Browns Notes: RG3, McCown, Thomas, West
While Robert Griffin III‘s shoulder injury serves as a significant detriment to his hopes at resurrecting his once-promising career, some with the Browns don’t view it as too damaging to their current team. With Hue Jackson focused on reprogramming Griffin into an above-average quarterback, some Browns staffers view the injury as something that can help the franchise move on and begin assessing its future at the position, Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com report.
Browns sources told the veteran reporters third-round pick Cody Kessler is “not close” to being ready to debut, and expectations for the USC product aren’t particularly high. So, as 37-year-old Josh McCown prepares to return to the starting lineup, the team will continue to scout for its future. Should Kessler make a start this season, he’ll be the franchise’s 26th starting quarterback since its 1999 rebirth. That total leads the league.
Interestingly, the new regime’s last such scouting job revealed a dislike for two of the league’s hot-starting passers, Carson Wentz and Dak Prescott, while Cleveland’s new decision-makers liked Griffin, Kessler and Jared Goff, per Schefter and Mortensen.
Here’s more from Cleveland as its football team prepares to play the old Browns in Week 2.
- McCown offered a reasonable plea, per Schefter and Mortensen, against the notion the Browns should tank for 2017 this season. The veteran quarterback and second-year Brown believed the team owed it to veterans like Joe Thomas to make a legitimate effort to compete in 2016.
- Thomas, meanwhile, did not push the Browns to trade him to the Broncos last season due to the loyalty they showed him since making him the No. 3 overall pick in 2007, the ESPN duo reports. The six-time All-Pro’s name could well resurface on the trade block this season if the Browns perform as they’re expected to, especially since so few veterans are going to play for them this season.
- Speaking of trades, former Browns running back Terrance West asked the team to be traded before last season, West said on the BmoreOpinionated podcast (via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal). The Browns’ previous regime did end up trading West to the Titans, although it’s not known if it came as a result of the running back’s request. The current Ravens ball-carrier believes he’d still be with the Browns if he hadn’t asked to be dealt. “I think if I didn’t call for a trade, I would be still in Cleveland right now,” West said. “I was the leading rusher that year. I was the leading rusher in that preseason. I called for a trade. I didn’t think that was home for me.” West, though, saw the Titans cut him after he made only 16 rushing attempts last season. Ulrich writes attitude problems and shaky practice habits marred the former third-round pick’s time in Cleveland. He’s set to play a bigger role this season, as evidenced by the Ravens giving him 14 touches in Week 1. West rushed for 673 yards as a rookie to lead the Browns as a rookie in 2014, ahead of current starter Isaiah Crowell‘s 607.
- While Jackson’s initial effort in northeast Ohio isn’t expected to go well, the first-year coach made some bold proclamations about the franchise’s future.
PFR’s Impact Rookies Series
All summer long, longtime scouting consultant Dave-Te Thomas of The NFL Draft Report has been breaking down the draft class of every team in the league and identifying the players that can immediately make a difference. The Impact Rookies series, which wrapped up today with a look at the Seahawks, provides unique insight to this year’s NFL freshman class from a veteran guru who worked closely with several teams around the league leading up to the draft.
Here is the full rundown of the Impact Rookies series:
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
Ravens Reach Settlement With Michael Campanaro
- The Ravens also released wide receiver Michael Campanaro with an injury settlement, but they expect to re-sign him for the second half of the season, tweets Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun.
Details On Devin Hester's Contract
- Receiver/returner Devin Hester‘s contract with the Ravens is for one year and $1.1MM, including $100k fully guaranteed, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/6/16
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Aaron Murray, QB Zac Dysert (team announcement)
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Nick Williams (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), DL Joe Vellano (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com)
- Cut: DT Joey Mbu (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB David Fales (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com), G Jarell Broxton (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun)
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Carlos Fields, DB Damian Parms (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Jeremiah George, T Keavon Milton (Twitter link via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News)
- Cut: DE Ryan Russell, LB Deon King
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Brandon Dunn, OL Joseph Cheek (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: ILB Ramik Wilson, G Jordan Devey, CB Julian Wilson, CB Terrance Mitchell (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Cut: LB Tyrell Adams, C Daniel Munyer, S Shak Randolph, S Brock Vereen (link via Paylor)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Carter Bykowski (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press)
- Cut: CB Tre Roberson
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Mike Hilton (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN), S Vinnie Sunseri (Twitter link via Kyed)
New York Jets
- Signed: RB/KR Raheem Mostert (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler), CB Dexter McDougle, S Ronald Martin, and RB Dominique Williams (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
New Orleans Saints
- Cut: LB Tony Steward (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Takoby Cofield
Tennessee Titans:
- Signed: WR Tre McBride (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com)
- Cut: WR Ben Roberts
Ravens Re-Sign Justin Forsett
TUESDAY, 9:57am: Forsett’s new deal is a two-year pact worth $6MM, identical to what he had remaining on his old deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. On top of that, Forsett will earn a $100K bonus if eclipses his modest 2015 rushing yard total of 641 yards.
