Ravens Work Out Phil Taylor
The Ravens gave former first-round pick Phil Taylor a tryout on Tuesday, a league source tells Mike Florio of PFT. A first-round pick in 2011, Taylor was cut by the Browns at his request before the season when it became clear that Danny Shelton would be the club’s starting nose tackle.
Since his release, Taylor has yet to find an NFL home, though he did get a glance from the Steelers back in early September. Had he stayed in Cleveland for the season, Taylor would have earned $5.477MM in salary. Instead, he accepted a three-week injury settlement, which works out to a $966,529 payment. Fiscally, Taylor’s decision has not worked out to his benefit.
Taylor, 27, was a starter on defense for Cleveland in 2013, but only played 555 defensive snaps, serving primarily as a run stopper. While he wasn’t a full-time player, Taylor’s performance against the run still placed him a solid 26th among 69 qualified defensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. The 27-year-old then played just 133 snaps in 2014 before being sidelined with a knee injury.
Taylor was the Browns’ last remaining player from the Julio Jones trade with the Falcons four years ago. After his release, the Browns had nothing to show for that deal. Now, in theory, the Browns could watch Taylor line up for the other side when the two division rivals face off on November 30th.
Ravens Sign Terrance West To Practice Squad
The Ravens have added a local running back to their practice squad, announcing today in a press release that Baltimore native and former Towson standout Terrance West has joined the club. The club cut defensive end Nordly Capi from its practice squad to clear room for West, who first broke word of his signing via his Instagram account.
West, 24, was the Browns’ leading rusher in his rookie season last year, accumulating 673 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, on 171 carries. However, the 2014 third-round pick was sent to the Titans prior to the 2015 season, and he didn’t have much of a role in Tennessee. Having fallen behind Antonio Andrews and Bishop Sankey on the depth chart, West had just 50 yards on 16 carries for the Titans this season.
West went unclaimed on waivers this week after being cut by Tennessee on Saturday, but drew interest from around the league. According to Aaron Wilson of the National Football post (Twitter link), West had several offers from other NFL teams before he decided to head to Baltimore. As Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com notes (via Twitter), there was an “obvious allure” for West in joining his hometown team.
Javorius Allen and Raheem Mostert are currently backing up Justin Forsett in the Ravens’ backfield on the active roster, so if any of those players were to go down with an injury, West would be a candidate for a promotion.
Extra Points: Gabbert, Pitta, Archer
No surprise here, but 49ers coach Jim Tomsula announced that Blaine Gabbert will start for SF once again when the Niners take on the Seahawks in Week 11, as Taylor Price of 49ers.com writes. Gabbert completed 15 of 25 passes for 185 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday’s Week 9 home win over the Falcons and, at least for now, it sounds like former starter Colin Kaepernick should make himself comfortable on the bench.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- A decision will be made by Wednesday on whether tight end Dennis Pitta makes a comeback this season from his second serious hip injury, as Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes. According to Ravens coach John Harbaugh, the decision comes down to Pitta’s long-term health, not his ability to play again. “He did look good in practice,” Harbaugh said. “We had a tough time covering him. He was doing stuff for the look team and made a bunch of plays out there. He just kind of looked like his old self out there. But don’t construe that as saying that he’s ready to go, because it’s not about that. The doctors are going to take a hard look at that, and help him decide, is this safe? It’s going to be based on how the hip is responding to the practices.” Pitta, 30, enjoyed his best season in 2012 when he helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl, catching 61 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season, followed by 14 catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns during the playoffs.
- The Saints worked out former Giants wide receiver Preston Parker on Monday, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Parker, 28, has 85 career receptions for 1,057 yards and five touchdowns.
- Running back Dri Archer has passed on ten offers to join practice squads, including an offer from the Steelers, a league source tells Mike Florio of PFT. Archer, a third-round pick in 2014, instead plans to wait and see whether any opportunities arise to join a 53-man roster. Florio speculates that his opening might be with the Patriots now that Dion Lewis is done for the year.
Injury Updates: Hankins, Folk, Hicks, Ware
As is often the case on Mondays during the NFL season, there have already been multiple reports of season-ending injuries to key players for contending teams, with the Patriots losing running back Dion Lewis to a torn ACL, and the Colts placing defensive lineman Henry Anderson on IR due to the same injury. Here are a few more of Monday’s latest noteworthy injury updates from around the NFL:
- Giants head coach Tom Coughlin confirmed today that defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins will undergo surgery for a torn pectoral, ending his season, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (Twitter link). While New York’s defensive line got a boost this weekend with the return of Jason Pierre-Paul, Hankins’ season-ending injury is another step back.
