Category: League News

Bucs WR Mike Evans continues to move up all-time receiving ladder

Starring down the barrel of tying Rice’s record, it was clear that Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offensive game plan was to feed Evans.

Playing in the 11th season of his Hall of Fame career, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is at the point where everything he does moves him up the ladder as one of the NFL’s all-time great wide receivers.

As Sunday’s matchup with the Carolina Panthers got underway, Evans was 182 yards shy of tying the NFL’s greatest wide receiver of all time, Jerry Rice, by logging his 11th straight 1,000-yard season. Starring down the barrel of tying Rice’s record, it was clear that Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offensive game plan was to feed Evans.

Catching all three first-quarter targets, Evans registered his 11th 60+ reception season in as many years. In doing so, Evans tied with Jerry Rice, Derrick Mason, and Travis Kelce with the fourth-most consecutive 60-catch seasons in NFL history. What sets Evans apart from Rice, Mason, and Kelce is that the Buccaneers superstar wide receiver is the only player to accomplish such a feat every season to begin their career.

His two first-half touchdown receptions make things sweeter for the 11-year veteran, giving him 11 on the year. With the first touchdown, Evans totaled 10 on the season, giving him double-digit touchdown receptions for the sixth time in his career, the fifth-most in NFL history. Evans’s second touchdown of the day gave him the 24th multi-touchdown game in his career, tied for the sixth-most in NFL history.

Ravens LB Roquan Smith fined for tackle that injured Chris Godwin

The league has reviewed the hit by Smith, deemed it a hip-drop tackle, and issued a $16,833 fine

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were attempting a miracle comeback against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night as quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with wide receiver Chris Godwin on a 21-yard strike late in the fourth quarter. That would become the last reception of Godwin’s season, who suffered a dislocated ankle, which would require surgery to repair.

As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league has reviewed the hit by Smith, deemed it a hip-drop tackle, and issued a $16,833 fine. The league has been trying to outlaw the hip-drop tackle as it frequently causes very serious injuries where a defender’s full body weight is placed on the lower extremities of the player they are making the tackle on- and oftentimes, the lower limbs are put in precarious positions.

Immediately upon being tackled, it was evident that something was wrong with either the leg or the ankle of the Bucs superstar receiver. He could not get up off the turf and was carted off wearing an air cast on his leg. At the time of the tackle, it did not appear to be anything other than an accident, and with ESPN’s decision not to air the replay during the broadcast, it was difficult to make a determination at that time. However, a hip-drop tackle was easy to spot with the video and multiple angles being readily available now, such as the NFL’s All 22.

In the final year of his contract with the Buccaneers, Godwin was on pace to set career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. His chemistry with Mayfield was at a high in their second year playing together, and his reliability has kept Mayfield near, or at, the top of most quarterback stats through seven games this season.

Bucs RB Sean Tucker named NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Headlining the team with 136 rushing yards, three receptions for 56 yards, and two total touchdowns was Bucs running back Sean Tucker.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers set a franchise record with 594 net yards of offense in Sunday’s 51-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

While the Saints’ defense posted a box score that showed three interceptions, they had no answer for the Bucs’ offensive attack. Headlining the team with 136 rushing yards, three receptions for 56 yards, and two total touchdowns was Bucs running back Sean Tucker, who has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 6.

Not only did the second-year running back gash the Saints defense, averaging a sweltering 9.7 yards per carry on 14 carries, but Tucker’s 192 yards from scrimmage were also the third-highest in a single game through six weeks of the 2024 NFL season, trailing only Derrick Henry’s 209-yard and Ja’Marr Chase’s 193-yard performances.

Following Tucker’s dominating performance, he entered elite company, becoming the fourth RB in Bucs franchise history (Doug Martin x2, Warrick Dunn x2, and James Wilder) to total 192+ yards from scrimmage.

Adding further to the impressive resume that Tucker built in Week 6, this becomes the first Offensive Player of the Week award that a Bucs running back has won since Leonard Fournette against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 of 2021.

Tony Dungy sets the record straight on the ‘Tampa 2’ defense

A debate about the two-high safeties defense—or, as you may know it, the “Tampa 2″—broke out on ESPN’s Get Up thanks to Mel Kiper Jr.

A debate about the two-high safeties defense—or, as you may know it, the “Tampa 2″—broke out on ESPN’s Get Up after Mel Kiper Jr. said it should be outlawed because he wants to see more downfield shots rather than bubble screens and checkdowns.

“The NFL is getting ruined by these two high safeties,” Kiper said.

Dan Orlovsky was tasked with explaining what this alignment was, and credited former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy for creating it, stating that “2-high safeties has been around for a long time, Tony Dungy made the ‘Tampa 2’ defense famous down there.”

While Dungy and the Buccaneers may have made it more of a household name to a wider audience, the former Buccaneers coach made sure to set the record straight. “Thanks, Dan, for including me in the legacy of Cover 2, but the Tampa version wasn’t near the beginning of the story,” Dungy said on his X account in response to Orlovsky’s history lesson.

