Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/17
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DT Deandre Coleman
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Tim Lelito
- Placed on IR: OG Joe Dahl
Houston Texans
- Released: WR Andy Jones
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted to active roster: WR Krishawn Hogan
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: LB Justin March-Lillard
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR: WR B.J. Johnson
Jets Work Out RB Knile Davis
Travaris Cadet wasn’t the only running back to work out for the Jets today. According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter), the team also auditioned Knile Davis.
The former Chiefs third-round pick has bounced around the league a bit since he was traded to the Packers last season. He ultimately appeared in two games for Green Bay (compiling only nine total yards) before being waived. He was subsequently claimed and waived by the Jets, and he landed back with the Chiefs later in the season, making brief appearances in the run and return game. He joined the Steelers this past offseason, but he was cut by the organization in early September.
Prior to his tumultuous 2016 campaign, Davis was plenty productive. 2014 was arguably his best NFL season, as the 25-year-old finished with 463 rushing yards and 147 receiving yards for seven total touchdowns. Since then, the running back has only collected 46 carries and seven receptions. Davis has also proven to be a weapon in the return game, as he’s averaged 26.8 yards and scored two touchdowns on 73 career kick returns.
Jets running backs have collected 267 yards through the first three weeks of the season, placing them in the bottom-10 of the NFL. However, it’s unlikely that Davis or Cadet would be able to displace the team’s current duo of Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. Besides the two veterans, the Jets are also rostering sixth-rounder Elijah McGuire.
Eagles Sign RB Kenjon Barner
Following Darren Sproles‘ season-ending injury, we heard that the Eagles were in the market for a running back. Well, it sounds like the team has targeted a familiar face. According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter), the Eagles are expected to sign running back Kenjon Barner. ESPN’s Field Yates reported (via Twitter) earlier today that Barner was auditioning for the team. It’s a one-year contract for Barner, according to Philly.com’s Jeff McLane (via Twitter).
Barner, a 2013 sixth-round pick by the Panthers, spent two seasons in Philly, appearing in 23 total games between 2015 and 2016. The running back was productive despite limited snaps, compiling 253 rushing yards on only 55 carries (4.6 yards per attempt) during his Eagles tenure. Following a season-ending injury last season, Barner signed a one-year deal with the Chargers this past offseason, but he was ultimately cut by the team in early September.
During his brief career, Barner had also proved to be useful in the passing game, which could be especially important to the Eagles during Sproles’ absence. Including his time in Carolina, the 27-year-old has hauled in 16 career receptions for 71 yards. The Oregon product also has experience on special teams, having returned 12 kicks (with a 25.3-yard average) and three punts.
After Sproles collected 15 carries and seven receptions through two-plus games, Wendell Smallwood and LeGarrette Blount picked up the slack for their injured teammate during Sunday’s win over the Giants. The duo combined for 24 carries, with Smallwood hauling in one of his two targets. Even if the Eagles are content with the duo, it was assumed that they’d be in the market for some reinforcement. Besides Blount, Smallwood, and (presumably) Barner, undrafted rookie Corey Clement is the only other healthy running back on the roster.
Dolphins Reinstate LB Lawrence Timmons
Dolphins linebacker Lawrence Timmons has been reinstated by the team, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) has learned. With his suspension lifted, he will play on Sunday versus the Saints. 
Timmons went AWOL prior to Miami’s Week 2 contest and was suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. At the time of the ban, the Dolphins gave little indication as to whether Timmons would ever be able to rejoin the squad. We later learned that Timmons left the team in L.A. to visit the mother of his child in Pennsylvania. He did not notify the team of his plans beforehand.
Timmons reportedly visited the Steelers (his former team) during Miami’s Week 1 bye and watched the club practice. We don’t know exactly what is going on with the veteran, but it sounds like homesickness is at least part of it.
The Dolphins managed to beat the Chargers without Timmons in Week 2, but they lost to the Jets on Sunday. Miami will look to get back on the right track this weekend against the Saints in London, England.
Miami signed Timmons to a two-year, $12MM deal in the offseason. In 2016, he racked up 114 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions for the Steelers. When he went AWOL in Week 2, he missed his first game since 2009.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Anthony Denham, LB Earl Okine
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Reggie Davis
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Jamaal Jones
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Tre McBride, CB Doran Grant
- Cut: OL D.J. Tialavea
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Bug Howard
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Tre’von Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Marcus Lucas, G Ian Silberman
- Cut: OLB Johnathan Calvin, TE Henry Krieger-Coble, T Andrew Wylie
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Arthur Maulet
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Robert Nelson
- Cut: WR Kalif Raymond
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Branden Jackson
- Cut: DB Tyvis Powell, TE Gabe Holmes
Trent Richardson Signs With CFL Team
The CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed running back Trent Richardson, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The former first-round pick has not played in an NFL game since 2014. 
