Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals
Houston Texans
San Francisco 49ers
Washington Redskins
The Ravens have signed free agent linebacker Josh Bynes, Baltimore announced today.
Fresh off an embarrassing defensive performance against the Browns in Week 4, Baltimore is revamping its linebacker corps. Earlier this week, the Ravens agreed to terms with veteran L.J. Fort, and now they’ve added Bynes, who spent the first three years of his career in Baltimore after entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
Bynes, 30, joined the Lions after leaving Baltimore and subsequently spent 2017-18 with the Cardinals. Last season, Bynes started 11 games in the desert while posting 75 tackles and two interceptions. Among qualifiers, Bynes graded as the NFL’s 14th-best linebacker, per Pro Football Focus.
Thus far, Patrick Onwuasor and Kenny Young have seen the majority of the Ravens’ snaps at inside linebacker, but it’s possible one or both will see their playing time reduced given Baltimore’s recent additions. both Onwuasor and Young rank among the bottom-quarter of PFF’s linebacker grades.
Although Jalen Ramsey reiterated his trade demand as recently as last Thursday, Jaguars owner Shad Kahn indicates his club has no plans to deal the star cornerback, as Mark Long of the Associated Press writes.
“Obviously, football is a team sport and I’m sensitive to what individual insight or viewpoint or requests (there) might be,” Khan said. “But we have to do the right thing for the team. We value the values Jalen adds to us, to the Jaguars. I think we value him highly. We’re still looking at what is the right thing for the Jaguars, and I think right now the best thing is to have him be part of the team.”
Jacksonville has reportedly been asking for two first-round picks in Ramsey trade talks. One contending team reportedly met that asking price, but the Jaguars rejected the deal in the belief the selections would fall at the end of the first round. The Chiefs, Ravens, and potentially Chargers are believed to be considering a Ramsey addition.
One of the NFL’s premier shutdown corners, Ramsey has expressed no interest in signing an extension with the Jaguars. Any acquiring team would pick up the remainder of $3.6MM base salary in 2019 plus a $13.703MM cap charge in 2020, but Ramsey is likely seeking a long-term deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid corner at a cost north of $15MM annually.
Today’s workout updates:
Carolina Panthers
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Los Angeles Chargers
Washington Redskins
The Packers have claimed edge rusher Tim Williams off waivers from the Ravens, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Green Bay has waived tight end Evan Baylis in a corresponding move, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
A highly-touted pass rusher coming out of Alabama, Williams fell to the third round of the 2017 draft and hasn’t produced since in the NFL. He’s barely played in Baltimore, appearing in just 19 games and on 312 defensive snaps over parts of three seasons, managing only two sacks in that time.
In Green Bay, Williams will join another former Ravens edge defender — linebacker Za’Darius Smith — in a talented Packers front seven. Green Bay already ranks sixth in adjusted sack rate, so the club doesn’t necessarily need any help on the edge. But Williams will give the Packers depth at linebacker while offering, potentially, a bit of upside.
The Panthers have placed wide receiver Chris Hogan on injured reserve and claimed offensive lineman Caleb Benenoch off waivers from the Patriots, Carolina announced today.
Hogan, 31, landed with the Panthers during the offseason after spending the previous three seasons with the Patriots. A deep-ball threat who led the NFL in yards per reception in 2016, Hogan wasn’t a large part of Carolina’s offense through four games, as he’d received only five targets while working behind D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, and Jarius Wright. Per the Panthers, Hogan — who is dealing with a knee injury — has a chance to return later this year.
Benenoch will join his third team of 2019 after previously being waived by the Buccaneers and Patriots. He’ll give Carolina offensive line depth while Greg Little is in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Benenoch started all 16 games at right guard for Tampa Bay in 2018.
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers
Washington Redskins
The Patriots are in need of a new kicker after placing Stephen Gostkowski on injured reserve earlier today, and they worked out five free agents on Wednesday. New England took a look at Kai Forbath, Elliott Fry, Mike Nugent, Blair Walsh, and Matthew Wright today, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com.
New England will need another kicker for Sunday’s contest against the Redskins, but the club doesn’t seem to be acting with any sense of urgency. The Patriots are not expected to sign a kicker today and may bring in more free agents on Thursday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The Chargers also held kicker auditions today, which created travel issues for several free agents, per RapSheet.
Nugent by far the most experienced of the kickers that tried out for the Patriots, having attempted more than 300 field goals during his career, but both Walsh and Forbath have each attempted more than 100 kicks each. Fry lost the Bears’ kicking competition over the summer, while Wright is an undrafted rookie free agent.
Meanwhile, Kaare Vedvik — who was traded from the Ravens to the Vikings this offseason before briefly landing with the Jets — declined to work out for the Patriots, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds Vedvik is focusing on punting and kickoffs rather than field goals.
Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey recently underwent surgery to correct the torn pectoral muscle he suffered in Week 2, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Kirksey had already been placed on injured reserve, but had surgery not been required, there was at least some chance he could have returned later this season. Instead, he’ll miss the remainder of the year.
A third-round pick in the 2014 draft, Kirksey had been an iron man to start his career, playing in 64 consecutive games from 2014 through 2017. Last season, however, Kirksey went down with a hamstring injury and missed the final nine games of the campaign.
Kirksey, 27, became a full-time starter for the Browns in 2016, and averaged 143 tackles per year over the next two seasons. In May 2017, Cleveland extended Kirksey for four years and $38MM, locking him in through 2021. He’ll count for $9.95MM and $10.45MM on the Browns’ salary cap in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Fifth-round rookie Mack Wilson will continue to start in place of Kirksey, playing linebacker next to Joe Schobert. Wilson has played 100% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps since taking over for Kirksey in Week 3.
Today’s practice squad updates:
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers
Dallas Cowboys
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Chargers
New England Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers
Washington Redskins