Cowboys Dante Fowler Jr. pops Chargers Austin Ekeler in pregame fight

The Cowboys and Chargers had a pregame bout at SoFi Stadium

The undercards are starting to get feisty in the NFL.

For the second time in Week 6, there was a pregame scrap.

This one took place on Monday at SoFi Stadium and was between the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers.

The biggest blow was Dallas defensive player Dante Fowler hitting Los Angeles running back Austin Ekeler in the face.

6 free-agent edge rushers Colts could consider in 2023

Here are six free-agent edge rushers the Colts could consider in 2023.

The Indianapolis Colts have some promising names in the defensive end room, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if they used free agency to add some depth to the position this offseason.

As Yannick Ngakoue, Tyquan Lewis and Ben Banogu are set to hit the market, the Colts could be looking at free agency as a way to add some cheaper production, especially at the LEO position if Ngakoue doesn’t return.

So the Colts are rolling into free agency with the promising youngsters in Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo leading the room.

We took a look at the following positions for the Colts to consider adding to in free agency:

We shouldn’t expect the Colts to go on a wild spending spree in free agency. It’s not their M.O., and Chris Ballard isn’t working with the same amount of salary-cap space as he’s used to.

Here’s a look at six free-agent edge rushers the Colts could consider in 2023:

Every Gator selected by Jacksonville Jaguars in NFL draft’s first round

The Jacksonville Jaguars love taking former Gators in the NFL draft, including taking six in the first round.

For better or for worse, the Jacksonville Jaguars love taking former Florida players in the NFL draft. The Jags have taken 11 Gators in the draft over the years, including six players in the first round during their history.

Some of the recent Florida players Jacksonville has selected include cornerback [autotag]CJ Henderson[/autotag] (2020), offensive tackle [autotag]Jawaan Taylor[/autotag] (2019), defensive tackle [autotag]Taven Bryan[/autotag] (2018) and defensive end [autotag]Dante Fowler Jr[/autotag]. (2015).

Former Jaguars and Gators head coach [autotag]Urban Meyer[/autotag] tried to add another former player who suited up in the Orange and Blue during the 2021 draft with its second first-round pick. He said he was crushed after the New York Giants took wide receiver [autotag]Kadarius Toney[/autotag] took him five picks before Jacksonville was on the clock again.

A day before the 2022 NFL draft kicks off, Gators Wire is reflecting on six Florida players Jacksonville has taken in the first round during its franchise history.

Former Jaguar named among big-talent draft picks that never panned out

Former Jaguars outside edge-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. never quite lived up to expectations after being taken third overall in 2015.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler compiled a list of 15 players who didn’t live up to their lofty expectations from the past 15 NFL Drafts or so. He made this list by asking multiple scouts and executives for their thoughts.

The scouts and executives who were asked had several former Jacksonville Jaguars draft picks to choose from like outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr., cornerback C.J. Henderson and offensive tackle Luke Joeckel. Ultimately, they settled with one Jaguar: Fowler.

Here is what they had to say about his selection:

What he was supposed to be: A dominant force off the edge

What he became: A solid NFL pass-rusher

Fowler’s breakout season came in 2019 with the Los Angeles Rams, posting 11.5 sacks and earning a three-year, $48 million deal with the Falcons. But he never graduated to the elite tier, which was the expectation as the third overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Fowler entered the NFL with lots of potential as a pass-rusher. In his final season at Florida, he notched 8.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 60 combined tackles, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection.

After the Jaguars used the third overall pick, he wound up missing his original rookie season due to a torn ACL injury he suffered in rookie minicamp.

Fowler never seemed to fully return to the dominant pass rusher he was with the Gators. He only recorded 53 combined tackles, 14 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, 22 quarterback hits, and three fumble recoveries before Jacksonville traded him midway through his third season to the Rams.

When looking back at his career, it’s possible the Jags didn’t do him any favors with the scheming they used. Then again, Fowler struggled to catch on at his last stop (with the Atlanta Falcons) before going to the Dallas Cowboys, so maybe his struggles are a result of being drafted too high.

Former Jaguars DE Dante Fowler to pay $280k in damages in 2017 case

On Thursday, a Florida civil jury ordered Dante Fowler Jr. to pay $280,000 to the man he struck in 2017 after a near-miss car accident.

Dante Fowler Jr. has become like an NFL journeyman after the Jacksonville Jaguars used the third overall pick on the former Florida Gators star pass rusher. He has played for four different teams over the last eight seasons. He’s now with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him to a one-year deal this offseason.

However, he’s still paying for a mistake he made while he was with the Jaguars. On Thursday, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reported that a civil jury in Florida has ordered Fowler to pay $280,000 in compensatory and punitive damages to a St. Petersburg man he attacked after a near-miss traffic accident in 2017.

