2012 Rookies

[SY8goat]

Hilarious.

 

[BINGO]

Richardson back for Week 1?
9:08AM ET
Trent Richardson | Browns

Cleveland Browns rookie RB Trent Richardson underwent a knee scope on Aug. 9, and the club was "hopeful" that he would be ready for the regular season opener one month later. As that date approaches, there have been some ups and downs, but in comments to Sports Time Ohio on Wednesday, team president Mike Holmgren had some tidbits that seem encouraging.

Per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Holmgren said that Richardson "should be back on the field doing something next week." Furthermore, Holmgren reiterated that "there's a chance" that the RB will be available on Sept. 9 in the opener, but added that the team will be smart about it.

That slight change in tenor from the team is instructive, in the view of ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Jamison Hensley
From hopeful to smart

"This seems to cast more doubt than before on whether Richardson will be ready on Sept. 9. Before the Browns were 'hopeful' he would play, now they're going to be 'smart' about playing him."

 

[BINGO]

Wilson joins the first team
10:33AM ET
David Wilson | Giants

David Wilson has finally earned Tom Coughlin's trust. After spending most of training camp as low man on the running back totem pole behind D.J. Ware, Andre Brown, and even Da'Rel Scott, Wilson is taking first-team reps in practice alongside Ahmad Bradshaw for the first time.

Nobody questions Wilson's ability to run with the ball, but in order for him to get continued time on the field, he needs to improve his ability to pass protect. Coughlin is not going to put Eli Manning at risk of being blindsided simply to play with a shiny new toy. But at least Wilson is "out of the box" and that's a promising first step.

- AJ Mass​

Kieran Darcy
New YorkGiants

"Starter Ahmad Bradshaw has practiced the past two days despite the bruised hand he suffered in Saturday's preseason victory over the Jets. But whether Bradshaw plays in Friday night's game against the Chicago Bears or not, you'll likely see Wilson out there with Eli Manning and company at some point."

 

[BINGO]

Wilson has No. 1 job in sight
9:02AM ET
Russell Wilson | Seahawks

The quarterback controversy in Seattle is in full swing, with a surprise switch at the starting position for this week's preseason game. Russell Wilson will get the start instead of Matt Flynn. Typically, the third preseason game is the one where teams do a practice run for their Week 1 starters, so making a switch under center now is a huge sign that Pete Carroll may be leaning Wilson's way for the regular season top spot.

So far, Wilson has been far more impressive than Flynn, outpassing him 279 yards to 102, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for one while Flynn has not yet found the end zone. Still, he's done all of this damage against second-string defenses. If he can continue to outshine Flynn while battling the first-stringers and Flynn shows no improvement against the backups, Carroll's decision will be an easy one.

- AJ Mass​

Chris Mortensen
Russell Wilson to start Friday

"While Flynn has been steady, Wilson has provided the Seahawks with more dynamic plays between the two quarterbacks, albeit against opposing team's second-string defenders. But a team source also noted that Wilson has played with second-teamers, for the most part, and has produced several big plays despite shoddy pass protection. He also has converted 54 percent of third-down possessions, a source noted."

 

[BINGO]

Streater to start
8:51AM ET
Rod Streater | Raiders

Sometimes, all it takes is being in the right place at the right time. That certainly applies to Rod Streater of the Oakland Raiders. The rookie wide receiver will get the start in this week's "regular season preview" against the Detroit Lions with Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore both struggling with injuries.

Streater has already caught 13 passes for 109 yards in the preseason, and clearly has begun to develop a nice rapport with quarterback Carson Palmer. If he can get this first-team offense into the end zone for the first time this preseason against the Lions, Streater may have an even more vocal advocate in Palmer about his sticking around that huddle when the games start to matter.

- AJ Mass​

 

[BINGO]

New York Jets rookie linebacker Demario Davis drawing attention with all-out effort - NYPOST.com

 

[BINGO]

Starks or Adams at LT?
4:31PM ET
Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers used a first- and second-round pick on their offensive line during the draft this offseason, and there was some thought that both David DeCastro (the first-rounder) and Mike Adams (the second-rounder) would be in the starting lineup in Week 1 when the team takes on the Denver Broncos. DeCastro seems to have his job pretty much under control (or, as under control as one can expect from a rookie). Adams has had a rough start, including both injuries and inconsistency.

As a result, veteran Max Starks has been given the start for this weekend's preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills, per Mike Bires of the Beaver County Times. This comes after Starks took the first-team reps at LT in his first day after being activated off the PUP list.