- Jets kicker Nick Folk has a quadriceps strain, and isn’t expected to play this Thursday against the Bills, a league source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Connor Hughes of the Journal Inquirer tweets that Billy Cundiff will be among the kickers getting a workout from the Jets as they seek a short-term replacement for Folk.
- The Eagles‘ preliminary diagnosis of the pectoral injury suffered by Jordan Hicks suggests the linebacker should only miss two to four weeks, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The team is awaiting the MRI results to confirm that diagnosis.
- The Falcons also got good news regarding defensive tackle Tyson Jackson, whose rib injury is a contusion, rather than a fracture, according to Rapoport (via Twitter).
- After re-aggravating his back injury, Broncos pass rusher DeMarcus Ware is expected to miss the next two to four weeks or so, tweets Rapoport.
- Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams is expected to miss the team’s next two games, a league source tells Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (Twitter link).
- The Ravens announced today that second-year defensive end Brent Urban has been cleared to return to practice. Urban, who began the season on injured reserve with the designation to return, can now be activated within the next three weeks to avoid landing on season-ending IR.
North Notes: Packers, Peterson, Jacoby Jones
There are some big free agent decisions looming for the Packers, as Rob Reischel of the Journal-Sentinel writes. The Packers’ unrestricted free agents will include defensive end Mike Daniels, defensive tackles B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion, cornerback Casey Hayward, outside linebackers Mike Neal and Nick Perry, kicker Mason Crosby, wide receiver James Jones, fullback John Kuhn, and running back James Starks. Meanwhile, safety Chris Banjo, linebacker Andy Mulumba and guard Lane Taylor headline Green Bay’s list of restricted free agents. GM Ted Thompson has done a great job of keeping the team’s core together in recent years, but this year’s free agent class might test his abilities.
Here’s more out of the North divisions:
- Tom Brady isn’t the only star that wants to play for another decade, as Mike Florio of PFT writes. “If God’s willing, 10 more years,” Vikings running back Adrian Peterson said regarding the duration of his career. “If God’s willing, I’ll just be able to walk away from the game at the highest level whenever I decide.” For his career, AP has run for 10,823 total yards. He’s still 7,532 yards behind Emmitt Smith’s all-time career total.
- Ravens coach John Harbaugh wasn’t aware of Jacoby Jones‘ release until shortly after practice Wednesday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets. Harbaugh said that Jones’ availability will at least be discussed. On Tuesday, the Chargers parted ways with the one time Baltimore Super Bowl hero. The veteran returned five punts for a grand total of -4 yards for the Bolts, which clearly wasn’t what they had in mind when they gave him a two-year, $5.5MM deal in the spring.
- The Browns will start Johnny Manziel vs. the Bengals on Thursday night, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/15
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL, updated throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Cut: TE Konrad Reuland (Twitter link via team)
Buffalo Bills
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Brandon Dixon (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune)
New York Giants
- Cut: G Adam Gettis (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News)
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Shane Wynn (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post)
- Cut: FB Julian Howsare
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: DE Ben Gardner (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Quayshawn Nealy, DE Ronald Powell (press release via team)
Ravens Sign Joe Morgan; Steve Smith To IR
9:26am: The Ravens have now made the Morgan signing official, confirming that they’ve moved Smith to the injured reserve list to accommodate the move (Twitter link).
8:10am: After working out a few receivers this week, the Ravens are signing former Saints wideout Joe Morgan, according to Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The Ravens has yet to officially announce the move, but when they do, they’ll likely place Steve Smith – out for the year with a torn Achilles – on injured reserve to clear room on the roster.
With Smith sidelined for the rest of the year and first-round rookie Breshad Perriman still not close to returning, the Ravens needed to add some depth to their receiving corps, and brought in three wideouts for auditions. The biggest name of those three – Hakeem Nicks – was apparently the only player not to get a contract offer from Baltimore, with Morgan headed to the 53-man roster and Chuck Jacobs signing to the practice squad.
Morgan, 27, has spent his entire NFL career with the Saints, appearing in a total of 21 games over five seasons. While he has never been a major part of New Orleans’ offense, the Walsh product flashed some big-play ability in 2012, racking up an impressive 379 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 receptions.
