What Justin Fields’ return means for QB, future of Bears’ rebuild originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Justin Fields has waited patiently for a month. The Bears quarterback has waited for his dislocated right thumb to heal, his grip strength to return, and the medical staff to give him the green light to play. The third-year …
Read More »Monthly Archives: November 2023
Northwestern will keep David Braun as head coach, per reports
Now that we are closing in on the final games of the college football regular season, the coaching carousel is about to put the pedal to the metal with headlines flying by and a rapid pace. The Big Ten had two vacancies open up early in the season, but it appears one of those vacancies will be filled. According to …
Read More »Michael Vick returns to ‘Madden’ cover in special digital edition
Michael Vick has returned to the Madden video game franchise 20 years after the then-Atlanta Falcons quarterback graced the cover of “Madden 04” and became what is widely considered one of the most unstoppable sports video game characters of all time. The current “NFL on FOX” analyst made his return to a Madden cover for the first time since that …
Read More »Deshaun Watson out for season: Browns seek QB help, to start rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson vs. Steelers
USATSI The Cleveland Browns are putting out the bat signal for any and all veteran quarterbacks looking for a job in light of quarterback Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury. “We’re always open to anything that improves the team,” Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Wednesday, via CBS Sports HQ Senior NFL Insider Josina Anderson. “We typically carry three quarterbacks. We’ll …
Read More »How secure is Billy Napier’s job as Year 2 at UF nears end?
The Florida Gators still have two games left in the regular season, but head coach Billy Napier knows he’s likely facing a losing record with the Gators through two years as the head coach. In the SEC, a losing season can be a death sentence, especially for a head coach. Napier signed a 7-year, $51.8 million contract in 2021, but …
Read More »Carolina HC Frank Reich retakes control of offensive playcalling
Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich is retaking control of the team’s offensive playcalling less than a month after handing over the reins to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Reich initially gave up playcalling duties on Oct. 16 before Carolina’s bye week. The Panthers have gone 1-2 since with Brown calling plays, but the team scored only two offensive touchdowns during that …
Read More »Why 49ers’ Bosa no longer holds grudge against Buccaneers QB Mayfield
Why 49ers’ Bosa no longer holds grudge against Buccaneers QB Mayfield originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area SANTA CLARA — It takes a lot to rile up 49ers star Nick Bosa, but Baker Mayfield appeared to get under his skin when they were college rivals. Six years later, Bosa said he never really had a beef with Mayfield. Their …
Read More »Can BYU slow down Dillon Gabriel a second time?
Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel celebrates after a touchdown against West Virginia Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, in Norman, Okla. Gabriel and the No. 14-ranked Sooner invade LaVell Edwards Stadium Saturday for a 10 a.m. kickoff against BYU. | AP BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill says Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel deserves to be mentioned as a Heisman Trophy contender with the likes …
Read More »Aaron Rodgers targeting historic mid-December return: Robert Saleh says if Jets QB wants to play, he’ll play
Aaron Rodgers has hinted all season that he’ll make a historically quick recovery from a Week 1 Achilles tear, and the Jets quarterback went a step further on Sunday, telling NBC he’s targeting a mid-December return. For his part, Jets coach Robert Saleh made it clear that if Rodgers feels he’s ready, he will be in the lineup. “Aaron’s a …
Read More »How Patrick Mahomes’ free-wheeling, fun style is influencing quarterbacks, offenses in college and beyond
A 63-year-old former fifth-round draft choice out of Eastern Illinois has figured out modern quarterback play. Jeff Christensen, a self-described “old gray-haired grizzly bear,” is too modest to tell you that. But it is hard to understate his impact — as well as the grizzly bear’s gray hair. Christensen was part of the epic 1983 quarterback class that included John …
Read More »Michigan has no records of Connor Stalions filing any expense reports, FOIA request shows
Connor Stalions, the former Michigan football recruiting staffer who is now the center of the NCAA’s sign-stealing investigation into the Wolverines, did not file a single expense report while he was employed by the football team from Sept. 1, 2021-Oct. 15, 2023, according to documents obtained by the Detroit Free Press. The Free Press filed a Freedom of Information Act …
Read More »How does Deshaun Watson’s injury impact AFC North race?
An already-tight four-way race for the AFC North took another twist Wednesday with the news that Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his right shoulder. Amazingly, Watson still finished the game Sunday after suffering the injury, leading the Browns to a massive 33-31 comeback win over the division-leading Ravens. Though …
Read More »Bears’ Justin Fields to play vs. Lions after four-game absence, says thumb still ‘not 100%’ but ‘feels good’
On the heels of a mini bye following their win over the Carolina Panthers on “Thursday Night Football,” the Chicago Bears are getting their starting quarterback back. On Wednesday, head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters that the plan is to start Justin Fields against the Detroit Lions in Week 11, per CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. Fields suffered a dislocated …
Read More »Diontae Johnson did not practice Wednesday with thumb injury
One of Pittsburgh’s top receivers is again dealing with an injury. Diontae Johnson did not practice on Wednesday with a thumb issue. Johnson caught one pass on four targets for 17 yards in the win over the Packers on Sunday. He missed several games earlier this season with a hamstring injury. Johnson has 24 catches for 319 yards so far …
Read More »Should No. 4 Washington be an underdog to host No. 13 Oregon State?
Heisman hopeful Michael Penix Jr. and No. 4 Washington travel to face No. 13 Oregon State on Saturday. What makes this matchup interesting is that undefeated Washington is a 2.5-point underdog, while Oregon State (8-2) still has a shot at the Pac-12 title game if it can beat the Huskies and Ducks in back-to-back weeks. Oregon State’s path to victory …
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