Lions Drop Daryl Worley
The Lions have released defensive back Daryl Worley from the practice squad, per a club announcement. In a related move, they’ve re-signed offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer to the 16-man unit.
Worley was on the Lions’ 53-man roster earlier this year, dressing for three games and appearing in two. His last outing came against the Rams in Week 7, when he got torched twice by Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp for touchdowns. The latter of the two proved to be the game-winning score and the last of Worley’s time on the varsity squad. The Lions brought him back on a PSQ deal, but that’s now over after one week.
The 26-year-old has bounced around the league since coming in as a 2016 third-round draft pick of the Panthers. After spending his first two seasons in Carolina, the defensive back has had stints with the Eagles, Raiders, Cowboys, Bills, Raiders (again), Cardinals, and Lions. His most recent, significant action came in 2019 when he made 15 games for the Raiders. Last year, he started in five of his 10 games, split between Dallas, Buffalo, and Las Vegas.
After their bye week, the Lions will aim for their first win of the year against the Steelers.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Jacob Capra, WR Austin Proehl
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Sam Kamara
- Released: WR Jon’Vea Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: FB Johnny Stanton
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Tommy Kraemer
- Released: DB Daryl Worley (story)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
New York Giants
- Signed: S Steven Parker
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: T/G Brett Toth
- Released: CB Craig James
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: C Brad Lundblade
Bears’ David Montgomery Returns To Practice
The Bears have designated David Montgomery for return from injured reserve, per a club announcement. This move kicks off a 21-day window for the Bears to activate the running back. If he’s not restored to the roster in the next three weeks, he will be ineligible to return in 2021. 
Montgomery was placed on IR with an MCL sprain in Week 4. To date, he has registered 309 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, plus six catches for 49 yards. The Bears were expected to lean on ex-Kansas City starter Damien Williams in his stead, but they’ve gotten more production out of sixth-round pick Khalil Herbert. To date, he has 351 yards (and a touchdown) off of 81 carries, with the bulk of those yards coming in the last three games. That includes 5.0+ yards per carry against the Packers and the Bucs.
Montgomery, 24, is coming off of his best season to date. In 2020, he tallied 1,070 rushing yards and eight rushing TDs, good for 4.3 yards per carry. If he’s ready in time, he could make his ’21 debut against the Steelers on Monday night.
Chargers, Cardinals Tried To Claim Jonah Williams
New Vikings defensive end Jonah Williams was pretty popular on the waiver wire. After he was cut by the Rams, the Chargers and Cardinals also submitted claims on him. (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). 
[RELATED: Rams Have Discussed Extension With Miller’s Camp]
The Vikings won out, thanks to their 3-4 record. As a refresher, the league’s waiver priority goes by inverted current season record at this stage of the league year, rather than previous year’s record. Therefore, the Chargers (4-3) and Cardinals (7-1) were further down the list.
Williams, 26, saw time in all eight of the Rams’ games before he was cut loose. If not for the arrival of Von Miller, the Rams likely would have kept him for the year. Miller marks a significant upgrade for the Rams’ front seven and they’re already discussing his future beyond 2021.
The Vikings could still use some DL support, now that Danielle Hunter has been ruled out for the year with a torn pectoral muscle. The Cardinals — who are without J.J. Watt — will also keep an eye out for available linemen.
Dolphins GM Chris Grier On Deshaun Watson, Tua Tagovailoa
The Dolphins didn’t trade for Deshaun Watson, but they still made plenty of waves in the week leading up to the deadline. By all accounts, owner Stephen Ross was eager to bring the embattled Texans quarterback to Miami, but only if certain “contingencies” were met. In short, the Dolphins were only willing to trade for Watson if his legal troubles were put behind him. 
Meanwhile, GM Chris Grier was left to field questions about Watson, the future of young signal caller Tua Tagovailoa, and what it all means for the Dolphins going forward. Here’s a look at some of the highlights, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald:
On the Dolphins’ level of interest in Watson:
“My job as general manager is to investigate every avenue on players that may or may not be available. I don’t think it’s any different from any player on the roster. We’ve done that from Day 1. That’s how every team operates. In terms of what discussions were had and what people asked for…We decided not to make a deal.”
On whether a deal was close:
“You go through these processes and talk through these things and we go forward with the team we have. We never got to a point of where anything would be realistic as far as happening.”
On Tagovailoa’s status moving forward:
“If there is a player considered one of the top players in the NFL, you have to look at it and try to go for it. It has nothing to do with not believing in Tua. We’re very happy with Tua.”
On the potential of renewing talks in the offseason:
“You get through the season and you keep evaluating the entire roster. Once the offseason comes, we’ll make decisions.”
Browns’ OBJ Excused From Thursday Practice
The saga continues. Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be excused from practice for a second straight day (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). 
[RELATED: Browns Will Likely Move On From Odell Beckham Jr.]
The Browns opted against trading Beckham at the deadline, despite interest from the Saints and other teams. Meanwhile, Beckham’s father and LeBron James ignited a #FreeOBJ hashtag, urging the Browns to deal the star wideout.
The Browns excused Beckham from Wednesday’s practice while head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry talked through the situation with Beckham’s agent. Those talks are still ongoing, per Garafolo, though some believe that OBJ has played his last snap in Cleveland. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is also willing to smooth things out, though he’s keeping the focus on this week’s game against the Bengals.
