Texans Release Ryan Mallett
Just days after he missed the team’s charter plane to Miami, quarterback Ryan Mallett has been released by the Texans, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston (Twitter link). A Monday report indicated that head coach Bill O’Brien wanted to cut Mallett but was overruled by GM Rick Smith, so it appears Smith has come around on the decision.
Mallett, who also missed a training camp practice this year, claims that he missed last week’s flight because his cell phone died and his alarm didn’t go off. Whether or not that story is true, the missed flight was the last straw for the Texans, who will now have to find a backup for Brian Hoyer, since Mallett was the only other signal-caller on the roster. Tom Savage, the team’s third quarterback, would typically slide into that role, but he was placed on season-ending IR in September.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported earlier today (via Twitter) that the Texans had not yet reached out to veteran free agents like Jason Campbell and Rex Grossman. Still, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets that the team will indeed add a veteran to be the No. 2 behind Hoyer, with ESPN’s Tania Ganguli reporting (via Twitter) that the club is working to bring back T.J. Yates, who was cut by the Falcons prior to the regular season.
Mallett, who initially joined the Texans prior to the 2014 season, started six games over the last two years for the team, totaling 1,170 passing yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions during his time in Houston. Having signed a new two-year, $7MM contract with the Texans earlier this year, Mallett still has a little guaranteed money coming his way this year. However, Houston won’t have to carry any dead money on its cap in 2016, since the 27-year-old’s deal didn’t include a signing bonus.
Because Mallett has more than four years of NFL experience, he’ll become a free agent immediately without having to pass through waivers. His stock isn’t particularly high at the moment, but Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link) wonders if the Bills – who have lost two games with EJ Manuel as their starter – might circle back on Mallett after showing interest last offseason.
AFC Notes: McCown, Chargers, Bills
Some assorted notes from around the AFC…
- Browns quarterback Josh McCown wasn’t checked for a concussion until after today’s game, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com tweets that the NFL will “review” whether the signal caller’s potential head injury was “handled properly.”
- Chargers offensive lineman Orlando Franklin was carted off the field during his team’s loss to the Raiders, and Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune believes (via Twitter) the former second-rounder suffered a left leg injury. Franklin didn’t speak following the game, but Gehlken tweets that the lineman could “barely walk.”
- Furthermore, Gehlken tweets that Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman left the stadium with his right arm in a sling. It’s believed to be a biceps injury, and the writer says the team is worried there’s a possible tear.
- Bills coach Rex Ryan is confident that Tyrod Taylor will return following the team’s bye, reports Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News (via Twitter). Ryan also said the EJ Manuel would “100 percent” be the Bills backup quarterback.
East Notes: Bradford, Wake, Harvin
As part of the trade that sent Nick Foles to St. Louis and Sam Bradford to Philadelphia, the Eagles had a chance to acquire a 2016 draft choice from the Rams if certain conditions were met, conditions that the clubs did not reveal when the trade was consummated. According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, those conditions pertain only to Bradford’s playing time. Once he plays 50% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps, Philadelphia will receive no compensation. If he plays fewer than 50% of the team’s snaps, the Eagles would garner a fourth-round pick in 2016 (had he played no snaps, the team would have been in line for a third-round selection in 2016).
With the season’s midway point fast approaching, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Eagles will not recover a 2016 draft choice from the Rams. Despite Bradford’s struggles this season, head coach Chip Kelly has remained steadfast in his support of his signal-caller, and although he could acquire an additional draft pick by reverting to Mark Sanchez now, all indications are that Bradford will remain under center for the foreseeable future.
Now for some more notes from the league’s east divisions:
- When former Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle was fired, a great number of the schematic complexities that had handcuffed some of the club’s best defensive players went with him. Relying more on individual matchups than scheme, Miami’s defense enjoyed its best game of the season last week, and defensive end Cameron Wake led the way with a whopping four sacks after recording zero in the team’s first four games. Of course, Wake won’t put up that kind of production every week, but if he goes on the type of tear he is capable of, he could be in for a big payday. Wake is scheduled to make $8.4MM in 2016, the final year of his contract, but he has significant escalators tied to his sack production. As La Canfora writes, “If [Wake] achieves 10-12 sacks he earns $750,000 more in base salary next year, while 13-14 sacks nets him an additional $1.75MM and 15 sacks earns him $3MM. Should he lead the league in sacks, the defensive lineman receives $5MM in additional base salary.”