Joe Flacco throws a nice deep ball, and could try to take advantage of Morgan’s speed following the Ravens’ Week 9 bye, but the ex-Saint figures to take a back seat to the in-house options in Baltimore — Kamar Aiken, Marlon Brown, Chris Givens, and Jeremy Ross are among the players who could see an uptick in targets with Smith sidelined.
AFC North Notes: Browns, Farmer, Ravens
Here’s a look at the AFC North:
- When asked about deadline day, Browns GM Ray Farmer admitted that there was some activity, as Pat McManamon of ESPN.com tweets. “We didn’t actively try to go out and move anybody. There was no shopping from my perspective. But I … listened,” Farmer said.
- Farmer says that he does not believe his job security is any more tenuous than it was upon his hire in February 2014, Pat McManamon of ESPN.com writes. “The reality is that my seat’s no warmer than it was the day I got it,” Farmer said. “That’s a perception that everybody has for me and not a perception I have of myself.” The Browns are off to a 2-6 start in 2015.
- Don’t expect a reunion between the Ravens and the recently released Jacoby Jones, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes. Jones was a Super Bowl hero for Baltimore not long ago, but he hasn’t been the same player in the last two seasons. As banged up as the Ravens’ group of wide receivers is, Jones wouldn’t be a real improvement for the team, Hensley argues.
Workout Notes: Patriots, Texans, Chargers
The latest workouts from around the NFL:
- The Titans worked out quarterback Christian Ponder, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider (Twitter links). The team also auditioned linebacker Yannik Cudjoe Virgil plus tight ends Michael Egnew, Kevin Greene, Connor Hamlett, and Ryan Taylor.
- The Patriots worked out tight end Cameron Clear, kicker Garrett Hartley, punter Will Johnson, punter Cody Mandell, long snapper Tyler Ott, cornerback Garry Peters, kicker Matt Wile, and long snapper Christian Yount, Wilson tweets.
- The Texans worked out running back Cyrus Gray, center Josh Allen, center Dalton Freeman, center Eric Kush, guard Jacques McClendon, and center Daniel Munyer, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Chargers are working out former Eastern Washington offensive tackle Jake Rodgers today, according to a source who spoke with Wilson (on Twitter).
- Slot wide receiver Damaris Johnson is working out for the Jets today, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) adds Jarrett Boykin, Aldrick Robinson, and Greg Salas to that list. The Jets also worked out tight end David Ausberry, a source tells ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter).
- The Bills worked out running back Mike Gillislee and defensive backs Jocquel Skinner and Robert Steeples, Wilson tweets.
- The 49ers also worked out Gillislee, Wilson tweets.
- The 49ers worked out former Texans linebacker Lynden Trail and ex-Chargers corner Chris Davis, Wilson tweets. Davis, 24, signed with the Bolts in 2014 as a UDFA out of Auburn. The Chargers cut Davis on September 1st.
- The Colts worked out offensive guards Ben Heenan and Donald Thomas on Saturday, Wilson tweets. Indianapolis also brought in linebacker Josh Martin for a visit, Wilson adds.
- Tight ends James Casey and Adrien Robinson worked out for the Giants on Tuesday, sources tell Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger (via Twitter).
- The Ravens worked out wide receivers Joe Morgan and Chuck Jacobs along with quarterback Chase Rettig, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/3/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves from across the league:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR C.J. Goodwin (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)
- Cut: WR LaRon Byrd (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post)
Baltimore Ravens
- To be signed: Chuck Jacobs (via The Baltimore Sun)
Buffalo Bills
- Cut: RB Miguel Maysonet (Twitter link via team)
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Ryan Murphy (link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post)
- Cut: DT Deandre Coleman
Houston Texans
- Cut: RB Daryl Richardson (via Wilson)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Ben Heenan (Twitter link via team)
- Cut: G David Arkin
New Orleans Saints
- Cut: DB Sammy Seamster (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune)
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Matt LaCosse (Twitter link via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post), S Cooper Taylor (Twitter link via Dan Graziano of ESPN.com)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Shelby Harris (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: RB Dreamius Smith (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune), OLB Ryan Mueller (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Chris Davis (press release via team)
- Removed: DL Kaleb Ramsey (suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances)
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: TE Rashaun Allen (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cut: LB Julian Stanford (press release via team)