NFL Workout Updates: 11/9/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:
New England Patriots
- LB Zach Vigil (link)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Zach Vigil (Friday) (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
San Francisco 49ers
- WRs Cyril Grayson, Chris Harper, Francis Owusu, Jordan Payton, Domonique Young; CBs Trovon Reed, Damian Swann; S John Boyett (Twitter links)
Washington Redskins
- RBs Kapri Bibbs, Dare Ogunbowale, Denard Robinson, Jahad Thomas; WRs Keyarris Garrett, Francis Owusu; DL Stefan Charles, Caraun Reid, Will Sutton (Twitter links)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/9/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: TE Scott Orndoff
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Deon King
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR KeVonn Mabon
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Will Redmond
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Anthony Fabiano
- Waived: WR Jake Kumerow
New York Giants
- Signed: DE Jordan Williams
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Tyler Marz
- Waived: OL Brad Seaton
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/17
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Bengals‘ practice squad: S Derron Smith
- Waived/injured: S Ibraheim Campbell
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from injured reserve: OL Denzelle Good
- Promoted to active roster: WR Matt Hazel
New England Patriots
- Waived: DE Geneo Grissom
Washington Redskins
- Waived from injured reserve: S Stefan McClure
Patriots Claim TE Martellus Bennett
The Patriots have claimed former Packers tight end Martellus Bennett, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The deal brings Bennett back to the team where he thrived in 2016 and won a Super Bowl ring. To make room, defensive end Geneo Grissom has been cut.
Bennett was stellar with the Patriots in 2016, hauling in 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. However, he was a total dud after signing a lucrative free agent deal with the Packers. In seven games, he had just 24 receptions, 233 yards, and zero touchdowns in seven games. Some in Green Bay believe that Bennett starting phoning it in after Aaron Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone.
By claiming Bennett, the Patriots assume the remainder of the veteran’s three-year, $21MM deal. However, much of his Year 1 salary was already paid out to him via signing bonus. Bennett is due just $423K for the rest of the season.
Initially, it was believed that Bennett would likely pass through waivers unclaimed. While he may have been checked out with the Packers, the Patriots are apparently confident that he will pick up right where he left off.
Last month, Bennett announced that he is considering retirement after the 2017 season. It remains to be seen whether his relocation to New England will change his mind about hanging up the cleats. If he can be productive once again, this could prove to be one of the greatest “rentals” in league history.
Bennett will now join a TE group headlined by Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen. After Grissom was cut, it appears that Jacob Hollister will remain on the 53-man roster for now as the fourth TE.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/8/17
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Chicago Bears
- WR Rodney Smith; TEs Josiah Price, Beau Sandland (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- WRs Alonzo Russell, Noel Thomas, Paul Turner; CB Will Redmond (link)
Los Angeles Chargers
- G Jake Eldrenkamp; C Anthony Fabiano (link)
New England Patriots
- S Lorenzo Jerome (link)
New York Giants
- LBs Akeem Ayers, Chris Casher, Jayrone Elliott, Boseko Lokombo (link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- LSs Andrew East, Jimmy Landes, Jeff Overbaugh (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- RBs Dare Ogunbowale, Kalif Phillips; CB Sojourn Shelton; S Jack Tocho (link)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Derron Smith
- Cut: TE Scott Orndoff
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Joe Vellano
Indianapolis Colts
- Cut: CB Channing Stribling
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OL Cole Toner
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
- Cut: RB Bronson Hill
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Mike Purcell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Tre Sullivan
- Cut: LB Don Cherry
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: T Jake Rodgers
- Cut: WR Justin Thomas
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Isaiah Battle
Patriots’ Shea McClellin Done For Year
The hits just keep on coming for the Patriots. After officially placing Dont’a Hightower on injured reserve, the Patriots have learned that linebacker Shea McClellin will be unable to return from IR this year (Twitter link via Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald). 
McClellin suffered a concussion in practice which will keep him from seeing the field in 2017. We still don’t know the nature of the original injury that landed him on IR to begin the year.
McClellin, a former first-round pick by Chicago, joined the Pats on a three-year, $9MM deal in 2016. He appeared in 441 snaps for New England last year and made some athletic plays, including his memorable leap over the line of scrimmage to block a field goal against the Ravens in December. The Patriots were hoping that he could help beef up their weakened pass rush this season, but he admittedly wasn’t stellar in that area last year. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 72 ranked edge defender among 108 qualified players.
Patriots Place Dont’a Hightower On IR
The Patriots have officially placed Dont’a Hightower on injured reserve, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). This was the expected move after the linebacker suffered a torn pectoral muscle in October, though there was some hope that he could return to action after resting for a period of time.
League rules dictate that players who are placed on IR must be out of action for at least eight weeks. With only eight games to go, his season is now officially over.
Without Hightower, the Patriots have been using veteran David Harris as the starting middle linebacker with Elandon Roberts and Kyle Van Noy on the strong side and weak side, respectively. They’ve fortified the front seven by signing outside linebacker Trevor Reilly in October and adding defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois earlier today, but Hightower’s production and leadership cannot be easily replaced.
Hightower’s season ends with five appearances, two sacks, and 14 total tackles.
Patriots Sign Ricky Jean-Francois
The Patriots have signed defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jean-Francois became a free agent last week when he was released by the Packers for the second time in 2017. 
Jean-Francois didn’t see a lot of burn in his six Packers games this year and recorded only two tackles. Last year, however, he was a seven-game starter for the Redskins and he was a full-time starter during his time with the Colts.
The Patriots, who have been working to fortify their front seven for months, could have a larger role in line for Jean-Francois. He’ll look to get some playing time on Sunday when the Pats face the Broncos in Denver.
In 2016, Jean-Francois saw action on roughly 40% of Washington’s defensive snaps, racking up 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks in that span.
Belichick Provides Insight On Garoppolo Trade
Following months of speculation, the Patriots finally pulled the trigger on a Jimmy Garoppolo trade during last week’s deadline. Today, coach Bill Belichick provided some clarity on the transaction, noting that the team did not shop around the quarterback during this past offseason.
There were whispers that the Browns had pursued Garoppolo during the offseason, but it sounds like the Patriots weren’t even willing to pick up the phone.
- Brian Hoyer has a number of suitors after he was let go by the 49ers, but the quarterback told Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com that signing with the Patriots was a no-brainer. “I think for me, that was kind of the excitement of coming back home, and to be able to play behind Tom [Brady] and be in this organization,” Hoyer said. “And I was OK with. I think for me, having played a lot, you’re always ready to play, but it wasn’t going to work out for me to be a starter there in San Francisco the rest of this year, anyways, and probably not for next year. So I think for me, when I had an opportunity to come here and be the backup to Tom and in this organization, it was kind of a no-brainer.”