Alex Carrington

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/23/16

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Lions waived cornerback Keith Lewis and signed fellow corner Brandon McGee, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.
  • The Jaguars signed running back Cameron Marshall and waived quarterback Max Wittek, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter link).
  • The Cowboys are signing offensive lineman Dan Buchholz, a UDFA out of Duquesne, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Dallas also announced that they’ve waived/injured guard Jared Smith.
  • The 49ers announced that they have waived/injured safety Jered Bell and signed wide receiver Ryan Whalen. Whalen should give SF some additional depth at wide receiver in the wake of recent injuries.
  • The Texans waived/injured defensive lineman Alex Carrington, who was signed only a week ago, tweets Wilson.
  • The Packers reached an injury settlement with tackle Josh James, according to Wilson (Twitter link).
  • The Dolphins removed defensive lineman Farrington Huguenin from injured reserve with an injury settlement, per Wilson (Twitter link).

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/16/16

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Texans signed defensive end Alex Carrington and waived/injured fullback Soma Vainuku, according to a team press release. Carrington was a third-round pick of Buffalo in 2010.
  • The Lions have waived tight end Ben McCord, as Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes.
  • The Colts announced that they have waived wide receiver Josh Boyce. Boyce, a former 2013 fourth-round pick of New England, managed just nine catches for his old team. At TCU, he was the program’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns (22). Indianapolis also announced that it has waived wide receiver Andre Debose and replaced him with fellow WR Andrew Opoku. Opoku, a converted linebacker, had four receptions at Delaware.
  • Nose tackle Chris Mayes, an undrafted rookie from Georgia, suffered a foot injury early in practice on Monday and was waived/injured by the Falcons on Tuesday, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. Mayes, who was listed as the fourth-string nose tackle on the depth chart, was unlikely to make the team.
  • The Dolphins announced that they have waived/injured defensive end Farrington Huguenin.
  • Bills linebacker IK Enemkpali (torn ACL) cleared waivers today and has reverted to their injured reserve, per a club announcement.
  • The Seahawks announced the release of cornerback Stanley Jean-Baptiste in order to clear a roster spot for the newly-signed Tony McDaniel.
  • The Raiders announced that they have signed free agent tight end Jake McGee.
  • The Cowboys placed tackle Cameron Bradfield (knee) on injured reserve and waived/injured defensive tackle Gerald Dixon (pectoral). Dallas has also signed wide receiver Richard Mullaney, who worked out for the club earlier today, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/30/15

Here are Monday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:

  • The Seahawks promoted defensive tackle A.J. Francis from the practice squad, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • The Patriots have released wide receiver Chris Harper following Sunday night’s muffed punt, as Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com tweets.
  • The Cowboys waived running back Trey Williams, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Giants are signing guard Adam Gettis off of the Raiders‘ practice squad, a person with knowledge of the situation told Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. The Giants are short on offensive lineman, so Gettis will help provide the Giants with some much-needed depth.

Earlier updates:

  • In advance of Monday night’s game against the Browns, the Ravens have promoted guard Kaleb Johnson and wide receiver Daniel Brown from their practice squad, the team announced today in a press release. To make room, Baltimore cut wide receiver Chuck Jacobs and placed tight end Chase Ford on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Johnson, in particular, could play a role tonight, since the club doesn’t have many healthy offensive linemen left on the roster.
  • The Bills are releasing linebacker A.J. Tarpley, according to Sal Capaccio of WGR550 (Twitter link). Tarpley, who recorded his first career NFL sack on Sunday, looks like a candidate to join the team’s practice squad if he clears waivers. Per Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (Twitter link), Buffalo also placed defensive end Alex Carrington on injured reserve, officially ending his season after he tore his quad tendon.
  • The Eagles have signed interior offensive lineman Barrett Jones off the Bears‘ practice squad, waiving offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde in the corresponding move (Twitter link). Given the history between the Eagles and Vandervelde, who has now been cut four times by the club since the start of September, it may just be a matter of time until he finds himself back with Philadelphia.
  • The Buccaneers have signed linebacker Adarius Glanton from the Panthers‘ practice squad, waiving safety Kimario McFadden, according to a press release from the team. With Kwon Alexander facing a four-game suspension and Bruce Carter having left Sunday’s game to be evaluated for a concussion, linebacker depth was a priority for Tampa Bay.
  • The Bengals waived linebacker Sean Porter from the physically unable to perform list today, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. Porter returned to practice for Cincinnati earlier this month, but the team apparently determined there was no place for him on the 53-man roster.

Injury Updates: Gronk, Pouncey, Carrington

In the wake of the Patriots‘ first loss last night, initial reports indicated that Rob Gronkowski‘s knee injury may not be as serious as it initially looked, and recent reports have continued to suggest as much. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the New England tight end is unlikely to miss more than one game, and perhaps won’t even miss any time. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets that the club’s initial diagnosis is a “relatively minor non-ACL sprain.”

