Dolphins’ Cordrea Tankersley Out For Year
Dolphins cornerback Cordrea Tankersley is out for the year with a torn ACL, head coach Adam Gase announced. Tankersley will be placed on injured reserve with a targeted return in 2019. 
Tankersley suffered the injury during practice on Thursday. It’s a bad blow to an already iffy secondary that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 66.8% of their passes.
Tankersley, a 2017 third-round pick, started 11 games for the Dolphins as a rookie. This year, he has taken on more of a reserve role with an emphasis on special teams. The Dolphins will move forward with Xavien Howard and Bobby McCain as their starters with Torry McTyer and rookie Cornell Armstrong as the backups, but they’ll probably add another corner to the mix soon.
The Dolphins are 4-4 after dropping their last two games. They’ll look to get back in the win column when they take on the Jets in Miami on Sunday.
Broncos To Activate Su’a Cravens
The Broncos will activate safety/linebacker Su’a Cravens off of the injured reserve list before the Saturday deadline, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Cravens is expected to play on Sunday against the Texans, giving the Broncos a glimpse at their offseason acquisition. 
In March, the Broncos shipped a fifth-round pick to the Redskins for Cravens. The former second-round pick’s exit from Washington was strange, to say the very least. After a promising rookie campaign in 2016, Cravens abruptly announced his retirement prior to the 2017 season. He quickly reversed that decision, but the Redskins countered by placing him on the reserve/left squad list, barring him from playing last year.
This year, Cravens was sidelined by meniscus surgery. Fortunately, his IR stay gave him an opportunity to clamp down on his diet and exercise routine, and he says he’s lost ten pounds at the behest of coaches.
The Broncos recently lost backup safety Jamal Carter to a season-nullifying injury, so Cravens will have an opportunity to pitch in as both a safety and sub-package linebacker. If the Broncos are to climb out of their 3-5 hole, they’ll need all the help they can get.
Bills To Bring LeSean McCoy Back In 2019
LeSean McCoy‘s name was bandied about in trade rumors last month, but the Bills held on to the veteran past Tuesday’s deadline. In a conversation with Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News, GM Brandon Beane said that McCoy was retained because he is a part of the team’s vision for 2019. 
“Definitely,” Beane said when asked whether McCoy will be on the roster next year. “That’s the whole key. LeSean is still a very good player in this league. Our offense is not where we want it, but LeSean is still playing well. He’s a talented player. We like what he brings, to the point we’ll have him back in 2019. He’ll definitely be a part of that.”
The 30-year-old is currently averaging a career-low 3.4 yards-per-attempt, and he’s yet to score a touchdown this season. However, McCoy had compiled at least 1,000 rushing yards in both 2016 and 2017, and it’s clear that opposing teams are not respecting the pass.
Beane still believes in McCoy’s ability, which is why does not intend to trade or release McCoy, despite the potential cap savings. Releasing McCoy outright would save the club $6.4MM with just $2.6MM left over in dead money.
The GM’s position also reaffirms the club’s belief that the accusations against McCoy are not valid. For his part, the running back has denied any wrongdoing or connection to the July home invasion that left his ex-girlfriend battered.
Poll: Did The Giants Do Enough Before The Deadline?
The Giants kicked off trade season with a bang by trading cornerback Eli Apple and defensive tackle Damon Harrison on back-to-back days last week. Many expected the Giants to continue their demolition on Tuesday, but that did not come to fruition. 
At 1-7, the Giants have no real hope of making the playoffs this year, so a complete fire sale would have been logical and largely accepted by the team’s passionate fanbase. There were real pieces to move, too, including cornerback Janoris Jenkins and safety Landon Collins.
Jenkins, who just celebrated his 30th birthday, drew the attention of the Chiefs this week. With two-and-a-half years to go on his five-year, $62.5MM deal, the Giants had an opportunity to add to their draft stockpile while dropping one of the highest-paying cornerback contracts in the NFL. If the Giants decide to cut Jenkins this offseason, they’ll save $7.75MM against the cap, but they’ll be left with nearly as much ($7MM) in dead money.
The decision to keep Collins is certainly understandable since he is just 24 years old. However, he’s in the final year of his rookie deal and figures to command serious offers on the open market. The Giants reportedly have concerns about how well Collins fits in their new defensive scheme, so it’s not a given that they’ll make a strong play to keep him. The Chiefs and Buccaneers were reportedly interested in Collins, but no team was willing to meet the Giants’ asking price of a 2019 second-rounder and a late-round pick in 2020. Rival GMs made offers, but no one ponied up more than a third-round choice.
The Giants had other vets to dangle, including defensive end Olivier Vernon and linebacker Alec Ogletree, but the Giants passed on making any additional deals on Tuesday. Was that a mistake by the Giants, or do you think they did enough in the way of midseason rebuilding? Click below (or here, for app users) to weigh in and sound off in the comment section:
Did The Giants Need To Make More Trades?
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Yes 62% (624)
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No 38% (375)
Total votes: 999
49ers Release QB Tom Savage
The 49ers are cutting quarterback Tom Savage, according to a team announcement. In related moves, the Niners have activated safety Marcell Harris (story) and linebacker Dekoda Watson from injured reserve. They also promoted cornerback Emmanuel Moseley to the active roster.
The release of Savage is a sign C.J. Beathard will probably be active for Thursday night’s game against the Raiders. However, he will not start for San Francisco. Because of a wrist injury that is hurting his ability to properly grip the football, Nick Mullens will throw his first NFL pass and get his first NFL start against Oakland, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Savage, like all players released after the NFL trade deadline, will be subject to waivers. If he is not claimed by Friday afternoon, he will be free to join any team.
