NFL | MyStateline.com

Rockford's Dean Lowry signs with Minnesota Vikings

Regan Holgate — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 23:16:43 +0000

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — Rockford native Dean Lowry will get another chance to continue his NFL career. The Boylan graduate has reportedly agreed to a free agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

NFL Network reports Lowry has agreed to a two-year deal worth $8.5 million. The defensive lineman switching sides in the Packers-Vikings rivalry. Lowry has spent all seven of his NFL seasons with the Packers. He was a fourth-round pick in 2016. Since then, he's started in 80 games with 15.5 career sacks.

Lowry helps fill a need on the defensive line for new Vikings coordinator Brian Flores.

Rockford's James Robinson headed to the New England Patriots

Scott Leber — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 03:36:13 +0000

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF)--Rockford native James Robinson will get another chance to restart his NFL career from Bill Belichick. The Rockford native and Lutheran High School graduate has reportedly agreed to a free agent deal with the New England Patriots.

ESPN reports Robinson has agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $8 million depending on how he performs. Robinson spent the first part of last season with the Jaguars before he was traded in mid-season to the Jets. There he quickly fell out of favor. He was a healthy inactive during the Jets' last six games of the season. They allowed him to become a free agent.

Robinson finished the 2022 season with only 425 yards rushing.

Freeport's Zeke Vandenburgh performs for NFL scouts at Northwestern's Pro Day

Scott Leber — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 03:56:32 +0000

EVANSTON, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF)--We all look forward to the NFL Draft with anticipation each year. One Freeport man is especially interested this year, because he could be selected. He's Zeke Vandenburgh. Tuesday was this former Pretzel's shot to perform in front of NFL scouts at Northwestern's Pro Day.

Pads and a helmet weren't necessary for this event. This was all about Vandenburgh showing off his speed, his quickness, and his lateral movement, all with NFL scouts watching inside Northwestern's mammoth Ryan Fieldhouse.

"It's not necessarily stressful just because you look forward to this your whole life you know, but it's definitely training for the Underwear Olympics,” said Vandenburgh. “It's not like training for a football player."

Vandenburgh did his weightlifting and his jumping drills at Illinois State's Pro Day last week where he played for the Redbirds. He wanted to do his running and movement drills at Northwestern because of its indoor facility and turf.

"I thought it went well. It was good to get in front of all 32 teams, and I thought I put together a good day. It's just all in God's hands at this point."

Vandenburgh had an eye-popping final season playing linebacker for Illinois State last fall. He won the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive player in the nation in the Football Championship Subdivision for Division One. His 14 sacks led the FCS, and his 21 tackles-for-loss were the second most in the nation. He provided NFL scouts with a lot of great film, but Vandenburgh knows that they still want to see what he can do in these Pro Day situations.

"You just hope that you check all the boxes in this process, so that they can look at your film and say the numbers validate the film and judge you based on your film, because even if you have a great year you can have some red flags in your testing in terms of you're not very athletic. Then you can just be a great college player and your game won't translate. It's really nice to have film to validate me as a player, that they can always base my draft stock off of that."

What type of player could Vandenburgh be at the NFL level?

"I think I put a great effort. Explosive off the ball. I play physical football, and I think I've got a great knack for where the ball is going to be and a great football IQ where I can decipher offenses and know what's coming before it comes."

"I've always had this dream, and I've always believed in myself. I have a lot of people around me that believe in me.”

Vandenburgh was taken in the recent USFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions, but he says the USFL is only a fallback plan at the moment.

Vandenburgh has a lot on his plate right now. He's getting married this Saturday.

Chicago Bears lose running back David Montgomery; add Travis Homer

Scott Leber — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 03:25:16 +0000

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF)--The Chicago Bears will be seeing a lot of running back David Montgomery next season, in a Detroit Lions uniform. Montgomery has agreed to a free agent deal with the Lions. It's reported to be a three-year contract worth $18 million.

Montgomery rushed for 801 yards last season, his fourth straight season of gaining at least 800 yards on the ground. He also scored five rushing touchdowns and one touchdown receiving.

