NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Deatrick Nichols
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
- Released: QB Connor Cook
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DB Demetrious Cox
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Jeremiah McKinnon
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Jeremy McNichols
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Jerell Adams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Tray Matthews, DE Al-Quadin Muhammad
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: FB Dimitri Flowers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S Leon McQuay, TE David Wells
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Jeff Richards, LB Tre’von Johnson
- Released: CB Channing Stribling, T Jamar McGloster
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Travis Rudolph
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Jordan Morgan, WR Roger Lewis, RB Dalyn Dawkins
NFL Workout Updates: 10/8/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer unless otherwise noted:
Cleveland Browns
- S Chris Cooper, S Marwin Evans, WR Josh Huff, LB Greer Martini, WR Francis Owusu, QB Peter Pujals, TE Will Tye (Twitter link)
Indianapolis Colts
- S Elijah Campbell, S Tray Matthews (link)
Miami Dolphins
- CB De’Vante Harris, CB Robert Jackson (link)
New England Patriots
- WR Reggie Davis, WR Damoun Patterson, RB Brandon Radcliff, T Toby Weathersby (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss)
New York Jets
- G John Fullington, CB Quinten Rollins (link)
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
- QB Joe Callahan, G J.J. Dielman, TE Scott Orndoff, LB Aaron Wallace, TE Clive Walford (link)
Dolphins Shopping WR DeVante Parker
The Dolphins could be ready to give up on DeVante Parker. The club has talked to several teams about trading the wide receiver, according to Mike Lombardi of The Athletic (on Twitter). 
Parker has missed four of five possible games this season, so the Dolphins’ feelings of frustration with the 25-year-old are understandable. At the same time, Parker’s injury woes will obviously limit his trade value. A Parker deal would mean getting pennies on the dollar for the former first-round pick, but keeping him could put them in financial jeopardy next year. Parker’s fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury, so the club could be stuck with a $9.387MM cap charge in 2019 if he is unable to pass an offseason physical.
Parker has been somewhat productive at the pro level, but he hasn’t been all that efficient. In 2016, he caught 56 of his 87 targets for 744 yards and four touchdowns. Last year, however, he had just 57 catches off of 96 passes thrown his way for 670 yards and one TD. His struggles last year could be chalked up to playing without Ryan Tannehill, but his foot, hamstring, and ankle injuries loom as a larger concern. This year, a quad injury has shelved Parker for every game, save for the Dolphins’ Week 3 contest against the Raiders.
At one point in time, the Dolphins were concerned about their ability to lock both Parker and Jarvis Landry up in the long-term. Much has changed since then as Landry was shipped the Browns in a sign-and-trade and Parker no longer a candidate for a big money extension.
Gase Says Tannehill Won't Be Benched
- Ryan Tannehill has had a rough couple of weeks, and his performance today was so bad that it prompted reporters to ask Dolphins coach Adam Gase after the game if Tannehill would be benched moving forward. Gase responded that Tannehill wouldn’t be benched yet according to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald (Twitter link), but it’s still surprising that it’s reached that point. The Dolphins have only Brock Osweiler and David Fales behind him on the depth chart.
Cameron Wake Out For Week 5
- The Dolphins will be without Cameron Wake on Sunday. Wake’s knee-related absence will bring second-year defensive end Charles Harris into the lineup opposite Robert Quinn, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes. Miami entered the season quite deep at end but will be without Wake, William Hayes (IR) and Andre Branch this week. Wake did not travel with the team to Cincinnati.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: QB Luke Falk
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Nick O’Leary
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: G Bryan Witzmann
New York Jets
- Waived: DE Bronson Kaufusi
Miller: Dolphins May Not Look For QB
- The Dolphins were projected to be among the teams examining the crop of potential first-round quarterbacks, but their 3-1 start could change that. Early in the mock process, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report has the Dolphins taking Clemson cornerback Trayvon Mullen, a player whom multiple area scouts have rising into the first round after a strong start to the season. As for where Miller projects the QBs to fall in Round 1, he has the Giants taking Oregon’s Justin Herbert and No. 5, the Patriots grabbing Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham at No. 17 (though, that draft slot seems certain to drop) and the Bengals selecting Missouri’s Drew Lock at 28.
Steelers, Patriots, Saints Wanted Jordan Phillips
Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is the newest member of the Bills, but a trio of contenders also tried to land him. The Steelers, Patriots, and Saints all put waiver claims in on the former Dolphin, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, but the Bills won out thanks to their higher waiver priority. 
The former second-round pick has struggled with consistency over the last four years, but several teams still believe in his potential. The Patriots’ claim shows that they are less-than-thrilled about their current group of DTs, which consists of Lawrence Guy, Malcom Brown, Danny Shelton, and Adam Butler. Butler likely would have been the odd man out, and Phillips might have had an opportunity to eventually leapfrog Shelton and Brown in the pecking order. Through four weeks, Guy has 19 total tackles and is rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 overall ranked defensive tackle, but the other DTs have something to be desired.
Phillips started most of his games in 2016 and 2017, but was relegated to a reserve role this year in Miami. That didn’t sit well with him – as evidenced by his sideline blowup on Sunday – and that proved to be the last straw for him with the Dolphins. The 1-3 Bills may have a larger role in mind for the 26-year-old.
Reshad Jones Back For Week 5
- Dolphins safety Reshad Jones will be available for Week 5 after missing the previous two weeks with a shoulder injury, writes Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com. Jones was sidelined for Miami’s games against Oakland (win) and New England (loss), forcing rookie defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick to take over at safety opposite T.J. McDonald. With Jones’ return, Fitzpatrick will move back into his natural slot corner role. Jones, who entered the league as a Dolphins fifth-round pick in 2010, has been a full-time starter since his second season in the NFL. Last spring, he inked a long-term extension that should keep him in South Beach through 2021
- Rookie Bengals center Billy Price hasn’t suffered any setbacks since suffering a foot injury in Week 2, but he’s still expected to be in a walking boot for at least two more weeks, tweets Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. That means Price will miss games against the Dolphins and Steelers, and possibly more if his recovery timeline is extended. Cincinnati’s bye comes in Week 9, so the Bengals could potentially hold Price out through then if they want to be cautious. With Price out, the Bengals have turned to former starting guard Trey Hopkins to fill in at the pivot.
Bills Claim DT Jordan Phillips
The Bills have claimed defensive tackle Jordan Phillips off waivers from the Dolphins, according to a club announcement. To make room, the Bills released defensive tackle Robert Thomas. 
The Dolphins cut Phillips on Tuesday, days after he blew up on the sidelines due to his lack of playing time. The Dolphins attempted to trade Phillips first, but they were unable to find a suitable deal.
Former Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey, who drafted Phillips in 2015, works for the Bills now, so he is familiar with the former second-round pick’s potential. At 6’6″ and 341 pounds, Phillips has the size to disrupt quarterbacks and stuff opposing running backs. He hasn’t really blossomed at the pro level, but a change of scenery could be just what the doctor ordered.
Phillips’ most productive season came in 2016 when he had 23 tackles, three pass breakups, an interception, and a half sack. Over the last three seasons and change, the defensive tackle has 5.5 sacks to his credit.
With two games on the remaining schedule against the Dolphins (12/2 and 12/30), Phillips will have the opportunity to exact revenge on his former team. Phillips won’t be a starter for the Bills, but he should be in the rotation behind first-stringers Kyle Williams and Star Lotulelei.
