Kai Forbath To Work Out For Steelers
3:13pm: Kicker Chris Boswell will also participate in the Steelers’ kicker audition, according to James Palmer of the NFL Network (Twitter link)
2:18pm: After a pair of missed Josh Scobee field goals paved the way for the Ravens to knock off the Steelers in overtime last night, Pittsburgh is bringing in veteran kicker Kai Forbath for a workout, according to J.P. Finlay of CSNMidAtlantic.com.
Forbath, 28, made 94.4% of his field goals (17 of 18) in his first season with Washington back in 2012, and while he never matched that accuracy mark in subsequent years, his career percentage remains a solid 87.0%. Forbath was cut after Week 1 this season by Washington, with the team signing Dustin Hopkins to take his place.
Since his release, Forbath has worked out for multiple teams, and was said to be the second choice for both the Eagles, who signed Caleb Sturgis, and the Texans, who signed Nick Novak. Perhaps the third audition will be the charm for Forbath, though he’s unlikely to be the only kicker the Steelers consider.
It would be a little surprising if Pittsburgh decides to move on from Scobee, despite his early-season struggles. After Shaun Suisham went down with a season-ending injury, the Steelers sent a sixth-round pick to the Jaguars to acquire Scobee, and his $2.5MM salary for the 2015 season should be fully guaranteed at this point.
Scobee missed field goals of 41 and 49 yards in last night’s loss to the Ravens, his third and fourth missed field goals this year. The 33-year-old also missed an extra point in Week 2.
Bears To Sign Spencer Lanning
With Pat O’Donnell battling a knee injury, the Bears are signing a free agent punter, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that Spencer Lanning has agreed to a deal with the team. There hasn’t been an official announcement from the team yet on O’Donnell’s status, but the signing of Lanning doesn’t bode well for the incumbent punter’s availability this weekend.
In 2014, only two punters had more attempts than the 93 punts Lanning made for the Browns. On those 93 attempts, he averaged 44.5 yards, with a net distance of 39.2 yards per punt. Those were middle-of-the-road numbers, and the Browns decided to move on from Lanning back in June, acquiring Andy Lee from the 49ers for a conditional 2017 seventh-round pick.
Lanning, 27, was claimed off waivers by the Buccaneers after being dropped by the Browns, and also spent time with the Broncos this summer, but he didn’t survive Denver’s cutdown to 53 players. Lanning, who also worked out for the Panthers earlier this week, auditioned for the Bears yesterday, along with former Giants punter Steve Weatherford.
AFC Notes: Mohamed, Steelers, Davis, Pats
The Texans placed linebacker Mike Mohamed on injured reserve this week, despite the fact that he says he has almost recovered from his calf injury. Mohamed tells Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle that he’ll talk to his agent, Ken Landphere, to determine what happens now — they may pursue an injury settlement with Houston, allowing the linebacker to reach free agency.
“I want to play this season,” Mohamed said. “It won’t be here, but I want to play somewhere and get back on the field. I’m almost back from the injury, so it’s kind of frustrating to go on injured reserve, but I understand that they didn’t feel like they could wait.”
While the Texans would like to bring back Mohamed when he’s healthy, an injury settlement prevents a player from re-signing with his old team for at least six weeks. During that time, Mohamed is a good bet to find a new job with another team.
Here’s more from across the AFC:
- After missing a pair of field goals in the Steelers‘ loss last night, Josh Scobee has now missed four field goals and an extra point through four games with his new team. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggests that finding someone who can convert kicks on a consistent basis should be a top priority for Pittsburgh moving forward. Meanwhile, longtime Steelers kicker Jeff Reed, who hasn’t played an NFL game since 2010, still wants to make a comeback and says he’d love a shot to try out for Pittsburgh (link via CBS Pittsburgh).
- Less than two weeks into his stint with the Ravens, cornerback Will Davis already looks better than he ever did with the Dolphins, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. As Salguero outlines, it’s the latest case of a player becoming more productive with a new team after leaving Miami, a worrisome trend for the Dolphins.
- The Patriots have been active on the trade market during the last few weeks, and acquired two more defensive players this week. With the November 3 trade deadline just over a month away, Andy Hart at CSNNE.com wonders if Bill Belichick will look to land some help at cornerback as well.
Colts Sign Josh Johnson
The Colts have signed an insurance quarterback to their roster, adding to the uncertainty about Andrew Luck‘s status for this weekend. According to Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter), quarterback Josh Johnson has signed with the team, with cornerback Shaun Prater being waived to create a roster opening.
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported yesterday that Luck, who is battling a shoulder issue, is considered “legitimately questionable” to play on Sunday vs. the Jaguars, and today’s roster move shows that the Colts are concerned about their franchise QB’s availability. If Luck can’t go, veteran backup Matt Hasselbeck would get the start against Jacksonville, with Johnson serving as his backup.
