Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday
With practices resuming following the weekend’s games, and teams having a better of idea of how serious its players’ injuries are, Tuesdays are often a busy day for practice squad transactions, as clubs replenish their rosters and swap in players at potential positions of need. As such, we expect to update this post plenty of times throughout the day, with the latest news of practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL. Here’s the latest:
- Defensive tackle Joe Vellano, who was waived by the Patriots on Monday, has agreed to stay with New England on its practice squad, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Vellano is the beneficiary of the new practice squad rules that allow a second-year player to be eligible despite playing in 16 games in 2013.
- Defensive back Chandler Fenner and wide receiver Julian Talley, both waived by the Giants yesterday, have been re-signed to the practice squad, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
- The Eagles re-signed linebacker Brandon Hepburn to their practice squad, according to Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter).
- The Packers signed Joe Kruger, the brother of Paul Kruger, to their practice squad, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun.
- Former Ravens defensive tackle A.J. Pataiali’i has been added to the Browns’ taxi squad, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
- As noted below, cornerback Mike Harris has signed with the Lions‘ practice squad, replacing fellow defensive back Josh Victorian, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
- The Jets have released cornerback LeQuan Lewis from their practice squad, signing another cornerback – Dashaun Phillips – in his place, the team announced today (via Twitter).
Earlier updates:
- One wide receiver has replaced another on the Cowboys‘ practice squad, tweets Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, as Tim Benford has been cut and LaRon Byrd has been signed.
- The Rams are down to nine players on their practice squad, having cut wide receiver Justin Veltung today, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
- The Lions have signed defensive back Mike Harris to their taxi squad, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Detroit had a full 10-man unit, so a corresponding cut will be necessary to finalize the move.
- Offensive tackle Ryan Miller has been cut from the Broncos‘ practice squad, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter).
- The Browns have cut long snapper Charley Hughlett from their practice squad, per agent Brett Tessler (via Twitter). Hughlett was brought in to provide competition for the team’s regular long snapper, Christian Yount, but Cleveland has opted to continue on with Yount.
- The 49ers have swapped one offensive lineman for another on their practice squad, cutting tackle John Fullington in order to bring aboard guard Andrew Tiller, according to the club.
- Guard William Campbell and defensive tackle Jeremy Towns are the newest members of the Bills‘ practice squad, replacing fullback Lonnie Pryor and tight end Jamie Childers, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- Three days after cutting him from their active roster, the Jaguars have re-signed tight end Mickey Shuler to their practice squad, the team announced today in a press release. To make room on the squad, wide receiver Kerry Taylor has been cut.
- Last week’s promotion of quarterback Chandler Harnish to the active roster suggested the Vikings were more confident in him than McLeod Bethel-Thompson in an emergency scenario, and the team’s moves today reflected that as well. The Vikes announced in a press release that Bethel-Thompson has been let go from the practice squad, with Harnish, wideout Donte Foster, and defensive back Pierre Warren joining the unit.
- To keep tabs on all 32 practice squad rosters, be sure to check out our complete list.
AFC South Notes: Redding, Colts, Jags
Cory Redding, in the final year of his three-year contract with the Colts and contemplating retirement, will soon make a determination about his football future, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. It’s a decision that he’s not taking lightly. “When I’m dead and gone, what are people going to say about Cory Redding?” the defensive end said. “Will my name even come up? Was he just a football player? A good football player and a horrible person? What is my legacy going to be?” More out of the AFC South..
- The Jaguars worked out John Drew, Malcolm Bronson, John Dockery, and Keelan Johnson, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
- The Colts recently tried out Bubba Ventrone, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). The safety didn’t go to Indianapolis, however, he signed with the 49ers earlier tonight.
- Former Colts running back Delone Carter has signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Poll: Next NFL Coach To Get Fired
After four games and zero wins to start the 2014 season, the Raiders decided that they had enough of Dennis Allen. Allen’s dismissal wasn’t terribly surprising and, truthfully, neither was the timing – the Raiders were blown out in London by the Dolphins in their week 4 showdown and Allen had led Oakland to back-to-back 4-12 seasons. The Raiders will now look to turn their year around under interim coach Tony Sparano, who could have a real chance at landing the permanent gig if he can get something out of his team. While Allen’s seat was the hottest in the NFL, there are coaches elsewhere who have shaky job security.
