Rams Promote WR Nsimba Webster
Nsimba Webster could make his NFL debut tomorrow. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Rams have elevated the wideout to their active roster.
Part of the reason for Webster’s promotion is due to the Rams’ diminished receiver depth. Brandin Cooks remains sidelined with a concussion, while three of the team’s tight ends (Gerald Everett, Tyler Higbee, Johnny Mundt) were also listed on the injury report with various ailments. Jared Goff will need every healthy target against the Bears, necessitating today’s move.
However, Rapoport notes that Webster was also promoted because a rival team tried to sign him off the practice squad. The Rams clearly believe in the receiver’s potential, leading to his placement on the roster.
There’s plenty of reasons to be intrigued by the undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington. Webster had a very productive senior campaign, hauling in 84 receptions for 1,379 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had a standout preseason, leading the Rams in receptions (15) and receiving yards (150). This led to him making the initial 53-man roster.
Webster was inactive for the Rams’ first five games of the season, and he was waived by the team in mid-October. He subsequently landed with the organization’s practice squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/14/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DE Ufomba Kamalu
- Released: OL Marcus Applefield
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived from PS-IR: RB Bruce Anderson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Adonis Alexander
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: C John Keenoy
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/19
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Miles Brown
- Placed on injured reserve: DE Zach Allen
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Bryan Cox Jr.
- Waived: LB Malik Jefferson
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers (Texans): T Dan Skipper
- Placed on injured reserve: DT Kevin Strong
Houston Texans
- Waived: DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted from practice squad: T Chandler Brewer, DB Donte Deayon
New York Jets
- Placed on injured reserve: TE Chris Herndon, G Brian Winters (story)
- Signed: LB B.J. Bello, CB Kyron Brown
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Damontre Moore
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Mazzi Wilkins
Tennessee Titans
- Signed off Vikings’ practice squad: FB Khari Blasingame
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Vontarrius Dora, DB Sojourn Shelton, G Ian Silberman
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Greg Dortch
- Released: WR Quadree Henderson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Dino Boyd, LB James Vaughters
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Tyvis Powell
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
- Placed on injured list: RB Bruce Anderson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Nate Trewyn
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Jake Carlock
- Released: DB Doug Middleton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Davion Davis
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/12/19
Today’s minor transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Corn Elder
- Waived: G Bryan Witzmann
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: C Brian Allen, LB Bryce Hager
Rams C Brian Allen Out For Season
Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters earlier today that starting center Brian Allen had suffered a season-ending MCL injury, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN. It remains unclear whether Allen’s injury could impact him next season or in the offseason, but he is definitely done in 2019.
Allen supplanted John Sullivan as the starter at center this season. While the entire Rams offensive line has struggled, Allen has played a major role in those issues. Trade deadline acquisition Austin Corbett had experience at both guard and center and seemed like a possible replacement for Allen, but instead slotted next to Allen at left guard.
When Allen left Los Angeles’ game on Sunday, starting right guard Austin Blythe slid over to center and backup Coleman Shelton replaced Blythe at right guard. Shelton was an undrafted free agent out of Washington last season who bounced between the 49ers and Cardinals practice squads before joining the Rams active roster this season.
The Rams were surely disappointed with Allen’s performance on the interior line, but are no better off with even less depth. If Los Angeles chooses to look at free agent options, Sullivan remains available on the open market.
In addition to Allen, Los Angeles could be without starting right tackle Rob Havenstein for two weeks, as veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer tweets. Havenstein is dealing with a knee injury.
Brandin Cooks Meeting With Doctors
- In advance of the Rams‘ road assignment against the Steelers, Brandin Cooks has spent time in Pittsburgh because of concussion trouble. Cooks has made multiple trips to Pittsburgh to meet with doctors over the past two weeks, Omar Ruiz of USA Today tweets. The Rams wide receiver remains in concussion protocol and is out for Sunday’s game. Cooks has suffered two concussions this season, one in 2018 and one in Super Bowl LII. The 26-year-old receiver is not considering retirement and still wants to return this season (Instagram link).
Clay Matthews To Return To Practice
- It was barely a month ago that Clay Matthews broke his jaw, but the Rams linebacker is set to return to practice. Coach Sean McVay told reporters that the veteran will return to the practice field this week, and the coaching staff will evaluate his progress as they determine his availability for this weekend. “Everything’s checked out in a positive manner up to this point, so I think it’s just kind of progressing back to, ‘How comfortable do you feel putting a helmet on?’” McVay told the team’s website. “Some of the collisions that naturally would occur and just kind of trusting that you’re nice and secure in that absence of some of that stuff that kind of kept it in place and helped it heal over the last couple weeks.” Matthews has six sacks in five games with his new squad.
[SOURCE LINK]
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Porter Gustin
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Dakota Allen
Deadline Fallout: Harris, Jets, L. Williams
Despite a great deal of hype, Tuesday’s trade deadline went out with a whimper. As Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, that was largely because the presumed sellers — most notably the Bengals, Redskins, and Broncos — overvalued their assets. It was expected that Cincinnati’s and Washington’s stubbornness could torpedo potential deals, but Denver was similarly obstinate. For instance, the Broncos were asking for a second-round draft pick for CB Chris Harris when the market dictated that a fourth-rounder would be an appropriate return.
Now for more deadline fallout:
- Jets RB Le’Veon Bell recently said that his former club, the Steelers, were interested in re-acquiring him in advance of the trade deadline, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com confirms that Pittsburgh did indeed speak with the Jets about Bell. However, when it became clear that the shoulder injury that James Conner sustained in the Steelers’ win over Miami last Monday wasn’t as serious as it first appeared, talks with Gang Green cooled. Bell wasn’t the only RB the Steelers were interested in, per Schefter, but he was easily the most prominent.
- At least one team tried to blow the Jets away with an offer for defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, as Schefter writes in a separate piece. The unnamed club thought New York would be unable to turn down the blockbuster package of draft picks, but Williams was deemed untouchable by the Jets’ front office, and Gang Green stuck to its guns.
- We already heard that the Giants would try to work out a contract extension with the newly-acquired Leonard Williams, but Schefter says Big Blue will open negotiations before Thanksgiving. Of course, it could be difficult for player and team to agree on Williams’ value, and Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com believes that Williams is going to test free agency (Twitter link).
- The Rams traded Aqib Talib to the Dolphins in a pure salary dump, as they gave Miami a 2020 fifth-rounder just to take on the remainder of Talib’s contract. Peter Schrager of the NFL Network says Talib believes he will be healthy enough to return to the field this season but is unsure as to whether he will suit up for Miami (Twitter link). He may elect to cool his heels before he hits the open market in March, but he holds no ill will towards LA.