Tag: Malik Taylor

Jets elevate Xavier Newman, Malik Taylor from practice squad for Week 10

Jets elevate Xavier Newman, Malik Taylor from practice squad for Week 10

The Jets elevated an offensive lineman from the practice squad, but it was not Rodger Saffold. It will be Xavier Newman getting the call-up once again. He and wide receiver Malik Taylor were elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Newman is now a likely candidate to start at right guard with the Jets likely moving Max Mitchell to right tackle. Duane Brown and Billy Turner are both out for Sunday’s game. Brown was not activated from injured reserve this week while Turner is out with a finger injury.

This is the third elevation for Newman, the maximum allowed for a practice-squad player. If the Jets want to bring him up from the practice squad again, they have to sign him to the 53-man roster. Newman saw time at center against the Giants in Week 8 following injuries to Connor McGovern and Wes Schweitzer.

Taylor is being elevated for the second time this season. His first was last week against the Chargers. He caught one pass for seven yards in New York’s 27-6 loss last Monday.

Jets elevate Malik Taylor, Xavier Newman from practice squad

Jets elevate Malik Taylor, Xavier Newman from practice squad

The Jets announced Saturday that they have elevated wide receiver Malik Taylor and offensive lineman Xavier Newman from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

Taylor could be in line to work as the No. 5 wide receiver Sunday if the Jets choose to make Jason Brownlee inactive, as they have for every game this season, as well as Irv Charles, who has become a nice find for special teams for the Jets. Taylor was in the mix to make the roster throughout training camp but was beat out by undrafted rookies Brownlee and Xavier Gipson.

Newman gives the Jets extra depth on the interior. Joe Tippmann (quad) is out Sunday so Wes Schweitzer gets the start. Newman, who signed with the Jets’ practice squad on October 5, appeared in three games this season with the Titans.

How Corey Davis’ retirement affects the Jets’ WR depth chart

Corey Davis announced his retirement from the NFL and his departure certainly changes the outlook of the Jets’ depth chart at WR.

Corey Davis has been away from the New York Jets in recent weeks and the veteran wideout announced on Wednesday that he was stepping away from football at 28 years old. While we wish the best for Davis moving forward, his departure does alter the outlook of the Jets’ depth chart at the wide receiver position.

Entering the 2023 season, Davis was in the final year of a three-year, $37.5 million deal that he signed with the Jets in free agency ahead of the 2021 season. Even though the Jets brought in Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman, and Randall Cobb this offseason, Davis was still slated to have a role in the offense after the team elected to keep him around.

Davis is a versatile wideout who can contribute through the air and as a run blocker, so he would’ve seen the field a decent amount despite the new additions. But with Davis now out of the picture, the roles for certain players will change in 2023.

Garrett Wilson’s role in the offense doesn’t drastically change as he was expected to be the go-to option for Rodgers regardless of the new weapons in the offense. While Lazard signed a contract that indicated he’d have a definitive role in the offense already, he’ll certainly relied upon even more on the field because of his run-blocking ability and experience with Rodgers.

Hardman and Cobb figure to rotate as the No. 3 wide receiver in the offense behind Wilson and Lazard. Who Davis’ exit really affects are the guys who are competing for roster spots. Players like Jason Brownlee, Xavier Gipson and Malik Taylor now have better odds of making the 53-man roster unless the Jets look to improve at the position when other teams are making roster cuts.

Davis was never going to have an extremely prominent role in the offense with a crowded group of pass catchers on the Jets this season. That being said, the depth chart is now shaping up to potentially be Wilson, Lazard, Hardman, and Cobb with Brownlee, Gipson and Taylor seeming like the most likely candidates to make the roster with Davis now gone.

Broncos tried out 4 players last week, including a quarterback

The Broncos tried out QB Joshua Dobbs and three wide receivers on Friday.

The Denver Broncos brought in three wide receivers and a quarterback for tryouts last week.

