Bengals’ Hill ready for Mixon
Cincinnati running back Jeremy Hill said he’s prepared to take on former Oklahoma star Joe Mixon and anyone else for the starting job. “Bring ‘em all on,” Hill said. “They’re probably going to be my backup.”
Minutes before the Bengals raised some eyebrows by taking running back
Joe Mixon in the second round of the draft, Jeremy
Hill tweeted a link to a television interview about the possibility of getting company in the backfield this year.
“Bring ‘em all on,” Hill says in the interview . “They want to draft a back high, go ahead and do it. They’re probably going to be my backup.”
The Bengals did it, taking Mixon with the 48th overall pick. And now Hill is placed in the position of welcoming the newcomer, backing up his own words and keeping his job.
The Bengals took Hill in the second round in 2014 — the 55th overall pick — hoping they’d found a power runner. He failed to reach 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons, averaging 3.6 and 3.8 yards per carry. Backup Giovani
Bernard tore an ACL midway through last season.
Vikings decline Bridgewater’s option
The Minnesota Vikings have exercised the fifthyear option on linebacker
Anthony Barr, but declined to do the same with injured quarterback Teddy
Bridgewater.
The Vikings announced Barr’s option on Monday. Barr was drafted ninth overall in 2014 and has started 42 games in three seasons.
Bridgewater had cemented himself the team’s offensive leader before suffering a horrific leg injury just before last season started. It is still not known when Bridgewater will be able to play again, if ever. If he spends all of next season on the physically unable to perform list, Bridgewater’s contract will roll over to 2018.
Jaguars pick up Bortles option
The Jacksonville Jaguars showed more support for quarterback Blake Bortles by exercising the fifth-year option in his rookie contract Monday. Top executive Tom Coughlin, general manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone would have been sending mixed signals to Bortles and teammates had they chose to decline the option by the deadline Wednesday.
The 2018 option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Jaguars could decide to cut Bortles if he struggles again in 2017. If Bortles plays well and looks like a long-term solution, the Jaguars would work on an extension to keep Bortles under contract beyond 2018.
Charles set to visit Broncos
Former Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, the franchise’s career rushing leader, will soon visit the Denver Broncos.
Charles, 30, also visited the Seattle Seahawks in March, but left without a contract.
Denver could use a player of Charles’ caliber, provided he’s healthy. C.J.
Anderson is the projected starter while youngster
Devonate Booker showed flashes. Charles could be more effective than either if he’s finally over the knee issues that have hampered him the last two years.
Steelers release Mettenberger
The Pittsburgh Steelers have released backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger.
Mettenberger saw his roster spot taken when the team drafted former Tennessee quarterback Josh
Dobbs in the fourth round of last weekend’s NFL draft. Pittsburgh also signed undrafted rookie free agent Nick Schuessler from Clemson.