Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed: OT Adam Bisnowaty (from Lions)
- Placed on injured reserve: CB Ross Cockrell (story)
Detroit Lions
- Signed CB Josh Okonye
- Waived: CB Amari Coleman
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Michael Dunn, TE DeAndre Goolsby
- Waived/injured: OL Brandon Thomas
- Waived: LS Andrew East
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Otha Peters
- Waived: WR Ashton Lampkin
New Orleans Saints
- Waived/injured: WR Eldridge Massington, WR Josh Smith
New York Giants
- Claimed: OL Victor Salako (from Browns)
Tennessee Titans
- Retired: OL John Theus
Patriots Release WR Jordan Matthews
The Patriots announced that they’ve released wide receiver Jordan Matthews and signed fullback Henry Poggi. Although Field Yates of ESPN.com tweeted New England would placed Matthews on injured reserve, it appears the Patriots have simply cut the wideout.
The Pats signed Matthews to a one-year deal worth $1MM back in April. However, the pact was only partially guaranteed, so the Patriots won’t be left on the hook for much. Matthews collected on his $80K signing bonus, $130K offseason workout bonus, and $90K of his base salary, so he leaves New England with $300K altogether.
Matthews was also held back by injuries in 2017, so this is an unfortunate setback for the wide receiver. Prior to that, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns per season for the Eagles from 2014-16.
The release of Matthews leaves the Patriots a bit thin at wide receiver. They’ll be without Julian Edelman for the first four games of the season and the availability of Kenny Britt and Malcolm Mitchell is in question as they deal with ailments of their own. These issues could help to explain the team’s recent interest in free agent Eric Decker.
Redskins Notes: Smith, Thompson
Linebacker Preston Smith is slated to be a free agent after the season, but the Redskins have yet to approach him about a new deal (Twitter link via John Keim of ESPN.com). The Redskins have hammered out pre-season extensions with key players in the past such as Trent Williams, Ryan Kerrigan, and Jordan Reed, but Smith is still waiting on that call. For what it’s worth, Smith says he’s staying patient.
“You play good; they’re going to pay good,” said Smith, who matched a career-high with eight sacks last season.
If Smith is not signed to a new deal and can offer a repeat performance, he could be in store for riches in March. For now, the former second-round pick is set to play out the final year of his contract as he earns a modest $1.2MM base salary.
Here’s more from D.C.:
- Redskins running back Chris Thompson says he likely won’t be fully recovered from his broken fibula until November (Twitter link via Keim). Thompson has had a handful of surgeries in his career, but he says that this has been his most challenging recovery to date. Thompson suffered the broken leg last November, so he’s looking at a full year before being back to 100%. It’s a frustrating situation for Thompson, who was in the midst of a breakout campaign before being sidelined in 2017. Heading into Week 11, Thompson had posted 771 yards from scrimmage, a total that had already topped his previous career high, and was averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He was even more effective in the passing game, where he recorded 38 receptions for 494 yards.
- Recently, the Redskins extended the contract of backup quarterback Colt McCoy.
- On Wednesday, the Redskins added linebacker/defensive end Dadi Nicolas to the roster.
Seahawks Sign G J.R. Sweezy
The Seahawks have signed guard J.R. Sweezy, according to a team announcement. To make room, the club waived guard Avery Young with an injury designation. 
The deal brings Sweezy back to the team that drafted him six years ago. A seventh-round pick out of N.C. State in 2012, Sweezy spent his first four seasons in Seattle before signing with the Bucs as a free agent in 2016. That deal was terminated this summer after two injury-plagued seasons with Tampa Bay.
The 29-year-old guard started all 14 games he played for the Bucs last season, though he was less than 100% healthy. Pro Football Focus rated Sweezy as its No. 53 guard in 2017.
The Seahawks can use all the help they can get on the offensive line, so it makes sense for them to kick the tires on Sweezy and see where he stands in his rehab from a broken leg. For now, the Seahawks project to start 2017 second-round pick Ethan Pocic and free agent pickup D.J. Fluker at the guard positions.
Colts OL Jack Mewhort Retires
Colts guard/tackle Jack Mewhort has retired from the NFL, according to an announcement from the team. Mewhort was set to enter his age-27 season, but has decided to hang up his cleats instead. 
“I would like to thank the Irsay family and the entire Colts organization for giving me the opportunity to live a childhood dream,” Mewhort said in a statement.
Mewhort entered the league as a second-round pick of the Colts in 2014. Mewhort has been a starter for the Colts throughout his career, but he has been seriously hampered by knee problems as of late.
Mewhort’s season ended in October thanks to a knee injury, marking his second straight incomplete campaign. Over the last two years, Mewhort has missed 17 games out of a possible 32.
Despite his health issues, the Colts re-signed Mewhort to a one-year, $1.5MM deal in March that could have been worth up to $3MM with incentives. However, the Colts did not bank on his health as they added guards Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith in the first two rounds of the draft. The club also has new interior lineman Matt Slauson in the mix for depth, so they won’t necessarily have to go shopping for offensive line health.
