ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Las Vegas Raiders have signed unrestricted free agent CB Prince Amukamara, the team announced Monday.
Amukamara enters his 10th season in the league and first with the Silver and Black, having spent the past three seasons (2017-19) with the Chicago Bears, while also spending time with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2016) after five seasons with the New York Giants (2011-15). A first-round selection (19th overall) by the Giants in the 2011 NFL Draft, the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI champion has appeared in 113 contests with 99 starts over his career, tallying 477 tackles (417 solo), 10 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, 78 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. In postseason action, Amukamara has appeared in five contests and made one start with the Bears in 2018, compiling three tackles (two) and one pass defensed.
Last season, the 6-foot, 204-pound cornerback started in every appearance (15) for the second consecutive season. He logged 53 stops (44) and the second-most passes defensed (10) on the team, while also posting one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Over his three seasons with the Bears, Amukamara started in 42-of-44 games, totaling 167 stops (146), three interceptions, including one returned for a score and 29 passes defensed, marks that all ranked top-5 on the team during that span.
In his lone year with the Jaguars in 2016, he started in 12-of-14 contests and tallied 49 tackles (46) and ranked third on the team with six passes defensed.
Over his first five seasons with the Giants, Amukamara started in 45-of-55 career contests, recording 261 tackles (225), seven interceptions and 43 passes defensed, marks that once again each ranked in the top-5 on the team during his time with the franchise. He also added three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
A native of Glendale, Ariz., Amukamara played in 49 games with 31 starts over four seasons (2007-10) at Nebraska, posting 161 tackles, including six for loss, four sacks, five interceptions, 26 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. As a senior in 2010, the team’s top defensive player was a unanimous All-American selection and All-Big 12 Conference First Team honoree, while also collecting Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year accolades.
In a corresponding move, the Raiders have Waived/Failed Physical CB Nick Nelson.
Press Release Courtesy of the Las Vegas Raiders Media Relations
ALAMEDA, Calif. – Rod Marinelli has been named the defensive line coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, the club announced Wednesday. Marinelli is entering his 25th season as an NFL coach, having spent the previous seven seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, including the last six as defensive coordinator/defensive line coach. Marinelli brings 44 years of coaching experience to the Raiders, including 24 in the NFL.
In his seven seasons with the Cowboys, Marinelli helped the club capture three NFC East titles (2014, 2016 and 2018), having advanced to the divisional round in each of those three seasons. Marinelli’s defense finished in the top-10 three times (2017-19) in total yards allowed during those seasons, while leading the league in rush defense in 2016 with the fifth-best rushing average allowed (83.5 avg.) in franchise history.
Last season, the Cowboys ranked ninth in the NFL and third in the NFC in opponent yards per game (327.0 avg.), as the team improved its pass defense ranking from 13th in 2018 to 10th in 2019, allowing just 223.5 yards per game. The unit also finished 11th in the league in points allowed per game, ending with an average of 20.1, marking the fourth consecutive season averaging less than 21 points allowed per game. Under Marinelli, DE Robert Quinn led the defensive unit with 11.5 sacks on the year, tying for ninth-most in the NFL. LB Jaylon Smith finished sixth in the NFL with a career-high 142 tackles.
For five consecutive seasons (2014-18), Marinelli’s defense improved its total ranking from the year prior, finishing seventh in 2018 after ranking eighth in 2017. The defensive unit also forced 20 turnovers on opposing offenses for the third consecutive season in 2018, en route to landing three Cowboy defenders’ Pro Bowl honors including two second-team All-Pro selections.
Prior to joining the Cowboys in 2013, Marinelli spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears, serving as the team’s assistant head coach/defensive line coach in 2009 before spending the next three seasons (2010-12) as the club’s assistant head coach/defensive coordinator. Over his three years leading the defensive unit, the team forced a league-best 59 fumbles and recorded 65 interceptions, third-most in the NFL over that span, while returning a league-high 13 interceptions for touchdowns. His defense also allowed just 904 points during that same time frame, the fourth-fewest in the NFL.
Before his tenure with the Bears, Marinelli spent three seasons within the division with the Detroit Lions as the team’s head coach from 2006-08. Ahead of his arrival in Detroit, Marinelli spent the first 10 years (1996-2005) of his NFL coaching career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first five seasons, he was the club’s defensive line coach, spending the last four (2002-05) with the added title of assistant head coach alongside former Buccaneers and current Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden.
Over his 10 seasons with the Buccaneers, the defensive line tallied an NFL-best 328.5 sacks. His tenure in Tampa Bay was highlighted by a 2002 campaign that saw the team capture a Super Bowl XXXVII victory led by the NFL’s best defense, as the Buccaneers held opposing offenses to a league-low 252.8 yards and 12.3 points per game. Prior to 2019, the team’s top-five single-season sack totals all came under Marinelli’s tenure (1997, 1999-2000, 2002 and 2004), with a franchise-best 55 sacks recorded in 2000 that still holds today. From 1999-2003, the team logged a sack in 69 consecutive games, marking a new NFL record.
Before making the move to professional football, Marinelli coached for 20 years at the collegiate level, serving as the defensive line coach at USC (1995), the assistant head coach/defensive line coach at Arizona State (1992-94), the defensive line coach at the University of California for seven seasons (1983-89), while also adding the title of assistant head coach during his final two years (1990-91) with the program. Prior to Cal, Marinelli started in the collegiate ranks with Utah State in 1976, where he spent six seasons (1976-81) as the defensive line coach before transitioning to the offensive line and special teams in 1982.
Prior to his coaching career, Marinelli played offensive tackle in college, beginning at Utah in 1968 and finishing at California-Lutheran from 1970-72 after having his playing days split by a tour of duty in Vietnam. As a senior in 1972, Marinelli earned All-American honors for Cal-Lutheran on the offensive line.
A native of Rosemead, Calif., Marinelli’s first coaching job came as an assistant at his alma mater at Rosemead High School (1973-75).
