Tag: Mackensie Alexander

2020 NFL Free Agency: Could Saints poach Vikings fullback C.J. Ham?

The New Orleans Saints will evaluate all pending free agents, including Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham, a restricted free agent.

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The New Orleans Saints are going to be on the hunt for upgrades when NFL free agency begins in just a few weeks, searching all throughout the league for players who can help them remain in Super Bowl contention. That means evaluating every possible addition — including players from the conference-rival Minnesota Vikings, who have dealt the Saints painful playoffs exits in two of the last three years. Here’s who may be available:

  • CB Trae Waynes
  • CB Mackensie Alexander
  • CB Marcus Sherels
  • DE Everson Griffen
  • DE Stephen Weatherly
  • FB C.J. Ham (RFA)
  • K Dan Bailey
  • LB Kentrell Brothers
  • LB Eric Wilson (RFA)
  • OC Brett Jones
  • OG Rashod Hill
  • OT Dakota Dozier
  • P Britton Colquitt
  • QB Sean Mannion
  • RB Ameer Abdullah
  • SS Jayron Kearse
  • SS Anthony Harris
  • SS Andrew Sendejo
  • WR Laquon Treadwell

The number-one target on this list should be Ham, which is difficult because he’s a restricted free agent. Hypothetically speaking, the Vikings can match any contract offers Ham receives, or even ward off suitors with a second- or first-round tender. But if they go with the lowest level option (Minnesota is, for once, working close to the salary cap), the Saints should be all in on Ham. He was one of two fullbacks to play more often than Zach Line (who retired) last year, along with San Francisco 49ers chess-piece Kyle Jusczyk. Line was also once a Vikings standout before the Saints bagged him, and they would do well to pursue Ham if he’s available.

He’s not someone they should sign, but the Saints should closely monitor the interest and contract offers that Anthony Harris gets in free agency. He was one of the few free safeties to intercept more passes (6) than Marcus Williams (4) last season and is projected to earn $13.8 million per year on his next contract. That should set the market for Williams, whose contract expires after the 2020 season.

But let’s circle back to players the Saints should have an interest in signing. They need bodies at cornerback, and both Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander offer starter’s experience at an easier-to-justify rates than Patrick Robinson’s $6.25 million cap hit. Alexander and Waynes are each projected to reel in $8.4 million per year, which could make them attractive options if Robinson is cut (or if negotiations fall apart with Janoris Jenkins over his $11.25 million cap hit, despite him clearly being the best prospect of the bunch).

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1 pending free agent Dolphins should target from each NFC North team

The Dolphins will enter 2020 free agency window with 1 of the biggest cap totals in the league. Who should they target from the NFC North?

The Miami Dolphins are all set to enter 2020 free agency next month and continue the team’s ambitious plan to completely overhaul the roster. Yes, this team’s primary objective appears to be to build through the draft. But the Dolphins will have a mass surplus of cap space at their disposal and the environment in South Florida is one filled with optimism after the Dolphins finished 5-4 over their final nine games.

Looking across the NFL landscape, there’s a ton of potential contributors set to hit the market. Here’s one pending free agent from each team in the NFC North that the Dolphins should consider:

Green Bay Packers – Rush Linebacker Kyler Fackrell

January 19, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Kyler Fackrell (51) before the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

One year after tallying 10.5 sacks for the Green Bay Packers, Fackrell logged just one in 16 games played in 2019. The writing is on the wall that Fackrell is on the outs — between the free agent signings of Preston Williams and Za’Darius Smith and the Packers’ selection of pass rusher Rashan Gary in the 1st-round of last year’s NFL Draft.

Fackrell would be an interesting addition to Miami’s pressure linebacker group — which was occupied in 2019 by a bunch of dudes from Wisconsin, ironically enough. But Vince Biegel needs a new contract and Andrew Van Ginkel was a late-round draft pick. Could Fackrell push them for reps?

