Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/2017
Here are today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Rams
- Added from practice squad: LB Carlos Thompson
- Waived: LB Ejuan Price
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Josh Forrest
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Cameron Lynch
Miami Dolphins
- Added from practice squad: DE Cameron Malveaux
- Placed on reserve/non-football illness list: FS Maurice Smith
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: OL Kyle Kalis
McVay "Shooting For" A Week 14 Return For Robert Woods
- Breakout Rams wide receiver Robert Woods was sidelined for the team’s win over the Saints last week and will most assuredly be out for Week 13 as well. However, head coach Sean McVay told reporters this afternoon that he’s “shooting for” Woods to return by December 10, although the young coach did clarify that the more likely return date would be a week later than that, tweets Aiden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. Woods has been a real impact free agent for LA, especially in recent weeks, as he’s recorded 20 catches and four touchdowns in the last three games he played. Without the 25-year-old receiver, the Rams will more heavily rely on Sammy Watkins, Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds.
Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/17
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Kevin Snyder
- Cut: LB Connor Harris
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Lorenzo Doss
- Waived: OL Will Pericak
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Alex Carter
- Waived: WR Mario Alford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DL Josh Tupou
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Jacob Hagen
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Jace Billingsley, DB Stefan McClure
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Jeremy Liggins
- Waived: G Ian Silberman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DE Francis Kallon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Brooks Ellis, WR Jaelen Strong
- Waived: DL Marcus Hardison
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, DB Marcus Sayles
- Waived: OL Jeremiah Poutasi
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB De’Veon Smith
New England Patriots
- Waived: DT Mike Purcell
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Kyle Coleman, LB Kache Palacio
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jake Lampman, T Givens Price, CB David Rivers
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/17
Here are today’s minor NFL moves:
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: S Roland Milligan
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Bradley Marquez
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: TE Ross Travis
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Kevin Peterson
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on injured reserve: OT Erik Magnuson
- Placed on injured reserve: RB Raheem Mostert
Connor Barwin Expected To Miss 1-2 Games
Rams linebacker Connor Barwin could not finish out yesterday’s big win over the Saints and is likely to miss 1-2 games, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter Link). Rapoport notes that the 31-year-old pass rusher suffered a slight fracture in a bone in his forearm, though the ailment isn’t expected to keep him out of the lineup long-term.
Barwin has managed four sacks on the season thus far, but grades out poorly as an overall edge defender, amassing a below-average grade of 43.6 this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Without Barwin, the Rams will likely turn to more inexperienced outside linebackers, including third-year player Matt Longacre and rookies Samson Ebukam and Ejuan Price. The loss of the veteran defender puts more pressure on the likes of stalwarts Aaron Donald, Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn to make plays, especially in the passing game. Los Angeles will travel to division rival Arizona on Sunday, hoping to keep pace with the rest of the division leaders in the NFC.
Fisher To Get Another Shot In The NFL?
- With the Rams surging to an 8-3 record under first-year head coach Sean McVay, a lot of criticism has been tossed at former head coach Jeff Fisher for the way he handled the offense. Fisher appeared on the Amazon show All or Nothing over this past summer and expressed desire to get back on the sideline for the 2018-19 season. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk opines that despite Fisher’s recent track record, he does bring a ton of experience in the game and has the skills to impress in the interview room. Florio hears that his name has already “bubbled up” for coaching jobs, so there’s some potential for interest to come from the NFL as well. They’ll also be a number of coaching jobs open, both head coach and as a coordinator. It’ll be a tough sell considering what has transpired in Los Angeles this season, but Fisher is clearly still held in high regard among the football community, so anything is possible.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Carlton Agudosi
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Justin Currie
- Signed: DE Tyrone Holmes
- Placed on IR: DT Jamie Meder
Houston Texans
- Waived: QB Josh Johnson (according to agent Doug Hendrickson, on Twitter)
- Signed: WR Cobi Hamilton
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: TE Johnny Mundt
New England Patriots
- Signed off Bills’ practice squad: OLB Eric Lee
Washington Redskins
- Placed on IR: G Shaun Lauvao
Robert Woods To Miss Time
The Rams will be without top wide receiver Robert Woods for “a couple weeks,” head coach Sean McVay told reporters including ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez (Twitter link). McVay touched on the importance of the injury, calling it “a significant loss for us.” 
Though McVay also stated the injury could threaten the receiver’s season and require surgery, he remained positive, saying the Rams hope to have him back in two weeks.
Woods injured his left shoulder in the Rams’ Week 11 matchup with Minnesota after being tackled by safety Harrison Smith.
To call the injury a significant loss is putting it lightly. Woods has been easily the team’s No. 1 wideout in recent weeks, posting 20 catches, 322 yards and four touchdowns in the team’s last three games. The emergence of the fifth-year pass catcher has also hid the ineffectiveness of Sammy Watkins, who has posted more than two catches just once since Week 3.
Woods has been quite the find for the Rams, who signed the former Bills receiver to a five-year contract prior to the 2017 campaign. The California native has looked right at home in the Rams’ new-look passing attack and has already recorded a career-high 703 yards through 10 games.
With the loss, the Rams will look for Watkins, who the team traded for in the offseason, to fill the void.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/13/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran Howard Balzer’s Twitter account (unless noted):
Cleveland Browns
- DBs Jacob Hagen, Ed Reynolds (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- LSs Drew Ferris, Ryan DiSalvo, Andrew East, Colin Holba (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco)
Los Angeles Rams
- TE Henry Krieger-Coble; LB Kevin Snyder (link)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- S Jack Tocho (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- P Chase Tenpenny (link)
Philip Rivers In Concussion Protocol
The Chargers could be without their quarterback this weekend. Coach Anthony Lynn announced tonight that Philip Rivers is in the concussion protocol (via the team’s Twitter account). This would be a tough blow to a Chargers squad that has dropped two in a row.
Rivers has been remarkably durable during his 13-year career, as he hasn’t missed a regular season game since taking over as the full-time quarterback in 2006. The 35-year-old also hasn’t shown any major signs that he’s slowing down. In nine games this season, Rivers has completed 60.1-percent of his passes for 2,263 yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
If Rivers was forced to miss any time, Kellen Clemens would likely earn the start for the Chargers. The 34-year-old hasn’t had an extended run as a starter since 2013, when he played in 10 games (nine starts) for the Rams. That season, Clemens completed 58.7-percent of his passes for 1,673 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He’s played in 17 games with the Chargers since joining the organization in 2014. The team is also rostering former Bills draft pick Cardale Jones, who appeared in one game with Buffalo last season.