Texans To Sign Case Keenum
TUESDAY, 4:12pm: The Texans have officially announced the signing of Keenum, moving Fitzpatrick to injured reserve in the corresponding move.
MONDAY, 8:12am: After losing Ryan Mallett for the season last month, the Texans saw two more quarterbacks go down with injuries yesterday. With Ryan Fitzpatrick expected to be sidelined for the rest of the year, the team is bringing back signal-caller Case Keenum, signing him from off the Rams’ practice squad, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
Keenum, 26, started eight games last season for Houston and posted respectable numbers, including 1,760 passing yards and nine touchdowns to go along with just six interceptions. However, after the Texans signed Ryan Fitzpatrick, drafted Tom Savage, and acquired Mallett in a trade in the offseason, there was no room left for Keenum, who was cut at the end of the preseason. The Rams claimed Keenum off waivers, and eventually were able to move him to their taxi squad.
While Keenum is expected to take Fitzpatrick’s spot on the Houston roster, the veteran wasn’t the only Texans quarterback to suffer an injury yesterday. Savage sustained a knee injury, and some members of the organization believe it could be serious, tweets McClain. If that’s the case, the club could add another QB to join Keenum and Thad Lewis on the roster.
Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday
Today’s practice squad moves:
- One cornerback has replaced another on the Chargers‘ practice squad, as the team announced today that it has signed Kendall James and parted ways with Aaron Hester.
- Offensive lineman Chris Barker, who was cut when the Patriots acquired Jonathan Casillas, has cleared waivers and will rejoin the club’s practice squad, tweets Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. The Pats will have to make a corresponding move to make room for Barker.
- One last update from Charean Williams (Twitter link) on Jeff Baca: the Cowboys have indeed signed the offensive lineman to their practice squad, releasing guard Rishaw Johnson to do so.
Earlier updates:
- After being cut by the Rams to accommodate the addition of safety Mark Barron, quarterback Case Keenum has cleared waivers and re-signed with the team’s practice squad, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- Linebacker Justin Anderson is signing with the Giants‘ practice squad, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The team had been carrying just nine players on its squad, so no corresponding move was necessary to clear room for Anderson, who spent time with the Giants during the preseason.
- The Seahawks appear to have filled one of their practice squad openings by adding offensive lineman Keavon Milton, says Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).
- Charean Williams had issued an addendum to her earlier report, tweeting that apparently Baca hasn’t signed with the Cowboys after all. Instead, the team has replaced Davis with another linebacker, Will Smith.
- The Cowboys have signed offensive lineman Jeff Baca to the taxi squad, replacing linebacker Troy Davis, according to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter).
- Quarterback Mike Kafka has been signed to the Buccaneers‘ practice squad, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter). Kafka, 27, was released by the Bucs on Monday. He did not take a snap with the Bucs during his short stint on the active roster and his only NFL experience came in 2011 with the Eagles where he appeared in four games.
Rams Acquire Mark Barron From Bucs
The NFL’s trade deadline is now behind us, but it didn’t pass without at least one noteworthy and somewhat surprising move. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Buccaneers are finalizing a deal to send former first-round safety Mark Barron to the Rams.
Schefter adds (via Twitter) that St. Louis is parting with its fourth- and sixth-round picks for 2015 in the swap. The team will also clear an opening on the 53-man roster for the incoming defender by cutting quarterback Case Keenum, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Barron, who turned 25 yesterday, was the seventh overall pick in the 2012 draft, having notably been selected two spots ahead of Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. While it would be unfair to label the Alabama product a total bust, he has been underwhelming during his two and a half seasons in Tampa Bay, ranking 70th among safeties in 2012, 55th in 2013, and 66th in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). In 37 games (all starts) for Tampa Bay, Barron has totaled 226 tackles, three interceptions, 19 passes defended, and a pair of sacks.
Because he was a first-round pick in ’12, Barron’s rookie contract will expire after the 2015 season, though the Rams will have the opportunity this spring to decide whether or not to exercise his fifth-year option for 2016. There’s not much risk in picking up that option, since it’s initially guaranteed for injury only, but given Barron’s average play to date, and the pricey salary attached to the option, I’d be surprised if the Rams exercise it, barring a huge 2014 second half from their new safety. As for Barron’s 2015 salary, the Bucs will carry about $2.24MM in prorated bonus money on their cap, while the Rams will be on the hook for the safety’s $2.363MM base, which is fully guaranteed.