Rod Marinelli’s Coaching Background
Years College/Pro Team Position Coached
1976-81 Utah State Defensive Line Coach
1982 Utah State Special Teams Coach/Offensive Line Coach
1983-89 California Defensive Line Coach
1990-91 California Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach
1992-94 Arizona State Head Coach
1995 USC Defensive Line Coach
1996-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defensive Line Coach
2002-05 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach
2006-08 Detroit Lions Head Coach
2009 Chicago Bears Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach
2010-12 Chicago Bears Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
2013 Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line Coach
2014-19 Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
Press Release Courtesy of the Las Vegas Raiders Media Relations
NEW FACES ON CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND: The NFL will have a new Super Bowl Champion for a 15th consecutive season as four teams vie to secure their place in Super Bowl LIV. In the AFC Championship Game, presented by Intuit TurboTax, the TENNESSEE TITANS (11-7) take on the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (13-4), while the GREEN BAY PACKERS (14-3) travel to Levi’s Stadium to take on the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (14-3) in the NFC Championship Game, presented by Intuit TurboTax.
Of the teams appearing on Championship Sunday, three teams – Green Bay, San Francisco and Tennessee – missed the postseason in 2018, marking the sixth time that at least three teams have advanced to the Championship games after failing to make the postseason the previous year since the NFL instituted the 12-team playoff format in 1990 and the second time in the past three seasons.
— CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS —
ON THE ROAD AGAIN: With a 28-12 victory over the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, the TENNESSEE TITANS (11-7) became the sixth No. 6 seed to advance to a Conference Championship since the NFL instituted the current 12-team playoff format in 1990 and first since the GREEN BAY PACKERS and NEW YORK JETS in 2010.
With a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday (3:05 PM ET, CBS), Tennessee would join the 2010 GREEN BAY PACKERS and the 2005 PITTSBURGH STEELERS as the only No. 6 seeds to appear in the Super Bowl since 1990 when the NFL instituted the current 12-team playoff format. Both the Packers and Steelers would go on to win the Super Bowl in those seasons.
The No. 6 seeds to reach the Super Bowl since the NFL instituted the current 12-team playoff format in 1990:
SEASON
TEAM
CONFERENCE
ADVANCED TO
2010
Green Bay
NFC
Won Super Bowl XLV
2005
Pittsburgh
AFC
Won Super Bowl XL
2019
Tennessee
AFC
??
Additionally, Tennessee could also join the 2010 Green Bay Packers and 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers as the only teams to defeat each of the top three seeds in their conference in a single postseason since 1990.
— CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS —
KING HENRY CONTINUES HIS REIGN: Tennessee running back DERRICK HENRY rushed for a postseason franchise-record 195 yards in the Titans’ Divisional Playoff win last week. After rushing for 182 yards and a touchdown on Wild Card Weekend against New England, Henry became the first player with at least 180 rushing yards in consecutive postseason games in NFL history.
With at least 150 rushing yards on Sunday, Henry would join Pro Football Hall of Famer TERRELL DAVIS (1998-99) as the only players with at least 150 rushing yards in three consecutive postseason games in NFL history.
With at least 123 rushing yards on Sunday against Kansas City (3:05 PM ET, CBS), Henry would join Pro Football Hall of Famers JOHN RIGGINS (610 rushing yards in 1982) and TERRELL DAVIS (581 in 1997) as the only players with at least 500 rushing yards in a single postseason in NFL history.
The players with the most rushing yards in a single postseason in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
RUSHING YARDS
John RigginsHOF
Washington
1982
610
Terrell DavisHOF
Denver
1997
581
Terrell DavisHOF
Denver
1998
468
Marcus AllenHOF
LA Raiders
1983
466
Eddie George
Tennessee
1999
449
Derrick Henry
Tennessee
2019
377*
*Entering Sunday
Henry has 561 rushing yards in four career postseason games. With at least 112 rushing yards on Sunday, he would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer TERRELL DAVIS (672 yards) for the most rushing yards through a player’s first five career postseason games in NFL history.
Henry led the NFL with 1,540 rushing yards in the regular season in 2019. With a win on Sunday, Henry would join Pro Football Hall of Famers TERRELL DAVIS (1998) and EMMITT SMITH (1992-93, 1995), as well as SHAUN ALEXANDER (2005) as the only single-season rushing leaders to reach the Super Bowl in the same season.
The single-season rushing leaders to reach the Super Bowl in the same season:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
RUSHING YARDS
SUPER BOWL
Shaun Alexander
Seattle
2005
1,880
XL
Terrell DavisHOF
Denver
1998
2,008
XXXIII
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas
1995
1,773
XXX
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas
1993
1,486
XXVIII
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas
1992
1,713
XXVII
— CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS —
AFC GOES THROUGH CHIEFS KINGDOM: The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS advanced to their second consecutive AFC Championship Game for the first time in franchise history with a 51-31 win over Houston in the Divisional Playoffs. In the victory, Kansas City became the first team to win a game by at least 20 points after trailing by at least 20 points in the same game in NFL history.
Kansas City’s comeback in the Divisional Playoffs marked the second comeback of at least 16 points in the postseason this year after the HOUSTON TEXANS erased a 16-point deficit in an overtime win over Buffalo on Wild Card Weekend. This marks the second time in which there have been two comebacks of at least 16 points in a single postseason in NFL history (2002).
Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES led the comeback with 321 passing yards and five touchdowns without an interception for a 134.6 passer rating and added 53 yards on the ground, becoming the first player with at least 300 passing yards, five touchdown passes, and 50 rushing yards in a single postseason game in NFL history.
If Mahomes, who has eight touchdown passes in three career postseason games, has at least three touchdown passes on Sunday against Tennessee (3:05 PM ET, CBS), he would tie Pro Football Hall of Famer KURT WARNER (11) for the most touchdown passes through a player’s first four career postseason games in NFL history.
The quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes in their first four postseason games in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Kurt WarnerHOF
St. Louis Rams
11
Dan MarinoHOF
Miami
10
Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay
10
Alex Smith
San Francisco, Kansas City
10
Patrick Mahomes
Kansas City
8*
*In three games
Additionally, with at least four touchdown passes, Mahomes would become the first player with at least four touchdown passes in consecutive postseason games in NFL history.
