NFL Does Not Suspect Violation In Connection With Dolphins Practice Being Filmed
Hurricane Ian prompted the Buccaneers to move practices to Miami this week, and the Dolphins accommodated the other south Florida team by leaving for Cincinnati early. The 3-0 squad appears to have run into a bit of an issue after holding a practice away from home.
The Dolphins became suspicious of someone filming their Wednesday practice in Cincinnati, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes NFL Security is investigating this matter (Twitter link). The NFL does not suspect a competitive violation occurred, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets.
Nevertheless, Mike McDaniel apparently tried to outwit potential spies. Noticing enough onlookers watching practice — which was held at Nippert Stadium, the Cincinnati Bearcats’ home field — McDaniel put a 12th player on offense during his team’s walkthrough, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
This certainly adds a fun twist to a potential scandal, though this has not reached the scandal stage yet. Nippert Stadium also sits in the middle of Cincinnati’s campus and has vantage points for onlookers, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. tweets. The stadium’s placement and the Dolphins’ inclusion of a 12th man on various plays makes would seemingly make for a less productive walkthrough.
Ohio served as the location of a filming controversy not too long ago. Patriots staffers, during an effort to capture footage for a video piece for the team’s website, filmed B-roll of the Bengals sideline during a 2019 game in Cleveland. A Bengals staffer alerted the NFL, which docked the Pats a 2021 third-round pick and fined the team $1.1MM. It does not sound like similar penalties will be forthcoming in connection with the Dolphins’ suspicions, but this could be an interesting footnote ahead of Thursday night’s AFC showdown.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/22
Here today’s minor moves from around the league:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed to active roster: S Nazeeh Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: TE Richard Rodgers, WR Jason Moore Jr.
- Placed on IR: OT Rashawn Slater (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: WR River Cracraft
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: CB DaMarcus Fields
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: CB Fabian Moreau
- Placed on IR: WR Sterling Shepard (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: CB Xavier Crawford
- Placed on IR: RB Travis Homer
Latest On Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
The NFLPA investigation of the Dolphins, related to their handling of Tua Tagovailoa‘s concussion protocol, is ongoing. This process is expected to last a week or two, according to NFL executive VP Jeff Miller, who adds (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, on Twitter) there is every indication the team followed the protocol.
Although Tagovailoa’s quick return to action against the Bills sparked the union’s inquiry, he is not a lock to face the Bengals on Thursday. The Dolphins have listed their starting quarterback as questionable for Week 4 with back and ankle issues; Tagovailoa went through limited practices Tuesday and Wednesday. He said Tuesday the back issue has caused him more problems.
Tua said it felt like he hyperextended his back during a quarterback sneak Sunday, and Matt Milano shoving him to the turf on the next play produced a head hit and post-play stumble that sent him into the protocol. The third-year passer blamed the noticeable stumble on the back injury.
Mike McDaniel said postgame Tua navigated concussion protocol, but the talented southpaw added (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) that his back “started to lock up” on him during the second half against the Bills. McDaniel is optimistic Tagovailoa will play against the Bengals; the Alabama alum called his new HC late Monday night to discuss his status.
Even if the investigation clears the Dolphins, their quarterback continues to run into injury trouble. The severe hip injury Tagovailoa suffered late in his junior year affected his draft stock, though not much as it turned out. In the Dolphins’ home Bills matchup last year, Tua sustained rib fractures that sent him to IR. Thumb and finger maladies have also sidelined Tagovailoa for a game apiece during his Miami stay.
The team has a highly capable backup in Teddy Bridgewater, who worked as a starter (with the Panthers and Broncos) over the past two seasons. Bridgewater, 29, took three snaps in relief of Tagovailoa in Week 3. While Bridgewater is a seasoned option, Tagovailoa is having the best stretch of his short career. After his 469-yard, six-touchdown day against the Ravens, he averaged 10.3 yards per attempt on 72% passing in Sunday’s injury-bisected game. Leading the Dolphins to the AFC’s lone 3-0 record, the oft-questioned passer ranks first in QBR entering Week 4.
NFLPA To Investigate Handling Of Tua Tagovailoa Concussion Protocol
There was a moment during today’s AFC East matchup in Miami where it didn’t look like the Dolphins would have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the second half of the game due to a potential concussion. Tagovailoa underwent the required concussion protocol and returned for the second half to lead his team to a win over the division rival Bills. The NFL Players Association, though, is reportedly initiating an investigation into the handling of the concussion check, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Tagovailoa received a late hit from Bills linebacker Matt Milano around the two-minute mark of the second quarter. When Tagovailoa had released the ball, he was pushed backwards by Milano and, upon landing on his back, Tagovailoa’s head snapped back against the turf. As he hurried back downfield to rejoin his offense, Tagovailoa appeared to slip or stumble, prompting the officials to remove him from the game to undergo the league-mandated concussion protocol. Tagovailoa came back out with the Dolphins offense for the second half and proceeded to lead his team to a victory.
