Dallas Robinson | Pro Football Rumors

49ers To Sign K Chase McLaughlin

November 7th, 2019 at 10:38am CST by Dallas Robinson

49ers kicker Robbie Gould suffered a strained quad that could sideline for him Monday night’s game against the Seahawks, so San Francisco is signing fellow kicker Chase McLaughlin, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). Gould’s injury is not long-term in nature, per RapSheet, but it could affect his availability for Week 10.

Gould, 36, posted arguably the best season of his career in 2018, converting a league-leading 97.1% of his field goal attempts. He made both of his attempts from 50+ yards, and missed only two extra points. Tagged as a franchise player before agreeing to a four-year extension, Gould’s production has declined this year, as he’s already missed seven field goal attempts in 20 tries.

McLaughlin, meanwhile, is an undrafted rookie free agent who spent time with the Bills before serving as the Chargers’ kicker for the month of October. Playing in relief of the injured Michael Badgley, McLaughlin made six-of-nine field goal attempts and converted all seven of his extra point tries.

Antonio Brown To Meet With NFL

November 7th, 2019 at 9:07am CST by Dallas Robinson

Embattled free agent wide receiver Antonio Brown is scheduled to meet with the NFL next Thursday, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Brown is reportedly “eager” to sit down with the league, and there are still teams with interest in signing the veteran wideout, per Anderson. The league’s investigation into Brown is not expected to be completed any time soon, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

The NFL and Brown had been at something of an impasse: clearly, no club was going to take a chance on adding Brown to its roster while investigations into rape/sexual assault allegations against him were still ongoing, but it was unclear if or when Brown would actually meet with the league. Any team that did sign Brown would have been taking the risk that he’d be placed on league-imposed leave as soon as the contract was signed.

As Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes (Twitter link), Brown is up against the clock in terms of playing during 2019. There will seven weeks left in the regular season when Brown meets with the league, so a suspension of six games or longer would represent the de facto end of Brown’s season.

Brown’s agent Drew Rosenhaus has indicated a number of NFL teams have interest in signing his client, but thus far, only the Seahawks have been definitively linked to the ex-Steeler/Raider/Patriot. Seattle has since acquired another former Patriot — Josh Gordon — off waiver, making the Seahawks an unlikely destination for Brown.

Brown, 31, has caught 841 passes for 11,253 yards over the course of his ten-year career. The bulk of those catches and yards came between 2011 and 2018: he saw limited time as a sixth-round rookie with the Steelers and appeared in only one game for the Pats this year.

Redskins Activate RB Derruis Guice

November 7th, 2019 at 8:43am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins have formally activated running back Derrius Guice from injured reserve, the club announced today. The move had been fully expected after Washington waived fellow running back Craig Reynolds earlier this week in order to open a roster spot for Guice.

Injuries have defined the early portion of Guice’s NFL career after the Redskins selected him with the 49th overall selection in the 2018 draft. Expected to serve as Washington’s bellcow during his rookie campaign, Guice suffered a torn ACL in May, ending his year before it began. The LSU product made his Redskins debut in Week 1 of the 2019 season, but tore his meniscus and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.

Like all players designated to return from IR, Guice was required to miss at least eight games. He returned to practice in late October, opening a three-week window during which Washington needed to either add him to the 53-man roster or keep him on injured reserve for the rest of the season. Guice will officially return to action when the Redskins return from their bye to play the Jets in Week 11.

With Guice sidelined, veteran Adrian Peterson has taken over as Washington’s starting running back, averaging 19 carries for 96 yards over the club’s last four games. Guice will surely take over some of that workload, but it’s unclear just how involved he’ll be in the Redskins offense, at least initially.

Derwin James To Return In Week 13

November 7th, 2019 at 8:28am CST by Dallas Robinson

One of the NFL’s best safeties will be returning for the final stretch of the 2019 campaign. After undergoing surgery during the summer and missing most the season, Chargers defensive back Derwin James is expected to return to game action in Week 13, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

James suffered a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot in August after a screw originally inserted during his freshman year at Florida State bent back. The injury required a surgical operation to remove the screw, and a new screw has since been placed, per Schefter. James is now running without any pain, allowing him to get back on the field after the Chargers complete their Week 12 bye.

The 17th overall pick in the 2018 draft, James entered the NFL with high expectations and quickly surpassed them. The now-23-year-old started all 16 games for Los Angeles during his rookie campaign, posting three interceptions, 13 passes defensed, and 3.5 sacks during that time. Pro Football Focus graded James as the league’s seventh-best safety, while he also garnered a first-team All-Pro nod.