Chiefs tight end TRAVIS KELCE recorded postseason career-highs in receptions (10), receiving yards (134) and receiving touchdowns (three) last week, becoming the third tight end with at least three touchdown receptions in a single postseason game in the Super Bowl era.
If Kelce, who has three career postseason games with at least 100 receiving yards, has at least 100 receiving yards against Tennessee (3:05 PM ET, CBS), he would tie for the most such career postseason games by a tight end in NFL history.
The tight ends with the most career postseason games with at least 100 receiving yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
GAMES WITH 100+ RECEIVING YARDS
Vernon Davis
San Francisco
4
Rob Gronkowski
New England
4
Keith Jackson
Philadelphia, Miami, Green Bay
4
Dallas Clark
Indianapolis
3
Travis Kelce
Kansas City
3*
Greg Olsen
Chicago, Carolina
3
*Entering Sunday
— CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS —
HUNTING MORE TITLES IN TITLETOWN: The GREEN BAY PACKERS advanced to their first Conference Championship since 2016 with a 28-23 victory over Seattle in the Divisional Playoffs. With the victory, Green Bay tied the DALLAS COWBOYS (35 wins) for the third-most postseason victories in NFL history.
With a win against the 49ers, who rank fifth on the all-time list with 31 postseason wins, on Sunday (6:40 PM ET, FOX), the Packers would tie the PITTSBURGH STEELERS (36 wins) for the second-most postseason victories in NFL history.
The teams with the most postseason wins in NFL history:
TEAM
WINS
SUPER BOWL WINS
New England
37
6
Pittsburgh
36
6
Dallas
35
5
Green Bay
35
4
San Francisco
31
5
Green Bay head coach MATT LAFLEUR became the first head coach to reach a Conference Championship in his first season since JIM HARBAUGH led San Francisco to the NFC Championship Game in 2011.
With a win on Sunday, LaFleur would become the sixth rookie head coach to appear in the Super Bowl.
The rookie head coaches to appear in the Super Bowl:
HEAD COACH
TEAM
SEASON
RESULT
Don McCafferty
Baltimore Colts
1970
W 16-13, Super Bowl V
Red Miller
Denver
1977
L 27-10, Super Bowl XII
George Seifert
San Francisco
1989
W 55-10, Super Bowl XXIV
Bill Callahan
Oakland
2002
L 48-21, Super Bowl XXXVII
Jim Caldwell
Indianapolis
2009
L 31-17, Super Bowl XLIV
Matt LaFleur
Green Bay
2019
??
With LaFleur (40 years, 66 days old) and San Francisco head coach KYLE SHANAHAN (40 years, 36 days old), Sunday’s NFC Championship Game will be the first Conference Championship Game featuring two head coaches under the age of 41 since 1970.
Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns without an interception for a 113.7 passer rating last week, marking Rodgers’ sixth consecutive postseason game with at least two touchdown passes.
With at least two touchdown passes on Sunday, Rodgers would tie Pro Football Hall of Famers TERRY BRADSHAW (seven games) and JOE MONTANA (seven), as well as DREW BREES (seven), for the second-longest streak of postseason games with at least two touchdown passes in NFL history. Only JOE FLACCO (eight games) had a longer such streak in league history.
Additionally, with two touchdown passes, Rodgers would tie PEYTON MANNING (40) for the fourth-most career postseason touchdown passes in NFL history.
The players with the most career postseason touchdown passes in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Tom Brady
New England
73
Joe MontanaHOF
San Francisco, Kansas City
45
Brett FavreHOF
Green Bay, Minnesota
44
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis, Denver
40
Aaron Rodgers
Green Bay
38*
*Entering Sunday
Rodgers, who has 4,700 passing yards in 17 career postseason starts, needs at least 300 passing yards on Sunday to become the sixth player with at least 5,000 career postseason passing yards in NFL history, joining TOM BRADY (11,388), PEYTON MANNING (7,339), Pro Football Hall of Famers BRETT FAVRE (5,855) and JOE MONTANA (5,772), and BEN ROETHLISBERGER (5,256).
— CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS —
NEW GOLDEN ERA: With a 27-10 win over Minnesota in the Divisional Playoffs, the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS became the fifth team since 1990 to advance to a Championship Game after winning four-or-fewer games the previous season, and the second team in three years, joining the JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS in 2017.
With a victory on Sunday against Green Bay (6:40 PM ET, FOX), San Francisco head coach KYLE SHANAHAN, whose father – MIKE SHANAHAN – won Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII as head coach of the DENVER BRONCOS, would become the first father-son duo to each appear in a Super Bowl as a head coach in NFL history.
In their Divisional Playoff victory, the 49ers defense tallied six team sacks, tied for the second-most in a single postseason game in franchise history.
With at least six sacks on Sunday against Green Bay, the 2019 San Francisco 49ers would join the 1984 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS as the only teams with at least six sacks in two consecutive postseason games in the Super Bowl era.
49ers rookie defensive lineman NICK BOSA recorded two sacks in his postseason debut last week. With at least two sacks on Sunday, Bosa would join LAMARR WOODLEY as the only players with at least two sacks in each of their first two postseason games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Bosa would also become the first rookie to accomplish the feat since 1982.
Press Release Courtesy of the NFL Communications Media Relations
New teams making the playoffs, terrific turnarounds, consistent teams excelling again, records falling and young players making their mark. The 2019 season had it all.
Youth and success at the quarterback position highlighted the 2019 regular season as 208 games featured at least one starting quarterback under the age of 27, the most in a single season in NFL history. In total, quarterbacks under the age of 27 started 287 games and recorded 144 wins in those starts this season, both the highest single-season totals since 1970. Three quarterbacks under the age of 25 – Baltimore’s LAMAR JACKSON (2018 NFL Draft), Kansas City’s PATRICK MAHOMES (2017 NFL Draft) and Houston’s DESHAUN WATSON (2017 NFL Draft) – have led their respective teams to division titles in each of the past two seasons.
