PUP, IR-DTR Players Soon Eligible To Practice
Week 6 of the NFL season will come to an end after Monday night’s game between the 49ers and Rams, and when teams begin preparing for Week 7, many of those clubs may be welcoming some players back to practice. Six weeks into the NFL season, players who were placed on the physically unable to perform list or the injured reserve list with the designation to return prior to Week 1’s games will be eligible to return to practice.
Of course, just because those players are able to return to the practice field 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 on the PUP list could theoretically return for his team’s Week 7 game, or could return as late as for his team’s Week 15 contest. If the player doesn’t return to practice or game action in time, he’ll revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Here are the players currently on the physically unable to perform list who can begin practicing as soon as next week:
- 49ers: NaVorro Bowman (LB), Garrett Celek (TE), Kaleb Ramsey (DT)
- Chargers: Jeromey Clary (OL)
- Colts: Stanley Havili (FB)
- Falcons: Drew Davis (WR), Zeke Motta (S)
- Jets: Antwan Barnes (LB)
- Lions: T.J. Jones (WR)
- Panthers: De’Andre Presley (WR)
- Raiders: D.J. Hayden (CB)
- Ravens: Terrence Cody (DT)
- Redskins: Stephen Bowen (DE), Leonard Hankerson (WR)
- Saints: Cheta Ozougwu (OLB)
Players who began the season on the PUP list didn’t participate in any preseason practices, but that’s not the case for players on the injured reserve list with the designation to return. Teams can use this 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 players who were placed on IR-DTR prior to Week 1 can begin practicing next week. A player who was placed on IR-DTR after – for instance – Week 2 will have to wait another two weeks to return to practice.
Here’s the list of players currently on IR-DTR who can begin practicing as soon as next week:
- 49ers: Glenn Dorsey (DT)
- Bears: Marquess Wilson (WR)
- Buccaneers: Charles Sims (RB)
- Chiefs: Joe Mays (LB)
- Colts: Xavier Nixon (T)
- Cowboys: Demarcus Lawrence (DE)
- Giants: Geoff Schwartz (G)
- Lions: Kyle Van Noy (LB)
- Packers: J.C. Tretter (C)
New York Notes: Jets, Giants, Ryan, Rice
If Michael Vick looked ill prepared on Sunday, that’s because he was. “I learned a lesson last week: Always stay ready, always be prepared,” said Vick, according to Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday. “That left a bitter taste in my mouth, that I wasn’t able to go out and put points on the board or even help this team in any fashion. This week has been a different work week for me. I think throughout the rest of the year, it’s going to be totally different for me, as far as my preparation.” It’s time to take a trip down the New Jersey Turnpike and marvel at how great that shopping mall really could have been. News on the Jets and Giants..
- Jets coach Rex Ryan knows that he has to win to get the media off his back and quiet calls for his job, writes Brian Costello of the New York Post. Meanwhile, as the tabloids hammer him, he has the support of many in the locker room. “We’ve been playing for Rex since training camp,” running back Chris Johnson said. “He’s the type of guy everyone loves around here. No one wants him gone or anything like that. We’re playing for him. We’re playing for ourselves. Just like Rex, everyone here has a job. Rex isn’t going to be the only guy in jeopardy of losing his job if things aren’t going well.”
- The Jets‘ turmoil is a product of GM John Idzik‘s suspicious spending and failed decisions, writes Jason Fitzgerald of The Sporting News. One would have expected Idzik to hit free agency hard after the team’s cap problems were cleared up, but he didn’t do nearly enough this offseason to help Gang Green improve. Fitzgerald writes that it’s hard for the Jets right now to look in the mirror and not see the Raiders staring back. Ouch.
- Giants president John Mara said it will be “several months” before Robert Mueller’s investigation into Ray Rice case is completed, tweets Bob Glauber of Newsday. Mara is helping to oversee the investigation and many outside observers have questioned his impartiality since he has a strong working relationship with Roger Goodell.
- The Jets worked out Malcolm Bronson and Dashaun Phillips, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
East Notes: Rolle, Giants, Thompkins, Eagles
Giants safety Antrel Rolle is slated to hit the open market after this season but he’s not going to make a lot of noise about it right now, as Paul Schwartz of the New York Post tweets. “I’ve never been a guy to speak about contracts. I’ll let my play do the campaigning for me,” said Rolle. More out of the East divisions..
