NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/6/18
Here are Saturday’s practice squad decisions:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Robert Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DL Devaroe Lawrence
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Roderick Johnson
Los Angeles Rams
- Cut: C Aaron Neary
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/6/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves and additional post-suspension activations:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: S Dean Marlowe
- Waived: TE Khari Lee
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
- Waived: TE Hakeem Valles
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Tyler Lancaster
- Waived: RB Darius Jackson
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: ILB Tyrell Adams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Quenton Meeks
- Waived: WR Rashad Greene
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated: DT Corey Liuget
- Waived: DT T.Y. McGill
Oakland Raiders
- Activated: CB Daryl Worley
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated: WR Victor Bolden
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Ryan Delaire
- Waived: DB Tyvis Powell, OL Najee Toran
This Date In NFL Transactions History: Bills Trade Marshawn Lynch To Seahawks
On this date in 2010, the Bills and Seahawks pulled off a blockbuster midseason trade. For the price of a 2011 fourth-round pick and a conditional 2012 draft pick, the Bills said farewell to Marshawn Lynch.
Lynch’s tenure in Buffalo altered between jaw-dropping and headache-inducing for the front office. The running back topped 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons and earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2008. Meanwhile, his off-the-field trouble was cause for concern. In the summer of 2008, Lynch admitted to striking a female pedestrian with his car and leaving the scene. In the following spring, Los Angeles cops found a semiautomatic handgun in his car.
The former first-round pick seemed to be back on track early in the 2010 season, having just wrestled the starting job back from Fred Jackson. Still, the phone lines were open in Buffalo, and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll pounced on the opportunity to add him to the backfield.
“We’re going to bring him in to play a lot,” Carroll said (via the Associated Press). “We’ll wait and see when we get him here, but we’re bringing him in here to play a bunch.” The decision to trade for Lynch ended up working out incredibly well for the Seahawks, as Lynch took his game to a new level in Seattle and became the engine of the offense for their Super Bowl winning team. He went to four Pro Bowls with the Seahawks and was twice named an All-Pro
Lynch ended up announcing his retirement after the 2015 season, but after a year away from the game decided to return. The Seahawks promptly traded him to the Raiders, where Lynch currently plays.
Steelers, Patriots, Saints Wanted Jordan Phillips
Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is the newest member of the Bills, but a trio of contenders also tried to land him. The Steelers, Patriots, and Saints all put waiver claims in on the former Dolphin, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, but the Bills won out thanks to their higher waiver priority. 
The former second-round pick has struggled with consistency over the last four years, but several teams still believe in his potential. The Patriots’ claim shows that they are less-than-thrilled about their current group of DTs, which consists of Lawrence Guy, Malcom Brown, Danny Shelton, and Adam Butler. Butler likely would have been the odd man out, and Phillips might have had an opportunity to eventually leapfrog Shelton and Brown in the pecking order. Through four weeks, Guy has 19 total tackles and is rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 overall ranked defensive tackle, but the other DTs have something to be desired.
Phillips started most of his games in 2016 and 2017, but was relegated to a reserve role this year in Miami. That didn’t sit well with him – as evidenced by his sideline blowup on Sunday – and that proved to be the last straw for him with the Dolphins. The 1-3 Bills may have a larger role in mind for the 26-year-old.
Bills Claim DT Jordan Phillips
The Bills have claimed defensive tackle Jordan Phillips off waivers from the Dolphins, according to a club announcement. To make room, the Bills released defensive tackle Robert Thomas. 
The Dolphins cut Phillips on Tuesday, days after he blew up on the sidelines due to his lack of playing time. The Dolphins attempted to trade Phillips first, but they were unable to find a suitable deal.
Former Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey, who drafted Phillips in 2015, works for the Bills now, so he is familiar with the former second-round pick’s potential. At 6’6″ and 341 pounds, Phillips has the size to disrupt quarterbacks and stuff opposing running backs. He hasn’t really blossomed at the pro level, but a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered.
Phillips’ most productive season came in 2016 when he had 23 tackles, three pass breakups, an interception, and a half sack. Over the last three seasons and change, the defensive tackle has 5.5 sacks to his credit.
