Dolphins Claim Nick Williams From Chiefs
The Dolphins have claimed defensive end Nick Williams off waivers from the Chiefs and placed safety Reshad Jones on injured reserve, per an announcement from Miami.
The 26-year-old Williams had a brief unemployed stint after Kansas City cut him Tuesday. Williams had appeared in each of the Chiefs’ five games this year prior to his ouster, but he only participated in 11.9 percent of their defensive snaps. Since entering the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 2013, Williams has amassed 21 appearances – all with the Chiefs.
Williams will likely try to catch on at defensive tackle with the Dolphins, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). The Dolphins have relied heavily this year on Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips along the interior, while Chris Jones and Julius Warmsley have combined for roughly 90 snaps apiece as depth options.
The placement of Jones on IR was expected after Salguero reported earlier Tuesday that Miami would shut him down for the season. Jones, one of the Dolphins’ premier players, suffered a torn rotator cuff in their 30-15 upset over the Steelers last Sunday.
Jets Could Make Quarterback Change
Jets head coach Todd Bowles pulled Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter of the team’s 28-3 loss to the Cardinals on Monday, but he gave the veteran quarterback a vote of confidence after the game.
“Fitz will be back next week … It definitely wasn’t Fitz’s fault. He barely had any time to throw,” said Bowles, whose team dropped to 1-5 (via NFL.com).
Bowles was far less definitive on Wednesday, indicating that he and his staff will decide on a starting signal-caller for Week 7 at a Tuesday night meeting, per Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.
That could open the door for backup Geno Smith to grab the reins from Fitzpatrick against the Ravens this Sunday. The 2013 second-round pick has been ineffective throughout his NFL career, though, and that continued Monday. After taking over late in the game, Smith completed 4 of 6 passes for 31 yards and an interception. In 32 games (29 starts), the ex-West Virginia star has tossed 36 picks against 27 touchdowns.
Despite his poor track record, Smith told ESPN’s Lisa Salters before the Jets’ loss to the Cardinals that he was “getting antsy” to play.
Bowles addressed that Tuesday, saying that he doesn’t “have any thoughts on backup players saying anything. They’re backups for a reason. but Bowles liked what he saw Monday. If they get a chance to play, they’d better prove themselves to be worthy of playing regardless of who they are.”
That’s a strong statement, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes, but Bowles did credit Smith for his brief appearance in relief of Fitzpatrick.
“(Smith) did show some promise when he was in there. He understood the game plan. He did good for the drive he was in there (for),” Bowles stated Tuesday (via Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com).
Smith is in a contract year, so another chance to start for the 26-year-old would likely represent make-or-break time for his tenure with the Jets. Otherwise, the team also has two more recent draft picks – 2015 fourth-rounder Bryce Petty and rookie second-rounder Christian Hackenberg – on hand. Bowles revealed Tuesday that going to either of them sometime this season is “definitely possible.”
Having to use any of their reserve signal-callers obviously isn’t what the playoff-hopeful Jets had in mind entering the season. Thanks in part to a career year from Fitzpatrick, Gang Green went 10-6 and narrowly missed out on a wild-card berth last season. After a months-long offseason tug of war over a contract with Fitzpatrick, then a free agent, the Jets brought the journeyman back on a one-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $12MM in July. The 34-year-old now sits toward the bottom of the league in most notable passing categories, including last-place rankings in interceptions (11) and QB rating (63.4).
Although Fitzpatrick’s Jets career is on track to end after the season, he’ll still count $5MM against their salary cap in 2017.
Eddie Lacy To Miss Several Weeks?
Packers running back Eddie Lacy‘s ankle injury is more severe than a sprain and will keep him out for several weeks, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). For now, he’ll miss the Packers’ game Thursday against NFC North rival Chicago.
Lacy is is seeking a second opinion on his foot from Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. “Anything else is speculation,” a source told Schefter (Twitter link), which somewhat conflicts with Rapoport’s report.
