Eagles Re-Sign Vandervelde, Cut Wade Smith
The Eagles have re-signed center Julian Vandervelde, releasing veteran offensive lineman Wade Smith to make room on the 53-man roster, the team announced today (Twitter link). It had been expected for some time that Philadelphia would attempt to bring back Vandervelde when the team was permitted to re-sign him.
Vandervelde, 27, was a fifth-round draft pick by the Eagles in 2011. After playing his college ball at Iowa, he was active for 16 games over three seasons with the Birds; he rarely played, however, as he saw just nine offensive snaps in 2013. Expected to make the squad again in 2014, Vandervelde suffered a back injury and was waived with an injury settlement in late August as Philadelphia trimmed its roster to 75 players.
Players cut with injury settlements aren’t allowed to return to their former teams until six weeks have passed, plus the length of the settlement. Vandervelde has been a free agent for exactly seven weeks, which suggests that his original settlement with the Eagles was only for one week.
Smith, meanwhile, was signed as insurance after the Eagles’ sustained several early-season injuries to their offensive line, but he didn’t see the field much, playing just 18 offensive snaps in Week 3 against Washington. As a vested veteran, Smith won’t have to pass through waivers, and is immediately free to sign with any team.
Workout Notes: Bengals, Titans, Giants
The Bengals signed one former Raider earlier today, reportedly adding wideout Greg Little to their roster. And according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), Cincinnati recently took a look at another ex-Raider as well, working out free agent quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Here are a few more notes on workouts, visits, and auditions from around the NFL:
- With Michael Roos out for the season, the Titans are working out veteran offensive lineman Winston Justice, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN (Twitter link). Since entering the league as a second-round draft pick in 2006, Justice has had some injury problems and provided inconsistent production, but he has also logged 43 starts, primarily at right tackle.
- As the Giants try to determine how to plug the hole left by Victor Cruz‘s season-ending patella tendon tear, the team is working out free agent wideout Kevin Ogletree, says Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (TwitLonger link). Ogletree had his best season in 2012 for one of the Giants’ divisional rivals, when he grabbed 32 balls and four touchdowns for the Cowboys.
- Cornerback Lavelle Westbrooks, who was drafted in the seventh round in May by the Bengals and was subsequently cut by the team, visited the Jaguars this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
- Josh Thomas was the first cornerback to sign with the Jets in the wake of Dee Milliner‘s season-ending injury, but the team has considered other options as well. Wilson tweets that Drayton Florence, Jacob Lacey, and R.J. Stanford all auditioned for the club.
- In addition to considering Justin Jones, whose workout with the team was previously reported, the Dolphins are also taking a look at tight end Jamie Childers, writes Wilson for the National Football Post.
- Wilson also reports (Twitter links) that several players visited and/or worked out for the Buccaneers this week. That list includes fullback Lonnie Pryor, defensive end George Uko, and defensive backs Brandon Burton, Richard Crawford, Isaiah Frey, and Trevin Wade.
Panthers Sign Robert Lester, Cut D.J. Smith
The Panthers have made changes today to both their 53-man roster and their practice squad, the team announced in a press release. According to the club, safety Robert Lester has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, linebacker D.J. Smith has been waived from the roster, and guard Chris Scott has been signed to the taxi squad.
Lester, 26, appeared in 12 contests for the Panthers a year ago, starting four of those games. He played reasonably well when he saw the field, contributing three interceptions and recovering a fumble, but so far this season he had been relegated to the practice squad.
Scott, Lester’s replacement on the practice squad, is also a familiar face in Carolina, having started eight games for the club last season. He was cut in August this year when the Panthers trimmed their roster down to 53 players.
As Bryan Strickland of Panthers.com notes in the team’s press release, the Panthers have relied heavily on their nickel package lately, often playing five defensive backs and two linebackers. As such, adding Lester, who can also contribute on special teams, at the expensive of a linebacker makes some sense, regardless of Carolina’s injury situation.
Pat Angerer Announces Retirement
Veteran linebacker Pat Angerer has decided to end his NFL playing career, announcing his decision this morning via Twitter. In his statement, Angerer indicates that he wants to be able to “walk away while [he’s] still able to give [his] wife and kids the man they deserve.”
