Tag: Makai Polk

Colts worked out QB Jeff Driskel, four others

The Colts held a workout for five players, including QB Jeff Driskel.

The Indianapolis Colts held a workout for five players, according to the league’s transaction wire Monday.

Among those five players included quarterback Jeff Driskel, wide receiver John Brown, tight end Antony Auclair, defensive back Keidron Smith and wide receiver Makai Polk.

The Colts have Kellen Mond on the practice squad while Gardner Minshew and Sam Ehlinger are on the active roster so it’s interesting to see them work out Driskel, who was released from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad last week.

We’ll see if anything comes of these workouts in terms of a signing, or the Colts may just be keeping tabs on available options.

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Browns workout WR Dazz Newsome, Makai Polk, 5 others during Colts week

The Browns have hosted seven players for a workout during Colts week

We are now just one day away from the Week 7 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts. Before we get to the game, however, the Browns once again worked out over a handful of players this week. The headliners of this group include wide receivers Makai Polk and Dazz Newsome, and former Nebraska and Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez.

This is a weekly occurrence for the Browns as they look to churn the bottom of their roster and practice squad. It is worth mentioning that the team still has an open roster spot after placing guard Michael Dunn on Injured Reserve, so if they sign a player off of the practice squad, they will have an opening to fill there.

Here is the full list of players the Browns worked out as the Browns get set to take on the Colts with 4-2 on their minds. Will the Browns bring any of them into the building?

Ravens claim WR Makai Polk off waivers from Giants

The Ravens claimed Makai Polk off waivers from the Giants on Tuesday.

After being waived by the New York Giants recently, wide receiver Makai Polk has been scooped up by the Baltimore Ravens.

According to the league’s transactions wire, Polk was claimed by the Ravens on Tuesday, just one day after he was cut loose by the Giants.

This is the third stint for Polk with the Ravens after he was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State by Baltimore in 2022.

He was among the team’s final cuts in August of last year before being brought back on the practice squad and then released a month later.

The Giants then grabbed Polk and put him on the practice squad. He was elevated for one game but didn’t play. New York then inked him to a futures deal this offseason before waiving him Monday.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound wideout tallied 105 catches for 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns in his final collegiate season.

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Giants have logjam at wide receiver

The New York Giants will bring at least 15 wide receivers into training camp and half of those won’t make the 53-man roster.

The New York Giants will be taking 15 wide receivers to training camp this week, leading to the question — what is the plan?

Are they just throwing options against the wall to see what sticks? Or are they simply creating competition to see who will rise, or are they safeguarding themselves in case of a repeat of last year when they suffered an unusually high number of injuries?

It could be a little of both. The team found themselves shorthanded last season and they don’t want to get caught short again.

The unit will be run again by assistant coach Mike Groh and he will have a diverse group of players of all shapes, sizes and skill sets who possess a varied level of NFL experience.

Of the 15 players, perhaps eight of them will make the team’s final 53-man roster, and — if things go right — one or two of them could end up leading the team in targets and/or catches.

But that will be difficult. The Giants’ big move this offseason on offense was the trade for former Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller. He is expected to be heavily involved in the passing game.

So is running back Saquon Barkley, when he returns from his ‘holdout.’ Barkley has been the Giants’ best receiver when healthy the past few years and there’s no reason to stop throwing him the football.  Between he and Waller, there will be fewer opportunities for the wideouts, unless something changes.

So, what should fans expect this summer at wide receiver?

Expect the veterans to get the benefit of the doubt, at least in the beginning. That means initial work for Sterling Shepard, who is returning from another lost season due to injury, and Darius Slayton. Toss in Isaiah Hodgins and Wan’Dale Robinson (when he’s ready), along with free agents Parris Campbell, Jamison Crowder, Jeff Smith, Cole Beasley, and rookie Jalin Hyatt.

The Giants will try to forge a serviceable unit out of those names. They are top-heavy on slot receivers it seems so they might thin the herd there in favor of some outside options.

