Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/15
Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Jaguars cut linebacker John Lotulelei from injured reserve with an injury settlement, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The 23-year-old had been a member of the Jacksonville organization since 2013, though he didn’t appear in any games with the team. He played in two games as a Seahawk in 2013 and made three tackles.
- The Raiders signed wide receiver/return man Walter Powell off Buffalo’s practice squad, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). Powell appeared in four games for the Jets in 2014 and logged 20 returns (eight kicks, 12 punts).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/16/15
Friday’s practice squad transactions from around the NFL:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: RB Miguel Maysonet (Twitter link via the team)
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Mitchell Henry (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin)
- Cut: TE Tom Annen
Washington
- Signed: WR Colin Lockett (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post)
- Placed WR Issac Blakeney on the practice squad injured list
Johnny Manziel Involved In Alcohol-Related Domestic Dispute
Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel was pulled over by Avon, Ohio, police Monday after an out-of-hand domestic argument, according to Joe Pagonakis of WEWS-TV. Per the police report, Manziel was driving erratically and his girlfriend, Colleen Elizabeth Crowley, tried to exit his car after throwing his wallet out the window. Crowley told police that Manziel pushed her head into a window. Police found an abrasion on her arm, but they determined it came from Manziel trying to keep her from leaving the vehicle while it was on the road. Both Manziel and Crowley admitted to drinking, but neither was deemed intoxicated and Crowley elected against pressing charges. They were then allowed to leave the scene in Manziel’s car.
Crowley subsequently shrugged off the incident on Instagram, writing (via the Akron Beacon Journal’s Nate Ulrich on Twitter), “Fortunately it was just an argument, it was private, and we are all good!”
Manziel echoed Crowley’s sentiment in a series of tweets (1; 2; 3).
“Colleen and I got into a dumb public argument on the way home Monday afternoon. It probably looked more interesting than it was and I know I would stop and check if I saw a couple arguing on the side of the road,” Manziel wrote. “It was embarrassing but not serious and when we talked to the police and they realized everything was alright and I was sober, we went home together and everything is fine.”
Browns general manager Ray Farmer issued a statement on behalf of the organization: “We were aware of the situation. It is a matter that we take seriously and have expressed our concerns to Johnny directly. Those conversations will remain private and we will refrain from further comment at this time.”
The NFL is aware of the situation, but it declined to comment on it, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
Given that Manziel spent 10 weeks of the offseason in rehab for alcohol issues, an already serious situation carries extra weight. The fact that a domestic dispute was involved makes it that much more of a problem.
This latest episode doesn’t bode well for Manziel’s future in Cleveland, Smith opines, as the 2014 first-round pick’s career has so far been defined by errors both on and off the field. Nevertheless, Manziel will be active for Sunday’s game against Denver, Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com reports (via Twitter).
NFC Notes: Chip, Payton, Caldwell, RGIII
Before joining the Eagles in 2013, Chip Kelly was one of college football’s premier head coaches. Kelly led Oregon to a 46-7 record and three top five finishes from 2009-12, but his reign in Philadelphia hasn’t gone as well – particularly since he took control of the roster last offseason. Thus, some are wondering whether he’ll return to the college ranks – specifically to USC, a high-profile program on the hunt for a new head coach. If you’re to believe Kelly, it’s not going to happen, and neither he nor his Eagles players are fazed by the speculation, writes Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We know that he’s fully invested in this program,” said tight end Zach Ertz. “He’s changed so much of the culture here; we know he wants to ride this thing out, and at the end of the day, hopefully, win a Super Bowl.”
- Not surprisingly, the Saints’ unimpressive roster, less-than-ideal cap situation, and the appeal of some potentially vacant head coaching positions after this season could lead to Sean Payton‘s departure from New Orleans, per Albert Breer of NFL.com.
- Although he helped lead the Lions to an 11-5 finish and a playoff berth last year, this season’s 0-5 start combined with the ownership structure in Detroit could spell bad news for head coach Jim Caldwell, according to Breer. William Clay Ford and William Clay Ford, Jr. were responsible for hiring Caldwell in 2014. The elder of the two has since passed away, and the younger has relinquished much of the control over the team to his mother, Martha. The fate of Caldwell and general manager Martin Mayhew lies in her hands, and she could elect to make a change.
- Washington has no shortage of injuries as it prepares for its game against the Jets this weekend. That means third-string quarterback and 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III might dress for the first time this season, ESPN’s John Keim reports (via Twitter). Of course, with both Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy ahead of Griffin on the depth chart, it’s highly unlikely he’ll see action.
- Saints offensive tackle Andrus Peat suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in the team’s 31-21 win over Atlanta on Thursday, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link). Per Getlin, Peat won’t need surgery, but he’ll miss approximately four weeks. The rookie first-rounder has appeared in all six of the Saints’ games this year, starting three.