- Patriots coach Bill Belichick says that he hoped to re-sign wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins to the practice squad, writes Phil Perry of CSNNE.com. “It’s always tough to release a player, especially one like KT who works extremely hard and is really a dedicated athlete and certainly had a lot of good moments of performance for us,” Belichick said. “We have other players at that position that also work hard that are talented. In the end, we had to . . . in order to get a guy on the roster, we had to take a guy off. It’s just getting down to that decision. It’s a hard decision to make, you know?“
- Eagles defensive coordinator Bill Davis has no plans to make a change at cornerback, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. The play of starting corners Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher has many Eagles fans wishing they would go out-of-house for an upgrade after the team’s ugly near-collapse at home against the Rams on Sunday.
- Former LSU product Spencer Ware was among the running backs auditioning for the Giants today, writes Jordan Raanan of The Star-Ledger. Terrance Cobb and Stephen Houston also worked out for Big Blue. With Rashad Jennings banged up and Michael Cox promoted from the taxi squad to the active roster, the Giants could have a spot for another tailback.
Minor Moves: Monday
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here….
- The Packers will welcome back offensive lineman Jordan McCray on their practice squad, according to the FXFL’s Twitter account. Wes Hodkiewicz of the Press Gazette (on Twitter) notes that the Packers had a spot open on the practice squad, so no corresponding move is necessary.
- The Giants have promoted running back Michael Cox from their practice squad to their 53-man roster, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. The move provides some backfield insurance, with Rashad Jennings expected to be sidelined through the team’s Week 8 bye.
- After seeing another center go down with an injury, the Chargers are set to sign center Trevor Robinson off the Bengals’ practice squad, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). San Diego opened up a roster spot today by placing Doug Legursky on the injured reserve list, as noted below.
- The Rams have waived linebacker Ray Ray Armstrong, who had been a key contributor on the special teams unit, tweets Brian McIntyre.
Earlier updates:
- Wideout Kevin Dorsey has been promoted to the Packers‘ 53-man roster from their practice squad, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Former Utah State defensive back Tay Glover-Wright is taking Dorsey’s spot on the taxi squad, per Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link).
- The Saints have waived 2014 fourth-round pick Khairi Fortt, a source tells Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com (Twitter link). It’s a somewhat surprising move, since Fortt hasn’t really had an opportunity to play yet, and his release won’t open up a roster spot, since the club had used its injured reserve/designated to return spot on him.
- Safety Jakar Hamilton was activated today by the Cowboys, who waived linebacker Keith Smith to make room on the 53-man roster, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. The team previously had a roster exemption for Hamilton, who missed the season’s first four weeks due to a suspension.
- The Dolphins have made a series of moves, signing wide receiver Damian Williams to their 53-man roster and waiving running back Orleans Darkwa to make room (Twitter link). The team also announced that the roster exemption for previously-suspended safety Reshad Jones has been lifted, meaning he’s now officially a part of the 53-man roster (Twitter link).
- Linebacker Marcus Benard has re-signed with the Cardinals, per Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Benard was initially signed during John Abraham‘s absence from the team, and now takes the place of Matt Shaughnessy, who was placed on injured reserve with the designation to return today.
- In a surprising transaction, the Packers have parted ways with tight end Ryan Taylor, who hasn’t been a huge part of the club’s passing game since being drafted in the seventh round in 2011, but has been with the team since then and contributed on special teams. Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has the details on the move, which brings the Packers’ roster count down to 52.
- The Chargers have lost another center, announcing today (via Twitter) that Doug Legursky is heading to injured reserve with a knee injury. Longtime San Diego center Nick Hardwick was previously placed on IR with an injury of his own.
- Cornerback Brandon Browner and wideout Brian Tyms are both being formally activated by the Patriots, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links). To make room for the duo, whose roster exemptions expire today, the Pats had to cut a pair of players — Shalisa Manza Young of the Boston Globe initially reported that defensive lineman Joe Vellano would be one of the two to go (Twitter link), and the team has since announced that defensive lineman Michael Buchanan is the other. Vellano has been waived, while Buchanan was placed on IR.
- The Eagles have made a change to their practice squad, cutting wide receiver Cobi Hamilton and replacing him with safety Jordan Kovacs, the team announced today (Twitter link).
- The Giants are releasing Trindon Holliday from IR, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). The veteran kick returner was placed on IR in August with a hamstring injury.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Injury Updates: Monday
As is typically the case on Mondays, teams around the NFL are receiving updates on injured players, and while in some instances that news is reassuring, that’s not always the case. Here are a few items related to injuries that may force clubs to make roster moves:
- As feared, Titans safety Bernard Pollard has a ruptured Achilles and will miss the rest of the season, tweets Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. While the team has yet to officially make a move, we can expect Pollard to hit IR at some point this week.
- A pair of Ravens are expected to miss multiple weeks, according to Garrett Downing of BaltimoreRavens.com, who writes that cornerback Asa Jackson suffered a severly sprained toe, while defensive end Chris Canty is dealing with an infection in his wrist. Head coach John Harbaugh indicated today that the club’s current plan is to place Jackson on the injured reserve with the designation to return. The team will also look to add a cornerback in his absence, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
- Broncos running back Montee Ball suffered a strained groin, and could miss up to three weeks, head coach John Fox said today (Twitter link via Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com).
- The Giants figure to be without running back Rashad Jennings for the near future, as the offseason signee confirmed today that he sustained a sprained MCL (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News). While Jennings should remain on the 53-man roster, the team could bolster the running back position by promoting Michael Cox from the practice squad, notes Vacchiano (via Twitter).
- The Jets got a scare when linebacker David Harris injured his shoulder, but an MRI showed no structural damage and he’s considered day-to-day, tweets Brian Costello of the New York Post.
Giants Activate Hosley, Cut Two Players
4:40pm: The Giants have officially added Hosley to the roster, cutting cornerback Chandler Fenner and wide receiver Julian Talley to make room, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. The team now has one opening on its 53-man roster.
12:00pm: The Giants are expected to activate cornerback Jayron Hosley today and add him to the 53-man roster, according to Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record (via Twitter). The Giants will have to make a roster move in order to make space.
Hosley, 24, was hit with a four-game suspension in June for violating the substance-abuse policy. The Giants secured a roster exemption for Hosley upon his return but it expired today, meaning they had to either put Hosley on the roster or let him go. The 2012 third-round pick appeared in 23 games for the Giants between 2012 and 2013, making seven starts. In that time, he registered 45 tackles, seven pass deflections, one interception, and one forced fumble.
Injury Updates: Sunday
Here are some injuries that occurred during Sunday’s game action:
- Chargers‘ center Doug Legursky left the blowout victory over the Jets with a knee injury, and Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego reports that he will likely be out much longer (via Twitter).
- The Jets also lost a key member of their team, with linebacker David Harris suffering a shoulder injury, reports Brian Costello of the New York Post (via Twitter). He will undergo an MRI tomorrow.
- Calais Campbell‘s injury reported earlier was an MCL injury, and will keep him out between three and four weeks, reports Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (via Twitter).
Earlier Updates:
- Saints‘ star tight end Jimmy Graham suffered a sprained shoulder during the team’s overtime victory against the Buccaneers earlier today. The team is going into their bye week, which should give the All-Pro pass catcher time to recover. Graham hopes to return to the field the following week against the Lions.
- Titans‘ safety Bernard Pollard left the locker room using crutches, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean (via Twitter). The team fears that he has torn his achilles, writes Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk. Pollard will have an MRI on Monday.
- Titans‘ starting quarterback Jake Locker has also faced an injury, being forced out of the team’s loss at the hands of the Browns. Locker injured his thumb in the game, and while X-rays were negative, he will have an MRI on Monday, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.
- Giants‘ running back Rashad Jennings is set to have an MRI on his knee tomorrow, but believes the injury is not serious, according to Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
- There have been a number of injuries for the Cardinals during their matchup against the Broncos. Starting quarterback Drew Stanton, who was already filling in for an injured Carson Palmer, has been forced out of the game with a concussion, reports Mark Dalton of the Arizona Cardinals (via Twitter). Rookie Logan Thomas has replaced him in the game. The team does not have an emergency quarterback left on their roster. Defensive end Calais Campbell has also been removed from the game with a knee injury, reports Lindsay Jones of USA Today (via Twitter).
- The Broncos have not been unscathed so far, losing running back Montee Ball to a groin injury, reports Chris Cwik of CBS Sports.
- The Chargers have also experienced some key injuries despite building a big lead over the Jets. Tackle D.J. Fluker and receiver Malcolm Floyd have both left the game with lower leg injuries, and failed to return, reports Eric Williams of ESPN (via Twitter). Running back Donald Brown also left the game with a concussion, writes Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter).
NFC Links: Harbaugh, Donnell, Prater, Eagles
The 49ers have a very volatile situation on their hands, as tensions between management and head coach Jim Harbaugh are only outmatched by those between the coach and his players. Much has been made about this ongoing situation, but the team was still playing at a high level last week. Their defense suffocated the Eagles’ offense, and the team still looks like a Super Bowl contender despite currently sitting at third in the NFC West.
Seth Wickersham of ESPN profiled Harbaugh, writing that he thrives in chaos and that it doesn’t matter what the atmosphere is in the locker room. His competitiveness could be enough and overcome the tensions and the 49ers could be looking at another deep playoff run.
Here are some more links from around the NFC:
- The Harbaugh situation is also the focus of Matt Maiocco’s mailbag for CSNBayArea.com. He also addressed the injury situation of Marcus Lattimore, noting that he is eligible to return to the 49ers after week six, but will likely only see playing time if there is an injury to either Carlos Hyde or Frank Gore.
- Giants‘ tight end Larry Donnell has been one of the great breakout stars of the first quarter of the NFL season, but he will not go unnoticed any more, writes Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
- The Lions signed former Eagles’ kicker Alex Henery to replace Nate Freese, but Kyle Meinke of MLive.com points out that Matt Prater‘s recent release could change things. Meinke believes if Henery shows any reason to be worried about him, the Lions could be aggressive in their pursuit of Prater next week.
- Even though it is only the beginning of October, Jimmy Kempski of Philly.com has already pointed out five college prospects who the Eagles could target in the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago.
Minor Moves: Saturday
Today’s minor moves, with recent updates added to the top of the list…
- The Giants have signed cornerback Chandler Fenner off of their practice squad, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The team has waived linebacker Dan Fox to make room for Fenner.
- The Patriots have promoted linebacker Ja’Gared Davis from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Davis, 24, went undrafted out of SMU in 2013. New England claimed him off waivers from the Texans on August 28. The Pats will need to make a roster move to clear a spot for Davis.
Earlier updates:
- The Cowboys have promoted linebacker Keith Smith to take Morris Claiborne‘s spot on the roster, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com.
- The Jaguars have activated wide receiver Ace Sanders and waived tight end Mickey Shuler, tweets the Florida-Times Union’s Ryan O’Halloran. The writer also tweets that Schuler could catch on with the team’s practice squad.
- The Vikings announced that they have signed fullback Zach Line from their practice squad. To make room, the team waived quarterback Chandler Harnish.
NFC Mailbags: Fitzgerald, Suh, Murray
It’s Saturday morning, and that means a fresh batch of NFL mailbags from ESPN’s writers. Let’s start off with notes from the NFC…
- When asked about the prospects of Brian Orakpo, Brandon Meriweather and Perry Riley returning to the Redskins next season, John Keim says that he’d be surprised if more than one of the group returns. Riley is signed for 2015, but cutting him could save the team $3MM.
- Josh Weinfuss believes the Cardinals will “consider all the possible options” in regards to trading Larry Fitzgerald after the season.
- Following news that Ndamukong Suh would like to play in New York, Dan Graziano writes that it might be difficult for the Giants to add the defensive tackle. The team is prepared to hand large contracts to Eli Manning and Jason Pierre-Paul, and the writer also notes that the team hasn’t shown a willingness to spend at that position.
- Even with DeMarco Murray‘s incredible start to the season, Todd Archer still doesn’t think that the Cowboys should extend him to a “crazy” offer. The writer suggests a contract worth $4MM annually.