Tag: Lewis

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Tyquan Lewis (94) celebrates after a play Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Colts place DE Tyquan Lewis (elbow) on injured reserve

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts placed defensive end Tyquan Lewis on injured reserve with an elbow injury sustained during Sunday’s win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Also Tuesday, the Colts (2-2) signed defensive tackle Adam Gotsis to the 53-man roster from the practice squad and signed cornerback Kelvin Joseph to the practice squad.

Lewis, 29, will have to sit out at least the next four games, with his earliest possible return coming in Week 9 at Minnesota on Nov. 3.

Lewis started the first four games and recorded 17 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. He has 112 tackles, 15 sacks, 10 passes defensed and one interception in 69 games (20 starts) since the Colts drafted him in the second round in 2018.

Gotsis, 32, was elevated from the practice squad on Sunday and had one tackle in his Colts debut. A second-round pick by Denver in 2016, he has 219 tackles, 10.5 sacks and four fumble recoveries in 122 games (54 starts) with the Broncos (2016-19), Jacksonville Jaguars (2020-23) and Colts.

Joseph, 24, previously was with the Colts’ practice squad in Weeks 2-3. A 2021 second-round pick by Dallas, he has 39 tackles and one fumble recovery in 31 games (three starts) with the Cowboys (2021-22), Miami Dolphins (2023) and Seattle Seahawks (2023).

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2021; Englewood, CO, United States; Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur looks on during training camp at UCHealth Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Pat Shurmur to call plays for Colorado

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Colorado is handing play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Sean Lewis to analyst Pat Shurmur for the Buffaloes’ game Saturday against No. 16 Oregon State, according to multiple media reports.

The Buffaloes (4-4, 1-4 Pac-12), losers of two straight games and four of their last five after a 3-0 start, had just 242 yards of offense in a 28-16 loss to UCLA last Saturday.

Lewis’ new duties are to be determined but he could still signal in plays called by Shurmur, according to ESPN and Action Network.

Shurmur, a former NFL head coach and offensive coordinator, joined first-year head coach Deion Sanders’ staff as an offensive quality control analyst. Shurmur would have to be elevated to full-time status to become eligible to coach and another assistant would have to be demoted, according to NCAA rules on the size of coaching staffs.

Colorado is tied for 39th of 130 FBS teams in scoring (32.13 points a game) and averages 408.6 total yards (54th) and 330 passing yards (sixth) but only 78.6 rushing yards (128th).

The Buffaloes are 129th in sacks allowed — 42 in eight games for a 5.25 average.

Shurmur, 58, was 19-46 as a head coach for the Cleveland Browns (9-23 in 2011-12), Philadelphia Eagles (1-0 in 2015) and New York Giants (9-23 in 2018-19). He also was an offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams (2009-10), Eagles (2013-15), Minnesota Vikings (2016-17) and Denver Broncos (2020-21).

Lewis, 37, was the head coach at Kent State from 2018-22 until joining the Colorado staff.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko looks on before the game against the Lafayette Leopards at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Take 5: Ranking Michigan State’s top options to replace Mel Tucker

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Chaos is in full swing in East Lansing, Mich., before the calendar hits October.

Michigan State is a double-digit underdog at Iowa on Saturday after officially firing coach Mel Tucker this week. While Tucker was on administrative leave, the Spartans lost their first two games against Power 5 schools this season by a combined score of 72-16.

If there’s a silver lining — and you have to look deep with Tucker planning to file a wrongful termination lawsuit — it’s that athletic director Alan Haller can get a head start on finding his replacement.

Here are five candidates the Spartans might put at the top of their wish list:

5. Charles Huff (Marshall head coach)
Huff made national headlines when the Thundering Herd upset Notre Dame last season when the Irish were ranked No. 8. He has a 19-10 record at Marshall in his third season, but also boasts ties to Nick Saban, having served as Alabama’s running backs coach from 2019-20. Just 40 years old, Huff spent four seasons on James Franklin’s staff at Penn State and is considered an up-and-coming coach who is likely to land a Power 5 gig sooner than later.

4. Sean Lewis (Colorado offensive coordinator)
The former Kent State head coach is only 37 years old and has received plenty of national attention while running Deion Sanders’ offense in Boulder. Though the Spartans have a reputation for preferring defensive-minded coaches, the game is changing with the transfer portal and several more powerhouse programs set to join the Big Ten next year. Lewis would bring recruiting credibility – especially in the transfer portal if the Spartans are seeking a quick turnaround.

3. Lance Leipold (Kansas head coach)
Leipold built a Division III powerhouse at Wisconsin-Whitewater, where he won six national titles, before moving on to Buffalo and winning two MAC Coach of the Year awards. The 59-year-old got his first crack with a Power 5 program at lowly Kansas, where he is in the midst of performing another remarkable turnaround with the Jayhawks off to a 4-0 start after the program’s first bowl game appearance last year since 2008. The Spartans would face a few significant hurdles if they choose to pursue Leipold — beginning with a buyout of more than $12 million. Leipold, whose contract runs through 2029, said this week that he has work left to do at Kansas.

2. Mike Tressel (Wisconsin defensive coordinator)
For an embattled program like MSU, a respected connection to the past could be very appealing. Tressel, the nephew of former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel, was on the Spartans’ defensive staff for 14 years and took over as the interim head coach after Mark Dantonio’s retirement. He stayed on when Tucker was hired before leaving to join Luke Fickell’s staff with Cincinnati in 2021. Tressel followed him to Wisconsin this year.

