NFL News – Thursday, December 9, 2021

In the NFL news this Thursday: Ja’Wuan James would be back on the field; Joe Haden, out for TNF; Mike Williams, Mark Ingram, placed in the COVID-19 Reserve; and more. Don’t miss the NFL news.

Daniel Carlson signs extension with Raiders

Las Vegas took a step into the future in special teams. Via Tom Pelissero of NFL MediaOn Wednesday night, it was reported that kicker Daniel Carlson signed a 4-year, $ 18.4 million contract extension with the Raiders. The new deal includes $ 10.2 million guaranteed with a $ 4 million signing bonus. And so, with this announcement, it is confirmed that Carlson will be tied to the team until the 2025 NFL Season.

The $ 4.6 million that Carlson will earn annually starting next season will make him the league’s third-highest paid kicker, behind only the Ravens ‘Justin Tucker ($ 5 MD) and the Giants’ Graham Gano (4.66). MDD). Since joining the Raiders in October 2018, Carlson has connected 95 of 108 field goals (88%) and 126 of 132 extra points (95.5%), making him one of the most reliable kickers in the league.

However, in Las Vegas they decided to make more contract extensions this Wednesday. Via Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, they were also reported to have signed punter AJ Cole to a 4-year extension. The monetary details of the agreement have not been specified, however, it is reported that they will place him as one of the four highest paid punters in the NFL, which means that at least his annual profit should exceed 3.05 million dollars.

Cole, 26, came to the team as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and this season he leads the league with an average of 51.1 yards per kick. In addition, his 22 kicks placed within the rival field’s 20 yard, are worth him to be the fifth best in the NFL in that section. How would you rate the extensions made by the Raiders?

Joe Haden, out for TNF

The Steelers will once again be without one of their key elements on defense. This Wednesday it was confirmed that, due to a foot injury, CB Joe Haden was ruled out for the Thursday Night Football of Week 14, where Pittsburgh will face Minnesota.

Following this announcement, it is confirmed that Haden will miss his fourth consecutive game with the team. CB Ahkello Witherspoon started in Haden’s place in Week 13, when the Steelers defeated the Ravens, and is expected to restart the game against the Vikings.

This 2021 Haden has participated in 8 meetings with Pittsburgh, all as a starter, registering 5 passes defended, 1 forced fumble and 24 total tackles, being a pillar in the team’s defense. However, he hasn’t seen action on the field since Week 10, when the Steelers surprisingly tied the Lions.

Additionally, LT BJ Finney was also ruled out for tonight’s match. The previous Sunday against Baltimore he suffered a back injury and John Leglue had to replace him. LB Robert Spillane (knee) and DE Isaiah Buggs (ankle) were also ruled out for today’s game. How will the absence of its best cornerback affect Pittsburgh?

Ravens win back Ja’Wuan James

An old familiar face of the NFL returns to training. This Wednesday the Ravens announced that RT Ja’Wuan James was appointed to return to team practice. James, who arrived in Baltimore the previous June, has been on the Injured Reserve all season after suffering a torn Achilles tendon last May. However, HC John Harbaugh pointed out 1 month ago that James, unless he suffered setbacks, would return to training in December, and it is now official.

The absence of the graduate from the University of Tennessee has been long. James has not played an official game since 2019, when in his first year with the Broncos he suffered a knee injury that only allowed him to participate in a total of three games that season. Subsequently, for the 2020 campaign he decided to be absent due to COVID-19, and, after having suffered his Achilles mishap outside the Broncos facilities last May, the team finally decided to dispense with his services.

He is currently playing with Baltimore under a 2-year, 9 million dollar contract, and now that he has been designated to return to training, the team has a 21-day window to activate James to the official 53-roster or return him to the roster. Injured Reserve and eventually ending his 2021 season.

James came to the NFL as a first-round pick from Miami in the 2014 NFL Draft, since then he has played a total of 65 games, all as a starter, being a very reliable element in his position when he is healthy, and now, With the Ravens, he will try to return to the level he showed between 2014 and 2018. Can James make an immediate impact on Baltimore’s offensive line?

Mike Williams, Mark Ingram, placed in the COVID-19 Reserve

Bad news in Los Angeles. After last Monday making official that WR Keenan Allen tested positive for coronavirus, this Wednesday the Chargers also announced that WR Mike Williams and CB Chris Harris were added to the COVID-19 Reserve by being classified as high-risk contacts of their own Allen. This means that neither Williams nor Harris have been vaccinated, and their availability for the Week 14 game against the Giants is uncertain.

If Allen and Williams couldn’t play this coming Sunday, the Chargers would have to proceed against the Giants without their two best wide receivers, who between them this season have combined for 1,783 receiving yards and 11 TDs. The next closest receiver in terms of production is WR Jalen Guyton, who this 2021 registers 18 receptions for 289 yards and 1 TD, a big gap compared to Allen and Williams.

For his part, this season Harris has started 7 meetings with the team, registering 1 INT, 2 passes defended and 26 tackles. The Chargers defense this year is the sixth worst in average points allowed per game (26.2), and the absence of a starting cornerback would only make matters worse.

Meanwhile, for the Saints the situation is no better. Via Jeff Duncan’s New Orleans Times-Picayune, This Wednesday it was reported that RB Mark Ingram was placed in the COVID-19 Reserve after having given a positive test. Duncan reports that Ingram is vaccinated, so he could return to action as soon as he tests two negative tests taken 24 hours apart, however, it is unlikely that he will participate in next Sunday’s game against the Jets. How will these absences affect their respective teams?

Texans place Zach Cunningham on waivers

In more NFL news this Wednesday, in a surprise move, the Texans announced that they were placing LB Zach Cunningham on waivers, whom Houston had extended under a 4-year, $ 58 million contract just in 2020.

The decision comes after Cunningham was suspended in Week 13 against the Colts for showing up late for his COVID-19 test. That was the second time this season that Cunningham has not participated with the Texans due to violations of the organization’s regulations. In Week 2, against the Browns, he was penalized by going to the bench during the first quarter for accumulating a series of prior tardies.

For his part, HC David Culley pointed out that “it was not difficult at all” to make the decision to dispense with Cunningham: “I feel like I made a decision that was the best for our team. It is about the team, not about any individual player. And one thing I always talk about is, it’s not necessarily about being the best player on the team, it’s about being the best player for the team, and that’s our motto, “Culley said.

The Vanderbilt alumnus had come to the Texans as a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, participating since then in 72 games and registering a total of 18 passes defended, 5 forced fumbles, 3 recovered, 6.5 sacks, 1 INT, and 570 tackled. Which team should give Cunningham a second chance?

This is today’s NFL news.

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NFL News – Thursday, December 9, 2021