NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/23/15
Here are Monday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Chris Matthews (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Ras-I Dowling (Twitter link via team)
- Cut: G Reese Dismukes
Chicago Bears
- Cut: CB Terrance Mitchell (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Quanterus Smith (Twitter link via Tad Dickman of Jaguars)
New York Jets
- Signed: S Ronald Martin (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: TE Sean McGrath (Twitter link via Eric Williams of ESPN.com)
San Francisco 49ers
- To be signed: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
Washington
- Signed: LB Derrick Mathews, LB Lynden Trail (press release via team)
- Cut: CB Deveron Carr
AFC Notes: Osweiler, Manning, Dennard, Hoyer
After picking up a victory in his first career start on Sunday, Brock Osweiler will face a tougher test in Week 12. As first reported by Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (Twitter link) and since confirmed by head coach Gary Kubiak, Osweiler will make another start for the Broncos next Sunday against the undefeated Patriots.
While Osweiler prepares to start a second consecutive game, Peyton Manning is in Charlotte, getting a second opinion on his foot injury, tweets Mike Klis of 9News. Multiple reports on Sunday suggested that the future Hall-of-Famer is considering playing one more season, assuming he can get healthy, but Kubiak denied those rumors, suggesting today that Manning is focused solely on his recovery, rather than on 2016 (Twitter link via Troy Renck of the Denver Post).
Let’s check in on some other items from across the AFC….
- The Bengals‘ fears on cornerback Darqueze Dennard were confirmed by an MRI today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who tweets that Dennard requires shoulder surgery and will be out for the rest of the season. Cincinnati should be able to overcome losing the 2014 first-rounder, since he was only serving as the club’s No. 4 corner in recent weeks.
- Schefter also passes along the latest on the Texans‘ quarterback situation, with head coach Bill O’Brien announcing on ESPN’s NFL Insiders that Brian Hoyer will return to action in Week 12 (Twitter link). That may spell the end of Brandon Weeden‘s time in Houston, unless the team moves forward with three quarterbacks on its roster.
- In the wake of Quinton Coples‘ release, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets that it was “well known around the league” that the Jets had the linebacker on the trade block for most of 2015. Obviously, there were no takers prior to the deadline, which doesn’t bode particularly well for Coples’ odds of being claimed on waivers. Meanwhile, head coach Todd Bowles hinted today that he has a player – possibly a kick returner – in mind for Coples’ old roster spot (Twitter link via Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com).
- It wasn’t that long ago that it seemed like Colts head coach Chuck Pagano could be fired any day. While he’s still no lock to keep his job beyond the 2015 season, Pagano has his team believing in him, as Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star details.
Panthers To Activate DE Charles Johnson
The NFC’s last remaining undefeated team will get more reinforcements this week, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer, who tweets that the Panthers are activating defensive end Charles Johnson from IR-DTR on Tuesday.
Johnson, 29, has been the Panthers’ most reliable pass rusher over the last several years, recording at least 8.5 sacks in every season from 2010 to 2014. However, his 2015 campaign was derailed by a hamstring injury, which landed him on the injured reserve list with the designation to return for the last eight weeks. Johnson’s injury prompted Carolina to go out and acquire Jared Allen to help fill the void at defensive end.
While the Panthers will get a boost to their pass rush with Johnson returning, the team’s offensive line took a hit on Sunday, with Amini Silatolu tearing the ACL in his left knee, according to Person (Twitter links). Silatolu will head to IR this week, and could be the corresponding roster move when Johnson is activated, though the team may also add another offensive lineman and remove a defender from the 53-man unit to balance things out.
The Panthers figure to officially announce their roster moves on Tuesday, with a Thanksgiving tilt against the rejuvenated Cowboys right around the corner.
