Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Carson Meier
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Jake Brendel
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Chris Lacy
- Placed on IR: WR Marvin Hall
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Da’Mari Scott
- Waived: WR Bennie Fowler
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Rico Gafford
- Waived: OL Erik Magnuson
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: DL Damontre Moore
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Jeremiah Valoaga
Washington
- Signed: OLB Nate Orchard
NFL Workout Updates: 11/27/19
Here is the latest from the workout circuit on Wednesday:
Baltimore Ravens
- OT Seantrel Henderson, OL Matt Kaskey
Cleveland Browns
- LB Asantay Brown, DE Robert McCray (signed), LB Gimel President, FB Sutton Smith
Miami Dolphins
- WR Cyril Grayson, WR Keon Hatcher, WR Reece Horn, WR Jordan Veasy, WR Terry Wright
San Francisco 49ers
- DL Alex Barrett (signed), OLB Trevon Young
Tennessee Titans
- CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, CB Kenneth Durden, K Kai Forbath, K Elliott Fry, Derrick Jones, K Nick Rose, K Ryan Santoso (signed), K Kaare Vedvik
Washington
- DE Kasim Edebali, LB Shane Ray, DE Nate Orchard (signed)
Lions QB David Blough Expected To Start Thursday
Lions quarterback David Blough is expected to make his first career start tomorrow in place of Jeff Driskel, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Driskel is not expected to be able to play through a hamstring injury that’s been causing him problems.
Blough will be the third different player to start under center for the Lions. Driskel stepped in for franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford when he went down with an injury of his own. The Lions do not have another quarterback on their roster, which means tight end (and collegiate quarterback) Logan Thomas will serve as the team’s emergency backup.
An undrafted free agent out of Purdue, Blough, originally signed with the Browns. However, as roster cuts approached, the Lions agreed to swap conditional draft picks in exchange for the rookie signalcaller. Unlike Driskel, Blough is not a mobile quarterback (he ran a 4.9 40-yard dash during the draft process), and will have to rely on his skills as a pocket passer to take down the Bears.
In his first career start, Blough will be going up against one of the better defenses in football (Bears) on one of the biggest stages of the year (Thanksgiving). The pressure and bright lights will be on and he will get a chance to make an impression.
Jaguars Coughlin Noncommittal On Marrone’s Future
Jaguars executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin held his first press conference in roughly seven months. His answers were short and at time curt with reporters as he pleaded with fans to attend the teams final three home games of the season. The most notable takeaway, however, surrounded the status of current head coach Doug Marrone, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.
When asked about whether Marrone was in the team’s plans for the future, Coughlin skirted the 
question saying the team would focus on that at the end of the season. After Marrone’s first season in Jacksonville, he looked destined to be in charge for the long haul. That season the Jaguars had one of the best defensive units in football that nearly led them to the Super Bowl before a tough loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. Currently, at 4-7 Marrone is in his second consecutive disappointing season as the head coach in Jacksonville, though, things look a lot different.
This offseason, the team signed quarterback Nick Foles to solidify their offense. However, Foles almost immediately suffered a broken collarbone in his first regular season action. Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew took the league by storm while Foles recovered, but is far from a dynamic option. The more concerning occurrence for the Jaguars has been the denaturation of their elite defense to one of the more inconsistent units in football.
For what it’s worth, Coughlin was also noncommittal on his own future in Jacksonville. When asked whether he planned on returning to the team, he remained steadfast that all of those decisions would be evaluated and made after the season was over.
Eagles Sign K Jake Elliott To 5-Year Extension
The Eagles have signed kicker Jake Elliott to a 5-year, $21MM extension, which includes $10.5MM guaranteed, according to NFL Insider Adam Caplan. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported soon after the contract actually includes $10.45MM guaranteed with a maximum total value of $21.8MM. The disparities are marginal, but could have minor salary cap implications for Philadelphia.
Elliott, signed off the Bengals practice squad in 2017, has been one of the most consistent kickers in football 
over the past three seasons. Elliott was 26 of 31 on field goal attempts in both 2017 and 2018, converting over 92% of his extra point attempts in both years as well. This season, Elliott is a perfect 14 of 14 on field goals, with a long of 53 yards, and is 21 of 23 on extra points.
The Memphis alum has shown elite range, making a 61 yard attempt as a rookie, but after going 5 for 6 from beyond 50 yards in his first season, went just 2 for 5 last season. This year, Elliott has made his only attempt from beyond 50 yards, but more importantly, he has been reliable from inside 50 yards out. Over the past two seasons, Elliott has missed just two field goals of 49 yards or less.
Elliott becomes the third highest paid kicker by average annual salary and provides the Eagles with cost certainty at the most important special teams position.
Raiders Promote Rico Gafford, Release Eric Magnuson
The Raiders promoted wide receiver Rico Gafford to the active roster and released offensive lineman Erik Magnuson to clear the spot on the 53-man roster, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. Oakland, of course, recently will be missing slot receiver Hunter Renfrow while he recovers from a rib injury and decided to add Gafford to help supplement their receiving corp.
Before joining the Raiders, Gafford was a defensive back. He bounced between two junior colleges before landing at Wyoming prior to going pro last year. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Titans, but was released at the end of training camp. The Raiders signed him a couple days later to their practice squad and soon announced a position change to wide receiver. Last season, Gafford was briefly promoted to Oakland’s 53-man roster and appeared in one game on special teams. This season, Gafford once again failed to make a roster at the end of the preseason, but was resigned to the Raiders practice squad.
