Here are today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Jack Allen
- Waived: DE Bunmi Rotimi
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Josiah Price
- Waived: OL Chris Gonzales
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR DeAndre Carter
Josh Gordon‘s present designation with the Browns is on the reserve/did not report list. The Browns likely could not have placed the 27-year-old pass-catcher on the non-football illness list, since he would have had to fail a physical for that to occur. While Gordon does not currently count toward Cleveland’s 90-man roster, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk cautions the wideout’s road back to the team may not be a matter of him merely returning to Berea, Ohio. Gordon may have to have Roger Goodell approve his request for Browns reinstatement, Florio reports. The reasoning behind this is Goodell OK’d a Gordon return last year under the terms of a treatment plan, with Florio adding that possible Goodell approval would center around whether or not the embattled receiver has violated the terms of that plan. Gordon’s believed to be at a Gainesville, Fla., treatment facility. He spent 90 days in a Gainesville rehab center last fall. While Florio doesn’t expect Goodell to stand in the way of a Gordon return, he would have the right to suspend Gordon for another year under the substance-abuse policy.
Jimmy Haslam did not comment when asked Saturday if the NFL needed to approve Gordon’s Browns reinstatement, and Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes the league has not provided clarity on this situation yet. Haslam added he does not have a timetable for Gordon’s return.
Here’s the latest from the AFC North, shifting to a potentially troublesome situation in Pittsburgh:
- Ramon Foster has played more Steelers snaps than anyone since the 2009 season (h/t Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com), but he was carted off the practice field Saturday. During a full-contact workout, Stephon Tuitt rolled into Foster’s right leg, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter links). Mike Tomlin did not elaborate on the issue, only saying that the 10th-year guard is being evaluated for a “lower-body” injury, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (via Twitter). A Foster loss would represent a major setback for the Steelers. Foster’s a seven-season full-time starter and is in the final year of his deal. Ben Roethlisberger consoled the 32-year-old guard as he was carted away.
- Roethlisberger has shown up to camp in noticeably better shape, with La Canfora noting the Steelers expected their quarterback to show up prepared to earn one final blockbuster extension. Although a report surfaced about the Steelers and Roethlisberger were planning to discuss a re-up this offseason, the 15th-year quarterback said he didn’t want to do a deal before this season. But he’ll be set for a contract year in 2019.
- While the Steelers do, however, have a Chris Boswell extension slotted as a preseason priority, JLC adds the team shouldn’t be expected to make a Joe Haden-style addition before the season. Pittsburgh added the longtime Cleveland cornerback on a $9MM-per-year deal late last summer but holds barely $5MM in cap space presently. Boswell is entering a contract year.
- Greg Robinson resides in the Browns‘ concussion protocol, Hue Jackson said Saturday (via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, on Twitter). The Browns brought the former No. 2 overall pick this offseason. He has a clearer path to the 53-man roster now that Donald Stephenson has retired, but Robinson has not proven reliable during his four-year career.
- Only Ronnie Stanley and Marshal Yanda are locks to be Ravens offensive line starters, with Jeff Zreibec of The Athletic noting (subscription required) the team used numerous O-line combinations Saturday. Expected to vie for Baltimore’s right tackle job, James Hurst is working primarily at right guard while Alex Lewis — whom Zreibec projects as the left guard starter — has worked plenty at center. The Ravens’ right guard starter, Yanda remains on the PUP list. Zreibec still contends Hurst will settle at right tackle, with rookie Orlando Brown in the mix at that spot as well.
Marvin Bracy‘s best-known work has come as a track and field athlete, with the former Florida State sprinter donning a Team USA speedsuit at the 2016 Rio Olympics. But Bracy remains in pursuit of an NFL future.
The Seahawks will give Bracy an opportunity. They signed the 5-foot-9 wide receiver hopeful on Saturday and waived long snapper Tanner Carew, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets.
A 2016 100-meter qualifier for Team USA and a member of the United States’ 4×100 relay squad in Brazil, Bracy also medaled on the world stage in the 60-meter dash in the past. However, he’s attempted to make a run as an NFL wideout. He caught on with the Colts last year. However, Indianapolis waived the speedster after the preseason. The 24-year-old Bracy worked out for the Jets in October but has hovered relatively off the radar since.
Seattle already has a crowded wideout room, having added Jaron Brown and Brandon Marshall this offseason, but Bracy’s best bet may be a practice squad opportunity.
It doesn’t sound like the Steelers are expecting Le’Veon Bell to show for training camp. The franchise-tagged running back, like last year, may well report to his team after the preseason concludes.
