2016 October - Pro Football Rumors

Chargers Waive Pierre Desir

October 22nd, 2016 at 3:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

After claiming third-year cornerback Pierre Desir on waivers before the season started, the Chargers reverted the reserve corner back to the waiver wire, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (on Twitter).

The Chargers promoted edge player Chris Landrum from their practice squad, per Gehlken (on Twitter). Landrum will be filling in for the injured Jerry Attaochu.

Desir was one of three players the Bolts claimed via waivers before the season, joining Andre Williams and Caraun Reid. Only Reid now remains on the active roster after San Diego passed Williams through waivers and back onto its practice squad earlier this season. The Bolts are now carrying five corners on their 53-man roster.

A former standout in two Division II secondaries — Washburn (Kan.) and Lindenwood (Mo.) — the 26-year-old Desir may be looking for a third NFL team. The Browns, who selected the 6-foot-1 corner in the fourth round in 2014, cut Desir as they slashed their roster to 53 players before the season. Desir has played in five games for the Chargers in 2016. He started six for the Browns in 2015, making 36 tackles and deflecting five passes.

Landrum went undrafted but holds Division I-FCS Jacksonville State’s career records for sacks and tackles for loss.

John Brown Has Sickle-Cell Trait

October 22nd, 2016 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cardinals listed John Brown as doubtful for Sunday night’s game against the Seahawks, and it’s now believed a sickle-cell trait is contributing to why.

Inconclusive MRIs led the Cardinals to conduct blood tests, and Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com notes those revealed this condition is causing the third-year pass-catcher’s hamstring pain. Brown’s dealt with constant leg discomfort over the past two seasons, and this diagnosis helps explain the issues.

Sickle-cell-afflicted people often don’t see symptoms arise, but muscle pain can be one of them in certain cases, Bob McManaman of the Arizona Daily Republic writes. Bruce Arians said Friday this is likely the cause of the former third-round pick’s frequent leg pain last season. Although it’s not curable, it’s a treatable condition, one that retired safety Ryan Clark played with during his lengthy career.

“We’re investigating how to help him,” Arians said. “I think he’s very happy that he found out why his legs are hurting so bad.”

Brown continued the Cardinals’ borderline-historic run with third-round picks under Arians, whose team selected Tyrann Mathieu, Brown and David Johnson in this round from 2013-15. The 26-year-old target hasn’t gotten off to the same kind of start that pushed him past 1,000 yards last season. The former Division II All-American has 24 receptions for 301 yards and no touchdowns thus far. He jumped from 696 yards as a rookie to 1,003 as a second-year player, one who could take on a bigger role in 2017 if Michael Floyd departs as a free agent or Larry Fitzgerald decides to retire.

Texans Place Kevin Johnson On IR

October 22nd, 2016 at 2:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The broken foot Kevin Johnson sustained during the Texans’ overtime victory over the Colts last weekend resulted in the team relocating the cornerback to its IR list, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports (on Twitter).

Houston activated safety Lonnie Ballentine to replace the second-year corner on its active roster. Johnson would be eligible to return after eight games but isn’t expected to play again this season, making him an unrealistic candidate to take advantage of the new IR policy.

This represents another critical loss for a Texans defense that entered the season with lofty aspirations after a strong 2015. Johnson rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 8 cornerback through six games, and he’ll join J.J. Watt as players who will no longer contribute to the team’s AFC South title push this season.

The Texans also lost safety K.J. Dillon to a torn ACL against the Colts. Charles James figures to have more responsibilities going forward as the Texans attempt to fill the void of a player who’s proven thus far to be a quality investment via first-round pick. Houston’s already received standout work from former UDFA A.J. Bouye, whom PFF rates as its No. 1 corner thus far this season.

The No. 16 overall pick in 2015, Johnson made 21 tackles and deflected three passes in the Texans’ first six games. He also recovered a fumble. Johnson started 10 games as a rookie and played in all 16, intercepting a pass and registering 52 tackles.

A 2014 seventh-round pick, Ballentine spent the first six games of the season on the Texans’ PUP list after a significant knee injury ended his 2015 season. He tore his MCL and PCL while also dislocating the meniscus in the badly damaged left knee.

Cardinals RB Coach Stump Mitchell In Contract Year

October 22nd, 2016 at 1:03pm CST by Zachary Links

David Johnson has made a name for himself as one of the very best running backs in the NFL today. Less well known is Cardinals running backs coach Stump Mitchell, the man who is responsible for developing Johnson into an elite offensive weapon. Pro Football Rumors has learned that Mitchell is now in the final year of his contract and he is aiming to take on a larger role next season.

