Tag: Cam Erving

Saints’ projected offensive line vs. Jaguars looks like a recipe for disaster

ESPN reports the Saints plan for Cam Erving to make his first start at right tackle since 2016, with Andrus Peat moving back to left tackle against the Jaguars:

Yikes. The projected New Orleans Saints offensive line for Week 7’s game with the Jacksonville Jaguars looks like a recipe for disaster. With starting offensive tackles Ryan Ramczyk and James Hurst ruled out with injuries (as well as their top backup Landon Young), ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that the Saints are planning to start Andrus Peat at left tackle while bringing up Cam Erving from the practice squad to play on the right side.

It’s a baffling decision. Erving has not played right tackle since 2016, his second year in the NFL; the Saints traded up for Nick Saldiveri in this year’s draft, and on paper he looks like a much better candidate for this job. He logged more than 2,200 snaps at right tackle in college at Old Dominion during his 38-game career. The Saints coaching staff has tried to convert him to left guard instead of playing him at his natural position.

And Peat hasn’t lined up at left tackle since 2019, when he played a grand total of 6 snaps. He hasn’t spent extensive time at that position since the 2017 season. There’s little reason to believe he’ll be an upgrade over Trevor Penning at the left tackle spot given his past struggles and limited success after moving to guard, but the Saints are determined to keep Penning on the bench.

Here’s the projected starting lineup and their backups for Thursday night’s game with Jacksonville:

  • Left tackle: Andrus Peat (Trevor Penning)
  • Left guard: Max Garcia (Nick Saldiveri)
  • Center: Erik McCoy (Garcia)
  • Right guard: Cesar Ruiz (Garcia/Saldiveri)
  • Right tackle: Cam Erving (Ruiz)

The Saints could also bring up Tommy Kraemer (who has some right tackle experience) or Mark Evans II (a college left tackle the team moved to guard) from the practice squad to add further depth, but we don’t know whether they’ll be available Thursday night. The Saints are making some bold decisions here. We’ll see how that works out against a talented Jaguars defensive front.

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Saints sign former Browns first-round OL Cam Erving

NOF’s Nick Underhill reports the Saints have signed former Browns first-round pick Cam Erving to their practice squad, improving depth along the offensive line:

New Orleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports the Saints have signed free agent offensive lineman Cam Erving to their practice squad, improving depth along the line. They had an open spot after waiving pass rusher Terrell Lewis, with just two other offensive linemen on the practice squad: former Detroit Lions backups Tommy Kraemer and undrafted rookie Mark Evans II, who recently returned to the team after being let go during roster cuts.

Erving was one of four free agents the Saints brought in for a group workout. Here’s what we wrote about Erving after his tryout last week:

“Erving, 31, was also picked in the 2015 draft out of Florida State — but he was a first rounder with the Cleveland Browns. He won a Super Bowl championship with the Kansas City Chiefs and has also made stops with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers during his 95-game career (56 starts), predominately lining up at left tackle (1,514 career snaps) and left guard (1,156) while sometimes getting looks at center and right guard. He’s only logged 41 snaps at right tackle in the NFL.”

Erving likely won’t see many snaps (if any) in the immediate future with the top of the depth chart set, but right guard Cesar Ruiz missed last week’s game with a concussion and it’s unclear when he’ll be able to return to the lineup. In the meantime, look for the Saints to continue to start Trevor Penning and Ryan Ramczyk at tackle with Andrus Peat, Erik McCoy, and James Hurst manning the interior. They’ve activated backups Max Garcia and Nick Saldiveri (at guard) as well as Landon Young (at tackle) during Ruiz’s absence.

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Saints work out multiple veteran offensive linemen on Thursday

The Saints worked out multiple veteran offensive linemen on Thursday, including a former member of their practice squad: Tulane’s John Leglue

Reinforcements may be on the way for the embattled New Orleans Saints  offensive line. The team reported multiple veteran tryouts at the facility on Thursday, including a former member of their practice squad: Tulane’s John Leglue from Alexandria, La.

Here’s what you need to know about each player and what they might have to offer:

Giants’ Saquon Barkley, Kadarius Toney out vs. Panthers

New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley and WR Kadarius Toney are among three out and four questionable vs. the Carolina Panthers.

