NFL Workout Updates: 9/27/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
Miami Dolphins
- DEs Anthony Lanier, Charles Tapper (link)
New Orleans Saints
- DTs Joshua Frazier, Chris Okoye; DEs Frank Herron, Kendal Vickers (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- S Marwin Evans (link)
Panthers TE Greg Olsen “Way Ahead Of The Curve” In Recovery
Panthers tight end Greg Olsen says his recovery from a fractured foot is progressing extremely well, according to David Newton of ESPN.com.
“Yeah, I’m way ahead of the curve,” Olsen said. “Last year at two weeks I was laying in my bed in a cast. I couldn’t do anything. I’m way ahead of the curve from that standpoint. It’s just a matter of seeing each week how your foot responds and just try to add a little more, a little more. What that time frame is, we’re optimistic. Hopefully, it’s sooner rather than later.”
Nearly every report since Olsen broke his foot in the season opener has indicated the positive nature of his recovery. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported in early September that Olsen would return in a “few weeks,” while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicated Olsen was facing a four-to-five week timeline. Either way, it doesn’t appear Olsen will be absent for anywhere near the nine games he missed in 2017, when he suffered the same foot injury.
Olsen, who in April signed an extension through 2020, has been among the league’s best tight ends since joining the Panthers via trade in 2011. From 2014-16, Olsen earn Pro Bowl honors while topping 75 receptions and 1,000 yards in each campaign.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Jonathon Mincy
- Released: DB John Franklin III
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: G Spencer Drango
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DE Jeremiah Valoaga
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Tomasi Laulile
- Released: DT Woodrow Hamilton
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Christian DiLauro, DB Dexter McCoil
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: CB Jeff Richards
Tom Savage To Eventually Sign With 49ers?
Although the 49ers don’t plan to sign a quarterback this week after losing starter Jimmy Garoppolo to a torn ACL, veteran Tom Savage appears to be the favorite to eventually land in San Francisco, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Savage was part of a signal-caller contingent that worked out for the 49ers this week, as he joined Landry Jones, EJ Manuel, Kellen Clemens, T.J. Yates, Matt Simms, and Kyle Allen in auditioning for San Francisco. But the 49ers can’t afford to use an extra roster spot on quarterback this week, per Garafolo, so the club will hold off on adding a passer for now. Nick Mullens, a 2017 undrafted free agent out of Southern Miss, was promoted from San Francisco’s practice squad to serve as depth behind new starter C.J. Beathard.
Savage, 28, inked a one-year, $1.5MM deal with the Saints earlier this year, and appeared to be the favorite to serve as Drew Brees‘ top backup. However, Savage was deemed expendable after New Orleans acquired fellow quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the Jets, and Savage was subsequently released. A fourth-round pick in 2014, Savage appeared in 13 games and made nine starts over four seasons with the Texans.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/27/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: CB Lorenzo Doss
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: WR Freddie Martino
TNF Notes: Vikings, Cook, Rams, Peters
Let’s take a look at a few notes on the Vikings and Rams before tonight’s tilt:
- Running back Dalvin Cook didn’t play in Week 3 when the Vikings lost to the Bills, but he’s expected to suit up tonight, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Cook is dealing with a hamstring injury, and Minnesota coaches plan to use caution by examining his during pre-game warmups. After taking part in today’s walkthrough, Cook will be on a pitch count against the Rams. That means backup Latavius Murray, who filled in for Cook last week, could see work against Los Angeles’ vaunted defensive line. Cook, of course, suffered a torn ACL and missed the majority of his rookie campaign in 2017, but did average 4.8 yards per carry before going down.
- Cook isn’t the only injured player who will be active for tonight’s contest, as Rams cornerback Marcus Peters will be avaialable despite reports he would miss time with a calf strain, tweets Steve Wyche of NFL.com. Peters was expected to miss two-to-four weeks, a devastating loss especially given that fellow Los Angeles defensive back Aqib Talib was placed on injured reserve earlier this week. Instead, Peters will take the field, giving the Rams at least some hope of stopping Vikings wideouts Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Like Cook, Peters could conceivably be on a snap limit, meaning Los Angeles will need to count on reserves like Sam Shields and Troy Hill.
- After a bizarre weekend, Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen will unsurprisingly be inactive for tonight’s game. He spent today finishing a mental health evaluation, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds Griffen is expected to speak publicly about his situation in the near future. Police were called to Minneapolis hotel Saturday following reports Griffen was threatening to assault staff members, and Griffen later reportedly behaved erratically outside teammate Trae Waynes‘ home.
