NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/26/19
A handful of practice squad moves to pass along:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OT Cody Conway
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Jonathan Owens
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Doug Middleton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: FB Johnny Stanton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Chris Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Wes Saxton
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Kenneth Durden, DL Joey Ivie
La Canfora’s Latest: Rivers, Garrett, Smith
CBS Sports scribe Jason La Canfora published his usual Sunday slate of items from around the league, including reports on the future of Panthers HC Ron Rivera in Carolina and the Titans‘ potential desire to re-sign QB Ryan Tannehill. Let’s take a look at a few more notes from JLC:
- Chargers QB Philip Rivers is eligible for free agency at season’s end, and in light of his struggles in 2019, there has already been plenty of speculation about his future with the Bolts. La Canfora says the team is currently not planning on having any extension talks with Rivers’ camp, and for his part, Rivers has shown no desire in promoting the team’s move to Los Angeles (he still lives in San Diego and spends up to four hours a day commuting to and from the Chargers’ facility). La Canfora suggests that the Chargers, who may not be picking high enough in the 2020 draft to land a top collegiate passer, could move on from Rivers but may pursue a veteran signal-caller like Cam Newton.
- La Canfora details all of the steps the league took to investigate Browns‘ DE Myles Garrett‘s claim that Steelers QB Mason Rudolph used a racial slur in the lead-up to the now infamous brawl between the two clubs, and the NFL did not find a shred of corroborating evidence. The good news for Cleveland is that the league currently has no intention of extending Garrett’s suspension into the 2020 season. Garrett will be required to schedule a meeting with the league and the union to have a “check-in” of sorts, but assuming that goes well, he should be reinstated without incident.
- Former Texans GM Rick Smith left the team after the 2017 season when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, but he is open to returning to the league in 2020 should the right opportunity emerge. He is apparently ready and able to assume all duties that go along with running a franchise, and since there may be fewer elite GM candidates in 2020 than in years past, Smith could be appealing to a number of clubs. Although Houston is currently without a GM, La Canfora says a reunion between the two sides is not in the cards.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/22/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: OL Sean Harlow
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Brandin Bryant, DE Porter Gustin
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Ahmad Gooden
- Waived: TE Orson Charles
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Joel Heath, WR Steven Mitchell
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jason Vander Laan
- Placed on IR: WR Austin Carr
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from the practice squad: TE Tyrone Swoopes
Injury Notes: Vernon, Falcons, Njoku, Cole
With defensive lineman Myles Garrett and Larry Objunjobi suspended for this week’s matchup against the Bengals, the Browns were hoping to invite starting end Olivier Vernon back into the lineup after missing the team’s previous two games with a knee injury. However, according to Mary Kay Kabot of Cleveland.com, Vernon has been ruled out for Sunday’s contest, leaving Sheldon Richardson as the team’s only primary starter along the defensive front.
It has been a chaotic season for Cleveland, reaching a climax in last Thursday’s on-field fight with the Steelers. Hoping to put that in the rear-view mirror the Browns will have to rely heavily on their depth to build some positive momentum.
Here’s some more injury notes from around the NFL:
- The Falcons will be without two of their primary offensive weapons this weekend. Running back Devonta Freeman and tight end Austin Hooper are both out for this Sunday’s game alongside rotational defensive back Kemal Ishmael, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitutional.
- Browns tight end David Njoku will not return this week from the injured reserve, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Njoku, who has been rehabbing a wrist injury, returned to practice this week, but is not quite ready for game action.
- Texans linebacker Dylan Cole is out for the season with a torn ACL, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle. Cole served as Houston’s primary backup at two linebacker positions and played a major role in the team’s special teams. He played in 11 games and recorded 16 tackles on the season. Going forward, the Texans will need to sure up their depth on special teams and on the second level of their defense.
Texans Activate TE Jordan Thomas From IR
The Texans will have an additional tight end option beginning Thursday night. They activated Jordan Thomas off IR.
A second-year player acquired in the 2018 sixth round, Thomas has spent the entire regular season on IR. Thomas, who saw a cracked rib delay his sophomore NFL season, returned to practice last week.
The Mississippi State product started 10 games last season and played in 16. He caught 20 passes for 215 yards and scored four touchdowns as a rookie. Houston has seen Darren Fells deliver as a red zone option this season; his six receiving TDs already match the Texans’ single-season record. Adding Thomas to this mix stands to help Deshaun Watson, who will also get Will Fuller back tonight.