Competitiveness was a constant theme throughout the regular season as 68 percent of games (174 of 256) were within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter, tied for the fifth-most such games in a single season in NFL history, while 52.3 percent of games (134 of 256) were decided by eight-or-fewer points, also tied for the fifth-most such games in single season in league annals. Additionally, 57 games saw a team come back to win or tie after trailing in the fourth quarter.
Week 17 came down to the wire, as two playoff spots and two divisions titles – the NFC East and NFC West – were decided on the final day of the season. Sunday’s excitement was due in part to having 16 divisional games played on the season’s final day, a tradition instituted in 2010.
Five of the 12 playoff teams are new to the postseason in 2019: BUFFALO, GREEN BAY, MINNESOTA, SAN FRANCISCO and TENNESSEE. Since 1990 – a streak of 30 consecutive seasons – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
Both the Green Bay Packers (NFC North) and San Francisco 49ers (NFC West) won their division after missing the postseason in 2018 and at least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 16 of the past 17 years.
Teams to win their division a season after missing the postseason since 2003:
SEASON
NEW DIVISION WINNERS AFTER MISSING POSTSEASON THE PREVIOUS SEASON
2019
Green Bay, San Francisco
2018
Baltimore, Chicago*, Dallas, Houston*
2017
Jacksonville*, L.A. Rams, New Orleans, Minnesota, Philadelphia*
Baltimore*, New Orleans*, Philadelphia*, San Diego
2005
Chicago*, Cincinnati, New York Giants, Tampa Bay*
2004
Atlanta*, Pittsburgh, San Diego*
2003
Baltimore, Carolina*, Kansas City*, New England, St. Louis Rams
*Worst to first
OFFENSIVE TRENDS: The 2019 season will go down as one of the most prolific offensive seasons in league history.
Teams combined to score 1,332 total touchdowns, the third-most in a single season in NFL history, while the 11,680 total points were tied for the third-most in league annals.
MOST TOUCHDOWNS, NFL HISTORY
MOST TOTAL POINTS, NFL HISTORY
SEASON
TOUCHDOWNS
SEASON
TOTAL POINTS
2018
1,371
2013
11,985
2013
1,338
2018
11,952
2019
1,332
2019
11,680
2015
1,318
2015
11,680
With five teams – BALTIMORE (33.2 points per game), SAN FRANCISCO (29.9), NEW ORLEANS (28.6), TAMPA BAY (28.6) and KANSAS CITY (28.2) – averaging at least 28 points per game, the 2019 season joined 2014 (six teams) as the only seasons with at least five teams averaging at least 28 points per game since 1970.
The Ravens, who scored at least 40 points in five different games this season, led the NFL with 3,296 rushing yards and surpassed the 1978 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3,165) for the most rushing yards by a team in a single season in NFL history.
PROLIFIC PASSERS: In 2019, league-wide passing numbers continued to trend at a historic pace, as the marks for passer rating (90.4 – second), completion percentage (63.5 percent – second), total completions (11,331 – fourth) and touchdown passes (797 – fifth) were all ranked in the top five for highest in a single season in NFL history.
SEASON
RATING
SEASON
COMPLETION PCT.
SEASON
COMPLETIONS
SEASON
TD PASSES
2018
92.9
2018
64.9
2015
11,527
2018
847
2019
90.4
2019
63.5
2016
11,526
2015
842
2015
90.2
2016
63.0
2018
11,462
2014
807
2016
89.3
2015
63.0
2019
11,331
2013
804
2014
88.9
2014
62.6
2014
11,200
2019
797
Eleven quarterbacks passed for at least 4,000 yards in 2019, including four with at least 4,500 passing yards: Tampa Bay’s JAMEIS WINSTON (5,109), Dallas’ DAK PRESCOTT (4,902), the Los Angeles Rams’ JARED GOFF (4,638) and the Los Angeles Chargers’ PHILIP RIVERS (4,615).
Twelve quarterbacks threw at least 25 touchdown passes this season, including four with at least 30 touchdown passes: Baltimore’s LAMAR JACKSON (36), Winston (33), Seattle’s RUSSELL WILSON (31) and Prescott (30).
Three rookie quarterbacks – New York Giants’ DANIEL JONES, Jacksonville’s GARDNER MINSHEW and Arizona’s KYLER MURRAY– each passed for at least 20 touchdowns this season, marking the second season in league annals in which at least three rookie quarterbacks each passed for at least 20 touchdowns (2012 – ROBERT GRIFFIN III, ANDREW LUCK and RUSSELL WILSON).
Nine quarterbacks had a passer rating of 100 or higher in 2019, including three with a passer rating of at least 110: Tennessee’s RYAN TANNEHILL (117.5), New Orleans’ DREW BREES (116.3) and Jackson (113.3). The nine quarterbacks with a passer rating of 100 or higher were tied with the 2018 season for the most in a single season in NFL history.
The seasons with the most quarterbacks having a passer rating of 100 or higher in NFL history:
SEASON
QUARTERBACKS WITH 100+ PASSER RATING
2019
9
2018
9
2013
7
ALL-PURPOSE BACKS: Sixteen players rushed for at least 1,000 yards, including four players with at least 1,300 rushing yards, this season: Tennessee’s DERRICK HENRY (1,540), Cleveland’s NICK CHUBB (1,494), Carolina’s CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (1,387) and Dallas’ EZEKIEL ELLIOTT (1,357).
Seven players recorded at least 10 rushing touchdowns in 2019: Henry (16), Green Bay’s AARON JONES (16), McCaffrey (15), Minnesota’s DALVIN COOK (13), Elliott (12), the Los Angeles Rams’ TODD GURLEY (12) and Baltimore’s MARK INGRAM (10).
Twenty-six running backs totaled at least 1,000 scrimmage yards, including eight with at least 1,500 scrimmage yards, this season: McCaffrey (2,392), Elliott (1,777), Chubb (1,772), Henry (1,746), Jacksonville’s LEONARD FOURNETTE (1,674), Cook (1,654), Jones (1,558) and the Los Angeles Chargers’ AUSTIN EKELER (1,550).
