NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/28/16
Here are today’s practice squad updates.
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DL Iosia Iosia, WR Hunter Sharp, OL Reese Dismukes
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Cayleb Jones
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Brian Blechen
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Kelvin Taylor, OL Ross Burbank
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Blake Sims, DE Deonte Gibson
- Cut: OL Kyler Kerbyson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Kourtnei Brown, WR K.J. Maye
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Rufus Johnson
Broncos Place DeMarcus Ware On IR
5:42pm: Ware needs back surgery, Arnie Stapleton of the Associated Press reports. This could threaten to end Ware’s career, per Stapleton. The Broncos’ blind-side pass-rusher and vital instrument to the team claiming its third Super Bowl title last season, Ware has dealt with significant back issues over the past two seasons — missing almost all of this offseason and five games last season as a result of this issue. 
Although Ware’s contract with the Broncos is up after 2016, he expressed desire to play one more year, with Mike Klis of 9News reporting the outside linebacker wants to do that in Denver. The Broncos chose Shane Ray in the first round of the ’15 draft and have fellow backup Shaquil Barrett playing a steady role off the bench, so a Ware reunion might not be in the cards for the Broncos, at least not at the price he signed for in 2014 (three years, $30MM). The team has some cap space but has bigger issues to deal with this offseason than addressing a pass rush that still would rank toward the top of the league without Ware.
3:17pm: The Broncos are placing DeMarcus Ware on injured reserve, the team announced. Ware was unable to go in practice on Wednesday as he deals with a back injury.
This may mean that Ware has played his final game with Denver and his final NFL game. He’s slated for free agency at the end of the year and it may be time to call it a career at the age of 34. This year, Ware appeared in 10 games and totaled 15 tackles and four sacks. That’s a step down from his previous two Pro Bowl seasons with the Broncos and several notches down from his best years with the Cowboys.
From 2005-2012, Ware was a staple in Dallas’ front seven. He earned four first-team All-Pro nods and seven Pro Bowl selections during that time and he did not miss a single regular-season game. He posted double-digit sack totals for the Cowboys in every season there, except for his first and last. In 2008, he led the entire league with 20.0 sacks. If this is the end of the line for Ware, he’ll leave behind a legacy of terrorizing quarterbacks while being a mensch off the field.
In other Broncos news, defensive back Kayvon Webster was also placed on IR with a concussion. The Broncos promoted nose tackle Kyle Peko and cornerback Taurean Nixon from the practice squad to the active roster.
Bucs RB Doug Martin Suspended For PEDs
We now have some clarity on why Doug Martin is “stepping away” from the Buccaneers in advance of their regular season finale. Martin confirmed that he has been suspended for four games by the NFL. Though Martin’s statement was vague as to the exact nature of the ban, the NFL says that it is a PED policy violation, not a recreational drug violation. 
“I was notified last week of a four-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy,” Martin said. “My initial instinct was to appeal the suspension and finish the season with my teammates. However, after numerous discussions with people close to me — including Coach [Dirk] Koetter — I am starting the suspension immediately so I can enter a treatment facility and receive the help I truly need…On the field, I must be strong and determined to push through both pain and injuries to become an elite NFL running back. Off the field, I have tried that same approach in my personal life. My shortcomings in this area have taught me both that I cannot win these personal battles alone and that there is no shame in asking for help.”
Martin tested positive for Adderall and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that is one of the issues that he is dealing with. While Martin may have been taking Adderall recreationally, it is classified as a performance-enhancer by the NFL for its stimulating properties.
If Martin misses this weekend’s game plus three in 2017, he’ll forfeit $1.47MM in base salary. However, it’s not a given that he’ll even be under contract with the Bucs for next season. As a result of the PED suspension, Martin’s $7MM 2017 salary guarantee will void, and that would allow the Bucs to release him without major penalty.
Based on his statement, it sounds like Martin was dependent on substances off of the field, but not necessarily using them for advancement on the field. With that in mind, one would expect Martin to appeal the suspension and have it re-classified as a substance abuse policy violation. Martin won’t appeal the suspension right now, but it remains to be seen whether he can have the suspension altered with the help of the NFLPA.
Antonio Gates Leaning Towards Return
This may be the end of the line for Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith and Broncos linebacker DeMarcus Ware, but Antonio Gates feels that he still has lots of football left in him. The veteran says that he is “definitely leaning toward coming back,” Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. 
[RELATED: Chargers Move Kenneth Farrow To IR]
“This is not the way I expected to be done. I’m definitely leaning toward coming back,” Gates said in a likely reference to the Chargers’ 5-10 record heading into the season finale.
In 13 games this year, Gates has 48 catches for 493 yards and six touchdowns. Even though he’ll turn 37 in June, it seems like Gates can still be a highly productive tight end. Hunter Henry may be next in line at the position, but the Bolts surely want to keep Gates around for as long as possible. He is under contract for 2017 with a base salary of $4.5MM.
Gates and the Chargers will wrap up the season against the Chiefs on Jan. 1. As of this writing, the Chargers are slated to have the No. 7 overall pick in the draft.
Jaguars Interviewing Tom Coughlin Today
The Jaguars aren’t wasting any time in their coaching search. The team is interviewing Tom Coughlin today, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Coughlin Could Be A Candidate For Bills Job]
Coughlin, 70, has little interest in playing golf all day. After he parted ways with the Giants, he interviewed for head coaching vacancies with the Eagles and 49ers. He didn’t wind up taking either job, but he stayed involved this year with a job in the league office. This fall, he made it clear that he still wants to be a head coach in the NFL.
After canning Gus Bradley, GM Dave Caldwell told reporters that Coughlin would be a candidate for the job. If he isn’t hired as coach, the Jaguars would reportedly like to have Coughlin as a member of their front office. While Coughlin doesn’t have any formal NFL experience as an executive, he essentially acted as the Jaguars’ general manager during his head coaching run with the team from 1995-2002. One way or another, Jacksonville seems keen on a reunion.
Doug Martin “Stepping Away” From Bucs
Running back Doug Martin is “stepping away” from the Buccaneers to take care of some personal issues, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Martin was bumped from the active roster as a healthy scratch in Week 16 and the team was prepared to do the same in the regular season finale. The running back is expected to release a statement this afternoon.
[RELATED: Buccaneers Place TE Cameron Brate On IR]
In Martin’s stead, Jacquizz Rodgers is expected to get the start. Running back Charles Sims is headed back to IR after suffering a pectoral injury. Behind Rodgers will be running backs Peyton Barber and Russell Hansbrough.
Last year, Martin gained 1,673 yards from scrimmage and scored seven touchdowns. He parlayed that success into a five-year, $35.7MM extension prior to the start of free agency. He’s slated to be under contract with Tampa Bay through 2020 and his guarantees mean that there’s little point to releasing him before the start of next season.
This weekend’s regular season finale will, in all likelihood, be the end of the line for the Bucs. In addition to winning their own game, the Bucs can only make the playoffs if they also see wins from the Cowboys, Titans, Colts, 49ers, and Lions with the Giants tying the Redskins.
Jets To Retain Todd Bowles
In Buffalo, Rex Ryan was not given a third season to right the ship. Apparently, they’re a little more patient in New Jersey. Todd Bowles will be brought back for the 2017 season, a well-placed source tells Gary Myers of the New York Daily News. 
[RELATED: Jets Place Bryce Petty On IR]
This has been an ugly season for the Jets in all facets of the game, including defense where Bowles is said to be a guru. Fans have been calling for Bowles’ head for the last couple of months, but it sounds like the Jets will instead focus on personnel changes and possibly changes on the coaching staff.
This spring, GM Mike Maccagnan will have to figure out the team’s future at quarterback after Ryan Fitzpatrick failed miserably in 2016. Fitzpatrick is a goner, Geno Smith is likely done in New York, Bryce Petty is an unknown quantity, and rookie Christian Hackenberg is too green to even take the field in this Sunday’s meaningless contest. That will be one of many holes to also address while the front office is hampered by some ill-advised deals, including Darrelle Revis‘ bloated contract.
Ravens WR Steve Smith Likely To Retire
Throughout his entire career, Steve Smith has defied the odds and even defied his age. But, every player has to call it quits at some point. Smith heavily indicated to reporters today that Sunday will be his final game in the NFL. 
“I’m about 89 percent sure,” Smith said, making reference to his jersey number as he has many times in the past (link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). “I’m pretty sure I know what I want to do. I’ve got great support from my family, my wife supports me whichever way I want to go. My boys want me to still play, but there’s a little girl, my baby who wants her daddy. Football is a conduit, something that gives you a platform, good and bad, but it gives you an opportunity. Football has given me more than I probably could give football back. . . . This is probably my last game.”
Smith, 37, was emotional as he discussed the likely end of his career. If Sunday is in fact his last hoorah, he’ll leave the game as one of just eleven players to have 1,000+ catches and 14,000 yards receiving.
As a third round pick in 2001, no one could have predicted the kind of career that Smith would have. The wide receiver became the face of the Panthers’ organization in his 13 years there and he played with a chip on his shoulder upon joining the Ravens in 2014. In his age-35 season, he caught 79 passes for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns, silencing doubters who thought his best days were behind him. He lost most of the 2015 season to injury, but he rebounded nicely this season as he caught 67 passes for 765 yards and five scores.
Smith will leave the game as a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time First-Team All-Pro selection. His legacy of tenacious play coupled with his gaudy stats should make him a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame. We here at PFR wish No. 89 the best in retirement.
Lions Sign CB Crezdon Butler
The Lions announced that they have re-signed cornerback Crezdon Butler. To make room, defensive tackle Stefan Charles has been placed on IR. 
The signing of Butler could be a sign that Darius Slay will not be able to go in Week 17. Slay has been dealing with a hamstring injury that kept him out of action in Week 16 against the Cowboys. This week, they hope to have him in uniform as they take on the Packers in a game that will decide the NFC North championship.
Butler had two separate stints with Detroit last year but he has yet to appear in an NFL game in 2016. Over the years, he has seen action with the Steelers, Cardinals, Bills, Redskins, Chargers, Bucs, and Seahawks.
Dolphins Place S Isa Abdul-Quddus On IR
The Dolphins are placing yet another starting safety on injured reserve. Isa Abdul-Quddus is done for the year, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. To take his place on the roster, rookie safety A.J. Hendy is being promoted from the practice squad. 
Abdul-Quddus was signed to a three-year, $12.75MM deal this offseason to play opposite of Reshad Jones in the secondary. The Dolphins have locked up their spot in the playoffs, but they’ll have to forge ahead without both players. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus ranked Abdul-Quddus as the No. 31 safety in the NFL out of 92 qualified players. His season ends with 78 tackles, two interceptions, one sack, and five passes defended in 15 games.
Without Abdul-Quddus, Michael Thomas will likely start at safety along with Bacarri Rambo. They are ranked as PFF’s No. 79 and No. 85 safeties, respectively. The rest of the Dolphins’ D will need to step up in order to advance beyond the Wild Card round.