South Rumors: Panthers, Colts, Watt
Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen will get a chance to rebound from the worst start of his career. After a three-interception performance against the 49ers, Allen will make his sixth start of the season, Ron Rivera confirmed. Cam Newton will not return from his foot injury this week against the Titans. Instead, Newton will continue to rehab, according to David Newton of ESPN.com. Newton has been out since re-injuring his foot in Week 2 against the Buccaneers.
Here’s some other notes from the South:
- J.J. Watt underwent a successful surgery on his torn pectoral muscle earlier Tuesday, according to James Palmer of NFL.com. Watt, who has consistently been one of the best players in football since entering the league in 2011, suffered a season-ending injury Sunday against the Raiders. Currently in prime playoff position, the Texans will have to make another push without Watt on the field. Houston did not have Watt for its 2016 playoff run.
- Colts ownership has given Chris Ballard full autonomy in player personnel decisions, according to Stephen Holder of The Athletic (subscription required). Owner Jim Irsay encouraged the front office to pursue an unnamed linebacker in free agency, but did not force them to join a bidding war for a defender his football operations office did not deem worth a certain price tag. “I gave (Ballard) unfettered approval …” Irsay said, via Holder. “And he still backed out. He said, ‘They went to this number and, Jim, I just couldn’t.” This doesn’t necessarily name C.J. Mosley, but the Colts were interested in the ex-Ravens standout before the linebacker signed a record-setting contract with the Jets.
- Although the Falcons have slipped well out of contention, Matt Ryan is set to return after their Week 9 bye.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/29/19
Here is an update on workouts around the league:
Baltimore Ravens
- P Jack Fox, WR De’Anthony Thomas
Buffalo Bills
- LB Keishawn Bierria, DL Raymond Davison, LB Del’Shawn Phillips
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Christian Sam, DT Adolphus Washington, CB Kyle Wilson
Jacksonville Jaguars
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
- WR Jeff Badet, WR K.J. Brent, WR Rashard Davis, QB Taylor Heinicke, QB Josh Johnson, QB Chase Litton
NFL Workout Updates: 10/23/19
Today’s workout updates:
Detroit Lions
- T Casey Tucker; Ss Kentrell Brice, Marcus Gilchrist, David Jones (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Indianapolis Colts
- DE Tashawn Bower; DTs Justin Ellis, Christian Ringo (link via Wilson)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DE Jonathan Bonner; DTs P.J. Johnson, Ray Smith (Twitter link via Howard Balzer)
Miami Dolphins
- OTs Dino Boyd, Pace Murphy, Tyler Roemer; DTs Daryle Banfield, Jalen Dalton, Eddie Vanderdoes (link via Wilson)
New Orleans Saints
- FB Ricky Ortiz; WRs Jonathan Duhart, Jake Lampman, Charone Peake; CB Captain Munnerlyn; S Briean Boddy-Calhoun (link via Balzer)
AFC South Notes: Hooker, Funchess, Lee
Colts safety Malik Hooker will be back in the lineup for the first time since Week 3, according to Mike Chappell of Fox 59. Hooker was close to returning last week against the Texans, but instead was held out to allow for a completely recovery. Now, per the report, Hooker is “a full go.”
Hooker had damaged his meniscus in Week 3 against the Falcons and was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, right in line with a return this week. Coming off an impressive victory over Houston, the Colts are in the driver’s seat in the AFC South at 4-2 and will be happy to get a starter back in their secondary.
Here is some more news from around the AFC South:
- Colts head coach Frank Reich told reporters that wide receiver Devin Funchess should return to practice next week, according to Mike Wells of ESPN.com. Funchess was placed on injured reserve after suffering a clavicle injury in the team’s season opener. The Colts signed Funchess to a one-year, $10MM contract this offseason, but have yet to reap much on-field production for their signing. Prior to the injury, Funchess had three receptions for 32 yards.
