49ers Waive WR Dante Pettis
Dante Pettis‘ disappointing tenure with the 49ers has come to an end. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that San Francisco is waiving the wide receiver. The 49ers made the move after “trying and failing to trade” the former second-rounder.
It’s not a huge surprise that Pettis was on the trade block. After all, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that the team was shopping the wideout last month. Shanahan seemed to somewhat walk back those comments after the 49ers had suffered a handful of receiver injuries, but it was still clear that Pettis probably wasn’t going to stick around San Francisco long term.
Other teams apparently weren’t willing to give up even a conditional draft pick for Pettis, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t find another gig. As Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel points out on Twitter, it’ll only cost a team around $264K in cap space to claim the receiver, so there’s a chance that Pettis may not even hit free agency.
The Washington product was a second-round pick (No. 44) by the 49ers in 2018. He had a solid rookie campaign, hauling in 27 catches for 467 yards and five scores in 12 games (seven starts). He saw time in 11 games (four starts) in 2019, but his production plummeted, as he finished with 11 catches for 109 yards and two scores.
Pettis had basically been phased out of the 49ers offense in 2020. While he’s appeared in five games (one start), he’s mostly appeared on special teams (collecting two punt returns, one kick return, and a lost fumble). He appeared in 73-percent of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 1, but other than three offensive snaps in Week 8, Pettis hasn’t appeared on offense since September.
Titans Cut CB Johnathan Joseph
The Titans have released cornerback Johnathan Joseph, per a club announcement. The 36-year-old cornerback will now be free to sign with any club. 
Joseph agreed to a one-year deal with the Titans earlier this year, making him the NFL’s oldest corner in the 2020 season. The expectation was that Joseph could be a contributor, alongside fellow top Tennessee corners Malcolm Butler, Adoree’ Jackson, and second-round pick Kristian Fulton. At a $2MM salary, he was significantly cheaper than what Logan Ryan was seeking. Ultimately, he couldn’t match Ryan’s value.
Joseph played his lowest percentage of Houston’s defensive snaps last season, dropping to 58% after being a full-time player during his first eight seasons with the franchise. The Titans used him on 76% of their snaps this season, but his performance wasn’t up to snuff. Through seven games, Joseph logged 28 stops, one interception, one forced fumble, and four passes defensed.
Fun fact: Among active players, Joseph’s 32 interceptions trail only Richard Sherman‘s 35. As Sherman continues to sit on the 49ers’ IR list, Joseph could have a chance to leapfrog him, if he latches on elsewhere.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/20
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: OT Lachavious Simmons
- Placed on IR: RT Bobby Massie
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: TE Jason Croom
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: WR Dante Pettis
Jets GM: Adam Gase Is Part Of Solution
The Jets have a whole host of problems, but head coach Adam Gase isn’t among them, according to GM Joe Douglas. Gase, he says, is “part of the solution,” (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post). 
[RELATED: Latest On Darnold, Jets’ Plans]
Most Jets fans wouldn’t agree. The Jets are 0-8, mired in yet another lost season. Sunday’s game against the Chiefs was predictably brutal — the Jets lost by 26 points and did not manage a single touchdown. Making matters worse, starting quarterback Sam Darnold suffered a shoulder injury though, thankfully, his MRI did not reveal serious damage.
Things aren’t going to get much easier for Gase and Gang Green moving forward. Around the league, there’s little confidence that the Jets will keep Gase as their head coach, and increasing chatter about a potential plan to tank for Trevor Lawrence. At this rate, they’re looking at pretty great odds of landing the Clemson star, universally regarded as the top talent in the 2021 class. The Jets, of course, deny any tanking plans, but they look a sizable step towards the No. 1 pick this week by trading veteran linebacker Avery Williamson to the Steelers.
Cowboys To Bench Ben DiNucci
After his rough outing against the Eagles, the Cowboys will bench quarterback Ben DiNucci, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Instead, the Cowboys will allow Cooper Rush and Garrett Gilbert to compete for the top job in practice.
The Cowboys entered the season with one of the best starter/backup situations in the league. Then came Dak Prescott‘s injury, followed by Andy Dalton‘s concussion and COVID-19 diagnosis. That led the Cowboys to DiNucci, who is not quite ready for primetime.
A former UDFA out of Central Michigan, Rush spent three seasons with the Cowboys, spent a bit of time with the Giants, then returned to Dallas in late October. Rush has appeared in five games for the Cowboys, exclusively in a mop-up role. Gilbert, meanwhile, has no NFL starts to his credit — his only first-string pro experience came with the Orlando Apollos, a team in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.
Between the two, whoever emerges as the better option in practice this week will be the Cowboys’ starter against the Steelers on Sunday afternoon.
Ravens Place Ronnie Stanley On IR
It’s now official. On Tuesday, the Ravens placed star left tackle Ronnie Stanley on injured reserve. The surgery to repair his severe ankle injury will cost him the remainder of the year. 
