Ramsey Gets Explanation For Ejection
- While both players were forced to leave the contest, many around the league pointed out that Ramsey did not actually throw a punch. However, there was some clarity given out on that front after the game. Apparently, the officials said that Ramsey was ejected because they thought he did throw a punch, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapoport reports that the Jags cornerback was informed by league officials after the team’s win that he was sent to the locker room because they thought he engaged Green too, even though it appears that Ramsey did not punch back. We’ll have to see how the Jacksonville players and coaches react to the apparent officiating mistake.
- One of the many brawls as a part pf today’s slate of games came from an incident between Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Green. After Ramsey pushed one of the league’s best receivers after the whistle, Green unleashed a flurry of punches onto the Jaguars second-year defensive back, which prompted both sidelines into a shoving match. Both Green and Ramsey were ejected after the scuffle. However, Green was apologetic about the incident after the loss, as Michael DiRocco and Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com pass along. “I shouldn’t have reacted that way. I apologize to my teammates, [Bengals owner Mike] Brown, and everybody, because that’s not who I am. It just got the best of me today.” We’ll see how the league reacts to the situation as a suspension could be in order given the severity of Green’s reaction.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/5/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Green Bay Packers
- LS’s Nolan Frese, Colin Holba, Zach Triner; CB Raysean Pringle (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com) (Twitter link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- P Brock Miller (Twitter link)
San Francisco 49ers
- T’s Will Beatty, Cameron Jefferson, Andrew Lauderdale, Max Rich; Ss K.J. Dillon, Deron Washington (Twitter links)
Leonard Fournette Benched For Week 9
- Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette was deactivated for today’s game against the Bengals, and Jay Glazer of FOX Sports tweets that the star rookie missed treatment, a workout, and a team photo this week, which led to his benching. Head coach Doug Marrone is clearly trying to change the culture in Jacksonville, though Jags fans have to hope it doesn’t come at the expense of the team’s playoff push.
Details On Dareus Trade
- The Marcell Dareus trade was simply a cap dump, with Pelissero noting that the defensive tackle had worn out his welcome among Bills teammates and the coaching staff. However, the Jaguars were seemingly willing to take the risk since his former coach, Doug Marrone, “could vouch for him.”
[SOURCE LINK]
Jaguars To Bring DB Calvin Pryor Off IR
The Jaguars have designated safety Calvin Pryor to return from injured reserve, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter link). Pryor becomes the second Jacksonville player scheduled to come off IR, joining rookie wideout Dede Westbrook.
Pryor is now eligible to practice immediately, although he isn’t able to return to game action until Week 10. The NFL’s IR/designated to return rules stipulate an eight-week absence, so Pryor will have to wait one more week to come back, even if he’s fully healthy after suffering an ankle injury earlier this year. Jacksonville has a three-week window in which it can place Pryor on its active roster, or else he must stay on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
If he is activated, Pryor will come to the Jaguars’ roster as a clear backup. The Jaguars rank first in DVOA against the pass, and the club’s safeties — Barry Church and Tashaun Gipson — are a large part of that effort, as both rank among the NFL’s top 25 defensive backs, per Pro Football Focus. As such, Pryor will become a reserve safety (or, given his playing style, perhaps a dime linebacker) and special teams contributor.
The Jaguars claimed Pryor off waivers from the Browns in September after the former first-round pick secured his ouster in Cleveland by getting into a fight with wide receiver Ricardo Louis. In Jacksonville, he reunites with executive John Idzik, who originally drafted Pryor as the Jets’ general manager in 2014.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/30/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to Twitter:
Green Bay Packers
- DE Francis Kallon (link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- DEs Praise Martin-Oguike, Drew Ott; LB Jason Thompson; CB Jarnor Jones; DBs Jordan Bowman, Malik Golden (link via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- P Jeff Locke (link via Balzer)
Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Daniel Braverman; Gs Willie Beavers, Dallas Thomas (link via Balzer)
Washington Redskins
- LB Otha Peters (link via Balzer)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: T Javarius Leamon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: FB Joe Kerridge
- Released: G Darrell Greene
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Montay Crockett
San Francisco 49ers
Washington Redskins
- Signed: T Givens Price
Jaguars Designate Dede Westbrook For Return
The Jaguars have officially designated wide receiver Dede Westbrook for return. The team now has 21 days to activate him to the 53-man roster or otherwise shut him down for the season. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Interested In Calvin Johnson?]
Westbrook was placed on IR with a core injury prior to the team’s Week 1 game. The hope from the get-go was that he would be able to return midway through the season and it appears that he is on schedule.
Per league rules, each team can designate to two players to return from IR each season. If an IR-DTR player is not placed on the roster within the three week window, the bullet is still used. So, if Westbrook is not activated to the 53-man roster within 21 days for some reason, the Jaguars will have only one IR-DTR opportunity remaining.
The Jaguars could use some extra oomph on offense – they’re even said to be interested in trading for Calvin Johnson, if he’s willing to play again – so they’ll be happy to have Westbrook in the mix.
Westbrook, an Oklahoma product, was selected with a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft. He had 80 grabs for 1,524 yards and 17 scores last year, catapulting him to fourth place in Heisman voting.
Jaguars, Eagles Interested In Calvin Johnson?
As of this writing, wide receiver Calvin Johnson is still retired. But, if he decided to play again, it sounds like the Lions would be open to trading his rights between now and Tuesday’s deadline. If Megatron can be coaxed out of retirement, the Jaguars would have interest in acquiring him, ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (video link) hears. The “speculation” is that the Eagles would also be among those to look into acquiring Johnson. 
Even if Johnson does have the itch to play again, there would be a number of hurdles for all parties to work through. The wide receiver’s contract runs through 2019 and includes a cap number $21MM for this year. He’ll also have to pass a physical on the first try and that’s not a slam dunk given how long he has been away from the game.
Any team getting into bed with Megatron will also want to know that he is firmly committed to playing football. He has been asked about a potential return at various points but has denied any interest.
“I’m not coming back, man,” Johnson said back in December. “Look, man. I got stuff that’s going to hurt for the rest of my life. I got a finger that’s literally bone-on-bone. This bad boy, it gets smaller. The more and more I do, it grinds bone-on-bone. Literally from last year, I went this year to get another X-Ray and this is after I retired, I knew it was messed up but I didn’t know to what degree because it was hurt.”
The 7-1 Eagles could use a pass catcher like Johnson, but they might want to put their resources towards acquiring a left tackle instead. The 4-3 Jaguars, meanwhile, have already taken on a sizable contract by acquiring former Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus.
Jags Could Deal T.J. Yeldon; Will Receive Bengals' 2018 Seventh-Rounder For Chris Smith Deal
- John Reid of the Florida Times-Union says the Jaguars could look to trade RB T.J. Yeldon, but it is unclear whether there has been any movement on that front.
- Because of the playing time that Chris Smith has received with the Bengals this season, the Jaguars will get a 2018 seventh-round pick from Cincinnati per the conditions of the trade the two clubs completed in April, as Mike Kaye of First Coast News tweets.