Three running backs – Jones (19 scrimmage touchdowns), McCaffrey (19) and Henry (18) – each recorded at least 18 scrimmage touchdowns this season.
2019 was the third season in NFL history with three players totaling at least 18 scrimmage touchdowns each, joining 2005 (SHAUN ALEXANDER, LARRY JOHNSON and Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON) and 1962 (Pro Football Hall of Famers JIM BROWN and JIM TAYLOR, and ABNER HAYNES).
RIDICULOUS RECEIVERS: Twenty-nine players had at least 1,000 receiving yards, including five with at least 1,200 receiving yards this season: New Orleans’ MICHAEL THOMAS (1,725), Atlanta’s JULIO JONES (1,394), Tampa Bay’s CHRIS GODWIN (1,333), Kansas City’s TRAVIS KELCE (1,229) and Miami’s DEVANTE PARKER (1,202).
Five players had at least 100 receptions in 2019: Thomas (single-season NFL record 149), Carolina’s CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (116), the Los Angeles Chargers’ KEENAN ALLEN (104), Houston’s DEANDRE HOPKINS (104) and New England’s JULIAN EDELMAN(100).
Three players had at least 10 touchdown catches this season: Detroit’s KENNY GOLLADAY (11), Baltimore’s MARK ANDREWS (10) and the Los Angeles Rams’ COOPER KUPP (10).
Five rookies recorded at least seven touchdown receptions in 2019: Tennessee’s A.J. BROWN (eight), the New York Giants’ DARIUS SLAYTON (eight), Baltimore’s MARQUISE BROWN (seven), Washington’s TERRY MCLAURIN (seven) and Seattle’s DK METCALF(seven). In total, rookies combined for 110 touchdown receptions in 2019 and surpassed 2014 (109 touchdown catches) for the most combined touchdown receptions by rookies in a single season since 1970.
DOMINANT DEFENDERS: Eighteen players recorded at least 10 sacks, including five with at least 14 sacks, in 2019: Tampa Bay’s SHAQUIL BARRETT (19.5), Arizona’s CHANDLER JONES (19), New Orleans’ CAMERON JORDAN (15.5), Minnesota’s DANIELLE HUNTER (14.5) and Pittsburgh’s T.J. WATT (14.5).
Five players registered at least five forced fumbles this season: Jones (eight), Watt (eight), Barrett (six), Washington’s RYAN ANDERSON (five) and Chicago’s KHALIL MACK (five). 2019 was the first season since 2002 (DWIGHT FREENEY and LEONARD LITTLE) that two players had at least eight forced fumbles in the same season.Ten players recorded at least five interceptions, including three with six interceptions, this season: New England’s STEPHON GILMORE (six), Minnesota’s ANTHONY HARRIS (six) and Buffalo’s TRE’DAVIOUS WHITE (six).
Press Release Courtesy of the NFL Communications Media Relations
The NFL announced today the 32 nominees for the WALTER PAYTON NFL MAN OF THE YEAR AWARDPRESENTED BY NATIONWIDE. Representing the best of the NFL’s commitment to philanthropy and community impact, each player was selected as his team’s Man of the Year and is now eligible to win the national award. Considered one of the league’s most prestigious honors, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award presented by Nationwide recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field. First established in 1970, the national award was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back WALTER PAYTON.
“Every day, in cities and towns across America, NFL players give of themselves to make our communities better. This year, as we celebrate our 100th season and the 50th year of the Walter Payton NFL Man of Year Award, NFL players have continued to raise the bar on community engagement and impact,” said NFL CommissionerROGER GOODELL. “The 32 nominees for this year’s award are the best of the best and truly embody the spirit of Walter and his legacy of leaving the world better than he found it.”
For the second year in a row, all 32 team winners will be highlighted as nominees and recognized for their important work during the weekend leading up to Super Bowl LIV.
The 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year will be announced during NFL Honors, a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on Feb. 1, the eve of Super Bowl LIV on FOX. NFL Honors will be at the Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami.
All 32 nominees will receive a donation of up to $50,000 in their name to their charity of choice. The winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of their choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide.
“Nationwide congratulates this year’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominees,” said Nationwide’s Chief Marketing Officer RAMON JONES. “Year after year, we’re amazed at the amount of time, talent and resources the NFL players give to their communities. This year’s best of the best from each team—these 32 men—recognized a need, took action and energized those around them to do more. It’s our privilege to help share their stories about making positive differences for others.”
Fans are encouraged to participate in Nationwide’s 5th annual Charity Challenge, a social media campaign designed to support and promote team nominees. Fans can vote on Twitter by using #WPMOYChallenge followed by their favorite nominee’s last name. The player whose unique hashtag is used the most between Dec. 12 and Jan. 12 will receive a $25,000 contribution to their charity of choice, while the second and third place finishers will receive $10,000 and $5,000 donations, all courtesy of Nationwide. Hashtag information and official rules can be found at nfl.com/manoftheyear.
Beginning in 2017, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year trophy silhouette came to life in uniform elements to further recognize past award winners and current nominees. The six current players who have won the award—DREW BREES, THOMAS DAVIS, LARRY FITZGERALD, JASON WITTEN, ELI MANNING and J.J. WATT—continue to wear a Man of the Year patch on their jerseys to recognize their outstanding contributions to the game and to their communities. All 2019 nominees will wear a Man of the Year helmet decal beginning Week 15 and continuing through the end of the season in recognition of their accomplishments on and off the field.
PASSING HISTORIC MILESTONES: Both New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES and New England quarterback TOM BRADY – who rank first and second in career passing yards in NFL history, respectively – can reach another historic milestone in Week 15.
If Brady has four touchdown passes on Sunday against Cincinnati (1:00 PM ET, CBS) or Brees has three touchdown passes against Indianapolis on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN), they would surpass PEYTON MANNING (539 touchdowns) for the most career touchdown passes in NFL history.
