Giants' Benardrick McKinney: Signed to active roster
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The Giants signed McKinney to their active roster Thursday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.
McKinney had been elevated from the practice squad in each of the last three games, and he'll now land a contract to join the 53-man roster. Across his first three appearances of the year, he racked up nine tackles (five solo).
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Benardrick McKinney: Returns to practice squad
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McKinney reverted to the Giants' practice squad Tuesday, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.
McKinney was elevated to the active roster for Monday's loss to the Chiefs, and he recorded three tackles while playing 28 defensive snaps. The 28-year-old was elevated from the practice squad for the past two games and is expected to be signed to the 53-man roster later this week.
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Giants' Benardrick McKinney: Elevated from practice squad
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McKinney was elevated from the Giants' practice squad ahead of Monday's game against the Chiefs, Michael Eisen of the Giants' official site reports.
McKinney will join the active roster for a second straight game after he made his season debut in Week 7. Since the Giants are shorthanded at linebacker, it wouldn't be surprising to see McKinney signed to the active roster ahead of the Week 9 matchup against the Raiders.
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Giants' Benardrick McKinney: Elevated to active roster
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The Giants have elevated McKinney to their active roster ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Panthers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
After spending training camp with the Dolphins, McKinney finally found a landing spot on the Giants' practice squad earlier in the week. He has since quickly been called up to the 53-man roster and will be expected to provide depth at linebacker.
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Dolphins' Benardrick McKinney: Dealt to Miami
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The Texans are trading McKinney (shoulder) to the Dolphins in exchange for Shaq Lawson and a late-round pick swap, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
McKinney could well replace Elandon Roberts (knee) as an interior starter alongside Jerome Baker, giving the Dolphins some much needed help at off-ball linebacker. His modest versatility also could help fill part of the role vacated by Kyle Van Noy, whom the Dolphins cut last week. McKinney underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in October, but he appears on track for the tentative start of offseason activities.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Wraps up fifth season
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McKinney had four tackles in Sunday's 51-31 playoff loss to the Chiefs.
McKinney finished up his fifth season, one in which he recorded 101 tackles, the third time he's eclipsed the century mark. He also had one sack, a forced fumble and recovered two fumbles in 14 games. As the defensive play caller, McKinney is an important piece on a defense that was exposed badly by the Chiefs. There's another four years remaining on his contract.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Ready to rock
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McKinney doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's divisional matchup against Tennessee.
McKinney logged a trio of full practices during the week while managing a concussion, but as evidenced by this news, has cleared the league's concussion protocol. He's expected to handle his usual role as starting inside linebacker for the contest.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Full participant Wednesday
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McKinney (concussion) was a full participant at Wednesday's practice, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McKinney, who missed last week's game against Tampa Bay, ranks second on the team with 101 tackles.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Makes big play in win
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McKinney had four tackles and recovered a fumble in Sunday's 31-24 win over the Chiefs.
McKinney showed athleticism and hustle late in the first half when he dove between two Kansas City offensive linemen to wrestle a fumble recovery, which put the Texans' offense in business at the Chiefs' 3-yard line. One play later, Deshaun Watson scored a touchdown to put Houston on top at the break. The four tackles were a season low for McKinney, but the entire defense had subdued tackle numbers. That's because Kansas City ran just 46 offensive plays -- 30 that required tackles -- as Houston won the time of possession battle.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Tackling machine
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McKinney made nine tackles (seven solo) in Sunday's win over the Falcons.
McKinney followed up his 12-tackle performance in Week 4 with a similarly impressive outing. This provides a solid floor for IDP purposes, although he only has 0.5 sacks and one pass breakup this season, so the ceiling is definitely capped.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Clear of foot injury
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McKinney (foot) won't carry an injury designation into Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
McKinney was added to the injury report Wednesday with the foot issue, but was able to practice fully Friday to avoid the questionable tag. The 26-year-old should serve his usual starting role at inside linebacker in the regular season finale.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Finishes with 95 tackles
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McKinney recorded 95 tackles (62 solo) and three sacks in 16 games for the Texans in 2017.
McKinney started the season strong with 17 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble across Weeks 1 and 2, but didn't log any other true impact performances. All in all it was a decent season for the 25-year-old, but a definite step down from his 129 tackle and five sack output in 2016. The 2015-second round pick will aim to recreate that production next season as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Questionable for Sunday
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McKinney (hip) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns.
McKinney did not practice Wednesday and Thursday before finishing the week as a limited participant. The Texans' leading tackler is expected to play at this point despite the questionable designation.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Leads team in tackles Sunday
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McKinney tallied a team-high nine tackles in Sunday's loss to the Jaguars.
The entire defense failed to record any sacks or interceptions, so McKinney's nine tackles were one of the lone highlights. The 24-year-old could be in store for more responsibilities calling the plays for the Texans' defense after it was announced Wednesday that Brian Cushing would be suspended for the next 10 games for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Practices Friday
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McKinney (undisclosed) practiced Friday after sitting out Houston's preseason opener Wednesday, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Head coach Bill O'Brien was typically evasive when discussing McKinney's condition, saying only that the linebacker sat out the game with "bumps and bruises." Rookie second-round pick Zach Cunningham started in place of McKinney and was back working with the second team Friday.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Twelve tackles, sack in Week 12 loss
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McKinney had a team-high 12 tackles, including his fourth sack of the season, in Houston's 21-13 loss to San Diego in Week 12.
At 101 tackles through 11 games, McKinney has twice as many takedowns as the nearest Texan (John Simon, 50). A goal for the Texans entering this season was to expand McKinney into a three-down linebacker and the product of Mississippi State has succeeded in that endeavor. Brian Cushing is the heart of the linebacking corps, but the torch is being passed to McKinney.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Nine tackles in Monday defeat
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McKinney posted 9 stops Monday against the Broncos.
McKinney has now recorded at least nine tackles in each of his last five contests, and he's averaging 11 stops during that span. On the season, he's also recorded three sacks along with a forced fumble, making him an outstanding producer in IDP leagues.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Team-high 16 tackles in Week 3 loss
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McKinney recorded 16 tackles and a sack in Houston's 27-0 loss to New England in Week 3.
The plan heading into this season was to have McKinney expand to a three-down linebacker, but that plan was accelerated when the Texans lost Brian Cushing to a knee injury that will leave him out at least six weeks. McKinney, a 2015 second-round draft pick, is getting a ton of experience as a result. He has sacks in each of the last two games and his 29 tackles leads the team through three games.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Will communicate with defensive coordinator
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McKinney will wear the helmet communication device, taking the duty from the injured Brian Cushing (knee), Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The Texans think highly of McKinney and having him replace Cushing as the player responsible for getting the Texans into the right alignment is a sign of their confidence. McKinney, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, had 63 tackles in 14 games (11 starts) as a rookie.
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Texans' Benardrick McKinney: Loses man on touchdown pass
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McKinney let Vance Johnson get behind him on a 43-yard touchdown pass in Houston's preseason opener against the 49ers on Sunday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
The Texans are challenging McKinney to become a three-down linebacker in 2016, but he can't let tight ends get behind him while in pass coverage. The second-year linebacker is expected to be one of the starting inside linebackers.
