NFL Workout Updates: 10/29/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. All links to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise specified.
Buffalo Bills
- QB Kyle Allen (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- T Antonio Garcia, T De’Ondre Wesley (link)
New York Giants
- LB Jonathan Anderson, CB De’Vante Bausby, DE Will Clark, QB Connor Cook, WR Marcus Easley, WR Brittan Golden, DT Woodrow Hamilton, RB Akeem Hunt, T Roubbens Joseph, LB Corey Nelson, DT Chris Okoye, WR Francis Owusu, LS Taybor Pepper, T Dan Skipper, LB Aaron Wallace, S Terrell Williams (Twitter links via Balzer and ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan)
Seattle Seahawks
- S Michael Cirino, LB James Onwualu (link)
Tennessee Titans
- FB Dimitri Flowers, FB Jalson Fowler, FB Malcolm Johnson, FB Aaron Ripkowski (Twitter link via Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan)
Washington Redskins
- S Kurtis Drummond, S Kelcie McCray, S Jason Thompson, S J.J. Wilcox (link)
Colts Place DT Jihad Ward On IR
The Colts placed defensive tackle Jihad Ward on the injured reserve list, according to an announcement from the team. To fill his place on the roster, the Colts elevated wide receiver Steve Ishmael from the practice squad. 
Ward, a 6’5″, 290-pound lineman, saw time in six games for the Colts this year. Unfortunately, a serious ankle injury cut his season short after he tallied a new career high of three sacks.
The former Raiders second-round pick was traded to the Cowboys back in April. However, he failed to make the roster, and he caught on with the Colts practice squad in early September. Days later, he earned a promotion to the varsity squad.
In his limited sample of work this year, Ward gave talent evaluators reason to believe that he can perform at a high level when healthy. Durability remains a concern, but he showed something after losing much of 2017 to a foot ailment.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/24/18
Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Arizona Cardinals
- TE Ethan Wolf; K Zane Gonzalez
Cincinnati Bengals
- TE Marcus Lucas
Cleveland Browns
- WR Deontez Alexander, Marcus Tucker; CB Linden Stephens; LB Corey Nelson
Detroit Lions
- RBs Gerald Holmes, Jalen Simmons; DE Anthony Lanier; DT Josh Banks
Houston Texans
- TE Khari Lee
Indianapolis Colts
- WRs C.J. Board, Montay Crockett, Chad Hansen; DT Zaycoven Henderson; S A.J. Howard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- LBs Richie Brown, Colton Jumper, Mike Needham, Aaron Wallace; CB Breon Borders; S Jack Tocho
Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota Vikings
- T Andrew Lauderdale
Oakland Raiders
- OTs Darius James, Jamar McGloster, De’Ondre Wesley; Gs Maurquice Shakir, Isaiah Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- G J.J. Dielman; S Justin Currie
Tennessee Titans
- RB Ralph Webb; TE Khari Lee; DT Vincent Valentine; LBs Vontarrius Dora, Gimel President
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/24/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Sean Harlow
- Released: C J.C. Hassenauer
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Garrett Grayson, T Andreas Knappe
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Joel Bouagnon
- Released: TE Jerome Cunningham
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: QB Phillip Walker
- Released: G Will House
New York Giants
- Signed: S A.J. Howard
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DB Mark Myers
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/24/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: G Kofi Amichia
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Will House
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Jalen Myrick, OL Adam Bisnowaty
- Released: DL Curtis Cothran
- Placed on PS-IR: DL Jonathan Wynn
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Landon Turner
- Cut: QB J.T. Barrett
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Garrett Dickerson
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Cayson Collins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Javien Elliott
Patriots’ Duke Dawson Returns To Practice
A host of players began practice after being designated on IR or another off-roster list by their respective teams. The Chiefs could soon see Daniel Sorensen back in action, and the AFC’s other top contender through seven games may have the services of a secondary cog as well.
Duke Dawson returned to Patriots practice on Wednesday, veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer tweets. The Patriots selected Dawson in the second round this year but placed him on IR due to a hamstring injury that appears to be healed to the point the former Florida Gator can practice.
