Tag Archives: quarterback

Rob Gronkowski to officially retire from NFL with ceremonial one-day Patriots contract signing

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Rob Gronkowski Officially Retires from the NFL, Signs One-Day Contract with New England Patriots

Rob Gronkowski has officially announced his retirement from the NFL and will be signing a one-day contract to retire as a “Patriot for life.” Gronkowski revealed on “FOX NFL Sunday” that he plans to ink the one-day contract with the New England Patriots this week, allowing him to retire as a member of the storied franchise where he won three of his four Super Bowl rings.

The announcement came just as the Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—the last team Gronkowski played for alongside Tom Brady and with whom he won Super Bowl LV in 2021—were set to face off. Brady joined the broadcast team for that contest alongside Kevin Burkhardt.

The Patriots officially announced that Gronkowski would sign the one-day contract on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of their “Thursday Night Football” matchup against the New York Jets, their AFC East rivals.

Gronkowski, 36, began his NFL career in 2010 when the Patriots drafted him 42nd overall in the second round out of the University of Arizona. He spent nine seasons in New England, developing one of the best tight end legacies in NFL history. His connection with Tom Brady was a critical factor in the Patriots’ success under head coach Bill Belichick, leading to multiple Super Bowl victories.

Although Gronkowski initially retired following the 2018 season, he returned to the field when Brady left the Patriots for the Buccaneers. He couldn’t resist the chance to play again alongside his favorite quarterback in Tampa Bay. With a star-studded Buccaneers roster, Brady and Gronkowski won their final Super Bowl together in 2021. Gronkowski notably scored two touchdowns at Raymond James Stadium, helping secure a 31-9 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs and claim the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

After retiring following the 2022 season, Gronkowski was soon joined by Brady, who retired in 2023 after the Buccaneers’ playoff exit against the Dallas Cowboys.

Now, as Gronkowski and Brady continue their careers off the field as colleagues on the Fox Sports broadcast team, they’ve been closely watching the Patriots return to their winning ways — reminiscent of their days with the team. Veteran Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is leading the charge in his first season.

The Patriots also have a promising new quarterback in Drake Maye, whom they selected third overall out of the University of North Carolina in the 2024 NFL Draft. Maye has been performing like an MVP candidate, helping the team achieve an 8-2 record through their first 10 games. He ranks third in the NFL in passing yards (2,555) and is tied for third in touchdown passes (19). Maye’s impressive 113.9 quarterback rating also places him sixth in the league.

Gronkowski’s official retirement and one-day contract signing mark the end of an era, but the Patriots’ future looks bright as new stars rise to continue the franchise’s tradition of success.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/rob-gronkowski-officially-retire-from-nfl-ceremonial-one-day-patriots-contract-signing

Bengals’ Joe Burrow has practice window opened amid turf toe recovery

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The Cincinnati Bengals have been relying on quarterback Joe Flacco following Joe Burrow’s turf toe injury, which sidelined Burrow for a significant period. However, there is now promising news regarding the star quarterback’s status.

Amid ongoing rumors about a potential Burrow return, recent updates from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network suggest that Burrow is indeed getting closer to taking the field again. According to Rapoport, Burrow’s “window opened” for a return to practice.

Burrow is set to resume practice activities, though he will be limited initially and remains on injured reserve. Rapoport shared the update on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “A major development for the Bengals: QB Joe Burrow is returning to practice. A little under two months after toe surgery, Burrow has his practice window opened, and he’ll be limited. Still on Injured Reserve, he has 21 days to be activated. A December return is real.”

This marks an encouraging step forward for the Bengals as they look to have their star quarterback back in action soon. Fans can now look forward to a possible Burrow return in December as he progresses through his recovery.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/bengals-joe-burrow-has-practice-window-opened-amid-turf-toe-recovery

George Kittle Doesn’t Hold Back After 49ers Lose to Rams

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The San Francisco 49ers turned in a rough showing in Week 10, dropping a 42-26 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on November 9 at Levi’s Stadium. The Niners’ offense struggled to keep pace throughout the contest and couldn’t match the opposition’s firepower.

### Bright Spot: George Kittle’s Performance

Despite the loss, one of the few bright spots for San Francisco was tight end George Kittle’s performance. The veteran pass catcher recorded nine receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown.

While the loss drops the 49ers to third place in the tight NFC West, Kittle remains optimistic. He believes the team can still go on a deep playoff run thanks to key players expected to return in the second half of the season.

“I think we’re incredibly talented and we still have guys on offense coming back,” Kittle said postgame (h/t 49ers Web Zone).

