Tag: Dalton

Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton (14) throws a pass in the first quarter of the NFL Week 2 game between the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. The Bears led 7-0 at halftime. Cincinnati Bengals At Chicago Bears

Andy Dalton questionable; Bears to make QB decision on Sunday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Andy Dalton was listed as questionable due to his ailing knee on Friday, and Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy said a decision on a starting quarterback won’t be made until close to kickoff against the visiting Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Dalton was a limited practice participant and Nagy’s decision to not name a starter indicates a willingness to give Dalton time to recover. If Dalton can’t play Sunday, rookie Justin Fields will start.

“Andy is getting better each day and we’re going to see where he’s at on Sunday,” Bears coach Matt Nagy told reporters after practice.

Nagy said he doesn’t foresee any situation in which veteran Nick Foles starts Sunday.

Dalton sustained a bone bruise on his left knee during a Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and missed last week’s 26-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Dalton said he is making progress but was short on details when it came to his practice workload on Friday.

“With the injury, you’re just trying to get back as soon as possible,” Dalton said. “I feel really good about where I’m at. …

“I did some things (in practice) and felt good about where I was and everything. I’m going to leave it at that.”

The 33-year-old Dalton is in first season with the Bears and has completed 73.5 percent of his throws for 262 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Fields, the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 draft, started against the Browns and it didn’t go well. He completed 6 of 20 passes for 68 yards but gave 67 yards back on nine sacks. Chicago had 47 yards of total offense.

Overall, Fields is just 14-of-35 passing (40 percent) for 138 yards and one interception in three games.

“Last week wasn’t the performance we want to put out,” Fields said on Friday. “We talked about that and we expect to be better this week.”

Among other injuries, star outside linebacker Khalil Mack (foot) returned to practice on a limited basis after missing the previous two days. Mack is listed as questionable, along with cornerback Xavier Crawford (back) and receiver Darnell Mooney (groin).

Linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe (hamstring) will miss the contest, as will safety Tashaun Gipson (hamstring).
–Field Level Media

Sep 26, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Bears’ Matt Nagy not ready to name starter vs. Lions

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy was confident in identifying his quarterback depth chart on Wednesday.

As for the identity of his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the visiting Detroit Lions, that’s a cloudier picture.

“As far as a QB update, I’m going to hit on a few things here, we expect both Andy (Dalton) and Justin (Fields) out at practice in some capacity and we’ll update their status based on their participation,” Nagy said Wednesday.

“In regard to the depth chart … Andy’s the (No.) 1, Justin’s the 2 and Nick (Foles) as the 3. Starter will be sorted out once we have a clearer picture moving forward here. We’ll know more and we’ll clear that up.”

Dalton, 33, sustained a bone bruise in his knee on Sept. 19 during the Bears’ 20-17 win against one of his former teams, the Cincinnati Bengals. He sat out Chicago’s 26-6 setback to the Cleveland Browns last Sunday.

Fields, 22, suffered a right hand injury during his first career start last Sunday. The Bears recorded 47 total yards (46 rushing, one passing) in 42 plays and yielded nine sacks in the loss.

Foles, 32, has yet to play since joining the Bears (1-2).

–Field Level Media

Sep 19, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Andy Dalton (14) rushes the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

Bears QB Andy Dalton leaves with knee injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Bears quarterback Andy Dalton exited Sunday’s game with a left knee injury.

Rookie first-round pick Justin Fields started the second half for Chicago with the host Bears leading the Cincinnati Bengals, 7-3.

Dalton grabbed his lower left leg following a sack in the second quarter. On the next play, he broke from the pocket to escape pressure and scurried out of bounds, again reaching for the outside of his leg as he returned to the Bears’ bench.

After meeting with the team’s medical staff and testing his agility, Dalton briefly went to the locker room. He returned and was officially listed as questionable.

Bears running back David Montgomery is the team’s emergency third quarterback.

After rushing for a first down to move the chains, Fields fumbled on his opening drive of the second half but recovered the ball to spare the possession and bring on the Chicago punt team.

–Field Level Media

Dec 27, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is sacked by Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Andre Dillard (77) and defensive end Brandon Graham (55) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys win to stay alive, Eagles eliminated

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Andy Dalton passed for a season-high 377 yards and three touchdowns and kept the Dallas Cowboys’ playoff pulse beating with a 37-17 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

Thanks to Carolina’s win Sunday against the Washington Football Team, the NFC East race comes down to the final weekend.

