Tag: steven nelson

Bears are reportedly interested in free agent CB Bashaud Breeland

The Bears have shaken up the CB position this offseason, but they may not be done just yet, as they’re showing interest in Bashaud Breeland.

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The Chicago Bears have shaken up the cornerback position quite a bit this offseason, but they may not be done just yet.

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears are keeping tabs on free agent cornerback and former Super Bowl champion Bashaud Breeland. The veteran cornerback spent his last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing a key role in their victory against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV when he intercepted a pass from Jimmy Garoppolo.

Prior to his postseason heroics, Breeland spent his first four seasons in the league with the Washington Football Team when he was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. After signing with the Green Bay Packers in 2018 and playing in just seven games, Breeland joined the Chiefs for the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

For his career, Breeland has totaled 376 tackles, 14 interceptions and eight forced fumbles. He has picked off two or more passes in all but one of his seven seasons in the league and could create additional competition for the Bears should he wind up signing a deal.

While Chicago appears set with second-year cornerback Jaylon Johnson on one side, they are looking to see who might start opposite of him following the release of former Pro Bowler Kyle Fuller. The team signed former Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions cornerback Desmond Trufant this offseason to a one-year deal, while holdovers such as Kindle Vildor, Tre Roberson and Artie Burns could be in the mix as well.

Breeland, who also recently visited the Minnesota Vikings, is the latest name to surface in the team’s search for another cornerback. The Bears were also mentioned as suitors for former Pittsburgh Steeler Steven Nelson earlier this month, along with about a dozen other teams. Money could be a factor in either case, however.

As it stands, the Bears are barely under the salary cap, but will see relief once former tackle Charles Leno Jr. officially comes off the books in June. But with their draft class still needing to be signed, can they afford someone like Breeland? Or will he have found a new home by then? Either way, the Bears are continuing to explore every avenue to improve their secondary.

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Bears showing interest in free agent CB Steven Nelson

The Bears appear to be eyeing one of the better free-agent cornerbacks still on the market in Steven Nelson.

The Chicago Bears appear to be eyeing one of the better free-agent cornerbacks still on the market.

According to ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Bears are interested in former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson. Fowler mentioned the Bears, along with 13 other teams including the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans and Cincinnati Bengals, who were monitoring the veteran defensive back.

Nelson, a six-year veteran in the league, was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. After a career year in 2018 when he recorded four interceptions and defended 15 passes, Nelson signed a three-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He started all but one game in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons.

Last year, Nelson picked off two passes, both against the Eagles, and had one fumble recovery. He was released earlier this offseason due to salary cap constraints. Still just 28 years old, Nelson has plenty left in the tank and would certainly provide a boost to a team’s secondary.

The Bears cornerback position has seen plenty of movement this offseason. They waived goodbye to veterans Kyle Fuller and Buster Skrine in an effort to shed salary, and signed former Atlanta Falcon and Detroit Lion Desmond Trufant, who has the inside track to start opposite second-year starter Jaylon Johnson. Should the Bears sign Nelson, he would likely take over that starting job from Trufant.

With so many teams interested in the former Steeler, the Bears have their work cut out for them if they want to make a deal. But Bears head coach Matt Nagy was with Nelson for his first three years in Kansas City so there is some familiarity there.

Time will tell where Nelson ends up, but he would add a boost to the Bears defense that could more veteran leadership at the position.

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Report: Bengals have had contact with free-agent CB Steven Nelson

The Cincinnati Bengals might not be done in free agency.

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The Cincinnati Bengals are one of many teams that put in a call on former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals were one of 14 teams to put in a call on the best cornerback left on the free-agent market:

“Cornerback Steven Nelson’s market has been strong since becoming a free agent. Nelson has interest and has heard from 14 teams including #Texans #Bears #Eagles #Bengals and #Bills, per source. He continues to be patient waiting for right fit and opportunity.”

The Bengals will start three corners making their debut with the team next year in Trae Waynes, Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton.

But Hilton’s former teammate was too good to not at least check in on after his surprising release. Last year, he only let up 43 catches on 76 targets.

No word on when this contact occurred, but with three new starting corners and two new depth pieces as well, this probably files under due diligence because Nelson can find a much bigger role elsewhere, and likely more money.

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The Eagles should pursue former Steelers CB Steven Nelson in free agency

Former Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson would be a good fit for the rebuilding Philadelphia Eagles

There’s a solid cornerback available on the open market and depending on his asking price, the Eagles should be all-in.