The others will all have to have monster camps to even be considered. Collin Johnson, David Sills and rookie Bryce Ford-Wheaton are interesting names to watch but where do they fit? Jaydon Mickens, Makai Polk and Kalil Pimpleton are long shots and will have to show special teams prowess to stick.

Wide receiver will be a heavily contested unit this summer and will be a fun one to follow.

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Daniel Jones, Giants teammates gather in Arizona for workouts

Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and a large contingent of New York Giants players have gathered in Arizona for workouts and training this week.

In what has become an annual tradition, New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and a collective of his teammates gathered in Arizona this week for some workouts and training.

In addition to Jones, those reportedly in attendance include quarterback Tyrod Taylor, wide receivers Parris Campbell and Sterling Shepard, and tight end Lawrence Cager.

Also among the contingent were wide receivers Isaiah Hodgins, Makai Polk and David Sills, and tight end Daniel Bellinger. However, the most notable appearance belongs to running back Saquon Barkley, who has not yet signed his franchise tender.

Shortly after signing with the Giants as a free agent, Campbell revealed that he was out in Arizona working with Hodgins and Jones had already begun planning a trip.

“I’m actually out in Arizona training right now in the offseason, and he’s like, ‘I’ve got to get out to Arizona. Let’s get to work.’ That’s what you want. You’re a new guy coming in, a new piece to the offense, and the quarterback is already like, ‘Let’s go. Let’s get some work together.’ That’s just so welcoming,” Campbell said. “That’s so promising. Obviously, I’m ready to build on a relationship with him and create a rapport with him. So, just super excited.”

The Giants will return to East Rutherford when their offseason program begins on Monday, April 17.

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Giants elevate Zyon Gilbert, Makai Polk from practice squad

The New York Giants have elevated two undrafted rookies, CB Zyon Gilbert and WR Makai Polk, from their practice squad.

The New York Giants elevated defensive back Zyon Gilbert and wide receiver Makai Polk from the practice squad ahead of their NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday night.

Gilbert, an undrafted rookie, has appeared in three games for the Giants this season, including a Week 13 start against the Washington Commanders. He also appeared in a Week 14 game against the Eagles, registering five tackles, one QB hit, and one sack.

The 6-foot-3, 197-pound Polk is another undrafted rookie. He began his career with the Baltimore Ravens but was later signed to the Giants’ practice squad on September 28. He had not previously been elevated this season and has never appeared in an NFL game.

Polk played his college ball at Mississippi State. In 2021, he set multiple records with 105 receptions for 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns.

Given the team’s health, it’s likely that both Gilbert and Polk will be listed among the game’s inactives.

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Giants place Sterling Shepard on IR, sign Fabian Moreau off practice squad

The New York Giants have placed WR Sterling Shepard on IR, signed DB Fabian Moreau to the 53-man roster and added two to the practice squad.

The New York Giants have placed wide receiver Sterling Shepard on season-ending injured reserve after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys.

“He’s a tremendous person. He worked so diligently to get back, and (I) feel terrible for him that he had that injury,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “He’s a big part of our team, and we’ll miss him out on the field.”

Replacing Shepard on the team’s 53-man roster is veteran cornerback Fabian Moreau, who was signed off of the practice squad.

Moreau had been activated in each of the previous two weeks, taking a combined 56 defensive snaps while recording six tackles. He’s also seen time on special teams.

With two spots open on the practice squad, the Giants signed wide receiver Makai Polk and defensive back Olaijah Griffin to the reserve unit.

Griffin, the son of famous rapper Warren G, had previously been with the team, having been claimed off of waivers from the Buffalo Bills in mid-August. He was released two weeks later.

Polk originally signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent in May and later spent time on their practice squad until being released earlier this week.

In addition to Griffin and Polk, the Giants also worked out defensive backs Mark Gilbert and Tim Harris.

Update: The Giants also made a separate practice squad transaction, re-signing running back Antonio Williams to the reserve unit and releasing offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka.

