Commanders rule out St-Juste and Milne vs. Falcons

Losing Benjamin St-Juste and Dax Milne for Sunday creates two big openings for the Commanders. How will they replace them?

Friday was a not a good news day for the Washington Commanders.

The team ruled out both Benjamin St-Juste and Dax Milne for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

Naturally, the first thought that comes to mind is the size of Falcons receiver Drake London. St-Juste certainly has the most size and best range of any of the Commanders defensive backs. The loss of St-Juste against the Falcons should not be minimized.

Of note, the team elevated corner Danny Johnson from the practice squad on Oct. 24 and Johnson has seen action in each game from Weeks 8-11. Johnson only played two defensive snaps against the Colts and none against the Eagles. However, he was in on 50 defensive snaps against the Vikings and 11 last week in Houston. So, Johnson is the likely candidate to see more action against the Falcons.

Corner Rachad Wildgoose has not seen action on defense since the Colts game and rookie corner Christian Holmes has seen only special teams action this year, with the lone exception being six snaps on defense against the Eagles in Week 3.

Washington does have three other defensive backs on their practice squad, were they to determine to elevate one up to the roster this week. Corn Elder has seen regular season action with the Panthers (2018-20) and last season with Washington. Texas Tech rookie Damarcus Fields saw action for the Saints on special teams in two games earlier this season and was signed to the Commanders’ practice squad on Oct. 26.

Troy Apke was released from the practice squad, but brought back to the squad this season and has the most regular-season game experience of those available to be elevated to the roster.

With Milne being out Sunday, possibly rookie Jahan Dotson will be called upon to return punts. Dotson started out quite well, with four receiving touchdowns in the first four games, but pulled a hamstring and missed the next five consecutive games.

The Commanders did receive some good news Friday. Defensive end James Smith-Williams who is producing his finest year thus far in 2022, had been out of practice with an illness, but he returned Friday and is expected to play against the Falcons.

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Washington inactive players vs. Buccaneers

Here are Washington’s inactives for Week 10.

The Washington Football Team announced their inactive list for the Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from FedEx Field.

Wide receivers Curtis Samuel and Antonio Gandy-Golden, and cornerbacks Corn Elder and Benjamin St-Juste are Washington’s inactives.

This is the seventh game Samuel has missed in 2021, due to an injured groin. Samuel recently had a second opinion on the injury but head coach Ron Rivera intends to exhaust all options before placing Samuel on season-ending injured reserve.

St-Juste was added to the injury list on Thursday which, at the time, was described as an illness. On Friday, it was revealed that St-Juste was in concussion protocol and would miss Week 10. The rookie from Minnesota had been playing well as of late.

Gandy-Golden has spent the season between the practice squad and the active roster. Elder was signed off Carolina’s practice squad on Oct. 13 to provide cornerback depth after injuries to Torry McTyer and Darryl Roberts.

Washington signs cornerback off Carolina’s practice squad

Washington made a couple of roster moves on Wednesday.

The Washington Football Team placed cornerback Darryl Roberts on injured reserve Tuesday. In a corresponding move, Washington signed cornerback Corn Elder off the Carolina Panthers practice squad.

Roberts is battling a quad injury after being active on game day for the first time this season in the Week 5 loss to the Saints. His injury comes one week after Washington lost Torry McTyer for the season with a knee injury.

Elder is a familiar face for Washington coach Ron Rivera. Elder was a fifth-round pick by the Panthers in 2017 when Rivera was the head coach and current personnel executive Marty Hurney was the general manager. He spent two seasons with the Panthers before he was released in 2019.

The Giants signed Elder to their practice squad, but the Panthers signed him back to their active roster. He spent the remainder of 2019 and all of 2020 with the Panthers. He signed with the Lions in April but was released this summer during final cuts.

The Panthers again signed Elder, this time to the practice squad. Elder has appeared in 30 career NFL games.

It’s not surprising Rivera uses his former connections to Carolina to add depth to Washington’s roster.

Washington also released kicker Chris Blewitt from its practice squad and re-signed safety Cole Luke to the practice squad. Luke, another former Panther, was with Washington last season and was released this summer.

Washington signs CB Corn Elder off Panthers’ practice squad

The Carolina Panthers apparently didn’t have a scarecrow, or a practice squad protection, out to protect their Corn. Aw, shucks.

The Carolina Panthers apparently didn’t have a scarecrow, or a practice squad protection, out to protect their Corn.

