by Zack Cox on Tue, Jan 3, 2017 at 2:46PM 1,223 Share this: When Dion Lewis is on the field, his job typically is either to carry the ball or catch passes. But New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick also has been impressed with the job the diminutive running back has done in pass protection. “It’s definitely been a catch-up area for him,” Belichick said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters. “But he’s worked hard to do that, and I think a lot of pass protection — I mean, those backs are almost always giving up some size unless it’s a secondary blitzer. They’re usually giving up some size to the linebackers and occasionally when they have to block a defensive end or
Tag: running
James Starks Placed In Packers’ Concussion Protocol After Car Crash
Share this: The Green Bay Packers unfortunate luck with running backs in 2016 continued this week. James Starks is in the team’s concussion protocol after he was involved in a car crash Monday, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy announced Thursday. McCarthy said Starks otherwise is OK but didn’t provide further details of what happened. The veteran running back, who didn’t practice Wednesday due to a concussion, has had a tough year, rushing for just 145 yards on 63 attempts while missing four games due to injury. Converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery and free agent pickup Christine Michael have handled most of Green Bay’s meager rushing attack in recent weeks, combining for 19 carries in last Sunday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks. Starks’ absence likely
Week 13 Waiver Wire: Best Pickups For Fantasy Football Playoffs
Share this: Fantasy football playoffs begin in many leagues in Week 13, so this might be your last chance to make improvements for a championship run. There are two teams on a bye this week (Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns), which means it might not be a bad idea to examine who’s available and make needed adds. Here are the best waiver-wire pickups at every position. Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill, Miami DolphinsTannehill threw for 285 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The Dolphins are 7-4 and in the thick of the playoff race, and they’ll need Tannehill to be effective to end their postseason drought. Other quarterbacks to pursue: Colin Kaepernick (SF), Josh McCown (CLE) Running
Gio Bernard Injury: Bengals Running Back Tore ACL In Week 11, Per Report
The Cincinnati Bengals lost 16-12 to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but that might be the least of their concerns. They lost superstar wide receiver A.J. Green to a hamstring injury that reportedly includes a significant tear, and they also will be without running back Gio Bernard after he tore his ACL, per NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. It goes without saying that Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton will need to find some new targets after these injuries, both of which could be crippling blows. Bernard has rushed for 318 yards and two touchdowns through nine games, but his real impact has come in the passing attack, where he’s tallied 296 yards and ... NESN.com
Dion Lewis Will Eventually Bring Unpredictability Back To Patriots’ Offense
Share this: It’s unclear why the New England Patriots activated Dion Lewis off the physically unable to perform list just to make him inactive in Week 10, but it was the right decision. Regular season loss or not, the New England Patriots need to keep Lewis healthy for the postseason. Lewis has played just 31 of a possible 89 games since being selected in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and his health probably is even more vulnerable as he’s months removed from multiple knee surgeries. Even when Lewis finally is active for a game, it seems unlikely he’ll receive a full workload. It’s much more likely that will come playoff time, despite head coach Bill Belichick implying Lewis might not pass James White
Patriots Sign Tyler Gaffney Off Practice Squad To Fill 53-Man Roster
Share this: ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Tyler Gaffney could be in line to make his NFL debut Sunday after being signed by the New England Patriots off their practice squad. The Patriots take on the Buffalo Bills in the Week 8 matchup The Patriots had an open spot on their 53-man roster after releasing defensive tackle Anthony Johnson earlier in the week. The Patriots had to fill their 53-man roster, per NFL rules based on the experience of players on their practice squad. Running back Dion Lewis remains on the physically unable to perform list for another week. Gaffney was released by the Patriots after training camp with an injury settlement and signed to their practice squad Oct. 17. He’s the fifth running back on
Terrelle Pryor Injury: Browns Star Could Miss Week 7 Due To Hamstring
Share this: Terrelle Pryor has been one of the more exciting breakout stars of the 2016 NFL season, but that fame might be put on hold for a week. Pryor missed practice Wednesday and Thursday after pulling his hamstring in a Week 6 loss against the Tennessee Titans, but the injury is not as bad as the hamstring strain he suffered in 2015, according to Cleveland.com. “We’re just being precautious and taking the right steps for the team,” Pryor said. “It happened in the third quarter, and then it got worse in the fourth. Someone pushed me when I was going to block for Duke (Johnson). I got pushed out of bounds and I was trying to catch myself and then someone hit