Bears fire OC, toss play-calling duties to Thomas Brown
Tue Nov 12 11:01am ET
Field Level Media
Bears passing game coordinator Thomas Brown was handed the headset and playcalling duties as Chicago searches for answers and an end to a three-game losing streak.
As part of the shakeup, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron was fired on Tuesday. Waldron received a vote of confidence eight days ago after a lopsided 29-9 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but head coach Matt Eberflus indicated he was resigned to change on Monday.
"After evaluating our entire operation, I decided that it is in the best interest of our team to move in a different direction with the leadership of our offense," Eberflus said in a statement released by the team. "This decision was well-thought-out, one that was conducted deliberately and respectfully. I would like to thank Shane for his efforts and wish him the best moving forward."
Eberflus selected Waldron as offensive coordinator from a pool that included former Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Eberflus was retained as head coach by general manager Ryan Poles in January following a 7-10 season.
The present situation isn't entirely unfamiliar to Brown.
He is being bumped into the primary play-calling role for the second consecutive season. In 2023, the 38-year-old was promoted by the Carolina Panthers with embattled coach Frank Reich giving Brown the call sheet in an effort to spare his own job and pump life into their rookie No. 1 pick at quarterback, Bryce Young.
The Bears are in a bind with the Packers (6-3) up next as confidence and production bottom out on the heels of three consecutive losses and a three-game streak during which rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams has zero touchdown passes.
Eberflus said Monday that Williams was safe as the starting quarterback but pointed to imminent changes around the rookie.
Williams and the Bears were dominated by the New England Patriots (3-7) on Sunday. They carry a run of 23 consecutive possessions without a touchdown into Week 11 trying to keep pace with the rest of the NFC North. Eberflus is 0-4 against Green Bay in his first two seasons as Bears head coach and will see the Packers, Lions (8-1) and Vikings (7-2) twice in the final two months of the season.
The Bears have 27 total points during a three-game slide that began with rookie Jayden Daniels' 52-yard, game-winning Hail Mary on Oct. 27.
Chicago produced three points against the Patriots, putting up fewer than 17 points for the fifth time this season. New England sacked Williams nine times one week after the Cardinals posted six sacks against Chicago.
Brown, a former NFL running back who broke into coaching under Sean McVay with the Rams, spent nine seasons on college football staffs including three years as Miami (Fla.) running backs coach and offensive coordinator.
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The Paur Report
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane carried the ball 12 times for 37 yards and caught all five of his targets for 15 yards in Monday's 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams. It was disappointing from his two best performances of the season in Weeks 8 and 9. The Rams' defensive line was constantly in the backfield and allowed little to no room to run. The run blocking could be a concern as the Miami offensive line is dealing with a multitude of injuries. The latest was tackle Austin Jackson (knee) landing on IR before the game. One positive was that he out-touched all other Miami running backs 17 to 7. It looks as though Raheem Mostert's fumbling troubles are starting to affect his snaps and touches. Achane will look to return to RB1 form next week at home against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Kansas City Chiefs are designating running back Isiah Pacheco (leg) to return from Injured Reserve on Tuesday, opening his 21-day window to officially activate him from IR. Pacheco fractured his right fibula on Sept. 15 and has been on IR ever since, but he's eligible to return whenever the Chiefs feel he's ready. While the 25-year-old can now return to practice, the Chiefs aren't going to rush him and he's unlikely to return for the Week 11 game this Sunday on the road against the Buffalo Bills. In a best-case scenario, the Chiefs are hoping to get Pacheco back toward the end of November, so they could use his entire 21-day practice window before activating him. Pacheco will be a must-start RB1 in fantasy when he returns, but until then, Kareem Hunt will continue to serve as the Chiefs' lead back. Hunt has been money with Pacheco out, averaging 15.6 half-PPR fantasy points in his six games.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears fired offensive coordinator Shale Waldron on Tuesday after just nine games into his first season with the team, according to sources. Passing-game coordinator Thomas Brown is expected to take over as the team's interim offensive coordinator. The move comes following three straight losses with mounting concerns on offense. The Bears have scored a combined 27 points in the last three games and they have not scored a touchdown in 23 possessions. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams threw for 120 yards and was sacked nine times -- an NFL-high for any game this season -- in the 19-3 loss to the Patriots in Week 10. Chicago has also allowed six or more sacks in back-to-back weeks for the first time since 1993. Williams has been sacked 38 times, the most for a rookie in his first 10 weeks since David Carr was sacked 49 times in 2002.
