NFL Workout Updates: 10/12/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Chicago Bears
- P Brock Miller (link)
Houston Texans
- OT Dieugot Joseph (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- OT Corey Robinson; RB Thomas Rawls (link)
New England Patriots
- DE Will Clarke; QB Connor Cook; LB Kasim Edebali; WR Devin Ross; TE Shane Wimann (link)
Tennessee Titans
- LS’s Andrew East, Taybor Pepper (link)
Overall, nothing too noteworthy. The Patriots interestingly continue to work out quarterbacks, bringing in former Raiders third-rounder Connor Cook for a tryout. New England has Bryan Hoyer firmly entrenched behind Tom Brady, but also recently worked out Landry Jones.
Meanwhile, the Titans seem set to bring in a new long snapper, as the team also worked out veteran Jon Condo today.
Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/18
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Keith Towbridge
- Released: CB Michael Hunter
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
- Released QB: Connor Cook
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: RB Bo Scarbrough
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Tra Carson, WR Keon Hatcher
- Released: RB Joel Bouagnon
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: CB Lenzy Pipkins
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Pharoah McKever
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed On PS-IR: LB Robert McCray
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: OT Rick Leonard
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Kenneth Farrow
New York Giants
- Signed: K Marshall Koehn
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Matthew Dayes, OL Najee Toran, DB Tyvis Powell
- Released: DB Dexter McCoil, WR Frank Stephens
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Nigel Harris
- Released: OL Coleman Shelton
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)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/18
Here are Monday’s practice squad decisions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
Denver Broncos
- Signed: NT Niles Scott
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Hakeem Valles
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Aaron Neary
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Frank Herron, LB Calvin Munson
- Cut: RB Ralph Webb, DL Vincent Valentine
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Bronson Kaufasi
- Cut: T Dieguot Joseph
Patriots Bring Back RB Kenjon Barner
The Patriots agreed to sign Kenjon Barner for the third time in a month. The two-time Pats cut will again serve as the team’s No. 3 back behind James White and Sony Michel.
Barner initially signed with New England on Sept. 12 before being released a week later. He came back to join the team on Sept. 26 before being released Oct. 4, prior to the Pats’ Week 5 game against the Colts. Heading into the Patriots’ high-profile clash with the Chiefs, the nine-time reigning AFC East champions will have three running backs on their roster.
Although depth has been Barner’s primary purpose in New England, he did play in the Pats’ Week 4 win over the Dolphins, taking three handoffs. He has not been used as a return man, which has been his primary NFL responsibility. Barner, 28, played the past three seasons with the Eagles. He served as the Super Bowl champions’ primary kick and punt returner last season.
The Pats could have brought back Mike Gillislee, whom the Saints released over the weekend, but they’re going with their more recent employee in Barner.
Ravens Claim CB Cyrus Jones
The Ravens claimed cornerback Cyrus Jones off waivers from the Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Jones, 25 in November, was a second-round pick of the Pats in 2016. He saw time on special teams as a kick and punt returner as a rookie, but a torn ACL and partially torn meniscus cost him the 2017 season. This summer, he missed the Patriots’ final cut, wound up on the Ravens’ practice squad, then was signed by the Patriots on Sept. 19. Two weeks later, he’s back with the Ravens, and this time around he’s on the 53-man roster.
The Ravens have Jimmy Smith back on the roster to join top cornerbacks Brandon Carr and Marlon Humphrey, but Anthony Averett has missed three straight games with a hamstring issue. Jones figures to take his place on the depth chart and is probably in line for similar usage on defense. In his two games this year, Averett saw just 18 total snaps, and that was before Smith’s return.
The Patriots brought Jones back primarily for special teams reasons, but Julian Edelman handled two punts in his first game back from suspension on Thursday. With Edelman taking over on punt returns, the Patriots saw little reason to keep Clamp Clampington on the team.
To take Jones’ place on the roster, the Patriots have re-signed running back Kenjon Barner. Barner returned 27 punts in 2017 and averaged 8.9 yards per attempt, so he could find a role on special teams.
Patriots Have Been "In Contact" With Gillislee
- It was reported earlier that the Patriots were planning on doing something to address the fact that they had just two running backs on the roster, and now we might have an idea what. New England has “been in contact” with ex-Patriot Mike Gillislee a source told Doug Kyed of NESN (Twitter link). Gillislee was recently cut by the Saints, and it sounds like we could see a reunion soon.