The rookie was in the mix to become New England’s slot cornerback early in camp but now may be back as depth for the Pats’ defensive third level. Jonathan Jones has served as the Pats’ slot defender this season. Five corners — including rookie seventh-rounder Keion Crossen and rookie UDFA J.C. Jackson — and now-hybrid performer Jason McCourty reside on New England’s active roster.
One of the Colts’ second-round picks this year, defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis, returned to practice as well, Balzer adds. A foot injury sent Lewis to IR. He was one of four second-round picks the Colts made in April.
Also back at practice are Jets safety Rontez Miles, who was on the team’s PUP list, and Redskins cornerback Joshua Holsey, whom the team previously placed on its NFI list.
Colts Won't Sign Kicker
- Earlier today, the Colts worked out a trio of kickers in Kai Forbath, Cairo Santos, and Taylor Bertolet. However, Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network tweets that the team won’t be signing any of these options since they’re holding out hope that Adam Vinatieri will be ready to go for this weekend’s matchup with the Raiders. Today’s workouts were solely a contingency in case the future Hall of Famer doesn’t suit up. The 45-year-old is currently dealing with a groin injury, and it could force him to miss only his second regular season game since the beginning of 2014.
[SOURCE LINK]
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Deatrick Nichols
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OG Sean Harlow
- Cut: C J.C. Hassenauer
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Brandon Bell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Devante Mays
Denver Broncos
- Cut: OG Avery Gennesy
Houston Texans
- Signed: OLB Daeshon Hall
- Cut: RB Josh Ferguson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Rolan Milligan
- Cut: QB Phillip Walker
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Raymond Davison, T Pace Murphy
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Austin Proehl
- Cut: WR Steven Mitchell
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Jalen Myrick, OT Adam Bisnowaty
- Cut: DT Curtis Cothran
- Placed on injured list: DE Jonathan Wynn
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: RB Donnel Pumphrey
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Aaron Burbridge
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB Justin Currie, OG J.J. Dielman
- Cut: RB Lavon Coleman, LB Azeem Victor
Colts To Work Out Kickers
Kai Forbath, Cairo Santos, and Taylor Bertolet are among the kickers working out for the Colts on Tuesday, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). One of these players may wind up filling in for Adam Vinatieri as he recovers from a groin issue.
Vinatieri’s status for Sunday’s game is murky, so the Colts want to have a kicker at the ready in case he is unable to suit up. After Vinatieri missed two extra point tries against the Bills – something he hadn’t done before in his 23-year career – the Colts probably don’t want to trot him out there if he’s still hurt.
“We just know he felt a little something on the first PAT, so we are just going to see how the week progresses,” head coach Frank Reich said this week (via Michael Marot of The Associated Press). “We’re going to bring in some kickers, just so you guys know, but we are not going to make any decisions until later.”
Forbath and Santos offer extensive NFL experience, while the 25-year-old Bertolet is still waiting for his first kick in a real NFL game.
Colts, Redskins Interested In Amari Cooper
The Cowboys are not the only team interested in acquiring Raiders receiver Amari Cooper, as the Colts and Redskins have also reached out regarding the pass-catcher’s availability, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Oakland head coach Jon Gruden is seemingly willing to trade any player on the club’s current roster, so it’s not surprising that Cooper — the fourth overall selection in the 2015 draft — is reportedly available. The Raiders are seeking a first-round pick in exchange for Cooper, but there’s no indication they’ll be able to garner such a selection, especially given the 24-year-old’s disappointing 2018 campaign. Through six games, Cooper has managed only 22 receptions for 280 yards and a single score.
The Colts don’t have much depth behind T.Y. Hilton, as Chester Rogers, Ryan Grant, Zach Pascal, and the recently-signed Dontrelle Inman represent Indianapolis’ wideout depth chart. The Redskins, too, are in dire straits at wider receiver despite currently carrying seven pass-catchers on their roster. Jamison Crowder and Paul Richardson are not expected to play today against the Cowboys, leaving Washington with Josh Doctson, Maurice Harris, Brian Quick, Jehu Chesson, and Michael Floyd.
Any club that acquires Cooper will take on the remainder of his 2018 base salary, which, depending on when he is hypothetically traded, would amount to roughly $2MM. Thanks to his fifth-year option, Cooper is also under contract for 2019 at a rate $13.924MM, but that total is guaranteed for injury only.