Patriots’ Patrick Chung Pleads Not Guilty
The lawyer for Patrick Chung entered a not guilty plea on his client’s behalf, according to The Associated Press. Chung was indicted for felony cocaine possession on August 8 and details on the case remain sparse. 
Here’s what we do know – New Hampshire cops were called to Chung’s home in late June on “on a call for service.” While at his residence, police obtained evidence leading to the felony drug charge.
Chung, 32, is scheduled to appear in court on November 8. No NFL discipline will come for a while – if at all – but head coach Bill Belichick has remained characteristically quiet about the safety’s status.
In 2018, the longtime Patriots safety played in 15 games and started 14, registering one interception and 84 tackles. Still operating at a high level, he rated as the No. 30 safety according to Pro Football Focus, with an above-average grade of 72.7.
Broncos To Release WR Nick Williams
The Broncos are releasing wide receiver Nick Williams, as Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post tweets. With that, the Broncos’ roster is now at 87, three shy of the present 90-man max.
The Broncos have spent Monday doing some cleanup in advance of Saturday’s 53-man deadline. There’s still tons of work to go, but the Broncos have already released linebacker Dekoda Watson, defensive lineman Zach Kerr, and Williams, giving all three players a head start on their job hunt. The releases of Kerr and Watson freed up significant cap room, but Williams’ release will have little impact on the club’s finances.
Williams appeared in two games for the Titans early on last year, but was let go after dropping a would-be go-ahead touchdown pass against the Bills. The 28-year-old then hooked on with the Rams where he caught two passes for 17 yards in two games. The Broncos signed Willams in late July, but his Denver run is up after just one month.
Packers Waive Mike Tyson
The Packers have waived safety Mike Tyson, according to a team announcement. To take his place, the club signed cornerback Jackson Porter.
The Packers claimed Tyson off waivers earlier this offseason when he was dropped by the Texans. After originally entering the league as a 2017 sixth-round pick of the Seahawks, Tyson appeared in ten contests for Houston in 2018.
Porter, meanwhile, is still looking for his first taste of NFL action. The UMass product amassed 84 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss and two interceptions over 42 games with the Minutemen, but was unsuccessful in his bid to make the Ravens as a UDFA last year.
Redskins’ Trent Williams Ready To Play
Redskins left tackle Trent Williams is healthy and ready to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Of course, Williams is looking to suit up for a different team, so the stalemate continues. 
On Monday, head coach Jay Gruden reiterated that he still “very strongly” believes Williams won’t be traded. However, at this juncture, it’s hard to see a scenario in which Williams plays for the Redskins this year, so it’s hard to imagine the club passing on help in other areas or draft capital.
Earlier this month, the Redskins signed Donald Penn to help fill in for Williams up front. They’ve also discussed deals with other teams – for instance, the Dolphins have inquired on Williams and may still have interest. The Patriots, however, do not seem to be in the mix, despite being loosely connected to the veteran throughout the offseason.
The Redskins will face the Ravens on Thursday night in the final game of their preseason schedule. Then, on Sept. 8, they get the season started against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Chiefs To Sign QB Matt Moore
The Chiefs have agreed to sign quarterback Matt Moore, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). Moore will step into the role left vacant by Chad Henne, who is undergoing ankle surgery. 
Moore, 35, served as Ryan Tannehill‘s backup with the Dolphins for five seasons, but was out of football in 2018. In the previous season, Moore figured to be Tannehill’s fill-in post-ACL tear, but he was pushed out of the picture in favor of Jay Cutler.
For obvious reasons, the Chiefs are hoping that they won’t have to rely on Moore at all this year. There’s also this to consider – the Dolphins reportedly didn’t turn to Moore in 2017 because his arm was “shot.” Now 35 and coming off of a one-year layoff, it’s fair to wonder what Moore would have to offer if he were thrust into action.
While Moore led the Dolphins to the playoffs in 2016 in place of Tannehill, he did not fare as well in two starts for Cutler in 2017 – Moore’s yards-per-attempt figure dropped from 8.3 to 6.8 and his interception count (five) eclipsed his touchdown-pass total (four).
In addition to Mahomes and Moore, the Chiefs also have Chase Litton and Kyle Shurmur on hand. Neither of those quarterbacks have taken a regular season snap.
