There’s a reason Trey Hendrickson and Terry McLaurin got their raises on Monday.
There was no official deadline, but there is a point of no return if a team wants a player to start in Week 1. It’s hard to ask someone who hasn’t practiced in weeks to realistically get ready for the regular season opener in just a few days. By signing on Monday, McLaurin and Hendrickson should be ready for the Washington Commanders’ and Cincinnati Bengals’ openers on Sept. 7.
Advertisement
The Dallas Cowboys start on Sept. 4, the Thursday night of Week 1. And the ice isn’t thawing between Micah Parsons and Jerry Jones.
The increasingly concerning situation with Parsons and the Cowboys is a good place to start the NFL panic meter, in which we look at how much some teams should be concerned with high profile unresolved issues now that the preseason is done:
Time is ticking on Micah Parsons, Cowboys
Even if Parsons signed as you’re reading this, it would be a big challenge for him to be ready for anything close to a normal workload for Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. You don’t miss almost all of training camp, then sign and play 60 snaps against Eagles tackle Lane Johnson a week later. If you invest $42 million per season in a player, you don’t want to put him at risk for an injury right away.
Advertisement
The problem is it doesn’t seem like an agreement is close. Jones continues to antagonize Parsons and his agent. Parsons seemed to send his own message, showing up for the preseason finale eating nachos and then laying down on the training table for a few moments. Parsons is very media savvy and he had to know those images wouldn’t be seen by everyone.
Something will need to happen (and fast) for Parsons to avoid missing games. It’s getting to the point where Parsons at least missing the opener, like Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones two years ago, seems inevitable.
Panic meter: Turn it to 11
Defensive end Micah Parsons might be able to relax, but Dallas Cowboys fans certainly can’t. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Jauan Jennings and the 49ers
It’s hard to say Parsons is the last unresolved hold-in across the NFL, because we really don’t know what is happening with Jennings. Jennings hasn’t been practicing in weeks, but is that because of a calf injury or a contract situation? The 49ers say the absence isn’t due to a contract standoff, just the calf injury, but the team has lied before at this time of year. And it’s a heck of a coincidence that Jennings’ calf has put him out all month right after he asked for a raise. The 49ers won’t have Brandon Aiyuk to start the season, and if Jennings is out for the start of the season then the receiving corps gets pretty thin. And it’s hard to tell exactly what Jennings’ real issue is.
Advertisement
Panic meter: Very high
Texans’ RB situation without Joe Mixon
Mixon was put on the reserve/NFI list over a foot injury that still has some pretty important and unanswered questions: How did it happen, what exactly is the injury and how long will it keep Mixon out? There has been very little information leaked out about what’s going on. What we do know is Mixon is out at least four games. Nick Chubb started camp slowly but did look OK in preseason action, and maybe the former Browns star will carry the run game. Behind him is rookie Woody Marks and Dameon Pierce, whose career has never taken off. If the Texans can’t run the ball it turns into more pressure on C.J. Stroud, who is still working behind a bad offensive line. Without knowing really anything about Mixon’s situation, it’s hard to assess.
Panic meter: Probably worth some concern
Advertisement
De’Von Achane, Zach Sieler ready for Week 1?
The Miami Dolphins made some waves after the second preseason game when they said Achane, their star running back, and top defensive lineman Sieler had lower body soft tissue injuries. There hasn’t been any outward concern about either player’s availability for Week 1, but the team also doesn’t have to put out an injury report. If you were in a fantasy draft last weekend, you saw probably saw Achane drop a little bit. People are worried. Lower body soft tissue injuries can be tricky. We’ll assume Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is being forthright and those two players will be in the lineup for the opener, though you never know.
Panic meter: Low for now
Buccaneers wait on 2 stars
Receiver Chris Godwin and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs were taken off the PUP, and that’s good news. But it doesn’t mean either will play in September. Godwin is coming off a bad leg injury and Wirfs has been having issues with his knee. They’ll be brought along slowly. Godwin was fantastic before his injury last season but he’s probably easier to replace than Wirfs, perhaps the best left tackle in the NFL. The absences could really affect the Bucs early in the season, though the fact that they’re off the PUP indicates they shouldn’t be out for the long term.
Advertisement
Panic meter: Not ideal, but it’ll be OK
Packers deal with Jordan Love, Jayden Reed injuries
Love recently had surgery on his left, non-throwing thumb. That’s not great but it isn’t expected to keep him out for Week 1. The team has been playing it safe, not having him take snaps in practice upon his return. The bigger issue is the walking boot that Reed, the team’s most reliable receiver, has been wearing. Nobody wants to provide a timetable on his return or the specifics of his injury, leaving everyone guessing. We’ll guess that he’s in the lineup for Week 1, but it’s no sure thing.
Panic meter: Low
Advertisement
Jakobi Meyers wants out of Las Vegas
Out of nowhere on Monday the Las Vegas Raiders had two news items: They had signed veteran receiver Amari Cooper, and Meyers wanted a raise and requested a trade. Meyers is a good receiver, having 1,027 yards last season, and he might have a gripe that he’s underpaid, but he might not have much leverage. Cooper isn’t exciting anyone after he was unsigned until late August, but he has a track record of success. Rookie Dont’e Thornton Jr. has looked great and fellow rookie Jack Bech was a second-round pick who should progress as the season goes on. Tight end Brock Bowers is the de facto No. 1 receiver anyway. The Raiders want Meyers in the lineup but they’re probably not freaking out.
Panic meter: For the Raiders, not high at all
Saints don’t have a QB1 decision yet
We know the starting quarterback for 31 of the 32 teams. Then there’s the New Orleans Saints. Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough were both up and down, and Rattler seemed to end the preseason with a slight edge. But the Saints drafted Shough in the second round for a reason. If you don’t have a quarterback decision less than two weeks before the regular season opener, that’s generally a bad sign. And make no mistake, the Saints look like they might be bad this season.
Panic meter: It isn’t good
Read the full article here
