Daryl Richardson

Extra Points: Bengals, Lewis, Eagles, Foles, Chiefs, AAF

The Bengals are counting on some new coaching roles making a major difference this season. Marvin Lewis survived another year on the hot seat but knew he would need to rearrange his staff after another disappointing season. Teryl Austin will succeed now-Raiders DC Paul Guenther in running Cincinnati’s defense, and Lewis made Bill Lazor the full-time OC. The team jettisoned longtime offensive line coach Paul Alexander as well, with other new staffers coming in to help a team that’s fallen in the AFC hierarchy the past two years.

I made up my mind I wanted to coach,” Lewis said, via Jonathan Jones of SI.com. “So, do I want to go start over somewhere where I don’t know the people or coach these group of guys downstairs that no one else has? That’s an easy decision. You look at what’s open and these are the best players. And that’s what you want.

I knew we were going to have a lot of change on the coaching staff. I knew I had to make changes and those are the things that (owner) Mike (Brown) and I had to discuss. I had to make changes on people that had been with me for a long time and had been friends, and it’s difficult.”

Lewis added that he didn’t want to make wholesale roster changes, pointing out the number of Pro Bowlers still on the team, but the Bengals aren’t receiving much attention as a contender this season. They’re hoping these staff moves can re-route them back to the AFC playoffs.

Here’s the latest from the football landscape:

  • The Eagles received a scare Thursday night when Super Bowl MVP and temporary starting quarterback Nick Foles went down with a shoulder injury. The shoulder sprain Foles suffered is believed to be a minor malady and not one that will require a significant rehab effort, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. It’s looking like it will come down to the wire on whom the defending Super Bowl champions will start at quarterback on opening night, with Carson Wentz unlikely to play in the preseason. The Eagles not having Foles would throw a major wrench in their plans, despite third-stringer Nate Sudfeld having a nice offseason.
  • Steven Nelson will be a full-time outside cornerback this season, Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star notes. This change emerged in the offseason, one that featured breakout slot man Kendall Fuller’s arrival, but the Chiefs are evidently committed to trying Nelson – their most frequent slot corner over the past two seasons – as an outside man. The 2015 third-round pick is entering a contract year. While Kansas City has looked at other corners this month – Bashaud Breeland and Orlando Scandrick – the trio of Fuller, Nelson and David Amerson remains atop the depth chart. Nelson did leave the Chiefs’ game Friday night with a head injury, however.
  • Former Jets second-round pick Stephen Hill and ex-Titans backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger are two of the notable new names signed on to play for the Alliance of American Football. The AAF announced 100 more players will join. Ex-Rams running back Daryl Richardson, former Saints and Jets ball carrier Khiry Robinson, linebacker Deontae Skinner and running back Storm Johnson are among the new contingent. Former Giants and Ravens safety Will Hill and veteran kicker Nick Novak, who was with the Chargers last season, were among the first wave to sign.

Redskins Audition RB Ronnie Hillman

With Rob Kelley dealing with multiple injuries to his left knee, the Redskins auditioned several free agent running backs today. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), the team worked out Ronnie Hillman and Daryl Richardson.

Ronnie Hillman (vertical)Coach Jay Gruden confirmed earlier today that Kelley suffered a high ankle sprain and an MCL sprain. The 25-year-old is set to miss several games, leaving the team with only a pair of healthy running backs in Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson. The three running backs have each had an opportunity to establish themselves atop the depth chart this season, with Thompson leading the way with 771 all-purpose yards.

Hillman signed with the Cowboys during the offseason, be he was ultimately released prior to the start of the regular season. He appeared in eight games (one start) with the Vikings and Chargers last season, compiling 131 rushing yards on 41 carries. It’s only been two seasons since Hillman broke out with 863 rushing yards, but the 26-year-old hasn’t been able to find a consistent gig since.

Richardson has only appeared in 11 games since 2013, spending time with the Jets, Texans, Browns, Steelers, Jaguars, and Colts. His best season came in 2012, when he ran for 475 yards and hauled in 24 receptions for 163 yards.

NFL Workout Updates: 9/13/17

Today’s workout updates, with nearly all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Colts Down To 53

The Colts made major news on Saturday when they shipped wide receiver Phillip Dorsett to the Patriots in exchange for quarterback Jacoby Brissett. After that, they had the daunting task of bringing their bloated preseason roster down to the 53-man max in time for the deadline. Here’s the complete rundown.

