John Ross Back With Bengals
After leaving for Los Angeles to care for his coronavirus-stricken son, John Ross has returned to the Bengals. The fourth-year wide receiver, however, has landed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (video link). Ross’ son and the baby’s mother tested positive for COVID-19. Pending no positive virus tests, Ross can return to action as soon as Saturday.
- Bengals safety Shawn Williams has also run into injury trouble. The eighth-year defender was carted off during a recent practice with a calf ailment. Williams has sought a second opinion, and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero writes optimism exists the longtime starter can return in time for the Bengals’ Week 1 game (Twitter link). Williams has been a starter for the past four seasons, but the Bengals signing former Saints starter Vonn Bell could potentially cloud Williams’ role.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/20
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: QB Danny Etling
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: DT Niles Scott
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed off waivers (from Dallas): DE Jalen Jelks
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived/Injured: RB Rodney Anderson
Houston Texans
- Activated off NFI: WR Kenny Stills (Sunday)
- Activated off PUP: LB Dylan Cole (Sunday)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: TE Josh Oliver
- Released from IR: DT Brian Price
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed: TE Daniel Helm (from 49ers)
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: OT Nick Kaltmayer (Sunday)
Minnesota Vikings
- Cut (injury designation): LB Quentin Poling
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Ben Braden, TE Paul Butler, TE Alex Ellis
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Connor Davis
- Waived: S Anthony Cioffi
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Daylon Mack
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB/DE Jamal Davis II (Sunday)
Bengals’ Trae Waynes To Miss Time
Trae Waynes will be out for a while. The Bengals cornerback underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle and his recovery will extend into a “sizable portion” of the season, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Waynes has a “chance” to return before the season is through, according to the NFL.com duo, an indication that he’ll be out for months, rather than just a few weeks. That’s the standard for pectoral surgery, though some players have recovered faster than others. J.J. Watt, for example, managed to return for the final stretch of the Texans’ 2019 campaign.
The Bengals signed Waynes to a three-year, $42MM deal earlier this year, one that pays $20MM in Year One. The two sides didn’t necessarily get off on the right foot, however. The Bengals refused to allow Waynes to take an off-site physical, which kept his $15MM signing bonus and training plan in limbo.
After making Waynes one of the NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks, they’ll have to forge ahead without him for the time being. The Bengals also moved on from former first-rounders Darqueze Dennard and Dre Kirkpatrick, putting more of the onus on players like former fifth-round pick Darius Phillips. For what it’s worth, veteran defensive back Logan Ryan is still available for hire, though he would prefer to play safety.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/20
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Amani Bledsoe
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed: WR Travis Fulgham (from Lions)
- Released: CB Marc-Antoine Dequoy, TE James Looney, WR Darrell Stewart
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: FB Bruce Miller
- Released: FB Connor Slomka
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed: DB Jeremiah Dinson (from Lions)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Tony Brooks-James
- Waived: OT Brady Aiello
New England Patriots
- Waived/Injured: WR Quincy Adeboyejo
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/20
Here are Friday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the afternoon.
Atlanta Falcons
- Released via injury settlement: TE Carson Meier
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Dolphins): DE Bryce Sterk
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed off waivers (from Dolphins): DB Steven Parker
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Patrick Carr, WR Seth Dawkins
Bengals’ WR John Ross Leaves Team To Care For Son
Bengals WR John Ross is stepping away from the team for a bit, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter). Ross’ son has tested positive for COVID-19, so Ross is heading to Los Angeles to care for him (the child’s mother has also tested positive). There is currently no timetable on Ross’ return, and the club is likely to place him on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Ross’ decision is admirable, especially since it comes during a pivotal time in his NFL career. The No. 9 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Ross has fallen well short of expectations to date, and Cincinnati made the easy call to decline his fifth-year option for 2021. So this will be a contract year for Ross, who could position himself well for a big payday next offseason if he can get on the field and start living up to his potential.
Of course, health has played a big part in Ross’ struggles to date. Due to various injuries and his inability to impress then-head coach Marvin Lewis, Ross played in just one game in his rookie campaign. Though he started 10 games in 2018, he managed only 21 catches for 210 yards — which was a disappointment in terms of both overall output and yards-per-catch average — and after a hot start to 2019, he missed another eight games due to injury.
