Injury Updates: Gronk, Pouncey, Carrington
In the wake of the Patriots‘ first loss last night, initial reports indicated that Rob Gronkowski‘s knee injury may not be as serious as it initially looked, and recent reports have continued to suggest as much. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the New England tight end is unlikely to miss more than one game, and perhaps won’t even miss any time. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets that the club’s initial diagnosis is a “relatively minor non-ACL sprain.”
Still, the results of Gronkowski’s MRI aren’t in yet, so the Patriots won’t breathe easy until they get confirmation of their initial diagnosis. For now though, it looks like the club may have avoided a worst-case scenario for the star tight end, since his reaction to the hit on his knee had most of us expecting a season-ending injury.
Let’s round up a few more injury updates from across the NFL….
- Another AFC East injury not as serious as initially feared? Mike Pouncey‘s foot ailment, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Rapoport tweets that the Dolphins center has a minor foot sprain, and that it’s not believed to be a Lisfranc injury. Still, the Dolphins are expected to search for help at center, per Salguero, who tweets that Samson Satele “should probably pick up the phone.”
- The Bills didn’t get good news on defensive end Alex Carrington, who tore his quad tendon and is undergoing season-ending surgery today, according to Rapoport (Twitter link). It’s the latest blow to a Buffalo defensive line that was already missing Kyle Williams – who is out for the year – and Mario Williams on Sunday.
- Rapoport also provides an update on Ben Roethlisberger, tweeting that, while the Steelers quarterback placed himself in the concussion protocol, he may not have suffered a concussion on Sunday, and could be cleared for Week 13.
- 49ers tight end Garrett Celek is out indefinitely due to a high ankle sprain, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Celek, who has caught 19 balls for the team this year, went down with the injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
La Canfora’s Latest: McDermott, Lions, Kroenke
Let’s take a look at some of the latest notes and observations from CBS Sports scribe Jason La Canfora:
- Both La Canfora and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com have delved into some of the most notable names who will be connected to head coaching vacancies this offseason. Rapoport mentions Bears OC Adam Gase, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, Jaguars offensive line coach Doug Marrone, and Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable as veterans of the head coaching interview circuit who will be generating plenty of buzz this offseason. Other less familiar candidates who have also piqued the interest of teams around the league include Panthers coordinators Mike Shula (offensive) and Sean McDermott (defensive), and Bills RB coach Anthony Lynn (all Twitter links). La Canfora explores the case for McDermott in more detail, noting that Carolina’s defense under McDermott’s watch has been among the league’s best for some time, but given the Panthers’ success this season, McDermott has been getting more attention around the league. La Canfora says it would not be a surprise if McDermott met with four to six teams during wildcard weekend, which is likely to be a bye week for the Panthers. Per La Canfora, a team that hires McDermott would do well to add current Chargers head coach Mike McCoy as its offensive coordinator. McCoy is rumored to be on his way out of San Diego at the end of the year, and he and McDermott share a “mutual admiration” for each other. The addition of McCoy would also help to alleviate concern regarding McDermott’s abilities on the offensive side of the ball.
- La Canfora also has a look at potential candidates for the Lions GM job, noting that the team may have difficulty courting some of its top choices given the questions concerning team ownership and the fact that new team president Ron Wood is an unknown commodity in football circles. However, the Lions’ resurgence in recent weeks, the talent on the roster, and the fact that the club has a history of “unwavering loyalty” to its front office executives could allow the team to nab a prized candidate. Those candidates include names like Seahawks pro personnel director Trent Kirchner, Packers player personnel director Eliot Wolf, Patriots director of pro scouting Bob Quinn, and Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta. Of those names, Quinn may be the most likely option, considering that Wolf and DeCosta are both fairly comfortable in their roles as GM-in-waiting for their current clubs, and Kirchner will be the top candidate for a number of teams.
- If Stan Kroenke‘s plan to move the Rams to Los Angeles falls though, La Canfora identifies several other options for the St. Louis owner. The league knows that if Kroenke loses out to the Chargers and Raiders in the race to LA, it would have to work actively to find other solutions for Kroenke, with London and Denver representing two such solutions. Kroenke–who remains focused on LA at the moment and has not actively considered any alternatives–has business interests in England and owns Premier League powerhouse Arsenal. Colorado, meanwhile, serves as Kroenke’s base, and his family owns the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. La Canfora’s sources indicate that Kroenke could purchase the Broncos at some point down the road–La Canfora writes that team ownership will be in flux when Pat Bowlen passes on–and sell the Rams to an investor looking to keep the team in St. Louis. However, Broncos Vice President of Public Relations Patrick Smyth took to Twitter shortly after La Canfora’s report, tweeting that the plan is to keep ownership of the Broncos in the Bowlen family.
