Tag: Alec Ogletree

10 Bears players to watch during Saturday’s preseason game vs. the Bills

As the Bears prepare for their second preseason game, here are the players we’ll be keeping an eye on against the Bills.

Week two of the preseason is officially underway and the Chicago Bears are once again welcoming an AFC East opponent to Soldier Field. Last week, it was the Miami Dolphins and Saturday it will be the Buffalo Bills.

The headline story here is easily the return of former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who is now the backup in Buffalo behind Pro Bowl passer Josh Allen. Trubisky will get the start, however, and should see plenty of reps against his former team as the Bears continue to get rookie quarterback Justin Fields acclimated to the NFL. But aside from that quarterback angle, who else should we be paying attention to when the game kicks off at noon on Saturday?

Here are 10 players on the Bears that I’m keeping my eye on in their second preseason game.

Bears roster bubble: Which players helped their cause in Week 1

Following the Bears’ preseason debut, here’s a look at which roster-bubble players helped their cause with a strong outing.

The Chicago Bears opened up the preseason with a 20-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday, which featured the debut of rookie quarterback Justin Fields. While Fields is guaranteed to make the 53-man roster, there are plenty of players who are competing to make the cut.

With the first roster cuts set for Tuesday — where GM Ryan Pace will have to trim the roster from 90 to 85 — there were a handful of players who helped their chances of competing for a spot on the 53-man roster with strong preseason outings against the Dolphins.

Following Chicago’s preseason opener, here’s a look at which roster-bubble players helped their cause in Week 1.

6 takeaways from Bears’ first unofficial depth chart

The Bears have released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener, and there was plenty to unpack.

The Chicago Bears released their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins. But before the Bears and Dolphins square off on Saturday at Soldier Field, the two will hold a couple of joint practices at Halas Hall.

When looking at Chicago’s first unofficial depth chart, there are some things that aren’t much of a surprise — Andy Dalton being listed as the starting quarterback and the Bears’ top wide receivers listed as Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney and Marquise Goodwin. But there are also plenty of surprises.

Here’s what we learned from the Bears’ first unofficial depth chart:

Jets activate Le’Veon Bell off injured reserve after three-game absence

The Jets activated Le’Veon Bell off injured reserve after he missed the last three games with a hamstring injury.

After a three-game absence caused by a hamstring injury, Le’Veon Bell will make his return against the Cardinals on Sunday.

The Jets activated Bell off injured reserve after he spent the last three weeks on it with a hamstring injury. New York also signed Jimmy Murray to the active roster and promoted Mike White and Lamar Jackson from the practice squad. Alec Ogletree and Josh Malone were both released.

Bell should be a boost to a Jets’ running game that has struggled so far in 2020. As a team, the Jets are averaging 98.5 rushing yards per game, good for 26th in the league.

Murray will serve as an extra offensive lineman with Mekhi Becton listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game. White will be the backup quarterback behind incumbent starter Joe Flacco.

Jackson made his debut last week against the Broncos and two tackles and a pass breakup. He’ll be needed if Bless Austin can’t go, as he is listed as questionable with a calf injury.

Jets LB Avery Williamson sees minimal action in first game since 2018

Avery Williamson returned to fold Sunday but wasn’t in the Jets starting lineup.

Avery Williamson returned to the fold Sunday but wasn’t in the Jets’ starting lineup.

After making his way back from an ACL injury that was suffered in August 2019, Williamson dealt with a hamstring injury that held him out of New York’s Week 1 matchup against Buffalo. On Sunday, however, Williamson made his first regular season appearance in green and white since 2018, when he compiled a career-high 120 combined tackles, three sacks, one interception, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. His return, however, was not all that productive.

Williamson played sparingly in the Jets’ 31-13 loss, taking just 17 snaps on defense while tallying three tackles on the day. Neville Hewitt and Alec Ogletree, started up the middle, with Ogletree playing 33 of 59 defensive snaps.

Both Ogletree and Hewitt struggled mightily in controlling the 49ers’ run game and containing tight end Jordan Reed. The 49ers rushed the ball 29 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while Reed caught seven passes for 50 yards and two scores of his own.

This left many wondering why a healthy Williamson wasn’t getting more action, but it seems like the Jets weren’t fully ready to unleash one of their defensive leaders. Williamson was limited to special teams duties with some defensive snaps sprinkled in.

If he’s healthy, it’s likely that Willamson will be involved more in the Jets’ defensive game plan in next Sunday’s matchup against the Colts. Based on the performances of Ogletree and Hewitt, Williamson should get some more snaps.

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Jets sign LB Alec Ogletree, promote RB Josh Adams & WR Josh Malone to active roster

In wake of Sunday’s matchup against the 49ers, the Jets have signed Alec Ogeltree, while promoting RB Josh Adams and WR Josh Malone.

The Jets made a series of roster moves on Saturday, signing linebacker Alec Ogletree to the active roster and elevating running back Josh Adams and wide receiver Josh Malone from the practice squad for Sunday’s matchup against the 49ers.

Ogletree’s signing comes with Blake Cashman (groin) landing on injured reserve earlier this week and Avery Williamson listed as questionable for Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. Williamson is expected to play, but Ogletree bolsters New York’s linebacker depth nonetheless.

Now that he is on the active roster, Ogletree reunites with his former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams. Ogletree played his best football under Williams’ watch with the Rams, recording 111 tackles in 2014 and 136 in 2016. He spent the last two seasons with the Giants, but struggled mightily for New York.