The original arrest report says that Fowler nearly hit another vehicle after failing to come to a complete stop at an intersection. An apartment resident nearby who witnessed the close call shouted something to Fowler. The third-year Jaguars defender, at the time, exited his vehicle and struck the 55-year-old bystander, stepped on his eyeglasses, and threw his grocery bag into a lake.

Fowler apologized publicly a week later in 2018 as Jacksonville training camp kicked off. He told reporters that isn’t who he is as a person and that it wouldn’t happen again.

The victim claimed he “suffered a torn rotator cuff and exacerbation of cervical spine injuries, among other injuries” from being knocked to the ground by Fowler. He pleaded no contest in 2018 to misdemeanor battery, criminal mischief, and petty theft in the matter.

He was suspended for the Jaguars’ season opener in 2018. Even after this week’s ruling, Fowler is not in line for any further punishment from the NFL in that case.

Jacksonville eventually traded him later that season to the Los Angeles Rams. He finished his career in Duval County with 62 combined tackles, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Former Florida defensive end cut from Atlanta Falcons

This Gator got some bad news today.

Former Gators standout Dante Fowler Jr. was cut by the Atlanta Falcons Wednesday after two seasons, according to a team announcement. Fowler signed with the Falcons after a productive 2019 season with the Los Angeles Rams where he accumulated 11.5 sacks.

With the Gators, Fowler was a dominant pass rusher for three seasons from 2012 to 2014. He generated 14.5 sacks with 8.5 of them coming in his final season with the Orange and Blue. In the 2015 NFL draft, he was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars with the third overall pick.

Fowler played two and a half seasons in Jacksonville where he never started before he was traded to the Rams. In Los Angeles, he started in 20 out of 24 games, posted 13.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his two seasons.

In March of 2020, Atlanta signed the former Florida star to a three-year, $45 million contract. However, he underperformed during his first season only recording three sacks, one forced fumble and 23 combined tackles. With a new general manager and head coach, Fowler agreed to accept a pay cut during the 2021 offseason to create more cap space for the Falcons. The following season Fowler tallied only 4.5 sacks.

With the NFL offseason just beginning, he’ll be a free agent where he can sign anywhere.

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Watch: Falcons do Teddy Bridgewater dirty twice on one play

The Falcons had a pair of penalties called on a play that knocked Panthers’ QB Teddy Bridgewater from the game.

The Atlanta Falcons were way out of line on a play that knocked Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the game Thursday.

First, Dante Fowler Jr. sticks out his big leg and trips Bridgewater as the quarterback starts to take off. Bridgewater was already heading to the turf when Charles Harris goes head-hunting.

The play knocked Bridgewater from the game and saw former XFL star P.J. Walker come in for the moment.

Harris was ejected for his penalty. The drive led to a field goal that brought Carolina within 19-17.

Atlanta Falcons Week 7 injury designations: Takkarist McKinley Questionable

The Detroit Lions Week 7 opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, have released their injury designations ahead of Sunday’s game.

The Detroit Lions Week 7 opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, have released their injury designations and only one injured player is listed with an injury for this game: Takkarist McKinley.

Here’s a look at the Falcons’ full injury designations list.

Ruled OUT

Player Position Injury Designation
None

No players listed as OUT this week.

Questionable

Player Position Injury Designation
Takkarist McKinley EDGE Groin Questionable

McKinley did not play in the Falcons Week 6 game due to his groin injury and when this week’s practices began he was once again unable to participate on Wednesday or Thursday, but he did return to the practice field on Friday.

He has only played in three games this season, but McKinley has accounted for eight pressures and had a sack in Week 1.

He still seems like a longshot to play this Sunday, but the questionable designation gives him a chance. Expect the Falcons to re-examine him on Saturday and if he passes those physicals, then he could end up being a game-time decision.

No injury designation

Player Position Injury Designation
Julio Jones WR Hamstring No Designation
Calvin Ridley WR Elbow No Designation
Russell Gage WR Shoulder No Designation
Brandon Powell WR Elbow No Designation
Dante Fowler Jr. EDGE Ankle No Designation
Kendall Sheffield CB Foot No Designation
Jaylinn Hawkins SS Concussion No Designation

The seven players listed in this section are all nursing injuries and most — save Gage — saw at least one limited practice this week. Fortunately for the Falcons, they are all expected to be available for Sunday, as they will not carry an injury designation into the game.

NFL Draft: The 25 players chosen in the 2015 first round no longer with the team that chose them

More than two dozen of the players taken in the 2015 NFL Draft are no longer with the team that selected them.

The 2015 NFL Draft is five years ago and it is hard to believe how much movement there has been among players taken in the first round.

32. Malcom Brown

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Drafted out of Texas, Malcom Brown spent four seasons with the New England Patriots before moving on to the New Orleans Saints in 2019. The defensive tackle will head into his second season in the Big Easy with 10.5 career sacks.

Predicting where the top 21 free agents will land

From Tom Brady to Amari Cooper to Philip Rivers, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar identifies likely fits for this year’s top NFL free agents.