Bears Place Brian Hoyer On IR
The Bears have placed quarterback Brian Hoyer on injured reserve, promoted offensive lineman Cornelius Edison from their practice squad and claimed tight end Daniel Brown off waivers from the Ravens, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links).
Hoyer left the Bears’ 26-10 loss to Green Bay on Thursday with a broken left arm and underwent surgery Sunday. The journeyman originally entered the Bears’ lineup when Jay Cutler went down with a sprained thumb in Week 2. Hoyer impressed in Cutler’s absence, completing more than 68 percent of his passes for 1,396 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. His placement on IR means he won’t be eligible to come back until Week 16.
Fortunately for the Hoyer-less Bears, Cutler will be ready for their Week 8 tilt against the NFC North rival Vikings, head coach John Fox said Monday.
Brown appeared in two of the Ravens’ games this year and failed to register any receptions. As a rookie last season, he totaled six grabs in as many games. He’ll now join a Chicago tight end group that includes Zach Miller, Logan Paulsen and Ben Braunecker.
Ravens Activate Lorenzo Taliaferro, Place Kendrick Lewis on IR
It’s time to add another name to the Ravens’ continually rolling list of running backs. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the Ravens will be activating running back Lorenzo Taliaferro from the PUP list. Zrebiec notes that the team has also promoted cornerback Robertson Daniel from the practice squad. Safety Kendrick Lewis has been placed on the injured reserve, while tight end Dan Brown has been waived.
Taliaferro, 24, has had issues staying healthy since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2014. The Coastal Carolina product has made 16 appearances over two seasons, running for 339 yards and five touchdowns on 81 carries (4.2 average). Taliaferro also has 13 career receptions for 114 yards. He’ll presumably compete with Terrance West, Kenneth Dixon and Javorius Allen for snaps in the backfield.
Lewis will certainly be missed in the Ravens secondary, although the 28-year-old hasn’t played a significant role this season. After starting 15 games for Baltimore in 2015, Lewis had only collected six tackles this season. The team will be replacing the veteran with Daniel, who has also spent time with the Redskins, Raiders, and Packers. The cornerback was signed to the Ravens’ practice squad earlier this month.
Brown, a former undrafted free agent, had issues establishing himself on a team that also features tight ends Dennis Pitta, Crockett Gillmore, and Darren Waller. In eight career games, the 24-year-old has six receptions for 64 yards.
Ravens Notes: Flacco, Roster Moves
The Ravens announced that quarterback Joe Flacco was back at practice today. It’s a positive step forward for the QB after he was diagnosed with irritation in the joint of his throwing shoulder and missed practice earlier in the week. Still, it’s not clear whether he will play on Sunday against the Jets. If he can’t go, Ryan Mallett will get the start and the Ravens will likely look to sign another QB to back him up. David Fales, currently on Baltimore’s practice squad, would be the obvious candidate.
- Given the health issues on their roster, the Ravens should be expected to make at least one transaction before Sunday’s game against the Jets, argues Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro is one option to be promoted to the active roster thanks to his special teams prowess, per Zriebec, while corners Asa Jackson and Robertson Daniel also stand a chance to be signed since the Ravens are dealing injuries to their defensive backfield.
Joe Flacco Could Miss Week 7
Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has irritation in the joint of his throwing shoulder and was withheld from practice Wednesday to try to improve the situation, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s not immediately clear whether Flacco will be ready to play against the Jets on Sunday, though head coach John Harbaugh believes he has a “legitimate chance” (via Marc Sessler of NFL.com). If Flacco can’t go, Baltimore will probably look to add a quarterback to place behind Ryan Mallett. The Ravens don’t have any QBs on their practice squad.
AFC Workout Notes: Colts, Chiefs, Ravens, Pats
Free agent receiver Aaron Dobson visited the Colts on Tuesday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link). Dobson has worked out for several teams and had multiple stints with the Lions since the Patriots cut him Sept. 3. The three-year veteran has 53 receptions and four touchdowns in 24 games (13 starts).
The Colts also worked out running back David Cobb (Twitter link). The former Titan has tried out for a bevy of clubs since Tennessee cut him in August. Cobb briefly caught on with the Steelers, who waived him from their practice squad last week.
Along with Dobson and Cobb, receiver Marcus Leak, tight ends Alex Bayer and Darion Griswold, and linebackers Trevor Reilly and James Vaughters tried out with the Colts, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today.
More workouts from the AFC (courtesy of Caplan, unless otherwise noted):
- In addition to defensive end Kendall Reyes, whom they signed, the Chiefs tried out fellow DE Lynden Trail on Tuesday, according to Nick Underhill of the Advocate (Twitter link). Joining them were linebackers Deion Barnes, Randell Johnson, and Kyle Kragen.
- Veteran offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds worked out for the Ravens on Tuesday (Twitter link). Reynolds has been on the radar of a few teams since Los Angeles released him prior to Week 1. The 29-year-old has 42 appearances and 23 starts on his resume.
