2016 October - Pro Football Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/13/16

October 13th, 2016 at 5:44pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Thursday’s minor moves:

The Packers have cut quarterback Joe Callahan, per a team announcement. Callahan joined the Packers in May as an undrafted free agent from Division III Wesley and surprisingly earned a roster spot, but he was unable to make it past Week 5. His time in Green Bay isn’t necessarily up, though, as the team plans to sign him to its practice squad if he goes through waivers unclaimed, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
The Panthers have waived wide receiver Damiere Byrd, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Byrd hooked on with the Panthers last year after going undrafted from South Carolina. He hasn’t yet logged any NFL action.

Cam Newton Likely To Start Sunday

October 13th, 2016 at 5:07pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

After missing his first game since 2014 in Week 5, a 17-14 loss to the Buccaneers, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is on track to start Sunday, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Newton, who succumbed to a concussion late in the Panthers’ Week 4 defeat in Atlanta, was a full participant in practice Thursday. The NFL’s reigning MVP will need medical clearance before returning to game action, but head coach Ron Rivera said he “so far” looks primed to suit up against the Saints.

The Panthers didn’t necessarily struggle to move the ball without Newton this past Monday, as they combined for 414 total yards, but they had difficulty scoring and backup signal-caller Derek Anderson threw two interceptions. The defending NFC champions shockingly dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in their division in the process.

Next up for the Panthers is a road tilt against another NFC South opponent, 1-3 New Orleans, in a hugely important game for both teams. Carolina seems more likely to rebound from its poor start than the Saints are from theirs, though a fourth straight defeat would make rallying to overtake the 4-1 Falcons in the division or at least grab a wild-card spot all the more difficult for the Panthers.

In addition to Newton, another integral offensive piece – running back Jonathan Stewart – should return against the Saints, according to Person. Stewart hasn’t suited up since the Panthers’ 46-27 win over the 49ers in Week 2, when he departed with a hamstring injury. He and Newton were among the driving forces behind the Panthers’ success last season, but they’ve taken steps back in the early going this year. Having tossed five interceptions, Newton is already halfway to last season’s 16-game total. He has also experienced a drop-off in most other major statistical categories after combining for 45 touchdowns and nearly 4,500 yards as a passer and rusher in 2015. Stewart, meanwhile, has picked up just 73 yards on 20 carries.

Browns’ Cody Kessler To Start Sunday

October 13th, 2016 at 4:26pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Browns quarterback Cody Kessler missed most of the team’s 33-13 loss to the Patriots last Sunday after departing in the first quarter with a rib injury, but the rookie will return to the lineup in Week 6. Head coach Hue Jackson announced Thursday that Kessler will start Sunday against the Titans.

“Cody Kessler practiced full. I think he’s ready to go,” said Jackson (via Patrick Maks of the team’s website).

Had Kessler not progressed this week, it’s unclear who would have started in Tennessee. The status of Josh McCown, whose Week 2 broken collarbone opened the door for Kessler, is up in the air as Sunday approaches. The only other signal-caller on the roster is rookie Kevin Hogan, whom the team promoted from the practice squad when it released veteran Charlie Whitehurst on Tuesday.

Despite beginning the year third behind the now-injured Robert Griffin III and McCown on Cleveland’s depth chart, Kessler has fared well during his initial NFL action. The third-round pick from USC has completed 54 of 81 passes (66.7 percent) for 529 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in starts against the Dolphins, Redskins and Patriots. The Browns lost each of those games and have begun a league-worst 0-5, and now the Kessler-led club will try to break into the win column against the 2-3 Titans.

Texans To Promote CB Robert Nelson

October 13th, 2016 at 3:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans are promoting cornerback Robert Nelson from the practice squad to the main roster, as John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets. To make room, defensive lineman Brandon Dunn has been released.

Nelson joined the Texans’ taxi squad late in 2015 and he was re-signed on a reserve/futures deal in January. Unable to make the 53-man cut, he agreed to return to the Texans’ practice squad this year. Now, he’s ready for his first NFL stint since 2014 when he was on the roster for seven games with the Browns.

Houston hopes to re-sign Dunn to the practice squad, according to McClain. The 24-year-old appeared in eleven games for the Texans last year in a special teams role, totaling seven tackles.

