NFL Workout Updates: 11/1/19
The latest from the workout circuit around the league:
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
- RB Jay Ajayi, TE Nick O’Leary, TE Richard Rodgers, RB Bo Scarbrough
Jacksonville Jaguars
- K Elliott Brown, K Jon Brown, K Chase McLaughlin, K Giorgio Tavecchio
New York Jets
- LB Vincent Rey, LB Paul Worrilow
Oakland Raiders
- RB Spencer Ware
AFC West Notes: Mahomes, Lock, Harris, Raiders
Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is questionable for Kansas City’s upcoming game against the Vikings, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Mahomes, of course, was injured on Thursday Night Football of Week 7 against the Broncos during a quarterback sneak. In a freak incident, Mahomes dislocated his right kneecap.
He returned to practice just six days after the injury, but was quickly ruled out for last Sunday’s game against the Packers. While his status is still up in the air, Rapoport reiterates “At the least, he is considered to have a shot to play.” At 5-3, Kansas City has some breathing room in the AFC West divisional race. However, the chances of a high seed and a first-round bye would be greatly diminished the longer they have to stick with backup Matt Moore.
Here’s more from around the AFC West:
- While quarterback Brandon Allen is currently next in line for the Broncos after Joe Flacco‘s injury landed him on injured reserve, the team plans to play rookie second-round pick Drew Lock in Denver’s final two games against the Lions and Raiders, according Mike Klis of 9News. Flacco was diagnosed with a disk injury in his neck that requires at least six weeks to recover. Given the Broncos 2-6 record, the team decided to shut down the veteran for the season. Allen is in his fourth NFL season, but has yet to appear in a regular season game.
- After weeks of trade rumors, Broncos cornerback Chris Harris could be staying in the mile-high city beyond this season, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. With three young daughters and a fourth coming soon, Harris told Jhabvala he was “Definitely relieved and happy to be able to finish the year here.” The news comes as somewhat of a surprise given Harris’ tumultuous relationship with the organization over the past few seasons. However, according to Jhabvala, the team’s new coaching staff has meshed well with the upcoming free-agent.
- Both Raiders centers Rodney Hudson and Andre James are listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the Lions. They both are dealing with ankle injuries and managed to practice, but according to head coach Jon Gruden, both were “sore.”
NFL Workout Updates: 10/30/19
Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle:
Buffalo Bills
- OTs Ruben Holcomb, Denver Kirkland, Pace Murphy
Cleveland Browns
- LB Nate Hall
Detroit Lions
- P Austin Barnard
New England Patriots
- DE Joel Heath
Oakland Raiders
- DE Ethan Westbrooks; S Su’a Cravens
Raiders C Rodney Hudson To Miss Time
Raiders center Rodney Hudson is expected to miss time while dealing with an ankle injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Hudson isn’t the only Oakland center sidelined by an ankle issue — backup Andre James is also battling a sprain, and he too could miss the Raiders’ Week 9 game against the Raiders. If neither Hudson nor James can play on Sunday, veteran left guard Richie Incognito will likely slide to center and play the pivot for the first time since 2010, tweets Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. Fellow center Erik Magnuson, signed earlier today, may also be in contention to start in the middle of Oakland’s front five.
Hudson isn’t going on injured reserve, an indication the Raiders don’t believe his injury to be a long-term issue. But there’s no question the veteran center’s presence will be missed for however long he remains sidelined. Oakland, which has a 21% chance of earning a postseason berth per FiveThirtyEight.com, already had its bye in Week 6, so there’s no free week for Hudson to get healthy late in the season.
Midway through his ninth NFL campaign (and fifth in Oakland), Hudson is still playing like one of the NFL’s best centers. Through seven starts, Hudson grades as the league’s third-best pivot, per Pro Football Focus, which ranks Hudson as the NFL’s No. 2 pass-blocking center behind only Cleveland’s J.C. Tretter. As a unit, the Raiders’ offensive line ranks top-four in both pass-blocking and run-blocking, according to Football Outsiders‘ adjusted yards metrics.
Raiders To Sign DT Terrell McClain
The Raiders have officially signed defensive tackle Terrell McClain, per a club announcement. The deal marks yet another destination for the well-traveled veteran.
McClain spent 2018 with the Falcons and appeared in 13 games. He hooked on with the Cardinals this offseason but was cut at the end of August, leading him to an October cup of coffee with the Chiefs. Other clubs on his resume include the: Redskins, Cowboys, Texans, Patriots, and Panthers.
In related news, the Raiders dropped linebacker Dakota Allen, defensive lineman Kasim Edebali, and Corey Liuget. Liuget played on 46 defensive snaps this season, so it wasn’t exactly the return to prominence he was hoping for.
Liuget, a former Chargers notable, had a rough 2018 season that featured a suspension, pay cut, and a season-ending knee injury. Cut by the Chargers in February, Liguet met with the Giants, Seahawks, Jaguars, and Cardinals before landing with the Raiders in August.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Cut: P Kasey Redfern
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Tremon Smith
- Cut: WR Darrius Shepherd, TE Evan Baylis
New England Patriots
- Cut: TE Eric Tomlinson
New Orleans Saints
- Cut: CB Ken Crawley
New York Jets
- Signed: LB B.J Bello, DB Arthur Maulet
- Placed on IR: LB Albert McClellan
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: LB Justin Phillips
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: G Jordan Roos
Raiders To Sign Will Compton
The Raiders are set to sign linebacker Will Compton, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter). They’ll also add offensive lineman/center Erik Magnuson from the Bills’ practice squad to round out their roster. 
Unfortunately for Compton and Magnuson, their Oakland arrivals are overshadowed by the addition of linebacker Brandon Marshall, who rejoined the squad earlier on Tuesday. Still, both players will provide the Raiders with veteran experience on either side of the ball.
The Raiders didn’t get the big fish they wanted on Tuesday but, then again, that was the story for just about every team in the NFL. Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson remained in New York and the Raiders, at 3-4, will have to work with what they have, more or less.
Compton & Co. – as they’re now known – will face the Lions on Sunday.
Raiders To Re-Sign LB Brandon Marshall
Brandon Marshall agreed to a second Raiders contract, with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweeting the veteran linebacker is headed back to Oakland. The Raiders released Marshall after their preseason slate concluded.
The current Raiders linebacking corps is not as deep as the one Marshall was part of during training camp. Vontaze Burfict is out for the season. Justin Phillips is also out for the year, leaving the Raiders with just four off-ball linebackers healthy going into Week 9.
Marshall’s lone episode on Hard Knocks featured his release, and the longtime Broncos linebacker was told a reunion was possible once he healed up. The 30-year-old defender battled a knee injury during the early part of camp but participated in a Texans workout in September.
Following Super Bowl 50 and Danny Trevathan‘s exit, the Broncos gave Marshall an $8MM-AAV deal. Injuries intervened, however, and led to Denver releasing its five-year starter earlier this year. The eighth-year veteran will attempt to stick around with the Raiders this time.
Raiders Looking To Trade For WRs
The Raiders are on the lookout for wide receivers as Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline approaches, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears (Twitter link). One possible target for Oakland, he hears, is Jets wide receiver Robby Anderson, who is one of several Gang Green players on the block. 
The Raiders already swung one October trade for a wide receiver when they brought in Zay Jones from the Bills, but their work might not be done. Besides Jones, the Raiders’ WR group includes Tyrell Williams, Dwayne Harris, Hunter Renfrow, Trevor Davis, Keelan Doss, and Marcell Ateman. They had Williams on the field this weekend, which is a positive development, but the Raiders’ No. 1 target came up short down the stretch in Sunday’s loss to the Texans.
“I’ll look back at this game and see missed opportunities for myself,” said Williams, who was being hard on himself, even after making some key plays in the second half. “I just have to make those plays on that last drive. There are easy fixes. I just have to make those plays.”
On that front – quarterback Derek Carr says he’ll continue to send the ball in Williams’ direction.
“There are two or three that he wants back, but you guys know me. I’m going to keep throwing it to him,” Carr said. “When we had [Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree] rolling, a drop didn’t matter. I was going to keep throwing them the ball. They are going to get chances. The ball is still coming with confidence…Whenever they want to single him up and make him beat us, we’re going to take that chance. There were probably two or three where I could’ve delivered a better ball or that he’d want back.”
If the Raiders can add another talented WR to the fold between now and tomorrow afternoon, Williams may benefit from some improved matchups.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: LB Ramik Wilson.
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR DeAndrew White
- Placed on IR: CB Natrell Jamerson
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Jonathan Harris
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jaguars’ practice squad: DT Eli Ankou
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steven Mitchell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Donald Payne
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Giles-Harris
- Placed on IR: LB D.J. Alexander, TE Geoff Swaim
- Waived: CB Parry Nickerson
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: CB Marcus Sherels
New England Patriots
- Waived: S Jordan Richards
New Orleans Saints
- Released: LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, RB Zach Zenner
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Devante Downs
- Waived: TE Garrett Dickerson, LB Tuzar Skipper
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Kasim Edebali
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: LS Garrison Sanborn