Extra Points: Palmer, Lions, Raiders
Let’s close out Saturday night by taking one final look around the NFL…
- The Lions are still sorting our their right tackle situation, as neither LaAdrian Waddle nor Cornelius Lucas has emerged as a solid starting option, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com. Lucas started the first three games of the season while Waddle recovered from an injury; Waddle took the lead during Week 4, but the two rotated in something of a platoon during Week 5. The club hasn’t announced the plan for tomorrow’s contest, but the lack of continuity can only be seen as a detriment for the winless Lions.
- Carson Palmer is playing some of the best football of his career, and Chris Wesseling of NFL.com looks at how much Palmer has meant to the Cardinals — enough, in fact, to warrant general manager Steve Keim labeling Palmer as a “godsend” to the organization. Arizona ranks third in Football Outsiders’ offensive DVOA metric, while Palmer is tied for first with 13 touchdown passes.
- Despite rumors to the contrary, the Raiders will not sign a two-year lease to remain in Oakland, a team source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Additionally, the concept of signing a short-term agreement doesn’t make much sense, per Cole.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/17/15
Here are Saturday’s minor moves from around the NFL. We’ll keep the list updated throughout the day…
- The Raiders added wide receiver and kick returner Walt Powell to their 53-man roster and signed strong safety Keenan Lambert to their practice squad, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). A Cardinals sixth-round pick in 2014, Powell played in 14 games for the Jets as a rookie. Oakland waived Lambert, who began the year in training camp with the Seahawks, two days ago, and the defender cleared waivers to enable a practice squad signing.
- The Chargers placed rookie sixth-round pick Darius Philon on IR-DTR and promoted guard/tackle Michael Ola from their practice squad, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (on Twitter). With the Bolts still struggling with offensive line injuries, a need for Ola emerged. A former UDFA, Ola started 12 games with the Bears in 2014. Philon, a defensive end who’s been backing up Kendall Reyes, been active in each of the Chargers’ five contests thus far this season but now will miss most of the regular season’s remainder with a hip malady. Week 14 represents Philon’s earliest return date.
- The Titans signed Justin Staples to their active roster and placed Deiontrez Mount on IR, per the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (via Twitter). Mount, a rookie sixth-round defensive end, suffered a torn ACL. A third-year linebacker, Staples played six games with the Titans in 2014 after entering the league as a UDFA.
- Hard Knocks fan favorite cornerback Charles James received notice of being cut by the Ravens, with the team signing running back Terrance Magee, Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun reports (on Twitter). The Ravens placed Lorenzo Taliaferro on IR this week, creating a spot for Magee. Zreibec also notes (on Twitter) this may be a depth move to protect the team in case Justin Forsett, who is questionable for Sunday’s game against the 49ers with an ankle ailment, doesn’t play this week. A rookie undrafted free agent out of LSU, Magee signed with the Ravens initially in May. Prior to being waived by the Texans in September, James played in 13 games with the Giants in 2013.
- The Broncos have promoted running back Kapri Bibbs from the practice squad, reports Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (via Twitter). The team also released tight end Richard Gordon, who was just added to the roster earlier this week.
Earlier updates:
- The Colts have released kick returner Marcus Thigpen and called up linebacker Amarlo Herrera to take his roster spot, reports Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (via Twitter). With Jerrell Freeman and Nate Irving both struggling with injuries, the Colts were clearly looking for some reinforcement on defense. Thigpen previously saw time with the Bills this season, returning 12 combined punts and kickoffs.
- The Bears have signed nose tackle Bruce Gaston from the Packers practice squad, reports Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. The second-year player had made a pair of appearances with Green Bay this season. He’s expected to provide the Bears with some depth on the defensive line, where Ego Ferguson, Will Sutton and Jeremiah Ratliff are all banged up.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/15
Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Jaguars cut linebacker John Lotulelei from injured reserve with an injury settlement, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The 23-year-old had been a member of the Jacksonville organization since 2013, though he didn’t appear in any games with the team. He played in two games as a Seahawk in 2013 and made three tackles.
- The Raiders signed wide receiver/return man Walter Powell off Buffalo’s practice squad, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). Powell appeared in four games for the Jets in 2014 and logged 20 returns (eight kicks, 12 punts).
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.
Raiders To Place Justin Tuck On IR
The Raiders are expected to place defensive end Justin Tuck on season-ending injured reserve with a torn right pectoral muscle, a source tells Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. Tuck suffered in the injury trying to tackle running back C.J. Anderson in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos. Tuck will have surgery in the next few days, according to Bair.
Tuck signed a two-year, $11MM deal with Oakland prior to the 2014 season. In his first year in silver and black, Tuck racked up 43 tackles and 5.0 sacks in 15 games (12 starts). Thus far in 2015, Tuck hasn’t put up those same kinds of numbers, registering only seven tackles and 5.0 sacks through five games. However, as a starter at defensive end, Tuck was being counted on as a key member of the Raiders’ front seven.
In his final season with the Giants, Tuck racked up 11 sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles. He also received an impressive grade as a run-stopper in that campaign, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which placed him seventh among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends last season.
Rookie second-round pick Mario Edwards Jr. will replace Tuck in the starting lineup.
Raiders’ Justin Tuck Could Be Done For Season
The Raiders fear that veteran defensive lineman Justin Tuck has torn a pectoral muscle, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Tuck will miss several games and quite possibly the season.
Tuck signed a two-year, $11MM deal with Oakland prior to the 2014 season. In his first year in silver and black, Tuck racked up 43 tackles and 5.0 sacks in 15 games (12 starts). Thus far in 2015, Tuck hasn’t put up those same kinds of numbers, registering only seven tackles and 5.0 sacks through five games. However, as a starter at defensive end, Tuck was being counted on as a key member of the Raiders’ front seven.
In his final season with the Giants, Tuck racked up 11 sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles. He also received an impressive grade as a run-stopper in that campaign, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which placed him seventh among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends last season.
Extra Points: Lions, Mexico, Titans, Ravens
A look around the NFL as the fifth Sunday of the season draws to a close:
- The Lions dropped to 0-5 with their 42-17 loss to Arizona, but head coach Jim Caldwell said afterward that there won’t be any changes to his staff (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News).
- A regular-season game in Mexico in 2016 is a strong possibility, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports. “It’s going to happen next year,” one high-ranking club official said. “We just don’t know which teams it’s going to be yet.” The Raiders are candidates to play there, per La Canfora, who writes that those in league circles believe a series of games in Mexico would be highly successful from a financial standpoint.
- Titans receiver Kendall Wright caught three passes for 29 yards in the team’s 14-13 loss to Buffalo. After the game, the fourth-year man was indignant about his role in the Titans’ offense. “I’m beyond frustrated,” Wright stated, per John Glennon of the Tennessean. “I don’t feel like I’m being able to do what I can do until late in games. I feel like I’m a good receiver and I feel like I’ve been open and I can beat the DBs or whoever is (covering) me, but I haven’t really been given the opportunity I’ve been looking for.”
- The Ravens fell to 1-4 after losing to Cleveland and Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic provided reasons as to why it’ll be too much for them to overcome. Among them: the difficulty of the AFC North and the Ravens’ lack of home-field advantage.
- Three injured Cardinals – linebackers Alex Okafor and Kenny Demens and defensive back Chris Clemons – will get MRIs during the upcoming week. Head coach Bruce Arians isn’t optimistic about their statuses. “I do not feel good,” he said, according to Darren Urban of the team’s website (via Twitter).
Raiders Release Taylor Mays
Taylor Mays‘ nomadic journey throughout 2015 may be nearing an end after the Raiders became the third team to release the safety and the fourth to deem him unworthy of further employment this year.
In a corresponding move, the Raiders promoted safety Tevin McDonald from their practice squad, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com reports.
Mays hadn’t played much safety since re-signing with the Raiders after Nate Allen was designated for a short-term IR stay after Week 1. The Raiders initially signed Mays in late August but cut him as they minced their roster to 53 players.
The sixth-year veteran out of USC played mostly special teams in Oakland the past three weeks. He was questionable to play in Sunday’s game against the Broncos with an ankle injury.
After the Bengals didn’t re-sign him, the Lions and Vikings parted ways with Mays this offseason, and this latest transaction further puts the former second-round pick’s career in jeopardy.
Oakland signed McDonald originally as an undrafted free agent this spring but cut the rookie safety on the same day they axed Mays in September. He’s floated on and off the active roster throughout this season, being involved in several promotions and demotions.
NFL Notes: L.A., St. Louis, Preseason, Arrests
Here are a few other stories of note from around the NFL this Friday night:
- While no decisions have been made about the Los Angeles market, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report says that he has spoken to five NFL owners, and the preferred situation would be for the Rams and Chargers to join forces there. The Raiders could still get back into the conversation, but Cole says that owner Mark Davis would make it easier for himself if he sold part of the team to relieve financial constraints, which would make the other owners more comfortable with the move.
- While the Rams are pushing to move to Los Angeles, the city of St. Louis is making its efforts to keep the team in town, but City Comptroller Darlene Green questions the financing the most recent stadium proposal, writes David Hunn of St. Louis Today. “Taxes will increase,” Green said. “And that’s not what was promised to our citizens.”
- At the recent meetings, NFL owners discussed the idea of reducing the preseason from four games to three, as Cole tweets. The owners also discussed expanding the regular season beyond 16 games, but those two ideas are not tied together.
- Arrests among NFL players is down 35% since the league expanded its policies and programs from last year, and future NFL chief disciplinary officer Todd Jones is encouraged by the early results, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. He adds that the NFLPA is protesting Jones’ appointment as a direct violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
Zach Link contributed to this post.
AFC West Notes: Allen, Janikowski, Raiders
Publicly, NFL owners aren’t saying much about where they stand on the Los Angeles situation, but five owners have told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) that they would be in favor of a plan marrying the Rams and Chargers. Of course, that would leave the Raiders out in the cold, but owner Mark Davis could improve his team’s chances by selling a portion of the team to an L.A. investor. That’s a transaction that could take place “very soon,” according to a source who spoke with Cole.
Here’s more from the AFC West..
- Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen has signed with Vanguard Sports and agent Joby Branion, according to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal (on Twitter). Allen was formerly repped by Athletes First. Allen, a 2013 third-round pick, is under contract through 2016 and earning less than $1MM this season and next. Needless to say, his next deal should be for a whole lot more.
- Sebastian Janikowski is on the verge of setting the Raiders record for most games played and it sounds like he could pad his lead quite a bit. Long snapper Jon Condo says that Janikowski feels as though he could kick into his mid-40s and the kicker agrees, as Vic Tafur of The San Francisco Chronicle writes. “You look at my stats?” the 37-year-old asked. “That’s how I can tell. I’m doing the same thing I did 10 years ago, hitting 60-yarders in warm-ups before games. I don’t see the difference. The more you do, the more you work out, you can be strong.”
- Fun fact from Steve Corkran of RaiderBeat.com (on Twitter): Only five players remain on the Raiders‘ 53-man roster who were on the team when Al Davis died four years ago. None of those five players are starters.