It’s a brutal blow for a team that has relied heavily on Stanley to protect quarterback Lamar Jackson and keep the offense humming along. Up until the injury, Stanley was remarkable durable, and lucky. Between 2017 and 2019, Stanley started at least 14 games. Fortunately, he won’t have to worry about his financial security, thanks to his newly-inked five-year, $99MM deal.
Stanley was outstanding last season, earning First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Without him, the Ravens will turn to 2018 third-rounder Orlando Brown Jr., who is shifting from the right side to the left. Versatile veteran D.J. Fluker, meanwhile, is expected to man the RT spot.
In related news, the Ravens also placed rookie offensive lineman Tyre Phillips on IR with a hand injury. The issue kept Phillips out of the team’s Week 9 game and it’s not clear whether he’ll be able to return later this year. At minimum, he’ll be out for the next three games against the Colts, Patriots, and Titans.
Buccaneers Activate Antonio Brown
AB is officially set to debut for TB. On Tuesday, the Buccaneers activated Antonio Brown off of the reserve/suspended list. To make room, they’ve waived fellow wide receiver Cyril Grayson. 
[Poll: Will The Bucs Regret Signing Brown?]
Brown, who is currently bunking up with quarterback Tom Brady, has been drawing rave reviews in practice. Meanwhile, many in the football world have expressed skepticism about his potential impact in the locker room.
“Mark my words, it’s going to be a problem,” one executive familiar with Brown said recently. “You have no idea the stories we could tell you about this guy. Everything is a struggle. … There were plenty of valid reasons why [Arians] didn’t want anything to do with him a year ago. Unless this guy has completely reinvented himself, and done a complete turnaround, this is going to get ugly.”
Brown, 32, will just $1MM in base salary and bonuses, with the potential to make as much as $2.5MM. If the Bucs win the Super Bowl, AB will receive a $750K bonus, and he has three separate $250K bonuses for receptions, yards, and TD milestones. Those incentives are only in play if the Bucs reach the playoffs.
The Buccaneers advanced to 6-2 after edging out the Giants on Monday night. Brown’s new squad will fight to stay atop the NFC South this week when they take on the Saints, who are riding a four-game winning streak.
Chiefs Trade RB DeAndre Washington To Dolphins
The Chiefs have agreed to trade running back DeAndre Washington to the Dolphins, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. In exchange, Miami will send draft pick compensation to Kansas City.
[RELATED: Dolphins Trade Isaiah Ford To Patriots]
The Dolphins have been on the lookout for backfield help in recent weeks, as evidenced by their pursuit of Le’Veon Bell. Bell ultimately landed with the Chiefs, leaving the Dolphins to settle for one of his backups.
It’s not the ideal consolation prize, but Washington did flash ability as a rookie with the Raiders, when he averaged more than five yards per carry. And, last season, he gained 162 yards as he started in the Raiders’ final two games.
The 27-year-old will join an RB group that currently includes Myles Gaskin, Matt Breida, and Jordan Howard. Meanwhile, the Dolphins won’t have to do much roster juggling to accommodate him after sending wide receiver Isaiah Ford to the Patriots earlier today.
Bills Add Daryl Worley To Practice Squad
The Bills have signed cornerback Daryl Worley to the practice squad, per a club announcement. To make room, they dropped fellow corner Lafayette Pitts. 
Worley, a 6’1″ veteran defensive back, was most recently with the Cowboys. He notched 14 tackles and one pass defensed with Dallas, but the fifth-year pro is best known for his time with the Panthers and Raiders. All in all, he has five interceptions, 35 passes defensed, and 249 total tackles across his NFL career. Now, the Bills will have him on call as a taxi squad player.
Worley’s history with GM Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott likely played a role in the deal. This isn’t the first time that their affinity for ex-Panthers has influenced the roster. In the last year, they’ve also signed old pals Josh Norman, Mario Addison, Daryl Williams, Vernon Butler, and A.J. Klein.
At the time of his release from the Cowboys, Pro Football Focus slotted Worley as the No. 84 CB in the NFL, out of 119 full-timers.
Dolphins Trade Isaiah Ford To Patriots
The Dolphins have agreed to trade wide receiver Isaiah Ford to the Patriots, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. In exchange, the Patriots will send a 2022 seventh-rounder to Miami. 
[RELATED: Patriots Set High Asking Price For Stephon Gilmore]
The deal will provide Cam Newton with a big-bodied receiver, similar to one-time Panthers teammates Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess. The former seventh-round pick has quietly been a key contributor in Miami this year, catching 18 passes for 184 yards in seven games.
Some have speculated that the Patriots could turn into sellers at the deadline but Bill Belichick has dismissed such talk all week. Instead, the Patriots have swung a small, but still significant, deal to bolster the offense. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, it sounds like star cornerback Stephon Gilmore will be staying put. The Patriots haven’t dismissed inquiries outright, but they have set a sky-high asking price of a first-round pick, plus a player.