Former NC State Defensive Tackle, converted to Offensive Guard in the NFL, JR Sweezy has signed a 2-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals, staying in the NFC West.
The #AZCardinals are expected to sign former #Seahawks guard JR Sweezy, sources say. It’s a 2-year deal and another O-line addition for AZ.
Sweezy was originally drafted by the Seahawks in the 7th round of the 2012 NFL Draft (225th overall), and was quickly converted into an offensive lineman. He worked his way up to becoming the full-time starter at Right Guard for Seattle in 2013, and held the spot for three seasons before signing a 5-year $32.5 million contract with Tampa Bay. Sweezy missed the entire 2016 season due to back problems, but returned to start 14 games for the Bucs last year, before finishing the season on the Injured Reserve.
Last year, Sweezy returned to the Seahawks, and started in all 15 games he played in.
Sweezy is entering his 8th year in the NFL, and his 7th season playing. He has started in 78 of the 88 games he has played in since entering the league in 2012.
Former NC State Cornerback Dontae Johnson has signed with the 49ers for the 3rd time this season.
Richard Sherman is going to miss a few games with a hamstring injury, opening up a need for Johnson once again.
Johnson started this season with the Niners, then was released before the season began. He was scooped up by the Chargers, playing the first 2 games for Los Angeles before being released.
He then signed with San Francisco on October 3rd of this year, and played in 5 games for them, recording 4 tackles (2 special teams), before being released once again.
This weeks transaction marks the 4th time that San Francisco has signed Johnson. They originally drafted him in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
This is Johnson’s 6th year in the NFL. He spent his 1st 4 years in the league in San Fran, and then spent time last season in Seattle, Arizona, and Buffalo, only playing 1 game all year due to injury.
Former NC State All-American Shortstop Will Wilson was traded by the Angels to the Giants’ organization on Tuesday.
OFFICIAL: The #SFGiants have acquired infielders Zack Cozart and Will Wilson from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. pic.twitter.com/7xQ5C40FJ6
After being drafted by the Angels with the 15th overall pick in the MLB Draft earlier this year, Wilson hit .275 in 46 games of Rookie ball with the Orem Owlz.
In his final season at NC State, Wilson led the team with a .335 batting average, 20 doubles, 16 home runs and a .661 slugging percentage, and finished eighth all-time in career doubles (57) and homers (39), and ninth in total bases (409).
Wilson is the 3rd highest draft pick in NC State history, and only the 2nd batter to be drafted in the 1st round, alongside another shortstop who is currently in the league as well: Trea Turner.
18 of the 20 former NC State players on active NFL rosters saw action in Week 14 of the 2019 NFL season. Check out a breakdown of how they did below.
After some wondered if Quarterback Philip Rivers (starter) would be benched after two dismal weeks in Week 10 and 11, the Wolfpack legend has rebounded mightily. After recording a QB Rating of 106.3 in Week 13, Rivers was near perfect in the Chargers’ 45-10 thrashing of the Jags, with a QB Rating of 154.4, completing 16 of 22 for 314 yards and 3 touchdowns (0 interceptions). It was his best performance of 2019.
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett (starter) rebounded, playing much better in the Colts’ 38-35 loss to the Bucs. After three straight games with a QB Rating in the 70’s, Brissett was 19 of 36 for 251 yards and 2 touchdowns (0 interceptions) for a QB Rating of 93.6.
Linebacker Germaine Pratt (starter) led the Bengals with 8 tackles in their 27-19 loss to the Browns, playing 72% of the snaps. Pratt has started 5 straight games, and the 8 tackles were a career high.
Quarterback Russell Wilson (starter) played one of his worst games of 2019 in the Seahawks’ 28-12 loss to the Rams, completing 22 of 36 for 245 yards and 1 interception for a QB Rating of 69.8.
Running Back Jaylen Samuels (starter) rushed the ball 7 times for 16 yards, and had 2 receptions for 18 yards in Pittsburgh’s 23-17 victory over Arizona, playing 47% of the offensive snaps. It was his 4th start of the year.
Place Kicker Stephen Hauschka (starter) was perfect, making all 3 field goal attempts (36, 47, 48) in Buffalo’s 24-17 loss to Baltimore.
Defensive Back Juston Burris (starter) had 3 tackles and 1 QB Hit in the Browns’ 27-19 victory over the Bengals, playing 32% of the defensive snaps.
