Jaguars Sign WR Max McCaffrey
The Jaguars have signed wide receiver Max McCaffrey, the team announced. McCaffrey, the brother of Panthers rookie running back Christian McCaffrey, was plucked from the Saints’ practice squad. 
[RELATED: Jags’ Allen Robinson Done For Season]
Jacksonville was in desperate need of depth at wide receiver after losing star Allen Robinson for the season to a torn ACL. With Oklahoma product Dede Westbrook also on IR, the Jaguars will plug McCaffrey in as their fifth wide receiver behind Marqise Lee, Allen Hurns, Arrelious Benn, and UDFA Keelan Cole.
The Jaguars enjoyed a surprisingly strong start to the season when they toppled the Texans 29-7 on Sunday. Rookie Leonard Fournette did most of the damage with 100 rushing yards plus three catches for 24 yards while Hurns led all receivers with three grabs for 42 yards. If the Jaguars want to continue their winning ways, they’ll probably need to do more through the air going forward.
Saints RT Zach Strief Suffers MCL Sprain
Saints tackle Zach Strief suffered an MCL sprain during Monday night’s game against the Vikings and is expected to miss a few weeks, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’s a bad break for the 0-1 Saints who are already without left tackle Terron Armstead. 
[RELATED: Saints Release Jon Dorenbos]
When Strief exited the game, he was replaced by reserve Senio Kelemete. Unless the Saints add a tackle in the coming days, they’ll probably head into their Week 2 contest with Kelemete and rookie Ryan Ramczyk starting at left tackle. That’s not the O-Line you want against the Patriots, even though their pass rush is shaky.
Last year, the 33-year-old Strief played more than 97% of the Saints’ offensive snaps and posted perhaps the best campaign of his career. He graded as the No. 12 overall tackle in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus, which gave him excellent marks in the run and pass game.
Strief, a 12-year veteran, has not missed significant time since the 2012 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/11/17
Monday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Philip Wheeler
- Waived: LB Scooby Wright
Carolina Panthers
- Released with injury settlement: WR Brenton Bersin, C Gino Gradkowski, OL Chris Scott
- Waived with injury settlement: S L.J. McCray
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Tyrique Jarrett
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Nick Bellore
- Waived: OT Storm Norton
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Geremy Davis
- Waived: CB Jeff Richards
Minnesota Vikings
- Released with injury settlement: QB Taylor Heinicke
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Adam Bighill
New York Jets
- Released with injury settlement: LB Corey Lemonier
- Waived with injury settlement: WR Lucky Whitehead
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released with injury settlement: S Jordan Dangerfield
Eagles Return Draft Pick From Dorenbos Trade; Vaccaro Unlikely To Sign In-Season Extension
- The Eagles have returned the 2019 seventh-round selection they received from the Saints in the Jon Dorenbos trade in light of Dorenbos’ need for heart surgery and his release from New Orleans via injury settlement, as Howard Eskin of 94 WIP reports (via Twitter).
- Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro is eligible for unrestricted free agency next offseason, but Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune does not expect the two sides to agree to an extension during the season. He still believes they will reach a long-term deal at some point next year, but as Vaccaro’s value is up for debate, the team may prefer to see how he performs in 2017 before making a big commitment to him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/17
Here are the today’s minor moves.
- With a ruptured Achilles’ tendon set to end Eric Berry‘s season, the Chiefs officially placed the eighth-year safety on IR Saturday. The team also signed offensive lineman Jordan Devey and safety Steven Terrell. Both Devey and Terrell went to training camp with Kansas City. The Chiefs cut both last weekend. Terrell started in five games as Earl Thomas‘ replacement with the Seahawks last season.
- The Colts cut safety Earl Wolff with an injury settlement, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. A 2013 fifth-round Eagles pick, Wolff hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2014. The Redskins signed Wolff to a reserve/futures deal in January but waived him earlier this month.
- To fill Matt Jones‘ roster spot, the Colts promoted guard Adam Redmond from their practice squad. Redmond signed with the Colts as a UDFA in 2016. He’ll join Deyshawn Bond as a center option for the team, which will be without starter Ryan Kelly to start the season.
- For now, the Broncos won’t go with a two-Peko setup on their defensive line. They waived defensive tackle Kyle Peko, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post tweets. The Broncos signed Domata Peko to be their starting nose tackle and have until Sunday afternoon to replace his cousin on the roster in advance of their Monday-night game. Kyle Peko missed time this summer because of an injury.
