Aug 10, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) warms up before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

Rams claim CB Emmanuel Forbes off waivers from Commanders

Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes is heading from Washington to Los Angeles after the Rams claimed him off waivers from the Commanders on Monday.

The Commanders cut Forbes — the 16th overall pick in the 2023 draft — on Saturday. Washington acquired star corner Marshon Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints at the trade deadline and coach Dan Quinn said Sunday the team cut Forbes because Lattimore is close to returning from a hamstring injury and making his team debut.

Forbes, 23, had one start among his six appearances for Washington this year and had seven tackles, one interception and one pass breakup. In 20 career games (seven starts) in two seasons, Forbes has 45 tackles, two picks and 12 pass breakups.

“He was a guy that we liked and had a familiarity with just based on the evaluation coming out of Mississippi State,” Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters. “And then I thought there was some good tape that he’s put out there when we’ve gone against them, particularly later in the year last year.”

The Rams improved to 6-6 on Sunday and are fighting for the NFC West title, tied for second with Arizona one game behind division leader Seattle.

–Field Level Media

Sep 10, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson (22) celebrates his turnover in the third quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Texans claim S Kareem Jackson off waivers from Broncos

Veteran safety Kareem Jackson was claimed off waivers Tuesday by the Houston Texans, the team where he spent the first nine seasons of his career.

Houston also placed safety Jimmie Ward on injured reserve. Ward hurt his quadriceps in Sunday’s loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The Texans drafted Jackson in the first round of the 2010 draft as a cornerback. He became a safety when he joined the Denver Broncos in 2019.

But Jackson’s troubled tenure in Denver came to an end Monday when the team released him. Jackson has served two suspensions totaling six games this season due to hits deemed unnecessary roughness by the NFL. His second suspension concluded last week.

Jackson drew a two-game suspension for a hit to the head of Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave on Oct. 22. He later was suspended for four games, one day after a high blow to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Nov. 19.

Overall, Jackson has been fined a total of $89,670 this season for four illegal hits. He also has lost more than $838,000 in missed game checks.

Jackson, 35, has 952 tackles and 22 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns. He also has seven fumble recoveries, one returned for a score.

In eight games this season, Jackson recorded 51 tackles and two interceptions.

Jackson overlapped for two seasons in Houston with linebacker DeMeco Ryans — now the franchise’s head coach, and on the verge of taking the Texans (8-7) to the playoffs in his first season on the job.

Ward has 50 tackles and one interception in 10 games this season, his first with the Texans after nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.

–Field Level Media

Sept 9, 2023; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; James Madison Dukes quarterback Jordan McCloud (2) passes off the ball to James Madison Dukes running back Ty Son Lawton (7) to run a play during the second half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Hannah Pajewski-USA TODAY Sports

NCAA denies James Madison’s postseason waiver request

James Madison will not be eligible to make the College Football Playoff this season, as the NCAA on Wednesday denied the school’s request for a postseason waiver.

The Dukes (10-0) are in their second season of the required two-year transition period from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision. They are currently ranked No. 21 in the AP Top 25 but aren’t in the College Football Playoff rankings due to being ineligible.

James Madison asked for the waiting period for full bowl eligibility to be sliced to one year, but the NCAA refused.

The ruling also affects Jacksonville State (7-3), in its first season in the FBS and Tarleton State (8-3), in its first season in the FCS.

“We’re obviously disappointed in the outcome of the NCAA’s review of our request for bowl relief,” the James Madison administration said in a statement. “We’re saddened for our university community and, in particular, we’re devastated for our football program, the coaches and student-athletes who have orchestrated an amazing season and earned the opportunity.”

James Madison and Jacksonville State could still wind up in bowl games if not enough teams finish with records of .500 or better to stock the 41 bowl games.

The Dukes also are ineligible to compete in the Sun Belt Conference championship game, even though they lead the East Division with a 6-0 league record.

James Madison has an 18-3 record across its first two years at the FBS level.

–Field Level Media

Nov 20, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA;  Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Rams claim QB Baker Mayfield off waivers

Former No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield is getting another chance to save his career, this time with the defending Super Bowl champions.

The Los Angeles Rams claimed Mayfield off waivers Tuesday, a day after the Carolina Panthers cut ties with the beleaguered quarterback just five months into their marriage.

The Rams (3-9) lost their sixth straight game Sunday to the Seattle Seahawks, with John Wolford starting under center. Matthew Stafford, who had been diagnosed with a concussion and neck injury a few weeks prior, was revealed after the game to have a spinal contusion that likely ended his season.

The Rams had Wolford and Bryce Perkins as the other quarterbacks on their roster, though Wolford is dealing with a neck injury and was listed as did not participate on Monday’s estimated practice report.

Though their chances of making a late run for a wild-card berth are close to zero, the Rams claimed the 27-year-old Mayfield for the closing stretch and inherited the $1.35 million left on his contract.

The Rams’ move also potentially blocked a quarterback-needy NFC West rival, the division-leading San Francisco 49ers, from being able to claim Mayfield because the Rams were ahead of the 49ers in the waiver order. The 49ers have lost quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo to injuries — though reports came out Tuesday that Garoppolo will not need foot surgery as originally expected and could be back for the playoffs.

ESPN reported that the 49ers did not put in a claim for Mayfield.

Mayfield started six of the seven games he played in this season, completing 57.8 percent of his passes for 1,313 yards and six touchdowns against six interceptions.

He was in his first season in Carolina, which acquired him from the Cleveland Browns in July for a 2024 conditional fifth-round pick. The pick will remain a fifth-rounder since Mayfield didn’t play 70 percent of the team’s snaps at QB.

The Panthers paid $5 million of Mayfield’s fifth-year option while the Browns paid about $10.5 million. Mayfield agreed to cut the remaining $3 million-plus off his fifth-year salary to facilitate the trade.

Mayfield is 30-35 as a starting QB in 65 starts as an NFL quarterback since being selected No. 1 by the Browns in 2018. He’s thrown for 98 TDs and 62 INTs for his career.

ESPN reported that Mayfield is en route to Los Angeles and could play as soon as Thursday, when the Rams visit the Las Vegas Raiders.

–Field Level Media