Despite hurting his ankle in the Packers’ Week 5 win over the Giants, Lacy played through the ailment and picked up an impressive 65 yards on 17 rushes in Green Bay’s loss to Dallas last Sunday.
Lacy had a disappointing 2015 as he battled weight issues, but the fourth-year man slimmed down during the offseason and has fared well in 2016. Lacy is currently sporting a career-best 5.1 yards-per-carry average on 71 attempts, though he hasn’t yet found the end zone. The 234-pounder also didn’t exceed 17 carries in any of the Packers’ first five games, in which they went 3-2.
Lacy’s absence will leave the Packers devoid of proven backfield options as they try to bounce back this week. Lacy’s main backup, James Starks, underwent knee surgery Sunday and is out for the foreseeable future. Since then, the club has promoted Don Jackson from its practice squad and acquired Knile Davis from the Chiefs. Davis, a fourth-year veteran, has 233 carries to his name, but his career YPC is a paltry 3.3.
Amy Adams Strunk: Titans “Not For Sale”
Rock star Jon Bon Jovi is reportedly interested in purchasing the Titans. There’s just one problem: Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk doesn’t plan to sell the franchise, she told Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
“The team is not for sale,” she said. “I don’t know how many different ways to say it. Haven’t talked to Bon Jovi or anybody else for that matter, and it’s not for sale.”
The 54-year-old Bon Jovi previously showed serious interest in buying the Bills in the wake of founder Ralph Wilson’s death in 2014. A group including Bon Jovi reportedly offered more than $1 billion for the Bills when the club was on the market, but they fell short of current owner Terry Pegula’s $1.4 billion winning bid.
Strunk took the Titans’ reins the next year – in 2015. That was two years after her father, franchise founder Bud Adams, died.
“It’s part of our heritage – my dad’s legacy. We’re not going anywhere,” she declared.
Adams’ heirs, including Strunk, have come under fire from the NFL because, in the league’s opinion, the organization still hasn’t put together a sufficient succession plan since Adams’ death. The league has already hit Strunk with a six-figure fine this year as a result. More punishment is possible in the future if the Titans don’t comply with the league, but Strunk isn’t worried.
“It’s going to get worked out,” she told Pelissero.
Titans president and CEO Steve Underwood added that the franchise has “had a conversation going on with the league now for over two years, and we expect to continue that discussion.”
Strunk lives in Houston, the team’s former home, but she spends two weeks a month in Nashville and insists she’s “involved.”
NFC Workout Notes: Seahawks, Bucs, Lions
We rounded up the latest workout news from the AFC earlier. Now for the NFC (courtesy of ESPN’s Adam Caplan, unless otherwise noted):
- Before he signed with the Kansas City on Tuesday, defensive end Kendall Reyes visited the Seahawks (Twitter link). He spent just under two weeks on the open market after the Redskins released him Oct. 5.
- Tight ends Mitchell Henry, Casey Pierce and Eric Wallace tried out for the Buccaneers (Twitter link). Wallace played college basketball at Ohio State and DePaul, and then spent three years playing Australian Rules Football. He was previously with the Panthers, who will work him out Wednesday, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
- Defensive back Jeremiah McKinnon worked out for the Panthers on Tuesday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- Former LSU linebacker Lamar Louis recently visited the Saints, according to Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter).
- The Lions took a look at linebackers Brandon Chubb, Raphael Kirby and Reggie Northrup (Twitter link). Chubb impressed the team enough to earn a place on its practice squad.
- Defensive backs Charles Gaines and Demetrius McCray worked out for the Rams last week, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter).
AFC Workout Notes: Colts, Chiefs, Ravens, Pats
Free agent receiver Aaron Dobson visited the Colts on Tuesday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link). Dobson has worked out for several teams and had multiple stints with the Lions since the Patriots cut him Sept. 3. The three-year veteran has 53 receptions and four touchdowns in 24 games (13 starts).
