Browns Demote Kevin Hogan To No. 3 QB
Things just keep getting weirder in Cleveland. The Browns have demoted last week’s starting quarterback Kevin Hogan to the third string, according to Field Yates and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Meanwhile, former No. 3 QB Cody Kessler has been elevated to No. 2 QB. 
The Browns threw everyone a curveball in Week 6 when they benched rookie DeShone Kizer in favor of Hogan. On Wednesday morning, the Browns switched them back. Hogan did not perform well against Houston on Sunday, but it’s strange to see him cycled through the depth chart so quickly.
The bizarre shuffling of the QBs won’t do much to silence talk of discord between coach Hue Jackson and the front office. Jackson was a big proponent of riding with Kizer through his rookie mistakes this year. Meanwhile, the front office is high on Kessler, but it was said that Jackson did not plan to play him.
With Kessler now installed as the main backup, Kizer will return to his role as the starter this Sunday when the Browns face the Titans.
Redskins’ Jonathan Allen Done For Season
Jonathan Allen‘s rookie season is already over. The defensive lineman’s Lisfranc injury will rule him out the rest of the way, John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears. The Redskins will place Allen on injured reserve this week. 
Initially, the Redskins believed that Allen’s foot issue would keep him out for only 3-4 weeks. However, further testing revealed that the injury was more serious.
It’s a frustrating setback for Allen, particularly given his history of injuries in college. In his five games this year, Allen showed lots of promise and graded out as a higher-end interior defender, per the metrics at Pro Football Focus. He had ten total tackles and one sack in his abbreviated campaign.
If not for his health issues, Allen might have been a top five pick in the 2017 draft. But, because of concerns about his shoulders, the Redskins were able to scoop him up at No. 17 overall. His future is bright, but Allen will have to put everything on hold until the offseason.
With Allen sidelined, the Redskins will lean a bit more on reserve defensive end Matthew Ioannidis and nose tackle Stacy McGee. As detailed by PFF, Ioannidis looked sharp against San Francisco on Sunday, ending the day with two sacks, one hit, and three additional QB hurries. Ioannidis has 20 total pressures this season off of just 121 pass-rushing snaps.
While the Redskins have options to plug from within, they’ll add a defensive lineman for depth, at the very least. They may also explore some veteran options.
The Redskins are 3-2 after topping the 49ers. Next up is a Monday night game against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Latest On Rift Between Browns’ Execs, Coach
Publicly, all of the Browns’ key players are saying the right things. But, with more and more stories coming out about discord between coach Hue Jackson and team brass, it’s apparent that something isn’t right in Cleveland. 
[RELATED: Browns To Start DeShone Kizer]
Jackson came to the Browns prior to the 2016 season with a vow to win right off of the bat and said the team would not rebuild, but “retool.” With that in mind, Jackson and his staff were miffed this offseason when the Browns shipped linebacker Demario Davis back to the Jets and released cornerback Joe Haden, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com hears.
Through six weeks, Davis is third in the NFL in tackles with 53. Haden, meanwhile, is playing quality football with the Steelers. The Browns, still searching for their first win heading into Sunday’s game against the Titans, could use some players like that.
The rift between the coaching staff and the front office could result in a shakeup at the executive level, though the Browns deny reports of shopping for executives. Peyton Manning‘s name has come up as a potential GM candidate for the Browns, but Cabot hears that the QB’s recent trip to Cleveland was not for the purpose of discussing the job.
If Manning – a good friend of owner Jimmy Haslam – winds up as the team’s next GM, the Browns still might want to surround him with experienced execs. The Browns are currently guided by Executive Vice President of Football Operations Sashi Brown (effectively the GM), Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, and Vice President of Player Personnel Andrew Berry. None of those three have a track record of assembling a winning football team and DePodesta’s background is in a different sport entirely.
Browns To Start DeShone Kizer
DeShone Kizer‘s stint as the Browns’ No. 2 quarterback did not last long. The rookie has been reinstated as the team’s starting QB in advance of Sunday’s game against the Titans. The news was first reported by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). She says that Cleveland will “ride with [Kizer] as long as possible.” 
At the start of the season, coach Hue Jackson said the team would be patient with the rookie and allow him to remain the starter even if he struggled. Last week, after an 0-5 start, the Browns abandoned that plan and handed the reins over to Kevin Hogan. Unfortunately, Hogan did not fare well against Houston – he completed 20 of 37 passes for just 140 yards, with one touchdown and against three interceptions.
