Tag: backup

Seattle Seahawks injury updates after preseason loss to Raiders

Pete Carroll provided a number of player injury updates after the Seattle Seahawks fell to the Raiders in Las Vegas to open their preseason.

The Seattle Seahawks fell to the Raiders 20-7 in Las Vegas Saturday night to open up their preseason. In addition to notching their first loss of the summer, the Seahawks suffered a couple of injuries as well.

Backup quarterback Geno Smith, who got the start for Russell Wilson, was the first to fall, leaving the game in the first half with a concussion.

“He got knocked, he got hit really hard,” coach Pete Carroll explained in his postgame press conference. “He was OK and then it just kind of progressed as he went back in and we had to take him out. He wasn’t ready to play.”

Offensive lineman Phil Haynes left the contest with a left knee injury after getting the nod at right guard in place of Gabe Jackson.

“Phil Haynes got a little bit of a sore knee or something like that,” Carroll said.”But it’s nothing serious, so we were very fortunate in that regard.”

The Seahawks players have an off day on Sunday but return to the practice field on Monday.

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Seahawks re-sign backup quarterback Geno Smith to the roster

The Seattle Seahawks have re-signed backup quarterback Geno Smith to the roster.

The Seattle Seahawks have re-signed backup quarterback Geno Smith to the roster. The team’s public relations department tweeted the news Thursday afternoon.

Smith originally entered the league via the 2013 NFL draft, when he was selected in the second round by the Jets out of West Virginia. Smith spent four seasons with the Jets before moving over to the Giants and then the Chargers for one-year stints.

He joined the Seahawks in 2019 and beat out Paxton Lynch to back up Russell Wilson, a position he has held ever since.

Smith has only appeared in one game for Seattle – completing four of five passes attempted for 33 yards against the Jets last year.

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Saints left tackle Terron Armstead tests positive for COVID-19, out vs. Broncos

The New Orleans Saints will be without left tackle Terron Armstead against the Denver Broncos after he tested positive for COVID-19.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the New Orleans Saints will be without All-Pro left tackle Terron Armstead in Sunday’s game with the Denver Broncos after he tested positive for COVID-19. The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell added that the Saints have begun contact tracing to identify whether any other players or staff members’ game status is in jeopardy.

It’s a huge loss for the New Orleans offensive line, which was already missing Pro Bowl left guard Andrus Peat due to a concussion. Armstead has battled through injuries throughout his career to earn second-team All-Pro status in 2018 and Pro Bowl nods in both 2018 and 2019, and he has performed like one of the team’s best players this season. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.

With Armstead and Peat both out of the lineup, here’s what the Saints’ starting five offensive linemen may look like against the Broncos:

  • Left tackle: James Hurst
  • Left guard: Nick Easton
  • Center: Erik McCoy
  • Right guard: Cesar Ruiz (rookie)
  • Right tackle: Ryan Ramczyk

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Saints rule out right tackle Ryan Ramczyk with a concussion vs. Lions

The New Orleans Saints lost RT Ryan Ramczyk to a concussion in Week 4’s road game with the Detroit Lions, calling up backup Ethan Greenidge.

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The New Orleans Saints lost right tackle Ryan Ramczyk to a concussion during Week 4’s game with the Detroit Lions, and he won’t return to play after further evaluation in the locker room. They announced the change to the press box, which was shared by the FOX Sports broadcast team.

Earlier in the game, left tackle Terron Armstead had to step out for treatment in the sideline medical tent, but he returned to action. The Saints are short-handed up front with starting left guard Andrus Peat inactive with an ankle injury. Peat was one of six Saints starters to miss this game because of injury.

In Ramczyk’s place, the Saints went with backup offensive tackle Ethan Greenidge. Greenidge mostly played left tackle at Villanova in college, but he’s been training for this exact situation in his second NFL season. Backup linemen Derrick Kelly and Will Clapp have also dressed for this game, but they haven’t gone into action yet

The Saints have a comfortable lead but they can’t take anything for granted at the start of the fourth quarter. And Ramczyk’s long-term status is in doubt as he deals with a brain injury. Here’s hoping for a full recovery.

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Cameron Jordan expected to face 3rd-string Raiders right tackle on MNF

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan is expected to face Denzelle Good, a Las Vegas Raiders backup guard forced to play tackle.

