Jaguars Release QB Ryan Nassib
Less than a month after signing with the team, quarterback Ryan Nassib‘s tenure with the Jaguars has come to an end. The team announced that they have released the 27-year-old. The team has promoted offensive lineman Chris Reed from the practice squad to take Nassib’s spot on the roster.
The 2013 fourth-rounder was signed in mid-September to provide the team with some additional depth behind behind Blake Bortles and Chad Henne. With Bortles struggling and Henne disappointing during a brief cameo, the pairing made sense, especially when you consider Nassib’s connection to Tom Coughlin and Doug Marrone. Ultimately, Nassib didn’t see the field for Jacksonville during his two weeks with the squad. The quarterback only has five NFL games under his belt, but he’s completed nine of his 10 pass attempts for 128 yards and one touchdown.
Reed joined the organization as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State in 2015. He ultimately appeared in 10 games as a rookie, including four starts. His season ended prematurely when he was placed on the injured reserve with a toe injury. He was waived by the organization in early September, but he subsequently caught on with the practice squad. He’ll presumably compete with the team’s reserve lineman (including Tyler Shatley, Josh Wells, Will Poehls, and Josh Walker) for reps.
AFC Notes: Thomas, Browns, Jets, Bengals
Offensive tackle Joe Thomas has spent his entire 11-year career in Cleveland, and the Browns have produced a .292 winning percentage during that span. Understandably, the veteran understands a thing or two about “tanking” for a top prospect. However, considering his experiences, he warns that the strategy doesn’t always lead to success.
“It’s always fun for fans and the media to have that narrative because it gives you guys something to talk about,” Thomas told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “And for fans, I’m sure they enjoy the optimism of looking toward the future if they don’t think that the present is bright. But it seems like every year the player that you want to suck for ends up dropping and not being the top pick… or what you expected.”
During Thomas’ 10 full seasons, there have been eight different Browns quarterbacks to lead the team in passing…despite the fact that the organization had selected three signal callers in the first round.
“If you look historically at the draft at quarterbacks in the Top 10,” Thomas said, “About half of them flame out very quickly. So, there’s no guarantee in the NFL that if you’ve got the No. 1 pick or you’ve got a Top 5 pick, that you’re going to be able to draft a franchise quarterback. So, I’m not sure that the appropriate strategy is just to tank for a quarterback.”
Let’s check out some more notes from around the AFC…
- Speaking of “tanking,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini examines the Jets‘ quarterback scenarios if they fail to get one of the top picks in the NFL draft. The team could look to sign one of the big names via free agency (including Drew Brees and Kirk Cousins), or they could try to pull off a trade for a veteran quarterback (Cimini mentions Alex Smith as a potential target). The Jets could alternatively try to trade up in the draft and acquire their targeted quarterback, although that’d surely cost them multiple picks. Ultimately, Cimini believes if the Jets finish outside of the top-5 in the draft, it will end up costing them a lot (whether it be money or picks) to acquire their next quarterback.
- The Bengals will once again be without tight end Tyler Eifert and wide receiver John Ross tomorrow, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Ross, a 2017 first-round pick, has only appeared in one game this season, hauling in a single catch for 12 yards while also losing a fumble. Meanwhile, after collecting 18 touchdowns over the past two seasons, Eifert only has four catches for 46 yards in 2017.
- In case you missed it, former Giants and Jets tight end Will Tye visited the Chiefs on Friday.
Bills Promote CB Greg Mabin, Release WR Philly Brown
With E.J. Gaines questionable for this weekend’s game with a groin injury, the Bills have added a defensive back to their roster. ESPN’s Mike Rodak reports (via Twitter) that the team has promoted cornerback Greg Mabin from the practice squad. To make room on the roster, the Bills have released wide receiver Philly Brown.
Gaines, who has started each of his team’s first four games, suffered the injury during the second half of last weekend’s win over the Falcons. So far this season, the 25-year-old has compiled 19 tackles and two forced fumbles, and Pro Football Focus rates him 18th among 109 eligible cornerbacks. If Gaines does miss time, Mabin surely won’t be replacing him in the lineup. The undrafted rookie out of Iowa certainly had a productive collegiate career, but he’s bounced around the league over the past few months. In the event that Gaines misses the contest, it’s more likely the team turns to Leonard Johnson or Shareece Wright to take his starting spot.
Brown, a former standout at Ohio State, joined the Bills this offseason following three seasons with the Panthers. His best season came in 2015, when he hauled in 31 receptions for 447 yards and four touchdowns. He also has experience running the ball, as he’s collected 16 career carries. He’s yet to get into a regular season game in 2017. With Brown released and Jordan Matthews set to miss several weeks, the Bills are now only rostering four healthy wideouts in Zay Jones, Andre Holmes, Kaelin Clay, and Brandon Tate.
