NFL Workout Updates: 12/24/18
Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Cincinnati Bengals:
- K’s Ty Long (BC CFL), Tristan Vizcaino
Detroit Lions:
- LSs Justin Drescher, Taybor Pepper, Zach Triner; TE Erik Swoope; RB Kerwynn Williams
Indianapolis Colts:
- S Harold Jones-Quartey; LB Chris Odom; WR Brian Quick; Julius Warmsley
Kansas City Chiefs:
- LB Josh Keyes, RB Terry Swanson
New York Giants:
- DEs Tobi Antigha (SASK), Jake Ceresna (EDM); QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CALG); WRs Bryant Mitchell (EDM), Jordan Williams-Lambert (SASK); RB Terry Williams
Philadelphia Eagles:
- WRs Carlton Agudosi, Marken Michel (CALG), Devin Smith; DB Mercy Maston (EDM); LBs Alex Singleton (CALG), Jameer Thurman (CALG)
Pittsburgh Steelers:
- QB Max Browne; LB Sam Eguavoen (SASK); DE Avery Ellis (OTT); WR Dominique Rhymes (OTT
Tennessee Titans:
- WRs Kaelin Clay, Kalif Raymond; LB Tyrone Holmes; RB Akeem Hunt; DE Hau’oli Kikaha; LB Anthony Winbush
Washington Redskins:
- QBs Max Browne and Joe Callahan, WRs Tre McBride and Carlos Henderson, TE Jace Amaro, OTs Isaiah Battle and Cyrus Kouandjio, DE Hau’oli Kikaha and LB Corey Nelson
This time of year, a lot of teams are auditioning guys for potential reserve/futures deals to be a part of their 90-man rosters for 2019. It’s also common to see a lot of CFL guys getting looks this time of year, because players participating in the 2018 CFL season aren’t eligible to sign NFL contracts until after the regular season is over.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/22/18
Today’s minor moves will be posted here:
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Lavon Coleman
- Placed on injured reserve: CB Will Redmond
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: S Rolan Milligan
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: OT Elijah Nkansah
- Waived: WR Malik Turner
Colts Work Out Marcus Smith
Former Eagles first-rounder Marcus Smith worked out for the Colts this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The defensive end spent time with the Redskins earlier season, but his stint in D.C. lasted less than two weeks. 
[RELATED: Le’Veon Bell Eyeing Deal With Colts]
Smith entered the league with tons of hype for his athletic ability, but he has not been able to piece it altogether. He was largely ineffective for the Eagles and his second act with the Seahawks ended this summer when he flirted with retirement. Smith did manage 2.5 sacks in both 2016 and 2017, but he has never started an NFL game in his five seasons.
With two games to go, the Colts have a 34% chance of reaching the postseason, per FiveThirtyEight. With wins over the Giants and Titans, they’ll be virtually assured of a Wild Card spot.
Le’Veon Bell Targeting Colts
The Jets are believed to be targeting Le’Veon Bell this offseason, but he has his eyes on the Colts, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY hears. It’s a situation that is all too familiar for the Jets who tried, and failed, to land the most coveted free agent in offseason’s class. 
The source, who has spoken to Bell, said the running back hasn’t ruled out the Jets or any other team, but the Colts are at “the top of his list” because of Andrew Luck and the team’s cap room that could exceed $120MM.
“He has his eyes on the Colts, no doubt about that,” the source said. “He sees Luck and that offense and all that cap room and they’re much closer than the Jets. He wants to go someplace he can win right away.”
Last year, the Jets went hard after Kirk Cousins, despite rumblings that they were just being used for leverage against better football teams. Ultimately, that may have been the case – the Jets offered a three-year, $90MM deal to the QB, but he took $6MM less to sign with the Vikings. Whether they would have been better off with Cousins is another matter, but it’s clear that the Jets have issues when it comes to landing top free agents.
