Redskins To Sign DE Marcus Smith
The Redskins have agreed to sign former Eagles first round pick Marcus Smith. The defensive end may have an opportunity to make his D.C. debut on Sunday when the Redskins face the rival Giants. 
[RELATED: Redskins Won’t Audition Colin Kaepernick]
Smith showed his wares for the Jets and Bills last month, but left both auditions without a deal. Instead, the Redskins will give him his first opportunity to play in 2018 after he reportedly flirted with retirement in the summer .
In three seasons with the Eagles, Smith never made a start and registered only four sacks. Over time, his playing time waned and Smith played on only 20% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps in 2016. The Seahawks scooped up the 26-year-old in 2017 017 and he showed some promise in a limited role. In his 252 snaps, Smith registered 14 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
The Redskins have bigger issues to deal with – such as their ailing offensive line and messy quarterback situation – but Smith could provide support for the team’s leading edge rushers down the stretch.
Bills Release WR Kelvin Benjamin
The Bills released wide receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Andre Holmes, according to a team press release. The release of Benjamin is particularly shocking given his resume. 
Benjamin came to the Bills in a blockbuster trade deadline deal last year. Since then, Benjamin has logged just 40 catches in 19 games, including the team’s low-scoring playoff loss to the Jaguars.
Because this year’s trade deadline is in the rear view mirror, both Benjamin and Holmes will be subject to waivers, even though they are both vested veterans. Benjamin is likely to find a new home whether he’s claimed or not, and that will mark his third team in 13 months.
Any team claiming Benjamin off waivers would be responsible for the remaining prorated portion of his base salary, which comes out to a little under $2MM. It’s a high price to pay, but Benjamin could make for an interesting rental since he is due for unrestricted free agency in March. Of course, if he is not claimed, the Bills will be on the hook for that cash.
There was no weird behind the scenes incident to prompt the release of either player, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Rather, the Bills simply wanted to get younger and audition players who factor into their plans for 2019 and beyond.
Benjamin, 27, has just 23 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown in 12 games this season, numbers that are a far cry from his best seasons with the Panthers. His conditioning has been questioned by many, his route running errors been glaring, and he no longer appears to be on the path to superstardom. A change of scenery may help Benjamin, but he’ll have to really explode down the stretch in order to position himself for a lucrative free agent deal.
Holmes, 30, was barely involved in the offense for Buffalo. In his 12 games, Holmes had just 12 grabs for 157 yards and zero scores.
In related moves, the Bills also promoted defensive end Mike Love and cornerback Denzel Rice to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Justin Zimmer
- Waived: S Keith Tandy
- Placed on IR: LS Josh Harris
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jalen Tolliver, DE Vontarrius Dora
- Placed on IR: DT Olsen Pierre
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Mike Love, CB Denzel Rice
- Placed on IR: C Russell Bodine
Denver Broncos
- Waived: OT Cyrus Kouandjio
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Kendall Donnerson
- Placed on IR: S Ibraheim Campbell
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers from Jaguars: CB Dee Delaney
- Placed on IR: TE A.J. Derby
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Damontre Moore
- Waived: DL Fadol Brown
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Trey Edwards
- Placed on IR: WR Justin Hunter
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OG Zac Kerin, LB/DE Marcus Smith
- Placed on IR: OG Jonathan Cooper
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/4/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Daniel Braverman
- Released: WR Montay Crockett
- Placed on PS-IR: OL Rick Leonard
Carolina Panthers
- Released: CB Josh Thornton
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S Tray Matthews, S Jason Thompson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Anthony Winbush
- Released: QB Phillip Walker
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB James Burgess
New York Jets
- Signed: DB Tyvis Powell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: ILB Matthew Thomas, RB Ralph Webb
- Released: LB Farrington Huguenin
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Vincent Valentine
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Dare Ogunbowale, WR K.J. Brent
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Dalyn Dawkins
Rams RB Malcolm Brown To Miss Time
Rams running back Malcolm Brown will miss the rest of the regular season with a clavicle injury, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). However, there is hope that Brown could heal up in time for the playoffs. 
Brown is the primary backup to star Todd Gurley, so the Rams will be in a tough spot if Gurley goes down in the next few weeks. Beyond Brown, who has averaged 3.6 carries per game this season, the Rams have a pair of inexperienced backs in Justin Davis and 2018 sixth-round pick John Kelly. Brown is not a starter for the Rams, but head coach Sean McVay deemed his injury to be a “huge loss” since he is the team’s top insurance policy behind the MVP candidate.
They’ve already clinched the division, but a win will officially slot them in for a first-round bye.
Redskins To Work Out Free Agent QBs
After losing their top two quarterbacks to injury, the Redskins are in the market for another signal caller. The Redskins will once again audition E.J. Manuel, T.J. Yates, Josh Johnson, and others as they look to support de facto starter Mark Sanchez, coach Jay Gruden announced. 
Naturally, reporters pressed Gruden on whether Colin Kaepernick is or was a consideration for the team. Gruden acknowledged that Kaepernick was discussed, but it doesn’t sound as though he was a real candidate for the Redskins.
