Tag: lynn bowden jr

Stay or go: Predicting the fates of all 24 Saints free agents in 2024

Stay or go: Predicting the fates of all 24 New Orleans Saints free agents in 2024, from Jameis Winston and Michael Thomas to Zack Baun and Lynn Bowden Jr.

We’re just one month away from the start of free agency, and the New Orleans Saints have some tough decisions to make. Between players whose contracts are running up and those whose deals are designed to be torn up (we’ll get to them in a bit), it’s going to be tough to keep this team together.

At the same time, some changes are obviously needed. And free agency and the start of a new league year give the Saints an opportunity to shake up their roster and try to improve. That doesn’t mean it’s an easy process. New Orleans is in the red by more than $80 million and must make some heavy decisions on how to reach salary cap compliance.

So with that in mind, here are predictions for which Saints players will return for 2024 or seek better opportunities in free agency:

Saints aren’t eager to explain in-game squabble between Derek Carr, Erik McCoy

The Saints are brushing off a squabble between Derek Carr and Erik McCoy. Dennis Allen says he ‘wouldn’t read too much into’ the heated altercation:

A lot happened in the New Orleans Saints’ win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday — both good and bad. But nothing caught fans’ attention more than the late-game altercation between quarterback Derek Carr and center Erik McCoy.

Carr picked himself up off the ground in a fury after being sacked by Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu, who beat right guard Cesar Ruiz to bowl Carr over as he dropped back to pass. Carr took aim at McCoy after the play, who responded in kind, and the pair had to be separated. Left guard James Hurst walled off McCoy as they returned to the sideline where backup quarterback Jameis Winston corralled Carr.

Other veterans on the team like running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. bridged the gap, and the pair eventually hashed things out together on the bench. The offense rallied to close out a 28-6 win. But there were few people in the locker room willing to discuss the incident after the game, including head coach Dennis Allen.

“These kinds of things happen on the field. I’m glad that both of them had the balls to stand up and fight,” Allen said after the game. “Guys, they get pissed. Sometimes things get emotional. I wouldn’t read too much into it. We addressed it. Let’s move on.”

Dustups do happen in pro football, but it’s unusual to see a franchise quarterback going back and forth like this with his center. The two players who touch the football on every single play should be in sync, and they clearly weren’t. Whether Carr misidentified the middle linebacker to set protection before the snap or McCoy failed to help Ruiz pick up the blitz is unclear, and they’re all more interested in moving forward than dwelling on it.

Both McCoy and Carr brushed over the issue after the game, reiterating Allen’s point that these things happen, they’re good now, and there are no divisions splitting the locker room apart (WWL Radio’s Jeff Nowak shared transcripts from their postgame media availability here if you’d like to read full comments). So we aren’t likely to get any real resolution on the record any time soon.

Still: it’s near-impossible to watch this team each week, pay attention when guys are speaking on camera and into microphones, and not come away feeling that something isn’t right. Players and coaches and front office executives are not in lockstep and that discord is reflected in their losing record. Hopefully they can mend fences, build on this win, and work towards a run at the NFC South crown. There’s too much invested in these players and this coaching staff to settle for less.

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Report: Chris Olave has the flu, expected to play vs. Panthers

NOF reports that New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is expected to play against the Carolina Panthers despite missing practice with the flu:

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was a surprise add to the injury report this week with an illness, but it’s not expected to slow him down much in Sunday’s game with the Carolina Panthers. Olave is officially listed as questionable for this matchup, but NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that he’s expected to play after coming down with the flu.

Olave has gone on a tear in recent weeks with receiving totals of 119, 114, and 94 yards in his last three games, and the Saints need him on top of the depth chart with Michael Thomas on injured reserve while Rashid Shaheed deals with a thigh injury.

And it sounds like that’ll be the case on Sunday. Other receivers on the depth chart include A.T. Perry, Lynn Bowden Jr., and Keith Kirkwood with Marquez Callaway, Jontre Kirklin, and Shaquan Davis on the practice squad.

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Saints bring up two players from their practice squad for Week 13 vs. Lions

The New Orleans Saints brought up some reinforcements from their practice squad for Week 13’s game with the Detroit Lions in a pair of standard elevations:

The New Orleans Saints brought up some reinforcements from their practice squad for Week 13’s game with the Detroit Lions in a pair of standard elevations, giving wide receiver Marquez Callaway and fullback Adam Prentice an opportunity to return to the lineup.

Callaway was recently re-signed after a knee injury put Michael Thomas out of action for at least the next four games. He’s experienced in the system, having started his pro career in New Orleans, though he spent the summer with Sean Payton on the Denver Broncos.

Rashid Shaheed (thigh) has also been ruled out with an injury and Chris Olave (concussion protocol) is questionable for this game, so the receivers we know the Saints will have available include Callaway, A.T. Perry, Keith Kirkwood, and Lynn Bowden Jr.

As for Prentice: the fullback spent some time on injured reserve earlier this season and returned to be bumped down to the practice squad. He’s already been elevated once so the Saints can call him up like this one more time before they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster again if they want to continue playing him. As is the case for Callaway, Prentice will revert to the practice squad after Sunday’s game with the Lions.

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Saints could be without each of their top wide receivers in Week 13 vs. Lions

The New Orleans Saints could be without all three of their top wide receivers in Week 13’s home game with the Detroit Lions:

An already shorthanded New Orleans Saints receiving corps could be running even more thin during Week 13’s game with the Detroit Lions. With Michael Thomas out of action on injured reserve with a knee injury, the Saints planned to lean heavier on second-year pros Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed — but they both went down with injuries of their own in Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

Olave suffered a concussion after slamming his head to the turf in an awkward fall, having adjusted to an underthrown pass from Derek Carr deep down the sideline. Most players in the concussion protocol this season have had to miss about two weeks before being cleared to return to the field, so it’s unlikely Olave will be cleared in time to play next Sunday. This is his second concussion in his first two years with the Saints.

