and a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions, where Eberflus mismanaged the clock in field goal range to tie it potentially.
Thomas Brown is in a head coaching position for the first time in his career. He will inherit a Bears team that has lost several close games, despite having a talented offense led by Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Bears also have a talented defense that has allowed the ninth-fewest points per game in the NFL.
It has been quite the turnaround for Brown, who was named less than two weeks ago as the offensive coordinator of the Bears after Chicago parted ways with Shane Waldron.
Brown has prior experience as a play-calling offensive coordinator for the 2023 Carolina Panthers, who went 2-15. Brown also served as offensive assistant for the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay. The highly-respected coach will get his first shot as a head coach even if it is just with an interim tag.
Three Georgia Bulldogs are projected to go in the top half of the first-round in a recent CBS NFL mock draft.
CBS writer Ryan Wilson recently released his newest 2025 NFL mock draft. Wilson projects that three Georgia Bulldogs will go in the top half of the first round of his mock draft.
All three of Wilson’s projected first-round picks from Georgia play defense. The Bulldogs are among the best defenses in the country, but still have room for improvement.
Jalon Walker, Miami Dolphins, 12th overall
Jalon Walker has shown insane versatility, lining up as both an off-ball linebacker and as an edge rusher. He’s a fast player that is great at block shedding, both in pass-rushing and run defense. He’s already drawn praise from NFL legends, such as Micah Parsons, who he’s received comparisons to. Walker would be an impact player for the Dolphins defense that sorely needs one in the front seven.
Mykel Williams, 14th overall, Chicago Bears
Mykel Williams is a little further down from draft mocks earlier in the year. He was considered a contender for the No. 1 overall pick in September. However, he is still a one-of-one talent when he’s healthy.
Williams’ incredibly good against the run, showing elite upper-body strength and technique that helps him bulldoze offensive tackles. The Bears could use offensive lineman, but they could also use a second edge rusher to pair with Montez Sweat.
Malaki Starks, 16th overall, Seattle Seahawks
Starks would fit perfectly in former Georgia assistant Mike McDonald’s system. Starks is a safety with excellent range. He is super effective at reading running gaps and is one of the best tacklers on Georgia’s defense. That could make a Seattle defense that is already 12th in tackling grade, according to PFF, even better.
Former Georgia football running back receives promotion and is now the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator
The Chicago Bears promoted passing game coordinator Thomas Brown to be their new offensive coordinator. Brown, who is a former Georgia Bulldogs running back, replaces previous offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
The Bears fired Waldron after a rough start to the season despite having a very talented offense surrounding quarterback Caleb Williams, who was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Chicago has the ninth-worst scoring offense in the NFL at 19.4 points per game.
Brown has previous experience as the Carolina Panthers’ offensive coordinator in 2023. He was the Panthers’ play-caller for part (primarily the second-half of the season) of Carolina’s brutal 2-15 season.
Chicago interviewed Brown for their offensive coordinator role before the season. The Bears ended up hiring Brown as their passing game coordinator. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to prove himself and show he deserves to remain as offensive coordinator.