Saints To Re-Sign Tim Hightower
With Khiry Robinson sidelined for the remainder of the 2015 season, the Saints are filling his spot on the roster by bringing back free agent running back Tim Hightower, according to Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune (via Twitter).
Hightower, 29, hasn’t appeared in an NFL regular season game since the 2011 season, when he started five games for Washington. The former fifth-round pick, who had some productive seasons with the Cardinals early in his NFL career, was attempting a comeback this year, and had a solid preseason with the Saints. However, we was cut by the team in September before seeing any regular-season snaps.
The Saints reportedly brought in multiple running backs for workouts today before deciding on Hightower. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that former third overall pick Trent Richardson was among the backs who earned a look from New Orleans, while Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets that ex-Saint Travaris Cadet also met with the club.
Hightower will join a Saints backfield that also features Mark Ingram, C.J. Spiller, and undrafted rookie Marcus Murphy, who contributes primarily in a return role.
East Notes: Jets, Harvin, Washington, Pats
Speaking to reporters today, including Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter links), Jets head coach Todd Bowles provided updates on his injured quarterbacks, indicating that Geno Smith has a bruised shoulder and is day to day, while Ryan Fitzpatrick is also day to day with ligament damage in his thumb. Fitzpatrick will require surgery eventually, but may be able to play through the injury for now.
Still, with their top two quarterbacks uncertain for Week 9, the Jets are considering outside options, eyeing both the free agent market and the trade market, Bowles confirmed (Twitter links). The head coach identified Matt Flynn as one option the club is mulling, and added that if the Jets bring in a new QB, the newcomer could start or back up Bryce Petty, depending on Smith’s and Fitzpatrick’s availability (Twitter links).
Let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFL’s East divisions…
- As Rand Getlin of the NFL Network tweets, Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin is back with the team and has met with the doctors, who are evaluating his hip injury. Reports in October suggested Harvin was contemplating the idea of retiring, but head coach Rex Ryan said today that Harvin wants to play and is committed to the Bills, per Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News. “That’s the least of our concern with him,” Ryan said. “I know he wants to play. He desperately wants to contribute to this team.”
- Ryan also told reporters today that Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who began the season on the non-football injury list, will be activated and placed on the 53-man roster this week (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW).
- A team source tells John Keim of ESPN.com that Washington isn’t expected to be active at the trade deadline on Tuesday. Keim cautions that things could change if the club gets desperate, but it appears unlikely Scot McCloughan and company will make a deal.
- With an eye on keeping their special teams emergency lists fresh, the Patriots worked out a handful of players today, including long snapper Tyler Ott and punter Cody Mandell, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.
Steve Smith Leaning Toward 2016 Return?
While he hasn’t publicly wavered from his retirement stance, Ravens wideout Steve Smith Sr. is leaning toward returning for the 2016 season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Citing “several people close to” Smith, La Canfora reports that the veteran receiver is already talking about coming back, adding that he scheduled a quick surgery for next Monday to repair his torn Achilles.
Even before Smith went down with his season-ending Achilles injury on Sunday, there had been whispers in recent weeks that 2015 may not be his last season after all. That speculation likely stemmed in part from his production on the field — heading into Week 8, the 36-year-old has grabbed 41 balls for 588 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 98 yards per game — the second-highest mark of his career.
Following the injury, head coach John Harbaugh said he had “a feeling” that Smith would be back next season, while running back Justin Forsett was among the Ravens players who said he’d be “whispering in [Smith’s] ear” to encourage a return for 2016.
Smith has one more year left on his contract with the Ravens, and is due a base salary of $3MM in ’16.
Saints’ Khiry Robinson Out For Season
The Saints clawed their way back to .500 with a wild 52-49 win over the Giants on Sunday, but the team’s third straight victory came at a cost. Head coach Sean Payton confirmed today that running back Khiry Robinson underwent surgery on a broken leg, and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2015 season (Twitter link via Andrew Siciliano of the NFL Network).
Robinson, 25, had complemented Mark Ingram in the running game this year, serving as an effective receiver out of the backfield as well. In his eight games, Robinson established a new career high with 17 receptions, adding 180 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 56 carries.
With Robinson sidelined, the Saints could turn to C.J. Spiller and rookie Marcus Murphy to shoulder heavier loads. Signing a fourth running back will also be a possibility, with Robinson certainly headed to the injured reserve list in the coming days.
Robinson’s contract with the Saints expires at season’s end, so there’s a chance he has played his last game for the team. Still, he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency this winter, so New Orleans will have an opportunity to extend him a qualifying offer.
49ers Working Out Ben Tate
After Reggie Bush suffered a fluke knee injury on Sunday that will likely end his season, the 49ers figure to be in the market for running back help. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), one player the team is eyeing as a potential Bush replacement is veteran free agent Ben Tate, who will work out for San Francisco tomorrow.