Redskins Sign LB/DE Dadi Nicolas
The Redskins have signed linebacker/defensive end Dadi Nicolas, according to a team announcement. To make room, the team has waived offensive lineman Alex Balducci. 
Nicolas, 26 in September, joined the Chiefs as a sixth-round pick in 2016, and the Chiefs soon announced their intention to move him from defensive end to linebacker. The position switch never quite off the ground, however, as Nicolas appeared sparingly in eleven games during his rookie campaign before a ruptured patellar ended his season. He hasn’t seen the field since.
The Chiefs actually completed a trade involving Nicolas earlier this year, sending him to the Browns in exchange for tight end Randall Telfer. That deal was later voided, however, and though no specific reason was given, failed physicals are known to regularly cancel transactions. Kansas City subsequently waived him, leading him to the Seahawks in May. However, he was released one month later.
At 6″3, 225 pounds, Nicolas could see time at either linebacker or defensive end for the Redskins, if he makes the roster. The Redskins edge rushing crew is headlined by Matthew Ioannidis, Jonathan Allen, Ryan Kerrigan, and Preston Smith. Nicolas will fight for a spot in reserve, alongside new outside linebacker Pernell McPhee.
Buccaneers Extend GM Jason Licht
The Buccaneers have given Jason Licht an extension, but it’s not a lengthy one. Only one year has been added to Licht’s deal, keeping him in place through 2019, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The news was first reported by Ira Kaufman of JoeBucsFan.com. 
The Buccaneers signed Licht to a four-year deal in 2014 which included a fifth-year option. The Bucs picked up Licht’s option last year, leaving him with lame duck status. He has some additional security now, but not much more.
Under Licht, the Bucs have been unable to snap their playoff drought, which dates back to 2007. In four years, the Bucs have gone through two head coaches and have managed only one winning season, so ownership is understandably wary about committing to Licht in the long run.
It may take a playoff berth this year for Licht to keep his job, but that’s a tall task given the level of competition in the NFC South and Jameis Winston’s three-game ban to start the year. Las Vegas oddsmakers indicate that Dirk Koetter‘s seat is among the hottest of any NFL coach and, logically, the same should go for the man staffing the team.
Packers’ Jake Ryan Done For Season
Jake Ryan‘s season is over. The Packers linebacker has been ruled out for the year with a torn ACL, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The team will place him on injured reserve this week in order to open up a spot on the roster. 
The injury is devastating for the Packers, Ryan, and Ryan’s long-term prospects. The Packers were expecting a big season out of Ryan after he excelled in 506 snaps last season. While he didn’t have a gaudy stat line, he finished out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 19 overall ranked linebacker last year.
Meanwhile, Ryan is entering his walk year. With another big season, Ryan would have positioned himself for a lucrative new multi-year deal from the Packers or a rival team. His next pay day is extremely uncertain at this time, though he has enough time to recover from his setback and cash in, similar to Allen Robinson this offseason.
Ryan has started 27 games for Green Bay since his rookie season. Without Ryan, third-round rookie Oren Burks could be thrust into action alongside Blake Martinez. The Packers may also lean on rookie UDFA Greer Martini, who has looked sharp in practice.
After earning a base salary of $1.9MM this year, the former fourth-round pick will be eligible to hit the open market.
No Progress For Bears, Roquan Smith
The Bears and Roquan Smith are at a “stalemate,” head coach Matt Nagy says. The lack of progress is likely frustrating for Nagy & Co. as Smith has yet to report to camp. 
“It is at a stalemate, but at the same time I’m not going to get into any more of where it’s at publicly. I don’t think it’s fair to him, I don’t think it’s fair to his agent, I don’t think it’s fair to our organization. We’re going to keep it between us and I think that’s the best thing to do right now,” Nagy said (via Mark Potash of the Sun Times).
The main holdup in talks may be related to the forfeiture of guarantees in the event of a suspension. This year, the league has introduced a new rule this offseason that could result in players getting suspended for lowering their helmets on hits. If the league starts handing out suspensions en masse, Smith’s agents do not want him to lose his financial security.
Meanwhile, one report says the real issue is language that allows the team to void guarantees for many different reasons, including team-imposed discipline. Whatever the holdup is, it’s becoming an problem.
Only four first-round picks have held out in the last five years. Under the current CBA, Smith’s holdout is the second-longest behind Joey Bosa’s 31-day holdout with the Chargers in 2016. The good news for the Bears is this – Bosa was stellar despite missing practices and went on to win the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year trophy.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/18
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OT Jamar McGloster
- Waived: OL Adam Bisnowaty
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Otha Peters
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Kendal Thompson
- Waived/Injured: WR Aaron Lacombe
New England Patriots
- Waived/Injured: TE/FB Shane Wimann
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Wes Saxton
- Waived: CB C.J. Goodwin