Canadian huge receiver Chase Claypool is heading to the Chicago Bears.
An individual with information of the deal tells The Associated Press the Pittsburgh Steelers have traded Claypool to Chicago for a second-round choose within the 2023 draft. The particular person spoke to the AP on situation of anonymity as a result of the deal was not official.
The commerce provides Chicago quarterback Justin Fields a downfield menace to boost a passing attack that ranks final within the NFL, averaging simply 126.9 yards per sport.
Claypool of Abbotsford, B.C., has 32 receptions for 301 yards and one landing this season for the Steelers (2-6). He additionally threw the primary landing move of his profession in final week’s loss to Philadelphia with a brief flip to fullback Derek Watt on a gadget play.
The six-foot-four Claypool, nevertheless, grew to become expendable thanks to the emergence of rookie George Pickens.
Pickens has rapidly emerged as Pittsburgh’s No. 2 receiver, bumping Claypool to third on the depth chart behind Pickens and Diontae Johnson.
Claypool was a revelation in 2020 after being grabbed within the second spherical, scoring 10 touchdowns (eight receiving, two speeding) in his first 10 video games whereas serving to Pittsburgh get off to an 11-0 begin on its approach to the AFC North title.
Replicating that manufacturing has confirmed tough. Claypool has simply 4 touchdowns in his previous 29 video games.
The commerce provides the rebuilding Steelers extra capital within the 2023 draft to assist a bunch looking for a brand new id in its first yr with out Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January.
Pittsburgh’s 2-6 begin is its worst since 2013. The defence has struggled with out injured star linebacker T.J. Watt and the offence is sputtering behind rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett.
Claypool provides Fields one other gifted, if enigmatic, goal to assist make the Bears extra two-dimensional.
Falcons commerce suspended WR Ridley
Suspended Atlanta receiver Calvin Ridley is getting a recent begin in Jacksonville, though it is unclear when he will probably be allowed to play once more.
The Jaguars made a posh deal to land Ridley — and doubtlessly give quarterback Trevor Lawrence a real No. 1 receiver in 2023 — simply earlier than the NFL buying and selling deadline Tuesday.
“This is a chance to add a confirmed playmaker to our already gifted huge receiver room as we proceed to construct our roster for 2023 and past,” Jaguars common supervisor Trent Baalke mentioned in a press release. “We are trying ahead to ending robust this season and integrating Calvin into our program on the acceptable time.”
We have acquired WR Calvin Ridley from the Atlanta Falcons through commerce.<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/DUUUVAL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#DUUUVAL</a> <a href=”https://t.co/ebG5JVdxan”>pic.twitter.com/ebG5JVdxan</a>
—@Jaguars
An individual with information of the commerce mentioned compensation to the Falcons ranges between a second-round choose in 2024 and a sixth-rounder. The particular person spoke to The Associated Press on situation of anonymity as a result of particulars had not been made public.
The draft choose is contingent on when Ridley will get reinstated, how a lot he performs in 2023 and whether or not he indicators a long-term take care of the Jaguars, the particular person mentioned.
Ridley tweeted “Duuuval” with two emojis of faces with steam coming from each nostrils, relaying the group’s rallying cry.
Suspension over betting on NFL video games
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Ridley in March for no less than the 2022 season after a league investigation decided Ridley guess on NFL video games in 2021 whereas away from the group addressing psychological well being issues. The league mentioned the suspension will carry “by means of no less than the conclusion of the 2022 season.”
The NFL mentioned the betting came about throughout a five-day interval in late November 2021. Ridley was positioned on the non-football sickness record following Week 8 final season, which ended Nov. 1.
Ridley responded on his Twitter account that day, saying “I guess 1500 whole I haven’t got a playing downside.”
A league investigation uncovered no proof inside data was used or that any sport was compromised by Ridley’s betting. Nor was there proof suggesting Falcons coaches, gamers or employees had been conscious of Ridley’s betting exercise.
“As our group continues its development, we proceed our each day concentrate on bettering our roster and imagine this transfer is the perfect resolution to make right now,” Falcons common supervisor Terry Fontenot mentioned.
“We admire Calvin’s contributions to the group and want him effectively on his subsequent steps.”
Missed last 2 months final season
Ridley might petition for reinstatement after Feb. 23, 2023.
The suspension wasn’t the primary time Ridley was unavailable to the Falcons. He sat out the ultimate two months of the 2021 season and defined his absence in a Twitter submit that learn, “I want to step away from soccer right now and concentrate on my psychological effectively being.”
Ridley was Atlanta’s 2018 first-round draft choose from Alabama. He had 90 catches for 1,374 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2020. He had solely 31 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns earlier than sitting out the ultimate two months of the season.
He is scheduled to depend $11.1 million US in opposition to Jacksonville’s wage cap in 2023, which is the ultimate yr of his rookie deal.
The Jaguars have Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Jamal Agnew below contract subsequent season, however the three are thought-about complementary receivers.
49ers commerce RB Wilson Jr. to Dolphins
The San Francisco 49ers traded working again Jeff Wilson Jr. to the Miami Dolphins for a fifth-round choose on Tuesday.
The Niners had a surplus at working again after buying and selling for Christian McCaffrey final month and with Week 1 starter Elijah Mitchell anticipated to return after the bye week from a knee damage.
So they managed to recoup a draft choose after buying and selling away 4 of them for McCaffrey and reunited Wilson with Miami coach Mike McDaniel, who had been in control of the working sport in San Francisco for Wilson’s first 4 seasons within the NFL.
Wilson will group with former 49ers teammate Raheem Mostert in Miami’s backfield after the Dolphins traded Chase Edmonds in a package deal to Denver earlier Tuesday for move rusher Bradley Chubb.
Wilson has been a productive again when given the chance to play since coming into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He led the Niners in speeding with 600 yards in 2020 and had 92 carries for a team-high 468 yards and two TDs this yr.
Wilson has averaged 84.1 yards from scrimmage in his 18 profession begins in San Francisco.
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