Dallas (6-9) won its third straight game and can secure the division’s playoff berth with a victory next Sunday at the New York Giants (5-10), coupled with a loss or tie by Washington (6-9) in Philadelphia. Washington swept the Cowboys this season and owns the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Dalton completed 22 of 30 passes with one interception. Michael Gallup had six catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns (all in the first half) and Amari Cooper had 121 yards on four receptions. Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 105 yards on 19 carries.

The Eagles (4-10-1) were finally eliminated from the playoff picture after suffering their sixth loss in seven games. Rookie Jalen Hurts, making his third start, passed for 342 yards and one touchdown and ran for 69 yards.

Dallas outscored Philly by a 34-3 margin over the last three quarters.

Dalton’s 52-yard TD pass to rookie CeeDee Lamb on the opening drive of the second half stretched the Cowboys’ lead to 27-17.

Cooper’s 69-yard catch set up a 21-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal for a 30-17 lead midway through the third quarter, and Lamb’s 19-yard touchdown run with 1:53 left provided the only points of the fourth quarter.

The Eagles’ seven second-half possessions ended with three punts, a turnover on downs and three turnovers by Hurts (two interceptions and a fumble).

Philadelphia began the game with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Miles Sanders’ 4-yard run with nine minutes left (plus Jake Elliott’s extra point) made it 440 points surrendered by the Cowboys this season, breaking the franchise record of 436 in 2010.

After a 35-yard field goal by Zuerlein, the record books got another update.

DeSean Jackson hauled in an 81-yard touchdown from Hurts to put the Eagles up 14-3. It was the fifth career TD catch of 80-plus yards for Jackson, tying the NFL record shared by Derrick Alexander, Lance Alworth, Bob Hayes and Jerry Rice.

The second quarter was the Dalton-Gallup show as Dallas stormed to a 20-17 lead at intermission.

The Cowboys scored the first 10 points of the period on Dalton’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Gallup and a 20-yard field goal by Zuerlein, which was set up by Gallup’s 55-yard grab.

Following Elliott’s 38-yard field goal, Dallas capped an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 7-yard strike from Dalton to Gallup with 12 seconds left in the half.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is helped to the locker room after being knocked out of the game on a hit by Washington Football Team inside linebacker Jon Bostic (not pictured) in the third quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys to start Dalton, resist QB in draft

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Andy Dalton is the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, if healthy.

And when Dak Prescott is ready to return from a season-ending ankle injury, the job is his, with no plans to give in to the temptation of taking a quarterback in the draft, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday.

Jones said it would be “crazy” for the Cowboys to select a quarterback even if the team holds on to what is currently the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, based on standings through nine weeks of the regular season.

“Dak is our quarterback,” Jones said in a radio interview with 105.3 FM in Dallas on Tuesday.

On the same station Monday, Jones’ son and team vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys are planning to start Dalton, if he’s healthy coming out of this week’s bye.

“Obviously, Andy is our quarterback now that Dak is out for the year,” Stephen Jones said. “Certainly if he gets back and hopefully he’ll be passing his protocol in his concussion and be ready to go as far as the coronavirus is concerned. It’s our bye week, so, that really gives him a chance to get up to speed. So, we’ll just have to see what the next two weeks bring.”

The Cowboys are not practicing this week due to the Steelers, who played at Dallas on Sunday, experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19. Tight end Vance McDonald tested positive on Monday.

Dalton started two games following Prescott’s season-ending ankle injury. He suffered a concussion against the Washington Football Team and the Cowboys started rookie Ben DiNucci in a Week 8 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Garrett Gilbert started Sunday’s home defeat against the Steelers. The Steelers rallied for a 24-19 win on the momentum of a fourth-quarter Gilbert interception.

“He had a tough play there, trying to make a play for us,” Stephen Jones said. “I think he was going to throw it away. Overall, he gave us every opportunity to have success and win the game. He really played well.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Football Team linebacker Cole Holcomb (55) pressures Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during the first half at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Jones, Cowboys expect Dalton ‘next week’

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Andy Dalton was essentially ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles by Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones.

Jones, in a radio interview with 105.3 FM in Dallas, said Dalton “should be ready to go next week.”

Dalton started the past two games but left the Week 7 loss to the Washington Football Team with a concussion, his first documented head injury in the NFL.

Rookie seventh-round pick Ben DiNucci is preparing to start, head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Friday morning. Dak Prescott had started 72 games in a row before dislocating his right ankle, in addition to a compound fracture, on Oct. 11.

