NFC Notes: Eagles, McCoy, Vikings, Cardinals
Following Joe Douglas‘s move to the Jets, Andy Weidl has been leading the Eagles‘ scouting department as the director of player personnel, tweets Geoff Mosher of 97.3 ESPN in Jersey. Weidl previously served as Philly’s assistant director of player personnel.
It’s unclear whether Weidl’s new role is on an interim basis or permanent, but it’s obviously that the executive is prepared to take on a bigger role. Further complicating matters is the fact that Weidl could end up joining Douglas in New York.
Lets check out some more notes from around the NFC…
- Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy missed his team’s minicamp as he recovered from a leg injury. However, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington observed that the veteran continued to work with tight end Jordan Reed during the sessions, and the team believes McCoy will be fully ready for training camp. The 32-year-old will be competing with Case Keenum and rookie Dwayne Haskins for a starting gig, and perhaps partly due to McCoy’s injury, the head coach has yet to make a decision on who will be the starter. “For me to make a determination on the starting quarterback after minicamp or mandatory camp is just kind of foolish,” Jay Gruden said. “We’ll let these guys continue to play and see which one continues to improve, which one is most consistent throughout the training camp and preseason and we’ll go from there.”
- The Vikings have a number of competitions on their hands, according to Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com. Three-year veteran Kevin McDermott and rookie seventh-rounder Austin Cutting will be going head-to-head for long snapping duties, with only one of the two presumably in line to make the final roster. Meanwhile, the team is expected to host free agent punters Justin Vogel, Shane Tripucka, and “at least one other” on Wednesday. The Vikings are hoping to provide incumbent punter Matt Wile, who struggled as a holder last season, with competition.
- Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune points to wide receiver as another position battle for the Vikings, as the coaching staff is looking for someone to emerge behind Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs. The team has tried out a number of players in their three-receiver package, including Laquon Treadwell, Jordan Taylor, and Chad Beebe. Rookie Olabisi Johnson and former CFL player Brandon Zylstra also have a chance to play a role.
- Cardinals center A.Q. Shipley missed the entire 2018 season after suffering a torn ACL, allowing rookie Mason Cole to start all 16 games. Now, heading into 2019, both players are vying for that starting spot, and the veteran player isn’t willing to concede to his younger teammate. “Competition? Is there a competition?” Shipley asked Katherine Fitzgerald of the Arizona Republic. “I don’t know, you guys tell me. That’s what you keep saying. I’m going in as I’ve got over 100 games played in the NFL, so if they want to give it to someone else, that’s cool, that’s up to them, but I’m going in as the guy. That’s the way I operate.”
Vikings To Work Out Justin Vogel, Others
Matt Wile completed his first full NFL season in 2018, serving as the Vikings’ punter for 16 games. He may have some competition for that job soon.
The Vikings are bringing in multiple punters for workouts on Wednesday, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter). Justin Vogel and Shane Tripucka will be among the punters set to audition. Wednesday marks the first day of Minnesota’s minicamp.
A 26-year-old former UDFA out of Michigan, Wile caught on with the Vikings as a 2018 waiver claim. The Steelers cut him after their most recent preseason slate. Wile’s 45.2 yards per punt ranked 14th last season.
Minnesota retained Wile via ERFA tender this offseason; he is the only punter on the 90-man roster. However, the Vikings’ special teams staff experienced a shakeup this year. Longtime ST coordinator Mike Preiffer is gone, and Marwan Maalouf took his place.
Vogel last punted in 2017, serving as Green Bay’s primary punter for all 16 games that year. A Chargers UDFA last year, Tripucka participated in the Vikings’ rookie minicamp last month.