The players with the most career touchdown passes in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis, Denver
539
Drew Brees
San Diego, New Orleans
537
Tom Brady
New England
536
Brett FavreHOF
Green Bay, New York Jets, Minnesota
508
Dan MarinoHOF
Miami
420
Additionally, if Brady – who has 19 touchdown passes in 2019 – has at least one touchdown pass on Sunday, he would surpass Manning (16 seasons) for the most seasons with at least 20 touchdown passes in NFL history. With three touchdown passes on Monday, Brees will also reach 20 for the season, tying Manning with 16 such seasons in his career.
The players with the most seasons with at least 20 touchdown passes in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
SEASONS WITH 20+ TOUCHDOWN PASSES
Tom Brady
New England
16*
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis, Denver
16
Drew Brees
San Diego, New Orleans
15#
Brett FavreHOF
Green Bay, New York Jets, Minnesota
15
*Has 19 touchdown passes in 2019
#Has 17 touchdown passes in 2019
— NFL —
PETERSON CONTINUES TO CLIMB: Last week, Washington running back ADRIAN PETERSON rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown, becoming the sixth player in NFL history with at least 14,000 career rushing yards (14,036) and joined Pro Football Hall of Famers EMMITT SMITH and WALTER PAYTON as the only players with at least 14,000 rushing yards and 100 rushing touchdowns (109) in NFL history.
If Peterson has at least 66 rushing yards on Sunday against Philadelphia (1:00 PM ET, FOX), he would surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer CURTIS MARTIN (14,101) for the fifth-most career rushing yards in NFL history.
The players with the most career rushing yards in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
RUSHING YARDS
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas, Arizona
18,355
Walter PaytonHOF
Chicago
16,726
Frank Gore
San Francisco, Indianapolis, Miami, Buffalo
15,306*
Barry SandersHOF
Detroit
15,269
Curtis MartinHOF
New England, New York Jets
14,101
Adrian Peterson
Minnesota, New Orleans, Arizona, Washington
14,036*
*Active
Additionally, Peterson needs one rushing touchdown on Sunday to tie Payton (110) for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns in NFL history.
The players with the most career rushing touchdowns in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM(S)
RUSHING TDs
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas, Arizona
164
LaDainian TomlinsonHOF
San Diego, New York Jets
145
Marcus AllenHOF
Los Angeles Raiders, Kansas City
123
Walter PaytonHOF
Chicago
110
Adrian Peterson
Minnesota, New Orleans, Arizona, Washington
109*
*Entering Sunday
— NFL —
STACKING WINS IN SEATTLE: Since entering the NFL in 2012, Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON has led the Seahawks to at least nine wins in each of his eight seasons under center, becoming the first quarterback to accomplish the feat in NFL history.
With a win at Carolina on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Wilson would tie TOM BRADY (86 wins) for the most regular-season wins through a quarterback’s first eight seasons in NFL history.
The quarterbacks with the most regular-season wins through their first eight seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
WINS
Tom Brady
New England
86
Russell Wilson
Seattle
85*
*In eighth season
— NFL —
JACK OF ALL TRADES: In addition to leading the NFL with 28 touchdown passes in 2019, Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON leads all quarterbacks with 1,017 rushing yards, becoming the second quarterback to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a single season in NFL history.
With 23 rushing yards on Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets (8:20 PM ET, FOX/NFLN/Amazon), Jackson would surpass MICHAEL VICK (1,039 in 2006) for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history.
Additionally, the 22-year-old quarterback has 3,878 passing yards and 1,712 rushing yards in 29 career games since entering the league in 2018.
If Jackson has at least 122 passing yards on Thursday, he would become the first player with at least 4,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards in his first 30 career games in NFL history.
— NFL —
GOLDEN GAROPPOLO: San Francisco quarterback JIMMY GAROPPOLO completed 26 of 35 attempts (74.3 percent) for 349 passing yards and four touchdowns with one interception for a 131.7 passer rating in a 48-46 win over New Orleans in Week 14. That marked Garoppolo’s fourth consecutive game completing at least 70 percent of his pass attempts with a passer rating of 110 or higher.
By completing at least 70 percent of his pass attempts and having a passer rating of 110 or higher on Sunday against Atlanta (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Garoppolo would tie for the longest such streak of games in a single season in NFL history (min. 10 attempts).
The quarterbacks with the most consecutive games completing at least 70 percent of their passes and a passer rating of 110 or higher in a single season in NFL history (min. 10 attempts):
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Patrick Mahomes#
Kansas City
2018
5
Russell Wilson
Seattle
2015
5
Jimmy Garoppolo
San Francisco
2019
4*
*Active streak
#Named Associated Press Most Valuable Player
— NFL —
DUCK HUNTING FOR WINS: In Week 14, Pittsburgh rookie quarterback DEVLIN HODGES led the Steelers to a 23-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals, marking his third-career win in his third-career start.
With a win against Buffalo on Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET, NBC), Hodges would tie VIRGIL CARTER (four wins in 1968) and PHIL SIMMS (four in 1979) for the third-longest streak of wins by a rookie quarterback to begin a career in the Super Bowl era (1966-present).
The rookie quarterbacks with the most consecutive wins to begin their careers in the Super Bowl era:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
CONSECUTIVE WINS
Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh
2004
13
Mike Kruczek
Pittsburgh
1976
6
Virgil Carter
Chicago
1968
4
Phil Simms
New York Giants
1979
4
Devlin Hodges
Pittsburgh
2019
3*
*Active streak
Additionally, with a win, Hodges would become the first undrafted rookie quarterback to win each of his first four starts in the common draft era (1967-present).
— NFL —
TEN AGAIN: New Orleans wide receiver MICHAEL THOMAS – who leads the NFL with 121 receptions and 1,424 receiving yards this season – had 11 receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in Week 14, marking his seventh game with at least 10 receptions in 2019.
With at least 10 receptions against Indianapolis on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN), Thomas would surpass ANDRE JOHNSON (seven games in 2008) and WES WELKER (seven in 2009) for the most games with at least 10 receptions in a season in NFL history.
