Tag: DeDe Westbrook

Report: Vikings have had preliminary conversations with WR Dede Westbrook

Do you want the Minnesota Vikings to sign free agent wide receiver Dede Westbrook, who was previously with the Jaguars?

Minnesota found good value throughout the 2021 NFL draft. That said, the Vikings still have some possible openings for next season.

For one, the team did not take a defensive end until the third round. Minnesota needs a starter opposite DEvDanielle Hunter. The team also did not take a wideout until the fifth round, despite having a need at wide receiver three.

Josina Anderson reported that the Vikings are at least in the market for a third wide receiver. Minnesota and Cincinnati have been in preliminary conversations with Dede Westbrook, a wideout who has played all four of his NFL seasons with the Jaguars. Westbrook also played under then-Jaguars wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell, now with the Vikings in that role.

I think Westbrook could be a great option for Minnesota. The team could use a more explosive player at wide receiver three, and Westbrook definitely has play-making potential. We will update you if anything happens.

Report: Chiefs players recruiting free agent WR Dede Westbrook

Westbrook previously played with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ offseason roster might appear to be full at the moment, but the team could still be looking to make a few additions.

One position where Kansas City tried and failed to add players at the onset of free agency was wide receiver. A new report from NFL reporter Josina Anderson shows that they could still be poking around the wide receiver market. According to Anderson, multiple Chiefs players have reached out to engage the interest that former Jacksonville Jaguars WR Dede Westbrook has in joining Kansas City. Westbrook has also spoken to the Vikings and Bengals as well per Anderson.

Westbrook hasn’t yet signed in free agency because he’s just six months removed from an ACL injury. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, he’s tracking to be ready to play by training camp.

A former fourth-round draft pick out of the University of Oklahoma, Westbrook has notched 160 receptions for 1,720 yards and 9 touchdowns during his NFL career. That’s pretty impressive given the struggles the Jags have seen offensively over the past several years. He only caught one pass last season ahead of his injury, but in each of the two years prior he caught over 60 passes. Westbrook could also provide some juice in the kick return game with 47 kick returns for 461 yards and a touchdown since 2017.

A former winner of the Biletnikoff Award with the Sooners, Westbrook has plenty of former teammates in Kansas City who could be recruiting him to the cause. The most significant of them is recent trade acquisition, Orlando Brown Jr., who played with Westbrook in 2015 and 2016.

[listicle id=92743]

Report: Bengals have had contact with free-agent WR Dede Westbrook

The Cincinnati Bengals have checked in on another free agent.

[mm-video type=video id=01f4n3jzm8wds958fmaj playlist_id=none player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f4n3jzm8wds958fmaj/01f4n3jzm8wds958fmaj-578ab3025e9ba1f54aa4279e4d338b86.jpg]

The Cincinnati Bengals have checked in on free-agent wideout Dede Westbrook, per a new report.

Said report comes from NFL insider Josina Anderson:

“Over the weekend some #Chiefs players reached out to free agent WR Dede Westbrook to engage his interest in coming to Kansas City. Meanwhile, both the #Vikings & the #Bengals have had preliminary conversations with Westbrook as well. Westbrook was a 2016 Biletnikoff award winner.”

No word on when these conversations happened with Westbrook, but the Bengals added LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick and added at least one wideout in undrafted free agency, plus sent another invite to a wideout for rookie minicamp.

Westbrook, 27, has scored nine times over four seasons but only got in two games last year. He’ll presumably be looking for a prove-it deal at this stage of free agency.

[listicle id=42622]eport:

3 free agents the Lions could sign before the draft

With the Detroit Lions finalizing their draft board, there are 3 free agents they could sign while not affecting their draft strategy.

With the draft right around the corner, the free-agent market has come to a screeching halt. Teams are more focused on finalizing their draft board at this particular point and then turn sights to free agents afterward with positions they may not have filled through the draft.

The way the Lions have attacked free agency, don’t expect them to sign any players to multi-year deals considering they have only handed it out to a few this offseason, and from the looks of it, they are playing the compensatory game.

The Lions have also shown they are willing to take reclamation projects heading into the season and possibly get something out of them and boost their stock heading into next season like Charles Harris, Corn Elder, and Quinton Dunbar.

Even though there is a strong possibility those after-the-draft free agents not even making the team when it is all said and done, but there are a few free agents who might be able to battle out for one of those coveted roster spots heading into the season for the Lions.