“Brock Purdy is an amazing quarterback and that’s why we paid him so much money,” he continued. “Whenever we can get Ricky and hopefully at some point Brandon back, we have a lot of talent on this offense. I thoroughly believe that we can score a ton of points, and I really do also believe that our defense will just get a little better every single week.”

Kittle acknowledged the challenges the defense has faced. “They’ve just been taking haymakers year-round with all the injuries. But (defensive coordinator Robert) Saleh is such a good coach that he’s going to bump those guys up. They’re going to get some stops and we just have to continue to score a lot of points and not turn the ball over.”

### The 49ers Remain Hopeful in the NFC West Race

With a 6-4 record, the 49ers currently sit in third place behind the Seattle Seahawks and Rams, who both hold 7-2 records. With the division race this close, every loss stings a little more.

Still, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir is not backing down from the fight for the division.

“Tough game out there,” Lenoir told reporters postgame (h/t KNBR). “I feel like it was a lot of miscues with just us as players, not on the coaches, because they put us in the position. We just gotta come down and make those plays.”

“I feel like a lot of stuff went right for us today, but we can’t dwell on it,” Lenoir added. “We got to bounce back. We’re 3-1 in the division, ready to take it over still.”

### Can the 49ers Offense Improve?

Given the injuries to several key players, Lenoir and the defense have endured a tough stretch. Because of that, Kittle feels the offense must take charge in the coming weeks.

He’s confident that if they perform to their potential, the offense can help keep the team on track while the defense recovers.

The offense showed promise in the win over the Rams earlier, putting up 26 points as Mac Jones threw for more than 300 yards. But Kittle still sees plenty of room for improvement.

“I mean, we started the game off with a punt, a fumble, a fourth-down turnover, a touchdown, and a punt,” Kittle said. “Since I’ve been back, our team is going to have to rely on our really good veteran offense to score a lot of points and not turn the ball over.”

He continued, “We didn’t really do that today, so that’s going to be the case moving forward. Our offense has to play at an incredibly high level. We have to score a lot of points, and we have to not turn the ball over.”

Kittle remains hopeful about the defense’s progress. “I think our defense is going to get better and better throughout the weeks because we still have a lot of young guys, and a lot of guys missing. But we have to help out our defense. That’s just the way the season’s going to go.”

“Our offense has to play at a high level — be efficient, not turn the ball over, score points, and score in the red zone,” Kittle concluded. “Then we’ll win a lot of games. But if we’re not doing that, that’s going to happen.”
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/george-kittle-reacts-after-loss-rams/

Big Little Game rout: Pittsburg rolls over Antioch once again

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Pittsburg made its final tune-up for the North Coast Section playoffs on Saturday, finishing the regular season with a 56-3 rout of visiting Antioch in the 107th Big Little Game. Both teams brought impressive records to the matchup, but the margin between the longtime rivals remains quite large.

Pittsburg led 28-3 at halftime and 42-3 after three quarters as it stretched its winning streak in the series to 11 games, the longest such run for the Pirates. Antioch previously won 11 in a row from 1969-79. Pittsburg has claimed 19 victories in the past 20 games between the teams, with its only loss coming in 2015 when Najee Harris played running back for Antioch.

On Saturday, RJ Mosley opened the scoring for Pittsburg by catching a 3-yard touchdown pass from Carlos Torres. Mosley later reeled in a 53-yard scoring pass from JaVale Jones as the Pirates (9-1, 5-0) clinched another Bay Valley Athletic League championship. Torres also threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to King Wade, and Jones connected with Ramire Lewis on a 43-yard scoring pass.

For Antioch, the game marked its return to the field after the Panthers forfeited last week’s matchup against Liberty due to district code of conduct violations. Video had surfaced on social media of what appeared to be a locker-room hazing incident. The loss on Saturday dropped Antioch’s record to 7-3 overall and 3-2 in league play.

Pittsburg will likely be the No. 2 seed in the NCS Open/Division I playoffs when the brackets are unveiled Sunday, while Antioch could be placed in Division III.

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**San Mateo 24, Burlingame 14**

Quarterback Lukas Fitzgerald ran for three touchdowns, and Yianni Fitzgerald kicked a short field goal in the final minute to lift host San Mateo to a victory over Burlingame in the 98th Little Big Game. The score was tied 7-7 at halftime and 14-14 in the fourth quarter.

Fitzgerald’s 6-yard touchdown run with just under three minutes to play provided the winning points as San Mateo finished the regular season 7-3 overall and 4-1 in the Peninsula Athletic League’s De Anza Division.