NFL Workout Updates: 1/3/19
Today’s workout updates, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):
Chicago Bears
- T Dakoda Shepley; G Ethan Cooper; LB Sam Eguavoen; K Ty Long
Detroit Lions
- DEs Avery Ellis, Tony Nelson; LB Sam Eguavoen
Green Bay Packers
- WR Devin Smith
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
- QBs Jon Jennings, Bo Levi Mitchell; WRs Sammie Coates, Greg Ward, Taj Williams; T Dakoda Shepley; LBs Sam Eguavoen, Jameer Thurman
Kansas City Chiefs
- DTs Henry Mondeaux, Cavon Walker; CB DeAndre Elliott
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Alex Singleton; LS Tanner Carew; K Ty Long; P Shane Tripucka
New England Patriots
- WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
New Orleans Saints
- DE Geneo Grissom; LB Lorenzo Mauldin
New York Jets
- WR Stacy Coley; DE Charles Tapper
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RBs Terry Swanson, Malik Williams; WR Diontae Spencer
Seattle Seahawks
NFL Workout Updates: 12/17/18
Here is the latest from the workout circuit, all links going to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account (unless otherwise noted)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- K Marshall Koehn, LB Christian Kuntz, P Brock Miller, QB Mike Reilly, P Ryan Santoso, Caleb Sturgis, P Shane Tripucka (link)
Minnesota Vikings
- K Ty Long (CFL tryout), LB Alex Singleton (CFL tryout) (link)
New York Jets
- LB Jameer Thurman (CFL tryout), LB James Vaughters (CFL tryout) (link)
Philadelphia Eagles
- T Tyreek Burwell, T Taylor Hart, G Kaleb Johnson, T William Poehls (link)
NFL Workout Updates: 10/2/18
Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted:
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Jordan Leslie (link via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM)
Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns
- LB Junior Sylvestre (link); CBs Sterling Moore, Josh Robinson; K Daniel Carlson, Miles Bergner (link via Caplan)
Denver Broncos
- P Brock Miller (link)
Detroit Lions
- RB Akeem Hunt; C Jake Eldrenkamp; Ts Antonio Garcia, De’Ondre Wesley; G Landon Turner (link)
Green Bay Packers
- LBs Josh Carraway, Aaron Wallace (link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
- RBs Matthew Dayes, Orleans Darkwa (link via Caplan)
Los Angeles Chargers
- LBs Jonathan Celestin, Tre’von Johnson; P Shane Tripucka; LS Taybor Pepper (link)
Los Angeles Rams
- LB Anthony Winbush; DBs Xavier Coleman, Ranthony Texada; K Kai Forbath
Miami Dolphins
- Gs Austin Davis, J.J. Dielman; Cs Dillon Day, T.J. Johnson, Jon Toth; T Gerhard de Beer; DTs Xavier Cooper, Will Sutton (link)
Minnesota Vikings
- DE Terrence Fede; LB Tyrone Holmes (link)
New England Patriots
- T Andrew Nelson (link)
New Orleans Saints
- G/T Oday Aboushi; Ts Chaz Green, Austin Howard; Gs Jordan Morgan, Isaiah Williams; CBs De’Vante Bausby, Jeremy Boykins, Byron Maxwell (link)
New York Jets
Oakland Raiders
- DEs Damontre Moore, Jacquies Smith; LBs Travis Feeney, Edmond Robinson; K Nick Novak (link via Caplan)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- CB Herb Waters (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- WR Keon Hatcher; DE Hau’oli Kikaha; LB Chris Odom; CB Kalan Reed; Ss Maurice Alexander, Eddie Pleasant, Jeremy Reaves (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- CB Josh Shaw; S A.J. Howard (link)
Tennessee Titans
- QB Garrett Gilbert; WRs Aaron Burbridge, Reggie Davis, Damoun Patterson; LB Antwione Williams (link)
Chargers Cut Roster To 53
The Chargers have moved their roster to 53 by making the following transactions:
Waived:
- DL Patrick Afriye
- K Roberto Aguayo
- TE Braedon Bowman
- OL Brett Boyko (injury settlement)
- CB Tony Brown
- WR Dylan Cantrell
- CB B.J. Clay
- LB Kyle Coleman
- OL Chris Durant
- CB Marcus Edmond
- OL Zach Golditch
- TE Je’Ron Hamm
- S Micah Hanneman
- RB Russell Hansbrough (injury settlement)
- DL Marcus Hardison
- S A.J. Hendy
- LB D’Juan Hines
- TE Cole Hunt (injury settlement)
- DL B.J. Jackson
- TE Ben Johnson
- WR Justice Liggins
- FB Anthony Manzo-Lewis
- WR Andre Patton
- OL Spencer Pulley
- CB Jeff Richards
- DL Steve Richardson
- DL Whitney Richardson
- OL Trenton Scott
- QB Nic Shimonek
- WR Nelson Spruce
- CB Channing Stribling
- P Shane Tripucka
- RB Terrell Watson
- OL Erick Wren
Waived/Injured:
Overall, not a ton of shockers here either. Spencer Pulley was the team’s starting center last year, but now finds himself cut. Rookie sixth-rounder Dylan Cantrell also failed to make the team. The Chargers elected to keep three quarterbacks, keeping Cardale Jones‘ roster spot safe for now.
Chargers Sign 21 Undrafted Free Agents
The Chargers have agreed to terms with the following 21 undrafted college free agents:
- Tony Brown, CB (Alabama)
- B.J. Clay, CB (Georgia State)
- Zachary Crabtree, T, (Oklahoma State)
- Chris Durant, T (William & Mary)
- Marcus Edmond, CB, (Clemson)
- Brandon Facyson, CB, (Virginia Tech)
- Zack Golditch, G, (Colorado State)
- Bijhon Jackson, DT, (Arkansas)
- Albert Havili, DE, (Eastern Washington)
- D’Juan Hines, LB, (Houston)
- Cole Hunt, TE, (TCU)
- Tevin Lawson, DE, (Nicolls State)
- Ben Johnson, TE, (Kansas)
- J.J. Jones, WR, (West Georgia)
- Anthony Manzo-Lewis, FB, (Albany)
- Detrez Newsome, RB, (Western Carolina)
- Steven Richardson, DT, (Minnesota)
- Nic Shimonek, QB, (Texas Tech)
- Trenton Scott, G, (Grambling State)
- Kent Shelby, WR, (McNeese State)
- Shane Tripucka, P, (Texas A&M)