DiNucci fumbled twice and the Cowboys recovered both in his relief stint after Dalton left last week. He is taking all of the first-team reps in practice.

“Football is football. It’s the game I’ve been playing since I was in seventh grade,” DiNucci said.

Garrett Gilbert is listed as the team’s backup quarterback with Dalton presumed absent.

A sixth-round pick in 2014, the 29-year-old Gilbert is with his seventh NFL team and joined Dallas two weeks ago when the Cowboys signed him away from the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.

He has six total pass attempts in six NFL seasons.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) is hit by Washington Football Team inside linebacker Jon Bostic (53) and knocked out of the game in the third quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Dalton in protocol, Cowboys get OG Martin back

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Dallas Cowboys All-Pro guard Zack Martin is back at practice after missing last week’s game with a concussion.

But starting quarterback Andy Dalton, who attended a team meeting at the team’s Frisco headquarters on Wednesday, remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol. He is unlikely to be cleared until the “end of the week at the earliest,” head coach Mike McCarthy said.

Dalton is not permitted to attend position meetings with the team’s quarterbacks while in concussion protocol.

Martin and center Joe Looney, who has been out since Oct. 4 with a sprained MCL, are both expected to play for the Cowboys (2-5) on Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1).

Offensive line play has been a problem for the Cowboys, who are without left tackle Tyron Smith (neck) for the rest of the season.

Dalton was concussed in the Week 7 loss to the Washington Football Team on a hit by linebacker Jon Bostic. Dalton went into a slide and, with his knee on the ground, Bostic plowed his shoulder into Dalton’s facemask. The result was Dalton’s first documented NFL concussion, and an ejection from the game for Bostic.

Rookie Ben DiNucci is Dalton’s backup and finished the 25-3 loss to Washington on Sunday. He’s in line to start if Dalton isn’t cleared.

Dalton started the past two games with Dak Prescott (ankle) out for the season.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) lies on the field after being hit by Washington Football Team inside linebacker Jon Bostic (not pictured) and knocked out of the game in the third quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys QB Dalton enters concussion protocol

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Quarterback Andy Dalton is in the NFL concussion protocol for the first time in his career.

The Dallas Cowboys are not certain Dalton will be available this week. His head injury was the result of a direct shot from Washington Football Team linebacker Jon Bostic while sliding feet first in Sunday’s game.

“Obviously Andy is in protocol. He’ll have to work through that,” said Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said on 105.3 The Fan on Monday. “Of course, the lick that he took, the hit that he took when he was sliding is exactly what we don’t want in our game. I think the refs handled it accordingly and ejected the player, and probably what you would fully expect on a situation like that.

“So, it’s never going to be perfect. This is a fast game, and as we know, levels are changing. It’s very unfortunate obviously. Andy is a pro and thinking about him, and he’ll be in protocol, and we’ll see how he progresses.”

Rookie Ben DiNucci is Dalton’s backup and finished the 25-3 loss to Washington on Sunday. He’s in line to start if Dalton isn’t cleared.

Guard Zack Martin, who missed Sunday’s game with a concussion he sustained the week before against Arizona, will be ready to go this week, Jones said on Monday. Jones also said center Joe Looney “has a chance” to play this week.

Looney has been out with a sprained MCL since Oct. 4.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2020; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Football Team linebacker Jon Bostic (53) tackles Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton (14) during the second half at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

No ban coming for Bostic’s blow to Dalton’s head

Posted on | by Field Level Media

There is no suspension in the offing for Washington Football Team linebacker Jon Bostic, who was ejected for a hit on a sliding Andy Dalton in Sunday’s game.

Per multiple reports, the NFL determined Bostic would not be suspended but is likely to be fined for the shoulder-to-facemask blast on the Cowboys’ quarterback. Dalton left the game and was diagnosed with a concussion.

Scrambling from his own 3-yard line, Dalton gained six yards and began to slide, which signals to defenders he’s also entering the no-contact zone. With his knees on the turf, Dalton was met with a vicious shoulder blow from Bostic.

Head coach Mike McCarthy said he was pleased Bostic was ejected, but didn’t appreciate the lack of “response” from the Cowboys.

“We speak all the time about playing for one another, protecting one another. Definitely, it was probably not the response you would expect,” McCarthy said.

Dallas was trailing 22-3 and lost the game to Washington, 25-3.