1. Mike Elko (Duke head coach)
Elko is one of the hottest names in coaching circles as he continues to guide the Blue Devils to remarkable success after earning ACC Coach of the Year honors in his debut season in 2022. Duke is 13-4 under Elko after going a combined 10-25 in the three seasons before he arrived. Duke upset Clemson to open this season and Elko’s status will continue to rise if the Blue Devils can knock off Notre Dame, where he served as the Irish’s defensive coordinator in 2017, on Saturday. The quick success is a tribute to Elko’s ability to work the transfer portal, and Michigan State could find plenty of competition for the 46-year-old — if Elko is even open to leaving Raleigh after just two seasons.

There are numerous potential candidates for the Spartans to assess. Tops among them could be Oregon State’s Jonathan Smith and Washington State’s Jake Dickert, who both have their teams ranked in the top 25 for programs that face an uncertain future as the lone remaining members of the Pac-12 in 2024 as of now.

One coach who apparently won’t be under consideration for Haller is Kansas State’s Chris Klieman, who said in an interview with Sirius XM this week that he “will not be a candidate for that job” when asked about Michigan State.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley talks to quarterback Caleb Williams (13) during the game against the Tulane Green Wave in the 2023 Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Top ’26 QB recruit Julian Lewis commits to Trojans

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Southern California received a commitment Tuesday from top Class of 2026 quarterback Julian Lewis.

A 6-foot-1, 195-pound sophomore at Georgia’s Carrollton High School, Lewis also had offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Florida, Florida State and many others.

Lewis is ranked No. 1 overall in the recruiting Class of 2026 by the 247 Sports composite after passing for 4,118 yards, 48 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as a freshman.

“The opportunity to play for Coach Riley is special,” Lewis told ESPN. “His track record with quarterbacks speaks for itself. Their strength program, the academics and Los Angeles together make it a great fit for me and my future.”

Lewis adds to Riley’s track record for attracting elite signal-callers, including reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and 2023 five-star recruit Malachi Nelson.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2021; College Park, Maryland, USA; Kent State Golden Flashes head coach Sean Lewis walks with players at the beginning of the fourth quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Kent State focusing on Kenni Burns as new coach

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Kent State is closing in on a deal to hire Minnesota assistant Kenni Burns as its new head coach, according to multiple reports.

Burns is Minnesota’s assistant head coach and also coaches the running backs. He has been with the Golden Gophers for the past six seasons, the last four with the assistant head coach tag.

Kent State has been searching for a new head coach since Sean Lewis left after five seasons to serve as offensive coordinator at Colorado under Deion Sanders.

Burns, 39, has spent the past seven seasons working under Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck. He spent one season at Western Michigan before he followed Fleck to Minnesota when the latter was hired as coach following the 2016 season.

Burns played college football for Indiana from 2003-06 and was a three-time letterwinner.

Kent State went 5-7 in 2022.

–Field Level Media

Feb 5, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard (53) reacts during AFC practice at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Colts place All-Pro LB Darius Leonard on PUP list

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The Indianapolis Colts placed star linebacker Darius Leonard on the active/physically unable to perform list Sunday as a result of his back surgery last month.

Leonard, who will turn 27 on Wednesday, is coming off his third All-Pro and Pro Bowl seasons in 2021. He recorded 122 tackles, four interceptions and eight forced fumbles in 16 starts. He has earned All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors in each of his four seasons with the Colts.

Leonard has 538 tackles, 17 forced fumbles, 15 sacks and 11 interceptions in 58 career starts since being selected in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft by Indianapolis.

Leonard signed a five-year extension worth $99.25 million last August.

The Colts also put defensive end Tyquan Lewis (knee), safety Rodney McLeod (undisclosed) and wide receiver Michael Strachan (undisclosed) on the PUP list. Rookie defensive tackle Eric Johnson (undisclosed) was placed on the non-football injury list.

–Field Level Media

Aug 21, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Tyron Smith (77) blocs Houston Texans outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins (50) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys star LT Tyron Smith (ankle) to sit out vs. Washinigton

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Eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith will miss Sunday night’s home game against the Washington Football Team due to a left ankle injury.

It will be the second straight game and fifth overall that Smith has missed due to the troublesome ankle.

He missed three games earlier this season before returning for the Thanksgiving Day game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Smith then played in three contests and reinjured the ankle during a 27-20 road win at Washington on Dec. 12.

Smith sat out last Sunday’s 21-6 triumph over the New York Giants.

Smith, 31, has started all 143 games in which he has played during 11 seasons with the Cowboys.

Dallas also announced that cornerback Jourdan Lewis was placed on the COVID-19 list. He joins safety Malik Hooker, defensive tackle Trysten Hill and running back JaQuan Hardy in the protocol.

Defensive line coach Aden Durde and assistant special teams coach Matt Daniels also are in the protocol.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2018; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis watches from the sideline during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Marvin Lewis interviews for Texans’ head-coaching job

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Marvin Lewis interviewed for the Houston Texans’ head-coaching position, the team announced Wednesday.

Lewis has plenty of experience, having coached the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003-18. His Cincinnati tenure included a 131-122-3 regular-season record that included seven playoff appearances.

The regular-season success did not translate to the postseason, however. Lewis posted an 0-7 record in the playoffs.

Lewis, 62, is currently the co-defensive coordinator at Arizona State. He joined Herm Edwards’ Sun Devils staff last year as a special adviser before taking his current role this year.

Before taking over as the Bengals’ head coach, Lewis had experience as an assistant coach at four colleges and with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Washington in the NFL.

Houston fired Bill O’Brien after an 0-4 start to the 2020 campaign. The Texans have been playing under interim head coach Romeo Crennel, who has posted a 4-6 record since O’Brien’s departure.

–Field Level Media