Tag: John Ross

Potential wide receiver targets for Chargers following Mike Williams’ injury

Highlighting how the Los Angeles Chargers could address the wide receiver position during the bye week.

With Mike Williams set to miss multiple weeks with a sprained ankle, the Chargers have now sustained injuries to four of their top five receivers.

Keenan Allen returned for the first time since Week 1 against the Seahawks after a hamstring injury, Joshua Palmer missed the Seattle game with a concussion and has suffered multiple lower-body injuries, Jalen Guyton tore his ACL, and now Williams has an ankle injury.

While Allen and Palmer should be back for the Falcons game after the bye week, Los Angeles should still consider adding another gameday-ready piece to this room. I specify “gameday ready” because Odell Beckham Jr. is not on this list after recent reports that he will not be back from his ACL rehab until December.

Will Fuller (free agent)

Let’s start with the free agent pool, where the 28-year-old Fuller is still hanging out despite preseason reports that he was likely to sign sometime in August. Fuller was allowed to walk by Miami after last season, in which he missed Week 1 due to a PED suspension and broke his thumb in his second game. Injuries have been the story of Fuller’s career since joining the league in 2016, but it’s hard to argue with the prospect of 4.3 speed in an offense that currently has no defined deep threat (and hasn’t since Guyton went down). If Los Angeles wants to get splashy and feels they need to give someone new to the system extra time to get acclimated, this would be the time to pick up the phone.

John Ross (free agent)

Ross is another burner whose free agent market was rumored to be active enough that he would catch on by Week 1, only to remain available for the entire season to date. Ross did work out with the Cardinals last week but left the facility unsigned. Much like Fuller, the story of Ross’ career has been marred with injuries, namely recurrent shoulder and knee injuries during his time in Cincinnati. The workout with Arizona confirms that Ross is ready to go, making him another potential flier candidate if the Chargers are looking for a speedster. Ross also has kick return experience, which could prove useful considering DeAndre Carter’s ineffectiveness in that role and growing offensive snap count.

Dede Westbrook (free agent)

Westbrook worked out for a team as recently as the 25th in Miami, but the Dolphins ultimately decided to sign rookie Calvin Jackson from the tryout instead. The 28-year-old is familiar with Ryan Ficken, having served as Minnesota’s primary punt returner last season while Ficken was special teams coordinator. Many of the Chargers’ injuries have come on special teams this season: Joshua Kelley and Chris Rumph have been knocked out for multiple games and Drue Tranquill missed part of the Seahawks game with a minor injury on the punt team. That could create motivation to move Carter out of a full-time special teams role if he’s being asked to carry a bigger load on offense after the bye. Westbrook is a natural fit for those special team snaps and ran a 4.39 40 coming out of Oklahoma, making him a good candidate for the deep-threat role.

Marquez Callaway (Saints)

Brandon Staley and his staff preach continuity, a big reason why the Chargers haven’t made any moves that affect anything but the end of the roster since the season started. If that’s the case, perhaps Los Angeles targets a receiver familiar with Joe Lombardi’s system, like Callaway, who played his rookie season in New Orleans while Lombardi was QB coach. Callaway is cheap (a new team would owe him less than $500,000 for this season) and falling down the Saints’ depth chart with the emergence of rookies Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Flipping their WR5 or 6 for a late-round pick could be enticing for the Saints, especially with Callaway set to hit restricted free agency this offseason.

KJ Hamler (Broncos)

Hamler and teammate Jerry Jeudy have been the subject of trade rumors for a while now because of their declining usage in the Russell Wilson offense, which has only targeted Courtland Sutton and tight ends this season. I don’t think Jeudy is necessarily a realistic option for the Chargers; he’s more of an intermediate route runner, who is due a fifth-year option in 2024 that would inflate the Chargers’ WR bill to unprecedented heights. Hamler, however, could be an intriguing addition as a deep-threat piece still on a rookie contract. Denver is rumored to have at least listened to offers on Hamler, and I doubt it would cost more than a Day 3 pick unless the Broncos crank up the intradivisional tax.