Extra Points: Tomsula, Rawls, Bills, Cassel
The latest from around the NFL…
- The 49ers are 3-7 and bound to finish with one of the league’s worst records this season, but it might not be the team’s win-loss results that decide if head coach Jim Tomsula will return for a second year. Instead, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (video link), it could come down to how well some of the 49ers’ young players progress over the final six games. As Maiocco notes, the 49ers chose Tomsula over Adam Gase, among others, in the offseason – a pick they were happy with at the time. They wanted Tomsula because of his teaching skills. Thus, it’s certainly not a foregone conclusion that they’ll get rid of him because of one subpar year.
- With Marshawn Lynch injured, the Seahawks are especially fortunate to have rookie sensation Thomas Rawls as a member of their backfield. Rawls could have signed elsewhere as an undrafted free agent last spring, though, as the $15,000 the ex-Central Michigan standout got from Seattle wasn’t his highest offer, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Dallas was among the teams interested in Rawls – who chose the Seahawks because he wanted to learn from Lynch, according to his agent. If not for off-field issues, Rawls might have been drafted and unable to choose his destination.
- The Bills shut down four-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kyle Williams for the season Friday because of a knee injury, and the 10-year veteran isn’t a lock to return to Buffalo for an 11th season in 2016. He does intend to keep playing, though, and he hopes to remain a Bill. “I want to see everything, every dream, every goal I’ve had since I’ve been here 10 years ago, I want to see it come true,” said Williams, according to The Buffalo News’ Tyler Dunne. “We’ve got a great staff and we’ve got a lot of guys who believe in one another.”
- The 3-8 Cowboys have gone 0-7 in games not started by Tony Romo this year, and they’ll have to play the final five weeks of the season without the injured Romo. That means Matt Cassel will be under center, which hasn’t been a positive for Dallas this season. Cassel, who has underwhelmed statistically in addition to going winless, might not be a Cowboy next year. Regarding the upcoming offseason, owner Jerry Jones said (via The Dallas Morning News’ Brandon George), “We’ll look at certainly where we are at our backup quarterback position, which probably if I could redo some of the thinking there this year, that would be the first place I’d start looking in my mirror.”
- 49ers running back Carlos Hyde – sidelined since the end of October with a stress fracture in his foot – is a candidate for season-ending surgery, per Maiocco.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap took a look at the upcoming class of free agent tight ends. Cleveland’s Gary Barnidge is among the players highlighted. While Barnidge is having a big year (48 catches, 667 yards, seven touchdowns), Fitzgerald doesn’t expect him to cash in to a significant extent because of his lack of track record relative to his age (30).
AFC Notes: Bills, Jets, Titans
A quick look around the AFC:
- The Bills will be without injured Pro Bowl defensive linemen Mario Williams and Kyle Williams in Kansas City on Sunday, and The Buffalo News’ Tyler Dunne wonders (on Twitter) whether the team will part with them in the offseason. If the Bills cut both after the season, they’ll save $17.9MM on their salary cap in 2016 ($12.9MM for Mario Williams, $5MM for Kyle Williams).
- Jets receiver Devin Smith, a second-round pick in last year’s draft, has put up a disappointing rookie season in terms of production. Smith has just seven catches in as many games and has had issues with drops, but offensive coordinator Chan Gailey isn’t worried. “We’ve got to keep letting him have the opportunity,” Gailey said, according to The Associated Press. “I think he just needs to get his confidence back. I haven’t lost confidence in him. I’ve just got to make sure that he keeps confidence in himself.”
- The Titans could promote linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil from their practice squad sometime this weekend, interim head coach Mike Mularkey said (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). Cudjoe-Virgil signed with the Titans in the spring as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland.
Bills To Place Kyle Williams On IR
Veteran Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams appears to have played his last snap of the 2015 season, as head coach Rex Ryan said today that the team is expecting to place Williams on injured reserve. As Mike Rodak of ESPN.com notes, Williams’ injured knee is not responding to treatment.
Williams confirmed today that he’s planning to undergo surgery for a meniscus issue, tweets Rodak. According to Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News (Twitter link), the longtime Bill thinks rehab will last a few months following the surgery, and anticipates being back on the field next season.
While Williams has no plans to retire, there’s no guarantee that the 32-year-old will remain in Buffalo next season. The former fifth-round pick, who has been with the Bills since they drafted him in 2006, has two years left on his contract, with his base salary set to increase to $6MM in 2016 and $6.3MM in 2017. The club could create $5MM in cap savings by cutting him in the offseason, though I’d imagine the two sides would try to work out a reduced salary before considering parting ways.
While one Bills defensive lineman looks likely to head to IR, the other Williams on the line should return to action this season. Ryan said today that defensive end Mario Williams will miss this Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, but his foot injury isn’t expected to be a season-ender.
AFC East Notes: Bills, Coples, Dolphins, Jets
It’ll be a big weekend in the AFC East, with the Bills in Kansas City fighting for Wild Card positioning, as the Jets and the Dolphins square off, looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Patriots, of course, will be in Denver as they try to run their undefeated record to 11-0.
As we look forward to what should be an entertaining slate of games, let’s round up the latest out of the division….
