NFC West Notes: Cardinals, Harbaugh, Rams
Here’s the latest from the NFC West as the Seahawks get set to take on Washington..
- Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians says that if a quarterback is added, he wants someone familiar with his offense and protection schemes, writes Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (via Twitter). We learned earlier today that Arizona is holding off on possibly going out-of-house for a quarterback since Drew Stanton and Carson Palmer could technically be cleared for this week.
- 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh says that he had a “good talk” with CEO Jed York this morning about the public speculation on his job security, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Meanwhile, Harbaugh asked the media not to ask his players about him or how well he is supported, saying that it’s not the responsibility of his players to go to bat for him.
- Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said the team will work out several linebackers on Tuesday, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Fisher also noted that practice squad LB Denicos Allen is under consideration for promotion.
Minor Moves: Monday
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here….
- The Packers will welcome back offensive lineman Jordan McCray on their practice squad, according to the FXFL’s Twitter account. Wes Hodkiewicz of the Press Gazette (on Twitter) notes that the Packers had a spot open on the practice squad, so no corresponding move is necessary.
- The Giants have promoted running back Michael Cox from their practice squad to their 53-man roster, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. The move provides some backfield insurance, with Rashad Jennings expected to be sidelined through the team’s Week 8 bye.
- After seeing another center go down with an injury, the Chargers are set to sign center Trevor Robinson off the Bengals’ practice squad, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). San Diego opened up a roster spot today by placing Doug Legursky on the injured reserve list, as noted below.
- The Rams have waived linebacker Ray Ray Armstrong, who had been a key contributor on the special teams unit, tweets Brian McIntyre.
Earlier updates:
- Wideout Kevin Dorsey has been promoted to the Packers‘ 53-man roster from their practice squad, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Former Utah State defensive back Tay Glover-Wright is taking Dorsey’s spot on the taxi squad, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link).
- The Saints have waived 2014 fourth-round pick Khairi Fortt, a source tells Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com (Twitter link). It’s a somewhat surprising move, since Fortt hasn’t really had an opportunity to play yet, and his release won’t open up a roster spot, since the club had used its injured reserve/designated to return spot on him.
- Safety Jakar Hamilton was activated today by the Cowboys, who waived linebacker Keith Smith to make room on the 53-man roster, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. The team previously had a roster exemption for Hamilton, who missed the season’s first four weeks due to a suspension.
- The Dolphins have made a series of moves, signing wide receiver Damian Williams to their 53-man roster and waiving running back Orleans Darkwa to make room (Twitter link). The team also announced that the roster exemption for previously-suspended safety Reshad Jones has been lifted, meaning he’s now officially a part of the 53-man roster (Twitter link).
- Linebacker Marcus Benard has re-signed with the Cardinals, per Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Benard was initially signed during John Abraham‘s absence from the team, and now takes the place of Matt Shaughnessy, who was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return today.
- In a surprising transaction, the Packers have parted ways with tight end Ryan Taylor, who hasn’t been a huge part of the club’s passing game since being drafted in the seventh round in 2011, but has been with the team since then and contributed on special teams. Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has the details on the move, which brings the Packers’ roster count down to 52.
- The Chargers have lost another center, announcing today (via Twitter) that Doug Legursky is heading to injured reserve with a knee injury. Longtime San Diego center Nick Hardwick was previously placed on IR with an injury of his own.
- Cornerback Brandon Browner and wideout Brian Tyms are both being formally activated by the Patriots, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). To make room for the duo, whose roster exemptions expire today, the Pats had to cut a pair of players — Shalisa Manza Young of the Boston Globe initially reported that defensive lineman Joe Vellano would be one of the two to go (Twitter link), and the team has since announced that defensive lineman Michael Buchanan is the other. Vellano has been waived, while Buchanan was placed on IR.
- The Eagles have made a change to their practice squad, cutting wide receiver Cobi Hamilton and replacing him with safety Jordan Kovacs, the team announced today (Twitter link).