Still, the results of Gronkowski’s MRI aren’t in yet, so the Patriots won’t breathe easy until they get confirmation of their initial diagnosis. For now though, it looks like the club may have avoided a worst-case scenario for the star tight end, since his reaction to the hit on his knee had most of us expecting a season-ending injury.

Let’s round up a few more injury updates from across the NFL….

  • Another AFC East injury not as serious as initially feared? Mike Pouncey‘s foot ailment, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Rapoport tweets that the Dolphins center has a minor foot sprain, and that it’s not believed to be a Lisfranc injury. Still, the Dolphins are expected to search for help at center, per Salguero, who tweets that Samson Satele “should probably pick up the phone.”
  • The Bills didn’t get good news on defensive end Alex Carrington, who tore his quad tendon and is undergoing season-ending surgery today, according to Rapoport (Twitter link). It’s the latest blow to a Buffalo defensive line that was already missing Kyle Williams – who is out for the year – and Mario Williams on Sunday.
  • Rapoport also provides an update on Ben Roethlisberger, tweeting that, while the Steelers quarterback placed himself in the concussion protocol, he may not have suffered a concussion on Sunday, and could be cleared for Week 13.
  • 49ers tight end Garrett Celek is out indefinitely due to a high ankle sprain, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Celek, who has caught 19 balls for the team this year, went down with the injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.

AFC East Notes: Wilkerson, Collins, Bills

Jets GM Mike Maccagnan told ESPN 98.7FM that he’d “like to keepMuhammad Wilkerson in the organization and added that the drafting of Leonard Williams “doesn’t really impact Mo,” according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

  • Maccagnan added that Wilkerson’s name “comes up periodically” in talks with other teams, but he’s not shopping him (link).
  • Bills coach Rex Ryan did his best to downplay his interaction with LSU tackle La’el Collins earlier this week, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. “I did have dinner with him. That’s really the extent of it,” the normally verbose coach told reporters.
  • Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter) spoke to multiple players regarding the Wells Report and found that there’s a general indifference towards it because the Patriots won the Super Bowl and that’s not going to be stripped from them.
  • Alex Carrington‘s one-year deal with the Bills calls for him to earn a $745K base and an $80K signing bonus, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (on Twitter). He’ll count for $665K against the cap thanks to the minimum salary benefit.

Bills Sign Alex Carrington

2:29pm: The Bills have officially signed Carrington, the club confirmed today in a press release.

11:19am: After not addressing the defensive line in the draft, the Bills will add some depth to the unit, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rapoport reports that veteran defensive lineman Alex Carrington is signing with Buffalo, having visited the club today.

For Carrington, it’s a reunion of sorts, as he spent the first several years of his career with the Bills, playing there from 2010 to 2013. After spending time in St. Louis in 2014, the former third-round pick will return to a Bills team that has a new coaching staff in place, led by head coach Rex Ryan.

Carrington will sign a one-year deal with the Bills, per Rapoport. I expect Carrington will be given an opportunity to earn a roster spot this summer, though he’s unlikely to see significant playing time unless the team sustains multiple injuries on its defensive front.

NFC Notes: Graham, Lynch, 49ers, Vikings

Both Jimmy Graham and the Saints have plenty to lose depending on what an arbitrator rules this week on Graham’s franchise tag positional designation. Mike Triplett of ESPN.com believes it’d be in the best interest of both sides to reach a long-term agreement before that ruling is made. In Triplett’s view, a multiyear deal with a value of $10-11MM seems about right.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

  • Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett told NFL AM today (link via NFL.com) that he hopes the standoff between Marshawn Lynch and the club is short-lived, though he threw some support behind his teammate: “Obviously he’s one of the best running backs in the game, and he feels like he should be paid like one of the best backs in the game. And, of course, I agree with him.” Of course, even without a new contract, Lynch already ranks among the league’s top five RBs when it comes to average annual salary.
  • In addition to discussing his contract situation, Vernon Davis also shed some light on his long-term plans at TheMMQB.com today, writing that in 10 years his goal is to “host my own show, start acting, and continue to build a business empire.”
  • Although it’s not 100% clear whether or not Davis will show up at the Niners‘ minicamp this week, offensive lineman Alex Boone will only be in attendance if he has a new deal in place, which appears unlikely, tweets Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.
  • While the Vikings expect a big season from Kyle Rudolph, the team also needs a second tight end to step up and fill the void left by John Carlson’s departure, writes Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune.
  • Rather than choosing a team in free agency that lacked talent on the defensive line so he’d have a better chance at playing time, Alex Carrington elected to sign with the Rams this offseason in order to surround himself with talent, as he explains to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
  • The Packers have a decent chunk of cap space still available, but will need to decide how to use it, writes Wes Hodkiewicz of PackersNews.com, adding that extensions for Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb or a new deal for Jermichael Finley are all possibilities.

