Lions special teams coordinator defends kicker search that has now reached 10
ALLEN PARK -- Matt Prater was the best long-ball hitter in Detroit Lions history, and the Detroit Lions’ history includes a proud tradition of some very fine kickers. “I think saying that there’s been 10 kickers in here makes it sound worse than it is,” special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said. He had a great camp, he had a better camp than Riley had for us. Everything was going great, so we were excited. We thought we kind of had the answer to the question, and then ultimately Seibert didn’t feel good.
mlive.comTom Kennedy in, both kickers out on Detroit Lions’ initial 53-man roster
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions have elected to carry six receivers, just two tight ends and a whole slew of young defensive backs in the secondary. Yes, that means Tom Kennedy made the team at receiver, despite the Lions’ trade for Trinity Benson earlier in the day. Other bubble players who made the team include DT Kevin Strong, LB Anthony Pittman, CB Bobby Price and CB Jerry Jacobs. Parker, CB Jerry Jacobs, S/CB Bobby Price, S Tracy Walker, S Will Harris, S Dean Marlowe, S C.J. MooreOut: CB Mike Ford, CB Corn Elder, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, S Jalen Elliott, S Alijah HolderSpecialists (2)In: P Jack Fox, LS Scott DalyOut: K Zane Gonzalez, K Randy Bullock
mlive.comDetroit Lions sign kicker Zane Gonzalez, waive Matthew Wright
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions are making some moves in the kicker room, signing Zane Gonzalez and waiving Matthew Wright. Wright, much like Lions kicker Randy Bullock, didn’t fare well in the team’s weekend scrimmage at Ford Field, missing his final two attempts and a couple more with the team back outside for practice Tuesday. So, now it’ll be Gonzalez vs. Bullock on the unenviable quest to replace Matt Prater. Lions coach Dan Campbell was asked about the kicking struggles over the weekend, coming to Bullock’s defense at the moment. Gonzalez was limited to 12 games last season, going 16 of 22 with a long of 56 yards.
mlive.comReport: Detroit Lions finalizing deal with veteran kicker Randy Bullock
ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions wasted little time finding Matt Prater’s potential replacement, with the team reportedly finalizing a deal with veteran kicker Randy Bullock. Bullock, 31, spent parts of the previous five seasons in Cincinnati after stops with both New York teams, the Steelers and Texans. Prater made a ridiculous 21 of 27 field-goal attempts from more than 50 yards in seven seasons with the Lions. While Prater’s final season in Detroit was far from his best, he didn’t miss any kicks from closer than 40 yards. Bullock missed two kicks from less than 40 yards out, including a brutal one at the horn in last season’s opener.
mlive.comBrowns short-handed as they face Jets
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)The Cleveland Browns are short-handed as they try to clinch the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2002, the longest active drought in the NFL. They learned Sunday morning they will be without starting rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills against the New York Jets because of an illness. The Browns will be missing receivers Rashard Higgins, Donovan Peoples-Jones and KhaDarel Hodge and linebacker Jacob Phillips. The Indianapolis Colts will be without both starting offensive tackles when they face the Pittsburgh Steelers. This comes after they placed LB Whitney Mercilus on the COVID list on Christmas.
Colts have left tackle Castonzo, LB Okereke vs. Raiders
Indianapolis left tackle Anthony Castonzo and starting linebacker Bobby Okereke are both active for the Colts’ visit to the Las Vegas Raiders. ___GREEN BAY AT DETROITPackers: QB Jordan Love, CB Ka’dar Hollman, LB Jonathan Garvin, G Simon Stepaniak, WR Malik Taylor, TE Jace Sternberger. Raiders: QB Nathan Peterman, CB Damon Arnette, RB Theo Riddick, OT Brandon Parker, OG John Simpson, DE Carl Nassib. Eagles: CB Michael Jacquet, QB Nate Sudfeld, WR John Hightower, RB Jason Huntley, DB Grayland Arnold, S Rudy Ford, LB T.J. Edwards. Jaguars: QB Jake Luton, CB Luq Barcoo, LB Kamalei Correa, LB Quincy Williams, C Brandon Linder, TE Tyler Davis, DE Reggie Gilbert.
Rivers throw 3 TD passes as Colts rally past Bengals 31-27
(AP Photo/AJ Mast)INDIANAPOLIS – Philip Rivers never flinched with the Indianapolis Colts facing a 21-0 first-half deficit Sunday. He went back to work and joined MVP quarterbacks Bert Jones and Peyton Manning in the Indianapolis Colts' record book. ... Mixon left in the first half with a right foot injury but returned at the start of the second half. ... DT Christian Covington and CB William Jackson III both got hurt in the second half and returned later. ... CB Xavier Rhodes and WR Marcus Johnson also were shaken up in the second half but returned.
Mixon's 3 TDs pace Bengals in 33-25 win over Jaguars
Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Jordan Evans (50) celebrates late in the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Cincinnati, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. The Bengals defeated the Jaguars 33-25. After linebacker Jordan Evans intercepted a tipped Gardner Minshew pass, the Bengals started on Jacksonville’s 40 and got nowhere, Burrow overthrowing an open A.J. The Jags added a field goal with 8 seconds left, but the ensuing onside kick was unsuccessful. He missed a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter but converted on four others, including a 50-yarder in the second half.
Browns tackle Conklin not starting against Bengals
CLEVELAND – Backup right tackle Chris Hubbard will start over injured Jack Conklin for the Cleveland Browns when they host the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night. Conklin, who was the Browns' biggest signing in free agency this winter, injured his ankle and a finger in last week's season-opening, 38-6 loss at Baltimore. He's active to face the Bengals, but the Browns announced before the game that Chris Hubbard is starting. Cleveland starting center JC Tretter (knee) and rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills (knee) are both playing. Starting cornerback Greedy Williams (shoulder) will miss his second straight game andThe Bengals are missing defensive tackles Geno Atkins (shoulder) and Mike Daniels (groin).
Burrow, Bengals hit road vs Browns on NFL's 100th birthday
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts after running for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Cincinnati. Outside, Burrow got lessons on Paul Brown, Jim Brown, Boomer Esiason, Bernie Kosar, The Ickey Shuffle and Dawg Pound. “In my eyes I played terrible through 3 1/2 quarters and then played up to my standards in the last drive and almost won the game,” Burrow said. RUN OVERThe Bengals significantly overhauled the NFL’s worst run defense of last season — 149 yards allowed per game —- and had a tough start against the Chargers, who ran for 155. Bengals coach Zac Taylor expects Bullock, who fully practiced on Tuesday, to handle kicking duties against the Browns.
You can't say the crowds influenced rusty NFL officials
“For one, he was clamping me the whole time,” Green complained afterward, saying the officials should call it both ways. “Honestly, it reminded me of the times I was back at the College of San Mateo, my junior college,” Edelman said. It brought me back at least to high school, junior college, college. In some ways, it brings the game back to why you started playing, just to love playing the game. ___With contributions from AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell and AP Sports Writers Tim Booth, Larry Lage and Kyle Hightower.