AFC North Notes: Ravens, Dennard, Vick
With Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco out for the rest of the 2015 season due to an ACL injury, veteran backup Matt Schaub will get an opportunity to add an extra $1MM to his season’s earnings. As Joel Corry of CBSSports.com explains (via Twitter), Schaub’s deal includes a $500K incentive for playing 5% of Baltimore’s offensive snaps, and another $500K if he reaches 10%. With six games still left on the schedule, Schaub should have no trouble hitting those benchmarks unless he suffers an injury of his own.
Here’s more on the Ravens and a couple of their AFC North rivals:
- In the view of Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com, losing Flacco makes the Ravens the favorite to land the first overall pick for the 2016 draft. Currently, Baltimore is 3-7, a game ahead of the Browns, Titans, and Chargers, who have two wins apiece, so I’m not sure I’d call the Ravens the frontrunner for that first overall pick. Still, it certainly looks like the team is on track for its highest selection since 2000, when Jamal Lewis went fifth overall. The Ravens have never had a top-three pick.
- The Bengals are fearing the worst for second-year cornerback Darqueze Dennard, who was injured in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, Dennard dislocated his shoulder, and will undergo an MRI today to see if he suffered a tear as well. There’s a chance he’ll land on the injured reserve list later this week.
- Steelers quarterback Michael Vick said today that he’d like to play for another season, and wouldn’t mind returning to Pittsburgh in 2016, even if Landry Jones is the No. 2 quarterback heading into the summer (Twitter link via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). In previous offseason, Vick has prioritized an opportunity at a starting job, so this would be a much different approach to free agency for him.
Bears Waive Jimmy Clausen
The Bears have made a change at the quarterback position, cutting backup signal-caller Jimmy Clausen and elevating David Fales from their practice squad to the 53-man roster, the team announced today (Twitter link). Clausen will become a free agent if he passes through waivers unclaimed.
Clausen, 28, served primarily as the Bears’ backup signal-caller last year, getting a start in Week 17 when Marc Trestman wanted to see someone besides Jay Cutler lead the offense. Clausen re-signed with the club on a one-year deal back in March, and was forced into action again early in the season, when Cutler went down with an injury. In two games (one start), Clausen completed 23 of 40 passes for 184 yards and an interception.
According to Bears head coach John Fox, the club wanted to promote Fales to the active roster because he was receiving interest from at least one other team (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune). By moving him from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, the Bears protect the young quarterback, avoiding the risk of losing him to another club.
It’s fair to wonder if the Ravens, who lost Joe Flacco for the season on Sunday, and employ Trestman as an offensive coordinator, were the team – or one of the teams – expressing interest in Fales. Now that Clausen is on waivers, it’s possible that the Trestman connection could come into play again, since Baltimore has a high waiver priority and is in the market for a backup to Matt Schaub.
AFC East Notes: Taylor, Edelman, Dolphins
Assuming he plays the entire game against the Patriots tonight, Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor should ensure that he plays at least 50% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps this season, notes Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). And if Taylor meets that 50% threshold this season, it means he could end up spending one less year in Buffalo.
When Taylor signed a three-year contract with the Bills in the offseason, the pact included a clause that allowed it to void after two years if the ex-Raven played at least half of the club’s snaps this season. At the time, with Taylor projected to be a backup, those terms didn’t appear significant, but they certainly do now. Barring an injury tonight, Taylor will now likely be eligible for unrestricted free agency following the 2016 season.
Let’s round up a few more items from around the AFC East….
- Schefter also examines another notable contract, tweeting that Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman will lose about $47K each week in per-game roster bonuses while his foot injury keeps him out of action. If he misses the rest of the season, Edelman will lose out on about $328K, so the injury is a costly one for both the player and the team.
- After falling to 4-6 on Sunday, the Dolphins need to start looking ahead to 2016, writes James Walker of ESPN.com. While players and coaches still insist the club is capable of running the table and vying for a playoff spot, the franchise needs to start considering who the head coach will be in 2016, and what personnel changes must be made in the offseason.
