Today the Los Angeles Chargers decided to make a change at kicker following the team's winless start. Rookie kicker Younghoe Koo is out and is being replaced with a familiar face. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers parted ways with a former starter on defense, despite the team only having one sack on the season. Lastly, the Cleveland Browns will finally get to see their top pick, Texas A&M star Myles Garrett, in action. This will gives fans of the team something to look forward to this weekend.
Chargers cut Koo, sign Novak
Today, the Los Angeles Chargers cut undrafted rookie kicker Younghoe Koo and signed Nick Novak.
In week one, the Chargers lost 24-21 to the Denver Broncos when Koo's 44-yard field goal was blocked. The following week he missed a game-winning 44-yard field goal in a 19-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Meanwhile, this will be the 36-year-old Novak's second stint with the team. He previously spent time with the team from 2011-14, making 101 of 117 (86.3 percent) field goals and 156 out of 157 (99.4 percent) extra points. In signing Novak the team has come full circle. They cut him for Josh Lambo who was their kicker from 2015-16. They then cut Lambo for Koo, and cut Koo to bring Novak back.
Kicker change in Los Angeles: The #Chargers have signed Nick Novak and waived Younghoe Koo, who missed some key kicks early.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 5, 2017
Buccaneers waived former starter Smith
Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived former starting defensive end Jacquies Smith.
He went undrafted in 2012 out of Missouri and bounced around the NFL and even the CFL before finding a home with the Bucs in 2014. In his first two seasons with the team, Smith recorded 39 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 27 games.
Smith was placed on injured reserve after the team's opening game last season due to a torn ACL.
He then suffered a setback this offseason and later caught a bad case of the flu. He finally made his debut last Sunday against the New York Giants but only played seven snaps.
The Bucs have waived defensive end Jacquies Smith. Tough go at it this past year for him, recovering from a torn... https://t.co/ONo8jketWw
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) October 4, 2017
Myles Garrett will make his season debut
The top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, will finally make his season debut this week against the New York Jets.
However, head coach Hue Jackson said: “I'm sure we'll have him on a pitch count.”
Garrett sprained his ankle during practice days before the team's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He finally returned to practice last week and has been limited in practice so far. Jackson made a point to mention this, saying, “But still he's been off for quite a while too, so I think we got to be smart about our expectations of him this weekend.” -- according to ESPN.
Garrett's debut gives Browns fans something to look forward to this weekend, as the team has struggled this year. They are currently winless and are one of only four teams without a victory in 2017.
Per Google’s Spanish to English translation, Myles Garrett says “I am back.” https://t.co/ukexg8Iqib
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 4, 2017