Stanley Doubtful for Week 11
The Dolphins season has taken a dive in recent weeks. After starting the year 4-2, the team has lost control of the final AFC Wild Card spot, losing their past three games by a combined 67 points, thanks to blowout defeats at the hands of the Ravens and Panthers. However, while their reliance on Jay Cutler and midseason trade of Jay Ajayi have’t helped, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald opines that the secondary has been one of the major reasons why the Dolphins are not in position to be playoff contenders, particularly in regards to loss of Brent Grimes when the franchise opted to cut him before the 2016 season.
- The Ravens have already lost their best offensive lineman for the year in Marshal Yanda and have another troubling injury situation unfolding regarding left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Even after a bye, the second-year lineman is doubtful to play with a concussion, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Obviously, all concussions should be taken seriously, but his absence should be a concern considering that Baltimore has really had to shakeup their protection for Joe Flacco with the injuries to Yanda and second-year guard Alex Lewis. James Hurst would likely get the start in place of Stanley, which is a significant downgrade for a team that is looking to gain momentum in securing the final AFC wild card spot over the last seven weeks of the regular season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/14/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: QB Garrett Grayson
- Waived: K Mike Meyer
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Sojourn Shelton
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: FB Ricky Ortiz
- Waived: G Jason King
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Dres Anderson
- Waived: WR KeVonn Mabon
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Rickey Hatley
- Waived: T Nick Becton, WR Amba Etta-Tawo
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Jack Tocho
- Waived: G Willie Beavers
New York Giants
- Signed: T Nick Becton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Harold Jones-Quartey
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Cameron Hunt
- Placed on injured list: OL J.P. Flynn
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Alex Carter, LB P.J. Dawson, CB Trovon Reed
- Placed on injured list: CB Akeem King
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Freddie Martino
- Waived: DE Patrick Gamble, CB David Rivers
Washington Redskins
- Waived: DE Tavaris Barnes
Ravens Release RB Bobby Rainey
Bobby Rainey‘s third tenure with the Ravens has come to an end. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun reports (via Twitter) that the team has released the veteran running back. The team has also signed offensive tackle Andrew Donnal, who was waived by the Rams last week.
After being released by the organization following the preseason, Rainey re-signed with the Ravens in early October. He proceeded to appear in four games for Baltimore, hauling in five receptions for 18 yards. He was primarily utilized on special teams, as he returned 11 kicks for 338 yards and one touchdown and a pair of punts for 22 yards. As Zrebiec notes, Rainey’s release in an indication that Michael Campanaro is set to return from a shoulder injury.
Donnal was waived by the Rams last week. The 2015 fifth-round pick had spent his entire three-year career with the organization, including a 2016 campaign where he appeared in 16 games (four starts). As Zrebiec points out, the Ravens are now restoring nine offensive lineman, and the team could look to move on from one of those players when running back Danny Woodhead is set to be activated.
Ravens Bring CB Maurice Canady Off Of IR
The Ravens announced they have activated cornerback Maurice Canady off of injured reserve. To make room on the roster, wide receiver Chris Matthews has been released. 
Canady went down with a knee issue in July, making him one of many Ravens to succumb to the injury bug. A sixth round pick in the 2016 draft, Canady looked great in this year’s spring practices and was in line to be the team’s top slot cornerback. He could work his way up to a similar role now that he is healthy. Canady has yet to record an official statistic in his four NFL games.
Matthews was added to the Ravens’ roster on Sept. 4 when Canady was first placed on IR. The 28-year-old had three catches for 25 yards in six games this season. Unfortunately, a thigh injury has sidelined him for the last two games.
