NFL Workout Updates: 10/16/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. Links to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise noted.
Chicago Bears
- CB Quinten Rollins (link)
Cleveland Browns
- C Jake Eldrenkamp (visit), WR Chad Hansen, WR Blake Jackson, WR Korey Robertson, WR Damore’ea Stringfellow (link)
Detroit Lions
- T Cole Gardner, G/T Austin Pasztor (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- WR K.J. Brent, WR Krishawn Hogan (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Khari Lee, G Brandon Thomas (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- WR Deontez Alexander, G Jeff Allen, WR J.J. Jones, WR Austin Proehl (link)
Miami Dolphins
- DE Will Clarke, DT Winston Craig, T Antonio Garcia, DE Alec James, T Dieugot Joseph, DT Lewis Neal, T Corey Robinson, DT DeShawn Williams (link)
New York Jets
- WR J.J. Jones, S Charlie Miller, RB Donnel Pumphrey, C Jon Toth, T Toby Weathersby, RB Ralph Webb (link)
Philadelphia Eagles
- LB B.J. Bello, S Ibraheim Campbell, DT Winston Craig (visit), CB Dexter McDougle, CB Quinten Rollins (Twitter links via Balzer and Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- LB Devante Bond (link)
Washington Redskins
- G Oday Aboushi, G J.J. Dielman, G John Jerry (link)
Extra Points: Trade Deadline, Webb, Willies, Browns, Peters, Eagles
The NFL trade deadline is right around the corner. Teams have just over two weeks, until October 30th, to complete any deals. While there isn’t nearly as much trade action in the NFL as in other major sports leagues, it seems like every year front offices get more and more open to making deals. If that trend continues, this deadline could be one of the busiest in recent memory.
In anticipation of the deadline, Bill Barnwell of ESPN.com took a look some potential trades, and took a stab at putting together a few scenarios of his own. The whole article is worth a read, as Barnwell broke down 11 possible midseason trades, and why he thinks they’d make sense for both sides. Included in the list are DeVante Parker being traded to the Cowboys, LeSean McCoy going back to the Eagles, and Le’Veon Bell going to the Redskins.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Patriots cut running back Ralph Webb from their practice squad recently, and he’s been a hot name on the workout circuit, according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic (Twitter link). Howe reports that Webb has “been busy” and has “worked out for the Bengals on Wednesday and has workouts scheduled early next week for the Texans and Jets.” With the Patriots’ track record of developing little-known players, teams often like to take looks at people they were formerly high on. Webb is an undrafted rookie out of Vanderbilt.
- The Browns were already dealing with a banged up receiving corp, and got more bad news today. Rookie receiver Derrick Willies broke his collarbone in practice today, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Willies, an undrafted free agent from Texas Tech has shown some promise recently, and now appears likely headed for injured reserve. Rashard Higgins is out with an injury of his own, and Willies was supposed to play a big role this week against the Chargers. It’s a big blow, and the Browns will be very thin at receiver against a Chargers defense that is starting to come on strong.
- Eagles left tackle Jason Peters has been dealing with a quad injury, but suffered a brand new injury during the team’s win last night. Peters tore his biceps against the Giants, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Sources told Rapoport that “doctors are optimistic that he’ll be able to keep playing”, but it’s not a sure thing. Losing Peters for any amount of time would be a devastating blow to an already struggling Eagles offensive line, especially with right tackle Lane Johnson also banged up.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/10/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Cincinnati Bengals
- RB Ralph Webb; Ss Quin Blanding, Chris Cooper (link)
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
- TEs Kyle Carter, Will Tye; Ts Tyreek Burwell, Rick Leonard (Twitter links)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB Bo Scarbrough (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- TEs Braedon Bowman, Kyle Carter, Pharoah McKever (link)
Miami Dolphins
- WRs Reggie Davis, Amba Etta-Tawo (link)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/18
Here are Monday’s practice squad decisions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
Denver Broncos
- Signed: NT Niles Scott
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Hakeem Valles
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Aaron Neary
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Frank Herron, LB Calvin Munson
- Cut: RB Ralph Webb, DL Vincent Valentine
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Bronson Kaufasi
- Cut: T Dieguot Joseph
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East 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 for the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. 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 East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
Claimed:
Cut:
