Brandon Weeden

Colts Interested In QBs Brandon Weeden, Matt Cassel

The Colts are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of quarterback help. In addition to Brock Osweiler, the Colts also met with and worked out Matt Cassel and Brandon Weeden, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 

At this time, the Colts are still unsure about which QB they’ll sign. It’s also possible that Indy will wait to see how cuts shake out over Labor Day Weekend – there could be several experienced signal callers available from which to choose.

The Colts’ QB room, of course, was shaken up when Andrew Luck abruptly announced his retirement from the NFL. That left Jacoby Brissett, a solid QB in his own right, as the club’s new starter. For now, Chad Kelly stands as the team’s QB2, though his two-game suspension will require another passer to step in, at least as a stopgap solution.

Cassel, 37, spent last season as Matthew Stafford‘s backup in Detroit. He threw a grand total of 17 passes in 2018 and has made just two starts in the last three years.

Weeden, who will turn 36 in October, has split time with the Cowboys and Texans in recent years, though he did not take the field in 2016 or 2017. The former first-round pick has a career 6-19 record with most of those appearances coming with the Browns in his rookie season.

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.

Contract Details: Mathieu, Pamphile, Watson, Weeden

Some details on recent free agent deals (all links via Twitter):

NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero also has signing bonus/guarantee details on players who signed one-year deals: TE Levine Toilolo $400K (Lions), LB Pernell McPhee $350K (Redskins), QB Brandon Weeden $90K (Texans), CB Leon Hall $45K (Raiders).

Texans To Sign QB Brandon Weeden

The Texans are signing quarterback Brandon Weeden, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter). Weeden spent last season with the Titans but did not throw a pass for them during the season. 

Weeden has not seen the field since 2015 when he appeared in four games for the Cowboys and two for the Texans. The 34-year-old (35 in October) has a career 6-19 record.

The 6’4″ signal caller currently profiles as Deshaun Watson‘s top backup, but things can change between now and the start of the season, particularly with the draft right around the corner. The Texans are keeping their options open at quarterback and even conducted a private workout with Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in the event that he slides in the draft.

Titans Did Not Consider Colin Kaepernick

With Marcus Mariota dealing with a hamstring injury, the Titans signed veteran quarterback Brandon Weeden. The move raised some eyebrows around the football world since Weeden is the latest middle-of-the-road signal caller to get an opportunity ahead of Colin Kaepernick. Apparently, Kaepernick wasn’t even considered. Colin Kaepernick (vertical)

[RELATED: Raiders Have Not Considering Kaepernick Either]

Coach Mike Mularkey told reporters on Wednesday that he wasn’t aware of any conversations about signing Kaepernick (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe). The justification is in line with what we’ve heard before from other teams, both on and off the record. Kaepernick, he said, is not familiar with the Titans’ type of offense while Weeden offers familiarity with a similar system thanks to his time in Houston and Dallas.

Weeden auditioned alongside Matt Barkley, Matt McGloin, and T.J. Yates on Tuesday and turned in the best performance of the quartet. He has not appeared in a real NFL game since 2015.

The Raiders, who will be without Derek Carr for some time, also did not consider Kaepernick.

Mariota practiced for the Titans on Wednesday, but he was limited. He is considered day-to-day as the Titans prepare for their Week 5 contest against the Dolphins.

Titans To Sign QB Brandon Weeden

The Titans are planning to sign free agent quarterback Brandon Weeden, according to a league source who spoke with ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter link). Weeden was one of four QBs to audition for Tennessee on TuesdayBrandon Weeden

Weeden was cut by Houston in early September just as he was set to enter the second season of a two-year, $4MM deal. The 6’4″ signal caller has not seen the field since 2015 when he appeared in four games for the Cowboys and two for the Texans. The 33-year-old (34 on Oct. 14) has a career 6-19 record.

There has been no official word from the team, but the signing presumably means that Marcus Mariota will not be able to play this weekend. Matt Cassel will likely get the start, unless the team’s confidence is so shaken in him that they would rather start Weeden with only a few days of preparation.

Titans Show Interest In Four QBs

With Marcus Mariota on the mend, the Titans are looking into adding a quarterback. The team auditioned Brandon Weeden, Matt Barkley, Matt McGloin, and T.J. Yates on Tuesday, according to Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). "<strong

Mariota is day-to-day with a strained hamstring and his status is up in the air for Sunday against the Dolphins. Currently, the Titans have only Matt Cassel on the roster with Tyler Ferguson on the practice squad. If Mariota can’t go, Ferguson could get promoted to serve as Cassel’s backup. Alternatively, the club may prefer to have a QB with some in-game experience at the ready.

