PUP, NFI Players Soon Eligible To Practice
Week 6 of the NFL season will come to an end after Monday night’s game between the Giants and Eagles, and when teams begin preparing for Week 7, many clubs could be welcoming injured players back to practice. Six weeks into the NFL season, players who were placed on the physically unable to perform list or the non-football injury list prior to Week 1’s games will be eligible to return to the practice field.
Of course, just because those players are able to return to practice doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be healthy enough to do so. Players on the PUP list have a five-week window to begin practicing. Once they return to practice, they have three weeks to be added to their respective teams’ active rosters. In other words, a player currently on the PUP list could return to the field for his team’s Week 7 game, or could return as late as for his team’s Week 15 contest.
The rules for NFI players are similar to those for PUP players. If a player on either reserve list doesn’t return to practice or game action in time, his 2015 season will officially be over.
Here are the players currently on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list who can begin practicing as soon as this Tuesday:
- Atlanta Falcons: T Lamar Holmes
- Baltimore Ravens: TE Dennis Pitta
- Buffalo Bills: CB Cam Thomas
- Chicago Bears: WR Kevin White
- Cincinnati Bengals: LB Vontaze Burfict, LB Sean Porter
- Dallas Cowboys: OL Chaz Green
- Minnesota Vikings: CB Josh Robinson
- New England Patriots: LB Dane Fletcher, DT Chris Jones, WR Brandon LaFell
- New York Giants: T Will Beatty
- New York Jets: RB Stevan Ridley
- Pittsburgh Steelers: T Mike Adams
- San Francisco 49ers: C/G Daniel Kilgore
- Seattle Seahawks: CB Jeremy Lane, WR Paul Richardson
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DT Akeem Spence
And here are the players currently on their teams’ non-football injury or illness lists, who are also eligible to begin practicing this Tuesday:
- Arizona Cardinals: WR Damond Powell
- Buffalo Bills: CB Leodis McKelvin
- Cincinnati Bengals: T Cedric Ogbuehi
- Cleveland Browns: DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, TE Randall Telfer, RB Glenn Winston
- Dallas Cowboys: LB Mark Nzeocha
- Houston Texans: T David Quessenberry
- Kansas City Chiefs: QB Tyler Bray
- San Francisco 49ers: WR DeAndre Smelter
- Seattle Seahawks: DT Jesse Williams
In addition to monitoring players on the PUP and NFI lists, it’s worth keeping an eye on players who have been placed on the injured reserve list with the designation to return. Teams can use this IR-DTR spot on one player per season, placing him on the injured reserve list without necessarily ruling him out for the season. As we explained in an earlier post, players given this designation can begin practicing after six weeks and can return after eight weeks.
That means that a player who was placed on IR-DTR prior to Week 1 can begin practicing on Tuesday, though he won’t be eligible to return to game action until Week 9. A player who was placed on IR-DTR after Week 1 will have to wait until next Tuesday – October 27 – to return to practice, while other IR-DTR players will have to wait until November to practice.
Here’s the list of players currently on IR-DTR who can begin practicing as soon as Tuesday:
- Baltimore Ravens: DE Brent Urban
- Cleveland Browns: CB Charles Gaines
- Detroit Lions: CB Alex Carter
- Miami Dolphins: RB Jay Ajayi
- Minnesota Vikings: C John Sullivan
- New England Patriots: C Bryan Stork
- New York Jets: CB Dee Milliner
- Pittsburgh Steelers: C Maurkice Pouncey
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: T Demar Dotson
- Tennessee Titans: RB David Cobb
East Notes: Pats, Bills, JPP
The Patriots are again among the league’s most legitimate Super Bowl contenders, and although their slow start to 2014 led some to believe that their dynasty was nearing its end, the fact that they brought home the Lombardi Trophy and have opened 2015 undefeated have silenced those talks. And, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes, New England’s window of opportunity won’t be closing anytime soon.
Per La Canfora, there is no significant player on the Patriots’ roster whose contract expires at the end of this season, and the team projects to be at least $8MM under the 2016 salary cap. Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski will count just $22MM against the cap, and no one will earn more than $10MM in 2016. That means that the team can supplement its already-talented roster with marquee free agents–something it has not frequently done in the past–and extend their reign of dominance for another few years. La Canfora also notes that, since New England will be without its first-round pick as a result of the DeflateGate scandal, it could look to move Jimmy Garoppolo for a high pick.
Now for some more notes from the league’s east divisions:
- Washington and the Jets are squaring off this afternoon, and as Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com writes, the Jets are looking across the field at two players who could be on their radar in 2016: Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III. The future for both players is up in the air, and New York, of couse, could be in the market for a quarterback. Jets head coach Todd Bowles was effusive in his praise for Cousins, but indicated that RGIII would not be a consideration for his club.
