Rashod Hill

Vikings Rumors: DeFilippo, O-Line, Barr

John DeFilippo played a big part in the Vikings‘ quarterback search. The new Minnesota offensive coordinator began studying film of the team’s three previous quarterbacks — Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum — on his first morning with the team in mid-February, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes. This process of finding a potential long-term option in Kirk Cousins also included scouting of QBs that weren’t Cousins or the Vikings’ free agent trio, per Goessling, who adds QBs coach Kevin Stefanski was also involved in this process, along with Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer. DeFilippo and Cousins met at dinner the night before the new Minnesota starter signed his three-year, $84MM contract, per Goessling. Minnesota has not had a quarterback make it through three straight seasons as the primary starter since Daunte Culpepper in the early 2000s, and DeFilippo called the franchise’s signal-caller search as thorough as anything he’s been involved with in the NFL.

Here’s the latest from the Twin Cities:

  • Previously stationed at right tackle at Vikings OTAs, Mike Remmers took reps exclusively at right guard during one of the OTA sessions this week, Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune reports. Third-year UDFA Rashod Hill, in turn, lined up at right tackle. This was the Vikings’ arrangement at the end of last season. Remmers worked as the Panthers’ starting right tackle from 2014-16. Tom Compton, who worked as the primary right guard last week, alternated at left guard with Danny Isidora, per Krammer. Slotting Remmers at guard would give second-round pick Brian O’Neill an easier path to playing time, but it’s uncertain what Remmers’ primary position will be this season.
  • Anthony Barr reported to the Vikings this week and did so after taking out an insurance policy, Krammer notes. He missed the first week of Vikes OTAs while he ironed out this policy, which will cover him for injury while he’s still attached to his rookie deal. Barr remains hopeful he and the Vikings can come to terms before training camp. Minnesota agreed to extensions with Everson Griffen, Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph in a 10-day span just as camp began last year, and it would make sense Barr — one of the team’s big re-up candidates this year — would be the top priority for a pre-camp deal.
  • Despite being a first-round pick, Laquon Treadwell has 21 receptions (and no touchdowns) in two years. However, the Ole Miss product is not categorizing 2018 as a make-or-break year, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press notes. The Vikings cut Jarius Wright and have not re-signed Michael Floyd, potentially giving Treadwell a chance to move into the No. 3 wideout role. However, Minnesota’s Kendall Wright deal could impede that. Neverthless, it could be a stretch the Vikings pick up Treadwell’s fifth-year option in May of 2019 at this rate.

Tackle Notes: Remmers, Hill, Decker, Staley

The Vikings will be without their starting right tackle when they go to Washington on Sunday. Mike Remmers has started all year long at the position, but will be unable to play because of a concussion he suffered during the team’s game two weeks ago, according to Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune. Backup tackle Rashod Hill will make his first start of his NFL career in the veteran’s place. Hill, 25, has played in 147 snaps, but seems comfortable with his new role given that he’s had a full week of practice to prepare.

“Oh yeah, it helps me a lot, man,” Hill said of practicing at right tackle all week. “Because unfortunately, when we were in London and Mike went down, I had been playing left [tackle] all week. So getting a full week down means getting a better feel for the plays.”

Hill is still in a difficult spot given that Remmers ranks as the 12th best tackle in all of football, according to Pro Football Focus.

  • Lions head coach Jim Caldwell told the media today that left tackle Taylor Decker is “close to returning”, as relayed by the team’s website. The second-year left tackle has been sidelined with a shoulder injury for the entire first half of the season with backup tackle Greg Robinson mainly taking over to protect Matt Stafford’s blindside. However, Detroit just released their backup offensive lineman earlier today, which clears the road for Decker to get back into the starting lineup in short order. Decker’s return will be a huge boost to a Lions team that is currently on the outside of the playoff picture. Decker started all 16 games for the Lions during his rookie campaign.
  • Another prominent offensive tackle looks likely to return from injury. 49ers veteran offensive lineman Joe Staley appears on track to play this Sunday after suffering an orbital fracture two weeks ago vs. the Eagles, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Gate. Branch notes that Staley was expected to miss at least two weeks with the injury, but is now ahead of schedule with his recovery. The veteran will have to wear a visor in order to protect his injured eye, but seeing the 33 year-old tough out the pain is the reason why he’s been one of the best lineman in football over the past decade. The 49ers will attempt to win their first game of the season when take on the Giants at home this weekend.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/15/16