The New York Giants will limp into Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, who are down a few key players of their own.

The Giants, however, are completely injury ravaged and will be without a slew of skill position players, offensive linemen and other role players. That lists includes running back Saquon Barkley and Kenny Golladay.

The Giants’ final injury report of the week can be found below:

Out: RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), WR Kenny Golladay (knee), WR Kadarius Toney (ankle)

Doubtful: DT Danny Shelton (pectoral)

Questionable: WR Darius Slayton (hamstring), WR John Ross (hamstring), TE Evan Engram (calf), WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring)

Meanwhile, for the Panthers, here is how their final injury report stacked up to close out the work week:

Out: Shaq Thompson (foot), Terrace Marshall Jr. (concussion), Gio Ricci (concussion)

Doubtful: N/A

Questionable: Cam Erving (illness), Alex Erickson (concussion)

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Panthers 2021 offensive line review: What’s the plan at left tackle?

The Panthers may have even less stability on the left side of the line than last year, and that’s saying a lot.

Ahead of training camp, we’re taking a look at each position on the Carolina Panthers’ 2021 squad, evaluating the changes since 2020 and projecting the unit’s outlook for this season.

Following our evaluations of the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, we’ll turn to the final position group on offense: the offensive line.

Major changes: Filling holes up front

One of the first (and possibly worst) free agency signings by GM Scott Fitterer in Carolina was veteran journeyman Cameron Erving, who now projects to be the team’s starter at LT. That could end in disaster though, with Pro Football Focus ranking him as their lowest-graded offensive lineman in the entire league over the last three seasons.

The Panthers have also tried to address the offensive line via the NFL draft, most notably with then-GM Marty Hurney’s trade up for Greg Little in the 2019 draft. Now, Little’s slow development and injury-plagued career look to put him on the roster bubble, replaced by anyone from a veteran to a rookie.

With the selection of Little now going down as one of Hurney’s worst mistakes, Fitterer took his shot at filling the hole at LT by drafting Brady Christensen in the third round of this year’s draft. Christensen started three years at left tackle for the pro-style offense at BYU and even became PFF’s highest-graded offensive lineman ever in his senior season.

The Panthers also addressed a less significant need at guard through the draft, selecting the outstanding run blocker Deonte Brown in the sixth round and signing undrafted free agent and Senior Bowl standout David Moore. They also signed veteran Pat Elflein to a three-year deal.

The big question: Will the Panthers finally find stability at left tackle?

The Panthers have struggled to fill the left tackle position since All-Pro Jordan Gross retired in 2013. Over the last eight years, the team has tried out plenty of short-term solutions, only to lose them to free agency, poor performance and plenty of injuries. This offseason has seen much of the same after the team let Russell Okung walk.

Unless Erving turns around his entire six-year career to become the long-term solution in Carolina, the team will be looking at an unproven option to protect Sam Darnold’s blindside.

The only exception to that comes if Matt Rhule tries out the team’s most consistent lineman on the opposite side of his natural position. Taylor Moton, who signed a four-year, $71.25 million extension with the team less than an hour before the franchise tag deadline, has already taken practice reps at left tackle this offseason. The move wouldn’t come without risk, as the first player to try out that switch in the post-Gross era— Byron Bell— was not re-signed by Carolina the year following that campaign.

Better or worse? Worse

Carolina may have even less stability on the left side of the line than last year, and that’s saying a lot. Other than Moton, the rest of the offensive line group has either remained the same or gotten thinner. Even though Okung’s 2020 campaign was plagued with injury, replacing him with Erving is a definitive downgrade. Now, the team’s future at left tackle could rest on the shoulders of Christensen, though we expect him to kick off his career as a rotational lineman with the Panthers. The interior is similar to last year when the entire group ranked nearly dead last in pass protection.

The major win for the group was the extension of Moton, but in terms of productivity, we can’t expect much more from the fifth-year lineman who allowed just three sacks playing 100% of offensive snaps in 2020.

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Cowboys Free Agency: OT Cam Erving working on deal with Panthers

Cowboys swing tackle Cam Erving looking to sign elsewhere.