- The Jaguars expect a wide receiver of their own, Marqise Lee, to be back next week according to head coach Doug Marrone, via John Oesher of Jaguars.com. Lee missed all of 2018 with a torn-ACL, but had a strong track-record of success from 2017-2018, where he accumulated 119 receptions for 1,553 receiving yards. In his return this season, Lee was beginning to work his way into the rotation when he came down with an ankle injury that has had him out since Week 6.
2019 NFL Cap Space, By Team
With eight days to go before the 2019 trade deadline, here’s a look at the cap space possessed by each team, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter):
1. Colts: $43.5M
2. Browns: $32.9M
3. Dolphins: $28M
4. Bills: $24.7M
5. Cowboys: $24M
6. Titans: $23.7
7. Chiefs: $23.1M
8. Raiders: $22.4M
9. Eagles: $22.2M
10. Texans: $21.6M
11. Lions: $18.9M
12. Bears: $17M
13. 49ers: $14.4M
14. Panthers: $14.2M
15. Bengals: $13.6M
16. Redskins: $13.5M
17. Jaguars: $10.3M
18. Broncos: $10M
19. Packers: $9.5M
20. Seahawks: $7.8M
21. Buccaneers: $6.5M
22. Jets: $6.1M
23. Rams: $4.6M
24. Cardinals: $4.1M
25. Chargers: $4.1M
26. Steelers: $3.4M
27. Patriots: $2.5M
28. Giants: $2.2M
29. Ravens: $2.1M
30. Saints: $1.9M
31. Falcons: $1.7M
32. Vikings: $623K
Injury Updates: Packers, Adams, Cardinals
No surprise here, but Davante Adams will miss another game this week, per the Packers‘ final injury report. This marks the wide receiver’s third-straight missed contest as he rehabs from a toe ailment.
Adams had a strong start to the season with 25 receptions for 378 yards before going down and seemed on his way to matching last year’s 111/1,386 posting. The Packers were able to get past the Lions without him and they’ll aim to do the same against the Raiders.
Here’s the latest on other bumps and bruises from around the NFL:
- Uh oh – Cardinals running back David Johnson is dealing with a new injury. After tweaking his back against Atlanta, Johnson will be a game time decision thanks to a sore ankle, head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters.
- The Cowboys will have offensive tackles Tyron Smith and La’el Collins, wide receivers Amari Cooper and Randall Cobb, and cornerback Byron Jones are set to play on Sunday against the Eagles, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. All five are listed as questionable for the game, but they took the practice field and Friday and should be good to go.
- The Eagles, on the other hand, will try to fly without: linebacker Nigel Bradham (ankle), wide receiver DeSean Jackson (abdomen), defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan (foot), cornerback Avonte Maddox (concussion/neck), tackle Jason Peters (knee), and running back Darren Sproles (quadricep).
- Wide receiver Kenny Stills is set to return on Sunday against the Colts, per the club’s injury report.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/16/19
Here is the latest from the workout circuit:
Chicago Bears
- DL Daryle Banfield, DL Fadol Brown, C Anthony Fabiano, DL P.J. Johnson, T Kyle Murphy, C Keegan Render, DL Jay-Tee Tiuli (per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, on Twitter)
Cincinnati Bengals
- DE Nate Orchard, DT Anthony Zettel (via the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, on Twitter)
Cleveland Browns
- LB Marquis Flowers (per Wilson, on Twitter)
Green Bay Packers
- S Chris Johnson, RB David Williams (per Wilson, on Twitter)
Houston Texans
- T Chris Clark, T Kyle Murphy (per Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com, on Twitter)
Indianapolis Colts
- DB Trae Elston, S Mike Tyson, DB Isaiah Wharton (via Wilson, on Twitter)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DT Justin Ellis, DL Mike Pennel (per Wilson, on Twitter)
New England Patriots
- K Nick Folk, K Greg Joseph, K Austin MacGinnis, K/P Austin Rehkow, K Giorgio Tavecchio (per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
New Orleans Saints
- RB Travaris Cadet (via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, on Twitter)
New York Jets
- C Ryan Crozier, DL Corbin Kaufusi, C James Murray (per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News and Wilson, Twitter links)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB Tony Brooks-James, RB Darrin Hall (via Wilson, on Twitter)