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So, this might be a mismatch: the Las Vegas Raiders are preparing to start reserve guard Denzelle Good at right tackle against the New Orleans Saints, with both the starter (Trent Brown) and backup (Sam Young) doubtful to suit up because of injuries. That puts Good against All-Pro Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan.

Sure, the situation could change in the time before kickoff; Good normally plays guard, not tackle, but was pressed into action last week when the nominal next-man-up (third-year pro Brandon Parker) was inactive. Parker could get a look instead, but the Raiders were encouraged by Good’s performance against the Carolina Panthers.

“Denzelle has played a lot of football,” Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson told Raiders Wire. “He’s played football at a high level, not only here, but in Indianapolis as well. We have high expectations for him, and he has high expectations himself. You certainly hate to lose your starter, it’s not ideal. Hate to lose a backup to him, it’s certainly not ideal, but again they’ll rise to the challenge.”

Good has appeared in 47 games (28 starts) in his NFL career, predominately at the right guard spot. He did play well at Carolina and didn’t allow a sack, but he wasn’t exactly facing a bunch of world-beaters there.

Now Good is slated to face a five-time Pro Bowler coming off a career year. Jordan typically rushes from the left end spot against right tackles, and he’ll be a sky-high challenge for Good to contain. He bagged a personal-best 15.5 sacks last season and was one of three Saints players to take down Tom Brady in Week 1 (backup defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Carl Granderson also recorded sacks).

We’ll see how it turns out on “Monday Night Football” when the Saints and Raiders kick off at Allegiant Stadium. But this is a battle Jordan has to feel confident he can win.

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Seahawks OL Kyle Fuller suspended 2 games for violating substance abuse policy

Seahawks offensive lineman Kyle Fuller has been suspended for the first two games of the year for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

The Seattle Seahawks will be without backup offensive lineman Kyle Fuller for the first two games of the 2020 regular season after he violated the league’s substance abuse policy, the NFL announced on Saturday.

Fuller will be permitted to participate in the Seahawks’ preseason practices and will be eligible to return to the active roster on Monday, Sept. 21, which is after Seattle hosts New England in the home opener.

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WATCH: Jameis Winston throws a dime at Saints practice

It didn’t take long for Jameis Winston to impress at New Orleans Saints training camp, connecting with Tre’Quan Smith on a huge deep pass.

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It shouldn’t surprise anyone, but Jameis Winston might have the best arm at New Orleans Saints training camp. The Heisman Trophy winner and former first-overall draft pick has the credentials to make the case for it, and now he’s put up some highlights in practice to drive the point home.

Winston connected with third-year pro Tre’Quan Smith on a corner route deep downfield, putting the ball where only his receiver could get it. And credit to P.J. Williams, the defensive back in coverage on the play, for running with Smith in stride all the way. But when a quarterback and receiver are in sync like this, even the best cornerbacks will struggle to make a play:

In his media conference call after practice, Saints coach Sean Payton was energized by Winston’s performance: “Look he’s doing well, I’ve been pleased. He’s in great shape. He’s got a real live arm, I love his attitude and his work ethic. He’s doing very well.”

Winston has endeared himself quickly to his new coaching staff and teammates, but it’s unclear whether he’s won the backup job behind Drew Brees. Taysom Hill has the inside track on that role given his experience in the system. But if Winston can keep making plays like this in practice, it might only be a matter of time before he’s the next man up.

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Pete Carroll: ‘Somebody’s interested’ in quarterback Colin Kaepernick

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll believes there is at least one NFL team who could be interested in signing quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll expressed regret on Thursday for the team not having signed quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2017 after he opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

Since then, the famous, one-starting signal-caller has yet to find a new NFL home.

That could all change, however, if Carroll’s information on the subject is indeed correct.

“After all of the time, the years that have passed, I never received a phone call, I never talked to another head coach about it, never talked to anybody about it until today,” Carroll told reporters Thursday during a video conference. “I got a phone call today. I’m not going to tell you who it was. I got a phone call today asking and inquiring about the situation. So somebody’s interested, you know, and we’ll see what happens with that.”

Carroll himself does not see a place for Kaepernick on the Seahawks squad in the immediate future with Russell Wilson the solid starter and Geno Smith a good fit for the backup position.

