Tag: Brandon Knight

Ex-Cowboys OL Brandon Knight to focus on mental health away from NFL

Brandon Knight is now stepping away from football; ex-Dallas teammate Dak Prescott has been a vocal proponent of mental health awareness. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Ex-Cowboys offensive lineman Brandon Knight seems to be taking the mental health crusade of his former quarterback to heart.

Knight was waived by the Cowboys just prior to the team’s visit to New England in Week 6, with the club reportedly hoping to add him back to the practice squad. Instead, he was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Ravens on Monday. Knight, however, did not report to the team. Midweek, Ravens coach John Harbaugh called it “a personal decision” by the Indiana University product.

Knight, 24, has now announced that he is temporarily stepping away from football.

“First and foremost, I want to thank the Baltimore Ravens for allowing me another opportunity to play the game I’ve always loved,” Knight said in a statement via Twitter. “As of now, I’ve decided to take a break from football to address my mental health. Although it was a difficult decision, it was a necessary one to be back home with my family. I look forward to returning next season.”

Knight went undrafted in 2019, joining the Cowboys as a free agent. He appeared in seven games as a rookie, starting one. In the team’s injury-riddled 2020 campaign, Knight played in 13 games, with five starts. This season, he had seen just a few snaps in Week 3’s in over Philadelphia.

During his tenure in Dallas, Knight shared a locker room with Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. A vocal proponent of mental health issues and awareness, Prescott just last week wore the message “Ask 4 Help!” written on his wrist tape during the 35-29 overtime against the Patriots.

Prescott has detailed his own struggles with mental health following his brother’s death by suicide and then his season-ending injury in 2020. The passer has even started an apparel line with the “Ask 4 Help” messaging to benefit his Faith Fight Finish Foundation and support its effort of championing mental health and addressing the suicide epidemic.

The Ravens will retain the rights to Knight when he is ready to return to the game. In the meantime, he will not count toward their 53-man roster nor their salary cap.

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OT Brandon Knight explains decision to not report to Ravens

Offensive tackle Brandon Knight explained his decision to not report to the Ravens after the team claimed him off of waivers

The Baltimore Ravens claimed offensive tackle Brandon Knight off of waivers from the Dallas Cowboys on Monday. He was expected to provide depth on a Baltimore offensive line that has been decimated by injuries over the first six weeks of the 2021 season. However, the Ravens announced on Wednesday that they had placed Knight on the Reserve/Did Not Report list after he failed to report to the team.

On Thursday evening, Knight put out a statement on Twitter explaining his decision to not report. He said that he is taking a break from football for the time being to address his mental health, but is looking forward to playing next year.

Now that Knight has expressed his intent to sit out the remainder of the 2021 season, Baltimore will have to look for outside help at tackle elsewhere if they want to add anyone else at the position. The team is already dealing with the loss of All-Pro Ronnie Stanley, and his replacement on the left side in Alejandro Villanueva is dealing with a knee injury himself. The Ravens also have Patrick Mekari, Andre Smith, David Sharpe and others as options on both their active roster and their practice squad. Tyre Phillips could also act as an emergency tackle if needed.

On the Reserve/Did Not Report list, Knight will not count against Baltimore’s 53-man roster, nor will he count against the salary cap for the club.

Ravens OT Brandon Knight does not report to team

New Ravens OT Brandon Knight did not report to the team, prompting Baltimore to put him on the Reserve/Did Not Report list

The Baltimore Ravens have put together many different offensive line combinations over the course of the 2021 season so far. The team has dealt with injuries to many important players on their line, so they’ve had to find contributions from elsewhere to help the unit play at a high level.

On Monday, Baltimore claimed offensive tackle Brandon Knight off of waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. He was expected to provide depth at the tackle position, which has seen Ronnie Stanley be shut down for the year and Alejandro Villanueva deal with a knee injury. However, at the end of an article about Nick Boyle, the Ravens mentioned that Knight failed to report to the team.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked about the situation, and confirmed that Knight was not with the Ravens, but didn’t elaborate much farther.

“I don’t really know the details of that. That was a personal decision on his part, so he’d have to answer that. I don’t know, but he decided not to report.”

The whole situation is very peculiar, as rarely do players fail to report to their teams unless some sort of situation arises. It’s unclear what personal decision led Knight to fail to report, but it is a situation to monitor over the coming days. Baltimore later put Knight on the Reserve/Did Not Report list.

While Knight is on the Reserve/Did Not Report list, he will not count against the Ravens’ 53-man roster, nor will his salary count against the salary cap. Baltimore has his playing rights, so Knight will remain in the organization until he is removed from the list or otherwise let go by the Ravens.

Ravens awarded OL Brandon Knight off of waivers from Cowboys

The Ravens were awarded offensive lineman Brandon Knight off of waivers from the Cowboys

The Baltimore Ravens have shuffled through plenty of offensive line combinations so far during the 2021 season. They’ve seen injuries to multiple key pieces on their line, including Ronnie Stanley, Tyre Phillips, Ben Cleveland and more. All things considered, the unit has played well, with many new faces stepping up.

