Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are four pending free agents who the Seahawks should be watching closely as the Rams and Bengals play in Super Bowl LVI tonight.
It’s a long-standing NFL tradition for free agents that just played in the Super Bowl to sign lucrative deals with other teams. While that doesn’t always work out well for his new team, there are usually a few legitimate stars that are worth paying extra attention to during the big game.
Here are four pending free agents who the Seahawks should be watching closely as the Rams and Bengals play in Super Bowl LVI tonight.
A look at some players from both Super Bowl LVI teams the Titans could consider in free agency.
While the Tennessee Titans can’t officially sign anyone until the new league year begins on March 16, I’m certain a list of players to target in free agency is being formed internally.
On Sunday, the 2021 season will officially come to a conclusion with the Super Bowl between the Cincinnati Bengal and Los Angeles Rams.
After that, the proverbial wheel in motion begins with the NFL Combine, the start of free agency, the NFL draft, and then organized team activities — all leading up to next year’s training camp.
The Titans have several key free agents to re-sign this offseason, including center Ben Jones and outside linebacker Harold Landry. Tennessee may have to get creative to retain both thanks to their being over the cap to start the offseason.
That said, several players rostered on the Bengals and Rams ahead of Super Bowl LVI could be realistic targets once the free agency period opens. Here’s a look at some of them.
C.J. Uzomah can be a difference maker for the Bengals.
Former Auburn Tiger C.J. Uzomah may have suffered a knee injury in the AFC Championship game but he could be one of the Bengals most important players in Super Bowl LVI.
Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire ranked Uzomah as the 24th most important player in the game. That makes him the 11th most important Bengal.
“Ja’Marr Chase is the Bengals’ headline guy among Burrow’s targets, but don’t underestimate Uzomah’s potential impact in this game — or the potential impact of his absence should be not be able to go.”
Uzomah played just nine snaps before he hurt his knee against the Chiefs and his return would give the Bengal’s another great receiving option. He has caught 49 passes for 491 yards and five touchdowns this season for the Bengals. Setting career-highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns.
He made headlines earlier this week when he said he would take a bath in Skyline Chili if the Bengals won the game.
In his four years at Auburn, Uzomah caught 29 passes for 435 yards and seven touchdowns.
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Big news for the Bengals before the Super Bowl.
Things look up for a pair of key Cincinnati Bengals players in Super Bowl LVI.
Staring down an unpredictable contest with the Los Angeles Rams, the Bengals weren’t sure if they’d have tight end C.J. Uzomah and rookie guard Jackson Carman.
Thursday’s injury report suggests they will.
That second Super Bowl report upgraded both guys (Uzomah to “limited” and Carman to “full”), marking the first time Uzomah’s practiced since suffering a knee injury in the AFC title game.
Uzomah, who said he won’t miss the biggest game of his life, figures to go limited again before being in his usual No. 1 TE spot for the Super Bowl. Carman, a second-round rookie, replaced Hakeem Adeniji in the AFC title game and struggled at times, but also had a key block on a big touchdown.
Barring a shocking change on the final injury report on Friday, both guys should be able to go.
And for Uzomah, besides the obvious, it’s a big deal because he said he’ll take a swim in Skyline Chili if the Bengals win.
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C.J. Uzomah sounds like he’s…feeling good and hungry.
Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah says he’s doing everything he can to play in the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams as he works his way back from a knee injury suffered in the AFC title game.
He also says he’ll jump in a bath or pool of Skyline chili if the Bengals win.
Speaking with reporters ahead of the Super Bowl, Uzomah said he’ll bathe in the local (delicious!) Cincinnati chili, or even dive into a pool of it and “eat his way out,” albeit in swimming trunks.
This might’ve flown under the radar were it not, well, the Super Bowl. Big accounts like Adam Schefter picked it up, so Uzomah’s not going to be able to back out of this.
ESPN’s Ben Baby captured the moment:
C.J. Uzomah is NOT playing when it comes to this chili bath: pic.twitter.com/s0ToY6p2og
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) February 10, 2022
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Big statement from the Bengals TE before the Super Bowl.
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A cloud of doubt hangs over whether Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah will be on the field during the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams.
Just don’t tell Uzomah that.
As part of the Super Bowl media session on Monday, the veteran tight end dropped a dramatic quote that says quite a bit about where things stand, per Marisa Contipelli of the team’s official website:
“It’s the Super Bowl, I’m doing everything I can… I’m not missing the biggest game of my life.”