  • The Cardinals announced re-signed punter Drew Butler and cut Ryan Quigley. Butler was previously released with an injury settlement by Arizona on October 4 following a calf issue, but now he’s back in the fold.
  • The Chargers have waived center Chris Watt with a failed physical designation, a source tells Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union Tribune (Twitter link). Injuries limited the former third-round pick to 17 games in his first two years and prevented him from taking the field so far in 2016. Watt, who had been on the PUP list, will revert to IR if he clears waivers.
  • The Vikings signed offensive tackle Rashod Hill to the 53-man roster off of the Jaguars‘ practice squad, as agent Brett Tessler tweets. Hill will help provide depth in the wake of Jake Long‘s season-ending injury, which has landed him on injured reserve.
  • The Bears announced that they’ve promoted offensive lineman Cornelius Edison from the practice squad. He’ll take the place of OL Kyle Long, who was officially placed on IR.
  • The Cowboys are promoting wide receiver Vince Mayle from the practice squad to the active roster, according to a tweet from his agents at Reign Sports. Mayle is a former fourth-round selection of the Browns.
  • The Colts announced that they have claimed linebacker Deon King off waivers from the Chargers and waived wide receiver Marcus Leak.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/16

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: WR Ed Eagan, C Terran Vaughn
  • Cut: LB Carlos Fields, S Damian Parms

Green Bay Packers

  • Cut: CB Robertson Daniel (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: LB Lynden Trail (Twitter link via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)

New England Patriots

  • Signed: WR Da’Ron Brown (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)

New York Giants

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

  • Signed: DL Demetrius Cherry (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle)
  • Cut: LB Korey Toomer (Twitter link via Tafur)

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: RB Zac Brooks (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Sheil Kapadia)
  • Cut: WR Antwan Goodley (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: G Darrell Greene
  • Cut: CB JaCorey Shepherd (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: DB Jacob Hagen (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/16

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

  • The Lions announced that they have waived linebacker Zaviar Gooden. Gooden was bumped from the practice squad to the main roster on Sunday and played in 27 of the team’s 54 snaps.
  • The Jaguars have released offensive tackle Rashod Hill, according to agent Brett Tessler (on Twitter). If he clears waivers, Tessler says that Jacksonville will re-sign him to the practice squad. Taking his place will be wide receiver Bryan Walters (Twitter link via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com).
  • The Jets waived linebacker Julian Stanford, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.
  • Former Kansas City seventh-round wide receiver Da’Ron Brown visited the Jaguars, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.

Jaguars Cut Bryan Walters, Promote Rashod Hill

The Jaguars have cut a veteran wideout in favor of a local offensive lineman. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports (via Twitter) that the team has cut Bryan Waltersreceiver Bryan Walters and promoted offensive tackle Rashod Hill.

The Jaguars were struggling for offensive line depth following injuries to Kelvin Beachum and Brandon Linder. If the duo misses this weekend’s game, the team would have had only one reserve lineman on the roster (assuming two of Tyler Shatley, Patrick Omameh and Chris Reed would be inserted into the starting lineup). As a result, the team decided to promote Hill, who was originally signed as an undrafted rookie out of Southern Miss. The rookie actually grew up in Jacksonville and played high school football at Ed White High School.

Following a relatively productive 2015 campaign, Walters found himself as the Jaguars’ sixth wideout entering 2016. The former Seahawks and Chargers receiver set career-highs with Jacksonville last season, compiling 32 receptions, 368 yards, and one touchdown. The 28-year-old didn’t make an appearance through the Jaguars’ first two games this season.

Sunday NFL 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 for the Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans 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 South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

Jaguars Cut Josh Evans, Others

7:57pm: Jacksonville has also released safety Josh Evans, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Evans played a significant role during his three years with the Jaguars, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2013 draft. All told, he appeared in 47 of a possible 48 regular-season games and tallied 36 starts, with at least 11 coming in each individual campaign. Evans, 25, amassed 201 tackles – including a career-high 90 in 2014 – with the Jags. For his performance last season, he ranked just 77th among Pro Football Focus’ 89 qualified safeties.

4:50pm: The Jaguars’ quest to get to 53 has bumped Ryan Davis from the roster. The pass-rushing specialist took to Twitter on Friday to announce that the Jaguars have let him go.

I got love for Duval, but my time here is done, catch ya later,” he wrote.

Davis was considered something of a lock to make the Jags’ roster this year after he was hit with the second-round tender worth $2.55MM. After spending past years at defensive end, the Jags were hopeful that he could successfully transition to linebacker. Davis, who has registered 11 career sacks with 10 in the last two years, was expected to back up Dan Skuta on the strong side.

Here are cuts made by the Jags so far today:

Jaguars Agree To Sign Nine UDFAs

The Jaguars announced that they’ve agreed to terms with nine undrafted free agents: