NFL Workout Updates: 10/9/19
Here are Wednesday’s updates from the workout circuit. Unless otherwise noted, all links go to the Twitter account of the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson.
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Deshaun Davis, LB Nick DeLuca, LB Nigel Harris, LB Malcolm Smith, LB Ramik Wilson (link)
Cleveland Browns
- LB Joe Dineen, LB Jawaun Johnson (Twitter link via Wilson)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DT Earl Mitchell (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- FB George Aston, FB Tommy Bohanon, FB Michael Burton, FB Derrick Coleman, FB Tre Madden, FB Ricky Ortiz, FB Aaron Ripkowski, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter)
Seattle Seahawks
- OL Christian DiLauro, OL Dieugot Joseph, OL Chad Wheeler (link)
NFL Workout Notes: 10/8/19
Here are today’s workout updates. There are a number of notable names on this list, so pay attention!
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Shane Ray
Baltimore Ravens
- DE Fadol Brown, S Demetrious Cox, DE Dewayne Hendrix, S A.J. Howard (signed to practice squad), DB C.J. Reavis
Buffalo Bills
- DE Alex Barrett, RB Senorise Perry (signed to 53-man roster), LB Wyatt Ray (signed to practice squad)
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
- WR Jeff Badet
Denver Broncos
- CB David Amerson, CB Chris Campbell, CB Deatrick Nichols, CB Shareece Wright
Detroit Lions
- WR Quincy Adeboyejo, WR Bennie Fowler, WR Emanuel Hall
Green Bay Packers
- TE Rico Gathers, DL Mike Pennel, DL Adolphus Washington, TE Cole Wick, DT Sylvester Williams, TE Ethan Wolf (signed to practice squad)
Houston Texans
- C Marcus Henry, DT Willie Henry, DT Brian Price, C Keegan Render
Indianapolis Colts
- DT Carl Davis, LB Obum Gwacham, DE Eli Harold, DL Joel Heath, DL Damontre Moore, LB Pita Taumoepenu, DL Ethan Westbrooks
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Brian Parker, TE Eric Tomlinson, TE Will Tye
Los Angeles Chargers
- S Shalom Luani, S Tre Sullivan
New England Patriots
- DB Brian Allen, K Nick Rose, DT Eddie Vanderdoes
Oakland Raiders
- DE Andre Branch, LB Kasim Edebali, OL Datone Jones, DE Terrence Fede, LB Nate Orchard
Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Penny Hart, LB Paul Worrilow
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Adonis Alexander, DB Brian Allen, CB Saivion Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WR Cyril Grayson, RB Darius Jackson, QB Chad Kanoff, WR Caleb Scott, RB David Williams
Tennessee Titans
- RB Jeremy McNichols, RB Zach Zenner
Washington Redskins
- OL Malcolm Bunche (signed to practice squad), LB Darrell Williams
Browns Notes: Badet, Williams, Ward
- Former Vikings receiver Jeff Badet could be back in the league soon. Badet has workouts scheduled for this week with the Packers and Browns, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). Tomasson notes that he suffered a finger injury during the preseason with Minnesota, and said in a separate tweet that his finger is now fully healed. Badet spent last year on the Vikings’ practice squad, and he was coveted this offseason. To keep him from signing with the Jets, the Vikings gave Badet a $75K bonus on his reserve/futures contract. He’s a 2018 UDFA from Oklahoma.
- Speaking of the Browns, they’ll again be shorthanded in their Week 5 Monday Night Football game against the 49ers. Starting cornerbacks Greedy Williams and Denzel Ward are both unlikely to play, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com hears (Twitter link). The Browns’ secondary is still really banged up even as their safeties have gotten healthier, as both young cornerbacks are dealing with hamstring injuries. It’s unfortunate for Cleveland, as they’ll be facing a well-rested San Francisco team coming off their bye in this pivotal game.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/4/19
Here are Friday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day.
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: LB Willie Harvey
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from Bills): T Conor McDermott
- Signed: QB David Fales
- Placed on IR: DL John Franklin-Myers
- Waived: DL Bronson Kaufusi
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Ryan Lewis
- Waived/injured: TE Alex Ellis
David Njoku Expects 2019 Return
- David Njoku expects to return from IR this season. The Browns tight end was dealing with a broken wrist and a concussion, but the third-year tight end is out of concussion protocol, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets. The Browns will be without Njoku for at least six more weeks.