Extra Points: Titans, Lions, Colts, Giants
As had been expected, Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota will be a gametime decision in Week 5, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Mariota is day-to-day with a strained hamstring, and backup Matt Cassel will start against the Dolphins if Mariota is unable to play. Tennessee signed veteran signal-caller Brandon Weeden earlier this week, passing over other free agent options such as Colin Kaepernick.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Lions haven’t decided whether they’ll activate defensive Armonty Bryant — who is returning from a four-game suspension — before Sunday’s contest against the Panthers, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Detroit has a roster exemption for Bryant, and it must either add him to the 53-man roster or release by Monday. Given how thin they are along the defensive line (Kerry Hyder is out for the year, Khyri Thornton is still banned), Bryant seems likely to claim a roster spot by next week at the latest.
- Before signing with the Bears’ practice squad on Friday, defensive end Howard Jones worked out for the Colts, tweets veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer. Jones, 27, had drawn a good deal of interest since being non-tendered by the Buccaneers earlier this year, as he’d also met with the Titans and Jets. Still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November of 2016, Jones wasn’t a major contributor in eight games last season before going down, but he did manage five sacks in a rotational role for Tampa Bay in 2015.
- Speaking of workouts, the Giants auditioned a large group of free agents today, reports Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. New York focused on front five as it worked out the following players: offensive linemen Kareem Are, Willie Beavers, Ethan Cooper, Kaleb Johnson, Cameron Jefferson, Storm Norton, Jeremiah Poutasi, Cyril Richardson, Kristjan Sokoli, and Zach Voytek, plus defensive tackle Greg Milhouse.
- The Buccaneers will be without defensive end for two-to-four weeks Ryan Russell after he suffered a shoulder injury against the Patriots, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Russell, 25, has managed four tackles on 110 defensive snaps as a rotational end this season. If Tampa Bay is looking for depth, the club could potentially promote Channing Ward from its practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/6/17
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted to active roster: S Dezmen Southward
- Placed on injured reserve: DE Daeshon Hall
Jets Audition LB Curt Maggitt
The Jets worked out free agent linebacker Curt Maggitt on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Jets Audition Kendall Langford]
Gang Green is searching for linebacker depth after placing Dylan Donahue — a key special teamer — on injured reserve earlier this week. While the Jets plucked Obum Gwacham from the Cardinals’ practice squad, and added Freddie Bishop to their practice squad, the club is still hunting for more options behind starters Demario Davis and Darron Lee.
Maggitt, 24, signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2016. After making Indianapolis’ 53-man roster, Maggitt appeared in nine games and posted four tackles while playing on 124 defensive snaps and 129 special teams snaps. He struggled with injuries, however, and a knee injury ultimately landed him on injured reserve in December. Maggitt was subsequently cut in May.
Malik McDowell Could Return This Season
Rookie defensive tackle Malik McDowell — who suffered a severe concussion in a July September ATV accident — could potentially return to the Seahawks this season, head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, including Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
“He’s got some stuff coming up in the next couple of weeks, I think it’s within two weeks that he’ll get kind of reassessed and all of that just to see where we are,” Carroll said of McDowell. “There’s been some conversation from different camps kind of about where he is and how he’s doing, so the check-ups are really important, and we’ll just see. We’ve not ruled that thought out that he could come back.”
McDowell, whom the Seahawks selected out of Michigan State in the second round of the 2017 draft, had reportedly been in danger of missing his rookie campaign, but that may not be the case. He’s currently on the non-football injury list, meaning he can return to practice after Seattle’s bye in Week 6. The Seahawks would then have a three-week window during which they can decide to place him on the active roster or injured reserve.
Carroll didn’t rule out adding defensive line help this week given that Cliff Avril is sidelined with a neck injury, but as Condotta notes, the Seahawks have limited options given that Week 5 is quickly approaching. Quinton Jefferson, a former Seattle draft pick whom the club recently re-signed off the Rams’ practice squad, suffered a broken hand and is out for roughly a month, meaning the Hawks are short on depth. Branden Jackson, currently on Seattle’s practice squad, could be a candidate for promotion.
Poll: Best AFC Free Agent Addition?
A quarter of the NFL season is now in the books, which means we can accurately grade each and every free agent signing, right? Right?
Even if that’s not the case, it’s still possible to get a sense of how free agents are playing and whether they’re living up to their contacts through four games. With that in mind, we examined the best free agent signing on each AFC club before asking you to vote on the top overall AFC addition.