Tate, 27, was viewed as a potential breakout candidate heading into the 2014 season, but saw his stock drop significantly last year, as he failed to produce consistently for the Browns, Vikings, and Steelers. The poor showing has made it challenging for Tate to find work this season — he has worked out for the Cowboys, Lions, and Chiefs since becoming a free agent, but has yet to find a new home.
As for the Niners, the Bush injury is the latest in a string of them in the team’s backfield. Carlos Hyde is dealing with a foot injury, and rookie Mike Davis suffered a fractured hand in Sunday’s loss to the Rams, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). San Francisco waived Jarryd Hayne on Saturday, with head coach Jim Tomsula explaining that the Niners wanted a heavier runner for the game against St. Louis, per Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Hayne was replaced on the roster by 238-pound Kendall Gaskins.
While Bush is one possibility for the Niners, he’s hardly the only one. The club could also consider Pierre Thomas, who previously worked out for San Francisco, and re-signing Hayne is an option as well, assuming he clears waivers today.
Ricardo Lockette Having Surgery, Out For Year
After taking a scary hit on Sunday that knocked him out of the Seahawks’ game against the Cowboys, wide receiver Ricardo Lockette is undergoing surgery today to stabilize ligament damage in his neck, the team announced in a press release.
According to the Seahawks, Lockette has full motion and feeling in all his extremities, and his prognosis is good. However, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll confirmed today during an appearance on 710 AM in Seattle that Lockette will be out for the rest of the season (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). A roster move placing the wideout on injured reserve can be expected within the next few days.
Lockette, 29, hasn’t been a significant part of the Seahawks’ offense in recent years, totaling just 22 receptions for 451 yards and four touchdowns over parts of the last five seasons for Seattle. Still, he played a key role in the team’s run to the Super Bowl last season, catching six balls in the postseason, including three against New England in the Super Bowl.
If the Seahawks want to add a player from outside of the organization to replace Lockette on the roster, the team would have the option of making a trade, as long as it’s done by tomorrow afternoon. Per Condotta (Twitter link), Carroll said today that GM John Schneider has been “burning up the phone lines,” though it’s not clear if any of those trade discussions are related to a receiver.
It’s not yet known whether or not Lockette will be able to continue his NFL career after recovering from today’s neck surgery.
Update On IR-DTR Players
We’re now through eight weeks of the NFL season, which means we’re approaching the year’s halfway point. It also means that players who were placed on the injured reserve list with the designation to return prior to the regular season are eligible to be activated and play in their respective teams’ next games.
Players placed on IR with the designation to return are eligible to begin practicing after six weeks, and can return to game action after eight weeks, so there are some IR-DTR players who have begun practicing already, and some of them could be activated for Week 9. Not every player will be healthy enough to return immediately now that they’ve become eligible to do so, but we should see at least a handful of the 10 players who have been on IR-DTR all year be activated to 53-man rosters in the coming days.
Here’s a breakdown of the 10 IR-DTR players eligible to be activated for Week 9:
- Jay Ajayi, RB (Dolphins): Ajayi recently said that he’s back to full health, though the Dolphins may have a decision to make in their backfield if they decide to activate the rookie runner.
- Alex Carter, CB (Lions): Carter is on track to begin practicing after the Lions’ Week 9 bye, and likely won’t be activated right away.
- David Cobb, RB (Titans): Cobb is expected to be activated this week, and at least one Titans beat reporter believes the rookie is capable of earning a high percentage of the team’s carries.
- Demar Dotson, T (Buccaneers): When he began practicing, Dotson admitted his injured knee wasn’t where he wanted it to be, but it sounds like he’s made enough progress to be activated this week.
- Charles Gaines, CB (Browns): Gaines returned to practice when he was eligible to do so, and sounds like he’s eager to get back on Cleveland’s roster. If the Browns want him active for Week 9, they’ll have to make a move soon, since the team plays on Thursday this week.
- Dee Milliner, CB (Jets): Head coach Todd Bowles said last week that he believes Milliner will be ready to play as soon as he becomes eligible, though he cautioned that the team will need to find room on the active roster.
- Maurkice Pouncey, C (Steelers): There has been some speculation that Pouncey could be sidelined for the entire season, but head coach Mike Tomlin still expects his veteran center back this year. That likely won’t happen for a few more weeks though, since the initial diagnosis put Pouncey on track to be out until at least Week 12.
- Bryan Stork, C (Patriots): The Patriots’ offensive line has been hit hard by injuries this season, so having to decide between Stork and David Andrews at center will be a welcome problem for the team. Stork appears on track to return in Week 9.
- John Sullivan, C (Vikings): After suffering a setback and undergoing another surgical procedure, Sullivan won’t be back anytime soon, and may not play at all this season.
- Brent Urban, DE (Ravens): Asked two weeks ago about Urban, head coach John Harbaugh said that the defensive end wasn’t practicing, adding that his recovery would probably take “a few more weeks.”
