Tag: NFL

Steelers succumb to injuries, fall to 5-5 in loss to Browns

Pittsburgh couldn’t overcome injuries and dreadful quarterback play against the Browns.

There is a finite line between having a thin roster and having a roster devoid talent. The Pittsburgh Steelers found out what the wrong side that line was against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. The Steelers went in beat up and by the middle of the third quarter you needed your program to sort out who was on the field for the Steelers offense.

The final score ended up 21-7 but when you consider the Steelers lost five players to injury including three starters, you have to wonder why the game ended up as close as it did. On offense, starting running back James Conner and starting wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson were all lost during the game, Smith-Schuster and Johnson both suffered concussions.

Having said that, quarterback Mason Rudolph was terrible. He finished with only 221 passing yards, one passing touchdown and four interceptions. Those picks were not a product of the injured Steelers, they can from a guy who looked lost out there and as the game slipped away his decision-making just got worse.

The defense did it’s best to keep the Steelers in it until late in the second half but even they were off their mark. Pittsburgh’s defense had been forcing buckets of turnovers in the last four games but came up empty against Cleveland. Additionally, the vaunted Steelers pass rush was only able to sack Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield one time.

Now the Steelers have an extended rest before traveling to Cincinnati to take on the hapless Bengals. But falling to 5-5 means they are once again on the outside looking in for a playoff spot and have to start counting on help from other teams to remain in the playoff hunt.

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Pressuring Dwayne Haskins among Jets’ keys to defense vs. Washington

The Jets face another rookie quarterback in the Redskins’ Dwayne Haskins and need to make him beat the defense.

The Jets get their second chance to build a winning streak this week when they head to Washington to take on the Redskins. On the heels of their second win of the year over the Giants, the Jets will now take on one of the worst offensive teams in the league. Washington averages a league-low 12 points per game and ranks 30th in yards.

It looks like an easy matchup on paper, but the Jets are seriously thin at important positions on defense, including linebacker and cornerback. Just this past week, the Jets gave up 281 total yards and four passing touchdowns to the Giants, so they of all teams cannot overlook the lowly Redskins. 

Here are four keys for the Jets defense in Week 11.

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Steelers WR Diontae Johnson being evaluated for a concussion

Three Steelers players have concussions tonight.

This is starting to get ridiculous. In the first half, the Steelers lost starting running back James Conner (shoulder) and starting wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) and now the other starting wide receiver Diontae Johnson is being evaluated for a concussion and his return is questionable.

This leaves James Washington as the only viable receiving option on the field. The only other two healthy receivers are Johnny Holton who hasn’t caught a pass all season and Tevin Jones who was just signed today.

Miraculously the Steelers only trail the Browns 14-7 in the third quarter.

Cardinals one of 11 teams confirmed to attend Colin Kaepernick’s workout

The Cardinals will do their homework on the QB who hasn’t played since 2016.

The Arizona Cardinals believe they have their quarterback of the future in rookie Kyler Murray. That doesn’t mean they won’t look to improve at the position.

Controversial quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who has not played since 2016, has a workout for NFL teams this Saturday, will have at least 11 teams present to see him and speak with him.

According to a communication sent out by the league via social media, the Cardinals will be among those teams confirmed to attend in Atlanta.

The Cardinals are very familiar with Kaepernick, who played his entire career for the San Francisco 49ers.

In 2013 and 2014, he threw for more than 3,000 yards each season and had over 500 rushing yards. He had 40 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions.

His play declined in 2015 and he was benched. He played well in 2016 but the 49ers were 1-10 in his starts. He had 16 touchdown passes and four interceptions.

Kaepernick drew the ire of many when he began to kneel for the national anthem in protest of social issues in the United States, particularly the treatment of Black Americans by the police.

The Cardinals are set at quarterback with Kyler Murray as a starter, but backup Brett Hundley is on only a one-year contract.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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Broncos-Vikings odds: Very college feel to this NFL line

Previewing the Sunday Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings Week 11 NFL matchup, with NFL betting odds, picks and best bets

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The Denver Broncos (3-6) return from their bye week and travel to US Bank Stadium to play the Minnesota Vikings (7-3) at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

Denver at Minnesota: Week 11 preview, betting trends and notes

Looking to place a bet on this game or others? Sign up at BetMGM!

  • Vikings running back Dalvin Cook leads the NFL in touches (243), rushing attempts (203), rushing yards (991) and yards from scrimmage (1,415) this season. But Denver has allowed just 74 rushing yards a game in its last five games.
  • Denver is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games.
  • Minnesota is 5-4 ATS this season.
  • The Broncos are 7-2 ATS in their last nine games following a bye week.
  • Denver has scored 16 or fewer points in three of its four road losses, against Indianapolis (13), Green Bay (16) and Oakland (16).
  • Minnesota is 4-0 at home this season, winning each game by double digits and beating opponents by an average final score of 30-14.

Denver at Minnesota: Key injuries

Minnesota could be without four of its starters. WR Adam Thielen (hamstring), G Josh Kline (concussion) and DT Linval Joseph (knee) have yet to practice this week, while S Anthony Harris (groin) was limited in practice Wednesday was held out completely Thursday. The only Bronco who hasn’t practiced is CB Bryce Callahan (foot).

Denver at Minnesota: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Minnesota 27, Denver 10

Moneyline (?)

This is more like a college moneyline than an NFL line. Minnesota (-556) is a prohibitive favorite, while Denver (+410) bettors are being given a lot of enticement to bet on them. As with most lopsided college moneylines, the best option here is to skip it entirely because the payback for bets on the Vikings are just too small. AVOID THIS.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Vikings to win would return a profit of just $1.80.

Against the Spread (?)