As first reported by Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Washington Football Team signed cornerback Corn Elder off the Panthers’ practice squad on Wednesday. Elder now fills the spot for Washington left behind by an injured Darryl Roberts.

The 2017 fifth-round pick will now reunite with his first NFL head coach Ron Rivera in the nation’s capital. He had also previously rejoined the man who drafted him into the league, general manager Dave Gettleman, in a two-month stint with the New York Giants back in 2019.

Elder, who went on his third go-around in Charlotte this season, was signed by the Panthers back on Sept. 14. He, most recently, saw regular season action in all 16 games of the 2020 campaign, recording 40 tackles, three pass deflections and a forced fumble for Carolina.

Unfortunately, this may be the end of any corn-related puns for our departed friend. Aw, shucks.

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Panthers bring back CB Corn Elder to practice squad

The Panthers seemingly can’t get enough of that Corn.

Corny jokes aside, the Carolina Panthers now need some secondary help with the impending surgery of Myles Hartsfield. So, it appears, they’ve called for the help of an old friend.

As reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the team has signed cornerback Corn Elder to its practice squad on Monday.

A product of the Dave Gettleman era, Elder was drafted by the organization back in 2017 out of the University of Miami. He’s played the last three seasons with the Panthers, totaling 43 tackles and three pass deflections over 30 games.

The now-26-year-old will now be taking up his third stint into Carolina, having been waived once in 2019 (and reuniting with Gettleman in New York for a cup of coffee) and hitting the free agent market after the 2020 campaign.

Elder, whose most recent stay came and ended with the Detroit Lions on Aug. 31, can provide somewhat of a presence in nickel coverage given his experience defending the slot.

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Panthers injury update: DB Myles Hartsfield to miss 8-12 weeks

The Panthers are losing a versatile piece in DB Myles Hartsfield for a good chunk of the season.

Confirming an earlier report from NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule told reporters on Monday that defensive back Myles Hartsfield will miss an extended period of time due to the wrist injury he sustained in the Week 1 victory over the New York Jets.

Hartsfield exited the game midway through the second half and did not return. The injury, according to Rhule, will likely be “a surgical matter.”

Any injury is unfortunate and of ill-timing. But the absence of Hartsfield, especially with A.J. Bouye still out due to suspension and the New Orleans Saints on deck for Week 2, will undoubtedly hamper the team’s secondary.

The second-year defensive back has been a versatile piece for Rhule and defensive coordinator Phil Snow. Carolina will now have to pinpoint its next man up, particularly in nickel coverage, to help replace Hartsfield for what’ll be a huge chunk of the season.

Look for Stantley Thomas-Oliver III and/or newly-signed practice squad member and familiar face Corn Elder to be of the early options.

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Lions top performers from PFF vs Colts and preseason recap

With PFF’s grades released, here are the top performers for the Detroit Lions against the Colts as well as the preseasons top players

The Detroit Lions finished their preseason winless after dropping to the Indianapolis Colts 27-17. However, in a game where coach Dan Campbell decided to rest a fair amount of starters, it gave players fighting for a roster spot one last chance to make an impression.

Pro Football Focus has released grades for the top offensive and defensive performers for the Lions against the Colts. PFF gives you a general feel on how well some of the fringe roster players performed.

Offense:

  1. TE Darren Fells: 92.8
  2. OT Dan Skipper: 76.1
  3. WR Geronimo Allison: 74.4
  4. RB Dedrick Mills: 72.0
  5. OG Logan Stenberg: 69.2

It is nice to see a rebound from Fells after the debacle against the Steelers, considering how thin the Lions are at tight end with disappointing performances from Alize Mack and Brock Wright. It was unfortunate to see Skipper (wish him well) carted off because he had a solid game especially run blocking. It might be too late for Allison, but you can’t say he is not putting up a fight. Stenberg should slot in as a reserve guard, but his status is up in the air without knowing the severity of his injury.

Defense:

  1. CB Corn Elder: 95.3
  2. DT Bruce Hector: 90.3
  3. EDGE Austin Bryant: 90.1
  4. OLB Rashod Berry: 81.5
  5. S Dean Marlowe: 80.1

Elder saw his roster chances diminish after getting pushed down the depth chart. Still, he made the most of his last opportunity to make an impression by securing the only Lions interception this preseason. Hector was thought of as nothing more than a camp body, but he has made a chances count and put his name into considering as a depth defensive tackle. Bryant has been a force on the edge, and if he can stay healthy, he will give the Lions good depth on the outside. Berry provided good pressure against the Colts, but it is hard to see him slotting out a role as a late addition. With the safety group questionable, it is good to see Marlowe performing well in hopes of providing a solid presence down the field.

