Bucs Could Potentially Stick With Nick Folk
As expected, the Buccaneers are looking into making a change at kicker. However, it’s not a sure thing that they will move on from Nick Folk, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). 
Initially, the Bucs were hoping to have a handful of kickers audition early next week, but the team is not enamored with the options presently available, Rapoport hears. That’s why, at the moment, only Mike Nugent and Andrew Franks are slated to for the tryout. If more names aren’t added to the list and neither Nugent nor Franks performs well, the Bucs could wind up sticking with Folk.
It has been a rough two games for Folk. On Sunday, he struggled against the Giants before nailing the game-winning field goal at the end. Then, on Thursday, he bricked all three FG tries, costing the Bucs a win over the defending champs.
Folk has missed five field goals already this season, but he missed only four during his entire 2016 campaign with the Jets (27 for 31). The Buccaneers, understandably, want to get this right given what they went through last season with Roberto Aguayo . As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter) points out, the team has converted on just 28 of 42 field goal attempts (66%) since the beginning of the 2016 season. That marks the lowest percentage of any team in the league over that span.
Latest On Roger Goodell’s Extension
Back in August, it was reported that the NFL was on the verge of agreeing to a lengthy extension with commissioner Roger Goodell. Six weeks later, Goodell’s deal – which would supposedly take him through the 2024 season – has not been completed. It turns out that part of the hangup in negotiations is the amount of severance Goodell would receive in the event that he is fired, Daniel Kaplan of Sports Business Journal hears (Twitter links). Still, it’s expected that the deal will get done. 
Goodell’s current contract runs through 2019, which makes for awkward timing since the league’s current collective bargaining agreement expires in early 2021. NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith has said that a strike or lockout is a “virtual certainty” after the 2020 season, so the league will want to have stability in the role of commissioner heading into that pivotal time. If Goodell serves through 2029, that will mark 19 years in power.
The “compensation committee” has taken the lead on negotiations with Goodell, a group that is made up of owners Arthur Blank (Falcons), Clark Hunt(Chiefs), Robert Kraft (Patriots), John Mara (Giants), Bob McNair (Texans), and Art Rooney II (Steelers). Interestingly, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has injected himself as the unofficial seventh member of the committee. Jones, of course, is at odds with Goodell over Ezekiel Elliott‘s pending six-game suspension, a battle which is now being hashed out in the courts.
Goodell’s has earned upwards of $200MM in salary since he was elected commissioner in 2006. The NFL did not disclose Goodell’s pay for 2016 after dropping its tax-exempt status, but we do know that he earned $44.2MM in 2012 and $32MM or more from 2013-2015. Recently, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com reported that Goodell earned $44MM in 2015.
Redskins’ Josh Norman To Miss Time
Redskins cornerback Josh Norman will miss four weeks with a rib fracture and related lung issues, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Norman first hinted at the news himself on Twitter.
[RELATED: Trent Williams Week-To-Week With Knee Injury]
Norman was forced out of Monday night’s game against the Chiefs, but there was initially hope that he would be able to play in Washington’s post-bye game against San Francisco on Oct. 15. That won’t be the case as Norman needs some additional time to heal.
The placement of the Redskins’ Week 5 bye will help them here, but they’re still facing three games without one their top cornerback. After facing the Niners in Week 6, the 2-2 Redskins will take on the rival Eagles in Philadelphia and then return home for a showdown with the Cowboys. Norman, it seems, is on track to return for the team’s Nov. 5 game in Seattle.
Norman has a 79.7 overall score from Pro Football Focus so far this season, down a tick from his best work in 2015 (87.7) and 2016 (81).
Bears Sign Howard Jones To P-Squad
The Bears have signed former Bucs defensive end Howard Jones to the practice squad, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). This marks Jones’ first employment since being non-tendered by the Buccaneers in the offseason. 
The 27-year-old auditioned for the Jets twice this year and recently worked out for the Titans. However, it was his September 25th audition with Chicago that landed him a job. It’s somewhat surprising to see that Jones had to settle for a practice squad deal, but then again he is returning from a torn ACL suffered last November.
Jones wasn’t a major contributor for the Bucs in his eight games last season, but he did manage five sacks in a rotational role for Tampa Bay in 2015.
The Bears run a 3-4 scheme, so Jones is likely being viewed by them as an outside linebacker. If there’s an injury to one of Chicago’s OLBs, it might not be long before the 27-year-old gets a shot on the 53-man roster.