For the Rams, Barron represents a player with some upside at a position where the team has been struggling to find reliable production. T.J. McDonald has manned the strong safety spot in St. Louis for most of this year and last, but his -9.8 grade places him 80th among 83 qualified safeties, per PFF. By acquiring Barron, the Rams will have another fairly low-cost option under team control for the next year and a half.
Meanwhile, having parted ways with Barron and linebacker Jonathan Casillas at the deadline, the Bucs have added a few extra picks to their arsenal as they continue their rebuild. It’s unlikely that the Casillas deal with the Patriots netted the team much in return, but acquiring a fourth- and sixth-rounder for Barron isn’t insignificant, even if it represents a huge loss in value for a recent top-10 selection. Although Barron and Casillas were on the move today, the Bucs held onto several other potential trade candidates, including Vincent Jackson and Doug Martin.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times first reported early this morning that the Bucs were listening to offers for Barron.
Rams Claim Case Keenum Off Waivers
5:06pm: In order to clear a roster spot for Keenum, the Rams have placed tight end Justice Cunningham on injured reserve, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (on Twitter).
3:51pm: The Rams have claimed quarterback Case Keenum off waivers from the Texans, a team official tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Keenum had been cut yesterday by Houston after the club acquired Ryan Mallett in a trade with the Patriots.
According to Schefter, the Rams spent a lot of time during the last 24 hours researching Keenum, who was the odd man out on a Texans depth chart that also featured Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage. Keenum, 26, started eight games last season for Houston and posted respectable numbers, including 1,760 passing yards and nine touchdowns to go along with just six interceptions.
For a Rams team that will be without Sam Bradford for the season, Keenum could immediately put pressure on Shaun Hill, who is expected to open the season as the team’s starter. St. Louis will have to make a corresponding roster move to officially open up a spot for Keenum and add him to the roster.
AFC North Links: Shipley, Keenum, Cox, Grossman
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
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:
- Acquired via trade: Ryan Mallett, QB (link)
- Signed: Danieal Manning, S (link)
- Claimed off waivers: Jeff Adams, T (via Mike Garafolo on Twitter), Damaris Johnson, WR (via Les Bowen on Twitter); Darryl Morris, CB (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter)
- Cut (officially announced): Chris Clemons, S (link); Case Keenum, QB (via Tania Ganguli on Twitter); Anthony McClung, WR (released with injury settlement, via Aaron Wilson on Twitter); Mike Thomas, WR (via Rapoport on Twitter); Josh Victorian, CB (via Wilson on Twitter)
- Placed on injured reserve: Will Yeatman (via James Palmer on Twitter)
- Signed to practice squad: Travis Labhart, WR (via David Nuno on Twitter); Keith Browner, DE; Max Bullough, ILB; Anthony Denham, TE; Matt Feiler, OT; James Ferentz, C; Alex Kupper OG; EZ Nwachukwu, WR; Toben Opurum, FB; Marcus Williams, CB.
Indianapolis Colts:
- Claimed off waivers: A.Q. Shipley, C (via Adam Caplan on Twitter)
- Cut: Thomas Austin, C (via Caplan on Twitter)
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Tyler Hoover, T; Andrew Jackson, ILB; Ryan Lankford, WR; Josh Lenz, WR; Jeff Mathews, QB; Dewey McDonald, S; Nnamdi Obukwelu, DT; Sheldon Price, CB; Erik Swoope, TE; Josh Walker, G
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:
- Claimed off waivers: Kris Durham, WR (via team release); T.J. Graham, WR (via Adam Caplan on Twitter); Brandon Harris, CB (via team release)
- Cut: Michael Preston, WR (via Jim Wyatt on Twitter); Steve Vallos, C (via team release); Khalid Wooten, DB (via team release); Patrick Bailey, LB (via Jim Wyatt on Twitter)
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Antonio Andrews, RB (via John Glennon on Twitter); Chigbo Anunoby, DL (via team release); Brandon Copeland, LB (via Wyatt on Twitter); Justin McCray, OL (via team release); Will Poehls, T (via Wyatt on Twitter); Rico Richardson, WR (via Wyatt on Twitter); Ri’Shard Anderson, CB (via Wyatt on Twitter); Dontay Moch, LB; Orson Charles, TE (via Wyatt on Twitter).