Instigating an investigation insinuates that the NFLPA has some notion that the protocol for Tagovailoa’s safety was not completely aboveboard. Whether they believe the results were influenced to allow a potentially concussed player to return to play or whether they believe the results were ignored, the NFLPA clearly wants to make sure that Tagovailoa was not put in any danger by returning to the game.
Tagovailoa had a different story for his injury and stumble, according to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, telling the media, “On the quarterback sneak, (I) kinda got my legs caught under someone and they were trying to push back. It felt like I hyperextended my back. On the next play, I hit my back and kinda hurt it. Then I got up and that’s kinda when I stumbled. For the most part, I’m good. Passed whatever concussion protocol they had.”
This would excuse the Dolphins in the eyes of the Players Association for the time being, if true. While it might be questionable to send your quarterback onto the field with back issues, there is no league mandate preventing it. After the game, Tagovailoa credited adrenaline with his ability to continue playing after sustaining the back injury but did admit that he felt “uncomfortable.”
Regardless of the results of the investigation, Miami may be without its young lefty for its next contest. If Tagovailoa finds it harder to perform without the rush of adrenaline, he will have only a short period of time to recover, as the Dolphins are set to play the Bengals on Thursday night this week.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/22
Lots of moves leading into gameday. Remember that players promoted from the practice squad for games will revert back to the practice squad after:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jace Whittaker
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Frank Darby
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Brandon Copeland, WR Raleigh Webb
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Daviyon Nixon
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Thomas
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Keandre Jones
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Jonathan Harris, WR Kendall Hinton
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman, T Dan Skipper
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Akins, CB Grayland Arnold
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: K Chase McLaughlin
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Dicaprio Bootle, K Matt Ammendola
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Richard Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR River Cracraft, T Larnel Coleman
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: S Myles Dorn, CB Duke Shelley
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Harvey Langi
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: DB DaMarcus Fields
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Britain Covey
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Akeem Spence
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Xavier Crawford, LB Christian Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: OLB Wyatt Ray
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Josh Gordon, G Jordan Roos
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE William Bradley-King, DE Benning Potoa’e
CB Joe Haden Announces Retirement
After a 12-year career spent in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Joe Haden is walking away from the game. The former Pro Bowl cornerback plans to retire, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus (via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper).
While Haden drew some interest this offseason, he did not sign with a team ahead of training camp. The 33-year-old defender ended his career as a 149-game starter. That ranks as a top-50 total in NFL history at cornerback. Among active corners, only Patrick Peterson has lined up as a first-stringer more often.
The Cardinals, Dolphins, Rams and Raiders showed interest this offseason, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). Haden was said to be weighing offers. If so, none of the teams’ proposals did enough to convince him to play a 13th season, but Fowler adds the longtime starter entered free agency planning to do so.
The first cornerback chosen in the 2010 draft (No. 7 overall), Haden earned Pro Bowl nods with the Browns and Steelers. He spent time anchoring secondaries in Cleveland and, after a late-summer release in 2017, became a key figure on a few Steelers playoff teams. Lasting longer than most as a No. 1 corner, Haden made Pro Bowls with the 2013 and ’14 Browns and received his third invite in 2019 — at age 30 — with the Steelers. The 5-foot-11 defender ended his career with 29 interceptions; a six-INT rookie season did the most to bolster that total.
Haden signed a Browns extension in 2014 and played three seasons on that contract but was one of a few veterans to leave the team during its aggressive rebuild attempt from 2016-17. The Browns attempted to keep the ex-Florida Gator on a reduced salary and made efforts to trade him, but the team’s top corner instead ended up on the open market. Although Haden became connected to several other teams — the Dolphins, Eagles, Saints, Chiefs, Cowboys and 49ers — in free agency, he chose the Steelers after visit that occurred hours after his Browns exit. The short Rust Belt trek produced a three-year, $27MM deal, the first of Haden’s two Steelers agreements.
After the arrivals of Haden and T.J. Watt in 2017, the Steelers made a run at the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Ryan Shazier‘s injury and the controversial Jesse James touchdown overturn re-routed the 13-3 team to the No. 2 seed, and an eventual divisional-round loss, but that season began a lengthy Haden second act. The Steelers extended Haden in 2019 — a two-year, $22MM accord — and he ended up starting 67 games with his second NFL employer. That period produced top-10 total defenses from 2017-20 in Pittsburgh and three playoff berths. Haden angled for a third Steelers deal last year, but the team moved on via younger, cheaper options this offseason.
