Peyton Barber

Raiders RB Peyton Barber To Miss Time

The Raiders are down a running back. Peyton Barber has been diagnosed with mild turf toe, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).

While the injury should sideline Barber for a “few weeks,” the veteran was fortunate to avoid a fracture. Barber is still “seeking opinions and having tests,” and it sounds like the organization will wait for those results before deciding on an IR stint.

Josh Jacobs has been limited to only two games and 29 touches this season, but Barber has done a fine job filling in (alongside free agent acquisition Kenyan Drake). Barber was a standout during the Raiders Week 3 win over the Dolphins, compiling 142 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. However, the 27-year-old was limited to only one touch on Monday with Jacobs back in the lineup.

While Barber could be out for a bit, the team will soon be welcoming back another running back. The Raiders designated Jalen Richard for return last week.

Raiders To Sign RB Peyton Barber

The Raiders are signing Peyton Barber off of the Washington Football Team’s practice squad, according to a source who spoke with Ben Standig of The Athletic (on Twitter). Now, the running back will join the 53-man roster in Las Vegas. 

[RELATED: Raiders Wanted Freeman]

The Raiders previously tried to claim Royce Freeman off waivers, but lost out to the Panthers due to waiver priority. Barber’s still a solid consolation prize, considering his past work. Back in 2018, he led the Buccaneers in rushing (871 yards), staving off Ronald Jones in the process.

However, Barber played on just 18% of Washington’s offensive snaps in 2020 and was on the field on 30% of Washington’s special teams plays. The 225-pound running back averaged a career-low 2.7 yards per carry last season, gaining 258 yards on 94 rushing attempts. He missed Washington’s final cut and settled for their practice squad. Now, he’ll have a chance to see the field in Week 1.

Barber will support top RBs Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake while Jalen Richard rehabs his injured foot.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These CowboysEaglesGiants and Washington moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Dallas Cowboys

Signed to practice squad:

New York Giants

Placed on IR:

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Philadelphia Eagles

Signed to practice squad:

Washington Football Team

Placed on IR:

Signed:

Signed to practice squad:

WFT Down To 53-Man Roster

The Washington Football Team has its 53-man roster in place. Today, they waived/released:

The release of Montez leaves three QBs on WFT’s roster — Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, and Kyle Allen. Barber — among their previously reported cuts — will exit a group that still includes Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic, and UDFA Jaret Patterson.

Washington To Release RB Peyton Barber

Washington will cut ties with one veteran member of its running back room. They are moving on from Peyton Barber, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

The former Buccaneers back joined Washington during Ron Rivera‘s first year at the helm but did not make the cut to stay with the squad for a second season. This marks good news for rookie UDFA Jaret Patterson, who as of now joins the likes of Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic on Washington’s roster. The defending NFC East champions also cut running back Jonathan Williams.

Barber played 18% of Washington’s offensive snaps in 2020 and was on the field on 30% of Washington’s special teams plays. The 225-pound running back averaged a career-low 2.7 yards per carry last season, gaining 258 yards on 94 rushing attempts.

Barber, 27, led the 2018 Buccaneers in rushing (871 yards), delaying Ronald Jones‘ ascent, and is a vested veteran. This will allow Barber to head straight to free agency. Teams must cut down to 53 players by 3pm CT today.

NFC Contract Details: Funchess, Blythe, Redskins, Cardinals

We’ve got a handful of contract details to pass along. We’ll start with the latest NFC notes, all via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter:

  • Devin Funchess, WR (Packers): One year, $2.5MM. Includes $3.75MM in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns incentives.
  • Austin Blythe, OL (Rams): One year. Worth $3.9MM, including $3.5MM guaranteed. $950K signing bonus, $2.95MM salary (of which $2.55MM is guaranteed).
  • Peyton Barber, RB (Redskins): Two year, $3MM. Includes $600K signing bonus. Salaries: $910K (2020), $1.14MM (2021). $150K per-game maximum roster bonus in 2020, $199K+ per-game maximum roster bonus in 2021.
  • Nate Orchard, LB (Redskins): Re-signed. One-year, $1.047MM deal. Includes $137.5K signing bonus, $910K salary.
  • Seth Roberts, WR (Panthers): One year, $3.75MM. Includes $600K signing bonus, $3.1MM salary, $50K workout bonus.
  • Marcus Gilbert, OT (Cardinals): One year, $3.75MM. $1.05MM base salary (of which only $150K is guaranteed). Up to $2.7MM in playing time incentives.
  • Max Garcia, OL (Cardinals): Re-signed. One-year, $1.25MM deal, including $600K guaranteed. Up to $190K per-game maximum roster bonus, up to $1MM in playing time incentives.
  • Cameron Fleming, OL (Giants): Signed. One-year, $3.5MM deal (as opposed to previously-reported one-year, $4MM deal). Includes $2MM guaranteed. Up to $500K per-game roster bonus, up to $500K playing time incentives.
  • Kerry Hyder, DE (49ers): One year. $1.5MM, including $550K guaranteed. Up to $250K in per-game roster bonus.

Redskins To Sign RB Peyton Barber

Free agency action has resumed Tuesday afternoon, and another running back is off the board. Peyton Barber will sign with the Redskins, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

The former Buccaneers starter agreed to a two-year, $3MM deal that comes with $600K guaranteed, per Anderson. Barber will join Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice in a suddenly crowded Washington backfield. This deal may have been in the works for a few days, with The Athletic’s Greg Auman tweeting Sunday that Barber was finalizing a contract.

Barber started 28 games with the Bucs, 23 of those coming over the past two seasons, but fell out of favor during Bruce Arians‘ first season. The 26-year-old ex-UDFA started 16 games in Dirk Koetter‘s final season but lost his job to Ronald Jones last year. Barber, who led the Bucs in 2018 with 871 rushing yards, averaged just 3.1 yards per carry on 154 totes in 2019.