On Monday, the Ravens added another piece to their offensive line group, as they were awarded offensive lineman Brandon Knight off of waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. He will provide even more depth to the line and can step in when needed.

Not to be confused with the basketball player, Knight is in his third NFL season after signing with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent back in 2019. He started nine games at left tackle for the Cowboys in 2020, and also can play guard if needed. He is a versatile option that will help in case Baltimore’s offensive line continues to be hit hard with injuries.

 

Cowboys waive O-lineman, sign 2 practice squad players to 53-man roster

Brandon Knight had played just 3 snaps this season; TE Jeremy Sprinkle and FB Nick Ralston have been regular special teams contributors. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys did a bit of roster business just ahead of their date with the Patriots. Two players are being signed to the 53-man roster after seeing heavy special teams action through five weeks, and the release of one depth player may signal good news for a decorated superstar regarding his availability for Week 6.

Offensive tackle Brandon Knight was informed by the club on Saturday that he will be waived. The undrafted free agent out of Indiana has been on the field for just three snaps so far this season, all in the Cowboys’ Week 3 win over Philadelphia.

But the timing of his release may indicate that left tackle Tyron Smith will, in fact, be ready to start Sunday’s contest. The seven-time Pro Bowler was given a “questionable” designation on Friday’s injury report after a neck scare left him limited late in the week. An MRI came back “favorable,” but the Cowboys have officially maintained a wait-and-see approach with his status for this week’s matchup.

According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Knight “is expected to join the practice squad Monday if he clears waivers, but [there is] no guarantee he goes unclaimed.”

Meanwhile, rookie fullback Nick Ralston and veteran tight end Jeremy Sprinkle are receiving contracts and being added to the regular roster after multiple weeks of practice squad elevations for both.

Both have contributed significantly to the third phase for Dallas this season; Ralston has logged nearly one-third of the club’s special teams snaps through Week 5 and will be signed to a two-year deal. Sprinkle has played almost half of the special teams snaps and has also been on the field for smattering of offensive plays.

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Randy Gregory added to Cowboys’ COVID list as Martin, Knight activated

If he stays asymptomatic, Randy Gregory must produce 2 consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart to have a chance to play in Week 2. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Another week, another batch of personnel shuffling on the Cowboys roster due to COVID-19.

Defensive end Randy Gregory has tested positive for the virus and is being placed on the Reserve/COVID list, as per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. According to Gehlken’s report, Gregory is asymptomatic, meaning he needs to stay that way and have two consecutive negative tests within 24 hours apart in order to be cleared to play in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Right guard Zack Martin, who missed the season opener last week due to COVID protocol, has now been activated off that watchlist and was back in the team facility on Monday, along with offensive lineman Brandon Knight.

Dorance Armstrong is listed as the primary backup behind Gregory and is coming off a solid performance versus Tampa Bay. Chauncey Golston, the rookie from Iowa who made the 53-man roster despite starting training camp on the PUP list and missing most everything since, is expected to start working back into practice this week.

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Cowboys News: Prescott and Amari back to work, ‘Hard Knocks’ highlights

Dallas welcomed two of its offensive stars back on Tuesday, plus a surprising admission from Roger Staubach about new HoFer Drew Pearson. | From @ToddBrock 24f7

Two of the Cowboys’ A-list superstars are back, just as the team goes primetime on HBO. Those were the lead stories as fans geared up for the season premiere of Hard Knocks Tuesday night. While the reality show’s debut lived up to the hype (and offered several intriguing moments), the club gave its fanbase even more to get excited about in the hours before, with a double whammy of good news: quarterback Dak Prescott is throwing once again in practice… and he’s throwing to Amari Cooper, who was taken off the PUP list.

Elsewhere, Cooper’s wide receiver mates Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb are both eyeing big seasons of their own, new linebacker Michael Gallup looks to employ a strategic gambit to getting up to game speed in his rookie campaign, and kicker Greg Zuerlein is supposedly still on track to resume normal kicking duties… but maybe not until Week 1. Roger Staubach makes a somewhat startling admission about his now-Hall of Fame companion Drew Pearson, there’s depth to discuss along both the offensive and defensive lines, one outlet estimates the cost of acquiring a second-year standout, and a rule change from the COVID season makes a welcome return for 2021. Here’s the News and Notes.

Final Injury Report: Cowboys Anthony Brown, Greg Zuerlein questionable

The latest injury reports ahead of Dallas and Washington’s Thanksgiving showdown.

With both teams sitting at 3-7, it seems impossible the Thanksgiving game will decide who moves into first place, but somehow that is the reality of the NFC East in 2020. If first place in the division isn’t enough motivation, the Dallas Cowboys will be looking to exact revenge on the Football Team, after Washington rolled up the Cowboys 25-3 in their first meeting.

The Thursday game means the two clubs are both on short weeks, and health could be an X-factor in this pivotal matchup. Based on the injury reports from Wednesday’s practice, the Cowboys might be without just one player on the active roster, cornerback Anthony Brown.