Extra Points: Lions, Mexico, Titans, Ravens
A look around the NFL as the fifth Sunday of the season draws to a close:
- The Lions dropped to 0-5 with their 42-17 loss to Arizona, but head coach Jim Caldwell said afterward that there won’t be any changes to his staff (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News).
- A regular-season game in Mexico in 2016 is a strong possibility, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports. “It’s going to happen next year,” one high-ranking club official said. “We just don’t know which teams it’s going to be yet.” The Raiders are candidates to play there, per La Canfora, who writes that those in league circles believe a series of games in Mexico would be highly successful from a financial standpoint.
- Titans receiver Kendall Wright caught three passes for 29 yards in the team’s 14-13 loss to Buffalo. After the game, the fourth-year man was indignant about his role in the Titans’ offense. “I’m beyond frustrated,” Wright stated, per John Glennon of the Tennessean. “I don’t feel like I’m being able to do what I can do until late in games. I feel like I’m a good receiver and I feel like I’ve been open and I can beat the DBs or whoever is (covering) me, but I haven’t really been given the opportunity I’ve been looking for.”
- The Ravens fell to 1-4 after losing to Cleveland and Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic provided reasons as to why it’ll be too much for them to overcome. Among them: the difficulty of the AFC North and the Ravens’ lack of home-field advantage.
- Three injured Cardinals – linebackers Alex Okafor and Kenny Demens and defensive back Chris Clemons – will get MRIs during the upcoming week. Head coach Bruce Arians isn’t optimistic about their statuses. “I do not feel good,” he said, according to Darren Urban of the team’s website (via Twitter).
QB Notes: Stafford, Cowboys, McCown
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell benched longtime starting quarterback Matthew Stafford during the team’s 42-17 loss to Arizona on Sunday after Stafford threw three interceptions and averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt on 32 passes. Backup Dan Orlovsky came in for Stafford and wasn’t much better, completing just over 55 percent of his 38 passes for 5.0 yards per attempt, a touchdown and an interception. Afterward, Caldwell said Stafford is still the 0-5 Lions starter going forward, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
More on Stafford and some other QBs from around the NFL:
- Stafford was probably the least surprised about his benching, as Caldwell informed the 27-year-old at halftime that he’d sit if he threw a third pick, per NFL Network’s Albert Breer (via Twitter). Stafford did, so Caldwell stuck to his word and pulled him.
- Unlike Caldwell, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is considering a quarterback change and will evaluate the position during his team’s bye week, Clarence Hill of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (Twitter link). Brandon Weeden fared well statistically in his two starts prior to this week, but the club lost both outings and fell to 0-3 with him under center Sunday in a 30-6 loss to New England. Weeden had his worst game of the year, going 26 of 39 for 188 yards and an interception. That could open the door in Week 7 for veteran Matt Cassel, whom the 2-3 Cowboys acquired in a trade with Buffalo last month.
- Surprisingly, one QB who has been playing great lately is Browns journeyman Josh McCown. The 36-year-old threw for a franchise-record 457 yards in Cleveland’s 33-30 win over Baltimore on Sunday. That gives him an eye-popping 1,154 yards over the last three weeks. Further, McCown has thrown six touchdowns against only one interception during that span, and Bud Shaw of Northeast Ohio Media Group writes that he’s the biggest reason the 2-3 Browns have to believe in themselves. Their defense – which was supposed to be a strength – has underachieved, and McCown’s stellar play of late has silenced calls for big-name backup Johnny Manziel.
NFC Notes: Kaepernick, Saints, Eagles
Colin Kaepernick‘s days in a 49ers uniform could soon be coming to an end. The struggling quarterback’s contract gives the 49ers a chance to jettison him by April 1 before his salaries from 2016-18 become guaranteed, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Kaepernick is scheduled to make $11.9MM next year, $14.5MM in 2017 and $4.5MM in 2018. The only way that money would be guaranteed to Kaepernick before April 1 is if he suffers a career-ending injury this season. Given that, Florio believes the 49ers could bench the 27-year-old to preserve his health and prevent themselves from owing him big money going forward.
With the way his contract is structured, if the 49ers ride out this year with Kaepernick and his horrific play continues (6.27 yards per attempt, two touchdowns, five interceptions, 67.7 passer rating), the chances they’ll move on from him during the offseason appear good.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- Despite the Saints’ ugly showing in a 39-17 loss to the Eagles on Sunday, quarterback Drew Brees is optimistic the team will get on the right track. “We feel like we have the right pieces in place,” Brees said, according to Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com. “It hasn’t come together yet, but it will.” Time is running out for things to “come together” for the Saints, whose latest defeat dropped them to 1-4. Their next opponent is the NFC South rival Falcons, who are 5-0 and have left the Saints in the dust as far as the division race is concerned.
- Speaking of the Saints, their days of having a high-flying offensive attack are over, writes Larry Holder of NOLA.com. Holder believes that the Saints lack weapons both through the air on the ground.
