NFL Workout Updates: 10/16/19
Today’s NFL workout updates, all courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle:
Baltimore Ravens
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
- OTs Ulrick John, Brian Mihalik, Austin Pasztor; DT Justin Ellis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CB Arrion Springs; P Shane Smith
Miami Dolphins
- CBs Adonis Alexander, Andre Chachere, Picasso Nelson
New England Patriots
- FBs George Aston, Orson Charles, Ricky Ortiz.
New Orleans Saints
- RBs Travaris Cadet, Benny Cunningham, Marcus Murphy; TEs A.J. Derby, Cole Wick
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- RB Marcus Murphy; WRs T.J. Jones, Tommylee Lewis, Eli Rogers; P Trevor Daniel
Washington Redskins
Jaguars To Trade Jalen Ramsey To Rams
A third Rams trade is happening Tuesday, and it’s big. The Jaguars have finally agreed to trade Jalen Ramsey, and the Rams will send them two first-round picks to make that happen, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The Rams, who traded Marcus Peters earlier today, agreed to send the Jags their first-rounders in 2020 and 2021. Jacksonville will also acquire Los Angeles’ 2021 fourth-rounder. This marks a seismic bet for the Rams, who appear set for yet another high-end extension. Although, no extension parameters have been discussed yet, per ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). But much like the Laremy Tunsil trade, which also involved two first-round picks changing sides, an investment on this level will make re-up talks imminent.
Ramsey has lobbied for a trade for weeks now and continued to sit out Jaguars games due to a back injury, one that has generated league-wide skepticism. The fourth-year standout has not played since Week 3, missing his first NFL games due to this back malady/trade request. Ramsey has since Photoshopped himself in Rams gear (Twitter link), which seems like an indication he will have recovered in time to face the Falcons on Sunday.
This trade comes after Shad Khan insisted he wanted to keep Ramsey and after the Jags owner expressed a willingness to make the disgruntled defender the NFL’s highest-paid corner. Instead, the Jaguars are moving on — after receiving their offer of two first-rounders and then some.
Los Angeles placed Aqib Talib on IR with a rib injury Monday and traded Peters to Baltimore. While Talib will be out at least eight weeks, the Pro Bowler looks like an IR-return candidate. He would be in line to join perhaps the NFL’s best cornerback upon return.
Ramsey, the 2016 No. 5 overall pick, has made two Pro Bowls and landed on the 2017 All-Pro first team. The Florida State product who played a major role in elevating the Jags to the 2017 AFC championship game is signed through the 2020 season.
He had expressed frustration with the Jaguars’ front office; the Jags had refused to discuss an extension with the soon-to-be 25-year-old defender this year. The Rams have handed out a bevy of high-profile re-ups over the past two years — to Brandin Cooks, Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald and Jared Goff — and now look to be ready to reset the stagnant cornerback market.
The Rams entered this season with Talib and Peters as contract-year starters. Ramsey will now lead their corner group for the next two months, with Troy Hill, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Darious Williams and third-round rookie David Long. Les Snead has not shied away from splashy moves during the Sean McVay era, and with the Rams having now lost three straight games for the first time in three seasons, the longtime GM is taking a big gamble on a top-tier talent.
This marks new territory for cornerback trade hauls, with the Jags now holding two first-round picks in 2020 and ’21. Darrelle Revis once fetched first- and fourth-round picks in 2013; this price certainly blows that return away. It will continue a run of Rams drafts without first-round picks. They have not made one since trading up for Goff in 2016.
It also represents a major shift for the Jaguars, who are moving on from probably their best player. Jacksonville has used second-year UDFA Tre Herndon in Ramsey’s place since his absence began. That Herndon-A.J. Bouye setup looks set to continue, with the Jags breaking up one of the league’s premier corner tandems.
Sprained Ankle For Jaguars’ Marqise Lee
Jaguars wide receiver Marqise Lee has a sprained ankle, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The sprain is viewed as a minor/moderate one, so he’s considered week-to-week, but still likely to miss some time.
Lee, who turns 28 late in November, missed the Jaguars’ disappointing 2018 season with a knee injury. The Jags’ 2016 receiving leader and a key cog in 2017, Lee has not factored in prominently in this Jags receiving corps. In five games this year, he’s caught just two passes for 10 yards.