Practice squad:
- RB Keith Ford
- DE Mike Love
- S Dean Marlowe
- WR Cam Phillips
- LB Corey Thompson
- OL Gerhard de Beer
- CB Levi Wallace
- OL De’Ondre Wesley
Miami Dolphins
Claimed:
- QB Luke Falk
- WR Tanner McEvoy
Placed on injured reserve:
- C Jake Brendel
- LB Mike Hull
Cut:
Practice squad:
- G Isaac Asiata
- WR Leonte Carroo
- WR Isaiah Ford
- CB Jalen Davis
- C Connor Hilland
- RB Jeremy Langford
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- DL Jamiyus Pittman
- LB Quentin Poling
- DL Jonathan Woodard
New England Patriots
Claimed:
- WR Chad Hansen
- WR Amara Darboh
Placed on injured reserve:
Practice squad:
- OL Cole Croston
- QB Danny Etling
- OL James Ferentz
- DL Trent Harris
- WR Riley McCarron
- DT Vincent Valentine
- RB Ralph Webb
- CB Jomal Wiltz
New York Jets
Practice squad:
- DB Brandon Bryant
- DB Jeremy Clark
- LB Frankie Luvu
- LB Anthony Wint
Patriots Make Roster Cuts
The Patriots are the latest team to move to 53 players by making the following transactions:
Placed on injured reserve:
- OL Isaiah Wynn
- WR Braxton Berrios
- LB Christian Sam
- OL Ulrick John
Cut:
- DL John Atkins
- P Corey Bojorquez
- RB Brandon Bolden
- OL Luke Bowanko
- OL Cole Croston
- QB Danny Etling
- RB Kenneth Farrow
- OL James Ferentz
- LB Marquis Flowers
- RB Mike Gillislee
- DL Trent Harris
- CB Cyrus Jones
- OL Jason King
- LB Harvey Langi
- DL Eric Lee
- WR K.J. Maye
- WR Riley McCarron
- DB A.J. Moore
- FB Henry Poggi
- OL Brian Schwenke
- OL Matt Tobin
- DB Damarius Travis
- TE Will Tye
- DL Vincent Valentine
- RB Ralph Webb
- CB Jomal Wiltz
New England kept only three true wide receivers on its initial roster, meaning the club will almost surely be searching for more options on the waiver wire.
Patriots Sign Nine UDFAs
The Patriots have signed nine undrafted free agents. Here’s the complete list:
- Darren Andrews, WR (UCLA)
- John Atkins, DL (Georgia)
- Trent Harris, DL (Miami)
- Frank Herron, DB (Maryland)
- Chris Lacy, WR (Oklahoma State)
- A.J. Moore, DB (Mississippi)
- Ralph Webb, RB (Vanderbilt)
- Shane Wimann, TE (Northern Illinois)
Andrews recorded 162 catches for 1,977 yards and 15 touchdowns with the Bruins. Despite his slight frame — 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds — the shifty wideout was a threat on the outside catching passes from first-round signal-caller Josh Rosen.
Webb finished his career with the Commodores as the sixth-ranked rusher in SEC history with 4,128 yards. According to The Tennessean, he became just the third player of the SEC’s top-50 all-time leading rushers, joining Kentucky’s Rafael Little and Tennessee’s Arian Foster, who went on to earn four Pro Bowl selections. He received $70,000 guaranteed — $20,000 signing bonus and $50,000 base salary — and is a solid bet to at least make the practice squad, according to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin (Twitter link).
Patriots Notes: Mayfield, Gillislee, Brady
We recently heard that the Patriots were just one of two teams to rate Baker Mayfield as the best quarterback in this year’s draft, and Mayfield’s agent, Jack Mills, indicated that New England may have been willing to move up to the No. 2 overall pick to land his client. However, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com is not so sure. He thinks the Patriots wanted to meet with Mayfield as part of their thorough scouting process, but if they did not sell Mills on the potential that they could make a big move up, Mills would not have wasted Mayfield’s time with a New England visit. Reiss does not believe the Pats would have jumped from No. 23 to No. 2 even if Mayfield was still on the board.
Now for more notes out of Foxborough:
- The Patriots have not officially announced their 2018 crop of UDFAs, but as Reiss observes, they have signed Vanderbilt running back Ralph Webb and gave him a $70K guarantee, which clearly makes him a priority signing with a decent chance of making the final roster. In a separate piece, Reiss says that Mike Gillislee, who opened the 2017 campaign as New England’s No. 1 back, is now fighting for a roster spot. With new first-round pick Sony Michel and veterans Rex Burkhead and James White considered locks, Gillislee will battle Webb, Jeremy Hill, and Brandon Bolden for one or two spots. The former Bill could be cut with no dead money ramifications.
- When he was recently asked if he felt appreciated by Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft, Tom Brady replied with a joke/non-answer. It is unclear whether Brady actually feels underappreciated by the other two most important figures within the organization, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes the club should ante up and pay Brady a salary more in line with the top of the market. Brady’s $20.5MM AAV is now 16th among all quarterbacks, and Florio believes the Pats should rectify that to some degree.
- The news continues to be good for 2017 third-rounder Derek Rivers. Reiss says Rivers, who tore his ACL last August and missed his entire rookie campaign, is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
- Earlier this week, ESPN’s Mel Kiper named Patriots’ sixth-round WR Braxton Berrios as one of the 2018 late-round selections most likely to make an immediate impact.