NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/14/15
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: S Durell Eskridge (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: QB David Fales (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune)
Houston Texans
- Cut: WR Alan Bonner (Twitter link via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Joe Banyard (Twitter link)
- Cut: S Craig Loston
Miami Dolphins
- Cut: WR Damarr Aultman (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald)
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Wes Saxton (press release)
- Cut: WR Titus Davis
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: S Adrian Phillips (Twitter link via U-T San Diego’s Michael Gehlken)
- Cut: WR Donatella Luckett
AFC Notes: Colts, Chargers, Ravens, Jets
Let’s round up a few items from around the AFC….
- The Colts‘ decision to sign return specialist Marcus Thigpen on Monday surprised some people within the organization, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (via Twitter). Thigpen figures to take over return duties from Griff Whalen, who had a 50-yard return last Thursday for the Colts.
- Safety Adrian Phillips, who was waived on Monday to make space for the return of Antonio Gates, cleared waivers and is likely to rejoin the Chargers via the taxi squad, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
- The Ravens worked out defensive end Nordly Capi, defensive end Phillip Hunt, and linebacker J.R. Tavai, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter link).
- The Jets auditioned outside linebackers Gerald Rivers and Kaelin Burnett on Tuesday, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter).
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/12/15
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL..
- The Seahawks will sign cornerback Crezdon Butler on Tuesday, a source tells Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Butler will add depth to Seattle’s banged up secondary.
- The Rams released running back Trey Watts, just one week after he returned from a four-game suspension, as Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch tweets. Watts, who joined the Rams in 2014 as an undrafted free agent out of Tulsa, earned a spot on the club’s regular season roster last season. He didn’t see the field much, but the 24-year-old received a handful of offensive snaps, rushing seven times for 30 yards and catching three passes for 18 yards. Watts also contributed on special teams, recording seven tackles in kick and punt coverage.
- The Jets waived tight end Wes Saxton to clear a roster spot for Sheldon Richardson, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
- Cardinals linebacker Kenny Demens suffered an ACL and will be put on IR, coach Bruce Arians told reporters, including Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Demens originally signed with Arizona as a UDFA in 2013.
- The Chargers waived safety Adrian Phillips to make room for the returning Antonio Gates, according to U-T San Diego’s Michael Gehlken. Phillips provided the Chargers depth and special-teams help after starting strong safety Jahleel Addae suffered a Week 1 ankle injury.
Extra Points: 49ers, Chargers, Washington
With a busy slate of Sunday games around the corner, let’s round up a few Saturday evening odds and ends from around the NFL….
- The 49ers‘ decision to cut Shareece Wright today is bad news for San Diego, according to Nick Korte of Over the Cap. Korte tweets that, based on his compensatory pick formula, the move should result in an extra 2016 sixth-round pick for the 49ers, and a lost compensatory pick for the Chargers.
- Two new offensive coordinators – Adam Gase of the Bears and Geep Chryst of the 49ers – are struggling to turn around their respective units early this season. Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune examines how Gase is dealing with the Bears’ injury woes, while Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle looks at the adjustments Chryst is making to try to help Colin Kaepernick get going.
- With Jim Harbaugh no longer in the picture in San Francisco, Kaepernick is being set up as the fall guy for the 49ers, opines Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Washington will be bringing in former Titans defensive back Ri’Shard Anderson on Monday, according to agent Brett Tessler (via Twitter). Based on Tessler’s tweet, it’s not clear if Jay Gruden and company will be signing Anderson, or simply working him out — I’d assume the latter, since the team’s roster needs could change depending on how tomorrow’s game goes.
- This weekend’s game could be a turning point for Mike Pettine‘s career in Cleveland, writes Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com. After tomorrow’s contest against the Ravens, the Browns don’t face a team with a losing record until Week 12 (Baltimore again), so they’d face a significant uphill battle to salvage their season if they fall to 1-4.
NFL Notes: L.A., St. Louis, Preseason, Arrests
Here are a few other stories of note from around the NFL this Friday night:
- While no decisions have been made about the Los Angeles market, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report says that he has spoken to five NFL owners, and the preferred situation would be for the Rams and Chargers to join forces there. The Raiders could still get back into the conversation, but Cole says that owner Mark Davis would make it easier for himself if he sold part of the team to relieve financial constraints, which would make the other owners more comfortable with the move.
- While the Rams are pushing to move to Los Angeles, the city of St. Louis is making its efforts to keep the team in town, but City Comptroller Darlene Green questions the financing the most recent stadium proposal, writes David Hunn of St. Louis Today. “Taxes will increase,” Green said. “And that’s not what was promised to our citizens.”
- At the recent meetings, NFL owners discussed the idea of reducing the preseason from four games to three, as Cole tweets. The owners also discussed expanding the regular season beyond 16 games, but those two ideas are not tied together.
- Arrests among NFL players is down 35% since the league expanded its policies and programs from last year, and future NFL chief disciplinary officer Todd Jones is encouraged by the early results, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. He adds that the NFLPA is protesting Jones’ appointment as a direct violation of the collective bargaining agreement.
Zach Link contributed to this post.
AFC West Notes: Allen, Janikowski, Raiders
Publicly, NFL owners aren’t saying much about where they stand on the Los Angeles situation, but five owners have told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) that they would be in favor of a plan marrying the Rams and Chargers. Of course, that would leave the Raiders out in the cold, but owner Mark Davis could improve his team’s chances by selling a portion of the team to an L.A. investor. That’s a transaction that could take place “very soon,” according to a source who spoke with Cole.