WR Dede Westbrook

Westbrook missed the majority of last season after he tore his ACL after returning a kickoff. Thankfully, his injury occurred early last season, giving plenty of time to recover from the harsh injury. He has seen success as the primary slot receiver for Jacksonville Jaguars, catching  1,805 yards and nine touchdowns with a 65% catch rate through his four years as a fourth-round draft pick. Additionally, this all came from quarterbacks like Blake Bortles, Nick Foles, and Gardner Minshew slinging the ball.

With Westbrook coming off a tough injury, essentially sidelining him all last season, it comes as little surprise teams have not signed the 27-year old receiver. The Lions could get him for cheap and give him a one-year prove-it deal, hoping he can show the same spring in his step he had in Jacksonville, giving the Lions an established, young slot receiver who has return experience. By no means would this stop the Lions from drafting a receiver, but if they can find magic in Westbook, he could stick further into the rebuild either on offense and/or special teams as a returner.

 CB Darqueze Dennard

General manager Brad Holmes has not been shy in taking on former first-round picks in hopes of untapped potential, and Dennard fits right into that category. The seven-year veteran has been battling injuries the past two seasons, missing 15 games in that span, which could be the pinpoint reason for not finding a team this offseason. When he has seen the field, he has shown to a reliable corner with the versatility to play outside and inside.

Once again, injuries have played a part in Dennard’s market, but the Lions cornerback depth lacks both outside and inside, and Dennard could fill in both spots if push came to shove. With Jeff Okudah, Amani Oruwariye, or Quinton Dunbar taking care of the outside and Corn Elder handling the middle, no one should expect him to start. Still, the local Michigan State product could provide that necessary depth and veteran savviness the Lions could use during the rebuild.

DL Jurrell Casey

The Denver Broncos brought in Casey after trading only a seventh-round draft pick to the Tennesse Titans. Unfortunately, he would only play 156 for Denver when he tore his bicep ending his season prematurely. At which point the Broncos decided to cut bait with the oft-injured veteran clearing nearly $12 million in cap space. When he has seen the field, he has been a model of consistency, making five straight Pro Bowls from 2015-2019 and notching at least 50 pressures from 2013-2017. He has the versatility to align anywhere in the inside from the 1 to the 3 tech, bringing a repertoire that makes him an effective run stuffer and a pass rusher.

Even though the Lions have a fair amount of defensive lineman, you can never have enough versatile lineman that allows you to put your defense in the best matchup possible. Casey can be a strong presence as a rotational lineman due to his age and injury history. It wasn’t long ago Casey was viewed as one of the better defensive linemen in the league, where he earned a $60 million contract from the Titans. Now those days are probably long gone where you see the sack and pressure numbers, but he brings a skillset the Lions could use to bridge the rebuild for any young players Detroit could potentially bring in.

[listicle id=60863]

3 under-the-radar free agents Colts could sign

Under-the-radar FAs for the Colts.

The Indianapolis Colts got through the first wave of free agency without making a move, which was to be expected,

Chris Ballard has a good history of signing some low-risk free agents and turning them into high-value guys. Think Justin Houston, Xavier Rhodes and Eric Ebron. With the biggest hole filled, for now, with the Carson Wentz trade, Ballard will look to address needs at left tackle, edge, and wide receiver.

Be sure to stay up to date and follow Colts free agency with our tracker detailing every move.

Here are three under-the-radar free agents Ballard and the Colts could look to sign in this year’s free agency.

Report: Jags fear that WR Dede Westbrook has a torn ACL

The Jags may be without one of their most experienced players for the year as there are concerns that Dede Westbrook tore his ACL.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport provided an update on the knee injury that Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Dede Westbrook sustained Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, and unfortunately, it’s not looking good. Per Rapoport, the Jags fear that Westbrook tore his ACL, which would end his 2020 season.

Westbrook sustained the injury after trying to return a kickoff in the third quarter of Sunday’s game. It appears to have happened as he was trying to make a cut before being tackled by Chargers linebacker Emeke Egbule.

Westbrook remained on the turf after the hit and was being attended to by some Jags trainers once the broadcast returned from the commercial break. Announcer Andrew Catalon informed the viewers that the replay revealed a graphic injury which they wouldn’t show again. After another commercial break the trainers were able to get Westbrook on a cart where he was taken to the back for evaluations.

Westbrook finished Sunday with four kickoff returns for 89 yards and also returned a punt for 36 yards. In the kickoff prior to the one where he sustained the injury, Westbrook had a fumble, however, the staff felt good enough to keep him in the game for more returns.

Westbrook was one of Gardner Minshew’s favorite targets last season, but the emergence of players like rookie Laviska Shenault Jr. and Keelan Cole caused him to be inactive on various occasions in 2020. However, with rookie Chris Claybrooks struggling with returns, the staff decided they wanted a proven player handling their important special teams role and decided to get Westbrook more involved.