Now, A.J. Green is back to full health and the Bengals added Tee Higgins in the second round of this year’s draft, so Ross may have struggled to carve out a ton of playing time anyway. His absence will only make things more difficult from a football perspective, but obviously the health of his family is of paramount importance.
Bengals Sign DT Mike Daniels
Aug. 12: It’s a done deal, per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Daniels has signed a one-year pact worth up to $2.7MM.
Aug. 11: Mike Daniels‘ Bengals visit will likely lead to a contract. Second-year HC Zac Taylor said Tuesday he expects the team to sign the veteran defensive lineman.
The former Packers and Lions lineman visited Cincinnati over the weekend. The revised CBA restricts teams from conducting visits for exploratory reasons, so a Daniels Ohio trek meant he was squarely on the franchise’s radar. His signing would continue the Bengals’ uncharacteristic offseason.
A team usually cautious with outside free agents has used the market to reshape its defense. Daniels will follow D.J. Reader, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander to Cincinnati. The Bengals look set to carry a seasoned D-tackle corps, with the team already employing Reader and perennial Pro Bowler Geno Atkins. This stands to help a defense that ranked 30th in DVOA last season.
A Daniels-Bengals agreement would also follow the Josh Tupou opt-out decision. The fourth-year contributor started seven games last season and played 467 defensive snaps. His choice to skip the 2020 campaign left the team lacking for depth on its defensive interior.
The Packers gave Daniels a high-end extension late during the 2015 season but released him last summer. The acclaimed inside pass rusher landed with the Lions and played but ended up playing just nine games and 18% of Detroit’s defensive snaps. The 31-year-old defender landed on IR in December. Overall, Daniels has 30 career sacks. He made the Pro Bowl in 2017.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/20
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the afternoon.
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Marqui Christian
- Waived: K Ramiz Ahmed
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DT Tyler Clark
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: CB Levonta Taylor
New England Patriots
- Signed: C Tyler Gauthier
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Jackson Dennis, WR Cody White
- Waived: TE Kyle Markway, LB Mark McLaurin
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: CB Kemah Siverand
Tennessee Titans
- Waived/injured: LB Reggie Gilbert
Bengals’ Trae Waynes To Miss Time?
Bengals cornerback Trae Waynes will receive a second opinion on his pectoral injury, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The early fear is that Waynes won’t be able to debut with his new team until late October, at the earliest.
[RELATED: Bengals Meet With Mike Daniels]
The Bengals refused to allow Waynes to take an off-site physical, which kept his $15MM signing bonus in limbo. Waynes has passed the team physical, but the delay has prevented Waynes from his usual pre-season preparations. Now, with just a few weeks to go before the start of the season, it’s looking like the Bengals’ new star cornerback will be sidelined for a while.
Waynes’ three-year, $42MM deal is set to pay out $20MM in 2020. Now one of the league’s ten highest-paid cornerbacks, Waynes was expected to help lead a new look secondary that is without former first-rounders Darqueze Dennard and Dre Kirkpatrick.
Waynes has topped out at an above-average level – he’s never graded above 70.0 on Pro Football Focus’ scale in five seasons. Still, the Bengals see big potential in the 28-year-old. Along with D.J. Reader, he’s one of the team’s most notable free agent investments in years.
Former fifth-round pick Darius Phillips could take over nickel duties while Waynes heals up. In theory, the Bengals could also check in with veteran defensive back Logan Ryan.
Bengals Host DT Mike Daniels On Visit
The Bengals will meet with defensive tackle Mike Daniels this afternoon, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). If everything checks out, the Bengals are expected to sign the 31-year-old.
[RELATED: 2020 NFL Cap Space, By Team]
Daniels, a former Pro Bowler, has had his last two seasons short by injury. The Ravens considered Daniels after the Michael Brockers deal fell through, but they would up finding edge help elsewhere and adding former Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe.
After getting released by the Packers last summer, Daniels inked a one-year, $9.1MM deal with the Lions. He appeared in only nine games with two starts before landing on injured reserve. This time around, the Iowa product figures to come at a much cheaper rate.
The Bengals could use some additional interior help after the opt out of Josh Tupou and the release of Ryan Glasgow. Daniels seems to be their pick, even though there are a number of notable defensive tackles still on the market. Marcell Dareus, Damon Harrison, Timmy Jernigan, Antwaun Woods, Sylvester Williams, Domata Peko and Corey Liuget are among those available as the season draws near.