Sam Navarro-Imagn Images David Long Jr. had missed 14 tackles through six games this season. The Miami Dolphins continue to reshape the linebacking group after signing former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson on Tuesday. Linebacker David Long Jr. was waived on Wednesday after not playing for the past two weeks. Long, who stepped in as a stout run defender and tackler last season after four years with the Tennessee Titans, struggled to carry that momentum into 2024. His final appearance with the Dolphins was in Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals, where he missed four tackles and was targeted eight times in coverage, allowing eight receptions for 93 yards, per PFF. Long recorded three or more missed tackles in six of his eight starts this season. Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. took over his role alongside Jordyn Brooks and has 19 total tackles, an interception, and one missed tackle in eight quarters since. The roster move allowed Miami to claim tight end Jack Stoll off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles. Stoll, an undrafted free agent in 2021, played in 17 games in each of the past two seasons, totaling 16 catches on 22 targets for 161 yards. Stoll appeared in seven games this season, catching two of three targets for 10 yards, and is also a stout blocker. He’s blocked on 156 of 201 snaps without allowing a sack this season, per PFF. Stoll steps in for Tanner Conner, who was placed on injured reserve earlier this week due to a knee injury, and joins a tight end room that includes Jonnu Smith, Julian Hill, and Durham Smythe.
Dolphins waive LB David Long Jr., claim former Eagles TE Jack Stoll off waivers
Phinsider Question Of The Day: Predictions For Las Vegas Raiders @ Miami Dolphins
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images Following their cross-country trip to face the Los Angeles Rams, which resulted in a Monday Night Football victory, our Miami Dolphins return for a home game. This week, the Phins will host the Las Vegas Raiders. If Miami hopes to keep its playoff hopes alive, it will need to continue the win streak it began last weekend. The Raiders, for their part, are only 2 and 7 on the season and are coming off a five-game losing streak. Las Vegas faced off last weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals in a game in which they dropped 41 to 24. So this evening’s Phinsider Questions Of The Day are: A) What will be the final score in this week’s Miami Dolphins game against the Las Vegas Raiders? B) What other predictions do you have for the upcoming game against the Raiders? (stars of the game, etc.) Please give us your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-
2024 NFL quarterback rankings ahead of Week 11
Lamar Jackson is the highest-graded quarterback i the NFL through 10 weeks. The Bengals’ Joe Burrow comes in at No. 3, while Commanders’ rookie Jayden Daniels rounds out the top five.
3 things the Rams must do to keep their playoff hopes alive
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images At 4-5 LA is still in the thick of the NFC playoff race but that can change without improvement quickly The Los Angeles Rams currently sit at 4-5, and while they still have a path to a playoff position, the team will need to reevaluate some things if they want to have a chance at postseason play. LA’s once struggling defense continues to improve with each passing game, but now it’s the Rams offense that looks completely lost, not scoring a single touchdown in their tough loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football. If Los Angeles has plans to play meaningful football come January, these are some changes the team should make to help potentially improve their situation. 1. Start Beaux Limmer at Center and Steve Avila at LG One thing was made abundantly clear during the Rams loss on Monday and that’s that rookie Beaux Limmer is the team’s best option at center. In his seven starts this season, Limmer has given up zero sacks, one hit, one hurry and one pressure. During LA’s three-game win streak, in which Limmer started each game, the offensive line gave up one sack total. After removing Limmer from the lineup, the Rams gave up four sacks in one game to the Dolphins. Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images Now that’s not to say Limmer is the sole reason for the Rams success during their winning streak, however, as the center he is the one making some protection calls and potentially could have been putting guys in better positions than his replacement. Jonah Jackson, who started over Limmer at center this week, finished the Miami game with a PFF score of 51.8, allowing three pressures while botching a pivotal snap to Matthew Stafford. He also had the lowest pass blocking grade on the team, and that says a lot considering that Joe Noteboom allowed six pressures and a sack in the same game filling in at right tackle. Avila didn’t fair much better than Jackson at LG but his PFF score was 62.8 and he had a high rating for pass blocking. His run blocking score of 54.5 was poor, but he is the younger and cheaper player compared to Jackson. If the two are now competing for the left guard position, with Limmer hypothetically taking back his center position, then Avila is the one you hope succeeds out of him and Jackson. This is even more the fact when you consider that the Rams can get out of Jackson’s 3 yr-$51mil contract after 2024 pretty much scot-free the way it’s structured. 2. Omar Speights needs even more playing time LB Omar Speights was a preseason superstar forced to wait for his role to expand in the regular season. When he was finally able to play some meaningful snaps due to injuries he did not disappointed, making an impact almost immediately. The defense has looked much improved with him on the field and he played a major role in the Rams 4th and 1 stop of the Seattle Seahawks in overtime two weeks ago. Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images Speights positive play thus far earned him the most playing time he’s seen all year vs. Miami, making eight tackles and only allowing one catch for six yards. Missed tackles have been a problem for LA’s defense all year but Speights did not miss a single tackle attempt on Monday. Along with Speights, Christian Rozeboom had his best game as a pro. The veteran linebacker finished the game with a PFF score of 89.6, snagging an interception and two pass breakups. Rozeboom has been criticized all year, but maybe with Speights on the field his performance will continue to improve because he can play more into his pass coverage strengths. 3. Lean into the run and use Blake Corum more It’s easier said than done but the Rams need to commit even more to the run, specifically in the red zone. No one will argue that when the run game is thriving LA’s play action pass plays work exponentially better. The defense is playing to a top tier level and the Rams may need to steer into that skid, as the offensive line has proven that they cannot give Stafford the time that he needs. Stafford was pressured on 30.6% of his dropbacks vs the Dolphins, and unfortunately that’s right on pace for his season average. Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images Whether it’s the pressure, or Stafford forcing the ball into tight areas, the QB has throw at least one interception in each of his last six games, as well as at least one in seven of the nine total games this season. Turnovers kill any positive momentum a team has in that moment, and depending where it happens on the field, could take away points or easily give them away. Los Angeles may be better off by taking some passing attempts away from the offense leading to less opportunities for turnovers, while feeding not just Kyren Williams, but also Blake Corum. The rookie third-round pick has only has 23 attempts for the season, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. Williams’ eight touchdowns this season points to him also being the Rams best option in the red zone. Unfortunately, it seems like Los Angeles gets a bit pass happy as they get closer to the goal line. After being forced to settle for five field goals this past week, some kind of fundamental change must happen if the team hopes to fix their lack of red zone good fortune. Relying even more on Williams and Corum could go along way towards improving their success within 20 yards of the end zone.
WATCH: Patrick Queen says he wasn’t wanted by Ravens and received no offer in free agency
WATCH: Patrick Queen says he wasn’t wanted by Ravens and received no offer in free agency glenn erby The Ravens and Steelers are set for the first of two highly intense matchups, and Patrick Queen made Wednesday’s match even more intriguing. Speaking to reporters about Sunday’s matchup and reflecting on free agency, Queen said that Baltimore didn’t offer him a new contract before he signed a three-year deal with Pittsburgh. “I wasn’t wanted back. I didn’t get an offer back. It’s definitely kind of upsetting, being there for four years, the bond that you grow with your teammates. At the end of the day, the first few months, you definitely go through those feelings.” The running mate for Roquan Smith, Queen made his first Pro Bowl this season after logging 125 tackles (78 solos) and matching a career-high with six passes defended. He also added 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for the best defense in the league. Queen is the only NFL defender to have produced at least 400 tackles (with 445), double-digit sacks (13.5), and double-digit takeaways (four interceptions and six fumble recoveries) since 2020.
ESPN names Higgins No. 1 free agent in upcoming class, says he won’t be back with Bengals
Katie Stratman-Imagn Images What do you think about their assessment? As the 2024 NFL season reaches its midpoint, many are looking ahead to the future. ESPN+ recently released a ranking of the 2025 NFL free agency class, highlighting players who will be free agents once this season concludes. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins topped the list. “Just entering his prime playing years, Higgins is our top free agent for the 2025 class at the moment,” wrote Matt Bowen. “At 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, he has the ability to win on the boundary or create matchups from inside alignments. And despite playing alongside Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati, Higgins has the makeup of a No. 1 receiver. Injuries have limited Higgins to five games this season, but he still has 29 receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns.” Bengals fans have long viewed Higgins as a true WR1, who just happens to share the field with a top-three wide receiver. Despite his injury history, Higgins has shown enough over the last three and a half seasons to prove he could be a major asset to any team in need of help at the position. The Bengals signaled their intention to use the franchise tag on Higgins in 2024 rather than pursuing a long-term extension. Jeremy Fowler believes this will be Higgins’ final season in Cincinnati. “There’s little to no chance Higgins is in Cincinnati beyond 2024,” he wrote. “People I’ve talked to feel pretty strongly about that, barring a major surprise. A second franchise tag would cost the Bengals around $26.2 million on a one-year rental. Higgins wanted out of Cincinnati last offseason, and the Bengals will likely allocate resources for a Chase contract. Higgins will have a strong market because of the number of receiver-needy teams and his WR1 traits.” The Bengals began extension negotiations with Chase this offseason, though reports suggest they were not earnest in their approach. If the front office isn’t fully committed to locking up Chase, the prospect of keeping both wide receivers in Cincinnati seems unlikely, especially as the Bengals offense has been moving the ball and scoring over 30 points per game even with Higgins sidelined due to a quad injury. With Joe Burrow now signed and Chase likely next, there may be no room in the budget for another offensive weapon of Higgins’ caliber.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson explains his side of the story and what he’s learned during his demotion
