Orlando Scandrick

This Date In Transactions History: Washington Releases Orlando Scandrick

It’s never a good sign when a free agent acquisition is cut before the end of the preseason. However, after Orlando Scandrick was cut by Washington on this date in 2018, the cornerback managed to put up one more good season before later calling it a career.

Prior to joining Washington, the 2008 fifth-round pick had spent his entire 10-year career with the Cowboys. However, he only had one 16-game campaign between 2011 and 2017, thanks in part to a suspension and various injuries (including a torn ACL and MCL that wiped out his 2015 season). Following a 2017 campaign that saw him grade out as one of the league’s 15-worst cornerbacks (per Pro Football Focus), Dallas decided to pivot towards a youth movement, leading to Scandrick’s release.

It didn’t take long for the veteran to catch on with Jay Gruden and Washington, as Scandrick inked a two-year pact that could have been worth up to $10MM. However, before he even got to step foot on the field for a regular season game, the organization cut the cornerback. On August 14, 2018, Scandrick earned his walking papers from Washington, with the cornerback earning $1MM during his brief stay. Gruden wouldn’t attribute the move to anything that Scandrick did, instead noting that the move was made thanks to the development of some younger cornerbacks.

It has nothing to do with his play. It was really the emergence of the rookies and [we] wanted Orlando to latch on to another team,” Gruden said “No one could have predicted [the emergence of] [Ranthony] Texada or Danny Johnson.”

However, it didn’t take long for Scandrick to generate some interest from rival clubs. The same day he was released, we learned that the defensive back was generating some interest from the Chiefs, and less than a week later, he officially signed a one-year, $1.5MM deal with Kansas City. During his age-31 season, Scandrick was a productive member of the Chiefs’ secondary, finishing the season with 44 tackles and one interception in 15 games (seven starts). Scandrick fell out of the rotation late in the season, seeing only 12 combined snaps between Kansas City’s final two regular season games and two postseason contests.

Scandrick ended up getting one last NFL gig with the Eagles, and he bounced on and off their roster during the 2019 campaign. He ultimately saw time in three games (one start) for Philly, collecting seven tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

It was a bit of an underwhelming end to Scandrick’s career, but many thought his career was finished on this date in 2018. Instead, the cornerback ended up having another productive season.

NFC Rumors: Saints, Slay, Adams, Eagles

Sean Payton did not name his Week 8 starting quarterback, indicating a decision on Drew Brees‘ Week 8 status will not come until at least Saturday. The Saints‘ starting quarterback has lobbied to play Sunday against the Cardinals and worked in three limited practices this week. The future Hall of Fame quarterback has fared well in his workout sessions available to the media this week, per The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell, who would be surprised if Brees didn’t start this week (Twitter link). Brees has missed the past five Saints games with a thumb injury; Teddy Bridgewater has piloted the team to five wins in that span. New Orleans has a bye next week, so it still wouldn’t be too shocking if Brees was held out until Week 10.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • Alvin Kamara worked in a limited capacity twice this week. Listed as questionable, the Saints running back may also see the team’s upcoming bye week affect his status. Kamara is battling an ankle injury, which sidelined him last week.
  • Lions players were not thrilled that the team traded away locker room favorite Quandre Diggs, and Darius Slay was especially vocal about his displeasure. Slay, whose contract expires after the 2020 season, has previously said that he wants to remain in Detroit long-term. However, his tone changed this week when asked about the subject. “Anybody can get traded. I personally wouldn’t care,” Slay said of the possibility of the team trading him (via Pro Football Talk).
  • The Lions’ Week 8 injury report indicates the world will have to wait for a Darius Slay-Darius Slayton matchup. Detroit’s top cornerback will miss the Lions-Giants game due to a hamstring injury. Slay has battled this issue since Week 3. Second-year UDFA Mike Ford started in Slay’s place against the Chiefs, the one game the Pro Bowler missed, and will likely do so against New York.
  • Davante Adams looks set to miss a fourth game due to the turf toe issue he’s encountered. The Packers declared their top wide receiver doubtful to face the Chiefs. Green Bay’s bye is not until Week 11. This continues to be a situation to monitor for one of the NFC favorites.
  • Recently released by the struggling Eagles, Orlando Scandrick believes he was scapegoated for the team’s woes, as Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays (Twitter link). “The problem in Philadelphia is much, much deeper than me,” Scandrick said. The Eagles have released the veteran cornerback twice this year.

Chris Crouse contributed to this report.

Eagles To Release Orlando Scandrick

The Eagles are releasing cornerback Orlando Scandrick, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The move comes one day after Scandrick saw limited time against his old friends in Dallas.

Scandrick was with the Eagles in camp until he was dropped just prior to cutdown weekend. He returned to the roster in late September when the Eagles needed a cornerback to help fill in for Ronald Darby and Avonte Maddox.

During his ten-year/nine-season run with the Cowboys, Scandrick started the bulk of his games. Last year, he split his time between the first- and second-string with the Chiefs. This year, in three games with the Eagles, he was deployed more as a role player, though he did get to shine against the Jets as he notched two sacks, forced two fumbles, and took one of them to the house for a touchdown.

The 32-year-old could hold appeal for other clubs, but this may also be the end of the line for him.

Eagles To Re-Sign CB Orlando Scandrick

After the Eagles saw another cornerback go down, they are bringing back Orlando Scandrick. The veteran corner agreed to terms with the Eagles, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).

The veteran slot defender was with the Eagles in camp before being jettisoned just prior to cutdown weekend. But Philadelphia entered Thursday night’s game without Ronald Darby and saw Avonte Maddox stretchered off Lambeau Field. Maddox is back with his teammates but has been diagnosed with a concussion and a neck injury. He is without a return timetable.

Scandrick worked out for the Texans shortly after his Eagles release, but the 32-year-old has been a free agent for nearly a month. Prior to his 2018 stay with the Chiefs, Scandrick spent 10 seasons with the Cowboys. He is back in an insurance-type role with the Eagles.

The longtime cover man played in 15 Chiefs games last season, finishing with a career-high 13 passes defensed. Should the Eagles retain him for multiple weeks, Scandrick will have a chance to face his former team. This season’s first Philadelphia-Dallas matchup looms in Week 7.

Orlando Scandrick To Visit Texans

In moving their roster down to 53 players, the Eagles released Orlando Scandrick this week. While it is still possible the parties reunite, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets the veteran cornerback will visit the Texans in the meantime.

Scandrick will trek to Houston on Monday. The Texans made major changes to their roster on Saturday, adding Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, Carlos Hyde and Barkevious Mingo to it — while also trading away Jadeveon Clowney. The Texans’ cornerback situation also changed this offseason.

Houston lost Kareem Jackson, Kevin Johnson and Tyrann Mathieu and added Bradley Roby, Tashaun Gipson and Jahleel Addae. They drafted Lonnie Johnson Jr. and Xavier Crawford in the second and sixth rounds, respectively, and also made a depth trade in acquiring Keion Crossen from the Patriots.

Scandrick has logged 11 NFL seasons, spending much of that time as a slot corner. He played in 15 games for the Chiefs last season, starting seven.

Eagles Cut CB Orlando Scandrick

The Eagles are cutting cornerback Orlando Scandrick (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Scandrick, who spent years with the rival Cowboys, joined Philly earlier this summer.

At the time of signing, the back-half of the Eagles’ defense was badly banged up. Things have improved on that front, so the veteran’s services were no longer needed.

After playing the first ten years of his career with the Cowboys, Scandrick signed a two-year, $10MM deal with the Redskins last offseason. He didn’t even make it out of camp with them before he was released. Then, he was then scooped up by the Chiefs. He played out the year in Kansas City’s league-worst secondary, making seven starts.

NFC East Notes: Cowboys, Morris, Giants, Eagles

After signing Alfred Morris earlier this week, Cowboys executive Stephen Jones admitted his club likely wouldn’t have brought in an established running back if Ezekiel Elliott were not holding out. “We were going to look at something no matter what but probably not as much,” Jones said, via Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram. “Every time you are missing a guy you need to have a guy in here and it made sense for us to get a guy we were comfortable with.” Morris, who served as Elliott’s backup in 2016 and 2017, says he’s been given no assurances that he’ll stick on Dallas’ roster if/when Elliott returns to the team.

Here’s more from the NFC East:

North Notes: RGIII, Duke, Vikings

Ravens backup QB Robert Griffin III will miss four to eight weeks after suffering a hairline fracture in his right thumb Saturday night, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Baltimore is optimistic that RGIII will be ready for Week 1, but if he cannot return on the early side of his recovery timeline, he will miss at least some regular season time. The Ravens will surely sign a free agent signal-caller in short order, as the only other QB on the roster behind starter Lamar Jackson is sixth-round rookie Trace McSorley. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic says Josh Johnson, who has been on Baltimore’s preseason roster before, makes the most sense (Twitter link).

Now for more from the league’s north divisions:

  • Browns RB Duke Johnson suffered a hamstring injury Saturday, and ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports that the ailment could force Johnson to miss some time (Twitter link). That will not help the fifth-year back in his quest to get traded out of Cleveland.
  • The way that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin ran his field-goal drill Saturday — having incumbent Chris Boswell and challenger Matthew Wright alternate kicks rather than having Boswell take all of his tries before resetting the drill — is a departure from the way he has done things in the past, which suggests that Pittsburgh really is open to moving on from Boswell. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic still believes it’s more likely than not that Boswell will be kicking for the Steelers in 2019, but the pressure is definitely on.
  • Darren Wolfson of KSTP.com says that the Vikings have some interest in running back Theo Riddick, who was released by the Lions on Saturday (Twitter link). Minnesota does not have a visit set up at this time, though Riddick will meet with at least one other team in addition to his summit with the Saints.
  • Orlando Scandrick visited with the Vikings last week before signing with the Eagles, and Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets that Minnesota did not extend a contract offer to Scandrick. The Vikes have worked out several CBs recently, and when asked whether the club would ultimately sign one, head coach Mike Zimmer said that’s ultimately up to GM Rick Spielman. Zimmer said, “we’re always looking for players. We’ll keep pounding the pavement” (Twitter link via Tomasson).

Eagles To Sign Orlando Scandrick

The Eagles are adding some secondary depth. Philadelphia is signing veteran cornerback Orlando Scandrick, a source told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).

As Garafolo points out, the back-half of the Eagles’ defense is a bit banged up at the moment, so the move makes some sense. We hadn’t heard anything about Scandrick all offseason, and then suddenly his market started heating up. He worked out for the Vikings a few days ago, and we heard earlier this morning he was visiting Philly. The Eagles apparently liked what they saw enough to offer the 32-year-old a contract.

After playing the first ten years of his career with the Cowboys, Scandrick signed a two-year, $10MM deal with the Redskins last offseason. He didn’t even make it out of camp with them before he was released, and he was then scooped up by the Chiefs. He played out the year in Kansas City’s league-worst secondary, making seven starts.

Eagles corners Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby both haven’t been cleared to play yet, so Scandrick will get plenty of reps in camp for the time being. In an ideal world, he won’t have to play much once the regular season starts. Injuries have sapped most of Scandrick’s effectiveness, and he can’t be counted on to play a large role anymore.

CB Orlando Scandrick To Visit Eagles

After working out for the Vikings earlier this week, cornerback Orlando Scandrick is now heading to Philly. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the Eagles will be hosting the veteran on a visit today.

The Eagles are certainly familiar with the defensive back, as the veteran had a 10-year stint with the division-rival Cowboys. Scandrick inked a two-year, $10MM deal with the Redskins last offseason. However, the defensive back didn’t even make it through the preseason, and he was scooped up by the Chiefs after being released by Washington.

Scandrick ultimately appeared in 15 games (seven starts) for Kansas City, compiling 44 tackles, 13 passes defended, and an interception. While his counting stats were solid, the Chiefs secondary was not. Kansas City finished the season as one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL, allowing 4,374 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Considering the 32-year-old’s drop in production, there’s a good chance that the Eagles would only be eyeing him for a depth role. Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby haven’t been cleared to play, so Scandrick could at least provide a healthy body during the preseason.