The Dallas Cowboys have seemingly lost their first free agent from last season’s roster. Cam Erving, signed last offseason to be the Cowboy’s swing tackle is working on a deal with the Carolina Panthers.

Playing in only six games last season, Erving was hampered by injuries. The former first-round pick, who has also played for Cleveland and Kansas City was signed in hopes of adding depth to Dallas’ offensive line heading into last season. After being beaten out by UDFA rookie Terrance Steele to be the opening day starter at right tackle, Erving was injured in Week 1 and placed on IR.

He returned in Week 7 and started in five games, but was lost again in Week 11 and placed on IR again, ending his season. After signing for one year, $2.5 million in 2020, the reported deal would be a sizable increase.

From the Cowboys perspective, Erving would qualify for the comp pick formula for the 2022 draft. That determines extra picks given to teams who lose more qualifying free agents than they bring in.

Even with losing Erving, the Cowboys already have depth behind starters Tyron Smith and La’el Collins, both of whom are expected to make full recoveries after missing much or all of 2020.  Steele and Brandon Knight earned the majority of starts in their place last season and are in line to be the main backups entering 2021.

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Report: Panthers working on 2-year deal with OT Cameron Erving

Now, Jeremy Fowler at ESPN says the Panthers are also working on a two-year contract with free agent offensive tackle Cameron Erving.

The Panthers clearly want to address their offensive line first in free agency. Already, there’s been two reported deals in the works.

Adam Schefter at ESPN says Carolina and guard/center Pat Elflein have agreed to a three-year, $13.5 million deal.

Now, Jeremy Fowler at ESPN says the Panthers are also working on a two-year contract with free agent offensive tackle Cameron Erving.

Just thrilling stuff to begin free agency, here.

Erving has played 75 games in his NFL career so far between the Chiefs, Browns and Cowboys. Like Elflein, he offers offensive line depth. He probably won’t be starting, though. Taylor Moton is locked in at right tackle after signing his $13.75 million franchise tag and the Panthers likely won’t be starting Erving at left tackle unless something goes horribly wrong these next few months.

Our best guess is coach Matt Rhule sees Erving as a swing tackle who can backup Moton and whoever starts on the blindside. If the Panthers don’t re-sign Russell Okung odds are they will look to pick a left tackle prospect in the early rounds of the draft.

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Cowboys’ Cam Erving placed on IR, Zack Martin, Luke Gifford returning?

The Cowboys injury woes continue, especially on the O-Line, as Cam Erving was added on the IR. Plus, will Zack Martin return this season?

One of the keys to success in football is stability on the offensive line, and the Dallas Cowboys have had just the opposite in 2020.

The team announced Friday that tackle Cam Erving is being placed on Injured Reserve with a knee injury. This is Erving’s second stint on the IR this year, meaning he is ineligible to return again this season.

Of the 10 offensive lineman on the initial Dallas roster in September, seven have spent time on the IR this season, and Erving is the fourth to be ruled out for the year.

Erving had been filling in at left tackle for Tyron Smith, who played just two games before heading to the season-ending IR with a neck injury.

Brandon Knight, who originally took over for Smith before meeting a knee scope, replaced Erving following his injury on Thanksgiving, and Knight will likely finish the year as the Cowboys left tackle. Barring injury.

Erving’s future in Dallas is uncertain, as he signed a one-year deal this past offseason.

There was a bit of potentially positive news regarding the offensive line. Mike McCarthy told the media the club isn’t ready to rule out right guard Zack Martin for the season. Martin injured his calf just three plays after Erving went out on Thanksgiving.

Martin did his best to keep the offensive front afloat this season. The All Pro began the season at his usual position but moved over to right tackle before the Cowboys Week 11 win in Minnesota, where he continued to play at an elite level.

When Martin landed on IR, some believed his season was over because of how few weeks are left. It remains to be seen how Martin’s rehab progresses, and if Dallas chooses to play him in the last few games of a lost season, as Martin being healthy next year should be a top priority for the Cowboys.

Luke Gifford has finished his two-game suspension for violating NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy, and the linebacker rejoined the team for practice Friday.

