Tag: Antoine Green

Charlie Heck comes in as injury replacement, helps Texans to blowout win

Former UNC offensive tackle Charlie Heck was supposed to start an NFL Playoff game yesterday. He instead came on in injury relief.

The Cleveland Browns, with all the injuries they faced and quarterbacks they rotated through this year, weren’t even supposed to be in the playoffs.

The Houston Texans, who drafted rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud second overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, were hoping to see better on-field results this year. Playoffs were a dream, but not something that seemed entirely possible.

Both teams faced off in an AFC Wild Card matchup on Saturday, with Stroud and rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans overwhelming Cleveland in a 45-14 blowout.

We talked about former Tar Heel Charlie Heck starting this game at right tackle, but it was instead George Fant who did so. Heck actually came on in the first half as an injury replacement, with Texans All-Pro starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil leaving due to a knee injury.

Heck helped block for a Houston team that hung 356 yards of offense on the NFL’s top-ranked defense, which limited Houston to just 250 yards on Christmas Eve. Stroud threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns, while Texans running back Devin Singletary ran for 66 yards and a score.

Good news for UNC fans – Heck isn’t the only former Tar Heel in the  NFL postseason. Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Asim Richards and Detroit Lions wide receiver Antoine Green play this evening, with both hoping to help their respective teams to Wild Card victories.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Several former Tar Heels set to play in NFL Playoffs

There are six former UNC football players on NFL postseason rosters. Houston Texans right tackle Charlie Heck will be the only one starting.

Starting in just two days, there’ll be a lot of smiles and broken hearts.

No, we’re not talking about weddings and breakups. We’re talking about the NFL Playoffs.

The San Francisco 49ers are looking to win their first Super Bowl since 1994, with 2024 their best chance to do so, thanks to a pair of MVP candidates in Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey.

The Cleveland Browns have defied all injury odds, winning four December games to put themselves in the AFC’s top Wild Card spot, by playing top-notch defense and bringing in Joe Flacco behind a banged-up offensive line.

UNC football fans should also be excited about the NFL postseason, with six former Tar Heels set to take the field. This should offer the Carolina faithful some much-needed relief, with the college campaign not ending so well.

You might want to know – which Tar Heels will be suiting up in pursuit of a Super Bowl? There’s one name you might be able to guess (former second overall pick), but you’ll have to read the full list below for more names.

Candidates for the Lions to cut to make room for players returning from injuries

When CJGJ, Alim McNeill, James Houston and others (potentially) return, the Lions will have to make some cuts to free up roster space and these players are the most vulnerable.

There are a few players who are poised to come back to the Detroit Lions in the coming couple of weeks after missing time with injuries.

It will be a real boost for the Lions to potentially get back players like Alim McNeill, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jason Cabinda and James Houston. The process already started with the activation of rookie QB Hendon Hooker from the non-football injury list on Tuesday.

With the returns, it means some players currently on the active 53-man roster will need to be cut to make room. Kicker Riley Patterson was the first victim, as he was waived for Hooker to get activated. Michael Badgley is the new kicker, though he remains (for now) on the practice squad. That’s another roster spot that will eventually need to be freed up, too.

Who are the unfortunate likely candidates to be waived when guys like McNeill and Gardner-Johnson return? Remember–all players are subject to waivers from now through the end of the season, so there has to be some strategy involved here.

Lions rookie grades at the midseason break

Heading into the second half the season, it is time to give out midseason grades for the Detroit Lions rookies

Entering the second half of the season, the Detroit Lions aim to maintain their impressive 6-2 start. Apart from a few minor setbacks, the Lions have demonstrated strength across the board, thanks to excellent coaching and standout performances from their core players. However, the talk of the town centers on the immediate impact made by the 2023 rookie class.

Initially, the Lions faced criticism for selecting players in positions that many thought didn’t align with their draft value. Yet, when all was said and done and the dust settled, the Lions emerged with a remarkable haul and are already reaping the benefits as they strive for a strong playoff push.

As we reach the midpoint of the season, it’s time to assess the performances of all the rookies thus far.

[lawrence-related id=98435]

Rookie Report from Lions’ Week 7 Loss to Ravens

Week seven will serve as a lesson for the Lions and their rookie class as the season goes on because this was by far their worst performance.

