Redskins Audition RB Ronnie Hillman
With Rob Kelley dealing with multiple injuries to his left knee, the Redskins auditioned several free agent running backs today. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the team worked out Ronnie Hillman and Daryl Richardson.
Coach Jay Gruden confirmed earlier today that Kelley suffered a high ankle sprain and an MCL sprain. The 25-year-old is set to miss several games, leaving the team with only a pair of healthy running backs in Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson. The three running backs have each had an opportunity to establish themselves atop the depth chart this season, with Thompson leading the way with 771 all-purpose yards.
Hillman signed with the Cowboys during the offseason, be he was ultimately released prior to the start of the regular season. He appeared in eight games (one start) with the Vikings and Chargers last season, compiling 131 rushing yards on 41 carries. It’s only been two seasons since Hillman broke out with 863 rushing yards, but the 26-year-old hasn’t been able to find a consistent gig since.
Richardson has only appeared in 11 games since 2013, spending time with the Jets, Texans, Browns, Steelers, Jaguars, and Colts. His best season came in 2012, when he ran for 475 yards and hauled in 24 receptions for 163 yards.
Philip Rivers In Concussion Protocol
The Chargers could be without their quarterback this weekend. Coach Anthony Lynn announced tonight that Philip Rivers is in the concussion protocol (via the team’s Twitter account). This would be a tough blow to a Chargers squad that has dropped two in a row.
Rivers has been remarkably durable during his 13-year career, as he hasn’t missed a regular season game since taking over as the full-time quarterback in 2006. The 35-year-old also hasn’t shown any major signs that he’s slowing down. In nine games this season, Rivers has completed 60.1-percent of his passes for 2,263 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
If Rivers was forced to miss any time, Kellen Clemens would likely earn the start for the Chargers. The 34-year-old hasn’t had an extended run as a starter since 2013, when he played in 10 games (nine starts) for the Rams. That season, Clemens completed 58.7-percent of his passes for 1,673 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He’s played in 17 games with the Chargers since joining the organization in 2014. The team is also rostering former Bills draft pick Cardale Jones, who appeared in one game with Buffalo last season.
49ers Release DT Tony McDaniel
Tony McDaniel‘s stint with the 49ers has come to an end. Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports (via Twitter) that the team has released the veteran defensive tackle.
McDaniel initially signed with the Saints during the offseason, but he was released towards the end of the preseason. He later joined the 49ers in mid-October, and he proceeded to compile five tackles in four games. The 32-year-old has bounced around the league recently, and he’s spent time with five different organizations during his 12-year career. Following breakout campaigns with Seattle in 2013 and 2014, he joined the Buccaneers in 2015 before reuniting with the Seahawks in 2016.
As Maiocco points out, the team is presumably anticipating the return of defensive end Tank Carradine, who is eligible to come off the injured reserve later this month. Before landing on the IR with a high ankle sprain, Carradine had appeared in three games (two starts) this season, compiling seven tackles and one sack.
Raiders Place CB Gareon Conley On IR
Cornerback Gareon Conley‘s season is over. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the Raiders have placed the first-round pick on the injured reserve. To fill his spot on the roster, the Raiders have activated defensive tackle Darius Latham from the Reserve/Suspended list.
Conley, who was taken 24th-overall in this past year’s draft, played in the Raiders first two games of the season, compiling seven tackles and one pass defended. He suffered a shin injury shortly thereafter, and he hasn’t practiced with the team since early October. Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal tweets that the organization is particularly high on the defensive back, and there was hope that he could return this season and contribute. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes (via Twitter) that both sides ultimately decided on surgery, with the organization hoping that the procedure will “fix the issue for good.”
Latham was suspended back in early October for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Despite appearing in 14 games as a rookie in 2016, the former udnrafted free agent didn’t see the field much in 2017. Prior to his suspension, Latham appeared in only one game, compiling a pair of tackles. The 23-year-old will presumably slide in behind Treyvon Hester, Justin Ellis, Eddie Vanderdoes, and Jihad Ward on the depth chart.
Ravens Release RB Bobby Rainey
Bobby Rainey‘s third tenure with the Ravens has come to an end. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports (via Twitter) that the team has released the veteran running back. The team has also signed offensive tackle Andrew Donnal, who was waived by the Rams last week.
After being released by the organization following the preseason, Rainey re-signed with the Ravens in early October. He proceeded to appear in four games for Baltimore, hauling in five receptions for 18 yards. He was primarily utilized on special teams, as he returned 11 kicks for 338 yards and one touchdown and a pair of punts for 22 yards. As Zrebiec notes, Rainey’s release in an indication that Michael Campanaro is set to return from a shoulder injury.
Donnal was waived by the Rams last week. The 2015 fifth-round pick had spent his entire three-year career with the organization, including a 2016 campaign where he appeared in 16 games (four starts). As Zrebiec points out, the Ravens are now restoring nine offensive lineman, and the team could look to move on from one of those players when running back Danny Woodhead is set to be activated.
