Rams Rework OL Rob Havenstein’s Contract
The Rams have opened some much-needed cap space. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that offensive lineman Rob Havenstein has agreed to restructure his contract.
Specifically, the Rams converted $3.84MM of Havenstein’s salary into a bonus. The team also added three void years to the deal. Overall, the move saved the organization $3.072MM against the cap. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the team previously had about $150K in cap space, so this will provide the front office with some necessary breathing room.
Rapoport also adds that the Rams have used in-season restructurings to move about $48.222MM to future seasons. Teams generally shuffle around cap space as they look to make promotions and midseason signings, but Los Angeles has taken it to another level as they look to contend for a championship.
Havenstein was a 2015 second-round pick by the Rams, and he’s spent his entire career with the organization. The veteran has started all 90 of his regular season appearances, and he’s appeared in 100 percent of his team’s offensive snaps through the first six weeks of the season. The 29-year-old inked a four-year, $32MM extension with the Rams in 2018.
Texans Place Terrence Brooks On IR
Terrence Brooks will be out for at least the next three weeks. The Texans placed the veteran safety/special teamer on IR today.
The 29-year-old suffered a lung contusion during Sunday’s loss to the Colts, necessitating overnight medical supervision. Per Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle, Brooks suffered the injury during the first quarter, and he exited the game and didn’t return.
Brooks, who has collected more special teams snaps than defensive snaps in 2021, actually got the start at safety last weekend, collecting one tackle before exiting the game. Lonnie Johnson and former starter Eric Murray will likely take the open starting spot.
Brooks was a third-round pick by the Ravens back in 2014, and while he’s never been a household name, he’s managed to put together an eight-year career. The veteran has seen time in 100 career games (with, incredibly, only four starts), and he’s spent time with the Ravens, Eagles, Jets, Patriots, and Texans.
OL Brandon Knight Stepping Away From NFL
The Ravens claimed offensive tackle Brandon Knight earlier this week, but the team subsequently placed him on the reserve/did not report list. Well, the 24-year-old revealed tonight that he’s temporarily stepping away from the game.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Baltimore Ravens for allowing me another opportunity to play the game I’ve always loved,” Knight said in a statement (via Twitter). “As of now, I’ve decided to take a break from football to address my mental health. Although it was a difficult decision, it was a necessary one to be back home with my family. I look forward to returning next season.”
The former Indiana lineman joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He ended up appearing in seven games as a rookie, getting one start. He saw even more responsibility in 2020, starting nine of his 13 games.
However, Knight only saw time in one game this season, garnering four snaps. He was waived by the organization last week.
The Ravens had to reverse course on their waiver claim, and they ended up pivoting to veteran offensive lineman James Carpenter. The team has been hunting for offensive line help since All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley opted to go under the knife this week, ruling him out for the rest of the year.
Lions OT Taylor Decker Might Not Return This Season
Taylor Decker‘s finger injury could knock him out for the season. Lions coach Dan Campbell said his starting left tackle is still experiencing hand discomfort and might not see the field in 2021.
“There’s a chance (we could shut him down),” Campbell said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I mean, really we’ve only got another two-week window here on it since we started his clock so we’re going to have to figure something out within the next couple weeks on it, one way or another whether he’s on the roster, activated, ready to go or if not, we have to put him down for the rest of the season. It’ll come. I really, I don’t know where this is going to go short-term. I don’t. I really don’t right now. I mean, we’ll just have to see how he feels.”
Decker was placed on IR just before Week 1 with a hand injury. He returned to practice earlier this month, providing some optimism that he’d be back with the Lions sooner than later. However, the 21-day countdown to November 3rd continues to tick, and it sounds like Decker might not be activated by that time.
The 2016 first-round pick has been especially durable in recent years, only missing a single game over the past three seasons. The 28-year-old started all 16 games in 2020, appearing on all 1,046 of the team’s offensive snaps.
With Decker sidelined, had continued to roll with No. 7 overall pick Penei Sewell at left tackle. The rookie was expected to transition to a right tackle role with the Lions,despite having lined up on the left side at Oregon.
Colts Restructure WR T.Y. Hilton’s Contract
The Colts have opened up a chunk of cap space. The team restructured the contract of wide receiver T.Y. Hilton today, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
The veteran wideout inked a new one-year, $8MM deal with the Colts this past offseason, and today’s move will save the organization around $2.3MM in cap space. Per Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star (on Twitter), the team converted some of Hilton’s base salary into a signing bonus while adding a void year.
The Colts placed Hilton on IR before Week 1, and he underwent surgery after suffering a neck injury in practice. The 31-year-old returned to the field last weekend, hauling in all four of his targets for 80 yards. Four wide receivers (Parris Campbell, JJ Nelson, Quartney Davis, and Dezmon Patmon) are sitting on injured reserve, so Hilton’s return came at the perfect time.
The veteran hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2018, but he’ll still provide Carson Wentz with a reliable target. Hilton finished the 2020 campaign with 56 receptions for 762 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games.
