Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: S Darian Thompson, WR Bernard Reedy
- Cut: CB Demetrious Cox, LB Nigel Harris
Carolina Panthers
- Released: WR DeAndrew White
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Tyrell Adams
- Cut: CB Breon Borders
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Skai Moore, TE Erik Swoope, RB Jonathan Williams
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OL Jamar McGloster
- Waived: DT Steven Richardson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DE/OLB Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, DB Linden Stephens
- Cut: DE Marcus Martin
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Garrison Smith
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Darius Hillary, G Will Holden, DB Chris Lammons, WR Tanner McEvoy
- Released: QB J.T. Barrett, T Rick Leonard, DB Arrion Springs, TE Deon Yelder
New York Giants
- Signed: T Jylan Ware
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Kyle Wilson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Chad Hansen, LB LaTroy Lewis
- Cut: WR Kalif Raymond
Washington Redskins
- Signed: RB Mack Brown
Falcons To Sign Michael Bennett
The Falcons are signing former Jaguars defensive tackle Michael Bennett, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Bennett, a former sixth-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2015, played in 13 games for the Jaguars in 2015 and one game in 2017.
The Falcons needed some interior depth after Grady Jarrett suffered a sprained ankle on Sunday. So, the Falcons are turning to Bennett, who has talent, but has also been dealing with calf and pectoral injuries over the last two seasons.
In addition to signing Bennett, the Falcons also worked out defensive ends Robert Ayers and Kony Ealy on Tuesday, Pelissero hears. A deal could still come together for one of those players, but interior depth was the priority for Atlanta.
Dez Bryant Wants To Return To Cowboys
If the Cowboys need a wide receiver, Dez Bryant is just a phone call away. When asked about his next landing spot by a fan on Twitter, Bryant replied that his preference would be to re-sign with the Cowboys. If not, however, he says he’ll be “ready to play somewhere else.” 
It appears that time has healed the wounds – at least, on Bryant’s side. After the Cowboys released Bryant at a most inopportune time this offseason, the wide receiver set out to sign with a rival NFC East club so that he could make the Cowboys pay twice in the regular season. That opportunity never came to fruition for the veteran, which may explain why he’s softened his anti-Dallas stance.
The Cowboys’ lack of star power at the wide receiver position has been well-documented, and both Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones have been cordial when discussing Bryant in recent months. Still, as recently as two weeks ago, the younger Jones indicated that the team is not interested in a reunion.
Sources close to Bryant believe that he’ll sign sometime in October, but it’s anyone’s guess as to which team will bite.
Panthers, Palardy Agree To Extension
The Panthers are signing punter Michael Palardy to a three-year, $7.52MM contract extension, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). The new deal keeps Palardy in place through 2021 and puts him in the top ten of punter compensation. 
The deal, which includes a $2MM signing bonus, represents a big step up for Palardy. The punter was released by seven different teams before making his debut in 2016, so he’s undoubtedly appreciative of the new pact.
Palardy, 26, joined the Panthers in 2016 after Andy Lee was lost to injury. He has a career net average of 41.1 yards per boot and set the Panthers’ franchise record for single season net punting average last year.
Dolphins Cut DT Jordan Phillips
The Dolphins are cutting defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, a source tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). Phillips was visibly upset on the sidelines Sunday due to his playing time and his release is likely related. Clearly, there’s no love lost for the former second-round pick. 
“Free at last, free at last,” Phillips wrote on Instagram (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com). “[I’m] no longer a Miami Dolphin. Good luck to my brothers on the team. I’ll miss y’all but I couldn’t be happier to be out of there.I’m in my bag, don’t take it personal. Sometimes [you’ve] got to put your future in your own hands and live with it.”
Though four games, Phillips saw action on 124 defensive snaps. He had a season-high 46 snaps in Week 3 against the Raiders, but his usage dropped back down to 25 snaps in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Pats.
Head coach Adam Gase may be sending a message to his team, not unlike last year when he traded talented running back Jay Ajayi to the Eagles. Phillips might not be as much of a game-changer as Ajayi, but he does have 5.5 sacks over the last three years and change. It’s likely that Phillips will be picked up quickly by a club that is in need of interior defensive line help.
The Dolphins already lost William Hayes for the season and fellow defensive end Andre Branch is sidelined with a knee injury, so they’re not exactly working with a surplus on the defensive line. Akeem Spence, Davon Godchaux, and Vincent Taylor will be charged with keeping things afloat in the middle for now, but the Dolphins will surely sign a defensive tackle this week.
