AFC Coaching Updates: Dolphins, Ravens, Titans, Jets, Patriots
The Dolphins announced that they had finalized their 2023 coaching staff three weeks ago. We have reported this offseason on most of the major changes, but here are a few included in their announcement that are new.
On the offensive side of the ball, there were some updates to the team’s assistants. Ricardo Allen moved on to coaching shortly after retirement last year, taking a role as the Dolphins special teams assistant. This year, Allen has moved to the offensive assistant position. Another new offensive assistant, Mike Judge returns to a coaching role after spending some time in the personnel department. Miami will also give former NFL wideout Max McCaffrey his first NFL coaching position. McCaffrey will serve as an offensive assistant after time coaching wide receivers at Northern Colorado.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Dolphins hired Steve Donatell. The son of former Vikings defensive coordinator Ed Donatell worked under his father last year and will serve as a defensive assistant with Miami. Lastly, the team has promoted Ryan Slowik, who served as a senior defensive assistant in 2022. In 2023, Slowik will be the Dolphins outside linebackers coach.
Here are a few other coaching updates from around the conference:
- With Tee Martin moving to quarterbacks coach, the Ravens hired former Chiefs running backs coach Greg Lewis to fill the wide receivers coaching position, according to the team’s Twitter account. Lewis coached the position in Kansas City for four seasons before moving to running backs.
- Leaving Baltimore will be former safety Anthony Levine, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport. Levine had reportedly taken up a role with the Ravens as a scouting and coaching assistant after retiring but will now accept a role with the Titans as a special teams assistant. Tennessee will also bring on Tom Quinn as a special teams assistant and Matt Jones as an offensive line assistant.
- The Jets have hired Shaq Wilson to fill their assistant defensive line coaching role, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Former assistant defensive line coach Greg Scruggs became the defensive line coach at Wisconsin, so New York went to the college ranks that took him away to find Wilson at South Carolina.
- The Patriots have also added a former college staffer in Keith Jones, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. The former Arkansas assistant spent time with New England during the 2022 training camp as part of the Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship. Jones, who mostly worked with the Patriots’ defensive line, will be a coaching assistant in New England.
Free Agent WR Max McCaffrey Suspended 10 Weeks
Free agent wide receiver Max McCaffrey is currently serving a 10-week suspension, according to Field Yates of ESPN. According to Yates, McCaffrey began serving the suspension in Week 8, thus, he has eight weeks remaining. McCaffrey was previously suspended by the league for four weeks to begin the 2018 season for an undisclosed reason as well. While there has been no reporting on the specific cause of the suspension, both suspension lengths are common for positive performance-enhancing drug tests.
The Duke alumni is probably best known for his association with other NFL players. His younger brother is Panthers phenom Christian McCaffrey and their father, Ed McCaffrey, played wide receiver for 13 NFL seasons from 1991-2003. Max McCaffrey’s career has yet to have the success of his relatives and this suspension serves as another setback.
Since turning pro in 2016, McCaffrey has bounced between 53-man and practice squad rosters for a number of organizations. He has spent time with the Raiders, Packers, Saints, Jaguars, and 49ers, but has managed just one career reception for four yards.
Going forward, the suspension could be a somewhat moot point for McCaffrey. He was recently selected in the 8th round of the XFL Draft by the DC Defenders and could be poised to seek an opportunity with Vince McMahon‘s newest project. Regardless, NFL teams will have to look elsewhere for veteran depth at the wide receiver position.
49ers Sign DT Jay Bromley
The 49ers made a handful of roster moves this morning (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner on Twitter). The team has signed wideout Chris Thompson and cut receiver Max McCaffrey. The 49ers have also added veteran defensive tackle Jay Bromley while placing lineman Kapron Lewis-Moore on the injured reserve.
Thompson, 25, went undrafted out of Florida in 2017, but he proceeded to appear in 13 games for the Texans as a rookie. He ultimately finished that campaign with five receptions for 84 yards, and he also had 23 combined kick/punt returns. After being waived by Houston last August, Thompson proceeded to play for the Orlando Apollos of the AAF.