With Matthews out of the picture, the Ravens have just four healthy receivers on the roster in Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin, Breshad Perriman, and Chris Moore.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/31/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Baltimore Ravens
- T Nick Callender; G Andrew Tiller (link)
Carolina Panthers
- QB Tyler Ferguson, TE Jerome Cunningham (link)
Houston Texans
- WR DeAndrew White; DTs Stefan Charles, Brandon Thompson; CBs Cody Riggs, Sojourn Shelton (Twitter links)
Indianapolis Colts
- DE Joby Saint Fleur; LBs Vontarrius Dora, Max Valles (link)
New England Patriots
- TE Gabe Holmes; LB Jayrone Elliott (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- DE Owa Odighizuwa (link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- QB Joel Stave; WR Devin Lucien; TE Beau Sandland; DE Patrick Gamble; CBs Marcus Burley, Jarnor Jones (link)
Tennessee Titans
- WR Mekale McKay (link)
Washington Redskins
- DL Jaye Howard, Cam Thomas (link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: G Jason King, T Steven Moore
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Marquavius Lewis
- Released: LB Nick Vigil
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Evan Baylis
- Released: TE Bucky Hodges
Detroit Lions
- Released: T Storm Norton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Rodney Adams
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Trevor Bates
- Released: WR Kalif Raymond
Washington Redskins
- Released: T Andreas Knappe
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/17
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from injured reserve: LB LaRoy Reynolds
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Jordan Tripp
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted to active roster: OL Maurquice Shakir
- Released: WR Griff Whalen
Buffalo Bills
- Released: RB Joe Banyard
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Don Barclay
- Waived: OL Dan Skipper
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Kendall Lamm
- Signed off Patriots‘ practice squad: DL Angelo Blackson
- Placed on injured reserve: DL Christian Covington (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from PUP: WR Rashawn Scott
- Placed on injured reserve: S Nate Allen, OL Anthony Steen
New York Giants
- Signed: DE Devin Taylor
- Placed on injured reserve: DE Nordly Capi
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Xavier Cooper
- Placed on injured reserve: TE Jordan Leggett
- Waived: DL Ed Stinson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Jordan Hicks (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from injured reserve: CB Will Redmond
Ravens’ Danny Woodhead To Come Off Of IR
Ravens running back Danny Woodhead has officially returned to practice, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The plan is for Woodhead to return from injured reserve. 
The Ravens parked Woodhead on IR in September when he was taking longer than expected to recover from a hamstring strain. With some extra time to recover, Woodhead should be able to give Baltimore’s running game a boost. As an added bonus, he’s entering the midway point of the season with fresh legs.
Woodhead signed with the Ravens on a three-year, $8.8MM deal with $4.25MM guaranteed back in March. It remains to be seen whether he can truly earn his salary given his age and injury troubles.
Woodhead missed most of last season and played in only three games for the 2014 Chargers due to injury. In 2015, however, Woodhead totaled 1,091 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns.
Redskins Sign Orlando Franklin, Arie Kouandjio
Orlando Franklin‘s Washington workout will produce a signing, with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reporting (via Twitter) the UFA offensive lineman agreed to terms with the Redskins.
Needing more offensive line help due to injuries depleting their group, the Redskins also signed Arie Kouandjio off the Ravens’ practice squad, Schefter reports.
Franklin, 29, has not played this season after the Saints released him in August but auditioned for the Redskins earlier this week. He started for six seasons leading up to this one, however, lining up as a right tackle for three years and a left guard for the previous three.
Center Spencer Long and tackle Ty Nsekhe are out for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. Trent Williams, Morgan Moses and Brandon Scherff are listed as questionable.
The brother of Cyrus Kouandjio, Arie Kouandjio spent two seasons with Washington after the franchise selected the Alabama blocker in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. He started two games at left guard for the 2016 Redskins but could not make this year’s roster. The Ravens signed the older of the two NFL Kouandjios in September and stashed him on their practice squad.
The Chargers cut Franklin after two seasons earlier this year, doing so after signing him to five-year deal in March 2015.
Joe Flacco In Concussion Protocol
Joe Flacco has entered concussion protocol, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). This comes less than 15 minutes after Kiko Alonso delivered a controversial hit to the Ravens quarterback’s head on a Flacco slide attempt.
The Ravens ruled Flacco out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.
This comes as little surprise to those watching Thursday night’s Dolphins-Ravens game, given the impact of Alonso’s penalized hit, and Ryan Mallett has taken over for Flacco. The Ravens are up 20-0, with Mallett having thrown a touchdown pass after being summoned in the red zone, but the team’s chances obviously take a hit without their starter.
Although Flacco has struggled this year, he’s been mostly durable during his 10-year career. He missed time earlier this year due to a back injury, but it didn’t cost him any regular-season time. A severe knee injury shelved him for six games in 2015, but Flacco has started every other regular-season contest since the Ravens picked him in the 2008 first round.