AFC South Notes: Wayne, Jaguars, Titans
As the Colts prepare to try to lock up the AFC South by defeating the Texans this coming Sunday, let’s round up a few Friday notes from out of the division….
- If Reggie Wayne retires after this season, he’ll stay retired, as Zak Keefer of the Indy Star writes. “Whatever the decision is, that will be the decision,” the Colts wide receiver said. “I won’t do the whole Brett Favre thing.“
- The Jaguars are in no rush to move running back Denard Robinson to injured reserve, even though his season is over, since any call-up would be inactive this Sunday anyway, says Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter links). Robinson will likely be placed on IR before next week’s game against the Titans, allowing Jacksonville to see if there are any positions requiring additions following Week 15’s game against the Ravens.
- There are no easy answers for the Titans, but declaring Zach Mettenberger the Titans’ No. 1 quarterback for 2015 based on his body of work would be foolish, opines David Climer of The Tennessean. Climer would rather see the Titans be open to the draft or the free agent pool, even if the offseason’s crop of available QBs is not all that appealing.
- With injuries to their top two right tackles, the Titans could wind up starting Terren Jones, who was signed last week off the Ravens’ practice squad, or Jamon Meredith, who signed as a free agent earlier this week, writes John Glennon of The Tennessean.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Extra Points: Bears, Stanton, Draft, Conduct
Last week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the Bears are having serious doubts about Jay Cutler going forward. In a bizarre twist, offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer confessed to the team that he was the anonymous source for parts of the report and apologized for his actions, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. One source said that Cutler shook his head during Kromer’s apology and two players that spoke with Biggs were stunned by what they had witnessed. Head coach Marc Trestman, Kromer, and others on the staff could be on the hot seat this offseason.
- Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton has been diagnosed with a sprained ACL and MCL, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 in Arizona (Twitter link). As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, the injury isn’t expected to end the 2014 season for Standon, who is considered week to week. That’s good news for the Cards, who will hope to have the QB back in time for their first playoff game.
- Three NCAA underclassmen – Tulane cornerback Lorenzo Doss (Twitter link), Syracuse safety Durell Eskridge (Instagram link), and Virginia defensive end Eli Harold (Twitter link) – announced via social media this week that they’ll leave school early to enter the 2015 NFL draft.
- The NFLPA and its leaders may not like the league’s new, more “robust” conduct policy, but they only have themselves to blame for ceding so much power to Roger Goodell and the NFL, writes Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post.
- Giants co-owner John Mara tells Jenny Vrentas of TheMMQB.com that the new conduct policy is “a step in the right direction” for the NFL, and also answered questions regarding the Ray Rice case and the pending Robert Mueller report.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Thursday
As NFL teams around the league make minor tweaks to their 53-man rosters and practice squads, we’ll round up those transactions in this post, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- The Chargers signed cornerback Greg Ducre to the practice squad, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego (via Twitter). Ducre, who gained a lot of fans within the Bolts organization during his time in camp, was waived by Washington just a few days ago. To make room, the Chargers waived former San Diego State University offensive lineman Bryce Quigley.
- The Saints have filled the two openings on their practice squad, signing fullback Toben Opurum and wide receiver Willie Snead, per Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- After placing Morgan Moses on IR, as noted below, Washington promoted running back Chris Thompson to the active roster, then signed tackle Edawn Coughman to the practice squad (Twitter link). According to Zac Boyer of the Washington Times (via Twitter), the club had been telling Thompson for weeks that he’d be promoted by the end of the season.
Earlier updates:
- The Bengals used the open spot on their practice squad to add another Geathers to the mix — defensive tackle Kwame Geathers joins the organization that also employs his brother Robert Geathers, the team announced today (Twitter link).
- Washington head coach Jay Gruden told reporters today that rookie offensive lineman Morgan Moses is being placed on injured reserve due to a Lisfranc injury suffered in practice (Twitter link). So far, the club hasn’t added a player to its 53-man roster to take Moses’ spot.
- The Seahawks have now officially signed defensive lineman David King, in a move reported yesterday, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Condotta adds that the corresponding move sees the team release linebacker Allen Bradford.
- The Saints have filled the lone opening on their 53-man roster by promoting receiver Seantavius Jones from their practice squad, a source told Ramon Antonio Vargas of The Advocate today. Adding a wideout to the roster makes sense, considering the open spot was created by the release of Joe Morgan.
Sam Bradford Remains In Rams’ 2015 Plans
Sam Bradford has missed most of the last two seasons due to multiple ACL injuries, and as the Rams quarterback enters the final year of his rookie contract, there has been speculation that the team will cut ties with the former first overall pick. However, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links), Bradford remains in the Rams’ plans, with head coach Jeff Fisher indicating that the signal-caller was one of the main reasons he took the St. Louis job.
