2017 September - Pro Football Rumors

Saints Sign David Parry To Practice Squad

September 4th, 2017 at 7:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

David Parry has started every NFL game he’s played since coming into the league as a fifth-round Colts pick in 2015, but he will begin this season in a more anonymous place.

The Saints signed the third-year defensive lineman to their practice squad on Monday night, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com notes. The Colts waived Parry on Saturday.

Playing nose tackle in Indianapolis’ 3-4 scheme, Parry lined up with Colts starers for 32 games. But the former Stanford lineman’s third NFL offseason became defined by a legal situation. Arrested on multiple felony charges in February, the 25-year-old is still facing jail time.

Parry would otherwise be an overqualified practice squad presence, but his legal trouble may have played a role in no team claiming him on waivers.

Latest On Andrew Luck’s Timetable

September 4th, 2017 at 6:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts made it official that Andrew Luck won’t be on the field for them Sunday in Week 1, making the game against the Rams the franchise’s first opener without its franchise passer since 2011.

However, Luck is not exactly a lock to return to the field in time for Week 2, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link). The NFL insider adds the rest of September is not certain for Luck, reporting some believe this absence will extend into October.

The Colts are exercising extreme caution with Luck in hopes of not having to see the quarterback go through right shoulder trouble again, Rapoport reports, adding there is perhaps a “strong possibility” Scott Tolzien receives more than one start and possibly more than two or three. Mike Wells of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter) Luck is still without a timetable for a return to practice.

Being removed from the PUP list would point to Luck returning at some point early in the season, but Indy’s September slate — which features a trip to Los Angeles and home tilts against the Browns and Cardinals — could feature a Tolzien-fronted operation. Luck has been out since January because of shoulder surgery.

In Luck’s 10 games out of the lineup over the past two years, the Colts are 6-4. But the since-retired Matt Hasselbeck was responsible for five of those victories.

Ravens Add Jeremy Langford To Practice Squad

September 4th, 2017 at 6:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Ravens added some ball-carrying experience to their practice squad. Ex-Bears back Jeremy Langford will land on Baltimore’s 10-man taxi unit, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

The Bears cut Langford on Sunday, and he went unclaimed on waivers. The third-year runner will land with the Ravens, whose active-roster backfield consists of Terrance West, Danny Woodhead and Javorius Allen. Baltimore will be without Kenneth Dixon for the season.

Langford appeared to have secured a spot as a Chicago reserve, but the Bears claimed rookie UDFA Taquan Mizzell — whom the Ravens cut — on Sunday and installed him behind the likes of Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen and Benny Cunningham.

A former fourth-round pick, Langford rushed for 537 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie. He received only 62 carries last season in 12 games and has averaged 3.5 yards per carry during his career.

Duane Brown Confirms He’ll Play In 2017

September 4th, 2017 at 6:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Entering what would be his 10th NFL season, Duane Brown remains a Texans holdout. But the longtime Houston left tackle said Monday he intends to play in 2017.

What Brown did not confirm, though, was when he’ll show. He and the Texans remain at an impasse regarding compensation, and with Houston’s first game Sunday, we’re firmly in the 11th hour of this process.

“I’m definitely playing football this year,” Brown said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, before declining to specify when he will return.

The Texans placed Brown on their Reserve/Did Not Report list after he failed to attend training camp, and it’s been quiet on this front since. We heard in late July Brown wasn’t expected to miss games, but at this point, it’s hard to describe that as a certainty.

Brown has started all 132 regular-season games he’s played for the franchise, but he’s signed through 2018 for $9.4MM and $9.75MM — all of which is nonguaranteed. The spate of 2017 tackle extensions or UFA signings — for the likes of Russell Okung, Riley Reiff, Matt Kalil and now Charles Leno — have bumped Brown down to a middling left tackle salary. Fifteen left tackles’ contracts average more per year than Brown’s deal does. The three-time Pro Bowler is entering his age-32 season.

Brown will lose $411K in salary for each week he misses, and Smith notes the edge blocker could skip eight weeks before returning and still receive credit for an accrued season toward free agency. With Brown still profiling as one of the Texans’ best players, a lengthy absence would damage the team’s chances at winning a third straight AFC South title.

Veteran Chris Clark is listed atop the Texans’ depth chart at left tackle, with third-year UDFA Kendall Lamm manning the right side in place of the sidelined Derek Newton.

But when Brown does return this season, as he confirmed he will, he doesn’t expect to need much seasoning.

“I’m always in shape,” Brown said, via Smith. “I’m in shape year round, 24/7, 365, so I’m just working out, doing what I do and when I’m out there I’ll handle business.”

Raiders Work Out Mike Nugent, Josh Lambo

September 4th, 2017 at 5:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sebastian Janikowski is set to enter yet another season as the Raiders kicker, but the team appears to be exploring outside options in advance of his 18th year.

