Tag: Jaguars

Veteran Chiefs wide receiver recalls his ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment

Kansas City #Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman recalls his ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment | @EdEastonJr

The start of the regular season is quickly approaching, with the Kansas City Chiefs preparing for their opening night matchup with the Baltimore Ravens. Several rookies will get their first regular season game experience and potential ‘Welcome to the NFL’ moment.

Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman spoke with reporters on Tuesday after practice about his memories from his rookie season. The humbling first matchup against multiple-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey

“(Jalen Ramsey)probably doesn’t remember this, but I think I had like a go route or something, and he was just on me,” said Hardman. “He was like, ‘Man, you ain’t getting nothing today, bro.”

Hardman was targeted once and left without a catch in his NFL regular season debut. The All-Pro cornerback didn’t take it lightly on the rookie from Georgia attempting to build any momentum in the game.

“That whole game, the whole game, he was just talking,” said Hardman. “I was like, I can’t do nothing, bro. I think he jammed me one time. I’m like, yeah, he’s different.”

Hardman proudly bounced back the following week against the Raiders with six catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. He would make the Pro Bowl for his work on special teams that season.

Falcons vs. Jaguars: How to watch, listen, stream preseason finale

Falcons vs. Jaguars: How to watch, listen and stream Friday’s preseason finale in Atlanta

The Atlanta Falcons have just one game left before final cuts next week and several players are attempting to play their way onto the team’s 53-man roster. 37 players are competing for only a handful of openings, and this Friday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars is essentially the final test.

The Falcons lost their first two preseason games but will look to end things with a victory before heading into a Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s everything you need to watch, listen and stream Atlanta’s preseason finale at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

The team is unlikely to play most first- and second-team players in Friday’s game, so don’t expect to see rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr., linebacker Matthew Judon, or safety Justin Simmons make their debuts.

Check out the Falcons’ updated 90-man roster and depth chart heading into their preseason finale.

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Countdown To Kickoff: James Robinson is the Saints Player of Day 26

James Robinson could be a potential diamond in the rough for the New Orleans Saints in 2024. He’s the Saints Player of Day 26:

Just 26 days are left until the New Orleans Saints officially kick off their 2024 season. And one player to take note of within the running back corps is James Robinson, who the Saints added to the practice squad for the last three games of the 2023 season.

Here’s everything to know about Robinson, who wears the No. 26 for the Saints:

  • Name (Age): James Robinson (26)
  • Position: Running back
  • Height, weight: 5-foot-9, 219 pounds
  • Relative Athletic Score: 7.85
  • 2024 salary cap hit: $1,055,000
  • College: Illinois State
  • Drafted: Undrafted in 2020 (Jacksonville Jaguars)
  • NFL experience: 6th season

Robinson certainly isn’t one of the Saints’ premier running backs, but he is a player who could prove a true diamond in the rough for the 2024 season. Robinson originally began his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State in 2020.

He far exceeded the expectations, shocking many when he earned a roster spot and was a starter in the Jags backfield on opening day. Robinson only expounded upon the opportunity presented to him, taking full advantage en route to recording 1,070 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground on 240 carries, leading the team in rushing.

He once again led the team in that category the following season, though his numbers weren’t quite as strong with a total of 767 rushing yards.

Robinson’s success dwindled from that point, largely a result of the injury bug, after he was traded by Jacksonville to the New York Jets roughly halfway through the 2022 season.

Between the Jets and the Packers in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Robinson saw action in just five games, amassing 87 rushing yards on 30 carries.

He’ll look to get back to his former level of play and stay healthy in New Orleans, looking to serve as a depth piece who could become more as he primarily battles Jamaal Williams, Jordan Mims, and Kendre Miller behind Alvin Kamara.

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Andy Reid gives grim update after ‘Hollywood’ Brown injury vs. Jaguars

Andy Reid gave reporters an update on ‘Hollywood’ Brown’s status after the #Chiefs’ loss to the #Jaguars. | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs lost more than their preseason opener on Saturday to the Jacksonville Jaguars as head coach Andy Reid confirmed one of their fears from the exhibition.

Reid addressed the media after the game in Jacksonville, providing an update on Marquise ‘Hollywood’ Brown’s health status.

“Hollywood Brown has that same thing that Tyreek (Hill) had down here, actually, the sternoclavicular joint dislocation,” said Reid. “They’ve taken him to the hospital; they’ll check him out; they’re working on that as we speak.”

Brown sustained the shoulder injury in the first quarter of Saturday night’s 26-13 loss in Jacksonville. He was initially ruled as questionable to return to the game by the Chiefs staff, but he was likely to sit out following the opening series with the rest of the starters.

The Chiefs lost then-wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the same diagnosed shoulder injury for four games in 2019 after he went down to the Jaguars in the regular season opener. Kansas City would eventually win the Super Bowl that season for the first time in 50 years, with Hill still serving as an essential contributor when he returned from the injury.

There are signs of optimism that Brown won’t miss much time in the regular season since it’s still August, but it is far too early to assume his recovery timetable.