The Cover 2 defense was actually introduced to the NFL in 1973, by Bud Carlson and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dungy would say, and the Hall of Fame coach took the Tampa version right out of their 1977 playbook, which he received as a rookie DB for the Steelers.

Dungy spent time interacting with comments and giving a history lesson on the defense and suspected that the defense was heralded as “Tampa 2” simply because “people hadn’t seen it in a while.”

Titans OL Cole Spencer named UDFA with best chance to make the roster

Bleacher Report recently listed Tennessee Titans undrafted free agent offensive lineman Cole Spencer with the best chance to make the roster

While the majority of undrafted free agents primarily compete for practice squad spots, some find their way onto the active roster.

Following the 2024 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans signed 16 undrafted free agents to bring into camp. Of those, Cole Spencer was among the three offensive linemen to bolster a position group that struggled to keep Titans’ quarterbacks upright over the last couple of seasons.

The 25-year-old was recently named “1 UDFA with Best Chance to Make the Roster in Every NFL Team’s Training Camp” by Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine.

Here is Ballentine’s analysis:

There are a few things working for Cole Spencer to make the Tennessee Titans’ roster.

The first is the coaching change for the Titans. Going from Mike Vrabel to Brian Callahan resets the player evaluation process and provides more even footing for all rookies who are trying to make the roster.

The other is that Bill Callahan is one of the best offensive line coaches in the business. So when the Titans give out more guaranteed money to a lineman than any of their other UDFA’, it’s worth noting.

Spencer played left tackle, left guard and right tackle in stops with Western Kentucky and Texas Tech. He does have an extensive injury history, which probably played a role in him going undrafted, but he ran a 4.89-second 40 and posted a 30.5″ vertical at his pro day, giving a glimpse into his athleticism.

Spencer spent the last two years at Texas Tech, but as the analysis notes, he was limited to just six games during that stretch. Injuries forced him to miss the entire 2022 season and half of last year as well. However, when healthy, Spencer has the potential to be a gem.

While he primarily played at left guard for the Red Raiders, Spencer also has experience at both tackle positions, offering plenty of versatility to a Titans offensive line that has been challenged with injuries in recent years.

In 2023, he was responsible for just one sack allowed and one quarterback pressure, offering a glimpse of the player he was in 2021 with Western Kentucky when he was ranked as the best pass-blocker in the Conference USA by Pro Football Focus.

The right side of Tennessee’s offensive line has been a weak spot in the early stages of training camp. The Titans are expected to get Nicholas Petit-Frere back soon, which should help stabilize the position, but Spencer will have a very real possibility to compete for a backup role.

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Titans waive promising UDFA running back

Titans waive promising young running back.

Prior to Day 2 of training camp on Thursday, the Tennessee Titans waived running back Dillon Johnson, according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. The move was made in advance of the team signing center Corey Levin and linebacker Shane Ray.

Johnson, who signed as an undrafted free agent in late April, was considered a dark horse candidate to make the Titans’ Week 1 roster. The 23-year-old had a breakout year at Washington last year after spending his first three collegiate seasons at Mississippi State.

Johnson rushed for 1,195 yards, which was the second-most in the Pac-12, on 233 carries and crossed the goal line 16 times. He also hauled in 24 catches for 190 yards out of the backfield.

With Johnson no longer in the mix, the Titans’ running back room has a bit more clarity. Tennessee will utilize a 1-2 punch of Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard. The competition for the third running back spot appears to be down to three candidates: Julius Chestnut, Hassan Haskins, and Jabari Small.

Chestnut has been with the Titans for the last two seasons after initially signing as an undrafted free agent in 2022. The 23-year-old rushed for 12 yards on nine carries in six games as a rookie. His season was cut short last year in Week 3 with a hamstring injury.

Haskins, drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft, missed all of last season after being placed on injured reserve in late August.

Small joined the team as an undrafted free agent after amassing 2,122 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins on contract status: ‘Happiest I’ve been in any organization’

DeAndre Hopkins wants to stick around beyond 2024.

All eyes are on Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins as he enters the second leg of his two-year contract signed last offseason. The 32-year-old experienced a bounceback year in 2023, hauling in 75 catches and eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the seventh time in his 11-year career.

Originally drafted by the Houston Texans, Hopkins also spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before coming to Nashville. It would appear that he is also open to sticking around beyond the upcoming NFL season, as he alluded to after Day 2 of training camp on Thursday.

“I love Tennessee,” Hopkins said via ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “I love what (Amy Adams Strunk) is doing. I think this is the happiest that I’ve been in any organization, so let that speak for itself.”

Why is he so happy to be here, exactly?

“How (Amy Adams Strunk) runs things. It’s a great place to be. She’s putting pieces together to try to win.”

We’ll see if the Titans and Hopkins can strike up a contract extension prior to the season, but there is undoubtedly a strong connection between the wide receiver and quarterback Will Levis.