Seahawks Open To Marshall Reunion
The Seahawks released Brandon Marshall earlier this week, but it could be more of a “see you later” than a “goodbye.” Head coach Pete Carroll says that Marshall can still play at the age of 34 and he’s leaving the door open for a potential return down the road (Twitter link via Brady Henderson of ESPN.com). 
[RELATED: Seahawks Release WR Brandon Marshall]
Carroll says that Marshall was released because the team needed special teams help that Marshall could not really provide. As a pass-catcher, Carroll apparently likes what the veteran has to offer. Carroll’s fondness didn’t result in big numbers for the veteran, however. In six games, the multiple-time Pro Bowler had just 11 catches for 136 yards and one touchdown.
Marshall has more than enough money to live on, but he says that he is determined to continue playing. It remains to be seen whether he’ll reemerge with the Seahawks or any other team in 2018.
Scot McCloughan Loses Grievance
An NFL arbitrator has ruled for the Redskins in a grievance dispute between the team and former general manager Scot McCloughan, as Liz Clarke and Mark Maske of The Washington Post write. McCloughan was seeking to collect on approximately $2.8MM, the amount left on his four-year deal at the time of his firing in 2017. There is no avenue of appeal under the NFL’s system, so it appears that the case is closed. 
[RELATED: Redskins RB Byron Marshall Designated For Return]
The Redskins enjoyed back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 19 years on McCloughan’s watch, though the Redskins asserted that he was fired “for cause.” After he was let go, the Redskins’ team-owned radio station speculated that he was fired for alcohol abuse. An anonymous team official later told a local paper that McCloughan was canned because he came into the office drunk.
McCloughan, who is well-regarded by many in the league, now runs a private scouting service from his home in Colorado. The Browns enlisted his help in the 2018 draft and it’s likely that other teams have also leaned on his advice.
Jets To Be “Very Active” In Free Agency
With a 3-5 record and a rookie quarterback under center, the Jets do not look the part of a playoff team in 2018. But, things could change next year, GM Mike Maccagnan says, as the team plans to be “very active” in free agency next spring. 
“This is an offseason we feel really good about,” Maccagnan said (via Darryl Slater of NJ.com). “We’ve done a lot of work already and we’re going to do a lot more work on the pro free agency. But I think there is definitely an opportunity — not only to keep some of our own good, young players that are going to be free agents — but also to add some players at key positions going forward. Right now, we think there are a lot of good, young players in the [free agent] market potentially for next year. And we feel pretty well situated with our salary cap standpoint.”
The Jets’ most glaring need is in the pass rush department. They’ve tried to land some big fish this year – including Khalil Mack and Dante Fowler – but missed out on trading for both players. Building the edge rush through free agency is a pricey proposition, but the Jets are projected to enter the offseason with nearly $107MM in cap space, second only to the Colts’ ~$126MM.
If Maccagnan goes for the big fish in March, he can explore a free agent pool that may include the likes of Demarcus Lawrence (Cowboys), Jadeveon Clowney (Texans), Frank Clark (Seahawks), Trey Flowers (Patriots), and Dee Ford (Chiefs). Lions standout Ezekiel Ansah is also scheduled to hit the open market, though his shoulder injury has kept him from playing ever since the season opener.
Maccagnan may also seek to bolster the pass rush through the draft, but his results have been spotty outside of the first round. The GM defended his draft record when pressed about it on Thursday, but there’s no way to sugarcoat it – Maccagnan has missed an awful lot in the last four years, and that’s disappointing for an executive who was hired for his scouting acumen.
49ers To Activate S Marcell Harris
The 49ers are activating safety Marcell Harris off of the injured reserve list, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The rookie sixth rounder is expected to make his debut against the Raiders on Thursday night after being sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring ailment. 
Harris lost his entire 2017 season at Florida due to a torn Achilles, so he has been out of action for quite a while. Before that injury, Harris turned in a strong 2016 campaign in which he totaled 73 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, one sack, two interceptions, one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He also scored the first touchdown of his career on special teams at FSU on a fumbled punt.
The Niners will start D.J. Reed and Jaquiski Tartt at safety the Thursday night contest with Antone Exum and Tyvis Powell also serving as depth options. Harris will slide in as a reserve, taking a spot that opened when Adrian Colbert was placed on IR.
Four Teams Tried To Claim Jamon Brown
New Giants guard Jamon Brown was a popular target on the NFL waiver wire, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The Bears, Packers, Ravens, and Titans all tried to put in a claim for him, Yates hears. Those clubs were unable to land him, however, as the Giants had top priority. 
Brown served as the Rams’ starting right guard in 2017 slate and the former third-round pick started 30 games for the team dating back to the 2015 season. However, a suspension sidetracked his run in Los Angeles. With this kind of interest from at least five different clubs, it’s a bit surprising that the Rams were unable to find a suitable trade for Brown and recoup a future seventh-round pick, at minimum.
The Ravens, in particular, could use the offensive line help. Currently, they list four offensive linemen on their injury report, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tweets: left tackle Ronnie Stanley (foot/ankle), right tackle James Hurst (back), left guard Alex Lewis (neck), and reserve guard/center Bradley Bozeman (calf).
The guard has a reasonable cap number of $1.871MM on his expiring contract, so the Giants are on the hook for less than $1MM for the rest of the year. Of course, the 1-7 Giants aren’t playing for much at this point, but Brown could help in run protection for sensational rookie Saquon Barkley and audition his way on to the 2019 roster.
Now that the trade deadline has passed, all players who are released will be subject to waivers for the rest of the season, even if they are vested veterans with more than four years of experience.