Tag: linebacker

Report: Texans LB Dyan Cole tears ACL, season is over

Houston Texans LB Dylan Cole tore his ACL against the Indianapolis Colts in the 20-17 win, according to a report.

The Houston Texans will have to find a way to get through the final five games without a team captain.

According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, linebacker Dylan Cole tore his ACL in the 20-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts Thursday night at NRG Stadium.

Cole finishes the season with nine tackles, a pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The former 2017 undrafted free agent from Missouri State will spend the remainder of his season and the 2020 offseason rehabilitating from the injury and getting ready for a big contract year to prove his worth, not only to the team, but to prospective NFL teams.

Texans ILB Dylan Cole questionable to return versus Colts

Houston Texans inside linebacker Dylan Cole is questionable to return against the Indianapolis Colts with a calf injury.

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The Houston Texans special teams may have to finish out their Week 12 bout with the Indianapolis Colts without their special teams captain.

With 1:49 to go until halftime, after the Texans took the lead with quarterback Deshaun Watson throwing a 35-yard touchdown to receiver DeAndre Hopkins to take a 10-7 lead, inside linebacker Dylan Cole was injured on the ensuing kickoff.

The 2017 undrafted free agent from Missouri State is questionable to return with a calf injury.

Cole had played all 10 games to this point, and was a contributor on defense with nine tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pass breakup.

WATCH: LSU LB Michael Divinity absent from team because of ineligibility

Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

LSU is the best college football team in the country, sitting atop the USA Today Amway Coaches Poll, the AP Poll, and the College Football Playoff rankings. But the Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

The Monday before LSU visited Alabama, Tigers (10-0, 6-0 SEC) head coach Ed Orgeron announced that Divinity had left the team “for personal reasons.” On the SEC conference call Wednesday in Week 12, Orgeron confirmed that the athlete was simply not allowed to play by athletic department rules.

“He is unable to play, and it will be a while until he’s able to play. He will not be eligible,” Orgeron said.

Ineligibility can stem from academic issues and from team rules violations, such as multiple positive drug tests. USA Today confirmed with multiple sources that Divinity tested positive for a fourth time for marijuana just before the Nov. 4 announcement that he would not play versus the Crimson Tide (9-1, 6-1 SEC).

According to LSU’s Athletic Department Assistance Program’s Substance Abuse Policy, a fourth failed drug test warrants “a suspension from 50% of countable contests,” including postseason games.

Orgeron said Wednesday that the only game that there is even a chance that Divinity returns for would be the National Championship Jan. 13.

“If there’d be a championship game, maybe he may be eligible for that,” Orgeron said. “Up until then, Mike will not be eligible to play.”

LSU LB Divinity absent from team because of ineligibility, not a personal decision to leave

Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

Tigers are and will continue to be without starting linebacker Michael Divinity because the junior has been and will remain ineligible.

Todd Davis says Broncos defense can be special if they stick together

The Broncos have put together a group of talented defenders but many of them will become free agents in 2020.

After a slow start to begin the year, the Broncos’ defense has been performing better in recent weeks, allowing an average of 310.8 yards per game, the fourth-lowest total in the league. Coach Vic Fangio has the unit playing well and Denver’s front office has put together a core group of players who complement each other well.

Unfortunately, several key members of that core group are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in 2020, including cornerback Chris Harris, defensive end Shelby Harris, defensive end Derek Wolfe, safety Justin Simmons and safety Will Parks.

If the Broncos are able to re-sign at least some of those key defenders, linebacker Todd Davis believes the unit will be even better in 2020.

“We definitely have something special here if all the guys can stay,” Davis said Tuesday. “I think we’re No. 4 in defense right now and that’s with trying to adjust to a learning curve in the first couple of games.

“I think we have this defense for another year, understanding how Vic wants things run for another year, I think we’ll be phenomenal.”

Denver has six more games remaining this year, then it will be up to general manager John Elway to decide who is re-signed in the offseason.

“I feel like we can be really great and we can be really special,” Davis said. “I think we’re striving to get there week in and week out, but there’s no limit to where we can go if stick together.”

Davis, 27, has totaled 66 tackles in eight games this season.

