Tag: c.j. henderson

Steelers place tandem of CBs on injured lists

The Steelers made a handful of roster moves on Saturday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced several roster moves on Saturday. The team placed practice squad cornerback Zyon Gilbert on the Practice Squad/Injured list. The team also placed cornerback C.J. Henderson on the Reserve/Injured List. In a corresponding move, the Steelers elevated running back Jonathan Ward to the active roster.

 

 

The Steelers take on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday with the lead in the AFC North on the line. The move to elevate Ward is in response to running back Jaylen Warren being listed OUT for this week’s game.

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Steelers prevent poaching, act fast to sign former first-round CB

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former first-round NFL draft pick C.J. Henderson from practice squad to active roster.

Cornerback-needy teams were sniffing around the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad for the services of former first-round pick C.J. Henderson. So, Pittsburgh had to act fast, and they did, signing Henderson to the active roster on Tuesday.

Henderson’s pro career began as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ No. 9 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. He appeared in just 10 games before being traded to the Carolina Panthers during the 2021 season.

The Houston Texans signed Henderson to a one-year deal in 2024 free agency, but he was released when the team made cuts to form the 53-man roster in August.

In 49 games (32 starts), Henderson has recorded 172 tackles (139 solo), 16 passes defensed, six tackles for a loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack and fumble recovery.

Henderson is expected to make his Steelers and 2024 season debut during Monday Night Football against the New York Giants and, according to Chris Adamski of TribLive, will likely have a role both on defense and on special teams.

“I am looking forward to it. Whatever they need me to do, I am looking forward to it and will show them the best that I can.”

Signing Henderson to the 53-man roster doesn’t bode well for cornerback Donte Jackson, who exited the New York Jets game with a shoulder injury.

Jackson, acquired from the Panthers in the Diontae Johnson trade, has been on fire for the Steelers this season. Jackson, Pittsburgh’s 2024 interception leader, is on pace for a career season with three interceptions and six defended passes.

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Steelers add former first-round CB to practice squad

The Pittsburgh Steelers added former Jacksonville Jaguars first-round NFL draft pick C.J. Henderson to their practice squad.

With the unfortunate news of second-year cornerback Cory Trice Jr. heading to injured reserve, the Pittsburgh Steelers added some depth on Wednesday.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Steelers signed cornerback C.J. Henderson to their practice squad.

Henderson, a former first-round selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2020 NFL draft, has appeared in 49 games (32 starts) for Jacksonville and the Carolina Panthers (2021-2023). In those matchups, Henderson has recorded 172 tackles (139 solo), 16 passes defensed, six tackles for a loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, one sack and a fumble recovery.

Henderson signed with the Houston Texans as a free agent, appearing in only one preseason game.

Henderson spent three seasons with the Florida Gators, appearing in 33 games and recording 93 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, six interceptions, 22 pass deflections and two defensive touchdowns. He excelled in single coverage, logging 172 single-coverage snaps and allowing only one touchdown on 49 targets.

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1838949249288905121

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DeMeco Ryans talks CB2 battle between Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson

Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson are looking for promising results in 2024 as the newest members of the Houston Texans.

DeMeco Ryans is one for giving out second chances, especially for players who fit his physical “SWARM defensive mindset.

It’s part of the reason why Jeff Okudah and C.J. Henderson signed one-year deals with the Houston Texans this offseason.

Okudah, the former No. 3 pick back in 2020, and Henderson, the No. 9, will compete for first-team reps opposite breakout corner Derek Stingley Jr. during OTAs this month. Neither looked perfect during Tuesday’s media session, but Ryans isn’t looking for a highlight play.

His focus is on finding the upside and honing in on what made the duo stand out coming out of college.

“You see elite movers,” Ryans said of Okduah and Henderson following a practice. “You see why these guys were top-(10) picks. They have the movement skills, they are big, fast, long corners that can run with anybody, and they have had some ups and downs in their careers.”