From RotoBaller
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former All-Pro wide receiver/kick returner Jamal Agnew to their practice squad on Tuesday, according to a source. Agnew had a tryout for the Steelers on Monday, and apparently they liked what they saw and added him as depth for the receiving corps and return group on special teams. The 29-year-old Agnew suffered a season-ending leg injury last year while playing in his third season with the Jacksonville Jaguars and finished with 14 catches on 21 targets for 225 yards and a touchdown in 11 games (one start). He also returned 14 punts for 144 yards and 15 kickoffs for 391 total yards. Agnew was a Pro Bowler for Jacksonville in 2023 and is expected to compete for return duties on special teams in Pittsburgh. He can remain on the waiver wire in fantasy leagues, though.
From RotoBaller
Free-agent WR Jamal Agnew (Jaguars) is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad Tuesday, Nov. 12.
From TheHuddle
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) is scheduled to have season-ending surgery on his injured hamstring on Wednesday, according to owner Jerry Jones. Even if Prescott didn't have surgery, it was unlikely that he was going to be able to make it back this season after suffering an avulsion hamstring tear in the Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. For now, the Cowboys will move forward with Cooper Rush under center, but if he continues to play as bad as he did in the Week 10 blowout loss to the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles, third-stringer Trey Lance could make some starts down the stretch as well. Prescott will now rest and rehab in hopes of returning for the 2025 season. The 31-year-old three-time Pro Bowler finishes his 2024 season with 1,978 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 286 pass attempts in eight games.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (hamstring) will undergo surgery Wednesday, Nov. 13, on the partial avulsion of his hamstring, and he will miss the rest of the season.
Fantasy Spin: Cooper Rush or Trey Lance could take over, but neither provides as much upside as a healthy Prescott. Lance could get the nod so the team can see what they have in the former No. 2 overall pick. Both are QB2s in fantasy.
From TheHuddle
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) caught three of four targets for 16 yards and one touchdown in Monday's 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He added two carries for 11 yards. Since training camp, the 30-year-old has been dealing with a torn ligament in his wrist but has been playing through it, as reported by ESPN's Lisa Salters. It was not a great performance in terms of receptions and yards, but Jaylen Waddle led the team with only three catches for 57 yards. The emphasis for Miami in recent weeks has been to run the football, and the wide receivers have been asked to help with run blocking considerably more. The one-yard touchdown in the third quarter helped Miami extend to a two-score lead. The Rams young front seven was in the backfield all night, making it difficult for the Dolphins offense to develop plays down the field. Hill will look to have a better game in Week 11 when he and the Dolphins host the Las Vegas Raiders.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert caught two of three targets for 34 yards but did not log a rushing attempt in Monday's 23-15 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. His best play came on a 3rd and 19 when Mostert caught a short pass and ran it for 25 yards to move the chains. One can only assume his carries are starting to take a hit due to his recent fumble troubles. Miami has little room for error due to their (3-6) record, and head coach Mike McDaniels has made it clear he's not afraid to make changes. The offense could only muster 67 rushing yards as the offensive line struggled in run blocking for most of the night. That could be a trend with the amount of injuries the Miami offensive line is dealing with. Mostert will look to bounce back against the struggling Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith caught three of four targets for 45 yards in Monday's 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He finished second on the team in yards and tied for the lead in receptions with Jaylen Waddle. Smith has now recorded at least 45 receiving yards in three of his last four contests. His best play of the night came on a 33-yard reception where he broke multiple tackles and set the Dolphins offense up at the one-yard line, which resulted in a one-yard Tyreek Hill touchdown. None of the Miami pass catchers have had any spectacular games lately, but seeing the 29-year-old continue to receive a solid target share is encouraging. Next week presents a great matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, who struggle mightily against tight ends.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 20 of 28 passes for 207 yards with one touchdown in their 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He also threw an interception and lost a fumble. After an impressive five-play 70-yard first drive, the Dolphin's offense struggled for most of the game. The young Rams defensive line constantly pressured Tagovailoa and sacked him three times. Two of the sacks were due to him holding the ball too long instead of throwing it away. This was not a good showing for the offensive line, and with the news of tackle Austin Jackson (knee) landing on IR, it doesn't look to get any better. Tagovailoa and the Miami offense will look to get back on track in Week 11 when they host the Las Vegas Raiders.