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Andrew Dowell (visit), LB Brady Sheldon, LB Sutton Smith, LB Pita Taumoepenu (via Balzer, Twitter links)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LB Keishawn Bierria, DB Jordan Brown, C Anthony Fabiano, LB Robert McCray, WR Eli Rogers, RB Aca’Cedric Ware, LB Kyle Wilson (per Jenna Laine and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
Tennessee Titans
- LB Nigel Harris (per Wilson, on Twitter)
Washington Redskins
- FB Tommy Bohanon, FB Michael Burton, FB Derrick Coleman, RB Josh Ferguson, FB Tre Madden, FB Elijah Wellman (according to Wilson and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Twitter links)
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/15/19
Here’s a rundown of early-week minor NFL moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL John Wetzel
- Waived/Injured: P Matt Wile
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S Bennett Jackson (from Jets’ practice squad)
- Placed on IR: S DeShon Elliott
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: WR Ray-Ray McCloud
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Alex Bars
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed: OL Fred Johnson (from Steelers)
- Placed on IR: DE Kerry Wynn
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: DT John Atkins
- Waived: WR Tom Kennedy
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: TE Evan Baylis
- Released: CB Tremon Smith
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Dan Skipper (from Patriots’ practice squad)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Carl Davis
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed: CB Ryan Lewis (from Eagles)
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DE Tashawn Bower
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE Eric Tomlinson
- Placed on IR: FB Jakob Johnson
- Waived: QB Cody Kessler
New York Jets
- Signed: S Blake Countess
- Waived: CB Arthur Maulet
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: CB Ryan Lewis
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Alex Ellis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DE L.T. Walton
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Devante Bond, WR Bobo Wilson
Washington Redskins
- Signed: FB Michael Burton
- Placed on IR: TE Jerome Cunningham
Colts Work Out Shane Ray, Andre Branch
After placing Kemoko Turay on IR, the Colts are looking for defensive line help. They worked out veterans Shane Ray, Andre Branch and Eddie Vanderdoes, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
Ray has worked out for the Cardinals, Jets and Bears since the Ravens released him after their preseason slate. The former Broncos first-rounder has not caught on with any team since that Baltimore departure.
Branch landed briefly with the Cardinals this offseason but was cut. The Raiders, who worked out Branch this season, recently waived Vanderdoes. A 2017 third-round pick, Vanderdoes has not played since the 2017 season.
Ray spent four seasons with the Broncos, while Branch has played seven seasons — four with the Jaguars, three with the Dolphins. The latter’s commitment to a 2019 rebuild resulted in the veteran’s release.
Behind starters Justin Houston and Jabaal Sheard, the Colts have rookie Ben Banogu and Al-Quadin Muhammad. The latter is a third-year player who landed in Indianapolis last year via waiver claim. Turay suffered an injury during the Colts’ most recent game, an upset win over the Chiefs.
Darius Leonard Clears Concussion Protocol
Reigning defensive rookie of the year Darius Leonard has missed the past three Colts games, but the standout linebacker is on his way back. Frank Reich announced he cleared concussion protocol.
The Colts, who also announced starting safety Clayton Geathers is out of the protocol, had a Week 6 bye and will face the Texans in a pivotal AFC South matchup Sunday. Leonard suffered his concussion in Indianapolis’ Week 2 win against Tennessee.
Although Indianapolis managed to win two of its three games without Leonard, including a smash-mouth performance in Kansas City that featured a few key Colts absences, its defense will obviously be a more formidable unit with the burgeoning-star linebacker healthy. Leonard earned first-team All-Pro recognition as a rookie.
The Division I-FCS product dominated as a rookie, registering 163 tackles, seven sacks and four forced fumbles in 2018. He’s one of many Chris Ballard-era second-round picks to make an impact. A Ryan Grigson-era fourth-rounder, Geathers has struggled with injuries in his career but was one of a few Colts starters to re-sign this offseason. He only missed the Chiefs game due to his concussion.