NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/2017
Today’s practice squad updates:
Carolina Panthers
- Released: WR Austin Duke
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Victor Salako
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Stansly Maponga
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers: C Dillon Day
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Mike Purcell
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Nate Theaker
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Jhaustin Thomas
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Don Cherry
- Released: DE Alex McCalister
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Rodney Coe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Isaiah Johnson, DE Marquavius Lewis
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/2017
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed off waivers: CB Lafayette Pitts
- Waived: CB Tony McRae
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted to active roster: TE Matt Lengel
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Jelani Jenkins
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Orson Charles
New England Patriots
- Promoted to active roster: LB Trevor Reilly
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Neal Sterling
- Placed on injured reserve: CB Xavier Coleman
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted to active roster: RB Elijah Hood
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: T Taylor Hart (two-year deal)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Deji Olatoye
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OL Tony Bergstrom
- Waived: DT A.J. Francis
Myles Garrett Enters Concussion Protocol
The Browns announced that they have placed defensive end Myles Garrett in concussion protocol. This means he will not be on the field this Sunday when the Browns face the Vikings in England. And, if his issues linger, he could be looking at a multi-game absence. 
The Browns came up short against the Titans in an overtime loss last Sunday, bringing them down to 0-7. As they continue to seek their first win, they’ll have to do it without the services of their No. 1 overall pick. Getting that W against the Vikings won’t be easy – they’re 5-2 and riding a three-game winning streak.
Meanwhile, the Browns are making yet another quarterback change. On Wednesday morning, the team announced that DeShone Kizer will be under center in Week 8. Kizer started the year as the No. 1 QB, but ceded the job to Kevin Hogan during Week 5’s game against the Jets. He regained the job in Week 7, but he was given the hook in favor of Cody Kessler. This time, the Browns are hoping for better results.
Garrett missed the first few weeks of the season with a high ankle sprain. He has made up for lost time, however, compiling four sacks in his first three games. Garrett’s 109 snaps aren’t quite enough to qualify for ranking, but his 82.5 overall score on Pro Football Focus pegs him as a top-25 edge defender.
AFC Notes: Browns, Thomas, Colts
Here’s a look at the AFC:
- Browns offensive tackle Joe Thomas, who has been ruled out for the year, says he’ll wait until the offseason to determine whether he wants to continue playing. However, he did say that he is happy playing in Cleveland for coach Hue Jackson (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com). “Love Hue, loved playing for him. Playing for him was awesome and I’d definitely love to continue playing for him,” Thomas said.
- There has been speculation about the job security of Colts coach Chuck Pagano, but Stephen Holder of the Indy Star hasn’t seen any signs of an immediate change. He notes that the team’s Monday media schedule includes Pagano’s standard news conference at its usual time. If Pagano was being shown the door today, the Colts probably would have held off of releasing the schedule. Meanwhile, team sources indicated to Holder that the team is taking a patient, long-term approach to 2017. Of course, that won’t satisfy Colts fans who are frustrated after the team’s 27-0 loss to Jacksonville on Sunday.
- Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker will run and test out his injured ankle on Tuesday, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (Twitter link) hears. If it responds well, he is hopeful to play on Thursday against Baltimore. So far this year, Parker has 19 receptions for 236 yards and a touchdown.
Browns Place OT Joe Thomas On IR
Browns stalwart left tackle Joe Thomas suffered a torn triceps in Sunday’s loss to the Titans and will miss the remainder of the season, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) was the first to report Thomas had likely torn his triceps. The Browns have since placed Thomas on injured reserve.
Thomas, 32, had not missed a single offensive snap since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2007. That streak is now over at 10,363, but that figure stands as a testament to Thomas’ amazing consistency and resiliency. And Thomas, a nine-time All Pro, hasn’t yet hit a decline, as Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 3 offensive tackle in the league through seven weeks.