Broncos Cut Dekoda Watson
The Broncos have released veteran outside linebacker and special teamer Dekoda Watson, sources tell Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). The Broncos traded for Watson just four months ago, but there ultimately wasn’t a place for him on the 53-man roster.
In April, the Broncos shipped the No. 148 overall pick to the 49ers in exchange for Watson and the No. 212 choice. The deal, for at least a brief time, reunited the Watson and the Broncos, as the linebacker played in Denver during the 2016 season.
Watson will have to move on to a new employer, but this is nothing new for the former seventh-rounder. Throughout his nine-year career, Watson has played for a number of teams, mostly as a special teamer.
Broncos To Release Zach Kerr
The Broncos have released defensive lineman Zach Kerr, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets. It’s yet another indication that the Broncos are expecting big things from DeMarcus Walker in 2019.
Following three seasons with the Colts, Kerr joined Denver on a two-year deal prior to the 2017 season. The defensive lineman appeared in 27 games for the Broncos over the past two seasons, including a 16-game campaign in 2018.
Despite not starting a single game last season, the 334-pound lineman still finished with 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one pass defended. While Pro Football Focus gave him a solid score, he still only ranked 73rd among 112 eligible interior defenders.
The release is not ideal for Kerr, but on the plus side, it’s preferable to get cut earlier in the week rather than later. He’ll keep the $600K signing bonus he secured in March, though the rest of his two-year, $5MM deal contained no guarantees.
Colts Considered Delaying Luck’s Decision
Before Andrew Luck officially retired from the NFL, the Colts considered a plan that would give the quarterback a chance to reverse course. There was a discussion in the Colts’ front office about placing Luck on injured reserve in order to postpone his final decision, ESPN.com’s Ed Werder tweets. 
[RELATED: More Fallout From Andrew Luck’s Retirement]
Of course, that’s not what transpired – although it wasn’t an easy call, Luck was firm in his decision to walk away from the game in his prime years. Plagued by an incomprehensible amount of rehab and physical pain, the former No. 1 overall pick is walking away from the NFL to focus on other interests.
From a football perspective, the Colts are in better shape than most other teams would be in this scenario. They are very are high on their new QB1, Jacoby Brissett, though they may need to find a new QB2 to backstop him. As of this writing, Swag Kelly stands to be Brissett’s backup, though he’ll first have to serve a two-game suspension.
Patriots To Release Mike Pennel
The Patriots are releasing defensive tackle Mike Pennel, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss (on Twitter). It’s an unexpected move, especially since Pennel was inked to a two-year deal just a few months back.
This year, Pennel was in line to see significant time on the interior, and perhaps even occupy a starting role. Now, it appears that Danny Shelton will roll with the first-string group alongside Lawrence Guy. Meanwhile, fringe DTs like David Parry and Nick Thurman now have improved odds of surviving the 53-man cuts over Labor Day Weekend.
Pennel was a staple of the Jets’ defense in recent years, appearing in every game over the last two seasons. His Jets stint, which included ten starts, yielded an average of 31 tackles per season with zero sacks. His traditional stats did not jump off of the page, but the advanced metrics were very high on his work in 2018. Pennel was tied as the 14th best defensive tackle in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus, though his 358 snaps were the lowest sum of anyone in the top 40.
Despite his productivity, the Jets turned down Pennel’s option for 2019. Now, the Patriots have passed on him, leaving him in limbo with days to go before the start of the season.
Justin Hunter Working Out For Four Teams
Former Steelers wide receiver Justin Hunter has healed up from a torn labrum and will work out for four NFL teams, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). The Jets, Redskins, Texans, Patriots, and Ravens will all kick the tires on Hunter, giving the former Steelers wideout an opportunity to get on the field for 2019.
Hunter, a freakish athlete, has yet to really make his mark at the pro level. He seemed to hold serious promise when he entered the league as a second round pick of the Titans in 2013. but he has spent time with three other teams in his young career.
Hunter managed just 14 catches with the Bills, Dolphins, and Steelers between 2017 and 2018. His most productive season came in 2014 when he had 28 catches for 498 yards and three scores with the Titans, though he did manage four TDs with Buffalo in 2016.
The Patriots auditioned Hunter before the start of training camp, but he left New England without a deal.