Patriots To Sign Donte Moncrief
The Patriots have signed wide receiver Donte Moncrief to the practice squad, per a club announcement. This was the expected move after the former third-rounder auditioned for the Pats earlier this week. 
[RELATED: Patriots Trade For Dolphins’ Ford]
Moncrief was recently released off the Jets’ practice squad, despite their own glaring need for offensive help. That wasn’t promising for Moncrief’s prospects, but the talent is still mostly there.
Moncrief first made his name with the Colts, playing as a featured regular in Andrew Luck‘s offense. The veteran totaled 13 touchdown receptions between the 2015-16 seasons for Indy and set a career-high in ’15 with 733 receiving yards. Since then, things have been a bit rocky — he appeared a grand total of eight games for the Panthers and Steelers in 2019, yielding four catches for 18 yards.
Now, the 27-year-old will await his next opportunity while showing his stuff on the practice field. Thanks to Tuesday’s trade for Dolphins receiver Isaiah Ford, he won’t be the only newcomer to the group.
Texans To Sign Josh McCown
The Texans have agreed to sign Josh McCown off of the Eagles’ practice squad roster, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. The veteran quarterback will serve as insurance for starter Deshaun Watson and could dress for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. 
McCown signed an unprecedented deal to become the Eagles’ emergency remote quarterback (and a QB whisperer for Carson Wentz) in September. Now in his 40s, McCown is essentially viewed as a player/part-time assistant, with the expectation that he’ll be a coveted coaching candidate once he eventually retires.
McCown was the backup to Wentz last year when he was suddenly inserted in their first-round playoff game against Seattle. Then, he nearly led the Eagles to an improbable win.
This year, McCown has spent the bulk of his time at home in Texas, so he won’t have to make much of an adjustment as he joins up with Watson & Co. Furthermore, the deal could give him an opportunity to showcase his expertise as the Texans plot their coaching staff for 2021.
Seahawks’ Carlos Dunlap Reworks Deal
Carlos Dunlap reworked his contract to facilitate his trade to the Seahawks, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Dunlap was initially set to make $4.59MM for the remainder of the year. Now, he’ll earn $2MM over the next two months, plus a $3MM roster bonus for 2021. 
[RELATED: Bengals Trade Carlos Dunlap To Seahawks]
The adjustment — in theory — is a virtual wash for Dunlap. However, he won’t see that $3MM roster bonus unless he’s on the Seahawks’ roster on fifth day of the 2021 league year. If Dunlap doesn’t deliver for Seattle the rest of the way, the Seahawks won’t be inclined to keep him.
The Bengals hardly used Dunlap, and he was unhappy about it to say the least. After starting in Cincinnati’s first four games of the season, he was bumped from the first-string lineup and saw his snap count slashed week after week. Then, about a week before the trade deadline, Dunlap got his wish — the Bengals shipped him to the Seahawks in exchange for offensive lineman B.J. Finney and a draft pick.
Dunlap should help the 6-1 Seahawks generate more pressure against opposing quarterbacks, something they’ve struggled to do thus far in 2020. Despite his rocky first half with the Bengals, the veteran boasts 82.5 career sacks and plenty of ability on the edge.
COVID-19 Positive Closes 49ers Facility
The 49ers have closed their team facility after receiving their latest COVID-19 test results, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has tested positive for the coronavirus and it’s not immediately clear whether he’s the only player to do so. 
This news comes just one day before the 49ers’ scheduled game against the Packers. At this moment, the game is still slated to go ahead as scheduled at Levi’s Stadium.
The NFL continues to grapple with COVID-19 positives and protocols in place to protect its employees. On Tuesday, Broncos GM John Elway and CEO Joe Ellis both learned of new positive tests that will keep them away from the club in the coming days. Meanwhile, Packers running back AJ Dillon has already been ruled out for this week due to his test results. Dillon was also in close contact with fellow RB Jamaal Williams and linebacker Kamal Martin, sending them to the reserve list.