- There were reports this morning that E.J. Manuel could rekindle the Bills‘ quarterback competition with a strong showing today, but Joe Buscaglia of WKBW thinks differently (via Twitter). He notes that Buffalo coaches love Tyrod Taylor and that it would take more than a good performance for the team to even think about moving on from Taylor.
- La Canfora tweets that the Bills are “very concerned” that wideout Percy Harvin could miss significant time with his latest injury. Harvin has not played a significant role in the team’s offense this year, and this could represent yet another major setback for the once-explosive playmaker.
- Last Thursday, Sammy Watkins publicly bemoaned his lack of targets in the Bills‘ offense thus far in 2015, and Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com breaks down in detail what targets mean to a wide receiver from a contractual standpoint.
- Jay Glazer of FOX Sports tweets that Jason Pierre-Paul will report to the Giants this Tuesday so that the team can check in on his progress. Pierre-Paul is hoping to play soon, but as Jordan Raanan of NJ.com writes, there is still doubt that JPP will be cleared.
2015 Trade Deadline Candidates: AFC
The NFL’s November 3 trade deadline is the next major event on the league’s calendar, and with a bit over two weeks left for clubs to make deals, it makes sense to scour each team’s roster and identify which players might be on the block. The NFL certainly doesn’t see the amount of trade activity that does MLB or the NBA, but there have already been a fair number of deals worked this calendar year. Additionally, in 2014, there were four trades in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline — two of those four players were in the final year of their contracts, so for this exercise, we’ll mostly focus on players who are on expiring deals.
We’ll start off by taking a look at the AFC clubs, with an obvious focus on teams who aren’t currently, or don’t figure to remain, contenders…
Baltimore Ravens
- Courtney Upshaw, LB: Upshaw is playing a larger role than the Ravens originally intended, as he’s been forced to step in as a starter due to Terrell Suggs‘ season-ending injury. However, Upshaw, strikes me as the type of player that Baltimore usually lets leave via free agency (see: Paul Kruger, Dannell Ellerbe, Pernell McPhee). If the 1-4 Ravens continue to fall further out of contention, it could make sense for them to trade Upshaw to a club looking for pass-rush help, and give that playing time to rookie Za’Darius Smith.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Marcedes Lewis, TE: Though the Jaguars do try to run a good amount of two tight end sets, Lewis’ role will steadily decrease now that Julius Thomas has returned from injury. Given that Lewis, 31, is earning $2MM in base salary, and doesn’t figure to be re-signed, he could be an option to get traded in the coming weeks. He probably wouldn’t bring back much, but perhaps a team like the Saints could opt to bring in reinforcements at tight end as they try to claw back in the NFC South race. Elsewhere, the Jets, Cardinals, and Washington could all use some depth at tight end.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Marcus Cooper, CB: As noted by Mike Reiss of ESPN.com earlier today, the 25-year-old Cooper could make sense as a trade target, specifically for a cornerback-depleted team like the Patriots. Cooper has only managed 77 defensive snaps on the season, and hasn’t played a single defensive snap in the two weeks since Sean Smith returned from suspension. The Chiefs have been utilizing a three-safety look in recent weeks, lessening the need for Cooper of fellow depth corner Jamell Fleming, so perhaps Cooper (and his minimum salary deal, which runs through 2016) could be on the move.
- Mike DeVito, DL: A rotational 3-4 defensive end, DeVito probably wouldn’t bring back much in a trade, but he is cheap, as he’d be owed just the remainder of his $870K base salary. The Chiefs would probably be wise to deal the 31-year-old now, clearing out playing time for youngsters Rakeem Nunez-Roches and Nicholas Williams. Clubs such as the Patriots, Packers, Eagles, Cardinals, and Colts — all of whom employ a 3-4 look — could be interested.
- Sean Smith, CB: Kansas City sits at 1-4 and just lost its best offensive player in Jamaal Charles to a season-ending injury, so if the club wants to “blow things up,” trading Smith becomes a consideration. Smith, 28, isn’t cheap, as an acquiring club would owe the rest of his $4.25MM base salary, but he’s an underrated player, and if the Chiefs have no intention of re-signing him, dealing him now could be the smart move. I’d guess only one of Smith or Cooper gets moved (if either does).