Kendrick Bourne/Nelson Agholor (Patriots)

Both Bourne and Agholor seem expendable with the way Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker, and rookie Tyquan Thornton have been playing for New England. Both are relatively cheap for veterans: a new team would owe Agholor the remainder of his $9.8 million salary (roughly $5.4 million) and would owe Bourne the remainder of his $5 million salary (about $2.8 million). Both are deep threats: Agholor averages 12.7 yards per catch in his career, Bourne 13.4. If I had to pick one, I’d personally lean toward Bourne, the cheaper option with more reliable hands, but either Patriot receiver would add a new dimension to this Chargers offense.

Chase Claypool (Steelers)

This one is extremely unlikely, but so was trading for Khalil Mack until it happened. Claypool and the Steelers seem philosophically opposed: the offense isn’t vertical enough to utilize his skill set correctly and Pittsburgh has two other stud receivers in Diontae Johnson and George Pickens. Yet Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has reported that Pittsburgh is unlikely to move 2020 second-rounder unless they’re blown away by an offer; compensation similar to the Christian McCaffrey trade has been rumored by other sources to be the asking price. I doubt Los Angeles is that desperate, but Claypool would come with a year and a half of team control and 4.4 speed at 6’4”. That’s a rare player build, and he’d work wonders in Los Angeles.

Quickly on two other targets with trade rumors swirling: trading for DJ Moore is simply not feasible. L.A. would owe their wide receiver room $65.7 million in 2023 if they traded for Moore. That’s more than 29% of the projected 2023 salary cap. Yes, wide receivers coach Chris Beatty coached Moore at Maryland. But getting him in powder blue is a pipe dream.

Similarly, Elijah Moore looks like his wish to be traded will go unfulfilled, with multiple sources reporting that the Jets have zero plans to trade their 2021 second-round pick. Moore is frustrated with his usage, a squabble that’s become public enough that the Jets sat him last week. Even so, expect Moore to remain in New Jersey for the time being.

Evaluating Chargers’ options after season-ending injury to Jalen Guyton

Looking at a few wide receivers the Chargers could consider bringing in after the season-ending injury to Jalen Guyton.

The Chargers are in the market for a new speed threat.

Jalen Guyton tore his ACL Sunday, marking the third long-term injury suffered in the Jaguars game. Rashawn Slater (biceps) is also out for the season, while Joey Bosa (groin) is week-to-week.

Guyton’s absence is of underrated importance, considering that Los Angeles now lacks a bona fide speed threat at wide receiver. Such a role has been an oft-criticized omission from Joe Lombardi’s offense through three weeks.

Here are a few receivers LA could look to bring onto the active roster.

Joe Reed

Reed seems the likeliest addition, considering he’s already on the Chargers’ practice squad and briefly pushed to stay on the active roster before a minor injury all but ended his preseason. Reed could also be an important addition as a kick returner, seeing that DeAndre Carter’s role is likely to expand on offense. Protecting him from taking extra hits on special teams will be an emphasis, at least in theory. A fifth-round pick in 2020, Reed has the speed to fill Guyton’s role, but his route running is a work in progress, and he’d primarily be added to the roster as a special teams player.

John Ross

If we’re talking about speed, we have to mention Ross, the owner of the fastest 40 time in NFL Combine history. Just 26 years old, Ross has struggled with lower body injuries, part of the reason he’s currently a free agent. It was reported in August that the former Washington Husky was working to rehab a knee injury he suffered last season, with hopes to catch on with a team around the start of the season. The barrier to entry for Ross is twofold, however: one, he must prove he’s healthy. Two, Brandon Staley and Joe Lombardi, have shown preference to receivers that can win at multiple levels of the field. Without designed touches in the screen game, Ross is only a deep ball threat at this stage.