The Texans also promoted safety Jonathan Owens from their practice squad. Justin Reid and Mike Adams are out tonight, leaving Houston shorthanded on its back line. Houston waived defensive end Joel Heath and wideout Steven Mitchell to clear the necessary roster space.
Will Fuller To Return In Week 12
- T.Y. Hilton believes he will be given the green light to play in Thursday night’s Colts-Texans game, per James Palmer of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Colts do not have an issue with Hilton playing despite not practicing this week. Indianapolis’ top skill-position talent has missed the past three games with a calf injury. Hilton has dominated during recent games in Houston. In two games there last season, he combined for 14 receptions for 284 yards.
- Will Fuller will return to action for the Texans tonight, Bill O’Brien said (via ESPN.com’s Ed Werder, on Twitter). Fuller has also missed the past three games, with the Texans deep threat’s absence due to a pulled hamstring.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/18/19
Today’s updates from the workout circuit:
Cleveland Browns
- LB B.J. Blunt, Tank Carradine, WR Jawill Davis, S A.J. Howard, WR Damion Jeanpiere, WR Tyron Johnson, WR J’Mon Moore, S Jacob Thieneman, RB Roc Thomas, OL Leonard Wester
Houston Texans
- OL John Wetzel
Jacksonville Jaguars
- FB George Aston, TE Drew Belcher, TE Matt Flanagan, FB Ryan Yurachek
New York Jets
Oakland Raiders
- LB Malik Jefferson, RB Rod Smith, RB Mark Thompson
Texans To Cut T Seantrel Henderson
Seantrel Henderson‘s Texans tenure did not end up going as planned, and the team ended the run on Monday. The Texans cut the veteran tackle from its NFI list, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Henderson played in four games this season but has spent most of the year on Houston’s NFI list due to a back injury. Despite Henderson missing 15 games last season, the Texans re-signed him to a one-year, $1.5MM deal.
The Texans made significant investments at tackle since, though, and now use Laremy Tunsil and first-round pick Tytus Howard at those spots. Henderson ended up being active for just five games during his two-year Texans tenure. This season, though, Henderson started one game and only played one offensive snap in his final three Texans contests. An ankle malady ended his 2018 season early.
Despite being a seventh-round pick, the 27-year-old blocker has enjoyed a lengthy NFL career. The Miami alum started 26 games during his first two seasons with the Bills before being used as a depth piece from 2016-17. He could represent a depth piece for an offensive line-needy team to close out this season.
Browns Notes: Johnson, Garrett Interview, Contract
Running back Duke Johnson was acquired by the Texans from the Browns earlier this year for a conditional draft pick. Johnson has met the conditions in the agreement so Cleveland will receive Houston’s third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Johnson was holding out for the duration of the offseason attempting to force his way out of Cleveland. The Browns honored his request in the first week of August after they found an amenable agreement with Houston. Since joining the Texans this season, Johnson has appeared in every game of the season for the Texans, rushing for 287 yards on 54 carries, while hauling in 22 receptions for 228 yards.
Here’s more from around the Browns notes:
- Suspended Browns defensive end Myles Garrett had agreed to an interview with Jay Glazer of Fox Sports, but Cleveland’s higher ups called the first overall pick in the 2017 Draft into their office and told him he could not do the interview, per Glazer. After Garrett’s unprecedented fight against the Steelers, which included swinging a helmet at quarterback Mason Rudolph‘s bare head, it would obviously be valuable to hear from the rusher. However, the team is also working in its best interest being cautious with Garrett’s persona given the drama surrounding his current situation.
- Garrett’s suspension will obviously cost him a substantial amount of money, but Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap details the specific ramifications for the young star. Fitzgerald notes that recent changes in rookie contract structures that have de-emphasized signing bonuses and placed more emphasis on base salaries has cost Garrett and could have ramifications for prospects in the future.
Texans Workout Joshua Garnett
The Texans have been banged up on the offensive line recently, and are apparently exploring the veteran free agent market. Houston worked out former first-round pick Joshua Garnett Friday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). 
Wilson notes that Garnett wasn’t immediately signed to a contract, but he says the workout went well and that Garnett ranks high on the team’s list of available O-lineman (Twitter link). The 49ers drafted the guard 28th overall out of Stanford back in 2016. After starting 11 games as a rookie, he missed the entire 2017 season after undergoing knee surgery. He failed to win a starting job last season, and was hurt for most of the year. After declining his fifth-year option, the 49ers then waived him at final cuts this past training camp.
Garnett is still only 25 and has been the victim of some bad injury luck, so it’s a bit surprising he hasn’t been able to resurface yet. He also worked out for the Seahawks and Titans back in September, but nothing materialized.