Tevin Coleman didn’t practice, but looks like he’s on track to return for the Super Bowl.
The 49ers on Thursday had their first practice leading up to Super Bowl LIV, which means their first official participation report came out as well. They didn’t practice Wednesday, so their participation report was only an estimation.
Thursday’s report looked exactly like Wednesday’s with only a minor exception. Wide receiver Dante Pettis missed the session with an illness. Kansas City is dealing with a similar issue with multiple players missing practice during the week to fight off an illness during flu season.
The 49ers actually had some issues with the coaches getting sick in the week leading up to the NFC championship game.
“I think they quarantined a few of the coaches,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh told reporters before Thursday’s practice. “But I think the players are doing all right.”
Keeping players from getting sick sounds like a menial task, but the 49ers experienced the impact an illness can have on a player in Week 1 when Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans was under the weather. He caught just two passes for 28 yards in a year where he had 67 receptions and nearly 1,200 yards.
There was some positive news on the injury front from reporters at the team facility. Running back Tevin Coleman was seen working out on a side field during the session. Coleman’s status for Super Bowl LIV is unknown after he dislocated his shoulder in the NFC championship game. He was officially listed as a non-participant in practice, but his on-field rehab is a good indicator that the week off may be enough time to get him ready for the Super Bowl.
Here’s the full participation report from Thursday:
The Golden State Warriors don’t have an NBA All-Star voted into the starting lineup of the game for the first time since 2014.
The Warriors have entered the past five consecutive NBA Finals, hanging three championship banners along the way— with that type of success comes popularity. Since 2013, the individuals who built Golden State’s championship run have enjoyed personal accolades. Members of Golden State have won awards like Defensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player, yet the most common nod has been an invite to the NBA’s All-Star Game.
In the 2019-20 season, with the Warriors record sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, the All-Star recognition doesn’t come as easy. The NBA revealed the starters for the 2020 NBA All-Star game, and for the first time since 2014, the Golden State Warriors don’t have a player in the starting lineup.
Following Lee the next season, Stephen Curry started the next six All-Star games, with other Warriors like Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all getting invited to the game at times since 2014.
Injuries and the departure of Durant have limited Golden State’s ability to earn an All-Star call-up. However, even injured, Curry ranked in the top-10 of Western Conference guard voting throughout the process. D’Angelo Russell also listed in the top-10 of voting, yet it wasn’t good enough to earn a starting spot.
Golden State could still have the chance to send someone to Chicago for the 2020 edition of the All-Star game, as the reserves are announced on Thursday, January 30.
The Packers have 15 players with expiring contracts who will be unrestricted free agents in March. Which ones should return?
The Green Bay Packers have 15 players with expiring contracts who will be unrestricted free agents come March. Deciding which players will return is one of the first priorities on the offseason checklist of GM Brian Gutekunst.
Which players should the Packers bring back?
Let’s break the 15 down into categories:
Quality vets the Packers need back
RT Bryan Bulaga: Good offensive tackles are so hard to find. Bulaga turns 31 in March, and he has a frightening injury history, but he’s also a warrior and an accomplished right tackle, and the Packers haven’t developed or identified a replacement. Bulaga, who started 17 of 18 games in 2019, will be in demand. His value to the Packers is high.
K Mason Crosby: Reliable kickers are as hard to find as quality offensive tackles. Crosby is 35, but he made 22 of 24 field goals and all but one extra point in 2019. He’s mentally tough and his leg is still strong. Unless his asking price is exorbitant, Crosby should be back.
Quality vets worth bringing back
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
CB Tramon Williams: The ageless cornerback didn’t show any signs of regression despite playing the 2019 season as one of the oldest defensive backs in football. He’s still quick and agile and smart, and he gave Mike Pettine a full year of strong work covering the slot. At the right price, he’s well worth bringing back again.
TE Marcedes Lewis: He cut weight, showed up to camp in terrific shape and produced an outstanding season as a blocker in the run game. At times, the veteran was dominant blocking the edge, and he even caught 15 passes. His skill set has value in LaFleur’s offense, and Aaron Rodgers loves him, both as a player and leader. Lewis wants to return to Green Bay in 2020.
Easy decisions
RB Tyler Ervin: He arrived as a waiver claim in early December and immediately revived the Packers’ return game. He also gave the offense an athletic two-way threat for Matt LaFleur’s jet motion plays. His special teams value alone should make this an easy decision.
DB Will Redmond: He was overmatched at times on defense, but the versatile defensive back developed into arguably the Packers’ best special teams player in 2019. Redmond led the team in special teams tackles with nine and is great covering kicks and punts. Shawn Mennenga will likely push hard for him to return.
FB Danny Vitale: He didn’t break out like many expected after a big summer, but Vitale is still a strong fit in LaFleur’s scheme. He’s a threat in the passing game. A return makes sense for both team and player.
Could go either way
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
OT Jared Veldheer: Would he want to return as the Packers’ swing tackle? If he’s willing and the price is right, a reunion in 2020 makes good sense, especially if Bulaga returns. If he’s looking to start and wants to be paid like a starting-caliber tackle, he’s almost certainly gone.
LB B.J. Goodson: He played 254 unspectacular snaps as the second linebacker in the base defense. The former Giant can thump against the run. If Blake Martinez departs, bringing back Goodson might be a cheap way of holding the position together, but he’s replaceable.