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Seahawks LB Mychal Kendricks’ sentencing hearing postponed again

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks’ sentencing hearing was delayed again in his insider trading case.

For the fifth time, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks’ sentencing date was postponed in his insider trading case, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson.

Kendricks was scheduled to have his sentencing hearing on Thursday in Philadelphia, just three days before the Seahawks play there against the Eagles.

According to Henderson, the case is now on the docket for February. Kendricks is facing potential prison time for insider trading, which he pleaded guilty to back in the fall of 2018. Kendricks will be a free agent at the end of the year.

The date was originally set for Jan. 23, then Jan. 25, April 14, Sept. 25 and most recently Nov. 21.

Sentencing dates get postponed for a lot of reasons, and it is not uncommon for them to be changed at the request of the defense or the U.S. attorney.

Kendricks has been Seattle’s starting Sam linebacker this season, and although he has struggled in his second year with the team he still creates a formidable trio of linebackers alongside veterans K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner.

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Ex-teammates say Su’a Cravens is safe with family after scary social media posts

Former Redskins and Broncos safety Su’a Cravens is safe with family after posting alarming messages on social media on Sunday.

Former Redskins and Broncos Su’a Cravens safety posted alarming messages on his Instagram story Sunday before setting his account to private and listing his display name as “RIP 🙏🏾.”

“If these are my last days I want to say I love you ❤️ and I always will,” Cravens posted on his Instagram story. “God I leave the rest to you.”

One hour later, Cravens posted “Goodbye ❤️.”

Raiders linebacker Will Compton, who played with Cravens in 2016, tweeted on Sunday evening that the former safety is safe and with family.

Former Redskins safety Will Blackmon, who also played with Cravens in 2016, also tweeted good news.

Cravens (6-1, 224 pounds) entered the league as a second-round pick out of USC with the Redskins in 2016. The safety-linebacker hybrid and had an impressive rookie season, totaling 34 tackles, one sack and one interception.

Cravens suffered from post-concussion syndrome in 2017 and sat out his entire second season. Washington traded him to Denver in 2018 and he dressed for five games with the Broncos, totaling 18 tackles.

Cravens didn’t appear to be an ideal fit in Vic Fangio’s defense this summer and failed to make the 53-man roster. Denver opted to go with Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Will Parks and Trey Marshall instead.

Cravens has remained a free agent since late August.

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Twitter reacts to controversial Mack Wilson tweet

Former Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson took to Twitter in order to celebrate the Cleveland Browns’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and NFL fans are not too happy about it. In a game where the biggest highlight was Myles Garrett hitting Steelers …

Former Alabama linebacker Mack Wilson took to Twitter in order to celebrate the Cleveland Browns’ win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and NFL fans are not too happy about it.

In a game where the biggest highlight was Myles Garrett hitting Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph in the head with his own helmet, tensions were high.

Wilson tweeted out a photo of him standing next to Steelers wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, who was laying on the ground in pain – Smith-Schuster would not return to the game after later being placed in concussion protocol.

Photo credit: @HeartofNFL on Twitter

Shortly after receiving some backlash, Wilson deleted the tweet and issues this apology:

Here’s what Twitter is saying about the post:

Some fans believe Wilson was happy about the Steelers’ star-receiver being injured.

Others just outright condemned the tweet.

NFL fans were quick to call out Wilson for the post.

‘Yikes’ is probably an appropriate word to use here.

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K.J. Wright nominated for 2019 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright has been nominated by his teammates for the 2019 annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright has been nominated for the annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, the league announced Thursday morning.

“The award is presented each year to an NFL player who best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition,” states the press release.

The field of 32 nominees – one player from each team around the league – will be reduced to eight finalists, who will be listed on the Pro Bowl ballot under the NFL Sportsmanship Award category.

On Dec. 13, each team will then submit a consensus vote for one player, who cannot be the nominee from that club.

The winner of the 2019 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award will be revealed during the NFL Honors Show on FOX, scheduled to air Feb. 1, the night before the Super Bowl.

Wide receiver Tyler Lockett and defensive end Cliff Avril were the Seahawks’ nominees in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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