- In keeping with reports from earlier this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Percy Harvin is not contemplating retirement at the moment. If his hip is healthy enough to allow him, Harvin will play for the Bills this season. Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News adds (via Twitter) that Buffalo wants Harvin to play and that the team does not want to place him on IR, as Harvin would then keep his $3MM signing bonus plus the remainder of his base pay.
- Giants tackle Will Beatty began practicing on Wednesday, which means he now has a little less than three weeks to be activated from the team’s PUP list or be placed on season-ending injured reserve. Per Jordan Raanan of NJ.com, Beatty appears to be in good physical shape and is trending towards a return. He could suit up for the Giants when they take on the Saints next week, and with rookie Ereck Flowers just settling in to the left tackle position, the team could ask Beatty to shift to right tackle, especially since current right tackle Marshall Newhouse has been inconsistent in 2015. Beatty, who last played right tackle in his rookie season in 2009, has been receptive to the possibility.
AFC Notes: Bills, Ridley, Texans, Chiefs, Jags
Despite EJ Manuel, who entered the season as the Bills‘ third-string quarterback, set to start a second straight game due to Tyrod Taylor‘s knee injury, Buffalo GM Doug Whaley does not regret trading Matt Cassel, per Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News.
“When you look at it, coming out of camp, arguably you could say (Manuel) was the No. 2. So we had an opportunity to come back with Cassel at a reduced rate and have three quarterbacks,” Whaley told Dunne. “If you look at the league, a little over half the league had three quarterbacks so it’s a luxury.”
Dunne, though, offers that Bills coaches may not have been in agreement with trading Cassel, who will make his first start for the Cowboys on Sunday, and a 2017 seventh-round pick for a 2017 fifth-rounder. The Bills reporter noted Buffalo offensive coordinator Greg Roman demurred when asked what prevented Manuel from leapfrogging Cassel on the depth chart when all three QBs were on the roster, and quarterbacks coach David Lee once referred to Cassel as “the glue of the room.”
Whaley said Manuel’s progress has been inconsistent but that the team was on board with promoting the former No. 16 overall pick to the backup spot after some internal debate.
Here are some more notes from the AFC East and the rest of the league.
- Stevan Ridley won’t make his Jets debut Sunday against the Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It will be at least another week for the ex-Patriots running back, who is still recovering from ACL surgery. The Jets did not activate the fifth-year back off their PUP list, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), and Gang Green will go with Chris Ivory and Zac Stacy as their top two ball-carriers.
- The Texans are lobbying to play a game in Mexico City either next season or in 2017, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports (on Twitter). The NFL is eyeing a game at 95,000-plus-seat Azteca Stadium as soon as next year. If the league’s unable to move the logistics along in time, four London games are likely on tap for 2016, with the NFL serious about expanding beyond the USA’s borders, reports Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
- Jaguars guard Brandon Linder underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum October 7 and has returned to the team’s facility for rehab, The Florida Times-Union’s Hays Carlyon reports. A Jags starting guard in each of the 18 games he’s played (three this season before injuring his shoulder) since being drafted by Jacksonville in the third round last year, Linder expects to be ready to return to action by May.
- The Chiefs worked out defensive linemen Lawrence Okoye and Derrick Lott, along with running back Gus Johnson, Pro Football Talk tweets.
AFC East Notes: LaFell, Ridley, Kromer
There will be a huge game between the Patriots and Jets that will decide who is in first place in the AFC East early in the season. Here are some notes surrounding that game, and the rest of the division.
- While Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker have been battling injuries for the Jets, the Patriots also have a wide receiver trying to get healthy in time for this weekend’s AFC East matchup. Brandon LaFell has been practicing with the team, and Phil Perry of CSNNE.com believes there is a good chance the team will activate him in time for the game this Sunday. “I think he’s ready to go,” Perry said. “And I think he could be a significant piece against this Jets secondary this weekend.”
