Tag: D.J. Jones

5 defensive tackles Chargers could target in free agency

With a glaring need along the defensive line, here are five pending free agents the Chargers could target.

We are still less than a couple of months until the free agency frenzy begins, but as the anticipation continues to build up, I will start listing potential targets for the Chargers at key positions of need.

First up, interior defensive linemen.

Akiem Hicks, Bears

Hicks, who is familiar with Brandon Staley during his time with Chicago when he was the outside linebacker coach, can contribute as a run-stuffer and pass rusher. He has over 50 quarterback pressures in three seasons, with his most recent in 2020. He has dealt with some injuries throughout his lengthy career, but it hasn’t hindered him enough to keep him from producing when he is on the field. He played over 800 snaps in each season in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020.

Sebastian Joseph-Day, Rams

Hicks isn’t the only interior defender that Staley is familiar with. When Staley oversaw the Rams’ top-ranked defense, Joseph-Day had a career-high 33 run stops, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. He was on his way to surpassing those, but an unfortunate torn pectoral sustained in Week 7 kept him out. Still, winning with speed, power and violent hands, Joseph-Day can win one-on-one matchups and eat-up blockers to let his fellow teammates roam freely that the Chargers could greatly benefit from.

Folorunso Fatukasi, Jets

Fatukasi was disruptive against the run at UConn, and he has carried that over to the NFL over the last three years. This past season, he finished tied for third among defensive tackles in run stop win rate at 43%, according to ESPN. While not notorious for rushing the passer, he has shown flashes, posting 16 pressures and five quarterback hits on 282 pass-rush snaps. Further, he has consistently stayed healthy, logging defensive snaps of 507 in 2020 and 558 in 2021.

B.J. Hill, Bengals

If the Chargers re-sign Justin Jones, there could be a reunion between him and Hill as the two were previously teammates at North Carolina State. Despite being overshadowed by Dalvin Tomlinson, Dexter Lawrence, and Leonard Williams during his time with the Giants, Hill still consistently produced, both against the run and generating pressure. Now with Cincinnati, his presence has been known in the middle of the defensive line. Hill amassed 29 pressures, six sacks, and 25 run stops on the season.

D.J. Jones, 49ers

En route to San Francisco’s playoff run, Jones has been a staple that has flown under the radar after he was re-signed on a one-year prove-it deal. The definition of a no-nonsense-penetrator, Jones has lived in opposing backfields. He will make the majority of his money as a run defender, as he had 40 stops on the season. However, he added to his pass-rush repertoire, with 16 pressures in 2021, marking a career-high.

Notre Dame vs. North Carolina: Second-Quarter Analysis

That was an action-packed first half.

Notre Dame had to know it was facing a North Carolina team that has been struggling. We don’t know how much that went into the preparation for this game. What we do know is that in spite of recent trends, we’re seeing signs of why the Tar Heels were hyped up as an ACC contender coming into the season. Still, the Irish hold a 17-13 lead at halftime.

The Tar Heels picked up where they left off in the first quarter as Ty Chandler scored a 3-yard touchdown to tie game on the first play of the second. The tie didn’t last as Jack Coan hit Avery Davis for gains of 10 and 20 yards, respectively, on the next drive to get to midfield. The Irish mostly focused on runs from there and were able to get to the 13-yard line. After Coan was forced to throw away a third-down pass, Jonathan Doerer kicked a 31-yard field goal to put the Irish back in front.

The Tar Heels moved the ball almost at will on their next drive, but they were helped by a couple missed tackles from the Irish. When Josh Downs received a 31-yard pass from Sam Howell, it was first-and-goal. On that series, the Tar Heels were hurt by a holding call. Then, Isaiah Foskey and Jayson Ademilola sacked Howell on third down, forcing Grayson Atkins to kick a 38-yard field goal to salvage the drive and knot things up again.

Coan and Michael Mayer put the Irish in position to score again when they connected on a 30-yard completion to get into Tar Heels territory. Faced with a fourth-and-2 at the 35, the Irish opted to go for it. The subsequent pass fell incomplete, but a face-mask penalty kept the drive going. Coan made the Tar Heels pay when he immediately found Kevin Austin in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown.

Ja’Qurious Conley set the Tar Heels up nicely when he returned the ensuing kick 40 yards. Three straight solid runs by D.J. Jones continued to make conditions favorable for a Tar Heels score. Another Howell-to-Downs connection placed the ball in the red zone. With only seven seconds left and the Tar Heels getting possession to start the second half, they opted to take the points on a 26-yard field goal from Atkins, which gives us our halftime score.

49ers DL D.J. Jones avoids high ankle sprain, should return this season

San Francisco 49ers DL D.J. Jones did not suffer a high-ankle sprain and is not out for the season.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday provided some good injury news during his pre-practice video conference with reporters. He said defensive lineman D.J. Jones did not suffer a high-ankle sprain in Monday night’s 34-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Jones had to leave the game with an injury in the firrst quarter and was quickly ruled out.

“Yeah, it wasn’t a high ankle sprain, so very fortunate that he’ll play again for us this season, but it’s not healthy enough to go (Wednesday),” Shanahan said. “So, I’m holding out hope for it this week, but it’ll be a day-to-day thing.”

Had he suffered a high-ankle sprain he would have likely been out for the season. Instead, he is day-to-day and could be available to play Sunday against the Washington Football Team.

Jones has started ten games for the 49ers this season at nose tackle, recording 14 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks. Over his career, the 2017 sixth-round pick has played in 40 games and racked up 64 tackles, and 4.0 sacks.

San Francisco 49ers DL D.J. Jones ruled out with ankle injury

San Francisco 49ers DL D.J. Jones out vs. Bills with ankle injury

San Francisco 49ers interior defensive lineman D.J. Jones has been ruled out for the remainder of the team’s game against the Buffalo Bills. He left the game with an ankle injury in the first quarter and was questionable to return.

The club officially ruled him out at the start of the third quarter.

Jones has started ten games for the 49ers this season, recording 14 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks. Over his career, Jones has played in 40 games, racked up 64 tackles, and four sacks.

 

49ers are walking wounded, could be without 6 starters against Cardinals

The Cardinals might get a severely depleted 49ers team this weekend.

The Arizona Cardinals’ next game is on the road against the 8-1 San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are dealing with a number of injuries and the Cardinals might get several breaks with the players who will and might miss the game.

Although the first injury report of the week will not come out until Wednesday, there are enough injured players to get an idea about today.

They already are without linebacker Kwon Alexander, who exited the game against the Cardinals and suffered a season-ending torn pectoral.

Read to find out more about the players the 49ers could be without when they face the Cardinals for the second time in three weeks.

LT Joe Staley

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Staley missed the game against the Cardinals, coming back from a fractured leg. In his first game back on Monday against the Seattle Seahawks, he suffered a fractured and dislocated finger. It could require surgery, which would mean missing a couple of weeks. It appears he will miss this week’s game against the Cardinals.

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