The San Francisco 49ers have a well-documented quarterback controversy on their hands, featuring veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Trey Lance.
Following Sunday’s 15-10 preseason victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if he would name Garoppolo the starter for the 49ers’ Week 1 road contest against the Detroit Lions.
However, Shanahan wouldn’t reveal his big decision yet.
“No, I’m not ready to make an announcement, per Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. “(When?) It’s hard for me to give a date. It’s based off when we know and when we feel like naming it. I promise it will be by that Sunday.”
The 49ers made a blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins to move up and select Lance with the No. 3 selection. The North Dakota State product completed eight of 14 pass attempts for 102 yards and two touchdowns against one pick against the Chargers.
The injury-pronge Garoppolo was limited to 10 games last season, and he missed all but three contests in 2018.
But he also helped the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance two years ago, so it’s easy to understand why Shanahan is considering Garoppolo for the starting job.
Jets Will Be Without Jarrad Davis Out Long-Term
The New York Jets received more bad news.
They lost defensive end Carl Lawson for the season after he tore his achilles in practice. Now, they’ll be without linebacker Jarrad Davis for approximately two months, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.
Head coach Robert Saleh gave a hopeful timeline of having Davis back around the team’s bye week, per Cimini. The Jets’ bye will come the week after they play the Atlanta Falcons in London in Week 5.
The Jets signed Lawson to a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency. The 26-year-old Davis signed a one-year pact worth $5.5 million.
There is no easy way of replacing Lawson and Davis in New York’s front seven. They’ll really need third-year defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, veteran linebacker C.J. Mosley and free agent pickup Sheldon Rankins to help shoulder the load this season.
The Jets own the NFL’s longest active playoff drought, having last made the postseason in 2010. Only the Detroit Lions and Houston Texans (both +20000) have lower NFL lines than the Jets at +15000.
Geno Atkins Visits Seahawks
Free agent defensive tackle Geno Atkins visited the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
One of the top free agents available, Atkins was released by the Cincinnati Bengals on March 19 following an 11-year tenure with the franchise. The eight-time Pro Bowler was limited to eight games last season.
If the Seahawks were to sign Atkins, it would reunite him with former Bengal teammate Carlos Dunlap. Seattle acquired Dunlap via trade last year, and after a strong audition, he landed a two-year contract extension.
The Seahawks recorded 46 sacks last season. Adding Atkins would add more depth to an already strong pass rushing group.
Steelers, T.J. Watt Reportedly Nearing Extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers and star pass rusher T.J. Watt are reportedly closing in on a long-term deal.
According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the expectation is that Watt will sign an extension after Friday’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Dulac reported that the new deal “will make him the league’s highest-paid defensive player.”
Watt has been one of the NFL’s elite defensive players of the past three years. The 26-year-old led the Steelers with 15 sacks last season, which also marked a career high. He has racked up 42.5 total sacks over the last three seasons.
For his career, Watt has 49.5 sacks, 25 passes defended and 17 forced fumbles in 62 games.
Watt’s efforts helped the Steelers to 12 wins and an AFC North division title, their first playoff berth in three years. He finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year behind Aaron Donald, who won the award for the third time in four years.
Watt finished third in the voting in 2019. The award was won by New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Chandler Jones of the Arizona Cardinals finished second.
