Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/17
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Kevin Snyder
- Cut: LB Connor Harris
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Lorenzo Doss
- Waived: OL Will Pericak
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Alex Carter
- Waived: WR Mario Alford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DL Josh Tupou
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Jacob Hagen
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Jace Billingsley, DB Stefan McClure
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Jeremy Liggins
- Waived: G Ian Silberman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DE Francis Kallon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Brooks Ellis, WR Jaelen Strong
- Waived: DL Marcus Hardison
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, DB Marcus Sayles
- Waived: OL Jeremiah Poutasi
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB De’Veon Smith
New England Patriots
- Waived: DT Mike Purcell
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Kyle Coleman, LB Kache Palacio
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jake Lampman, T Givens Price, CB David Rivers
Packers TE Lance Kendricks Facing Charges
Packers tight end Lance Kendricks is eyeing a pair of charges stemming from a traffic stop back in September. TMZ reports that the 29-year-old is facing charges for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Kendricks was clocked going at least 10 over in a 70 mph zone when he was headed home from a Wisconsin Badgers game in early September (the player also received a warning for speeding). When officers subsequently pulled him over, they “could smell a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.” Kendricks initially denied that he was in possession of any drugs, but he eventually admitted to having marijuana in his glove box. Cops also found a bad containing a “”green leafy substance,” 2 packs of rolling papers, and a blue grinder.” The Outagamie County District Attorney will now handle the case.
After having spent the first six seasons of his career with the Rams organization, Kendricks signed a two-year deal with the Packers this past offseason. After finishing the 2016 season with a career-high 50 receptions, Kendricks has only hauled in 10 catches for 140 yards and one touchdown this season. With Martellus Bennett now out of the picture, Kendricks sits atop the team’s tight end depth chart.
As our own Zach Links noted earlier this week, Kendricks likely won’t face any punishment from the NFL during the 2017 season, as the league office typically waits for a legal resolution. However, we could hear more about potential discipline prior to the 2018 campaign.
Kendricks isn’t the first Packers players to face charges for marijuana possession. Earlier this week, we heard that running back Aaron Jones was facing similar charges, including operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in his system (along with speeding and driving without a valid license).
Packers' Kenny Clark To Miss Time?
- Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark suffered a high-ankle sprain on Sunday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The injury does not appear to be a season-ender, but he may miss multiple games.
Packers RB Aaron Jones Facing Charges
Packers running back Aaron Jones is facing multiple charges stemming from a traffic stop in October, as Michael Cohen of the Journal Sentinel details. Jones, who told authorities that he had smoked marijuana, pleaded not guilty to counts of speeding, driving without a valid license, and operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in his system. The arrest happened on Oct. 2, but was previously unreported. 
Jones is currently sidelined with a knee injury suffered against the Bears earlier this month. In a best case scenario, the 22-year-old could be back on the field in a couple of weeks. The far end of his timetable (six weeks at the time of the injury) would rule him out until Week 17 against the Lions (Dec. 31). While he’s out, Jamaal Williams will serve as Green Bay’s starting running back.
The legal run-in likely won’t affect Jones in 2017 since the NFL tends to wait for a legal resolution before acting on charges such as these. However, he may face league discipline in 2018.
The UTEP product was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated last year, so that may have some bearing on his case.
Latest On Bryan Bulaga
- The Packers placed offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga on injured reserve Saturday, and now Green Bay will face a complicated decision on the veteran lineman’s future this offeason, as Ryan Wood of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. While Bulaga has been an effective right tackle when healthy, he missed five games with injury in 2015 and now has two torn ACLs (one on each knee) on his record. Bulaga will be 29 years old when the 2018 season begins, and is due a $5.85MM base salary next year. If Green Bay did decide to cut ties, it would save $5.15MM on its salary cap.
Latest On Ty Montgomery
- Ty Montgomery‘s re-aggravated rib injury is more painful than the original injury that he suffered earlier in the year, as ESPN’s Josina Anderson tweets. Anderson said the Packers running back, who will miss today’s contest against the Ravens, will try to practice later this week with the hopes of suiting up for Green Bay’s Week 12 game against Pittsburgh, but it does not sound particularly promising right now.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: FB Joe Kerridge
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Adam Bighill
- Waived: T Bryce Harris
Packers Place Bryan Bulaga On IR, Activate Jason Spriggs
The Packers made the decision to swap out higher-profile tackles on Saturday, placing Bryan Bulaga on IR and activating Jason Spriggs from the injured list, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Both moves were expected, although with Bulaga having torn his ACL against the Lions in Week 9, there was a bit of a delay compared to how these proceedings usually unfold.
Spriggs returned to practice earlier this month; he’s spent most of the season on IR. But he now could be in the mix for key playing time down the stretch for a Packers team with a goal to maintain a contention spot until Aaron Rodgers is eligible to return.
Spriggs will almost certainly be the final IR-boomerang player until a decision is made on Rodgers, who is eligible to return in Week 15. But this isn’t a certainty, and the Packers acknowledge they need to be competing for a playoff spot to bring their all-world quarterback back.
Bulaga has now torn ACLs in both of his knees during his career. He suffered a torn ACL in 2013 that wiped out his whole season. This one will end after five games. Green Bay’s starting right tackle has two years left on the extension he signed in 2015.
Spriggs suffered a hamstring injury in September but will return to action. The 2016 second-round pick figures to be an option at right tackle, along with Justin McCray. Bulaga joins Kyle Murphy as Pakcers tackles on IR.
Latest On Packers’ Aaron Rodgers
For the first time since breaking his collarbone in mid-October, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers stepped foot on the practice field, the team announced. Rodgers went through some conditioning and footwork drills and simulated his throwing motion with a towel, which is ostensibly a good sign for his progress. Still, Rodgers is looking to temper expectations. 
“It was just good being back on the practice field,” Rodgers said in a text message to Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. “Schedule hasn’t changed. Out eight weeks. Only back if it’s completely healed.”
Although Rodgers was practicing at the team’s facility, he did not actually participate in the team’s practice. Per league rules, he won’t be able to do that for another two weeks. The earliest that Rodgers could suit up and play would be for Green Bay’s Dec. 17 game against the Panthers (in Carolina), but there has been no indication from Rodgers nor the team of that being a possibility.
At best, it sounds like Rodgers would be looking at a potential return against the Vikings in Week 16 or the Lions in Week 17. However, Rodgers has said that he’ll only return if it “makes sense” for him to do so, meaning the Packers will have to be in the playoff chase.
The Packers are currently 5-4 heading into Sunday’s game against the Ravens. They trail the 7-2 Vikings for the divisional lead while the Lions (5-4) hold the tiebreaker over them.
Packers Notes: Goodson, Ogunbowale
- Linebacker Dadi Nicolas (Chiefs) and cornerback Demetri Goodson (Packers) have both begun practicing and now have a 21-day window during which they can be activated from the physically unable to perform list, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter links). As Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes, the Chiefs are dealing with a number of injuries at linebacker, meaning Nicolas — who appeared in 11 games a season ago — could provide depth. Goodson made three starts for Green Bay in 2016 before going down with a torn ACL.
- The Packers worked out running back Dare Ogunbowale on Wednesday while the Giants took a look at kicker Marshall Koehn, tweets Balzer. Green Bay is dealing with injuries to both Aaron Jones and Ty Montgomery, so the club is looking for backfield options. New York, meanwhile, has now auditioned kickers in two consecutive days, a sign the team could be frustrated with incumbent Aldrick Rosas‘ 66.7% field goal conversion rate.