Will Fuller

Fuller has shown NFL ability as recently as 2020 when he finished with career highs in receptions (53), yards (879), and touchdowns (8) with Houston. But similar to Ross, Fuller’s questions will be all about health. The 28-year-old has never played every game in a season and remains a free agent despite reported interest from multiple teams in August. Does that mean he’s asking for too much money for what he is, or is he not the player he once was because of injuries piling up?

Odell Beckham Jr.

Beckham is probably the biggest name on the wide receiver market right now, and for good reason. After forcing his way out of a bad situation in Cleveland, OBJ showed he still has the talent that made him one of the faces of the league with the Rams last season before tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl. There are a few problems with the Chargers bringing Beckham in, though. Number one: Beckham won’t be ready to contribute right away. The last report we got about his health suggested he’d be full go in October or November, a timeline that the Bolts can’t afford to stick to. Secondly, OBJ has been pretty clear that he wants to sign with a contender, and he’ll have ample time to pick and choose which teams are in that upper echelon by the time he’s ready to return. With the other injuries on this roster, LA is not likely to be on that list.

Dede Westbrook

Westbrook would likely be a practice squad signing that the Chargers elevate to give him a test run for a few weeks before committing to an active roster spot, but he checks many boxes for this team. Westbrook ran a 4.39 at the combine and played under special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken in Minnesota last season, so he knows what Ficken expects. That will be an important factor for a midseason signing, especially one expected to fill the shoes of Guyton, who was also one of Los Angeles’ punt gunners in the first three weeks.

Bo Melton

Melton was a favorite of ours at Chargers Wire during draft season because of his explosive athleticism and surprising physicality. He ended up being drafted late by the Seahawks, but they moved him to the practice squad before the season, leaving him available to teams hungry for depth at the position. That means LA potentially has the ability to right the wrong of not addressing the position in the draft. Melton is a smaller, slot-limited player, which may hurt his chances of becoming a Charger. But his college tape is full of plays at every level of the field and top-end speed. He’s the kind of receiver L.A. could use if they get creative.

Jaquarii Roberson

Roberson was a player I thought was draftable this spring, but his lack of special teams experience and value pushed him into the undrafted ranks. After being cut by the Cowboys, he latched on with the Steelers, where he’s currently on the practice squad. That, again, makes him available to teams like LA. Roberson isn’t a true burner, but he does accelerate to a pretty high gear when he gets going, and his proficiency on double moves often resulted in wide open plays at Wake Forest. Much like Melton, he’s a smaller receiver, and Roberson struggles as a blocker. But beggars can’t be choosers, and at this point, there are plenty worse options than Roberson.

NFL combine: Top 10 marks of all time in every drill

Who are the NFL’s ultimate workout warriors? Touchdown Wire compiles the best performances in NFL scouting combine history.

The NFL Scouting Combine has developed into the ultimate pro football talent showcase over the past several decades.

Prospects travel to Indianapolis looking to boost their stock for the NFL draft by performing in seven events: 40-yard dash, bench press (225-pound repetitions), vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle run and 60-yard shuttle run.

This year, 324 draft-eligible participants and top prospects are slated to participate in the combine as they hope to catch the eyes of talent evaluators from around the league. John Ross, Brandin Cooks and Byron Jones are just a few of the athletes who have dazzled scouts and raised their profiles at the combine in recent years.

With all that in mind, Touchdown Wire compiles the top 10 marks in each event in the history of the NFL combine below:

Giants’ Kadarius Toney among three out vs. Bears

The New York Giants will be without nearly all of their wide receivers, including Kadarius Toney, on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

The New York Giants will be without the vast majority of their wide receivers on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

In addition to Sterling Shepard, who is on injured reserve, and Darius Slayton, who is on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Giants have ruled out Kadarius Toney, Collin Johnson and John Ross. That leaves Kenny Golladay as the team’s only active receiver.

With such a shortage at the position, the Giants are likely to elevate several practice squad receivers. Pharoh Cooper is a weekly elevation and will be joined by Alex Bachman, David Sills and/or Travis Toivonen.

