Donnie Jones Wants To Continue Playing
The Eagles released punter Donnie Jones from the reserve/retired list on Wednesday for a reason. The veteran requested his release in order to continue his playing career, agent Ken Harris tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
A few weeks after the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, Jones announced that he would retire after 14 seasons in the NFL. The Eagles seem prepared to move forward with Cameron Johnston, so Jones will explore his opportunities elsewhere.
Jones, who will turn 38 in July, was solid in 2017 as he ranked 15th in yards per punt average and 16th in net average. He also placed 35.1% of his punts inside of the 20-yard line.
NFL Draft Rumors: Vander Esch, Steelers, Bills
The latest NFL Draft news:
- Linked to Leighton Vander Esch for several weeks this offseason, the Steelers met with the Boise State outside linebacker on Monday night, Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst reports. Pittsburgh has used first-round picks on either inside or outside ‘backers in four of its past five drafts. Three of those players remain on the team, but only two will be able to play this season. Ryan Shazier has been declared out as he attempts to recover from his frightening spine injury. Pauline wrote in March that Vander Esch won’t get past Pittsburgh at No. 28.
- Next up for Vander Esch met the Cowboys on Wednesday morning, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. After that, he has the Cardinals and every team picking between No. 12 to No. 24, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Aside from the aforementioned clubs, the teams picking from No. 12-24 are the Bills (twice), Redskins, Packers, Ravens, Chargers, Seahawks, Lions, Bengals, Bills, Patriots, and Panthers.
- LSU pass-rusher Arden Key met with the Saints and Lions before his pro day on Wednesday and will visit with the Bengals on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Due to injuries, key only started in eight games last year, but he still finished out with 33 tackles, 5.5 for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble. He is widely projected to be a first round pick later this month.
Eagles Release Punter Donnie Jones From Reserve/Retired List
[UPDATE: Jones wants to continue his career.]
The Eagles have released punter Donnie Jones from the reserve/retired list, according to the NFL’s transactions wire. Jones decided to walk away from football following the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, but it’s worth noting that he is technically a free agent if he decides to play again. 
“After 14 seasons in the NFL, I have decided to retire so that I can spend more time with my family,” Jones said in a statement this winter. “I am grateful for all those who have supported me throughout the years. Specifically, I would like to thank Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, Doug Pederson, and the entire Eagles organization for allowing me to be a part of their family for the past five seasons. I will truly miss my teammates, coaches, friends, and the best fans in the NFL. Although I am retiring, I will always be an Eagle and will forever have a special place in my heart for the City of Philadelphia. It is a great honor to be a part of the first Super Bowl championship team in Eagles history and there is no better way to finish my career.”
Jones moved around the league since being drafted by the Seahawks late in the 2004 draft, but he had a strong career overall. After two seasons with the Dolphins, five seasons with the Rams, and one year with the Texans, he hooked on with the Eagles in 2013 and found his place in the franchise’s record books over the course of five seasons. Jones stands as the Eagles’ all-time leader in gross punting average (45.37 yards) and net average (40.5). He also owns team records for most punts inside the 20 (138), most punts inside the 20 in a single season (34, 2014), and best net punting average in a season (41.6, 2015).
With Jones out of the picture, Cameron Johnston projects to be the Eagles’ punter in 2018.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/4/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: WR Josh Bellamy (RFA)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: K/P Brett Maher
- Waived: WR Brian Brown
Detroit Lions
- Waived: QB Alek Torgersen
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: OL Jeremy Vujnovich (ERFA)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: T Roubbens Joseph
- Waived: QB Brandon Doughty
Titans Meet With Jordan Matthews
The Titans will meet with wide receiver Jordan Matthews, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Matthews previously visited with the Packers and Patriots and, at least at one point, had an offer from the Cardinals. 
The former Bills and Eagles receiver made a name for himself at Vanderbilt, which is a stone’s throw away from Nissan Stadium, so a return to Tennessee could hold appeal for him. The Titans would also give him an opportunity to shine with alongside Rishard Matthews and 2017 first-round pick Corey Davis.
From 2014-16, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns for the Eagles. Last year, however, he had only 25 catches in ten games for the Bills last year thanks to knee and ankle injuries. A one-year deal would make sense for him since he could restore his value with a big 2018.
Last year, the Titans posted the eighth-fewest receiving yards in the NFL and they’re looking to improve on that figure in the fall. With dynamic rusher Derrick Henry keeping defenses honest, that won’t be hard to do with the right personnel at wide receiver.
Steelers Re-Sign RB Stevan Ridley
Running back Stevan Ridley has re-signed with the Steelers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the veteran. 
At this point, Ridley has an extensive collection of NFL jerseys. Over the course of seven NFL seasons, he has suited up for the Patriots, Jets, Falcons, and Steelers with stops in between with the Lions, Colts, Broncos, and Vikings.