Here’s more from the AFC West..
- Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen has signed with Vanguard Sports and agent Joby Branion, according to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal (on Twitter). Allen was formerly repped by Athletes First. Allen, a 2013 third-round pick, is under contract through 2016 and earning less than $1MM this season and next. Needless to say, his next deal should be for a whole lot more.
- Sebastian Janikowski is on the verge of setting the Raiders record for most games played and it sounds like he could pad his lead quite a bit. Long snapper Jon Condo says that Janikowski feels as though he could kick into his mid-40s and the kicker agrees, as Vic Tafur of The San Francisco Chronicle writes. “You look at my stats?” the 37-year-old asked. “That’s how I can tell. I’m doing the same thing I did 10 years ago, hitting 60-yarders in warm-ups before games. I don’t see the difference. The more you do, the more you work out, you can be strong.”
- Fun fact from Steve Corkran of RaiderBeat.com (on Twitter): Only five players remain on the Raiders‘ 53-man roster who were on the team when Al Davis died four years ago. None of those five players are starters.
Latest On Los Angeles
Sources have suggested to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News that Rams owner Stan Kroenke might simply go back to the Edward Jones Dome on one-year leases and turn attention to Toronto or London. Alternatively, if the Chargers and Raiders move to Los Angeles, the Bay Area and San Diego could be markets he considers as a new home for the Rams. It’s not immediately clear if an international move or relocation to Oakland or San Diego is a consideration for Kroenke. I’m personally skeptical of the probability of those ideas, they are interesting to note as the race to Los Angeles continues.
Here’s more on L.A..
- Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters, including Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) that he’s encouraged by the fact that there are two possibilities for how to enter the L.A. market at this time. Right now, those two plans are ostensibly the Rams‘ proposed project in Inglewood and the joint Chargers/Raiders plan for Carson, Calif.
- While those are the two competing plans at this time, a source tells Bonsignore (Twitter link) that there seems to be a lot of pressure to put the Rams and Chargers in a room together. Due to financial constraints, many have wondered if the Raiders could wind up getting squeezed out.
- The NFL’s return to Los Angeles seems both inevitable and hugely complicated, James Bell of USA Today writes.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/7/15
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from across the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: David Foucault OT (Twitter link)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: G/C Ryan Seymour (Twitter link), LB John Timu (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Dominique Jones, WR Julian Talley (press release)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: WR Donatella Luckett (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Cut: CB Carrington Byndom (Twitter link via Eric Williams of ESPN.com)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Rannell Hall, WR Adam Humphries (press release)
Latest On Los Angeles
Raiders owner Mark Davis could be on the verge of selling a piece of the team to a Los Angeles investor, a source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter). The sale of a minority stake would be done in hopes of facilitating a move of the team from Oakland to the Los Angeles area. The Raiders might need a shot in the arm as there has been speculation that a deal can be brokered between the Rams and Chargers, busting up the current partnership between Oakland and the Bolts.
Meanwhile, after the conclusion of the owners meetings, Steelers owner Art Rooney told Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links) he expects a vote on a potential move in January. Interested teams will submit their applications after season, he added. The league has not expedited the relocation process or changed any of the deadlines, however, and it’s possible that no move will take place for the 2016 season.
Latest On Rams, Chargers, Raiders, L.A.
The NFL’s team owners are meeting this week, and while those meetings are taking place in New York, it’s another major U.S. city that’s dominating discussions: Los Angeles. With the league considering possible relocation, Peter King of TheMMQB.com writes that a franchise may not move to L.A. until 2017, and it could be end up being either one or two teams.
According to King, owners aren’t expected to make a decision until January, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of notable updates to keep an eye on this week. Let’s dive in….
- Team owners are somewhat at odds over the best path back to Los Angeles, as Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times details. While Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is among the proponents of Stan Kroneke‘s plan for the Rams, Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and Texans owner Bob McNair are believed to prefer the Carson project, since they reportedly feel that Chargers owner Dean Spanos has done more to exhaust stadium possibilities in his own market.
- Speaking of Kroenke, the Rams owner ticked off one check-box today for a potential move to L.A., as his fellow owners approved his cross-ownership proposal. Kroenke will retain ownership of the Rams, transferring ownership of the NBA’s Denver Nuggets and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche to his wife, writes Farmer.
- While the Chargers and Raiders are ostensibly partners in the Carson plan, there has been speculation that perhaps a deal can be brokered between the Rams and Chargers, writes Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. If Kroenke and Spanos were to reach an agreement that would allow their two franchises to share the Rams’ proposed Hollywood Park location, it would leave the Raiders on the outside, but owner Mark Davis says he believes “everything is going to work out” for his club.
- There are no formal presentations from team owners on Los Angeles scheduled for today, but Kroenke, Spanos, and Davis will have an opportunity to address their fellow owners, should they choose to, tweets Judy Battista of the NFL Network.
- According to Jim Trotter of ESPN (via Twitter), he’s getting the vibe at the owners’ meetings that it will take a successful Hail Mary to keep the Chargers in San Diego long-term.
- Count Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie among the owners who believes there will be a team in Los Angeles in 2016, tweets Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal.
- With St. Louis vying to keep the Rams, their stadium project got good news and bad news this week. The stadium secured a $158MM naming rights deal with National Car Rental, as David Hunn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details. However, Ray Hartmann of St. Louis Magazine reports that the St. Louis stadium plan calls for $215MM more in taxpayers’ money than what was initially anticipated.