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images “I’m thankful for these past two weeks and I’m lowkey glad it happened,” a grateful yet determined Anthony Richardson said. The rollercoaster known as the Anthony Richardson experience has taken yet another hard turn, this time in favor of the young quarterback. After the whirlwind that was the past few weeks, Richardson has been reinstated as the team’s starting quarterback for not just Week 11 but for the remainder of the 2024 season. While the reason for his benching was expressed as Joe Flacco giving the Colts its best chance to win and not at all influenced by Richardson’s infamous play off, the previous claims and/or rumors that suggested a lack of professionalism led to the benching appear to be true. Colts head coach Shane Steichen opened up Wednesday’s media availability with the bombshell of an elevation and provided a deeper explanation of the ‘process’ surrounding Richardson’s benching that he so frequently yet vaguely mentioned in recent weeks. “I’ve said the process for a long time and what I mean by that is the attention to detail in everything that he does. From the classrooms, to the walkthroughs, to practice, to the weight room. All of those little things, right? It’s just got to be at a higher standard. That’s what was talked about, and that’s where we went with it. That was discussed with him two weeks ago, and those are the conversations that took place,” Steichen said. “Over the last two weeks, he’s made strides over those areas, big-time strides, Becoming a pro’s pro. And is he a finished product? No, he’s not. And it’s my job to help him get there, along with the rest of the coaching staff, but he’s a hell of a talent. Like I’ve said, we’ve never lost faith or belief in him or his abilities. And he has shown strides, he really has… Everyone has a different journey. Everyone has a different way of development and how you go about the process, but everyone wants instant gratification right now, and sometimes it doesn’t work like that.” While Steichen and Co.’s handling of the situation may seem like an all-time botch job on the surface, it’s completely fair that the Colts kept this as close to the vest as possible. Richardson was already being kicked while he was down for tapping out, and while that could’ve very well been a last straw of sorts that led to said benching, what matters now is that he has learned enough while benched and from his media availability today, it appears that he’s on the track Steichen had hoped he’d get back on sooner rather than later. Shane Steichen mentioned that Anthony Richardson has made some big-time strides that were required of him before he would regain the starting role. Richardson spoke about these strides, explaining that, “[I wanted to] show that I’m willing to be a pro and I’m willing to sacrifice anything that I need to do for the team. I feel like these past two weeks definitely opened my eyes and allowed me an opportunity to do that and take a deeper dive, look into myself, and see what I’m really made of. I’m thankful for these past two weeks, and I’m lowkey glad it happened.” A lack of maturity and/or professionalism is what got Richardson benched in the first place, but how one responds is ultimately what dictates how a player will rebound, if at all. For Richardson, taking a step back wasn’t easy with being a competitor first and foremost. However, self-reflection has allowed him to see the bigger picture more clearly, offering a second chance of sorts that he is grateful for. “As a competitor, you never want to be on the sidelines. You always feel like there’s an opportunity to go out there and help the team. Sitting on the sidelines allowed me to just look and see certain things I could correct about myself, certain things that the team needed help with. I’m just forever grateful for the opportunity. I’m glad that Shane [Steichen] felt like I’m the guy once again. Like I said, I’m just forever grateful and thankful.” While Richardson mentioned how he progressed as a backup during this time, he didn’t talk as much about the off-the-field or in-the-building things that he worked on given that his entire demotion was centered around such aspects. Richardson’s on-the-field play was by no means hitting an adequate level prior to his demotion, but it certainly wasn’t poor enough to warrant the silent two-week suspension that followed it. When asked whether or not he was surprised to learn that there were things that he didn’t know and needed to learn, Richardson replied earnestly. #Colts QB Anthony Richardson on if he was surprised that there were things he hadn’t known yet: “Not necessarily because I’m new to this, I’m still learning information…but there’s always more to sacrifice like time.. so being a pro & learning more about that.” : @Colts pic.twitter.com/PsMLUTeFG4 — Noah Compton (@nerlens_) November 13, 2024 Richardson has, by all accounts, taken this demotion seriously and is still not satisfied with where his product on the field stands. While practice makes perfect, practice does not begin on the field. Practicing one’s craft begins the moment you step into the facility, and for a quarterback, it begins as soon as you wake up each day. There’s been much to learn for the 22-year-old face of the franchise, but Anthony Richardson believes that he’s learned enough in the past two weeks to right his wrongs and get back on track. “I feel like there’s still room for improvement all around, but lately I’ve been working on consistency. That’s always been a thing of mine, you know just trying to perfect that and get better at that. Just being consistent in all aspects. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been trying to focus on sacrificing more. If the guys ask me to do certain
Raiders injury report: Jackson Powers-Johnson at center again
