Tag: Kyler Fackrell

Ravens officially make three roster moves on Monday

The Ravens officially made three roster moves on Monday

The Baltimore Ravens saw injuries deplete their team during the 2021 season, impacting the way that they were able to perform. Early in the 2022 season they’ve faced more of the same, with multiple players going down with season-ending ailments early on.

On Monday, the Baltimore announced three roster moves, with two relating to injuries. They placed outside linebacker Steven Means and linebacker Josh Ross on injured reserve, while also releasing outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell from their practice squad, who they signed a few weeks ago after being released by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Means was called up to the active roster just a few days ago, and represented the third healthy outside linebacker the team had. They are now down to just two in Odafe Oweh and Justin Houston, with another move at the position potentially on the horizon.

It’s currently unclear how serious the injury to Ross is, but he will miss at least the next four games with what the team is classifying as a foot injury.

Ravens reportedly signing LB Kyler Fackrell to practice squad

The Ravens are reportedly signing linebacker Kyler Fackrell to their practice squad

The Baltimore Ravens have a clear need at outside linebacker with how their roster has been shaped for the 2022 season. They currently have just two healthy players at the position in Odafe Oweh and Justin Houston as they await the returns of both Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo from torn achilles injuries.

Baltimore has veteran outside linebacker Steven Means on their practice squad, but on Tuesday it was reported by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network that the team is signing another player at the position to their practice squad in former Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Kyler Fackrell.

Fackrell was a third-round selection of the Green Bay Packers in the 2016 draft, and spent the first four years of his career there. He’s also spent time with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers, totaling 23.5 sacks across six NFL seasons.

Ravens try out two LBs on Monday

The Ravens tried out two linebackers on Monday

The Baltimore Ravens currently have just two healthy outside linebackers on their roster in Odafe Oweh and Justin Houston. The team is awaiting the returns of Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo, although it’s unclear when either will be able to be back on the field and contributing at a high level.

Baltimore’s outside linebacker group is undoubtedly thin, and on Monday they tried out two linebackers in Kyler Fackrell and Chris Garrett. Both players could fill some kind of void on the Ravens’ defense, even if it is just as a depth piece while the organization waits for their players to get healthy.

Fackrell is a well-traveled veteran, playing on the field with three teams over the course of his six-year NFL career. He was a third-round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2016, and has totaled 162 tackles and 23.5 sacks, including a year with 10.5 sacks in 2018.

Garrett was a seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, and won Super Bowl LVI with the organization.

Recent key injuries at linebacker leads to Raiders signing LB Curtis Bolton

Raiders sign LB Curtis Bolton due to injuries to 2 key linebackers the past 3 days.

The past few days have seen the Raiders lose two key newcomers at linebacker. First it was Kyler Fackrell who was expected to contribute some edge rush from the outside linebacker spot and recently it was Micah Kiser who left practice on a cart.

After the Fackrell injury, the team hosted a couple of linebacker for workouts. One of those linebackers was Curtis Bolton.

If the Fackrell injury wasn’t to enough for them to have them sign one of those linebackers, then the Kiser injury certainly was.

In a matter of hours, Bolton was signed and this morning took the field with the team.

Bolton went undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2019, originally signing with the Green Bay Packers.

Injuries had him miss his rookie season and cut heading into his second season. From there he spent time on the practice squad for the Texans, Colts, 49ers, and Lions before seeing his first action for the Lions over the final five games of last season. He played primarily on special teams.

The Murrieta California native tweeted out yesterday that he had just signed with his childhood team for which his father was a diehard fan.

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Raiders pass rusher Kyler Fackrell placed on injured reserve

Raiders lose pass rusher Kyler Fackrell for season

Just a week into training camp, the Raiders have sent outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell to the injured reserve list, losing him for the season.

Fackrell was signed this offseason to provide depth on the edge. The former third-round pick had 10.5 sacks back in 2018 while with the Packers. After bouncing between the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers the past two seasons, he signed on with the Raiders this offseason.

The veteran outside linebacker put up seven sacks combined over the past two seasons appearing in 25 games with ten starts.

He was expected to compete for playing time with other reserve edge rushers such as second-year man Malcom Koonce and fellow newcomer Tashawn Bower.

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Chargers officially sign LB Kyle Van Noy

The Chargers continue to strengthen their defense.

Many fans and analysts were disappointed that the Chargers didn’t add to their stable of pass rushers in last week’s draft. Fret no longer.

On Thursday, Los Angeles agreed to terms with veteran hybrid linebacker Kyle Van Noy.

The 31-year-old Van Noy has spent time in Detroit, New England, and Miami, where he’s racked up 28.5 career sacks, 424 total tackles, and forced ten turnovers: 7 fumbles and three interceptions.

In 2021 with the Patriots, Van Noy had five sacks, 66 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception.

Like Kyler Fackrell a season ago, Van Noy will contribute to the Chargers as a rotational pass rusher behind superstars Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.

While he’s been the victim of cost-cutting moves in his last two stops, there’s reason to believe that Van Noy can be productive in the right environment. I doubt LA is giving him $51 million over four years, as Miami did in 2020, or $13.2 million over two seasons, as New England did last season.

