Jets Work Out DB Maurice Alexander
The Jets worked out free agent safety Maurice Alexander this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Alexander was waived by the Rams on Monday.
New York is currently deploying two rookies — Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye — at safety, and both have performed surprisingly well through five games. Terrence Brooks and Rontez Miles are currently the Jets’ backup defensive backs, and both have played on fewer than 60 defensive snaps. Both Brooks and Miles have been contributors on special teams, however, and both have seen action on at least a quarter of New York’s ST plays (Brooks, notably, is second to only linebacker Julian Stanford in Jets special teams snaps).
Alexander, 26, started 14 games for Los Angeles in 2016 and had started four contests for the club this season. The former fourth-round pick wasn’t playing all that well, however, as Pro Football Focus had graded Alexander as a bottom-10 safety in 2016. But Alexander offers both youth and experience, and could potentially become a valuable reserve for the Jets if signed.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/13/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: T Dieugot Joseph
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Norman Price
- Released: OL Oni Omoile
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB A.J. Hendy
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Garrett Sickels
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Trevor Reilly
- Released: S Alex Carter
- Placed on injured list: OL Cole Toner
Free Agent DB Matt Elam Suspended
Free agent safety Matt Elam has been suspended six games for violating an NFL policy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
While there’s no word as to exactly how Elam earned his ban, the former Ravens defensive back has been linked to plenty of legal hot water this year. Elam, 26, was arrested on drug charges in February before being detained for grand theft and battery in May. Both sets of charges have since been dropped, but as we’ve seen in the past, the absence of formal, legal ramifications won’t prevent the NFL from handing down a suspension.
Elam can serve the six-game ban as a free agent, and it’s unlikely that any club will show interest in the four-year pro while he’s on suspension (or potentially after the ban has concluded). A former first-round pick, Elam missed the entirety of the 2015 campaign with injury and was demoted when he returned to the active roster the following season. After missing the first half of 2016 with an knee issue, Elam appeared in nine games for Baltimore but never started a contest.
Because the Ravens declined Elam’s 2017 fifth-year option, he became an unrestricted free agent this spring. But with multiple arrests hanging over his head, Elam hasn’t generated any known interest on the open market.
Giants Audition OL Orlando Franklin
The Giants auditioned or met with a host of free agents today, according to Field Yates and Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter links), and the club specifically focused on the offensive line. Here’s the entire list:
Workouts
- OL Orlando Franklin
- OL Nick Becton
- OL Connor Bozick
- OL Laurence Gibson
- OL Victor Salako
- LB P.J. Dawson
- DB Darryl Morris
Visits
- OL Cyrus Kouandjio
- OL Reid Fragel
Franklin, 29, has already been released twice this calendar year, first by the Chargers — who employed Franklin for the past two seasons — and then by the Saints, with whom Franklin lasted less than a week. A knee injury reportedly led to New Orleans cutting ties, and though there was some thought that Franklin could re-sign with the Saints, a new deal never came to fruition.
A guard by trade, Franklin has also played tackle (the area of most need on the Giants’ roster), but it’s not clear that he’d be an improvement over Ereck Flowers or Bobby Hart. To be sure, Flowers and Hart have struggled mightily this season, but Franklin graded as one of the seven worst guards in the NFL a year ago, per Pro Football Focus. As far as reserves go, however, New York could do worse, as Franklin boasts 89 starts worth of pro experience.
Kouandjio offers several intriguing traits, as well, and chief among them is his youth, as he’s still only 24 years old. The former second-round pick was waived by the Bills earlier this year following an odd off-field incident, and then failed to beat out draft bust Greg Robinson for the Lions’ fill-in left tackle job. He’s only started 12 games in three NFL seasons.
Bengals TE Tyler Eifert Done For Season
Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert has decided to undergo season-ending back surgery, as first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Eifert went under the knife on Thursday for an operation that will sideline him for four-to-six months. The Bengals have officially placed Eifert on injured reserve.
Eifert, of course, is no stranger to injury, as he’s appeared in only 39 of a possible 69 games since entering the NFL as a first-round pick in 2013. His history of back ailments dates back to the latter part of the 2016 campaign — after missing the first seven games of last year with an ankle issue suffered in the Pro Bowl, Eifert was placed on injured reserve in December after experiencing back pain.
This latest back issue is reportedly not the same one that bothered Eifert near the tail end of last season, but it will likely affect contractual negotiations with the Bengals nonetheless. Scheduled to become a free agent next spring when his fifth-year option expires, Eifert will now hit the open market amidst a sea of health questions. A long-term deal is still possible, but it seems incredibly unlikely that Cincinnati would now deploy the franchise tag — at a cost north of $10MM — on Eifert.
When on the field, Eifert is clearly one of the more dynamic tight ends in the league. In his best season to date (2015), Eifert appeared in 13 games and managed 52 receptions for 615 yards and 13 touchdowns. That type of production puts Eifert among elite tight end company, but his availability concerns are sure to reduce his market.
The Bengals will go forward with Tyler Kroft, C.J. Uzomah, and Cethan Carter at tight end, while H-back Ryan Hewitt can also play the position. If Cincinnati wants to pursue an outside addition, free agent tight ends include Gary Barnidge, Larry Donnell, Ladarius Green, and Jacob Tamme.
AFC East Notes: Pats, Tye, Fins, Landry, Bills
Free agent tight end Will Tye took a meeting with the Patriots today, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Waived by the Jets during final cutdowns, Tye has had a busy week: he worked out for the Chiefs last Friday before auditioning for the Ravens yesterday. Evan Baylis, a fellow tight end who went undrafted earlier this year, was also in town, per Reiss. New England currently has three tight ends on its roster in Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen, and Jacob Hollister.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- While Jarvis Landry won’t face any legal ramifications after battery charges against him were dropped last month, the Dolphins wide receiver will still meet with NFL regarding the allegations on October 24, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Both Landry and his girlfriend have refuted the accusations, but the league has often punished players even when no official charges are filed, and the NFL reportedly has video of the incident in question. From an on-field perspective, Landry is a pending free agent who has engaged in no substantive extension talks with Miami.
- Linebacker David Harris will face his former club when the Patriots play the Jets in Week 6, but Harris may not be long for the New England roster, as Reiss details in examining Harris’ lack of play time. Harris is essentially being retained for his leadership abilities, as Reiss opined last week, and the veteran defender has played only seven snaps in 2017. A lack of base packages and Harris slow speed and subpar acumen in pass coverage have lead to a decreased role, and Harris could be released when fellow ‘backer Shea McClellin returns from injured reserve later this year.
- Given that the Dolphins rank 31st in offensive DVOA and 32nd in points scored, Miami could potentially “refit” its offense in 2018, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Not much can be done about the club’s lackluster efforts in-season, as benching players could create locker room dysfunction. But changes could come next year, and the most obvious would be Ryan Tannehill returning to replace quarterback Jay Cutler. Allowing Landry to walk in free agency and reinforcing the offensive line could also be on the Dolphins’ itinerary.
- The Bills worked out Baylis and fellow tight end Sam Cotton, linebacker Folarin Orimolade, and defensive backs Jordan Dangerfield and Harold Jones-Quartey on Tuesday, per veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter links). Of that group, Jones-Quartey has the most NFL experience, as he stated 12 games for the Bears a season ago.
Free Agent CB Tracy Porter Arrested
Free agent cornerback Tracy Porter was arrested Tuesday in Baton Rouge, La. and charged with possession of marijuana, distribution of schedule II drugs, and battery of dating partner, as WAFB first reported.
Porter was allegedly involved in a altercation with a woman on October 5 (one that she claims became violent when Porter grabbed her face and neck area). Police arrested Porter five days after the incident, at which time they found him in possession of at least 46 prescription pills (and no prescription), marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm, WWLTV reports.
Legal issues aside, Porter has struggled to find a new NFL home this offseason, and hadn’t drawn any known interest since being released by the Bears in April. That’s likely due to his age (31) and his performance in 2016, when he graded as a bottom-five cornerback in 15 starts for Chicago, per Pro Football Focus.
Porter, who’s perhaps most-well known for his fourth quarter pick-six of Colts quarterback Peyton Manning that sealed Super Bowl XLIV for the Saints, isn’t likely to land a contract following the incident. But even if he escapes legal ramifications, Porter could still face NFL discipline if and when he returns to the league.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/11/17
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted to active roster: WR Tanner Gentry
- Released: WR Deonte Thompson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Justin March-Lillard
Houston Texans
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Whitney Mercilus (story), DL J.J. Watt (story)
- Signed off Cardinals‘ practice squad: OL Dorian Johnson
Lions Sign DT Caraun Reid
The Lions have signed free agent defensive tackle Caraun Reid and waived linebacker Thurston Armbrister, the club announced today.
Detroit is attempting to fortify its front four after placing veteran interior defender Haloti Ngata on injured reserve earlier today. While the Lions rank eighth in overall defensive DVOA, much of that success is due to the team’s secondary. Detroit’s defensive line, meanwhile, has received middling marks, as it ranks 17th in adjusted line yards and 18th in adjusted sack rate.
Reid isn’t the only new addition to the Lions’ front, as the club also agreed to sign former Packers defender Datone Jones this week. Before inking Reid and Jones to bolster its line, the Lions worked out defensive tackles Brandin Bryant and Joey Ivie, tweets veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer. Former Bears interior lineman Will Sutton also auditioned for Detroit.
Reid, 25, will now enter his second stint in the Motor City — he appeared in 26 games for the Lions from 2014-15, and made 12 starts in that latter season. Detroit waived him last September, and while he landed with the Chargers, Reid tore his ACL after only seven contests. The Lions have been running a multi-player rotation at defensive tackle, as Ngata, A’Shawn Robinson, Akeem Spence, and Jeremiah Ledbetter have all played on at least 40% of the team’s snaps this season. Reid will likely factor into that group as a reserve on the inside.
Like Reid, Armbrister has also enjoyed separate runs with the Lions. The 28-year-old saw action in 14 games for Detroit a season ago, but has since spent time on the Lions’ practice squad. He was promoted for the club’s prior two games, but was inactive for both contests. It shouldn’t be a surprise if Armbrister winds up back of Detroit’s taxi squad if he clears waivers.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/11/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: T Givens Price
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K Mike Meyer, DL Jonathan Woodard
- Placed on injured list: TE Joshua Perkins
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Mike Purcell
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Carl Bradford, WR Darreus Rogers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Amba Etta-Tawo
- Released: LB Marcus Rush
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Jeremy Liggins
- Released: DL Noble Nwachukwu