While these 10 players are the only ones on IR-DTR eligible to return in Week 9, there are 12 more who will gain eligibility in the coming weeks. The full list can be found right here.
Among those 12 other IR-DTR players, the most notable name is Tony Romo, who can’t play until Week 11. The Cowboys quarterback is eligible to begin practicing this week, but Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link) hears that won’t happen quite yet. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Romo is still on track to return to the field when he’s eligible for game action, but it makes sense to keep getting Matt Cassel first-team practice reps in the meantime.
AFC Notes: S. Smith, Jets, Wright, Wake
After Steve Smith Sr. suffered a torn Achilles during Sunday’s win over the Chargers, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was among those quick to express hope that the standout receiver will reconsider his plans to retire, telling reporters, “I have a feeling Steve Smith will be back.” As Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com details, Harbaugh wasn’t the only one in the Ravens’ locker room conveying that sentiment.
“I’ll definitely be whispering in his ear, hopefully to get him back out there,” running back Justin Forsett said.
While Smith announced before the season that 2015 would be his last year in the NFL, there are doubts that he’d want to go out this way. If he does decide to play one more year in 2016, the Ravens “would certainly welcome him back,” writes Hensley.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- If the Jets decide to add an outside quarterback to add depth after Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith got banged up on Sunday, don’t expect them to consider adding Ryan Mallett, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright suffered a sprained MCL on Sunday, a source tells Schefter (Twitter link). However, the injury doesn’t sound nearly as serious as the MCL tear suffered by Le’Veon Bell on Sunday, which means Wright’s season shouldn’t be in jeopardy.
- Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald examines a few options the Dolphins have with Cameron Wake, as the team decides whether or not to retain the veteran defensive end – who is recovering from a torn Achilles – for the 2016 season.
- Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter links) identifies Chargers running back Donald Brown as a potential trade candidate in advance of tomorrow’s deadline. As Gehlken notes, Brown is buried on San Diego’s depth chart, and drew serious interest from another team when he was briefly cut by the Chargers earlier this year.
Ravens’ Matt Elam Suspended One Game
SATURDAY, 8:56am: Elam has been shifted from the injured reserve to the reserve-suspended list for this week, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
FRIDAY, 3:52pm: Safety Matt Elam has been suspended one game for violating the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse, the Ravens announced today (via Twitter). Elam has been on Baltimore’s injured reserve list all season, so he’ll serve his suspension immediately, and it won’t affect him next year, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
“We have been aware of this situation for a while,” the Ravens said in a statement (via Twitter). “Matt has been in our building rehabbing his injury on a regular basis, and he will continue to do so.”
Elam, 24, started 26 regular season contests at safety for the Ravens during his first two NFL seasons. However, having led the team in missed tackles and struggled mightily in coverage, he was bumped from Baltimore’s lineup in favor of Will Hill down the stretch in 2014. Elam entered 2015 looking to redeem himself, but suffered a complete biceps tear in training camp, ending his season.
While Elam won’t miss any games due to his one-game suspension, he’ll miss out on a pay check, reducing his 2015 salary by 1/17th (about $60K).
AFC East Notes: Jets, Patriots, James, Jackson
The Jets–Patriots rivalry may have hit a new high (or perhaps, low) as Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reports that NFL officials swept New York’s locker room and questioned three New England employees during Sunday’s game — all at the behest of the Jets. A source tells Howe that the Jets were concerned that Gillette Stadium’s operations and radio frequencies were not up to par (for the record, the Jets have denied making any such requests).
Nevertheless, per Howe, the three Pats employees were interrogated throughout the third quarter, forced to hand over their phones and radios, and required to submit to a photograph. According to Howe, the Patriots were informed that none of the checks revealed anything improper, and that the club had done nothing wrong.
Let’s take a look at more out the AFC East, including fallout from last night’s contest…
- The Dolphins‘ offensive line took a hit on Thursday night when Ja’Wuan James left the game with a toe injury, and it appears the team will have to get by without its starting right tackle for a few games. Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post (Twitter link) hears from a source that James is expected to miss four to six weeks.
- During Thursday night’s game, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) noted that the Patriots are coming “dangerously close” to running out of offensive lineman, and wondered if that could be a position they target before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
- One Patriots offensive lineman who did go down in last night’s game — guard Tre’ Jackson — should be able to return at some point in the near future, as a source tells Howe in a separate piece that the MRI on Jackson’s left knee came back negative. He’s considered day-to-day, and though he does have 10 days to get healthy, Jackson’s history of knee issues is a concern, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com details.
- The Patriots, always on the lookout for useful tight ends, brought in veteran free agents Steve Maneri and Bear Pascoe for workouts this week, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Per Reiss, the team is keeping its emergency lists fresh, so it doesn’t sound like either tight end will be signed by New England anytime soon.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.