This comes on the heels of head coach Zac Taylor saying a few days prior that Uzomah would do light work over the weekend before they ramp him up a bit during the week.
Even if it comes down to Uzomah being a game-time decision, it’s safe to expect he’ll give it a go, barring a setback this week. The offense desperately misses him as a safety valve in the middle of the field.
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There’s still hope for C.J. Uzomah.
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Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah suffered a brutal-looking injury during the team’s AFC championship win that required a cart for him to reach the locker room.
Lost in the aftermath of the team’s historic comeback from a 21-3 deficit was
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reporting the injury is just an MCL sprain.
Meaning, there’s still hope Uzomah can suit up for the Super Bowl against the Los Angeles Rams.
Funnily enough, Uzomah was seen on crutches on the sideline during the game’s second half and in the tunnel and locker room celebrating after the win.
Now his focus turns to recovery. Dave Clark of the Cincinnati Enquirer caught his post-game thoughts:
“That’s the worst feeling. I did it all of last year — with the exception of two games — and it was a feeling that I didn’t want to have to deal with again. . . . It was ridiculously tough. It’s the AFC Championship. You don’t want to be on the sideline, but it was fun to see the boys — with the resolve they had — come back and get this win.”
Thank you for your prayers 🤎🤎 focused on getting right for our game in 2 weeks!! LET’S GO #WINCINNATI
— CJ Uzomah (@cj_uzomah) January 31, 2022
We’ll have to wait and see what further testing reveals, if anything, but early signs point to Uzomah potentially making a big comeback of his own.
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Uzomah needed a cart to leave the field.
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Cincinnati Bengals tight end C.J. Uzomah left Sunday’s AFC Championship against the Kansas City Chiefs on a cart with a lower-body injury in the first quarter.
Uzomah suffered the injury while trying to make a play on a ball intended for him from Joe Burrow, his second of two targets in the opening quarter.
One of the core pieces of the rebuild in the locker room, Uzomah had been enjoying a superb postseason. He had six catches for 64 yards and a score in the wild card round against the Raiders, then seven for 71 in the divisional round against the Titans.
In the immediate aftermath, Drew Sample will replace Uzomah. Over the long term, a serious injury could have ramifications into the 2022 season.
The team reported that Uzomah is doubtful to return on Sunday.
C.J. Uzomah was in tears while being carted to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/Trr82xalvJ
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 30, 2022
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Two Titans took issue with Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah saying Tennessee was scared.
Tennessee Titans left tackle Rodger Saffold and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons have taken issue with a comment made by Cincinnati Bengals tight end, C.J. Uzomah.
Uzomah was a guest on The Chris Collinsworth Podcast and said that the Titans were scared to give the Bengals the ball back late in regulation. Of course, the Titans ended up doing just that after Ryan Tannehill threw an interception, helping to set the Bengals up for a game-winning field goal.
“We’re on the sideline and we’re watching our defense and we’re kind of seeing how Tennessee is playing… oh, they’re scared of us,” Uzomah said. “If we get the ball back we are going to win this game. That was our mindset the entire time… They know if they give it back to us, it’s game over. And then we get the ball back and we’re like ‘it’s game over… it’s over.'”
Considering the Titans had kept Joe Burrow and Co. in check with nine sacks and zero passing touchdowns allowed up until that point, Uzomah’s statement is silly at best.
And that’s something Saffold and Simmons agree with.
Scared??? I hope they on the schedule next year 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/4tmC1RHCL0
— Rodger Saffold (@Rodger_Saffold) January 29, 2022
Lol 🤦🏽♂️🤦🏽♂️ you are totally correct buddy… https://t.co/h9C6Qq5vsx
— Jeffery Simmons (@GrindSimmons94) January 28, 2022
If anyone was scared, it was Burrow, who faced a life and death situation every time he dropped back to pass.
Saffold will be happy to know the Titans do have the Bengals on their list of 2022 home opponents, and the team will no doubt keep this quote in mind when these two teams meet again next season.
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Joe Burrow off to a great start in his first playoff game
Joe Burrow is in his first NFL playoff game. The Cincinnati Bengals’ quarterback was up to the task on his first drive Saturday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The second-year quarterback led a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with his touchdown pass to tight end C.J. Uzomah from 7 yards.
The Bengals are looking for their first postseason victory at Paul Brown Stadium and were ahead 7-3 in the first quarter.
Joe Burrow's first playoff TD goes to CJ Uzomah!#RuleTheJungle #SuperWildCard
📺: #LVvsCIN on NBC
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/PfH6UIf5zC— NFL (@NFL) January 15, 2022
