The Washington Commanders could have a big piece of their offense back on Sunday in an NFC East showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday that tight end Zach Ertz was “trending toward playing” in the Week 16 contest against the Eagles.
Ertz suffered a concussion in the second quarter of last week’s win over the New Orleans Saints. He immediately checked into the blue medical tent before leaving for the locker room. Washington didn’t take long to rule Ertz out.
The 12-year veteran spent the first eight-and-a-half seasons of his NFL career with Philadelphia. Ertz has started every game this season for the Commanders and is second on the team in receptions (54), receiving yards (526) and receiving touchdowns (4).
Commanders TE Zach Ertz, listed as questionable for Sunday due to a concussion and a shoulder injury, is trending toward playing vs. the Eagles, per source.
The Commanders recently lost two of their top four receivers when running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) and wide receiver Noah Brown (kidney) were placed on injured reserve. If Ertz were to miss Sunday’s game against Philadelphia, quarterback Jayden Daniels would be without three of his top four pass catchers against the NFL’s top defense.
WHEW. Things got heated on Tuesday when Doug Gottlieb — who is the head men’s basketball coach at Green Bay while still hosting on radio — questioned the reporting of ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schefter reported that Sacramento State is “in discussions” to hire Michael Vick as its head coach, with “over $50 million in NIL” to help its efforts.
Gottlieb responded with this: “Jeezus Shefty, edit what agents tell you… 0.0% chance Sac State has $50m in NIL.”
Schefter replied with more reporting, along with this: “And Jeezus, Doug. A seven-game losing steak and last place in the Horizon League? Less time on social media and more time in the gym.”
OUCH.
Jeezus Shefty, edit what agents tell you… 0.0% chance Sac State has $50m in NIL. https://t.co/8eoU0wwKPO
The SAC-12 leading the schools NIL efforts already announced it has reached its initial goal of raising $50 million in NIL funds to strengthen the school’s case for an invitation to the PAC-12 or Mountain West conference.
And Jeezus, Doug. A seven-game losing steak and last place in the Horizon League? Less time on social media and more time in the gym. pic.twitter.com/r58Fpwfvb8
The Commanders will receive a “shot in the arm” after the bye when their defense gets some major help.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter Wednesday said the Commanders will soon get a shot in the arm.
During his weekly appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show,” Schefter mentioned that the bye will do the Commanders well, and something else will help them, too. Here is some of what he had to say:
“Here’s a little headline. When they get back from their bye after this week, it sounds like Marshon Lattimore is going to make his Commanders’ debut in the first game back for Washington.”
Commanders CB Marshon Lattimore is poised to make his return after Washington’s bye week next Sunday in, of all places, New Orleans.
“You saw that they released Emmanuel Forbes, their first-round draft pick, former first-round pick who was claimed on waivers by the Los Angeles Rams. Part of the reason they released him was they had Lattimore coming back after the bye.”
“And it looks like he is tracking to play his first game for the Commanders; what six weeks after the trade deadline? Or five weeks after the trade deadline?”
“We’ve been waiting for Marshon Lattimore to make his debut, and this will be a little jolt in the arm for Washington, coming off of its bye, getting its Pro Bowl cornerback.”
“By the way, when they do bring back Lattimore for his first game as a Commander next week, guess where that game will be? In New Orleans against his former team.”
“What better way than to bring back Marshon Lattimore for his first game as a Commander, in New Orleans, against the Saints, the team that traded him away?”
Good to hear the Commanders being a subject of positive discussion on one of the national shows that brings much focus on the NFL.
The Cincinnati Bengals sat out on bye in Week 12 while hoping for some help in the AFC standings while sitting at 4-7.
During the week while the Bengals were resting though, national media had all sorts of takes about the state of the team’s playoff chances.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter, for example, went on the Pat McAfee show and said he’s not counting the Bengals out just yet: “The Cincinnati Bengals are still a dangerous football team and I think they’re still capable of making a playoff push…It’s gonna be tough but they still can do it.”