One note: we only looked at newcomers, so free agents that re-signed with their original clubs (Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams or Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, for example) aren’t included. On to the list!
Baltimore Ravens
- Austin Howard, T: No NFL team has been hit harder by injuries in 2017 than the Ravens, and the club’s offensive line hasn’t been immune to health questions. Alex Lewis and Nico Siragusa — both counted on as starters at various points — are done for the season, while All World guard Marshal Yanda is also lost for the year after fracturing his leg in Week 2. Enter Howard, whom Baltimore signed after he was released by the Raiders. The 30-year-old has stepped in at right tackle, playing every offensive snap for the Ravens. While Baltimore’s offensive line still isn’t great (14th in adjusted sack rate, 19th in adjusted line yards), it’s not the disaster that it could have been, and that’s partially thanks to Howard.
Buffalo Bills
- Jordan Poyer, S: Poyer had never been a full-time starter when the Bills inked him to a four-year, $13MM deal this offseason, but he’s been excellent through four games with Buffalo. Although he signed for roughly half of fellow free agent addition Micah Hyde‘s contract, Poyer actually tops Hyde in Pro Football Focus‘ safety rankings (No. 8 vs. No. 32). His performance is all the more impressive given that his 2016 campaign ended with a lacerated kidney. Poyer has racked up 15 tackles, two sacks, one interception, and five passes defensed in Sean McDermott‘s defense.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Andre Smith, T: Cincinnati originally forged a reunion with Smith with the intent of shifting him to guard, but he’s instead rotated at both left and right tackle behind starters Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher. A collegiate blindside protector, Smith hadn’t played left tackle in the NFL until now, but he’s been surprisingly efficient. While he’s only played about half the snaps of Ogbuehi and Fisher, that could change if those former early-round draft picks don’t step up their game going forward.
Cleveland Browns
- Jason McCourty, CB: Although the Browns dropped a combined $50MM guaranteed on Kevin Zeitler, Kenny Britt, and J.C. Tretter, it’s McCourty — whom Cleveland landed on two-year, $6MM deal — that’s performed the best through four contests. Though he had struggled in recent seasons, the now 30-year-old McCourty has returned to his 2010-13 level of play, as he’s graded as the No. 6 cornerback in the league, per PFF. There’s probably some regression coming, but McCourty has been worth every penny.
Denver Broncos
- Ronald Leary, G: In sharp contrast to fellow free agent offensive line signing Menelik Watson (who allowed an astounding six sacks through the first two weeks of the season), Leary has stabilized the right guard position in Denver. The Broncos rank third in the league in rushing (both in yards and yards per carry) and eighth in rushing DVOA, and that’s due in no small part to Leary’s presence. Leary is all the more important given that Denver is currently splitting left guard snaps between Allen Barbre and Max Garcia.
Houston Texans
- Marcus Gilchrist, S: The Texans didn’t bring in many free agents this offseason, and offensive tackle Breno Giacomini is the only other addition besides Gilchrist who’s seen significant playing time in 2017. Gilchrist, 28, has always been a solid defensive back, and he’s playing well in Houston’s secondary after a patellar tendon injury shortened his 2016 campaign. He’s only been on the field for 99 defensive snaps so far this season, but his playing time figures to increase as the year progresses.
Indianapolis Colts
- Jabaal Sheard, DE: Do you think the Patriots, who have struggled to generate any sort of pass rush, would like to have Sheard back? Although he’s managed only one sack, Sheard has created a ton of pressure, and ranks as the No. 17 edge rusher in the NFL, per PFF. But he’s been even better against the run (No. 3, according to PFF), and he’s been one of the few bright spots on a poor Indianapolis defense. Signed through 2019 at $8.5MM annually, Sheard has been a bargain for the Colts.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Calais Campbell, DE: As they have in past offseasons, the Jaguars ponied up for marquee free agents earlier this year, signing defensive backs A.J. Bouye and Barry Church in addition to Campbell. Through a quarter of the season, Campbell has lived up to his four-year, $60MM contract, as he’s already put up 5.5 sacks and 11.5 pressures, and has played like one of the league’s best pass-rushers. Jacksonville leads the league in adjusted sack rate, and Campbell’s presence has surely assisted second-year pro Yannick Ngakoue‘s in his four-sack campaign.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Bennie Logan, DT: The only undefeated team in the NFL, the Chiefs are 4-0 without the help of many external additions. Logan inked a one-year, $8MM pact with Kansas City that was almost fully guaranteed after rejecting a “sizable” extension offer from the Eagles during the 2016 campaign. Logan, 27, has played 155 defensive through four games and served as a run-stuffer, but it’s too early to say whether he made a mistake in turning down a new deal from Philadelphia.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Russell Okung, T: Okung’s four-year contract — which made him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman — looked like an overpay from the minute it was signed, but there’s no arguing that Okung has played well since leaving the division rival Broncos for the Chargers. Los Angeles’ offensive line still isn’t good, but that’s not the fault of Okung. The Chargers average 6.03 yards when running around the left end (per Football Outsiders), a figure that ranks fifth in the league.