The always entertaining Rex Ryan is in his sixth year at the helm of the Jets and his squad isn’t looking so hot at 1-3. Gang Green opened the season with an ugly win over the Raiders, blew a considerable lead to the Packers in Week 2, and lost to the Bears and Lions in Weeks 3 and 4. This isn’t how most people saw things turning out for Ryan, who began his Jets tenure with back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances. The offensive minded coach wasn’t able to make things work with once promising quarterback Mark Sanchez and sophomore Geno Smith could be headed down the same path. Owner Woody Johnson has a great affinity for the affable Ryan, and so do many Jets fans, but that might not be enough to save his job if the Jets can’t get in the playoff hunt.
In St. Louis, veteran head coach Jeff Fisher is in his third year with the team and many have said that both he and GM Les Snead are on the chopping block. Unfortunately for Fisher, the Rams have one heck of a mountain to climb in 2014. Lodged in the ultra-tough NFC West, the Rams are without quarterback Sam Bradford thanks to a torn ACL (again) and starting Austin Davis in his stead. The Rams seem on pace to land a high draft pick and go for a top quarterback in the 2015 draft, but there’s no guarantee that Fisher will be the one grooming him.
Around the league, there are several more teams that could shake things up on the sidelines. Who do you think is the next coach to go?
Next Coach To Get Fired?
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Rex Ryan (Jets) 41% (229)
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Joe Philbin (Dolphins) 28% (157)
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Gus Bradley (Jaguars) 8% (45)
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Jeff Fisher (Rams) 6% (34)
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Lovie Smith (Buccaneers) 6% (31)
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Ron Rivera (Panthers) 5% (29)
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Other (let us know in the comments) 4% (22)
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Mike Zimmer (Vikings) 2% (12)
Total votes: 559
Minor Moves: Saturday
Today’s minor moves, with recent updates added to the top of the list…
- The Giants have signed cornerback Chandler Fenner off of their practice squad, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The team has waived linebacker Dan Fox to make room for Fenner.
- The Patriots have promoted linebacker Ja’Gared Davis from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Davis, 24, went undrafted out of SMU in 2013. New England claimed him off waivers from the Texans on August 28. The Pats will need to make a roster move to clear a spot for Davis.
Earlier updates:
- The Cowboys have promoted linebacker Keith Smith to take Morris Claiborne‘s spot on the roster, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com.
- The Jaguars have activated wide receiver Ace Sanders and waived tight end Mickey Shuler, tweets the Florida-Times Union’s Ryan O’Halloran. The writer also tweets that Schuler could catch on with the team’s practice squad.
- The Vikings announced that they have signed fullback Zach Line from their practice squad. To make room, the team waived quarterback Chandler Harnish.
Extra Points: HGH, Cowboys, Panthers, Bortles
The NFL will begin testing for HGH on Monday, reports Albert Breer of NFL.com (via Twitter). Each week, five players from eight teams will be tested, adds Breer (Twitter link). The league and the union announced a new drug policy on September 17, which included revamped structures for drug violations and other discinplary actions. In exchange for reduced drug penalties, the NFLPA agreed for HGH testing to be implemented. More from around the league:
- The Cowboys are 3-1 behind an impressive offense through the first month of the NFL season, and a big part of their success is the dynamic duo of Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray. Both players are in line for big time extensions, and Brandon George of DallasNews.com believes that the team will be able to keep both on the roster going forward. He notes that giving both big extensions would tie up a lot of cap space but is doable, and also writes that the team could elect to place the franchise tag on one of the player.
- The Panthers have become so thin at defensive end they’re getting outside linebacker Jason Williams and several defensive tackles ready to line up there in case of emergency Sunday against Chicago, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Person’s report doesn’t mention Carolina looking at out-of-house DE options, but one has to think that will be a consideration if their woes at the position continue. Greg Hardy is on the commissioner’s exempt list, Frank Alexander is suspended for a violation of the substance abuse policy, and Charles Johnson missed a second consecutive practice with a hip flexor injury. That leaves Carolina with only rookie Kony Ealy and a pair of undrafted free agents – Wes Horton and Mario Addison – at defensive end.
