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NFC WEST
Arizona
Cardinals
The
Cardinals have lost offensive guard Jonathan Cooper for the year
following the broken leg he suffered in their third preseason game.
The first-round pick figured to immediately improve a suspect O-line
that plagued the team for most of the 2012 season. Arizona was hoping
the rookie would solidify the offensive line on Carson
Palmer’s blind side and open up running lanes between the tackles
for Rashard Mendenhall. But even without Cooper, the line is in
better shape than last year thanks to the offseason addition of
Eric Winston at right tackle. Tight end Jeff
King (knee) will require surgery and may also be placed on IR.
Frequently injured running back Ryan
Williams will be among the five backs on the roster, but it's
unlikely that the Cardinals will carry all five into the season,
so he is expected to be traded.
St. Louis
Rams
No
one from the Rams suffered an injury in the final preseason game,
and beyond depth chart evaluations, there were few other goals
for the contest. Most starters didn’t see the field, and only
a handful of second-string players saw any significant time. One
statistic, committing 17 penalties, was particularly troubling
for St. Louis, but hopefully that lack of execution will be cut
with many of the roster moves made Saturday. Starting wide receiver
Tavon
Austin and backup running back Isaiah
Pead each lost a fumble against the Ravens, and other that
and the penalties, there weren’t many impactful negative moments
against the reigning Super Bowl champions. With no additional
injuries nor suspensions, and with currently injured players progressing
as expected, there is little significant news to add. The Rams
open the season against NFC West opponent Arizona and will get
a chance to display their brand new offensive weapons against
a Cardinals secondary full of defensive playmakers.
San Francisco
49ers
Through
a series of roster moves, the 49ers have answered their biggest
offseason question of who will be their primary receivers for
2013. Michael
Crabtree and Mario
Manningham were both placed on the PUP list, suggesting that
the team expects them to be available toward the middle of the
season. Receiver Austin
Collie, who was brought in to training camp as a free agent,
has been released, leaving Anquan
Boldin and Quinton
Patton as the starters and Kyle Williams, Jonathan
Baldwin, and Marlon
Moore as the only other receivers on the roster. Third-string
running back and starting return man LaMichael
James sprained his MCL against the Chargers and is expected
to miss three weeks; receivers Williams or Patton are predicted
to fill in for his return duties. In one series of play against
San Diego, quarterback Colin
Kaepernick completed three of four passes for 64 yards and
a touchdown, earning a nearly perfect quarterback rating for his
final performance in preparation for the start of the season.
Seattle Seahawks
Injuries
may knock the Seahawks' defense down from daunting to merely good,
at least for a week or two. Defensive ends Cliff
Avril (hamstring) and Michael
Bennett (toe) are both uncertain for Week 1. Defensive tackles
Tony
McDaniel and Brandon
Mebane are both recovering from groin strains, but coach Pete
Carroll is hopeful they’ll be available. Another defensive tackle,
rookie Jordan
Hill (biceps), is listed as week- to-week, while fellow draftee
and defensive tackle Jesse
Williams was placed on IR and will miss the season. Additionally
defensive end/linebacker Bruce
Irvin will miss the first four games of the year due to suspension,
and Chris
Clemons (ACL) has recently been activated from the PUP list.
To bolster the defensive line, a trade was made to acquire defensive
tackle D'Anthony
Smith from the Jaguars in the closing moments before the final
roster cut down. On Saturday, cornerback Antoine
Winfield was informed that he was not going to make the 53-man
roster and he opted to retire. At the start of the preseason the
Seahawks had an embarrassment of riches on defense, but the recent
rash of injuries will test their depth for the first game or two
of the 2013 season.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
For
the Falcons, Week 4 of the preseason was fairly uneventful. Coach
Mike Smith made a few positive remarks about injury recoveries,
stating that wide receiver Roddy White (ankle), cornerback Asante
Samuel (thigh), linebacker Stephen Nicholas, and kicker Matt Bryant
(back) are "on schedule" to be ready for Week 1. Rookie
cornerbacks Robert Alford and Desmond Trufant, the replacements
for Samuel, each recorded interceptions against Jacksonville. The
biggest concern remaining for the Falcons is still the O-line, and
with roster cuts made across the league this weekend, they’ll
be watching the waiver wire closely for someone who can contribute.
Brian Banks, a preseason addition at linebacker, made national news
when he was released from jail this summer. It was determined that
he was improperly imprisoned for five years for a crime he didn’t
commit. Banks was cut Friday, but his final remarks to the team
were about seizing every opportunity and making the most of the
moments they get to do what they love. Although he won’t be
with the Falcons this year, his impact will certainly carry on throughout
the season.