Cardinals Sign QB Matt Barkley
With quarterback Drew Stanton suffering through a knee injury, the Cardinals have added some reinforcement at the position. The Cardinals announced this evening that they have signed quarterback Matt Barkley. The team has also promoted safety Harlan Miller from the practice squad. To make room on the roster, the team has placed safety Tyvon Branch, offensive tackle D.J. Humphries and tight end Ifeanyi Momah on injured reserve.
We learned last week that Stanton had suffered a sprained knee during Thursday’s loss to the Seahawks, and there were reports that the team could turn to Barkley for a backup role. A former fourth-round pick, Barkley played in seven games (six starts) for the Bears last season, completing 59.7-percent of his passes for 1,611 yards, eight touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. The 27-year-old inked a two-year deal with the 49ers during the offseason, but he was released at the end of the preseason. Barkley also had a stint with Arizona between 2015 and 2016.
Assuming Stanton, who was filling in for the injured Carson Palmer, misses time, Blaine Gabbert will get the first shot at the starting gig. The 28-year-old appeared in six games (five starts) for the 49ers in 2016, completing 56.9-percent of his passes for 925 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. He’s yet to appear in a game this season.
We learned earlier this week that Branch, Humphries, and Momah were likely to miss the rest of the season. Branch suffered a torn ACL during Thursday’s contest, and considering his impending free agency, his injury-filled tenure with the Cardinals could be over. Humphries dislocated his kneecap and suffered MCL damage on Thursday night, ending the third-year edge blocker’s season prematuraly. Momah, a former undrafted free agent out of Boston College, injured his knee against the Seahawks.
Miller, a 2016 sixth-round pick, started two games for Arizona as a rookie, compiling seven tackles and one interception. He was waived by the organization in early September but ultimately landed on the team’s taxi squad.
Seahawks To Sign CB Byron Maxwell
The Seahawks are signing cornerback Byron Maxwell, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the veteran. 
The deal brings Maxwell back to where he played his best football. His lucrative free agent deal turned out to be a mistake for the Eagles and the Dolphins couldn’t get much out of him post-trade, but he might be able to recapture some of his old magic with a return to Seattle. He’ll also have a huge opportunity to shine after Richard Sherman suffered a season-ending Achilles tear.
Coaches in Miami believed that Maxwell was going rogue and refusing to play the defenses called from the sidelines. That could indicate that Maxwell – now a much richer man than he was in 2014 – had lost motivation. It could also signal that he has lost a step and is no longer able to play press-man coverage against speedier receivers.
Before signing with Seattle, Maxwell also auditioned for the Falcons earlier this month.
Giants To Stick With Ben McAdoo For Now
It sounds like Ben McAdoo‘s job is safe. At least, until the end of the season. Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch released a statement on Monday afternoon that seems to indicate the team will not consider a coaching change until the year is through. 
“Ben McAdoo is our head coach and has our support. We are in the midst of an extremely disappointing season. Our performance this year, particularly the past two weeks, is inexcusable and frustrating. While we appreciate that our fans are unhappy with what has occurred, nobody is more upset than we are.
Our plan is to do what we have always done, which is to not offer a running commentary on the season. It is our responsibility to determine the reasons for our poor performance and at the end of the year, we will evaluate the 2017 season in its entirety and make a determination on how we move forward.”
The Giants fell to 1-8 after allowing the Niners to capture their first win of the season on Sunday. One could argue that the Giants fell out of the playoff race when Odell Beckham Jr. suffered his season-ending injury, but the problems appear to run much deeper. Players have been insolent and some have even spoken out against McAdoo anonymously.
It would be a surprise if McAdoo returns as head coach in 2018, but it would be equally surprising to see him sacked in the middle of the season after today’s comments.
Chiefs Sign Cam Thomas
The Chiefs moved quickly to replace Roy Miller. The team has signed fellow defensive tackle Cam Thomas, Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Thomas offers familiarity with the Chiefs’ 3-4 scheme after spending training camp with the team. He missed out on the chance to serve as Bennie Logan‘s top backup, but he’s back in that spot following Miller’s arrest for domestic battery.
Thomas, 30, has bounced around the league since being selected in the fifth round of the 2010 draft by the Chargers. The North Carolina product has served mostly as a reserve nose tackle and started only 27 games in seven NFL seasons. In 2016, he appeared in 16 games (two starts) for the Rams, compiling 15 tackles and one sack.
Thomas could see his first real action with KC on Sunday when the Chiefs take on the Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Chiefs Release DT Roy Miller
The Chiefs announced that they have released defensive tackle Roy Miller. Miller was arrested for domestic battery on Saturday in Florida. 
Miller was taken to Duval County jail early Saturday morning after policy say he left a woman with a minor injury. While the situation sorts itself out, the Chiefs have decided to distance themselves from the veteran.
Miller, 30, made 50 starts for the Jaguars from 2013 through 2016. However, after an injury-shortened season, the Jaguars didn’t show much interest in retaining him. He landed with KC in August, but he wasn’t playing a whole lot for the Chiefs. In seven games this year, Miller was on the field for 77 snaps.
With Miller out of the picture, the Chiefs will probably look for a new nose tackle to help support starter Bennie Logan.