NFL Workout Updates: 9/27/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
Miami Dolphins
- DEs Anthony Lanier, Charles Tapper (link)
New Orleans Saints
- DTs Joshua Frazier, Chris Okoye; DEs Frank Herron, Kendal Vickers (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- S Marwin Evans (link)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Jonathon Mincy
- Released: DB John Franklin III
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: G Spencer Drango
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DE Jeremiah Valoaga
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DL Tomasi Laulile
- Released: DT Woodrow Hamilton
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Christian DiLauro, DB Dexter McCoil
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: CB Jeff Richards
NFL Workout Updates: 9/26/18
oday’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Chicago Bears
- CBs C.J. Smith, Henre’ Toliver (link)
Houston Texans
- Ss T.J. Green, Jack Tocho (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Miami Dolphins
- G Kofi Amichia; LBs Tre’von Johnson, Emmanuel Smith; Ss Marwin Evans, Stefan McClure (link)
New Orleans Saints
- CBs Demetri Goodson, Prince Charles Iworah (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune)
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Fred Ross
Miami Dolphins
- Waived from injured reserve: QB Bryce Petty
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/25/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Ufomba Kamalu
- Cut: DE Alec James
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: OL Jermaine Eluemunor, WR Janarion Grant
Denver Broncos
- Signed: P Colby Wadman
- Cut: DL Niles Scott
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: G Anthony Coyle
- Cut: C Austin Davis
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Malachi Dupre
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Vince Mayle, RB Detrez Newsome
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DL Cameron Malveaux
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Deontay Burnett
- Placed on practice squad IR: WR ArDarius Stewart
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Josh Andrews
- Cut: C Jon Toth
Seattle Seahawks
- Cut: C Marcus Henry
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Kalif Raymond, G Ian Silberman
- Cut: DL Deon Simon, QB Logan Woodside
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/25/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Jeremiah Sirles
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DL Caraun Reid
- Placed on IR: DL Datone Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Daeshon Hall (from 49ers’ practice squad)
- Promoted from practice squad: OT David Sharpe
- Placed on IR: LB Dylan Cole, WR Bruce Ellington
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Justin Jackson
- Released from IR: CB Craig Mager
- Waived: RB Detrez Newsome
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Martrell Spaight
- Placed on IR: DE William Hayes
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Jonathan Woodard
- Waived: WR Tanner McEvoy
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Kenjon Barner
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Garrett Dickerson
- Waived/Injured: WR/KR Kaelin Clay
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Branden Jackson
- Waived: TE Darrell Daniels
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: OL Kevin Pamphile
Dolphins Work Out Robert Ayers, Kony Ealy
The Dolphins’ deep defensive end corps took two big hits on Sunday. William Hayes suffered a season-ending knee injury in Miami’s win over Oakland, and Andre Branch will also miss time.
Miami intends to sign a defensive end, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes, adding that both Robert Ayers and Kony Ealy worked out for the Dolphins on Tuesday. These two were among several defensive ends that auditioned for the Dolphins today, according to Jackson.
Ealy could not make the Cowboys’ 53-man roster after spending the 2017 season with the Jets. The former Panthers second-round pick played three years in Carolina before being traded to New England, which did not work out. The Dolphins would be Ealy’s third AFC East employer, in the event they went in this direction.
Ayers has been one of this era’s better run-stopping defensive ends. He started 20 games for the Buccaneers between the 2016 and ’17 seasons. The Bucs cut him this offseason. So did the Lions, who only employed Ayers for one day.
This is Ayers’ first known workout since that preseason cut. As a nine-year veteran, Ayers would add more experience to a D-line chock full of it. Branch, Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn reside on the Fins’ front, with second-year man Charles Harris in the equation, too.
Matt Moore Turns Down Titans Workout
Austin Davis‘ signing with the Titans would seem to indicate they’ve decided on the outside quarterback investment they’ll be making while Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert deal with injuries. But Tennessee wanted a more experienced backup option to come in for a workout.
The Titans sought Matt Moore for a workout this week, Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com tweets. Moore, though, decided against attending. He also turned down a chance to take part in a now-extensive 49ers signal-caller audition. There may be more to this as well.
Moore served as Ryan Tannehill‘s backup with the Dolphins for five seasons, but Miami chose to sign Jay Cutler after its starter went down last summer, adding $10MM to the payroll rather than just promoting Moore. Rumors of Moore having arm trouble are out there, with Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweeting Moore didn’t get the Dolphins’ job in 2017 because his arm was “shot.”
It’s uncertain if that’s true, but the 34-year-old passer turning down multiple opportunities this week is certainly interesting. Earlier this offseason, Moore discussed a deal with the Chiefs and Texans but was willing to wait for the right fit. The Dolphins’ decision to sign Cutler last year reportedly irked Moore as well.
Moore took over for an injured Tannehill in 2016 and led the Dolphins to the playoffs. He did not fare as well in two starts for Cutler last year, his yards-per-attempt figure dropping from 8.3 to 6.8 and his interception count (five) eclipsing his touchdown-pass total (four).
Dolphins DE Andre Branch To Miss Time
Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch suffered a knee injury on Sunday that will cause him to miss 2-4 weeks of action, a source tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). It’s a bad blow for a Dolphins D that will also be without fellow defensive end William Hayes for the remainder of the season. 
The Dolphins entered the year with solid edge rushing depth, but they’ll now have to rely heavily on Charles Harris to rotate in for starting defensive ends Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn. They’ll have to add a player or two for depth, at the very least, and there aren’t a ton of impact DEs left on the open market. Robert Ayers, who had a one-day stint with the Lions in late August, is one of the most notable names left in free agency. Odds are, the Dolphins will have to settle for some less inspiring options while they wait for Branch to heal up.
Branch, 29, tallied five tackles in the first three weeks of the season. In his two previous Dolphins seasons, Branch amassed ten sacks and played mostly as a starter.
Dolphins DL William Hayes Done For Season
Dolphins defensive lineman William Hayes is out for the season, coach Adam Gase told reporters on Monday morning. Hayes suffered a torn ACL while sacking Raiders quarterback Derek Carr. 
“He was trying to not put his body weight on the quarterback and that happened,” Gase said.
Hayes was traded to Miami in the 2017 offseason following five years with the Rams organization. The 33-year-old proceeded to play in ten games for the Dolphins, compiling 19 tackles and a single sack. This was a far cry from his performance with the Rams, as Hayes collected at least four sacks each season between 2012 and 2016. Despite the underwhelming numbers, Pro Football Focus was fond of his performance in 2017.
This year, Hayes was off to a productive start with two sacks through three games in a part-time role. Unfortunately, he’ll be shelved for the rest of the year before hitting free agency in March.
