Extra Points: Colts, Pack, Steelers, Falcons
Following a report that quarterback Andrew Luck could return to practice this week, Colts head coach Chuck Pagano gave reporters, including Mike Wells of ESPN.com, a clouded answer regarding his signal-caller’s health. “Andrew is progressing well, getting stronger and there might be chance,” Pagano said. “He might be able to start some practice this week, but I’m not guaranteeing nothing, so don’t write anything. There’s a possibility. When our doctors and our trainers tell me that he’s at a point where he can get back out there to begin to practice then I’ll be able to tell you for sure.” Luck is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, but has no restrictions on his timetable given that Indianapolis did not place him on the physically unable to perform list to begin the season.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Packers re-signed defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois to the same one-year deal that he originally agreed to in March, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Jean-Francois was released by Green Bay just after the start of the season, only to re-sign eight days later. The veteran defender may not have missed a game check, which would mean he’s not eligible to receive termination pay (and double-dip on his contract from the Packers). Jean-Francois will earn $2MM for the 2017 campaign.
- Speaking of contractual intricacies, tight end Ladarius Green picked up $1.15MM in injury protection from the Steelers, tweets salary cap guru Ian Whetstone, who adds Pittsburgh could also be on the hook for another $550K to Green in 2018. Green lasted only one season with the Steelers after inking a four-year, $20MM last spring, as concussions and a surgically-repaired ankle ultimately led to his release. He hasn’t garnered any known interest since hitting the free agent market.
- The Falcons worked out linebackers Kennan Gilchrist, Kenneth Olugbode, and Kache Palacio, plus RB Josh Rounds, on Monday, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. None of that foursome has any NFL experience, so Atlanta is likely looking at options to develop on its practice squad, as McClure notes.
East Notes: Eagles, Dolphins, Timmons, Pats
Now that Darren Sproles is out for the rest of the season with a broken arm/torn ACL, the Eagles will add another running back in the coming days, head coach Doug Pederson told reporters, including Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com (Twitter link). Byron Marshall, who’s spent most of the past year-plus on Philadelphia’s practice squad, is presumably one option to join an Eagles backfield that currently consists of LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood, and Corey Clement. If Philadelphia wants to scour the free agent market, the club will find options such as Shaun Draughn, C.J. Spiller, Travaris Cadet, and former Eagle Kenjon Barner, all of whom could help replace the pass-catching prowess of Sproles.
Here’s more from the NFL’s two East divisions:
- Lawrence Timmons is now in limbo after going AWOL and being suspended by the Dolphins, but his agent Drew Rosenhaus is “cautiously optimistic” the veteran linebacker will be able to return to Miami, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Dolphins head coach Adam Gase seemingly opened the window for Timmons last week, indicating that his situation could be forgiven. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported Sunday that Timmons visited his former club — the Steelers — during Miami’s Week 1 bye and expressed regret for signing with the Dolphins this spring.
- The Patriots worked out offensive linemen Gino Gradkowski, Nate Theaker, and Earl Watford, plus defensive back Harold Jones-Quartey, on Monday, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. The auditions of Gradkowski and Watford are particularly notable, as both offer plenty of experience and would given New England depth on the offensive line interior. The Patriots only listed tackle Marcus Cannon on last week’s injury report, however, so instead of searching for injury replacements, New England was likely just updating its emergency list of free agents.
- In case you missed it, the Redskins worked out free agent safety Shamarko Thomas today. Thomas, who has spent his entire career with the Steelers, has 48 games of experience under his belt.
Saints, Bengals Get Roster Exemptions For Willie Snead, Vontaze Burfict
The Saints and Bengals have been given roster exemptions for wide receiver Willie Snead and linebacker Vontaze Burfict, respectively, as they return from suspension, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Both exemptions expire on Thursday, so New Orleans and Cincinnati will each need to clear a roster spot by that time.
Snead, 24, was suspended three games following an offseason DUI arrest. A former undrafted free agent, Snead has been a revelation for the Saints since entering the league out of Ball State in 2015. In two seasons in New Orleans, Snead has averaged 70 receptions for 940 yards and four touchdowns. An exclusive rights free agent in 2017, Snead could potentially be in line for a new contract.
New Orleans is 1-2 after a win against the division rival Panthers on Sunday, but the club’s problems haven’t come on offense. Instead, it’s the Saints’ defense (31st in DVOA heading into Week 3) that’s been the team’s Achilles heel. However, Snead will give New Orleans another dimension on offense as the team seeks to replace the production void left by Brandin Cooks, who was traded to the Patriots in the spring.
Burfict, meanwhile, was originally handed a five-game ban for an illegal preseason hit on Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman, but that suspension was originally reduced to just three contests. In the meantime, the Bengals extended Burfict through the 2020 campaign on a three-year, $33.234MM deal. However, the specifics of that contract aren’t nearly as impressive as initial reports suggested.
Like Snead with the Saints, Burfict’s return won’t help the Bengals’ true woes, which have mostly occurred on the offensive side of the ball. But Burfict — whom Pro Football Focus graded as the NFL’s No. 6 linebacker a season ago — will give Cincinnati another playmaker on defense, and allow the club to push Vincent Rey back into a reserve role.
Teddy Bridgewater Likely To Return Week 7
Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is eligible to return from the physically unable to perform list beginning in Week 7, and a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that Bridgewater will be “ready to go” at that time.
Bridgewater, who suffered a gruesome knee injury last August and missed the entirety of the 2016 season, would give Minnesota another option at quarterback, a position that’s already been affected by health questions this year. Sam Bradford, whom the Vikings acquired in the wake of Bradford’s injury, posted one of the best performances of his career in Week 1, but has since missed two games while dealing with his own knee issue.