- Dan Campbell‘s performance in relief of Joe Philbin is “obviously enough to earn him a legitimate interview” when the Dolphins hunt for a permanent head coach after the season, says Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. However, Salguero believes Miami needs to target someone with more extensive head coaching experience, identifying Sean Payton and Chuck Pagano as potential candidates, if they’re available.
West Notes: Lynch, Chargers, Fisher
Following up on a Sunday report, which indicated that Marshawn Lynch is visiting a specialist in Philadelphia about a possible sports hernia, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms that the Seahawks running back is believed to suffering from a sports hernia. If Dr. Williams Meyers, that Philadelphia specialist, agrees with that diagnosis, Lynch would likely undergo surgery immediately, and may miss the rest of the regular season.
It’s worth noting that Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns visited Dr. Meyers last week for an abdominal injury, and ultimately decided to put off possible sports hernia surgery until after the season, returning to action for Jacksonville last Thursday against the Titans. Of course, not every sports hernia injury is the same, and it’s possible Lynch’s will require more immediate attention, but we shouldn’t officially write off Beast Mode for the next few weeks quite yet.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s West divisions:
- With the Chargers out of the 2015 playoff picture, it’s time for team chairman Dean Spanos to consider the club’s long-term prospects, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com, who suggests that both head coach Mike McCoy and general manager Tom Telesco are on the hot seat in San Diego.
- McCoy must go, says Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. According to Acee, who argues that the Chargers head coach should be relieved of his duties at season’s end, it means something that McCoy hasn’t lost the team this season, but “it just doesn’t mean enough.”
- Another head coach whose seat appears to be getting a little warmer is Jeff Fisher, writes Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. While the Rams haven’t enjoyed very strong quarterback play during Fisher’s tenure in St. Louis, it’s worth noting that Fisher pushed for the acquisition of Nick Foles, who was benched during the club’s current three-game losing streak, notes Garafolo.
- Within that same piece, Garafolo also addresses the Colin Kaepernick situation, indicating that sources close to Kaepernick were “adamant” that the 49ers quarterback didn’t consider his contract status when he made the decision to undergo shoulder surgery. Still, it could become a sticking point this offseason — Kaepernick’s 2016 salary is guaranteed for injury only until April 1, and while the Niners expect the QB to be able to pass a physical by then, those physicals are somewhat subjective. Kaepernick’s camp could cite other physicians with differing opinions and try to fight the team to get his salary guaranteed if he’s cut before April.
NFC Notes: Cruz, Hayne, Wilson, Ramirez
Victor Cruz‘s uncertain future with the Giants received some press this month when he landed on injured reserve, ending his season, but he won’t be the only difficult roster decision facing the Giants in the offseason. As Bob Glauber of Newsday details, the team will also have tough calls to make on players like Jason Pierre-Paul, Prince Amukamara, and Jon Beason.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC:
- Jarryd Hayne admitted today that he has received offers to return to Australia’s National Rugby League since he was moved from the 49ers‘ 53-man roster to their practice squad, but he’s committed to NFL, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. The former rugby star saw some action earlier this season as a running back and return man for San Francisco.
- Despite an up-and-down performance so far this season, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson says the lucrative new contract he signed prior to the season isn’t playing any part in his – or the team’s – struggles, as Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes. “People want to make it something else but for me I love the game of football and I love coming to work, I love getting here early and leaving late and that’s what it’s about,” Wilson said. “Nothing’s changed. The biggest thing is we’ve just got to find ways to win.”
- Having been benched by the Lions, veteran guard Manny Ramirez is unlikely to reach several playing-time incentives in his contract, and he hopes that’s not the motive for his reduced role. “I hope not,” Ramirez said Thursday, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “But I can’t worry about that. I can only worry about the things that I’m in control of, which is, every time I step on the field, that I’m ready to go. That’s all I can do.”
