Minor Moves: Tuesday
Here are Tuesday’s minor 53-man roster moves from around the NFL:
- The Vikings will sign tackle J’Marcus Webb once Phil Loadholt is placed on IR, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter). Webb was brought in for a workout today along with Eric Winston.
- Per Howard Balzer of the SportsXchange (via Twitter), the Rams have tweaked their 53-man roster, cutting wide receiver Damian Williams and promoting tight end Justice Cunningham from their practice squad.
- The Giants have confirmed their signing of Terrell Manning (noted below), waiving linebacker Justin Anderson to make the move official, tweets ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.
- According to the Dolphins (Twitter link), cornerback Jalil Brown has been cut to make room for R.J. Stanford, whose signing is noted below.
Earlier updates:
- The Titans have swapped one offensive lineman for another, placing starting center Brian Schwenke on injured reserve and signing interior lineman Eric Olsen to replace him, says Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter links). Presumably, Chris Spencer, who replaced Schwenke on Sunday after the second-year starter suffered a knee injury, will be the starting center going forward, with Olsen providing depth.
- The Dolphins have added a cornerback, according to agent David Canter, who tweets that his client R.J. Stanford has signed with Miami. The move has yet to be announced by the team, so it’s not clear yet what the corresponding cut will be, but there’s a decent chance that it could involve Jamar Taylor landing on injured reserve — the cornerback left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury and at least one report indicated it could end his season.
- We heard earlier today that Chargers center Rich Ohrnberger was expected to miss the rest of the season with a back injury, and the team has confirmed as much, announcing in a press release that Ohrnberger has been placed on injured reserve. San Diego has promoted linebacker Cordarro Law from the club’s practice squad to the active roster to fill the newly-created opening.
- The Bengals announced another team’s roster move today, tweeting that linebacker Terrell Manning had been signed off their practice squad by the Giants. For their part, the Giants haven’t yet made the signing official by announcing a corresponding move.
- Washington has released linebacker Akeem Jordan from its injured reserve list, making him a free agent, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times.
Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday
Already today, we’ve passed along word on practice squad signings and cuts made by the Buccaneers and Lions. Here are the rest of Tuesday’s practice squad transactions from around the NFL, with the latest updates added to the list throughout the day:
- According to the NFL transaction report, the Chargers added cornerback Richard Crawford to their practice squad, according to Eric Williams of ESPN.com (on Twitter). San Diego waived Crawford from the active roster late last week.
- The Colts have signed defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles to their practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). Quarles, 22, was released by the Colts yesterday to make room for linebacker Victor Butler. The Colts’ practice squad is currently full, so another move should be on the way.
- Although he auditioned for the Cardinals today, running back Kapri Bibbs will return to Denver and be added to the Broncos‘ practice squad, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
- Linebacker Keith Pough, who was released to make room for Josh Gordon the Browns‘ roster, has been re-signed to the club’s practice squad, replacing wide receiver L’Damian Washington, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Cardinals released tackle Kelvin Palmer from their practice squad today, creating an opening on the unit, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Texans cut a tackle of their own, removing Chris Martin from their taxi squad, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
- After being released from the Falcons‘ active roster, receiver Freddie Martino cleared waivers and joined the team’s practice squad, replacing wideout Ryan Spadola, per ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (via Twitter).
Earlier updates:
- Former Patriots linebacker Ja’Gared Davis has signed with the Chiefs‘ practice squad, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Kansas City had been carrying nine players on its squad, so Davis fills that 10th and final spot, and no corresponding move is necessary.
- In addition to confirming the addition of wide receiver and return man Griff Whalen to their practice squad, the Colts announced today that they’ve signed Jeff Demps to the unit, releasing running back Michael Hill to make room. Demps, a former Olympic sprinter, is also listed as a running back by Indianapolis.
- You can find the up-to-date list of all 32 practice squad rosters right here.
Ohrnberger, Buckley Likely Out For Season
With just five weeks left in the NFL’s regular season, even shorter-term injuries can spell the end of a player’s season, and it appears two more won’t return until 2015. According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Chargers center Rich Ohrnberger will undergo back surgery and will be placed on injured reserve, while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Saints believe defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley tore his quad, ending his season.