Oakland brought in Mike Nugent, Josh Lambo and Marshall Koehn — all cut on Saturday — for workouts Monday, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Nugent did not win the Giants’ job, and Lambo also saw a younger kicker displace him with the Chargers. Koehn did not win the competition in Minnesota.

The 39-year-old Janikowski has kicked with the Raiders since the 2000 season. He’s in the final year of his contract and is set to count $4.41MM against Oakland’s cap. That figure represents the second-most in the league, behind only Stephen Gostkowski.

Lambo kicked for the Bolts for the past two seasons, and Nugent — a former second-round pick — has 12 years’ experience. Almost all of that came with the Jets and Bengals. Koehn has yet to kick in an NFL game.

Saints Place Delvin Breaux On IR

September 4th, 2017 at 5:02pm CST by Zachary Links

The Saints have placed cornerback Delvin Breaux on injured reserve, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move has been expected for some time.

Breaux fractured his fibula in mid-August, but the hope is that he will be able to heal up by the middle of the season, allowing him to return from IR. If the Saints use one of their two IR-DTR slots on him, he’ll be eligible to return for Week 9. Players who return from IR must spend eight weeks on the list, but they can practice for the final two.

Last year, the former CFL standout had a dismal 39.1 score from Pro Football Focus and played in a full slate of games . In 2016, however, he had an 85 overall score which cast him as a top-15 type of cornerback.

The Saints were said to be shopping him because they were frustrated with how long it was taking him to recover from a minor injury. When it was discovered that he was misdiagnosed and actually had a broken fibula, the team promptly took him off the block and fired two team orthopedists.

Rams Claim QB Brandon Allen

September 4th, 2017 at 4:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams have claimed quarterback Brandon Allen off waivers, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Allen was cut loose by the Jaguars over the weekend.

The 2016 sixth-round pick now becomes the Rams’ third quarterback behind starter Jared Goff and backup Sean Mannion, assuming Mannion remains on board. The Rams will have to make a corresponding move to make room for Allen on the roster.

After going 4-12 last season, the Rams had top five waiver priority. It’s likely that other teams in need of quarterback depth also made a claim on Allen but were trumped by L.A. The 24-year-old made some impressive plays in the preseason, though he did throw three picks in the team’s final exhibition game.

The Rams open up their season with a home game against the Colts on Sunday.

Cowboys Place Rico Gathers On IR

September 4th, 2017 at 3:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are placing tight end Rico Gathers on injured reserve, the team announced today. That will open up a roster spot that could be filled by the recently-released Kellen Moore, coach Jason Garrett tells reporters.

Moore was discarded prior to the initial 53-man cutdown in a move that left undrafted free agent Cooper Rush as the team’s No. 2 quarterback behind Dak Prescott. Nothing is definite yet, but it sounds like Moore could return to the roster to serve as the third stringer, or possibly the second stringer, behind Prescott for the season opener against the Giants.

The shuffling of QBs doesn’t make much sense on the surface, but the Cowboys likely felt that they would lose Rush if they exposed him to waivers. Moore, who they like for their offense, probably is not viewed as favorably league-wide.

Patriots To Place LB Shea McClellin On IR

September 4th, 2017 at 1:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots are placing linebacker Shea McClellin on injured reserve, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates. The nature of his injury is currently unknown.

McClellin missed most of the preseason with his mystery ailment. Whatever the issue is, it won’t rule him out for the year as he remains a candidate for one of the team’s IR-DTR spots.

McClellin, a former first-round pick of the Bears, signed a three-year, $9MM deal with the Patriots in 2016. He appeared in 441 snaps for New England last year and made some athletic plays, including his memorable leap over the line of scrimmage to block a field goal against the Ravens in December.

To fill his spot on the roster, the Patriots re-signed running back Brandon Bolden. He had just just one carry last season and spent the bulk of his time on special teams.

Cardinals Sign P Andy Lee

September 4th, 2017 at 12:12pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals announced that they have signed punter Andy Lee to a two-year deal. Naturally, punter Matt Wile has been released to make room.

Arizona expressed interest in Lee last week when he was being shopped by the Panthers. The Cardinals were unwilling to take on his old contract and give up draft considerations for him, but they were happy to snag him as a free agent.

The Cardinals’ 14.7 points of lost field position was second only to the Jets last year, per Football Outsiders. The 35-year-old Lee might be able to help in that regard if he can stay healthy. He was limited to nine games last year, but his net average of 40.4 yards per punt would have ranked 14th among all punters if he saw enough action to qualify.

In related moves, the Cardinals placed running back T.J. Logan on IR and added outside linebackers Bryson Albright and Obum Gwacham to the practice squad.