On a cheaper deal, Van Noy’s production represents a tremendous value considering the other EDGE rushers available at this stage of the offseason.

Van Noy also has familiarity with at least one current Chargers staffer, having spent his first two seasons going up against Joe Lombardi’s offense in practice as a Lion.

Chargers EDGE Kyler Fackrell activated off injured reserve

The Chargers will be getting their key rotational pass rusher back.

Chargers edge defender Kyler Fackrell will return to the lineup for Sunday night’s showdown with the Raiders.

Fackrell was designated to return off of the injured reserve last week and was activated to the official roster just in time for the most crucial game of the season on Saturday.

Fackrell has not played since Week 13 against the Bengals. He went on the IR after undergoing a knee procedure.

In 12 games, Fackrell has logged 15 tackles, eight pressures, four quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss.

Chargers’ Kyler Fackrell, Mark Webb designated to return from IR

The Chargers are getting some players back for the final stretch of the season.

The Chargers are getting a couple of players back on the practice field, as Kyler Fackrell and Mark Webb were designated to return from injured reserve.

Therefore, it allows them to practice and starts the 21-day clock to return them to the active roster.

Fackrell went on the IR after undergoing a knee procedure, as did Webb.

Fackrell has appeared in 12 games, logging 15 tackles, eight pressures, four quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss.

Webb has been active for seven contests, amassing three tackles in those.

With two games left and a playoff spot on the line, Los Angeles should benefit from any reinforcements they can get after being short-handed in their loss to the Texans.

Chargers EDGE Uchenna Nwosu coming into his own

Chargers edge defender Uchenna Nwosu is coming off the best performance of his career.

Uchenna Nwosu spent the first three seasons with the Chargers in a rotational role behind Melvin Ingram.

Despite averaging just 35% of defensive snaps in 45 games, Nwosu still managed to make the most of his playing time – totaling ten sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 59 quarterback pressures, and 44 hurries.

Entering his fourth season, there were high expectations for Nwosu as the starter opposite Joey Bosa, knowing what Brandon Staley could possibly do with him when factoring in the breakout year of Leonard Floyd he contributed to a season ago.

While he showed flashes, Nwosu did not do anything to raise eyebrows. However, that was until the Week 13 win over the Bengals when the defense posted a season-high six sacks and four turnovers.

With Bosa sidelined with a head injury early on, Nwosu stole the spotlight. He finished with seven pressures, two sacks, a strip-sack which he recovered, and two quarterback hits.

Through 12 games, Nwosu has already topped his pressures (25), hurries (11), and is a sack away from his career-high in a single season (5).

Like Kyzir White, Nwosu is auditioning for a new deal. However, his play as of late is justifying that he’s worthy of garnering an extension, and now he will have to maintain that consistency the rest of the way out for it to come to fruition.

“I was talking to Brandon [Staley] back in OTAs, and he was telling me, ‘You can play in this system. You can do it. I believe in you.’ It’s all starting to come to fruition. I’m starting to trust the process more now, getting into a rhythm. Hopefully, we can keep this thing going,” Nwosu said.

How Chargers need to fix struggling third-down defense

The Chargers have a third-down problem on defense that needs to be resolved quickly.

After turning the Rams into the NFL’s best defense in just one season, there were expectations that Brandon Staley would have the same success with the Chargers.

However, it has not been all sunshine and rainbows.

Los Angeles has statistically been bad against the run all season, but something that has hurt the team the most in weeks prior is the defense’s inability to get off the field.

The Bolts are currently 31st in opposing third-down conversion percentage at 48.91%. Washington is the only team worse at 51.37%.

Last week, the Broncos converted 8 of 11 third downs, with the majority of them coming from beyond seven yards.

This is one that came on Denver’s final touchdown drive. Teddy Bridgewater connected with Courtland Sutton for a 12-yard gain on a 3rd-and-7.

Even after rushing five, Bridgewater has enough time to find Sutton, who Tevaughn Campbell contests. However, Campbell is unable to get his hands on the football.

A few plays later, the Broncos converted on 3rd-and-10.

Javonte Williams sold it like he was going to chip, it created a lane for him on the outside, and there were no defenders near the vicinity to prevent him from getting beyond the marker.

Moving forward, each level of the defense needs to play a part in aiding to be more efficient on third downs.

Consistent pressure is a must, both inside and off the edges. That should include more of Joey Bosa lined up along the interior, where he has proven to wreak havoc.

On the back end of the defense, some of it is personnel, as the Chargers are without Asante Samuel Jr., the team’s most impactful cornerback this season, who is out with a concussion. His return remains to be seen.

Nonetheless, corners need to play their leverages better, be in a position to contest balls thrown before or at the sticks, and execute.

Furthermore, missed tackles in open space can not happen, and penalties must be eliminated.

Heading into Week 13, the Bolts face a Bengals team that is 16th in the league in third-down conversion at 40%.

While not necessarily the best in this category, Cincinnati still poses a good offense, which is why aggressive and assignment sound defense on third downs will be crucial in order to give Justin Herbert more opportunities.