Buccaneers To Audition Kickers
Well, you knew this was coming. After Nick Folk‘s dreadful performance on Thursday night, the Buccaneers will work out kickers, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
The audition will include Andrew Franks, Mike Nugent, and potentially two or three other kickers, Rapoport tweets. The kicker tryout is likely to take place next week rather than this weekend as the list is finalized, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times adds (on Twitter).
Folk went 0-for-3 on field goals against the Patriots, representing more than the difference between a Bucs win and loss. The Pats won by a score of 19-14 when Jameis Winston‘s end-of-the-game drive fell short.
Folk took full responsibility for Tampa Bay’s loss after the game, but his mea culpa will do little to help preserve his job. There’s no word on this yet, but Folk may not even get the opportunity to kick alongside the other hopefuls during the audition.
“[It has been a [bad week],’’ Folk said on Thursday (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “It started last Sunday and today. Bad week. “I left points out there. We should’ve won 20-19. This one is on me.’’
Two of Folk’s misses came in the fourth quarter, one from 49 yards out and one 31-yarder. He also missed a long 56-yard try at the end of the first half. This came on the heels of Sunday’s performance against the Giants in which he missed an extra point and two field goals before kicking the game-winner on the final play.
Colts Sign Henry Krieger-Coble
The Colts have signed tight end Henry Krieger-Coble. To make room, Indy waived center Adam Redmond. 
Krieger-Coble missed the Colts’ initial cutdown to a 53-man roster and signed with the team’s practice squad the next day. He was let go on Sept. 26 and went on to audition for the Ravens and Browns, but he went unsigned and remained available for the Colts to re-sign him today. Coble’s on-field experience is limited with just two games and one catch on his resume thanks to his time with the Broncos last year.
The Krieger-Coble signing could be an indication that Jack Doyle‘s status is up in the air following his concussion. On the flip side, he did practice on Thursday, so it’s possible that he could suit up for Week 5 against the 49ers. Brandon Williams and Darrell Daniels are also on the roster if Doyle can’t go. Erik Swoope, who was expected to see some playing time this year, is on IR following arthroscopic knee surgery and is hoping to return before the season is through.
Doyle had five catches for 27 yards before being forced out of last week’s game against the Seahawks. In the previous week, he had just two grabs against the Browns who have been generous with yards for other opposing tight ends. The Colts are hoping to have Doyle back to his healthy and productive ways against SF as he continues to seek his first touchdown of the 2017 season.
East Rumors: Williams, Patriots, JPP, Jets
Trent Williams has encountered a patella issue, one that caused him to briefly exit Monday night’s Redskins-Chiefs game. The Pro Bowl left tackle will not need surgery to correct the problem, but Williams is “week-to-week,” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Washington has not ruled Williams out for its Week 6 game, per Rapoport. The eighth-year tackle underwent an MRI on Wednesday, and the exam ruled out a long-term injury. A near-future absence would obviously cause issues for the team. Swing tackle Ty Nsekhe is out after undergoing core muscle surgery, so the drop-off if Williams can’t go against the 49ers could be significant.
Here’s the latest from the Eastern divisions, shifting to New England.
- Rob Gronkowski extended his streak of seasons without 16-game participation to six by missing Thursday night’s Patriots-Buccaneers tilt with a thigh injury, but the Pats expect their all-world tight end back by Week 6, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The same goes for Rex Burkhead, per Schefter. Burkhead hasn’t played since Week 2, but the team is expecting its newly acquired dual-threat back to be available against the Jets next weekend.
- Missing Thursday’s game will deprive Gronkowski of collecting the $10.75MM salary the Patriots set as his ceiling on the now-incentive-laden 2017 arrangement. By failing to play in 90 percent of the Pats’ snaps this season, Gronk is in danger of falling to the $8.75MM tier of his contract, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald notes (on Twitter). The 28-year-old tight end could still rise back to that top tier, but he’d have to earn first-team All-Pro honors. That’s obviously still in play for Gronkowski, a three-time All-Pro, but he will have to make it through most of the Pats’ remaining regular-season games to be strongly considered for such acclaim. He will need to play on 80 percent of New England’s snaps this season or total 1,000 receiving yards or 12 touchdowns to earn $8.75MM. The salary drops to $6.75MM if Gronkowski can’t meet one of those benchmarks.
- A sprained shoulder has put Jason Pierre-Paul‘s Week 5 availability in question, but the Giants defensive end said this issue is not new for him. He intends to play against the Chargers, Howie Kussoy of the New York Post reports. JPP said he’s been dealing with shoulder problem for “a while.” Both Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon missed Thursday’s practice, and with Vernon leaving early with an ankle injury the past two weeks, Big Blue’s other starting defensive end is in danger of missing his first NFL game in a six-season career.