McCaffrey has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Duke in 2015. The 25-year-old appeared in one game for the 49ers last season, and he’s collected one reception and one punt return during his brief career.
Bromley is the most experienced player of the bunch. The former third-rounder spent the first four seasons of his career with the Giants, compiling 76 tackles and a pair of sacks in 55 games. He signed with the Saints last offseason, but he was limited to only two games after suffering a torn biceps.
Kapron Lewis-Moore, 29, is a bit of a journeyman, appearing in five games during his six-year career. He signed a reserve/future contract with the 49ers back in January, and the team seems to be stashing him on their IR as he recovers from a groin injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Andre Chachere
- Placed on IR: CB DeShawn Shead
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Alonzo Russell
- Placed on IR: WR Jawill Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Ryan Delaire, WR Max McCaffrey
- Placed on IR: RB Matt Breida, WR Dante Pettis
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: TE J.P. Holtz
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Jalen Tolliver
- Cut: Vincent Valentine
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DB Bennett Jackson
- Cut: RB Mark Thompson
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DL Caushaud Lyons, TE Tim Semisch, T Dan Skipper
- Placed on PS-IR: OT Andreas Knappe
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Hakeem Valles
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Jalen Myrick
- Released from PS-IR: DE Jonathan Wynn
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Tyrell Adams, WR Max McCaffrey
NFL Workout Updates: 11/27/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit, all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer, unless otherwise specified.
Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens
- S Bennett Jackson (link)
Buffalo Bills
- LB James Burgess, P Matt Darr, LB Obum Gwacham, DE Damontre Moore, P Brad Nortman, P Jake Schum (link)
Carolina Panthers
- CB Dexter McDougle (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio)
Green Bay Packers
- T Gerhard de Beer, DE Geneo Grissom, FB Malcolm Johnson, LB Jacob Pugh (link)
Houston Texans
- WR Deontez Alexander, CB Horace Richardson, WR Devin Smith (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- RB Mack Brown, RB Martez Carter, RB Jarvion Franklin, RB Gerald Holmes, TE Khari Lee, RB Akrum Wadley (link)
Oakland Raiders
- DE Darius Jackson, DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones (link)
San Francisco 49ers
- LB Tyrell Adams, LB Thurston Armbrister, LS Tanner Carew, LS Jon Condo, LS Lucas Gravelle, LS Colin Holba, WR Max McCaffrey, LS Taybor Pepper, WR Jordan Smallwood, WR Jordan Veasy, LB Michael Wilhoite (link)
NFL Workout Updates: 11/20/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit (all via SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan on Twitter):
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Denver Broncos
- OL Don Barclay, OT Isaiah Battle, OL Austin Pasztor
NFL Workout Updates: 11/19/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit:
Detroit Lions
- WR Tavarres King, WR Max McCaffrey, WR Kalif Raymond (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Aaron Wallace (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- WR Malachi Dupre (link)
NFL Suspends WR Max McCaffrey
Wide receiver Max McCaffrey will miss the first four games of the season with a suspension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
McCaffrey, the brother of Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, was cut by the 49ers last week. The suspension explains “why he’s still free” Rapoport notes. Despite being only 24-years-old, McCaffrey has already reached journeyman status, spending time with six different teams during his brief time in the league.
McCaffrey signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent after finishing his college career at Duke, but was released before the start of the 2016 season. He then was signed by the Packers, spending time on both their practice squad and active roster. In 2017, he was with the Saints, Jaguars, and Packers again before the 49ers were impressed enough with him to sign him to a two-year deal off the Packers’ practice squad.
McCaffrey’s suspension very likely played a role in his release by San Francisco, as did a foot injury he’s still recovering from. It’s unclear what the suspension is for, although it seems likely it’s due to a substance abuse policy violation. He should latch on somewhere after his suspension is completed.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/18
We don’t dance now, we make minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: G Cory Helms
Detroit Lions
- Waived: OL Beau Nunn
- Waived/Injured: DT Toby Johnson
Houston Texans
- Waived/Injured: Ben Heeney
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Tanner McEvoy
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/Injured: WR Max McCaffrey