Inactives for Chiefs vs. Jaguars, preseason Week 1

These players are expected to be inactive for #Chiefs vs. #Jaguars, preseason Week 1. | from @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t expected to release their list of inactive players for their preseason Week 1 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The preseason slightly differs from the regular season in that players aren’t formally made inactive. They’re not expected to play, either due to injury or otherwise.

Here are the players who aren’t expected to play for the Chiefs:

  • S Justin Reid
  • OL Joe Thuney
  • DL BJ Thompson
  • DL Charles Omenihu
  • DL Derrick Nnadi
  • LB Nick Bolton

Here are the Jaguars players who aren’t expected to play:

  • OL Ezra Cleveland
  • CB Tyson Campbell
  • RB Keilan Robinson
  • OL Steven Jones
  • OL Anton Harrison
  • DL Jordan Jefferson
  • S Andrew Wingard
  • S Darnell Savage

Though both teams will be without multiple players for the preseason kickoff, this matchup has low stakes. The Chiefs and Jaguars will look to gain more experience for their reserves and rookies during this tilt as they move on through the exhibition schedule next week.

Rookie Chiefs WR receives a letter from his mother before Saturday’s game vs. Jaguars

Kansas City #Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy receives a letter from his mother before his first NFL game | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs return to the field for an NFL game for the first time since winning Super Bowl LVIII months ago. The rookies on the roster will get their first taste of the NFL in Saturday night’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In honor of his first NFL game, a video titled’ A Letter to Xavier,’ narrated by Xavier Worthy’s mother, Nicky Jones, was released on her X account.

“Xavier, as you get ready for your first NFL game, I can’t help but think of some of my favorite memories of you playing the game you love: that one game when you were in Pop Warner, and you scored like seven touchdowns in a game, or when you scored your first high school varsity touchdown, your first collegiate touchdown. And, of course, I can’t forget that 75-yard touchdown versus Oklahoma on the opening play in the Red River rivalry game, one of the biggest rivalry games in college football; you do everything fast, ‘Mr. 4.21’,” said Jones. “But that doesn’t mean all this happened overnight. As your Mom, I’ve watched you put in years of sacrifice, lots and lots of hard work, and dedication to get where you are today, and you deserve every single blessing coming your way as you start your NFL career.”

“Xavier, I want you to remember you set your own standard of excellence—no one else. Continue to set that bar high, and every day, strive to be the best version of yourself on and off the field, my son. I am so proud of you and love you—Times Infinity. Go be great. Go be amazing. Go be legendary.”

Worthy is expected to play significant time in his preseason debut, hoping to make an immediate impact before the regular season begins.

Chargers WR DJ Chark impressing in training camp

DJ Chark has been showing off his ability to make plays deep down the field.

The Chargers need wide receivers to step up after the losses of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and DJ Chark has been showing flashes of someone who could be counted on.

In the early stages of training camp, DJ Chark has made several eyebrow-raising plays, including a few catches deep down the field.

This is exactly why Los Angeles signed Chark in May. He possesses elite speed to serve as a vertical threat, something the Bolts haven’t had at the position in years.

“He’s doing a great job at everything,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “Great attitude, great team guy, smart, and he’s been a Pro Bowl player. I sense a hunger in him, too.”

Chark earned Pro Bowl status in his second season in the league, which came in 2019 with the Jaguars. That year, he caught a career-high 73 passes for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns.

Flashes like this from Chark are very encouraging, and the hope is that he can keep stacking up these types of practices into the regular season to provide the offense with an explosive playmaker.

Bleacher Report’s new Marshon Lattimore trade isn’t much better than its last

Bleacher Report’s new Marshon Lattimore trade offer isn’t much better than its last. The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback is worth more than a mid-round draft pick:

We’ve discussed before how a Marshon Lattimore trade isn’t likely, but also how that isn’t going to stop speculation about the former four-time Pro Bowler getting moved any time soon. NFL trade rumormongering is in full swing now that training camps have kicked off for all 32 teams. And this newest trade offer proposed by Bleacher Report isn’t much more compelling than their last offer.

B/R’s Alex Ballentine suggested the Jacksonville Jaguars make a play for Lattimore’s services, which isn’t a bad idea. The Jaguars defensive coaching staff knows him very well. Former Saints defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen is their new coordinator and he has several of his old coworkers coaching the secondary, including Kris Richard and Cory Robinson, who both worked with Lattimore directly.

Here’s why Ballentine argues a deal between New Orleans and Jacksonville would make sense, swapping Lattimore for the Jaguars’ third-round pick in 2025 (coming to them from the Minnesota Vikings):

The Saints restructured Lattimore’s contract in a way that makes it much easier to trade him before the season starts. With Paulson Adebo due for a contract extension in 2025, the Saints might be willing to part with the older, more expensive Lattimore.

L’Jarius Sneed was traded for a third-rounder and a seventh-round pick swap. That could put Lattimore’s value as a third-rounder straight up. The Jags would be on the hook for most of his 2024 cap hit and the remainder of his five-year, $97.6 million contract.

That might be the cost of keeping up with the Joneses in an extremely competitive AFC right now.

