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Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/19

September 28th, 2019 at 5:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions

  • Promoted from practice squad: WR Tom Kennedy

Minnesota Vikings

  • Promoted from practice squad: WR Davion Davis
  • Waived: CB Nate Meadors

Injury Roundup: Hilton, Lions, Bolts, Rams

September 27th, 2019 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

It’s looking like the Colts‘ passing attack will have to operate without its top weapon Sunday. T.Y. Hilton drew a doubtful designation on Indianapolis’ Friday injury report. He did not practice all week. The eighth-year wideout left the Colts’ Week 3 win with a quadriceps injury, and although the Raiders enter Week 4 ranked 30th in pass defense DVOA, the Colts went 0-2 without Hilton last season. They are already down previous starter Devin Funchess, who sits on IR. The Colts also ruled Darius Leonard out for a second straight week. The All-Pro linebacker remains in concussion protocol.

Here is the latest from the Week 4 injury front:

  • Matthew Stafford popped up on the Lions‘ injury report Friday; he’s listed as questionable with a hip malady. While Stafford should be expected to play, given that he’s played through injuries in recent years and holds the league’s third-longest active start streak among QBs with 131, this is a less-than-ideal scenario going into a key inter-conference matchup with the Chiefs. Rookie UDFA David Blough has been Stafford’s backup this season, though Jeff Driskel is now on Detroit’s 53-man roster.
  • That matchup will not include Chiefs starting running back Damien Williams, who will miss a second straight game with a knee ailment. LeSean McCoy put together two full practices this week and will likely team up with Darrel Williams, as he did last week, in Detroit.
  • Good news for the Rams‘ offense. Sean McVay said both Austin Blythe and Tyler Higbee will be available against the Buccaneers on Sunday, per Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Blythe missed Los Angeles’ Week 3 game with a sprained ankle, while Higbee has been sidelined with a lung contusion.
  • Another Chargers game will unfold without their primary kicker option. The Bolts ruled out Michael Badgley for a fourth straight contest. Punter Ty Long‘s multipurpose afternoons will continue. Long made both of his field goal tries last week after missing two in Week 2.
  • Additionally for the Bolts, they will be without Mike Williams. He’s been declared out with a back injury. Travis Benjamin will head to Miami as doubtful to play, meaning Dontrelle Inman and Geremy Davis stand as the Chargers’ only two healthy auxiliary wideouts. This marks Williams’ second injury of the season. A knee problem plagued the third-year target earlier this month but did not force him to miss any time.
  • The Vikings‘ No. 2-ranked rushing attack will be tested in Chicago this week, and right guard starter Josh Kline will not play a part in the NFC North contest. The free agent acquisition will miss Sunday’s game with a concussion that kept him out of practice this week. This will end Kline’s 49-start streak. Veteran Dakota Dozier will start, per Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Dozier has started eight games in his six-season career, which included a Week 2 start in place of Pat Elflein.

Doctson Expects To Be Ready When First Eligible

September 26th, 2019 at 1:08pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg
  • On the flip side, Vikings receiver Josh Doctson‘s recovery appears to be going quite smoothly. Doctson was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury shortly after being signed, and he thinks he’ll be ready to go when first eligible after eight games. “For sure, absolutely,’’ he said Wednesday, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “That’s the target and that’s the plan.’’ Minnesota was recently forced to re-sign Laquon Treadwell because of how thin they were at receiver, so they could surely use Doctson. A former first-round pick of the Redskins, Doctson was released at final cuts. He was quickly scooped up by the Vikings, but suffered his injury a week later.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/19

September 24th, 2019 at 9:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

  • Waived: G Kofi Amichia
  • Released from IR via injury settlement: DT Destiny Vaeao

Denver Broncos

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Promoted from practice squad: DL Patrick O’Connor

Washington Redskins

Vikings Place WR Chad Beebe On IR

September 24th, 2019 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Minnesota’s Laquon Treadwell addition occurred after a Chad Beebe injury, and the Vikings will swap out reserve wide receivers on their active roster. The team placed Beebe on IR.

Beebe tore ankle ligaments on Sunday, and while a timetable is not fully known, the young wideout will be shelved for at least eight weeks. The Vikings have not planned a Beebe surgery, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

The second-generation NFL wide receiver had been operating as Minnesota’s No. 3 wide receiver. Although the Vikings have been the NFL’s run-heaviest team through three games, Beebe did have a 61-yard catch-and-run in Week 2. However, he’s only been targeted twice this season.

