AFC East Notes: McCoy, Fitzpatrick, Dolphins
After Bills running back LeSean McCoy aggravated his hamstring on Sunday, one source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter) he’ll “be [in the] same position this week, probably questionable” for this Sunday. After falling 28-25 to Miami, the Bills return home to take on the New England. Given his past hamstring issues and his importance to the team, one has to wonder why the Bills aren’t putting him on the shelf and starting Mike Gillislee instead.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- Injured Jets wide receiver Eric Decker, a close friend of Ryan Fitzpatrick, suggested the quarterback’s protracted contract stalemate may have fueled him to light up team brass after the win against Baltimore. “Throughout the offseason, I think it was hard for him, just trying to gauge the interest, I guess, maybe the Jets had or what their plan was going forward in getting him in the facility to start the season,” Decker told ESPN Radio (link). “Whether it’s some feelings on the process or what was said throughout that maybe led to some of the emotions he had at this point.”
- Is defensive tackle Jordan Phillips falling out of favor with the Dolphins? Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph ripped into the 2015 second-round pick this week. “The bottom line is Jordan has got to play better overall,” Joseph said (via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald). “Out of 35 plays, Jordan is playing a solid 25 plays very solidly. He’s having four or five plays where it’s not very good. I think Ndamukong Suh is playing well. “I think Suh gets doubled a lot, but I think Jordan could play better. Obviously, getting Earl Mitchell back in a couple weeks, that’s going to help us there. Losing Earl was a big deal for us inside, because now you’ve got probably three inside starters. Getting Earl back in two weeks, that’s going to help us a lot.”
- Earlier today, the Patriots acquired linebacker Kyle Van Noy in a trade with the Lions.
Lions Trade LB Kyle Van Noy To Patriots
The Lions have traded linebacker Kyle Van Noy to the Patriots, according to Field Yates and James Walker of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will send Van Noy and a seventh-round pick to New England in exchange for a sixth-round pick (link).
Van Noy was believed to be on the chopping block in Detroit after the draft. The Lions kept him on the roster, but they have opted to move him for a modest return mid-season. Van Noy, the Lions‘ second-round pick in 2014, had half of his rookie season wiped out by a stint on injured reserve. Since then, he has not been 100% healthy and his surgically-repaired hip has continued to hamper him. Still, the BYU product started all seven of the Lions’ games this season, totaling 23 tackles and one pass defended.
After the trade, the Patriots are now deeper than ever at linebacker. Behind starters Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, and Elandon Roberts, the Pats have linebacker/defensive end Ninkovich, Shea McClellin, Barkevious Mingo, and now Van Noy. There’s also Jonathan Freeny who could be brought back from IR late in the season.
The Lions are left somewhat thin at linebacker, but that could change when/if linebacker Jon Bostic is brought back from IR. Detroit should also get DeAndre Levy back soon.
This isn’t the first time that Lions GM Bob Quinn has worked out a trade with his former employers in New England. Earlier this year, the Lions acquired Bostic in a swap with the Patriots.
After beating the Redskins on Sunday, the Lions now stand at 4-3 as they prepare for the Texans on Sunday. The Patriots, meanwhile, are 6-1 with the rival Bills on the docket.
Giants Release Josh Brown
The Giants announced that they have released kicker Josh Brown. The Giants have issued the following statement from team president John Mara: 
We believed we did the right thing at every juncture in our relationship with Josh. Our beliefs, our judgments and our decisions were misguided. We accept that responsibility. We hope that Josh will continue to dedicate himself to rehabilitation, and to becoming a better person and father. We will continue to support him in his efforts to continue counseling, and we hope that Josh and his family can find peace and a positive resolution. We have great respect and feel strongly about our support for the good people who work tirelessly and unconditionally to aid the victims of domestic violence and who bring awareness to the issue. We have been partners with My Sisters’ Place (a domestic violence shelter and advocate based in Westchester, New York) for nearly 20 years. The leadership of that organization has provided invaluable insight as we have considered our decisions in this matter. We value and respect their opinion, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.
The Giants’ decision to release Brown comes shortly after the team met with the kicker. Earlier today, Brown issued a statement in which he took some responsibility for his “abuse” of his ex-wife while denying that he ever struck her. In time, Brown will likely be cleared by the league office to play again, but at this point, it is hard to see another team ever signing him. Barring any new revelations in his favor, Brown’s career in the NFL is probably over.
Taylor Mays Out Of Treatment Facility
Free agent safety Taylor Mays has spent the last several weeks in a treatment facility and is now finally healthy, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Mays comes off of suspension on Monday and several teams are showing interest in the former Bengal (Twitter link). 
Mays was flagged for two substance abuse policy violations this year and his second suspension is about to wrap up. Rapoport notes that the Bengals kept an open mind on Mays and says that they “may have interest” when his suspension is up. It’s not clear if Rapoport has direct knowledge of the Bengals’ interest level or if that is just informed speculation.
This year, the Bengals were counting on Mays to help support starters George Iloka and Shawn Williams at safety. The Bengals already knew that they would be without the 28-year-old for the first four games of the 2016 season, but they decided to cut bait when they learned that his ban had doubled. In less than a week, we should know whether Cincinnati is willing to go down that road again.
Bears Sign RB David Cobb To Practice Squad
The Bears have made a notable addition to the practice squad. The team announced today running back David Cobb has been signed to the p-squad. To make room, tight end Marcel Jensen has been released. 
Cobb has made the rounds on workout circuit a bit this offseason but has been unable to find a 53-man spot since being cut loose by the Titans in late August. Cobb was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad in early September, but he was dropped days later. The Jaguars, Patriots, Browns, Colts, Chiefs and Jets all auditioned the young running back, but they all passed on him.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, the Titans had high hopes for Cobb and believed that he could be a difference-maker almost immediately. The 23-year-old made seven appearances (one start) last season, compiling 146 yards and a touchdown on 52 carries (2.8 average). This offseason, GM Jon Robinson determined that he did not see the potential in Cobb that predecessor Ruston Webster saw.
Latest On Josh Brown
Josh Brown has been parked indefinitely after being placed on the commissioner’s exempt list and it’s hard to see him playing for the Giants (or any other NFL team) again. The kicker has opted against appealing his status with the league and has remained silent, until releasing a statement to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter today: 
“I am sorry that my past has called into question the character or integrity of The New York Giants, Mr. Mara or any of those who have supported me along the way,” Brown wrote (via Schefter on Facebook). “I have taken measures to get help so that I may be the voice of change, not a statistic. It is important to share that I never struck my wife, and never would. Abuse takes many forms, and is not a gray area. Through the past several years I have worked to identify and rectify my own behaviors. The road to rehabilitation is a journey and a constant modification of a way of life. My journey will continue forever as a person determined to leave a positive legacy and I embrace the opportunities to show and speak about what has helped me to be that man. In the interim, I am cooperating with the Giants and the NFL. Thank you to everyone that has supported me, I will not let you down.”
Brown’s assertion that he never struck his wife will be a key point of contention when he eventually meets with team and league officials. As a part of his counseling program, Brown wrote: “I have physically, verbally, and emotionally abused my wife.” Brown is expected to meet with the Giants today, according to ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter).
Dolphins Working Out Safeties
The Dolphins are auditioning a group of safeties today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). That bunch includes James Ihedigbo, Major Wright, and Sergio Brown. 
After starting 21 games for the Lions over the past two seasons, safety James Ihedigbo has been unable to find work this season. In fact, today’s workout with Miami marks his first known free agent visit of the year. At the age of 32, it seems that Ihedigbo’s stock has gone down. Last year, his production slipped and he lost his starting job to Isa Abdul-Quddus later on in the year. The veteran finished out 2015 as Pro Football Focus’ No. 64 ranked safety out of 69 qualifiers. At the same time, 2014 was Ihedigbo’s best NFL season and it seems possible that he could get back to his old form just two years later.
Wright was cut by the Bucs in late August and we haven’t heard his name mentioned since he worked out for the Panthers days later. Brown, meanwhile, was cut by the Falcons around the same time. The safety played in at least ten games in each of his six seasons and is actually coming off of one of his best seasons. In 2015 with the Jaguars, Brown racked up 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The Dolphins have been thinned out at safety after losing star Reshad Jones for the season.
Ravens To Bring Matt Elam Back From IR
Safety Matt Elam will soon make his 2016 debut. The team announced that Elam is practicing today. The Ravens now have three weeks to make a call on whether to activate Elam, who is recovering from preseason knee surgery. 
Elam, a 2013 first-round pick, missed the entire 2015 season with a biceps injury. His offseason knee injury was frustrating for both player and team alike, but he’ll now try and get things back on track. The Ravens are on bye this week, so Elam will have some extra time to get ready before facing the Steelers on Nov. 6.
The safety showed plenty of promise through his first two years in the league, compiling 127 tackles, seven passes defended, and an interception in 32 games. If the Ravens do not activate Elam in the next 21 days, they cannot put him on the field this season.
Steelers TE Ladarius Green To Practice Today
Could we finally see Ladarius Green take the field for the Steelers? The team announced today that Green will practice today. From here, the team will have 21 days to decide whether to activate him or keep him on the PUP list for the season. 
The Steelers signed Green to a four-year, $20MM deal this spring with the expectation that he would take over for the retired Heath Miller. However, Green was sidelined for much of the summer. Initially, it was believed that Green was being held back by his ankle which was surgically repaired in January. Later, it was reported that Green was kept off the field because of painful chronic headaches and was even considering retirement. For what it’s worth, Green insists that his ankle has been the issue and denies that he thought about walking away from football.
After spending years in the shadow of Antonio Gates, the athletic Green is looking to break out with his new team. Last year, Green caught 37 passes for 429 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. The belief is that he can be a difference maker if he’s given the type of snap count that Gates enjoyed in San Diego. Of course, he’ll have to prove that he is healthy first.
Jaguars DT Roy Miller Done For Year
Jaguars defensive tackle Roy Miller will be placed on IR after having Achilles surgery this week, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Needless to say, Miller is done for the rest of the 2016 campaign with no hope of a late-season return. 
A starter for most of his career, Miller has missed only two regular season games since joining the Jags in 2013. In his six starts this year, Miller had ten tackles. Pro Football Focus ranked him only 67th out of 120 qualified interior defenders, but he was viewed as a key veteran for Jacksonville.
“Roy Miller is one of the most important parts to our defense, hands down,” said linebacker Paul Posluszny (via the Florida Times-Union). “If he’s out for significant time, that’s a very significant loss for us. He’s our best interior guy and he’s a team leader.”
When Miller exited the game on Sunday, the team turned to Abry Jones to fill his shoes. They may also look to add a defensive lineman, though they could also get by with Malik Jackson, Sen’Derrick Marks, Jones, and Sheldon Day. Tyson Alualu, who is listed as a defensive end, also could play on the interior.