Patriots Sign CB Cyrus Jones
The Patriots signed cornerback Cyrus Jones off the Ravens practice squad, a source tells Jeff Howe of The Athletic (on Twitter). To make room for their 2016 second-round pick, the Pats released running back Kenjon Barner. It’s a two-year deal for Jones, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter), so the youngster can be controlled through the 2019 season. 
Jones was released earlier this month during the Pats’ final roster cuts, but it wasn’t an easy call for New England. Now that he’s back in the fold, he figures to handle return punt returns while also seeing some reps at cornerback.
As a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2016, Jones saw time on special teams as a kick and punt returner. Last year, however, a torn ACL and partially torn meniscus cost him the season.
Barner, 28, was expected to handle some return work for the Pats when he was signed last week. The former Eagles running back will now look to hook on elsewhere.
Eagles Sign Jordan Matthews
The Eagles reunited with wide receiver Jordan Matthews, according to a team announcement. To make room, the Eagles have placed veteran Mike Wallace on IR. 
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Matthews worked out for the Eagles on Tuesday – his first audition since the Patriots released him in August. Although he was not productive with Buffalo last year, the Eagles have seen what Matthews can do when he is fully healthy and in the right system. He enjoyed three 800-plus-yard seasons with Philly, two in Chip Kelly’s offense and the third — a 73-reception, 804-yard campaign in 2016 — under Doug Pederson. His totals in 2016 were a close second to Zach Ertz among Eagles receivers.
Wallace, meanwhile, suffered a broken fibula last week. The injury is not necessarily a season-ender, so he could be a candidate to return from IR in eight weeks or more.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/18/18
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: WR Julian Williams
Arizona Cardinals
- Cut: DT Garrison Smith
Buffalo Bills
- Signed from practice squad: CB Ryan Lewis
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: S Tyree Robinson
Detroit Lions
- Waived: OL Jamil Demby
- Waived from injured reserve: S Marcus Cromartie
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: S Isaiah Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: WR Stacy Coley
Oakland Raiders
- Signed from practice squad: LB Shilique Calhoun
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed from practice squad: RB Josh Adams
- Waived: WR DeAndre Carter
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
- Signed from practice squad: RB Dalyn Dawkins
- Waived: LB Aaron Wallace
Falcons G Andy Levitre Done For Year
The Falcons have placed Andy Levitre on injured reserve, according to a team announcement. Although league rules allow players to return from IR, this will be a season-ender for the starting left guard. 
“After receiving the tests results on Andy’s injury from Sunday’s game, it has been determined that he will miss the remainder of the season with a triceps injury,” said Falcons coach Dan Quinn in a statement. “Andy worked extremely hard to get back on the field after a similar injury last year, and there is no doubt his leadership will continue to be felt this year. We have a ton of respect for Andy and what he stands for, and what he means to our team.”
The injury forced Levitre out of the team’s Week 2 win over the Panthers and tests later confirmed the club’s worst fears. The 32-year-old will be out of action until at least next September and one can’t help but wonder whether he’ll consider retirement in the offseason.
To take Levitre’s place on the roster, the Falcons have signed guard Zac Kerin. Kerin, 27, has spent time with the Vikings, Lions and Giants and played in 16 games over his four-year career.
Wes Schweitzer replaced Levitre in Week 2 and figures to take over for him in the starting lineup.
Bengals Sign K Randy Bullock To Extension
The Bengals signed kicker Randy Bullock to a two-year contract extension, according to a team announcement. Bullock was slated to hit free agency after the 2018 season, but the new deal will keep Bullock in the fold through the 2020 campaign. The new deal will give him $4.205MM in new money, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Bullock, 28, nailed 18 of 20 field goal attempts and 31 of 33 extra point tries last year. He’s off to a hot start this year as well, having connected on all four of his field goal tries and all eight of his XPs. On Thursday night, he iced 28-yard and 40-yard field goal tries in the fourth quarter to pad the Bengals’ lead in their win over the Ravens.
The veteran will earn $790K in 2018 before his new add-on kicks in. Bullock and the Bengals will look to stay undefeated when they take on the 1-1 Panthers on Sunday.
Giants Sign Elijhaa Penny
The Giants are signing fullback Elijhaa Penny off the Cardinals’ practice squad, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move comes after Giants fullback Shane Smith struggled badly on Sunday night, so Smith’s time with the G-Men could be coming to an end. 