Extra Points: Clowney, Mathieu, Slay, Carrington, Kalil, Turner

  • Texans No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney, who was bothered by a groin injury, underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia, relays Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. Clowney is expected to be ready for training camp.
  • The Cardinals are taking a patient approach with defensive back Tyran Mathieu and nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu, both of whom are recovering from torn ACL injuries, writes NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus“I had Oct. 1, or after the (bye week) as the target date for me personally,” says head coach Bruce Arians. “If they do something better than that, God bless ’em.” The Cardinals’ bye comes in Week 4 before a road game at Denver.
  • Detroit Free Press columnist Drew Sharp says the Lions were wise not to “cave to public pressure” and reach for a cornerback in the first round because he expects 2013 second-rounder Darius Slay to make strides in year two. That said, in light of Chris Houston‘s release, Sharp says Slay must be the Lions’ most improved defensive player in 2014. Meanwhile, in a rundown of the team’s cornerbacks, Sharp’s colleague Dave Birkett calls Slay a work in progress, “But he’s long and athletic and after struggling with zone concepts will be a better fit in Teryl Austin’s new defense.”
  • Could Alex Carrington be an under-the-radar steal for the Rams? St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Joe Lyons says, the 26-year-old, 6-5, 300-pound defensive lineman “seemed to be on the verge of a breakout season with the Buffalo Bills last year when a torn quadriceps tendon ended his campaign after just three games.” In fact, entering last season, Carrington was viewed by Pro Football Focus as a “secret superstar,” calling him “one of the league’s most promising young pass-rushing DTs.”
  • A right knee injury was to blame for Vikings tackle Matt Kalil‘s sophomore dropoff, writes Chris Tomasson in the Pioneer Press.
  • “Other than being 20, there’s not much negative you can say” about Panthers third-round guard Trai Turner, says ESPN’s David Newton.
  • The contracts of the NFL’s highest-paid centers – Maurkice Pouncey, Alex Mack and Ryan Kalil – were examined by OverTheCap.com’s Jason Fitzgerald, who says annual value can be misleading.

Rams Sign Alex Carrington

THURSDAY, 9:07am: Carrington’s one-year deal is worth $1.5MM, with $1MM in guaranteed money, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

WEDNESDAY, 1:34pm: The Rams have officially announced the signing of Carrington.

TUESDAY, 4:57pm: It’s a one-year deal for Carrington, a source tells Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

3:17pm: The Rams have agreed to terms on a contract with free agent defensive lineman Alex Carrington, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Before reaching an agreement with the Rams, Carrington also drew interest from the Steelers, Raiders, and Browns.

Carrington, 26, started the first three games in 2013 for the Bills, and appeared to be in line for his most significant role yet, but a torn quad sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The former third-round pick, who is capable of playing both defensive tackle and end, played well in part-time action in 2012, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF’s metrics (subscription required) gave Carrington a +8.7 grade in just 352 defensive snaps in ’12, in large part due to his ability to rush the passer — he recorded a pair of sacks to go along with 18 total QB pressures that season.

The Rams’ defensive line, led by Robert Quinn, shouldn’t have a ton of turnover this offseason, with all of last season’s starters on track to return for 2014. As such, Carrington figures to return to a reserve role in St. Louis.

Browns Notes: QBs, Carrington, Revis, LBs

Like fellow AFC North coach John Harbaugh, the Browns’ Mike Pettine was one of a handful of AFC head coaches who made a handful of interesting comments during this morning’s breakfast interview session with reporters in Orlando. Let’s check out a few of the Browns updates from Pettine….

  • Drafting two quarterbacks, like the Redskins did in 2012, isn’t out of the question for the Browns, according to Pettine: “I don’t think [GM] Ray [Farmer] would be adverse to that at all.” (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal). The Browns are scouting a “big list” of QB prospects, as Lindsay Jones of USA Today details.
  • Pettine “really likes” free agent quarterback Mark Sanchez, and will look into any addition that could help the team, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  • Defensive end Alex Carrington remains in play for the Browns, and signing him wouldn’t necessarily result in a roster move involving Ahtyba Rubin, tweets Ulrich.
  • Cleveland “kicked around” the idea of acquiring Darrelle Revis when the Buccaneers were shopping him, but with no guarantee the cornerback would rework his contract, it was hard to take on that $16MM salary, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
  • The Browns landed two of their top free agent targets, according to Pettine, who says Karlos Dansby was the team’s No. 1 free agent inside linebacker, while Donte Whitner was the team’s No. 1 safety (Twitter link via Ulrich).
  • Having landed Dansby, Pettine doesn’t view the inside linebacker position as a glaring need, tweets Ulrich. Craig Robertson is currently penciled in alongside Dansby, and Pettine likes him, though he pointed out that it’s a deep draft for linebackers.