The players with the most games with at least 10 receptions in a season in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASON
GAMES
Andre Johnson
Houston
2008
7
Michael Thomas
New Orleans
2019
7*
Wes Welker
New England
2009
7
*Entering Sunday
— NFL —
GURLEY AMONG GREATS: Los Angeles Rams running back TODD GURLEY has 10 total touchdowns this season (nine rushing, one receiving), having rushed for a touchdown in each of his past two games. Gurley, who is in his fifth NFL season, leads the NFL with 66 touchdowns since entering the league in 2015.
With a touchdown on Sunday at Dallas (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Gurley would tie ADRIAN PETERSON (67 touchdowns) for the fifth-most touchdowns through a player’s first five seasons in NFL history.
The players with the most total touchdowns in their first five seasons in NFL history:
PLAYER
TEAM
SEASONS
TOUCHDOWNS
LaDainian TomlinsonHOF
San Diego
2001-05
80
Emmitt SmithHOF
Dallas
1990-94
75
Shaun Alexander
Seattle
2000-04
72
Jerry RiceHOF
San Francisco
1985-89
70
Adrian Peterson
Minnesota
2007-11
67
Todd Gurley
St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams
2015-19
66*
*In fifth season
Press Release Courtesy of the NFL Communications Media Relations
ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have signed free agents DL Olsen Pierre and TE Eric Tomlinson and have promoted CB Nick Nelson from the practice squad, the club announced Wednesday.
Pierre, a 6-foot-4, 293-pound defensive tackle in his third year in the NFL, joins the Raiders having spent the first nine games of the 2019 campaign with the New York Giants. Pierre was originally signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2015 before spending the majority of his rookie campaign on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad. He was later signed as a reserve/future free agent by the Cardinals in 2016 and spent three seasons (2016-18) on the club’s active roster. Since entering the league, Pierre has appeared in 33 games and made eight starts, totaling 50 tackles (35 solo), 7.5 sacks, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
Tomlinson, a 6-foot-6, 263-pound fourth-year tight end joins the Silver and Black after appearing in three contests with the New York Giants this season and an additional two with the New England Patriots. Tomlinson was originally an undrafted free agent signed by the Houston Texans, where he spent all of 2015 and a portion of 2016 on the club’s practice squad before signing to the New York Jets (2016-18). Over his career, Tomlinson has appeared in 41 contests and made 31 starts, tallying 17 receptions for 194 yards and one touchdown.
Nelson, originally the club’s fourth-round selection (110th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft, re-joins the active roster having appeared in 11 games as a rookie, making three starts and compiling 17 tackles (11 solo), one pass defensed and one fumble recovery.
Additionally, the Raiders have signed TE Paul Butler, LB Te’von Coney and OL Kyle Kalis to the team’s practice squad.
In a corresponding move, the team has released TE Cole Wick from its practice squad.
Press Release Courtesy of the Oakland Raiders Media Relations
To help celebrate the NFL’s 100th season, each week will feature an NFL 100 Game of the Week. Each game is a nod to a momentous game played, a fierce rivalry that spans decades, a matchup of original teams and/or a game in which history was made . The NFL has designated Sunday’s CINCINNATI BENGALS-CLEVELAND BROWNS matchup as the NFL100 Game of the Week because the contest includes the teams closest to the birthplace of the NFL. In 1920, the NFL formed in Northeast Ohio, where CANTON BULLDOGS owner RALPH HAY organized the first meeting of fellow owners. Four years later, at nearby Massillon Washington High School, quarterback and future Pro Football Hall of Famer PAUL BROWN discovered the sport that would shape his life. By 1946, as the first coach of the Cleveland franchise when it launched as part of the All-American Football Conference, Brown was so synonymous with success that by popular demand he became the team’s namesake, despite his humble objections. After entering the NFL in 1950, Brown’s team won three league championships (1950, 1954-55). When the AFL placed an expansion franchise in Cincinnati during the mid-1960s, Brown joined the team as general manager and head coach, then named his new team the Bengals in time for the club’s inaugural 1968 season. One of Brown’s first Cincinnati assistant coaches was Pro Football Hall of Famer BILL WALSH.
BRADY, BREES IN RACE FOR HALLOWED MARK: As NFL teams jockey for position in the 2019 playoff race, New England quarterback TOM BRADY and New Orleans quarterback DREW BREES have one of the league’s most significant all-time records in their sights: Most career touchdown passes, currently held by PEYTON MANNING (539). Entering Week 14, Brady (535) and Brees (532) have Manning on their radar screens.
The players with the most career touchdown passes in NFL history:
Brady, whose Patriots host the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS), is 47-12 (.797) during his career in starts following a regular-season loss.
EASTERN ILLINOIS CONNECTIONS IN THE BIG EASY: When the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS travel to meet the NEW ORLEANS SAINTS on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX) in a matchup of 10-win teams, one former Eastern Illinois quarterback, the 49ers’ JIMMY GAROPPOLO, will square off against another former Eastern Illinois field general, Saints head coach SEAN PAYTON. Also, the father of 49ers head coach KYLE SHANAHAN, former Raiders, Broncos and Redskins head coach MIKE SHANAHAN, also played at Eastern Illinois, where a serious injury ended his playing career but helped him discover his passion for coaching. The school also produced former Dallas quarterback TONY ROMO.
If San Francisco this week clinches a playoff berth, the 49ers would become the first NFL club that didn’t qualify for the playoffs last season to earn a postseason invitation. In every season since the 12-team playoff format began in 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs that were not in the postseason the year before.
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR’S NIGHTMARE: In one of Week 14’s premier games, the BALTIMORE RAVENS put the league’s longest winning streak, eight games, on the line when they face the BUFFALO BILLS on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS). The contest not only matches two of the AFC’s best teams, it also matches two of the NFL’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. Baltimore’s LAMAR JACKSON, whose 977 net rushing yards are more than five NFL teams this year, also ranks fourth in the NFL with a 109.6 passer rating. Buffalo’s JOSH ALLEN, who ranks third among NFL quarterbacks with 430 rushing yards, has a fourth-quarter passer rating of 114.0.
Sunday’s game will have more combined rushing yards (1,407) by starting quarterbacks than any contest in NFL history.
