The final week of the preseason is over and while it doesn’t bring many stories involving some of the big name players, it is the week when teams make all their final cuts. In that respect, it’s an extremely busy weeks with a lot of players switching teams. Here are the top ten stories of Week 4 of the preseason.
Rookie Derek Carr Gets the Start in Oakland
The Oakland Raiders have decided to make Derek Carr the only rookie quarterback to start in Week 1 of the regular season. Carr took the spot from former Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub. Carr had a much better preseason and earned the starting spot throwing four touchdown passes with a 67% completion percentage. Schaub threw no touchdown passes with a 51% completion percentage.
Ray McDonald Gets Arrested for Felony Domestic Violence
Early Sunday morning San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence charges involving his pregnant fiancée. According to the new domestic violence policy implemented by the league three days prior to this, McDonald will get an automatic six game suspension and possibly more if an investigation proves the police report to be true. With NaVorro Bowman being injured for at least the first half of the season due to injury, Aldon Smith suffering a nine game suspension, and Glenn Dorsey missing most of the season with an injury the 49ers can ill-afford to lose another player on defense.
Michael Sam Finds Himself Unemployed
After Week 4 of the preseason, the St. Louis Rams decided to cut defensive end Michael Sam. This should come as no surprise to anyone since the Rams possibly have the best defensive line in the league and Sam is fairly one dimensional. Not only that, but he doesn’t play special teams. If you’re on the roster bubble and don’t play special teams, smart money says you’re going to get the ax when the team has to make their final cuts. The surprising part about this is that Sam didn’t get signed to the Rams’ practice squad and still hasn’t been signed to anyone else’s.
Alex Boone Ends Successful Holdout
San Francisco 49ers’ starting right guard Alex Boone had been holding all of preseason and training camp in hopes to get a new contract. The 49ers had held their ground and said they only negotiate with players who have reported for training camp. Well, an important part of their depth of interior linemen, rookie Marcus Martin, got injured and will miss a large part of the season. That shifted a lot more leverage to Boone’s side of the negotiating table and both parties found a way to get a deal done. Boone has reported to 49ers facilities, signed his new contract, and passed his physical. Now it’s just a matter of when he gets back into the starting lineup.
Sammy Watkins Gets Injured, Again
Buffalo Bills’ rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins is an incredible talent. But so far this preseason he’s gotten injured twice. The first time was his ribs in Week 2 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which forced him to miss the Bills’ Week 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. When he returned to action in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions, he took a shot to the ribs on his first target of the game and had to leave the game. He says the doctors have cleared him to play in their regular season opener against the Chicago Bears, but it’s never good to see someone so young and dynamic missing this much time this early due to injury.
Alex Smith Earns New Deal
The Kansas City Chiefs’ starting quarterback Alex Smith has signed a contract extension with the team worth $68 million over four years. In my opinion, Smith has earned every penny of it. He has been the epitome of class throughout his career and has probably taken more flack than any other current starter in the NFL over the duration of their career. This deal also gives the Chiefs some stability at the most important position on the field. It’s a good deal for both sides.
Ryan Mallett Gets Traded to Houston Texans
Since drafting Ryan Mallett three years ago, the New England Patriots have kept him in their back pocket waiting for a quarterback desperate team to come calling. Well, it finally happened. The only problem for the Patriots is that they didn’t get nearly as much as they had intended to get for him. The Houston Texans were able to land Mallett for a conditional seventh-round 2016 draft pick. A large reason for this I’d imagine is that the Patriots were convinced rookie Jimmy Garoppolo is ready to back Tom Brady up, making Mallett expendable. What this also did was take away all leverage from the Patriots. Also, Texans head coach Bill O’Brien was on the Patriots’ coaching staff for Mallett’s rookie season so they have come familiarity.
Kyle Orton Signs With Buffalo Bills
After being released from the Dallas Cowboys and a lot of people assuming his was going to retire, veteran backup Kyle Orton signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills. This gives the Bills a good veteran backup behind current starter E.J. Manuel. Manuel struggled last season and has struggled throughout the season so signing Orton is very good news for the Bills. Before signing Orton, the only other quarterback on the Bills’ roster was Jeff Tuel. Having Tuel as your only backup is not a good way to go into the season.
St. Louis Rams Claim Case Keenum Off Waivers
After starting quarterback Sam Bradford went down with a torn ACL earlier this preseason, the Rams have been looking for some help at the quarterback position. By getting Keenum off the waiver wire, they provide current starter Shaun Hill with a backup that has some starting experience. Hill has the starting position anything but locked up at the moment and it’s anyone’s guess who will finish the season as the Rams’ starting quarterback. It might be someone who isn’t even on the roster right now.
Rolando McClain Will Start Week 1 for Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys’ defense is lacking playmakers in a big way. Sean Lee will miss another season with an injury which has left the middle linebacker position open, until now. Rolando McClain hasn’t played a game in the NFL since 2012 but he has earned the starting middle linebacker position. He will get the nod in Week 1 when the Cowboys play the San Francisco 49ers. The Cowboys certainly hope he plays like people thought he would when he was drafted eighth overall in the 2010 draft out of Alabama. They certainly need the help on that side of the ball.