Seahawks Work Out LB Mike Morgan
The Seahawks worked out veteran linebacker Mike Morgan on Wednesday before deciding to promote ‘fellow backer Paul Dawson from their practice squad, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com.
Morgan, 29, was technically the Seahawks’ starting strongside linebacker in 2016, but he didn’t see a ton of snaps since the team spent so much time in the nickel formation. He was also held back by injury, spending eight weeks on injured reserve with a sports hernia. All in all, Morgan played only 138 defensive snaps and posted just ten tackles.
Morgan didn’t land a free agent contract immediately after the market opened, but after auditioning for the Jaguars and Saints, he ultimately landed back in Seattle, inking a deal in July. He didn’t make it past final roster cuts, however, and he hasn’t met with any other known clubs since being released in September.
The Seahawks are dealing with injuries to both Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, so it was imperative that the club added a bit of depth before Sunday’s contest against the Rams. While Dawson was chosen this time around, Seattle could conceivably circle back to Morgan later this year.
Giants Eyeing Eliot Wolf, Nick Caserio For GM
Although former Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman is considered the favorite for the Giants’ GM position, the club also has other candidates in mind. Packers director of football operations Eliot Wolf and Patriots vice president of player personnel Nick Caserio are on New York’s radar as it seeks to replace Jerry Reese, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
[RELATED: Giants To Begin GM Interviews Next Week]
Wolf, 35, has long been considered a future general manager, but never actually interviewed for an opening until this year (partially because Green Bay denied permission for him to meet with Philadelphia and Detroit in recent hiring cycles). Although he was viewed as a strong contender for the 49ers’ GM job this offseason, Wolf ultimately accepted a new contract with the Packers. He subsequently interviewed with the Colts.
Caserio, who has spent the entirety of his 17-year NFL career in New England, has been linked to other vacancies in the past, but has never shown much willingness to leave Foxborough. Since 2014, he’s declined an offer from the Dolphins and an interview from the 49ers in order to remain with the Patriots. However, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com recently indicated Caserio is “willing to listen” to general manager proposals, and noted the Giants job could hold particular interest.
Each of the candidates for the New York gig could have potential head coaches in mind: a source tells Florio that Gettleman or Wolf could attempt to hire Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, while Caserio could unsurprisingly look at Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/17
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Lavar Edwards
- Signed off Colts‘ practice squad: WR Matt Hazel
- Waived: DL T.Y. McGill
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers: DT Rodney Coe
- Waived: DE Kasim Edebali
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted to active roster: DB Isaiah Johnson
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted to active roster: DL Darius Latham
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Cory James
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Victor Bolden
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted to active roster: LB Paul Dawson
NFL Workout Updates: 12/12/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Carolina Panthers
- WRs Jordan Leslie; T Josh James; G Kaleb Johnson; DE Joby Saint Fleur; S Shamiel Gary (link)
Chicago Bears
- DE Tavaris Barnes; P Alex Knight (Twitter links)
Cincinnati Bengals
- WR Diontae Spencer; TE A.C. Leonard; CBs Jonathon Mincy, Loucheiz Purifoy; S Kenny Ladler (link)
Cleveland Browns
- WRs Kolby Listenbee, Paul Turner; G Ian Silberman (link)
Green Bay Packers
- LB Nigel Harris; DBs Donte Carey, Malik Golden, Stefan McClure, Zack Richardson (link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Houston Texans
- T Taylor Hart; CB Dexter McDougle; Ss Trey Caldwell, Ibraheim Campbell (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- QBs Tyler Ferguson, Joel Stave; WRs Corey Brown, Seantavius Jones, Justice Liggins, Kolby Listenbee, Daniel Williams; TE Joe Sommers (Twitter links)
Kansas City Chiefs
- T Storm Norton; G Blake Muir; LB Jayrone Elliott; S Kelcie McCray (Twitter links)
New York Jets
- QBs Mike Bercovici, Connor Shaw; WR DaVaris Daniels, Kolby Listenbee, Tevaun Smith; LBs Jeff Knox, Kacy Rodgers; CBs Jonathon Mincy, Garry Peters, Shaq Richardson; DBs Chris Ackie, Kenny Ladler, Jonathan Rose (all Twitter links)
San Francisco 49ers
- T Khalif Barnes (link)
Packers’ Aaron Rodgers Medically Cleared
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been medically cleared in time for Week 15, as Rodgers himself indicated on Instagram. Green Bay hasn’t yet activated Rodgers for Sunday’s game against the Panthers, but that formal transaction will likely be made in the near future.
Nearly every report from Green Bay had indicated Rodgers was progressing extremely well in his recovery from a broken collarbone, but his clearance was not a foregone conclusion. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported earlier today, the Packers’ medical staff uses an abundance of caution with respect to injuries, so although Rodgers was pushing to play this weekend, the club wanted to ensure his long-term health.
Now that he has returned, Rodgers not only offers a boost to the Packers’ postseason chances, but reshapes the NFC playoff picture as a whole. Given the strength of the NFC, there’s no guarantee Green Bay will earn a postseason berth even if it wins out to finish with a 10-6 record. But two consecutive victories with backups signal-caller Brett Hundley under center have given the Packers a fighting chance, and Rodgers certainly has the All Pro ability to push Green Bay into the playoffs.
The Packers will face three NFC opponents — the Panthers, Vikings, and Lions — over the next three weeks, and they’ll likely need to win each of those contests in order to secure a playoff slot.
2018 Salary Cap Likely At $174.2-$178.1MM
The 2018 NFL salary cap is expected to be set between $$174.2MM and $178.1MM, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Given that the cap was $167MM for the 2017 season, the 2018 projected figure would represent an increase of roughly four to six percent.
The salary cap will continue the incredible upward trajectory it has been on since 2013. Here’s what the league’s salary cap has looked like over the last few years:
- 2013: $123MM
- 2014: $133MM
- 2015: $143.28MM
- 2016: $155.27MM
- 2017: $167MM
The NFL’s management council will submit their first 2018 cap projections to the league’s owners during meetings this week, and the league will then announce the final cap number early next year, typically in February or March before the new league year opens. The salary cap, of course, affects not only teams’ roster moves for the entire season, but the figures used in franchise/transition tag calculations.
Using a projected salary cap of $178MM (the high end of the NFL’s range), Over the Cap recently posted estimates for franchise, transition, and restricted free agent tender amounts, figures that won’t be precisely determined until the NFL formally announces the 2018 cap.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/12/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Jonathan Anderson, DL Caushaud Lyons
- Waived: DB Alex Carter
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: OL Korren Kirven
Houston Texans
- Waived: WR Devin Lucien
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Matt Hazel
- Waived: CB Taurean Nixon
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: T Dillon Gordon
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Storm Norton
- Waived: S Jack Tocho
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Ryan O’Malley, DB Tim Scott
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Jahad Thomas, QB Joel Stave
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Jalston Fowler
- Waived: CB Trovon Reed
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Nigel Harris
Latest On Jerry Jones, Roger Goodell
Before Roger Goodell formally signed an extension that will keep him as the NFL’s commissioner until the start of the 2024 league year, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones proposed a resolution that would have delayed negotiations for six months, according to a memo obtained by Seth Wickersham of ESPN.com.
The proposal was included in an agenda for this week’s league meetings, per Wickersham, and called for a secret vote on a six-month moratorium on Goodell’s extension. While the resolution obviously failed (and Jones failed to organize any compelling level of anti-Goodell support among his fellow owners), Jones will still be able to voice concerns among Goodell’s contract when the league convenes Wednesday. Indeed, owners are “bracing” for Jones to attempt “one last play” to circumvent Goodell’s deal at the league meetings, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“I’m not going to get into details,” Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan. “But the resolution I put in is still in place. This is why we have the meetings. I am looking forward to it. It will be a great opportunity. We will able to get some meaningful things done because of what we have been doing over the last few months.”
Jones’ battle against Goodell isn’t a new fight, of course, as the Cowboys owner has claimed the league’s owners were “misled” by the commissioner’s new deal. While Jones’ angst has generally been directed at compensation committee chairman Arthur Blank, Jones is also reportedly upset over Goodell’s decision to suspend Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/12/17
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated to return from injured reserve: QB Jeff Driskel
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jets‘ practice squad: OL Geoff Gray
- Waived: DE Tyrone Holmes, WR Bryce Treggs
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted to active roster: DE Isaac Rochell
New York Giants
- Signed off Chiefs‘ practice squad: OL Damien Mama
New York Jets
- Promoted to active roster: RB Akeem Judd
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB/DE Bryan Braman
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted to active roster: DT Garrison Smith
- Waived: DT Rodney Coe
- Waived from injured reserve: T Justin Senior
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted to active roster: LB Riley Bullough
- Waived: CB Deji Olatoye
Latest On Aaron Rodgers’ Potential Return
Although Aaron Rodgers is eligible to return to action this weekend, there’s no guarantee the longtime Packers quarterback will be on the field when Green Bay faces Carolina in Week 15, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.
Rodgers, who returned to practice this week and underwent a CT scan on Monday, is pushing to return Sunday after recovering from a broken collarbone. The Packers are still in the playoff hunt thanks to two consecutive victories, and Rodgers has now been sidelined for the eight weeks mandated by the NFL’s injured reserve rules. But while everything is in motion for a Rodgers return, Green Bay could still opt not to clear the All Pro signal-caller for Week 15.
Rodgers’ collarbone isn’t fully healed, and while many players are able to function at 80%, the Packers are “notoriously conservative” when it comes to playing injured players, per Rapoport. That cautious nature is enhanced ten-fold when the discussion turns to Rodgers, a franchise icon who is arguably the best player in the NFL. As such, Green Bay’s medical staff is facing a “risk/reward” decision on whether to activate Rodgers for the next three regular season weeks.
For the record, reports of Rodgers’ progress have been nothing but positive. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Rogers had been “slinging it around and throwing with great velocity” while linebacker Clay Matthews indicated Green Bay made a mistake by placing Rodgers on injured reserve in the first place. Rapoport, too, hears that Rodgers has been “seriously impressing” during practice sessions.
Given the strength of the NFC, the Packers could be hard-pressed to earn a postseason berth even if they win out to finish with a 10-6 record. If Rodgers is able to return, he’ll lead Green Bay against the Panthers, Vikings, and Lions over the next three weeks.