“[There’s] not a lot of time to get a brand new QB and a system installed and taught in a couple days. He’s been talked about and discussed, but we’ll probably go in a different direction,” Gruden said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim).
Backup Colt McCoy stepped in when Alex Smith was lost to a scary leg injury, but McCoy was knocked out of action this week when he suffered a broken fibula of his own. McCoy is holding out hope that he can return in a matter of weeks, but that will be a moot point unless Sanchez can lead the Redskins to a winning streak that will put them in the playoff mix.
The 6-6 Redskins have a 26% chance of reaching the playoffs and a 7% chance of bypassing the Cowboys and Eagles for the divisional crown. It’ll be an uphill battle, however, with Sanchez under center behind a depleted offensive line.
Broncos To Sign CB Jamar Taylor
The Broncos are signing cornerback Jamar Taylor, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). He’ll help fill the void for Denver while Chris Harris recovers from a broken leg. 
The former Dolphins and Browns corner was released by the Cardinals in November after he failed to solidify himself as a proper counterpart to star Patrick Peterson. He’s now on to team No. 4 in a career that has seen him traded twice — from Miami to Cleveland in 2016 and from Cleveland to Arizona earlier this year.
With the Broncos, Taylor figures to get involved in the rotation behind Bradley Roby and Tramaine Brock. Recent third-round picks Isaac Yiadom and Brendan Langley are also on hand and safety Justin Simmons may continue to see snaps at slot cornerback. Ideally, the Broncos would probably prefer to keep Simmons at his native spot while occasionally using Taylor as the third corner.
The Broncos’ playoff hopes are still alive at 6-6 and they have a mostly plum schedule to finish out the year. The Broncos will take on the 49ers, Browns, and Raiders in the next three games before closing the season against the red-hot Chargers.
Ole Miss WR A.J. Brown To Enter NFL Draft
A.J. Brown is going pro. On Tuesday, the Ole Miss wide receiver announced that he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft. 
[RELATED: Ole Miss WR D.K. Metcalf To Enter NFL Draft]
Brown, a 6’1″, 225-pound athlete, profiles as the top wide receiver in this year’s class. He’ll leave school on a high note after notching 85 catches for 1,320 yards and six touchdowns this season. It was a challenging season for Ole Miss on the whole, but Brown was nothing short of stellar on an individual level. He had 212 yards receiving against Vanderbilt just a few weeks ago and topped 100 yards receiving in six different games this year.
“I just want to start off by saying thank you to the Ole Miss family,” Brown wrote in a tweet. “You have welcomed me with open arms. Ole Miss is a special place and has been since I took my first official visit. During my official visit, I knew that this was the place for me. The past three years I have created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
In just three seasons at Ole Miss, Brown set new watermarks for the program in career receiving yards, most receiving yards in a single season, and several other categories.
NFL teams are salivating over Brown’s unique skillset. He’s not the tallest wide receiver prospect, but he is among the most powerful and his ability to break tackles after the catch sets him apart from many of his peers. His toughness reminds many of Steelers standout JuJu Smith-Schuster and he might even be a tick faster.
Brown’s teammate D.K. Metcalf is also entering the NFL Draft and has a chance at going in the first round despite his injury history.
Steelers’ James Conner To Miss Time
Steelers running back James Conner has been ruled out for this week’s game against the Raiders, coach Mike Tomlin announced. Initially, Conner was believed to have suffered a minor contusion, but it turns out that he has a slightly more serious sprain that will keep him out of action for at least one game. 
Conner, 23, has exceeded all expectations this year in place of star Le’Veon Bell. In 12 games (eleven starts), Conner has amassed 909 yards off of 201 carries (4.5 yards-per-carry average) and 12 rushing touchdowns. He’s also caught 52 passes for 467 yards and one receiving score, showing that he’s a more than adequate replacement for one of the sport’s most dynamic weapons.
Naturally, the Steelers will still go into Sunday’s game against Oakland as heavy favorites, even though they’re on the road. With a win, the Steelers can further solidify their odds of making the playoffs while taking another step closer towards the AFC North title.
With Conner on the sidelines, Stevan Ridley and Jaylen Samuels are expected to lead the way at running back. Meanwhile, the club will hope to get Conner back on the field for a huge Week 15 matchup against the Patriots.
Kliff Kingsbury Joins USC
Kliff Kingsbury is not coming to the NFL. Not yet, at least. On Tuesday, Kingsbury finalized a deal to become the new offensive coordinator at USC (Twitter link via Bruce Feldman of FS1). 
The former Texas Tech head coach was thought to be a hot candidate for NFL coaching positions, but the allure of joining USC and being a heartbeat away from replacing Clay Helton as the program’s head coach next year was too good to pass up. The Rams were reportedly among the NFL teams that were looking into in hiring Kingsbury as an offensive assistant and the Eagles were also believed to have some level of interest in him.
Kingsbury, 39, was fired after five-plus years of lackluster results at Texas Tech, during which he posted a 35-40 overall record. Despite the lack of overall success with the Red Raiders, he is highly respected in coaching circles for his energy, ambition, and offensive knowhow.