- The Patriots tried out out two offensive tackles – Ryan Mack and Pearce Slater – as well as defensive end Jordan Williams, reports Doug Kyed of NESN (via Twitter).
- Along with linebacker Quentin Gaus and tight end Steven Scheu, both of whom joined their practice squad, the Broncos worked out linebackers Lenny Jones, J.R. Tavai and Kyrie Wilson; defensive ends Deonte Gibson, Ian Seau and Josh Shirley; and safety Elijah Shumate (Twitter links via Balzer).
- The Texans worked out safety Don Jones and a pair of cornerbacks, Denzel Rice and Charles Gaines (Twitter link).
- Running back Mekale McKay and Jhurell Pressley tried out for the Jets, according to Balzer (Twitter link).
- Three tight ends – Kivon Cartwright, Tim Semisch and Gannon Sinclair – worked out for the Titans, tweets Balzer.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/18/16
Tuesday’s practice squad transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB/KR Asa Jackson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Darius Hillary, WR Jordan Leslie
- Cut: E.J. Bibbs
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Quentin Gause, TE Steven Scheu (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post)
- Cut: WR Mose Frazier, LB Richard Cliett
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Marcus Leak, CB Frankie Williams
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
- Cut: OL Ian Silberman
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Royce LaFrance (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Advocate)
New York Giants
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
- Cut: DB Doran Grant
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Don Cherry
- Cut: G Darrell Greene
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR DeAndre Smelter
- Cut: WR Dres Anderson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
- Cut: DE Sterling Bailey
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
Broncos Claim OL Billy Turner
Billy Turner has a new team once again. The Broncos have claimed the veteran offensive lineman off waivers from the Ravens, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. 
The Dolphins waived the soon-to-be 25-year-old last Tuesday after failing to find a trade for him. The Ravens picked him up, but they subsequently waived him over the weekend so that they could promote an inside linebacker off of the practice squad.
A 2014 third-round pick, Turner made 20 appearances and 14 starts during two-plus years with the Dolphins. Through five games and two starts this season, Pro Football Focus rated Turner as the second-worst tackle in the NFL among 76 qualifiers. He earned a poor overall grade of 31.8 in 63 pass block snaps and 34 run block snaps.
Turner did not get to take the field for the Ravens but he hopes to break in his new uniform on Monday night when the Broncos face the Texans at home.
Terrell Suggs Suffers Torn Biceps
Terrell Suggs will have a similar decision to make after sustaining a second biceps tear in four years. The Ravens’ 14th-year pass-rusher suffered a torn left biceps during his team’s loss to the Giants today, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports.
Now 34, Suggs will need to decide whether to play through this malady or undergo surgery. When he sustained a right biceps tear in 2012, the former first-round pick opted to keep playing. He played in all four of Baltimore’s playoff games after sustaining the tear in December of that year and helped the Ravens claim their second Super Bowl championship.
The cornerstone Ravens linebacker wants to keep playing, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The six-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro is coming off a 2015 season in which he played one game due to tearing his Achilles’ tendon in Week 1. He didn’t return until this preseason but has started all six games for the Ravens in 2016. Suggs also suffered an Achilles tear in 2012 before returning for that season’s second half.
Suggs has enjoyed a standout season from a pass-rushing perspective despite the myriad injuries in his rear-view mirror. He picked up his fifth sack of the season today and made five solo tackles (two for loss) in the Ravens’ 27-23 loss. The five sacks tie Suggs for sixth in the league. Each of the other eight players who have registered at least five sacks this season are at least three years younger than Suggs. Should he reach 10 sacks this season, it would mark the seventh time he will have hit double digits in a season.
Ravens Waive Billy Turner
The Ravens have waived offensive lineman Billy Turner and promoted inside linebacker Patrick Onwuasor to take his roster spot, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links).
Two teams have now cut Turner this week. The Dolphins waived the soon-to-be 25-year-old on Tuesday after failing to find a taker via trade for him, leading the Ravens to claim him Wednesday. A 2014 third-round pick, Turner amassed 20 appearances and 14 starts during two-plus years in Miami. Through five games and two starts this season, Pro Football Focus rates Turner as the second-worst tackle in the NFL among 76 qualifiers.
Onwuasor signed with the Ravens in May as an undrafted free agent from Portland State. He’ll now make his pro debut as primarily a special teamer, per Zrebiec. Football Outsiders ranks Baltimore’s special teams unit a below-average 20th in the league.
Pitta: Ravens' Offense "Needed" OC Change
- Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta endorsed the Monday firing of offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, saying Wednesday, “Marc Trestman is a great guy, a great coach. It was difficult to see him go, but I think it was something that this offense needed” (via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun). Although injuries limited Pitta to just seven of 48 regular-season games from 2013-15, he bounced back this year under Trestman to catch 28 passes on 37 targets. As a whole, though, the Ravens’ offense ranks 18th in yardage, 22nd in scoring and 27th in DVOA. The unit will try to better its production under Marty Mornhinweg, whom Ravens players “have a lot of faith in,” Pitta added.