NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/22/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Tyler Patmon
- Cut: DT Bruce Gaston
Chicago Bears
- Signed: CB De’Vante Bausby, WR Dres Anderson
- Cut: Darius Jennings
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Derrick Mathews
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Randell Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Marcus Ball
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Zac Brooks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Mike Liedtke, CB Cody Riggs, WR Myles White
- Cut: RB Russell Hansbrough
Rams Release CB Troy Hill
Days after being arrested for a DUI, the Rams announced that they have released cornerback Troy Hill. The team also announced that cornerback Dwayne Gratz has been waived and linebacker Josh Forrest has been placed on injured reserve. To take their spots, cornerback Michael Jordan and linebacker Nic Grigsby are being called up from the practice squad. 
Hill, 25, entered the league as a Bengals undrafted free agent in 2015 and didn’t play much during his rookie season. This year, he saw an increased role, appearing in every game for the Rams (until this weekend) and starting four contests. As Los Angeles’ fourth cornerback behind Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, and Lamarcus Joyner, Hill has played on 320 defensive snaps this year, but Pro Football Focus gave him poor marks for his play. His release should have opened a door for Gratz, but he also finds himself out of work.
Forrest, a sixth-round pick, suffered an ACL tear on Sunday. Forrest was Alec Ogletree‘s primary backup at middle linebacker, so they are now without an important reserve. As I suggested yesterday, Grigsby is getting a promotion to help fill the void.
Fisher: Rams Won't Fire Rob Boras
- In the middle of the 2015 season, the Rams canned Frank Cignetti and installed Rob Boras as the team’s offensive coordinator. Will they make a similar move this year? “Not given it any consideration,” Fisher said (link via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times). “I did that last year. I have confidence in Rob and the offense has confidence in Rob. And the offense right now knows they’re not doing what they should be doing.” The Rams currently rank 31st in total offense, 28th in passing, and 29th in rushing.
Extensions Elusive For Les Snead, Jeff Fisher
For months now, we have been hearing that the Rams are on the cusp of extending coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead. Lately, however, things have been quiet. Mike Florio of PFT reached out to Rams VP of football operations Kevin Demoff for comment and he said there were “no updates” to give for either of them.
Some people, according to Florio, believe that Fisher already has an extension in place but the team is waiting for the right time to announce it. Now 4-6 after losing to Miami, the Rams might want to wait a little longer.
Rams LB Josh Forrest Has ACL Tear?
Josh Forrest‘s promising rookie season could be coming to a premature end. The team fears that he has torn his ACL, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Taken in the sixth round of the 2016 draft, Forrest has taken on a larger-than-expected role, appearing in all ten games this season and even making four starts. On the year, he has six total tackles, one pass defensed, and one fumble recovery.
Forrest has positioned himself as Alec Ogletree‘s top backup at middle linebacker and the team will probably look to add a linebacker if he is in fact done for the season. The Rams can stay in-house, if they choose, by promoting either Nicholas Grigsby or Lynden Trail from the practice squad.
In other Rams news, the team COO says that there are no hurdles in potentially bringing the Chargers to L.A. And, late last week, cornerback Troy Hill was arrested for a DUI.
Rams’ COO: “No Hurdles Between Bolts, L.A.”
Although the Chargers announced they’re not making a decision on a potential Los Angeles relocation until after the season, they are talking to the Rams about the long-rumored move, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.
Rams’ chief operating officer Kevin Demoff confirmed the two franchises are talking about a Chargers northern migration, one that became much more realistic after San Diego citizens resoundingly voted down the Bolts’ downtown stadium proposal on election day.
“There are no hurdles to any deal,” Demoff said, via Rapoport. “The relationship between the two owners is in a good place, and I believe the Chargers feel welcomed. Nothing stands in their way of moving if that is what they want to do. I would also say we have no insight on what their decision will be. It’s only that we have worked hard to make sure their L.A. option is a good one.”
The Chargers and Rams agreed to a deal in principle earlier this year just before Dean Spanos announced his team was going to play 2016 in San Diego, and the Bolts subsequently attempted to craft a desirable stadium deal. The latest coming out of San Diego is the city will continue to host Chargers games next season, but that’s not certain yet. Neither is the viability of Los Angeles being a two-team city, with Roger Goodell’s preference remaining to keep the Chargers and Raiders — who still have a Los Angeles path — in their respective markets.
The Rams and Chargers, though, have a green light to share Stan Kroenke‘s $2.6 billion stadium, which is set for a 2019 unveiling, thanks to the owners’ decision in January. Although the Bolts haven’t yet asked the league for an extension on deciding on L.A., they could do so soon. Should the Chargers pass on Inglewood by Jan. 15, that would give the Raiders the opportunity to move back. The Raiders remain committed to Las Vegas, but that venture isn’t certain yet either due to the likely relocation vote having no consensus yet and potential hiccups regarding the financing of the proposed stadium.
