The Los Angeles Rams defense was dealt a blow today, as starting defensive lineman Dominique Easley will miss the entire season. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints have released Orlando Frankin after only a few days and the New York Giants have started a kicking competition.
Dominique Easley out for season
Yesterday, during the Los Angeles Rams first padded practice of the season, starting defensive end Dominique Easley went down with a knee injury. Easley had to be carted off of the field and underwent an MRI on his knee last night, which confirmed the team's worst fear.
He has torn his ACL, meaning that he will be out for the 2017-18 season.
This is the third time Easley has torn an ACL, as it happened to him in 2011 and 2013 when he played for the Florida Gators. Since last year's starter, Williams Hayes was traded to the Miami Dolphins, Easley was going to be the team's other starting end alongside Aaron Donald in Wade Phillips newly implemented 3-4 defense.
With Donald holding out for a new contract, Michael Brockers is current the only starting defensive lineman in camp for the team. Ethan Westbrooks, who started two games last year, is now the likely front runner for the starting job.
Orlando Franklin released by Saints
The New Orleans Saints released veteran guard Orlando Frankin yesterday, only five days after signing him.
Apparently, the team was not impressed with what the 29-year-old veteran showed them. Franklin was released by the Los Angeles Chargers in May, despite only being two-years into a five-year, $36.5 million deal. He missed six games in 2015 and had knee surgery in May. He also was inconsistent during his time with the Chargers.
In six seasons with the Broncos and Chargers, Franklin has started all 89 games he had played in.
Giants add Mike Nugent
For all of the offseason, the New York Giants only kicker has been Aldrick Rosas. He has never played in an NFL game, going undrafted last year out of Southern Oregon. However, that changed yesterday, when the team added veteran kicker Mike Nugent, signaling that a kicking competition is underway.
Rosas is the favorite to win the job since he has a strong spring kicking the ball.
The 35-year-old Nugent has been in the NFL for 13 seasons, playing for the Jets, Buccaneers, Cardinals, and Bengals. In 153 career games, he is 236/292 (80.8%) on field goals with a career long of 55 yards. Since the extra point was moved back in 2015, Nugent has been 71/78 (91%), although he missed six of those last season.