- Blake Bortles made his starting debut for the Jaguars last week, and at least one talent evaluator was pleased with that he saw from the rookie. “He’s a better athlete than you think,” an AFC scout told Tom Pelissero of USA Today. “He can make plays off schedule. He doesn’t have a huge arm, but he’s got a good arm, and he’s a tough guy…I think they’ve got a guy that they can settle the position for a while.”
- In a lengthy chat for the Kansas City Star, Terez A. Paylor offers several thoughts on the Chiefs, including his belief that Justin Houston will sign a contract extension at some point, as well as observing that Matt Prater could be an option in K.C. if Cairo Santos struggles.
Rob DiRe and Luke Adams contributed to this post.
AFC Notes: Raiders, Colts, Ryan, Blackmon
After taking a look at a few Thursday headlines out of the NFC this morning, we’ll shift our attention to the league’s other conference and check in on the latest from around the AFC….
- Earlier this week, Albert Breer of the NFL Network reported that Jon Gruden is a big fan of quarterback Derek Carr and that his presence could help lure Chucky back to Oakland. Now, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears that Raiders owner Mark Davis actually drafted Carr in the second round of this year’s draft as a part of his plan to bring Gruden back.
- As Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star explains, the extra non-guaranteed year tacked onto the end of Robert Mathis‘ current contract isn’t the reason the Colts extended his deal. The extension included a reworking of his 2015 salary that makes it much more palatable for the team to move on from the veteran pass rusher after this season, if he’s viewed as too expensive or if he isn’t recovering well from his torn Achilles.
- Asked earlier today about head coach Rex Ryan‘s job security, Jets owner Woody Johnson said that’s something the team would evaluate at season’s end. For his part, Ryan told reporters today, “I think we’ll win this year. … I believe in my heart that I’ll be a part of [the Jets’] long-term future” (Twitter link via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News).
- News that Justin Blackmon has voluntarily entered a treatment facility is a good sign that the troubled receiver may finally be turning his life around, writes Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com. In fact, that should make the Jaguars cautiously optimistic that the wideout may return to the field one day. Blackmon is currently serving an indefinite suspension for his third violation of the NFL’s substance abuse program.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Extra Points: Peterson, Blackmon, Redskins
The NFL announced today that they have inked a new multi-year deal with DirectTV. Terms weren’t disclosed, but a source with knowledge of the deal told ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell that the pact is for eight years. The right fee was worth an average of $1.5 billion a year, up 50% from the $1 billion a year average DirecTV will pay through this season. Here’s more from around the league..
- One of the topics on the agenda for the NFL owners meetings next week will be to discuss how teams should be financially responsible for players who are banned while being paid full salaries, sources told Ed Werder of ESPN.com. The Vikings are paying Adrian Peterson his full salary and the Panthers are doing the same with Greg Hardy per the conditions of the commissioner’s exempt list. One model that could be discussed is whether all teams should share the financial burden in such extreme situations.
- Suspended Jaguars receiver Justin Blackmon has voluntarily checked into a treatment facility and coach Gus Bradley says he’s “doing very well,” writes Mark Long of The Associated Press. Of course, given his litany of off-the-field problems and status with the league office, we shouldn’t expect to see the former first-round pick back on the gridiron anytime soon.
- Former Dolphins quarterback Pat Devlin worked out for the Redskins on Monday, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- In addition to safety Jamarca Sanford, who they signed earlier this week, the Redskins also worked out defensive backs Robert Steeples, Charles Mitchell, and Thomas Wolfe, guard William Campbell, wide receivers Chris Harper and Vidal Hazelton, and tackle Richard Muldrow. according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter links).
- Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is glad that his team picked up center A.Q. Shipley just before the season started, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “A.Q. has done a great job of coming in, being a pro,” quarterback Andrew Luck said. “Came in the Monday before we played our opener, and starts that opener. Heck of a job, and I’m glad that we had history beforehand from my rookie year where we played a bunch of games together…He’s a consummate professional and the type of teammate, the type of guy you want in a locker room.” Shipley faces his former team, the Ravens, this Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
AFC Notes: Raiders, Mathis, Gordon, Jets
As speculation swirls around the idea of Jon Gruden reuniting with the Raiders, the Monday Night Football analyst did his best to quell that talk in an appearance on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike today, as Dan Hanzus of NFL.com writes. Meanwhile, it’s not a certainty that GM Reggie McKenzie will be the person to make the next coaching hire. McKenzie himself acknowledges that he’s on the hot seat. “I work every day like my job is on the line. That’s just the way I am. No one has to tell me my job is on the line. No one,” McKenzie said, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Here’s more out of the AFC..