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5 takeaways from Ravens’ Week 1 preseason win vs. Titans

We look at five takeaways from the Ravens’ Week 1 preseason win over the Tennessee Titans

The Baltimore Ravens picked up a 23-10 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 of the 2022 preseason. It extended their preseason winning streak to 21-straight games, which means the team is continuing to build on their NFL record.

There were plenty of things to take away from the game on all three sides of the ball. Baltimore didn’t play many of their projected starters, which meant young players had the opportunity to step up in a big way. They delivered, with many making a case for a roster spot as well as more playing time.

Below we look at five takeaways from the Ravens’ Week 1 preseason win over Tennessee.

Ravens build up trenches early in 7-round mock draft by CBS Sports

The Ravens built up their depth in the trenches early in the latest seven-round mock draft by CBS Sports

The Baltimore Ravens have done an extremely solid job of upgrading certain parts of their roster during the 2022 offseason. They added safety Marcus Williams, offensive tackle Morgan Moses and defensive lineman Michael Pierce while also bringing back fullback Patrick Ricard, inside linebacker Josh Bynes and defensive lineman Calais Campbell. However, with the 2022 NFL draft coming up there are other areas that Baltimore can shore up with the 10 projected picks that they have.

In his latest full seven-round 2022 mock draft, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports utilized all of the Ravens’ 10 selections to address some of the holes remaining on their roster, including in the trenches. Edwards goes very offensive line and defensive line heavy on the first two days of the draft, starting off with University of Northern Iowa offensive lineman Trevor Penning at No. 14. Edwards explains that there has been buzz that Penning won’t make it past Baltimore’s selection.

“Baltimore traded away Orlando Brown Jr., and Ronnie Stanley has battled injuries of late. Considering the ground game is the foundation of the Ravens offense, the franchise would be wise to invest in the position and have some options down the road. There is a lot of buzz that the Northern Iowa product is not going to make it beyond this pick.”

Penning is a very powerful player, but many view him as a trade-back candidate for the Ravens due to his lack of refined technique that could be a problem at the next level. He’s still a first-round prospect, but he might not be one that the team considers if they make a selection at No. 14.

On day two of the draft in the second and third rounds, Edwards selects Connecticut defensive lineman Travis Jones at No. 45, Oklahoma edge rusher Nik Bonnito at No. 76, and UCLA offensive lineman Sean Rhyan at No.100.

Day three of Edwards’ draft has Baltimore filling out the rest of their needs, starting in the fourth round where the team selected cornerback Martin Emerson out of Mississippi State at No. 110, Mississippi State wide receiver Makai Polk at No. 117, tight end Charlie Kolar out of Iowa State at No. 128, cornerback Alontae Taylor out of Tennesee at No. 139, and BYU running back Tyler Allgeier at No. 141. Finally, with the 196th overall pick the Ravens round out their draft with inside linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel out of North Carolina.

Positionally, Edwards valued the trenches early while filling out the rest of the draft with other needs. Emerson and Taylor make for a nice mid-round cornerback duo, while Kolar, Allgeier and Gemmel represent smaller needs with good value in the later portion of the draft.

The players selected by Edwards would also give the Ravens some flexibility for other free agent signings after the draft. Edwards only selects on edge rusher for Baltimore, so a potential free agent such as Jadeveon Clowney could be in the cards for this scenario.

Cowboys draft profile: Mississippi State WR Makai Polk may just be scratching surface

After relocating from the west coast, Polk found his groove in Mike Leach’s offense. Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) takes a look at the journeyman and his pro potential.

Mississippi State wide receiver Makai Polk is well-traveled. The Richmond, CA native started his collegiate career at UC Davis, then transferred to California and transferred once again to Dak Prescott’s alma mater to play under Mike Leach, who’s wide open offensive attack has prepared a long list of future NFL weapons.

After two years as a minor part of the rotation on the west coast, Polk had a productive season at Mississippi State and proved to be a reliable target for quarterback Will Rogers. In fact, he set the university’s all-time single season mark for receptions and yards. Is he just scratching the surface of what he can accomplish?