Tag: Jordan Phillips

Chiefs TE Travis Kelce fined $11,255 for taunting incident vs. Bills

Travis Kelce was fined $11,255 for a taunting incident that occurred during the #Chiefs’ victory over the #Bills in the AFC Championship Game.

Star tight end Travis Kelce was fined $11,255 for a taunting incident that occurred during the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.

Kelce, who has never been shy about expressing himself on the field, was involved in a minor scuffle with Bills defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, who was fined $6,722 for his role in the altercation.

News of the fines issued to Kelce and Phillips was reported on Saturday, February 1, nearly a week after Kansas City defeated Buffalo to advance to its third consecutive Super Bowl.

Alaina Getzenberg, who is a Bills reporter for ESPN, had the initial scoop on the fines, which she revealed to fans in a post to her official Twitter account:

Though Kelce may decide to appeal his fine, the Chiefs won’t be able to afford for their star tight end to be involved in any extracurricular activity when Kansas City faces off against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

Jordan Phillips says he would only return to the NFL with the Bills

Jordan Phillips says he would only return to the NFL with the Bills

Jordan Phillips would continue his NFL career in 2025 but only with the Buffalo Bills.

Phillips, 32, has long touted his time in Buffalo. That’s why he returned to the Bills multiple times.

Moving forward, retirement could come into question but he has said if he does come back to football, it’s only in one place.

“I told them if they call, I’ll come back, man, but I don’t think I can go anywhere else,” Phillips told the Buffalo News. “So whatever that means, I’m not retiring, but this is the only place that I’m going to play.”

Phillips most recently returned to the Bills in November after requesting the Dallas Cowboys let him go.

In seven games in a rotational role in Buffalo during the 2024 season, Phillips had five tackles and an interception. Phillips did not have a sack but recorded one against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game.

It remains to be seen what the future holds, but at his end-of-season press conference, general manager Brandon Beane did praise him.

“When he puts that Bills helmet on, we get the best out of him,” Beane said.

Bills Wire will provide updates when information is made available.

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2025 NFL draft: 4 potential Chargers targets that stood out on Day 3 of East-West Shrine Bowl

Day 3 of the East-West Shrine Bowl offered plenty of standout players that should have caught the attention of the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 2025 East-West Shrine Bowl continued on Monday, marking the third day of the event. It offered a handful of draft prospects that stood out to NFL evaluators.

Here are four that could’ve garnered the attention of the Chargers.

DL Jordan Phillips, Maryland

The Maryland product, who is only 20 years old, has packed a punch (literally) this week. His domination carried over to today. The 320-pounder’s power profile and explosiveness made life difficult for blockers. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders will be the first player from this all-star game selected, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the next is Phillips.

TE Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech

The Chargers must revamp the tight end position by adding capable pass catchers. Conyers was a problem for defenders, consistently getting open with excellent short-area quickness and catching everything thrown at him, showing off his ball skills. For being 6-foot-3 and 263 pounds, Conyers is athletic and moves well. He’s also willing as a blocker.

EDGE Tyler Batty, BYU

The Chargers would benefit from adding some pass-rush juice to the edge defender room. Batty has a great frame at 6-foot-5 and 269 pounds, and he uses it well by generating power to push blockers back. But today, Batty showed some finesse with a nice dip move to get underneath and around a tackle to get into the backfield.

OL Thomas Perry, Middlebury

It’s been a trend for a small-school offensive lineman to come to these all-star games and blow it up. This year, Perry is that guy. The Division III product is primarily a guard, but he’s lined up at center, a position he’s only been learning for a month. Perry was a brick wall in 1-on-1s, stymieing defenders with a strong anchor, technique, and athleticism. Perry is currently working with offensive line developer Duke Manyweather.

10 players for Packers fans to monitor on West roster during Shrine Bowl week

Ten players from the West roster to watch during the East-West Shrine Bowl week.

The East-West Shrine Bowl practices start on Saturday with the game scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 30th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Zach Tom, Edgerrin Cooper, Jon Runayn Jr, Samori Toure, Ka’Dar Hollman, James Looney and Hunter Bradley are all draft picks who played in the Shrine Bowl that Brian Gutekunst has selected.

