Vikings Sign RB Stevan Ridley
The Vikings have signed running back Stevan Ridley. Ridley joins the team as rookie Dalvin Cook formally goes on injured reserve. 
Ridley has bounced around the league in recent years, but he is best known for his time with the Patriots. In 2012, he ran for 1,263 yards off of 290 carries (4.4 yards per carry average) with 12 touchdowns. More recently, he had stints with the Jets, Lions, Colts, and Falcons, but was unable to replicate that success. This year, he spent training camp with the Broncos before being released in the final wave of roster cuts.
Ridley figures to serve as Minnesota’s No. 3 running back behind Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon. Ridley auditioned for the job on Wednesday alongside Bobby Rainey, Troymaine Pope, and Josh Rounds and came out the winner.
Extra Points: Colts, Browns, Jets, Vikings
Although quarterback Andrew Luck will return to practice this week, he won’t be available for the Colts on Sunday when they play the 49ers, head coach Chuck Pagano told reporters, including Mike Chappell of FOX 59 (all Twitter links). Indianapolis has an extremely detailed plan in place for Luck: while he practiced today, he’ll take Thursday off before returning to the field on Friday. Luck, who is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, was adamant that he’ll play for the currently 1-3 Colts during the 2017 season
Here’s more from around the league:
- While the Browns clearly aren’t pleased with their winless start to the season, the club’s rebuild “isn’t over,” de facto general manager Sashi Brown told reporters, including Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Cleveland has posted a 1-19 record under its current front office and head coach Hue Jackson, but Brown delivered a message of unity (in sharp contrast to reports of discord within the franchise). The Browns will look for their first victory when they face the Jets in Week 5, but Brown stressed that “the growth and development of the roster doesn’t happen overnight.”
- The Jets haven’t yet decided whether to activate wide receiver Jalin Marshall — fresh off a four-game PED suspension — before Sunday’s contest, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). New York received a roster exemption for Marshall which expires on Monday, reports Darryl Slater of NJ.com, so the club isn’t forced to make a move until that time. If they do activate Marshall, who is primarily a returner, the Jets will have to create roster space, as they filled their 53-man squad earlier today.
- Although rookie running back Dalvin Cook is done for the year after tearing his ACL, a reunion with veteran Adrian Peterson doesn’t make sense for the Vikings, writes Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Minnesota only briefly discussed the possibility of a pay reduction before parting ways with Peterson, so the club likely wanted to forge a new start. Additionally, the Vikings are unlikely to part with a draft pick in order to acquire Peterson from the Saints, especially given that he no longer fits their offense, opines Goessling.
- Speaking of potential trades, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com examines several candidates who could be dealt before this year’s NFL trade deadline, noting that new general managers such as Brandon Beane and Chris Ballard seem more open to swaps.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/4/17
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Placed on injured reserve: RB Tyler Ervin
New York Giants
- Promoted to active roster: C Jon Halapio
- Waived: LB Deontae Skinner
Saints To Re-Sign DT John Hughes
The Saints have reached agreement with free agent defensive tackle John Hughes, according to Joel Erickson of the Advocate.
[RELATED: Saints Sign OL John Greco]
Hughes will now enter his second stint with New Orleans this year, as he originally signed with the club in early August. The 29-year-old lasted fewer than three weeks on the Saints’ roster, however, and was released during final cutdowns. Hughes worked out for the Jaguars last month but didn’t land a contract, and auditioned for New Orleans again on Tuesday before inking a new deal.
A third-round pick in the 2012 draft, Hughes has never been a full-time starter during his five-year NFL career, but does offer 58 games worth of experience. The Browns released Hughes last September despite having just signed him to an extension 18 months earlier, and he eventually caught on with the Buccaneers to close out the season. In five games, Hughes managed five tackles while playing on 5.8% of Tampa Bay’s defensive snaps.
Hughes becomes the fourth defensive tackle on the Saints’ roster behind Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison, and David Onyemata, each of whom has played at least 125 defensive snaps in 2017.
Texans Claim LB Ben Heeney Off Waivers
The Texans have claimed linebacker Ben Heeney off waivers from the Saints, according to veteran NFL reporter Adam Caplan (Twitter link). To create roster space, Houston has waived safety Kurtis Drummond.
Heeney, a fifth-round pick in 2015, appeared in 15 games for the Raiders during his rookie campaign but was placed on injured reserve early on in 2016. Waived by Oakland during final cutdowns earlier this year, Heeney latched on with the Saints’ practice squad. While he was promoted to New Orleans’ active roster for Week 4, Heeney wasn’t active for that contest against the Dolphins.
Houston is currently well-stocked at inside linebacker even with veteran Brian Cushing serving a 10-game PED suspension, as the club boasts starters Zach Cunningham and Benardrick McKinney plus backups Brian Peters and Dylan Cole. As such, Heeney won’t be asked to play many (if any) defensive snaps for the Texans, and will likely serve on special teams duty. Through four games, Houston ranks 18th in special teams DVOA, a marked improvement over their No. 31 finish in 2016.
Drummond, meanwhile joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State in 2015. Through two-plus years in the league, Drummond has appeared in nine games while spending most of his time on special teams. His 2016 season was lost to injury issues, as he spent the entire campaign on IR.