- The Lions signed offensive lineman Storm Norton off their practice squad and waived linebacker Nick Bellore, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports. Rothstein adds this news could mean tackle Corey Robinson — brought off the PUP list last week — may not be ready to play in Week 1. Robinson missed the preseason with an injury.
- The Saints released outside linebacker Bryan Braman off IR with an injury settlement, Caplan reports (on Twitter).
Saints Release Jon Dorenbos
A Saints physical revealed long snapper Jon Dorenbos will require heart surgery, and as a result, the popular specialist’s tenure with the team ended.
The Saints released Dorenbos from their NFI list, via injury settlement, Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate reports (on Twitter). The team placed Dorenbos on its NFI list on Friday after news emerged of the impending heart operation.
New Orleans traded a 2019 seventh-round pick to acquire Dorenbos late last month, and he was set to begin a 15th NFL season. Instead, the 37-year-old long snapper/magician has more important issues at hand. This news follows a report out of Louisiana earlier this week of the Saints wanting to rescind the Dorenbos trade with the Eagles.
A two-time Pro Bowler who snapped for three teams — including the past 11 seasons with the Eagles — Dorenbos spent barely two weeks with the Saints, who signed long snapper Zach Wood to replace the veteran.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: T Zach Sterup
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Hakeem Valles, WR Noel Thomas
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Dee Virgin
- Released: DE Daniel Ross
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Nick Dzubnar
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Jomal Wiltz
New Orleans Saints
- Released: DL Kristjan Sokoli
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: K Giorgio Tavecchio
- Released: LB Max Valles
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Kenny Lawler
- Released: WR Cyril Grayson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: T Justin Murray
- Placed on IR: T Marquis Lucas
Saints To Sign LS Zach Wood
The Saints have signed long snapper Zach Wood, a source tells Nick Underhill of the Advocate (Twitter link). Wood will replace veteran Jon Dorenbos, who has been placed on the non-football injury list following the revelation that he’ll need heart surgery.
[RELATED: Saints Working To Rescind Jon Dorenbos Trade]
Wood, who spent four years as a defensive lineman at Southern Methodist University, transitioned to long snapper during his second camp with the Cowboys in 2017. While he was waived during final cutdowns after failing to overtake 13-year veteran L.P. Ladouceur, Wood will now get a chance to snap for the Saints.
Wood worked out for New Orleans today, but he wasn’t the only long snapper to do. John DePalma, Colin Holba, and Tanner Purdum all auditioned for the Saints today, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, as did Jeff Overbaugh, whose inclusion was reported earlier today.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: LB Scooby Wright
- Released: LB Philip Wheeler
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR: RB Ka’Deem Carey, QB Connor Shaw
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: LB B.J. Bello, DB Kai Nacua
Detroit Lions
- Released from IR: WR Dez Stewart
Houston Texans
- Released from IR: TE Rashaun Allen, S Lonnie Ballentine, CB Denzel Rice, DB Malik Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Josh Walker
New England Patriots
- Released from IR: DT Josh Augusta, WR Devin Lucien
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Bryce Harris
- Waived: RB Daniel Lasco
- Released from IR: TE John Phillips
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR: DT Rodney Coe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from IR: QB Sefo Liufau
Washington Redskins
- Released from IR: TE E.J. Bibbs, LB Ron Thompson Jr., LB Lynden Trail
Saints Working Out LB Sean Spence
The Saints are auditioning free agent linebacker Sean Spence today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
[RELATED: Saints Work Out CB Leon Hall]
Spence already joined one linebacker-needy team — the Colts — earlier this year, inking a one-year deal that included $750K in guaranteed. That wasn’t enough to keep the 27-year-old Spence on Indianapolis’ roster, however, as he was released during final cutdowns. A four-year NFL veteran, Spence spent the 2016 campaign in Tennessee, where he posted 50 tackle and three sacks in 15 appearances (six starts).
The Saints are expected to three newcomers at linebacker in their base package: free agent signings A.J. Klein and Manti Te’o, plus third-round rookie Alex Anzalone. While the club has depth behind that trio in the form of Craig Robertson, Stephone Anthony, and Nathan Stupar, Anthony could conceivably be dropped at any time. The former first-round selection wasn’t considered a roster lock as of last month, and while he did end up making the squad, Anthony could theoretically be traded or cut in the future.
In addition to Spence, New Orleans is also taking a look at cornerback D’Joun Smith and offensive lineman Michael Person, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link) and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).