Lee, 27, was not expected to return until at least late in training camp, so the former second-round pick being a Week 1 question mark is not especially surprising. It is a bit of a blow to a Jags pass-catching corps that already faces questions, however.
The Jags drafted Jawaan Taylor in Round 2, but their optimal lineup would place the Florida alum at right tackle opposite Robinson. The team signed former Bengals first-rounder Cedric Ogbuehi and ex-Bucs UDFA Leonard Wester this offseason.
Between 2016 and 2017, Lee racked up 119 receptions for 1,553 yards and six touchdowns. In 2018, the Jaguars rewarded Lee with a four-year deal worth up to $38MM. They’re still waiting for that deal to pay off as they look to get their season back on track. Heading into Sunday’s game against the Bengals, the Jaguars are sporting a 2-4 mark.
Ramsey Unlikely To Play
It looks like Jaguars owner Shad Khan was mistaken. Khan, who has seemingly been overly optimistic about the Jalen Ramsey situation ever since his trade demand became public, said earlier this week that he expected Ramsey to play in Week 6. That was apparently news to Ramsey, and his camp soon put out word that he hadn’t committed to playing this week. Indeed, it “would be a major surprise if he plays this week,” tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Ramsey was limited in practice all week, which is obviously a step in the right direction considering he hadn’t practiced until then since his back injury popped up. All indications are that Ramsey hasn’t wavered from his trade demand, although Khan continues to act like nothing is wrong. The Jaguars owner has also said he intends to give the Florida State product a record-breaking extension. Jacksonville has a tough game against the Saints on Sunday, and it looks like Gardner Minshew will be leading them into the game shorthanded.
Jalen Ramsey Hasn’t Changed Stance, Not Committed To Playing Week 6
Pump the brakes on Jalen Ramsey‘s return to the Jaguars’ lineup. Earlier today, Jags owner Shad Khan said he expected Ramsey to play in Week 6 after having a “heart to heart” with the young cornerback. However, that’s apparently far from guaranteed. Ramsey is still just “going to listen to his body,” and nothing has changed in terms of his trade demand, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link).
Khan continues to publicly express positivity, but it sounds like he’s either a little overly optimistic, or he’s just putting on a good face for the media. When asked about a recent report that Jacksonville wouldn’t take five first-rounders for Ramsey, Khan replied by asking “do you understand value? Then I think you already know the answer.” He also admitted every player has a price, so Khan certainly didn’t rule out a trade, and he added “I think we’ll be able to come to whatever makes sense for all.”
The Jaguars sit at 2-3 and have a pivotal game against the Saints coming up, so they could obviously use Ramsey. The Florida State product has remained steadfast in his trade request, and also is dealing with a back injury. Ramsey visited a back specialist in Houston last week, but the fact that Khan expects him to play would suggest it isn’t anything too serious.
The team isn’t considering trade offers, and Khan has said he wants to give Ramsey a record-breaking contract extension. Ramsey returned to a limited practice Wednesday, but the fact that his camp wanted Anderson’s report out there is a clear sign that they’re not committing to playing this Sunday. We should know more about his status shortly.
Jaguars Expect Jalen Ramsey To Play
Jalen Ramsey will return to play for the Jaguars on Sunday. At least, that’s the impression owner Shad Khan has after a “heart to heart” chat with the cornerback. 
“Well, I think he’s going to be playing this week,” Khan said (via Katherine Ross of The Street). “It’s something, you have to balance what’s good for the team with what the individual maybe wishes it might be. And I think we’ll be able to kind of formalize it here.”
Ramsey was limited in practice on Wednesday, but his participation was, possibly, a sign of a major breakthrough. For weeks, Ramsey has been steadfast in his demand for a trade. Now, things might be turning a corner.
Khan has expressed a willingness to make Ramsey one of the highest paid cornerbacks in the NFL – or perhaps the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL – and that could be enough to mollify Ramsey’s concerns. It’s still worth noting that Ramsey has had flare-ups with head coach Doug Marrone, specifically over the way he has been deployed in zone coverage rather than man-to-man coverage.