DB Ibraheim Campbell: He gave the Packers a smart and versatile player to handle the dime linebacker role once Raven Greene went down in Week 2. With Pettine returning, Campbell could also return.
Most likely gone
Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
LB Blake Martinez: He produced 140 or more tackles in three straight seasons, and he calls the plays for the defense, but there’s a good chance another team is going to play Martinez more than the Packers are willing to keep him. He’s a limited player, but he undoubtedly out-produced his draft slot.
OLB Kyler Fackrell: Fackrell will likely attempt to find a bigger role and a bigger payday elsewhere. He produced 10.5 sacks during a fluky season in 2018 and then gladly accepted a role as a rotational player in 2019. He can rush off the edge and cover in space. Just don’t ask him to play the run.
Time to move on
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
WR Geronimo Allison: He had a big start to the 2018 season but returned from a season-ending injury in 2019 and really, really struggled. In fact, Allison was one of the least efficient receivers in the NFL this season. He struggled to hold onto the ball, too. The Packers played him over 600 snaps, but it’s time for an upgrade. A big upgrade.
WR Ryan Grant: The Packers signed him in October but he couldn’t even crack the active gameday roster. He was an emergency option. With a bunch of newcomers likely on the way at receiver, it’s difficult to envision Grant sticking around.
OT Jason Spriggs: He never developed into a quality offensive tackle despite a bunch of chances. He then missed the entire 2019 season while on IR. The former second-round pick probably needs a fresh start.
Don’t expect any hostility between Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and 49ers QB Jimmy Garappolo just because their teams will battle in Super Bowl 54.
Don’t expect any hostility between Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo just because their teams will battle for the biggest win in football at the Super Bowl Feb. 2.
Thursday, Garoppolo recalled a moment from the 2018 season when Mahomes extended kindness following the teams squaring off in Week 3.
“For him to come out of his way after the game and wish me luck and everything. (He’s) a real class act…,” Garoppolo said. “For him to do something as simple as that. It went a long way.”
During that 2018 game in Kansas City, Garoppolo suffered a torn ACL. The injury ended his first season as the season starter in San Francisco after just a few games. The former Patriots back-up said he didn’t even know that season’s MVP, Mahomes, at the time.
It doesn’t really sound like the pair have kept in touch .. but it’s a nice story from the last time the Super Bowl teams met in a game that mattered (the also played during the 2019 preseason).
What are the burning questions surrounding the quarterback position this offseason?
The Arizona Cardinals are working on their offseason plans for 2020, hoping to take a big step after a 5-10-1 2019 season. Over the next few days, we will look at each position group and where the Cardinals stand, looking ahead to what could happen in the offseason.
We begin with the quarterback position.
Looking back at 2019
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
2019 was all about Kyler Murray. Selected first overall in the 2019 draft, he entered the season as the starter and played almost every snap, coming out of only two games.
He set all sorts of team rookie records — passing yards, passing attempts, touchdown passes, wins and more. He set league rookie records. He set a franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback. He became only the second rookie to pass for at least 3,500 yards and rush for at least 500 more. He had the eighth-highest single-season total in passing yards in team history. He had one of the lowest interception percentages in team history.
Entering the year with high expectations, he more than met every single one.
Backup Brett Hundley played very well in the preseason and made plays in the second half of the Cardinals’ win over the Seattle Seahawks when Murray left with a hamstring injury.
Rockets guard and league scoring leader James Harden was named Thursday as a starter for the upcoming 2020 NBA All-Star Game Harden has now made the All-Star team in all eight of his seasons with the Rockets, and as a starter in six of them In the 2019-20 season, the former MVP and future Hall of Famer is scoring a league-leading 36.6 points per game for the Rockets That point total represents highest average by any NBA player in over 30 years
Rockets guard and league scoring leader James Harden was named Thursday as a starter for the upcoming 2020 NBA All-Star Game Harden has now made the All-Star team in all eight of his seasons with the Rockets, and as a starter in six of them In the 2019-20 season, the former MVP and future Hall of Famer is scoring a league-leading 36.6 points per game for the Rockets That point total represents highest average by any NBA player in over 30 years
Rockets guard and league scoring leader James Harden was named Thursday as a starter for the upcoming 2020 NBA All-Star Game Harden has now made the All-Star team in all eight of his seasons with the Rockets, and as a starter in six of them In the 2019-20 season, the former MVP and future Hall of Famer is scoring a league-leading 36.6 points per game for the Rockets That point total represents highest average by any NBA player in over 30 years
Rockets guard and league scoring leader James Harden was named Thursday as a starter for the upcoming 2020 NBA All-Star Game Harden has now made the All-Star team in all eight of his seasons with the Rockets, and as a starter in six of them In the 2019-20 season, the former MVP and future Hall of Famer is scoring a league-leading 36.6 points per game for the Rockets That point total represents highest average by any NBA player in over 30 years
HARTFORD – No. 23 Tennessee renewed its rivalry with No. 3 UConn Thursday night in Hartford, Conn. at XL Center.
The Lady Vols were defeated by UConn, 60-45.
Jan 23, 2020; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Crystal Dangerfield (5) shoots against Tennessee Lady Vols guard Jordan Horston (25) in the first half at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
UConn moves to 14-9 in the all-time series against Tennessee. The win also ends a three-game losing streak to the Lady Vols.
The contest was the first between the two schools since 2007 and the 23rd overall in the series.
Tennessee controlled the first half and took a 31-28 lead into halftime.