Browns LB Christian Kirksey Undergoes Surgery, Won’t Return This Season
Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey recently underwent surgery to correct the torn pectoral muscle he suffered in Week 2, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Kirksey had already been placed on injured reserve, but had surgery not been required, there was at least some chance he could have returned later this season. Instead, he’ll miss the remainder of the year.
A third-round pick in the 2014 draft, Kirksey had been an iron man to start his career, playing in 64 consecutive games from 2014 through 2017. Last season, however, Kirksey went down with a hamstring injury and missed the final nine games of the campaign.
Kirksey, 27, became a full-time starter for the Browns in 2016, and averaged 143 tackles per year over the next two seasons. In May 2017, Cleveland extended Kirksey for four years and $38MM, locking him in through 2021. He’ll count for $9.95MM and $10.45MM on the Browns’ salary cap in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Fifth-round rookie Mack Wilson will continue to start in place of Kirksey, playing linebacker next to Joe Schobert. Wilson has played 100% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps since taking over for Kirksey in Week 3.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/1/19
Here’s a look at the latest workouts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- DL Joel Heath
- DL Zach Kerr
- DL Mike Pennel
- DL Caraun Reid
- DL Anthony Zettel
Atlanta Falcons
- LB Andrew Dowell
- LB Ahmad Thomas (signed with ATL p-squad)
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Josh Bynes
- LB Mason Foster
- DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
- DL Domata Peko
- LB Vincent Rey
- LB Dekoda Watson
Buffalo Bills
- WR Deontay Burnett
- DT Willie Henry
- DT T.Y. McGill
- WR Kermit Whitfield
Cleveland Browns
- TE C.J. Conrad
- OT Cody Conway
- DL Frank Herron
- DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
- C Daniel Munyer
David Njoku Elects Not To Have Surgery
David Njoku currently resides on the Browns‘ IR list, but for the time being, the third-year tight end has a chance to return in 2019. Njoku has opted not to have surgery on his broken wrist, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. The earliest Njoku could return would be for the Browns’ Week 12 game against the Dolphins. Cleveland has 2019 additions Demetrius Harris and Ricky Seals-Jones in place atop its tight end depth chart. The Browns must decide on Njoku’s fifth-year option by May of 2020.
- The Browns’ defense is facing more pressing matters. Both Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams pulled hamstrings during practice Thursday, per Cabot. They missed the Rams game. Interestingly, reserve safety Sheldrick Redwine pulled a hamstring that day as well. The Browns played without their four secondary starters — Ward, Williams, Damarious Randall (concussion) and Morgan Burnett (quadriceps). However, Cabot adds that Randall is out of concussion protocol. Burnett was questionable last week. Hamstring injuries are obviously tricky for skill players and those charged with covering them, but Cleveland’s safeties seem in line to return for Week 4 against the Ravens.
Freddie Kitchens Won't Give Up Play-Calling Duties
- The 1-2 Browns currently rank 26th in the league with 16.3 points per game, but head coach Freddie Kitchens isn’t ready to hand over play-calling duties. Kitchens made it clear to reporters that he’ll continue to call plays this weekend against the Ravens. “You can write that if you want to, but that’s not even feasible,’’ Kitchens said (via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). “That’s not being considered. No, it’s not…it’s not going to happen.” As Cabot writes, Kitchens “dismissed the notion that serving the dual roles of head coach and playcaller are too much for him,” and he scoffed at the suggestion that offensive coordinator Todd Monken could handle the duties.
[SOURCE LINK]
Browns Place LB Christian Kirksey On IR
Browns captain Christian Kirksey is heading to the injured reserve. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports (via Twitter) that the starting linebacker will be placed on the IR with a chest injury. The team has promoted linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. in a corresponding move.
We learned earlier today that Kirksey was seeking opinions on his chest injury. Cabot writes that the 27-year-old was hurt during Monday night’s win over the Jets. The ailment will keep Kirksey sidelined for at least eight games, although Cabot writes that if the torn pectoral muscle requires surgery, he could be done for the season.
The 2014 third-round has spent his entire career with the Browns, and he averaged 143 tackles per season between 2016 and 2017 (leading to a four-year, $38MM extension). Kirksey was limited to only seven games in 2018 as he dealt with a hamstring injury. In two games this season, he’s compiled 11 total tackles.
Fifth-round rookie Mack Wilson will likely slide into the starting lineup in place of Kirksey. The team could also turn to backups Malik Jefferson, Sione Takitaki, or Harvey Jr..