Panthers Waive T Corey Robinson
After acquiring Marshall Newhouse from the Bills on Tuesday, the Panthers waived fellow offensive tackle Corey Robinson, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).
Like Newhouse, Robinson was sent to the Panthers via trade, as Carolina shipped a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick to Detroit in exchange for the 26-year-old. Those conditions were evidently tied to Robinson’s time on the Panthers’ roster and were not met, tweets Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, who notes Carolina will now recoup that draft selection.
Robinson, a seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft, appeared in 23 games and made eight starts during his first three years in the NFL, all of which came with the Lions. He played in the Panthers’ first two contests of 2018, but only spent time on special teams (zero offensive snaps, three ST snaps).
The Panthers have dealt with numerous injuries to their offensive line this year, and projected tackle starters Matt Kalil and Daryl Williams are both on injured reserve. At present, Carolina is fielding Chris Clark, Greg Van Roten, Ryan Kalil, Trai Turner, and Taylor Moton left-to-right.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/26/18
oday’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Chicago Bears
- CBs C.J. Smith, Henre’ Toliver (link)
Houston Texans
- Ss T.J. Green, Jack Tocho (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Miami Dolphins
- G Kofi Amichia; LBs Tre’von Johnson, Emmanuel Smith; Ss Marwin Evans, Stefan McClure (link)
New Orleans Saints
- CBs Demetri Goodson, Prince Charles Iworah (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune)
Titans WR Rishard Matthews Requests Release
Wide receiver Rishard Matthews has requested his release from the Titans, as he tells Austin Stanley of A to Z Sports. Matthews says he and Tennessee have reached an agreement, although the club has yet to announce any transaction.
“I’ve been the leading receiver for two years,” Matthews said. “Then all of a sudden I’m barely playing and not even starting. Using my injury as the scapegoat. Look at number of snaps and targets.”
Matthews has appeared in all three games for the Titans this season, but is tied for sixth in targets with tight end Luke Stocker and fellow receiver Tajae Sharpe. He’s played exactly 50% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps, which ranks him third among Titans wideouts behind Corey Davis and Sharpe. The 28-year-old has produced just three receptions for 11 yards on six targets.
Mathews agreed to an extension just over a month ago, a self-negotiated deal that was widely panned. the pact tacks on a one-year team option in 2019 that’s valued at $7.5MM, but the extra year doesn’t contain any guaranteed money. Matthews is earning a base salary of $5MM this season, and while that total should be guaranteed given that he made the Titans’ Week 1 roster as a vested veteran, Tennessee could look to negotiate that total down, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap tweets.
Despite his lackluster production in 2018, Matthews is indeed an accomplished receiver. He led the Titans in receiving yards in both 2016 and 2017, and he averaged 59 receptions, 870 yards, and 6.5 touchdowns during that time.
Matthews will presumably garner a good deal of free agent interest once he reaches the open market, and he’ll join a list of available pass-catchers that includes Dez Bryant, Kendall Wright, Kenny Britt, and Jeremy Maclin, among others.
Packers Work Out DL Quinton Dial
The Packers worked out defensive lineman Quinton Dial on Tuesday, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
Green Bay is searching for defensive line depth after losing Muhammad Wilkerson for the season, and Dial should be familiar with the Packers after spending the 2017 campaign with the club. While the Packers have since moved to a different defensive scheme after swapping out ex-coordinator Dom Capers for Mike Pettine, Green Bay is still running a 3-4 look.
Dial, 28, has spent the entirety of his NFL career in 3-4 fronts. A former fifth-round pick, Dial played his first four pro seasons in San Francisco, and was a full-time starter in 2015-16. Last year, Dial appeared in 13 games (two starts) for the Packers, managing 12 tackles and one pass defensed while playing on roughly a third of the club’s defensive snaps.
If Dial is signed by the Packers, he’d join a defensive line rotation that includes Kenny Clark, Mike Daniels, new projected starter Dean Lowry, and Montravius Adams. Last season, Dial signed a one-year deal with Green Bay that paid him a single dollar more than the veteran’s minimum, which left open the possibility of an in-season extension. The Packers could conceivably use that strategy once again if they view Dial as a possible long-term addition.
Dial met with the Lions and Seahawks after hitting free agency in March, and auditioned for the Bills last week, but has yet to garner a contract this year.