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Vikings S Jayron Kearse downgraded to out vs. 49ers

Kearse has been dealing with toe and knee injuries.

Vikings safety Jayron Kearse was officially listed as doubtful for Saturday’s playoff game against the 49ers.

On Friday, the team announced that he has been downgraded to out as the fourth-year safety is dealing with toe and knee injuries.

The Vikings have been hit hard by the injury bug in their secondary. Cornerbacks Mike Hughes and Mackensie Alexander were both placed on the injured reserve.

The Kearse news isn’t a huge surprise. He played zero defensive snaps in Sunday’s playoff game against the snaps and just 10 special teams plays.

We can expect safety Andrew Sendejo, who played a huge role last week, to get a big opportunity again.

Vikings place Mackensie Alexander on IR, sign CB Nate Meadors

Alexander has been a big part of this defense over the last two seasons in the nickel role. 

The season for Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander is over after he underwent knee surgery this week. The team placed Alexander on the IR on Friday.

To replace Alexander’s spot on the roster, the Vikings signed cornerback Nate Meadors to the active roster in preparation for Saturday’s divisional game against the 49ers.

Meadors spents two games on the active roster in Week 2 and Week 3 this season. Meadors played his college ball at UCLA from 2015-18 and finished with three interceptions. He signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent.

It’s unlikely we see a lot of Meadors on Saturday aside from special teams.

Alexander has been a big part of this defense over the last two seasons in the nickel role.

Has he played his last-career game with the Vikings?

It’s something to keep an eye on. The 2016 second-round pick is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Emmanuel Sanders has been solid for 49ers since being traded

Sanders’ catch percentage in San Francisco was 67.9 percent, which was a career-high.

One player to watch as the Vikings and 49ers battle the Divisional Round of the playoffs is 49ers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

Sanders was traded to the 49ers via the Broncos earlier this season for a future third and fourth-round pick.

That has paid off.

Since being traded, Sanders has caught 36 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games. While those numbers might not be crazy, he’s added a dimension to the 49ers’ offense that they didn’t have.

Sanders’ catch percentage in San Francisco was 67.9 percent, which was a career-high.

While Sanders played a lot of slot receiver in the past, he’s been used all over in the 49ers’ offense. The Vikings will be down cornerbacks Mike Hughes (neck) and Mackensie Alexander (knee).

I would expect Kyle Shanahan to try to exploit that as much as he can on Saturday.

Vikings CB Mackensie Alexander to undergo knee surgery

It looks like Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander’s season could be over.

It looks like Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander’s season could be over.

Per the the Star Tribune, Alexander will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus tear sometime this week. He’ll surely miss Saturday’s playoff game against the 49ers. We’ll know more of a timeline if the Vikings continue to advance.

Alexander missed Sunday’s game against the Saints with a knee injury.

We can expect to see Andrew Sendejo, who played quite well as a slot corner, to fill in for Alexander for as long as they stay in the playoffs.

It is worth noting that Alexander is in the final year of his rookie contract. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Alexander was a second-round pick by the Vikings in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Eric Kendricks suits up for wild-card round on Saints vs. Vikings inactive report

The New Orleans Saints injury report preemptively ruled out Eli Apple and Zach Line for their wild-card round game vs. the Minnesota Vikings

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The New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings published their official inactive lists before Sunday’s wild-card round game, and it doesn’t carry many surprises. Several players were preemptively ruled out on Friday’s injury report while managing various issues — that group includes starting Saints cornerback Eli Apple and fullback Zach Line, as well as Vikings nickel cornerback Mackensie Alexander.

New Orleans was without both Apple and Line a week ago, and their fill-in replacements played well. Veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins closed out the regular season with a timely interception, while former Saints practice squad call-up Ricky Ortiz threw some key blocks and caught a pass or two in Line’s absence.