With James and fellow safeties Adrian Phillips and Nasir Adderley on IR, the Chargers have primarily deployed Rayshawn Jenkins and undrafted rookie Roderic Teamer (who is also now injured) in the back end. So far, the results have been lackluster: after finishing 8th in defensive DVOA in 2018, Los Angeles now ranks 26th in the same metric, while the club has fallen from 10th in pass defense DVOA to 23rd.

Sitting at 4-5, the Chargers are on the outside looking in to the AFC playoff race, and FiveThirtyEight.com gives them only a 14% chance of earning a postseason berth. They’ll play the Raiders and Chiefs without James in tow, then face the Broncos, Jaguars, Vikings, Raiders, and Chiefs once James returns.

Injury Updates: Bengals, Vikes, Cards, Jets

November 6th, 2019 at 3:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green had been expected to return to game action in Week 10 against the Ravens, and head coach Zac Taylor even confirmed as much this morning, per Paul Dehner of The Athletic (Twitter link). However, Green didn’t practice Wednesday after experiencing ankle swelling during Cincinnati’s walkthrough and is now considered day-to-day, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, so it’s unclear if Green will still be ready for Baltimore. Green hasn’t played a single snap this year after suffering ankle damage during the preseason. When he does return, he’ll be catching passes from a new quarterback (rookie Ryan Finley) as he makes his case for an extension.

Here’s more on the injury front:

Adam Thielen returned to action last Sunday following a hamstring injury-induced absence and quickly re-aggravated the ailment, but Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer disputes that Thielen came back too quickly, tweets Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. While it’s not apparent if Thielen will play against the Cowboys in Week 10, it doesn’t appear the veteran wideout is dealing with a long-term injury. Minnesota faces Denver in Week 11 before heading to its bye, so the Vikings could conceivably take an overly-cautious approach and hold Thielen out until Week 13, although that could be difficult to do given the tight NFC playoff race.
Cardinals running back David Johnson has missed the past two games with back and ankle injuries, but he says he’ll “definitely” be playing when Arizona faces off with Tampa Bay this week, per Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link). With both Johnson and backup Chase Edmonds facing health questions, the Cardinals shipped a conditional sixth-round pick to the Dolphins for Kenyan Drake, who proceeded to rush for 110 yards against the 49ers in Week 9.
Le’Veon Bell did not suffer any structural damage to his knee in the fourth quarter of a Week 9 loss to the Dolphins, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. While Bell didn’t practice on Wednesday, he is expected to be ready when the Jets face the Colts on Sunday. Gang Green did promote running back Josh Adams from its practice squad earlier this week, but that move was likely executed as a fail-safe against a possible Bell absence.
Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett left Week 9 after incurring a left MCL strain, but he was able to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. That news should at least give Brissett a chance to play against the Dolphins on Sunday, although head coach Frank Reich noted it’s not a “slam dunk” that Brissett is available. Indianapolis would turn to veteran backup Brian Hoyer in Brissett’s absence.

Dolphins Won’t Activate Cordrea Tankersley

November 6th, 2019 at 3:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Dolphins will not activate cornerback Cordrea Tankersley from the physically unable to perform list by today’s deadline, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).

Tankersley suffered a torn ACL just over a year ago and has been working his way back to full health ever since. The 2017 third-round pick came back to practice in October, opening a three-week window during which Miami had to either activate Tankersley or keep him on PUP for the remainder of the year. After assessing his progress, the Dolphins have decided on the latter option.

A Clemson product, Tankersley became a starter in Week 4 of his rookie campaign and ended up starting for the rest of the season. The results weren’t great, however: among the 93 cornerbacks who played at least 500 defensive snaps in 2017, Tankersley ranked just 79th in Pro Football Focus’ grades. In 2018, Tankersley spent most of his time on special teams before tearing his ACL.

NFLPA Won’t Pursue Trent Williams Review

November 6th, 2019 at 2:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins recently requested a joint review of left tackle Trent Williams‘ medical records, but that won’t be happening. At Williams’ request, the NFLPA will not cooperate with an investigation into Williams’ health, as players union chief DeMaurice Smith told Junks Radio (Twitter link via Craig Hoffman of 106.7 The Fan).