- The Bills were the only team besides the Dolphins to put in a waiver claim for Quinton Coples when he was cut by the Jets, and head coach Rex Ryan admitted today that he was upset not to land the edge defender (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). “I wanted him,” Ryan said.
- Meanwhile, in Miami, head coach Dan Campbell said today that the Dolphins feel like Coples’ best football is ahead of him (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post). The former Jets linebacker will play defensive end in Miami’s 4-3 system.
- With Ryan Tannehill struggling, a Dolphins official “privately questioned” whether offensive coordinator Bill Lazor‘s system is suited for the quarterback, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The club has already replaced its head coach and defensive coordinator this season, so an OC change at season’s end wouldn’t surprise anyone, as Jackson notes.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examines the Jets‘ present and future, suggesting that the team should look to trade Muhammad Wilkerson next year and needs to prioritize the offensive line in the offseason.
Bills Sign Marcus Thigpen, Cut Boom Herron
The Bills have made a series of roster moves today, announcing in a press release that they’ve re-signed wide receiver and kick returner Marcus Thigpen, as well as offensive lineman Ryan Groy. To make room on the 53-man roster for the two new additions, Buffalo has waived running back Boom Herron and wide receiver Denarius Moore.
Thigpen, 29, started the season with the Bills, but was cut to create an opening for Moore back in early October. Since then, the return specialist has spent some time with the Colts and the Raiders, but was let go by Oakland earlier this month. Thipgen figures to take over return duties for the Bills, after Leodis McKelvin fumbled one away on Monday night, and muffed another.
Herron and Moore, meanwhile, are recognizable names, but their brief stints in Buffalo didn’t result in many memorable moments. Herron, a former Colt, totaled 37 yards on 11 carries in his four games for Buffalo, adding another 20 yards on three receptions. Moore didn’t have a single reception during his time with the Bills.
Herron and Moore will have to pass through waivers before reaching free agency.
Bills Put In Claim For Quinton Coples
After edge defender Quinton Coples was cut by one AFC East team – the Jets – earlier this week, another AFC team – the Dolphins – plucked him off waivers, while a third AFC East team was the only other club to submit a waiver claim for him. According to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Bills also placed a claim on Coples, but had a lower waiver priority than the division-rival Dolphins due to their slightly better record.
The news doesn’t come as a real surprise. I noted when the Jets released Coples and when the Dolphins claimed him that the Bills would’ve been a logical suitor, given the connection to head coach Rex Ryan, who had the 25-year-old on his defense in New York from 2012 to 2014. However, the Dolphins had a Coples connection of their own — executive VP of football operations Mike Tannenbaum was in New York’s front office when the Jets drafted the North Carolina product in 2012.
When Coples was waived by the Jets, I questioned whether any team would be willing to absorb his contract, which includes a $7.751MM salary for 2016, since New York exercised his fifth-year option. That figure is guaranteed for injury only, so the Dolphins won’t have to pay it unless the edge defender suffers a significant injury and can’t pass a physical in March, and it seems as if Miami wasn’t the only team open to taking that risk.
By claiming Coples, the Dolphins will also take on the remaining $535K on his 2015 salary, which is fully guaranteed, so the Jets are off the hook for that amount.
Workout Notes: Hunter, Housler, Mitchell
Running back Kendall Hunter has been a busy man as of late and his most recent audition came with the Jets on Tuesday, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets. Hunter has also worked out for the Jaguars, Seahawks, and Patriots within the last month. Hunter, who has seen his NFL career derailed by injuries in recent years, was removed from San Francisco’s injured reserve list in September with a settlement, making him a free agent.
Here’s a rundown of the rest of Tuesday’s auditions:
- Tight end Rob Housler and defensive lineman Tim Jamison also worked out for the Jets, per Costello.
- The Bills tried out defensive tackles Kelcy Quarles and Toby Johnson on Tuesday, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Packers worked out cornerback Terrance Mitchell, a source tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The ex-Oregon player was on the Bears’ practice squad prior to his release last week.
- The Chiefs worked out former Pats defensive back Dewey McDonald over the weekend, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Raiders worked out defensive end Glenn Foster, defensive end Gerald Rivers, defensive lineman Greg Scruggs, defensive lineman Davon Walls, and linebacker Tony Washington, Wilson tweets.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/24/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL, with any further moves added to the list throughout the day:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE D.J. Tialavea (press release via team)
- Cut: TE Marcel Jensen
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DL Jerel Worthy (Twitter link via Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News)
- Cut: LB Kevin Riddick
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Reese Dismukes (Twitter link via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer)
- Cut: T Pierce Burton (Twitter link via Person)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Danny Mason, QB Justin Worley (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times)
Houston Texans
- Signed: C Dalton Freeman, OLB Gerald Rivers (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Cut: QB Zac Dysert
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: T John Wetzel (Twitter link via Matt Conti of Colts)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Kevin Snyder (link via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Tyler Slavin (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports), RB DuJuan Harris (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com)
- Placed on PS-IR: OL Terry Poole (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)