NFL Rumors: Deshaun Watson set to miss multiple games
Not too long ago, Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was clouded in controversy. Now, it's mystique.
Based on an aggregation of reports on Watson's recent injury, it seems like there are conflicting opinions on Watson's health this season.
Ever since Watson injured his throwing shoulder in Week 3, he's been on and off the practice field. He participated with the team but didn't throw any passes in the week of preparation leading up to the Ravens game; he missed that game despite being medically cleared. Why didn't he play? Kevin Stefanski said Watson "did not feel like he had his full faculties".
Even with the additional rest from the Browns' bye week in Week 5, the Browns have already ruled Watson out for Sunday's matchup against the 49ers. P.J. Walker will suit up instead.
Watson is set to miss his second consecutive game and possibly more, according to Browns beat reporter Mary Kay Cabot.
What is going on in Cleveland? And what is the specific diagnosis of Watson's injury?
On Friday, Kevin Stefanski said Watson's injury was a bruise, and he will not need surgery. That same day, Mary Kay Cabot called it a "right rotator cuff contusion". She explained it wasn't your normal everyday bruise but a contusion that functions more like a strain. That diagnosis presents Watson's injury as more severe and suggests he could miss a sizeable chunk of time.
Stefanski was asked if the injury is worse than originally thought and replied somewhat vaguely: "I don't know if I can characterize it that way. I think he's continuing to work the injury, rehab the injury, get better."
All eyes will be on Watson's potential availability for Week 7 against the Colts.
NFL Rumors: Raiders tried and failed to trade up for C.J. Stroud in April
The Raiders' draft plans this past April have been officially confirmed thanks to a snippet revealed by ESPN's Dan Orlovsky.
Orlovsky said this week on "The Dan Patrick Show", "We know that [the Raiders] tried to trade up for C.J. Stroud this past year."
Well, now we definitely do know.
Prior to the confirmation, there were rumors that the Raiders wanted to trade up in the 2023 NFL Draft. According to The Athletic, the Raiders were seriously looking to trade with the Bears for the No. 1 overall pick; however, once they found out what the asking price was, they turned up their noses. The Bears ended up doing business with the Panthers instead.
Las Vegas never submitted a formal offer for that top pick, yet after Orlovsky's revelation, the franchise's intentions in April have been made crystal clear. The Raiders wanted to draft who they believed was the top quarterback prospect in the class: C.J. Stroud.
Stroud went second overall to the Texans and has so far been thriving in his rookie campaign with over 1,400 passing yards and seven touchdowns. Five weeks in, he's already set a new record for the most pass attempts without an interception to begin an NFL career (186), beating Dak Prescott and Tom Brady.
Is Stroud worth the king's ransom that the Panthers paid for their No. 1 pick, Bryce Young? Only time will tell.
NFL Rumors: Eagles eye Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn as a potential trade target
The Denver Broncos aren't the only expected sellers at the October 31 trade deadline. The Carolina Panthers could tear it all down, too.
The winless Panthers have fallen short of the expectations created by Frank Reich's takeover this past summer. The running game misses CMC. The wide receiver corps misses D.J. Moore. Shoot, Panthers fans may even miss Andy Dalton.
While Carolina continues to try to troubleshoot their issues, the team's defensive stars could soon be placed on the trading block in the coming weeks. Brian Burns and Jeremy Chinn stand out as the franchise's most valuable players, and Chinn in particular already has one suitor in waiting.
The Eagles are expected to inquire about Chinn's availability this month, according to Cam Marino.
Chinn, the Panthers' second-round pick in 2020, was a rookie of the year candidate and has since developed into a consistent starting safety. He has 17 passes defended, three forced fumbles, two picks, and four sacks in his career.
Seeing Chinn join the Eagles mid-season feels like an unfair move akin to Randy Gregory going to the 49ers. Philly could nonetheless use the secondary help -- through five games, the Eagles have allowed 247.6 passing yards per game.
Should the Panthers put up the "For Sale" sign on their lawn in late October, Howie Roseman will be ready to do the Philly special and turn other teams' straw into Eagles' gold.