Center Billy Price was listed as doubtful. The veteran and his wife are dealing with a tragic personal matter.

The Giants’ final injury report can be found below:

Out: WR Collin Johnson (hamstring), WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder), WR John Ross (knee)

Doubtful: OL Billy Price (personal)

Questionable: RT Nate Solder (COVID ramp up), DL Austin Johnson (foot), TE Chris Myarick (hip), CB Adoree’ Jackson (COVID ramp up/quad)

Meanwhile, the Bears’ final injury report can also be found below:

Out: N/A

Doubtful: N/A

Questionable: N/A

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Giants injury report: Kadarius Toney continues to miss practice

New York Giants WR Kadarius Toney continues to miss practice with a shoulder injury, but RB Saquon Barkley returned to the field on Thursday.

The New York Giants placed three more players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday — Darius Slayton was among them — but welcomed Nate Solder back.

After sitting out during Wednesday’s walkthrough, Saquon Barkley also returned to the field. However, he was not accompanied by Kadarius Toney, who continues to sit out with a shoulder injury.

The Giants’ full Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: RB Gary Brightwell (neck), DL Austin Johnson (foot), WR Collin Johnson (hamstring), OL Billy Price (personal), WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder), WR John Ross (knee/COVID ramp up)

Limited participant: OL Ben Bredeson (ankle), DB Keion Crossen (COVID ramp up), FB Cullen Gillaspia (shin), DB Adoree’ Jackson (quad/COVID ramp up), RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), PK Graham Gano (illness), DL Raymond Johnson (illness), TE Chris Myarick (illness), TE Kyle Rudolph (ankle), OT Nate Solder (COVID ramp up)

Full participant: N/A

Giants injury report: Saquon Barkley, Kadarius Toney among nine not practicing

The New York Giants held a walkthrough practice on Wednesday and nine players were absent and five others were limited.

The New York Giants took the field for Wednesday’s walkthrough and despite the return of several players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list, they were extremely shorthanded.

In the portion of practice open to the media, more than a handful of new players were absent. Among them were kicker Graham Gano, running back Saquon Barkley and tight end Kyle Rudolph.

Wide receiver Kadarius Toney, who played in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles, also appeared to be sidelined.

The Giants’ full Wednesday injury report (projected/walkthrough) can be found below:

Did not participate: RB Saquon Barkley (ankle), RB Gary Brightwell (neck), PK Graham Gano (illness), DL Austin Johnson (foot), WR Collin Johnson (hamstring), DL Raymond Johnson (illness), OL Billy Price (personal), TE Kyle Rudolph (ankle), WR Kadarius Toney (shoulder)

Limited participant: OL Ben Bredeson (ankle), DB Keion Crossen (COVID ramp up), FB Cullen Gillaspia (shin), DB Adoree’ Jackson (quad/COVID ramp up), WR John Ross (knee/COVID ramp up)

Full participant: N/A

Giants place Dexter Lawrence on Reserve/COVID-19 list

The New York Giants have placed defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, plus other transactions.

New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence has been placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, head coach Joe Judge announced on Wednesday morning.

On the positive end of things, the Giants will welcome back cornerbacks Adoree’ Jackson and Keion Crossen, as well as wide receiver John Ross.

All three had been added to the Reserve/COVID-19 list last week and missed a Week 16 game.

Still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list awaiting clearance to return are left tackle Nate Solder, safety Julian Love and defensive tackle Danny Shelton. Practice squad players Jonotthan Harrison and Ka’dar Hollman are also on the list.

Other roster moves happening on Wednesday are the Giants designating linebacker Trent Harris for return and the signing of Omari Cobb to the practice squad. Harris was placed on IR with an ankle injury on December 3.

Cobb was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Marshall in 2020. He spent time on the Giants’ practice squad earlier this year.

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Giants’ Oshane Ximines, John Ross test positive for COVID-19

The New York Giants have two new COVID-19 positives — Oshane Ximines and John Ross — and several more close contacts.