On the surface, it seems that the winless Browns wanted to find out whether they had a better win-now option in Hogan. However, many will surmise that the Browns benched Kizer last week in order to avoid a direct comparison between him and Deshaun Watson. Watson, like Carson Wentz last year, is showing real promise as a rookie and is looking like the one that got away for Cleveland. That’s a source of frustration for fans, team ownership, and Jackson, who reportedly pushed the team to take Watson.
Extra Points: Kaep, Chargers, Paulsen, Cole
The NFL and NFLPA released a joint statement focused on “positive social change” following a meeting today between the league, owners, and selected players. But perhaps the most interesting fact about the gathering was who wasn’t in attendance — free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The NFL did not formally invite Kaepernick to the meeting, and while several players did Kaepernick to attend, the former 49ers quarterback and progenitor of kneeling during the national anthem didn’t want to be a distraction, per Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Despite Kaepernick’s reticence, some players were dismayed that he wasn’t officially invited to the talks, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Chargers could soon see the return of inside linebacker Denzel Perryman, who is currently on injured reserve with an ankle issue, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. “He looks better,” defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “You see him moving around a little more. I don’t know when we’re gonna get him back, but he’s starting now to tap me on the shoulder about trying to get in there, so I know he’s getting close.” Korey Toomer has replaced Perryman at middle ‘backer, but he’s earned below-average marks from Pro Football Focus, which has assigned Toomer a particularly poor grade against the run.
- Given that they’ve attempted to sign him in the past, the Lions could potentially make another run at free agent tight end Logan Paulsen, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Paulsen, who was released by the 49ers earlier today, should come relatively cheap, as he only garnered a minimum salary deal during the offseason. While he won’t be a factor on offense, Paulsen could help on special teams and as a blocker, especially in the run game.
- Texans linebacker Dylan Cole is dealing with a Grade 2 hamstring stain and is expected to miss at least four weeks of action, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Given the recovery timeline, Cole probably isn’t a candidate for injured reserve. Although the 23-year-old Cole isn’t a Houston starter, his absence will be felt, as he’s played 105 defensive snaps off the bench while seeing time on roughly two-thirds of the Texans’ special teams plays.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/17/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Buffalo Bills
- QB Matt Simms; DE Noble Nwachukwu; LB Boseko Lokombo (Twitter links via Adam Caplan)
Chicago Bears
- QB Alek Torgersen; WRs Jordan Payton, Kevin Snead (link)
Cincinnati Bengals
- TEs Brian Parker, Josiah Price, Steven Scheu; DBs Robert Blanton, K.J. Dillon, Harold Jones-Quartey, Robenson Therezie (Twitter links)
Denver Broncos
- WRs Devin Lucien, Tim Patrick, Domonique Young (link via Caplan)
Detroit Lions
- DE Jacquies Smith; Ks Dan Carpenter, Travis Coons (link via Caplan)
Houston Texans
- QB Taylor Heinicke (link via Caplan)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CBs Alex Carter, Deji Olatoye, D’Joun Smith (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- G Oni Omoile; T Nick Becton; DT Josh Augusta; LB Johnathan Calvin (link)
Los Angeles Chargers
- DB Justin Currie (link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press)
- DBs Robert Blanton, Antone Exum, Ed Reynolds, Ahmad Thomas (link via Caplan)
New Orleans Saints
- RBs Matt Asiata, Ka’Deem Carey, Dexter McCluster; WR Paul Turner; LB Bryan Braman (Twitter links via Caplan)
New York Jets
- DE Owa Odighizuwa; S Harold Jones-Quartey (link via Caplan)
San Francisco 49ers
- DE Devin Taylor (link via Caplan)
Washington Redskins
- RBs Troymaine Pope, Stanley Williams, Joseph Yearby; WRs Rashad Ross, Kendal Thompson; Gs Willie Beavers, Zach Voytek; T Storm Norton; ; LB Jayrone Elliott; CB Damian Swann; DBs Ed Reynolds, Orion Stewart, Mykkele Thompson (all Twitter links)
Seahawks Notes: Avril, Joeckel, Alexander
As he continues to deal with a neck injury, Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril has sought multiple medical opinions and is visiting another doctor today, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Head coach Pete Carroll originally indicated Avril would be sidelined “awhile” with a stinger and numbness in his arm, but subsequent reports have expressed concern about the future of Avril’s career. While Seattle has the defensive line depth to withstand a Avril absence (Frank Clark, Marcus Smith), his absence will certainly be felt, and doubts about his ability to continue playing are certainly worrisome.
