Chiefs Place Kelechi Osemele On IR
SATURDAY: As expected, Osemele landed on the Chiefs’ IR list. Considering the severity of the reported injury, Osemele is likely done for the season. This comes a season after a separate injury limited him to only three games in 2019.
MONDAY: The Chiefs will be without starting guard Kelechi Osemele for a while, according to head coach Andy Reid. Osemele was forced out in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs and later found to have torn tendons in both of his knees. 
[RELATED: Sammy Watkins Suffers Hamstring Injury]
Osemele, 31, joined the Chiefs on a one-year deal following Laurent Duvernay-Tardif‘s decision to opt out of the 2020 season. Even though he’s not the player he once was, the 6’5″ blocker came to KC with an impressive resume including two Pro Bowl selections and 96 career appearances from 2012-2019.
The veteran was hoping for a bounce-back year after a turbulent stretch with the Jets. The Jets acquired Osemele from the Raiders in the 2019 offseason for a late draft pick, but things quickly turned ugly. Osemele pushed for shoulder surgery after three games, but the Jets disagreed and urged him to return to action. Eventually, the NFLPA got involved and went to bat on Osemele’s behalf. Ultimately, the Jets released him in October, months before his $11.35MM non-guaranteed base salary for 2020 was scheduled to kick in.
Mike Remmers, who took over for Osemele on Sunday, is likely to move into the starting lineup.
Patriots Cancel Practice Due To COVID-19 Positives
The Patriots canceled Friday’s practice after another player tested positive for COVID-19, a source tells NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). They’ve also received another positive on the team, though that test is being rechecked to confirm.
The Pats are going ahead with virtual meetings today, but Sunday’s game against the Broncos is now in flux. That game, of course, was already delayed one week due to previous Patriots positives. Both teams have already burned their bye weeks, so it would be difficult to reschedule the games to be played any later than Monday or Tuesday. Unfortunately, playing the game early next week won’t be an option if the Patriots are not quickly cleared from coronavirus protocols.
Meanwhile, the Colts announced that their previously reported four positives have come back negative after being re-tested. Their game against the Bengals will go on as planned. The Patriots will keep their fingers crossed for a similar outcome. Meanwhile, the league has launched an investigation into their recurring testing issues, which have brought back a number of false positives throughout 2020.
No Multi-Year Offers For Le’Veon Bell?
On Thursday night, Le’Veon Bell agreed to join the Chiefs on a one-year deal. There were other suitors, but none of those teams offered Bell a multi-year pact, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Previously, the Dolphins were believed to have offered a two-year deal to lure Bell to Miami. Apparently, that’s not the case. The Bills were also in the hunt, but Buffalo didn’t offer up a deal to extend into the 2021 season, either.
Ultimately, Bell got what he wanted – an opportunity to reassert himself with a bonafide Super Bowl contender. At minimum, Bell figures to serve as rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire‘s top supporting cast member, slotting him ahead of Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson.
Bell’s production and constant clashing with Adam Gase made his $13.25MM-per-year price untenable for the Jets. The former Steelers dynamo lumbered for a career-low 3.2 yards per carry in 2019 and suited up for just two games in 2020. But, upon return in Week 5, Bell did average 4.62 yards per tote. And, considering his overall track record and reduced price, it was a no-brainer move fr the Chiefs.
With Bell, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Mitchell Schwartz, and Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs’ offense now features five former first-team All-Pros on the active roster. As a Steeler, Bell posted 1,800-plus scrimmage yards three times en route to the 2014 and ’17 All-Pro teams. He added three 75-catch seasons in that span, making him one of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons.
COVID-19 Tests Close Colts’ Facility
The Colts announced that they have closed their facility in the wake of positive COVID-19 tests. For now, they’ll work remotely as the tests are re-checked for accuracy.
“This morning, we were informed that several individuals within our organization have tested posted for COVID-19,” the team said in a statement. “The team is currently in the process of confirming those tests. In the meantime, the practice facility will be closed and the team will work remotely while following NFL protocols. We are in communication with the NFL and will have more information when available.”
The Colts are currently slated to play the Bengals in Indy on Sunday. Rescheduling the game – as we’ve seen throughout the season – could prove to be tricky. The Colts’ bye is in Week 7; the Bengals’ bye is in Week 9.