Danny O’Sullivan caught two touchdown passes for Burlingame, one from Nick Armstrong and the other from Mark O’Grady. Burlingame (6-4, 3-2) lost its third straight game to San Mateo but leads the overall series 60-34-4.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/11/08/big-little-game-rout-pittsburg-rolls-over-antioch-once-again/

ESPN’s ‘College Gameday’ crew picks Texas A&M vs. Missouri in Week 11

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No. 3 Texas A&M (8-0, 5-0 SEC) is set to take on No. 22 Missouri (6-2, 2-2 SEC) in Columbia on Saturday afternoon. The Aggies are coming off their second bye week and are ready to finish strong with four regular-season games remaining.

Facing one of the best defenses in the country, Texas A&M’s offense will need to produce another high-scoring performance. Missouri is now relying on freshman quarterback Matt Zollers, but star running back Ahmad Hardy, who leads the SEC in rushing with 937 yards and 11 touchdowns, will be the main focus for Texas A&M’s defense. The Aggies need to shut down running lanes early and force Zollers to drop back and create an unbalanced game plan.

However, Texas A&M’s run defense has struggled to start games against lesser rushing attacks in the past. Despite this, the Aggies remain confident heading into the matchup.

Outside of Missouri senior safety Jalen Catalon’s dismissive comment regarding Texas A&M star quarterback Marcel Reed, head coach Eli Drinkwitz acknowledges that the redshirt sophomore has taken the next step as a pocket passer. To prevent Reed from making an impact, Missouri’s defense will need to apply significant pressure on the pocket.

“You know that he does as good a job as anybody in self-scout. He knows what he put on tape, and he knows how to correct it,” Drinkwitz said. “He knows what he’s doing. As a team, you have to be really sound in what you do. You can’t think, ‘We got him.’ You just have to be sound.”

If Reed feels pressure, his first instinct is to find the open hole and keep the opposing defense honest — a strategy that completely dismantled LSU throughout the game.

Overall, Marcel Reed has been vocal about his excitement to play on the road, a sentiment that remains as the team prepares for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.

On Saturday morning, ESPN’s College GameDay crew — including Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, Pat McAfee, Kansas City QB and guest picker Patrick Mahomes, and Kirk Herbstreit — all picked Texas A&M to win its third straight road game. It’s a clean sweep, so we’ll see if the Aggies can hold up their end of the bargain.
https://aggieswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/aggies/football/2025/11/08/texas-aggies-football-missouri-espn-college-gameday-picks-week-11/87167934007/

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Suffers Gruesome Injury on SNF vs Seahawks

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a gruesome arm injury during Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.

The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter, with the Commanders trailing by 31 points. On a second and goal play, Daniels was running towards the end zone when he was tackled and fell onto his arm, which bent backward in an awkward position.

[Embed video of the play here]

Despite the severity of the injury, Daniels was surrounded by his teammates and was able to walk off the field under his own power. He notably declined to use the medical cart that arrived on the field.

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/commanders-qb-jayden-daniels-suffers-gruesome-injury-on-snf-vs-seahawks-10979869

Chargers’ Daiyan Henley plays through grief after brother’s shooting death

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley started and played Sunday because football is his escape, and he needed that more than ever after the shooting death of his older brother.

Henley delivered a strong performance with seven tackles, his third sack of the season, a tackle for loss, and a quarterback hit in the Chargers’ 27-20 win over the Tennessee Titans.

“Right now, I’m just floating and the only thing that’s consistent right now in my life, and this is crazy to say, is football,” Henley said after the game. “So for me, that’s why I’m out there — this is the most consistent thing I’ve got in my life right now, and I’m just trying to make the most of it.”

His older brother, Jabari, was killed Friday night in Los Angeles. Despite this tragic loss, Henley traveled with the Chargers and started the game.

Henley was the Chargers’ third-round pick in 2023 out of Washington State and has started every game since the start of the 2024 season.

His father, record executive Eugene “Big U” Henley, has worked with many prominent West Coast rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and the late Nipsey Hussle. Eugene also helped produce and was featured in the 2021 FX documentary series *Hip Hop Uncovered*.

In addition to his music career, Henley’s father is a former gang leader who was arrested in a drug sting and served 12 years of a 23-year sentence.

After the game, Daiyan Henley posted “Love you big bro” on social media.

It has been a challenging year for Henley, who played through illness in a 20-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in the second game of the season. He said the Chargers organization has supported him throughout, from ownership to coaches.

Henley credited coach Jim Harbaugh for consistently being there for him.

“He’s probably been the first call I’ve gotten for every situation,” Henley said. “He’s been right there telling me to keep my head down, keep grinding, keep working, and try to stay consistent.”