Jackson Powers-Johnson | Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images Andre James has ankle injury Coming off an impressive performance at his natural position, Las Vegas Raiders rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson is expected to remain at center Sunday when the team plays at the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Kickoff is set for 10 a.m. PT. Las Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce indicated Wednesday that starting center Andre James will remain out in Week 11. He also missed the Raiders’ last game, a Week 9 41-24 defeat at the Cincinnati Bengals. James injured his ankle in a Week 8 27-20 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Powers-Johnson is a starting guard, but center is considered his long-term position and the second-round pick starred at Oregon. Powers-Johnson was a bright spot at center in the Cincinnati loss, so the Raiders are confident in him playing well at Miami. Jordan Meredith will likely play guard for Powers-Johnson. Left tackle Kolton Miller reportedly is practicing Wednesday as the team took the bye week off from practice to let the banged-up roster heal. The #Raiders‘ Wednesday injury report: pic.twitter.com/CKOX111OWm — Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) November 13, 2024 In addition to James, cornerback Nate Hobbs (ankle), tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) and guard Cody Whitehair (ankle) didn’t practice Wednesday. Meanwhile, as expected, interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner will also serve as the quarterback coach, filling in for the fired Rich Scangarello. Pierce is hopeful tight end Michael Mayer can be ready to play soon. He missed six games due to a personal reason and he returned to practice this week. #Raiders TE Michael Mayer spoke to the media for a bit. Wouldn’t elaborate on the personal reasons that kept him away from the team, but he thanked the franchise, NFLPA and his family and friends for supporting him along the way. He spent some time back home in Cincinnati. — Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) November 13, 2024
Bills vs. Chiefs: 5 storylines to watch for in Week 11
Bills vs. Chiefs: 5 storylines to watch for in Week 11 The Buffalo Bills will turn to the next page of their 2024 NFL regular season. Following a 30-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10, the Bills (8-2) will take on the Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) at Highmark Stadium. But before we even get to kickoff, there will be a lot of discussions and conversations to be had throughout the coming days. Here are five storylines to watch for during the lead-up to Bills vs. Chiefs Game of the Week Getty The Bills and Chiefs are the Game of the Week for the NFL’s Week 11 slate. Everyone around the football world will be saying that throughout the coming days, so you can bet similar discussions will be had in Buffalo and Kansas City with all the players and coaches. Josh vs. Pat USAT Bills vs. Chiefs? Even after all this time, that still highlights the quarterback battle between Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. Allen is 3-1 against KC in his regular season career. It’s been different in the postseason… Improved defenses? USAT While the offenses will always take the headlines with Allen and Mahomes in the fold, both sides actually have improved defensive units in 2024 as well. The Bills allowed 19.3 points per game, ninth-best in football. Their 19 takeaways ranks second. The Chiefs allow 83.2 rushing yards per game, third-best, and allow 17.9 points per game (5th). Just a few metrics to prove that these are a pair of solid units. Looming injures Imagn We already know rookie wide receiver Keon Coleman will not play against the Chiefs because of a wrist injury. Against any NFL, you want to be a full go… a top tier one like KC? Of course. Along with Coleman, the likes of wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist), offensive lineman Spencer Brown (ankle), and others have landed on a long injury report for Buffalo this week. Can the Bills get to full health in time for the Chiefs? Postseason picture USAT We’re still weeks away from the true playoff picture coming together, but the Bills and Chiefs will undoubtedly both be near the top of that as the dust starts to settle. Having said that, this Week 11 contest and its outcome is going to loom very large in a few weeks time.
J.J. McCarthy Did NOT Have Knee Surgery This Week
Photo by David Berding/Getty Images Though some reports initially said that he did With the excitement of the Minnesota Vikings having gotten off to a 7-2 start this NFL season, we haven’t really talked very much about rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy suffered an injury to his meniscus in the team’s first pre-season game this season and wound up having surgery that put him on season-ending injured reserve. Well, earlier today there was quite the buzz around McCarthy on social media, but it turned out that things had been miscommunicated. To be clear: Source said it was just an injection for McCarthy. No second surgery. — Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) November 13, 2024 Sources had originally said that McCarthy had undergone another surgical procedure on his knee, which is something that would be quite worrisome. . .if it were true. McCarthy was apparently experiencing some swelling in his repaired knee and underwent what is being called a “biologic injection” in order to assist in the healing process and ensure his rehab remains on track. To be clear, this was not a surgical procedure for McCarthy. It was nothing more than an injection. McCarthy is unable to return from IR this season based on when he was placed on the injured reserve list, but it doesn’t sound like he’d be back this season at this rate even if the team had waited to put him on IR. That plan is still, from all accounts, for him to officially take over the reigns for the 2025 season, provided nothing else happens between now and then. I’m sure we’ll be getting more progress reports on J.J. McCarthy as his recovery continues, but for now he has not had any more surgery on his knee.