Okudah, an All-American at Ohio State, is coming off his best season with the Falcons after three rocky years with the Lions. He started 11 games for Atlanta and totaled three pass breakups.
During drills, he broke up a pass intended for Robert Woods while working with the first-team defense during team drills. Okudah also got beat on a go-route earlier in the day against John Metchie during 7-on-7 drills.
Henderson, who spent one season with the Jaguars before being traded to Carolina, might be more versatile. He spent time in the nickel and on the boundary amid his 22 starts from 2022-23.
In two-plus years with the Panthers, Henderson totaled three interceptions and 16 pass deflections. Ryans said both have been attentive since joining the roster, showing every practice and offseason workout since signing with the team.

“This is their third team and short careers, but as I have told those guys, I don’t care what happened in the past,” Ryans said. “You can wipe the slate clean, it really doesn’t matter, like how can you come out and help us?”

Okudah and Henderson won’t be the only two battling for first-team reps. Second-round pick Kamari Lassiter will also work drills on the outside once acclimated to the defense.
Lassiter, the team’s first pick in last month’s draft, might begin his career as a nickel defender given his frame. During his time at Georgia, the 6-foot defender played both spots while helping Georgia win back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.

Who are the best available NFL free agent fits left for Eagles?

We’re looking at the best available free agent fits for the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the second wave of free agency

The Eagles have undergone significant changes on both sides of the football field, involving player personnel and a retooled coaching staff.

The free agent period and NFL draft are Howie Roseman’s seasons, and the Eagles GM got off to a roaring start after inking running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year deal, signing improving pass rusher Bryce Huff and then bringing versatile defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson back into the fold.

Roseman then added talent to the backup quarterback position, acquiring Kenny Pickett from the Steelers for a 2024 third-round pick and two 2025 seventh-round picks.

The Eagles have since added wide receiver Parris Campbell, slot cornerback Tyler Hall, defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, and linebacker Oren Burks.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re looking at the best available free agent fits for Philadelphia.

All 5 times Trent Baalke made a midseason trade as GM

Will the Jaguars be aggressive at the trade deadline?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are 5-2 and have one more game before the Oct. 31 trade deadline.

Clearly, the Jaguars view themselves as a legitimate contender with hopes of their first ever Super Bowl appearance. But does that mean Jacksonville is content with the current state of its roster, or does it mean the team will want to make a stronger push by acquiring another player or two?

The Philadelphia Eagles already went with the latter strategy by sending two draft picks and a player to the Tennessee Titans for two-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard.

To figure out if the Jaguars are a team likely to do the same, it’s informative to look into Trent Baalke’s past as a general manager. In two previous seasons with Jacksonville and six years running the San Francisco 49ers, he’s made just five trades between the start of the regular season and the trade deadline. Here’s all of them:

Studs and duds from Panthers’ 22-14 win over Saints

Once again, Panthers LB Frankie Luvu made his presence felt. And this time, it came in a win.

The Carolina Panthers finally secured their first win of 2022—topping their NFC South rival New Orleans Saints, 22-14. And that victory wouldn’t come without some notable performances—both good and bad.

Here are our studs and duds from Sunday’s game.

Jags have 12th highest dead cap figure this season

The Jags are set to enter the season with a dead cap figure just over $23 million, which is the 12th highest currently.

The Jacksonville Jaguars aren’t unfamiliar with dead cap charges occupying their cap space with notables like quarterback Nick Foles being traded in 2020 just one year after signing with the team on a four-year deal. They also released Blake Bortles early into his second contract, which put the Jags in a situation where they took on a $16.5 million dead cap hit in 2019.

When it comes to the 2022 season, though, the Jags currently have the 12th highest dead cap figure (just over $23 million), according to Over the Cap. And while it would be great for that figure to be lower, it’s far from the figure that the Atlanta Falcons hold, standing atop the list with a $63.2 million figure due to the Matt Ryan trade.

