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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How Jaguars' LB Foye Oluokun is playing key role with implementation of new defense
How Jaguars' LB Foye Oluokun is playing key role with implementation of new defense How Jaguars' LB Foye Oluokun is playing a key role in the implementation of the new defensive system. As the Jacksonville Jaguars' defense learns a new scheme under defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, linebacker Foye Oluokun has played a valuable role in implementing the new system. "The pro's pro," Liam Coen said of Oluokun. "He's early to every meeting, sitting down, ready to go. Communicates out there at a really high level. Wants to understand the intent behind each call. He asks phenomenal questions in the meeting room settings, especially when the entire defense is in there. Oluokun is entering his eighth NFL season and has made an impact on the Jaguars' defense in a variety of ways. In 2023, he ranked 13th in run stops among all linebackers. Oluokun has also been an effective blitzer and provided a coverage element at the linebacker position as well. That well-rounded skill set can provide Campanile with a lot of flexibility from a game planning perspective with what he asks Oluokun to do. Last season, we saw strong play from the Green Bay Packers' linebacker unit under Campanile. Rookie Edgerrin Cooper was one of PFF's highest-graded linebackers overall and was a two-time NFC Defensive Player of the Week, and he was the NFC Rookie of the Month in December. Fourth-year linebacker Quay Walker had arguably his best season and, prior to a Week 15 ankle injury, was on a four-game stretch where he ranked among the best at the linebacker position in pressures, yards per catch allowed, and run stops, according to PFF's metrics. "Some of the things he brings up really forces engagement within the whole group--the coaches, the players, different position groups," Coen said of Oluokun. "I just think he has a really nice way of communicating things that he may not understand, that maybe other people are not understanding. It just brings collaborative communication together that, like I said, he's a pro's pro." Just like on the offense under Coen, multiplicity will be a fundamental element on the defensive side of the ball with Campanile. This means having a malleable system that molds to the skill sets that are on the roster and one that is quick to adjust based on what the opponent is doing. In order to have that flexibility, having a versatile presence in the middle, like Oluokun can provide, is an important component.
USA Today
12-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dolphins re-sign 4 players just as free agency begins
Dolphins re-sign 4 players just as free agency begins The Miami Dolphins announced new contracts for four of their players who were set to become free agents Wednesday afternoon. New deals for safety Elijah Campbell and outside linebacker Quinton Bell were already reported ahead of the start of the new league year. Those two were joined by offensive lineman Jackson Carman and wide receiver Dee Eskridge. Carman, 25, was a Bengals second-round pick in 2021, but joined the Dolphins practice squad in September 2024 not long after he was waived by Cincinnati. Miami moved him to the active roster in December and Carman appeared in eight games. He was the Dolphins' starting right tackle in a Week 15 game against the Houston Texans. Eskridge, 27, was also taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft -- 10 selections after Carman. The Seattle Seahawks waived the receiver and returner at the end of training camp, and he landed on the Dolphins' practice squad not long after. Eskridge was moved to the active roster in October and finished the season with three receptions for 44 yards in six games played. The terms of the deals to retain Carman and Eskridge haven't been reported or announced.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
De'Vondre Campbell not revealing why he quit on 49ers: 'I know the truth and don't care to clear anything up'
San Francisco 49ers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell has yet to address why he refused to play before leaving the field in the middle of a Week 15 game. On Friday, he briefly brought up the topic over several social media posts. "It's been 2 months and I have yet to address the situation cause I know the truth and don't care to clear anything up," Campbell wrote on X. In a response to a user telling Campbell there was no excuse quitting on his team, the nine-year NFL veteran said he "ain't addressing sh*t." "I'm rich and never have to work another day of my life and I told Kyle Shannahan and John Lynch that when they FaceTime me and begged me to come out there an hour after Green Bay cut me." During the 49ers Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Rams, Campbell decided he was done. After the game, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Campbell told the team he didn't want to play. A report from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports said general manager John Lynch confronted Campbell and told him to leave the sideline. Niners players criticized Campbell for not going in the game. The day after the game, Shanahan said Campbell's refusal to go in was "not something you can do and still be a part of our team." Campbell was suspended for the final three games of the season. The suspension cost Campbell $261,666 in salary and bonuses, according to Spotrac. Campbell, 31, was on a one-year, $5 million deal with the 49ers.