Penny, a 25-year-old running back/fullback, appeared in all 16 games for Arizona last year. He finished out with 31 carries for 124 yards (a 4.0 yards-per-carry average in a small sample) and added four catches for 38 yards. Penny did not make the Cardinals’ final cut this year, but he was signed to their practice squad after clearing waivers.
The Giants fell to 0-2 after losing to the Cowboys on Sunday. They’ll look to get into the win column this weekend when they face the Texans in Houston.
Rams Waive QB Brandon Allen
The Rams are waiving quarterback Brandon Allen, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Allen is a practice squad candidate for L.A. if he clears waivers, Pelissero adds.
The Rams would like to keep Allen under club control via the taxi squad, but that might not be an options. When Allen was waived by the Jaguars last September, three clubs put in claims on the QB, including the Redskins.
Allen spent all of 2017 on the Rams’ active roster after arriving in September, but the2016 sixth-round pick has yet to throw an NFL pass. After parting ways with Allen, the Rams are left with Jared Goff and Sean Mannion as their only active-roster quarterbacks.
Raiders Waive DT Brian Price
The Raiders are waiving defensive tackle Brian Price, a source tells Michael Gehlken of the Review Journal (on Twitter). Price was claimed off waivers from the Cowboys just a couple of weeks ago, but he has been displaced by the recent additions of Johnathan Hankins and Clinton McDonald. 
Price started on Sunday against the Broncos, but saw time on only 17 snaps. With accomplished veterans Hankins and McDonald in the fold, his release does not come as a shock.
Price went undrafted in 2016, but that was due largely to red flags, including the time he threw an official to the ground in college. Last year, he appeared in eight games for the Cowboys before being placed on IR.
The 24-year-old will likely find a new opportunity elsewhere and may be claimed on waivers by Wednesday afternoon.
Vikings To Sign DT Tom Johnson
Late last week, the Seahawks released defensive tackle Tom Johnson in order to free up a roster spot. The plan was to re-sign him this week, but the Vikings have spoiled their plans. 
The Vikings have agreed to bring Johnson back to Minnesota, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). When finalized, it’ll be a one-year deal with a base of $1MM that can be worth up to $1.5MM, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. In conjunction with the $1.865MM that he already earned from the Seahawks, he has the potential to earn more than $3MM this year.
The 34-year-old spent four years with the Vikings before inking a one-year deal with Seattle in March. Johnson played in at least 40% of the team’s defensive snaps in each campaign and saw a career-high 68% playing time last season.
Pro Football Focus graded the veteran as roughly a league-average defensive tackle in 2017, as he ranked 60th among 122 qualifying interior defenders. He finished out with just 17 tackles and two sacks, but the stats did not reflect his total value to the Vikings’ defense.
The Seahawks did not want to lose Johnson, but they were in a pinch following an injury to safety Delano Hill. Seattle signed Shalom Luani for depth, but he did not play in Monday night’s contest against the Bears.
Agent: Brown Has Not Asked For Trade
On Tuesday morning, Mike Tomlin told reporters that Antonio Brown has not asked to be traded from the Steelers. Now, Brown’s agent has confirmed that the wide receiver is not looking to leave Pittsburgh. 
“The tweet [on Monday] was not in reference to anything other than Antonio responding to a person he knows. It was not directed towards a trade, or wanting to be trading. Any idea he was asking for a trade is not accurate,” agent Drew Rosenhaus said in a statement to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter links).
Rosenhaus went on to explain that Brown’s surprising absence from Monday’s practice was not tied to any sort of dissatisfaction with the club.
“Antonio had a personal matter. I talked to the team about it. His issue was unrelated to the tweet or his relationship with the team. Third, AB has an incredible drive to win. He just wants to win. That’s all that that is,” Rosenhaus said. “That’s not anything more than him encouraging his coaches and teammates to win. And that’s what his entire focus is on. Any notion, any speculation otherwise, can be put to bed. This is a non-story that has been blown out of proportion. We can end this right here and now.”
Brown was visibly upset with Steelers coaches during Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, but it sounds like both sides are committed to smoothing things out. Brown is slated to talk with Tomlin on Tuesday and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Wednesday to clear the air. Then, on Monday, Brown and the Steelers will look to capture their first win of the season against the Buccaneers.