- The Giants are releasing Trindon Holliday from IR, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). The veteran kick returner was placed on IR in August with a hamstring injury.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Cards To Put Matt Shaughnessy On IR-DTR
A defensive unit that has been decimated by injuries and suspensions this year took another significant blow this weekend, as the Cardinals will be without linebacker Matt Shaughnessy for an extended period. Head coach Bruce Arians confirmed today that Shaughnessy suffered knee cartilage damage, and will be placed on the injured reserve with the designation to return, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.
The Cardinals’ linebacking corps took its first hit in the offseason when Karlos Dansby left for Cleveland. Since then, the club has also lost Daryl Washington to a year-long suspension and placed John Abraham on injured reserve after he suffered a concussion.
It’s not just the linebacker position where the Cardinals are shorthanded — already dealing with a season-ending injury for Darnell Dockett, the club saw defensive end Calais Campbell go down with a knee injury of his own on Sunday. According to Arians (per Somers, via Twitter), Campbell didn’t suffer a tear, but sprained his MCL and will be sidelined for one to three weeks.
As for Shaughnessy, the designation to return means he’ll be eligible to resume practicing six weeks from now, and can return to game action in eight weeks. For the full breakdown of how teams have used that IR-DTR slot this year, be sure to check out our tracker.
NFC Notes: Lions, Harbaugh, Cards, Eagles
After cutting Alex Henery, the Lions are in the market for a new kicker (again) and there aren’t a ton of options out there outside of Jay Feely and Matt Prater, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Other available names include Giorgio Tavecchio, Derek Dimke, and 38-year-old Neil Rackers, while Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link) mentions veterans Connor Barth, Rian Lindell, and Garrett Hartley as other possibilities.
With Feely, Prater, and Barth all set to audition for Detroit on Tuesday, let’s round up a few more notes on the Lions’ kicking options, as well as other updates from around the NFC:
- As Feely prepares to try out for the Lions, he’s helped by the fact that punter Sam Martin handles kickoffs for Detroit, tweets Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Martin is one of a few punters to handle kickoff duty in the NFL and that means Feely will only be needed for his strength: Nailing field goals.
- Some Lions fans have wondered aloud if Jason Hanson would entertain the idea of coming out of retirement, but Hanson’s agent tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that his client is done playing football.
- As reports of tension between 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and his players continue to pile up, many in the locker room came to his defense after yesterday’s 22-17 win over the Chiefs, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “There’s really been no drama. It’s all been created by you guys (media), something to talk about. We seriously don’t think about that, talk about that, give that any thought. . . . We don’t care,” said left tackle Joe Staley. Kicker Phil Dawson and quarterback Colin Kaepernick also showed their support for Harbaugh.
- 49ers CEO Jed York issued yet another denial of reports that Harbaugh will be out of a job even if the team wins the Super Bowl this year. “It’s categorically not true,” York told DIRECTV’s Rich Eisen, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. York acknowledged that Harbaugh can sometimes rub people the wrong way, but also said that the coach and GM Trent Baalke “work fairly well together.”
- Cardinals general manager Steve Keim says that he won’t be adding another quarterback yet, writes Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. In theory, both Drew Stanton and Carson Palmer could be ready for the Redskins this week. The team will determine the status of both in the next day or two and go from there.
- The Eagles emphasized upgrading special teams in the offseason and yesterday was proof they accomplished that, writes Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Eagles’ first score on Sunday came on a blocked punt and they have four special-teams touchdowns this season, including one in each of the last three games.
Injury Updates: Sunday
Here are some injuries that occurred during Sunday’s game action:
- Chargers‘ center Doug Legursky left the blowout victory over the Jets with a knee injury, and Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego reports that he will likely be out much longer (via Twitter).
- The Jets also lost a key member of their team, with linebacker David Harris suffering a shoulder injury, reports Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter). He will undergo an MRI tomorrow.