The Steelers and Bell could not come to terms on an extension, again, but Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports Pittsburgh did offer more than the $10MM guaranteed that was reported last week. Bell did not believe the guaranteed money was sufficient, but La Canfora notes Pittsburgh’s proposal featured “exponentially greater” guarantee figures than $10MM.
This offer was part of a five-year, $70MM proposal, and JLC confirms the $45MM over three years — which would have topped Todd Gurley‘s since-agreed-to deal that will pay him $40MM through 2020 — component of the Steelers’ final offer.
However, a sense among Steelers brass was Bell would turn down any deal proposed, per La Canfora, because of the allure of free agency come March. This is a bold move on Bell’s part, due to his throwback workload (406 touches last season — in 15 games — the most a running back’s accumulated since Chris Johnson in 2009) and injury risk that comes with the Steelers’ brand of usage. But Gurley’s extension provides a clearer road map for a team looking to sign Bell.
La Canfora doesn’t believe the Steelers are expecting Bell to be back in 2019, though the 26-year-old back is expected to communicate with Mike Tomlin and likely new OC Randy Fichtner while he’s away from the team.
Last year, GM Kevin Colbert called for Bell to end his holdout and report in order to make necessary preparations for the season. This year, the longtime Steelers decision-maker isn’t as direct but remains insistent Bell showing up for camp will help him early in the season. Bell struggled out of the starting blocks in 2017, failing to exceed 100 yards from scrimmage in all three of the Steelers’ September games.
“Unfortunately, we have to go through it again,” Colbert said, via La Canfora. “The fortunate part is at the end we will have Le’Veon Bell on our team. Ideally, the earlier he gets here the better it will be for him and obviously for us, because I don’t think he got off to the kind of start (last season) he would have gotten off to had he worked for his team for a week or two, whatever that would have been.
“You just need that timing; you need that football conditioning. He’ll show up and be in great physical condition, but that can never equate to great football conditioning until they go through this.”
Elijah McGuire‘s foot fracture has the Jets quickly setting up meetings. In addition to meeting with Alfred Morris, the Jets plan to visit with former Giants running back Orleans Darkwa on Saturday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter).
The Giants’ 2017 rushing leader, Darkwa also visited the Bills this week. Darkwa drew interest earlier this year — also taking a Patriots meeting — but experienced an injury setback that kept him unsigned. The four-year veteran had a plate removed from his leg earlier this offseason after a minor surgery, and interest has picked up since.
The 26-year-old back has only 246 carries in his career. He led the Giants with 751 rushing yards (4.4 per carry) last season. Both marks represented career highs for the former UDFA who began his career with the Dolphins.
New York has Isaiah Crowell, Bilal Powell and Thomas Rawls under contract. The Jets also drafted potential return man Trenton Cannon this year.
The Jets are taking a look at the running back market on Saturday, with Alfred Morris arriving for a visit, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
It’s been a quiet offseason for the former Redskins starter and Cowboys depth piece. This is Morris’ first known visit in 2018. While Morris is now 29, he should be relatively fresh after being Ezekiel Elliott‘s backup for most of the past two seasons.
The Jets let Matt Forte walk in the offseason but added Isaiah Crowell to their backfield mix. New York also has Bilal Powell, Elijah McGuire and former Seahawks starter Thomas Rawls under contract. McGuire left Friday’s Jets practice with a foot injury, however. And Rapoport reports this is a serious malady.
McGuire fractured his foot and will undergo surgery, Rapoport tweets. The second-year back will miss an extended time period and looks set for IR. This may not be a season-ending setback, though, with Rapoport adding an IR-return slot may be possible in this case. But that will depend on the Jets’ injury situation this season, since teams are limited to two IR-return players per season.
Serving as a backup to Forte and Powell, McGuire rushed for 315 yards (3.6 per carry) as a rookie.
Morris, though, looked spry with the 2017 Cowboys, averaging a career-best 4.8 yards per carry. That came on 115 totes after Morris received just 69 in 2016. Elliott’s suspension increasing Morris’ workload, the veteran gained 547 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown last season.
The Bills continue to examine options for their defensive line. This means a second offseason trip to Buffalo for UFA defensive end Ryan Russell.
A former Buccaneers contributor who started six games last season, Russell is visiting the Bills on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Russell made the trip to western New York in March as well, but the parties moved on without a contract in place.
Buffalo brought in Jared Crick for a workout this week as well and signed defensive tackle John Hughes, with Rapoport noting the Bills are on the lookout for D-line aid.
A former Cowboys fifth-round pick in 2015, Russell played in one game with Dallas but suited up for 14 with Tampa Bay the past two seasons.
Duane Brown will enter the 2018 season with a new contract. In his first training camp with the Seahawks, the veteran left tackle’s agreed to terms on an extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Seattle has announced the extension.