The winless Browns turned to Spencer Drango to replace Thomas on Sunday, making the 2016 fifth-round selection the first player other than Thomas to man left tackle in Cleveland since 2006. Drango will presumably continue on the blindside for Cleveland — which ranks a mediocre 18th in both adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate — but the Browns could also conceivably take a look at fellow tackle Zach Banner, a fourth-round rookie whom Cleveland acquired off waivers from Indianapolis.
With Thomas done for the year, any chance of the Browns reaping draft pick compensation for him via trade is eliminated. Cleveland reportedly had “no intention” of dealing Thomas, who has been oft-mentioned in trade rumors given the Browns’ lack of success on the field and his status as the club’s best player, and Thomas’ health questions would render any theoretical discussions moot. Thomas is signed through the 2018 season, and has a $8.8MM base salary on the books for next season.
AFC Notes: Chargers, Cutler, Thomas
The LA Chargers experiment has come under fire from some for their small stadium, high prices and noticeable attendance from the road fanbases over the first six weeks of the NFL season. However, a Chargers team representative reportedly defended the move during last week’s owners meetings, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. La Canfora points out that the team does have a few years to get things right before they move into the new Inglewood stadium that will be shared with their Hollywood rival Rams. Although, there’s still concern about the lack of a Plan B if things continue to sputter for the newly relocated franchise. In addition to facing the challenge of capturing attention of the fanbase from the now 5-2 Rams, the Chargers are set in a smaller stadium and less certainty off the gridiron as well, even though it would seem that the team’s ownership group is not backing down from the problems that have stemmed from their controversial move from San Diego.
- Jay Cutler will soon undergo X-Rays on his ribs due to an injury he suffered in today’s game vs. the Jets, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter Link). Rapoport adds that team officials fear he has suffered cracked ribs, but will “check it all”. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com adds that he is now hearing Cutler may be out for the next 2-3 weeks. The injury adds to what has been a pedestrian season for the once retired 34 year-old. Through six games, he’s accumulated a QBR in the 30s, throwing almost as many picks as touchdowns (7 TD-5 INT). For the time being, Miami will turn to backup Matt Moore who led the team to a second half comeback in today’s win over New York.
- In another injury news, All-Pro Browns tackle Joe Thomas had his consecutive snaps streak broken after exiting with an apparent left arm injury. The injury represents another blow to what has been another gloomy season in Cleveland. The veteran lineman sent out a personal tweet after today’s game confirming that he will undergo an MRI tomorrow. Thomas has been a staple on the Browns offensive line since he was drafted by the team third overall in 2006. He played an incredible 10,363 offensive snaps until he exited today, which truly shows that grit and toughness of arguably best offensive lineman in the league for the past decade.
- Patriots highly-paid cornerback Stephon Gilmore sat out last week after suffering a concussion when he collided with the Bucs Mike Evans in Week 5. However, even with Gilmore and fellow corner Eric Rowe sidelined, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com opines that the team is more likely to promote a player for the practice squad than sign a veteran free agent like Leon Hall. Without Gilmore, the Pats will be relying Malcolm Butler, Johnson Bademosi and Jonathan Jones in the short-term.
- Jags rookie wide receiver Dede Westbrook is eligible to come off the IR after week 8 and he could be a welcomed deep ball threat for an offense that lost Allen Robinson early in the season, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. DiRocco cautioned that the team’s 2017 fourth round pick hasn’t played an NFL snap, but could operate as the Jags third wideout behind Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns because of his speed and big play ability. Jacksonville had struggled passing the ball through the first six weeks of the season, but found their rhythm today, albeit against a struggling Colts defense.
Miscommunication Between Browns, Britt?
