Eagles Promote RB Jordan Howard
When the Eagles take the field tomorrow against the Packers, they’ll be joined by a familiar face. Philadelphia has promoted veteran running back Jordan Howard from the practice squad, the team announced on Twitter. The Eagles have also promoted defensive tackle Raequan Williams.
Howard appeared in 10 games for the Eagles during the 2019 campaign, starting four of those contests. He ultimately finished the season having compiled 525 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 119 carries (good for 4.4 yards per carry), and that included an 87-yard, two-touchdown performance in a victory over Green Bay.
Howard signed a two-year, $9.75MM deal with the Dolphins this past offseason, but his brief stint in Miami proved to be underwhelming. The 26-year-old appeared in five games (three starts) for the Dolphins, running for 33 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries. He was released by the Dolphins in mid-November, and he quickly caught on with the Eagles practice squad.
Now, Howard will have an opportunity to reinsert himself into an inconsistent running back corps. The Eagles have turned to three running backs this season, including Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, and Corey Clement.
Williams joined the Eagles this offseason as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State. The 23-year-old made his NFL debut after being promoted to the active roster in Week 8.
Texans Activate RB David Johnson From IR
David Johnson should be back on the field tomorrow for the Texans. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that Houston is activating the veteran from injured reserve. The Texans are also promoting wideout Steven Mitchell from the practice squad.
Johnson suffered a concussion during his team’s Week 9 win over the Jaguars, landing him on injured reserve. Over the past three-plus games, the Texans have mostly leaned on pass-catching back Duke Johnson to lead their rushing attack, although C.J. Prosise started digging into those carries during Houston’s Thanksgiving-day win over the Lions.
Following a number of injury-filled campaigns, the Cardinals dealt Johnson to Houston this past offseason in the DeAndre Hopkins trade. While the 28-year-old has an All-Pro nod on his resume, he still hasn’t rebounded to the point of justifying the three-year, $39MM extension he signed with Arizona back in 2018.
In eight starts this season, Johnson has rushed for 408 yards and three touchdowns on 103 carries, good for only 4.0 yards per carry. Further, while Johnson used to be a force catching the ball (he had 80 receptions back in 2016), he’s only hauled in 16 catches for 161 yards and one score in 2020.
Mitchell, a former undrafted free agent out of USC, has spent most of his three-year career with the Texans organization. The 26-year-old has appeared in five career games (one start), hauling in two catches for 37 yards.
Free Agent LB Vontaze Burfict Arrested
Free agent linebacker Vontaze Burfict was arrested early this morning, according to a report from ESPN. The 30-year-old was reportedly arrested in Nevada on a misdemeanor battery charge.
Records from the Clark County Detention Center show that Burfict is being held on a $1,000 bond, and a hearing for his case is scheduled for Monday. As the ESPN report notes, “information about the incident” that led to the arrest wasn’t readily available.
Burfict hasn’t been immune to controversy throughout his eight-year career, as the veteran has been suspended for 22 games and fined more than $5.0MM. Besides a 2018 ban for violating the leagues’ policy against performance-enhancing drugs, Burfict has generally been suspended for his on-field conduct. This includes a 12-game ban during the 2019 campaign following several helmet-to-helmet hits on Colts players.
The NFL reinstated Burfict back in February, giving him the green light to play during the 2020 campaign. So far, there hasn’t been any reported interest in the linebacker, although his agent said this offseason that the linebacker was working to change his style of play to fit the NFL’s rules (per ESPN).
The 2012 undrafted free agent out of Arizona State earned a Pro Bowl nod during his sophomore campaign after finishing with a league-leading 171 tackles (along with three sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception). That was the last time Burfict appeared in all 16 games during a season. He was ultimately cut by the Bengals at the end of the 2018 season, and he later joined the Raiders on a one-year pact.
RB LeGarrette Blount Announces Retirement
LeGarrette Blount is calling it a career. The 33-year-old running back announced on Instagram that he’s retiring.
“It’s been fun and fulfilling!!” Blount said in the message. “What’s good everyone? I just want to inform y’all that I’m officially retiring. I have thought long and hard about this decision, and I’ve talked to my closest family members and friends about this. We collectively agreed on this decision. It is in the best interest of me and my family.”
Blount hasn’t seen the field since the 2018 season, but the veteran stuck around in case another opportunity popped up. The last time we saw the running back appear in the rumor circuit was in 2019, when he auditioned for the Raiders.
Following a tumultuous career at Oregon (which included an infamous sucker punch against Boise State), Blount found himself undrafted following the 2010 NFL Draft. Following a brief stint with the Titans, the back caught on with the Buccaneers, and he proceeded to have a standout rookie campaign. He led all rookies with 1,007 rushing yards, and he became only the second undrafted rookie ever to compile 1,000 rushing yards during his first season (joining Dominic Rhodes).
