Colts Remove Andrew Luck From PUP List
The Colts have officially removed quarterback Andrew Luck from the physically unable to perform list, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
While Luck won’t be forced to miss the six games that the PUP list would have required, he could still be sidelined for some time. Recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Luck’s return timetable is unclear, and the Colts haven’t been open about his timeline.
Indianapolis acquired quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Patriots earlier today, and he’ll be an option — along with incumbent Scott Tolzien — to fill in while Luck is absent.
Panthers Ship WR Kaelin Clay To Bills
Brandon Beane‘s Panthers ties look to have helped a trade agreement, one that will send wide receiver Kaelin Clay to the Bills. Carolina traded Clay to Buffalo on Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The Panthers will receive cornerback Kevon Seymour and a 2019 seventh-round pick in return.
Clay spent barely four months with the Panthers but arrived when Beane was still in his previous role as Carolina’s assistant GM. While Beane joined the Bills in May, Beane was part of the staff that brought in the wideout/return specialist a month earlier.
Now, Clay — a third-year player out of Utah — will trek to western New York and join Beane’s new organization. The 5-foot-10 receiver has yet to catch an NFL pass but did serve as the Ravens’ primary kick and punt returner as a rookie. He returned a punt for a touchdown in his second NFL game. A sixth-round Baltimore pick in 2015, Clay did not play last season.
Seymour was the Bills’ final pick in the 2016 draft. He appeared in 15 games last year and even made three starts.
Chargers Reach 53-Man Limit
The Chargers announced 37 player moves on Saturday, bringing them down to the 53-man limit. Here’s the full breakdown.
Released:
- RB Kenjon Barner
- QB Kellen Clemens
- TE Jeff Cumberland
- S Dwight Lowery (story)
Waived:
- P Toby Baker
- QB Mike Bercovici
- G Brett Boyko
- WR Da’Ron Brown
- NT Ryan Carrethers
- LB Kyle Coleman
- CB Michael Davis
- TE Mike Estes
- CB Randall Evans
- C/G Barrett Gouger
- WR Jamaal Jones
- K Josh Lambo
- WR Mitchell Paige
- WR Andre Patton
- WR Cameron Posey
- CB Trovon Reed
- DT Caraun Reid
- WR Artavis Scott
- CB Brandon Stewart
- CB Brad Watson
- TE Matt Weiser
- RB Andre Williams
Waived/Injured:
- WR Isaiah Burse
- T Tyreek Burwell
- G Donavon Clark
- DT Kaleb Eulls
- RB Kenneth Farrow
- LB Joshua Perry
Reserve/Suspended:
- DT Tenny Palepoi
- C Max Tuerk
Reserve/Injured:
Barner seemed to have a decent chance of cracking the roster as a pass-catching back, particularly after the loss of Danny Woodhead. On 27 carries last season, Barner averaged a career-best 4.8 yards per attempt.
Clemens, 33, was slated to return for a fourth season as Philip Rivers‘ backup. Instead, that job will go to Cardale Jones, who was acquired in a trade with Buffalo earlier this offseason.
Giants Acquire CB Ross Cockrell
The Giants have acquired cornerback Ross Cockrell from the Steelers in exchange for a conditional 2018 draft pick, Pittsburgh announced.
Cockrell, 26, was a 16-game starter for the first time in his career in 2016, and he played rather well, grading the NFL’s No. 27 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. However, the Steelers signed free agent cornerback Joe Haden earlier this week, a move that would have pushed Cockrell into a reserve role.
Of course, Cockrell will be a backup with the Giants, as well, as Big Blue boasts one of the more impressive secondaries in the league. New York will start Eli Apple, Janoris Jenkins, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in its nickel package, making Cockrell one of the NFL’s best fourth cornerbacks.
A restricted free agent, Cockrell will earn $1.797MM in 2017 before hitting the open market next spring.
Bills Cut 30 Players, Reach 53-Man Limit
The Bills have reached the 53-man max in advance of the deadline. Here’s the full rundown of their moves, courtesy of the team.