From RotoBaller
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle caught three of six targets for 57 yards in Monday's 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams. He held the team lead in targets, receptions, and yards. Waddle continues to struggle to get on the same page as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The offense struggled overall to get anything going after their first drive ended in a touchdown. He had yet another drop in this game on a crucial third-down play that would've easily moved the chains. Nonetheless, the Dolphins got a much-needed win to climb back into the AFC playoff picture. It will be hard to trust Waddle down the stretch into the playoffs, with Miami throwing the ball much less than in previous years. He will look to bounce back in Week 11 when he returns to Miami to take on the Las Vegas Raiders.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) is close to returning to the practice field, along with two others. 'They're all close. JuJu closer than the other two. I'd tell you, we might have them out there (at practice),' head coach Andy Reid said Monday, Nov. 11.
Fantasy Spin: Smith-Schuster is close to returning, but he now finds DeAndre Hopkins at the top of the depth chart since he was last on the field. He might be able to return as soon as Week 11, but he is likely to be behind Hopkins, Xavier Worthy, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt for targets, limiting his fantasy appeal severely.
From TheHuddle
Tennessee Titans WR Tyler Boyd (shoulder) started in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers, but he did not record any receptions or targets.
Fantasy Spin: Boyd has been a fantasy staple for years, but he has gone without any offensive stats or targets in the past two games even after the team traded DeAndre Hopkins away. He no longer can be trusted outside of the deepest fantasy formats.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Rams WR Demarcus Robinson posted a lone 23-yard reception on four targets in Week 10 against the Miami Dolphins.
Fantasy Spin: With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both back healthy, Robinson is back as the third receiver, and his fantasy value will be rather limited. In fantasy leagues of 12 or fewer teams, he should remain rostered, but only as a reserve.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Rams tight end Davis Allen converted six targets into five catches for 34 yards during Monday's Week 10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The 23-year-old has taken on a larger role lately, playing 55 percent of snaps last week. That rate jumped to 87 percent this week. While it's too early to run to the waiver wire and spill FAAB on Allen, he's a name worth monitoring as bye weeks and injuries continue to hit the tight end position.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua converted 14 targets into nine catches for 98 yards during Monday's Week 10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. The 23-year-old has played in four games this season, and while he's still searching for his first touchdown of 2024, he did set a season-high target total on Monday night. Nacua and Kupp form an impressive one-two punch in Los Angeles, and both are fringe top-12 fantasy receivers heading into a favorable matchup against the New England Patriots next weekend.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp hauled in all seven of his targets for 80 yards during Sunday's Week 10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He played 90 percent of offensive snaps but saw his second-lowest target total of the season. Although he was out-produced by Puka Nacua on Monday, both players are dependable options in fantasy football, ranking as fringe WR1 options at the moment. Kupp is averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game (PPR) this season and should be started in all leagues heading into next weekend's clash on the East Coast versus the New England Patriots.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp absorbed all seven of his targets for 80 yards in Week 10 against the Miami Dolphins.
Fantasy Spin: Kupp is good for 18 receptions for 184 yards on 21 targets across the past two games. He remains a top-notch option in PPR fantasy leagues, and he is a strong low-end WR1 in standard formats, too. The Rams travel to meet the New England Patriots in Week 11.
From TheHuddle
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams rushed for 62 yards on 15 carries during Monday's Week 10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He also caught five of his six targets for an additional 20 receiving yards, boosting his production in PPR leagues. With that said, Williams lost a fumble and failed to find the end zone in Monday's loss. The 24-year-old's nine-game touchdown streak came to an end last week, and now, he has gone two games without crossing the goal line. This is the first time since his rookie campaign in 2022 that Williams failed to score a touchdown in back-to-back games. Perhaps he'll bounce back next week in a game against the New England Patriots that figures to be run-heavy.
From RotoBaller