Hopkins became a favorite target during Levis’s rookie campaign, and the two have continued to develop their chemistry this offseason. Levis paid for several of his teammates (including Hopkins) to work out in Cabo, Mexico.

At this stage of his career, Hopkins serves as a valued mentor for the young wideouts and tight ends on the roster, so keeping him around is certainly beneficial.

Titans’ Jamal Adams explains what the No. 33 means to him

New Tennessee Titans safety Jamal Adams was able to secure the No. 33 from Eric Garror. Here is what the number means to him.

For some players, a jersey number is… well, just a number. Joining a new team means there is a very real possibility that a player will have to select a new jersey number. However, for some, those numbers have a special meaning.

That is the case for Tennessee Titans safety Jamal Adams, who acquired the No. 33 from cornerback Eric Garror. The latter will switch to No. 25 to complete the number swap.

Adams, who participated in Wednesday’s first day of training camp, detailed just exactly how he got the number and what it means to him.

“I’m not going to say it was a tough process, but it was a process,” Adams said, via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “I’m just grateful that (Garror) allowed me to get the jersey number back. Obviously, it means so much to me. It’s not just a number; it’s a family number for me. I’ve never been a different number since I started playing at age three; I’ve always been 33. It’s tatted on me. So, I’m just happy that my mom’s happy, my family’s happy, and that’s all that matters to me.”

Did the process involve cash?

“It did. It did, but it’s okay. It was worth it,” laughed Adams.

Adams is entering his first year with the Titans after signing a one-year “prove it” deal earlier this month. The 28-year-old will very much be looking to show that he is still the same player who earned All-Pro honors in three consecutive seasons.

He was limited to just ten games by quad and knee injuries in the last two years with the Seattle Seahawks. During that time, Adams collected 51 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and two pass deflections.

The veteran safety wasted little time in making his impact felt on Wednesday. Adams recovered a fumble against the second-team offense. He also collected a “sack” on quarterback Will Levis after getting through the offensive line on a blitz.

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Titans’ Ryan Stonehouse cleared to return, praised for offseason work

Some good news for Ryan Stonehouse.

The Tennessee Titans received some good news regarding punter Ryan Stonehouse’s injury status as training camp opened on Tuesday. According to head coach Brian Callahan, the 25-year-old is “ready to roll,” and the next step for him is to start feeling some pressure in practices.

Stonehouse suffered a brutal knee injury in the Week 13 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Prior to the season-ending injury, the second-year punter out of Colorado State was averaging 53.1 yards per punt, the best mark in the National Football League.

In Stonehouse’s absence, Ty Zentner took over punting duties for the remainder of the season. The 26-year-old averaged 46.5 yards per punt, including a season-long 64-yarder.

General manager Ran Carthon spoke with the media on Tuesday, praising Stonehouse’s work ethic this offseason to get back on the field.

“Shouts out to (Stonehouse),” Carthon said via Paul Kuharsky. “He’s probably spent more time in this building than anybody this offseason. He’s legitimately in seven days a week. You come in on a Sunday not expecting to see someone, and you see (him) walking through because he’s getting treatment or he’s doing things. It was important for him to be back, and the work he’s put in: he’s been punting on his own, and he’s been kicking the ball really well. The next step in his rehab process is being able to feel some pressure. Obviously, you’re not hitting him or touching him in practice, but that’s the mental part that he has to take next.”

Could an NFL 18-game schedule be coming soon?

The 18-game schedule is picking up momentum.

As if they don’t already play too many games, the NFL owners are going to give their players an 18th regular-season game.

Monday, on the “Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN NFL analyst Adam Schefter broke the news that the NFL continues to move forward with the plan, including an 18-game regular season schedule.

“If we go back to when the conversation of more games (more than the 16-game schedule) started, the NFL started out of the block talking about 18 games, and it sounded like that was roundly dismissed. I think the league did a pretty smart thing. They went from 16 to 17 games. Rather than taking one big giant step, they said, let’s take little steps, and we will get to where we are going over time. But it is not going to be as quickly as we would like it to be.”

And now that Joe Burrow is even talking about the 18 games? To me it just seems like there is a momentum to this. I don’t think it is real right now, but it is only a matter of time before it does get real. And when you get to the 18 games, in my mind, it’s going to be about money. It’s always going to be about the money.”

The players had their opportunity in March 2020 to vote down the 17-game schedule. But in a very close vote the extra game received 51.5% approval (1,019 to 959) from players.

In 1978, the NFL moved away from an absolutely horrible six-game preseason schedule, cutting it by two games. Instead, they launched a 16-game regular season schedule.

The NFL minimum base salary for a rookie will be $795,000 in 2024, up from $750,000. All first-round selections receive four-year deals, with a fifth-year team option.

The players are to blame as well. They should negotiate for their health, not merely always more money. So, there will be an 18th game added whenever the owners put the deal together.

It will add at least one more week to the season because the teams may insist on being given a second bye week. Also, get ready for it. The owners will also work in more atrocious, unfair scheduling of games on more nights of the week.