The Seahawks and Brown have been working on this deal for weeks, per Rapoport. The soon-to-be 33-year-old blocker was going to play for $9.75MM this season but was set for a contract year. Despite his advancing age, the Seahawks are making a commitment to the tackle they acquired at the trade deadline last season.
It’s a three-year, $36.5MM re-up for Brown, Rapoport adds (via Twitter). This deal will keep Brown tied to the Seahawks through the 2021 season, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Brown will earn in excess of $14MM in 2018, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.
After a stretch of committing scant resources to their offensive front, the Seahawks now have both Brown and Justin Britt signed long-term.
Brown staged a lengthy holdout into the regular season last year before the Texans shipped him to the Seahawks. He started nine games with Seattle upon arrival. The four-time Pro Bowler has started all 142 games for which he’s suited up in a 10-season career. Entering his 11th, he’s expected to anchor the Seahawks’ offensive line.
A lack of guarantees remaining on his Texans deal prompted Brown to hold out in 2017. He did not report to the Texans until late October of last year but was not holding out with his new team this offseason. Brown graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 27 tackle last season. He’s regarded as one of the best tackles of this era.
Despite Sam Bradford having not participated in as much of the Cardinals’ offseason program, Steve Wilks has determined the injury-prone veteran is his starter, barring something unexpected. The first-year coach said the Cards’ QB1 job is Bradford’s to lose, per Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com, then indicating Josh Rosen and Mike Glennon will compete for the backup position.
The Cardinals brought the ninth-year quarterback along slowly this offseason. Bradford has not played extensively since the 2016 season. He started twice for the 2017 Vikings but made it through just one game healthy.
“This is the time where he needs to step it up,” Wilks said of Bradford’s return to action. “He understands and knows that. We’ve got to proceed forward with our timing. He’s ready.”
During Arizona’s offseason program, Wilks labeled this an open competition with the caveat Bradford was signed to start this season. He’s not wavering from that stance at this point. Bradford is expected to practice fully during camp. Wilks said he feels “great” about where Bradford’s at in his return from his latest bout of significant knee trouble.
“I didn’t play a ton of football last year, so being able to get back in the flow of things, get back in rhythm and play again, and see how my knee reacts, see how my mind reacts out there on the field in practice,” Bradford said. “I think it’s important in these next couple of weeks to re-establish that rhythm.”
Two rookies remain unsigned: Sam Darnold and Roquan Smith. The Jets are working on a deal with a quarterback they’ve been thrilled about throughout the offseason, one who was supposed to have a legitimate chance at a Week 1 starting job, but Darnold’s camp absence isn’t doing him any favors. Offset language was thought to be a sticking point here, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes (video link) that isn’t the case (or isn’t any longer). Instead, the quarterback’s guarantees — and how and when they would void — represent why the former USC standout hasn’t signed. Void issues have also come up in the Bears’ discussions with Smith. CAA represents both Darnold and Smith. The Jets began their first practice this afternoon.
Here’s the latest from the AFC East:
- A former AFC East quarterback was not planning to leave during what turned out to be his final offseason in the division. Jimmy Garoppolo was searching for Boston-area real estate last summer, Joon Lee of Bleacher Report notes. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe adds this should help put an end to speculation the Patriots were planning all along to unload their former backup quarterback. Volin writes Bill Belichick was indeed overruled about a plan to keep Garoppolo as the heir apparent — which would have induced complex math because of the current 49ers quarterback’s rookie contract expiring and Tom Brady not yet retired — before an 11th-hour trade to San Francisco.
- Brady did not deny that he communicated with Josh McDaniels during the period after the Super Bowl when he backtracked on accepting the Colts’ HC job, the longtime Patriots quarterback said Saturday (via James Palmer of NFL.com, on Twitter). When asked if he spoke with his then-outgoing OC about potentially staying in New England instead, Brady said he “always” talks to McDaniels, who is now back for a seventh season in his second stint as Pats OC.
- Julian Edelman addressed his suspension Saturday and said this second straight September off will allow him to get his knee fully ready to go. “It’s disappointing with the penalty and the findings,” Edelman said, via Doug Kyed of NESN.com. “And I’m definitely accountable for that. I have to follow the protocols a little better and make sure this never happens again.” Edelman contested the suspension but saw his appeal fail. The 10th-year slot receiver tore an ACL during the 2017 preseason but is expected to be ready to go upon his now-October debut date.
- Josh Allen‘s been the best Bills quarterback in camp thus far, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW observes. The raw Wyoming-honed talent outshined A.J. McCarron and Nathan Peterman on Saturday, per Buscaglia. Both of the older QBs are believed to be competing for Buffalo’s Week 1 job, with Allen believed to be set to watch as his career begins.