With Renfrow out, the Raiders have limited experience in the rest of their wide receivers. Gafford will likely start at the bottom of the depth chart, primarily playing on special teams, but he may have an opportunity to earn his way into the rotation.
Magnuson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the 49ers in 2017. He made the team’s active roster and appeared in 8 games (3 starts) from 2017-2018. San Francisco waived Magnuson early this preseason, but was eventually signed to the Bills practice squad, where the Raiders signed him from on October 30th. With experience at center, guard, and tackle, Magnuson should receive other opportunities to provide depth along a team’s front.
Arena Football League Files For Bankruptcy
The Arena Football League has announced it is closing all team service and local business operations, according to a statement from league commissioner Randall Boe. According to the statement, the league has “not yet made a final determination that it will be necessary to suspend all League operations,” however, it does obviously not bode well for the league’s long term viability.
Founded in 1987, the league ran through 2008, including a minor league operation, called AF2, from 2000-2008. Financial difficulties caused the league to cancel the league’s 2009 season and disband the AF2, but the top operation returned in 2010 and continued until now. The recent upstart Alliance of American Football (AAF) failed to complete one season in operation even with large financial backers. Even if this is the end of the run for the AFL, it will still rank among the most successful leagues in recent history.
The leagues financial future seemed in jeopardy last month, when Boe announced the league was looking into becoming a traveling league in the vein of the BIG3 or the Premier Lacrosse League, however, it seems that will not be coming to fruition at least in the next year. The news does come as a bit of good news for the XFL and other leagues looking to break into the market for professional football. AFL players, coaches, facilities, and fans will all be looking for new opportunities. Interestingly, the Indoor Football League, which follows a very similar model to the AFL, is currently expanding, planning on creating a team in Oakland (owned by Marshawn Lynch) for the 2020 season.
Panthers Sign Stacy McGee and Woodrow Hamilton
The Panthers made a flurry of roster moves on Wednesday morning. Carolina officially moved defensive tackle Dontari Poe and guard Greg Van Roten to the injured reserve and signed defensive linemen Stacy McGee and Woodrow Hamilton, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.
The move to injured reserve was expected for Poe after it was reported earlier this week that he had to undergo surgery for a torn quad. Van Roten, however, left Sunday’s game against the Saints with a toe injury and the severity was not yet known. Now, both are officially out for the season.
McGee is the more well-known of the two new additions. A six-year veteran, McGee played the first four seasons of his career with the Raiders where he served as a swingman, playing nearly every position along the defensive line. After his tenure in Oakland, Washington signed him to a two-year contract that spanned the 2017-18 seasons. Over his career, McGee has appeared in 75 games (29 starts), recorded 116 tackles, and 4 sacks.
Hamilton has bounced between a number of NFL organizations and has appeared in two games since turning pro in 2016. While he does not come with McGee’s resume, he also signed a futures/reserve contract with the Panthers in December of 2018 and was with the organization until final roster cuts on August 30th. His familiarity should help him quickly integrate himself into the rotation.
Practice Notes: Eagles, Jets, Cardinals
The Eagles got positive news on the injury front regarding three of their biggest weapons Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport. Wide receivers Alshon Jeffery (ankle) and Nelson Agholor (knee) are full participants in practice today and running back Jordan Howard (shoulder), while not yet back to practice, is “trending the right way.”
All three players missed Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, Jeffery and Howard have not played since November 3rd. Philadelphia’s offense has struggled mightily in recent weeks. Most of the blame has fallen on the shoulders of quarterback Carson Wentz, but it would surely help their signalcaller to have some more weapons.
Here’s some more notes on practice status around the league:
- Jets head coach Adam Gase told reporters he expects cornerback Darryl Roberts is expected to return after missing two games with a calf injury, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Right tackle Chuma Edoga will not practice today and left tackle Kelvin Beachum will be limited as well. The Jets are in the midst of a three-game win streak in hopes to rebound from what looked like a lost season.
- While Cardinals offensive tackle Jordan Mills was designated for return from the injured reserve earlier today, cornerback Robert Alford, though, will not be joining his teammate, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Alford, a six-year veteran, fractured his tibia prior to the season and was placed on injured reserve with the possibility to return. However, per Urban, that possibility is no longer an option.
Cardinals Designate Jordan Mills To Return From IR
The Cardinals designated offensive tackle Jordan Mills to return from the injured reserve on Tuesday, according to Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk. Arizona has been without their starting right tackle since Week 4.
Mills was signed in Week 2 after the team’s starting right tackle Marcus Gilbert suffered a season-ending ACL injury. Justin Murray got the first crack at Gilbert’s spot along the offensive line, but Arizona shifted to Mills after a week. However, in Week 4, Mills was touch-and-go with a knee injury and was only able to play sparingly. After the game the team placed him on injured reserve, returning Murray to the starting lineup.
A seven-year veteran, Mills is one of the most experienced blockers along the Cardinals offensive line. Since entering the league in 2013, Mills has started 84 games at right tackle, including all of the Bills 48 regular-season games from 2016-2018. While he has never been considered an elite player, he has been a consistent option.
The young Cardinals have had a productive first season under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Rookie quarterback Kyler Murray has led a top-ten offense without much help along the offensive line. Mills, who is eligible to return in Week 14, could help improve the unit. Now that Mills has been designated for return, he will get to practice for up to 21 days before the team must place him back on the 53-man roster or return him to IR for the rest of the season.