Bradford is the only Rams quarterback currently under contract for 2015, with Shaun Hill eligible for unrestricted free agency, and Austin Davis hitting restricted free agency. However, as Breer notes (via Twitter), Bradford would likely have to rework his contract for his time in St. Louis to continue. He’s currently on the books for a $16.58MM cap hit, and the Rams could clear nearly $13MM of that amount by cutting him in the offseason.
In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com today, Field Yates suggested the Rams should strongly consider trading up for a quarterback in the 2015 draft, since there’s enough talent elsewhere on the roster to compete immediately with a solid quarterback, and the team could afford to give up a couple picks. Breer acknowledges (via Twitter) that St. Louis will likely add a QB in the draft, but says Bradford could still enter next season as the starter, assuming he’s fully recovered from his latest ACL tear.
While trading up for a QB is one path the Rams could consider, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. said on a conference call today that he doesn’t believe there’s a franchise quarterback in next year’s draft class, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. If the Rams feel the same way, it wouldn’t make much sense for them to move up in the first round, though perhaps there’d be an under-the-radar option the team could target in the middle rounds.
As we’ve seen over the last two weeks, this St. Louis team has more than enough talent on the defensive side of the ball. Our Rob DiRe wrote late last month that the Rams appear to be just a quarterback away from being a legit contender, so it will be interesting to keep an eye on how the club addresses that issue in the offseason.
AFC West Notes: Streater, Mathews, Workouts
Having carried 52 players instead of 53 since Tuesday, it appeared as if the Raiders were saving a roster spot for wide receiver Rod Streater, who received the designation to return earlier in the year, and is now eligible to come off the IR list. However, Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports (via Twitter) that Streater will be inactive for the rest of the season, rehabbing his foot injury and preparing for the 2015 campaign. That means that open spot on Oakland’s 53-man roster will likely be used on another player.
Let’s round up a few more items from around the AFC West….
- After five up and down seasons in San Diego, Ryan Mathews will be eligible for unrestricted free agency at season’s end, and Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune believes the running back’s time left with the Chargers can be measured in weeks. In Acee’s view, Mathews’ injury history should have the team looking for other options, in spite of the 27-year-old’s obvious talents.
- We previously heard that the Broncos worked out former Dolphins quarterback Seth Lobato this week, but the team auditioned a dozen more players, including five wide receivers, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The full list: WR Chandler Jones, WR Jeremy Kelley, WR Alex Neutz, WR Kerry Taylor, WR Kyle Williams, RB Tim Cornett, RB Turner Petersen, TE Jake Byrne, TE Xavier Grimble, OL Bruce Doyle, OL Andrew Miller, and DE Shawn Lemon.
- Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun passes along details on the Raiders‘ most recent visits and workouts, in a pair of tweets: Oakland tried out tight end running backs Terrance Cobb and Ronnie Wingo, as well as wide receiver Clyde Gates. The club also received a visit from running back David Fluellen.
- The Chiefs worked out wide receiver Corbin Louks and defensive end Zach Thompson, Wilson adds in another tweet.
Brett Hundley To Enter NFL Draft
Recovering from a finger injury, UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley figures to play one more game as a Bruin when the team faces Kansas State on January 2 in the Alamo Bowl. But, as expected, he’ll make the leap to the NFL after that. Head coach Jim Mora has confirmed as much, as Ryan Kartje of the Orange County Register details.
“This will be his last game as a UCLA Bruin,” Mora said of Hundley. “I don’t know that he’s announced it yet, but we all know that’s the case. I’d like him to go out with a successful game.”
Hundley, 21, completed 72.1% of his passes in his junior year at UCLA, compiling 2,547 yards and 17 touchdowns in 10 games for the team. He added another 564 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
In a 2015 draft class that’s not packed with a ton of high-end talent at the quarterback position, Hundley ranks behind only Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston, and Connor Cook in ESPN.com’s prospect rankings, placing fourth among signal-callers.
NFC North Notes: Peterson, Suh, Workouts
If Adrian Peterson is reinstated this season, Vikings ownership, GM Rick Spielman, and head coach Mike Zimmer will welcome him back, says Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune. However, for the running back to continue his career in Minnesota beyond this season, he will likely have to agree to take a pay cut, according to Hartman’s sources. Still, while there’s been plenty of speculation that the Vikes will simply part ways with Peterson prior to the 2015 season, that’s not necessarily the case — if the Pro Bowler is open to renegotiating his contract, there’s “no doubt” Minnesota wants to work something out and bring him back, per Hartman.
Here’s more from around the NFC North:
- If the Lions end up losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency this offseason, the team should at least have a few strong options to consider in the first round of May’s draft, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “There’s some good ones, some real good defensive tackles or nose tackle types coming out,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper said today during his first pre-draft conference call for 2015.
