Tag: Kemoko Turay

3 edge rushers Titans should target in free agency

A look at three edge rushers the Titans should target in the wake of Harold Landry’s injury.

The Tennessee Titans were recently dealt a tough blow after it was reported that outside linebacker Harold Landry had suffered a torn ACL in practice, ending his 2022 season before it begins.

The Titans now have to try and replace the production and hefty snap count of their sack leader from last season, which is no small task.

Chances are the Titans will go in-house to replace him, with guys like Rashad Weaver, Ola Adeniyi, Denico Autry and DeMarcus Walker all expected to chip in.

Tennessee also added former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka via waivers after placing Landry on injured reserve, and the team has 2022 UDFA and preseason standout David Anenih on the practice squad.

However, if the Titans want to bring in some help from the outside, there are some intriguing options available on the free-agent market. Here’s a look at three we’d like to see Tennessee target.

6 takeaways from the 49ers’ initial 53-man roster

Takeaways from @nicholasmcgee24 after the #49ers announced their 53-man roster.

The 49ers’ 53-man roster is set. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch have settled on the group they believe can deliver success in Trey Lance’s first season as the starting quarterback.

In true Shanahan fashion, the initial 53-man group has some surprises, the most significant being the decision to retain the services of Jimmy Garoppolo as the No. 2 quarterback.

Beyond that bet on the 49ers’ team chemistry, there were several other unexpected decisions that will not provoke the same level of reaction but could have more of an influence on the direction of the Niners this season. 

Let’s examine those roster choices in a look at six key takeaways from cutdown day for San Francisco.

49ers to sign free agent DE Kemoko Turay

The #49ers and DE Kemoko Turay agreed to a 1-year contract.

The 49ers are set to add another defensive end to their depth chart. NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo on Thursday reported San Francisco and former Colts DE Kemoko Turay agreed to terms on a one-year contract.

San Francisco has made a habit of adding veteran DEs that might’ve fallen short of expectations in the NFL. Turay hasn’t been entirely unproductive, but in 38 games with the Colts he posted just 12.0 sacks, including a career-high 5.5 last season.

Turay was the No. 52 overall pick in the 2018 draft and started his career with 4.0 sacks coming off the bench as a rookie. An ankle injury early in 2019 kept him to just four games that year and then limited him to seven games in 2020. His bounce-back in 2021 is a sign that San Francisco might be able to tap into some of what the Colts expected to get out of the second-round pick.

It’s a crowded DE room for the 49ers, but there aren’t any players aside from Nick Bosa that stand out as a dominant edge rushers. Their pass rush will be plenty of Bosa with Samson Ebukam, Jordan Willis, Kerry Hyder, Charles Omenihu and Turay battling for roster spots in camp. If Turay can emerge as a leader in that group behind Bosa, he’ll not only see plenty of playing time, but he has a chance to put together the best year of his career.

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Colts free agent DE Kemoko Turay to sign with 49ers

Former Colts DE Kemoko Turay is expected to sign with the 49ers.

Indianapolis Colts free agent defensive end Kemoko Turay is expected to sign a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

While Turay failed to live up to his ceiling when he was selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL draft, he’s shown plenty of flashes throughout his career. That includes a career-high 5.5 sacks in 2021.

The Colts made improvements to their defensive line this offseason by trading cornerback Rock Ya-Sin to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.

Turay’s elite athleticism and bend always made him an intriguing part of the Colts pass rush. But he never truly found a steady role under defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.

Turay appeared to be turning the corner to begin the 2019 season but a dislocated ankle ended what could have been a true breakout campaign. He struggled to get right for the 2020 season while meeting rehab complications due to COVID-19. That ankle surgery wound up needing a clean-up procedure during the 2021 offseason.

In 38 career games (three starts), Turay recorded 12.0 sacks, 29 quarterback hits and seven tackles for loss.

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49ers host free agent DE Kemoko Turay for visit

The #49ers hosted free agent DE Kemoko Turay as they search for edge depth.