Johnson, 29, spent time with the 49ers in 2014 after serving as Andy Dalton‘s backup for the Bengals in 2013. All in all, the veteran hasn’t seen much time on the field in recent years, seeing no active game duty in 2014 and a total of three games since 2012. He spent some time with the Bengals and Jets this summer before being cut by both teams.
Johnson is the second quarterback the Colts have added to the mix this week — the team also signed Alex Tanney to its practice squad on Tuesday.
NFC Notes: Bears, Falcons, Foster
While some observers may view the Bears‘ recent moves as a sign that the team is rebuilding and looking ahead to 2016, a few players think the shake-up could have a positive effect on this year’s team, as Gene Chamberlain of The Associated Press writes. Veteran safety Antrel Rolle suggested the message sent would be beneficial to younger players, while tight end Martellus Bennett expressed faith in the front office.
“I think the organization is doing every single thing possible to make the team better,” Bennett said. “I mean, there’s a lot of hiccups right now, but that’s what happens when there’s a lot of change happening.”
Here’s more from across the NFC:
- The Falcons brought in a tight end for an audition this week, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, who tweets that ex-Giant Adrien Robinson came in for a workout with Atlanta. A fourth-round pick in 2012, Robinson caught just five balls during his time in New York, with all of those receptions coming last season.
- Among this year’s first-team head coaches, former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has stood out as a potential difference-maker. Peter King of TheMMQB.com examines what sort of impact Quinn has had so far on the 3-0 Falcons.
- After signing with Washington this week, veteran linebacker Mason Foster is expected to contribute immediately in D.C., according to Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Foster’s assertion that he “loves” playing special teams suggests that even if he doesn’t see many defensive snaps, his new team could find other ways to use him.
North Notes: Perriman, Browns, Bears
Rookie wide receiver Breshad Perriman has yet to make his regular season debut for the Ravens, and it sounds like that probably won’t be happening anytime soon. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Perriman re-injured his PCL over the weekend, and underwent arthroscopic surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews. Perriman will now be sidelined indefinitely, says Rapoport.
While there were a handful of exciting young receivers selected in the first round of this year’s draft, many of them have yet to make an impact on the field — Perriman and Kevin White are battling significant injuries, and DeVante Parker, Phillip Dorsett, and Nelson Agholor have combined for just 13 overall receptions through three weeks. Among this year’s first-round wideouts, only Amari Cooper, who has 20 catches for 290 yards, is off to a fast start.
Here’s more from out of the league’s two North divisions:
- The Browns are bringing aboard former Falcons and Texans offensive line coach Paul Dunn, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that Dunn is expected to replace Andy Moeller as the club’s main offensive line coach. Per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link), head coach Mike Pettine stressed that George DeLeone is acting as the Browns’ OL coach for now, so we’ll have to see how the roles play out.
- Having signed a two-year extension with the Browns, quarterback Austin Davis views the new contract as a sign of the team’s trust in him, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal details. Ulrich also notes that the base salaries on Davis’ deal are $1.35MM for 2016 and $1.7MM for 2017.
- As first reported by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link), the Bears brought in punters for a tryout today, with Pat O’Donnell having missed Wednesday’s practice. Punters Spencer Lanning and Steve Weatherford, along with long snapper Patrick Scales, participated in the workout, tweets Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com.
- After the Bears jettisoned multiple defensive players this week, a number of veterans on the team may be wondering if they’re next, writes Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. One player who spoke to Finley, tight end Martellus Bennett, acknowledged that the possibility of being traded or cut is always present, and it’s just part of the business. Earlier today, I asked whether we’ll continue to see Chicago make more moves in advance of the trade deadline.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/15
Here are the practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL for the first day of October:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Erle Ladson (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal)
- Cut: QB Matt Blanchard
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Kenny Cook (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Cut: WR Fred Williams
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Brandon Dixon, OL Sean Hickey, WR Austin Hill, LB Eric Martin (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Deon Simon (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: CB Carrington Byndom (press release)
- Cut: QB Brad Sorensen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Mike James (Twitter link)
- Cut: LB Orie Lemon
Community Tailgate: Will Bears Keep Dealing?
With the NFL season underway, we have a whole new series of topics to discuss, and PFR’s Community Tailgate is designed to address those topics. What’s the Community Tailgate all about? Well, it’s pretty simple. Every weekday, we’ll highlight one of the top stories going on in the NFL. Then, in the comment section below, we want you to weigh in and let us know what you think.
Of course, while the debate may get spirited, we ask that it all stays respectful. If you need a reminder of our rules, please check out our commenting policy. Basically, we ask that you refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults, and attacks. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Pro Football Rumors. You are no longer required to be a registered user – simply put in your name, email address, and comment and submit.