Hopefully, there truly is a club with a need and an interest.

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Carlos Hyde understands Chris Carson is Seahawks starting running back

New Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde acknowledged in a video chat with reporters that Chris Carson is the team’s No. 1 RB.

New Seattle Seahawks running back Carlos Hyde is excited to be in the Emerald City for the 2020 season but has realized that he will not likely be given the starting role.

Hyde stated in a video interview with reporters on Monday that Chris Carson is the undisputed No. 1 running back in Seattle.

“It’s probably an open competition for that second role,” Hyde said. “Me personally, I don’t think there’s probably an open competition for the starting role. I think everybody knows who the starting running back is for Seattle, and that’s Carson. I knew that before I even signed into Seattle, that he is the guy. Would coach [Pete] Carroll change his mind? Maybe. I don’t really know.”

Hyde stated that although he is unlikely to edge out Carson for the starting role, he will do his best to secure a position on the roster for the 2020 season.

“I know maybe the second spot is open,” he said. “Maybe the first spot. I’m going to come in there and compete for the first spot, make sure I solidify myself and go from there. I’m not really sure what’s the plan.”

This is assuming there will even be a 2020 NFL season with the coronavirus pandemic still active.

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James Hurst may be the Terron Armstead backup the Saints have needed

The New Orleans Saints reached an agreement with Ravens free agent James Hurst, who may have the skills to back up LT Terron Armstead.

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Terron Armstead has all the talent in the world, and he’s so close to putting it all together. Armstead earned recognition as a Pro Bowler in each of the last two years, along with second-team All-Pro status in 2018. But he still hasn’t strung together 16 healthy games in a single season. The 28-year-old came close in 2019 (starting all 15 games he played), but a late-season high-ankle sprain tripped him up. It was the first time he’d appeared in more than 10 games since 2015.

Great as he’s been when healthy, the Saints haven’t really come up with even a short-term solution for when Armstead is out. Their go-to answer has been to slide starting left guard Andrus Peat over to tackle, his college position, calling up a backup like Senio Kelmete or Nick Easton in Peat’s place.

When Armstead missed last year’s Thanksgiving Day game with the Atlanta Falcons — when Peat was also out with an injury — the Saints were forced to put career guard Patrick Omameh at left tackle. Thankfully, Omameh was up to the occasion, and the Falcons defensive line wasn’t talented enough to take advantage of the mismatch.

One injury shouldn’t affect two positions like this, and it looks like the Saints might have finally taken action against it. That’s where former Baltimore Ravens backup James Hurst steps in. Even though he’s suspended the first four weeks with a performance-enhancing substances violation, he might be the best option the Saints have for the next twelve weeks and the playoffs.

Hurst has the pedigree to give the Saints confidence that he can hold down the left tackle spot, whether in a pinch or for a couple of weeks. He’s started nearly as many games at left tackle (16) as at left guard (19) in the NFL, and has a background lining up out on the edge with 48 starts in that alignment at North Carolina. He earned All-ACC honors three years in college, twice making the conference’s first-team list. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, with 33 3/4-inch arms, he fits the prototype teams look for.

Now, sure: the Ravens valued his versatility enough to move him all over the line, and the Saints should, too. If Hurst doesn’t cut the mustard in training camp at left tackle, he could try out as a backup at other spots much like Easton did last year. Initially signed as a center, the Saints quickly moved Easton to guard full-time after comparing him against then-rookie Erik McCoy, and reserves like Cameron Tom and Will Clapp.

But you have to like Hurst’s chances. The fact that he has started nearly a full season at left tackle in the NFL already (totaling more than 3,200 snaps in his career, at different spots) is significant. And he’s clearly the most qualified of his competition, which includes Omameh, second-year pros like Ethan Greenidge, Derrick Kelly, and a few undrafted rookies in Utah’s Darrin Paulo and Oregon’s Calvin Throckmorton. This is a roster battle Hurst should win.

In a year with such high stakes and maybe Drew Brees’ last shot at a second Super Bowl on the line, the Saints can’t afford any chances. Adding Hurst now gives them greater insurance in case injuries hit the starting lineup again. And his veteran presence should be helpful once training camp gets here, considering the shortened offseason. Hopefully things shake out so that he’ll be in position to help the team when they call his number.

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