With Phillips out of the picture, wide receiver DeVante Parker and cornerback Bobby McCain stand as the last remaining Dolphins from the 2015 draft class. Phillips (2nd round), Jamil Douglas (4th), Ajayi (5th), Cedric Thompson (5th), and Tony Lippett (5th) are no longer with the club.
Rams To Sign K Cairo Santos
The Rams will sign kicker Cairo Santos, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Santos will just be holding down the fort until Greg Zierlein returns from injury, but it’s an opportunity for Santos to kick again after a lengthy layoff.
Santos is dealing with a groin problem, which has been a recurring issue for him throughout his career. The Jets were high on Santos when they signed him in March, but they bailed on him in August when the situation did not improve.
In 2017, Santos missed most of training camp with the Chiefs due to his chronic groin injury and he later aggravated the injury in Week 3. He signed with the Bears after his release, but the same problem landed him on IR.
The Brazilian specialist finished last season with the Bears, kicking in three games. The 26-year-old (27 in November) made 31 of his 35 field goal tries during his last full slate with the Chiefs in 2016.
Rams To Release K Sam Ficken
The Rams are releasing kicker Sam Ficken and intend to sign another veteran to kick until Greg Zuerlein is recovered from his groin injury, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The kicker auditions will include veterans Cairo Santos and Kai Forbath, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Ficken, 25, took over for an injured Zuerlein at the tail end of the 2017 regular season and called upon to do the same thing this year. Unfortunately, he’s struggled in his two games, making just one of three field goal tries. The Rams are 4-0, but missed field goals could obviously cost them down the line.
Santos has historically been a solid kicker, but he’s dealt with a nagging groin injury for more than a year. Forbath, meanwhile, was released by the Vikings in August losing out to rookie Daniel Carlson. In 2017, Forbath converted 32-of-38 field goal attempts (including six-of-nine from 50+ yards), and his 84.2 accuracy percentage ranked 16th in the NFL.
Lions Work Out Charles Sims, Terrance West
The Lions are looking into help at running back. On Tuesday, the Lions auditioned Charles Sims, Terrance West, and Michigan product Fitzgerald Toussaint, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. 
The Lions already have solid depth in the backfield with rookie star Kerryon Johnson, power rusher LeGarrette Blount, pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick, and former second-round pick Ameer Abdullah under contract. It’s possible that one of those reserve RBs are injured, but it’s also possible that the Lions are simply updating their emergency lists in the event of an injury.
A former Buccaneers passing-down back, Sims has auditioned for the Texans, Patriots, and Jaguars over the last few weeks. He’s shown flashes of ability during his run in the NFL, especially during a 2015 campaign in which he caught 51 passes for the Buccaneers.
West was initially signed by the Saints back in June after Mark Ingram was hit with a four-game suspension, but he was cut loose in August. The 27-year-old appeared in only five games (four starts) with the Ravens last year, but he had a great 2016 with Baltimore as he racked up 1,010 yards on offense and six touchdowns.
Texans’ Aaron Colvin Could Be Done For Year
Texans cornerback Aaron Colvin could be done for the year after suffering a serious ankle injury, coach Bill O’Brien told reporters (link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle). O’Brien is hopeful that Colvin could return later on this season, but nothing is definitive at this time. 
For however long Colvin is out, the Texans can turn to Shareece Wright to start opposite of Johnathan Joseph. The athletic Kayvon Webster is also an option, provided that he is ready to return from his Achilles injury.
“I think Shareece did some good things,” O’Brien said of Wright when asked about his performance against the Colts. “Obviously, like everybody else, there’s some plays that he needs to improve on, but it’s good to have a veteran presence there. He’s a little bit banged up right now and a tough guy.”
If the Texans place Colvin on IR, they’ll have the opportunity to fill his roster spot with another cornerback. Per league rules, players can return from IR after eight weeks, so that may be their best course of action here. In that scenario, Colvin would be eligible to return for the Texans’ Week 13 game against the Browns on Dec. 2.
Dolphins Work Out C Wesley Johnson
The Dolphins worked out former Jets and Lions center Wesley Johnson on Tuesday morning, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Johnson was one of seven offensive linemen to audition, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (on Twitter), and three free agent defensive tackles also took the practice field.
With center Daniel Kilgore out for an extended period, it only makes sense for the Dolphins to explore available centers. Johnson, 27, has appeared in 31 games (23 starts) with the Jets over the past two seasons. The 2014 fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt joined the Lions earlier this offseason, but he was released by the team at the end of the preseason. Since then, Johnson has worked out with the Vikings and Ravens.
For what it’s worth, the advanced metrics were not high on the Johnson last year. Last year, Johnson graded out as the second-worst qualified center in the league, per Pro Football Focus.