Here are today’s minor moves.
- The Cardinals officially placed Mike Iupati on IR, sidelining the guard for at least eight weeks, and they filled his spot by promoting offensive lineman Vinston Painter from the practice squad. A 2013 draft pick, Painter’s bounced around. He saw action as a backup/special-teamer for the 2014 Browns and 2016 Redskins. The Cardinals added the swing lineman to their practice squad earlier this season.
- Linebacker Thurston Armbrister will move from the Lions‘ practice squad back to their 53-man roster, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports. Detroit placed offensive lineman Zac Kerin on IR. Kerin joins Joe Dahl among Lions offensive linemen to be IR-bound this week. The Lions also placed tackle Corey Robinson on IR earlier this season. A third-year veteran, Armbrister played in 14 games — starting two — for the Lions last season after seeing action in all 16 games for the 2015 Jaguars.
- Not known for particularly expansive pressers, Jim Caldwell succinctly assessed Taylor Decker‘s status. The fourth-year Lions coach said Decker is “progressing towards” a midseason return, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press notes. The left tackle was given a four- to six-month timetable upon a labrum tear in June. Midseason would fall in that range. Greg Robinson currently mans the left edge for the Lions.
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
Arizona Cardinals
- TE Alex Ellis; DE Jonathan Woodard (link)
Atlanta Falcons
- CB Alex Carter (link)
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Steven Johnson (link)
Buffalo Bills
- OLs Josh James and G Nate Theaker; WRs Amba Etta-Tawo and Tavarres King; S Justin Currie (link)
Detroit Lions
- OLs Willie Beavers, John Greco, and Kraig Urbik; DE Sterling Bailey (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- WRs Kolby Listenbee and Jordan Williams; LBs Richie Brown, Austin Calitro, and Jayrone Elliott (Twitter links)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB LeShun Daniels; LBs Frank Beltre and Cassanova McKinzy (link)
Los Angeles Chargers
- WR Michael Rector; LB Jonathan Freeny (Twitter links)
Los Angeles Rams
- WR Jordan Payton (link)
New York Jets
- WR Rashad Ross; TE Greg Scruggs; DE Jhaustin Thomas; LBs Gabe Martin and Brandon Watts; CB Makinton Dorleant; S Ironhead Gallon (all Twitter links)
Philadelphia Eagles
- C Anthony Fabiano; T Givens Price; CBs D.J. Killings and Damian Swann (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LBs Carl Bradford and Austin Calitro; CB Taurean Nixon (link)
Tennessee Titans
- LSs Andrew East and Anthony Kukwa (link)
Washington Redskins
- LB Otha Peters; DBs Antone Exum Jr., James Sample, and B.J. Sanders (link)
Tuesday’s workout updates (links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle or ESPN’s Adam Caplan):
Atlanta Falcons
- CB D’Joun Smith, S Chris Prosinski
Buffalo Bills
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
- LB Kennan Gilchrist, LB Trevor Bates, LB Andrew Gachkar, RB/LB Connor Harris
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Evan Baylis
Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Josh Mauga
Los Angeles Rams
Minnesota Vikings
- TE Evan Baylis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tennessee Titans
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DT Deandre Coleman
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Tim Lelito
- Placed on IR: OG Joe Dahl
Houston Texans
- Released: WR Andy Jones
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted to active roster: WR Krishawn Hogan
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: LB Justin March-Lillard
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR: WR B.J. Johnson
We’re coming up on Week 4 of the NFL season and that means that waiver claim priority will be based on the current league standings instead of last year’s. Of course, waiver priority is based on the inverted NFL standings, which have built in tiebreakers to sort out the many logjams that naturally occur.
Throughout the offseason and the first three weeks of the regular season, the Browns enjoyed top priority thanks to their 1-15 finish last year. Now, we have a brand new pecking order. Here is a full rundown of the current waiver claim priority, which will change from week to week (Twitter links via Field Yates of ESPN.com):
T-1. Bengals
T-1. Browns
T-1. 49ers
4. Giants
5. Chargers
6. Colts
T-7. Texans
T-7. Seahawks
9. Cardinals
10. Jets
11. Saints
12. Bears
13. Dolphins
14. Buccaneers
15. Ravens
T-16. Panthers
T-16. Cowboys
T-16. Rams
T-16. Steelers
T-20. Broncos
T-20. Lions
T-20. Packers
23. Vikings
T-24. Bills
T-24. Jaguars
T-24. Patriots
T-24. Raiders
T-24. Eagles
T-24. Titans
30. Redskins
31. Chiefs
32. Falcons
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Garrett Sickels
Detroit Lions
- Signed: T Dan Skipper
- Released: T Storm Norton
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Jomal Wiltz
- Released: DB Robert Nelson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Zach Pascal
- Teryl Austin‘s been a frequent visitor for teams seeking head coaching interviews in recent years. He met with the Chargers in January and spoke with the Browns, Dolphins, Giants and Eagles in 2016. The veteran Lions DC has yet to receive a chance to lead a team, and while Austin said last year he felt only two of his 2016 interviews were legitimate, some teams may have had issues with the DC’s ideas for a staff, Kyle Meinke of MLive.come notes. However, Meinke adds Austin has rectified those seemingly minor concerns, and teams “love the way he’s interviewed.” If the Lions turn in a solid defensive performance this season, Meinke envisions the 52-year-old defensive mind landing a coaching gig in 2018.
The Lions and fourth-year coach Jim Caldwell agreed to a multiyear extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, adding (Twitter link) the sides agreed to this pact months ago.
While it doesn’t automatically guarantee Caldwell will be back with Detroit next season, it will close speculation the coach was in the final year of his contract. Caldwell has fielded questions, telling media (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press) he hadn’t signed an extension, about his contract but did not disclose this deal was already in place.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter) the sides agreed to this deal in the spring.
Although Caldwell wasn’t hired by current Lions GM Bob Quinn, he has steered the team to playoff appearances in two of his first three seasons at the helm. The Lions backed into the NFC bracket last season, losing their final three games, but it was the franchise’s first time booking two postseason berths in a three-year span since making the playoffs in 1997 and ’99.
Speculation existed about a Caldwell/Lions parting due to last season’s stretch-run swoon and one-sided wild-card loss to the Seahawks, and the fact Quinn did not select him as coach. While Jeff Fisher‘s 2016 Rams extension helped show how tenuous these agreements can be, Quinn’s enjoyed more success in the Motor City than Fisher did in St. Louis and Los Angeles. That could buy him more time, and there will now be money on his deal past 2017.
Quinn has now authorized 2017 extension for two franchise centerpieces he inherited, with this deal preceding Matthew Stafford‘s August re-up.
The Lions have since started 2-0 this season and are alone atop the NFC North.