And Schefter’s point about the Bengals still being all-in on the season and other AFC playoff teams not wanting to see them when it’s one-and-done is a good point.
For the Bengals to make any of this remaining hype matter, though, they need to storm out of the bye week and steal a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
From Tom Brady to Colin Cowherd, the NFL world reacted in a big way to QB Bo Nix’s impressive performance.
After Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix had a historic performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11, NFL pundits have offered their takes on the first-year signal caller. Here’s a recap of the reactions this week.
Tom Brady names Bo Nix one of his 3 stars of the week
The pair mentioned in the game against Atlanta, Nix had his highest yards-per-pass (9.8) of the season.
Chris Simms breaks down Bo Nix’s ‘surgically explosive’ performance
Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms has seen the difference for the Broncos offense. “I just love the look of Bo Nix, I really do,” said Simms. “I love the offense they’re running, too.”
Shannon Sharpe, Chad Johnson chime in on Bo Nix’s big game
The two former pass catchers reacted to Nix’s huge stat line from the Falcons game. “(Nix) was one of three Bronco rookie quarterbacks to ever throw four touchdowns in a game,” noted Sharpe.
Colin Cowherd says Bo Nix is a top-12 quarterback in the NFL
After Nix had his highest stats of the season, ESPN insider Adam Schefter marveled at the young quarterback. “Rookies don’t do that,” Schefter remarked on the Pat McAfee Show. “That’s over 80 percent completion rate, four touchdowns, no interceptions. Bo Nix is getting better and better and better.”
Jamie Erdahl says Bo Nix was the NFL’s big winner in Week 11
Former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky said that Nix is having a great season. “He’s got control and he has the answers,” said Orlovsky. “Control of everything they’re trying to do in Denver offensively.”
PFF reacts to Bo Nix’s play and Broncos’ impressive offensive line
Although the rest of the NFL is giving Nix all the love, PFF realized that the Broncos’ offensive line is a key part of the success Nix has been having throughout the season.
Tim Jenkins breaks down film of Bo Nix’s best game yet
Tim Jenkins called Nix’s historic performance “the best performance I’ve seen out of a rookie quarterback this season, and if I’m really being honest, the best performance I’ve seen from a Broncos quarterback in a long, long, long time.”
Kurt Benkert reviews Bo Nix’s great game vs. Falcons
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert broke down Nix’s incredible performance against Atlanta in an 18-minute video.
Doug Farrar breaks down Bo Nix’s recent rise
New All-22 video for @AthlonSports: Bo Nix’s ascent as the @Broncos‘ franchise QB after a long post-Peyton Manning search is happening. Sean Payton brought up two plays that speak to Nix’s recent development. Nix is taking one of the NFL’s most complex playbooks to the field. pic.twitter.com/w4qhzp9Eai
“Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season, and from 2016-2023, the Denver Broncos threw 13 different quarterbacks into the fire to try and replace him,” said Farrar. “But now with 2024 first-round draft pick Bo Nix, Denver may finally have a guy to mercifully end that quarterback curse.”
Chris Long reacts to Bo Nix’s impressive improvement this season
Super Bowl champion Chris Long praised Nix, as an older rookie quarterback who is hitting his stride with head coach Sean Payton.
Chase Daniel says Bo Nix should be Rookie of the Year
“In my opinion, (Nix is) right now neck and neck with (Commanders quarterback) Jayden Daniels in the Offensive Rookie of the Year category,” said the former QB.
Nix is certainly making a serious case for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Can he continue this high-quality quarterback play through the rest of the season?
That said, you’re going to want to sit down for this story.
Kevin Clark asked ESPN’s Adam Schefter for the weirdest place he broke a story. Schefter paused and started laughing in that way that he knew this one was going to be a doozy.
He recalled being in Denver when he had “spent time” with a woman for the first time and got texted that Broncos cornerback Dale Carter had been suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. So he confirmed it … in bed.
I asked @AdamSchefter the weirdest place he's ever broken a story. I cannot possibly recommend this clip more.