Ohrnberger, 28, will become the third San Diego center whose 2014 campaign has been cut short by injury, following Nick Hardwick and Doug Legursky to the IR list. In his absence, Chris Watt, who received the first start of his NFL career this past weekend, is expected to continue to hold the job. The Chargers will also open up a spot on their 53-man roster when Ohrnberger officially lands on IR, perhaps leading to the promotion or signing of another offensive lineman.
As for Bunkley, his diagnosis is still pending the result of an MRI, but according to Rapoport, his season is “almost certainly over.” With 276 defensive snaps this year, Bunkley was New Orleans’ second-most-used defensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). I’d expect increased roles for players like John Jenkins and Tyrunn Walker over the last few weeks of the season.
Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday
As usual, Tuesday means plenty of practice squad signings and cuts for teams around the NFL. Here are today’s practice squad moves, with the latest updates added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- To make room for their new practice squad additions, the Broncos have released defensive end Zach Thompson and wide receiver Douglas McNeil, tweets Mike Klis of The Denver Post.
- The Saints signed former Chiefs inside linebacker Jerry Franklin to their practice squad, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
- According to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com (via Twitter), tackle Mark Asper and defensive back Josh Bush have joined the Broncos‘ practice squad. Denver previously had a full 10-man unit, so we’ll have to wait for word on which players are being replaced.
- The Bengals have swapped one linebacker for another on their taxi squad, signing Terrell Manning and dropping Justin Jackson, per the team (Twitter link).
- The Cowboys have made a few changes to their practice squad, releasing guard Jeff Baca and linebacker Will Smith and adding linebacker Keith Smith and cornerback Robert Steeples to replace them (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
- Rookie running back Dominique Williams, who was with the Vikings in camp, has re-signed with the team, joining the practice squad, according to a press release. Minnesota had a full 10-man unit, but now no longer lists safety Pierre Warren on its roster, so perhaps he was signed away by another club — the Saints, Warren’s former team, would be the most likely candidate.
- In addition to making multiple changes to their 53-man roster, the Colts also tweaked their practice squad today, adding running back Michael Hill and cutting wide receiver Eric Thomas, the team announced today. We’ll have to wait to see whether Hill, the only running back on Indianapolis’ practice squad, has a chance to be promoted in Ahmad Bradshaw‘s absence, or if the team will opt for a veteran replacement instead.
- The Falcons have filled the 10th and final spot on their taxi squad by signing former Oregon defensive tackle Ricky Havili-Heimuli, per Jay Adams of AtlantaFalcons.com (Twitter link).
- Having recently worked out for the club, cornerback Marcus Cromartie has joined the 49ers‘ practice squad, replacing tight end Xavier Grimble, who has been cut, according to the club (Twitter link).
- Outside linebacker Cordarro Law, who was cut from the Chargers‘ active roster prior to Sunday’s game against the Raiders, has re-signed with the team’s practice squad, according to the Chargers’ transactions list.
Minor Moves: Tuesday
In addition to making practice squad changes, teams around the league are also adding and subtracting players from their 53-man rosters today. We’ll round up some of those minor transactions in this space, with the latest moves added at the top of the list:
- The Texans have released Ricky Sapp from injured reserve, according to Wilson (on Twitter). Sapp was placed on IR on October 7th to make room for the signing of linebacker John Simon to the 53-man roster.
- The Titans have cut linebacker James Anderson, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). Anderson, 31, started all 16 games last season for the Bears. While Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required) ranked Anderson 33rd out of 35 qualified 4-3 outside linebackers in 2013, his poor grade was due in large part to subpar performance against the run — he was one of the league’s more effective linebackers in pass coverage. This year he saw time in seven games as a reserve.
- The Bears have added receiver and return man Marc Mariani to their roster on a two-year contract, waiving safety Ahmad Dixon to make room for the incoming player, the team announced today (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
- The Cardinals had hoped Troy Niklas‘ ankle injury wouldn’t be season-ending, but that optimism didn’t last long. As Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com writes, the team placed the rookie tight end on injured reserve today, ending his season. To replace Niklas, the Cards signed veteran tight end Matthew Mulligan, who was on the Bears’ roster earlier this season.