Week 7’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens was supposed to be a matchup of two of the NFL’s best teams. What ended up happening was one team looked like a Super Bowl contender, and the other looked as if they had forgotten to get off the bus.

The Lions got blown out by the Raves but again, it may not be a wasted week. Dan Campbell is already using it as a way to motivate the team going forward, and for a young team, it is a lesson that needs to be learned.

Jahmyr Gibbs showed he was capable of handling a larger workload in the absence of David Montgomery. Outside of that, the team didn’t take a step back but didn’t take a step forward.

Lots of films to review if you are a part of this Lions rookie class to then learn from, so it is not a wasted week.

Snap count notes: New role for Rodrigo, interesting WR usage in Week 7

Detroit Lions snap count notes: New role for Rodrigo, interesting WR usage in Week 7 loss to the Ravens

Sunday’s 38-6 loss in Baltimore was one of the low points of the Dan Campbell era in Detroit. The Lions got whipped on both sides of the ball by a sharp Ravens squad.

The snap counts from the game are an interesting reflection of the Lions loss. Detroit racked up 75 snaps on offense to just 60 on defense, but the splits from the halves were wild; Baltimore ran 37 offensive plays in the first half to Detroit’s 25, en route to a 28-0 halftime lead. A lot of the Lions offensive snaps and production came in garbage time.

The entire starting offensive line and QB Jared Goff played all 75 snaps, with WR Amon-Ra St. Brown playing all but two. Jahmyr Gibbs dominated the RB snaps with David Montgomery out. The rookie played 65, with backup Craig Reynolds only notching seven reps. Devine Ozigbo and Mo Ibrahim only played on special teams.

There was one other player in the backfield: Malcolm Rodriguez. The backup linebacker took two snaps at fullback. Rodriguez hadn’t played on defense since Week 4, though he did get on the field for one snap at his regular position.

Behind St. Brown, Josh Reynolds was the clear No. 2 at wide receiver:

  • Reynolds – 55
  • Antoine Green – 33
  • Jameson Williams – 33
  • Kalif Raymond – 27

Maybe it was the early blowout status impacting the snaps and usage. That’s certainly possible. However, it’s interesting that Raymond was out-snapped by young players who contributed nothing (zero catches on seven combined targets) in the game.

On defense, the biggest eyebrow raise comes from Benito Jones getting the most reps of the DT rotation. Jones played 40 reps, with Alim McNeill at 38 and Isaiah Buggs at 33. John Cominsky played 37 snaps and at least a handful of those were inside the 5T alignment, though we don’t have the exact breakdown yet.

In his return from I.R., Josh Paschal logged 17 snaps. That’s more than both Romeo and Julian Okwara, who played 10 and eight, respectively.

In the second half, Khalil Dorsey came in and repped 10 plays at cornerback. Those were the only 10 plays where Will Harris was off the field. Steven Gilmore played two reps at CB, while Ifeatu Melifonwu saw four reps — all in a safety role. Chase Lucas did not play on defense once again.

[lawrence-related id=97707]

Best and Worst PFF grades for the Lions Week 5 win over the Panthers

Here are the Detroit Lions best and worst PFF performers with this victory over the Carolina Panthers

The Detroit Lions seem to be a force to reckon with after a convincing 45-24 win against the Carolina Panthers. With a 4-1 record for the season, they show no signs of slowing down.

Despite missing key offensive players, the Lions were able to control the game. They dominated every aspect of the game, moving the ball with ease against the Panthers defense. The Lions defense was also strong, keeping everything in check and frustrating rookie quarterback Bryce Young. This was one of the most complete games the Lions have played in recent memory.

Given their impressive performance, it is no surprise that the Lions scored well in most departments with PFF. Here are the best and worst PFF performers from the Lions’ victory over the Panthers.

Lions injury report: 6 starters sit out with injuries

Lions injury report: 6 starters sit out Wednesday’s practice session with injuries

The first official practice participation report from the Detroit Lions for Week 3 offers a discouraging look at the banged-up team. Six players who would be projected starters when healthy sat out with injuries, including two offensive line stalwarts.

Left tackle Taylor Decker (ankle) and right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) both sat out. Decker missed the Week 2 matchup with the Seahawks, a game where Vaitai exited after suffering a scary-looking injury.