When breaking down the Jags’ current projected dead cap figure, there are eight players who the Jags are paying that aren’t on the team. The one who carries the highest figure is former linebacker Joe Schobert (just over $9.9 million), who the Jags traded to Pittsburgh last season.

As for the rest of the list, it includes other notables like linebacker Myles Jack and C.J. Henderson, along with a few others who have cap hit figures that aren’t major.

Position Player Dead cap hit
LB Joe Schobert $9,937,500
CB C.J. Henderson $6,240,432
LB Myles Jack $4,800,000
K  Josh Lambo $875,000
RB  Carlos Hyde $450,000
LB Quincy Williams $205,545
WR Collin Johnson $153,576
WR Jalen Camp $123,219

The good news is that the Jags currently don’t have any dead cap money on their books for next season — at least for now. Time will tell if that changes, but the team appears to be on the right track when it comes to having a healthier dead cap figure than in the past and present.

Panthers injury updates: LB Shaq Thompson ‘very doubtful’ for Week 7

The Panthers likely won’t be getting back LB Shaq Thompson or LG Pat Elflein for Week 7.

The recovery of Carolina Panthers linebacker Shaq Thompson was always going to be a process. That process will like continue here through Week 7.

On Wednesday, head coach Matt Rhule all but shot down the possibility of getting one of his defensive leaders back against the New York Giants, stating Thompson is “very doubtful” for this Sunday. He has missed the past two games with a strained plantar fascia.

Tuesday’s six-player workout in Carolina included a pair of linebackers, Anthony Hines and Erroll Thompson. That could, perhaps, indicate the team is looking for some much needed depth in Thompson’s absence for the time being.

Left guard Pat Elflein also likely won’t be ready, as alluded to by Rhule. Rhule told reporters that Elflein suffered a setback “in the weight room” while on the comeback from his hamstring injury. That would, in turn, give Michael Jordan his first start for the Panthers this week.

Here’s how the official injury report returned on the day:

Injury Wed. Thurs. Fri. Game status
CB C.J. Henderson Shoulder Full
LB Frankie Luvu Biceps Limited
WR Alex Erickson Concussion DNP
WR Terrace Marshall Jr. Concussion DNP
LB Shaq Thompson Foot DNP
FB Giovanni Ricci Concussion DNP

Additionally, a fresh stint on the injured reserve for Brandon Zylstra, coupled with the concussions sustained by Terrace Marshall Jr. and Alex Erickson, could leave the offense quite short at the receiver position. That left the Panthers with just three wideouts on the practice field for Wednesday—DJ Moore, Robby Anderson and Shi Smith.

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Panthers Week 6 inactives: CB C.J. Henderson out vs. Vikings

Among the Week 6 inactives for the Panthers is CB C.J. Henderson (shoulder), who has played sparingly in his first two games with Carolina.

Even after parting with a third-round pick and a tight they really liked in Dan Arnold, the Carolina Panthers aren’t going to rush cornerback C.J. Henderson into the fold. They aren’t going to rush him back from injury either.

Among Sunday’s announced inactives was the second-year defensive back, who’s played sparingly in his first two games as a Panther. Henderson, despite being listed as a full participant in practice on Friday, will remain on the sideline due to a shoulder injury.

In Henderson’s place will be veteran Rashaan Melvin, who has once again been called up to the active roster. Melvin has served as a valuable depth piece at corner for the defense this year, having taken a healthy amount of snaps on the perimeter amidst numerous injuries.

Also receiving a call-up is punter Ryan Winslow. Winslow was signed on Thursday after the team placed starter Joseph Charlton on the injured reserve.

Here’s the full list of inactives for Carolina in Week 6:

CB C.J. Henderson
LB Shaq Thompson
DT Phil Hoskins
LB Kamal Martin
RB Spencer Brown
DE Darryl Johnson

And here’s who’s down for the Minnesota Vikings across the way:

QB Kellen Mond
LB Chazz Surratt
TE Ben Ellefson
DT Michael Pierce
DE Patrick Jones
WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette

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