- The Seahawks have officially confirmed the previously-reported signings of offensive lineman Lemuel Jeanpierre and defensive tackle Travian Robertson, cutting offensive tackle Andrew McDonald and defensive back Steven Terrell to accommodate the new additions. Jeanpierre and Robertson will get a chance to play at center and defensive tackle, respectively, with Max Unger and Brandon Mebane injured.
- Chargers offensive lineman Jeromey Clary has been ruled out for the season and will remain on the reserve/PUP list, the team announced today in a press release. Clary needed to start practicing today if he hoped to play this season, but his hip injury will keep him sidelined until 2015.
Injury Updates: Sunday
There were a number of notable injuries today, and PFR’s Dallas Robinson already updated us on some ailing NFC players (Max Unger, Trent Williams and Rafael Bush). Let’s check out the latest on others who were hurt today, as well as a notable NCAA player whose season ended yesterday…
- Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has bruised ribs with possible cartilage damage, tweets NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. However, the writer notes that there is no fracture or lung injury.
- Chargers nose tackle Ryan Carrethers dislocated his elbow on Sunday, tweets Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego. He is expected to play through the injury and shouldn’t miss a game.
- Colts tight end Dwayne Allen left Sunday’s game with the assistance of a cart, tweets Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Allen injured his right ankle and will miss the rest of the game, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com.
- Colts running back Ahmad Bradshaw left Sunday night’s game in the fourth quarter, and Mike Chappell of RTV6 tweets that the running back will be taken for x-rays on his left ankle.
Earlier updates:
- Georgia running back Todd Gurley suffered a torn ACL in his first game back from suspension, according to Seth Emerson of Macon.com, and the writer notes that Gurley’s college career is likely finished. Regardless, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole tweets that “NFL folks” still believe the running back will be a first-round pick.
- Broncos tight end Julius Thomas suffered a sprained ankle in today’s game, according to NFL.com’ Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). He is set to have an MRI on Monday.
- Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald will undergo an MRI on Monday to check out the seriousness of his right MCL injury, writes ESPN’s Ed Werder.
NFL In LA: Jaguars Staying Put
The Jaguars are staying put in Jacksonville and will not be heading to Los Angeles, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. When former Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver sold the team to Shad Khan in 2011, there were rumors that the Jags could be on the move to the West Coast. However, Khan has quieted that talk, stating “Actions speak louder than words and [Jaguars fans are] finally seeing the actions match the talk.” Those actions, as O’Halloran points out, include Khan’s stated commitment to Jacksonville, a stadium lease that does not expire until 2030, and the $63MM in stadium enhancements that debuted in late July (Khan himself paid for $20MM of those enhancements).
But with NFL football apparently destined to remain in Jacksonville for the foreseeable future, rumors about the respective fates of the Rams, Chargers, and Raiders continue to swirl. As Brent Schrotenboer of USA Today writes, there could be as many as two spots available in Los Angeles, and each of the those three franchises “is driven by concerns that it could be stuck in its current market in an undesirable situation while the other two party up in their new shared palace.”
Of course, despite recent media reports that suggest the relocation of at least one franchise to Los Angeles is imminent, there are a number of obstacles to clear before that can happen, obstacles that Schrotenboer describes in great detail. One consideration that the league will take into account is the relative revenue gain it can anticipate from moving one or more teams to LA. San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the country, whereas Oakland and St. Louis are the 45th and 58th largest, respectively. As such, the league would have less to gain by a Chargers move than it would if the Rams or Raiders were to leave their current homes.
Nonetheless with the Jaguars essentially out of the picture, fans in St. Louis, Oakland, and San Diego have a little more reason for concern.
Poll: Best Head Coaching Candidates
Colts‘ offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and Browns‘ offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan have accomplished plenty on their offenses this season, with each team currently leading its current division through nine games. Those performances could lead to big paydays as head coaches next season.