As indicated by his inclusion on the PUP list at any time, Starks is an injury risk, so it remains to be seen whether he'll hold up once the fur starts flying this week and beyond. At least the Steelers have in Adams -- or believe they have in Adams -- a viable second option if Starks is hurt again. And hey, maybe Adams improves by leaps and bounds in the coming weeks and he wins the job on merit.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

Rams CB Jenkins learns on the run : Stltoday

 

[BINGO]

Foles officially lands backup job: Boosted by an impressive showing in the preseason, rookie Nick Foles was named the Eagles' backup quarterback, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Foles, a third-round pick out of Arizona, beat out Mike Kafka for the position and will start the team's final preseason game Thursday against the Jets. "He's in that position right now," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Tuesday.
(Updated 08/28/2012)

 

[BINGO]

1.) ProFootballWeekly.com - First-round RB Martin named Bucs' starter

2.) Greg Schiano: Tape shows Martin outperformed Blount | ProFootballTalk

 

[BINGO]

Panthers rookie LB Luke Kuechly deflects praise | CharlotteObserver.com

 

[BINGO]

Rookie Owusu joins Browns: Minnesota claimed defensive lineman Ernest Owusu off waivers from Minnesota, the team announced Monday. He originally signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in May before getting released last week.
(Updated 08/27/2012)

 

[BINGO]

Who backs up S-Jax?
1:32PM ET
St. Louis Rams

When the St. Louis Rams selected Isaiah Pead in the second round of the draft this offseason, many assumed that he'd be the club's primary backup to starting RB Steven Jackson; the transition from college to the pros is generally considered easier at RB than at some other positions. But with a little over a week to go before Week 1 kicks off, he has not entirely locked it down.

His main competition is seventh-round pick Daryl Richardson, who is also in contention to be the Rams' third-down back. Dan O'Neill of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that while Richardson has put up generally better stats, some of that has come against other teams' second- and third-stringers, so they come with a grain of salt.

Thursday night's preseason finale will provide a final look at the RBs in a game situation. Bear in mind, of course, that roles can and do change within a backfield committee during a campaign, and this could be the case for St. Louis this season.

- Tim Kavanagh​

 

[BINGO]

Wilson's role expanding?
7:49AM ET
David Wilson | Giants

Throughout this off- and preseason, a big question for the New York Giants was just how extensive of a role first-round draft pick David Wilson would have for the club. Veteran incumbent Ahmad Bradshaw is impressive when he's healthy -- or, at least mostly healthy -- but injuries over the past few seasons have robbed him of significant time, and his foot problems will likely not subside anytime soon. In that sense, there is certainly a chance for another player to get fairly high number of touches in the Eli Manning offense.

Wilson started Wednesday night's preseason finale in place of Bradshaw -- who was nursing a hand problem -- and though he had just 13 yards on eight carries, this was more a symptom of the O-line's play than Wilson's effort; after all, last week Wilson had 49 yards on five rushes, along with two catches for 26 yards.

For those reading this for fantasy football reasons, ESPN's fantasy sports guru Matthew Berry had a bold prediction regarding Wilson in a column this week:

- Tim Kavanagh​

Matthew Berry
Prediction: Wilson has the best fantasy season of any rookie RB

"Ahmad Bradshaw is no iron man when it comes to injury, Wilson's looked great, and I could see Trent Richardson (and, to an extent, Doug Martin) failing because of offensive line woes, etc."

 

[ChrisPozz]

Sean Spence suffered a "serious" leg injury tonight, "likely a broken bone." He looked good in this preseason before this injury.

 

[ChrisPozz]

BIG ouch.

Sean Spence initial diagnosis: Torn ACL, torn LCL and a dislocated knee cap.

 

[ChrisPozz]

Also, John Harbaugh expressed "concern" over Courtney Upshaw's shoulder injury he suffered tonight.

 

[ChrisPozz]

Steelers rookie Spence out with torn ligaments in knee - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

 

[NinerSickness]

Wow. I thought the Steelers had a great draft, but they're al getting injured!

More good news for the rest of the AFC.

 

[BINGO]

Junior Hemingway, WR - KC
Saturday, Sep 1 at 4:08pm

Hemingway was placed on the Chiefs' practice squad after being waived on Friday.

Analysis: A seventh-round selection, Hemingway was never able to distinguish himself during the preseason as he fought a numbers game in Kansas City. The team ultimately kept six receivers and their depth forced Hemingway off the active roster.