Texans Acquire Ryan Mallett From Pats
1:27pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) is now reporting that the Texans are sending a conditional seventh-round pick for 2016 to New England in the deal. It appears as if that may be the lone pick involved in the swap, rather than it being in addition to the previously-reported 2015 sixth-rounder.
12:46pm: The Pats will receive a sixth-round pick in exchange for Mallett, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Ganguli also reported that Keenum is indeed the roster casualty involved in the move.
12:35pm: Ryan Mallett may have earned a spot on the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster, but he didn’t stick around long. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), New England has traded its backup quarterback to the Texans.
Mallett, who has been Tom Brady’s backup in New England for multiple seasons, has drawn trade interest during the past couple years, and became more expendable after the club drafted Jimmy Garoppolo this past May. The Pats weren’t looking to just give him away, but as Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweeted during the preseason, Mallett “might as well be wearing a For Sale sign around his neck” this summer.
The Texans had frequently been cited as the most likely destination for Mallett this offseason, given the presence of former Patriots quarterback coach Bill O’Brien in Houston. A report back in March suggested that the Texans had inquired on Mallett and had some interest in the former third-round pick, though at the time John McClain of the Houston Chronicle shot down the idea that Houston would acquire the Pats’ backup. Rumors resurfaced during draft week, but were again shot down shortly thereafter.
Houston is heading into the season with Ryan Fitzpatrick as its starter, and also drafted Tom Savage back in May. Case Keenum was the third signal-caller to earn a spot on the Texans’ initial 53-man roster, but his time in Houston seems to be nearing an end now that Mallett is in the mix.
Before sending him to the Texans, the Pats also discussed a Mallett trade with the Bills and Cowboys, per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (via Twitter).
South Notes: Jags, Babin, Bucs, Falcons
The Jaguars are being smart by taking a slow, deliberate approach with Blake Bortles, writes Jim Corbett of USA Today. The rookie quarterback has stumbled at times in practice, but GM Dave Caldwell is focusing on the positives and not stressing the mistakes. Here’s more on the Jags and a few other teams in the NFL’s two South divisions:
- The Jaguars‘ decision to release veteran defensive end Jason Babin today wasn’t an easy one, according to Caldwell, who spoke to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union about the move. “It was something that we met about until last night with the coaching staff,” Caldwell said. “Jason’s been great for us. But it was something we felt would be better now than the first, second or third week of training camp.”
- Now that Babin is a free agent, the Buccaneers and Falcons could be two potential suitors to watch, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. According to Garafolo, both NFC South teams have been kicking the tires on veteran pass rushers who may be available via trade.
- Even after the Texans parted ways with T.J. Yates, sending him to Atlanta, Case Keenum isn’t taking his spot on Houston’s roster for granted, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. Keenum is expected to battle rookie signal-caller Tom Savage for the No. 2 job behind Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
AFC South Notes: Texans, Hilton, Jaguars
Like Eric Fisher a year ago, No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney will have offsets in his rookie contract with the Texans, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). Draft picks are typically agreeing to terms quicker than ever because the new CBA doesn’t leave much room for negotiations, but the presence of offsets in deals for first-round picks was one possible point of contention. Still, with offsets in the deals for Clowney and No. 4 pick Sammy Watkins, the Rams and Jaguars should be able to push for similar contracts for Greg Robinson and Blake Bortles, as Breer notes (via Twitter).
Here’s more from out of the AFC South:
- The Texans may release a quarterback before training camp, head coach Bill O’Brien told reporters, including Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle. With Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage viewed as locks for the regular-season roster, either Case Keenum or T.J. Yates is expected to be the odd man out.
- Colts wideout T.Y. Hilton, who has two years left on his rookie deal, has fired agent Drew Rosenhaus, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). It’s the second time Rosenhaus has made headlines in the last 24 hours — he’s also on the receiving end of allegations made by Redskins receiver DeSean Jackson.
- The Jaguars have cut offensive tackle Demarcus Love to make room to sign wide receiver Brandon Wimberly, tweets John Oesher of Jaguars.com. Wimberly participated in the club’s rookie minicamp as a tryout player last month.