Buccaneers To Sign RB Antone Smith
The Buccaneers have agreed to sign running back Antone Smith, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). Smith, an FSU product, played under coach Dirk Koetter in Atlanta. 
Smith could help fill the gap after running back Charles Sims was placed on IR earlier this month. Alternatively, this could be an indication that Doug Martin will be out for an extended period of time. Martin went down with a hamstring injury last month and it was initially reported that he would miss “about three weeks.” Now, almost four weeks later, Martin has yet to return to the field.
The injuries to the Bucs’ top two runners have thrust another former Atlanta back – Jacquizz Rodgers – into a starting role. Now, Smith will be there in support along with undrafted free agent Peyton Barber. Russell Hansbrough, who was the team’s No. 3 RB this weekend, has been waived (Twitter link via Auman).
Cowboys’ Dez Bryant To Return After Bye Week
The Cowboys won’t have to wait much longer to get their top wide receiver back on the field. Yesterday, after the Cowboys beat the Packers at Lambeau Field, Dez Bryant told Jane Slater of the NFL Network (on Twitter) that he’ll be back after the team’s Week 7 bye. 
“[You] don’t have to ask me anymore,” he told the reporter. “I’m good…playing against Philly.”
Bryant suffered a slight hairline fracture of the tibial plateau in his right knee in Dallas’ Week 3 game against the Bears. There was hope that he would be able to play through the pain without missing time, but doctors also feared that he could turn the injury into something worse on the field. As a result, he has now missed three consecutive games. He’ll get off the sidelines on Oct. 30, however, as the Cowboys face the rival eagles at home.
Bryant, 28 next month, has just 11 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown in his three games this year. He has been in uniform for just 12 of the Cowboys’ past 21 games.
Saints Promote WR Jake Lampman
The Saints announced that they have promoted wide receiver Jake Lampman. To make room on the roster, the team has waived tight end Chris Manhertz. 
Lampman, 23, joined the Saints as a UDFA out of Ferris State this offseason. When he didn’t make the team’s final cut, he signed on with the practice squad. In his final collegiate season, the wide receiver hauled in 52 passes for 731 yards and eight touchdowns.
Manhertz became expendable this week when Josh Hill returned to practice after dealing with a high ankle sprain. Manhertz was on the field for 43 snaps this year while Hill was sidelined but drew zero targets.
Practice Squad Updates: 10/14/16
Friday’s practice squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Jeremy Vujnovich (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Darrell Greene
- Cut: LB Don Cherry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- To be signed on Monday: TE Tevin Westbrook (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
Raiders Inch One Step Closer To Las Vegas
Today, the Nevada Assembly approved the funding bill for the Raiders’ proposed stadium in Las Vegas. The vote means that the Raiders have taken a major step towards relocating to Sin City. 
“I would like to thank Governor Sandoval, the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee, and the members of the Nevada Legislature on this historic day, ” said Raiders owner Mark Davis in a statement released moments ago. “All parties have worked extremely hard to develop and approve this tremendous stadium project that will serve as a proud new home for the entire Raider Nation.”
The state of Nevada will now contribute $750MM to the project, which is estimated to cost about $1.9 billion. Technically, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval could veto the bill, but he is scheduled for a public signing on Monday. Needless to say, he won’t be issuing a veto.
Last month, it was reported that the league office was actually pushing for Oakland to keep the Raiders. At the same time, Roger Goodell has expressed an openness towards having a team in Vegas in the last year. Ultimately, it will be the NFL’s owners who vote on the proposed relocation to Las Vegas. To get the green light, Davis will need 23 votes in addition to his own.
Panthers Promote CB Lou Young
The Panthers are promoting cornerback Lou Young to the 53-man roster, as David Newton of ESPN.com tweets. Carolina was in need of some CB help as starting cornerbacks Robert McClain and James Bradberry deal with hamstring injuries. 
Young, as Newton writes, could see time at nickel behind Colin Jones and Zack Sanchez. Daryl Worley will start at one cornerback with either Sanchez or Teddy Williams on the other side. Young spent the bulk of the 2015 season on the Panthers’ practice squad before being called up in January. The Georgia Tech product has yet to record an official statistic in the NFL, however.
The Panthers have been having trouble in the secondary this year and the front office showed its frustration by cutting starter Bene Benwikere a couple of weeks ago. So far, the Panthers have been unable to adequately replace the production of former star corner Josh Norman.
Latest On Redskins TE Jordan Reed
The Redskins have listed tight end Jordan Reed as questionable on their injury report for this week. Of course, after suffering yet another concussion, it would be surprising if Reed suits up on Sunday against the Eagles. 
Reed has now suffered six documented concussions and he has likely had even more throughout the course of his football playing career. The tight end has admitted that he did not report one of his two concussions suffered in 2013.
So far this year, Reed leads all Redskins receivers with 33 catches for 316 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll likely be out for at least this week and the Redskins will turn to Vernon Davis and Niles Paul to replace him in the lineup. If Washington opts to promote a tight end, they could promote Derek Carrier from the practice squad.
Reed signed an extension with the Redskins this spring, a five-year pact with a $46.5MM base. After being limited to just 20 overall games in 2013 and 2014, Reed stayed healthy for 14 games last season, racking up 87 receptions for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Pigskin Links: Falcons, Draft, Titans
Here at Pro Football Rumors, we deliver up-to-the-minute news on NFL transactions and high-quality original analysis. Each week, we also feature some of the best blog articles from around the web in our regular feature, Pigskin Links.
We’re looking for interesting reads on all things football from blogs of all sizes. While PFR is dedicated to player movement, Pigskin Links is open to pieces on all areas of the game. If you would like to suggest your blog post (or someone else’s) for Pigskin Links, send us an email with the link and a brief synopsis at PigskinLinks@gmail.com.
Here’s this week’s look around the football blogosphere:
- Wayniac Nation cautions Falcons fans to be careful with that Kool Aid.
- NFL Draft Report has the goods on a promising receiver out of ECU.
- Titans 247 says Sunday is a must-win game for Tennessee.
- From The Rafters is jazzed about the Cowboys.
- Sports Central has picks and fake quotes for Week 9.
Got a great football blog post that you want to see featured in next week’s Pigskin Links? Email it to Zach or tweet it to him: @ZachLinks.
Bears LB Pernell McPhee Returns To Practice
Pernell McPhee is one step closer to returning to the field. The Bears linebacker has been given the go-ahead to practice, coach John Fox told reporters today. 
McPhee had his left knee operated on in February, putting his status for this season in doubt. Prior to the start of the season, Chicago put him on the PUP list. The Bears now have exactly three weeks to decide whether to activate the veteran. If he is not put on the roster in the next 21 days, he cannot play this season. With any luck, McPhee will be able to suit up on Thursday Oct. 20 against the Packers.
McPhee came to Chicago on a five-year, $38.75MM deal last offseason. Last year, he was earning every penny of that contract before his knee slowed him down.
Browns Place Joel Bitonio On IR
The Browns have placed left guard Joel Bitonio on injured reserve with a mid-foot sprain, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets. To take his place on the roster, fullback Dan Vitale has been signed off of the Buccaneers’ practice squad (link). 
Bitonio’s injury is likely season-ending, though the new IR rules could technically allow for him to return. If Bitonio was to come back, he would not be eligible to play for another eight weeks.
Last year, Bitonio was placed on IR in December when an ankle injury forced him out of action. He was rated as the No. 33 guard in the NFL by Pro Football Focus when he was shut down last year. This year, through five games, PFF rated him as the ninth-best guard in the league (tied with Mike Iupati of the Cardinals). In 2016, he earned an overall grade of 83.3 with roughly even scores for his pass blocking and run blocking.
Vitale was a sixth-round pick of the Bucs this year. At Northwestern, Vitale racked up 135 catches for 1,427 receiving yards from 2012-15. He only carries the ball six times in college.