Moving parts remain, but Demoff’s comments represent a step for a Rams-Chargers union.
Rams CB Troy Hill Arrested For DUI
Rams cornerback Troy Hill was arrested Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com. Los Angeles has released a statement indicating that it is aware of the situation, and also announced that Hill will be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
[RELATED: Rams To Start Jared Goff]
Hill, 25, entered the league as a Bengals undrafted free agent in 2015 and didn’t play much during his rookie season. But he’s established himself during his sophomore campaign, appearing in every game for the Rams thus far and starting four contests. As Los Angeles’ fourth cornerback behind Trumaine Johnson, E.J. Gaines, and Lamarcus Joyner, Hill has played on 320 defensive snaps this year, but has earned poor coverage grades from Pro Football Focus.
With Hill set to be inactive, fellow cornerback Dwayne Gratz could see a role for this first time this season. Claimed off waivers from the Jaguars in mid-October, Gratz — who has 25 career starts under his belt — has yet to appear in a game for the Rams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Jaguars announced today that they’ve promoted offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi from the practice squad to the active roster. In a corresponding move, the club waived fellow OL Bryce Harris. Poutasi, 22, was selected by the Titans in the third round of the 2015 draft, but Tennessee’s new regime cut ties with him after only a single season. Harris, meanwhile, has bounced around the league since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2012.
- The Cardinals have placed linebacker Gabe Martin on injured reserve with a knee injury and promoted LB Zaviar Gooden from the practice squad, according to a team announcement. Martin had only played 19 defensive snaps on the season, but had been a force on special teams, where he’d played on 64% of Arizona’s plays. Like Poutasi, Gooden is a former Titans third-round pick, having been drafted in 2013.
- The Rams announced that they’ve placed rookie wide receiver Nelson Spruce on injured reserve after he suffered calf injury. To fill his roster spot, Los Angles has promoted defensive back Blake Countess from the practice squad. Additionally, the Rams signed defensive end Lenny Jones to the taxi squad, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com.
Latest On Futures Of Chargers, Raiders
It’s conceivable that either the Chargers or Raiders could relocate to Los Angeles in the coming years, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday the “ideal” scenario is for the two teams to stay where they are (Twitter link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com). Goodell was in attendance when the Rams broke ground on their $2.6 billion stadium in Inglewood, Calif., where the Chargers have the option of sharing the soon-to-be built facility with the Rams. They must decide by Jan. 15 whether to do it, and while an extension is possible, the Chargers haven’t asked for one, Goodell revealed (Twitter link via Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News).
Chargers owner Dean Spanos said last week that he’s tabling relocation thoughts until the end of the season, which wouldn’t leave him much time to negotiate a deal with the Rams’ Stan Kroenke. His organization would gladly team with Spanos’ franchise, though, with Rams chief operating officer Kevin Damoff saying, “We’d welcome [the Chargers] with open arms” (Twitter link via Gonzalez).
If the Chargers stay in San Diego – which is possible for at least 2017 – and the Raiders’ Las Vegas plans fall through, there’s “growing support” within the league for the Silver and Black to return to LA, per Bonsignore. Although an October report indicated the NFL could force Raiders owner Mark Davis out, a high-ranking league official told Bonsignore that notion is “total BS.” On the contrary, there’s “growing admiration” for the job Davis has done since taking over the Raiders after his father, Al Davis, died in 2011.
While the league would be OK with the Raiders going back to LA, where they played from 1982-94, or staying in Oakland, Bonsignore writes that Las Vegas remains the likeliest option. The Raiders aren’t interested in remaining in Oakland, relays Bonsignore, as the city hasn’t made much known progress toward a new stadium to replace the 50-year-old Coliseum. Meanwhile, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval has already signed off on $750MM in public money toward a potential $1.9 billion Raiders facility.
Davis will file for relocation in January, and once that happens, he’ll need 23 approval votes from the league’s other 31 owners to make his Las Vegas dream a reality. Goodell isn’t fully on board with the Raiders going to Vegas, but Bonsignore doesn’t expect Davis to have difficulty garnering the necessary number of votes.
Could Rams Make Case Keenum QB3?
- Case Keenum will move into a backup role behind No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, but it’s actually possible that he’s bumped all the way down to No. 3 and made inactive on gamedays if the Rams fall out of the playoff hunt. Keenum is headed for free agency at the end of the year and L.A. will likely want to gauge what they have in Sean Mannion, a 2015 third-round choice.
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