Week 1 is officially in the books for 30 of the NFL’s 32 franchises, but some teams couldn’t make it out of the game without injury. Washington Football Team quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a hip injury, but the latest NFL rumors suggest the team will stick with Taylor Heinicke instead of signing Cam Newton. In other news, Marshon Lattimore signed a massive extension, while Sean McVay talked about just how good his offense could be with Matthew Stafford.
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NFL Rumors: Cam Newton, Marshon Lattimore, Matthew Stafford
Cam Newton is easily the best quarterback on the open market, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to get a job any time soon. Washington Football Team starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick suffered a hip early in Week 1’s loss, forcing Tyler Heinicke to take over for the rest of the game. The scope of the injury is not yet known, but there is a chance Fitzpatrick is gone for a while.
Considering his history with head coach Ron Rivera, many believed Newton to be a natural fill-in for Fitzpatrick. However, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, that won’t be happening any time soon.
Citing “a source with knowledge of the situation”, Washington is content to move forward with Heinicke should Fitzpatrick miss extended time. Kyle Allen will be the backup, and Newton’s services will not be needed.
It’s worth noting that Heinicke played well enough while on the field, completing 11 of his 15 passes for 122 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. This comes after he gave Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers all they could handle last year in the playoffs.
This is one of the most unbelievable catches by @TheTerry_25. And a dime by Taylor Heinicke. pic.twitter.com/R8ngxWdNUp
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 12, 2021
Newton’s vaccination status could also be an underlying factor. Newton is one of the few unvaccinated players left in the league, and the additional protocols make his odds of finding a team all the more difficult. For one, he’d have to wait five days before coming into the facility, and some teams just don’t want to wait that long.
Marshon Lattimore Signs Extension, Week-to-Week With Thumb Injury
The New Orleans Saints locked up one of their best players, signing cornerback Marshon Lattimore to a massive five-year deal following their blowout win over the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately, it’s not all good news for the Saints, as Lattimore also suffered a thumb injury and will have to undergo surgery.
More good New Orleans news: Saints CB Marshon Lattimore has agreed to a five-year, $97.6 million contract extension that could be worth up to $100 million, with $68.3 million guaranteed, per sources. It also includes the largest full guarantee at signing for any CB in NFL history
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 12, 2021
As far as surgeries go, this one appears to be minor. The cornerback will probably miss some time, but he is only considered week to week and should be back on the field before long.
Despite losing countless players over the offseason, Sean Payton and the Saints organization still found a way to build a very competitive team in 2021. Even without Lattimore, they should remain competitive in the short-term.
Sean McVay Raves About Matthew Stafford
The Matthew Stafford trade was one of the wildest moves in a crazy offseason. Trading away Jared Goff and multiple first-round picks, the Rams clearly believed that they were just a quarterback away from Super Bowl contention.
After one game, that bet seems to be paying off. Stafford had a phenomenal day against the Chicago Bears, completing 20 of his 26 attempts for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
MATTHEW STAFFORD WELCOME TO LA
pic.twitter.com/QgYQpMtMV2— PFF (@PFF) September 13, 2021
Speaking to reports after the game, Sean McVay raves about his new franchise quarterback. “He’s got a great ability to be able to change his arm slot…you’re not limited in anything you can do with him in the pass game.”
Jared Goff had a couple of nice seasons with McVay, but it’s clear that Stafford is a much better option. If he can stay healthy, then the Rams have a decent shot of making yet another deep postseason run.
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