Javon McKinley (Notre Dame), Malik Taylor (Ferris State) and Connor Wedington (Stanford) tried out as receivers and Joshua Dobbs (Tennessee) took reps at quarterback, according to the NFL’s transaction wire. 

Dobbs (6-3, 216 pounds) entered the league with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft. After three years with the Steelers, he had a one-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to the Steelers in 2020. After spending the 2021 season on injured reserve, Dobbs signed with the Cleveland Browns earlier this year.

Dobbs served as a backup with the Browns this season while Deshaun Watson served his suspension after allegations of sexual assault and sexual misconduct. Cleveland waived Dobbs last week after Watson returned to the active roster.

Dobbs has appeared in six games in his career but is yet to start in a regular-season game. In relief appearances, he has completed 10-of-17 passes for 45 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Dobbs has also rushed six times for 31 yards in the NFL.

Dobbs and the three receivers that tried out for Denver are likely being considered as end-of-season reserve/future contract candidates.

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Giants work out Adam Humphries, several others

The New York Giants worked out WR Adam Humphries and a couple others in East Rutherford on Monday afternoon.

The New York Giants remain scheduled to meet with free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this Thursday and Friday, but that didn’t stop them from working out several other players on Monday.

Three free agents worked out in East Rutherford, including veteran wide receiver Adam Humphries.

The 29-year-old Humphries was originally signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted rookie out of Clemson in 2015. After four years with the Bucs, he joined the Tennessee Titans in 2019 and spent two seasons there. He last played for the Washington Commanders in 2021.

In 96 career games (36 starts), Humphries has hauled in 320 receptions for 3,314 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Along with Humphries, the Giants also worked out wide receiver Malik Taylor and quarterback Kaleb Eleby, a rookie who was recently selected by the Houston Roughnecks in the XFL draft.

None of the three were immediately signed to a contract.

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Packers waive injured WR Malik Taylor

The Packers made another roster adjustment on Wednesday, waiving injured WR Malik Taylor, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury.

The Green Bay Packers have waived wide receiver Malik Taylor with an injury designation, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. Taylor had been dealing with a shoulder injury since the start of training camp. 

An undrafted free agent out of Ferris State in 2019, Taylor was picked up by the Packers before the start of training camp. He spent his first season on the team’s practice squad but made the 53-man roster in 2020. He appeared in 15 games, catching five passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. 

Prior to last season, Taylor looked to have a more prominent role in the offense after an impressive preseason. He led all receivers with 185 receiving yards on 14 receptions. Taylor made Green Bay’s initial roster for the second consecutive season.

However, Taylor’s preseason production did not translate to the regular season. He appeared in 10 games and had only two receptions for 14 yards. His 2021 season ended early after landing on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

Taylor was going to be hard-pressed to make this year’s roster. At a position that included Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Sammy Watkins, Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfree, and three rookie wide receivers, Taylor was hovering around seventh or eighth on the depth chart. Missing a bulk of the practices and the team’s first preseason game did not help his case. 

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Kevin King, Malik Taylor both upgraded on Packers’ Thursday injury report

Both CB Kevin King and WR/KR Malik Taylor were upgraded to full participants on Thursday’s Packers injury report.

Cornerback Kevin King and wide receiver Malik Taylor are both trending in the right direction on the injury front as Sunday’s showdown with the Chicago Bears approaches. Both King and Taylor were upgraded from limited participants on Wednesday to full participants at Thursday’s practice, a clear sign both are on track to return after missing games recently.

King, who is battling both hip and knee injuries, sat out the Packers’ Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He’s appeared in only six total games this season but has started all six. It will be interesting to see how the Packers deploy their cornerbacks if King is back and ready to play on Sunday, especially after Rasul Douglas – the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week –  played so well against the Rams. King could be relegated to a backup role, or used in the slot with Chandon Sullivan.

Taylor has missed the last two games with an abdominal injury. While rarely used on offense, Taylor was operating as the team’s primary kickoff returner after rookie Kylin Hill went down with a season-ending knee injury. Rookie Amari Rodgers has been filling in returning kicks over the last two games.