They are not the only coordinators being rumored for head coaching jobs. Giants‘ offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo has been talked about as a possible successor for Tom Coughlin. Broncos‘ offensive coordinator Adam Gase could follow the path of his predecessor, Mike McCoy, who jumped from a record-setting Peyton Manning-led offense to the top job for the Chargers.
The defending champion Seahawks have taken a step back from last season, but the market may not have cooled on both of their coordinators. Both offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn have both been talked about as head coaching candidates, with particular interest coming from the Jets if general manager John Idzik is retained in New York and head coach Rex Ryan is fired.
Todd Bowles has helped put together a great defense in Arizona, as the Cardinals have gone 8-1 despite injuries on the defense. Lions‘ defensive coordinator Teryl Austin could be in a similar position, as his team is currently leading it’s division based on the strength of the defense.
Add to the mix the possibility of Jon Gruden or Bill Cowher returning to the sidelines, or even the possibility of a college coach like David Shaw of Stanford jumping to the NFL, and teams will have a number of options should they decide to pursue a new coach in 2015. That list does not include the head coaches that will lose their jobs at the end of the season, a number of them will hit the open market with impressive records of success. That list could include Ryan, Mike Smith, and Jim Harbaugh, among others.
Which Coordinator Would Make The Best Head Coach?
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Todd Bowles - Cardinals 25% (170)
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Pep Hamilton - Colts 19% (126)
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Kyle Shanahan - Browns 12% (78)
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Dan Quinn - Seahawks 11% (76)
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Adam Gase - Broncos 9% (63)
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Darrell Bevell - Seahawks 8% (57)
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Other 6% (44)
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Teryl Austin - Lions 5% (36)
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Ben McAdoo - Giants 4% (27)
Total votes: 677
Workout Notes: Wednesday
The latest workouts and auditions from around the NFL..
- The Seahawks worked out Mister Alexander and Fred Evans, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
- The Chargers worked out offensive lineman Michael Huey, according to Wilson (on Twitter). Huey had a brief stint with the Chargers in August of 2011 and has also spent time with the Seahawks. The 26-year-old has also racked up a slew of awards during his time in the Arena Football League with the Arizona Rattlers. Washington also took a look at Huey (link).
- The Bucs worked out wide receiver Chandler Jones, running back LaDarius Perkins, guard Jon Halapio, quarterback Garrett Gilbert, wide receiver Jeremy Gallon, and running back David Fluellen, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
- The Titans worked out quarterback B.J. Coleman and wide receiver Ja-Mes Logan, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
New Roadblocks For Los Angeles Move
Teams with interest in moving to the Los Angeles market have long been eyeing the available property at Inglewood’s Hollywood Park. However, the asking price is currently sky high and that could be another roadblock for the Raiders, Rams, and Chargers as they consider a possible move to the country’s No. 2 media market. Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter links) hears that Terry Fancher of Stockbridge Capital has asked for $500MM+ for the valuable property. One source told Cole he asked for more than $600MM for the land at one point. That’s a steep price, especially when considering that he paid just $260MM for it in 2005.
Cole tweets that if the land is purchased for even ~$300MM, that has to be added to the cost of building a brand new stadium, which would likely cost $1.5 billion. Add in the relocation fee which could be as high as $500MM (link), and the Hollywood Park site becomes far less palatable than it appears to be on the surface. The Rams and Raiders have looked into HP, but the Chargers have yet to do so. The Raiders have circulated a proposal around the Inglewood area in hopes of getting financing for a stadium, but that is considered “iffy, at best,” according to Cole (Twitter links).
Meanwhile, Chargers exec Mark Fabiani tells Nick Canepa of U-T San Diego that while the club wants to stay in San Diego, it has been forced to remain open to other possibilities.
“For nearly 13 years now — a period in which San Diego has seen seven different mayors — the Chargers have explored every possible stadium issue locally, and we continue that work now with Mayor Faulconer,” Fabiani said. “At the same time, the Chargers are prepared to do whatever necessary to protect the 30 percent of the team’s local revenue that now comes from the Los Angeles and Orange County markets. “It would be economically devastating to the Chargers if one of those teams is allowed to return to the L.A. market while the Chargers are trapped in an aging and outmoded stadium in San Diego.”