With two games on the remaining schedule against the Dolphins (12/2 and 12/30), Phillips will have the opportunity to exact revenge on his former team. Phillips won’t be a starter for the Bills, but he should be in the rotation behind first-stringers Kyle Williams and Star Lotulelei.
Ex-Girlfriend Accuses LeSean McCoy Of Physical Abuse
LeSean McCoy‘s ex-girlfriend, Delicia Cordon, made another accusation against him in a lawsuit. An amendment to Cordon’s civil suit against the Bills running back claims he physically abused her during the 2017 offseason, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com reports
Cordon hadn’t previously accused the 30-year-old McCoy of physically abusing her but said initially in the Aug. 10 suit he had displayed such behavior toward his son and his dog. She indicates he did abuse her now.
“McCoy is extremely strong and was heavy-handed,” the lawsuit alleges, per Rodak. “He would often grab Plaintiff in a manner that was painful and would leave Plaintiff’s skin reddened. McCoy did not care who was around when he would become enraged. McCoy once physically kicked Plaintiff out of the bed.”
Tuesday’s amendment to the civil suit claims when McCoy would physically abuse his dog, Cordon would attempt to intervene and see the running back “turn his anger against the Plaintiff, often grabbing Plaintiff and hurting her.”
When asked Wednesday about the new allegations, McCoy replied (via Rodak, on Twitter), “What did I do now?” The running back (per Rodak, on Twitter) reiterated his denials, saying he’s been “claiming innocence since Day 1.”
McCoy hasn’t been suspended but may not be in the clear on this front. And this amendment certainly won’t help matters for the embattled back. He’s not expected to face charges in connection to the home invasion that left Cordon bloodied, however. Cordon’s “certain” McCoy was involved in orchestrating the invasion.
Opinion: Bills Should Consider Trading McCoy, Benjamin
- With their 2018 campaign looking like a lost cause, the Bills should consider trade offers for running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, argues Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. McCoy, of course, still has an investigation hanging over his head, so it’s unclear if there’d be any market for him. Benjamin, meanwhile, hasn’t been effective since joining Buffalo in 2017, and has posted just seven catches in through four games this year. McCoy is signed through 2019, while Benjamin’s contract expires next spring.
Bills Sign CB Dontae Johnson
The Bills have signed cornerback Dontae Johnson, according to a press release. To make room, they’ve released defensive end Nate Orchard. 
After spending the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, Johnson joined the Seahawks and was projected to start. An offseason injury derailed those plans, however, and he was freed from his contract in late September. Johnson probably won’t get an opportunity to match his 2017 career-highs in tackles (77) and passes defended (seven), but he should see some playing time in Buffalo as the Bills deal with injuries in the secondary.
Orchard, a darling of this year’s “Hard Knocks” while with the Browns, possesses great speed but has yet to put it all together at the pro level. After roughly three weeks in Buffalo, Orchard will look to hook on elsewhere and realize his potential.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/1/18
Today’s tryouts:
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Chicago Bears
- OL Willie Beavers, Will Holden, Marcus Oliver, Menelik Watson
Green Bay Packers
- DEs Joey Mbu, Kendall Reyes
Houston Texans
New York Jets
- DEs Jared Crick, Anthony Lanier; G Jamil Douglas; FB Jalston Fowler; CB Sterling Moore; WRs Brandon Reilly, DeAngelo Yancey
Philadelphia Eagles
- S Robert Golden, Charlie Miller; LBs Dewey McDonald, Hayes Pullard
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Jeremiah Sirles
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DL Caraun Reid
- Placed on IR: DL Datone Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Daeshon Hall (from 49ers’ practice squad)
- Promoted from practice squad: OT David Sharpe
- Placed on IR: LB Dylan Cole, WR Bruce Ellington
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Justin Jackson
- Released from IR: CB Craig Mager
- Waived: RB Detrez Newsome
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Martrell Spaight
- Placed on IR: DE William Hayes
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Jonathan Woodard
- Waived: WR Tanner McEvoy
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Kenjon Barner
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Garrett Dickerson
- Waived/Injured: WR/KR Kaelin Clay
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Branden Jackson
- Waived: TE Darrell Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: OL Kevin Pamphile