Jeremy Maclin On Track To Play Thursday
The Chiefs could see the return of one of their top offensive weapons this week, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) reports Kansas City is “optimistic” that wide receiver Jeremy Maclin will be ready to play on Thursday night against the Raiders. Maclin, who has missed the past four games with a groin injury, has been a full practice participant in each of the past two days.
[RELATED: Chiefs Place Jaye Howard On IR]
Kansas City fared well during Maclin’s quarter-season absence, posting a 3-1 record with impressive wins coming over the Panthers, Broncos, and Falcons. On Thursday night, however, the Chiefs will face their most important game to date, as they’ll go up against the division rival Raiders, who are currently leading the AFC West with a 10-2 mark. A Kansas City victory would give the Chiefs the division lead, as though both clubs would have the same record, KC would have won both head-to-head matchups and thus own the tiebreaker.
Upon his return, Maclin will rejoin a Chiefs’ receiving corps that includes recent breakout star Tyreek Hill, Chris Conley, Albert Wilson, De’Anthony Thomas, and Demarcus Robinson. In eight games this season, Maclin has registered 30 receptions for 376 yards and two touchdowns.
Falcons Sign DL Malliciah Goodman
After putting him through a workout earlier today, the Falcons have signed free agent defensive lineman Malliciah Goodman, the club announced. Atlanta also announced that is has promoted offensive lineman Kevin Graf from the practice squad, and waived defensive lineman Cliff Matthews and offensive lineman Trevor Robinson.
[RELATED: Atlanta Falcons Depth Chart]
The Falcons were reportedly on the hunt for a defensive end after Adrian Clayborn suffered an MCL injury that could shelve him for the rest of the regular season. In Goodman, they’ve reunited with a player that spent time in Atlanta from 2013-15 after being selected as a fourth-round draft choice. Goodman, 26, has spent most of this season on the audition circuit, but he did play in one game for Seattle last month. Now he’ll settle in behind Tyson Jackson, Brooks Reed, and Courtney Upshaw at defensive end for the Falcons.
Like Goodman, Matthews had posted two separate stints with Atlanta, re-signing with the club this October after a brief tenure with the Buccaneers. He’s appeared in 35 games during his four-year career, mostly serving as a special teams player during that time. Robinson, meanwhile, is a former 13-game starter at center for the Chargers, and had just landed a contract with the Falcons a week ago.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/6/2016
Today’s minor moves:
- The Dolphins announced that they’ve waived offensive tackle Bryce Harris. Miami had just claimed Harris, 27, off waivers from Jacksonville a few weeks ago. Harris has 34 games of experience under his belt, but has only started four contests during that time.
- The Colts have waived tight end Mike McFarland off injured reserve, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). McFarland, a 2015 undrafted free agent, signed with Indianapolis this March but was placed on IR just two months later.
Jaguars Waive LB Arthur Brown
The Jaguars announced today that they’ve waived linebacker Arthur Brown, while they’ve filled the open roster spot by promoting fellow linebacker Sean Porter from their practice squad.
[RELATED: Jacksonville Jaguars Depth Chart]
Brown, a former second-round pick of the Ravens, has essentially been recast as a special teams player at this point in his career, as he’d fallen out of favor in Baltimore before being waived this summer, and hadn’t contributed on the defensive side of the ball for Jacksonville this season. The 26-year-old had only played on six defensive snaps for the Jags in 2016 (while seeing time on nearly 85% of the club’s ST plays), and had only been on the field for 10 total defensive snaps during his final two seasons with the Ravens.
Porter, 25, was also a relatively high draft choice (fourth round, Bengals, 2013), but has only played in one game thus far in his career. Waived by Cincinnati in November 2015, Porter has spent much of the time since on the Jaguars’ practice squad. He’ll likely fill a role similar to that of Brown, playing on special teams while serving as depth behind Telvin Smith, Paul Posluszny, Myles Jack, and Dan Skuta.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/6/2016
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: P Matt Wile
- Cut: LB Reshard Cliett
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: RB Stephen Houston
Clevleand Browns
- Signed: S Justin Currie
New Orleans Saints
- Cut: LB Lamar Louis
New York Giants
- Signed: DE Jordan Williams
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Darius Jennings
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Shaniel Jenkins
- Cut: WR Kevin Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Bernard Reedy
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB J.R. Tavai
Seahawks Sign Jeron Johnson
The Seahawks have officially placed safety Earl Thomas on injured reserve, and filled his roster spot by signing fellow safety Jeron Johnson, the club announced today. Seattle also confirmed the previously-reported signing of fullback Marcel Reece, and announced that it has waived running back George Farmer to create a roster spot.
[RELATED: Seattle Seahawks Depth Chart]
Johnson, 28, is a familiar face in Seattle, as he spent the 2011-14 campaigns serving as a reserve defensive back and a special-teamer for the Seahawks. He signed with the Redskins last year with the hope of getting more playing time, but was ultimately released just one season into a two-year deal. After briefly hooking on with the Chiefs in August, Johnson was cut and had been roaming the workout circuit, meeting with the Giants, Ravens, and Bills.
Steven Terrell figures to take most of Thomas’ vacated snaps at free safety, meaning Johnson is likely to return to his special teams role for the Hawks. Johnson wasn’t the only safety Seattle worked out today, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link) that the Seahawks also took a look at veterans Duke Williams and Rahim Moore.
Packers’ Mike Pennel Suspended Four Games
Packers defensive tackle Mike Pennel will serve his second four-game suspension of the season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse program, the league announced today. Pennel had been suing the league over a discrepancy in the appeal process, but he dropped that suit yesterday and came to an agreement via the appeal procedure, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
[RELATED: Julius Peppers Non-Committal On 2017]
Pennel, 25, could have been facing a 10-game ban as a result of a second failed drug test, but evidently negotiated that suspension down to four contests through meetings with the league. In his lawsuit against the NFL, Pennel contended the league only intended to provide two neutral arbitrators instead of the standard three-to-five, and asked that the entire appeal hearing is put on hold until the NFL appoints a third arbitrator.
