2016 October - Pro Football Rumors

Bears Sign RB David Cobb To Practice Squad

October 25th, 2016 at 1:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears have made a notable addition to the practice squad. The team announced today running back David Cobb has been signed to the p-squad. To make room, tight end Marcel Jensen has been released.

Cobb has made the rounds on workout circuit a bit this offseason but has been unable to find a 53-man spot since being cut loose by the Titans in late August. Cobb was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad in early September, but he was dropped days later. The Jaguars, Patriots, Browns, Colts, Chiefs and Jets all auditioned the young running back, but they all passed on him.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, the Titans had high hopes for Cobb and believed that he could be a difference-maker almost immediately. The 23-year-old made seven appearances (one start) last season, compiling 146 yards and a touchdown on 52 carries (2.8 average). This offseason, GM Jon Robinson determined that he did not see the potential in Cobb that predecessor Ruston Webster saw.

Latest On Josh Brown

October 25th, 2016 at 12:41pm CST by Zachary Links

Josh Brown has been parked indefinitely after being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list and it’s hard to see him playing for the Giants (or any other NFL team) again. The kicker has opted against appealing his status with the league and has remained silent, until releasing a statement to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter today:

“I am sorry that my past has called into question the character or integrity of The New York Giants, Mr. Mara or any of those who have supported me along the way,” Brown wrote (via Schefter on Facebook). “I have taken measures to get help so that I may be the voice of change, not a statistic. It is important to share that I never struck my wife, and never would. Abuse takes many forms, and is not a gray area. Through the past several years I have worked to identify and rectify my own behaviors. The road to rehabilitation is a journey and a constant modification of a way of life. My journey will continue forever as a person determined to leave a positive legacy and I embrace the opportunities to show and speak about what has helped me to be that man. In the interim, I am cooperating with the Giants and the NFL. Thank you to everyone that has supported me, I will not let you down.”

Brown’s assertion that he never struck his wife will be a key point of contention when he eventually meets with team and league officials. As a part of his counseling program, Brown wrote: “I have physically, verbally, and emotionally abused my wife.” Brown is expected to meet with the Giants today, according to ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter).

Dolphins Working Out Safeties

October 25th, 2016 at 12:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins are auditioning a group of safeties today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). That bunch includes James Ihedigbo, Major Wright, and Sergio Brown.

After starting 21 games for the Lions over the past two seasons, safety James Ihedigbo has been unable to find work this season. In fact, today’s workout with Miami marks his first known free agent visit of the year. At the age of 32, it seems that Ihedigbo’s stock has gone down. Last year, his production slipped and he lost his starting job to Isa Abdul-Quddus later on in the year. The veteran finished out 2015 as Pro Football Focus’ No. 64 ranked safety out of 69 qualifiers. At the same time, 2014 was Ihedigbo’s best NFL season and it seems possible that he could get back to his old form just two years later.

Wright was cut by the Bucs in late August and we haven’t heard his name mentioned since he worked out for the Panthers days later. Brown, meanwhile, was cut by the Falcons around the same time. The safety played in at least ten games in each of his six seasons and is actually coming off of one of his best seasons. In 2015 with the Jaguars, Brown racked up 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The Dolphins have been thinned out at safety after losing star Reshad Jones for the season.

Ravens To Bring Matt Elam Back From IR

October 25th, 2016 at 10:44am CST by Zachary Links

Safety Matt Elam will soon make his 2016 debut. The team announced that Elam is practicing today. The Ravens now have three weeks to make a call on whether to activate Elam, who is recovering from preseason knee surgery.

Elam, a 2013 first-round pick, missed the entire 2015 season with a biceps injury. His offseason knee injury was frustrating for both player and team alike, but he’ll now try and get things back on track. The Ravens are on bye this week, so Elam will have some extra time to get ready before facing the Steelers on Nov. 6.

The safety showed plenty of promise through his first two years in the league, compiling 127 tackles, seven passes defended, and an interception in 32 games. If the Ravens do not activate Elam in the next 21 days, they cannot put him on the field this season.

Steelers TE Ladarius Green To Practice Today

October 25th, 2016 at 8:48am CST by Zachary Links

Could we finally see Ladarius Green take the field for the Steelers? The team announced today that Green will practice today. From here, the team will have 21 days to decide whether to activate him or keep him on the PUP list for the season.

The Steelers signed Green to a four-year, $20MM deal this spring with the expectation that he would take over for the retired Heath Miller. However, Green was sidelined for much of the summer. Initially, it was believed that Green was being held back by his ankle which was surgically repaired in January. Later, it was reported that Green was kept off the field because of painful chronic headaches and was even considering retirement. For what it’s worth, Green insists that his ankle has been the issue and denies that he thought about walking away from football.

After spending years in the shadow of Antonio Gates, the athletic Green is looking to break out with his new team. Last year, Green caught 37 passes for 429 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. The belief is that he can be a difference maker if he’s given the type of snap count that Gates enjoyed in San Diego. Of course, he’ll have to prove that he is healthy first.

Jaguars DT Roy Miller Done For Year

October 25th, 2016 at 7:54am CST by Zachary Links

Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller will be placed on IR after having Achilles surgery this week, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Needless to say, Miller is done for the rest of the 2016 campaign with no hope of a late-season return.

