Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Pro Bowl pass rusher and pending free agent Josh Allen has an early connection with a member of the Carolina coaching staff.
Unlike their staff on offense, the Carolina Panthers didn’t need to touch their defensive coaches going into 2024. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have connections to a few intriguing free agents.
Here are 14 pending defensive free agents, in areas of need, who have ties to Carolina’s coaching staff:
After cutting their roster to 53 players on Tuesday, the Chargers picked up a linebacker as players became available.
The Chargers set an initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, but that changed after the team added linebacker Tanner Muse on Wednesday.
Here is a look at the updated squad:
Quarterback (2): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick
Running back (4): Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, Elijah Dotson
Wide receiver (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis
Tight end (4): Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, Tre’ McKitty, Stone Smartt
Offensive line (9): Rashawn Slater, Zion Johnson, Corey Linsley, Jamaree Salyer, Trey Pipkins, Jordan McFadden, Foster Sarell, Will Clapp, Brenden Jaimes
Defensive line (6): Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, Christopher Hinton, Scott Matlock, Nick Williams
Edge rusher (4): Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Chris Rumph II
Linebacker (6): Eric Kendricks, Kenneth Murray Jr., Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Tanner Muse
Cornerback (5): JC Jackson, Asante Samuel Jr., Michael Davis, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard
Safety (5): Derwin James Jr., Alohi Gilman, JT Woods, Raheem Layne, AJ Finley
Specialists (3): K Cameron Dicker, P J.K. Scott, LS Josh Harris
The Chargers submitted one waiver claim following NFL cutdown day, adding Tanner Muse.
The Chargers submitted one waiver claim following NFL cutdown day, adding linebacker Tanner Muse.
By claiming Muse, Los Angeles had to add him directly to the 53-man roster. To make room for him, fullback Zander Horvath was waived.
Before joining the Bolts, Muse spent this summer with the Steelers. According to Pro Football Focus, Muse had the seventh-best grade on special teams (84.4) this preseason among players who played at least 30 snaps.
Muse was drafted by the Raiders in 2020 before suffering a foot injury that kept him sidelined the whole season. After he was waived, the Seahawks signed him to their practice squad before elevating him to the active roster in 2021.
Of his 405 total snaps in 2022 with Seattle, 325 came on special teams. Over his first three seasons, Muse has totaled 20 combined tackles and one pass defended.
Before joining the NFL ranks, Muse played college ball at Clemson, where he finished with 237 career tackles (10.5 for loss), 15 passes defended, four sacks, seven interceptions and a forced fumble.
With the Chargers, Muse will primarily serve as a core special teamer. Still, he brings a versatile background and is highly adept in coverage at the linebacker position, so he can help out on defense when needed.
Another former Tiger has been released by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL cuts continue as teams prepare for Tuesday’s 53-man roster deadline, with a former Tiger being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday.
The Steelers released former Clemson safety and current NFL linebacker Tanner Muse. Over the weekend, the Steelers also parted ways with kicker B.T. Potter.
Must spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks, appearing in 16 games mainly as a special teams player. In his NFL career, Muse has played in 23 career regular-season games with one start and has 20 total tackles (13 solo) and one pass defended.
Muse was a great player for Clemson, winning two national championships with the program. In his career at Clemson, Muse recorded 237 career tackles (10.5 for loss), 15 passes broken up, 4.0 sacks, seven interceptions for 102 yards (including a 64-yard return for a touchdown), a forced fumble and a 63-yard fumble return for a touchdown over 59 career games (39 starts).
There is a chance another NFL team takes a shot at him.
We have released 10 players. @BordasLawhttps://t.co/bt2lNbFeqL
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 28, 2023
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Here are the eight next most important players for Seattle to keep this year.
The Seahawks checked the most important box on their offseason to-do list yesterday, re-signing Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith to a bargain of a three-year, $105 million deal. They have also previously taken care of their outstanding kicker Jason Myers, their underrated swing guard Phil Haynes and their super-popular fullback, linebacker, special teams stud and premier entertainer Nick Bellore.