- In addition to hosting safety DeJon Gomes for a visit, the Lions also worked out cornerback Brandon Ghee, along with wide receivers Skye Dawson and Colin Lockett, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (all Twitter links).
- Per Wilson (via Twitter), the Vikings also brought in a handful of free agents for tryouts this week, and Minnesota’s list of participants includes several under-the-radar names. Wide receiver Jalil Carter, defensive tackle Moton Hopkins, defensive back Johnny Sears, safety Garrett Waggoner, and safety Ian Wild auditioned for the club.
- The Bears made a pair of roster moves earlier today, signing fullback Montell Owens and placing linebacker D.J. Williams on IR.
Bears Put D.J. Williams On IR, Sign Montell Owens
In advance of Monday night’s game against the Saints, the Bears have made a change to their 53-man roster, placing veteran linebacker D.J. Williams on the injured reserve list and signing fullback Montell Owens to replace him, the team announced today (Twitter link).
Williams, whose season is over due to a neck injury, was the Bears’ primary middle linebacker this season, starting 12 games and appearing in 417 defensive snaps for the team. While he was solid for most of the year, he had his worst game of the season in Week 14, according to Pro Football Focus’ ratings (subscription required). Williams’ shaky run defense against the Cowboys earned him a -4.1 grade for the game, bringing his grade for the season down to -6.8.
As for Owens, the veteran fullback was released from the Lions’ injured reserve list earlier this week, having deemed fully healthy, and it didn’t take him long to find a new job. A two-time Pro Bowler as a special teamer with the Jaguars, Owens has 56 career carries for 292 yards and three touchdowns, but will likely play a complementary role on special teams – and perhaps offense – in Chicago.
Cowboys Likely To Extend Jason Garrett
Given the stiff competition at the top of the NFC standings, the 9-4 Cowboys are still a long way from securing a playoff berth. However, VP Stephen Jones believes the club has seen enough from head coach Jason Garrett this season to be happy moving forward with him in 2015 and beyond, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.
“I think Jason has grown leaps and bounds,” Jones said during a radio appearance on The Ticket in Dallas. “We are so comfortable – you know, comfortable can be a bad word, you want to be on edge too – but I really think Jason is the right guy for this job. … I know Jerry thinks the same thing. I certainly see Jason being a big part of our future.”
Although he acknowledged that there’s a “a lot of ball left to be played,” Jones indicated that he believes it’s in the Cowboys’ best interests to lock up Garrett to another contract once this season concludes. Since Garrett wasn’t extended before entering the final year of his deal, there was speculation that he would be fired if the team didn’t improve on its seemingly-perpetual 8-8 record. With three games left in the season, Dallas has already exceeded Garrett’s previous career high of eight wins, despite entering the year projected by many pundits to finish below .500.
A loss this week in Philadelphia would significantly derail the Cowboys’ postseason chances, but with a home game against the Colts and a road game in Washington still on the slate, Garrett’s club looks like a good bet to finish with at least 10 or 11 victories. Even without a playoff berth, that would likely be enough to earn the head coach a new contract.
AFC East Notes: Jets, Revis, Bills
Jets owner Woody Johnson says he has yet to make up his mind about the respective futures of head coach Rex Ryan and general manager John Idzik in New York, and a source confirms to Gary Myers of the New York Daily News that indeed seems to be the case. However, in Myers’ view, it sounds as if the disappointed owner is set to make some major changes at season’s end.
“This is a results-oriented business,” Johnson said. “You try to put a package together to help you right the ship. We evaluate everybody. Everybody in football is evaluated. It’s going to happen at the end of the year, that’s the way we normally do it. That’s the way most teams do it.”
Ryan has long been considered a good bet to be fired, but it’s not clear yet whether Idzik will receive another year to try to right the ship in New York. As we wait to see what Johnson decides, let’s check in on a few other items out of the AFC East….
- Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News has some suggestions for how Johnson can fix the Jets, suggesting the owner install a personnel man at GM and hire an offensive-minded head coach.
- Darrelle Revis is getting rave reviews during his first season with the Patriots, but if the team hopes to keep him beyond 2015, he won’t come cheaply. Christopher Price of WEEI.com tries to get a handle on what an extension for Revis might look like, estimating that the standout cornerback could be worth $12-14MM annually, with a big chunk of guaranteed money.
- Jets running back Chris Johnson has had this weekend’s game against the Titans circled on his calendar for months, and says he wants to “go out there and tear it up and show ’em what they missed out on” when they cut him in the offseason (link via Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com).
- Examining potential suitors for Robert Griffin III, Matt Williamson of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) suggests the Bills and Jets would both be logical fits as trade partners for Washington.
- Wide receiver Jeremy Gallon auditioned for the Bills this week, per Wilson (via Twitter).