In-season NFL trades aren’t particularly common, particularly deals involving established veteran contributors. However, the Bears made two deals that week that featured noteworthy players. Chicago sent five-time Pro Bowler Jared Allen to the Panthers, then turned around and dealt linebacker Jonathan Bostic, who has 17 career starts and is still just 24 years old, to New England.
While the Bears aren’t giving up on this season yet, and aren’t necessarily holding a fire sale, this week’s trades were a sign that the club is accelerating its rebuilding process, looking ahead to the 2016 season and jettisoning players who aren’t ideal fits for the new coaching staff.
Of course, there are bigger-name players on the roster who may not have a future with Chicago beyond this year. The most interesting case is that of running back Matt Forte, who will see his contract expire at season’s end — Forte and the Bears don’t appear to have engaged in meaningful extension discussions, and while the team reportedly isn’t shopping him, he looks like a logical potential trade candidate.
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is another player in a contract year, but he’s just 25 years old and is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. While Jeffery’s trade value might be higher than Forte’s, the Bears are more likely to want to lock him up by extending his deal beyond this year.
Forte and Jeffery aren’t the only Bears who are eligible for free agency in 2016. Shea McClellin, Jeremiah Ratliff, and Alan Ball are among the players on the other side of the ball that could hit the open market, and there are plenty of others with uncertain futures in Chicago, including Jay Cutler, whose contract becomes slightly easier to move on from as each year passes.
What do you think? Are the Bears done making moves for now, or should they keep dealing and get what they can for some of the veteran players on their roster? Will Forte or Jeffery remain with Chicago beyond this year’s trade deadline? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section!
Broncos Sign Tyler Polumbus
12:15pm: The Broncos have cut safety Josh Bush to make room on the roster for Polumbus, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
11:19am: Just two days after he was released by the Falcons, offensive tackle Tyler Polumbus has agreed to a one-year deal with the Broncos, pending a physical, per Mike Klis of 9 News. Before the signing becomes official, Denver will have to make a corresponding move to clear a spot on the 53-man roster.
Polumbus, who was Washington’s full-time right tackle in 2012 and 2013, began the 2014 season in the same role, but he was supplanted in Week 8 by Tom Compton. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) wasn’t crazy about his play across seven starts and 11 total games last year, giving him a -12.6 overall grade and placing him just 62nd out of 84 qualified tackles. Compton was much better in the previous season, however, earning a 14.0 overall score and ranking amongst the top 20 tackles in the NFL.
Polumbus played under offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan with Washington and the two were reunited in May when the Falcons signed the tackle to a one-year deal, but Polumbus played a grand total of just six snaps before his time with Atlanta came to an end. By joining Denver, the 30-year-old returns home — he played his college ball at Colorado and started his NFL career with the Broncos.
As Troy Recnk of the Denver Post notes (via Twitter), Ty Sambrailo‘s status for Week 4 isn’t yet known, after the rookie left tackle missed practice with a shoulder injury. While second-year tackle Michael Schofield is probably the next man up, he has yet to play in a regular season game, so Polumbus gives the club some veteran depth.
East Notes: Bills, Giants, Welker, Pats
The Bills were one of the league’s most active teams this past offseason, bringing in players like LeSean McCoy and Matt Cassel via trades, signing Charles Clay and Percy Harvin in free agency, and locking up Jerry Hughes to a lucrative long-term contract. Still, while the team’s new additions have played a part in Buffalo’s early-season success, it’s the players in contract years that have contributed even more significantly, writes Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News.
As Dunne outlines, linebacker Nigel Bradham is among the Bills who have performed well in the early going and will be eligible for free agency after the season. And Bradham agrees that it’s “most definitely” a motivator to be playing for a new deal.
“It can keep you focused knowing you have to continue to play well,” Bradham said. “Because you want that — especially when you’ve never had an opportunity to get it. For me, I just play. That’s what I tell myself. Just play.”
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two East divisions:
- The Giants brought wide receiver Wes Welker in for a workout this week, and head coach Tom Coughlin said the veteran free agent looked healthy and “very quick.” New York hasn’t signed Welker, but Coughlin acknowledged that there’s “always a chance” if the need arises (Twitter links via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News).
- By trading from a position of strength, the Patriots were able to add another player at a position that’s generally hard to fill, says Mike Reiss of ESPN.com in his assessment of the team’s swap of TE Michael Hoomanawanui for defensive lineman Akiem Hicks. As Reiss observes, there’s no guarantee Hoomanawanui would have even earned a post on New England’s initial 53-man roster if fullback James Develin hadn’t broken his leg.
- With the Jets and Dolphins prepared to play one another for the first time this season, George Willis of the New York Post suggests that Jets head coach Todd Bowles is already making the Dolphins regret passing him over. Bowles was Miami’s interim head coach at the end of 2011, but the team opted to hire Joe Philbin in the offseason, rather than having Bowles continue on in the role.