Additionally, Jackson needs 23 rushing yards to become the second quarterback in NFL history with a 1,000-yard rushing season, and 63 to post the most rushing yards in a single season by an NFL quarterback, surpassing MICHAEL VICK, who had 1,039 in 2006.
As a team, the Ravens are on pace for one of the most prolific rushing campaigns in the NFL’s 100 seasons. Since the league moved to a 16-game schedule in 1978, Baltimore’s 207.8 net rushing yards per game are on pace to finish 10 yards better than any other team in that span.
The teams with the most net rushing yards per game since 1978:
TEAM
SEASON
GM
ATT
YARDS
YDS/GM
Baltimore Ravens
2019
12
445
2,494
207.8
New England Patriots
1978
16
671
3,165
197.8
Kansas City Chiefs
1978
16
663
2,986
186.6
Chicago Bears
1984
16
674
2,974
185.9
Atlanta Falcons
2006
16
537
2,939
183.7
THE FOURTH QUARTER: As the NFL makes its final turn toward the regular-season finish line, each club has just four games remaining, and 26 teams remain in contention for a trip to Super Bowl LIV. Two of those teams, the TENNESSEE TITANS and OAKLAND RAIDERS, battle in a key AFC contest Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS).
The game features several of the NFL’s top rookies. Oakland’s JOSH JACOBS leads all NFL rookies in rushing yards (1,061), rushing touchdowns (seven) and scrimmage yards (1,207). Tennessee wide receiver A.J. BROWN leads AFC rookies with 626 receiving yards. On defense, Oakland’s MAXX CROSBY (7.5) and CLELIN FERRELL (3.5) are the NFL’s only pair of rookie teammates with three-or-more sacks each.
ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS CONTINUE TO WIN GAMES: Arizona’s KYLER MURRAY, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, leads the ARIZONA CARDINALS at home against the PITTSBURGH STEELERS on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, CBS). Murray and the Steelers’ DEVLIN HODGES, an undrafted rookie, are two of the six rookie quarterbacks to win a game this season. Last week, Denver’s DREW LOCKjoined a group that includes Washington’s DWAYNE HASKINS, the Giants’ DANIEL JONES and Jacksonville’s GARDNER MINSHEW. That group of six represents the second-highest number of rookie quarterbacks to win an NFL start in league history, trailing only the 1987 season (seven). Detroit’s DAVID BLOUGH, who plays at Minnesota Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), gives the 2019 rookies an opportunity to tie the single-season league record.
BATTLE OF OHIO: When the CINCINNATI BENGALS make the cross-state trip to play the CLEVELAND BROWNS on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), the teams will meet for a 92nd time. Sunday marks the first Bengals-Browns game in 35 years in which each club has a first-year head coach. Cincinnati’s ZAC TAYLOR and Cleveland’s FREDDIE KITCHENS are the first rookie head-coaching pair in the series since December 2, 1984, when the Bengals’ SAM WYCHE beat the Browns’ MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER on an overtime field goal, 20-17.
ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have signed free agents DT Corey Liuget and LB Bryson Allen-Williams, the club announced Sunday.
Liuget enters his first season with the Raiders having spent his first eight years (2011-18) as a member of the Chargers. Over his eight years with the club, the 6-foot-2, 300-pound defensive tackle appeared in 108 games and made 103 starts for the club. He compiled 274 tackles (207 solo), 24 sacks, 20 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries including one returned for a touchdown. In postseason action, Liuget has made two starts and compiled 10 stops (seven) and one sack.
Last season, the Miami, Fla. appeared in six games, making three starts and recorded 14 tackles (nine), 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. He started his previous 85 games before the 2018 campaign and tallied at least three sacks in four consecutive seasons from 2012-15, including a career-best seven in 2012.
Allen-Williams joins the team as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker spent five years (2014-18) with the program, appearing in 43 contest for the Gamecocks and compiling 176 tackles (107), 6.5 sacks, four interceptions, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. As a senior in 2018, the Ellenwood, Ga., native was selected as the team’s Comeback Player of the Year and voted by his teammates as the Tenacity Award winner on defense.
In corresponding moves, the Raiders have released LS Andrew DePaola and placed RB Doug Martin on the Reserve/Injured List.
DePaola joined the team last season, but was placed on the Reserve/Injured List following a Week 1 knee injury for the remainder of the year. Over his six-year career, he has appeared in 65 total contests for the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Raiders.
Martin also joined the club last season as a free agent and led the team in carries (172), rushing yards (723) and rushing scores (four) while appearing in all 16 games and making nine starts. Over his eight-year career, Martin has started in 74-of-84 contests and carried the ball 1,322 times for 5,356 yards, adding 30 touchdowns.
Press Release Courtesy of the Oakland Raiders Media Relations
ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent WR Jalin Marshall and have also acquired a conditional seventh-round selection in the 2012 NFL Draft via a trade with the Chicago Bears, the club announced Tuesday. As part of the trade terms, the Raiders will receive the Bears’ seventh-round selection in 2012 in exchange for K Eddy Piñeiro.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound receiver most recently spent the 2018 season with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football. Ahead of his stint with the Apollos, Marshall spent two seasons (2016-17) with the New York Jets after signing with the club as an undrafted free agent. Marshall appeared in 10 contests for the Jets and tallied 14 receptions for 162 yards and two scores, adding 18 punt returns for 100 yards and 13 kickoff returns for 324 yards.
Prior to the NFL, the native of Middletown, Ohio, played two seasons (2014-15) at Ohio State, appearing in 27 contests while making 12 starts for the program. He compiled 74 receptions as a Buckeye, notching 976 yards (13.2 avg.) and 11 touchdown receptions, adding 27 carries for 175 yards and an additional score.
Piñeiro was originally signed by the Raiders as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the offseason with the club and appeared in one preseason contest, making all three field goals attempted, before being placed on the Reserve/Injured List for the remainder of his rookie campaign. Piñeiro played two years at Florida, appearing in 24 games and connecting on 38-of-43 attempts for a program-record 88.4 field goal percentage.
Press Release Courtesy of the Oakland Raiders Media Relations