Steven Nelson was released by the Steelers and he’s available to sign with whatever team fits his interest.

The Eagles can use another cornerback after adding talented safety Anthony Harris to the mix.

The move saves Pittsburgh $8.25 million in cap space and it could allow Philadelphia to add a talented cornerback to the roster while allowing Howie Roseman to focus on wide receiver and linebacker early-on in the NFL draft.

Nelson started all 30 of the 30 games he played in two seasons with Pittsburgh, finishing the 2020 season with 48 tackles, nine pass defenses, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. He also had two interceptions, both of them coming against the Eagles when he picked off Carson Wentz twice.

Nelson was acquired by the Steelers via free agency in 2019 after a four-year stint in Kansas City.

Still only 28-years-old, Nelson has been one of the highest-graded cornerbacks in football per Pro Football Focus.

Nelson can flourish when forced to play man coverage, and he’s highly efficient when playing zone, Jonathan Gannon’s strong point as a defensive coordinator.

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Should the Jets pursue ex-Steelers CB Steven Nelson in free agency?

Jets Wire breaks down why it would be a good idea for Joe Douglas and the Jets to make a serious push to sign Steven Nelson.

This year’s crop of free agent cornerbacks isn’t anything to write home about, but the pool of talent got a bit deeper when the Steelers granted Steven Nelson’s request for a release Tuesday.

Nelson signed a three-year, $25.5 million deal with Pittsburgh in 2019 and started 30 games in two seasons with the team. Nelson’s brief stint with the Steelers was a mostly-productive one, as he recorded 95 tackles, three interceptions, two tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. The 28-year-old also ranked among the best man-to-man cover cornerbacks during his time in the Steel City, according to Pro Football Focus.

The Jets have made numerous free agent signings to upgrade in all three facets of the game so far this offseason, but have yet to address cornerback. Now that Nelson is available for the taking, that could change sooner rather than later.

The Steelers did not show Nelson the door due to any sort of struggles on the field. The Oregon State product was nothing but solid in his role for Pittsburgh, making it likely the Oregon State product will have suitors knocking down his door sooner rather than later.

Joe Douglas would be wise to be among the front office executives trying to secure Nelson’s signature.

It is understandable that Douglas and the Jets have yet to sign a defensive back so far in free agency. The top names on the cornerback market — Troy Hill and William Jackson III — were not exactly enticing options. Adoree’ Jackson profiled as a potential target for New York after the Titans let him go, but Douglas opted not to throw his hat in the ring.

Now that Nelson is available for the taking without any strings attached, it’s time for Douglas to start working the phones. The Jets’ current cornerback depth chart is not exactly inspiring and is in desperate need of multiple upgrades. Bless Austin and Bryce Hall have the potential to develop into starting cornerbacks down the road, but New York needs to stop relying on potential and bring in impact players if it ever wants to be a contender under Robert Saleh.

Nelson’s skill set aligns ideally with Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s defensive scheme. Money also is not a problem for the Jets in the slightest right now. Douglas emphasizes value as much as any general manager in football and Nelson carries plenty of that. If New York is ever going to upgrade its cornerback room before the 2021 NFL draft, now is the time.

Nelson is the player to make a push for.

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Washington Football Team: Inactives for today’s game

Here are your Steelers inactives for this week’s game against the Washington Football Team.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have announced their inactives for today’s game versus the Washington Football Team. Cornerback Steven Nelson (knee) is no surprise given that he hasn’t practiced all week. Kicker Chris Boswell injured his hip in practice Saturday.

This list does not include center Maurkice Pouncey or running back James Conner, who is on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Conner was eligible to come off the list today, but there’s no word he actually did.

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To avoid a fiasco like the Titans experienced, the Steelers are taking all precautions

No team wants the fiasco that happened in Tennessee to happen to them. The Steelers aren’t taking any chances.

No team wants the fiasco that happened in Tennessee to happen to them. If anything, it was a wake-up call to the 31 other clubs exactly what can transpire if protocols and guidelines aren’t strictly adhered to.

The NFL and NFLPA are in the process of investigating the Titans’ handling of COVID-19 protocols. Until what went wrong is revealed, it’s all speculation, but the Steelers are working to make sure whatever it was, it doesn’t happen in Pittsburgh.

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“With this situation, the way the world is now, me personally, I only go from practice to home and the grocery store if need be,” linebacker Bud Dupree told the media on Monday. “Other than that, it’s kind of like just stay home. Don’t try to do extra like we normally do during the season. Just think about the team first.”