A starter for most of his career, Miller has missed only two regular season games since joining the Jags in 2013. In his six starts this year, Miller had ten tackles. Pro Football Focus ranked him only 67th out of 120 qualified interior defenders, but he was viewed as a key veteran for Jacksonville.

“Roy Miller is one of the most important parts to our defense, hands down,” said linebacker Paul Posluszny (via the Florida Times-Union). “If he’s out for significant time, that’s a very significant loss for us. He’s our best interior guy and he’s a team leader.”

When Miller exited the game on Sunday, the team turned to Abry Jones to fill his shoes. They may also look to add a defensive lineman, though they could also get by with Malik Jackson, Sen’Derrick Marks, Jones, and Sheldon Day. Tyson Alualu, who is listed as a defensive end, also could play on the interior.

Extra Points: Osweiler, Jags, 49ers, Bolts

October 24th, 2016 at 10:08pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Before the Broncos and Texans squared off Monday, Denver cornerback Aqib Talib revealed that the club’s players harbor resentment over quarterback Brock Osweiler‘s offseason departure. Osweiler joined the Texans on a four-year, $72MM deal in free agency after it appeared he would take over the Broncos’ offense from the retired Peyton Manning. “We believed in him,” said Talib (via ESPN.com). “We thought he was going to be our QB. We feel like he reneged on us.” Osweiler’s exit has so far gone swimmingly for the the reigning Super Bowl champion Broncos, who have gotten quality production from signal-caller Trevor Siemian at a minimal cost. Meanwhile, the high-priced Osweiler has been among the NFL’s worst starters in 2016.

Derek Newton Tears Both Patella Tendons

October 24th, 2016 at 9:23pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

In devastating news for Derek Newton and the Texans, the right tackle tore both patella tendons Monday against the Broncos, report Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Worse, that’s not the full extent of the damage, per Rapoport and Garafolo.

This will prematurely end an injury-plagued year for Newton, who was carted off the field in the first quarter in Denver. Newton missed the Texans’ win over the Colts last week with an ankle problem and sat out the preseason with a hamstring issue.

The 28-year-old Newton has long been a rock for Houston, having appeared in at least 14 games in each of his first five seasons in the NFL. The 2011 seventh-round pick came into this season with three straight 16-game campaigns under his belt and has started in all 68 of his appearances since 2012.

After Newton went down, the Texans replaced him with the experienced Chris Clark. The 31-year-old entered Monday with 36 starts, including five this season, and 86 appearances on his resume.

49ers, Eagles Discussing Torrey Smith

October 24th, 2016 at 9:18pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The 49ers are open to trading receiver Torrey Smith, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds that the sixth-year man is garnering interest from multiple teams (Twitter link). The Eagles are among those clubs, but no deal is imminent, reports Zac Jackson of Pro Football Talk. Smith joins left tackle Joe Staley as big-name 49ers who are reportedly on the block as next Tuesday’s trade deadline approaches.

After spending the first four years of his career in Baltimore, Smith became a free agent in March 2015 and agreed to head to San Francisco on a five-year, $40MM deal with $22MM guaranteed. The 49ers’ struggles under center since last season have negatively affected Smith, who has caught just 43 passes and six touchdowns in 23 games.

Smith’s production has declined in the Bay Area, but he has still averaged an outstanding 18.7 yards per reception and continued his career-long iron man streak. The 27-year-old has appeared in 87 straight regular-season games since going in the second round of the 2011 draft.

As a member of the Ravens, the ex-Maryland Terrapin averaged 53 catches, 898 yards and nearly eight touchdowns per season. That type of production would benefit Philadelphia, which could use another threat at wideout to accompany Jordan Matthews. The Eagles’ second- and third-best receivers, Nelson Agholor and Dorial Green-Beckham, haven’t been particularly productive this season.

Smith is making $4.5MM and carries a $7.6MM cap number this year. The remaining three seasons of his contract include a $6.5MM annual salary and $9.6MM yearly cap hit.

Cards, Chandler Jones Discussing Extension

October 24th, 2016 at 8:36pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Cardinals and the agent for contract-year defensive end Chandler Jones have been discussing an extension since training camp, general manager Steve Keim told Arizona Sports 98.7 (via Darren Urban of the team’s website). Keim didn’t indicate whether there has been progress toward an agreement.

Jones is “something we have not had here in years,” said Keim, who acquired the 26-year-old in a March trade with the Patriots. Keim gave up a second-round pick and offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper (now with the Browns) for Jones.

In four years with the Patriots, Jones piled up 36 sacks and 10 forced fumbles over 55 regular-season games. The 2012 first-round pick from Syracuse has remained a force in Arizona, where he has amassed 23 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles through seven contests. Jones, who has participated in 96 percent of the Cardinals’ defensive snaps, ranks third in overall performance among Pro Football Focus’ 103 qualifying edge rushers.

Based on his production, Jones wouldn’t be unreasonable to seek a deal similar to the five-year, $85MM pact fellow defensive end Olivier Vernon signed as a free agent with the Giants over the winter. The former Dolphin, also 26, got a whopping $52MM in guarantees after totaling 29 sacks and four forced fumbles during his first four seasons.

If the Cardinals and Jones aren’t able to find common ground by March, they could hit the one-time Pro Bowler with the franchise tag – worth upward of $15.7MM this year – to keep him off the market. Jones is currently raking in $7.799MM in his fifth-year option season.