The Colts also worked out running back David Cobb (Twitter link). The former Titan has tried out for a bevy of clubs since Tennessee cut him in August. Cobb briefly caught on with the Steelers, who waived him from their practice squad last week.
Along with Dobson and Cobb, receiver Marcus Leak, tight ends Alex Bayer and Darion Griswold, and linebackers Trevor Reilly and James Vaughters tried out with the Colts, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today.
More workouts from the AFC (courtesy of Caplan, unless otherwise noted):
- In addition to defensive end Kendall Reyes, whom they signed, the Chiefs tried out fellow DE Lynden Trail on Tuesday, according to Nick Underhill of the Advocate (Twitter link). Joining them were linebackers Deion Barnes, Randell Johnson, and Kyle Kragen.
- Veteran offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds worked out for the Ravens on Tuesday (Twitter link). Reynolds has been on the radar of a few teams since Los Angeles released him prior to Week 1. The 29-year-old has 42 appearances and 23 starts on his resume.
- The Patriots tried out out two offensive tackles – Ryan Mack and Pearce Slater – as well as defensive end Jordan Williams, reports Doug Kyed of NESN (via Twitter).
- Along with linebacker Quentin Gaus and tight end Steven Scheu, both of whom joined their practice squad, the Broncos worked out linebackers Lenny Jones, J.R. Tavai and Kyrie Wilson; defensive ends Deonte Gibson, Ian Seau and Josh Shirley; and safety Elijah Shumate (Twitter links via Balzer).
- The Texans worked out safety Don Jones and a pair of cornerbacks, Denzel Rice and Charles Gaines (Twitter link).
- Running back Mekale McKay and Jhurell Pressley tried out for the Jets, according to Balzer (Twitter link).
- Three tight ends – Kivon Cartwright, Tim Semisch and Gannon Sinclair – worked out for the Titans, tweets Balzer.
Vikings’ D-Coordinator Was Arrested In May
The Vikings cut offensive lineman Isame Faciane on Tuesday after he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving last week. Defensive coordinator George Edwards didn’t meet a similar fate after his own run-in with the law, however. Edwards was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in May and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of careless driving in August, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.
“George Edwards immediately notified the team of this situation when it occurred,” the Vikings said in a statement. “He was significantly disciplined by the Vikings. George has fulfilled both his legal obligations as well as the additional team-imposed discipline.”
Unlike the Vikings, the NFL won’t punish Edwards, a league spokesman told Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune (Twitter link). At the time of his arrest, Edwards blew a blood-alcohol level of .11 (the legal limit is .08). Police pulled him over after they observed him failing to signal a turn for a fourth straight time. After pleading guilty to a misdemeanor, Edwards paid a $1K fine. He’s now on probation until Aug. 30, 2017.
Under both head coach Mike Zimmer and Edwards, the Vikings’ defense leads the league in points per game allowed (12.6) and ranks second in yardage surrendered. Minnesota’s defense is the main reason the team has begun 2016 a league-best 5-0.
Chiefs Make Several Roster Moves
The Chiefs have made a series of roster moves in advance of their game against the Saints this Sunday, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports. The club has signed four players – defensive linemen Kendall Reyes and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, linebacker Ramik Wilson and cornerback Terrance Mitchell – to its active roster. Additionally, the Chiefs have waived defensive lineman Nick Williams, and placed both defensive end Allen Bailey and linebacker Justin March-Lillard on injured reserve (links to Twitter).
Of the four newest Chiefs, Reyes is the most notable. A second-round pick in 2012, Reyes was a starter on San Diego’s defensive line from 2013-2015. Reyes then joined the Redskins on a one-year, $2.5MM deal during the offseason. He cracked their roster to begin the year, but the team cut him earlier this month after a groin injury limited him. In total, the 27-year-old has racked up 66 appearances, 50 starts and 13.5 sacks in his NFL career.