___
AP NFL
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/nfl-general-news/10136270/chargers-daiyan-henley-plays-through-grief-after-brothers-shooting-death.html

Williams’ 100-yard kickoff return sparks North Dakota State in 38-30 win over Youngstown State

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FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Cole Payton threw for 194 yards, Barika Kpeenu ran for three touchdowns, and North Dakota State secured its 13th straight win by defeating Youngstown State 38-30 on Saturday.

Youngstown State started strong, posting early leads of 3-0 and 10-7. The Penguins’ first touchdown came on a 10-yard run by quarterback Beau Brungard.

North Dakota State responded effectively, ultimately pulling away to maintain their winning streak with a solid offensive performance.
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/college-sports-general-news/10133568/williams-100-yard-kickoff-return-sparks-north-dakota-state-in-38-30-win-over-youngstown-state.html

Justin Fields makes feelings clear on Woody Johnson’s criticism after handing Aaron Glenn’s Jets 1st win of 2025 NFL season

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After eight tries, the New York Jets finally secured a victory. On Sunday, Aaron Glenn’s squad defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 39-38 on the road, ending their 0-7 start to the season.

Quarterback Justin Fields delivered a strong performance, completing 21 of 32 attempts for 244 yards and a touchdown to Tyler Johnson. The win was especially important for Fields following some less-than-favorable comments from Jets owner Woody Johnson earlier in the week. After the game, Fields addressed those remarks:

“That’s outside noise at the end of the day. I get that he’s the owner of the team, but that’s outside noise.”

The Jets’ offensive highlight was running back Breece Hall, who rushed 18 times for 133 yards and two touchdowns. Hall also threw the decisive touchdown to Mason Taylor in the fourth quarter, showcasing his versatility.

On the Cincinnati side, Joe Flacco led the offense, completing 21 of 34 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He also contributed with a rushing score.

### Jets Head Coach Aaron Glenn Reacts to First Win of 2025 Season

Following the Jets’ first victory, head coach Aaron Glenn shared his thoughts on what he described as a “very, very exciting” game. He praised his team’s resilience and grit, especially after a difficult start to the season.

“I told my guys at halftime, these are the games where I really can tell the mental and physical toughness of our team, the grit we’ve been talking about having to play with to win these games. I’m proud of the way we fought,” Glenn said.

He continued, “There were a number of things we did today that didn’t put us in position to lose and put us in position to win. We had a number of guys who made plays at crucial times. Now it’s our time to consistently do that.”

Glenn also addressed the criticism the team has faced throughout the season:

“These guys, this staff, this team get criticized for so much. And I understand why. We were 0-7 and we brought a lot on ourselves. But a lot of it I feel was unwarranted. I’m just so happy for these guys and our coaches. We still have a long way to go. I’m going to enjoy this win.”

### Looking Ahead

The Jets will now enter their bye week, taking some time to regroup. Their next game is scheduled against the Cleveland Browns on November 9, with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET on CBS.

—

**About the Author**
Andre Castillo is an NFL journalist at Sportskeeda with over seven years of experience. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master’s degree in Journalism, Andre has covered a variety of sports including MMA and wrestling. He follows the New York Jets and Washington Commanders closely, with a personal interest in tight ends like Mark Andrews and Travis Kelce. Outside of writing, Andre is a professional licensed teacher and enjoys UFC, MotoGP, playing piano, and traveling.

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For the latest updates, check out the [New York Jets Schedule](#) and dive into the [Jets Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25](#).
https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/news-justin-fields-makes-feelings-clear-woody-johnson-s-criticism-handing-aaron-glenn-s-jets-1st-win-2025-nfl-season

Cowboys will have LT Tyler Guyton, but S Juanyeh Thomas is inactive

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The Cowboys will have left tackle Tyler Guyton available, despite being questionable earlier in the week due to a glute injury that limited him on Thursday and Friday. He is not listed among the team’s inactives for the game.

Edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland is also active after being questionable with an ankle injury.

The Cowboys’ inactives include linebacker Jack Sanborn (groin), safety Juanyeh Thomas (migraines), safety Donovan Wilson (elbow/shoulder), offensive tackle Ajani Cornelius (knees), wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, and defensive tackle Jay Toia.

On the Broncos’ side, only two players appeared on the injury report this week, and none carried an injury designation. All of their inactives are healthy scratches.

The Broncos’ inactives for the game are quarterback Sam Ehlinger, running back Jaleel McLaughlin, safety J.T. Gray, outside linebacker Que Robinson, and defensive linemen Sai’vion Jones.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cowboys-will-have-lt-tyler-guyton-but-s-juanyeh-thomas-is-inactive