“I have given this sport all I got,” Angerer said. “It wouldn’t be fair to the game, the team, my family, and my name to continue along this path any longer. It’s time to get healthy. … I had a lot of fun and I’ve been extremely fortunate. I’m excited about whatever the future entails.”
Angerer, 27, was selected in the second round of the 2010 draft by the Colts, and spent four seasons in Indianapolis. During that stretch, he appeared in 54 games for the team, starting 39. In total, Angerer accumulated 317 tackles, four forced fumbles, a pair of interceptions, and 2.5 sacks.
The Iowa alum signed with the Falcons this past summer, but failed to earn a spot on the club’s 53-man roster, becoming a roster casualty during cutdowns at the end of August. Since then, Angerer has worked out for the Rams, Jets, Saints, and Lions, but didn’t sign another contract, and has now opted to end his NFL career rather than continuing to look for a new team.
NFC East Notes: Giants, Redskins, Free
After the Cowboys upset the Seahawks and the Eagles dismantled the Giants on Sunday, the NFC East is the league’s only division with multiple 5-1 teams, as Dallas and Philadelphia join the Chargers as the NFL’s top teams. Here’s the latest out of the East, the NFC’s best division so far:
- We heard yesterday that Mike Williams and his agent are seeking a trade that would send the Bills receiver to another team, and the Giants have some interest in a deal, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. While a swap may be a long shot, it sounds as if the Giants will at least explore the possibility of adding Williams in the wake of Victor Cruz‘s season-ending injury.
- Another NFC East team is also considering adding to its receiving corps, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who reports that ex-Raven Gerrard Sheppard is working out for the Redskins today.
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said today on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that right tackle Doug Free is expected to miss the next three or four weeks after sustaining a foot injury in Sunday’s game, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. According to Jones, Free suffered a fracture.
- Giants pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul tops Jason Fitzgerald’s list of players whose stocks took a hit this week. Pierre-Paul is eligible for free agency this winter, but the Over The Cap scribe writes that it’s hard to believe how far the 25-year-old’s star has fallen over the last couple seasons.
Dolphins Place Knowshon Moreno On IR
Knowshon Moreno‘s first season with the Dolphins has come to an early end, with the team announcing today that the running back has been placed on season-ending injured reserve due to an ACL injury (Twitter link). The move clears room for defensive lineman Derrick Shelby, whose reinstatement was reported yesterday and officially confirmed by the Dolphins today (Twitter link).
Moreno, 27, suffered an elbow injury early in the season which sidelined him for several weeks before he returned to the field this past Sunday against the Packers. However, he didn’t stay healthy for long, and his latest issue will mean he appears in just three games during the 2014 season, including two that he left early due to injuries. Lamar Miller will continue to act as Miami’s primary back, while Daniel Thomas figures to see occasional carries as well.
When Moreno signed with the Dolphins back in March, he agreed to a one-year deal, so it’s possible this is the last we’ve seen of him in a Miami uniform. Given the typical recovery timetable for a torn ACL, Moreno figures to still be recovering when 2015 free agency opens in March, so the former first-round pick may be hard-pressed to find a new home immediately, though he may come at a bargain price later in the offseason.
Jerod Mayo To Miss Remainder Of Season
MONDAY, 5:20pm: Sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter) that Mayo will indeed miss the rest of the season with a right lower leg injury simply described as “bad.”
SUNDAY, 5:36pm: The Patriots fear running back Stevan Ridley tore his ACL during today’s win over the Bills, and it appears the team could be without a notable defender for an extended period as well. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter), it’s “pretty clear” that linebacker Jerod Mayo sustained a serious kneee injury, based on the rumblings and quotes coming out of New England’s locker room. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com also reports (via Twitter) that Mayo’s injury is believed to be significant, with tests coming tomorrow to determine exactly how significant.
Prior to the 2013 season, Mayo had only missed five games in his five career NFL seasons, having assumed a starting role for the team immediately after being drafted 10th overall in 2008. However, his 2013 campaign came to an early end after he went down in Week 6 with a torn pectoral. Now, it appears his 2014 season could be over due to another Week 6 injury.