Let’s take a look at 10 players from the West roster who could be potential targets for the Green Bay Packers during the 2025 NFL Draft.

Zy Alexander, CB, LSU

The LSU cornerback is a well-put-together cornerback with the fluidity to mirror and match. He uses his length to disrupt the catch point. Over the past two seasons, Alexander recorded four interceptions and 11 pass deflections.

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Jason Marshall Jr, CB, Florida

The Florida Gator cornerback had his season cut short due to injury and will get a chance to remind teams of his talent down in Texas this week. Marshall is a tall, lanky corner, who plays with clean feet.

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Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland

A high school wrestler, Phillips has a unique blend of power and initial quickness that will be on full display in practice this week. His production won’t jump out at you, but there is no denying there is a ton of power flowing through his frame.

Ahmed Hassanein, Edge, Boise State

Hassanein is a power-packed edge rusher with strong hands to sledgehammer through offensive tackles. As a run defender, he sets a hard edge and competes with consistent effort.

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Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa

Higgins has strong hands to defeat blocks and fills the gap with urgency. He plays with physicality and has a motor that runs hot. Over the past two seasons, Higgins has recorded 295 tackles, 103 run stops, eight tackles for loss, five interceptions and nine pass deflections.

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Drew Kendall, C, Boston College

Pete Kendall’s son, the younger Kendall finished his collegiate career with 37 starts at center. Kendall moves well, with outstanding lateral mobility. This past season Kendall gave up one sack and five pressures.

Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL, Florida

A San Diego State transfer, Crenshaw-Dickson started 11 games at right tackle during his lone season in The Swamp. As an Aztec, he started 18 games at right tackle and 17 at left tackle. He’s a powerful run blocker who uses an efficient punch in pass protection.

Marcus Wehr, OL, Montana State

Wehr started his career at Montana State as a defensive lineman before making the switch to the offensive line in 2022. That season he started five games before suffering a season-ending injury. The following season, Wehr started 11 games at right tackle and one game at right guard. This past season Wehr started all 16 games at right guard for Montana State.

Jermari Harris, CB, Iowa

Harris is a physical cornerback who is very feisty at the catch point. Over the past two seasons, he recorded four interceptions and 15 pass deflections. He shows no fear flying up in run support and is more than willing to throw his body around.

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Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa

The next tight end to come out of the Iowa pipeline is Lachey. The Hawkeye tight end is a fluid athlete and has strong hands. As a blocker, he keeps his feet moving at contact and throws his weight around to help open up running lanes.

7 potential Chargers draft targets on defense to watch at the East-West Shrine Bowl

The Chargers need to upgrade a few positions on the defensive side of the ball, so here are seven players that they could have on their radar.

Draft season kicks into high gear, with the East-West Shrine Bowl set to start this week. This event is the beginning of the pre-draft process for NFL teams as they continue their evaluations of prospects.

Here are seven defensive players to watch for the Chargers in Frisco, TX.

DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan

The Chargers need to upgrade the interior part of the defensive line, and they could do so as early as the first round with Grant, who is familiar with head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. A member of The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman’s Freak List, Grant offers the overall size, strength, explosiveness, and disruptiveness to wreak havoc in opposing backfields.

DL Jordan Phillips, Maryland

Another member of the Freak List, Phillips is a trench-bound nightmare for offensive centers and guards, possessing the power and heavy hands that enable him to knock blockers back and the anchor strength when defending the run, as he is not easily moved off the ball. At only 20 years of age, his best football is still ahead of him.

EDGE Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr., Virginia Tech

The future of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack with the Chargers remains to be seen. But regardless of whether they’re back or not, the team needs to add more pass-rush juice to the positional room. Powell finished this season with 16 sacks (second-most in the nation) and three forced fumbles after 9.5 sacks and three fumbles in 2023. Despite being a little undersized at 6-foot-3 and 252 pounds, he is explosive off the snap with an excellent first step, great bend, and active hands.