Colts Promote Williams, Sign Carter

October 13th, 2016 at 3:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts announced that they have promoted cornerback Frankie Williams to active roster and signed linebacker Chris Carter. To make room, linebacker Trevor Bates and tackle Jeremy Vujnovich have been let go.

Williams, a Purdue product, went undrafted this year and signed on with the Colts in May. It initially looked like he was going to make the roster, but he was dropped in early September for veteran Darryl Morris. Williams joined Indianapolis’ practice squad soon after and his persistence has finally garnered him a place on the 53-man roster. With Darius Butler and Patrick Robinson banged up, Williams will offer depth during the Colts’ Sunday night contest against the Texans.

Carter, meanwhile, was a fifth-round pick of the Steelers in the 2011 draft. He has just four NFL starts to his credit, but he could be used in a pass rush role off the bench.

Saints Promote Brian Dixon

October 13th, 2016 at 2:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints will officially place safety Erik Harris on injured reserve today, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate. Meanwhile, Brian Dixon will be promoted to the 53-man roster. It was reported earlier this week that Harris would be shut down for the season.

Harris’ primary role was on special teams and Dixon will be used to fill that void. Dixon, who appeared in every regular season game for New Orleans in 2014 and 2015, has 31 total tackles and two forced fumbles to his credit. The Northwest Missouri State product was in uniform against the Chargers but was later released and signed to the practice squad.

To fill Dixon’s spot on the taxi squad, linebacker Chris McCain has been signed. The Saints acquired McCain in a trade with the Dolphins in exchange for a conditional pick this offseason but he was cut days later. McCain, 25 in November, picked up a sack and a forced fumble in 2015, but only played on 113 total snaps (43 on defense).

Ravens Owner Pushed To Fire Marc Trestman?

October 13th, 2016 at 12:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Marc Trestman is out in Baltimore and it may not have been John Harbaugh‘s doing. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti had a strong hand in firing the offensive coordinator, sources tell Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Furthermore, sources say that Trestman’s relationship with Joe Flacco became strained this year and that was likely a factor in the ouster of Trestman. Flacco had a similar rift with former Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron in 2012.

When asked about Bisciotti’s role in Trestman’s dismissal this week, Harbaugh denied that the decision was made solely upstairs. However, as Cole notes, Bisciotti has been with the team at practice a lot more than usual in recent days.

With Trestman gone, former quarterbacks coach Marty Mornhinweg has gotten bumped up to offensive coordinator.

Lions Meet With WR Andre Caldwell

October 13th, 2016 at 12:28pm CST by Zachary Links

This offseason, the Lions signed Andre Caldwell with the idea that he could serve as a top pass-catching option behind Golden Tate and free agent pickup Marvin Jones. Unfortunately, he broke a bone in his hand in the summer and the Lions wound up cutting him in August. Caldwell is still looking for work today and it’s possible that he could double back to Detroit. The wide receiver visited with the Lions last week, as Justin Rogers of The Detroit News tweets.

It was initially believed that Caldwell’s injury was a season-ender but between his meeting with the Lions and his recent workout with the Saints, it sounds like he might be ready to return to action. Currently, the Lions have four wide receivers on the roster in Jones, Tate, Anquan Boldin, and Andre Roberts. They’re also carrying three WRs on the taxi squad: Jace Billingsley, T.J. Jones, and Jay Lee.

Caldwell, 31, appeared in 14 games for the Broncos last season, catching 10 passes (22 targets) for 72 yards. While he wasn’t one of the primary targets in Denver, he did also have two touchdowns on the year.

Rogers also hears that defensive backs Sergio Brown, Asa Jackson, Jaiquawn Jarrett, Bacarri Rambo, and Major Wright auditioned for the Lions.

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October 13th, 2016 at 11:35am CST by Zachary Links

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Eagles Promote CB C.J. Smith

October 13th, 2016 at 8:13am CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles announced that they have promoted C.J. Smith to the 53-man roster. In a related move, tight end Anthony Denham was signed to the practice squad.

By signing Smith, the Eagles once again have five cornerbacks on the roster. Nolan Carroll and Leodis McKelvin are Philly’s starters with Ron Brooks and Jalen Mills as backups. Smith will round out the group and presumably also pitch in on special teams.

The North Dakota State product joined the Eagles this year as a UDFA. Smith was nearly called up to the main roster last month when McKelvin went down with a hamstring strain. The team went in a different direction, but the young cornerback is getting his shot four weeks later.