Aside from those four, who else is worth keeping that is set to hit the market on March 15 when the new league year begins? Let’s break it down. Here are the eight next most important players for Seattle to keep this year.
The 2023 NFL draft is probably the best place to find Wagner’s long-term successor, but there are also some free agents worth looking at.
The Seahawks had a great linebacker. Then they decided to let him go, without so much as an offer of a pay-cut. Their loss was the Rams’ gain – and Bobby Wagner immediately recaptured his peak form and once again became the league’s best off-ball linebacker. Now, Seattle has to find a way to replace him because their own two starters couldn’t even crack the top 100 PFF grades at their position.
The 2023 NFL draft is probably the best place to find Wagner’s long-term successor, but there are also some free agents worth looking at. Here are eight nine the Seahawks could consider.
Update:
The Rams have released Bobby Wagner, just one year into the five-year deal he signed last March. Obviously that radically changes the linebacker market as well as the order of our list.
Meanwhile, Wagner’s replacements in Seattle floundered.
Releasing Bobby Wagner was a massive mistake by the Seahawks. Wagner wound up signing with the division rival Rams and immediately returned to form, recapturing his title as the top off-ball linebacker in the league. At the end of the season, Wagner was graded out as the No. 1 player at his position by Pro Football Focus.
Meanwhile, Wagner’s replacements in Seattle floundered. Cody Barton’s efforts did not land him in the top 100 linebackers in PFF’s grades and Jordyn Brooks ranked even lower. Suffice to say linebacker should be high on the list this offseason. Maybe they can trade for Bobby Wagner.
There is one silver lining, here. Tanner Muse showed some promise during his time on the field at the end of the season. It was a small sample size – Muse only played 124 total defensive snaps. However, what he did was good enough to land him at No. 12 in PFF’s linebacker grades. Here’s the full list.
Here are the full PFF grades for every player who put in a snap on offense or defense.
Getting crushed by your most bitter rivals in the playoffs is never fun. Still, the Seahawks have a lot to celebrate from their Wild Card loss to the 49ers – who look like the toughest team in the NFL right now by a wide margin.
For one thing, we got a reminder of just how special DK Metcalf can be when he’s on his A-Game. Metcalf posted 10 catches, 136 yards and two touchdowns, earning the highest Pro Football Focus grade for Seattle’s offense. On defense linebacker Tanner Muse posted the highest PFF grade, his second very-solid performance in three games since Jordyn Brooks’ ACL injury.
Here are the full PFF grades for every player who put in a snap on offense or defense.
The Seahawks will have to finish out their 2022 season without Jordyn Brooks.
The Seahawks will have to finish out their 2022 season without Jordyn Brooks.
According to head coach Pete Carroll, the knee injury that Brooks suffered in the first half of Sunday’s win over the Jets is a “legit” ACL tear, meaning Brooks is definitely done for the remainder of the year.
Pete Carroll says on @SeattleSports radio show that Jordyn Brooks has an ACL injury, Calls it "legit.'' So, Brooks obviously will be out for the rest of year.
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) January 2, 2023
Brooks finishes the season with 161 combined tackles, the third-most in the NFL going into Week 18.
For their last regular season game and perhaps the playoffs Tanner Muse will be taking Brooks’ place in the lineup. Muse had a strong debut, posting the second-highest Pro Football Focus grade on the team.
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He went off for 2.5 sacks against the Jets and posted the highest Pro Football Focus grade on the team this week.
The Seahawks beat the Jets yesterday, 23-6. While they’re hardly a Super Bowl contender, any win right now is a welcome development. Seattle also got positive signs of growth from a few key young players, especially outside linebacker Darrell Taylor. He went off for 2.5 sacks against the Jets and posted the highest Pro Football Focus grade on the team this week.
Here are the full individual PFF grades for every player on offense and defense from Week 17.