The New York Giants placed wide receiver Kadarius Toney on the Reserve/COVID-19 list earlier this week following a positive test.

Toney’s positive result came while the Giants were flying back to East Rutherford from Los Angeles. He was immediately isolated from the team, but additional positives were expected.

On Wednesday, Giants head coach Joe Judge revealed that two more players — linebacker Oshane Ximines and wide receiver John Ross — had also tested positive.

Ross and Ximines have been isolated from the team and are likely to land on the Reserve/COVID-19 list as well.

In addition to the new positives, Judge said there had also been a number of close contacts. As a result, the team has reimplemented a mask mandate and social distancing within the building. They are also considering going back to virtual work.

The players who were deemed close contacts were not at permitted at team facilities as of Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, two other members of the organization who had previously tested positive — quarterbacks coach Jerry Schuplinski and offensive lineman Wes Martin — are headed back to team facilities.

As the NFL deals with a league-wide COVID outbreak, more positive tests and close contacts are expected.

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Bengals compensatory pick update: John Ross helping old team

The Bengals are on track to get an extra pick.

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Former Cincinnati Bengals wideout John Ross continues to help his former team by putting in work with the New York Giants this season.

Ross, a first-round pick by the Bengals in 2017, needed to play around 300 snaps this year to net the Bengals an additional fourth-round pick.

To date, Ross has 11 catches for 224 yards and one touchdown over 10 appearances. He’s played 213 snaps over that span, and with how things continue to shake out in the overall compensatory pick formula, he’s right on target to get the Bengals an additional draft pick.

Here’s the brief note from cap expert Nick Korte of Over The Cap:

The Bengals don’t have a ton of chances to net extra picks in the comp formula this year because of big signings like Trey Hendriscon and Mike Hilton, to name a few.

Ross, funnily enough after not working out with the Bengals, is still on pace to help his former team in a big way, though.

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Giants lose to Dolphins, 20-9: Instant analysis

Analyzing the New York Giants’ 20-9 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium in Week 13.

The New York Giants hobbled into their Week 13 matchup with the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. They hobbled out with another humiliating loss that is sure to further erode fan confidence and interest.

Mike Glennon was in at quarterback for the injured Daniel Jones (neck), who could be done the season. Jones is ‘week-to-week’ right now but reports indicate he could miss significant time depending on medical tests this week.

First-round draft pick Kadarius Toney and veteran wideout Sterling Shepard were both inactive again with quad issues, as was starting cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.

Right tackle Nate Solder (elbow), tight end Kyle Rudolph (ankle), wide receiver John Ross (illness/quad) and fullback/special teamer Cullen Gillaspia (calf) all dressed but entered the game with ‘questionable’ tags.

Wide receiver Kenny Golladay left the game in the second quarter with injured ribs but returned in the second half.

The defense picked up where they left off last week against Philadelphia and carried the team the best they could, but the offense is still so pathetically bad that a 10-6 deficit after three quarters seemed insurmountable.

When Miami scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 17-6, the game was essentially sealed. The final was 20-9.

Glennon is a professional backup and he has his limitations, which he showed several times during the afternoon. He got little help from his teammates and coaches in this game which didn’t help.

The Giants dropped to 4-8 on the year and have now lost eight or more games for the fifth straight season and in eight of their last nine.

Notes

  • The point spread at game time was Miami -7 with an over/under of 40. That was a layup given the way the Giants have played this year.
  • The nine points scored in this game were the lowest output of the season. They have scored 20 or fewer points in eight of their 12 games this year. They have not scored 30 points in a game this season.
  • The Giants committed just one turnover — a deep pass that was intercepted — and were flagged for just three penalties for 23 yards.
  • For the first time this season, the Giants did not have a takeaway.
  • The Giants surrendered a touchdown with 26 seconds remaining in the first half. They have now been outscored 52-0 in the final two minutes of the first half this season.
  • Graham Gano’s 51-yard field goal in the fourth quarter set a new franchise record for 50-yarders in a single season (6).

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