Blount saw a reduced role in Tampa during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and he was traded to the Patriots prior to the 2013 campaign. He led New England’s ground attack that season, and he parlayed his performance into a two-year deal with the Steelers. Following a shaky stint in Pittsburgh that saw him get arrested (alongside fellow running back Le’Veon Bell) and leave the sideline before a game concluded, Pittsburgh released Blount.
The running back landed back in New England, and he proceeded to spend the next two-plus seasons with the organization. During this time, Blount won a pair of Super Bowls, and he led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns during the 2016 campaign. He joined the Eagles prior to the 2017 season and played a role in their Super Bowl championship, and he’d finish his career with the the Lions in 2018.
Despite going undrafted, Blount ranks 57th all-time in rushing touchdowns. His 34 rushing touchdowns with the Patriots ranks fifth in franchise history. Most notably, Blount has three Super Bowl rings; the 13 running backs taken during the 2010 NFL Draft combined for one.
Lions To Waive WR Marvin Hall
The Lions are moving on from Marvin Hall. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that Detroit is planning to waive the wide receiver. The organization is hoping to give some of their younger players an opportunity in what’s turning into a lost season. On the other side, the 27-year-old receiver will have a great chance to catch on with a contender.
Hall, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Washington, bounced around the league a bit to start his career, spending time with the Raiders, Cardinals, Falcons, and Bears. He seemed to find a home in Detroit, however. Hall appeared in nine games for the Lions last season, but he took on a larger role in 2020.
This season, the veteran has hauled in 17 receptions for 290 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games (five starts). He had a breakout performance in Week 8, catching four passes for 113 yards. In the following four games, Hall was on the field for more than half of Detroit’s offensive snaps.
With the Lions sitting with a 4-7 record, the team is starting to look towards next season. The team’s depth chart is already filled with veterans behind Kenny Golladay (a grouping that includes Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu, and Danny Amendola), but today’s move should provide more opportunities for the likes of Quintez Cephus and Jamal Agnew.
Patriots Place OL Isaiah Wynn, RB Rex Burkhead On IR
A trio of Patriots players landed on injured reserve today. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that New England has placed running back Rex Burkhead, left tackle Isaiah Wynn, and nose tackle Carl Davis on IR.
The Burkhead move isn’t overly surprising; the veteran RB suffered a torn ACL last weekend, ending his season. Now in his fourth year with New England, the veteran was having another solid season as a change-of-pace back. Through 10 games, the 30-year-old collected 274 yards and three touchdowns on 67 carries. He had another 25 receptions for 192 yards and three scores.
While the Patriots will surely miss Burkhead’s veteran presence, the team does have a number of options at running back. Damien Harris has emerged as a solid option in the running game, and Cam Newton can still turn to pass-catcher James White. The team is also rostering former first rounder Sony Michel, who could return this weekend after having been sidelined since Week 3.
Wynn, a 2018 first-rounder, was limited to only eight games through his first two seasons in the NFL. However, in 2020, he’s emerged as one of New England’s best offensive lineman, and he’s shown versatility by playing both offensive tackle and offensive guard. The 24-year-old suffered a knee injury during last weekend’s loss to the Texans, but the lineman could theoretically return before the season is over.
Davis, 28, joined the Patriots after being signed off the Jaguars practice squad in October. The defensive lineman has seen time in three games for New England this season, collecting three tackles. He’s appeared in 39 career games (13 starts) with the Patriots, Ravens, Browns, Jaguars, and Colts.
Ravens Sign WR Dez Bryant To 53-Man Roster
After having been promoted twice, Dez Bryant will no longer have to ride the Ravens’ practice squad shuttle. The veteran wideout announced on Twitter that he’s been signed to Baltimore’s active roster.
The 32-year-old joined the Ravens practice squad in late October. He was promoted for Baltimore’s Week 9 win over the Colts, but he only played a pair of snaps. He saw much more playing time when he was promoted for the Ravens’ Week 11 loss to the Titans, hauling in four catches for 28 yards while appearing in 54 percent of his team’s offensive snaps.
Along with tight end Mark Andrews, receivers Marquise Brown and Willie Snead will continue to lead Baltimore’s inconsistent receiving corps. However, Bryant could continue seeing a role ahead of the likes of Miles Boykin, Devin Duvernay, and James Proche.
“We’ll just keep working, and we’ll see where that leads moving forward,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said last week (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). “I don’t think there’s any real timeline right now, but I do think that if Dez keeps progressing, he will definitely become a factor in what we do.”
Bryant missed all of the 2018 and 2019 seasons, so despite having three 1,000-yard seasons (plus a pair of 800-plus-yard campaigns) on his resume, the veteran had to settle for a practice squad deal in 2020. While there certainly wasn’t much risk for either side, the move has clearly worked out for both the player and the organization.
This Date In Transactions History: Giants Bench Eli Manning
Three years ago today, it was looking like Eli Manning‘s career with the Giants was coming to an end. On November 28, 2017, the organization announced that they’d be benching the future Hall of Famer for Geno Smith (we know, we know…this isn’t actually a transaction, but it’s not everyday an organization releases a press release regarding a BENCHING).
