Minor NFL Transactions: 11/7/19
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived from injured reserve: S Damian Parms
New York Jets
- Activated from non-football injury list: CB Bless Austin
- Placed on injured reserve: S Rontez Miles
- Waived: LB B.J. Bello
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted: LB Quentin Poling
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers (Vikings): S Marcus Epps
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: T Sam Young
Panthers Sign DE Wes Horton
The Panthers have reunited with Wes Horton, announcing today that they’ve signed the free agent defensive end. Carolina already had an open roster spot, so no corresponding move was necessary.
Horton, 29, has essentially spent his entire career with the Panthers. He signed a free agent deal with the Saints in May, but he never actually appeared in a game for New Orleans and was released after Week 1. Since then, Horton worked out for the Giants but otherwise hasn’t drawn much interest on the free agent market.
Horton originally signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Over the next six years, Horton worked mainly in a rotational role, playing between 25% and 50% of Carolina’s defensive snaps. His best season came in 2017, when he appeared in all 16 games for the Panthers and posted 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback hits.
Now that he’s back in Carolina, Horton will likely be counted to contribute in that reserve role once again. He’ll play behind fellow edge rushers Brian Burns, Bruce Irvin while also chipping in on special teams.
Panthers Place Cam Newton On IR
The Panthers announced that they have placed Cam Newton on injured reserve. The quarterback could theoretically return in January, but in all likelihood, his season is over. 
“For the past seven weeks, Cam has diligently followed a program of rest and rehab and still is experiencing pain in his foot,” general manager Marty Hurney said. “He saw two foot specialists last week who agreed that he should continue that path prescribed by the team’s medical staff, and that it likely will take significant time for the injury to fully heal.
“We have said all along that it is impossible to put a timetable on this injury. Nobody is more frustrated with that fact than Cam. He’s one of the fiercest competitors I’ve been around during my 20-plus years in the League. At this time, we have decided that the best decision to reach the goal of bringing the foot back to 100 percent is to place Cam on injured reserve.”
Before 2018, Newton missed only three starts in seven years. But, last year, things changed drastically, starting with a shoulder injury that required surgery. This year, he’s been hampered by a mid-foot sprain that won’t go away.
In his two games this year, Newton completed 50-of-89 passes for 572 yards and zero touchdown passes with one interception. Meanwhile, he’s due $19.1MM (non-guaranteed) with a $21.1MM cap number in 2020.
Panthers Claim WR Donte Moncrief
Donte Moncrief will head south again. The Panthers submitted a successful waiver claim for the recently cut Steelers wideout, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The Steelers waived Moncrief on Saturday, doing so in an effort to recoup a compensatory pick after the arrangement with the veteran wide receiver did not work out. Still just 26, Moncrief will have a chance to rebound in Carolina.
A former third-round Colts pick who was one of the 2018 Jaguars’ top targets, Moncrief earned a Steelers starting job. But one of Pittsburgh’s key post-Antonio Brown solutions sputtered quickly, with Moncrief dropping several passes. A Week 2 drop resulted in the Steelers benching Moncrief and burying him on their depth chart.
Carolina added Chris Hogan this offseason but has used homegrown youngsters D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel as its top pass catchers, along with Christian McCaffrey. Hogan resides on IR currently.
Moncrief has produced two 650-plus-yard seasons — in 2015 and ’18, respectively — but has not delivered much consistency. He caught 48 passes for 688 yards and three touchdowns in Jacksonville in 2018 but has just four receptions for 18 yards this year. With the Panthers claiming Moncrief’s contract, he is still signed through the 2020 season.
Panthers May Place Cam Newton On IR
NOV. 3: Dr. Anderson did not recommend surgery for Newton, as Rapoport (video link) and David Newton of ESPN.com report. That’s obviously good news, but there is still no timetable for Newton’s return, and Rapoport says the Panthers may end up putting their star QB on IR.
NOV. 1: Panthers quarterback Cam Newton isn’t recovering from his sprained foot as quickly as he hoped (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Newton will visit Dr. Robert Anderson in Green Bay, Wisconsin on Friday to learn more about his situation and figure out why his condition hasn’t improved. 
At this point, playing football is a long way off, Rapoport hears. So far, Newton hasn’t been able to do much more than basic rehab for his injury.
Newton’s pain and limited mobility was apparent to anyone watching him play this season. His frustrations have been apparent, as well. When Newton took to YouTube in late September to discuss his injury, he admitted that he rushed himself back too soon in order to play in the 2019 season opener.