Dalton was making his second start in place of Dak Prescott, who is out for the season with a dislocated ankle.

The Cowboys have been outscored 63-13 in those two games, and there are signs of splintering.

“If we ain’t in this all together as one band, (expletive) creeps in like this,” said defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. “It’s really all about us finding trust into each other, us believing the system, us fighting for each other as a brotherhood and really shaping some things up.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2020; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) leaves the game with an apparent injury during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

NFL injury notebook: Browns’ Beckham suffers knee injury

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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and center JC Tretter both suffered apparent leg injuries on the same play early in the first quarter of Sunday’s 37-34 victory at Cincinnati.

On the Browns’ second offensive snap, quarterback Baker Mayfield was intercepted on a deep throw down the right sideline intended for Beckham. Beckham was assisted off the field and taken to the Browns’ locker room.

The NFL Network reported after the game that the injury is feared to be “major” and Beckham is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Monday morning to determine the severity.

After the interception, Tretter was on the turf clutching his right leg and knee area. He was helped off the field and received treatment on the Cleveland sideline before returning to the game during the Browns’ next offensive series.

–Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton left the 25-3 loss to the Washington Football Team in the third quarter with a concussion after he absorbed an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit from linebacker Jon Bostic.

The Cowboys confirmed after the game that Dalton will enter the league’s concussion protocol. Dalton was 9 of 19 for 75 yards with an interception.

Bostic was ejected, and Dallas had to use its third quarterback in three games, rookie Ben DiNucci. The seventh-round draft pick out of James Madison tried three passes, completing two for 39 yards.

–Washington safety Landon Collins sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in the loss to the Cowboys, NFL Network reported. Collins is scheduled for an MRI on Monday, per the report.

The 26-year-old three-time Pro Bowl selection was carted off with an injury to his right lower leg in the second quarter at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

–Starting in place of injured Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers running back Jeff Wilson Jr. rushed for 112 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-6 victory over the New England Patriots but he suffered an ankle injury on the last score, a 7-yarder in the third period.

Starting receiver Deebo Samuel also exited with a hamstring injury on a catch in the fourth quarter and Richie James Jr. left with an ankle injury.

Afterward, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated that Wilson likely suffered a high ankle sprain and is a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, where he would miss a minimum of three games. The 49ers’ only healthy running backs on their active roster are rookie JaMycal Hasty and Jerick McKinnon.

–Three Patriots suffered injuries in the loss to the 49ers — wide receiver N’Keal Harry (head), guard Joe Thuney (ankle) and offensive tackle Justin Herron (ankle). All three left the game and did not return.

Thuney hadn’t missed an offensive snap since Week 7 of last season, and his injury is believed to be a mild low ankle sprain, according to a report from NFL Media.

–Arizona running back Kenyan Drake was carted off from the sideline with a towel over his head late in the fourth quarter of the Cardinals’ 37-34 OT win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Drake was hurt on a 2-yard run with 4:12 left in regulation, and he needed help off the field.

He was the third Cardinal to leave the contest, following defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, who suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter, and linebacker Isaiah Irving, who suffered a neck injury with 51 seconds left in the first half on a kickoff. Irving was strapped on a backboard and carted off the field.

–Seahawks running back Chris Carson left the OT loss to the Cardinals in the second quarter with a foot injury after rushing five times for 34 yards.

The Seahawks were also without cornerback Shaquill Griffin, who was evaluated for a possible concussion in the third quarter. He was replaced by Tre Flowers.

–Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams suffered a neck injury in the second quarter against the Browns and did not return to the game. He handed his helmet to the training staff and initially was tested for a concussion.

–Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay rushed for 79 yards on nine carries before leaving late in the first half with a concussion suffered when he was tackled by Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Daniel Sorensen.

–Los Angeles Chargers tight end Virgil Green suffered an ankle injury after scoring a 26-yard touchdown in the third quarter of the team’s 39-29 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and did not return.

Right guard Ryan Groy had a biceps injury in the fourth quarter and did not return.

–Jaguars receiver Dede Westbrook was carted off the field with a serious leg injury on the final play of the third quarter. His knee appeared to give out as he made a cut, and as he was tackled, a cry could be heard from the field.

Jaguars cornerback Sidney Jones (back) and linebacker Dakota Allen (ankle) also left in the first half.

–New York Jets receiver Breshad Perriman was being evaluated for a concussion after the team’s 18-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

–Field Level Media