Case Keenum has filled in for Bradford against the Steelers and Buccaneers, and played extremely well in Week 3 against Tampa Bay, completing 75% of his passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns. While Bridgewater’s own health isn’t a given going forward, his presence would give the Vikings three competent players under center if Bradford can return.
If Bridgewater can return, any questions about his contract status would be avoided. If he’d been forced to miss the 2017 campaign, the final year of his rookie deal may have tolled, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent next spring. If he can make it back to the field, however, Bridgewater should hit the open market in 2018 after the Vikings declined his fifth-year option.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/25/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Garrett Sickels
Detroit Lions
- Signed: T Dan Skipper
- Released: T Storm Norton
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Jomal Wiltz
- Released: DB Robert Nelson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Zach Pascal
Bears DB Quintin Demps Has Broken Arm
Bears safety Quintin Demps suffered a broken arm in Sunday’s win against the Steelers and will be sidelined indefinitely, Chicago announced today. Head coach John Fox indicated the club is still deciding whether to place Demps on injured reserve.
“The good news is we’ve got guys that have been with us [to replace Demps],” Fox said. “There are guys that are familiar with what we’re doing. That was the advantage of some of the injuries and play time we got a year ago. We feel good about guys stepping in. Obviously we don’t want to see anybody get hurt or injured, but those other guys are worthy.”
Third-year pro Adrian Amos will be asked to step in at safety in the absence of Amos, and as Fox alludes to, Amos offers plenty of experience. A fifth-round pick in 2015, Amos started 30 games over his first two seasons in the NFL, and graded as the league’s No. 26 safety last year, per Pro Football Focus. Amos will now start next to rookie defensive back Eddie Jackson, while Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson will serve as Chicago’s backups at safety.
If the Bears do placed Demps on injured reserve, he’d be forced to miss at least eight games before returning, meaning he wouldn’t be available until nearly December. While that’s not ideal, Chicago likely doesn’t want to carry an unplayable Demps on its roster for the month-plus it will take him to recover.
Demps, 32, inked a three-year, $13.5MM deal that included $4.5MM in the spring after spending the past two seasons with the Texans. Through an admittedly small sample of only two-plus games, PFF had ranked Demps as just the 70th-best safety among 82 qualifiers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted to active roster: TE Ricky Seals-Jones
- Released: LB Philip Wheeler
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LS Taybor Pepper
- Signed off Cardinals‘ practice squad: OL Ulrick John
- Placed on IR: LS Brett Goode
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: WR Matt Hazel
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed off Cowboys‘ practice squad: LB Mark Nzeocha
Bucs LB Lavonte David Has Ankle Sprain
Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David does not have a high-ankle sprain as originally reported, as in fact only dealing with a medial left ankle sprain which will render him week-to-week, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Head coach Dirk Koetter hinted at as much when speaking to reporters earlier today, as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times writes.
“I think you’re jumping the gun on Lavonte,” Koetter said. “It’s not as bad as it looked, number one. It looked bad. X-rays were negative. Knock on wood, it’s not as bad as it looked or previously reported.”
If he’s forced to miss time, the 27-year-old David will undoubtedly be missed. Through three games, David was ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 linebacker in the NFL. Though it comes from a small sample size, his 88.1 score is exceptional and nearly as strong as his career-high 93.5 score in 2013. The 2013 season marked his sole first-team All Pro selection.
Last year, David had a perfect attendance record as he tallied 87 tackles, 5.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He also had an interception, the tenth of his career.
A hamstring injury also kept starting linebacker Kwon Alexander out of action on Sunday. If Alexander cannot go on Sunday, the Bucs could be a bit thin in the front seven when they face the Giants.
Saints Re-Sign DL Kendall Langford
The Saints have re-signed defensive lineman Kendall Langford, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter links). In related moves, offensive tackle Bryce Harris was released and defensive back Arthur Maulet was waived.
Langford, 31, had a short stint with New Orleans last week, as he signed with the club on Thursday before being cut on Saturday. Clearly, his release was part of some sort of Saints roster shuffle, as the team wanted him back as soon as possible. A nine-year NFL veteran, Langford spent the past two seasons with the Colts before being released in August. Aside from the Saints, the only club to have expressed interest in Langford over the past month was the 49ers.
New Orleans is coming off its best defensive performance of the 2017 campaign, as it held Cam Newton and the Panthers to juset 13 points and 362 total yards. But the Saints could still use extra depth on the defensive side of the ball, as the unit ranked 31st in DVOA heading into Week 3. Langford, who can play both end and tackle, will help make up for the loss of fellow defenders Nick Fairley and Mitchell Loewen, both of whom are out for the year.
Bengals TE Tyler Eifert To Miss Time
Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert is expected to miss “multiple weeks” as he recovers from a back injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). On a positive note, Eifert won’t require surgery for his ailing back, per Schefter.
Eifert, of course, is no stranger to injury, as he’s appeared in only 39 of a possible 67 games since entering the NFL as a first-round pick in 2013. His back ailment dates back to the latter part of the 2016 campaign — after missing the first seven games of last year with an ankle issue suffered in the Pro Bowl, Eifert was placed on injured reserve in December after experiencing back pain.
The Bengals were without Eifert in Sunday’s loss to the Packers, and will go forward with internal options Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah, while fullbacks Ryan Hewitt and Cethan Carter are also capable of playing tight end. Cincinnati faces the division-rival (and similarly winless) Browns in Week 4, then takes on the Bills before a Week 6 bye.
Eifert, 27, is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency next spring after his fifth-year option expires.