Haden ended up doing incredibly well for himself financially in the NFL, making more than $121MM in 12 years. He arrived during the last draft to feature monster rookie contracts for first-rounders, before the 2011 CBA changed the rookie salary scale, landing a five-year, $40MM deal in 2010. That figure eclipses what 2022 No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker signed for this offseason. The Browns gave Haden a five-year deal in 2014 (worth $67.5MM) as well.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/19/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Jovante Moffatt
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: OLB Kyler Fackrell
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OT Brandon Shell
- Released: DT Christopher Hinton
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/17/22
Today’s minor moves around the league, including practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s action:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Devon Kennard, CB Jace Whittaker
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Caleb Huntley, DL Abdullah Anderson
- Placed on IR: RB Damien Williams (story)
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Daryl Worley, WR Raleigh Webb
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Arron Mosby
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: C Dieter Eiselen
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Jordan Kunaszyk, DT Roderick Perry
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: QB Cooper Rush, K Brett Maher (story)
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Will Grier, C Alec Lindstrom
- Placed on IR: DE Tarell Basham
- Waived: DT John Ridgeway
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kendall Hinton, G Netane Muti
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman, T Dan Skipper
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Patrick Taylor
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Jeff Driskel, WR Chris Conley
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Keke Coutee, K Chase McLaughlin (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: G Alex Bars, S Matthias Farley
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jacob Harris
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: T Larnel Coleman, WR River Cracraft
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: S Tony Jefferson, CB Fabian Moreau
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Grant Hermanns, TE Kenny Yeboah
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Christian Ringo
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Delontae Scott
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Xavier Crawford
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Kaylon Geiger, LB Kenny Young
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: G Wes Martin, DT Benning Potoa’e
Dolphins To Place T Austin Jackson On IR
After suffering an injury during the Dolphins’ season opener, Austin Jackson will be shut down for a stretch. Mike McDaniel said the third-year offensive lineman is headed to IR.
The Dolphins stationed Jackson at right tackle to start this season, having signed Terron Armstead to man the left side. Jackson suffered a sprained ankle in Miami’s Week 1 win. Greg Little, who replaced Jackson against the Patriots, is expected to start on the right side in Week 2.
Jackson played 14 offensive snaps against the Pats, beginning a full-time foray at right tackle. Drafted to be the Dolphins’ long-term Laremy Tunsil replacement at left tackle, Jackson did not stick at that position and spent much of his 2021 season at guard. The Dolphins, who have been keen on moving O-linemen around the formation in recent years, shuttled Jackson to right tackle after giving Armstead a five-year, $75MM deal in March.
A former Panthers second-round pick, Little arrived in Miami via August 2021 trade (for a seventh-round pick). Little has not started a game since the 2020 season. Little’s Panthers tenure did not take off; the Ole Miss product made just six starts with Carolina. The contract-year O-lineman will have another chance to make an impression Sunday.
Should Little falter, the Dolphins added some insurance this week. Brandon Shell signed with Miami’s practice squad. Shell, 30, has been a full-time right tackle starter since 2017. The former Jets and Seahawks blocker would make sense as Jackson relief, having made 61 starts in his six-year career.
Armstead, whose Saints career included a number of injuries, is battling a toe issue. McDaniel expects the 10th-year left tackle to play through it, however. With fourth-year interior lineman Michael Deiter and 2021 UDFA Robert Jones residing the team’s only O-line backups on the active roster, more help will be added once Jackson’s IR move processes. Jackson cannot return to action until Week 6.
Dolphins To Sign T Brandon Shell
Shortly after veteran starter Oday Aboushi found a practice squad gig, Brandon Shell has landed one as well. The Dolphins are adding the veteran right tackle to their 16-man P-squad, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Shell, 30, spent the past two years with the Seahawks. While the two-year Seattle right tackle starter visited Denver about a Russell Wilson reunion earlier this year, nothing materialized. The Dolphins will bring him aboard as insurance.
Several teams expressed interest in Shell, according to Jackson. He comes to the Dolphins with 61 career starts on his resume, one that began in the AFC East. The Jets drafted Shell in the 2016 fifth round and used him as their primary right tackle from 2017-19.
Shell signed a two-year, $9MM Seahawks deal in 2020 but could not generate similar interest during his second crack at free agency. Pro Football Focus graded Shell fairly well during each of his two Seahawks seasons, viewing his 2020 work slightly better than his 2021 performance.
Neither of the Dolphins’ starting tackles — Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson — are locks to play in Week 2. Jackson is dealing with an ankle injury, one Jackson classifies as a sprain. Armstead is battling an unspecified (for now) malady. Armstead clarity will soon emerge via the Dolphins’ injury report. Neither practiced Wednesday. Armstead signed a big-ticket free agency deal with the Dolphins and played 97% of the team’s offensive snaps in Week 1. But the former Saints Pro Bowler has an extensive injury past. He missed nine games last season and missed a combined 21 contests from 2016-18.
While Shell would profile as veteran insurance, Jackson adds the Dolphins are planning a ramp-up period — similar to the Cowboys’ plan with Jason Peters — for the experienced blocker. Greg Little replaced Jackson against the Patriots; the right-side starter left during the second quarter. The Dolphins also have the option of kicking one of their guards out to tackle. Both Robert Hunt and Liam Eichenberg have experience at tackle, though it is unknown if such emergency switches will be needed.