- The Jets have their own player ready to come off the PUP list, as Stevan Ridley practiced for the first time on Wednesday and is trying to get ready to be activated in time to face his former team, writes Dennis Wasak Jr. of the Associated Press. “I am ready,” Ridley said, “to get out there and see what I can do.”
- Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is back following his six-week suspension, and the team is excited to get his experience and expertise back into the offensive gameplan, writes Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News. “I’ve seen every game, I’ve seen every snap,” said Kromer. “And I know where we are as a team and as a line, and I’m doing everything I can to help. We’re working on the things that we’ve seen on tape that we need to work on.”
Bills Re-Sign Jordan Gay
10:05am: The Bills have officially re-signed Gay, waiving safety Josh Bush to clear room on their roster, tweets Rodak.
8:41am: A little over two weeks after cutting him, the Bills will be re-signing kicker Jordan Gay, head coach Rex Ryan told reporters today (Twitter link via Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News). Gay will be returning to handle kickoff duties rather than extra points or field goals, which are still Dan Carpenter‘s domain.
In order to make room for Gay, the Bills will release a player from their roster, rather than placing someone on IR. However, Ryan stressed that the Gay signing doesn’t have anything to do with wide receiver Percy Harvin, who is rumored to be considering retirement (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
There were conflicting reports yesterday on whether or not Harvin was seriously considering the possibility of calling it a career. Still, it’s clear that something is going on with the veteran wideout, outside of his hip and knee issues.
General manager Doug Whaley told the media today that he’d address the Harvin situation “as soon as we get more answers on it,” stressing again that the 27-year-old is away from the team for “personal reasons” (Twitter links via Dunne). While that’s not exactly a confirmation that Harvin is contemplating retirement, the Bills aren’t trying to hide the fact that there’s something going on there besides the injuries.
As for Gay, he’ll return to the Bills after being cut in favor of Billy Cundiff earlier in October. In the interim, Gay had a workout for the Buccaneers, but didn’t sign with Tampa Bay.
AFC Notes: Harvin, Brady, Bengals, Moore
Earlier today, we heard conflicting reports on whether Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin, who is battling hip and knee issues, is truly considering retirement. As Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports writes, the fact that Rex Ryan and the Bills have made sure to stress that Percy Harvin’s absence in London this week is “personal” and not injury-related suggests that there’s something to the retirement rumors.
If Harvin were to retire during the season, he’d risk forfeiting several million dollars in salary and signing-bonus money, as the Bills would be within their rights to try to recoup that money. For his part, the veteran wideout would probably rather avoid a contract stand-off, which would help explain why he’d want to continue his career, even if health problems had him contemplating the idea of retirement.
As we wait to see how the Harvin situation plays out in Buffalo, let’s round up a few more AFC notes….
- Tom Brady said this week that his goal is to play “maybe 10 more years,” according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Pressed on whether or not he was serious, the Patriots quarterback added: “That’s what my goals are, that’s what I’m hoping.” Of course, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk points out, it’s not the first time Brady has repeated that “10 more years” mantra, and if he really wants to play that long, there’s no guarantee he’ll do so in New England.
- Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter links) passes along news on a pair of Bengals workouts, reporting that quarterback Bryn Renner and linebacker Alex Singleton got a look from Cincinnati today.
- After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Broncos, safety Rahim Moore signed with the Texans this offseason. Those teams’ respective places in the standings indicate that Moore may regret his decision, but that’s not the case, as Wilson writes for the Chronicle. “I think this is a great decision,” Moore said. “Some people can make the wrong decision in free agency and have regrets. I don’t have any”
Percy Harvin Contemplating Retirement?
7:59am: Harvin is increasingly frustrated with his hip and knee injuries, which are expected to sideline him indefinitely, but he’s not seriously considering retirement, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). As noted below, multiple reporters believe Harvin has contemplated retirement, but it doesn’t sound like he plans to call it a career anytime soon.