The Auburn alum has never topped 115 receiving yards in a season, however. With Peterson also mostly a run downs-only back, the Redskins appear set to devote at least half of their backfield resources to players who are not accomplished passing-game weapons.

In addition to their most notable incumbents, the Redskins also have the recently added J.D. McKissic and 2019 draftee Bryce Love in the fold. Their roster certainly will not have room for all five backs, which will make for an interesting competition when the Redskins reconvene for 2020 work.

Bucs Notes: Winston, Godwin, Howard

In addition to the thumb injury that we heard about in early January, Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston was also playing through a torn meniscus for at least some of 2019, as Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reports (video link). Per Rapoport, Winston recently had surgery to trim the meniscus tear.

Though Winston’s boom-or-bust tendencies remain an obvious concern, the toughness that he displayed in battling the injuries may help him land a new contract with Tampa, which may have winnowed down its quarterback options to Winston and Philip Rivers.

Now for more from the Bucs:

  • Standout receiver Chris Godwin is now eligible for an extension since he has completed three years in the league, but that is not a front-burner item on the Bucs’ agenda just yet, per Greg Auman of The Athletic. Auman says the club will look to take care of its 2020 FAs first and then see if there is money left in the budget for a new contract for Godwin. Barring something unforeseen, it would be a huge surprise if Tampa lets Godwin hit the open market in 2021.
  • There were rumors that the Bucs were looking to trade much-maligned TE O.J. Howard at the 2019 deadline, and though that did not happen, the former first-rounder was still viewed as a trade candidate this offseason. But as Auman notes, the club still believes in Howard, and it sounds like he will be back in 2020. Fellow TE Cameron Brate, however, could be a trade or release candidate.
  • The Bucs are very young at CB, which has led many to believe that the club will draft a corner with an early pick or sign one in the first wave of free agency, but that’s not necessarily the case. As Auman writes, Tampa is very high on Carlton Davis, Jamel Dean, and Sean Murphy-Bunting, so a late-round pick or modest FA signing may be more likely.
  • Likewise, Tampa is bullish on its cadre of safeties, but 2017 second-rounder Justin Evans‘s stock is trending downward, per Auman. Evans has not been healthy enough to practice in a long time, and although the team hoped he would be fully recovered by April 1 and would participate in spring workouts at OTAs, it’s now unclear whether he will be back at all.
  • Unsurprisingly, it does not sound like the Bucs will look to re-sign free agent RB Peyton Barber, per Auman.

Buccaneers Sticking With Ronald Jones II

Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians told reporters that running back Ronald Jones II will remain the team’s starter even amidst his struggles, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com. Jones was benched during Week 13 for missing a blitz pickup and was replaced by Peyton Barber.

A second round pick by Tampa Bay in the 2018 NFL Draft, Jones spent all of his rookie season buried on the Bucs depth chart behind Barber-who started all 16 games last season. However, in a more prominent backup role this season, Jones clearly outperformed Barber and has been the team’s starter since Week 9. Jones has yet to translate his early season success, when he averaged 4.24 yards per carry, to the starting lineup, averaging just 3.29 yards per carry since. His struggles in pass protection though, seemed to be the final straw.

Barber and Jones have received a nearly identical number of carries this season (125 for Jones and 122 for Barber), but Tampa has remained committed to playing the hot hand regardless of who was in the team’s starting lineup. Still, at least for now, Jones remains the top running back on the Buccaneers depth chart.

Examining The Buccaneers’ RB Situation

Running back Ronald Jones was a disappointment for the Buccaneers and dynasty fantasy football players alike last year, as the 2018 second-rounder turned in a very quiet rookie campaign. The USC product did not displace Peyton Barber as Tampa Bay’s lead back, as many expected, and in fact played only 90 offensive snaps all season. Meanwhile, Barber started all 16 games and led the club in rushing yards for the second straight year, though he only managed 3.7 yards per carry.

Given that the Bucs did not do much to upgrade their RB room in free agency or the draft this year, Jones has a good opportunity to break out in his second professional season. And, as Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk writes, Jones plans to do just that.

He said, “I just want to lead the team in rushing and be that player who can ignite the offense and things like that, because that’s who I am. I’m a playmaker. I just want that opportunity.”

To that end, Jones says he has put on 13 pounds of muscle. He added, “[l]ast year was a disappointment for me. I’m putting in the work to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Unsurprisingly, Greg Auman of The Athletic believes that Jones is a lock to make the club, as there is no way the Bucs will give up on a second-round running back so quickly. However, Auman also notes that Barber has garnered plenty of praise from Tampa Bay’s coaching staff this year, and since Barber is eligible for unrestricted free agency for the first time in his career in 2020, he will be plenty motivated (Twitter link). In fact, Auman believes that Barber will lead the team in rushing for the third consecutive season, though he also notes (via Twitter) that Jones emerging as a solid complementary option would still be a big help to the offense.

Auman believes one of the other available spots on the Bucs’ RB depth chart will be filled by 2019 UDFA Bruce Anderson, who excelled at North Dakota State and who offers solid pass-catching ability, which is not a strong suit of either Barber or Jones. Veteran Andre Ellington — who was out of football in 2018 but who played for new HC Bruce Arians in Arizona — would seem to have a decent chance of making the team, though Tampa Bay could also elect to carry just three RBs (unless a backup like Dare Ogunbowale wins a job as a return specialist).

The club will almost certainly remain on the lookout for veteran depth, and players like Jay Ajayi and old friend Jacquizz Rodgers remain available. An intriguing name or two may also shake loose from another club’s roster as the regular season gets closer.