Waived:

Waived/Injured:

Released:

Placed On IR:

PUP List:

Richardson, who once had a prominent role with the Rams, joined the Colts on Aug. 29 and was viewed as a longshot to make the final cut.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/17

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

New England Patriots

  • Waived: LB Christian Kuntz

New Orleans Saints

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Jaguars Sign 16 UDFAs, Cut 11 Players

The Jaguars announced that they have signed 16 undrafted free agents. In order to make room, they have released eleven players from the roster. Here’s the full rundown:

Signed:

Released:

Dimick led the Pac-12 in sacks last season with 13.5 and earned a first-team All-Conference selection. Prior to the draft, one NFC West Coast scout told Lance Zierlein of NFL.com that Dimick’s work ethic is admirable, but his lack of natural talent may inhibit him at the next level.

He’s more try-hard than talented. His effort is great. I love how hard he plays, but when you are as sawed-off as he is on the edge and you can’t unlock your hips, I don’t know how he is going to see the field,” the scout said.

Horton got $25K guaranteed from the Jaguars between his $5K bonus and $20K guaranteed base, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets.

The Jags’ roster is now at the 90-man max.

 

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/16

Here are the minor moves coming on Christmas Eve.

  • The Steelers made several moves in advance of their Week 16 clash with the Ravens, signing defensive lineman Johnny Maxey and cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. To make room, Pittsburgh cut running back Daryl Richardson and moved cornerback Shamarko Thomas to IR.
  • With Darius Slay‘s status murky for Monday night’s Lions-Cowboys game, Detroit promoted second-year cornerback Alex Carter from its practice squad, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports (on Twitter). Carter came to the Motor City as a third-round pick in 2015 but saw an injury scrap his rookie season and did not make the 2016 team out of training camp. Carter, who will take Corey Lemonier‘s roster spot, has yet to play in an NFL game despite the Day 2 draft pedigree.
  • The Ravens placed second-round rookie Kamalei Correa on IR with a rib injury and promoted Brennen Beyer from their practice squad to take his place, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports. Correa finishes the season with three tackles and a fumble forced in nine games (one start).

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/19/16

Here are today’s minor moves.

  • On a day that featured more impactful Steelers transactions, the team promoted running back Daryl Richardson from its practice squad, Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Richardson’s being promoted to compensate for DeAngelo Williams‘ second straight absence with a knee injury. The former Rams contributor has taken two handoffs this season, now Richardson’s fifth, gaining seven yards.
  • Once given a chance to win a starting inside linebacker job with the Packers, Carl Bradford will return to Green Bay’s active roster after logging extensive time on its practice squad, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. The third-year linebacker will replace tight end Justin Perillo, whom the team cut as it prepares for the likely return of Jared Cook. A former fourth-round pick in 2014, Bradford has yet to play in a regular-season game.
  • To make room for their addition of long snapper Rick Lovato, the Redskins cut defensive tackle Jordan Hill, John Keim of ESPN.com reports. Washington signed Hill, a former regular rotation player in Seattle, earlier this month after the Seahawks cut him from their IR list.
  • The Bears promoted defensive lineman Jimmy Staten from their practice squad and cut cornerback De’Vante Bausby, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Sun-Times reports (on Twitter). Like Hill, Staten is a former Seahawks draft choice, arriving in Seattle via fifth-round pick in 2014. A product of Division II Pittsburg State, Bausby has a seven-tackle game to his credit during his rookie season, making seven stops against the Packers last month.
  • The Giants promoted interior offensive lineman Shane McDermott off their practice squad and waived linebacker Deontae Skinner, James Kratch of NJ.com tweets. A guard/center, McDermott could be insurance for interior-line backup Adam Gettis, Kratch notes, for a Giants team that recently lost Justin Pugh and Brett Jones. McDermott has yet to play in an NFL game. Skinner hasn’t played in one since 2014, when he played in seven and started in one for the Patriots.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/3/16

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: LB Nordly Capi (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Cut: QB Jake Heaps (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Steelers Activate Le’Veon Bell

As expected, the Steelers have activated running back Le’Veon Bell to the 53-man roster (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). In a corresponding move, running back Daryl Richardson has been released, as Mark Kaboly of DKPittsburghSports.com tweetsLe'Veon Bell (vertical)

The Steelers got a roster exemption for Bell this week, giving them until this afternoon. Bell, of course, was suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Typically, that would carry a four-game ban, but Bell had the suspension bumped down to three games upon appeal. In his stead, veteran DeAngelo Williams has been exceptional running for more than 250 yards and two touchdowns on 66 carries with 14 receptions.

As good as Williams has been, the Steelers are obviously excited to have Bell back in the lineup. In Bell’s six game campaign last year, he averaged a career-best 4.9 yards per carry with 24 catches for 136 yards. With both Bell and Williams incorporated in the offense, the Steelers will look to get back on track when they face the Chiefs on Sunday night.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.