Rams Know Aaron Donald Deal Needs To Establish New NFL Record
- If the Rams are going to sign Aaron Donald to an extension, the deal will have to make the defensive lineman the NFL’s highest-paid defender. Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com writes the team understands this. Von Miller‘s six-year, $114.6MM contract represents that standard presently, and Ndamukong Suh‘s six-year, $114MM Dolphins deal is the high-water mark for interior defenders. Los Angeles is not expected to have Donald this week as his holdout stretches into Month 3.
Rams Won't Have Donald For Opener
No surprise here, but Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is expected to miss Sunday’s season opener against Indianapolis as he continues his holdout, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Donald is presently at home with his family on the east coast and the two sides are not close to an agreement.
While we wait to see how things shake out between Donald and the Rams, let’s take a look at more news from the NFC:
Latest On Aaron Donald, Rams
As of now, it looks like neither the Colts nor Rams will have their best players available to them Sunday. Andrew Luck already being ruled out may precede the Rams making a similar announcement regarding Aaron Donald‘s status.
The All-Pro defensive lineman is currently back home on the east coast, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting (on Twitter) both sides tried to reach an agreement but remain apart. The Rams will conduct their first game-week practice of the season Wednesday, and that workout won’t include Donald, further pointing to the dominant defender missing Week 1.
Donald and the Rams met last week but were “not close” to an extension agreement. Sean McVay did not declare a deadline for Donald reporting and being given a green light to suit up for Week 1, but the superstar interior defender would have a harder time immediately resuming game action this season compared to in years past.
Wade Phillips‘ new defensive scheme calls for the all-world three technique to play defensive end in base sets. While Donald would be a welcome addition and help Los Angeles’ cause, it wouldn’t be a seamless transition like it would have been had this scenario played out a year ago.
The Rams have Donald under team control through 2018 for roughly $10MM, and this setup has created rumors of Donald continuing his holdout well into the season — despite the prospect of missing out on game checks.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/17
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Tony McRae, C Matt Skura
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Eric Lee
- Released: S B.T. Sanders, CB Marcus Sayles
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: FB Alex Armah
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Ben Braunecker
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Rashard Higgins, CB Darius Hillary, S Kai Nacua
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Mark Nzeocha
- Released: WR Brian Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB LaTroy Lewis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Ronald Martin
- Released: S Andrew Williamson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Raysean Pringle
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Akeem Hunt
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Joseph Jones, CB Craig Mager
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, CB Kevin Peterson
- Released: OL Michael Dunn, DL Louis Trinca-Pasat
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
- Released: LB Trevor Bates, DT Darius Kilgo
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nordly Capi, WR Travis Rudolph
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Lawrence Thomas
- Released: DL Patrick Gamble
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Ben Boulware, RB Jeremy McNichols
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/5/17
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Jordan Tripp
- Placed on IR: LaRoy Reynolds
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR: S Chris Prosinski
Detroit Lions
- Released from IR: DB Tramain Jacobs
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Marcus Burley
- Released from IR: WR Wendall Williams
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Nick Dzubnar
Los Angeles Rams
- Released from IR: WR Nelson Spruce
New England Patriots
- Released from IR: DE Corey Vereen
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Bryce Harris
New York Giants
- Released from IR: S Duke Ihenacho, S Mykkele Thompson
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Neal Sterling
- Waived: FB Julian Howsare
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: S Erik Harris, LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- Placed on IR: OL Denver Kirkland, S Obi Melifonwu
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: DE Alex McCalister, S Tre Sullivan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Will Clarke, LS Garrison Sanborn
- Placed on IR: QB Ryan Griffin
- Waived: DL Channing Ward
McVay Won't Set Deadline For Donald Arrival
- Aaron Donald remains a holdout as the Rams begin their Week 1 preparations, but Sean McVay won’t impose a deadline on how late the All-Pro defensive lineman can report to the team and still play Sunday, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. Rams reps flew to Atlanta to meet with Donald, but the sides reportedly aren’t close to a deal. Gonzalez adds McVay nonetheless remains “optimistic” about a solution.
Rams Claim QB Brandon Allen
The Rams have claimed quarterback Brandon Allen off waivers, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Allen was cut loose by the Jaguars over the weekend. 
The 2016 sixth-round pick now becomes the Rams’ third quarterback behind starter Jared Goff and backup Sean Mannion, assuming Mannion remains on board. The Rams will have to make a corresponding move to make room for Allen on the roster.