Meanwhile, the Falcons’ latest round of testing did not yield any new positives, giving them the greenlight to resume in-person activities. With that, the game between the Falcons and the Vikings is set to go on as scheduled. Ditto for Colts-Bengals, though that could change between now and the end of the business day.
Latest On Le’Veon Bell
The Chiefs are one of three teams leading the Le’Veon Bell chase. Last night, they thought they had it wrapped up. Sources tell NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter) that the Chiefs believed that Bell would sign with them after they spoke with his camp on Wednesday. 
That’s not to say that the Chiefs are out of the mix. In fact, they’re still very much in it, along with the Bills and Dolphins. There’s just more work to be done, if they want Bell to join Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams, and Darwin Thompson on their RB depth chart.
The Chiefs, who started off 4-0 before falling to the Raiders, rank eleventh in yards per carry average. Edwards-Helaire leads the pack with 344 yards and an average of 4.2 yards per tote. Beyond the rookie, however, they could use some veteran support. Kansas City made a somewhat similar move last year, signing LeSean McCoy after the Bills cut him. While McCoy played decently in spurts last season, the Chiefs made him a healthy scratch in Super Bowl LIV. Bell, however, is four years younger than McCoy and has logged more than 1,000 fewer touches.
Bell gained nearly 2,000 total yards in 2017, a year in which he was franchise-tagged by the Steelers. Then came the holdout, followed by his forgettable stretch with the Jets. The Chiefs could give Bell a prime opportunity to get back to his old form and capture another Super Bowl ring.
Now 28, Bell has not shown top form since than ’17 season. In a 2019 slate in which he averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry, Bell lacked the spark he displayed with the Steelers. He suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 of this year, leading to a three-week stay on IR. However, Bell did average 4.6 yards per tote against the Cardinals on Sunday. This led to a last-ditch Jets push to trade him. But that effort did not last long. They cut him Tuesday.
The Bills and Dolphins are also believed to be in on Bell. Buffalo has relied on second-year back Devin Singletary this season, with rookie Zach Moss battling an injury. Bell would certainly supply the Bills with experience and a pass-catching pedigree their backfield lacks. The Dolphins would not profile as the kind of contender Bell reportedly seeks, but the veteran back trains in Miami during the offseason and has a home in south Florida.
Regardless of which team signs Bell, he would need to go through the enhanced coronavirus protocols with his new team. The earliest he could possibly play again would be Week 7, and that would depend on how quickly he signed.
Bengals’ A.J. Green: I Don’t Want To Be Traded
A.J. Green left Sunday’s loss to the Ravens early with a hamstring injury, and he walked off the field showing clear frustration. Some viewers thought they saw Green tell an assistant that the Bengals should trade him if they won’t use him properly, but the wide receiver says that’s not the case. 
“I’m just happy to be back out there,” said Green (Twitter link via Ben Baby of ESPN.com). “I know it’s going to come over time. . . . I don’t want them to force me anything.”
There was tension between Green and the Bengals this offseason as the veteran lobbied for an extension. But, after he missed the entire year with injury, the Bengals decided to table discussions with the 32-year-old. Instead, they used the one-year, ~$18MM tag to keep him for 2020. The two sides cannot resume talks until after the season is over.
Before last year, Green was a Pro Bowler in each of his first seven NFL seasons. And, in every season in which he’s played at least 13 games, he’s topped 1,000 yards receiving. So far this year, he has just 14 grabs for 119 yards through five games. Now, it sounds like he’ll be out for a while as he nurses a hamstring issue, but he hopes to remain in Cincinnati beyond the deadline.
The trade deadline falls a bit later than usual this year. Teams will have up until 4pm ET/3pm CT on Nov. 3 – which is also Election Day — to make deals.
Jaguars Release Cassius Marsh
The Jaguars have released linebacker Cassius Marsh, per a club announcement. Marsh was effectively squeezed out of Jacksonville on Wednesday, when the Jags acquired linebacker Kamalei Correa from the Titans.
Marsh, 28, appeared in 84 total games from 2014-2019 since being selected by the Seahawks in the fourth round. Capable of playing a hybrid defensive end/linebacker role, Marsh spent 2019 in Arizona, where he posted 2.5 sacks and five quarterback hits on 428 snaps.
The Jaguars inked him to a one-year deal with a modest guarantee of $600K back in March. He didn’t get a chance to make much of an impact with the Jaguars this year, tallying nine total stops in four games. Marsh’s most notable work came in 2018, when he amassed 5.5 sacks for the 49ers. He also saw action on roughly 50% of the Niners’ special teams plays that year and he’s approached the 80% ST threshold in prior seasons.
As a vested veteran, Marsh is now free to sign with any NFL team.
Bills, Chiefs, Dolphins In On Le’Veon Bell
Le’Veon Bell is down to three teams, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The former Jets running back is deciding between the Bills, Chiefs, and Dolphins, and a deal could come together by the end of business on Thursday. Meanwhile, despite some speculation regarding the 49ers, head coach Kyle Shanahan says he’s not interested (via Cam Inman of the Mercury News). 
The Chiefs – who made a similar move by signing veteran LeSean McCoy last year – were quickly connected to the former All-Pro back. He’d make sense for the Chiefs, who are without Damien Williams due to his opt-out. Currently, KC features Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Darrel Williams, and Darwin Thompson on the RB depth chart. Bell reportedly wants to play for a winner after escaping New York, so the Chiefs would be a logical fit for him.
The Dolphins would provide Bell with an instant opportunity for revenge against Adam Gase, as they face the Jets on Sunday. The Bills and Chiefs play the Jets on Week 7 and Week 8, respectively, so he’d get to face his former club with any of these three teams. Bell would support Myles Gaskin as the lead rusher in Miami and support Devin Singletary in Buffalo.
Bell underperformed in 2019 and reportedly clashed with team brass. He averaged just 3.2 yards per carry and his 66 catches for 461 yards out of the backfield weren’t nearly enough to offset that lack of efficiency. This year, he suited up in just two games before his divorce with the Jets. Before all of that, and his infamous Steelers holdout, Bell notched 1,291 yards off of a league-high 321 carries in 2017. He also reeled in a career-high 85 catches for 655 yards and scored eleven all-purpose touchdowns.
Broncos’ Melvin Gordon Charged With DUI
Broncos running back Melvin Gordon was cited for driving under the influence on Tuesday night, as Mike Klis of 9News reports. According to police, Gordon was speeding between 25 mph and 39 mph over the limit and found to be intoxicated when he was pulled over.
“We are aware of the situation involving Melvin Gordon,” the Broncos said in a statement. “Our organization has been in communication with him and is in the process of gathering more details.”
Gordon joined the Broncos in March on a two-year, $16MM deal. With the Chargers, he totaled at least 1,375 yards from scrimmage from 2016-18 and 47 touchdowns over the past four years. While he has missed time due to minor injuries throughout his career, Gordon was healthy throughout 2019. Of course, he still missed games, due to his holdout that stretched into October of last year.
In 12 games, Gordon averaged 3.8 yards per carry, a far cry from the 5.1 yards per tote that gave him so much leverage in 2018. This past week, the Broncos got a glimpse of Gordon’s full potential as he ran for 107 yards against the Jets, including a 43-yard TD to clinch the win.
Gordon’s DUI citation could subject him to league discipline, including a possible suspension.
Titans To Release Or Trade Kamalei Correa
Titans linebacker Kamalei Correa demanded a trade after being inactive on Tuesday night, according to Mike Garafolo and TomPelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Titans will oblige — they try to trade Correa, and they’ll release him if they can’t find a taker. 
Correa has seen just 39 defensive snaps and 24 special teams plays this season. After spending time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, he was eager to get back on the field this week. In 2019, the Boise State product saw the most action of his career, appearing in all 16 games and starting five of them. He played in about 40% of the Titans’ defensive snaps and served as a major special teams contributor. Although Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics considered him an average pass rusher, he did pick up a career-high five sacks.
Lauded for his coverage abilities, the former Ravens second-round pick was a favorite of former Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees. When Pees retired this year, Correa lost one of his biggest supporters. Still, Correa agreed to a new one-year, $3.5MM deal with the Titans in April, hoping that he’d still be a defensive regular.