Look, we get what Ballentine is doing here. Using recent deals to project future trades — essentially going with what the market value appears to be — is fine. But just because teams are undervaluing the position doesn’t mean we (or the Saints) have to play ball. If the best offer the Saints could get for Lattimore is a third-round pick in next year’s draft, they simply shouldn’t trade him.

Even if he’s currently missing time with another injury after being sidelined for 17 games over the last two years. Lattimore is a rare talent and arguably the best player on the team when healthy. And he’s proven time and again that he’s worth waiting for when he’s injured. If a split is inevitable, wait it out until a better offer appears. He’s shown a willingness to suit up and go to work that other players haven’t when they want out.

He’s worth more to the Saints than, what, maybe the No. 87 overall pick in next year’s draft (based off this year’s draft order)? Unless a team is willing to make a really strong offer and put at least a second rounder on the table, Lattimore should spend the 2024 season in black and gold.

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New Orleans Saints sign offensive lineman Chandler Brewer

The Saints are adding some offensive line depth after multiple injuries at training camp. The team signed Chandler Brewer, per his agency:

After a couple of early training camp injuries, the New Orleans Saints have brought in some much-needed offensive line depth. The Saints are signing veteran Chandler Brewer per his agency Exclusive Sports Group.

Brewer played for four years at Middle Tennessee State, where he appeared in 53 games. He wasn’t drafted in 2019 but signed with the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring. Pro Football Focus gave him a 55.6 grade for his 228 snaps at right guard during the 2022 season. He wasn’t re-signed in 2023, at which point he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and remained there until his release in June.

Besides Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, and Taliese Fuaga in the starting lineup, there are a lot of spots open for grabs. This gives Brewer a chance to come in right away and compete. At the very least it’s good to have another veteran adding more competition in the locker room.

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Tyson Campbell’s Jaguars extension is a big deal for Paulson Adebo

Tyson Campbell’s Jaguars extension is a big deal for Paulson Adebo. The Saints cornerback can point to a very similar resume as a free agent next year:

Whew: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell earned a big bag this week by signing a four-year, $76.5 million extension. That made him the highest-paid corner in the league who hasn’t yet been recognized with a Pro Bowl nod. And it’s a big deal for Paulson Adebo. The New Orleans Saints cornerback is next in line for a new contract with free agency on the horizon in 2025.

Campbell, 24, has a lot in common with Adebo, 25. They were both picked on the second day of the 2021 NFL draft, with Adebo going off the board 43 slots after the Jaguars made Campbell the first selection of the second round. The two cornerbacks have posted strikingly similar numbers since then:

  • Adebo: 7 interceptions and 33 passes defensed, with 202 tackles (166 solo, 6 tackles for loss), 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries on 2,611 snaps across 45 games. 24 missed tackles
  • Campbell: 6 interceptions and 30 passes defensed, with 203 tackles (145 solo, 6 tackles for loss), 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries on 2,591 snaps across 43 games. 22 missed tackles

That’s close. Very close. Let’s take it a step further and look into their coverage stats from Pro Football Reference:

  • Adebo: 160 completions on 265 targets (60.4%) for 2,053 yards, or 12.8 yards per catch, with 12 touchdowns allowed
  • Campbell: 142 completions on 226 targets (62.8%) for 1,632 yards, or 11.5 yards per catch, with 17 touchdowns allowed

That has Adebo giving up more catches for more yards, at slightly more yards per completion and while being targeted much more often, but with Campbell being more of a vulnerability in scoring position. How do the numbers at Pro Football Focus compare to those from PFR?

  • Adebo: 150 completions on 237 targets (63.3%) for 2,138 yards, or 14.3 yards per catch, with 10 touchdowns allowed
  • Campbell: 148 completions on 226 targets (65.5%) for 1,696 yards, or 11.5 yards per catch, with 18 touchdowns allowed

PFF’s charting charged more completions to Adebo’s teammates than that from PFR, but they also dinged him for allowing more big plays. While it’s tough to overlook the 400-plus-yard gap in yards allowed between them, Adebo giving up so many fewer touchdown passes might balance things out.

But where they separate — unfavorably for Adebo — is in penalties. Adebo has been fouled 20 times for 276 yards through three years (with three more penalties declined by the offense). He’s drawn a dozen infractions for defensive pass interference and been flagged nine times for defensive holding. Adebo had his best season in the NFL last year and he still forfeited 92 yards by penalty.

How does Campbell compare? He’s been one of the cleanest defenders in pro football. He wasn’t fouled once during his rookie year, and he’s only had four penalties accepted in his NFL career (for 68 yards). Sure, he’s also had three penalties declined, but Adebo has allowed more than 200 penalty yards in the same period of time.

How great a difference will that make when Adebo’s up for a new deal? It says a lot that the Saints haven’t extended him yet, whereas the Jaguars have seen enough from Campbell to believe an extension is a wise investment. But with salaries on the rise and other corners from the same draft class with very similar production earning top dollar, it sure looks like Adebo may cash in next offseason. Will the Saints be the ones to pay him?

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