It’s less clear how Minnesota will adapt, because neither Alexander nor his backup (slot specialist and punt returner Mike Hughes, who is on injured reserve) will play. While both of the Vikings’ starting cornerbacks are active, they could have to press a safety into slot coverage or rush returns specialist Marcus Sherels into the role. Considering Sherels only played a combined 74 defensive snaps from 2014 to 2018, it’s unlikely the Vikings take that option.

One path they could consider is shifting linebacker Eric Kendricks into the slot when the matchup works favorably — such as when the Saints position a tight end or running back into the alignment. Kendricks is widely considered to be one of the NFL’s best coverage linebackers, though he was slowed down with a quadriceps injury in recent practices. He’s also been picked on by Alvin Kamara in the past. But Minnesota might not have better choices.

With all that said: here are your official inactive reports from both the Saints and Vikings:

From the Saints

  • CB Eli Apple (ankle injury)
  • FB Zach Line (knee injury)
  • OL Will Clapp
  • OL Ethan Greenidge
  • LB Manti Te’o
  • DE Noah Spence
  • DB D.J. Swearinger

From the Vikings

  • CB Mackensie Alexander (knee injury)
  • WR Laquon Treadwell
  • DL Hercules Mata’afa
  • DL Eddie Yarbrough
  • OL Dru Samia
  • OL Oli Udoh
  • OL Aviante Collins

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LB Eric Kendricks not on injury report ahead of Vikings and Saints game

Kendricks injured his quad in Week 16 against the Packers.

The Vikings will not have cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander (knee) or Mike Hughes (neck) on Sunday against the Saints.

That’s the bad news.

The good news, however, is that All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks (quad) is not on the injury report after being limited in practice earlier this week. Kendricks injured that quad in Week 16 against the Packers.

While Kendricks might not be 100 percent, the Vikings will need him, along with pretty much everyone else on the team, to play at their best if they want to pull off the upset.

3 challenges the Saints will face against the wild-card Vikings

From play-action passing game to a stout run defense, the New Orleans Saints face several big challenges in the wild-card Minnesota Vikings.

A heavily favored New Orleans Saints should feel confident heading into their wild-card round game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Despite the Vikings having a surprisingly thin secondary heading into the matchup, there are still numerous challenges the team can pose to the Saints.

Minnesota all year-long has had a quietly good offense, and their rushing defense has been stout. It will take some of New Orleans best game planning and execution to defeat a very good Vikings team.

Here are three challenges the Saints may face in the Vikings:

A great Vikings rushing attack

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook will be returning to action after missing Week 15 and 16 with a shoulder injury. Saints head coach Sean Payton acknowledged the threat Cook brings to the table during his weekly press conference, saying, “I think, number one, they do a great job in their running game. They get to the edge, obviously they are extremely talented at running back. The type of season (Dalvin) Cook has had it’s been real impressive.”

New Orleans has had a fantastic rush defense all year, and has not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 42 games. However, the Saints defense noticeably struggled against the San Francisco 49ers edge rushing attack in Week 14. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer will be heavily looking at that tape as a blueprint to attack the Saints defense on the ground.

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Vikings CB Mackensie Alexander officially out vs. Saints

Mackensie Alexander (knee) will miss the game along with fellow cornerback Mike Hughes (neck).

On Friday, the Vikings placed cornerback Mike Hughes on the IR with a neck injury. To make matters worse, they also announced that cornerback Mackensie Alexander (knee) would miss the game.

While the team has signed Marcus Sherels, mostly as a punt returner for Sunday’s game against the Saints, this is rough news for a team going up against one of the best passing offenses in the NFL.

We can expect to see Jayron Kearse, a former college teammate of Alexander’s at Clemson, play a good chunk of snaps at cornerback in New Orleans.

If there’s any good news from Friday, it was that newly-crowned All-Pro Eric Kendricks (quad) did not appear on the injury report.

Defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo (hamstring) is listed as questionable.

The Vikings will need Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and maybe even Holton Hill to be at their best against Drew Brees on Sunday if they want a chance at pulling of an upset.