In eight games this season Pennel has notched 103 defensive snaps as a rotational lineman behind starters Mike Daniels, Letroy Guion, and Datone Jones. Signed only through 2016 at the minimum salary, Pennel will miss out on his base salary for the remainder of the year and will also forfeit the applicable prorated amount of his signing bonus.
Pennel’s suspension will begin immediately, meaning he will be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season. He will miss games against the Seahawks, Bears, Vikings, and Lions.
AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Patriots, Gronk, Bills
The Dolphins have received a roster exemption for defensive end Jason Jones as he returns from a two-game suspension, according to Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com (Twitter link). The exemption expires Wednesday, so Jones, who was banned for a substance abuse violation, must be activated by the middle of the week. Jones, 30, has appeared in ten Dolphins games this season, and posted 2.5 sacks, 23 tackles, and a fumble recovery.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- By reaching 950 yards rushing on the season, Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount earned a $200K incentive bonus on Sunday, tweets Joel Corry of CBSSports.com, who adds that Blount had already notched a separate $250K in incentives this year. Blount, who turns 30 years old today, signed a one-year deal with a base value of $1MM to return to New England this spring. So far, he’s ran for 957 yards and leads the league with 13 rushing touchdowns.
- The Bills face a dilemma next spring, as they must choose whether to exercise an option on quarterback Tyrod Taylor that would lock in more than $30MM in guarantees, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com writes. Taylor has performed at a slightly below average level this year (19th in DYAR, per Football Outsiders), but injuries at many of Buffalo’s skill position shave made it difficult to truly evaluate Taylor. “I think Tyrod is an outstanding quarterback,” said Bills head coach Rex Ryan. “I really do. Hopefully we’ll find out soon if we really have a full deck of how good this kid could really be.”
- Speculation has arisen following Rob Gronkowski‘s season-ending back injury that the Patriots could look to either trade or release their star tight end, but Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap doesn’t think that’s a likely scenario. While Gronkowski is by no means a bargain, he is inarguably the best tight end in the league, and New England pays him accordingly. The most likely outcome involves the Patriots allowing Gronk the chance to get healthy in 2017, and then gauging his value at that point, argues Fitzgerald.
NFC North Notes: Packers, Lions, Boldin, Bears
Packers defensive tackle Mike Pennel‘s lawsuit against the NFL and NFLPA has been resolved, as Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal tweets. As such, the NFL has agreed to appoint third arbitrator to hear Pennel’s appeal of his impending 10-game suspension. That appeal hearing was originally supposed to take place tomorrow, but the meeting has now been postponed, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
Here’s more from the NFC North:
- In the midst of his 15th NFL season, Packers edge rusher Julius Peppers isn’t committing to playing in 2017, reports Jason Wilde of ESPN.com (Twitter link). “I’m not saying that I don’t want to play next year,” said Peppers. “I’m not saying that I do. I’m just saying that right now I don’t know.” The 36-year-old Peppers is having another solid season, as he’s posted 6.5 sacks while grading as the league’s No. 26 edge defender, according to Pro Football Focus. He’ll be a free agent at season’s end.
- Veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin earned a $500K incentive bonus when the Lions won their eighth game of the season on Sunday, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). Under the terms of the one-year deal he signed with Detroit, Boldin could possibly earn another $500K in not-likely-to-be-earned bonuses. Even in his age-36 season, Boldin is still producing, as he’s put up 52 receptions and six touchdowns this year.
- Although they currently own the No. 4 overall pick in 2017 draft (pending the outcome of Monday Night Football), the Bears should focus on posting victories with their core rather than angling for a higher draft choice, argues Adam L. Jahns of the Chicago Sun Times. Chicago is now 3-9 after beating San Francisco on Sunday, earning the win on the back of running back Jordan Howard‘s three touchdowns. Other recent acquisitions, such as quarterback Matt Barkley, defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, and linebacker Leonard Floyd also provided “glimmers of hope,” as Jahns writes.
NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals
After suffering a leg injury last night which will sideline him for the remainder of the season, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas tweeted that retirement had crossed his mind, and as he tells Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter links), he’s still considering his options. “I’m taking it one day at a time,” said Thomas. “I still feel the same way I felt last night. You have to remember my team is still fighting I don’t want to become a distraction.” One positive is that Thomas won’t require surgery, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), which should ease his recovery and rehab process.
Here’s more from the NFC West:
- The Rams recently announced an extension for head coach Jeff Fisher, but that doesn’t mean the club won’t part ways with Fisher after the current season, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. The new deal, which was reportedly agreed to over the summer, only runs through 2017 before containing an option for 2018. As such, Los Angeles wouldn’t be on the hook for much money if it chose to fire Fisher after this year. In fact, the extension is viewed as more of a “token of appreciation” from owner Stan Kroenke to Fisher rather than a sign that Fisher will be around for the long haul, writes Gonzalez.
- Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told reporters that he was not pleased with punter Drew Butler‘s play on Sunday against Washington, tweets Darren Urban of AZCentral.com. Butler re-signed with Arizona late last month after previously having agreed to an injury settlement. Cards head coach Bruce Arians confirmed that the club will work out an unidentified punter on Tuesday, per Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link).
- Although a weekend report indicated that “confidants” believe Arians could consider retiring from the Cardinals after the 2016 campaign, Arians himself told reporters that the news was false, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter links). “First of all, I don’t have that many friends,” said Arians, before adding that he’s “damn sure” he’ll be coaching in 2017.