“Our union will continue to support Trent,” Smith said in a statement. “Although he has asked us to not pursue a formal review of his treatment, we will consider all legal action if the affirmative disinformation campaign and the leaking of his private medical records does not stop. Doctors have an ethical obligation to treat our men as patients first regardless of where their check comes from. It is our job to ensure that they honor that duty and if we find that the have not, we must then hold the physician accountable to the CB and their medical licensing authority.”

Williams first noticed the growth in 2013, but he says Redskins doctors told him the issue was not severe. However, he’s since been diagnosed with Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP), a “soft tissue sarcoma that develops in the deep layers of the skin.” This offseason, the Redskins sent Williams to a hospital where the condition was finally recognized, and he had an operation during the winter to remove the growth.

As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes, Williams doesn’t have much of an incentive to agree to a joint review of his medical records. Even if the Redskins were found to be at fault, Washington would likely be only be fined for its actions. Additionally, once Williams’ medical information is disclosed, there is a chance his records could be leaked.

Williams, of course, recently reported to the Redskins after sitting out most of the season. He didn’t pass his physical after reporting pain due to his helmet, and Washington is now searching for a more comfortable helmet. If the club can’t provide Williams with suitable head gear, he may be placed on the non-football injury list, ending his 2019 season before it begins.

Panthers Sign DE Wes Horton

November 6th, 2019 at 12:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers have reunited with Wes Horton, announcing today that they’ve signed the free agent defensive end. Carolina already had an open roster spot, so no corresponding move was necessary.

Horton, 29, has essentially spent his entire career with the Panthers. He signed a free agent deal with the Saints in May, but he never actually appeared in a game for New Orleans and was released after Week 1. Since then, Horton worked out for the Giants but otherwise hasn’t drawn much interest on the free agent market.

Horton originally signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Over the next six years, Horton worked mainly in a rotational role, playing between 25% and 50% of Carolina’s defensive snaps. His best season came in 2017, when he appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers and posted 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits.

Now that he’s back in Carolina, Horton will likely be counted to contribute in that reserve role once again. He’ll play behind fellow edge rushers Brian Burns, Bruce Irvin while also chipping in on special teams.

Cardinals Activate Max Garcia, Cut Zach Brown

November 6th, 2019 at 12:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals have announced a series of roster moves including the activation of guard Max Garcia from the physically unable to perform list. Arizona has also placed defensive tackle Clinton McDonald on injured reserve and released linebacker Zach Brown.

Garcia, a fourth-round pick of the Broncos in 2015, signed with the Cardinals this offseason while still recovering from an ACL tear. A regular starter during his time with Denver, Garcia is expected to become a reserve for Arizona. Per the club, Garcia will likely act as the Cardinals’ top backup interior lineman on Sunday.

McDonald, 32, is now in the midst of his ninth NFL campaign. The Memphis product spent time with the Bengals, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Broncos, and Raiders before landing with the Cardinals this offseason. McDonald had appeared in every game for Arizona this year, typically playing 20% of the club’s defensive snaps. He’s going on IR with a neck injury.

Arizona had just signed Brown last week to add depth to its linebacker unit, but he’s already out of a job. Brown inked a one-year, $3MM deal with the Eagles in May after being released by the Redskins in March, but was cut after six games in Philadelphia.

Evan Engram Getting Second Opinion On Foot

November 6th, 2019 at 12:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants will send an MRI of tight end Evan Engram‘s foot to Dr. Robert Anderson for a second opinion, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Engram will not play on Sunday against the Jets, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link), but he hopes to return soon after that.

Speaking to reporters today, head coach Pat Shurmur didn’t sound overly optimistic on Engram’s status. Shurmur said Engram is currently in a walking boot and called the third-year tight end “day-to-day, week-to-week,” as Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets. However, Engram says he does not have a Lisfranc injury, tweets Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. For now, New York is calling Engram’s injury a mid-foot sprain, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (Twitter link).

A first-round pick in the 2017 draft, Engram broke out with 64 receptions and 722 yards in his rookie campaign, but fell back to earth in a injury-riddled 2018 season. This year, Engram was once again posting another outstanding year and had been on pace to surpass his previous career highs in catches and yards, but his most recent health issues may prevent that from happening.

The Giants have yet to field their full set of skill position players for a game, and it doesn’t appear that will occur any time soon. Not only is Engram hurt, but wide receiver Sterling Shepard is being sent to Pittsburgh to meet with concussion experts, tweets Vacchiano. Shepard has already been concussed twice this season and hasn’t played since Week 5.