HEADLINES

A.Q. Shipley

AFC North Links: Shipley, Keenum, Cox, Grossman

August 31st, 2014 at 8:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Former Ravens center A.Q. Shipley wasn’t unemployed for very long, as he was claimed off waivers by his former team, the Colts, earlier today. The offensive lineman briefly spoke to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun and reflected on his stint with Baltimore (all via Wilson’s Twitter):

“I was definitely surprised to get cut, being a veteran guy. I understand it’s a business…Definitely a good feeling to go back to a lot of familiar faces and an offense I was learning before I got traded…I totally understand about keeping draft picks. I get it. John Urschel is a good kid. I’m happy for him…I had a lot of fun playing for the Ravens. It was great.”

Let’s check out some more rumblings from the AFC North…

  • Considering Case Keenum‘s connection to Baltimore offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley believes the Ravens could pursue the quarterback.
  • Derek Cox will not be signing with the Ravens this evening, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. However, there’s a good chance he’ll be back with Baltimore soon, possibly on Monday.
  • Browns coach Mike Pettine indicated that recently-released quarterback Rex Grossman might be back sooner than later. “I wouldn’t read too much into it right now,” he said (via a tweet from the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot). “Some guys could come back. It’s fluid.”
  • The Browns worked out former Bears offensive lineman James Brown, according to the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs (via Twitter).

Sunday Transactions: AFC South

August 31st, 2014 at 7:45pm CST by Luke Adams

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions are noted below.

Additionally, as of 11:00am CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Houston Texans:

Indianapolis Colts:

Jacksonville Jaguars:

  • Claimed off waivers: Mickey Shuler, TE (via Ryan O’Halloran on Twitter)
  • Cut: Marcel Jensen, TE (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
  • Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Cody Booth, T; DeAndre Coleman, DT; Henry Josey, RB (via Adam Caplan on Twitter); Craig Loston, S; Stephen Morris, QB; Kerry Taylor, WR; Tony Washington, WR; Marcus Whitfield, LB. The team has also added cornerback Peyton Thompson, reports Michael DiRocco (via Twitter), although the team has not officially announced the signing.

Tennessee Titans:

AFC North Notes: Ravens, Bengals, Browns

August 30th, 2014 at 8:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Some notable names were cut from their respective AFC North teams today, including Danieal Manning (Bengals), Nate Burleson (Browns), Derek Cox (Ravens) and fifth-rounder Shaquille Richardson (Steelers).

One of those players will likely return to their former team as soon as tomorrow. Who is it? Keep reading for the answer, as well as some more notes from the division…

  • A.Q. Shipley couldn’t crack the Ravens roster, but he may have an opportunity elsewhere. The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson tweets that “several” teams have already expressed interest in the center.
  • It shouldn’t be long before Derek Cox is back on the Ravens. Wilson tweets that the release was purely “procedural” and the team is expected to re-sign the cornerback on Sunday.
  • The Ravens have reached an injury settlement with Shaun Chapas, tweets Wilson. The team cut the fullback last week.
  • The Bengals worked out free agent wideout Jacoby Ford, according to USA Today’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
  • If Donald Hawkins clears waivers, the Browns will place the offensive lineman on their practice squad, tweets Alex Dunlap.

Ravens Cut Derek Cox, Dominique Franks

August 30th, 2014 at 3:56pm CST by Ben Levine

3:56pm: The Ravens have announced their last few moves, which are as follows:

Cut:

Placed on reserve-PUP list:

Placed on reserve-suspended list:

1:15pm: The Ravens have waived two more players:

9:37am: After letting go of offensive lineman Reggie Stephens yesterday, the Ravens have cut two more offensive lineman this morning. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports (via Twitter) that lineman A.Q. Shipley has been released while NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala tweets that Ryan Jensen has been released. Below is a running list of the team’s moves:

Ravens Notes: Harbaugh, Zuttah, Jensen, Rice

May 31st, 2014 at 10:16am CST by Matt Feminis

The Ravens organization is “exasperated, as it should be, after receiving too many middle-of-the-night phone calls,” says BaltimoreRavens.com Columnist John Eisenberg, who passes along an “ominous warning shot” to his players: “…when the negativity over-balances your ability to help our football team, you’re not going to be here anymore. Or if we can’t trust your character anymore, then you can’t be a part of what we’re doing anymore.”

In other Ravens news and notes…

  • The Ravens have shifted Ryan Jensen, a 2013 sixth-rounder out of Colorado State-Pueblo, from guard-center to right tackle, reports Aaron Wilson in the Baltimore Sun. Jensen started 44 games as a college left tackle, but suffered a broken foot during training camp and did not play in any games last season. He will provide competition/insurance at right tackle, where Ricky Wagner appears to have the inside track on the starting job. The Ravens have a history of successfully converting offensive line prospects, as their starting interior — center Jeremy Zuttah and guards Marshal Yanda and Kelechi Osemele — is comprised of players who were college tackles.
  • Speaking of Zuttah, early reports suggest he’s fitting in very well after signing a five-year, $18MM deal, writes Wilson. Harbaugh praised the 27-year-old for his intelligence and maturity, while former NFL executive Louis Riddick said, “Jeremy’s a perfect fit for them. Based on what Gary Kubiak wants to do… that all plays right to Jeremy’s strengths. He’s very athletic… He can do all the things that won’t allow him to get exposed one-on-one as he did at times in the Tampa scheme.”
  • In terms of depth, A.Q. Shipley‘s roster spot “is probably more in jeopardy” than Gino Gradkowski‘s, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
  • Ray Rice has had a tumultuous offseason, but perhaps lost in the shuffle is his weight change. According to Wilson (via Twitter), the veteran running back has shed 20 pounds.
  • In a minor move, the team signed undrafted outside linebacker D.J. Roberts, who tried out during rookie minicamp. To make room, quarterback Nick Stephens was cut, reports Wilson.