NFL fans lost it when they thought that ESPN’s Adam Schefter was maybe using MethStreams to illegally stream a Thursday Night Football game thanks to a tweet he posted a couple of weeks ago.
Of course, that wasn’t the case, and the leading NFL reporter denied it while appearing on Pat McAfee’s show (via Awful Announcing): “The most ridiculous thing — that I was accused of trying to save $8.99 a month when my wife spends an average of $8.99 a minute with Amazon. I can’t even figure out how to sign up and they’re accusing me of trying to get around it with Meth Streams.”
As if to shut the door on this whole thing, Schefter tweeted this on Thursday:
Ja'Marr Chase now has 238 receiving and two TDs. Love watching Thursday Night Football on @PrimeVideo.
While appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers reacts live to the news of WR Mike Williams trade to Pittsburgh.
Former Indianapolis Colts’ All-Pro punter Pat McAfee brought on his guest, New York Jets’ QB Aaron Rodgers, in the truly the right place and time, as Rodgers was able to react live to insider Adam Schefter’s report that the Pittsburgh Steelers acquiring his former Jets’ teammate, WR Mike Williams, via trade.
McAfee asked Rodgers for his intitial reaction and what Williams meant to the 2024 New York Jets’ team. While Rodgers could have taken this opportunity to make Williams position on the team seem replaceable, Rodgers took the opportunity to relate with Williams’ struggles with injuries and amazing recovery, stating that “I felt like he was getting better throughout the early part of the season. I feel like his speed was getting better. That’s a tough injury, I had that injury.”
The injury Rodgers referenced is one in which Williams tore his ACL during his 2023 season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
While Williams would surely appreciate the kind words from his former QB on the Jets, he is no doubt looking forward to getting the opportunity to show the NFL exactly what he is capable of with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are acquiring WR Mike Williams from the Jets for a 2025 5th-round pick.
It appears Steelers RB Cordarrelle Patterson‘s fantastic recruiting has paid dividends for Pittsburgh, as the team has finally acquired their WR2.
Insider Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday afternoon that Pittsburgh would be acquiring WR Mike Williams from the New York Jets in exchange for a 2025 fifth-round draft selection, less than a few hours from the 4:00 PM EST trade deadline.
Williams, throughout his eight-year career, has 4,972 receiving yards on 321 receptions and 31 receiving touchdowns. He is most known for his seven seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, and his best statistical season with the team in 2021—1,146 receiving yards, 76 receptions, and nine touchdowns.
Another trade: Pittsburgh is trading a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Jets for WR Mike Williams, per source. pic.twitter.com/mXIHElxYrQ
The newly acquired Steelers WR has struggled to stay healthy, missing 16 games combined in 2022 and 2023. However, Williams seems revitalized and looking to make an impact on the Pittsburgh Steelers offense.
It remains to be seen how quickly Williams can get acclimated to the Steelers’ offensive scheme, but once he and QB Russell Wilson are on the same page, secondaries around the NFL better prepare to be cooked.
Insider Adam Schefter brings good news for Steelers fans—potential wide receiver trade targets who could end up in Pittsburgh.
In what has been an up-and-down week for Pittsburgh trade rumors, to say the least, fans of the Steel City are getting a positive update for a change. Insider Adam Schefter reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers have been in contact with teams to trade for any available wide receiver at the trade deadline.
Schefter continued to name two wide receivers and previously rumored trade targets—Carolina Panthers’ WR Adam Thielen and New York Jets’ WR Mike Williams.
While the Carolina Panthers are expected to sell heavily at the trade deadline, the New York Jets may wait to see how the AFC playoff picture takes shape after Week 9’s games before making any potential moves.
The 34-year-old Thielen is well beyond the prime of his career but could provide Pittsburgh with a veteran presence in the wide receiver room.
Williams, however, may still have plenty of gas left in the tank, as when healthy, the WR is a force to be reckoned with.
Will Pittsburgh pull the trigger on any WR trade, or at this point, is making any trade before the deadline simply a pipe dream?
