Buccaneers
Buccaneers TE Cade Otton is emerging as a playmaker with 44 receptions for 421 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. Baker Mayfield called Otton a special and highly intelligent player.
โItโs all Cade,โ Mayfield said, via NFL.com. โ[Heโs] a special player that [is] so smart, he knows where to be, he knows exactly what weโre trying to get done within whatever scheme weโre calling, run or pass, and he understands everything. Then you add in the physical traits that he has and heโs able to showcase those in the last few weeks and thatโs an all-around player that we have.โ
Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles noted how Ottonโs route running has improved.
โItโs really been his route-running,โ Bowles said. โNot that he couldnโt do it โ I donโt think we asked him to do it because we had the other guys out there doing it. So, just asking him to step up more in a receiver role, you really see his route-running prowess and his precision.โ
Mayfield added Otton has a strong understanding of their system and concepts.
โIntelligence in football does a lot for you because at this level, obviously you have to be physically gifted, but intelligence takes you to the next level and Cade has that,โ Mayfield said. โLike I said, he understands what weโre trying to get done and understands the concepts and everything that everybody else is doing. He knows where he fits into it and how to get open.โ
Panthers
The Panthers traded away WR Diontae Johnson to the Ravens ahead of the deadline this week. GM Dan Morgan said they felt it was the best decision for both parties.
โObviously Iโll keep those conversations private that myself, coach Canales and Brandt (Tilis) had,โ Morgan said, via Kassidy Hill of the teamโs site. โBut we felt at the end of the day that it was best for the team and best for Diontae that we both part ways and get the compensation there that we got. So, at the end of the day, I just thought it was best for both sides to do that. He wanted a change of scenery, and we wanted to do things on our end as well. I think at the end of the day itโs just best for both sides to part ways.โ
As for sending WR Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick, Morgan also called it a โwin-winโ for both teams.
โGreat guy, great player, still developing player,โ Morgan said. โI thought it was a good deal between us and Dallas. They get a young player that they can grow and develop, and we get a draft pick that weโre happy with. So, I think it was a win-win for both sides.โ
Morgan added they are excited for their younger pass-catcher on the roster including WR Xavier Legette, WR Jalen Coker, and TE JaโTavion Sanders.
โI just think it, you know, it has to do a little bit with just like building too,โ Morgan said. โI think weโre trying to build the roster the right way and thatโs through the draft and you know, weโre definitely excited about a lot of our young guys. Weโre excited about a lot of guys on the roster in general. So, I like the direction that weโre headed and we just got to keep building and growing this thing.โ
Saints
- Ross Jackson of LouisianaSports.net reports the Saints placing RB Kendre Miller (hamstring) on injured reserve for a second time was โpremature and miscalculatedโ after tweaking his injury in Week 8.
- According to Jackson, the original plan was to hold him out of Week 9 and have him return for this weekโs game against the Falcons. However, Jackson reports former HC Dennis Allen was a major part of the decision and cited the former coachโs โlack of trustโ in Millerโs ability to stay healthy.
- Jackson writes Miller is currently considered โ100%โ healthy and could be playing, but will now be out until December 8 against the Giants.
- One source told Jackson that Miller recently had a meeting with interim HC Darren Rizzi, who expressed a desire to get the running back on the field once his stint on injured reserve is over.
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