Released:
- QB Keith Wenning
- RB Jordan Johnson
- WR Daikiel Shorts
- WR Brandon Reilly
- WR Dezmin Lewis
- TE Wes Saxton
- TE Rory Anderson
- OL Cameron Jefferson
- OL Jordan Mudge
- OL Greg Pyke
- OL Zach Voytek
- DE Max Vallea
- DE Ian Seau
- DT Nigel Williams
- DT Marquavius Lewis
- LB Abner Logan
- LB Jacob Lindsey
- LB Carl Bradford
- CB Bradley Sylve
- CB Marcus Sayles
- S Adrian McDonald
- S Joe Powell
- S B.T. Sanders
Released with injury settlement:
- WR Rod Streater
- S Shamiel Gary
Waived/Injured:
- WR Jeremy Butler
- OL Michael Ola
Placed on IR:
Reserve/Suspended:
Cowboys To Release Luke McCown
The Cowboys will part ways with both of their veteran backups and hand the No. 2 quarterback job to an undrafted rookie. Dallas informed Luke McCown of its decision to release him, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
McCown only spent a month in Dallas, but he and Kellen Moore represented the veteran depth behind Dak Prescott. UDFA Cooper Rush is now in line to be the only other passer on the 53-man roster. Although, Rapoport notes the Cowboys want to sign Moore to their practice squad. Despite being 29, Moore has only played in three career games.
The 36-year-old McCown has played in 62 and started 10 since breaking into the league in 2004. He signed with the Cowboys in late July — on a $1MM base salary — after the Saints cut him in April. McCown will cost the Cowboys $250K in dead money.
Rush started for four seasons at Central Michigan, but it’s interesting the Cowboys will turn to him as their only active-roster quarterback behind Prescott.
Chiefs Cut C.J. Spiller
The Chiefs have released running back C.J. Spiller, a source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Spiller had a strong camp and appeared likely to make the cut this week.
It’s possible that the Chiefs have their eye on another running back to fill that third spot behind rookie Kareem Hunt and Charcandrick West. They’ll be without Spencer Ware for 2017 after he suffered a season-ending knee injury, including a torn PCL and damaged LCL.
Spiller caught on with KC in February after being cut by several teams. The former first-round pick was slated to make only the league minimum.
Vikings To Release OL Alex Boone
In a surprising development, the Vikings will release starting offensive guard Alex Boone, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Boone was one of Minnesota’s most prized free agent additions just one year ago, as the former 49ers lineman agreed to a four-year, $26.8MM deal with the Vikings last spring. That deal contained $10MM in guaranteed money, a high price to pay for only a single season of work.
Boone’s contract does not contain offsets, meaning Minnesota won’t gain any salary relief if he signs elsewhere (Twitter link). The Vikings asked Boone to accept a paycut, but he refused, tweets Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. Minnesota will take on $3.4MM in immediate dead money by cutting Boone.
A 14-game starter for the Vikings in 2016, Boone ranked as the NFL’s No. 37 guard among 75 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, which assigned him high marks for his pass blocking but poor scores in the run game. With Boone gone, Minnesota figures to turn the interior of its offensive line over to some combination of Joe Berger, Nick Easton, and rookie Pat Elflein.
Cowboys To Cut Kellen Moore
Months after agreeing to re-sign Kellen Moore, the Cowboys will move on from the backup quarterback. Dallas will cut Moore, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
However, Rapoport adds the sixth-year backup could return to the team at some point. A year after carrying one of the most accomplished backups in NFL history in Tony Romo, the Cowboys are not exactly deep at this position. They signed Luke McCown in late July, but Rapoport tweets rookie UDFA Cooper Rush is set to be the backup quarterback for now (Twitter link). Rush played at Central Michigan.
The 29-year-old Moore did not play last season, spending it on IR after suffering a summer injury that opened the door to Dak Prescott‘s remarkable rise. He was brought in on a one-year, $775K in March but did not play well during the preseason. Moore last played in 2015, filling in for an injured Romo.
The Cowboys could remain in the market for a backup quarterback. Although Romo said he would only consider coming out of the broadcast booth and suiting up for his former team, Dallas is now somewhat vulnerable if Prescott goes down.
Bears To Take LB Pernell McPhee Off PUP
The Bears will take linebacker Pernell McPhee off the physically unable to perform list to begin the season, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).
McPhee has dealt with injuries since joining the Bears prior to the 2015 campaign, and it’s a knee injury that’s kept him sidelined this time around. He’s missed nine games over the past two seasons, but he’s been effective when on the field. McPhee has posted 10 sacks since 2015 while earning positive marks from Pro Football Focus.
While McPhee will earn a place on the Bears’ roster and won’t be forced to miss the season’s first six games, that doesn’t mean he won’t need time to ramp up. Chicago will use 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd and veteran Willie Young at outside linebacker while McPhee adjusts, while the club also has depth options in reserve. However, the Bears are currently shopping ‘backers Dan Skuta and Sam Acho.