Shaheed was hurt a thigh muscle on the first play of the Falcons game, and he initially tried to play through it. But adjusting to more off-target passes from Carr aggravated his injury and he was shut down by halftime. Saints coach Dennis Allen said Monday that while Shaheed avoided a major, season-ending injury it would be tough for him to play this week. We’ll have to see how his availability looks moving forwards.

If those two (plus Thomas) can’t go on Sunday, the Saints will be relying on rookie draft pick A.T. Perry, veterans Lynn Bowden Jr. and Keith Kirkwood, and practice squad receivers Marquez Callaway and Jontre Kirklin to lead the way. The Lions have a vulnerable pass defense, but the Saints might not have enough weapons to take advantage of it.

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Former Dolphins WR signs with New Orleans Saints

He spent most of the 2022 season on the Patriots practice squad.

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The Miami Dolphins may be on a break after the completion of their mandatory minicamp and before training camp begins, but that doesn’t mean the league is sleeping.

In fact, a former Dolphins wide receiver signed a contract with a new team on Thursday.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Lynn Bowden Jr. agreed to a deal with the New Orleans Saints.

Bowden was originally drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the third round of the 2020 draft, but Miami traded a fourth-round selection for the wideout and a 2021 sixth-round pick.

The former Kentucky Wildcat played in 10 games for the Dolphins in 2020, recording 28 receptions for 211 yards. A hamstring injury in training camp cost Bowden all of the 2021 season, and before he could return to action for the 2022 regular season, he was cut.

Bowden spent last year with the New England Patriots on their practice squad. He was elevated for one game and was on the field for 14 offensive snaps but wasn’t targeted once.

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Patriots signing former Dolphins WR Lynn Bowden Jr. to practice squad

Miami plays New England in Week 1.

The Miami Dolphins trimmed their roster down from 80 players to 53 earlier in the week, meaning a number of their guys were able to sign with any other team.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, former Dolphins wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. is signing with the New England Patriots to join the practice squad.

Bowden flashed at points during the preseason, showing some ability as both a receiver and a returner, but it wasn’t enough to earn him a spot, as Miami kept just five receivers.

With the Dolphins and Patriots playing each other in Week 1, New England must be hoping to get some intel from the wideout before the two teams battle on Sept. 11.

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Dolphins release WR Lynn Bowden Jr.

This is a bit of a surprise.

The Miami Dolphins are making their final roster cuts, as they aim to get down to 53 players before the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday.

Early Tuesday morning, they made their first real surprise cut, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the team would be releasing wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr.

Bowden was traded to Miami back in 2020 and recorded 28 receptions for 211 yards in his first season in South Florida. An injury cost him all of 2021, but he seemed ready for a comeback in 2022, as he was putting together a strong preseason campaign that included usage in the return game.

The former Kentucky Wildcat took to social media before the news broke and showed some love to the team and fans.

Be sure to keep up with all of Miami’s roster moves via the cutdown tracker.

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Three areas of intrigue for Dolphins vs. Buccaneers preseason opener

A few things that might pique Dolphins fans’ interest.

The Miami Dolphins kick off their preseason slate Saturday night in Tampa Bay against the Buccaneers. It will be Mike McDaniel’s inaugural in-game action as head coach, as he officially becomes the 11th (14th including interims) coach in franchise history.

While this is his 16th season as a coach in this league, McDaniel is a rookie as head coach and enters 2022 with a Dolphins team on a two-year winning record streak, despite missing the postseason both years. The Dolphins are looking for their first appearance in the playoffs since 2016 and seeking a victory in the tournament for the first time since the 2000 season.

In the 10 seasons Miami has played under a new coach, the franchise is 75-81 with four coaches leading the Dolphins to the playoffs in their first season – Don Shula in 1970, Dave Wannstedt in 2000, Tony Sparano in 2008 and Adam Gase in 2016.

McDaniel and the Dolphins will face a Buccaneers team just two seasons removed from a Super Bowl victory, and while they may be without Tom Brady because of personal reasons, this is still a strong litmus test for this Miami – a team that enters 2022 with their highest expectations in nearly two decades.

Here are a few things to be focused on during the contest.

Report: Dolphins have discussed trading Preston Williams, Lynn Bowden

Williams has already made his feelings on his position on the team known.

The Miami Dolphins spent this offseason improving their offense, which included acquiring a number of talented wide receivers.

Veterans Tyreek Hill and Cedrick Wilson Jr. joined Jaylen Waddle, who broke the NFL’s rookie reception record last year, forming a formidable top three. Beyond them, Miami has a number of players likely vying for three spots on the depth chart.

With fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma and undrafted free agent Braylon Sanders impressing those attending training camp, there may be a few capable NFL receivers who may be out of jobs in South Florida. If that’s the case, the Dolphins would be smart to be taking calls on some of those guys.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Miami is doing exactly that. Breer reports that the Dolphins have had trade conversations centering around Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden Jr.

Both players have gotten limited opportunities in training camp, to this point, and Williams has already made it known that he’s unhappy with his playing time.

While depth is a great thing for this developing team, there just aren’t enough spots to roster all of these talented players. Miami may be better suited taking other teams’ draft picks or players at positions of need.

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