EDGE Johnny Walker, Missouri

Walker was a standout for the Tigers this season, finishing the season with 42 quarterback pressures, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Walker’s explosiveness off the ball is what stands out. He has good bend and flexibility, allowing him to get around tackles and to the quarterback. He has the makings of a solid designated pass rusher for the Chargers early in his career.

CB Zy Alexander, LSU

Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton are both set to be free agents. Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still (who attended last year’s East-West Shrine Bowl) showed they could be starters, but the position room would benefit from depth behind them. At 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, Alexander possesses great size and length, ball skills, long speed, and physicality in run support that is coveted at the position. During his college career, Alexander intercepted 13 passes.

CB Mello Dotson, Kansas

Kansas has two cornerbacks attending the Shrine Bowl, and it’s been Dotson’s teammate, Cobee Bryant, who’s earned more of the attention. But Dotson should not be slept on. Dotson is the first AP All-American defensive back from Kansas since Aqib Talib. An experienced player, Dotson started 46 games for the Jayhawks. A ballhawk in the secondary with great anticipatory instincts, he totaled 12 career interceptions, four of which were returned for touchdowns, and 25 passes defended.

S Shamari Simmons, Arizona State

The Chargers’ safety group was one of their strongest positions this past season. But with Elijah Molden slated to hit the free agency market and Alohi Gilman’s contract expiring at the end of next season, they could afford to add more playmakers on the back end. Simmons was the Sun Devils’ Nickel in 2024, but he has plenty of experience playing the deep parts of the field, too. Simmons can make plays all over with his FBI/instincts, twitch, and violent demeanor.

Bills’ AJ Epenesa post-Jets win: ‘It just shows that this is what we can do’

Bills’ AJ Epenesa post-Jets win: ‘It just shows that this is what we can do’

The Bills won the second of their two regular-season matchups 40-14 Sunday, bringing the Jets a game closer to landing in their offseason.

The Buffalo defense returned to form following a three-game stretch in which they allowed 1,357 yards, 86 first downs, and 107 points.

“I thought coach (Bobby) Babich and the defensive staff did a great job during the week,” Bills HC Sean McDermott said to the media. “Players played extremely fast, physical. And then when you play physical and you play fast, the ball tends to come out and to find you.”

The Bills held Aaron Rodgers to 112 passing yards. They caused two interceptions by corner Christian Benford and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, as well as a safety by defensive end Greg Rousseau.

“That was awesome,” Bills QB Josh Allen said about the defensive effort. “Playing on short fields, it makes the game a lot easier, I’ll tell you that. Our defense, man, they played lights out today. They had juice, they had energy.”

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver added three tackles, three for a loss, and a sack, and forced a Rodgers fumble that linebacker Matt Milano recovered. Defensive end A.J. Epenesa added four tackles, two for a loss, and a sack that led to a safety. And outside linebacker Von Miller had a sack, two tackles, and a tackle for a loss.

“Yeah, it was dope just for us to go out there and reap the benefits of our hard work, the work that we put in week after week,” said Rousseau who blew up a play for a turnover-on-downs and tipped a pass for the Jordan Phillips interception on another. “To have one of these games, it was great.”

The Bills built a 40-0 lead, shutting out the Jets for the first 53 minutes of the game until the 6:59 mark of the 4th quarter when former Bills QB-turned Jets backup Tyrod Taylor scored twice in relief of Aaron Rodgers.

“I wouldn’t say need … and I don’t want to say reassurance, either,” explained Epenesa about the type of game the defense had. “But it just shows that this is what we can do and this is the standard that needs to be upheld.”

For the Bills to have a chance at winning in the three rounds of the playoffs to make it to and compete in the Super Bowl, their defense will need to keep this type of performance going as just that type of standard game-to-game.

“Sometimes you just need that win to kind of refresh your mind on who you really are,” Oliver said. “Everybody had fun [and] everybody got a piece of the action.”

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Ryan Fitzpatrick jokes about Jordan Phillips’ pick for Bills vs. Jets

Ryan Fitzpatrick jokes about Jordan Phillips’ pick for Bills vs. Jets

Always a humble, clever, and funny guy, former Bills and Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick had some fun with Jordan Phillips’ interception he recorded in Week 17.