Once the information about Westbrook’s MRI are disclosed, we’ll have more on his situation.

Jags WR Dede Westbrook carted off with a gruesome knee injury

The Jags endured a concerning injury in the fourth quarter of Week 7’s game against the Chargers as WR Dede Westbrook had to be carted off.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have gone back and forth with the Los Angeles Chargers Week 7, however, the Cardiac Cats will have to continue the last quarter without one of their most experienced receivers. After trying to return  a kickoff, fourth-year player Dede Westbrook went down with a knee injury that resulted in him being carted off.

When the game went to commercial break, Westbrook was still on the ground after his return and the announcers informed the viewers that the replay revealed a gruesome injury that was too graphic to play over. The broadcast then went on commercial again, and once the game came back on, Westbrook was seen being carted off the field.

Westbrook hasn’t been active much this season because of the Jags wanting to give their rookie receivers, Laviska Shenault Jr. and Collin Johnson, more playtime. However, with the Jags having struggles in the return game, they decided to give him a shot Week 7 against the Chargers. He finished the game with four returns for 89 yards and a fumble that occurred in the return before the one in which he was injured.

Alongside Jags Nation, we’d like to send our thoughts and prayers to Westbrook and will have more as it becomes available.

Jaguars Week 4 inactives: PK Stephen Hauschka to sit out vs. Bengals

Newly signed PK Stephen Hauschka will miss his first game as a Jag with a knee injury. Aldrick Rosas will replace him against the Bengals.

Despite just signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars Monday, kicker Stephen Hauschka will be inactive Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. This comes after he surfaced on the injury report with a knee injury and was ruled questionable Friday.

With Hauschka out, practice squad kicker Aldrick Rosas was called up Saturday. Rosas, who spent three seasons with the New York Giants, has hit 82.7% (75-of-62) of his career field goals. His career number is at 91.5% in terms of extra-point attempts, missing just eight of his point-after attempts (86-of-94).

Wide receiver Dede Westbrook was once again a healthy scratch as DJ Chark has returned to the lineup. Westbrook is a player who was a significant contributor for the Jags last season, but the team’s additions of Laviska Shenault and Collin Johnson in the draft pushed him down the depth chart. As a result, it’s been a struggle for Westbrook to get on the field.

As previously reported, starting center Brandon Linder was ruled out Friday with a knee injury. Playing in his spot will be Tyler Shatley, who will be starting in his ninth game at center.

Listen to the latest from Jags Wire’s own James Johnson and Phil Smith on their podcast “Bleav in the Jags.” Subscribe via Apple Podcasts and check out our archived episodes via Bleav Podcasts.

Jags vs. Titans: Dede Westbrook among inactives for second straight week

Dede Westbrook has found himself on the Jags’ inactives list for the second time in 2020.

The Jacksonville Jaguars released their list of inactives for Week 2’s game against the Tennessee Titans. Just like last week, receiver Dede Westbrook has surprisingly been listed amongst the group for the second consecutive time.

Westbrook is coming off a 2019 season where he ranked third on the team in receiving with 660 yards. However, after dealing with a shoulder injury during training camp, he slid down the Jags’ depth chart as rookies Laviska Shenault Jr. and Collin Johnson flashed. Additionally, Keelan Cole had an above average camp, which gave the Jags a solid amount of depth at receiver.

As for the Titans, they had a few notables on their inactives list due to injuries. As expected, A.J. Brown (knee bruise) was among the list after being ruled out Friday. Vic Beasley, who has missed a lot of time on the practice field since joining the Titans, won’t play either after being ruled questionable with a knee injury, too.

WR Dede Westbrook listed among Jags’ Week 1 inactives vs. Colts

The Jags have one of their top receivers from 2019 as a healthy scratch to start 2020.

The Jacksonville Jaguars released their list of inactives for Week 1’s season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. The most notable name to surface on the list was that of receiver Dede Westbrook, who is a healthy scratch despite being third in receiving yards last season with 660 yards.

Many may be puzzled by the Jags’ decision to not have Westbrook on the active roster, however, their young receivers showed a lot of promise when he missed time in camp with a shoulder injury. In addition to rookie receivers  Laviska Shenault and Collin Johnson flashing, Keelan Cole wasn’t far behind D.J. Chark Jr. performance wise, which says a lot.

On defense, the notable name to surface was Cassius Marsh. He flashed at times during camp and offers the Jags a decent option to rush the passer. Then again, maybe they needed to go with more help on the offensive side with injuries affecting the running back and tight end positions.