Buccaneers Waive DE Jacquies Smith
The Buccaneers have waived defensive end Jacquies Smith, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Smith, 27, had established himself as a serviceable edge rusher (13.5 sacks from 2014-15) before a torn ACL ended his 2016 campaign after only one game. After working his way back to full health, Smith had played in his first contest of the year during Week 4, but saw action on only seven snaps, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets.
Because he’s not a vested veteran, Smith will now go through the NFL’s waiver system, allowing each club a chance to grab a young pass rusher. It shouldn’t be a surprise if Smith is claimed in the coming days, especially since he drew interest as a restricted free agent earlier this year. The only questions teams may have, of course, are in regards to Smith’s health.
By cutting ties with Smith, Tampa Bay could now use that empty roster spot to address other areas of need, and Auman speculates (Twitter link) the Buccaneers could potentially add reinforcements in the secondary.
Vikings Work Out RB Stevan Ridley
In need of help at the running back position, the Vikings worked out free agents Stevan Ridley, Bobby Rainey, Troymaine Pope, and Josh Rounds, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
At present, the Vikings have only two running backs on their roster after placing rookie Dalvin Cook — who suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 — on injured reserve. Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon will presumably split time in Minnesota’s backfield, while fullback C.J. Ham is also capable of playing tailback. While the Vikings could hypothetically promote Bronson Hill from their practice squad, one of the above free agents could give the club another option.
Ridley, of course, is most well-known for his four-year run with the Patriots, especially his 2012 campaign in which he totaled more than 1,200 yards on the ground and 12 rushing touchdowns. Injuries have sapped much of the now 28-year-old’s value since then, however, and Ridley has become something of a journeyman. He’s been employed by the Jets, Lions, Colts, Falcons, and — most recently — Broncos since 2015.
Rainey doesn’t quite rival Ridley’s history in terms of changing teams, but he’s been with five teams since entering the league in 2012. Typically used a passing back, Rainey spent the 2016 season with the Giants and was utilized heavily on special teams. He signed with the Ravens earlier this year, but couldn’t make it through final roster cutdowns.
Pope, 23, went undrafted out of Jacksonville State in 2016 and has since spent his NFL career with the Jets and Seahawks. In four career games, Pope has managed 12 carries for 44 yards and one reception for five yards. This year, Pope was part of the Colts’ offseason roster and also saw a few days of action on the club’s practice squad. The Vikings aren’t the only team interested in Pope, as he also has a workout scheduled with the Chargers, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Saints Place LB Alex Anzalone On IR
The Saints have placed linebacker Alex Anzalone on injured reserve, according to the NFL’s transactions wire. It’s not immediately clear whether he is a candidate to return later this year. 
Anzalone was one of two third-round picks for the Saints in this year’s draft. Thanks in part to shoulder injuries, he didn’t see significant playing time at Florida until last season, when he totaled 53 tackles and three sacks. Shoulder issues caught up to Anzalone again when he exited the opening drive of Sunday’s game against Miami.
Anzalone wound up as the Saints’ Week 1 starter at weakside linebacker and the results through four games (or, three-games-and-change) were promising. The rookie has 16 tackles, one sack, and one pass deflection to his credit while ranking as Pro Football Focus’ No. 35 linebacker.
Anzalone’s injury may help to explain the Saints’ workout with Gerald Hodges on Tuesday. Internal options also exist on the New Orleans roster, as the club can turn to Manti Te’o, Nathan Stupar, or the recently-signed Gabe Martin to fill in for the time being.
The linebacker is the second Saints starter to go down this week. On Tuesday, tackle Zach Strief was placed on IR with an MCL sprain.
Bears Audition Two Kickers
The Bears could be considering a change at kicker. Today, the team brought in Roberto Aguayo and Josh Lambo for a tryout, a league source tells Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune (on Twitter). 
Connor Barth has been the Bears’ kicker since taking over for Robbie Gould in 2016. Last year, the veteran converted on just 78.3% of his field goals. This year, the 31-year-old has missed two of his four attempts, though one of those was a 57-yard try against Green Bay last week. The other miss was a 47-yard attempt against the Steelers in Week 3. To his credit, he is a perfect 7-of-7 on extra points in 2017 and he missed only one XP last year.
If signed, this will mark Aguayo’s second stint with Chicago in 2017. The former second round pick was claimed by Chicago after he was waived by the Bucs, but he was unable to prove himself in camp and was dropped three weeks later. The Bucs took on Aguayo’s $428K salary guarantee when they picked him up on the waiver wire and they had nothing to show for it.
Lambo lost the Chargers’ kicking competition to undrafted rookie Younghoe Koo this summer. After he was cut, he worked out for the Raiders, Eagles, and Jaguars, but was unable to find a home with any of those teams.
Cowboys To Place Charles Tapper On IR
Cowboys defensive end Charles Tapper is set to undergo surgery on his right foot, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Tapper will be placed on injured reserve as he heals from what sounds like a season-ending procedure. 
Tapper is believed to have fractured of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. It’s an unfortunate break for the youngster, particularly since he missed his entire would-be rookie season with a back issue. His 2017 campaign has been put on hold, and likely ended, after two games in which he recorded three tackles and one sack.
Fortunately for the Cowboys, David Irving is returning from suspension just as Tapper exits. The defensive end served a four-game ban for violating the league’s PED policy over the summer. Last year, he graded out as the league’s No. 29 interior defender, per the metrics at Pro Football Focus.
Tapper, a 2016 fourth-round pick, appeared in 39 games with Oklahoma in three seasons and piled up 13.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss.