Bears Promote RB Raheem Mostert
The Bears have promoted running back Raheem Mostert from the practice squad, as agent Brett Tessler tweets. Mostert was added to the taxi squad just last week, but it didn’t take long for him to get called up to varsity.
Jeremy Langford is the primary back in Chicago, but top understudy Ka’Deem Carey is dealing with a hamstring injury. Now, rookie Jordan Howard moves up a spot on the depth chart with Mostert occupying the No. 3 RB role until Carey gets back.
Mostert, a Purdue product, has been yo-yo’d on and off different NFL rosters since joining the league as a UDFA last year. After contracts with the Eagles, Dolphins, Ravens, Browns, and Jets, Mostert is hoping to find a more permanent home in Chicago. In addition to playing tailback, Mostert could also be a factor in the return game for the Bears.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Vikings Sign Hillman; Kalil To IR
The Vikings announced that they have signed running back Ronnie Hillman in the wake of Adrian Peterson‘s potentially season-ending injury. Meanwhile, starting tackle Matt Kalil will have season-ending hip surgery and will be placed on IR. 
While Hillman will join Minnesota’s running back group, he will not be the primary back. Coach Mike Zimmer confirmed that Jerick McKinnon will be the team’s starting running back while Peterson is out. Matt Asiata also figures to be in the mix and Hillman, for now, figures to be the No. 3 RB on that depth chart.
Hillman, a 2012 third-round pick, was cut loose by Denver in early September. The move somewhat surprising after he led Denver in offensive snaps (524) during the 2015 regular season. He also led the team’s rushers in starts (11), attempts (207), yards (863) and touchdowns (seven). However, Hillman wasn’t exactly integral during the Broncos’ Super Bowl-winning playoff run and he was bumped this year in favor of Devontae Booker and Kapri Bibbs.
Peterson’s injury will garner all of the headlines today, but Kalil’s injury is also a difficult one for the Vikings. Minnesota’s offensive line was already underperforming and it will only get worse without the former No. 4 overall selection. The injury is also bad news for Kalil on a personal level as he is in his contract year. After a strong rookie season, Kalil has not impressed and he was hoping to improve his stock before hitting the open market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bears’ Jay Cutler To Miss 2 Or 3 Weeks
With his sprained thumb, Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is expected to be sidelined for two or three weeks, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The exact timeline will depend on how he heals over the next three days. 
Cutler hurt this thumb in the Bears’ season opener against the Texans. He played through the pain in Week 2 against the Eagles, but he wound up making the problem worse. Now, the Bears will use Brian Hoyer under center under Cutler is ready to take the field again.
It will be interesting to see how Cutler’s injury impacts his future in Chicago. The signal caller is set to count for $16MM against the Bears cap in 2017 but the team could release him and be on the hook for just $2MM in dead money. If the Bears do not get a chance to fully evaluate Cutler this year, he may actually be likelier to remain in Chicago next year, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report posits. Of course, that might not be the preferred outcome for Bears fans.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Colts WR Donte Moncrief Out 4-6 Weeks
Donte Moncrief will be out for 4-6 weeks with a fractured scapula, coach Chuck Pagano told reporters moments ago. Moncrief suffered the painful shoulder injury during Sunday’s loss at Denver. 
With Moncrief out, the Colts can be expected to incorporate Phillip Dorsett into the offensive gameplan even more. The 2015 first-round pick has tons of upside, but he also has a similar build to star T.Y. Hilton. Moncrief was a big target and that might explain why the team opted to sign 6’3″ Devin Street earlier today.
Moncrief, 23, caught 64 passes for 733 yards and six touchdowns last season. In two games (really, one game and change) this year, Moncrief had seven receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Adrian Peterson Potentially Done For Season?
Adrian Peterson will go under the knife on Thursday to fix the tear in his meniscus, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. The running back has what is known as a “bucket handle tear,” which means that he will require a more aggressive surgery option than initially planned. Anderson hears that means he’ll be out for a minimum of three-to-four months and as long as six months. 
[RELATED: Vikings Sign Ronnie Hillman, LT Matt Kalil Done For Season]
Peterson’s injury is devastating news for the Vikings, particularly after they went all-in by trading for Sam Bradford in the wake of Teddy Bridgewater‘s season-ending injury. With Peterson out, the Vikings will turn to Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata in the backfield. McKinnon has shown flashes of freaky athleticism, but he is not the most advanced blocker or pass catcher out there. It’s possible that the Vikings could look out-of-house for RB options, but they should have a well-balanced attack between McKinnon and Asiata.
Peterson, 31, missed the majority of the 2014 season but bounced back last year to run for 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 30 receptions for 222 yards.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bucs’ Doug Martin To Miss Time
Buccaneers running back Doug Martin will miss “about three weeks” with a hamstring injury, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Martin’s status was up in the air until an MRI on Tuesday showed a decent amount of damage. 
Last year, Martin enjoyed his best season since his rookie campaign, rushing for more than 1,400 yards with six touchdowns on the ground and adding 33 receptions and another score for good measure. In the season opener, Martin ran for just 62 yards off of 18 carries, though he did add five receptions for 34 yards. On Sunday against the Cardinals, he had seven carries for 23 yards before exiting due to his injury.
While Martin is sidelined, Charles Sims figures to see the bulk of the carries, though he has averaged just 2.5 yards per attempt off of his 13 carries this year. Last year, Sims averaged 4.9 yards per attempt as the change-of-pace back. With Jacquizz Rodgers and valued UDFA Peyton Barber also on the depth chart, the Bucs probably won’t add another running back during Martin’s brief absence.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Colts Sign WR Devin Street Off Pats’ P-Squad
The Colts announced that they have signed wide receiver Devin Street to the 53-man roster off of the Patriots’ practice squad. By rule, the Colts now have to keep him on their 53-man roster for the next three weeks. The signing could be insurance against Donte Moncrief‘s ailing shoulder. Moncrief could be sidelined for multiple games, though he hasn’t been formally ruled out for Sunday.
Street joined the Pats’ taxi squad on Sept. 5 after he missed the Cowboys’ initial 53-man cut. For his career, Street has appeared in 31 regular season NFL games with nine receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown. He has also appeared in a pair of playoff games.
In college, Street started 40-of-49 games at Pittsburgh and totaled 202 receptions for 2,901 yards and 16 touchdowns. He left the Panthers as the school’s all-time leader in receptions and No. 3 all-time in career receiving yards.
The Colts’ WR depth chart currently consists of T.Y. Hilton, Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett, Quan Bray, and Chester Rogers.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Workout Notes: Jets, Browns, Saints, Colts
Tuesday’s workouts from around the NFL:
- The Jets auditioned former Tampa Bay and Notre Dame safety Elijah Shumate, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter), and outside linebacker Ivan McLennan (Twitter link via Darryl Slater of NJ.com). They also tried out wide receiver Mario Alford and safety Shamiel Gary, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link).
- Veteran guard Mackenzy Bernadeau worked out for the Browns, as Caplan tweets.
- The Saints took a look at tackles Robert Crisp and Reid Fragel, according to a source who spoke with Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter).
- Outside linebacker Andy Mulumba and cornerback Corey Tindal worked out for the Colts, Caplan tweets.
- The Packers auditioned linebacker Brandon Chubb, per Caplan (Twitter link).
- The Titans tried out ex-Green Bay running back Brandon Burks and former Navy fullback Chris Swain today, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets.
- The Buccaneers worked out linebacker Lenny Jones and defensive end Ryan Russell, according to Caplan (Twitter link).
- The Seahawks auditioned running back Kerwynn Williams, outside linebacker Cam Johnson, and cornerbacks Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Demetrius McCray, Caplan tweets.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/16
Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
- The Chargers waived wide receiver Isaiah Burse, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
- The Buccaneers waived linebacker Josh Keyes, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Keyes played extensively on special teams in the first two games of the season.
- The Colts released safety Winston Guy, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Broncos waived defensive lineman Kyle Peko, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets.
- The Giants terminated the contract of offensive tackle Byron Stingily, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). The lineman was on IR with a concussion.
- The Bears waived fullback Paul Lasike, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Lasike saw 14 snaps in Week 1 and just five snaps on Monday night.
Practice Squad Updates: 9/20/16
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Cut: DE Nordly Capi and DB Devonte Johnson (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Zaviar Gooden (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OL Daniel Munyer, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches (Twitter links via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Cut: WR Seantavius Jones
Miami Dolphins
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Laurence Gibson (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Brandon Brown-Dukes
- Cut: S Jacob Hagen (Twitter link via Mark Kaboly of DK Pittsburgh Sports)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: TE Austin Traylor (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Kasen Williams
- Cut: CB Tye Smith, OL Michael Ola (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)