NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Derron Smith
- Cut: TE Scott Orndoff
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Joe Vellano
Indianapolis Colts
- Cut: CB Channing Stribling
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OL Cole Toner
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
- Cut: RB Bronson Hill
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Mike Purcell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Tre Sullivan
- Cut: LB Don Cherry
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: T Jake Rodgers
- Cut: WR Justin Thomas
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Isaiah Battle
Bears Place TE Zach Miller On IR
As expected, the Bears are placing tight end Zach Miller on injured reserve. This was the only possible outcome after he had major surgery on his dislocated knee. To take his place on the roster, fellow tight end Ben Braunecker has promoted from the practice squad. Taking Braunecker’s place on the taxi squad will be tight end Colin Thompson. 
Initially, there was concern that Miller could lose his leg in surgery. However, the Bears announced last week that Miller’s operation was “successful,” so he is hopefully out of the woods in that regard. In a statement released on Twitter on Tuesday, Miller said that he has been “down before” but he “will do whatever it takes to get back up.”
In 2016, Miller caught a career-high 47 passes and 486 yards with four touchdowns. At the time of his injury, he was on pace for similar numbers with 20 receptions for 236 yards and two scores.
The Bears are expected to move forward with Dion Sims and second-round pick Adam Shaheen as their top TEs with Daniel Brown in support. They’ll try to improve on their 3-5 record on Sunday when they face the rival Packers in Chicago.
Chargers To Sign TE Jeff Cumberland
The Chargers are signing tight end Jeff Cumberland, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM tweets. He was with the Bolts until the 53-man deadline in early September. 
Cumberland, 30, missed the entire 2016 season with a torn Achilles. He’s now being called on to support top tight ends Hunter Henry and Antonio Gates. His addition may result in either Sean McGrath or Sean Culkin being shown the door.
Cumberland is a blocking specialist, but he did catch 78 passes for the Jets from 2012 to 2014. He also started 38 games for the team in that span and scored ten touchdowns. In 2015, his offensive usage dipped as Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t use his tight ends much. The veteran had just five receptions on 14 targets in that season.
Texans Cut Matt McGloin, Add Josh Johnson
The Texans announced that they have waived quarterback Matt McGloin. To take his place, they have replaced him with fellow QB Josh Johnson. In a related move, the Texans have also released defensive lineman Kendall Langford. 
McGloin was signed shortly after starting quarterback Deshaun Watson went down with an ACL tear. However, it was T.J. Yates – signed the day after McGloin – who dressed as Tom Savage‘s backup over the weekend.
All indications are that Savage will continue as the Texans’ starter, even after Houston’s 20-14 defeat at the hands of the Colts. Johnson may or may not get the nod over Yates as the primary backup.
Johnson has not played in a regular season NFL game since 2013. Since then, he has signed 13 contracts with eight different teams, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) notes.
The Texans are also expected to activate tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz from injured reserve this week, so the release of Langford could make room for him on the 53-man roster.
Lions Waive Tim Lelito
The Lions have waived guard Tim Lelito from the Reserve-Injured list. Lelito is now free to sign with any team, though he might need some time to heal up first. 
Lelito was dropped by the Titans in early September and hooked on with the Lions later that month. Unfortunately, after just two games in uniform, he found himself on IR.
Last year, Lelito graded out as the No. 49 guard in the league for his work with the Saints, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF gave him a solid mark for his pass blocking with a lower score on running plays.
Lelito was said to be struggling in the preseason with the Titans and it’s possible that injuries played a role in that. Once he’s healthy, we’ll find out what the 28-year-old has to offer.
Texans Work Out WR Josh Huff
The Texans worked out wide receiver Josh Huff on Tuesday, according to a league source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle. It marks Huff’s first known audition since mid-September. 
[RELATED: Texans Have Internally Discussed Colin Kaepernick]
Huff, 26, was a third-round pick of the Eagles under the Chip Kelly administration. Last year, the Oregon product made headlines for the wrong reasons following a gun- and marijuana-related arrest. He hooked on with the Bucs, but only appeared in three games and wound up missing the Week 1 cut in 2017.
Following his release from Tampa Bay, Huff auditioned for the Saints and Jets but left both workouts without a deal.
Patriots’ Shea McClellin Done For Year
The hits just keep on coming for the Patriots. After officially placing Dont’a Hightower on injured reserve, the Patriots have learned that linebacker Shea McClellin will be unable to return from IR this year (Twitter link via Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald). 
McClellin suffered a concussion in practice which will keep him from seeing the field in 2017. We still don’t know the nature of the original injury that landed him on IR to begin the year.
McClellin, a former first-round pick by Chicago, joined the Pats on a three-year, $9MM deal in 2016. He appeared in 441 snaps for New England last year and made some athletic plays, including his memorable leap over the line of scrimmage to block a field goal against the Ravens in December. The Patriots were hoping that he could help beef up their weakened pass rush this season, but he admittedly wasn’t stellar in that area last year. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 72 ranked edge defender among 108 qualified players.
Patriots Place Dont’a Hightower On IR
The Patriots have officially placed Dont’a Hightower on injured reserve, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). This was the expected move after the linebacker suffered a torn pectoral muscle in October, though there was some hope that he could return to action after resting for a period of time.
League rules dictate that players who are placed on IR must be out of action for at least eight weeks. With only eight games to go, his season is now officially over.
Without Hightower, the Patriots have been using veteran David Harris as the starting middle linebacker with Elandon Roberts and Kyle Van Noy on the strong side and weak side, respectively. They’ve fortified the front seven by signing outside linebacker Trevor Reilly in October and adding defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois earlier today, but Hightower’s production and leadership cannot be easily replaced.
Hightower’s season ends with five appearances, two sacks, and 14 total tackles.
Patriots Sign Ricky Jean-Francois
The Patriots have signed defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jean-Francois became a free agent last week when he was released by the Packers for the second time in 2017. 
Jean-Francois didn’t see a lot of burn in his six Packers games this year and recorded only two tackles. Last year, however, he was a seven-game starter for the Redskins and he was a full-time starter during his time with the Colts.
The Patriots, who have been working to fortify their front seven for months, could have a larger role in line for Jean-Francois. He’ll look to get some playing time on Sunday when the Pats face the Broncos in Denver.
In 2016, Jean-Francois saw action on roughly 40% of Washington’s defensive snaps, racking up 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks in that span.
Packers T Bryan Bulaga Done For Year
Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga tore his ACL, a source tells NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Bulaga will be placed on injured reserve with no hope of returning this year. 
Bulaga, 28, has been dealing with injuries throughout the season that have hampered his performance. Bulaga currently rates as just the 39th best tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. That’s a major step down from his top 7 placement in 2016 and 2014.
Already, the Packers’ offense is reeling from the absence of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Now, fill-in Brett Hundley will have to do his best behind a thinned out offensive line.
For now, reserve Justin McCray is expected to start in Bulaga’s place. Second-round pick Jason Spriggs is coming off of IR and could also help fill the void.
The banged-up Packers are 4-4 after losing to the Lions on Sunday and their playoff hopes are in serious jeopardy.