2016 October - Pro Football Rumors

Packers Acquire RB Knile Davis From Chiefs

October 18th, 2016 at 8:06am CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs have traded running back Knile Davis to the Packers, a source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). In exchange for Davis, the Chiefs will receive a conditional seventh-round pick in 2018, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link). The two sides have since confirmed the deal via press release.

The Packers need some help at running back after No. 2 RB James Starks had knee surgery. Making matters worse, starter Eddie Lacy is playing through an ankle injury of his own. Green Bay promoted UDFA Don Jackson from the practice squad yesterday, but they also wanted a running back with NFL experience on the depth chart. Davis fell out of favor in KC, but it wasn’t long ago that he was the primary backup to Jamaal Charles. Starks will likely be out “about four weeks” after going under the knife and Davis should help to hold down the fort until then.

Davis has been seeking a trade for some time now and he finally got one today. The Chiefs now have Charles back in the lineup and his return bumped Davis all the way down to No. 4 on the running back depth chart. With no real need for Davis, KC decided to get something of value instead of stashing the young tailback behind Charles, Spencer Ware, and Charcandrick West. All three players recently signed extensions with the Chiefs while Davis was left on his old contract.

Last season, Davis’ main contribution came in the Wild Card playoffs when he opened up the contest against the Texans with a 106-yard kick return touchdown. In the regular season, Davis had just 28 total carries for 72 yards and one score. From 2013-2015, the former third-round pick carried the ball 232 times for 777 yards, good for a 3.3 yards-per-carry average. This year, he had just one carry for a loss of two yards.

Extra Points: Osweiler, Colts, Fins, Cards, Vikes

October 17th, 2016 at 9:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien denied a recent report that tension had emerged between himself and quarterback Brock Osweiler, calling it the “biggest non-story of the year,” according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com. “Anybody that’s been around me knows that I really only know one way to go about it,” O’Brien said. “That’s to work very hard and to do it in a very intense environment. I think that’s the type of players we have. So when you’re coaching football and playing football, and you’re in a competitive environment where everyone is pulling the same rope and everybody is trying to do their very best to win the game, things are going to happen.”

Here’s more from around the NFL:

After leaving last night’s game against Houston, an MRI revealed that Colts tight end Dwayne Allen has a sprained ankle and is now week-to-week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). As Rapoport notes, that designation likely means that Allen is set to be sidelined for at least some time. Jack Doyle and Erik Swoope will hold down the fort at tight end until Allen can return.
When the 49ers restructured Colin Kaepernick‘s deal, they got rid of the embattled quarterback’s injury guarantees so that he could return to the field without the club worrying about being tied to him for the long haul. The Dolphins and Cardinals should think similarly about their quarterbacks, opines Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, as both Ryan Tannehill and Carson Palmer have hefty injury guarantees for the 2017 campaign.
Linebacker J.R. Tavai is working out for the Broncos today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Tavai, 23, spent several months on the Titans’ practice squad last season, and even made it onto the active roster for a few weeks. However, the 2015 UDFA was waived during final cutdowns earlier this year.
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer wasn’t clear on the future of offensive lineman Isame Faciane, who is facing three misdemeanors after being arrested for DUI earlier this month, tweets Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. For what it’s worth, Zimmer did say that Faciane’s arrest “was not very bright.” Faciane has been a member of the Vikings’ practice squad since 2014.

Latest On Raiders, Las Vegas

October 17th, 2016 at 9:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As expected, Nevada governor Brian Sandoval signed a bill green-lighting $750MM in public money for a $1.9 billion domed stadium for the Raiders in Las Vegas, as Michelle Rindels of the Associated Press writes. The Nevada Asssembly had approved the funding the bill last week, and the Raiders have now taken a major step towards relocating to Sin City.

“Las Vegas is ready for this. Nevada is ready for this,” said Sandoval. “The best brand on the planet is coming together with one of the best brands in professional sports. It is truly one of those situations where 1+1=3.”