“Yeah i think any conversation would go a long way,” Mayfield said (Twitter links) “[As for a] resolution? I don’t know about that right now. [But], if he’s back, we’ll work through it and I can put my ego and pride aside to win.”
Beckham, who turns 29 tomorrow, is still owed $8MM in 2021. If he goes on waivers, any team claiming him would have to assume the balance of that contract. If he were to go unclaimed, the Browns would be on the hook for that sum.
Texans Waive Vernon Hargreaves III
The Texans have released cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III (Twitter link via NFL.com’s James Palmer). As a post-deadline cut, he’ll go on the waiver wire and made available to the rest of the league’s teams. If he goes unclaimed after 24 hours, he’ll be a full-fledged free agent. 
Hargreaves started in five games for the Texans this year and played in nearly every snap on Sunday against the Colts. Of course, that wasn’t a banner game for the Texans — they lost 31-3 while Jonathan Taylor torched the front seven for 145 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
Houston claimed Hargreaves off waivers from the Tampa last year, a low-risk move to improve their secondary. He went on to start in all 16 of his games while registering 72 stops, seven passes defensed, and one interception. The advanced metrics weren’t fond of his work — Pro Football Focus ranked him near the bottom at cornerback, out of 126 qualified NFL corners. Still, the Texans re-upped the former first-round pick on a one-year, $1.325MM deal.
Cutting Hargreaves won’t have much of an impact on the Texans’ cap, especially if another team scoops him up between now and Thursday afternoon.
Browns’ Baker Mayfield On Odell Beckham Jr.
Everyone in the Browns locker room wants to see Odell Beckham Jr. succeed, according to Baker Mayfield (Twitter link via Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN.com). The quarterback wants to iron out the ongoing rift between him and OBJ, though he says he’s keeping his focus on the field. 
[RELATED: No OBJ At Wednesday Practice]
“Yeah i think any conversation would go a long way,” Mayfield said (Twitter links) “[As for a] resolution? I don’t know about that right now. [But], if he’s back, we’ll work through it and I can put my ego and pride aside to win.”
OBJ’s camp stirred the pot on Tuesday with a pair of viral posts on social media. First, Beckham’s father posted a highlight reel of miscommunications between his son and Mayfield. Then, LeBron James chimed in, seemingly urging the Browns to trade his friend before the deadline. One day later, Beckham is still in Cleveland, though he’s absent from practice with a “personal matter”.
Mayfield isn’t sure when he’ll touch base with Beckham, but Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry chatted with his agent earlier today. Beckham has no remaining guarantees on his contract, so the Browns could cut him in early 2022 with zero cap penalty. But, if the situation can’t be salvaged, they could consider releasing him right now. With the trade deadline in the rear view mirror, that would put one of the game’s most gifted talents on the waiver wire, available for all 31 teams.
Packers To Sign Blake Bortles To Practice Squad
The Packers are adding reinforcements in the wake of Aaron Rodgers‘ positive COVID-19 test. Quarterback Blake Bortles is en route to Green Bay, where he’ll sign a deal to join the practice squad (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). 
[RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Out With COVID]
From there, Bortles could earn a quick promotion to backstop Jordan Love on Sunday. Love has attempted just seven passes as a pro; Bortles can relate, even though he offers significantly more experience. The former No. 3 overall pick has played in just three games since the 2019 season. He jockeyed between the Broncos’ active roster and practice squad throughout 2020, ending the campaign on the Rams practice squad.
Bortles signed with the Packers in the offseason, but didn’t make it to the final cut. Now, he’s back to provide the Packers with some extra insurance against the Chiefs.
Bortles, 29, disappointed during his five seasons with the Jaguars, where he completed only 59.4% of his throws for 92 touchdowns and 58 interceptions. All in all, he has a 24-49 regular season record as a starter.
Latest On Browns, Odell Beckham Jr.
Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. did not practice today due to a “personal matter,” per the team’s official report. Meanwhile, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that he and GM Andrew Berry are discussing Beckham’s status with his agent (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). 
It certainly seems like OBJ wants out of Cleveland, following yesterday’s social media posts from OBJ Sr. and pal LeBron James. The Browns considered trading him to the Saints before Tuesday’s deadline, but ultimately decided to keep him.
Beckham is also dealing with a shoulder injury, a recurring theme throughout his career. Via one injury or another, he hasn’t enjoyed a healthy season since 2019. Meanwhile, the drama has been non-stop over the last three years.
“[Baker Mayfield is] either hating on Odell or he just doesn’t want him shining,” Odell Beckham Sr. wrote on Instagram yesterday, right around LeBron’s #FreeOBJ tweet.
Beckham, 29 on Friday, has four 1,000+ yard seasons to his credit, but has yet to approach his gaudy 2015 and 2016 numbers with the Giants. Technically speaking, he’s tied to the Browns through 2023. But, in reality, it’s more of a year-to-year arrangement. He’s set to count for more than $15MM against the cap in 2022 and 2023, but his deal has no remaining guarantees.
If the Browns wind up releasing OBJ during the season, he’ll be subject to the waiver wire as a post-deadline cut. From there, teams would have 24 hours to claim the wide receiver and the remainder of his contract.