During the preseason, the Niners placed wide receiver Richie James Jr., running back Jeff Wilson Jr. and linebacker Fred Warner on the COVID-19 list. Today’s news marks their first positive test since the start of the regular season.
Mychal Kendricks Returns To Seahawks Practice Squad
Mychal Kendricks will sign back with the Seahawks’ practice squad today, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (on Twitter). Kendricks was released from the reserve group just yesterday with the intention of signing elsewhere. That deal fell through, Condotta hears, leading him right back to Seattle. 
[RELATED: Seahawks Cut TE Luke Willson]
Kendricks spent 2018 and 2019 with the Seahawks and played extensively alongside Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, with the team using its base defense frequently. Kendricks recovered from an injury that ended his ’18 season and started in 14 games last season, only to suffer an ACL tear in the regular season finale. After that, Kendricks embarked on a lengthy recovery and an extended stretch of free agency. The Seahawks then stashed him on the practice squad in mid-October.
The former six-year Eagles starter offers 91 pro starts and 19 sacks, despite being a career off-ball linebacker. Technically speaking, this will mark Kendricks’ fourth signed contract with the Seahawks.
Bears Release Ted Ginn
The Bears have released wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr., according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The move doesn’t come as a huge surprise given Ginn’s limited playing time as of late. 
[RELATED: Bears’ Javon Wims Suspended Two Games]
Last season, Ginn caught 30 passes for 421 yards and two touchdowns for the Saints. But, once New Orleans signed Emmanuel Sanders, Ginn was left to find work elsewhere. He inked a one-year deal with the Bears, where he went on to appear in six games this year. However, he did not play in Sunday’s loss to his old friends in New Orleans and he was hardly seen on the field throughout October.
The Bears had Ginn signed for the veteran salary benefit, worth $1.187MM. The release won’t have a major impact on their 2020 cap, but it will free up an extra spot on the active roster.
Ginn leaves Chicago with a stat line of three catches for 40 yards, plus five punt returns for 24 yards. Now in his 14th pro season, it’s not immediately clear whether he’ll hook on elsewhere. For what it’s worth, Ginn said he’s “still got a few more years left” back in April.
Trade Notes: Packers, McKinley, Alexander
We heard earlier today that the Packers were eying Texans wideout Will Fuller, but there were reportedly disagreements among high-level Packers officials on whether they should make a play for a receiver. While head coach Matt LaFleur said he was unsure if “anything ever got that serious,” he was sure that he’s on the same page with general manager Brian Gutekunst.
“I have no idea where anything like that would ever come from,” LaFleur said of the reports (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky). “We’re in constant communication, we’re on the same page and there is no truth to that. I promise you that.”
While receiver Davante Adams expressed confidence in his teammates, he previously acknowledged that he’d welcome some help at the position.
“I wouldn’t say we necessarily need to, because I think we’ve shown what we can do,” Adams said. “When I went down, guys stepped up and did what they had to do. Stepped up big. I wouldn’t say it’s a need. Obviously, I’ve said this before, I don’t think it’s any secret that could help us potentially. I wouldn’t be opposed to it. It could help us. But I definitely got full faith and trust in my guys here to be able to get it done.”
As Demovsky notes, the Packers could be getting some reinforcement at the position, as receiver Allen Lazard could return this weekend. The 24-year-old had eight catches for 146 yards and one score in Week 3, but he’s been sidelined since undergoing core muscle surgery.
Some more trade notes from around the NFL:
- The Falcons were seeking a fourth-round pick for defensive end Takkarist McKinley, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (via Twitter). We heard last week that the former first-rounder was on the trade block, but the 25-year-old declared last night that he wasn’t going anywhere. McKinley has compiled only eight tackles and one sack in four games this season, and he hasn’t played more than 40-percent of his team’s defensive snaps since Week 1.