Both Wilson and Nunez-Roches were member of the Chiefs’ 2015 draft class who are now returning to their roster (the former had been on their practice squad). Kansas City selected Wilson in the fourth round, and the ex-Georgia Bulldog appeared in 11 games, made two starts and amassed 13 tackles in his rookie year.
Nunez-Roches, formerly of Southern Miss, went in Round 6. He saw action in seven games last year and remained with the Chiefs at the outset of this season, but they cut him after Week 1. Notably, Nunez-Roches is the first Belizean-born player in league history.
Mitchell landed with the Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2014 draft and will now join his fifth organization. He debuted last season and garnered eight appearances with the Cowboys and Bears, also adding an interception.
Williams, 26, went to Pittsburgh in the seventh round of the 2013 draft, but he didn’t suit up until the next season as a member of the Chiefs. He picked up 21 appearances with KC before the club cut him.
Not to be lost in the shuffle are the long-term injuries to Bailey and March-Lillard, both of whom started the Chiefs’ first five games of the season.
Bailey, a sixth-year man, has started in all 31 of his appearances dating back to 2014. He was on the field for 54.9 percent of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps before going on IR with a shoulder injury, but Pro Football Focus ranks his overall performance just 93rd among 117 qualifying interior D-linemen through five weeks.
Having played in 49.9 of their defensive snaps, the Chiefs have also relied a fair amount on March-Lillard. In his first pro action, the 2015 undrafted free agent from Akron has accrued 22 tackles. PFF rates his output 49th among 85 LBs.
Browns’ Joe Thomas Won’t Request Trade
With the Nov. 1 trade deadline approaching, Browns left tackle Joe Thomas seems like a logical target for contending teams in need of offensive line help. However, Thomas wants to remain with the Browns and will not request a trade, a source close to the nine-time Pro Bowler told Pat McManamon of ESPN.com.
As of two weeks ago, rival clubs were determining what it would take for the Browns to deal the 31-year-old Thomas. Cleveland’s new regime has been reluctant to move him — and Thomas himself didn’t request a trade over the offseason — but considering the Browns’ 0-5 start, it’s possible a trade could materialize.
Thomas nearly became a Bronco at last year’s deadline, but the Browns turned down an offer of edge rusher Shane Ray and a second-round pick, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. Other reports at last year’s deadline indicated that Denver was willing to ship a first- and second-rounder to Cleveland for Thomas and a fourth-rounder.
If Thomas ends up on the move this year, an acquiring team would be on the hook for the cap charges remaining on the seven-year, $84MM extension he signed in 2011. Thomas has a $9.5MM cap number for this year and a $10MM figure in each of the next two seasons, though there’s no dead money left on his deal.
Thomas, whom the Browns chose third overall in the 2007 draft, has been the franchise’s only consistent bright spot since his NFL career began. The former Wisconsin Badger has appeared in 149 straight games, all starts, but he has never played in a postseason contest. A trade could give him that opportunity, but if the future Hall of Famer has it his way, he’ll stay put.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this report. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Former NFLer Quentin Groves Dies
Former NFL linebacker Quentin Groves has died of a heart attack at the age of 32.
Heart problems had troubled Groves for several years, sadly. Tests at the 2008 combine showed that the ex-Auburn star had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which causes rapid heartbeats. He also underwent minor surgery between the combine and the draft.
Despite his health issues, the Jaguars drafted Groves in the second round of his class. The 52nd overall selection spent only two seasons in Jacksonville, where he amassed 32 appearances (seven starts), 2.5 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles.
From 2010-14, Groves played with the Raiders, Cardinals, Browns and Titans. In a combined 68 appearances and 25 starts with those clubs, Groves totaled 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Groves signed with the Bills in August 2015, but his career ended when they released him a couple weeks later.
PFR sends its condolences to Groves’ family and friends.