- Mike Wells and Field Yates of ESPN.com provide a breakdown of the one-year extension Robert Mathis signed with the Colts. The 2016 year includes a $1.5MM roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year, a $3.5MM base salary, and escalators worth up to $1MM depending on how many sacks he totals in ’16. Interestingly, Mathis’ 2015 roster bonus, worth $3MM, has been changed to $3MM in per-game roster bonuses. Because the veteran pass rusher won’t play in 2014, that should remove that bonus money from the Colts’ 2015 cap for the time being.
- Browns wideout Josh Gordon, who has six games remaining on his suspension, spoke to Elizabeth Merrill of ESPN The Magazine about his suspension, and denied that he has a drug problem. “Definitely not,” Gordon said. “I wouldn’t know what I was addicted to because I don’t do anything.” According to Gordon, who believes he was already in stage two of the drug program when he entered the league, he has taken roughly 180 drug tests since being drafted in 2012.
- With the Jets still seeking consistent play from their cornerbacks this season, head coach Rex Ryan acknowledged today that the club had interest in signing Brandon Flowers this past offseason before he landed in San Diego (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post).
- While many of the notable free agents signed by the Jaguars in the spring haven’t impressed much during their first season with the team, Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union points out that Jacksonville can easily move on from just about all of those players without having to carry much dead money next year or beyond.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
AFC South Notes: Titans, Texans, Colts
We’ve got plenty of news to round up today on teams working out free agents, including updates from all four AFC South clubs. Here’s a look at which players the Titans, Texans, Colts, and Jaguars have been auditioning recently:
- We heard yesterday that the Titans were eyeing cornerbacks, having brought in Derek Cox, Brandon Ghee, and Curtis Marsh. However, those weren’t the only players to audition for the club. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Tennessee also worked out fullbacks Brian Leonard and Chris Pressley.
- The Texans are exploring the defensive back market, having tried out Charles James, Kendall James, R.J. Stanford, and Robert Steeples this week, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Wilson also reports (via Twitter) that the Colts worked out a pair of wide receivers, bringing in Jeremy Gallon and Austin Franklin.
- In addition to trying out Tommy Streeter, who signed to their practice squad, the Jaguars also took a look at tight end Matthew Mulligan, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
Minor Moves: Tuesday
In addition to making changes to their practice squads, teams around the NFL are also tweaking the backs of their 53-man rosters today. We’ll round up the day’s minor transactions involving active rosters right here:
- To make room for Winn, the Lions have placed running back Montell Owens on injured reserve, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Owens’ contract expires after this season.
- After he tore ruptured Achilles last week, running back Joe McKnight has been placed on the Chiefs’ injured reserve list, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Offensive lineman Donald Stephenson‘s four-game suspension is up, so he takes McKnight’s roster spot, per Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
- The Bears have waived linebacker Terrell Manning, reports Brian McIntyre (Twitter link). Chicago had promoted Manning from its practice squad just over a week ago.
- Patriots Brandon Browner and Brian Tyms four-game bans are over, and both have received a roster exemption that lasts until October 6, says Balzer (on Twitter).
- Cornerback Deion Belue was waived from the Jaguars’ injured reserve with a failure to disclose physical condition designation, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Earlier updates:
- The Lions are promoting running back George Winn from their practice squad to their 53-man roster, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). As Garafolo notes, the move could suggest that the team expects Joique Bell to miss this weekend’s game, but Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press points out that Bell isn’t Detroit’s only ailing running back, tweeting that Montell Owens is expected to miss several weeks due to his latest hamstring injury.
- Linebacker Victor Butler has been dropped by the Cardinals, says Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter). Butler had been added to the roster when John Abraham was sidelined, but didn’t play a snap for the team.
- The Bears‘ practice squad/53-man roster shuffle continues this week, with the team promoting wideout Chris Williams to take the place of fellow receiver Rashad Ross (Twitter link). Two weeks ago, it was Ross being promoted and Williams being cut.
- The Steelers have terminated the contract of punter Adam Podlesh, who had been on the team’s reserve/did not report list, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.