The Bills got a “big-man interception” from Phillips on Sunday against the Jets. When that happens, it’s always a sight to see.

It’s rare but not new to Phillips.

He’s done it before… also against the Jets… when he was with the Dolphins in 2016.

Who was throwing that pass for the Jets back in the day? Fitzpatrick was, and he made light of it and poked fun at himself on social media.

Funny man Fitz:

WATCH: Bills’ Jordan Phillips grabs ‘big-man interception’ vs. Jets

WATCH: Bills’ Jordan Phillips grabs ‘big-man interception’ vs. Jets

Always a sight to see, the Bills were provided a “big-man interception” by defensive tackle Jordan Phillips.

The Jets were driving against the Bills in their Week 17 matchup in the second quarter. Phillips ended that with his takeaway to keep his team’s 7-0.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers had his pass tipped by pass rusher Greg Rousseau… and Phillips hauled it in.

In a surprise, it’s the second pick of Phillips’ career. The first came while he was with the Dolphins… also against the Jets in 2016.

Check out the play below:

Upon return, Bills’ Jordan Phillips brings his cold weather tradition back

Upon return, Bills’ Jordan Phillips brings his cold weather tradition back

Jordan Phillips recently returned to the Buffalo Bills for a third stint with the team. He knows the western New York area well.

… and weather.

Phillips signed in Buffalo once again in early November after he was released by the Dallas Cowboys.

Upon re-joining the Bills, Phillips brought back his long-standing tradition.

In the past during practice, Phillips has worn a massive puffer jacket under his uniform during late-season workouts. Most will remember that… and it’s back.

Phillips brought it out during his team’s Wednesday practice ahead of facing the San Francisco 49ers in Week 13 and clips of Phillips doing so can be found below:

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Bills sign defensive tackles Quinton Jefferson, Jordan Phillips

Quinton Jefferson, Jordan Phillips

One key reason why it is so challenging for teams to agree to trades at the deadline is that they have concerns with new players learning their scheme quick enough.

When you bring back old friends, that isn’t much of a problem.

The Bills announced that they signed defensive tackles Quinton Jefferson and Jordan Phillips on Wednesday after standing pat at the trade deadline.

Jefferson was released by the Cleveland Browns and Phillips was released by the Dallas Cowboys. Both releases came this week. Buffalo jumped on the opportunity to get familiarity and depth in the middle of their defensive line.

Jefferson and Phillips have both specialized at pressuring the QB in their long careers.

Jefferson, now in his ninth season, was with the Bills in 2020 when the team went to their first AFC Championship since 1994. He started four games that campaign but was largely misused while trying to fill in for defensive tackle Star Lotulelei who opted out that offseason.

He found much more success over the past three seasons. From 2021 to 2023, he recorded 16 sacks and 42 QB hits across 34 starts with three different teams. Last year with the Jets, he had six sacks and posted a Pro Football Focus pass rush grade of 73.2 which was 32nd-best among all interior defenders.

Jefferson hasn’t performed to that level with the Browns this year, but he hopes to build on what he and the Bills started in 2020.

While Jefferson is back for his second stint in Buffalo, Phillips is looking forward to his third. He was a member of the Bills from 2018-2019 and also from 2022-2023. He is now in his 10th season.

Phillips has had success in the past with the Bills, racking up an impressive 9.5 sacks with the team in 2019. He hasn’t been as productive in recent years, and only appeared in two games while recording one tackle for the Cowboys this year. He started nine games for Buffalo last year, totaling 15 tackles, 2.5 sacks and five passes defensed.

Both Jefferson and Phillips fill a dire need for the Bills after defensive linemen DeWayne Carter and Dawuane Smoot both recently landed on injured reserve.

The two already have a good feel for the defensive scheme in place from their time with the team in the past, and they should be able to get up to speed quickly.

Defensive tackle Eli Ankou has emerged in recent weeks for the Bills after being elevated from the practice squad, but McDermott loves to rotate his defensive linemen and try to keep fresh bodies attacking the opposing QB.

With Ankou, Ed Oliver, Austin Johnson, DaQuan Jones, and Zion Logue, the Bills add a couple veteran interior pass rushers to the mix.