MONDAY, 11:39am: It didn’t take long for Justin Forsett to land back in Baltimore. CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora tweets that the veteran running back has agreed to re-sign with the Ravens. CSN’s Clifton Brown tweets that Forsett will be at practice on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old was released by the team on Saturday, although reports immediately indicated that he’d likely return to the Ravens. There seemed to have been some prearranged agreement between the two sides. The Ravens cleared at least $3MM in cap (not including the $700K in dead money) be releasing Forsett this weekend.
Following a 2014 season that saw him set career-highs in rushing yards (1,266), rushing touchdowns (eight) and receptions (44), Forsett came back down to earth in 2015. The veteran appeared in only ten games, compiling 641 yards on 155 carries. Still, Forsett managed to average 4.2-yards-per-carry, solid numbers for a veteran running back.
Without Forsett, the Ravens would have been forced to rely on Terrance West and Javorius Allen. Rookie Kenneth Dixon is also in the picture, although the fourth-rounder is currently battling a knee injury.
David Fales Visited Ravens
- Quarterback David Fales visited the Ravens on Monday, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley). Fales spent the first two years of his career in Chicago after it selected him in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. The former San Jose State signal-caller worked under then-head coach Marc Trestman as a rookie. Trestman is now the Ravens’ offensive coordinator.
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC North
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Brennen Beyer (Link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun)
- WR Keenan Reynolds
- TE Daniel Brown (link via Zrebiec)
- C Matt Skura (link via Zrebiec)
- OT Blaine Clausell (link via Zrebiec)
- DE Kapron Lewis-Moore (link via Zrebiec)
- RB Stephen Houston (link via Zrebiec)
- QB David Fales (Link via Zrebiec)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed:
- QB Jeff Driskel (Link via Adam Schefter)
- Waived:
- LB P.J. Dawson
- Placed on IR:
- Signed:
- CB Chykie Brown
- OL Trey Hopkins
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE Ryan Brown
- RB Tra Carson (Link via Jim Owczarski of the Enquirer)
- DT David Dean
- CB Darius Hillary
- WR Jake Kumerow (Link via Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com)
- TE Matt Lengel
- CB Tony McRae
- G Alex Redmond
- WR Alonzo Russell
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed:
- RB George Atkinson
- DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
- DB Marcus Burley
- DE Tyrone Holmes
- LB Corey Lemonier (Link via Florio)
- Waived/released:
- DB Trey Caldwell
- LB Cam Johnson
- RB Raheem Mostert
- RB Terrell Watson
- DB Rahim Moore
- Signed to practice squad:
- Connor Hamlett (Link via Nate Ulrich of The Akron Beacon Journal)
- OL Dan France
- WR Darius Jennings
- OL Kaleb Johnson
- QB Kevin Hogan (Link via Ian Rapoport)
- DT Gabe Wright (Link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com)
- OL Anthony Fabiano (Link via Cabot)
- DB Ed Reynolds (Link via Cabot)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR:
- LB Bud Dupree (story)
- Signed:
- LB Steven Johnson (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- DL Johnny Maxey (link via Aaron Wilson)
- OLB Travis Feeney (link via Jeremy Fowler)
- RB Brandon Brown-Dukes
- RB Cameron Stingily
- WR Demarcus Ayers
- WR Cobi Hamilton
- TE Rashaun Allen
- OT Matt Feiler
- DE Caushaud Lyons
- CB Al-Hajj Shabazz
Ravens To Sign Devin Hester
6:05pm: The Ravens have officially announced the move (via Twitter). The team hasn’t announced a corresponding roster move.
Meanwhile, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the one-year deal carries a max value of $4MM based on incentives.
9:30am: The Ravens have agreed to sign Devin Hester, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’ll be a one-year deal for the veteran kick returner. 
Hester joined the Falcons prior to the 2014 season and enjoyed his fourth Pro Bowl berth – his first since 2010. Hester returned 45 kicks for 1,128 yards and 18 punts for 240 yards, showing that he was still dangerous in the return game. This offseason, he was cut loose by Atlanta. It remains to be seen whether Hester can build on his NFL record in return touchdowns (20) and punt return touchdowns (14).
The Ravens had other options in the return game heading into the offseason, but they’ve since cut ties with nearly all of them. Wide receivers Jeremy Butler, Michael Campanaro, and Keenan Reynolds all were thought to be contenders for the returner job in Baltimore, but the club waived all three over the weekend, likely with an eye towards adding Hester.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Justin Forsett Likely To Return To Ravens
Justin Forsett was cut loose by the Ravens on Saturday, but his release came without the kind of fanfare you’d expect from the club given Forsett’s starting role and his presence as a team leader. Immediately, speculation began that Forsett would return to the Ravens on a new deal. Indeed, that is what is likely to happen today, according to a source who spoke with Mike Florio of PFT. 
It sounds like there was an unspoken arrangement between Forsett and Baltimore prior to his release. The tailback is expected to circle back to Baltimore, though one has to imagine that other teams in need of help in the backfield will call. If the veteran gets offered a pay bump over what the Ravens would give him, it’s possible that he could jump on the opportunity.
Forsett, 30, was a revelation in 2014, rushing for more 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns though he had been considered a career backup/special teamer. Injuries cost Forsett last season, as he only managed to play in 10 games. With rookie Kenneth Dixon nursing a knee injury, Baltimore looks set to count on Terrance West and Javorius Allen at running back if Forsett doesn’t re-sign.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.