Rams WR Odell Beckham was knocked out in the 2nd quarter of the Super Bowl with a non-contact, left knee injury. That's the same knee in which OBJ tore the ACL in October of 2020. He spent the 2nd half of the Super Bowl on the sidelines in street clothes with a sleeve on the injured knee. We should learn more about the injury soon. Beckham is slated to hit free agency in March, but there was reportedly mutual interest in a return to Los Angeles before this injury.
Rams RB Darrell Henderson (knee) is active for the Super Bowl. It'll be his first action since Week 16. We're expecting Henderson to be 3rd in line for touches behind Cam Akers and Sony Michel.
Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah (knee) is active for the Super Bowl. He sprained his MCL in the AFC Championship but put in a limited practice on Thursday and a full practice on Friday. Still, don't expect him to be at 100% vs. the Rams.
The Raiders are prepared to give QB Derek Carr a contract extension that would keep him with the team beyond 2022, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Carr has 1 year left on his current deal, but new HC Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler reportedly want to commit to him long term. And McDaniels was Carr's top choice for HC, according to Rapoport.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen describes the "odd vibe" between QB Kyler Murray and the Cardinals as "alarming." Mort hears that Murray is "frustrated" with the organization and believes "he’s been framed as the scapegoat" for the playoff loss to the Rams. Murray, meanwhile, is described as "self-centered, immature and a finger pointer." Stuff like this tends to pass as we get further removed from the end of the season. We'd be surprised if Murray isn't back with the Cardinals in 2022 but will keep you updated on the situation.
There's "optimism and hope" that QB Aaron Rodgers will return to Green Bay for the 2022 season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "The relationship is in as good a spot as it has been in quite a long time," Rapoport adds. Rodgers will need a new contract, and the Packers are reportedly willing to making him the league's highest-paid QB. Rapoport suggests a 2-year deal worth over $45 million per year. Rodgers is expected to take at least "a few weeks" before making a decision on 2022. Stay tuned.
WR Michael Thomas is expected back with the Saints for the 2022 season, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Thomas, of course, missed all of 2021 after undergoing a pair of ankle surgeries. Rapoport adds that Thomas had another setback at some point and spent a bunch of time in New York getting weekly treatment. But he's back in New Orleans now and will seemingly be ready for the start of the offseason program. We'll keep an eye on Thomas, along with the rest of the Saints' Sean Payton-less offense.
Beat writer Adam Jahns considers WR to be the Bears’ “top priority” in free agency. It’s hard to argue that one. Darnell Mooney took a step forward this past year, locking him into a starting spot going forward. Allen Robinson will play elsewhere next year, though. And the team currently lacks quality WR talent. Michael Gallup, Mike Williams and D.J. Chark supply a few intriguing options, but we'll see who makes it to the open market. Bank on Chicago adding a WR or 2 in the draft — just note that they’re without a 1st rounder following last year’s trade up for Justin Fields. As of now, the Bears won’t be on the clock until the 7th pick of Round 2.
Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah (knee) is listed as questionable for the Super Bowl. He went from a limited practice on Thursday to full participation on Friday. HC Zac Taylor said again Friday that he expects Uzomah to play. We'll get Cincinnati's inactives around 5 pm ET on Sunday. Just 2 weeks removed from an MCL sprain, Uzomah will carry elevated risk if he suits up.
Rams TE Tyler Higbee (knee) has been placed on IR and will miss the Super Bowl. That leaves TE Kendall Blanton as Los Angeles' starter. He caught all 5 of his targets for 57 yards after Higbee exited the NFC Championship.
Rams RB Darrell Henderson (knee) has been activated from IR. That puts him on track to play in Sunday's Super Bowl. Henderson has been out since Week 16, so we're not expecting him to play a major role vs. the Bengals. But HC Sean McVay mentioned a "3-back rotation, based on how the game unfolds" when asked about the backfield on Wednesday.
Rams TE Tyler Higbee (knee) remained sidelined for Thursday's practice. We've removed him from our Super Bowl projections and bumped up TE Kendall Blanton.
Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah (knee) was upgraded to limited participation in Thursday's practice. HC Zac Taylor has sounded optimistic about Uzomah's availability for the Super Bowl, and he looks to be trending in the right direction. We'll get Cincinnati's final injury report on Friday afternoon.
Beat writer Greg Auman of The Athletic believes the Bucs have a “good chance” of retaining WR Chris Godwin. Auman doesn’t see the franchise tag as a viable path — Tampa Bay did that last year. He also doesn’t believe Godwin’s late-season ACL tear altered the team’s “long-term optimism of him playing at a very high level.” Regardless of where he plays, the 26-year-old should be considered questionable for the start of next season.
Rams WR Robert Woods resumed jogging this week as he works through his recovery from a November 12 ACL tear. “It’s going really well,” Woods said from the Super Bowl. “Initially, you hear ACL injury and you think it’s over. Nah. Being able to recover from the surgery and be able to have a great rehab and team to get me back right, I’m progressing really well." Woods is tentatively expected to be cleared for spring minicamp. We'll continue to track his progress.
Bengals TE C.J. Uzomah (knee) was officially listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice. But he worked off to the side with a trainer, and HC Zac Taylor said afterward that Uzomah looks "positive" for Sunday's Super Bowl. "Considering where he was when he fell on the turf last Sunday to where he is now, I'm really optimistic about how it's going," Taylor added. "We'll continue to see him in action these next 2 days, but optimistic." We'll see what Uzomah is able to do on Thursday.
Rams TE Tyler Higbee (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. The team is still holding out hope that he'll be able to play in Sunday's Super Bowl, but that's starting to look unlikely. TE Kendall Blanton stepped up to catch all 5 of his targets for 57 yards after Higbee exited the NFC Championship.
Rams RB Darrell Henderson (knee) got 1st-team reps in Wednesday's practice, HC Sean McVay said afterward. "I think Darrell's going to go," McVay added. "So you'll have Cam [Akers], Darrell and Sony [Michel]. You'll be able to see a good, 3-back rotation, based on how the game unfolds." It sounds like Henderson is set to play a real role in the Super Bowl, despite missing the past month and a half with that sprained MCL.
Asked who he’d like to play with now that Tom Brady has retired, TE Rob Gronkowski mentioned Joe Burrow. “I kinda like this young buck quarterback. He’s in the Super Bowl now: It’s Joe Burrow, man,” Gronkowski said via MassLive.com. “I watched him in college. I just love the way he presents himself out on the football field. In the pocket he’s just so calm and he just slings it out on the field. I just love his swag, too. If I had to pick a quarterback, it’d be the young buck Joe Burrow. “He’s killing it right now in the game.” It's worth noting that C.J. Uzomah’s contract expires next month. And the Bengals have enough cap space if they wanted to make a run at Gronk, an impending free agent. But we'll see if the 33-year-old (in May) ultimately decides to put his body through another long season. Gronk posted 55-802-6 in 2021 (12 games).
Scott Bair of the Falcons’ official site writes that “there isn’t a lot to go on at this point” regarding a possible Calvin Ridley trade. Ridley’s last game came in Week 7. Then he missed the remainder of the season for mental health reasons, and no substantial updates have surfaced since. Bair surmises that a Round 2 pick would be “fair” compensation — and it seems reasonable. Ridley, 27, is slated to enter a contract year in the fall. Teammate Russell Gage is set to enter free agency next month, so it's quite possible this Atlanta WR corps undergoes major change.
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