NFL News & Analysis

5 things you need to know for Friday

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - AUGUST 17: Running back Danny Woodhead #39 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during a preseason game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on August 17, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/ Getty Images)

Hey there football fans! Here are five stories from yesterday that you need to know to start out your Fridays:

Brett Jones receives reps as the starting right guard. The Giants may be considering a shake up on their interior offensive line.

Jones played excellent on Monday night, earning an 80.1 overall grade, the highest on the offensive line. He also had a highlight-reel screen block in his 30 snaps while not allowing a pressure.

While Jones may not take the starting spot of center Weston Richburganytime soon, right guard John Jerry’s spot could be in danger. Jerry’s 71.2 overall grade in 2016 ranked 41st among guards, his run blocking specifically could use improvement (45.2 run block grade).

Packers T Bryan Bulaga left practice with an ankle injury. He was one of the top pass-blocking tackles in the league last year.

Bulaga played 1,256 snaps for the Green Bay Packers in 2016, and ended the season ranked 14th of 76 offensive tackles with a PFF grade of 85.5.

He performed especially well in pass protection, and allowed just 34 total pressures on his 679 pass blocking snaps, for a pass blocking efficiency of 96.1, good for 14th among 61 qualifying offensive tackles. He ended the 2016 campaign with a pass blocking grade of 89.3, the fourth-highest among tackles.

Cohen reported that second-year offensive tackle Kyle Murphy took the snaps at right tackle in Bulaga’s absence. Murphy played 81 pass-blocking snaps last preseason, and allowed just four total pressures, but he managed just eight snaps in the regular season.

Danny Woodhead is expected to miss Saturday's preseason game. He is dealing with a hamstring issue.

The veteran has had issues with injuries in the past, most recently tearing his ACL Week 2 of last year, forcing him onto IR and ending his season. Woodhead played only a total of 55 snaps in 2016, leaving him with an overall grade of 48.3.

The Ravens will hope to see Woodhead return to his 2015 form, where he ended the season with an overall grade of 74.9. Woodhead excelled in his role as a receiving back that year, running 395 snaps in route (the cumulative number of snaps the RB ran a route), good for most among running backs. His 1.91 yards per route run (the number of yards a RB picks up on a per-route basis) ranked fourth among all AFC running backs.

Devonta Freeman will not play in the Falcons' third preseason game. He's in the league's concussion protocol.

After earning an overall grade of 83.3 in 2016, good for eighth among running backs, Freeman was awarded a five-year, $41.25 million contract extension in the offseason.

Freeman excelled at breaking off long runs last year, earning 405 yards on carries of 15 or more yards, sixth-most among running backs in the NFL. His 37.5 breakaway percentage (the percentage of yards that come on runs of 15 or more yards) ranked second-highest in the NFC among running backs, trailing only teammate Tevin Coleman.

Donte Moncrief is wearing a non-contact jersey at practice. He continues to work through an AC joint injury.

Moncrief posted career-lows in catch percentage (55.6 percent) and yards after catch per reception (2.5) in 2016. He finished with an overall grade of 78.0, 39th-highest at the wide receiver position.

As a rookie in 2014, Moncrief had a passer rating when targeted of 122.0, good for sixth-best at the wide receiver position. He followed that up with ratings of 93.5 (2015) and 96.2 (2016) and has proven to be a legitimate threat for Andrew Luck opposite T.Y. Hilton.

Subscriptions

Unlock the 2023 Fantasy Draft Kit, with League Sync, Live Draft Assistant, PFF Grades & Data Platform that powers all 32 Pro Teams

$31 Draft Kit Fee + $8.99/mo
OR
$89.88/yr + FREE Draft Kit