USA Today
17-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texans sign potential Jon Weeks replacement to reserve-future deal
Has Jon Weeks snapped his final ball to the Houston Texans? Maybe not, but the Texans are bringing in a backup plan just in case. The Texans have agreed to terms with long-snapper Tucker Addington to a reserve-future deal, per his agent, Robert Sheets. According to reports, the deal includes a $10,000 signing bonus. Addington worked out for the Texans last offseason but did not sign a deal. He was signed to the Miami Dolphins and even played in the Week 15 game against the Texans en route to their AFC South championship victory. The #Texans are signing long snapper Tucker Addington to a futures deal that includes $10,000 in bonus money, per his agent Rob Sheets. Addington has appeared in 10 games with three NFL teams, including New England and Miami last year. — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 17, 2025 A native of New Braunfels, Addington earned the starting job at Sam Houston State. After college, he previously played for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders. He also played for the Houston Gamblers in the United States Football League, appearing in all 10 games during the 2022 season. Weeks, who joined the Texans in 2010 as an undrafted free agent out of Baylor, has played all 14 seasons in Houston. In 2018, Weeks set the Texans' franchise record for most consecutive games played with 129. Weeks is a pending unrestricted free agent who has expressed a desire to sign a new deal, accoridng to KRPC2 Sports' Aaron Wilson. He'll be 39 this season, marking as him the oldest long-snapper in the league. The Texans finished the regular season with a 10-7 record. They'll pick 25th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joe Thuney's switch from All-Pro guard to fill-in tackle has helped elevate the Chiefs' offense
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs were rolling to the best record in the NFL when they faced a bit of a crisis. Their left tackles had struggled to protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side, threatening the ability of the Kansas City offense to execute at a high level. The solution? Moving All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney a few feet over to tackle helped plug that hole. It's one of the reasons the Chiefs have a chance to win a third straight Super Bowl on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. 'It shows that he's unselfish,' offensive line coach Andy Heck said. "He's about the team. He's such a great player, period. But especially as a guard. Then to go out to a position that he hasn't played in a long time and not even bat an eye and say 'yeah whatever you need, I'll do it.' He's got a great job for us and seems to have quieted down the whole offense so we can function efficiently." Thuney allowed no pressures at all in the AFC title game against Buffalo, according to Pro Football Focus, and has allowed only three in his last three games as he has made a quick adjustment to a position he hadn't played regularly since his final year in college at N.C. State in 2015. Thuney had played only 82 snaps at left tackle in eight-plus seasons before moving over late in a Black Friday game against the Raiders as a visibly frustrated Mahomes had a second straight game with five sacks taken. Thuney said the coaches approached him about the move and he was willing to make the switch even if it was a big adjustment. 'You're out in so much more space and you're just, you're kind of blocking different style guys with defensive ends compared to defensive tackles,' he said. 'So just trying to deal with that in these big acres of space that it feels like.' Thuney went back to his usual spot the following week before returning to left tackle in a Week 15 win over Cleveland and he has stayed there the rest of the season. Mahomes' sack rate has fallen from 7% the first 14 weeks to 2.7% since Thuney made the move. Mahomes called Thuney a 'gold-jacket' guy in reference to his prediction that he will eventually make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 'He's a great pass protector," Heck said. 'He has very good anticipation and balance. More often than not, an O-lineman gets in trouble because they've got something to get themselves in trouble. They overset. They don't set far enough. They overreact. But he doesn't seem to do those things. He keeps everything quiet and is more efficient and that's what makes him one of the best." Thuney was drafted in the third round by New England in 2016 and immediately became the starter at left guard on a team that went on to win the Super Bowl. Thuney won a title again with the Patriots in 2018 and then left to join Kansas City as a prized free agent acquisition in 2021. Thuney has added two more Super Bowl rings with the Chiefs and a win on Sunday would make him the third player with five rings, although he didn't play in the game last season against San Francisco. The only other players with at least five rings are Thuney's quarterback in New England, Tom Brady (seven), and Charles Haley (five). 'I still have to pinch myself sometimes,' Thuney said. "It's incredible. Fortunate to get drafted by an organization like the Patriots and then fortunate in free agency when the Chiefs came calling. It's been incredible.' ___ AP NFL: Josh Dubow, The Associated Press
