Minor NFL Transactions: 11/4/19
Here are today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: LB Tyrel Dodson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Bradley Sowell
- Waived: OLB James Vaughters
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers (from Bills): DT Kyle Peko
- Waived: DT Carl Davis
Falcons To Sign P Ryan Allen
Having not punted since his strong Super Bowl LIII performance, Ryan Allen will receive an opportunity with the Falcons. The veteran agreed to terms on a deal with Atlanta on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Allen will become fifth Falcons punter this season. The last-place NFC South team will exit its bye week with new personnel at kicker and punter, with Younghoe Koo having replaced Matt Bryant recently as well.
The Patriots released Allen after he lost a punting battle with rookie Jake Bailey. Allen will become the Falcons’ fifth punter this season, following Matt Bosher, Matt Wile, Sam Irwin-Hill and Kasey Redfern. Bosher had been the Falcons’ punter for most of this decade. He’s currently on IR. Irwin-Hill did not see game action for the Falcons, but Bosher Wile and Redfern each punted in at least two games.
A UDFA out of Louisiana Tech, Allen spent six seasons with the Patriots. Allen averaged 45.1 yards per punt last season and will now play in some dome games as he attempts to retain another NFL gig. He joins Koo as a recent Patriots to make the move to Georgia.
Dan Quinn Won’t Be Fired During Bye Week
Dan Quinn‘s job is safe… for now. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport report (via Twitter) that the Falcons head coach won’t be fired during the bye week. Quinn will presumably be on the sideline for Atlanta’s Week 10 matchup against the Saints.
Last month, owner Arthur Blank didn’t give a definitive answer when asked if the team would make any changes during the bye week. As Garafolo points out, Blank has been especially supportive of Quinn, although that could partly be attributed to the fallout that followed the firing of their last head coach, Mike Smith.
Even if Quinn is safe for now, unless the Falcons have some miraculous turnaround, there’s little chance the head coach sticks with the team next season. Garafolo says that many people believe Quinn will ultimately be fired, especially after the team didn’t respond to the overhaul of the coaching staff this past offseason.
Atlanta’s defense, which is supposedly Quinn’s specialty, has been non-existent, and it’s currently ranked near the bottom of the league in just about every defensive category, allowing almost 400 yards of total offense per game. The Falcons lost their sixth straight game last weekend, dropping them to 1-7.
Quinn is currently in his fifth season and most notably led Atlanta to the Super Bowl after the 2016 regular season. The Falcons posted a 10-6 record the following year, which was the last time Atlanta finished the season above .500 and/or went to the postseason.
More NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: QB Danny Etling
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: T Victor Salako
- Released: LB Nate Hall
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB James Vaughters
- Placed on injured list: LB Fadol Brown
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Casey Tucker
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Evan Baylis, WR Darrius Shepherd
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Jordan Brown
- Released: LB Sutton Smith
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: T Tyree St. Louis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Darrin Hall
- Released: TE Kevin Rader
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Codey McElroy
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kareem Orr
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DE Carroll Phillips
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Cut: P Kasey Redfern
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Tremon Smith
- Cut: WR Darrius Shepherd, TE Evan Baylis
New England Patriots
- Cut: TE Eric Tomlinson
New Orleans Saints
- Cut: CB Ken Crawley
New York Jets
- Signed: LB B.J Bello, DB Arthur Maulet
- Placed on IR: LB Albert McClellan
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: LB Justin Phillips
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: G Jordan Roos
Falcons, Lions Discussed Devonta Freeman Trade
The Falcons and Lions discussed a Devonta Freeman trade, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Lions inquired on the running back, and the two sides spoke at length, but the Falcons ultimately decided against parting with him. 
A former fourth-round pick, Freeman became the Falcons’ starter in his second season and made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2015 and 2016. Then, in 2017, the Falcons signed him to a five-year, $41.25MM extension.
Freeman lost the bulk of 2018 due to injury and he hasn’t looked like his old self thus far in 2019. In eight games, Freeman has averaged just 3.4 yards per carry. Through the air, he’s got 35 catches for 272 yards and three scores.
Then again, the entire Falcons offense seems to be sagging. The Lions are among the many Freeman believers out there, but, ultimately, they could not come to terms on a would-be blockbuster.
The Falcons are still optimistic about Freeman, but they’re also realistic about the financial constraints. The 27-year-old’s signing bonuses are on the books through 2021 and that’s a serious barrier to moving on from him.
Falcons Cut Matt Bryant, Sign Younghoe Koo
Matt Bryant‘s second stint as the Falcons’ kicker is over. The Falcons have released the longtime veteran, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Atlanta worked out kickers Younghoe Koo and Elliott Fry yesterday, foreshadowing this move. Shortly after we heard Bryant was getting released, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted that the team is indeed signing Koo. Bryant spent ten years as the Falcons’ kicker from 2009-18, then was cut after last season. He spent all summer as a free agent, then was re-signed right before the start of the season when Giorgio Tavecchio and Blair Walsh struggled during the preseason.
Bryant is 44 and has been one of the league’s most recognizable kickers for the better part of two decades. After originally spending some time in the AFL and NFL Europe in the early 2000’s, he was finally able to latch on with the Giants. Bryant has already missed five field goals and an extra point this season, and this is likely the end of the road for him. In Atlanta’s Week 6 loss to the Cardinals, he missed a crucial extra point late in the game as the Falcons ended up losing by a single point.
Koo started the 2017 season off as the Chargers’ kicker, but was quickly released after missing a few clutch kicks. He has bounced around soon, including a stint in the AAF, and was on the Patriots’ practice squad earlier this season. Koo, the South Korean native who played his college ball at Georgia Southern, is definitely talented and a worthwhile flyer for a rebuilding Falcons team.
Matt Ryan To Return After Bye
It doesn’t sound like Matt Ryan will be out for long. Falcons coach Dan Quinn said the veteran quarterback will start when the team returns from a bye in Week 10 (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). The coach also said Ryan would likely play this weekend if the team had a game.
With the Falcons sitting at 1-7, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Falcons were a bit cautious with Ryan. On the flip side, the organization gave the quarterback more than $100MM in guaranteed money last year, and the veteran has still been plenty productive this season.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/28/19
Here are today’s workout updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- K Elliott Fry, K Younghoe Koo
Chicago Bears
- DE Alex Barrett, DE Quinton Bell, OT Dino Boyd, DE Eli Harold
Houston Texans
- DB Anthony Chesley, DT Eddie Vanderdoes
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DL Willie Henry, DT Stacy McGee, DT Jamie Meder, DT Adolphus Washington
New York Giants
- WR Alex Bachman
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: QB Danny Etling, CB D.J. White
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released from IR via injury settlement: RB Alfred Blue
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed: CB Xavier Crawford (from Texans)
New England Patriots
- Re-signed: QB Cody Kessler
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DT Bruce Hector