NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/17
AFC Rumors: Broncos, Ray, Jets, Texans
Shane Ray is “right on schedule” to return to the Broncos after his eight-week stay on injured reserve, according to Troy Renck of Denver7 (Twitter link). Currently dealing with a wrist issue, Ray was placed on IR following the formation of Denver’s 53-man roster, meaning he’s eligible to return after eight weeks. Ray will miss three more divisional games — one each against the Chargers, Raiders, and Chiefs — before getting back to action in Week 9. Without Ray in tow, the Broncos rank just 22nd in adjusted sack rate.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- If Colts quarterback Andrew Luck were to somehow become available, the Jets should make a play for the signal-caller, opines Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Luck, of course, hasn’t played this season as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery, but it’s still incredibly difficult to see Indy general manager Chris Ballard even considering the idea of a Luck trade. New York could secure a top-five selection in the 2018 draft, but the Colts would almost assuredly demand multiple first-round picks — and possibly more — for Luck, who is owed more than $95MM (not counting signing bonus money) through 2021.
- Johnthan Banks‘ one-year deal with the Texans is for one year at the minimum rate, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). But because the former second-round cornerback after two weeks of the regular season had already passed, he’ll only earn about $683K in base salary. Furthermore, Houston used the minimum salary benefit on Banks, meaning the club will only incur ~$542K for signing the fifth-year pro.
- In case you missed it, the Chiefs waived/injured veteran kicker Cairo Santos today, meaning his next kick will likely come with another club after three-plus seasons with Kansas City.
NFC Notes: Vikings, Floyd, Lions, Eagles
Given that wide receiver Michael Floyd‘s four-game suspension will conclude this Sunday, the Vikings will need to make a roster move in order to clear space for the veteran pass-catcher, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes. Clubs are typically given roster exemptions when a player returns from a ban, so Minnesota will likely have until Wednesday or Thursday to make a transaction. The most likely candidates to be removed from the Vikings’ active 53 appear to be rookie wideouts Rodney Adams and Stacy Coley, per Tomasson, as neither has played much during the 2017 campaign. Floyd, 27, inked a one-year, $1.41MM deal with Minnesota that didn’t include any guaranteed money.
Here’s more from the NFC:
- The Lions expect left tackle Taylor Decker to return from a shoulder injury in late October or early November, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Originally given a four-to-six month timeline when injured in June, Decker has been progressing well in his recovery, and nearly every report on his timetable has been positive. Because he’s on the physically unable to perform list, Decker is required to miss at least six games before returning to action. Detroit has a bye in Week 7, however, so the earliest he can realistically come back is Week 9 against the Steelers, as Meinke details. Trade acquisition Greg Robinson has started in Decker’s stead, but he’s graded as the league’s second-worst tackle, per Pro Football Focus.
- Linebacker Mychal Kendricks was finally able to play in more than half the Eagles‘ defensive snaps in Week 3 following an injury to fellow defender Jordan Hicks, and Kendricks wasn’t able to stifle his frustration at typically being only a base-package player. “I haven’t been able to play,” Kendricks said, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I could have been doing this. … You only have so much time to do this [stuff], man.” Kendricks, who posted seven tackles and two passes defensed last Sunday, has frequently been mentioned in trade rumors but hasn’t been moved.
- In case you missed it, the NFL suspended Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan two games for his brutal hit on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams on Thursday Night Football.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/30/17
AFC Notes: Pats, Browns, Raiders, Dolphins
Dont’a Hightower is expected to return to action for the Patriots on Sunday after missing each of the club’s past two games with a knee sprain, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. New England, notably, ranks dead last in the NFL in points allowed, yards allowed, and defensive DVOA. With the Patriots’ defense clearly missing its leader, Hightower’s return can’t come too soon. As Howe writes, New England had been using Hightower as an edge defender, but several defensive mistakes could lead the Pats to shift Hightower back to his natural off-ball linebacker position. Elandon Roberts, and possibly Kyle Van Noy, will likely see his snaps reduced as a result of Hightower’s return.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- While Hightower will be back on the field in New England, the same can’t be said for Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Bengals, reports Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Garrett, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, hasn’t played a regular season down this year as he deals with a high ankle sprain. Browns head coach Hue Jackson has hinted on multiple occasions that Garrett is “close” to returning, but the Texas A&M product will have to wait until at least Week 5 to make his NFL debut. Without Garrett in tow, Cleveland ranks just 23rd in adjusted sack rate.
- Raiders cornerback Sean Smith pleaded not guilty on charges of assault and battery stemming from an alleged July altercation, as Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes. The details of the incident are rather sordid, but Oakland head coach Jack Del Rio indicated the club would stand behind Smith until the legal process runs its course. On the field, Smith is no longer starting just one year after agreeing to a four-year, $38MM free agent contract. Thus far, he’s played only a quarter of the Raiders’ defensive snaps, fourth among Oakland corners.
- Punter Brandon Fields has announced his retirement from the NFL following a nine-year career, his agent announced on Twitter. Fields, 33, last played for the Saints in 2015, but is most well-known for his eight-season run with the Dolphins from 2007-14. The former seventh-round pick appeared in 130 career games and maintained a yards per punt average of 46.7.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/29/17
Today’s minor moves:
- The Bills have filled the vacant slot on their 53-man roster by promoting defensive end Eric Lee from their practice squad, the club announced today. Lee, an undrafted free agent out of South Florida in 2016, will make his NFL debut on Sunday if he sees the field against the Falcons. After finishing with 11.5 sacks during his final collegiate season, Lee spent the entirety of the 2016 campaign on the Texans’ practice squad, but was waived by Houston during final cutdowns earlier this month.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/29/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Carolina Panthers
- QB Marcus McDade; WRs C.J. Board and Germone Hopper (link via Howard Balzer)
Cleveland Browns
- P Brock Miller (link via Howard Balzer)
Dallas Cowboys
- LBs Richie Brown and Kenneth Olugbode (story via Todd Archer of ESPN.com)
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Marcus Lucas (link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
New England Patriots
- C Anthony Fabiano; OTs Jake Rodgers and Victor Salako; LBs Austin Calitro and Cam Johnson (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- RBs William Stanback and James Summers (link via Art Stapleton of the Record)
New York Jets
- LB Jayrone Elliott (link via Howard Balzer)
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Bryan Braman (original story) (link via Balzer)
Washington Redskins
- WR Rashard Davis (link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post)
Packers Not Planning To Add Running Back
Packers running back Ty Montgomery‘s injury isn’t as serious as originally believed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Original reports indicated Montgomery suffered broken ribs in Thursday night’s game, and it’s unclear if that diagnosis was incorrect, or if Montgomery will simply be able to manage the injury.
[RELATED: Latest On Packers CB Damarious Randall]
Now considered day-to-day, Montgomery could be available when Green Bay faces Dallas in Week 5 following a ten-day layoff. That’s the second bit of positive news the Packers have received today, as backup running back Jamaal Williams also avoided a major injury, escaping Green Bay’s victory over the Bears with only a knee sprain.
The Packers don’t intend to add a running back to their roster, per Schefter, an indication that the club believes at least one of Montgomery or Williams will be ready to go come next Sunday. If not, Green Bay will instead rely on rookies Aaron Jones and Devante Mays, with fullback Aaron Ripkowski also in the mix.
Montgomery, 24, has been a vital cog in the Packers’ offense in his first season as a full-time running back. Through three-plus games, Montgomery has managed 152 yards and two scores on the ground while adding 18 receptions, 129 yards, and another touchdown in the passing game.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/29/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Hardy Nickerson
- Released: G Cole Toner
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Darnell Sankey
- Released: Troymaine Pope
New York Giants
- Signed: FB Shane Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Keith Kelsey
- Placed on injured list: LB Matt Galambos
Bears Place DB Quintin Demps On IR
The Bears have placed safety Quintin Demps on injured reserve after he suffered a broken arm in Week 3, the club announced today.
Demps is certainly a candidate to return from IR later this season, but that will first entail a minimum eight-week absence. As such, the earliest Chicago will see Demps in action again is Week 13 against the 49ers. While that’s not ideal, the Bears likely didn’t want to carry an unplayable Demps on their roster while he recovers. Chicago already have seven other players on IR, and while some of them — such as linebacker Jerrell Freeman — could potentially return in 2017, others (like wide receiver Cameron Meredith) have already been ruled out for the year.
Third-year pro Adrian Amos will be asked to step in at safety in the absence of Amos, and he offers plenty of experience. A fifth-round pick in 2015, Amos started 30 games over his first two seasons in the NFL, and graded as the league’s No. 26 safety last year, per Pro Football Focus. Amos will now start next to rookie defensive back Eddie Jackson, while Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson will serve as Chicago’s backups at safety.
Demps, 32, inked a three-year, $13.5MM deal that included $4.5MM in the spring after spending the past two seasons with the Texans. Through an admittedly small sample of only two-plus games, PFF had ranked Demps as just the 70th-best safety among 82 qualifiers.