Carolina Panthers
Significant
injuries finally reached the Panthers, though the news isn’t
exactly a surprising development. Running back Jonathan Stewart
hasn’t participated in any physical preseason activities and
has been placed on the PUP list. He’ll be eligible to return
in six weeks (five games, one bye), though there is speculation
that even that much time will not be enough for him to fully recover
from surgery on his left ankle. DeAngelo Williams will likely be
the primary running back in Carolina, with Mike Tolbert as the principle
change-of-pace back. As cuts were made the biggest surprise came
with the release of cornerback Drayton Florence. The 11-year veteran
provided experience and leadership in the young Panthers secondary,
despite being at best a dime or nickel defensive back. And in the
event of injuries, his skill set had been counted on by teammates
and coaches alike. One significant takeaway from the fourth preseason
game was the play of Ted Ginn Jr., as he recorded five receptions
(on six targets) for 149 yards and two touchdowns. The presence
of a legitimate third wide receiver would give Carolina nearly unlimited
offensive potential.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints began the fourth preseason game with a neutral zone infraction,
and most of what followed was downhill from there. Most starters
dressed but didn’t play, and those who remained accounted
for 11 penalties and four turnovers. On a positive note, they scored
a touchdown on a fumble recovery, forced one more turnover, recorded
four sacks, and wide receiver Marques Colston recorded a catch in
his first appearance of 2013. While little can be gleaned from a
game filled with backups, one thing that can’t be ignored
is how porous the Saints defense appears to be. Losing linebacker
Will Smith (knee) for the season certainly won’t help that,
as his leadership and experience will be missed on a defensive that
will have to come up with enough stops to let the New Orleans offense
win games this season. Under coach Sean Peyton, and led by quarterback
Drew Brees, the Saints will always be a scoring threat, so if their
defense can contribute at all, the team will always have a chance
to win. Barring any pleasant surprises though, expect all Saints
games to be high scoring extravaganzas.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The
Buccaneers have officially stated that cornerback Darrelle Revis
is ready to play in Week 1, giving his team one of the preseason’s
most anticipated secondary units in the league. Leonard Johnson
and rookie Jonathan Banks are the two next cornerbacks behind Revis,
and Dashon Goldson and Mark Barron will man the safety positions.
After the deficiencies in that area last season, Tampa Bay appears
to have drastically improved their pass defense heading into 2013.
Behind the return of Revis, the biggest development for the Buccaneers
was the discovery of MRSA in their facility, which infected two
starters (guard Carl Nicks and kicker Lawrence Tynes). Nicks has
not been cleared nor ruled out for Week 1 and Tynes was put on Non-Football
Related Injured Reserve for the season. Rian Lindell, formerly of
the Bills, beat out rookie Derek Dimke for the starting kicker role,
but because of his distance limitations it is expected that Dimke
or punter Michael Koenen will be responsible for the long attempts.
Running back Doug Martin (head) will be available for Week 1 after
suffering a mild concussion earlier in the preseason.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Like
many other teams, the Bears didn’t play many of their starters
during the fourth preseason game, but one of them wasn’t even
on the sidelines. Wide receiver Brandon
Marshall had a prescheduled follow-up to evaluate his hip
during an approved four-day absence from team activities. Despite
“not feeling 100 percent” he will be ready for Week 1. Uncertainty
along the offensive line is all but gone following the release
of left tackle J’Marcus Webb, which cements Jermon Bushrod at
that position. Rookies right guard Kyle Long and right tackle
Jordan Mills have earned starting roles, as confirmed by their
not playing in the final preseason game. With minimal injury concerns
and most preseason question marks answered, the Bears appear to
be one of the most complete teams heading into 2013 under new
Coach Marc Trestman.
Detroit Lions
It’s
possible the biggest news from the Lions this week is that they
cut a rookie kicker. Havard “Kickalicious” Rugland is a Norwegian
YouTube sensation who came to Detroit to challenge David
Akers for the starting role; his release confirms that Akers
is the Lions' starting kicker for 2013. Their final preseason
game featured a slew of backups trying to make the team and a
few spotty performances from wide receivers trying to earn more
playing time. With Calvin
Johnson and Ryan
Broyles (the Lions' No. 1 and No. 3 receivers, respectively)
each sitting out, Nate
Burleson was given an opportunity to shine. He was largely
inconsistent against the Bills, only making one reception (12
yards) with one drop on three targets. Joique
Bell appears to have won the backup running back role, as
he earned the start and only saw limited carries (including a
23-yard TD run) before being rested. Beyond those minor developments
and unsurprising conclusions, the final week of the preseason
was pleasantly uneventful.
Green Bay
Packers
Of
all the roster moves made this week, those of the Packers are
among the most surprising. Starting running back DuJuan
Harris (knee) was placed on IR for an injury that previously
had him listed as questionable. 2012 leading rusher Alex
Green was cut. And embattled starter Mason
Crosby remained as the only kicker on the roster by the time
Saturday was finished. Additionally, quarterbacks Vince
Young (who was brought into camp to compete for a backup role)
and Graham
Harrell were released, leaving B.J.
Coleman and newly acquired Seneca
Wallace as the other quarterbacks on the roster behind Aaron
Rodgers. Other than those few surprises, not much news came out
of Green Bay this week, as the Packers were able to avoid injury
in the final preseason game.
Minnesota
Vikings
Few
starters saw playing time for the Vikings in the final exhibition
game against the Titans, but one player on the roster bubble did
play his way onto the final team. Cornerback Marcus
Sherels made an interception and also returned a kickoff for
a 109-yard touchdown to survive roster-cut Saturday. Reluctance
to play the starters was reinforced when defensive tackle Kevin
Williams was hurt in the preseason game last week. He was
diagnosed with a hyperextended knee and a significant bone bruise
but is expected to fully recover without surgery, though the timetable
for his return has not been released. The biggest Vikings news
came in the form of a three-game suspension for fullback Jerome
Felton in response to an alcohol-related arrest over 16 months
ago; charges have since been dropped. Felton is still recovering
from the emergency appendectomy he had this preseason, so if you
look for silver linings, the suspension assures that he will be
fully recovered from surgery when he is eligible to return to
the field.
NFC EAST
Dallas
Cowboys
In
the battle for the Governor’s Cup, the Cowboys provided little
resistance to their in-state rivals (Houston) during the fourth
preseason game. Unfortunately, losing that game is among the least
of their worries, with a number of potential injury concerns and
players who have already been ruled out for some or all of the
season. From the offensive line, guard Ronald Leary (knee) is
listed as questionable for Week 1, and guard Nate Livings (knee)
is described as “week to week.” The defensive line isn’t in much
better shape, with defensive end Anthony Spencer (knee) questionable
for Week 1, defensive tackle Jay
Ratliff (hamstring) on the PUP list, and defensive end Tyrone
Crawford (Achilles) out for the year. On roster cut-down Saturday,
the Cowboys traded to acquire defensive end Edgar
Jones from the Chiefs in an effort to shore up the injury-depleted
D-line. The backup running back position seems to still be in
flux, with Lance
Dunbar (foot, questionable for Week 1) missing time late in
the preseason and thus giving Joseph
Randle most of the significant touches. If line concerns and
injuries aren’t quickly resolved on both sides of the ball, the
Cowboys will experience a shaky start to the season.
Philadelphia
Eagles
No
news is good news for the Eagles following the final preseason
game. Most starters did not play, but coach Chip Kelly’s up-tempo
offense was on display yet again. Much like their previous games,
it was ultimately the defense that determined the outcome of the
game, so after surrendering 285 yards to the Jets' fourth-string
quarterback, it isn’t surprising that the high-powered Eagles
fell just short of a victory. Most significantly, Philadelphia
was able to avoid injuries to players that would ultimately make
their final roster, so from a coaching standpoint the game was
a success. A small piece of news came out of Philadelphia this
week when Coach Kelly announced that starting receiver DeSean
Jackson will return punts this season. While most teams prefer
not to risk their starters on special teams, Jackson’s abilities
are too great for his team not to try to utilize him in as many
ways as possible, which fits right in with Kelly’s coaching philosophy.
New York
Giants
Starters
for the Giants played three series against the Patriots—easily
two more series than most other teams did during the fourth preseason
game. From one perspective, both sides of the ball needed the
work, as no Giants unit has been particularly inspiring during
any of their exhibition contests. Quarterback Eli Manning finished
6-9 for 74 yards and a touchdown—only their third touchdown
of the preseason. The defense played well against the Patriots
backups and finally looked respectable against the run. From another
perspective, coach Tom Coughlin caught heat from the press after
the game when it was revealed that running back Andre Brown broke
his fibula and is expected to be out 4-6 weeks, even though he
will not require surgery. Brown and starting running back David
Wilson were slated to share carries to some extent, but for the
time being it appears that Wilson is likely to serve as the primary
back in New York.
Washington
Redskins
Operation
Patience has finally reached its successful conclusion for quarterback
Robert Griffin III and the Redskins. The reigning Offensive Rookie
of the Year tweeted that he was finally at “100 percent”
and has officially received medical clearance from his doctor;
he is scheduled to start Week 1. Returning from ACL surgery, safety
Brandon Meriweather saw his first playing time since November,
and he too should be ready for the first game. Despite that good
news, the Redskins will have a few bumps to overcome at the beginning
of the season. Defensive end Jarvis Jenkins and linebacker Rob
Jackson will each serve four-game suspensions to start the year.
Also, Adam Carriker was placed on the PUP list and will miss at
least six weeks, and defensive tackle Barry Cofield is likely
out for a week or two after suffering a broken hand against the
Buccaneers. The suspensions and injuries aren’t ideal of
course, but with the offense led by RG3, the defense will be good
enough early and should only get better as the year progresses.
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