49ers Place Jaquiski Tartt On IR
The 49ers will place safety Jaquiski Tartt on injured reserve, according to head coach Mike Shanahan. Tartt has been dealing with a shoulder injury that will benefit from rest rather than playing in the team’s final two regular season games. 
A second-round pick in 2015, the 49ers rewarded Tartt with a two-year, $13MM extension prior to this season. Unfortunately, the injury bug has held him back for a second season in a row. In 2017, a broken forearm limited him to nine games. This year, he’ll finish out with just eight appearances thanks to his shoulder.
Tartt recorded 42 total tackles, two passes defensed, and an interception in his partial season. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 46 safety in the NFL, framing him as a starter, though not a top-tier option. Tartt earned a solid score for his run defense, but his coverage score left much to be desired.
Tartt’s extension has him under contract through 2020 with cap numbers of $5.1MM and $6.4MM in each of the next two seasons.
Colts Work Out Marcus Smith
Former Eagles first-rounder Marcus Smith worked out for the Colts this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The defensive end spent time with the Redskins earlier season, but his stint in D.C. lasted less than two weeks. 
[RELATED: Le’Veon Bell Eyeing Deal With Colts]
Smith entered the league with tons of hype for his athletic ability, but he has not been able to piece it altogether. He was largely ineffective for the Eagles and his second act with the Seahawks ended this summer when he flirted with retirement. Smith did manage 2.5 sacks in both 2016 and 2017, but he has never started an NFL game in his five seasons.
With two games to go, the Colts have a 34% chance of reaching the postseason, per FiveThirtyEight. With wins over the Giants and Titans, they’ll be virtually assured of a Wild Card spot.
Bills Sign Matt Barkley To Extension
The Bills and Matt Barkley agreed to an extension on Friday, according to a team announcement. The new deal will keep the quarterback in place through the 2020 season. 
[RELATED: Fritz Pollard Alliance Recommends Doug Whaley As GM Candidate]
The Bills signed Barkley on Halloween after rookie Josh Allen went down with an elbow injury and veteran Derek Anderson suffered a concussion. Barkley started against the Jets in Week 10 and it was a resounding success – the Bills blew out the Jets 41-10 as Barkley threw for 232 yards, two scores, and zero interceptions.
With the new deal, Barkley is poised to take over as Allen’s primary backup in 2019. Anderson, who turns 36 in June, is scheduled for free agency. If Allen suffers further injury, Barkley may have an opportunity to improve on his career 2-5 record as a starter in the NFL.
Cowboys Work Out WR Sammie Coates
The Cowboys are kicking the tires on wide receiver Sammie Coates, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Coates was cut loose by the Texans earlier this week and was not claimed on waivers, making him a free agent. 
Coates had one catch for 12 yards this year and mostly played on special teams for Houston. That’s likely to be his role in Dallas, if signed, though he could have an opportunity to do more since Tavon Austin is still working his way back from a groin strain.
Coates’ best season to date came in 2016 with the Steelers when he had 21 catches for 435 yards and two scores. In 2017, however, he had just six catches for 70 yards and zero touchdowns for Cleveland and his production dipped even further this year. Coates’ 37 snaps this year marked a career low.
The 8-6 Cowboys have a 94% chance of winning the NFC East, according to FiveThirtyEight. If they win at least one of their final two games, they’ll clinch the division and a playoff berth.
Le’Veon Bell Targeting Colts
The Jets are believed to be targeting Le’Veon Bell this offseason, but he has his eyes on the Colts, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY hears. It’s a situation that is all too familiar for the Jets who tried, and failed, to land the most coveted free agent in offseason’s class. 
The source, who has spoken to Bell, said the running back hasn’t ruled out the Jets or any other team, but the Colts are at “the top of his list” because of Andrew Luck and the team’s cap room that could exceed $120MM.
“He has his eyes on the Colts, no doubt about that,” the source said. “He sees Luck and that offense and all that cap room and they’re much closer than the Jets. He wants to go someplace he can win right away.”
Last year, the Jets went hard after Kirk Cousins, despite rumblings that they were just being used for leverage against better football teams. Ultimately, that may have been the case – the Jets offered a three-year, $90MM deal to the QB, but he took $6MM less to sign with the Vikings. Whether they would have been better off with Cousins is another matter, but it’s clear that the Jets have issues when it comes to landing top free agents.
Meanwhile, the Colts’ level of interest in Bell is not immediately clear. They’d surely like to have him, but There’s no guarantee that they’ll offer him the historic contract he seeks.
Bradley Roby Wants To Stay With Broncos
Cornerback Bradley Roby is set to hit free agency in the spring, but he’s hoping to stay put. With longstanding ties in Denver, the 26-year-old says he wants to re-sign with the Broncos. 
