Vikings Cut DL Datone Jones From IR
The Vikings have released defensive lineman Datone Jones from injured reserve after reaching an injury settlement, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Jones, a former first-round pick of the Packers, signed with the Vikings in the spring, presumably with the hope that a shift to a 4-3 defense would allow him to flourish. Expected to play three-technique and end, Jones simply never stood out, and head coach Mike Zimmer admitted in late August that Jones wasn’t a roster lock. Ultimately, Minnesota went with other options — such as undrafted rookie Tashawn Bower — over Jones.
The 27-year-old Jones, who’s posted nine sacks over four NFL seasons, inked a one-year, $3.75MM deal to join the Vikings. While he won’t collect that entire total, Jones will take home at least $1.838MM for his short stay in Minnesota, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets.
Ezekiel Elliott Granted Restraining Order
Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott has been granted a temporary restraining order against the NFL, tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. Elliott is now expected to be available for the remainder of the season while his case is sorted out, and his six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations is on hold.
A judge found that Elliott “did not receive a fundamentally fair hearing, necessitating the Court grant the request” for a restraining order, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Because neither Elliott’s accuser nor NFL comissioner Roger Goodell was allowed to testify at said hearing, Judge Amos Mazzant accepted Elliott’s request. The risk in asking for a restraining order is that the case is decided in November or December, according to Breer (Twitter link), which could lead to Elliott missing critical games late in the season.
Elliot’s ban was upheld last week, but he was still going to be able to play in Dallas’ season opener against the Giants on Sunday night thanks to the NFL’s policy of not imposing suspensions if an appeal decision isn’t made by 4pm ET on a Tuesday. However, Elliott had been set to miss games against the Broncos, Cardinals, Rams, Packers, 49ers, and Redskins.
Elliott, the fourth overall selection in the 2016 draft, has accused the NFL of fomenting a conspiracy against him, and the dispute has gotten ugly from all angles. Elliott and his camp have cast doubt on the consistency of his accuser’s claims and suggested her motives were profit-based, while the NFL has accused Elliott of victim-shaming.
On the field, Elliott is one of the league’s more dynamic talents, as he lead the NFL in rushing yards while scoring 15 times a year ago.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: LB Scooby Wright
- Released: LB Philip Wheeler
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR: RB Ka’Deem Carey, QB Connor Shaw
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: LB B.J. Bello, DB Kai Nacua
Detroit Lions
- Released from IR: WR Dez Stewart
Houston Texans
- Released from IR: TE Rashaun Allen, S Lonnie Ballentine, CB Denzel Rice, DB Malik Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Josh Walker
New England Patriots
- Released from IR: DT Josh Augusta, WR Devin Lucien
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Bryce Harris
- Waived: RB Daniel Lasco
- Released from IR: TE John Phillips
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR: DT Rodney Coe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from IR: QB Sefo Liufau
Washington Redskins
- Released from IR: TE E.J. Bibbs, LB Ron Thompson Jr., LB Lynden Trail
Saints Working Out LB Sean Spence
The Saints are auditioning free agent linebacker Sean Spence today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
[RELATED: Saints Work Out CB Leon Hall]
Spence already joined one linebacker-needy team — the Colts — earlier this year, inking a one-year deal that included $750K in guaranteed. That wasn’t enough to keep the 27-year-old Spence on Indianapolis’ roster, however, as he was released during final cutdowns. A four-year NFL veteran, Spence spent the 2016 campaign in Tennessee, where he posted 50 tackle and three sacks in 15 appearances (six starts).
The Saints are expected to three newcomers at linebacker in their base package: free agent signings A.J. Klein and Manti Te’o, plus third-round rookie Alex Anzalone. While the club has depth behind that trio in the form of Craig Robertson, Stephone Anthony, and Nathan Stupar, Anthony could conceivably be dropped at any time. The former first-round selection wasn’t considered a roster lock as of last month, and while he did end up making the squad, Anthony could theoretically be traded or cut in the future.
In addition to Spence, New Orleans is also taking a look at cornerback D’Joun Smith and offensive lineman Michael Person, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link) and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Jaguars Place WR Dede Westbrook On IR
The Jaguars are placing rookie wide receiver Dede Westbrook on injured reserve and releasing offensive lineman Earl Watford, according to Mike Kaye of First Coast News (Twitter link).
Westbrook, the Jaguars’ fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, had moved ahead of veteran Allen Hurns on the club’s depth chart, and had been set to open the season as Jacksonville’s slot receiver behind starters Allen Robinson and Marqise Lee. However, a “core” injury has now landed Westbrook on injured reserve, although he could return to action later this season. If the Jaguars opt to designate him as a return player, Westbrook could begin practicing in six weeks and play in eight.
Watford, meanwhile, signed a two-year, $5MM deal with the Jaguars this spring that contained $1MM in guarantees. He’d been expected to serve as depth along the offensive line, and while he’s a free agent for now, it’s entirely possible he could be re-signed after Week 1. That would enable Jacksonville to be free from guaranteeing Watford’s 2017 base salary.