“Geno will start this week,” said then-head coach Ben McAdoo. “Over the last five games, we will take a look at Geno, and we will also give Davis [Webb] an opportunity.”
While the move certainly came as a surprise, there was some merit to the decision. It was already a lost season for the Giants, as the team was out of the playoff picture with a 2-9 record. The organization apparently thought it was useful to evaluate their younger options as they looked ahead to the 2018 campaign.
On the flip side, there were also plenty of reasons to stick with the Manning. His illustrious resume included a 210-game starting streak, the then-second-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history (behind Brett Favre (and since passed by Philip Rivers)). The Giants gave Manning the option to still start the upcoming games, but the veteran said it was “pointless” and disingenuous to start a game that he wouldn’t finish. Further, it wasn’t like the quarterback had even bad that bad during the 2017 campaign. Despite the team’s record, Manning had still completed 62.5-percent of his passes for 2,411 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions through the first 11 games…and that was with major injuries to wideouts Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall.
The move was instantly criticized around the NFL. Former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said he was “very upset” by the decision, and many pundits suspected the move came from higher-ups like Jerry Reese and John Mara. Naturally, there were also a number of articles pertaining to trade theories, with the Jaguars, Broncos, and Cardinals listed as potential suitors.
How did the move work out? Not great. The Giants lost by seven to the Raiders with Smith under center. The former second-rounder did manage to complete 61.7-percent of his passes for 212 yards and one score, and he added 13 yards on the ground. However, he also had a fair of key fumbles that could have changed the Giants’ fortunes.
Days following the loss, McAdoo was fired, and interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo reinserted Manning back into the lineup. Manning proceeded to start the rest of the Giants games that season, and he started all 16 of their games in 2018. Manning’s career would ultimately come to an end following the 2019 campaign…but still, that was two years later than what many thought on this date in 2017.
Chiefs Cut S Tedric Thompson
Tedric Thompson‘s stint with the Chiefs has come to an end. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero of NFL.com’s reports (via Twitter) that Kansas City is cutting the safety. The team will elevate practice squad wideout Marcus Kemp to the active roster to take the open roster spot, via Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).
Thompson, a fourth-round pick in 2017, spent the first three seasons of his career with the Seahawks. He started 16 games for Seattle between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, collecting 76 tackles and three interceptions. However, a shoulder injury limited him to only six games in 2019, and he was released by the Seahawks back in March.
He ultimately landed with the Chiefs, where he’s served mostly in a rotational role. He’s fallen down the depth chart in recent weeks; since Week 5, he’s only played 22 defensive snaps, and he’s been a healthy scratch for the past two games. Thompson’s stint with the Chiefs will end with him having compiled 13 tackles in eight games.
Kemp has spent most of the past four seasons with the Chiefs organization. The 2017 undrafted free agent out of Hawaii has seen time in 24 career games, including seven this season. The 25-year-old has eight career tackles and a pair of catches on his resume.
Extra Points: Peko, Snacks, McKinley, Titans
The Cardinals officially signed Domata Peko today, and it sounds like head coach Kliff Kingsbury is excited to utilize the 15-year veteran.
“We’re excited about the signing,” said Kingsbury (via the team’s website). “VJ has some history there. I only just met him (Monday) but I have heard great things about his attitude, his energy. He’s a guy who has played at a high level in this league for a long time. We’ll see how he is this week and what he can handle, and we’re hopeful he can contribute at some point moving forward.”
The Cardinals will were to turn to the soon-to-be 36-year-old following a number of injuries on their defensive line; Corey Peters, Jordan Phillips, Zach Allen, Leki Fotu, and Rashard Lawrence are all sitting on injured reserve. Peko looked like he had something left in the tank in 2019, as he compiled 14 tackles in seven games with the Ravens.
As NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport passes along (via Twitter), Peko will earn $600K guaranteed for the regular season and has a chance to earn up to an additional $300K during the postseason.
More notes from around the NFL…
- Prior to being signed to the Seahawks active roster, it sounds like defensive tackle Damon Harrison was generating some interest from around the league. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that both the Packers and Ravens tried to sign “Snacks.” Since Seattle could no longer elevate the veteran, they decided to protect him and offered a spot on their active roster. Harrison, a former All-Pro nose tackle, hooked on with Seattle’s practice squad in October. After taking some time to get back into playing shape, Snacks is ready to be a contributor on clear running downs.
- The Raiders claimed defensive end Takkarist McKinley off waivers today, but they weren’t the only team to place a claim on the embattled lineman. Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Browns also made a claim on McKinley. Of course, considering the 25-year-old has failed a pair of physicals and been waived twice over the past few weeks, there’s a chance Cleveland could get another shot.
- The Titans recently auditioned kicker Sam Sloman, per the league’s transaction wire. The rookie seventh-rounder began the season as the Rams starting kicker, connecting on eight of his 11 field goal attempts and 18 of his 21 extra point tries. However, the organization ultimately replaced him with veteran Kai Forbath, leading to the rookie’s release.