“I’ve decided I will take time away from the game,” Newton said. “This is me being the bigger person and being real with myself and saying, ‘Look, what’s the ultimate goal you’re trying to accomplish? Win the Super Bowl. OK, if you want to win the Super Bowl, this is the step you’ve got to take.’
“It could very well be a week. Or two weeks. It could be three weeks, it could be four weeks, it could be six weeks. But I have to understand and know if it takes that time, I trust in this team that they will — we will — still be in a great situation by the time I get back.”
Meanwhile, fill-in Kyle Allen has done quite well, for the most part. Before his rocky outing against the 49ers, Allen completed 65.6% of his passes with a 7-to-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio in four starts. He’ll get start No. 6 this week against the Titans on Sunday.
South Rumors: Panthers, Colts, Watt
Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen will get a chance to rebound from the worst start of his career. After a three-interception performance against the 49ers, Allen will make his sixth start of the season, Ron Rivera confirmed. Cam Newton will not return from his foot injury this week against the Titans. Instead, Newton will continue to rehab, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. Newton has been out since re-injuring his foot in Week 2 against the Buccaneers.
Here’s some other notes from the South:
- J.J. Watt underwent a successful surgery on his torn pectoral muscle earlier Tuesday, according to James Palmer of NFL.com. Watt, who has consistently been one of the best players in football since entering the league in 2011, suffered a season-ending injury Sunday against the Raiders. Currently in prime playoff position, the Texans will have to make another push without Watt on the field. Houston did not have Watt for its 2016 playoff run.
- Colts ownership has given Chris Ballard full autonomy in player personnel decisions, according to Stephen Holder of The Athletic (subscription required). Owner Jim Irsay encouraged the front office to pursue an unnamed linebacker in free agency, but did not force them to join a bidding war for a defender his football operations office did not deem worth a certain price tag. “I gave (Ballard) unfettered approval …” Irsay said, via Holder. “And he still backed out. He said, ‘They went to this number and, Jim, I just couldn’t.” This doesn’t necessarily name C.J. Mosley, but the Colts were interested in the ex-Ravens standout before the linebacker signed a record-setting contract with the Jets.
- Although the Falcons have slipped well out of contention, Matt Ryan is set to return after their Week 9 bye.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/19
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: Demone Harris
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Braxton Miller
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Javier Edwards
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Sutton Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Braxton Hoyett
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Penny Hart
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
- Suspended four games: DT Terry Beckner
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: LB Ramik Wilson.
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR DeAndrew White
- Placed on IR: CB Natrell Jamerson
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Jonathan Harris
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jaguars’ practice squad: DT Eli Ankou
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steven Mitchell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Donald Payne
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Giles-Harris
- Placed on IR: LB D.J. Alexander, TE Geoff Swaim
- Waived: CB Parry Nickerson
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: CB Marcus Sherels
New England Patriots
- Waived: S Jordan Richards
New Orleans Saints
- Released: LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, RB Zach Zenner
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Devante Downs
- Waived: TE Garrett Dickerson, LB Tuzar Skipper
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Kasim Edebali
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: LS Garrison Sanborn
NFL Workout Updates: 10/21/19
Here is the latest from the workout circuit:
Carolina Panthers
- CB Andre Chachere, WR/TE Caleb Smith
Cleveland Browns
- TE Drew Belcher, LB Ukeme Eligwe, TE Tyree Mayfield, S Montrel Meander, LB Silas Stewart, DB Kyle Wilson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2019 NFL Cap Space, By Team
With eight days to go before the 2019 trade deadline, here’s a look at the cap space possessed by each team, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter):
1. Colts: $43.5M
2. Browns: $32.9M
3. Dolphins: $28M
4. Bills: $24.7M
5. Cowboys: $24M
6. Titans: $23.7
7. Chiefs: $23.1M
8. Raiders: $22.4M
9. Eagles: $22.2M
10. Texans: $21.6M
11. Lions: $18.9M
12. Bears: $17M
13. 49ers: $14.4M
14. Panthers: $14.2M
15. Bengals: $13.6M
16. Redskins: $13.5M
17. Jaguars: $10.3M
18. Broncos: $10M
19. Packers: $9.5M
20. Seahawks: $7.8M
21. Buccaneers: $6.5M
22. Jets: $6.1M
23. Rams: $4.6M
24. Cardinals: $4.1M
25. Chargers: $4.1M
26. Steelers: $3.4M
27. Patriots: $2.5M
28. Giants: $2.2M
29. Ravens: $2.1M
30. Saints: $1.9M
31. Falcons: $1.7M
32. Vikings: $623K