In Detroit, Montgomery will team with DeAndre Swift as a one-two punch in the backfield.

The Bears countered Montgomery's move by adding former Seattle Seahawks' running back Travis Homer on a two-year, $4.5 million dollar deal. Don't get too excited about that move Bears' fans. Homer has done next to nothing in his four NFL seasons. Last season he rushed for only 74 yards on 19 carries. He did not score a touchdown.

Allen Lazard agrees to deal with the New York Jets; is Rodgers next to New York?

Scott Leber — Wed, 15 Mar 2023 03:18:45 +0000

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF)--The New York Jets could be on their way to becoming the Green Bay Packers of the AFC. They've already added one Packer. They have a deal with free agent receiver Allen Lazard.

According to multiple reports, Lazard has agreed to a four-year deal with the Jets worth $44 million. Lazard set career highs last season with 60 receptions for 788 yards. He caught six touchdown passes.

Lazard is reportedly on a list of receivers Aaron Rodgers has presented to the Jets indicating players Rodgers would like to play with if he were to become a Jet. Also on that list are former Packers' receivers Randall Cobb and Mercedes Lewis. Receiver Odell Beckham Jr., a friend of Rodgers, is also said to be on that list.

Packers reach deal with kick returner Keisean Nixon

Scott Leber — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 22:41:01 +0000

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF)--The Packers' first move during the free agent window Monday was to resign kick return specialist Keisean Nixon. He reportedly gets a one-year deal worth $6 million plus incentives.

Nixon was the top kick returner in the NFL last season averaging 28.8 yards per return. He had 50 returns that covered more than 50 yards. He had one return that went for 105 yards for a touchdown against the Vikings.

Chicago Bears adding free agent guard Nate Davis

Scott Leber — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:09:23 +0000

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF)--The Bears went into free agency looking to give Justin Fields some help up front on the offensive line. They accomplished that Monday. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Bears have a deal with former Tennessee Titans' guard Nate Davis. It's a three-year deal worth $30 million.

Davis started 12 games for the Titans last season at guard. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the 17th best guard in the NFL. The past four years he has started 54 games for the Titans helping to pave the way for All-Pro running back Derrick Henry.

Davis is 26 years old. He was the Titans' third-round draft pick in 2019 out of Charlotte.

Report: Bears reach deal with linebacker Tremaine Edmunds

Scott Leber — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 20:51:24 +0000

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF)--The Chicago Bears have added two linebackers on the first day of NFL free agency. First, they wrapped up a deal with T.J. Edwards. Then they reached an agreement with former Buffalo Bill Tremaine Edmunds.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Edmunds has agreed to a four-year contract worth $72M. Edmunds is a middle linebacker who is a two-time Pro Bowler. Last season in 13 games with the Bills he had 102 tackles, one sack and six tackles-for-loss.

He has spent his entire NFL career with the Bills since he was their first-round draft pick in 2018 out of Virginia Tech.

NFL teams can't officially announce free agent signings until Wednesday the first day of the NFL's new year.

Chicago Bears make first free agent move; have deal with linebacker T.J. Edwards

Scott Leber — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 19:54:15 +0000

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF)--The Chicago Bears have salary cap room, the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles don't, so linebacker T.J. Edwards will be wearing a Bears uniform next season.

According to the NFL Network the Bears have a free agent deal with Edwards for three years and $19.5 million. It's a homecoming for Edwards who's a native of Lake Villa, a far northwest suburb of Chicago. He played high school football at Lake Villa Lakes High School. He played college football at Wisconsin, but he went undrafted in 2019.

Edwards developed into one of the NFL's leading tacklers the last two seasons. Last season he was sixth in the league in total tackles with 159. He also had two sacks and ten tackles-for-loss, but because the Eagles have salary cap issues, they are forced to let some key players walk away from their NFC Championship team.

In 2021 Edwards had 130 tackles and one sack. He's 26 years old. He'll be entering his fifth NFL season with the Bears.