The Titans lost by a score of 57-14 to the Texans on Sunday. After Mariota exited the game, Cassel completed 4-of-10 passes and threw two interceptions. He had 21 passing yards in total.

The team’s decision to not include Colin Kaepernick in the audition will raise some eyebrows, particularly since Kaepernick offers similar mobility to Mariota.

Texans Release QB Brandon Weeden

The Texans have cut veteran backup Brandon Weeden, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Texans were expected to carry three QBs on the roster, so this comes as a bit of a surprise. Brandon Weeden

Tom Savage will serve as the Texans’ starter while first-round pick Deshaun Watson will be his understudy. Of course, the pecking order could change quickly if Savage struggles.

Weeden was set to enter the second year of the two-year, $4MM deal he inked in April 2016. The 6’4″ signal caller has not seen the field since 2015 when he appeared in four games for the Cowboys and two for the Texans. The 33-year-old (34 in October) has a career 6-19 record.

Texans To Re-Sign Brandon Weeden

SATURDAY, 8:40am: The Texans have officially announced the signing.

FRIDAY, 6:09pm: Weeden’s deal contains base salaries of $800K and $1.55MM, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. It includes a $450K roster bonus for 2016 and a $37,500 bonus for each game he’s active in both seasons. The max value of the contract is $4MM (Twitter links).

3:13pm: It’s a two-year, $4MM deal for Weeden and the Texans, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets.

3:08pm: The Texans have re-signed quarterback Brandon Weeden, as Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. Weeden has been vocal about his desire to stay put in Houston and, after about three weeks of free agency, he has gotten his wish. "<strong

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Weeden, 32, began the 2015 season with the Cowboys, stepping in and making three starts when Tony Romo went down with an injury. While Weeden lost all three of those starts, he was hardly a disaster — he completed 72.4% of his passes, throwing for 739 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

Later in the season, having been cut by Dallas, Weeden got an opportunity to start again in Houston, and helped the Texans make the playoffs by completing 26 of 42 passes for 305 yards and three TDs over the span of two games (one start). Weeden won’t live up to the billing of being a first-round pick back in 2012, but he still looks the part of a capable backup. The veteran is likely going to serve as Houston’s No. 2 quarterback behind offseason acquisition Brock Osweiler.

Veteran Brian Hoyer is technically still on the roster, but the Texans are expected to part ways with him in the coming weeks. The Texans also have Tom Savage and B.J. Daniels under contract.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Free Agency Rumors: Freeman, Carroll, Blount

The Colts offered Jerrell Freeman the same three-year, $12MM deal that the Bears ultimately handed the 30-year-old linebacker, Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com reports (on Twitter). The No. 23 player on PFR’s list of 2016’s top free agents, Freeman spurned the Colts’ offer and decided to change agents, winding up in Drew Rosenhaus’ stable, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Freeman held out for a better deal after not being scooped up during free agency’s opening two days, and the Colts moved on after Freeman turned down their initial offer, Holder reports.

Here’s at look at the latest free agent notes:

  • Veteran corner Nolan Carroll left his visit with the Cowboys without agreeing to a contract, according to Tim McManus of 97.5 The Fanatic (Twitter link), who adds that the Dolphins and Eagles are apparently still in play for Carroll. Carroll, 29, started 11 games for Philadelphia last season.
  • LeGarrette Blount did not undergo surgery on the injured hip that ended his season early, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Still unsigned, Blount, who suffered a chipped bone in his hip, is 100% healthy and would be ready for OTAs should a team sign him.
  • Johnny Manziel cleared waivers, and the Browns as of now owe their latest first-round flameout quarterback $2.17MM, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. The Browns will attempt to recoup some of that money, should Manziel be suspended for his role in an alleged domestic violence incident this January in Dallas. Cleveland waited until Friday to waive Manziel, who’s been photographed at nightclubs in each of the past 10 nights, in hopes of a team attempting to trade for him.
  • The Dolphins confirmed (via Twitter) three previously-reported free agent visits, announcing that defensive end Jason Jones, linebacker Sean Spence, and quarterback Brandon Weeden had all met with the team.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.