As for what Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson is doing to keep safe, he told the media that it’s nothing different than what he’s always done. “I am a family guy, so I just go and be with my family,” Nelson shared with the media on Monday. “I think that is the easiest way to stay away from everybody and isolate yourself.”

Because of daily COVID testing, players couldn’t get away from work for a break as they would during a traditional season.

“There is nothing you can really do,” said Nelson. “Before guys might have gone home to their offseason homes. There is no need to travel or anything. You just show up, take your COVID test, and go back home.”

But no complaints are coming from Pittsburgh about what players have to go through in an effort to complete the 2020 season.

They fully understood in the preseason what to expect going forward, and there would be procedures to be followed.

“We embrace it,” said Nelson. “We knew coming into the season there were going to be a lot of ups and downs and unexpected things. We embrace those things, and we take them on as we come and prepare as such.”

The way the Steelers see it, as do most other teams, if you keep yourself out of situations that could cause the virus to spread, you’ll be less likely to catch it.

Team first. It’s as simple as that.

And it could save the season.

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Steven Nelson stops DeAndre Ware in sixth round

Steven Nelson outworked DeAndre Ware en route to a sixth-round stoppage on the Jamel Herring-Jonathan Oquendo card in Las Vegas.

Steven Nelson outworked DeAndre Ware en route to a sixth-round stoppage on the Jamel Herring-Jonathan Oquendo card in the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.

Nelson, a stablemate of Herring and Terence Crawford in Omaha, Nebraska, was busier than Ware beginning in the second round and landed more and more hard shots as the fight progressed.

Nelson was cut to the side of his left eye as the result of a head butt in the second round, although it wasn’t much of a factor. However, another clash of heads caused a deeper gash directly above the same eye and bled profusely.

Still, Nelson kept coming forward. And his determination paid off in Round 6. He hurt Ware with a right hand about a minute into the round. Then, about a minute after that, he wobbled him with a left.

Nelson (17-0, 14 KOs) followed with a barrage of hard shots for which Ware (13-3-2, 8 KOs) had no answer, prompting referee Jay Nady to stop the scheduled 10-round super middleweight fight. The official time was 2:24.

“When the second cut came, I thought, ‘Man, you know how fighters are. When they see an injury they attack.’ I said, ‘You know what? I have to get to work.’ The plan was the to feel him out, don’t rush too much,” Nelson said.

“In the first few rounds I wasn’t doing too much but I picked it up. The head butt was the perfect time to pick it up.”

Nelson, a 32-year-old Army veteran, was a late starter in boxing. He believes he’s ready for a title shot right now. And he mentioned a name: titleholder David Benavidez.

We don’t know what Nelson’s ceiling is but he certainly has confidence.

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Steven Nelson stops DeAndre Ware in sixth round

Steven Nelson outworked DeAndre Ware en route to a sixth-round stoppage on the Jamel Herring-Jonathan Oquendo card in Las Vegas.

Steven Nelson outworked DeAndre Ware en route to a sixth-round stoppage on the Jamel Herring-Jonathan Oquendo card in the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.

Nelson, a stablemate of Herring and Terence Crawford in Omaha, Nebraska, was busier than Ware beginning in the second round and landed more and more hard shots as the fight progressed.

Nelson was cut to the side of his left eye as the result of a head butt in the second round, although it wasn’t much of a factor. However, another clash of heads caused a deeper gash directly above the same eye and bled profusely.

Still, Nelson kept coming forward. And his determination paid off in Round 6. He hurt Ware with a right hand about a minute into the round. Then, about a minute after that, he wobbled him with a left.

Nelson (17-0, 14 KOs) followed with a barrage of hard shots for which Ware (13-3-2, 8 KOs) had no answer, prompting referee Jay Nady to stop the scheduled 10-round super middleweight fight. The official time was 2:24.

“When the second cut came, I thought, ‘Man, you know how fighters are. When they see an injury they attack.’ I said, ‘You know what? I have to get to work.’ The plan was the to feel him out, don’t rush too much,” Nelson said.

“In the first few rounds I wasn’t doing too much but I picked it up. The head butt was the perfect time to pick it up.”

Nelson, a 32-year-old Army veteran, was a late starter in boxing. He believes he’s ready for a title shot right now. And he mentioned a name: titleholder David Benavidez.

We don’t know what Nelson’s ceiling is but he certainly has confidence.

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