Last summer, Richardson vowed to turn over a new leaf and embark on an unprecedented comeback path that would end with his induction in the Hall of Fame. Those plans hit a snag when Richardson was released by the Ravens in August and arrested in February of this year.
The CFL’s league office reportedly blocked teams from pursuing Greg Hardy due to his history of domestic violence. They have not gotten in the way of the Roughriders signing Richardson, though the allegations against him were also ugly. Richardson’s victim was found with scratches and bruises on her face when Alabama cops responded to a 911 call. Apparently, the pair started arguing in an Alabama Walmart before things turned physical in their hotel room.
Richardson, the former No. 3 pick in the 2012 draft, has never done much at the NFL level. He appeared in 46 games for the Browns and Colts and averaged just 3.3 yards per carry.
Packers Place OT Kyle Murphy On IR
The Packers announced that they have placed tackle Kyle Murphy on injured reserve. It’s another bad break for the Packers’ banged up offensive line. 
The Packers were forced to put Murphy in the starting lineup two weeks ago as longtime starters starters David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga were sidelined with injury. That game marked Murphy’s first taste of real NFL action. Bulaga returned to the field on Sunday for the Packers’ OT win over the Bengals, but he re-aggravated his ankle injury during the game. Bakhtiari, meanwhile, did not dress.
On Monday, the Packers signed Ulrick John off of the Cardinals’ practice squad to take Murphy’s place on the roster. However, the Packers may need to make a more significant move to bolster their weakened O-Line.
Next up for the 2-1 Packers is a Thursday night contest against the Bears.
Jets Work Out RB Travaris Cadet
The Jets are working out running back Travaris Cadet on Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Cadet’s familiarity with offensive coordinator John Morton could help foster a deal. 
The Jets (and rival Bills) pursued Cadet this offseason, but the Saints ultimately won out. Later, the numbers crunch led the Saints to shop Cadet over the summer and release him in early September.
The Appalachian State product played the first three seasons of his career in New Orleans, where he contributed mostly in the passing and return game. In 2014, he enjoyed one of his best campaigns, finishing out with 38 receptions for 296 yards. The running back then had brief stints with the Patriots and 49ers before returning to the Saints in late 2015. In 2016, Cadet appeared in 15 games (one start), hauling in 40 catches for 281 yards and four touchdowns.
The Redskins worked out Cadet earlier this month but did not sign him.
Chiefs Place K Cairo Santos On IR
The Chiefs announced that they have placed kicker Cairo Santos on IR. To take his place, the team has signed kicker Harrison Butker off of the Panthers’ practice squad. 
The reason for Santos’ placement on IR is not immediately clear. He struggled with a groin pull in the summer, so it’s possible that he reaggravated that injury.
“The ball gets heavier (when it rains) and I just felt sore,” Santos said in early September (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star). “The next time I kicked, it just got worse and worse until I felt a pop on one of practice kicks. That’s when I knew something was wrong with it.”
Santos, 26 in November, was perfect through three games. He nailed all three of his field goal tries and made 100% of his extra point attempts.
Earlier this year, the Panthers were receiving calls of trade interest in kicker Graham Gano, leading to speculation that they could move him for a draft pick and stick with Butker. That wasn’t the case as the Panthers cut Butker on Sept. 13, though they did re-sign him to the taxi squad. He’ll now get his opportunity to shine in KC.
NFL Waiver Priority Now Based On 2017 Record
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Browns enjoyed top priority thanks to their 1-15 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week (Twitter links via Field Yates of ESPN.com):
T-1. Bengals
T-1. Browns
T-1. 49ers
4. Giants
5. Chargers
6. Colts
T-7. Texans
T-7. Seahawks
9. Cardinals
10. Jets
11. Saints
12. Bears
13. Dolphins
14. Buccaneers
15. Ravens
T-16. Panthers
T-16. Cowboys
T-16. Rams
T-16. Steelers
T-20. Broncos
T-20. Lions
T-20. Packers
23. Vikings
T-24. Bills
T-24. Jaguars
T-24. Patriots
T-24. Raiders
T-24. Eagles
T-24. Titans
30. Redskins
31. Chiefs
32. Falcons