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USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
OLB Baron Browning named Arizona Cardinals' bounce-back candidate in 2025
OLB Baron Browning named Arizona Cardinals' bounce-back candidate in 2025 With a few possible candidates, PFF names OLB Baron Browning as their top bounce-back player in 2025 The Arizona Cardinals hope to bounce back from a bad end to their season, going from 6-4 and in the NFC West lead to losing five of their final games. They also have players who could bounce back. Who is their most likely bounce-back candidate? PFF gave a bounce-back candidate for each team. For the Cardinals, it is linebacker Baron Browning. On the surface, the Cardinals extending a player who earned just a 58.0 PFF grade last season may not seem wise. However, Baron Browning found his groove as a pass rusher after being traded to Arizona and could be poised for a return to his 2023 form. From Weeks 10 through 18 last season, Browning ranked 16th among qualified edge defenders with a 77.3 pass-rush grade. He also ranked sixth among that same group with an 18.6% pass-rush win rate. A full season of that level of production would significantly improve the outlook of Arizona's pass rush. Browning gradually increased his playing time late in the season and the Cardinals re-signed him for two more seasons. They hope he can be the player who had 9.5 sacks in 24 games in 2022-2023. His issue has been staying healthy. He is now in an improved outside linebacker room with Josh Sweat and with BJ Ojulari returning. And Zaven Collins, who led the Cardinals with five sacks, remains on the roster and could improve in his third year playing off the edge. Browning isn't the only player who could bounce back. Ojulari, who missed all last season, is another possibility, as is tackle Jonah Williams, who went down twice with knee injuries. If Browning can produce five to seven sacks in a rotational role, he will be well worth his two-year deal and the trade to acquire him last season. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Panthers HC Dave Canales explains the release of OLB Jadeveon Clowney
Panthers HC Dave Canales explains the release of OLB Jadeveon Clowney The Carolina Panthers and head coach Dave Canales have their eyes on the future. Canales spoke with reporters following the first session of his team's rookie minicamp on Friday. He was asked about yesterday's somewhat surprising release of veteran outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who notched a team-leading 5.5 sacks this past season. "Really appreciate JD," Canales stated. "Certainly, when you watch the 2024 film, he's a guy that just gave everything that he had on the field. So we really appreciate that. And there was a lot of things—from a general cap space standpoint, and things going forward, and about opportunity. "We're developmentally-minded, and we understand we bring two outside linebackers, two edge rushers in, and all those reps all valuable. We felt like this is a time to make sure those guys are getting the volume of the reps in and the learning that's going on." Those two edge rushers are Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, Carolina's Day 2 picks from the 2025 NFL draft. So Clowney's departure has not only freed up approximately $7.8 million of salary cap space, but it also opens up more chances—as Canales alluded to—for the rookies to see the field. The Panthers also signed former Minnesota Viking Pat Jones II to a two-year, $15 million pact during out of free agency. Jones II, who is coming off a career-high 7.0 sacks in 2024, will likely take over the void in the starting lineup left behind by the release. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Panthers officially part ways with 8 players, including OLB Jadeveon Clowney
Panthers officially part ways with 8 players, including OLB Jadeveon Clowney The Carolina Panthers did a bit of spring cleaning before embarking on this year's installment of rookie minicamp. As announced on Thursday afternoon, the team has parted ways with eight players—including three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney. Clowney's release, which will free up nearly $8 million in cap space, was first reported on by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler just moments before the move was made official. A Rock Hill, S.C. native and University of South Carolina star, Clowney signed a two-year, $20 million deal to return home last March. But he'd last just one season, recording 46 combined tackles and 5.5 sacks over 14 games. In addition to Clowney, the Panthers cut ties with the following players: WR T.J. Luther (Waived) WR Dax Milne (Waived) TE Colin Granger (Injury settlement) TE Jordan Matthews (Released) C Andrew Raym (Waived) DT Popo Aumavae (Waived) DT Jerrod Clark (Waived) Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Denver Broncos: Tracking prospect visits ahead of NFL draft
From meetings at the NFL combine to facility visits to virtual Zoom calls, the Denver Broncos will be busy connecting with prospects leading up to the 2025 NFL draft. We will track all of the team's known meetings (in-person and virtual) leading up to the draft on this page. Check back leading up to April 24 as the tracker will be updated. Broncos pre-draft visits Quarterback QB Cam Miller (visit) QB Taylor Elgersma (pro day) QB Max Brosmer (virtual meetings) Advertisement Running back Wide receiver Tight end Offensive line Defensive line Pass rushers OLB Elijah Ponder (visit) OLB Ty French (Tropical Bowl) OLB Xavier Carlton (pro day) Linebackers Secondary Special teams LS William Wagner (meeting) P Kai Kroeger (visit) P Jack Culbreath (pro day) P James Burnip (meeting) P Alex Mastromanno (meeting) K Andres Borregales (Shrine Bowl) The 2025 NFL draft will be held in Wisconsin from April 24-26 (Denver holds seven picks). These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Tracking prospect visits ahead of NFL draft
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Report: Wisconsin inside linebacker out for remainder of spring practice with leg injury
Report: Wisconsin inside linebacker out for remainder of spring practice with leg injury #Badgers LB Thomas Heiberger has been shut down for the spring after injuring his left leg during practice Thursday. Went down during a punt drill. Tough break for Heiberger. Mised most of last season after a training camp leg injury and is moving from OLB to ILB this spring. — Colten Bartholomew (@CBartWSJ) April 5, 2025 Wisconsin redshirt freshman linebacker Thomas Heiberger will miss the remainder of the spring practice period with a leg injury, according to BadgerExtra's Colten Bartholomew. The former four-star recruit was in the news entering spring as he made a notable switch from outside to inside linebacker. While a path to playing time may still exist, this news halts his momentum toward a position on the opening two-deep. Heiberger joined the Badgers as a four-star recruit in the class of 2024, ranked as the No. 463 overall player in the country, the No. 40 linebacker and the class' top player from South Dakota. He was an early standout from fall camp last season, though suffered a knee injury during the period and went on to miss most of the 2024 season. He eventually returned to the field for the season's final four games, during which appeared solely on special teams. Wisconsin's outside linebacker room received a major boost this offseason with the additions of transfers Mason Reiger and Tyreese Fearbry. The two join a crowded group, currently led by returning seniors Darryl Peterson and Aaron Witt, plus former North Carolina transfer Sebastian Cheeks. That dynamic likely prompted Heiberger's move to inside linebacker, where Wisconsin has major questions next to returning starter Christian Alliegro. Former USC transfer Tackett Curtis projects to start, with Tyler Jansey and Western Carolina transfer Antarron Turner as primary backups. With health, Heiberger shouldn't have much trouble cracking that two-deep rotation. However, health is becoming a key question for the former top recruit, who has now been sidelined for most of his time with the program. Wisconsin will hope to get Heiberger back on the field for training camp and its final 2025 season preparation. The team needs a breakout year defensively after a program-worst 2024 campaign. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