- By knocking off New Orleans on Sunday, the Eagles at least temporarily saved their season, opines Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly moved to 2-3 and next faces the Giants, who currently sit atop the eminently winnable NFC East at 2-2. Everyone else in the division is 2-3.
Bears Place Will Montgomery On IR
TUESDAY, 3:06pm: The Bears have officially placed Montgomery on injured reserve, ending his season, the team announced today (via Twitter).
MONDAY, 1:13pm: Multiple sources tell Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune that Montgomery will require surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2015 season. The veteran center is expected to be placed on injured reserve this week.
SUNDAY, 5:14pm: Bears center Will Montgomery broke his fibula in his team’s 22-20 win over the Raiders on Sunday, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link). The injury occurred on the Bears’ first drive of the game, and left guard Matt Slauson subsequently took over for Montgomery at center.
It’s currently unknown how much time Montgomery will miss, head coach John Fox said.
“As far as timeframes, I don’t know yet,” Fox stated, per Jahns.
Montgomery, 32, is in his first year with the Bears. He saw extensive action the last four seasons in Washington and Denver, respectively, making 40 starts. He started the first four games of 2015 for Chicago.
Rams’ Alec Ogletree Could Be Out For Season
Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree suffered a right ankle injury in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals and will require surgery. As a result, he could miss the rest of the season, according to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. The best-case scenario for Ogletree, it seems, would be a late-season return.
“The doctors still have some discussions, and we still have to do MRIs and things like that,” said head coach Jeff Fisher. “There’s potential right now for [him to go on injured reserve with the] designation for return, but we’ll have to see.”
If the Rams slap the designated label on Ogletree, he’ll be eligible to return eight weeks after he undergoes surgery.
Prior to his injury, Ogletree had 10 tackles against Arizona and an impressive 42 for the season. The 24-year-old, whom the Rams selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, entered the NFL with back-to-back 100-tackle seasons. Whether he returns later this season or not at all, his loss will be a significant one for the 2-2 Rams.
Extra Points: Browns, Bears, Rex, Eagles
Browns wideout Dwayne Bowe signed for $9MM guaranteed during the offseason and was expected to upgrade a receiving corps in desperate need of help. That didn’t happen through the first three weeks of the season, though, as the former Pro Bowler went without a catch in the opener and then missed the next two games because of a strained hamstring. Nevertheless, the ninth-year man entered Sunday’s game against San Diego brimming with confidence.
“I can’t wait to go out there and showcase my talent and be a ringleader for the guys and go out there and bring home a win,” Bowe said, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
Bowe got back on the field in Week 4, but he once again failed to catch a pass. Quarterback Josh McCown, who completed passes to eight different teammates, targeted Bowe just once. The Browns lost, 30-27.
Here’s more on the Browns and a few of their counterparts from around the NFL:
- After the Bears dealt linebacker Jared Allen to Carolina earlier this week, fellow LB Willie Young asked Chicago for a trade, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Young played defensive end in the Bears’ 4-3 scheme last year and had 10 sacks. They switched to a 3-4 this season, forcing him to shift to linebacker, and he’s currently without a sack. Young doesn’t believe he’s a fit for the Bears’ defense anymore, and if the team agrees, Florio writes that it should grant his request and send him elsewhere.
- The Bills turned in a horrendous performance in their 24-10 loss to the Giants on Sunday, especially with respect to discipline. Their 17 penalties gives them 57 for the year, the most any team has had through the first four weeks of the season since 2005, per ESPN’s Mike Rodak. Head coach Rex Ryan wasn’t upset with his team, however. Contrarily, he said he was “proud” of how the Bills played. “Can you play a lot smarter? Absolutely,” Ryan continued. “But I’ll take a team that can fight over a team that won’t — that will sit back and take it — any day of the week. And bring on the next team.”
- Much of the dialogue regarding the Browns this year has centered on the quarterback position – whether they should start McCown or Johnny Manziel. That shouldn’t be the case after Week 4, writes Bud Shaw of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. Shaw believes McCown’s sensational Sunday output (32 of 41 for 356 yards and two touchdowns) should be enough for him to keep the No. 1 job going forward. A better performance from Cleveland’s defense, which allowed 438 total yards (358 passing), could’ve helped earn the team a win and improve to 2-2 instead of drop to 1-3.
- The Eagles’ Chip Kelly was a successful coach during his first two NFL seasons, leading the team to back-to-back double-digit-win seasons and a playoff berth. Now, after the Eagles gave him full control over their roster, Kelly looks like both a coach unable to adjust to how other clubs are game planning against Philly and a football czar who built a highly flawed team, opines Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report.
- Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson suffered a left knee injury during their 23-20 loss to Washington on Sunday and will have an MRI on Monday. Johnson said he re-injured his MCL, and Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer speculates that it’s a sprain (Twitter link).