Minnesota is a 10.5-point favorite on a line that is -110 for both Minnesota and Denver — which should get a lot of action on both sides. Minnesota has been as dominant as any team at home and the deafening noise will make it difficult for Denver’s young QB Brandon Allen (making his second start) to change calls at the line of scrimmage. Minnesota has won all four of its home games by 10 or more points. LAY THE POINTS.

Over/Under (?)

This is a tough one because the O/U is very low at 39.5 points (-121 for the over, 100 for the under). The Vikings are averaging 30 points a game at home by themselves, so we don’t feel as strongly about this one as the Vikings covering the point spread. But, in getting even money and betting that Minnesota will shut down Denver’s offense and kill the clock with its dominant run game, we suggest taking the under (but not by much because one defensive/special teams score or a garbage-time TD late could easily put this game over).

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Steelers lose 2 starters to injuries in 1st half

The Steelers offense was decimated by injuries in the first half.

If you don’t laugh you might cry. ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter is reporting the Steelers are currently down four players including two starters for the rest of the game. The two big ones are running back James Conner (shoulder) and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion).

The Steelers are also down two of their best special teamers as linebacker Ola Adeniyi (concussion) and cornerback Artie Burns (knee) are out for the rest of the game as well.

Pittsburgh trails the Browns 14-0 at halftime.

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49ers injury report: WR Dante Pettis injures back, is limited Thursday

The 49ers injury report is still quite lengthy on Thursday.

The San Francisco 49ers, whom the Arizona Cardinals play this weekend on the road in Week 11, released their second injury report of the week on Thursday. Already dealing with a number of injuries, they had three changes to the report, adding one injury.

Running back Tevin Coleman sat out of practice Thursday but he was not injured. He simply got the day off. However, receiver Dante Pettis suffered a back injury and was limited in practice Thursday after not appearing on the injury report on Wednesday.

Six players other than Coleman sat out Thursday with injuries.

  • RB Matt Breida (ankle)
  • K Robbie Gould (quad)
  • DT D.J. Jones (groin)
  • TE George Kittle (ankle, knee)
  • WR Emmanuel Sanders (ribs)
  • LT Joe Staley (finger)

Jones and Staley have already been ruled out. Kittle is unlikely. The rest are considered day-to-day.

Limited

  • LB Azeez Al-Shaair (concussion)
  • TE Garrett Celek (back)
  • DE Dee Ford (quad)
  • RB Raheem Mostert (knee)
  • WR Dante Pettis (back)
  • TE Levine Toilolo (groin)
  • CB Ahkello Witherspoon (foot, quad)

Al-Shaair was upgraded after missing Wednesday, while Pettis was a new addition to the injury report. That could be problematic if he has to miss the game and Sanders, too, in addition to Kittle at tight end. The 49ers might be very shorthanded on offense on Sunday.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

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Quincy Enunwa upset with Jets after being fined for missing treatment

The Jets have another angry player mad for how the team is handling his injury. This time it’s wide receiver Quincy Enunwa.

Add Quincy Enunwa to the list of injured Jets angry with the organization.

Enunwa, who’s been on injured reserve with a neck injury since mid-September, posted a series of angry tweets directed at the Jets for fining him $27,900 for missing two injury treatments.

Enunwa later specified that he only missed those treatments because he was taking his wife, Deanna, out for Veteran’s Day lunch and because he had a family emergency. Deanna Enunwa served in the U.S. Army from 2007-2010, according to her LinkedIn account.

“The biggest reason it hurts is that I’m on IR for the second time in my career and the doctor told me I have a 50/50 chance of coming back to play,” Enunwa later tweeted. “I shouldn’t even HAVE to be in that building being reminded every day of what I can’t do.

“This s—- feels like punishment already and then they FINE me the max. And then want me to continue to do my rehab there and IF I get healthy they want me to then play for them after.”

Enunwa says he only posted the tweets because multiple teammates told him it’s “f—-ed up” that the Jets are fining him for missing treatments.

This isn’t the first time the Jets have been less than hospitable to their injured players. Lest we forgot the Kelechi Osemele injury debacle in which the Jets denied the guard surgery for a torn labrum, fined him for missing practice and ultimately cut Osemele for getting surgery on his own. Osemele filed a grievance against the Jets before they cut him. Shortly after that, quarterback Luke Falk also filed a grievance against the team for cutting him after he suffered a hip injury that required surgery.

Joe Douglas is less than six months into his tenure as the Jets general manager and he already has three bad injury situations on his ledger. Not only are all three a terrible look for the Jets organization, but the pattern means there is definitely something wrong with the front office’s ability to deal with injuries.

Enunwa signed a four-year, $36 million contract extension with the Jets last offseason, and the Jets need to do right by a player who has battled multiple injuries since being drafted in the sixth round of 2014 draft.

Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster OUT with concussion

JuJu Smith-Schuster took a huge hit in the first half.

Update: Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is out with a concussion.

In the middle of the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster took double helmet-to-helmet hits on an incomplete pass attempt. Smith-Schuster went down hard but after a few minutes was able to walk off the field on his own.

There’s been no official word from the team as of yet but given the night the Steelers are having, it is safe to assume we will find out very quickly Smith-Schuster is questionable to return as he is being evaluated for a concussion.

The Steelers are already thin at wide receiver but an injury to Smith-Schuster would really force the hand of the Steelers passing offense. The Steelers trail the Browns 14-0 with 7:26 left in the first half.

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Steelers RB James Conner questionable to return with shoulder injury

James Conner has re-injured his shoulder.

It was clear early in the game against the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner was holding back. He wasn’t running with the physicality or aggressiveness we are used to. And perhaps we know why. According to the team, Conner has been taken to the locker room to have his already injured shoulder evaluated. His return is questionable.

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