Miami Dolphins
- Rishard Matthews, WR: If the Dolphins subscribe to the basic economic theory of “buy low, sell high,” there might never be a better time to trade Matthews, who is in the midst of his best season at age 26. There are a myriad of reasons to deal Matthews, but chief among them is probably that his current production is likely unsustainable. Additionally, he’s in the final season of his rookie contract, and with Miami already committed to Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker, there might not be room on the roster, or more specifically, in the salary cap, for Matthews.
- Derrick Shelby, DE: Miami already has a large chunk of assets devoted to its defensive line, so Shelby, who is earning $2.56MM as a restricted free agent, could be on the trade block. He’s actually played in more than 50% of the club’s defensive snaps so far this season, but with Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake already earning sizeable money, and Olivier Vernon likely to follow, Shelby probably won’t be a priority in free agency.
New England Patriots
- Aaron Dobson, WR: Dobson seems to be a complete afterthought in the Patriots’ offense, as he was a healthy scratch last week against the Cowboys, playing behind even special teamer Matthew Slater. Dobson’s removal from the offense only figures to accelerate once Brandon LaFell, New England’s No. 2 receiver a year ago, returns from the PUP list. A team with a need at receiver, such as the Browns or Panthers, could take a look at Dobson, who is signed through 2016 at cheap rates.
AFC Notes: Patriots, Forsett, Steelers
Let’s take a look around the AFC, where three clubs still remain undefeated…
- The Patriots placed cornerback Tarell Brown on injured reserve earlier today, leading Mike Reiss of ESPN.com to examine how New England will approach its secondary woes going going forward. Malcolm Butler will be joined in the starting lineup by Logan Ryan, while Justin Coleman and recent waiver claim Rashaan Melvin could also see time. But the Patriots, who have never shied away from the trade market, could also look to swing a deal to add reinforcements, opines Reiss, who points to the Buccaneers’ Alterraun Verner and the Titans’ Jason McCourty as possible targets (though the ESPN scribe allows that McCourty is unlikely to be moved). Marcus Cooper, a little-used Chiefs corner, might also be on the table, an opinion Reiss has voiced before.
- It’s still up in the air as to whether Justin Forsett will be active for the Ravens‘ game against the 49ers, but according to Forsett, his ankle injury is looking a little better. “It’s a work in progress,” Forsett told Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “We’re heading in the right direction.” Baltimore promoted fellow running back Terrance Magee from its practice squad earlier today, which could be a bad sign for for Forsett’s availability.
- After missing four games due to suspension and one additional contest due to injury, Steelers receiver Martavis Bryant is expected to return for tomorrow’s game against the Cardinals. He’ll likely act as Pittsburgh’s No. 2 pass-catcher, meaning Darrius Heyward-Bey, who has posted 17 receptions for 209 yards and two scores, will move back to the bench, per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. But Heyward-Bey, who has been involved in more than 70% of the Steelers’ offensive plays, vows to remain active in the club’s gameplan. “My focus is whatever Coach Tomlin needs me to do,” he told Kaboly. “My job is to play every position on the field, whether it is X, Z or F. Whatever they need me to do, I will do.”
Patriots Place Tarell Brown On IR
The Patriots’ cornerback corps will undergo another change, with Tarell Brown heading to injured reserve, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
Despite playing in three games for the Patriots this season, including registering six tackles last week against the Cowboys, Brown struggled to overcome a foot injury. The 30-year-old corner this week received a second opinion on a foot that, per NESN.com, he likely reinjured in Week 2.
Brown finished last season on the Raiders’ injured reserve with a broken foot. The eighth-year corner carried a $2MM cap figure after signing a one-year agreement with the Patriots in July.
Brown underwent offseason foot surgery, which prevented him from signing with a team until late in the summer.
After signing in New England this summer, Brown started two games. His injury leaves the Pats’ cornerback corps with less experience, as Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan are now the team’s starting corners with scant depth behind them. Justin Coleman and Rashaan Melvin, the latter arriving as a waiver claim from the Ravens this week, are the team’s other healthy players at the in-flux position.
Derek Cox, Bradley Fletcher and Robert McClain signed with the Patriots to try and fill spots vacated by Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington, but each was cut, leaving young contributors in charge of deterring wideouts.
A free agent who was in camp with the Pats, McClain has two workouts lined up, but New England hasn’t contacted him yet, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). Howe also speculates Fletcher, who the Patriots cut last week due to an injured hamstring, could be an option here.
East Notes: Eagles, Patriots, Bills
The Eagles made a pair of noteworthy free agent signings at running back in the offseason when they added DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews. As last season’s NFL rushing champion, Murray signed a far bigger contract than Mathews (five years and $42MM versus three years, $11MM). Their performances this year haven’t reflected their disparate deals, however, as Mathews has easily outplayed Murray. Both backs have a similar number of carries (49 for Murray, 41 for Mathews), but Mathews has averaged an impressive 5.0 yards per attempt against Murray’s paltry 2.7.
To his credit, Murray took the notion of an increase in Mathews’ touches in stride, per Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com.
“Hey, whatever they decide,” Murray said. “I can only control what I can control. I can’t control the plays being called or who’s in on different situations.”
In assessing Mathews, Murray stated, “I think he’s running it great. Obviously, he’s a tough running back, tough to defend, tough guy to bring down and I think he’s been doing well.”
How the two have played this year might not matter this week, as Mathews could miss the Eagles’ key game against the NFC East rival Giants with a groin injury. That would give Murray a chance to sink or swim as the unquestioned go-to back. The fifth-year man has fared respectably of late, rushing 28 times for 119 yards and a touchdown over the last two weeks. He accrued season highs in carries (20) and yards (83) in the Eagles’ 39-17 win over the Saints last Sunday.
Now the latest regarding a couple of AFC East teams:
- Bills receiver Sammy Watkins spoke out Thursday about the lack of targets that came his way before he suffered a Week 3 injury. His issues seem to lie with quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who could miss Sunday’s game against the Bengals with a knee injury. That would make EJ Manuel the Bills’ starter under center, and Manuel expressed support for Watkins on Friday (via The Buffalo News’ Tyler Dunne). “I think as quarterbacks, we like to hear our receiver is hungry and wants to make plays.” Manuel and Watkins seemingly established a rapport during their limited work together in 2014: Manuel targeted Watkins 32 times in four games, per Chris Trapasso of NFL.com (Twitter link). On the other hand, in two-plus games this year, Taylor has targeted Watkins 12 times.
- With the Patriots weakened at cornerback thanks to Tarell Brown‘s foot injury, they could turn to stalwart safety Devin McCourty for help at the position against the Colts this weekend, writes Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. McCourty came into the league as a corner in 2010 before eventually making the transition to safety. Head coach Bill Belichick used McCourty at corner at times over the summer in the event he’d be needed there this year. That looks as if it could happen this week, as New England is down to Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, undrafted rookie Justin Coleman, and newly added waiver-wire pickup Rashaan Melvin at the positon.
- In other Patriots news, the team will promote offensive tackle Cameron Fleming from its practice squad to its 53-man roster, tweets ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The former Stanford Cardinal spent all of last season on the Pats’ 53-man roster and played in seven games after they used a fourth-round pick on him.
Workout Updates: 10/16/15
We’ve passed along a few of the more notable updates from the last few days on workouts and free agent visits, including the Giants trying out wide receivers like Terrelle Pryor and the Cowboys bringing in running back LaMike James. However, there are plenty more tryout updates from this week to round up, and we’ve got them all below. All links point to the Twitter account of Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, unless otherwise indicated.
Arizona Cardinals
- Sean Baker, S (link)
Dallas Cowboys
- Kenrick Ellis, DT (link)
- Darius Eubanks, LB
- Zaviar Gooden, LB
- Chuka Ndulue, DT
- Isaiah Pead, RB
- Casey Walker, DL
- Jerel Worthy, DL (link)
Detroit Lions
- David Arkin, OL (link)
- Connor Hamlett, TE
- Eric Herman, G
- Eric Hipolito
- Rich Ohrnberger, C
Indianapolis Colts
- Michael Palardy, P (Twitter link via Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star)
- Byron Stingily, T (link)
- Colton Underwood, LB
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Marion Grice, RB (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- George Atkinson III, RB (link)
- Bryce Brown, RB
- Bronson Hill, RB
- Brandon McGee, DB
- Steven Means, LB (link)
- Isaiah Pead, RB
- Greg Scruggs, DE
- Quanterus Smith, DE
Miami Dolphins
- Devin Gardner, WR (link)
- Josh Harper, WR
New England Patriots
- Bill Bentley, DB (link)
- Matt Daniels, DB
New Orleans Saints
- Vaughn Martin, DT (link)
- Matt Shaughnessy, OLB
- Quanterus Smith, DE
- Kevin Vickerson, DT
New York Giants
- Devin Gardner, WR (link)
- Bryn Renner, QB
- Mike Williams, WR (link)
New York Jets
- Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo, LB (link)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Steven Means, DE (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- Martin Wallace, T (link)
Tennessee Titans
- Josh Keyes, LB (link)
- Michael McAdoo, OLB (link)
- Markus Pierce-Brewster, LB
- Mike Reilly, LB
- Julian Stanford, LB
- Jeff Tarpinian, LB
AFC Notes: Texans, Watkins, Boykin
With the NFL eyeing locations beyond the United Kingdom for international games in future seasons, the Texans are targeting a potential game in Mexico City in 2016, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Of course, like most other teams that express interest in playing an international contest, Houston would prefer to be the road team in such a game.
“I believe there’s a chance,” Texans president Jamey Rootes said of playing in Mexico City. “We’ve always expressed that we have an interest in participating internationally as a road team. … We’ve made it clear that we’re most interested in doing that in Mexico. It’s an amazing opportunity for the team and the league. But it’s a league decision, and it would be on their timing.”
Let’s check out a few more odds and ends from around the AFC….
- With Bills wideout Sammy Watkins having expressed a desire to have more passes thrown his way, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examines the situation in Buffalo, discussing the role that targets play in contract discussions for wide receivers.
- The Steelers sent a fifth-round pick to Philadelphia when they acquired cornerback Brandon Boykin, but Pittsburgh seems unwilling to play Boykin, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com details. Presumably, the Steelers will want to get some value out of Boykin eventually, to warrant giving up that draft pick, but Fowler looks into why the ex-Eagle has only seen one defensive snap in the last three weeks.
- Patriots cornerback Tarell Brown has a potentially serious foot injury and is seeking a second opinion, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. For now, Brown’s availability appears to be week to week, but if the injury is determined to be significant, he could end up on the IR list.
- The Dolphins aren’t happy about starting the season with a 1-3 record, or having to make coaching changes, but football czar Mike Tannenbaum tells Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald that he likes the team’s roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/15/15
Here are Thursday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:
- The Raiders have waived former Seahawks safety – and Kam Chancellor‘s brother – Keenan Lambert, the team announced today in a press release. Oakland, on its bye week, will have more than a week to make more roster moves to fill the two openings on the team’s roster.
- Using the roster spot they opened up when they placed offensive lineman Rodger Saffold on injured reserve earlier today, the Rams have promoted tight end Justice Cunningham from their practice squad to their active roster, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
- After moving fullback Derrick Coleman to the reserve/suspended list this afternoon, the Seahawks had an opening on their 53-man roster, and have re-signed wide receiver B.J. Daniels (Twitter link via John Boyle). Daniels was just cut by Seattle two days ago.
- Former Ravens cornerback Rashaan Melvin has been claimed off waivers by the Patriots, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). As Zrebiec points out, the Patriots’ offense went after Melvin frequently during last season’s playoff game, so the move is an interesting one.
AFC Notes: Broncos, Mingo, Revis, Brady
In a mailbag this week, a reader asked Troy Renck of The Denver Post whether the Broncos should consider benching Peyton Manning in favor of backup Brock Osweiler. Manning is off to a rough start in 2015 and the concerns about him are understandable, but Renck says it’s not time to panic, especially with Denver at 5-0.
Manning, 39, had another excellent season for the Broncos in 2014, putting up 4,727 passing yards to go along with 39 touchdown passes. However, he was hampered by injuries late in the season and struggled down the stretch, particularly in the team’s divisional playoff loss to the Colts, in which he totaled just 211 passing yards on 46 attempts.
This offseason, Manning agreed to a contract restructuring that included a no-trade clause. However, in theory, Denver would be free to deal the future Hall of Famer after the season.
Here’s more from across the AFC:
- Jeff Guerriero, the agent for Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo, expressed some unhappiness with his client’s playing time, telling Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter links) that Mingo “is an impact player and needs to be on the field.” According to Cabot, Guerriero wouldn’t say whether or not he’d ask the Browns to trade Mingo — if he and his client want a deal, they’ll have a couple more weeks to make that request, with the trade deadline coming up on November 3.
- In an interview scheduled to air this weekend, Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis spoke to 60 Minutes about the fact that he has signed five contracts in seven years, suggesting that the best players should be willing to take some risk to maximize their value (Twitter links via Brian Costello of the New York Post).
- Jimmy Smith joked about it, but cornerback Shareece Wright says that he actually chose to sign with the Ravens, in part, for chance to be reunited with his good friend, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun writes. The opportunity to play with Smith “played a big role” in him choosing Baltimore, but not the only one. “We always talked about if we had the opportunity to play on the same team, and be playing corner on the same team one day like we did in high school, it’d be a blessing,” Wright said.
- In a sitdown with The Associated Press, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was asked about how much longer he sees himself playing. “I’ve got a lot of football left,” the 38-year-old said. “Football is a contact sport and there’s a lot that goes into it. But I have committed myself for a long time to doing it, and because I love doing it so much I want to make that commitment.”
Zach Links contributed to this post.