“This is the organization that drafted me,” Roby said (Twitter link via Troy Renck of Denver7). “I bought a home here. Why would I want to leave?”
The versatile veteran has started in all 13 of his games this season and it stands to reason that the Broncos would want him back at the right price. After signaling his desire to sign a new deal in Denver, there’s a possibility that he’ll accept a hometown discount and forgo his chance to entertain other offers.
Through 15 weeks of the NFL season, Pro Football Focus has Roby ranked as just the 93rd best cornerback in the NFL out of 116 qualifiers. It’s a dip from his work in years past, including his career-best showing in 2017.
The Broncos wrap their season with games against the Raiders and Chargers.
Titans Place David Fluellen On IR
The Titans placed running back David Fluellen on injured reserve, according to a team announcement. To take his place on the roster, the club called up linebacker Nigel Harris from the practice squad. 
Fluellen has missed the past five gives with a knee injury and he didn’t recover as fast as the club had hoped. It’s not a huge blow to the Titans – Fluellen has just eight carries over the last two years – but it does impact their depth somewhat as they push for a playoff spot.
Harris, meanwhile, will join outside linebackers Derrick Morgan, Brian Orakpo, Harold Landry, Kamalei Correa, and Sharif Finch on the roster. He may have a chance to play this weekend since Orakpo and Finch have been ruled out for Saturday.
With wins over the Redskins and Colts in the next two weeks, the 8-6 Titans will be virtually assured a place in the postseason. There’s even hope of winning the division, though that would require two wins plus two Texans losses to close out the year.
Saints Release OT Derek Newton
Derek Newton‘s comeback hit another unfortunate roadblock on Thursday. The offensive tackle was released by the Saints after he was unable to come back from two torn patellar tendons. 
The Saints signed Newton to a two-year deal earlier this month, even though he has not played since October 2016. The Saints were initially willing to stay patient with the veteran, but they desperately need bodies up front due to a recent rash of injuries. To give some instant relief, the club signed Cornelius Lucas in Newton’s stead.
A 2011 seventh-round pick out of Arkansas State, Newton was the Texans’ starting right tackle from 2012’s first game until that career-altering night in Denver when Newton shredded both of his knees. The Texans waived Newton via failed physical designation in April, and he field a $500K grievance. This year, Newton worked out for the Jets, Cardinals, and Saints and showed enough in New Orleans to warrant a contract.
The Saints will likely keep Newton on speed dial, but another team could scoop him up before they get the chance to bring him back.
Raiders’ Donald Penn Unlikely To Play
An official decision on whether to bring Donald Penn back off injured reserve won’t come for a couple days, head coach Jon Gruden says. However, Gruden does not anticipate the veteran offensive tackle playing again this season (Twitter link via Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area). 
[RELATED: Raiders Designate Donald Penn For Return]
Penn was designated for return earlier this month, but that was a perplexing move by the Raiders on a few different fronts. First, the move blocked Marshawn Lynch from potentially playing in the club’s Christmas Eve home finale, which might have bought them some good will in Oakland. Secondly, the Raiders would risk being stuck with the entirety of Penn’s 2019 salary if he were to suffer a serious injury down the stretch.
As it stands, the Raiders have an escape hatch on the 35-year-old’s deal. If they want to release Penn in the offseason, they can 86 his contract with just $1.75MM left in dead money.
At 3-11, there’s little reason for the Raiders to roll the dice on Penn’s health, so he’s unlikely to see the field for the club’s final two games against the Broncos and Chiefs.
NFL Team Interested In Jim Harbaugh
Could we see Jim Harbaugh back on the NFL sidelines in 2019? At least one team hopes that will be the case, according to a league source who spoke with Mike Florio of PFT. 
[RELATED: Harbaugh Denies NFL Interest]
One unknown club is planning to make a run at the Michigan head coach after the season is through, Florio hears. It’s unclear whether he’ll bite, and for what it’s worth, he has denied any interest in leaving Ann Arbor for the professional ranks.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying at Michigan,” Harbaugh said in early December, adding that he believes the rumors are part of an outside effort to undermine Michigan’s recruiting. “We have big plans here, and there’s a lot we want to accomplish.”
Harbaugh parted ways with the 49ers after the 2014 season, marking the end of a four-year run. He’s also at the four-year mark at Michigan, which is a recurring number in his career. Harbaugh spent just four years each with the Raiders, the University of San Diego, Stanford, and the Niners, so it’s fair to wonder if he’s getting the itch to move yet again.
The No. 7 ranked Wolverines will face Florida in the Peach Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 29.