- Calais Campbell‘s injury reported earlier was an MCL injury, and will keep him out between three and four weeks, reports Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter).
Earlier Updates:
- Saints‘ star tight end Jimmy Graham suffered a sprained shoulder during the team’s overtime victory against the Buccaneers earlier today. The team is going into their bye week, which should give the All-Pro pass catcher time to recover. Graham hopes to return to the field the following week against the Lions.
- Titans‘ safety Bernard Pollard left the locker room using crutches, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean (via Twitter). The team fears that he has torn his achilles, writes Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk. Pollard will have an MRI on Monday.
- Titans‘ starting quarterback Jake Locker has also faced an injury, being forced out of the team’s loss at the hands of the Browns. Locker injured his thumb in the game, and while X-rays were negative, he will have an MRI on Monday, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.
- Giants‘ running back Rashad Jennings is set to have an MRI on his knee tomorrow, but believes the injury is not serious, according to Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
- There have been a number of injuries for the Cardinals during their matchup against the Broncos. Starting quarterback Drew Stanton, who was already filling in for an injured Carson Palmer, has been forced out of the game with a concussion, reports Mark Dalton of the Arizona Cardinals (via Twitter). Rookie Logan Thomas has replaced him in the game. The team does not have an emergency quarterback left on their roster. Defensive end Calais Campbell has also been removed from the game with a knee injury, reports Lindsay Jones of USA Today (via Twitter).
- The Broncos have not been unscathed so far, losing running back Montee Ball to a groin injury, reports Chris Cwik of CBS Sports.
- The Chargers have also experienced some key injuries despite building a big lead over the Jets. Tackle D.J. Fluker and receiver Malcolm Floyd have both left the game with lower leg injuries, and failed to return, reports Eric Williams of ESPN (via Twitter). Running back Donald Brown also left the game with a concussion, writes Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter).
NFC Notes: Harbaugh, Orton, Palmer, Johnson
Amid numerous reports of discontent in the 49ers locker room stemming from head coach Jim Harbaugh’s management style, the team’s owner has taken to social media to dispute the claims. “Jim is my coach,” said Jed York on Twitter. “We are trying to win a [Super Bowl], not a personality or popularity contest. Any more questions?” Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported earlier today that there is “no way” Harbaugh returns to San Francisco in 2015, even if the team wins the Super Bowl. Until Harbaugh agrees to a contract extension, York & Co. will be forced to continue to respond to queries on their coach’s status. Let’s look at more from the NFC.
- Among the reasons that new Bills starter Kyle Orton left the Cowboys was that his relationship with Tony Romo was “untenable,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Around the League). Ed Werder of ESPN reported (via Twitter) much of the same last week, noting that Orton “hated the offensive power struggle.”
- Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, out since Week 1, has been working with a nerve specialist and has shown some improvement, per Glazer (on Twitter). Arizona is hopeful Palmer can return to the field by Week 6 or 7.
- Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson was arrested for trespassing and disorderly conduct last night, tweets James Monical of KSTP in Minneapolis.
NFC Mailbags: Fitzgerald, Suh, Murray
It’s Saturday morning, and that means a fresh batch of NFL mailbags from ESPN’s writers. Let’s start off with notes from the NFC…
- When asked about the prospects of Brian Orakpo, Brandon Meriweather and Perry Riley returning to the Redskins next season, John Keim says that he’d be surprised if more than one of the group returns. Riley is signed for 2015, but cutting him could save the team $3MM.
- Josh Weinfuss believes the Cardinals will “consider all the possible options” in regards to trading Larry Fitzgerald after the season.
- Following news that Ndamukong Suh would like to play in New York, Dan Graziano writes that it might be difficult for the Giants to add the defensive tackle. The team is prepared to hand large contracts to Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul, and the writer also notes that the team hasn’t shown a willingness to spend at that position.
