NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/6/2017

Today’s practice squad updates:

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: CB David Rivers, DE Jonathan Woodard

New York Giants

  • Signed: LB Derrick Mathews

Oakland Raiders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

  • Signed: OL Cameron Jefferson

Broncos Won’t Make In-Season Coaching Change

Although the Broncos are currently last in the AFC West with a 3-9 record, the club doesn’t plan to make any in-season changes to its front office or coaching staff, sources tell Mike Klis of 9News. However, alterations to Denver’s leadership are expected to take place in the coming months, per Klis.John Elway (Vertical)

Changes almost certainly won’t affect the status of executive vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway, who inked a new five-year contract in July. That contract reportedly made Elway the NFL’s highest-paid GM, and his position atop the Broncos’ decision-making hierarchy is unquestionable. However, Elway could certainly add new blood to Denver’s personnel ranks, especially given that the team’s past few drafts have been uninspiring.

The Broncos’ coaching staff has already been modified this season, as the club parted ways with first-year offensive coordinator Mike McCoy last month, replacing him with incumbent quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave. Head coach Vance Joseph — a longtime target of Elway’s — hasn’t delivered results during his rookie campaign, and it’s possible Denver will make a change after only a single season. Before hiring Joseph, the Broncos interviewed only two other candidates: Kyle Shanahan and Chiefs special teams coach Dave Toub.

Denver’s offensive staff is the most obvious area that could see new voices emerge, perhaps with a new quarterback in tow. But the club’s defense could also see changes: the Broncos rank 11th in defensive DVOA, but that’s a sharp decline from 2015-16, when the unit ranked first in both seasons. First-year defensive coordinator Joe Woods could conceivably be a candidate for dismissal, or Joseph (a former DC) could take a more active role in game-calling.

Speaking of (former) Broncos coaches, the Dolphins’ decision to onside kick while leading 33-9 against Denver on Sunday was motivated by Elway’s apparent “bad-mouthing” of ex-Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase during the 2015 hiring cycle, sources tell Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. While the item is more interesting than relevant, the note speaks not only to the depths of Denvers’s struggles this season, but a possible reputation problem Elway might need to fight this offseason.

Opinion: Julius Thomas To Stay With Dolphins?

  • Julius Thomas is unlikely to be back with the Dolphins at his scheduled salary cap hit of $6.6MM, but it seems possible that he could be back with the team at a reduced salary, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes. Thomas hasn’t put up the monster numbers that were once expected of him, but the tight end has been quietly productive. “I see it different than it seems everyone else does,” coach Adam Gase said. “He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do. I wish there’s been situations we’ve called plays for him and haven’t been able to get the ball to him either by coverage or the ball didn’t go there for whatever reason. When we’ve asked him to do things in the running game he’s given me max effort. He’s been there every day for us in practice and at games. Yeah, would I love him to have 12 touchdowns? Sure. We haven’t been able to have that many snaps until the last five games. That’s where he’s made his money. I think he’s had the third-most touchdown catches in the NFL since 2013 or something like that. He’s done exactly what we’ve asked. [Sunday] was a good example. That’s a big play. We wanted to get up. That’s the first guy I went to.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/2017

Here are today’s minor moves:

Los Angeles Rams

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Miami Dolphins

  • Added from practice squad: DE Cameron Malveaux
  • Placed on reserve/non-football illness list: FS Maurice Smith

Indianapolis Colts

Practice Squad Updates: 12/1/17

Today’s practice squad moves:

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

NFL Workout Updates: 11/30/17

Here are the latest workout and visit updates, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer unless otherwise noted.

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

Eric Smith To Return From IR

  • The Dolphins have designated offensive lineman Eric Smith to return from injured reserve, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Smith, a rookie undrafted free agent out of Virginia, earned a spot on Miami’s 53-man roster before going down in October. If activated, he’ll earn something of a multi-game tryout over the rest of the regular season. The Dolphins have already placed three other offensive lineman on IR this year, so Smith could see playing time down the stretch.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/17

Today’s practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: RB Darius Victor

Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

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