However, even after Nevada cleared a substantial financial hurdle, Raiders owner Mark Davis’ battle with the NFL and his fellow owners isn’t close to its conclusion. NFL ownership sources continue to maintain Davis might not have enough support to reach the 24-vote plateau required for a relocation, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported yesterday.

That vote could is likely to take place within the next six-to-nine months, sources tell Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who hears that the chances of the Raiders getting the okay to move to Las Vegas are more positive (PFT pegs the odds of a “yes” at 75%). Of course, some owners could have voice concern with the potential move, especially given the prevalence of gambling activity in Las Vegas. But as Florio notes, any such questions raise could merely be a ploy to raise the Raiders’ relocation fee.

Chiefs DE Allen Bailey Could Be Done For Year

October 17th, 2016 at 9:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chiefs are worried that defensive end Allen Bailey could be done for the season due to a shoulder injury, tweets freelance NFL reporter Rand Getlin. Bailey missed time during yesterday’s victory over the Raiders, and after the game, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star reported (via Twitter) that Bailey was dealing with a shoulder contusion.

Bailey, 27, is in the midst of his sixth season with Kansas City, but he’s only been a starter for the past two-plus years. After posting 9.5 sacks from 2014-15, Bailey had started all five games in 2016, but hadn’t posted exemplary results. According to Pro Football Focus, Bailey has graded as just the No. 94 interior defender among 116 qualifiers.

If Bailey is forced to miss an extended period of time, second-rookie Chris Jones would seem to be the next man up. Jones, the 37th overall pick in this year’s draft, has only played on roughly a quarter of Kansas City’s defensive snaps thus far, but that percentage would likely rise if Bailey is sidelined. Fellow lineman Nick Williams and Dadi Nicolas are also options to see more playing time.

Meanwhile, star linebacker Justin Houston was cleared to practice over the weekend, and was officially eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list today. Head coach Andy Reid expressed optimism on Houston’s status, telling reporters, including Paylor (Twitter link), that “we’re close” to Houston’s return to the field.

Latest On Redskins WR Josh Doctson

October 17th, 2016 at 8:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Redskins first-round receiver Josh Doctson could be a candidate for injured reserve as he continues to deal with an Achilles injury, coach Jay Gruden told reporters, including Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Gruden indicated that Docston will be sidelined at least through Washington’s bye week, meaning the pass-catcher wouldn’t return to the field until Week 10, at earliest, according to Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.

“I think it’s a possibility, we’ll see,” said Gruden about Doctson going on IR. “I think we send him to another doctor, get another opinion. I think the plan right now is probably immobilize him for a little bit just to take complete stress off of it for a little bit of time and see where that leads us. IR — maybe, maybe not. We don’t know yet.”

Earlier this month, Gruden had similary expressed a hope that the Redskins wouldn’t have to shelve Doctson for the year. “We’ll have to wait and see if this thing gets any better the next week or so and go from there,” said Gruden at the time. “I hate to put him on IR and then he’s better tomorrow, you know what I mean, because he’s such a valuable, big play type guy. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and see what happens.”

The 22nd overall pick in this year’s draft, Doctson has only managed to appear in two of the Redskins’ five games to this point. In those two contests, Doctson has hauled in two-of-six targets for 66 yards, but hasn’t found the end zone just yet. Washington isn’t wanting for wide receivers without Doctson, as the club still boasts DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and Jamison Crowder.

Seahawks TE Luke Willson Suffers Knee Injury

October 17th, 2016 at 8:18pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Tight end Luke Willson suffered ligament damage in his knee during the Seahawks’ win over the Falcons yesterday, head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). It’s possible that Willson will require surgery, per Carroll.

Willson, 26, has taken a backseat to Jimmy Graham in 2016 as the latter has finally found his footing in Seattle. However, while Graham has outproduced Willson in terms of offensive numbers, Willson has actually played more snaps that Graham (168-to-159), and Willson has been a valuable asset as a blocker in two-tight end sets. While he hasn’t graded well overall according to Pro Football Focus’ statistics, Willson has ranked as an above-average pass-blocking tight end.