- The Jets could be down nickel cornerback Juston Burris on Sunday after the No. 3 corner hurt his foot in practice, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes. With fellow reserve corner Darryl Roberts unlikely to play in Cleveland, the Jets could be scrambling here if Burris can’t go. New York, though, still has veteran Marcus Williams in the event the younger talents can’t play behind Morris Claiborne or Buster Skrine. A former steady contributor on whom the Jets placed a second-round RFA tender, Williams has not played a defensive snap this season. Both Burris and Roberts have played 90.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
- The Jets waived tight end Neal Sterling after nearly a month of employment. New York signed the former Jaguars 2015 seventh-round pick in September after the Jags waived him after the preseason. Sterling played in three Gang Green games this season. The Jets may be clearing a roster spot for wide receiver Jalin Marshall, who has yet to be activated after his four-game PED suspension ended.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/17
Here are today’s practice squad transactions.
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Eric Lee
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OLB Josh Carraway
- Cut: OLB Tony Washington
West Notes: Seahawks, Reddick, Chiefs
Despite failing to live up to his first-round status with the Eagles, Marcus Smith said he generated considerable interest during his brief stay in free agency. Prior to signing with the Seahawks in late July, Smith said he had offers from the Packers, Chiefs and Colts, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. However, this Seahawks regime being interested in the then-Louisville product during the 2014 draft — with Condotta noting the team traded out of the first round after he went off the board to Philly at pick No. 26 — and former college assistant Clint Hurtt now Seattle’s defensive line coach made it a better fit than those other teams would have, Smith said.
Condotta adds Smith will now serve as the Seahawks’ first end off the bench now that Frank Clark will take the injured Cliff Avril‘s place in the starting lineup. Smith finished with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in his new team’s Sunday-night win over the Colts.
Here’s more out of the Pacific Northwest and other West locales in advance of Week 5.
- Despite being hospitalized for what was viewed at the time as a scary injury, Rees Odhiambo may return to action without missing a game. Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable expects his starting left tackle to play on Sunday against the Rams, Condotta tweets. Odhiambo was hospitalized for what was called a chest contusion (or bruised heart) Sunday night. He’s the second Seattle left tackle starter to suffer a serious injury, joining George Fant (ACL tear) in that regard. But this serious-sounding setback may not force the Seahawks to make another change on their starting O-line.
- One of the Cardinals‘ fallout solutions for replacing Markus Golden, lost for the season with a torn ACL, will be to experiment with first-round pick Haason Reddick at outside linebacker. Defensive coordinator James Bettcher said (via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com) there are packages set to be unveiled Sunday featuring Reddick as an outside linebacker. Bettcher wouldn’t confirm if Reddick is being moved outside full-time, but Weinfuss notes these packages with the rookie on the edge will be part of the solution to replacing Golden. Reddick started Arizona’s first three games at inside linebacker but went to the bench after Deone Bucannon reclaimed his job in Week 4. Bucannon and veteran Karlos Dansby are the Cards’ starting inside ‘backers, and with the team not considering a Dwight Freeney reunion, it’s possible they’re looking at this outside-the-box solution seriously.
- The Chiefs have added interesting wrinkles to their unorthodox offense this season, and while this misidirection-based scheme resulted in some zany college-style plays and has helped the team to 4-0, it’s also probably led Alex Smith being on the injury report with an ankle issue. While Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes the fifth-year Chiefs starting quarterback is expected to start Sunday against the Texans, past experience — i.e. playing well prior to a 2012 injury costing him his job once Colin Kaepernick emerged — should accelerate Smith’s drive to stay on the field. That said, the polish gap between Smith and Mahomes is likely considerable at this point. A permanent switch in 2017 — one Kansas City’s brass ruled out before the season — would be considerably different than Tom Savage losing his job to Deshaun Watson, especially considering how well Smith is playing thus far.
- The Seahawks worked out guards Willie Beavers and Cole Toner, along with tackle D.J. Tialavea, Howard Balzer of SportsOnEarth tweets. The Bengals cut Toner from their practice squad late last month. Beavers has been on the workout circuit since the Patriots cut him from theirs in early September.
- Holding an apparent defensive backs-only audition, the Raiders worked out several secondary cogs this week. Cornerback Brian Dixon, Demetrius McCray and Deji Olatoye participated. As did ex-Giants safety Mykkele Thompson, per Balzer (on Twitter). Dixon is the biggest name of this contingent, having spent three seasons with the Saints.
- Linebacker Josh Keyes visited both the Chargers and Colts this week, Balzer tweets. These are the first known workouts for Keyes since the Falcons cut him prior to the season.