Jaguars Claim DB Calvin Pryor From Browns
The Jaguars have claimed safety Calvin Pryor off waivers from the Browns, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Cleveland, which originally acquired Pryor from the Jets earlier this year, waived the former first-round pick on Thursday after he reportedly go into a pre-practice fight with teammate Ricardo Louis. Now entering his age-25 season, Pryor has started 38 games during his three-year career. After grading relatively highly (top-50 safety) during his first two seasons in the NFL, Pryor declined in 2016, at least according to Pro Football Focus.
In Jacksonville, Pryor will reunite with current Jaguars executive John Idzik, who drafted Pryor as New York’s general manager in 2014. Pryor will be a clear reserve with the Jaguars, as the club has invested heavily in free agent safeties during the past two offseasons. Still, Pryor could potentially play a role as a dime safety (or even linebacker, given his playing style) alongside Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson (another former Brown).
The Jaguars will now take on Pryor’s guaranteed base salary of $1.588MM, while the Browns will clear that same total from their books.
Packers, OL Corey Linsley Talking Extension
The Packers are negotiating an extension with center Corey Linsley, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Packers Sign DL Quinton Dial]
Linsley, a fifth-round pick in 2014, started 16 games during his rookie campaign, but split time with fellow interior lineman J.C. Tretter over the past two seasons. After being activated off the physically unable to perform list last November, Linsley started Green Bay’s remaining nine regular season contests. With Tretter out of the picture after signing a free agent deal with the Browns, Linsley is the Packers’ clear primary option at the pivot.
While Green Bay has let Tretter, Josh Sitton, and T.J. Lang depart from its offensive line over the past two years, the club has also paid up from time to time. Both of the club’s tackles — David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga — are on long-term deals, while guard Lane Taylor received a three-year extension earlier this week.
Entering his age-26 campaign, Linsley will earn a base salary of $1.797MM in 2017 after qualifying for the proven performance escalator.
Patriots Audition QB Matt Barkley
The Patriots worked out quarterbacks Matt Barkley, Matt McGloin, and David Fales on Friday, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
New England only has two quarterbacks on its roster after trading third-stringer Jacoby Brissett for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett last week, so the club is likely searching for depth. Of course, the Patriots’ top two signal-callers are Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo, so while they don’t need an immediate arm, the team is simply keeping its options open.
All three of Barkley (49ers), McGloin (Eagles), and Fales (Dolphins) were released by their respective clubs during final cutdowns. Barkley and McGloin are far more experienced than Fales, as both have started at least six career games and attempted at least 250 passes. Fales, on the other hand, has tossed only five passes in his career, all of which came in 2016 with the Bears.
Quarterback wasn’t the only position New England addressed in today’s workouts — the Patriots also took a look at former Browns receiver Jordan Payton, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). However, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com doesn’t expect the club to add an outside pass-catcher, even given the injuries to Julian Edelman, Malcolm Mitchell, and Danny Amendola.
Malcolm Butler, Pats Likely To Part In 2018
The Patriots aren’t expected to re-sign cornerback Malcolm Butler after the 2017 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Butler, of course, was reportedly dangled in trade talks all offseason, and also had a restricted free agent dalliance with the Saints that ultimately led nowhere. Now that he’s in New England for one more year, Butler is teaming with free agent acquisition Stephon Gilmore to give the Patriots one of the more fearsome cornerback duos in the league. But it’s that hefty investment in Gilmore (five years, $65MM) that will likely lead to Butler going elsewhere.
New England has made Butler a “slew of offers” over the past few seasons, but none recently, per Rapoport, and the club is “done” negotiating with Butler. Additionally, the Patriots have no plans to use the franchise tag on Butler, as that would come with a price tag north of $15MM. Instead, New England hopes that Butler lands an expensive contract on the open market, which would in turn entitle the Pats to a 2019 compensatory selection.
A deal that makes Butler one of the NFL’s highest-paid corners isn’t out the question, as he’s started all 32 games over the past two seasons and ranked as the league’s No. 7 CB in 2016, per Pro Football Focus. Etched into the history books thanks to his game-winning interception in Super Bowl XLIX, Butler should surpass the $15MM per year barrier on the open market.
Patriots, LB Kyle Van Noy Reach Extension
The Patriots are have reached a two-year extension with linebacker Kyle Van Noy, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Van Noy is now under New England control through 2019.
Van Noy, a former second-round pick, was traded (along with a seventh-round choice) from the Lions to the Patriots midway through the 2016 season in a deal that cost New England a sixth-rounder. In seven games with the Pats, Van Noy made two starts and posted 27 tackles, one sack, and one interception. Van Noy played on 253 defensive snaps for New England, and also chipped in on special teams (58 snaps).
Because Van Noy only had one year remaining on his contract, his extension will necessarily increase his 2017 cap charge. Van Noy is scheduled to earn a base salary of roughly $990K this season.
Now in his age-26 campaign, Van Noy will continue to serve in the Patriots’ second level alongside fellow linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Elandon Roberts, and David Harris. Van Noy led New England ‘backers with 68 total snaps against the Chiefs on Thursday night.