2022 NFL Season Roundup, Week 13

2022 NFL Season Roundup, Week 13, After an early field goal, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense went dormant for the majority of Monday’s game.

However, vintage Tom Brady found his way and led the Bucs on a furious fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Andy Dalton and the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.

Brady hit rookie Rachaad White for the game-tying score with three seconds left before kicker Ryan Succop converted the game-winning extra point.

With the win, the Bucs swept the season series versus the Saints and firmed up their grasp on first place in the NFC South.

Around the 2022 NFL Season Roundup will have more shortly from Nick Shook.

2022 NFL Season Roundup, Packers Coach Matt LaFleur ‘Absolutely’ Wants Aaron Rodgers Back For 2023

Entrenched in a disappointing season, Green Bay is on the outside looking in entering its Week 14 bye with a 5-8 record, and questions about next year, premature or not, are already being asked despite the Packers not being eliminated from playoff contention.

Aaron Rodgers piqued the interest for that conversation following the Packers’ win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday, saying he would only return to Green Bay next season if there was a “mutual desire on both sides.”

Naturally, the Packers brass was asked about Rodgers’ comments on Monday and whether or not they’d want the star quarterback to be the Packers starter in 2023.

“Yeah, absolutely. Of course,” Matt LaFleur told reporters without hesitation. “But, you guys know how I feel. I have a hard time looking past the L.A. Rams [in Week 15] right now. And, obviously, this week is going to be great to kind of dig into ourselves and look at the film critically in every phase and try to challenge our guys in different areas that we can improve. But, then the focus will turn to the L.A. Rams. So that’s where my mind is right now. But yeah, absolutely.”

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was in lockstep with the Packers head coach.

“Surely, yeah, we want all our guys back,” Gutekunst said Monday. “We made a big commitment to him this offseason, so that was important.”

Fantastic Contract Value 2022 NFL Season Roundup

Rodgers, who signed a three-year contract extension worth up to $150.8 million ahead of the 2022 season, hasn’t played the same caliber of football this season that garnered him consecutive Associated Press Most Valuable Player Awards the past two years. A fractured thumb and recent rib injury hasn’t made it easier on the 39-year-old Rodgers, who’s thrown 2,864 passing yards and 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions so far this season.

Gutekunst said he has “no regrets” giving Rodgers that extension despite how this season has gone. However, the added caveat to Green Bay’s immediate future at quarterback circles around Jordan Love, who looked sharp in Week 12 while playing for an injured Rodgers, completing 6 of 9 passes for 113 yards and a TD in that relief appearance.

“I mean, obviously, we’ve seen him for three years in practice and doing the things that he’s doing,” Gutekunst said of Love. think there’s a stretch here while Aaron has been banged up where he’s had a lot of reps with the ones, which is great for him. And I think it was great for us to see, but it was also really good for him in experience, you know, game planning each week. quarterbacks got to get in to play a bunch of games before they learn how to win, but I do think we feel very confident that Jordan can move the ball, score points and do the things we ask of our quarterbacks.”

The Advantages Of Love In Having Peace Of Mind

Love showed tremendous poise in his most recent appearance and the growth he’s shown the Packers midway through Year 3 has made future decision easy for Gutekunst, who on Monday said he’s seen enough of the 24 year old already to make the impending offseason decision on his fifth-year option. Gutekunst also said he believes Love has what it takes to be a starting QB right now.

“I do,” Gutekunst said. “Those guys, you got to go out and do it in real games and all that. I think that’s important, but all young quarterbacks go through a period in time where no matter what individual success, I think takes them a little bit of time to learn how to win in this league, and that’s going to be important for Jordan (Love) whenever he gets his opportunity. That’s a big part of it. I mean, learning within the game is very important for that development.”

NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero on Sunday reported that the potential scenario of shutting Rodgers down if the Packers get eliminated from the playoffs would be a decision between both sides. On Monday, the Packers coach and GM were sure to clear up their side of the story in regard to next year, but Gutekunst isn’t considering this scenario as something that’s making his job harder to operate the club.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “I mean, I think again, we are really fortunate to have two really good quarterbacks, and as we move into that time period, we’ll make those decisions as we go. But from the time I walked into this building, whatever comes with having great quarterbacks is worth it.”

Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Won’t Play In College Playoff, Intends To Enter 2023 NFL Draft

Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba announced on Monday that he has played his final game for the Buckeyes.

Smith-Njigba, who was limited to just three games this season due to a hamstring injury, shared the news on social media, stating that it was determined after consulting with his doctors that he would not be able to play in Ohio State’s College Football Playoff matchup against Georgia on Dec. 31.

He made just five grabs for 43 yards in limited action this season. In 2021, Smith-Njigba posted a Big-Ten record 1,606 receiving yards on 95 receptions while playing alongside 2022 first-round draft picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, including an eye-popping Rose Bowl performance (15 catches for 347 yards and three touchdowns).

“I want to thank Jaxon for all he has done for our Ohio State program,” stated Ohio State coach Ryan Day in a release from the school. “He has had such a major impact here in Columbus, on and off the field, in a relatively short period of time. We all know he has a very bright future ahead of him and we all support him as he moves forward with his career.”

A junior, Smith-Njigba has until the Jan. 16 underclassmen deadline to apply for early entry into the 2023 2022 NFL Season Roundup Draft. With a rare combination of athletic gifts, route-running ability and ball skills, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound (school measurements) pass-catcher remains one of the most highly regarded prospects at his position despite the injury-plagued 2022 campaign.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh: Lamar Jackson Considered Week To Week With Knee Injury

The Baltimore Ravens received some good news regarding Lamar Jackson’s knee injury, but the star quarterback could still miss some time.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Monday that Jackson is “week to week,” but it’s “less likely” that he’ll be available this coming Sunday against the Steelers.

“He’s been through the MRIs, and I would say it’s kind of week to week,” Harbaugh said. “It’s going to be a weekly thing. As the week goes on, we’ll see for this week. He’s probably less likely for this week, but it’s not impossible. After that he’ll become more and more likely.”

Jackson suffered a relatively minor knee sprain on Sunday against the Broncos, 2022 NFL Season Roundup Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported earlier Monday, per a source informed of the situation.

Monday’s update jives with Harbaugh’s postgame comments from Sunday that Jackson’s injury isn’t a season-ender.

Huntley Became The First Player In Ravens Franchise History

Jackson exited Sunday’s 10-9 win over the Broncos after just 10 snaps. The former 2022 NFL Season Roundup MVP has battled through injury this season. He popped up on the Week 12 injury report with a hip injury and then dealt with a quad issue during practice last week.

Tyler Huntley entered the game with the Ravens trailing 3-0 on Sunday, completing 27 of 32 passes for 187 and one interception. The backup capped a 16-play game-winning fourth-quarter drive with a 2-yard TD run. Huntley became the first player in Ravens franchise history to have an 80-plus comp percentage (min. 30 pass attempts) and a rush TD in a single game.

Huntly proved last year he’s a capable backup, who can lead the Ravens’ offense, but Monday’s news suggests Baltimore won’t be without Jackson for long.

The Ravens moved to 8-4 with Sunday’s win, holding the tie-breaker over the 8-4 Bengals in the AFC North. Baltimore plays Cleveland in Week 15 following Sunday’s date in Pittsburgh.