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
Jaguars’ Jalen Ramsey Wants Extension
Jalen Ramsey has heard the trade rumors and he wants to put them to rest. The Jaguars deny wanting to move on from the talented cornerback, but Ramsey wants them back up the talk by engaging in contract negotiations. 
[RELATED: Jaguars’ Malik Jackson Expects To Be Cut]
“Like I said, I’m going to let my agent and the front office handle that, but after what came out here, what was it five weeks ago or however many weeks ago it was, yeah I’m feeling like yeah, if y’all serious about that [a potential trade] not being real, then y’all need to make it happen,” Ramsey said (via ESPN.com). “If not, then maybe what came out five weeks ago will happen. We’ll see.”
Ramsey would like a long-term commitment, but the Jaguars are under no real pressure to give him one. His rookie deal expires in 2019, but the Jags are expected to pick up his fifth-year option in early May, keeping him under control through 2020. After that, the Jags could keep him away from free agency once, and even twice more, through the franchise tag.
This figures to be an offseason of upheaval in Jacksonville and the Jags could get a huge haul if they decide to shop the former No. 5 overall pick. He’s also having a solid year on an individual level, even though the Jaguars have sagged. Ramsey has three interceptions thus far and ranks as the No. 27 corner in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
Jaguars’ Malik Jackson Expects To Be Cut
Three years ago, Malik Jackson inked a six-year, $85.5MM contract with the Jaguars. However, Jackson doesn’t expect to play out the second half of that deal. In a conversation with John Reid of the Florida Times-Union, Jackson said that he expects to be released in the offseason. 
“In my mind, if I’m third or fourth on the depth chart making $14.5MM to $15MM, I don’t see too much future for me in Jacksonville,” Jackson said Wednesday. “I’m not trying to be a journeyman by any means. But it’s a business and soon as you try to forget that then it’s a rude awakening for sure.”
Jackson was a Pro Bowler in 2017, but he was dropped from the starting lineup in November and has ceded snaps to rookie Taven Bryan. With that in mind, Jackson’s assessment is probably spot on. The Jaguars can save $11MM by cutting the 28-year-old (29 in January) versus just $4MM in dead money.
Jackson, meanwhile, is taking it all in stride. He says that he’s learned to embrace his role as a mentor to Bryan and other young teammates, following the example set by Peyton Manning. He’s also motivated to close out the season strong and showcase himself for prospective suitors.
“With my situation, I’m playing for 31 other teams potentially,” Jackson said regarding the final three games. “I have to show these teams that I’m playing at a high level. I’m a pass rusher with one sack. So I have to show this team that I’m consistently still getting to the quarterback, but I’m just not finishing. So for me, I have to show a lot of people a lot of things about who I am and what I am and what I’m continuing trying to build for myself.”
Jackson has just one sack this year, a big drop off from his eight sacks in 2017. However, he still has a nose for getting to the quarterback, as evidenced by his 40 pressures this season. That ties with Ndamukong Suh for eleventh in the NFL among defensive tackles, according to Pro Football Focus.
On the flipside, his overall PFF score leaves much to be desired. Jackson is ranked just 94th out of 118 qualified DTs, per PFF.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/11/18
Here’s the latest from the NFL’s workout circuit, all links going to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account (unless otherwise noted). The first day teams can sign players to reserve/futures contracts is New Year’s Eve.
Arizona Cardinals
- DT Toby Johnson (link)
Buffalo Bills
- LB Marquis Flowers (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Rodak)
Cleveland Browns
- WR Chance Allen, WR Devin Lucien, WR Brandon Reilly, T Dakoda Shepley, LB Alex Singleton (link)
Denver Broncos
- WR Shay Fields, LB Chris Frey, CB Kameron Kelly, LB Hau’oli Kikaha, CB Trevon Mathis, QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CFL tryout), DL Henry Mondeaux, LB Tegray Scales, LB Robert Spillane, WR Greg Ward (Twitter links)
Detroit Lions
- DT Joshua Frazier, DT Greg Gilmore, DE Alec James, T Jarron Jones, LB Jacob Pugh, DT Elijah Qualls, DE Jonathan Wynn (link)
Green Bay Packers
- DB Tevaughn Campbell (link)
Houston Texans
- LB Kennan Gilchrist, CB Josh Hawkins (Twitter links)
Indianapolis Colts
- CB Johnathan Alston, T William Poehls, DT DeShawn Williams (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR C.J. Board, LB Farrington Huguenin, DE Alec James, TE Marcus Lucas, TE Troy Mangen, WR Jordan Veasy, LB Antwione Williams (link)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Sam Eguavoen (CFL tryout) (link)
New York Jets
- LB Zaire Anderson, LB Kwaku Boateng (CFL tryout), RB Joel Bouagnon, RB Mack Brown, RB Martez Carter, LB Jonathan Celestin, LB Avery Ellis (CFL tryout), LB Manase Hungalu, K Ty Long (CFL tryout), T Ryker Mathews (CFL tryout), WR Bryant Mitchell (CFL tryout), RB Akrum Wadley, WR D’haquille Williams (CFL tryout) (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LB Emmanuel Smith (link)
Tennessee Titans
- T Cornelius Lucas, G/T Austin Pasztor (Twitter links)
Washington Redskins
- G Kaleb Johnson, G Jordan Morgan, T Norman Price (link)
Tom Coughlin Will Consider Becoming Jaguars' HC
- There have been rumblings that Jaguars team president Tom Coughlin could return to the sidelines and become Jacksonville’s head coach (again) in 2019. La Canfora noted last week that Coughlin could take over as the Jags’ HC, and the fact that the team’s 2018 campaign has been tarnished by fights, suspensions, and lack of discipline could convince Coughlin, a noted disciplinarian, to take the reins. JLC says that there is a “growing perception” around the league that Coughlin will at least consider that move.