Mitchell hopes to remain with the Cardinals, agent Burton Rocks tells PFR, but Rocks also believes that he is capable of a higher title. Rocks says he could conceivably pitch Mitchell as an associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and even head coaching candidate this offseason. It’s also possible that Mitchell could entertain D-I head coaching job offers if the right one comes along.

Mitchell, of course, has deep ties to the Cardinals after spending his entire nine-year career with the organization. The 57-year-old holds the franchise record in all-purpose yards and is second all-time in rushing yards. Now, he has Johnson on track to eventually leapfrog him in the history books. There’s no sign of a staff shakeup in Arizona, but the Cardinals could theoretically promote Mitchell without displacing another coach. For example, Tom Moore holds the title of assistant head coach on offense, but the soon-to-be 78-year-old could choose to return to a less demanding consulting role.

Before joining up with the Cardinals in 2013, Mitchell was the longtime running backs coach of the Seahawks and also spent two seasons as the Redskins’ running backs coach/associate head coach. He also has college head coaching experience with Morgan State and Southern University. In addition to David Johnson, Chris Johnson, and Andre Ellington, Mitchell’s running back resume also includes the likes of Ricky Waters, Ahman Green, Shaun Alexander, Clinton Portis, and Mike Sellers.

As Johnson terrorizes opposing defenses, the timing could not be better for Mitchell to reach free agency. If the Cardinals’ ground game continues to produce, the veteran coach could have an opportunity to climb the NFL coaching ladder in the New Year.

Lions Work Out Dallas Thomas, Two Others

October 22nd, 2016 at 12:25pm CST by Ben Levine

With defensive tackle Haloti Ngata being questionable for this weekend’s game, the Lions are eyeing some defensive lineman. According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), the team has auditioned defensive end Shelby Harris and defensive tackle Lawrence Virgil. The Lions also worked out offensive guard Dallas Thomas.

Harris, 25, was a seventh-round pick back in 2014. In two seasons with the Raiders, the Illinois State product played in eight games, compiling 14 tackles and one sack. Harris spent time with the Jets this offseason, but he was ultimately cut in late August. Virgil, meanwhile, has one NFL game on his resume. The 25-year-old was released by the Saints in early August after having spent two years with the organization.

Despite not necessarily fitting a need, Thomas is the most notable name among the auditionees. The former third-round pick had spent his entire career with the Dolphins, making 37 appearances in three-plus seasons. The 26-year-old was actually a consistent presence on the Dolphins line in 2015, starting all 16 games. An underwhelming performance in early October led to his release from the team.

Browns Work Out David Cobb, Three Others

October 22nd, 2016 at 11:10am CST by Ben Levine

The Browns have been busy this week, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that the team worked out four players, including running backs David Cobb and Terrence Magee. The team also auditioned lineman Trevor Robinson and Darrion Weems.

Cobb is the most experienced running back of the two. The 23-year-old made seven appearances (one start) for the Titans last season, compiling 146 yards and a touchdown on 52 carries (2.8 average). Despite being selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, the Titans released the running back in August. He briefly caught on with the Steelers practice squad, but he was cut from the team earlier this month.

Magee, an undrafted free agent out of LSU in 2015, has bounced between the Ravens, Rams, and Seahawks. The 23-year-old has appeared in five career games, collecting 17 rushing yards on five carries.

Robinson, a former undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, has 38 career games under his belt, including 21 starts. The 26-year-old made 13 starts for the Charges in 2015, but he was ultimately cut prior to the season. Weems, 28, has been in the league since 2012, but he’s only made seven appearances in those four-plus seasons.

Ravens Activate Lorenzo Taliaferro, Place Kendrick Lewis on IR

October 22nd, 2016 at 10:34am CST by Ben Levine

It’s time to add another name to the Ravens’ continually rolling list of running backs. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the Ravens will be activating running back Lorenzo Taliaferro from the PUP list. Zrebiec notes that the team has also promoted cornerback Robertson Daniel from the practice squad. Safety Kendrick Lewis has been placed on the injured reserve, while tight end Dan Brown has been waived.

Taliaferro, 24, has had issues staying healthy since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2014. The Coastal Carolina product has made 16 appearances over two seasons, running for 339 yards and five touchdowns on 81 carries (4.2 average). Taliaferro also has 13 career receptions for 114 yards. He’ll presumably compete with Terrance West, Kenneth Dixon and Javorius Allen for snaps in the backfield.