While tomorrow’s test will determine the extent of Mayo’s injury, if he misses most or all of the season, it’ll be a significant blow to the Pats’ defense. In Mayo’s absence, the Patriots could turn to Deontae Skinner at the Mike linebacker spot, or perhaps shift Jamie Collins or Dont’a Hightower over to fill the vacancy.
New England has already used its injured reserve slot with the designation to return this season, on defensive lineman Sealver Siliga, so the team will have to either keep Mayo on its 53-man roster while he recovers or place him on injured reserve, ending his season.
Rice Appeal Tentatively Set For November
With Ray Rice in the process of appealing his indefinite ban from the NFL, the suspended running back’s hearing has been tentatively scheduled for early November, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. According to Florio, “pre-hearing skirmishes and other complications” could push that date back a little, but for now it appears the hearing will take place within the next month or so.
Having been indefinitely suspended following the release of the elevator video that showed him knocking his them-fiancée unconscious, Rice is appealing the decision, and his camp figures to argue that he is being punished a second time for the incident that originally resulted in a two-game suspension. Per Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links) ,the NFLPA will act as lead counsel for Rice in the appeal process, while attorney Peter Ginsberg will be “providing support.”
As Florio observes, with Robert Mueller‘s investigation into the NFL’s handling of the Rice incident expected to take several months, it seems as if the appeal process will conclude before Mueller’s investigation does. As such, it may be in the NFL’s best interest, if the hearing date proceeds as scheduled, without delays — if Mueller completes his report before the hearing takes place, the NFLPA and Rice’s camp will have access to that report and could use those findings to strengthen the running back’s case.
Even in the event that Rice wins his appeal, and his ban is reduced or dropped entirely, its extremely unlikely that he’ll return to the field this season. Even teams in desperate need of running back help would shy away from bringing in a player whose reputation has been as tarnished as Rice’s in the last few months — the fact that Richie Incognito remains a free agent is proof of that.
Bears Promote DeDe Lattimore
The Bears have made a change to their 53-man roster, promoting linebacker DeDe Lattimore from their practice squad, the team announced today (via Twitter). The club has waived-injured offensive lineman Taylor Boggs to clear an opening for the incoming addition.
Lattimore, an undrafted free agent out of South Florida, signed with the Bears following May’s draft, and was waived during the cutdown from 75 to 53 players at the end of the preseason. He has spent some time on Chicago’s practice squad during the season, though this will be the first opportunity he gets on the 53-man roster.
As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune notes (via Twitter), Lattimore’s promotion may suggest that Jonathan Bostic‘s status for Sunday is in doubt. Currently, Bostic is listed as questionable with a back issue. The team has already ruled out injured veteran Lance Briggs, so reinforcements may be needed for the linebacking corps anyway.
Jermichael Finley Filing Insurance Policy Claim
Although Jermichael Finley hasn’t given up on returning to action for an NFL team, the free agent tight end is moving forward to file a claim on his $10MM insurance policy, a source tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Finley, who is still recovering from a neck injury that required spinal fusion surgery, had the policy in place in the event of a career-ending injury.
According to Pelissero, Finley continues to work out for five hours a day in the hopes of signing with an NFL team at some point. However, despite showing progress through a series of MRIs and CAT scans, returning to the field isn’t a realistic possibility for now. So Finley intends to move forward to try to collect the insurance money, as the policy stipulates he can attempt to collect the money if he hasn’t played in four games — Pelissero tweets that the decision is mostly procedural, and won’t stop Finley from trying to latch on with an NFL club.
Of course, as Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports detailed in August, it certainly won’t be as simple as Finley filing the claim and being handed $10MM. At least one doctor has medically cleared the tight end to return to action, meaning the insurance company could argue that the injury sustained by the former Packer isn’t career-ending. Even if Finley is able to collect some or all of the insurance money, it will likely be a drawn-out process, with no guarantees.
While it looks increasingly likely that Finley won’t play during the 2014 campaign, he did draw a little interest in the offseason from the Patriots, Seahawks, and Steelers, among other teams. The Packers have also expressed interest in bringing Finley back into the fold if and when he’s healthy.