Noteworthy players:

Penei Sewell is not having a preseason as he hoped for, finishing as the lowest graded offensive player vs. the Colts and near the bottom for the entire preseason. With the transition to right tackle and not having seen a lick of football in nearly two years, he is obviously still getting his feet under him.

Thankfully the Lions got ahold of Derrick Barnes or talked about how bad the inside linebacker corps is. Once again, Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Jahlani Tavai finish as the two worst defensive players against the Colts. It’s hard to see Tavai making the team, and if it weren’t for Reeves-Maybin’s special team’s abilities, it could see that fate as well.

Also, for your viewing pleasure, here are the top performers over the entire preseason.

Offense:

  1. RB Craig Reynolds: 86.0
  2. RB Dedrick Mills: 81.7
  3. QB Jared Goff: 80.1
  4. TE Darren Fells: 79.5
  5. WR Javon McKinley: 79.2

In one of the most heated battles this preseason, Reynold and Mills finish as the top two offensive performers. They have given the coaching staff plenty to think about in the roster construction. Goff finishing this high should tell you how well the Lions backup quarterback position has gone this preseason.

Fells did have a hiccup against the Steelers, but other than that, he has been solid as the second tight end behind T.J. Hockenson. McKinley has had a rollercoaster of a preseason, and he may fall short for a roster spot, but he should be destined for the practice squad.

Defense:

  1. CB Corn Elder: 95.3
  2. S Dean Marlowe: 84.7
  3. DL Levi Onwuzurike: 84.5
  4. LB Derrick Barnes: 83.8
  5. DL Miles Brown: 82.4

Elder only played one game this preseason, but he did make it count and could provide a veteran presence behind A.J. Parker. Marlowe has been the lone bright spot in the safety group and should look on as a steady contributor meaning the deep part of the field.

Onwuzurike proved to be as advertised after returning from his injury as a powerful force on the defensive line and gave the offense a nice punch in the mouth. Barnes has been the single biggest breath of fresh air with the linebacker corps and should look to contribute immediately behind Jamie Collins and Alex Anzalone. With the hype surrounding Bruce Hector and Kevin Strong, Brown has flown under the radar providing a stable body up the middle. With the number of injuries surrounding a few players on the defensive line, he could be a sneaky addition.

Lions roster bubble watch: 5 players who revamped their roster stock

With the final preseason game in the books, the Detroit Lions have tough decisions to make and these 5 players did not make it any easier

Even though the Detroit Lions failed to notch a preseason win after a 27-17 loss to Indianapolis Colts, you can tell this team will give you every ounce they got and fight till the very end.

On Friday night, with the majority of the starters sitting out, it gave roster bubble players a chance to give one final push to try to persuade the coaching staff they deserve a spot on the 53-man roster. With one last opportunity, many players seized that chance to showcase what they can bring to the table.

With some tough decisions ahead for the coaching staff, some players did not make it easy for them. Here are five players who improved their odds after their preseason performance against the Colts.

Lions training camp awards for 2021

Handing out awards from the Detroit Lions training camp in 2021

The 2021 edition of the Detroit Lions training camp concludes with the final practice session on Wednesday, August 25th. The Lions are off on Thursday before wrapping the preseason on Friday night at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

It was great being back at Allen Park for training camp after a year where neither the public nor the media had access. I was in the media throng for 10 of the practice sessions and paid rapt attention to trusted sources for the days I was not. The honors here lean heavily on the days I was in attendance but do expand out to cover the entire three weeks of action.

It’s time to unseal the envelopes for the 2021 Detroit Lions training camp awards!

Winners and losers from Detroit Lions training camp through the 1st two weeks

With the first two weeks of training camp in the books for the Detroit Lions, here are some of the winners and losers thus far

Heading into the second week of training camp for the Detroit Lions, we get a feel for how players perform and how they will fit on the roster. We have a new coaching staff in place, it has been a completely different vibe than what was there previously. The team seems more lively and upbeat and not just doing drills for the sake of doing them.

Some of the players have risen to the challenge and risen above others to claim their stake on one of those coveted roster spots. On the other side of the coin, either injuries or competition has gotten the better of the players leaving to question their status.

Here some of the winners and losers so far through training camp.