Running Back Nyheim Hines rushed the ball 4 times for 1 yard, and had 4 receptions for 28 yards in Indy’s 38-35 loss to Tampa Bay, playing in 56% of the offensive snaps. He also lost a fumble. Hines returned 2 punts for an average of 17 yards.
Center Garrett Bradbury (starter) played 100% of the offensive snaps in Minnesota’s 20-7 victory over Detroit.
Terrible decision here by Kirk Cousins, but nice catch by Garrett Bradbury. The first of his young career.#Vikings punt pic.twitter.com/tsuwTc9bXI
Offensive Guard Joe Thuney (starter) played 100% of the offensive snaps in New England’s 23-16 loss to Kansas City.
#Patriots left guard Joe Thuney against the #Chiefs: zero QB pressures allowed, 88.9 @PFF pass-blocking grade. One of the most consistent players on the entire team.
Wide Receiver Kelvin Harmon had 1 reception for 30 yards (4 targets) in the Redskins’ 20-15 loss to the Packers, playing 85% of the offensive snaps.
Excellent job by Dwayne Haskins staying poised in the pocket on 3rd and 13. Blitz gets picked up and he finds Kelvin Harmon open over the middle to pick up the first down. #Redskinspic.twitter.com/KwUHp46YaD
Wide Receiver Jakobi Meyers had 1 reception for 35 yards (3 targets) in the Patriots’ 23-16 loss to the Chiefs, playing 57% of the offensive snaps.
Defensive End B.J. Hill had 2 tackles in the Giants’ 23-17 loss to the Eagles, playing in 37% of the defensive snaps.
Offensive Guard J.R. Sweezy (starter) played 60% of the offensive snaps in the Cardinals’ 23-17 loss to the Steelers. Sweezy was limited in practice last week due to illness, and has been limited this week as well.
Defensive Tackle Justin Jones (starter) had 1 tackle in Los Angeles 45-10 victory over Jacksonville, playing 77% of the defensive snaps.
Punter A.J. Cole (starter) punted the ball 5 times for an average of 44.2 yards in the Raiders’ 42-21 loss to the Titans.
Offensive Tackle Will Richardson played 18% of the offensive snaps in the Jags’ 45-10 loss to the Chargers.
Offensive Guard Ted Larsen played 5 Special Teams snaps in the Bears’ 31-24 victory over the Cowboys on Thursday night football.
DNP
Quarterback Ryan Finley (Bengals)
Quarterback Mike Glennon (Raiders)
IR
Linebacker Bradley Chubb (Broncos) – knee
Defensive End Kentavius Street (49ers) – knee
Former NC State Defensive End has earned the Cleveland Browns’ 2019 Ed Block Courage Award, awarded annually to the player on the team based on courage, compassion, commitment and community.
After joining the Browns for the final seven games of 2018, Burris re-signed with Cleveland during the 2019 offseason when he ultimately underwent shoulder surgery and started his rehabilitation process. Burris spent all of training camp and preseason with the Browns before being waived during final roster cuts. He was then claimed by the Oakland Raiders, where he was on the active roster for two weeks prior to coming back to Cleveland.
In addition to showing his resiliency after offseason shoulder surgery, Burris has been a reliable presence on defense since returning to Cleveland on Sept. 20, two days before he would ultimately start at safety against the L.A. Rams on Sunday Night Football.
This season, Burris has started eight of his 11 games with the Browns, registering 22 tackles (18 solo), his first career sack (vs. Pit., 11/14), two interceptions, four passes defensed and one forced fumble. He is one of only two Browns with multiple interceptions this year, and his four passes defensed tie for fourth on the team and second among Cleveland DBs. Additionally, he has played every defensive snap in three of those contests.
Burris has also been active in Browns Give Back’s efforts in the Northeast Ohio community and the team’s commitment to education, youth football and the First and Ten volunteering movement. Last week, he advocated for mental health awareness efforts through his commitment to Dream the Impossible, a foundation launched by his former NY Jets teammate and current Jaguars S Doug Middleton. Dream the Impossible was founded to help fix the lack of awareness surrounding mental health in the African American community. (NFL)
Burris is a local talent, playing high school ball at Broughton High School here in Raleigh. He led the Wolfpack in pass breakups in 3 of his 4 years at NC State, and was drafted by the New York Jets in the 4th round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
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