Lewis will certainly be missed in the Ravens secondary, although the 28-year-old hasn’t played a significant role this season. After starting 15 games for Baltimore in 2015, Lewis had only collected six tackles this season. The team will be replacing the veteran with Daniel, who has also spent time with the Redskins, Raiders, and Packers. The cornerback was signed to the Ravens’ practice squad earlier this month.

Brown, a former undrafted free agent, had issues establishing himself on a team that also features tight ends Dennis Pitta, Crockett Gillmore, and Darren Waller. In eight career games, the 24-year-old has six receptions for 64 yards.

Bears Work Out O’Brien Schofield, Three Others

October 22nd, 2016 at 10:04am CST by Ben Levine

The Bears tried out four defenders this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter): defensive ends Josh Boyd and Marquis Jackson, as well as linebackers Andy Mulumba and O’Brien Schofield. With starting nose tackle Eddie Goldman
expected to miss next week’s game, the team is clearly looking for some defensive depth.

Schofield, 29, is the most experienced of the bunch. The 29-year-old has bounced around since joining the league as a fourth-round pick in 2010. The defensive end has played 84 career games with the Cardinals, Seahawks, and Falcons, collecting 141 career tackles and 15.5 sacks. The veteran was released by Atlanta earlier this month, and he recently had an audition with the Lions.

Mulumba and Boyd both spent the previous three seasons with the Packers. Mulumba, 26, made 22 appearances over that three-year span, compiling 35 tackles. Boyd, 27, appeared in 26 games, including four starts.

Jackson has briefly spent time with the Vikings and Bears, although he’s yet to make his NFL debut. The 26-year-old had 18 tackles and 7.5 sacks during his tenure with the Portland Thunder of the Arena Football League.

Jets Notes: Decker, Trades, Revis

October 22nd, 2016 at 9:36am CST by Ben Levine

Jets wideout Eric Decker recently underwent hip surgery, and the 29-year-old is also awaiting an operation to repair his partially torn rotator cuff. Despite these setbacks, Decker said he wouldn’t miss any games in 2017.

“I’m not worried about missing any time next year,” Decker said on ESPN New York (via Darryl Slater of NJ.com). “I’ll be fine by the start of next year.”

Decker will be on crutches for a few more weeks, and he’ll have his shoulder surgery once he’s recovered from his hip operation. The shoulder should take about eight months to recover, which should line up perfectly with offseason workouts.

“I think they say eight months is kind of the time frame where you’re back to full strength lifting,” Decker said. “But there are a lot of guys that say after six weeks, after eight weeks, they feel pretty good. And then it’s a matter of obviously strengthening the shoulder.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the Gang Green…

With the trade deadline looming, some assumed the Jets may look to trade some of their veterans. Well, we learned earlier this week that the team won’t be selling any of their “key players.” Still, Connor Hughes of NJ.com highlighted some veterans that the Jets could consider moving. Among Hughes’ sell candidates were cornerback Buster Skrine, defensive end Sheldon Richardson, and linebacker David Harris.
Meanwhile, Hughes also looked at players that the Jets could look to acquire at the deadline. Among the candidates are Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and Packers wideout Davante Adams.
The Jets will be in a cap bind next offseason, and Darryl Slater of NJ.com discussed some potential cap casualties. Darrelle Revis and his $15.3MM cap number are an obvious candidate, as is offensive lineman Ryan Clady and his $10.5MM cap hit. Slater also suggests Harris, safety Marcus Gilchrist, right tackle Breno Giacomini, and kicker Nick Folk.

Giants To Sign Robbie Gould

October 22nd, 2016 at 8:20am CST by Dallas Robinson

SATURDAY, 8:20am: The Giants have officially announced the Gould signing.

THURSDAY, 7:14pm: Free agent kicker Robbie Gould is hopping on a plane tonight and will fly to London to meet up with the Giants, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Gould will be New York’s kicker on Sunday against the Rams.

The Giants need a new kicker, of course, because incumbent Josh Brown won’t be traveling with the team after new revelations surfaced regarding his history of domestic violence. Brown, who was already suspended for the first game of the season, is now set to be investigated by the NFL and could be facing an even longer ban. As such, it’s possible that Gould could be Big Blue’s kicker for an extended period of time, per Rapoport (Twitter link).

Gould had spent the past 11 seasons with the Bears, converting 85% of his field goals and 99% of his extra points before being released earlier this year. After a disappointing 2014 campaign where he only made 12 appearances and finished with a career-low field goal percentage, the Gould seemed to have bounced back in 2015. Gould connected on nearly 85% of his field goals, and his kickoffs continued to be as consistent as ever.

However, Gould struggled down the stretch last season, and those inconsistencies carried into the 2016 preseason. In the team’s final preseason game, Gould missed a pair of extra points.