- Even with DeMarco Murray‘s incredible start to the season, Todd Archer still doesn’t think that the Cowboys should extend him to a “crazy” offer. The writer suggests a contract worth $4MM annually.
NFC West Notes: Harbaugh, McDonald, Palmer
Seth Wickersham of ESPN The Magazine attempted to delve into the psyche and unusual methods of 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Despite his immense success, Harbaugh may be grating on some in the locker room and the front office and Wickersham’s entertaining read gives some insight as to why that might be. Here’s more out of the NFC West..
- San Jose investigators have forwarded their findings about 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald‘s August arrest to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office, as Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee writes. The 49ers have allowed McDonald to play despite the allegations against him but reports indicate that they will sever ties if his account of the event differ from what is unearthed by local authorities.
- Carson Palmer suffered a setback last week that resulted in him seeking a second opinion on the damaged nerve in his right shoulder. However, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com, the Cardinals aren’t currently considering placing the veteran quarterback on injured reserve, even with the designation to return.
- The Rams are working out former Southern Utah kicker/punter Brock Miller, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
Minor Moves: Wednesday
Here are the latest practice squad signings and cuts from around the league, as well as minor 53-man roster transactions, with any additional moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- The Texans signed cornerbacks Charles James, a Charleston Southern product, and Kendall James, a Maine product, to their practice squad, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Chargers pulled a reverse of Monday’s move, re-signing defensive tackle Chas Alecxih to the practice squad and releasing safety Adrian Phillips, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (on Twitter).
- The Bears have signed kick returner Teddy Williams off the Cardinals’ practice squad, the team announced today (via Twitter). Williams had been listed as a cornerback for Arizona, but the Bears call him a receiver — teams have tried him at both positions, but the 26-year-old’s primary asset is his speed. To make room for Williams, the Bears have cut linebacker Terrell Manning.
- Meanwhile, the Cardinals replaced Williams on their practice squad with former fourth-round wideout Jalen Saunders, who was waived by the Jets this week, tweets Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com.
Earlier updates:
- Running back Lache Seastrunk, who was drafted by the Redskins and spent time on the Panthers’ practice squad, has signed with the Titans‘ practice squad, the club announced today (Twitter link). Seastrunk will fill the 10th and final opening on the unit.
- Wideout Kevin Cone and tight end Taylor Sloat have replaced linebacker Carlos Fields and tight end Ian Thompson on the Buccaneers‘ practice squad, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (Twitter link). With Mike Evans expected to be sidelined for at least a couple weeks, Cone could be considered for the 53-man roster at some point, particularly if any other Tampa Bay wideouts are injured this weekend.
- As part of their practice squad shuffling, the Dolphins removed defensive end Gerald Rivers from the squad, tweets Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Cardinals Re-Sign Desmond Bishop
11:03am: The Cardinals have officially signed Bishop, according to the team (Twitter link).
10:06am: The Cardinals are set to re-sign free agent linebacker Desmond Bishop, a league source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Agent Doug Hendrickson hinted at a new deal for his client earlier today, tweeting, “Big congrats to @Desbishop55 let’s get it!”
Bishop, 30, spent the first six years of his NFL career in Green Bay, emerging as one of the team’s starting linebackers in 2010 and 2011. The former sixth-round pick racked up more than 100 tackles in each of those seasons, totaling eight sacks, 10 passes defended, and four forced fumbles in those two combined years. However, a ruptured hamstring cost him the 2012 season, paving the way for his departure to the Vikings. After appearing in four contests for Minnesota last season, Bishop suffered another season-ending injury, tearing his ACL.
The Cardinals signed Bishop to a contract in August, but cut him last month on the Saturday before the team’s Week 1 game. He has been busy since then, trying out for the Chiefs, Jets, and Dolphins before ultimately landing back with Arizona.
Bishop’s new deal is for one year, according to Getlin (via Twitter). He’ll assume the roster spot vacated by fellow linebacker Victor Butler, who was dropped by the Cards yesterday.