- After acquiring defensive end Yannick Ngakoue in a preseason trade with the Jaguars, the Vikings traded the veteran to the Ravens back in October. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the trade conditions from the conditional fifth-rounder that Minnesota sent Jacksonville still apply. That fifth-rounder will turn into a fourth-rounder if Ngakoue goes to the Pro Bowl (with the Ravens). It’s worth noting that the Vikings received a conditional fifth-rounder in their trade with Baltimore, and there’s a good chance that selection contains many of the same conditions.
- The pick the Dolphins received in the Isaiah Ford trade with the Patriots is a conditional sixth-rounder, tweets Jeff Howe of The Athletic. Howe adds that the pick could turn into a seventh-rounder if the conditions aren’t met.
- The conditional fifth-round pick that the Saints sent the 49ers in the Kwon Alexander trade has a bit more intrigue. The MMQB’s Albert Breer tweets that it’s a 2022 pick that’s heading to San Francisco, although that could turn into a 2021 selection based on “play-time markers.”
- Cowboys receiver Michael Gallup was presumably never on the block, as VP Stephen Jones said last week that the organization wouldn’t be trading the 24-year-old (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota on Twitter). Following a breakout 2019 campaign, Gallup has disappointed a bit in 2020, hauling in 26 receptions for 432 yards and one score through eight games (seven starts).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/3/20
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DE Daniel Wise
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed CB Brian Allen
- Released: LB Kendall Donnerson
Green Bay Packers
- Released: TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DE Gerri Green
- Released: DE Breeland Speaks
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Jake Gervase
- Released: LB Daniel Bituli
Miami Dolphins
- Released: DB Cordrea Tankersley
New York Jets
- Signed: DB Elijah Campbell, LB Sharif Finch, S Saquan Hampton
- Placed on IR: WR D.J. Montgomery
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: WR Marcus Green
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: LB Michael Divinity, LB Mychal Kendricks
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/20
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Terrell Bonds, LB Tyus Bowser, DB DeShon Elliott, LB L.J. Fort, LB Malik Harrison, LB Matt Judon, LB Patrick Queen
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: OT Lachavious Simmons
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OG Germain Ifedi, OT Jason Spriggs
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: TE Jake Butt
Detroit Lions
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jarrad Davis
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers (from Titans): DT Isaiah Mack
- Placed on IR: TE Devin Asiasi
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: S Adrian Colbert
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: LB Bryce Hager, S Bennett Jackson
- Released: OL Jimmy Murray
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DL Jullian Taylor
Tennessee Titans
- Released: LS Beau Brinkley
Titans To Release LB Vic Beasley
The Titans have apparently seen enough out of linebacker Vic Beasley. The team announced that they’ll be cutting the veteran on Wednesday.
While Beasley hadn’t even been with the Titans for a full year, his stint in Tennessee was still plenty tumultuous. He inked a one-year deal containing $9.5MM in guaranteed money back in March, but he was placed on the Titans’ reserve/did not report during training camp. He eventually reported in mid-August, but there was never a true explanation for his no-show. Plus, while the two sides reiterated that they had been in contact throughout his absence, the Titans were also clear that the truancy was unexcused.
That wasn’t the end of things. Beasley subsequently failed his physical was placed on the PUP list, and he was finally activated by the Titans in early September. He made his debut in Week 3 for Tennessee, but he’s mostly played in a platoon role; his season-high in defensive snaps played was this past weekend against the Bengals. In total, the 28-year-old’s Titans career will end with only three tackles and one forced fumble in five games played.
Following a standout career at Clemson, the Falcons made Beasley the eighth-overall pick in the 2015 draft. The linebacker’s tenure with the Falcons was a bit trick-or-treat; after playing a giant role in the Falcons winning the NFC Championship in 2016 (15.5 sacks, six forced fumbles), he combined for only 10 sacks between the 2017 and 2018 campaign. There’s a chance a rival team ends up taking a chance on the 28-year-old; a team would owe him only $1.85MM of his remaining 2020 salary, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
It’s been a busy few days for the Titans. The organization cut cornerback Johnathan Joseph earlier today, and they acquired cornerback/return specialist Desmond King in a trade with the Chargers yesterday.