Texans Talked Deshaun Watson Trades With Eagles, Panthers
We heard earlier today that the Dolphins were in serious talks with the Texans about a trade for quarterback Deshaun Watson, but they’re certainly not the only suitor. Jeff Howe and Aaron Reiss of The Athletic report that the Texans have also talked trade with the Eagles and Panthers.
This isn’t the first time these two teams have been connected to Watson. The Panthers were mentioned as a potential landing spot early in the offseason, but it was assumed their interest had cooled following the acquisition of Sam Darnold. Following a hot start to the season, Darnold has thrown six interceptions in three-straight Panthers losses. It’s uncertain when the Panthers spoke with the Texans, but it’d make sense if the front office is starting to (once again) rethink their status at QB.
The Eagles have continually been connected to Watson, even through the start of the season. While heard recently that Philly wasn’t in contention for the QB, it’s been a common theme for the Eagles to alternate interest and non-interest in the Texans signal-caller. Former second-round pick Jalen Hurts continues to start for the Eagles, and he’s tossed eight touchdowns vs. only four interceptions despite a 2-4 start.
Meanwhile, Howe and Reiss have additional details on Miami’s interest in Watson, noting that a deal doesn’t appear to be imminent. A few sources told The Athletic that it’s common for “teams to drum up interest in a player” prior to the deadline, so this could ultimately just be an effort from the Texans.
So far, Texans GM Nick Caserio has warded off suitors with a skyhigh asking price — three first-rounders and two second-round picks (or, two starting-caliber players). He’s also been unwilling to accept conditional choices tied to Watson’s availability, but it’s possible that he’ll bend in order to stock up for the 2022 draft and move on from the Watson mess.
QB Case Keenum To Start For Browns Tomorrow
Baker Mayfield will officially miss his first game since taking over as the Browns starting quarterback in 2018. The Browns announced that they’ll be without their starting QB tomorrow against the Broncos. Cleveland will have backup Case Keenum under center.
Keenum will have a chance to start against his former team, as the veteran started all 16 games for Denver back in 2018. He went 1-7 in eight starts with Washington in 2019, but he still got a three-year, $18MM deal from the Browns in 2020. In one-plus seasons with the team, the 33-year-old has seen time in four games, completing six of his 13 pass attempts for 52 yards.
“We have full confidence in him to lead us and do the things necessary to put us in position to win,” coach Kevin Stefanski said of Keenum. “Baker fought really hard to play, he’s a competitor and obviously wants to be out there but just couldn’t make it on a short week. We know he will continue to do everything in his power to return as quickly as possible.”
Mayfield suffered a shoulder injury back in mid-September, but he’s continued to play through the injury. He aggravated the injury during the Browns’ loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, and ESPN’s Jake Trotter writes that Mayfield was advised not to play by both team doctors and his own personal doctor.
Earlier this week, Mayfield clarified that he wouldn’t see the field if he ever thought he’d be hurting his team’s chances.
“Only I know how my body feels,” Mayfield said (via Trotter). “If anyone questions whether I am hindering the team and going out there injured, that’s just not right. It’s my decision. I get to say whether I am able to play or not, and that’s just how it is.”
Eagles S K’Von Wallace, TE Tyree Jackson Return To Practice
The Eagles are about to get some reinforcement. Tight end Tyree Jackson and safety K’Von Wallace returned to practice today, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The two players now have 21 days to be activated to the 53-man roster.
Wallace was a fourth-round pick by the Eagles in 2020, and he ended up seeing time in 15 games (three starts) as a rookie. He started two of the Eagles first three games in 2021, collecting six tackles. He separated his shoulder in Week 3 and subsequently landed on injured reserve.
Jackson was a QB during his collegiate career at Buffalo, and he had a short stint with the Bills during the 2019 preseason. After spending some time in the XFL, Jackson joined the Eagles on a reserve/futures contract. Philly intends to convert the 23-year-old to tight end, and Rapoport notes that the organization has high hopes for the player. He fractured a bone in his back toward the end of the preseason, and he’s sat on IR for the entire 2021 campaign.
Now, he’ll have a chance to join a depth chart that recently lost Zach Ertz thanks to a trade with the Cardinals. The Eagles will eventually have Dallas Goedert back as the starter, but the team’s only other tight end at the moment is Jack Stoll.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/20/21
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: FB Nick Ralston
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Chris Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL John Molchon
- Released: WR Travis Jonsen
Seahawks Claim QB Jacob Eason
Jacob Eason has found his next job. After getting waived yesterday by the Colts, the quarterback has been claimed by the Seahawks, reports ESPN’s Brady Henderson (via Twitter).
The Seahawks have been sniffing around for some reinforcement at quarterback following Russell Wilson‘s placement on IR. Geno Smith will continue to sit atop the depth chart, and Eason will temporarily serve as his backup. Seattle is also rostering Jake Luton and Danny Etling on their practice squad.
Eason found himself on the outside looking in during his time in Indy. He was already the third-stringer QB behind Carson Wentz and Brett Hundley, and the team decided to move on from the 2020 fourth-round pick after activating 2021 sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger from IR.
Eason had a breakout college campaign in 2019, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,132 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions after transferring from Georgia to Washington. He made his NFL debut in Week 2, completing two of his five pass attempts for 25. He also tossed an interception.