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Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Elerson Smith spent a good portion of the 2023 NFL season on the team's practice squad. Last month, the club signed him to a future/reserve contract.
Smith was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He would play eight games in his rookie campaign after missing the first eight games of the season with a hamstring injury that had him placed on IR. Smith posted eight combined tackles, two quarterback hits, and a forced fumble that year.
He would be placed back on IR with a neck injury ahead of New York's final game of the season.
The following season, Smith played in just five games for the Giants after being placed on IR with a foot/ankle injury. He registered a mere three combined tackles. He played just 14 defensive snaps. Smith then missed the last four games of the season after being placed on IR with an achilles injury.
The Giants would waive Smith last July. He was then signed to the New York Jets' practice squad in October before being released on Nov. 1. The Raiders then signed Smith to their practice squad later that month.
Smith is on a one-year, $985,000 contract.
While Smith's injury history poses reason for concern, he does have the benefit of playing for Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham when Graham held the same role with the Giants during Smith's first season in New York.
If Smith makes it to training camp and can stay healthy, his track record on the field indicates he has what it takes to make the 53-man roster.
From February 27 to March 4, 2024, the NFL Scouting Combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently hold the No. 13 overall pick.
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Significant concern emerges for Bengals, Joe Burrow
The Cincinnati Bengals defense has stepped up its game in training camp this summer, and it's giving the coaching staff some pause about Joe Burrow's protection. The Bengals were tied with the New York Giants giving up the 11th most sacks in the league last year (48). Given Burrow's importance to the team and long injury history dating back to his time at LSU, Cincinnati needs to see improvement from the offensive line. Per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the Bengals' depth on the offensive line is a concern at training camp. During one practice, backups Cody Ford and Devin Cochran were seen getting first-team reps while starting right tackle Amarius Mims was sidelined dealing with a hand injury. But it's not just the backups that are a worry. Cincinnati is expected to give third-round rookie Dylan Fairchild the starting job at left guard. "On top of concern regarding rookie third-round pick Dylan Fairchild, currently the leader in the clubhouse to start at left guard, the cast of question marks lacking experience, floating behind the starting tackles, is startling," Dehner wrote. "If the Bengals had to play Cleveland this Sunday without Mims, they couldn’t tell you who would hold down the starting spot. "Meanwhile, the Bengals’ defensive line consistently produced disruptive reps, and they are a group lacking historically potent pass rushers in their own right...The Bengals just feel notably weak and inexperienced. When the rest of the offense is so stacked with talent, and the history of the performance in front of Burrow being what it is, that’s hard to look past right now." The Bengals decided to spend their money on pass catchers for Burrow. Given the results of the offense last season, it's easy to understand why Cincinnati wants Burrow to deliver the ball to exceptional athletes. The risk is that Burrow won't hold up behind an offensive line that is lacking investment. If injuries pile up during the regular season, it's a concern that will only increase.
'Superman' VOD Home Streaming Date Confirmed and It's Shockingly Soon
In a move that seems faster than a speeding bullet, the new 2025 Superman movie will be available to watch at home just over a month after it hit theaters on July 11. According to multiple outlets, including World of Reel, the new Superman reboot movie will be available for video-on-demand (VOD) purchase starting very soon. In fact, the movie will almost certainly still be in theaters when you can watch it at home. Superman Streaming/VOD release date DC Studios' Superman, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet, will be available for purchase digitally starting on August 15, 2025. This means that just over 30 days after its first theatrical release, the new Superman is coming home. To be clear, this is not the same as streaming on HBO Max, but it does mean you'll be able to pony up a certain amount of money (close to the price of two movie tickets) to watch the movie at home. Purchase of VOD movies generally happens on iTunes, Amazon, and other platforms. DC vs. Marvel VOD releases If this home video release seems quick, it is. For comparison, the last two Marvel superhero movies had nearly two months, not one, between theatrical release and VOD release. Thunderbolts* hit theaters on May 2, and was on VOD on July 1. Meanwhile, Captain America: Brave New World was in theaters on February 14, and on VOD on April 15. Both of those films were deemed, in the eyes of box office pundits, to be failures, while Superman is generally considered to be a success.
DK Metcalf makes huge claim about Steelers defense
D.K. Metcalf has faced plenty of steep competition through his first six NFL seasons, both during games and practice, but the star wide receiver has noticed something different in his first training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers. During an interview with Ian Rapoport and Steve Smith of NFL Network on Sunday, Metcalf discussed some of his first impressions of the Steelers. He spoke about how challenging it has been to go up against cornerbacks Joey Porter Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay every day. When asked how the practice competition compares to what he saw with the Seattle Seahawks, Metcalf made a bold claim about his new teammates. "You don't want my opinion, because I think they're the best defense I've ever seen," Metcalf said. "There's some dogs everywhere on the field, and I tip my hat to them because they come to work every day and we don't have any choice but to get better." There is no question that the Steelers should have one of the best defensive backfields in the NFL on paper. While they sent five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins in the Ramsey trade, their cornerback trio of Ramsey, Porter and Slay is as talented as any in the league. The Steelers allowed 20.4 points per game last year, which ranked eighth in the NFL. Their pass defense surrendered 228 yards per game, which only ranked 25th. If Metcalf's assessment is accurate, Pittsburgh should show great improvement against the pass in 2025.
Lakers Receive Unfortunate Report on $60 Million NBA Star
The Los Angeles Lakers have tried to address their frontcourt issues this summer. They signed Deandre Ayton following his buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers and then re-signed Jaxson Hayes. However, they apparently are still looking for more help. One player they have their eyes on is Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. According to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints, the Lakers were closely monitoring the situation with Vucevic and the Bulls (h/t Bleacher Report). Vucevic is a two-time All-Star who plays for a team that has done major retooling over the past year. The most favorable way for the Lakers to add Vucevic is via a buyout. Vucevic is owed almost $21.5 million for the 2025-26 season. A buyout would prevent the Lakers from having to trade any valued players on expensive deals to acquire Vucevic. Bulls Won't Buy Out Nikola Vucevic Anytime Soon Despite the Lakers' reported interest in Vucevic, he isn't going anywhere. At least, a buyout is not on the table for the time being. NBA Insider Marc Stein reported via his Substack that the Bulls will not buy out Vucevic between now and when training camp starts. "As we explained in Monday's around-the-league notes, Chicago's Nikola Vucevic should be no means be considered a buyout candidate this summer," Stein wrote. "He will open the season in Chicago unless a trade materializes between now and the start of training camp in late September." So that rules out the possibility of the Lakers adding Vucevic the easy way: signing him outright after a buyout. However, Stein's wording suggests that a trade isn't off the table for Vucevic. The Lakers could offer multiple players on expiring deals to match contracts with Chicago in a deal for Vucevic. That includes Rui Hachimura ($18.2 million), Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million), and Maxi Kleber ($11 million). They could also dangle Jarred Vanderbilt (11.5 million this season), but he has three years left on his current contract, which may not appeal to Chicago. Because the Lakers are below the NBA's second tax apron, they can aggregate contracts. Vucevic may also get bought out during the regular season, but the Lakers can't sign him even if that happens, as they are currently hard-capped at the league's first tax apron. Teams above the NBA's first tax apron cannot sign players who make more than the non-taxpayers' midlevel exception. This coming season, that would be $14.1 million. The only way they could is if they make a trade(s) to get under said apron. Teams above one or both of the NBA's tax aprons can sign any player bought out, no matter what they make during the offseason, but not during the regular season. For Vucevic to become a Laker this season, the most plausible way for that to happen is via trade.
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