What Does Bortles Benching Mean For 2019?
- After his benching, Blake Bortles is unlikely to be back with the Jaguars next season, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio writes. With $6.5MM of Bortles’ $16.5MM contract next season guaranteed, the Jaguars can hope that some team signs him for $6.5MM — unlikely — or package him in a trade with a team that would be considering signing him, a la Brock Osweiler. The Jaguars will still have a cap charge of $10MM, but the team can push $5MM of that into 2020.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/3/18
Here is the latest from the workout circuit. All links to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise noted.
Buffalo Bills
- C Dillon Day, C Hroniss Grasu (link)
Cleveland Browns
- DB TeVaughn Campbell, C Kyle Friend, DE Mason Gentry, G Landon Turner, WR Jordan Veasy, RB Elijah Wellman, DE Jonathan Wynn (link)
Denver Broncos
- WR Dres Anderson, TE Billy Brown, WR Fred Brown, FB Dimitri Flowers, P Jeff Locke, RB Khalfani Muhammad, T Dakoda Shepley, QB Nic Shimonek, WR DeAndre Smelter, G Salesi Uhatafe, RB Akrum Wadley, WR Ka’Raun White, QB Logan Woodside, WR DeAngelo Yancey (Twitter links)
Detroit Lions
- G Salesi Uhatafe (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Zaire Anderson, TE David Grinnage (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DT Vincent Valentine (link)
New Orleans Saints
- T Derek Newton, T De’Ondre Wesley, T G Isaiah Williams (link)
New York Giants
- CB Bene Benwikere, S Dezmen Southward (link)
Oakland Raiders
- LB James Burgess, LB Edmond Robinson (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- DE Mackendy Cheridor, TE Cole Hunt, DT Vincent Valentine (link)
Washington Redskins
- LB Marcus Smith (link)
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/3/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed off Seahawks’ practice squad: OL Rees Odhiambo
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: CB Dee Delaney
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Dylan Cantrell
Tennessee Titans
- Signed off Broncos’ practice squad: RB Jeremy McNichols
- Waived: RB Dalyn Dawkins
Jaguars Looking At Major Changes
It’s been a rough year for the Jaguars. After making the AFC Championship game last year, they were supposed to be contenders again in 2018 but nothing has gone according to plan. They were just 3-8 entering today, and benched Blake Bortles for Cody Kessler while firing their offensive coordinator. While they squeaked out a 6-0 victory over the Colts, major changes are still coming this offseason, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
La Canfora says that “sweeping changes are inevitable, which may include coaching and front-office moves”, and cites “multiple NFL salary cap executives” who say the team will need to “gut its roster” because of their cap situation. Jacksonville has spent big on free agents the past couple of years to build the team, but La Canfora writes their win-now window is “now effectively closed”, and they’ll have to start dumping the high-priced veterans soon. La Canfora seems to think head coach Doug Marrone‘s job is in danger, and notes that team president Tom Coughlin could “consider a return to the sidelines” to lead the team. Whatever happens, the Jaguars will be one of the most interesting teams to monitor this offseason.
Curious Timing On Firing Of Jags Offensive Coordinator
- Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone‘s firing of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett at this point of the season seems like a diversionary tactic to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “It feels like an effort by Marrone to alter the conversation that inevitably will happen when owner Shad Khan, who had a taste of life in the NFL’s penthouse in 2017 and has taken the Super Fun Happy Slide straight back to the outhouse, starts asking tough questions after Week 17.”