The 49ers may not be done in free agency just yet. A day after working out a pair of veteran wide receivers, San Francisco hosted defensive end Kemoko Turay per the NFL’s transaction wire.

Turay is the kind of defensive end the 49ers have liked to bring in over the last couple years. He was the No. 52 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Colts, but he never quite broke out in Indianapolis.

In four seasons he played in 38 games with three starts and posted 12.0 sacks. A broken ankle in 2019 limited him to only three games, and held him to just four contests the following year. In 2018 and 2021, the two years he played 13-plus games, he put up 9.5 of his sacks, including a career-high 5.5 in 14 games last year.

The 49ers could use some edge depth and Turay would be an inexpensive option with a ton of upside. They may also go that route in the draft as they look to fill in their depth chart behind Nick Bosa and Samson Ebukam.

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Colts free agent DE Kemoko Turay to visit Falcons

Kemoko Turay is visiting the Falcons.

Indianapolis Colts free agent defensive end Kemoko Turay is visiting the Atlanta Falcons, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

As the Colts brought in Yannick Ngakoue via trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, it was expected that Turay would hit the open market. The former second-round pick is coming off of a season with a career-high 5.5 sacks.

It never really came together for Turay during his time with the Colts. He didn’t see much work during his rookie season but appeared to be on a tear in 2019 before a season-ending ankle injury prevented a breakout season.

Turay struggled to get back to where he was physically during the 2020 season while showing some flashes here and there. By the time the 2021 season rolled around, Turay was fighting for a roster spot and rotational role along the defensive line.

At 25 years old, Turay is still worth taking a one-year shot due to his upside but with the recent moves the Colts have made, he could be suiting up elsewhere in 2022.

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Colts activate LG Quenton Nelson, 4 others from COVID-19 list

The Colts activated 5 players from the COVID-19 list, including Big Q.

The Indianapolis Colts activated five players from the reserve/COVID-19 list, the team announced Wednesday.

Thanks to the new protocols the NFL is using, the Colts are likely to have several of their players return from the COVID-19 list. It’s not a guarantee that all of them will, but the chance of having most of them return is high this week—provided they are asymptomatic.

Head coach Frank Reich told the media that he expects more players to be activated in the coming days.

As the Colts look to clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17, here are the five players that were activated on Wednesday.

Colts’ reserve/COVID-19 list: Which players are currently sidelined?

Here are the Colts’ players currently on the COVID-19 entering Week 17.

The Indianapolis Colts got bit hard by the COVID-19 bug as several starters were placed on the reserve list during the Week 16 prep ahead of the matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Even though the Colts overcame those issues to pull out a 22-16 win on the road, there is still a high chance that some of these players who are currently on the list will remain there throughout Week 17.

Some of the players who were placed on the list earlier last week have a chance to return and the Colts will take what they can get at this point. There’s also a chance players are added to and taken off of this list on Monday so we’ll keep it updated throughout the day.

Here’s a quick look at the eight Colts currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list entering Week 17:

Colts have 5 players on COVID-19 list in Week 16

These are the Colts players currently on the COVID-19 list.

The Indianapolis Colts (8-6) are set to visit the Arizona Cardinals (10-4) on Saturday night but will be short-handed due to COVID-19 issues.

With four players on the reserve/COVID-19 list and one player on the practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list, all players are on there due to a positive test.

Here are the five players on the COVID-19 list ahead of the Week 16 game against the Cardinals:

These Colts are set to be free agents in 2022

Here’s a quick look at the Colts’ unrestricted free agents in 2022.

The Indianapolis Colts are right in the thick of the AFC playoff race as the top wild-card team in the conference with three games remaining in the regular season.

Though their minds are currently on how they can beat the Arizona Cardinals on the road for a Christmas Day game in prime time, we can still take a quick peek at what’s to come this offseason.

With that, here is a quick look at the 24 Colts currently set to become unrestricted free agents during the 2022 offseason: