NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/8/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Jeremy Langford
- Placed on injured list: WR Tre McBride
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Darrell Greene, DL Winston Craig
- Waived: T Dillon Gordon
Darren Sproles Leaning Towards Return
Eagles running back Darren Sproles has yet to decide on his football future. However, he says that he is leaning towards playing in 2018 (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer). 
Sproles is still recovering from his knee injury, but he indicated that he wanted to leave the game on a higher note. “I can’t end like this,” Sproles said.
The diminutive runner had high hopes for this season, but he was forced out in Week 3 when he simultaneously suffered a broken forearm and a torn ACL. Sproles will turn 35 this summer, but his three consecutive Pro Bowl nods prior to this year indicate that he still has some football left in him. In 2016, he set a new personal watermark with 94 carries while also catching 52 passes. The 865 yards from scrimmage were the third-highest total of his career.
If Sproles does decide to return, it may or may not be with the Eagles. His contract expires at the end of this year, meaning that he’ll be eligible for free agency in March.
Sidney Jones Still Not Practicing
- Eagles cornerback Sidney Jones has not played in a game this season as he’s continued to rehab the achilles that he had torn back in March. However, the rookie has yet to participate in practice, reports Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Jones has been eligible to start practicing since the beginning of Week 7, but has just a 21 day time period to be activated to the roster once he does begin to take part in practice. It’s important to note that Berman explains in a follow-up tweet, Jones could just use the last three weeks of the regular season to get extra reps and get a head start on his offseason training. The Eagles currently have corners Jalen Mills, Patrick Robinson, Ronald Darby and Rasul Douglas patrolling the defensive backfield.
Ellerbe Active For The First Time This Season
- Eagles linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is active for the first time this season for tonight’s game vs. Seattle, reports Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). The Eagles signed the veteran middle linebacker in the middle of November and he could see significant playing time because current Eagles starter Joe Walker is out with a neck injury. Ellerbe last played for New Orleans in Week 16 of the 2016-17 season.
Eagles Will Need To Make Cuts; Jay Ajayi Met With Doug Pederson
- The Eagles signed wide receiver Alshon Jeffery to a four-year extension yesterday, which will further limit their 2018 cap space. Per Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com, Philadelphia will go into 2018 with just $1.7MM in cap room, so obviously some cuts will need to be made. Shorr-Parks names Vinny Curry, Jason Peters, and Nick Foles as players who could be on the way out, though the rumored Brandon Graham extension would likely provide some cap relief as well.
- Eagles RB Jay Ajayi and head coach Doug Pederson did meet this week, but according to Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia, it was not to discuss the limited playing time that Ajayi has seen since being traded to the Eagles (he has just 20 carries in his three games in Philly). Ajayi exhibited frustration and a sulky mood after last Sunday’s win over the Bears, which led to speculation that he was upset with his relative lack of action. However, he said he was merely disappointed that he lost a fumble at the goal line in the fourth quarter of the Chicago matchup, and there are no issues between him and his coach. When asked if he would like more carries, Ajayi said he just does whatever the coaches ask and will be ready when his number is called.
Eagles, Alshon Jeffery Agree To Extension
Alshon Jeffery will be in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. The Eagles announced (via Twitter) that they have signed the wideout to a four-year extension. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Facebook) that the deal is worth $52MM, with another $1MM worth of incentives each season. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes (via Twitter) that the deal includes $27MM in guaranteed money.
“Alshon has been a tremendous addition to this organization on and off the field,” the team said in a statement. “We place a priority on making sure we are able to build the team around quality players like Alshon who embrace this team and this city the way he has. We are excited about his future here.”
Following a tumultuous 2016 campaign with the Bears that included a four-game ban for performance-enhancing drugs, Jeffrey signed a one-year “prove-it” deal with the Eagles during the offseason. The 27-year-old has had a bounce-back campaign in Philadelphia, hauling in 43 receptions for 619 yards and seven touchdowns. While the wideout is unlikely to match his two-straight 1,000-yard campaigns between 2013 and 2014, he’s still proving to be one of the more productive receivers in the game. Pro Football Focus has been relatively fond of his performance in 2017, ranking Jeffrey 34th among 116 eligible receivers.
Perhaps more importantly, Jeffrey has provided quarterback Carson Wentz with another reliable target, and the Eagles’ receiver has played a significant role in the team’s 10-1 record. Jeffrey has played 100 more snaps than number-two wideout Nelson Agholor, and he added some much-needed experience to a receivers corps that includes a pair of rookies. While Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com believes the wideout could have seen an even bigger payday following a productive postseason, he ultimately believes Jeffrey was smart to take the big-money deal now. With a $13MM average annual salary, Jeffrey will now be tied with T.Y. Hilton for seventh on the list of the league’s highest-paid wideouts.
With Jeffrey now locked up, the team may focus their attention to extending some of his teammates. Last week, we heard that the organization was working on an extension with defensive end Brandon Graham.
Practice Squad Updates: 12/1/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OLB Thurston Armbrister
- Cut: C Leo Koloamatangi
Miami Dolphins
- Signed:WR Rashawn Scott
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Tre McBride
- Placed on PS IR: DL Claude Pelon
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: C Jon Toth
- Placed on PS IR: S Harold Jones-Quartey
No Timetable For Eagles CB Sidney Jones
Sidney Jones was one of the 2017 draft’s most exciting cornerback prospects, but a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the predraft process pushed him to the second round, where the Eagles scooped him up with pick No. 43. Still on the non-football injury list with only five weeks left in the regular season, Philadelphia doesn’t have a timetable for when Jones may be able to see the field, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Not right now,” Eagles head coach Doug Pederson said. “He’s obviously still doing well with his rehab. He’s getting better there, and again, don’t want to rush him back just yet.”
It’s not as if the Eagles need Jones at the moment — Philadelphia sits at 10-1 and boasts the No. 4 ranked pass defense DVOA. Free agent signee Patrick Robinson (who inked a one-year deal for the minimum salary) currently grades as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 cornerback, young players such as Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas are producing, and trade acquisition Ronald Darby is now back in the lineup after missing time with injury.
Of course, an argument could also be made that this — when the Eagles have greater than a 99% chance of earning a postseason berth, per FiveThirtyEight — is the best time to take a look at Jones. With the pressure off, Philadelphia could use the final weeks of the season to get reps for Jones and see exactly where its second-round pick stands.
If and when Jones returns to practice, the Eagles will have a 21-day window during which they can activate Jones to the 53-man roster. If they choose not to do so, Jones won’t earn a credited season for 2017, meaning Philadelphia would control his rights through 2021 instead of 2020.
Eagles' Graham Hits Sack Incentive
- Eagles defensive Brandon Graham registered his seventh sack of the season on Sunday and that triggered a $250K incentive in his 2017 contract, as Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. By hitting that milestone, he also boosted his 2018 salary by $250K.
NFL Workout Updates: 11/27/17
Here are today’s NFL workouts, with all credit going to Adam Caplan of Sirius XM unless otherwise noted.
Detroit Lions
New England Patriots
- DT Marcus Hardison (Mike Reiss of ESPN.com) (Twitter link)
New York Giants
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WR’s Corey Brown, Jeremy Ross; DT Khyri Thornton; CB Darryl Morris; P Jeff Locke (Twitter link)
Philadelphia Eagles
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QB Matt Simms; TE’s Gabe Holmes, Jevoni Robinson (Twitter link)