The Jaguars clearly don’t want to trade Ramsey between now and the Oct. 31 deadline, but even Khan admits there’s a price tag for every player. When asked about a recent report that the Jaguars wouldn’t trade Ramsey for five first-round picks, Khan answered with a rhetorical question:
“Do you understand value? Then I think you already know the answer.”
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/19
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad decisions:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Wes Hills
- Released: DE Eric Lee
Houston Texans
- Released via non-football illness designation: TE Jerell Adams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Ben Koyack
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: S Shalom Luani
- Released: TE Matt Sokol
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson, QB Chad Kanoff
Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey Returns To Practice
Jalen Ramsey will practice on Wednesday, according to the Jaguars’ daily rundown. It’s a potentially huge development for the star cornerback, who has been away from the team and pushing for a trade.
Ramsey has not seen live action since Week 3 and has been out of practice with a blend of officially listed reasons. Among them: back issues and the birth of his daughter. Unofficially, many believe that Ramsey has been keeping his distance in an effort to have his trade demand met.
The Jaguars have reportedly stopped considering offers for the soon-to-be 25-year-old and owner Shad Khan wants to lock Ramsey up with the type of extension that he was previously pushing for. Ramsey, at last check, was sticking to his guns. And, according to one report, the Jaguars wouldn’t even trade Ramsey for five first-round picks.
It’s not immediately clear whether Ramsey’s practice participation means that he’ll play against the Saints on Sunday.
NFL Workout Notes: 10/8/19
Here are today’s workout updates. There are a number of notable names on this list, so pay attention!
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Shane Ray
Baltimore Ravens
- DE Fadol Brown, S Demetrious Cox, DE Dewayne Hendrix, S A.J. Howard (signed to practice squad), DB C.J. Reavis
Buffalo Bills
- DE Alex Barrett, RB Senorise Perry (signed to 53-man roster), LB Wyatt Ray (signed to practice squad)
Carolina Panthers
Cleveland Browns
- WR Jeff Badet
Denver Broncos
- CB David Amerson, CB Chris Campbell, CB Deatrick Nichols, CB Shareece Wright
Detroit Lions
- WR Quincy Adeboyejo, WR Bennie Fowler, WR Emanuel Hall
Green Bay Packers
- TE Rico Gathers, DL Mike Pennel, DL Adolphus Washington, TE Cole Wick, DT Sylvester Williams, TE Ethan Wolf (signed to practice squad)
Houston Texans
- C Marcus Henry, DT Willie Henry, DT Brian Price, C Keegan Render
Indianapolis Colts
- DT Carl Davis, LB Obum Gwacham, DE Eli Harold, DL Joel Heath, DL Damontre Moore, LB Pita Taumoepenu, DL Ethan Westbrooks
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Brian Parker, TE Eric Tomlinson, TE Will Tye
Los Angeles Chargers
- S Shalom Luani, S Tre Sullivan
New England Patriots
- DB Brian Allen, K Nick Rose, DT Eddie Vanderdoes
Oakland Raiders
- DE Andre Branch, LB Kasim Edebali, OL Datone Jones, DE Terrence Fede, LB Nate Orchard
Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Penny Hart, LB Paul Worrilow
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Adonis Alexander, DB Brian Allen, CB Saivion Smith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WR Cyril Grayson, RB Darius Jackson, QB Chad Kanoff, WR Caleb Scott, RB David Williams
Tennessee Titans
- RB Jeremy McNichols, RB Zach Zenner
Washington Redskins
- OL Malcolm Bunche (signed to practice squad), LB Darrell Williams
Jaguars TE James O’Shaughnessy Done For Year
Jaguars tight end James O’Shaughnessy suffered a torn ACL, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). A Monday morning MRI confirmed that he’ll need surgery once his swelling reduces. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Not Considering Jalen Ramsey Offers]
O’Shaughnessy is done for the season as a result of the injury and the Jaguars will place him on injured reserve to open up a roster spot. For now, the Jags will move forward with Geoff Swaim and Seth DeValve at tight end, plus third-round pick Josh Oliver, once he’s back from a hamstring ailment.
Before exiting Sunday’s game against the Panthers, O’Shaughnessy had three catches for a season-high 57 yards. His season ends after five games with 14 grabs for 153 yards and two touchdowns, including scores in wins against the Titans and Broncos.
Next up for the Jaguars: a Week 6 date with the Saints, in New Orleans.