Miami Dolphins
- N/A: Jay Cutler has been indifferent, timid, and inaccurate. Lawrence Timmons went AWOL and was suspended. Ted Larsen is sidelined through midseason at the earliest. Miami swung and missed in free agency.
New England Patriots
- Mike Gillislee, RB: The Patriots surprisingly signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a five-year, $65MM deal this spring, but the former Bill has looked lost in coverage through four games in New England. Defensive lineman Lawrence Guy has been serviceable but not a difference-maker, leaving Gillislee as the Pats’ best free agent addition thus far. To be clear, Gillislee hasn’t been all that effective (especially after leading the league in yards per carry a season ago), but he’s managed to fall into the end zone four times. Not bad for a two-year, $6.4MM contract.
New York Jets
- Morris Claiborne, CB: Similar to the Patriots and Jabaal Sheard, the Cowboys would probably like to have Claiborne back on their roster. While he’s not a shutdown cornerback, Claiborne offers competent play when healthy, and he’s played nearly every defensive snap for the Jets this year. Gang Green got Claiborne for only $5MM over one year, a discount largely due to Claiborne’s injury history. New York ranks 14th in passing defense DVOA.
Oakland Raiders
- Jared Cook, TE: The Raiders needed to add another offensive weapon to supplement wideouts Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, and there are signs that Cook can be that third option. And in a season in which Crabtree has already dealt with injury, and Cooper has seemingly forgotten how to catch, Cook could be play an even larger role going forward. He could be especially critical as a safety blanket for EJ Manuel, who is now filling in at quarterback for the injury Derek Carr.
Pittsburgh Steelers
- N/A: The only Steelers free agent addition that’s garnered any significant playing time is former Jaguars defensive tackle Tyson Alualu, and he’s been incredibly unproductive on 178 defensive snaps. Cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, who received $425K guaranteed on a two-year pact, has barely played.
Tennessee Titans
- Eric Decker, WR: None of the Titans’ free agent signings have been great successes so far, and safety Jonathan Cyprien might have been choice here had he been able to stay healthy. Logan Ryan, too, has been acceptable, but he hasn’t been able to lift Tennessee’s passing defense out of the doldrums. Decker has only posted 12 receptions for 104 yards in 2017, but he’s been a great run-blocking wideout, which is critical in the Titans’ run-first offense. Sure, Tennessee isn’t paying Decker $4MM to block, but he’s at least contributing.
So, what do you think? Which of the free agents has been the best signing through a quarter of the 2017 season? Vote below, and leave your thoughts in the comments section:
Who was the best free agent addition in the AFC?
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Calais Campbell, Jaguars 29% (332)
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Jordan Poyer, Bills 12% (138)
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Ronald Leary, Broncos 9% (100)
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Bennie Logan, Chiefs 8% (89)
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Mike Gillislee, Patriots 8% (89)
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Jabaal Sheard, Colts 7% (81)
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Jared Cook, Raiders 5% (57)
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Jason McCourty, Browns 5% (53)
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Morris Claiborne, Jets 5% (52)
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Austin Howard, Ravens 4% (40)
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Russell Okung, Chargers 3% (38)
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Eric Decker, Titans 3% (32)
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Andre Smith, Bengals 2% (23)
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Marcus Gilchrist, Texans 1% (13)
Total votes: 1,137
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/6/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Cut: S Orion Stewart
Chicago Bears
- Cut: DL Mike Purcell
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Kurtis Drummond
- Cut: RB Dare Ogunbowale
Chiefs Host TE Will Tye On Visit
Former Giants and Jets tight end Will Tye visited the Chiefs on Friday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Yates termed the meeting as some “Friday due diligence,” so it doesn’t sound like we should bank on a deal coming together right away. 
Tye’s time with the Giants came to an end in September when he was cut during roster cutdowns. The Meadowlands’ other team claimed him on waivers the next day, but he was put on the curb in early October.
Since averaged 45 receptions, 430 yards, and two touchdowns in his two Giants seasons. In his short Jets stint, he had just four catches for 38 yards in three games.
The Chiefs are already pretty well set at tight end with starter Travis Kelce and backups Demetrius Harris and Ross Travis. They also have Orson Charles on the practice squad in the event of an injury.