Ridley is best known for his run with the Pats, which included a stellar 2012 season. In that campaign, he amassed more than 1,200 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, injuries have slowed him down ever since.
The 29-year-old will duke it out with James Conner, Fitzgerald Toussaint, and James Summers for a spot behind star Le’Veon Bell in 2018.
Cardinals’ David Johnson Cleared By Doctors
Cardinals running back David Johnson has been given full medical clearance, according to Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). He’ll be ready for Arizona’s full slate of offseason workouts. 
[RELATED: Brice Butler Signs With Cardinals]
Johnson was arguably the league’s best offensive player in 2016 as he posted more than 2,100 yards from scrimmage and scored 20 total touchdowns. He remains one of the NFL’s premier talents at running back, but his health was a question mark this offseason after he missed the majority of the 2017 campaign.
Johnson told the media that he was fully healthy back in January, but new head coach Steve Wilks indicated at the owners’ meetings that he had yet to get the full green light from doctors. In recent days, Johnson got the go-ahead.
Johnson will now return to an offense spearheaded by a different veteran quarterback. Carson Palmer is gone and in his place is the talented, yet injury-prone, Sam Bradford. Should Bradford suffer another malady, the Cardinals have Mike Glennon as a backstop.
Contract Details: Texans, Weeden, Bills
A deeper look at some recent free agent deals:
- Quarterback Brandon Weeden‘s contract with the Texans is for one year at a rate of $880K. The deal includes $230K in guaranteed cash between $140K of his base being assured and a $90K signing bonus. Weeden has not seen the field since 2015 when he appeared in four games for Dallas and two for the Texans. The 34-year-old (35 in October) has a career 6-19 record.
- Linebacker Will Compton’s one-year deal with the Titans can be worth up to $2MM, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. The deal included a $250K signing bonus. As Keim notes, that’s a solid contract for Compton considering that shoulder and Lisfranc injuries held him back in 2017. With the Titans, he’ll have an opportunity to reassert himself and potentially start.
- The Bills’ contracts signed last week with cornerback Phillip Gaines and wide receiver/punt returner Kaelin Clay were both for one year at minimum salaries, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. Gaines is not well regarded by the advanced metrics, but he was a pivotal reserve for Kansas City from 2014-2017 and started some games last year due to Steven Nelson‘s injury.
Chiefs Sign DB Robert Golden
Robert Golden has signed with the Chiefs, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic tweets. The defensive back has been on the market ever since being released by the Steelers in March. 
The Steelers dropped Golden in order to save $1.5MM against the salary cap. For the Chiefs, he’ll serve as a cheap reinforcement in the secondary after the departures of cornerbacks Terrance Mitchell and Phillip Gaines and the possible loss of free agent Kenneth Acker. The Chiefs’ new look cornerback group will be headlined by former Redskin Kendall Fuller and February free agent pickup David Amerson. Steven Nelson, Keith Reaser, and Will Redmond are also slated to return as reserves. Meanwhile, Golden will also see some action at safety (behind starters Eric Berry and Daniel Sorensen) and special teams.
Golden, 27, spent his entire six-year career with the Steelers until he was cut last month. In 2017, Golden appeared in all 16 games, posting 11 tackles and one interception in that time.
Rams Pursued Bengals TE Tyler Eifert
Tyler Eifert is back with the Bengals, but he garnered interest elsewhere in free agency before re-signing. Eifert’s decision ultimately came down to the Bengals and the Rams, Jim Owczarski of The Enquirer reports. 
“But at the end of the day I knew where I wanted to be, which was with the Bengals,” the tight end said. “From the beginning, I told everyone that it would take something pretty special for me to leave. It would have to be an obvious decision.”
The Rams made Eifert a strong offer, but the Bengals pounced on their opportunity to match. The tight end’s new one-year deal is worth $5.5MM, but performance incentives could allow him to earn roughly $8.5MM in 2018. If Eifert plays in all 16 games, something that he has not done in his career and hasn’t come close to doing since 2015, he can add $1MM to his bank account. He can then earn an extra $3MM via receptions, receiving yards and touchdown incentives.
“I felt like I owed that to the organization, to Mr. Brown, to coach Lewis and to the fans, especially the way the first five years of my career have gone; up and down,” Eifert said of rejecting L.A.’s overtures. “I felt like (I had to) to keep them in the loop. I knew that’s where I wanted to be, so I’m happy about that.”
Eifert would have been a risky, but potentially rewarding, addition for the Rams. Of course, L.A. is not lacking for star power after adding notables like Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, and, most recently, wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Tight end remains a need for L.A., but they can find support for current depth chart topper Tyler Higbee in the draft later this month.