Brown was limited in practice Wednesday with an injury to his ribs sustained in the team’s Week 11 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Brown was listed as a nonparticipant during Monday and Tuesday’s team activities, so his limited status on Thursday is encouraging. However, Dallas used both of their two weekly roster promotions to bring cornerbacks to the game day roster, which isn’t a great sign for Brown’s availability.

According to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, the club is preparing to be without Brown on Thursday evening.

Kicker Greg Zuerlein is the second Cowboys that was given the questionable tag, as he has been limited with a back injury all week. While both Zuerlein and Brown are questionable, Zuerlein’s game status seems less up in the air, as head coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday that he is not worried about the former Rams availability for Thursday.

TE Blake Bell, T Brandon Knight, LB Joe Thomas, and RB Ezekiel Elliott were all able to practice in full, and appear good to go. Dallas Cowboys staff writers reported that Elliott, along with LB Sean Lee, “were working on the resistance cords with the athletic training staff during the open portion (of practice)”.

For the Washington Football team, there are a number of players already ruled out, and a few key contributors that are questionable.

Starting safety Deshazor Everett is out, as well as defensive end Ryan Anderson, and linebacker Jared Norris.

Tackle Cornelius Lucas is questionable with an ankle injury. Lucas started at tackle for Washington each of their last three outings. Kicker Dustin Hopkins is another game-time decision with a groin issue.

The biggest name on the Football Team’s injury report this week is WR Terry McLaurin, who in his second season has emerged as a budding star in Washington. McLaurin (ankle) is officially listed as questionable, and his status will be closely monitored.

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Cowboys activate OT Brandon Knight, add Tyler Biadasz to IR

The Cowboys activated Brandon Knight from the IR, and sent Tyler Biadasz to the IR, and revealed the two weekly practice squad call ups.

On Saturday, the Dallas Cowboys made a number of roster transactions. It’s become custom this season, as expanded practice squads and relaxed rules have allowed every NFL team to make roster changes at the last minute each week.

For Week 11, more of the same. Tackle Brandon Knight was activated from injured reserve, center Tyler Biadasz was placed on the injured reserve, and the team announced their two practice squad promotions ahead of Sunday’s matchup in Minnesota.

Knight started at tackle from Week 2 through Week 6 for Dallas. In his lone non-start in that timespan, against Cleveland, Knight entered the game at halftime for right tackle Terrance Steele and was an immediate improvement. Knight injured his knee and required surgery following the Cowboys’ Week 6 loss to Arizona.

Overall Knight has done an adequate job filling in on both the right and left sides, and while he might not be named a starter in his first week back, the majority of Cowboys pundits believe Knight’s efforts earlier this year earned him the right to close out the year as one of the two starting tackles.

Biadasz was thrust into a starting role at center as a rookie, and he proved why many people thought Dallas made an excellent pick when they selected the him in the fourth round in April. After starting Week 4 through Week 8, Biadasz injured his hamstring in the pre-game warm up just before the Cowboys took on the Steelers.

Joe Looney recently returned from the IR, and will continue to anchor the offensive line at the center position for Dallas.

The former Badger would be eligible to return in early December following the Cowboys Week 13 date with the Ravens.

This season the NFL has given each team the ability to promote two practice squad members just before that teams game each week. This week the Cowboys promoted cornerback Rashard Robinson, and center Adam Redmond to improve the interior line depth.

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Roster Churn: Cowboys move Diggs to IR, shuffle PS, prep for Knight

Trevon Diggs heads to IR. Cowboys add to practice squad with Breeland Speaks and Robinson. Brandon Knight begins 21-day practice window.

The Dallas Cowboys have been busy making a lot of roster moves just days ahead of their matchup with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Unfortunately, one of those moves isn’t a positive one as promising rookie cornerback Trevon Diggs will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a broken foot vs the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 9.

Diggs began to hit his stride in the last five games. He registered 22 tackles, eight passes defended, and two interceptions over that span (both vs the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8). There’s no telling if Diggs will come back later in the season, but for now, the talented rookie is on the shelf.

The Cowboys also added a few pieces to the practice squad roster with defensive end Breeland Speaks and cornerback Rashard Robinson.

Speaks was a second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. He would play in all 16 games as a rookie with four starts. He produced 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. After multiple stints on injured reserve, and a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s old substance-abuse policy, Speaks didn’t see the field in 2019 and was released on September 5 during final roster cuts.

Speaks would be signed to the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad on October 2 only to be released on November 3.

Robinson was signed to the Cowboys practice squad on September 15 but was placed on the practice squad/injured list on October 24 with an undisclosed injury.

The Cowboys offensive line got some much-needed good news as well on Wednesday with the potenital return of tackle Brandon Knight. He suffered a knee injury in October against the Arizona Cardinals and underwent surgery just days later that would keep him out multiple weeks. Knight has played in six games with four starts this season in place of Tyron Smith. He’s struggled for the most part but did have one solid game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3.

Knight now begins his 21-day practice window, giving the Cowboys three weeks to evaluate him before adding him back to the active roster.

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