The Vikings’ receiver depth chart now houses only Treadwell, whom the team cut before the regular season’s outset, and seventh-round rookie Olabisi Johnson.

Vikings Sign Laquon Treadwell

September 24th, 2019 at 10:27am CST by Zachary Links

Laquon Treadwell has come back to where it all started. On Tuesday, the Vikings signed their former first-round pick to a new contract. 

The Vikings cut Treadwell in late August, bringing an unceremonious end to a run that started with tons of hype. The Vikings never got much out of Treadwell after selecting him with the No. 23 overall choice, but they’re willing to see what he can offer in the wake of Chad Beebe‘s injury.

Treadwell might not be destined for stardom, but he’s familiar enough with the Vikings’ offense to give them a reliable fourth receiver this weekend. Meanwhile, they’ll hope for the best with Beebe, who figures to be out for a while with torn ankle ligaments. Beebe serves as the Vikes’ No. 3 wide receiver and punt returner, so others will have to step up in his absence.

Vikings Work Out Jordan Matthews

September 20th, 2019 at 6:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

After falling short of making the 49ers’ 53-man roster, Jordan Matthews is attempting to catch on elsewhere. The veteran wideout auditioned for two NFC teams this week, with the Vikings giving him a look Friday after a Tuesday Saints tryout, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

The Vikings, who recently placed Josh Doctson on IR, also worked out receivers Deontay Burnett and Tanner Gentry, per ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin (on Twitter).

Only four receivers reside on Minnesota’s active roster. The two backups are currently Chad Beebe and seventh-round rookie Olabisi Johnson. It would be logical for the Vikes to make a move at receiver before the Saturday afternoon transaction deadline.

Matthews, who topped 800 yards in each of his first three seasons, has not been able to replicate the production of his first Eagles stay. He failed to surpass 300 yards during his Bills season in 2017 and finished with exactly 300 in 14 Eagles games last season. Were Matthews to find a gig this season, it would only be his age-27 campaign.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/19/19

September 19th, 2019 at 8:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: DE Ade Aruna

Oakland Raiders

NFC Notes: Ramsey, 49ers, Zimmer, White

September 19th, 2019 at 3:56pm CST by cwcrouse

With another busy day of football news winding down, let’s take a look around the NFC:

  • The 49ers are “not in” on Jalen Ramsey, a source tells Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. San Fran isn’t interested in trading for the cornerback because of the level of compensation that the Jaguars are requesting (two first-rounders) and the sizable extension Ramsey will expect to sign.
  • Jason Verrett, who has dealt with health issues throughout his career, has yet to make his debut for the 49ers and the cornerback hasn’t ruled out requesting a trade. Maiocco (as he relays in a separate piece) asked Verrett if he would ask for one if he continues to be inactive for games and the CB responded with “We’ll see what happens.”
  • In an interview on NFL Network, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he wants to coach until he’s 70-years-old. Zimmer turned 63 in June.
  • Buccaneers LB Devin White continues to sit out of practice, as Josh Alper of PFT relays. White injured his knee during the team’s TNF game against the Panthers last week and coach Bruce Arians insinuated that White would not be out long. Now, it’s looking like his status for Tampa Bay’s Week 3 contest is in doubt.

Almost Every NFL Team In On Jalen Ramsey

September 19th, 2019 at 12:58pm CST by Zachary Links

Jalen Ramsey is on the block, and just about every NFL team is interested, as Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Specifically, the Chiefs, Ravens, Vikings, Raiders, Eagles, and Seahawks have all made “substantive inquiries” on the Jaguars cornerback, Anderson reports.

At this point, it feels like a certainty that Ramsey will be traded. And that deal is expected to go down soon. The Jags are reportedly hoping to move Ramsey on Friday, though he’ll still suit up for Thursday night’s game against the Titans.

In an interesting twist, the Titans also expressed interest in Ramsey, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears, though the price proved to be too high for them and some other interested teams. That, sadly, rules out a scenario like the famed 1978 76ers/Nets trade that saw Eric Money (real name) play, and score, for both teams in the same game (kidding).

In any sport, it’s dicey to put a player on the field when he’s on the verge of being traded. That’s especially true in football, but if this week’s rumblings are true, then the Jaguars will be willing to roll the dice for their national TV game against Tennessee.

After that, Ramsey will likely suit up for another club, but he won’t be eligible to play twice in the same week.

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