7:56am: Wide receiver Percy Harvin didn’t make the trip overseas with the rest of the Bills, and won’t be playing in this weekend’s game in London against the Jaguars. As head coach Rex Ryan told reporters earlier this week, Harvin stayed stateside for personal reasons, rather than due to an injury.
While Ryan didn’t expand on Harvin’s absence and go into detail, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News hears from NFL sources that the veteran wideout didn’t join the team in London because he’s contemplating retirement due to his hip issue.
Harvin has battled hip problems throughout his NFL career, particularly in Seattle, where they cost him nearly the entire 2013 season. Recent reports have indicated that the latest hip injury may cost Harvin significant time this season, so it makes sense that he’d be frustrated. According to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter links), Harvin, who has talked about retirement in the past, is “not feeling football right now.”
At age 27, Harvin should still have plenty of productive years ahead of him, but if he can’t stay healthy – or wants to get healthy – and decides to call it a career, it wouldn’t exactly be an unprecedented move. We’ve seen a handful of very good NFL players retire earlier than expected within the last year alone, including Jason Worilds (27) and Chris Borland (24).
Harvin is currently under contract with the Bills through the end of the 2015 season — while his deal technically runs through 2017, it’s set to void this offseason. According to Carucci, the Bills are “comfortable with the possibility of moving on without” Harvin if he does decide to retire during the season.
AFC Notes: Jags, K. Williams, Pouncey, Bills
The Jaguars‘ current agreement to play one home game per season in London expires in 2016, but it sounds like team owner Shad Khan, along with the NFL, may be getting ready to make an announcement on that subject. According to Conor Orr of NFL.com, Khan said he didn’t “want to scoop anything,” but hinted that an announcement regarding a new agreement for the Jaguars’ international games may be forthcoming.
As we wait for news on the Jags, let’s round up a few more AFC notes…
- Speaking to reporters today in London, Bills head coach Rex Ryan acknowledged that Kyle Williams‘ knee injury is “significant,” as Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets. Williams is currently expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks with a PCL issue, though Ryan’s comments may suggest that the injury is even more serious.
- Reports last week indicated that Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey was expected to undergo a second operation, potentially jeopardizing his season. However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Pouncey didn’t undergo a second procedure on his broken left fibula, and Tomlin is still expecting the veteran center to return this season, writes Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
- In a piece for CBSSports.com, former agent Joel Corry eyes 12 teams with potential quarterback instability on the horizon, identifying the Broncos, Chiefs, Jets, Texans, Browns, and Bills as the AFC teams without a long-term option set in stone.
- Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who remains on the non-football injury list for now, appears ready to return to practice today, and could be activated to Buffalo’s 53-man roster if and when the team determines he’s ready, says Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/20/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Cut: DE Lawrence Okoye (Twitter link via Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910)
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DE Nordly Capi, CB Sheldon Price (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)
- Cut: RB Akeem Hunt
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Titus Davis (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: Brian Leonhardt (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post)
- Cut: Ty Zimmerman
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Darius Eubanks, NT Casey Walker (Twitter links via Wilson)
- Cut: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Wilson)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Marion Grice, WR Ryan Spadola (Twitter links via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press and Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: QB Matt Blanchard (Twitter link via Mike Chappell of IndySportsCentral.com
- Cut: QB Alex Tanney (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB/DE Steven Means (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Cut: RB Daryl Richardson (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Craig Loston, WR Rasheed Bailey (Twitter link via John Oehser of Jacksonville.com)
- Cut: QB Jeff Tuel (Twitter link via Oehser)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Josh Keyes, WR Fred Williams (Twitter links via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Cut: WR Kenny Cook
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Trovon Reed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Ryan Seymour (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate)
- Moved to PS-IR: OL Cyril Lemon (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune)
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Jerome Cunningham (Twitter link via his Howard Shatsky)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: DL Chuka Ndulue (Twitter link via Eric Williams of ESPN)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Keon Lyn, CB Dax Swanson, T Martin Wallace (press release)
- Cut: DT Derrick Lott
Washington
- Signed: RB Mack Brown (Twitter link via Mike Jones of the Washington Post)
- Cut: LB Nico Johnson (Twitter link via Jones)