Packers address coaching search
WASHINGTON, Dec 4, (RTRS): Team President Mark Murphy and general manager Brian Gutekunst addressed the firing of Mike McCarthy on Monday, saying the move was made to get a head start on the coaching search.
“Knowing we were going to make the change, it was better to do it now rather than make it in the offseason,” Murphy said.
While Murphy will run the coaching search, he said Gutekunst will be “actively involved” and he will not hire “a coach Brian’s not comfortable with.”
After sitting out three games with a strained foot, Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold could start Sunday at the Buffalo Bills.
Head coach Todd Bowles said Darnold’s return “remains to be seen,” adding, “I expect him to be out there. We’ll evaluate him as he goes out there.”
Kareem Hunt went unclaimed on waivers and is officially a free agent.
Hunt, released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday, was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list and would not have been eligible to play if claimed before the 4 pm ET deadline Monday.
The Chiefs re-signed former running back Charcandrick West.
The team chose West — who played for K.C. from 2014 until his release in August — over C.J. Anderson due to his familiarity with the playbook and experience on special teams.
Cincinnati Bengals wideout A.J. Green has torn ligaments in his right big toe and will have season-ending surgery, ESPN reported.
Per the report, Green’s recovery will take three to four months, but he should recover fully and be ready for organized team activities in May. Green was seen in a walking boot on Monday at the Bengals’ facility, but head coach Marvin Lewis declined to update his status.
Following their fourth consecutive loss, the Carolina Panthers fired defensive line coach Brady Hoke and assistant secondary/cornerbacks coach Jeff Imamura.
The Panthers also announced that head coach Ron Rivera will handle defensive play-calling duties. Eric Washington will oversee the defensive front seven, Sam Mills III will lead the defensive line and Rivera will work with Richard Rodgers in the secondary.
The New York Giants will start quarterback Eli Manning again in Week 14 against the Washington Redskins, head coach Pat Shurmur said.
Shurmur added there’s a “good chance” that rookie fourth-rounder Kyle Lauletta remains the backup on Sunday, a week after he dressed ahead of Alex Tanney for the first time this season.
The Denver Broncos won’t put cornerback Chris Harris Jr on injured reserve after he suffered a small break in his right leg Sunday.
Harris told reporters he’s targeting the Week 17 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec 30 for a return, though he said trainers have told him that might be one week too early.