After going 4-12 last season, the Rams had top five waiver priority. It’s likely that other teams in need of quarterback depth also made a claim on Allen but were trumped by L.A. The 24-year-old made some impressive plays in the preseason, though he did throw three picks in the team’s final exhibition game.
The Rams open up their season with a home game against the Colts on Sunday.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC West
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Carlton Agudosi
- G Dorian Johnson
- CB Ryan Lewis
- S Harlan Miller
- TE Ricky Seals-Jones
- RB James Summers
- DT Pasoni Tasini
- LB Scooby Wright
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed:
- C J.J. Dielman
- DT Quinton Jefferson
- C Aaron Neary
- Waived:
- LB Nic Grigsby
- TE John Mundt
- DT Louis Trinca-Pasat
- Signed to practice squad:
- DT Omarius Bryant
- OL Michael Dunn
- OL Jake Eldrenkamp
- DB Isaiah Johnson
- LB Cassanova McKinzy
- WR Paul McRoberts
- FB Sam Rogers
- OLB Carlos Thompson
- TE Travis Wilson
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed:
- DL Xavier Cooper (story)
- Placed on IR:
- DL Ronald Blair
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR DeAndre Carter
- OL John Flynn
- TE Cole Hikutini
- CB Asa Jackson
- QB Nick Mullens
- DL Noble Nwachukwu
- WR DeAndre Smelter
- OL Darrell Williams Jr.
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to practice squad:
- RB Mike Davis
- WR Cyril Grayson
- CB Mike Tyson
- C Joey Hunt
- DT Garrison Smith
- TE Tyrone Swoopes
Rams Make Cuts, Reach 53-Man Max
The Rams added a player via trade on Saturday, but their real focus was on mass cuts to get down to the 53-man max. Here’s a rundown of their moves.
Waived:
- DT Omarius Bryant
- WR K.D. Cannon
- OL Parker Collins
- K Travis Coons
- CB Carlos Davis
- LB Kevin Davis (waived/injured)
- OL Michael Dunn
- OL Jake Eldrenkamp
- LB Josh Forrest (waived/injured)
- DB Tyquwan Glass
- RB Aaron Green
- DB Isaiah Johnson
- DB Michael Jordan
- OL Alex Kozan
- OLB Willie Mays
- LB Cassanova Mckinzy
- WR Paul McRoberts
- OLB Andy Mulumba
- OL Pace Murphy
- LB Folarin Orimolade
- DB Aarion Penton
- NT Mike Purcell
- FB Sam Rogers
- WR Shakeir Ryan
- DT Casey Sayles
- WR Brandon Shippen
- WR Nelson Spruce (waived/injured)
- OLB Carlos Thompson
- RB Lenard Tillery (waived/injured)
- OLB Orlovsky was signed in July, but he was facing long odds since the Rams already had Jared Goff and Sean Mannion as their top two QBs.
- G Cody Wichmann
- TE Travis Wilson
Released:
- TE Cory Harkey
- QB Dan Orlovsky
Reserve/Injured:
Reserve/PUP:
- RB Lance Dunbar
Reserve/Suspended:
- CB Troy Hill
- WR Michael Thomas
Orlovsky was signed in July, but he was facing long odds since the Rams already had Jared Goff and Sean Mannion as their top two QBs. Since being drafted in 2005, the 34-year-old has made just 12 career starts.
Redskins Trade TE Derek Carrier To Rams
We heard earlier this morning that the Redskins could consider cutting tight end Derek Carrier. Now, it sounds like the player is actually getting traded, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Carrier has been traded to the Rams. Washington will receive a 2018 seventh-rounder (via the team’s Twitter account).
The tight end struggled to stay healthy during his two seasons in Washington, appearing in only 20 games after tearing his ACL towards the end of the 2015 campaign. During his two years with the Redskins, Carrier hauled in only 19 catches for 151 yards and one touchdown. With Washington currently rostering four tight ends in Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, Niles Paul, and rookie Jeremy Sprinkle, Carrier was clearly expendable. The Redskins initially acquired the tight end after sending a conditional fifth-rounder to the 49ers before the 2015 season. Carrier has also had brief stints with the Raiders and Eagles.
The trade means that the tight end will be reuniting with his former offensive coordinator, Sean McVay, who is now the head coach in Los Angeles. Carrier could have an opportunity to contribute, although it’s likely that the team rolls with second-rounder Gerald Everett as their starter. Therefore, the recently-acquired tight end will presumably compete with Tyler Higbee and Cory Harkey for a reserve role.