Jaye Howard, Chiefs Talking Long-Term Deal
While many teams around the NFL have policies in place that prevent in-season extensions, the Chiefs are not one of them, and the club has reportedly engaged in discussions with one of its top defenders. According to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs have begun extension talks for defensive lineman Jaye Howard.
Howard, a fourth-round pick in the 2012 draft, was cut by the Seahawks prior to the 2013 season, and was claimed off waivers by the Chiefs. The former Florida Gator has since blossomed in Kansas City, earning a starting job on the defensive line. So far this season, Howard has compiled 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.
With his rookie contract set to expire at year’s end, Howard, who turns 27 next month, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in the winter if he doesn’t sign a new deal with the Chiefs. For his part, Howard would love to remain in Kansas City, suggesting that his teammates are “like family.”
“I like Coach [Andy] Reid, I love playing for him,” Howard said, per Paylor. “Love this organization. We’re building something. We’ve got young players; sooner or later, we’re going to be one of the top-10 [defenses] in the league.”
For a player like Howard, a defensive end in a 3-4 scheme who typically doesn’t get after the passer much, his value can be difficult to determine. However, Pro Football Focus grades him among the league’s top interior defensive linemen for the 2015 season — he ranks 14th overall and third against the run among interior DL, per PFF.
It was around this time last season that fellow Chiefs defensive lineman Allen Bailey signed a four-year, $25MM extension. At the time, Bailey was in his first full season as a starter, so it would make sense for Howard to at least match – and perhaps surpass – that deal. That’s certainly the case that will be made by agent Drew Rosenhaus, who represents both Bailey and Howard.
If Rosenhaus pushes for a larger deal than Bailey’s, there aren’t a ton of comparable recent signings for him to point to. The only 3-4 defensive ends to sign bigger contracts within the last year are Cameron Heyward of the Steelers and Corey Liuget of the Chargers, who are both earning $10MM+ annually on their new extensions.
Lions President Talks GM, Caldwell, Roles
New Lions president Rod Wood spoke to reporters at a press conference today, reiterating that he doesn’t have a football background and indicating at one point, “I would probably say that I’m not qualified to run any other NFL team, but I think I’m qualified to run this one,” according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). The assertion, which sounds alarming on the surface, makes some sense when taking into account Wood’s connection to the Ford family, and his understanding of ownership’s wishes and goals, tweets Birkett.
Still, for an executive whose hiring has been scrutinized and questioned based on his lack of football experience, Wood perhaps should have chosen his words a little more carefully. While that quote may get most of the attention, the new team president had plenty more to say, so let’s round up some highlights….
- According to Wood, the new general manager will be in charge of the Lions’ salary cap, and there will be a clear line of demarcation in responsibilities in the front office (Twitter links via Birkett). It will be “incredibly rare” for Wood to have input on any football personnel decisions — it will likely only happen if a signing or acquisition requires a significant financial investment.
- The Lions’ advisory board, which consists of Wood and various members of the Ford family, doesn’t have a ton of football experience, as the new president acknowledged today. Wood suggested the Lions will employ an advisor for their GM search to help identify the right candidate (Twitter link via Birkett).
- According to Wood, the team will use “every resource available to us” in its search for a general manager, and interim GM Sheldon White will be a candidate (Twitter link via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com). Identifying a candidate with “a history of successful roster building” will be a priority, tweets Birkett.
- The new general manager will be the one to make the call on Jim Caldwell‘s future with the club, per Birkett (Twitter link). That doesn’t bode particularly well for Caldwell, since new GMs often prefer to bring in their own head coaches.
- Wood admitted that he was involved in discussions on whether or not to fire former GM Martin Mayhew and president Tom Lewand (Twitter link via Birkett). While it would be unfair to accuse Wood of any ulterior motives, it seems to me like a conflict of interest for the team to solicit his opinion on whether to fire someone he ultimately replaced.
- Selling the team isn’t an option for the Fords in the near future, according to Wood, who declined to comment on a succession plan for ownership (Twitter link via Birkett).