Kenny Britt is now on thinner ice with the Browns despite his lucrative free agent deal, but there’s now a report that the Browns made an exception to their curfew policy. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports the Browns previously did not enforce their 11 p.m. curfew on injured players. Both Britt and Corey Coleman were declared out for the Texans game, and Schefter reports Britt did not get back to the team hotel until around 1:15 a.m. It’s unclear why the Browns apparently changed their policy, which resulted in Britt and Coleman being sent home. Although, Schefter reports the wideouts returned to Cleveland at the same time as their team. However, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk doesn’t believe the team that employs Josh Gordon and the one that drafted Johnny Manziel would have a double standard like this, where injured players could stay out much longer than their teammates who are preparing to play.
Kenny Britt’s Roster Spot In Jeopardy?
While neither Kenny Britt nor Corey Coleman were going to play in what turned out to be a 16-point Browns loss against the Texans, the wide receivers did not get to view the game from NRG Stadium.
The Browns sent both of their Week 1 starters home because of curfew violations, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com reports. Both injured players were not allowed to be with the team during the 33-17 loss, adding more tumult to a Browns season that’s been chock full of it.
Britt, who has battled injuries and poor play this season, received a warning from the Browns, with Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reporting newly acquired pass-catcher’s roster spot is not a given any longer. Cabot reports Britt was told he could be cut if he doesn’t “shape up.”
Knee and groin maladies sidelined the underperforming free agent signing the past two weeks. Those ailments stood to make Britt inactive in Houston, but Cabot reports Britt’s play was a factor in the Hue Jackson-led staff deeming him inactive against the Texans.
Britt is questionable for Sunday’s Titans game in Cleveland.
Both Britt and Coleman met with Cleveland’s coaching staff and apologized, Garafolo reports. Coleman is on IR with a broken hand. Britt has been a disappointment since signing a four-year, $32.5MM deal in March, making just eight catches for 121 yards through four games, and this incident did not help the ninth-year veteran’s stock with the franchise.
Browns Don’t Intend To Trade Joe Thomas
The Browns have “no intention” of trading left tackle Joe Thomas, according to Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. While that’s not an outright declaration that Thomas won’t be dealt, it’s a signal that Cleveland plans to hang onto its All Pro blindside protector.
Thomas, of course, is no stranger to trade rumors, and with the NFL’s trade deadline only two weeks away, it’s no surprise that the 32-year-old is once again the subject of league gossip. The Broncos have long been mentioned as potential suitors — Denver reportedly offered edge rusher Shane Ray plus draft picks for Thomas in 2015, and inquired on Thomas again earlier this year before drafting Garett Bolles.
Thomas, who once again ranks as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 1 tackle, would make sense for a number of contending clubs that are in need of offensive line help. The Texans, Jaguars, and Seahawks are among the clubs that could speculatively be interested in a Thomas acquisition. Seattle, specifically, has met with free agent offensive tackle Branden Albert in recent days and is reportedly interested in Houston holdout Duane Brown.
Given his excellent production, Thomas is eminently affordable. He’s signed through the 2018 campaign, and an acquiring club would be responsible for only the remainder of Thomas’ $8.8MM base salary this year and a $10MM cap hit next season. In a league where the highest-paid offensive tackles are earning $13MM+ annually, Thomas is a bargain.
Cleveland has declined to trade Thomas in past seasons, but the club is now 0-6 and 1-21 since its new regime took over prior to the 2016 season. One recent report indicated the Browns are targeting front office personnel, so any voices in the team’s decision-making hierarchy could theoretically change Cleveland’s view on a Thomas deal.
Hogan Relegated to Third String Because Of Injury
- The Browns named DeShone Kizer their starter once again today, but the other surprise announcement was that former starter Kevin Hogan had slipped behind Cody Kessler on the depth chart. Despite a poor game in his first start of the year, the move was rather unexpected, but new information sheds more light on the situation. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that Hogan is now the third QB because of bruised ribs he suffered last week. Head coach Hue Jackson addressed the injury in a media session today. “They’re pretty bruised in my opinion. … I’m not going to put (an injured) guy out there or let him go through the week,” Jackson said. Jackson went onto say that Hogan would be the backup if healthy, so it looks like this development is more of a non-story at this point.