As for Adams and Malone, they have been elevated to the active roster for the second consecutive week. The NFL’s new 2020 rules allow teams to promote two players from their 16-man practice squad to have a gameday roster of 55.

Adams joins a backfield that is without Le’Veon Bell, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Frank Gore has been deemed the starter with Kalen Ballage and La’Mical Perine also in the mix. The Jets just re-added Ballage this week, while Perine is expected to make his season debut after dealing with an ankle injury. In New York’s 27-17 loss to the Bills in Week 1, Adams had two carries for eight yards and a score.

Malone will likely see more snaps on offense this week after just taking 10  on special teams in New York’s season opener. With Jamison Crowder sidelined with a hamstring injury, Malone joins Breshad Perriman, Chris Hogan and Braxton Berrios as the only healthy receivers on the Jets’ depth chart.

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Jets add LB Paul Worrilow to practice squad

The Jets announced that they would be signing free agent linebacker Paul Worrilow to their practice squad following his visit Tuesday.

The Jets have signed free agent linebacker Paul Worrilow to the team’s practice squad.

New York announced the move just a day after Worrilow came in for an official visit. Worrilow’s addition comes after New York placed Blake Cashman (groin) on injured reserve. The Jets are thin at inside linebacker with Patrick Onwuasor (knee) already on IR and Avery Williamson (hamstring) having been inactive for Week 1.

Right now, Neville Hewitt and Harvey Langi are the only two healthy inside linebackers on New York’s active roster.

Worrilow joins LB Alec Ogletree on the practice squad, who Gang Green elected to protect as part of the league’s new practice squad rules. These revised rules allow teams to protect up to four players by Tuesday of each week from being signed by another team.

Worrilow originally signed with the Jets last November, playing in four games without recording a tackle.

Worrilow started his NFL career in Atlanta, signing with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Delaware. He then played one season in Detroit before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. Worrilow tore his ACL on the first day of OTAs and missed the entire season. He bounced between the Eagles and Ravens in 2019 before announcing his retirement.

Joe Douglas was able to coax Worrilow out of retirement last season with the Jets in dire need of inside linebacker depth. The Jets general manager has yet again brought back Worrilow with his unit in shambles.

In 72 career games, Worrilow has recorded 415 total tackles, four sacks, 11 passes defended and two interceptions.

Jets protect 4 practice squad players for Week 2, including Alec Ogletree

The Jets protected four members of their practice squad ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the 49ers.

The Jets protected four members of their practice squad ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the 49ers, including LB Alec Ogletree.

Joining Ogletree are RB Josh Adams, CB Javelin Guidry and WR Josh Malone. New COVID-19 inspired rules allow teams to protect up to four players on their practice squad this season. Doing so means another team can’t sign any such player away that week.

Adams and Malone both appeared in the Jets’ Week 1 loss to Buffalo before reverting back to the practice squad. They are candidates for promotions again given Gang Green’s lack of depth at running back and wide receiver following injured reserve designations for Le’Veon Bell and Denzel Mims. Ogletree is also a possibility due to injuries after Blake Cashman was put on IR as well.

Guidry’s protected status, meanwhile, is intriguing after the Jets had to bench Pierre Desir, their No. 1 corner, and dip into their depth against the Bills.

This is the first time the Jets have taken advantage of the new protection rules. They did not protect any players prior to Week 1.

Jets sign LB Alec Ogletree, WR Jaleel Scott to practice squad

The Jets signed Alec Ogletree and Jaleel Scott to their practice squad.

The New York Jets have a full 16-man practice squad after their latest roster moves.

The Jets announced that they have signed LB Alec Ogletree and WR Jaleel Scott to the practice squad. They also placed WR Donte Moncrief on practice squad injured reserve. The Jets still have one roster spot left on their 53-man active roster.

Ogletree has some familiarity with Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The two spent three seasons together with the Rams with Williams as the defensive coordinator and Ogletree as a starting linebacker. After spending five seasons with the Rams, Ogletree was traded to the Giants, where he stayed for two years. A former first-round pick, Ogletree is a player the Jets could plug in as a starting linebacker in case of injuries down the road.

As for Scott, he was drafted in the fourth round out of New Mexico State by the Ravens in 2018. Scott missed all of the 2018 season due to injury. He returned in 2019 only to make one catch for six yards in three games. The Ravens cut Scott on Saturday.

Jets sign former Giants, UGA LB to practice squad

The New York Jets have signed former New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree to their practice squad

The New York Jets have signed former New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree to their practice squad. Ogletree, an NFL veteran, is a former Georgia Bulldog standout.

The New York Giants released Ogletree earlier this offseason and he was a free agent until the Jets signed him to their practice squad. Ogletree will be a talented member of the New York practice squad and it would be surprising if he isn’t promoted to the active roster at some point during the season.

Alec Ogletree has previous experience playing under New York Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams from his time with the Los Angeles Rams. Ogletree has seven years of NFL experience including 93 starts.

Throughout his career, Ogletree has recorded 12 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, 7.5 sacks, and 676 total tackles. He’s an impact player at the NFL level, but fans shouldn’t expect him to play immediately, since he is starting on the practice squad. During a normal season, Ogletree wouldn’t have been practice squad eligible.

September 29, 2012; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Alec Ogletree celebrates after the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs won 51-44. Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the signings of Ogletree and receiver Jaleel Scott.