The Seahawks do have the tight end depth to withstand the loss of Willson, as the club boasts third-round rookie Nick Vannett and fifth-year pro Brandon Williams. If Seattle wants to add another tight end to its roster, one obvious candidate would be Marcus Lucas, who is currently on the Hawks’ practice squad.

Packers To Promote RB Don Jackson

October 17th, 2016 at 7:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Packers are a bit shorthanded at running back after James Starks underwent surgery yesterday, so the club will promote RB Don Jackson from their practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). No corresponding move has been announced as of yet.

Starks will likely be out “about four weeks” after going under the knife to repair a knee issue on Sunday morning, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Eddie Lacy, who is nursing an injury of his own, is the only other true running back on the Green Bay roster. Wide receivers Randall Cobb and Ty Montgomery are options to line up in backfield, but Jackson will give the club an actual back.

This morning, head coach Mike McCarthy left the door open to signing a running back (and/or a cornerback), but he acknowledged that it might be difficult to pull off without thinning out the team in another area, as ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky wrote. However, the need for another RB apparently outweighed any concern the Packers had about robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Jackson, 23, is an undrafted rookie free agent that originally signed with Green Bay over the summer. After being waived, he’s spent the year on the Packers’ taxi squad.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/17/16

October 17th, 2016 at 7:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s practice squad moves:

Detroit Lions

Signed: DB Charles Washington
Cut: WR Jay Lee

Green Bay Packers

Signed: DT Brian Price (Twitter link via Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com)

New England Patriots

Signed: FB Glenn Gronkowski (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN.com), RB Tyler Gaffney

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed: WR Donteea Dye, WR Freddie Martino, S Trae Elston, TE Tevin Westbrook

Panthers Sticking With Kicker Graham Gano

October 17th, 2016 at 6:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers are standing by kicker Graham Gano even after he missed another critical kick during yesterday’s contest against the Saints, as head coach Ron Rivera told reporters, including Joe Person of Charlotte Observer.

“We’re going to stand pat,” Rivera said. “If you go back and you evaluate it as an extra-point kicker, he’s right about 95 percent, which is a little bit more than league average I believe. And then in clutch kicks, again he’s well above the league average.”

Gano missed an extra point on Sunday that would have allowed the Panthers to tie New Orleans late in a game that Carolina ultimately lost, dropping the club to 1-5 on the year. The 29-year old Gano was also wide on a game-winning field goal attempt in Week 1 against the Broncos, and missed another kick in a Week 5 loss to the Buccaneers.

For what it’s worth, Rivera didn’t sound quite so certain earlier in the day, as Bill Voth of Black and Blue Review writes. “Well, we’ll see,” Rivera said about Gano’s status. “You’ve got to look at what’s happened not just now but what’s happened over the period of time. There are some things that we’re going to look at and evaluate (over the bye week), obviously, and we’ll see what happens.”

If Carolina does opt to make a change, veteran kickers such as Robbie Gould, Randy Bullock, Kai Forbath, Garrett Hartley, and Shayne Graham present the best options on the free agent market.

Texans Expected To Place Kevin Johnson On IR

October 17th, 2016 at 5:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Texans are expected to place cornerback Kevin Johnson on injured reserve after he suffered a broken foot in last night’s game against the Colts, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Per Wilson, Johnson is unlikely to play again this season, meaning he won’t be a candidate to return from IR.

Houston’s defense had already taken one tremendous hit this year, as defensive end J.J. Watt is on injured reserve with a back injury. The loss of Johnson isn’t quite on a Watt level, but his absence will be notable — Pro Football Focus had graded Johnson as a top-10 cornerback through 10 games. The Texans’ defense has still managed to rank as a top-15 unit by DVOA, but the unit will unquestionably be affected by Johnson’s loss.

The club’s secondary, specifically, is reeling, as fellow corner Kareem Jackson is still dealing with a hamstring injury, while Johnathan Joseph suffered a forearm ailment during last night’s contest (but is expected to be ready for next week). Reserve safety K.J. Dillon, meanwhile, tore his ACL on Sunday night and is now done for the year.