Patriots Notes: Running backs, Allen, Bentley
The Patriots currently have a unique situation. The team is currently carrying just two running backs after they released Kenjon Barner to make room for Julian Edelman on the 53-man roster. The team cut Mike Gillislee and Brandon Bolden right before the season, and Jeremy Hill went down with a season ending knee injury early on. Then Rex Burkhead got placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, leaving them extremely thin in the backfield.
They’re down to only receiving specialist James White and rookie Sony Michel, and they will likely add outside help soon according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. Reiss writes “the team can’t expect to get by with just two running backs” and that it’s possible either Barner or Gillislee are brought back in the coming days. Undrafted rookie Ralph Webb is also on the team’s practice squad and could be called up.
Here’s more from New England:
- There’s been a lot of media speculation about Dwayne Allen‘s roster spot the past couple of years, but Allen isn’t going anywhere Reiss writes. Reiss notes that Belichick “places a high value on his blocking and team-first approach” and that his roster spot is safe. Allen makes a lot of money for a blocking specialist, with an average salary of over $5MM, but it sounds like he’s in the Patriots’ longterm plans.
- Reiss has details on the injury that landed rookie linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley on injured reserve. It’s a torn biceps according to Reiss, and Bentley has already undergone surgery and is rehabbing with the team. The fifth round pick had shown a lot of promise before going down a couple of weeks ago.
- In case you missed it, yesterday the Patriots waived their 2016 second round pick cornerback Cyrus Jones.
Patriots Waive CB Cyrus Jones
Cyrus Jones‘ latest stint with the Patriots is over. The team waived the former second-round pick on Saturday, NESN.com’s Doug Kyed tweets.
New England brought Jones back midway through last month and used him as its punt returner in two games. Jones, however, did not play against the Colts, with the Pats designating him as a healthy scratch.
Julian Edelman was back deep for the Patriots on Thursday, returning two punts in his first game back from the performance-enhancing drug suspension. Jones did not see any time on defense during his second stay with the Patriots.
The Patriots cut Jones initially after this preseason’s conclusion. The former Alabama cog missed all of the 2017 season because of an ACL tear. He played in 10 games during New England’s 2016 Super Bowl season, starting one. Since Jones is in his third NFL season, he does not have enough service time to avoid waivers.
Extra Points: Bell, Gregory, Raiders, Carr
With just less than four weeks remaining until the trade deadline, Le’Veon Bell-to-the-Eagles has surfaced on the rumor circuit. The Eagles are reportedly giving serious consideration to making a run at the likely rental running back. But SI.com’s Albert Breer isn’t so sure that’s going to happen. The Eagles don’t see running back as a spot to sink major resources into, per Breer. Bell’s approximately $10MM salary would qualify as a major investment, although that’s dropping by the week because of this unusual holdout. Philadelphia has just less than $5MM in cap room, and Breer notes the improving health of its running backs should help them steer clear of these interesting Bell sweepstakes. Corey Clement and Darren Sproles have yet to return to practice, and Jay Ajayi is playing with a back fracture. The Eagles traded a fourth-rounder for Ajayi before the 2017 trade deadline. Bell as of now plans to report to the Steelers during their Week 7 bye.
Here’s the latest from around the league as Week 5’s first game continues:
- Randy Gregory‘s reinstatement conditions caused him to miss the Cowboys‘ Thursday practice. The defensive end was in Chicago meeting with medical director of the NFL’s substance-abuse program, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (on Twitter). He most recently attended this type of summit during the preseason. The NFL reinstated Gregory this summer after his extensive substance-abuse-induced hiatus. His status for Week 5 doesn’t appear to be in question. Gregory’s played 64 snaps this season.
- Jimmy Smith‘s return to action this week doesn’t appear to mean Brandon Carr will be bumped from first-string duties. The 11th-year cornerback has started 164 straight games (and every game he’s played as an NFLer), and Ravens DC Wink Martindale doesn’t plan on stopping that run, Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com notes. Smith is eligible to return after a four-game suspension. Carr, Marlon Humphrey and slot man Tavon Young have worked as Baltimore’s top three corners this season. Smith was thriving prior to his season-ending injury last year, so it should be expected he’ll play a big role soon, even if he doesn’t start immediately. Carr’s 164-game start streak resides as the longest among defensive players by 28 games.
- While Jon Gruden wanted to take Derwin James in the first round, Vic Tafur of The Athletic writes (subscription required) the Raiders weren’t doing anything except taking a tackle in Round 1. However, if Kolton Miller was gone at No. 15 — where the Raiders dropped to after dealing the No. 10 selection to the Cardinals — Tafur notes they were going to take James or trade down further.
- 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.