Here’s more from Seattle:
- Left guard Luke Joeckel is expected to miss four-to-five weeks after undergoing knee surgery during the Seahawks’ bye week, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Joeckel, who signed a one-year, $8MM contract this spring, has played every snap at left guard for Seattle this season. Perhaps unsurprisingly given his track record with the Jaguars, Joeckel had struggled — along with the rest of the Seahawks’ offensive line — through five games, grading as the No. 44 guard among 75 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Mark Glowinski and rookie Ethan Pocic will now compete to replace Joeckel, per Condotta.
- Free agent safety Maurice Alexander is visiting with the Seahawks this week, as Condotta writes in a full piece. Seattle should be relatively familiar with Alexander, as he’d spent the entirety of his four-year NFL career with the Rams. Alexander, who has also auditioned for the Jets and Cardinals since being waived last week, offers valuable experience (18 starts over the past season-plus), but he’d seemingly be overkill in Seattle. The Seahawks already boast two of the NFL’s best safeties in Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, plus veteran Bradley McDougald and rookies Delano Hill and Tedric Thompson in reserve.
- If recent history is any indication, Seahawks defenders Dion Jordan and DeShawn Shead likely won’t return to the field for three more weeks, opines Brady Henderson of ESPN.com. Both Jordan, a defensive end, and Shead, a cornerback, are allowed to resume practicing today, but neither player is ready to roll just yet. Once they are, Seattle will get a three-week window during which Jordan and/or Shead can be added to the 53-man roster. Jordan is currently on the non-football injury list, while Shead is on the physically unable to perform list. As Henderson notes, the Seahawks have typically given their players ample practice time before activating them.
Ravens Sign LB Steven Johnson
The Ravens have made a change at linebacker, as they’ve signed free agent Steven Johnson and released Jonathan Freeny, the club announced today.
Johnson should be familiar to Baltimore not only because he’s worked out for the club twice in the past month, but because he’s spent the past year-plus with the division rival Steelers. The 29-year-old Johnson, who’s also played for the Titans and Broncos during a six-year NFL career, has bounced on and off the Pittsburgh roster this season. He’s been active for only seven games over the past two years, and he’s played exclusively on special teams thus far in 2017.
The same can be said of Freeny, whose 35 total snaps this year have all come on special teams duty. Freeny, a five-year NFL veteran, started his career as a special teams player in Miami, but his most notable time came with the Patriots from 2015-16. During that time, Freeny appeared in 18 games and started 11 contests before going down with a shoulder injury last October.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/17/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: QB Garrett Grayson, DT Joey Ivie
- Released: K Mike Meyer
- Placed on injured list: QB Trevor Knight
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: L.J. McCray
- Released: DT Marquavius Lewis, G Jordan Mudge
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Zack Sanchez, RB Jalen Simmons, S Dezmen Southward
- Released: LB Zeek Bigger
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR River Cracraft
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: QB Jerod Evans
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Josh Ferguson
- Released: WR Cyril Richardson
Washington Redskins
- Released: QB Joel Stave
49ers Place DL Arik Armstead On IR
The 49ers have placed defensive tackle Arik Armstead on injured reserve and released tight end Logan Paulsen, the club announced today. The pair of transactions will create space on San Francisco’s roster for newly-signed defensive tackles Tony McDaniel and Leger Douzable.
Armstead will go on IR after suffering a broken hand in Sunday’s contest against the Redskins. He’ll require surgery and will likely need four-to-six weeks to recover, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The NFL’s injured reserve rules stipulate a minimum absence of eight weeks, so Armstead will have more than enough time to heal. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 15.
Armstead, a first-round pick in 2015, has been excellent on the edge in first-year coordinator Robert Saleh‘s 4-3 scheme. Through five weeks, Armstead had played the second-most defensive snaps of any 49ers defender and posted eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, 5.5 pressures, and one pass defensed. Overall, the 23-year-old has graded as the NFL’s No. 33 interior defender, per Pro Football Focus.
Paulsen, 30, has garnered only one target after agreeing to a one-year deal with the 49ers this spring. That lack of offensive production is wholly unsurprising, as Paulsen earns his money on special teams and as a blocker. Through six games, Paulsen had earned a solid 74.1 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, a mark which would rank him second behind only Rob Gronkowski if he had enough snaps to qualify.