Running back David Montgomery (thigh) and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (toe) also missed practice. Both suffered their injuries in the loss to Seattle.

On the defensive side of the ball, safety Kerby Joseph (hip) is another victim of the physical affair in Ford Field last Sunday. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley continues to be sidelined with a knee and a hamstring, injuries that have prevented him from all but two practice sessions since joining the team.

In addition to the players held out, starting wideout Josh Reynolds was limited with a groin injury. Fellow wideout Antoine Green worked out under the NFL’s concussion protocol. Barring any setbacks, Green could be cleared as early as Thursday.

Finally, center Frank Ragnow was a full participant with his toe injury. Expect Ragnow to have a veteran rest day on Thursday.

Antoine Green makes case for final roster spot in preseason finale

Former UNC football wide receiver Antoine Green capped off his impressive NFL preseason with a 97-yard, 1-score performance.

When former UNC football wide receiver Antoine Green was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft, Carolina fans knew exactly what kind of player Detroit was getting.

The Lions gained a speedy, reliable deep threat who, despite his late draft position, should contend for a roster spot in a suddenly-crowded wide receiver room. Green caught 90 passes for 1,710 yards and 15 touchdowns across five seasons as a Tar Heel, including his 798-yard, 7-touchdown campaign last year that landed him on the All-ACC Third Team.

Now in the NFL, Green is competing for playing time in a room with the likes of Jameson Williams, the Lions’ 2022 first-round pick. Williams is serving a 6-game suspension to start the year, which may pave the way for Green’s roster spot.

If the Lions’ Friday, Aug. 25 preseason victory against the Carolina Panthers is any indication of Green hearing his name called among the final 53, there’s a good chance he’ll be suiting up in Week 1 of the regular season.

With the score tied at 10 late in the first half, Green caught a pass in stride from Teddy Bridgewater and took it 70 yards to the house.

Green finished his preseason finale leading all receivers with 97 receiving yards. His 3-game total now adds up to 151 yards and that Friday night score.

To better help his case, Green’s 151-yard total ranked sixth among all preseason NFL receivers. 

Marvin Jones and Josh Reynolds are atop the depth chart, but it’d be difficult to not give Green a further look. The Lions have until Tuesday, Aug. 29 to decide if Green makes the final roster – let’s hope his strong preseason paid off.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Lions WR battle will be some closely watched roster cuts

The Detroit Lions have three wide receivers who are vying to make the team and they did make it easy for the Lions come roster cuts

The Detroit Lions finished their preseason on a high note by defeating the Carolina Panthers. However, their work is not done yet as they must decide on their final roster before facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Lions have already made some roster moves to try and find new homes for their veterans before Tuesday’s deadline.

[lawrence-related id=94837]

One of the toughest decisions the Lions face is determining who will be the WR 5-6 for the team. Each player vying for the position has shown potential and could justify making the team. This decision is especially important with the Jameson Williams suspension leaving a gap in the wide receiver room. The Lions will choose between Antonie Green, Dylan Drummond, and Chase Cota.

Antonie Green, the Lions’ seventh-round draft pick, has steadily improved throughout training camp and preseason games. His 70-yard touchdown against the Panthers showcased his speed and size, making him a potential matchup nightmare. Green also contributed to special teams assignments, which could prove to be crucial in securing his spot on the roster.

Dylan Drummond has shown consistency throughout camp and games, proving himself to be a reliable weapon. He has played the least amount of special teams snaps out of the three receivers, but whenever the Lions needed a play, he was the go-to playmaker. Drummond finished the preseason strong with great catches, solidifying his spot as a dependable receiver.

Chase Cota has also made a case for himself with his standout performances in preseason games. He led the receiving group with 60 yards in the Lions’ first preseason game against the Giants and had a touchdown catch in the Jaguars game. However, he dropped some passes in the Panthers game, including a potential touchdown. Cota did play the most special teams snaps among the three receivers, but Kalif Raymond has secured that spot.

The battle for the fifth and sixth WR positions is a closely monitored one, with each receiver showing potential. Drummond is the top choice for his dependability, while the decision between Cota and Green is a tough one. Ultimately, Green’s improvement and tangible skills make him the preferred choice. However, Cota could still develop his skills on the practice squad. It will be interesting to see which direction the Lions go in making this decision.

[lawrence-related id=94751]