Saturday’s ‘Thursday’ Injury Report: Cowboys rule out Zack Martin, Ravens on mend

The latest injury updates for the Cowboys and Ravens ahead of their game this Tuesday.

No team has dealt with more complications from COVID-19 this season than the Baltimore Ravens. The Cowboys were originally scheduled to face the Ravens on Thursday Night Football, but the game was pushed back to Tuesday, allowing Baltimore to return a number of key contributors, including Lamar Jackson who is expected to suit up.

Saturday, DE Aldon Smith returned to practice and CB Anthony Brown was able to get in another practice. Offensive linemen Zack Martin and Cam Erving, S Steven Parker were non-participants, and S Donovan Wilson worked with athletic trainers off to the side at practice.

Smith (illness) had missed practices earlier in the week but was back in the action this weekend, and is game status is not in jeopardy.

Brown (ribs) missed Dallas’ Thanksgiving game against Washington, but the added rest has helped his recovery and he is questionable for Tuesday’s matchup.

The Dallas offensive line has struggled to continuity, and that trend will continue this week. Martin and Erving were the Cowboys starting tackles against Washington, but both were injured in the first quarter. Martin (calf) and Erving (knee) didn’t practice this week, and they are officially out

Wilson (groin) missed practice Friday, but worked on the side with trainers Saturday; his status is still in question for Tuesday Wilson had emerged as a bright spot in the Cowboys safety room over the last few weeks.

One of Wilson’s potential replacements, Parker (ankle), was absent from practice Saturday, leaving Dallas incredibly thin at the safety position if Parker can’t play. Both Wilson and Parker are listed as questionable, and Darian Thompson would be the likely beneficiary should Dallas be without Wilson or Parker.

Dallas’ upcoming opponent, Baltimore was hit with a whirlwind of COVID cases and injuries over the last two weeks, but a handful of the Ravens’ best players are set to return from the reserve list and face the Cowboys Tuesday.

On Friday and Saturday Baltimore activated a total of seven players from the COVID/Reserve list, including DT Calais Campbell, RB Mark Ingram, RB J.K. Dobbins, OLB Pernell McPhee, OL Matt Skura, OL Patrick Mekari, DE Jihad Ward.

Reigning MVP, QB Lamar Jackson, is eligible to be activated from the list on Sunday, and while Baltimore won’t confirm that as their plan, it is expected.

Despite te positive activations from the COVID list, Baltimore still has nine players with a questionable tag, and two listed as doubtful as we get closer to Tuesday.

The most notable questionable tags include Campbell, who was mentioned above, CB Jimmy Smith, DT Brandon Williams, and S Chuck Clark.

It will be important to monitor the Baltimore health situation before the Tuesday night showdown, especially at quarterback.

Cowboys prep for Ravens as the opponent finishes Week 12

The Cowboys start to prepare for their Week 13 opponent, the Baltimore Ravens. This preparation coming before the Ravens finish Week 12

The Dallas Cowboys took to the practice field for the first time since their disturbing loss to the Washington Football Team on Thanksgiving Day. Their Week 13 opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, are finishing Week 12 game as they visit the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. This game was postponed from Thanksgiving night, to Sunday afternoon, to Monday night, to Wednesday afternoon.

Due to the crazy times during the Covid-19 pandemic the Cowboys preparation and practice schedule has been altered as well. Wednesday was the first time the players have been at their practice facility since their lifting session on Friday.

The team has treated this week similar to a smaller bye week. This could ultimately help the Cowboys as they are dealing with a few players on their injury report heading into Week 13.

Defensive end Aldon Smith headlined this list as he sat out Wednesday’s practice with an illness. Offensive guard Zack Martin (calf) and left tackle Cam Erving (MCL) were also not present. Safety Steven Parker (ankle) and cornerback Anthony Brown (ribs) were seen working off to the side.

While the status for Week 13 is very uncertain for the majority of those on this first report, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed that Martin will miss extended time do to the extent of his calf injury. Erving on the other hand might not be as lengthy.

Check back with the Cowboys Wire in the coming days as the Cowboys continue their prep for an opponent who has yet to complete their respective Week 12 game.