The Packers were still without quarterback Aaron Rodgers (toe), left tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and receiver Randall Cobb (core) on Thursday. Tight end Marcedes Lewis got his veteran’s rest day, and receiver Davante Adams was still limited with a hamstring issue.

With Rodgers out and Jordan Love on the COVID-19 reserve list, Kurt Benkert has taken all the first-team reps during the first two days of practice. Rodgers is still expected to start on Sunday against the Bears.

Bakhtiari isn’t likely to return this week, and Cobb is dealing with a significant core injury.

Matt LaFleur’s team will practice again Friday. The Packers will provide official designations on the final injury report after practice on Friday.

The Bears returned running back David Montgomery to practice on Thursday. He’s dealing with shoulder, groin and glute injuries. Backup quarterback Andy Dalton (left hand) did not participate again, but starter Justin Fields was a full participant.

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Packers activate WR Malik Taylor from COVID-19 reserve list

The Packers will be getting back at least one receiver before Thursday night’s showdown with the Cardinals.

The Green Bay Packers won’t have Allen Lazard and likely won’t have Davante Adams at receiver on Thursday night in Arizona, but the team is returning at least one receiver to the mix this week.

Malik Taylor, who was originally put on the COVID-19 reserve list on Oct. 15, has been activated to the 53-man roster and will be eligible to play against the Cardinals, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Taylor played in each of the Packers’ first five games of the 2021 season, catching two passes for 14 yards over 24 offensive snaps. The majority of his snaps have come on special teams, but the Packers may need to utilize him more on offense with both Adams and Lazard now on the COVID-19 reserve list.

Taylor has seven career catches for 80 yards. He caught his first career touchdown pass in a game Adams missed last season (vs. Atlanta Falcons).

The Packers may also return Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who is eligible to come off injured reserve at any time.

There are a lot of moving parts for the Packers at receiver, especially on a short week. If Valdes-Scantling isn’t activated, Taylor, Randall Cobb, Equanimeous St. Brown and Amari Rodgers would be the top receivers available for Aaron Rodgers. Juwann Winfree and Chris Blair are available as COVID-19 replacements on the practice squad.

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Packers place WR Malik Taylor on COVID-19 reserve list

The Packers placed WR Malik Taylor, a key special teams player, on the COVID-19 reserve list.

The Green Bay Packers placed wide receiver Malik Taylor on the COVID-19 reserve list on Friday.

Taylor, a backup receiver and key special teamer, was added to the injury report with an illness after not participating at practice on Friday.

The team cannot disclose if Taylor tested positive for COVID-19 or was in close contact with an infected person.

Taylor will be expected to miss Sunday’s visit to Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears.

Taylor has played in all five games for the Packers this season, catching two passes for 14 yards over 24 snaps on offense while also playing 61 percent of the special teams snaps. He is an important player on several kick coverage units for special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton.

Taylor will not count on the 53-man roster until he is eligible to return. The Packers are capable of signing a player or using a COVID-19 replacement from the practice squad if necessary on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, but the team did sign Equanimeous St. Brown from the practice squad on Thursday, providing depth at receiver.

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Packers WR Malik Taylor led all NFL players in receiving yards during 2021 preseason

Packers WR Malik Taylor was among the NFL’s league leaders during the 2021 preseason.

No player produced more receiving yards than Green Bay Packers receiver Malik Taylor during the 2021 preseason.

Taylor turned his 14 catches, tied for the second-most among all NFL players, into 185 receiving yards, which led all players. Dezmon Patmon of the Indianapolis Colts finished second with 173 receiving yards. Rookie Tutu Atwell led all players with 18 receptions.

According to Pro Football Focus, Taylor caught 87.5 percent of his targets, averaged 2.5 yards per route run, made five contested catches (second-most) and created an NFL-high 11 first downs via receptions.

Final cuts are due by Tuesday afternoon, but Taylor is expected to make the Packers’ 53-man roster for the second consecutive season. He caught five passes for 66 yards and his first career NFL touchdown over 15 games last season.

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