Meanwhile, the Colts’ level of interest in Bell is not immediately clear. They’d surely like to have him, but There’s no guarantee that they’ll offer him the historic contract he seeks.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/19/18
Today’s practice squad updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Bryant Mitchell; T Ryker Mathews; LBs Tobi Antigha, Sam Eguavoen, Pete Robertson, Alex Singleton, Jameer Thurman; K Ty Long
Buffalo Bills
- QB Bo Levi Mitchell; WRs Diontae Spencer, D’haquille Williams; TE Evan Baylis; LB Cory James
Chicago Bears
- QB Bo Levi Mitchell; WRs Marken Michel, Jordan Williams-Lambert; TE Clive Walford
Cincinnati Bengals
- G Avery Gennesy
Cleveland Browns
- RB Jarvion Franklin; TE Kevin Rader; G Ian Park; DT Lance McDowell; S Jack Tocho
Green Bay Packers
- WRs Chris Brown, Ka’Raun Williams; CB Trevon Mathis
Houston Texans
- LB Dominique Alexander; DB Tevaughn Campbell; CB Craig Mager; S Tyvis Powell
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Greer Martini; Ss Isaiah Johnson, Afolabi Laguda; K Ty Long
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Jameer Thurman; DEs Tobi Antigha, Kwaku Boateng; S Chris Edwards
New Orleans Saints
San Francisco 49ers
- G Marcus Oliver; T Blaine Clausell; DL Kapron Lewis-Moore
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- G Chris Schleuger; T Dakoda Shepley; DB Tevaughn Campbell; Ks Jon Brown, Trevor Moore; Ps Hayden Hunt, Ryan Winslow; LS Zach Triner
Washington Redskins
- RB Akrum Wadley; CBs Doran Grant, Dexter McDougle, Sojourn Shelton; Ss Dexter McCoil, Stephen Roberts
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Jonathan Moxey
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Chris Cooper
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Kyle Friend
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Eric Cotton, CB D.J. Killings
- Placed on PS-IR: TE Ethan Wolf
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Tegray Scales
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: FB Dimitri Flowers, WR Jordan Veasy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Farrington Huguenin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OLB Gimel President
Washington Redskins
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough
Colts Sign J.J. Wilcox
The Colts signed free agent safety J.J. Wilcox, according to a team announcement. In related moves, the club placed linebacker Skai Moore (neck) and defensive lineman Al Woods (foot) on injured reserve. 
Wilcox, 6’0″, 212-pound veteran, has 75 career games to his credit with the Jets (2018), Steelers (2017) and Cowboys (2013-16). He didn’t do much for the Jets in his five games this season, but he’ll look to rebuild his stock for a Colts team that is pushing to make the playoffs.
Woods, 31, left the Titans in March of 2017 to sign with their divisional rival. This is the final year of his two-year, $5MM deal, so it’s possible that he has played his final game for Indianapolis. Before the foot injury, Woods appeared in all 14 games (eight starts) for the Colts and tallied 24 tackles, a tackle for loss, and one pass defensed.
If the Colts can top the Giants and Titans in the next two weeks, they’re nearly guaranteed a spot in the postseason. These injuries may thin out their defense a bit, but they’re still one of the hottest teams in the league at this juncture.
Teams Eyeing Colts’ Matt Eberflus
The Colts are surging and the rest of the league is taking notice. At least two teams are doing homework on Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as a possibility to become their next head coach, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. 
Eberflus was the Cowboys’ linebackers coach for seven seasons before signing on to be the Colts’ defensive coordinator under Josh McDaniels in January. When McDaniels bailed, the Colts resolved to do right by Eberflus and the other assistants who had already inked contracts with the team. It was a stand-up move by the organization and it paid off big time.
After an abysmal 1-5 start, the Colts have rallied to win seven of their last eight games and put themselves squarely in the playoff hunt. Their latest win – a 23-0 romp over Eberflus’ last employer – further underscored the talents of the 48-year-old defensive guru.
If the Colts can top the Giants and Titans in the next two weeks, they’ll likely land in the playoffs and complete one of the most improbable turnarounds in NFL history. If that happens, the Colts may have to search for a new defensive coordinator in the offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/14/18
Today’s minor moves will be posted here:
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Ahmad Thomas
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: LB B.J. Bello
- Placed on IR: T Jordan Mailata
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Justin Evans
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Ashton Lampkin
- Placed on injured list: DB Robert Jackson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Oni Omoile
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT DeShawn Williams
- Released: DE Anthony Winbush
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR C.J. Board
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Martez Carter
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Woodrow Hamilton
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OL Roubbens Joseph
- Placed on injured list: OL Casey Dunn