Titans Have Cap Flexibility
- The Raiders, Bengals, Buccaneers, Titans, and Bears are the teams that will have the most cap flexibility this offseason, Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap writes. If the Raiders want to make a splash, they can create up to $91MM in cap room by slashing the roster while only taking on $12.6MM in dead money. The Packers missed the top five cut, but they’re roughly in the same category as the others – they can free up $73MM with $29MM in leftover obligations.
Titans Place LeShaun Sims On IR
The Titans have placed cornerback LeShaun Sims on injured reserve, the team announced. To fill his spot on the roster, Tennessee signed fellow corner Demontre Hurst. 
Sims appeared in 13 games this season as the team’s No. 3 corner behind Logan Ryan and Adoree’ Jackson. It’s an unfortunate loss for the Titans as they fight for a playoff spot in the final two weeks of the season.
Sims’ season ends with 36 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble. He rates as Pro Football Focus’ No. 72 cornerback in the NFL, well behind Jackson (No. 37) and Ryan (No. 51), but well ahead of Brice McCain (102) who now advances to the No. 3 CB spot on the depth chart.
Hurst was with the Titans in camp but did not make their Week 1 cut. He could now have an opportunity to suit up for the playoffs and show that he is a fit for the team in 2018.
The Titans have a 66% chance of making the postseason, according to the New York Times‘ playoff odds calculator.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Vontarrius Dora, WR Rashad Ross
- Waived: LB Kevin Snyder
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: OL Javarius Leamon, OL Oni Omoile
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Trevon Hartfield
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Adairius Barnes
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: QB Jerod Evans
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Zach Conque
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Arthur Miley
- Waived: DT Jeremy Liggins
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB James Onwualu
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Bernard Reedy
- Waived: DL Marcus Hardison
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Amba Etta-Tawo
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: S Stefan McClure
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Alex Carter, DE Noble Nwachukwu
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE Johnny Maxey
- Waived: TE Jerome Cunningham
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DE Tavaris Barnes
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Carlton Agudosi
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Robenson Therezie
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Laurence Gibson, OL Ian Silberman
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Colby Pearson
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Ibraheim Campbell
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Kolby Listenbee
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: CB Marcus Sayles
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Joby Saint Fleur
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Jason Thompson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Jerome Cunningham
Marcus Mariota's Leg Injuries Could Require Surgery
- Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is still dealing with hamstring, leg, and ankle issues and could require surgery following the season, a source tells Paul Kuharsky of PaulKuharsky.com. Mariota, who missed the tail end of the 2016 campaign after breaking his fibula, suffered a hamstring injury earlier this year, and the combination of those leg ailments are now affecting the Tennessee signal-caller. His recent performance is evidence of the problem, as Mariota hasn’t topped 200 yards passing in any of the Titans’ last three contests (while throwing for only two touchdowns against four interceptions). Tennessee still looks like a solid bet for a postseason berth — 81% per FiveThirtyEight — but the club could be held back by a hampered Mariota.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/9/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Rashaad Coward
- Waived: LB Jonathan Anderson
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: G Joe Dahl
- Waived: S Rolan Milligan
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Cameron Lynch
- Waived: CB Dominique Hatfield
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Josh Carraway
- Waived: FB Jalston Fowler
Pollard Alliance Releases HC, GM Candidates
The Fritz Pollard Alliance met with the NFL this week and submitted names of suggested GM and head coaching candidates. The list, which is distributed to teams each year, recommends minority candidates for openings around the league. 
This year’s candidates for GM jobs are Joey Clinkscales (Raiders), Alonzo Highsmith (Packers), Ray Farmer (Rams consultant), Will McClay (Cowboys), and Doug Williams (Redskins), according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The head coaching candidates are Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Vikings DC George Edwards, Panthers DC Steve Wilks, and Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Farmer has ten years of front office experience under his belt, including two as the Browns’ GM. The team went 10-22 under his watch, so wouldn’t necessarily be an exciting choice for a team this offseason. The other four suggested candidates would be first-time GMs, if hired.
Austin has been considered a bonafide head coaching candidate for some time, but he has been left in a holding pattern. In the 2016 offseason, Austin opined that two of his four interviews were done solely to satisfy the Rooney Rule. This past year, he interviewed with the Rams and Chargers.
Absent from the list is former Bills GM Doug Whaley, who received a potentially bogus interview with the Browns this week.
Jeff Fisher Looking To Coach Again
Jeff Fisher is putting the wheels in motion for a return to coaching. The former Rams and Titans head coach has begun “contacting potential staff members,” sources tell Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. 
The Rams canned Fisher in the middle of the 2016 season. The relocation to Los Angeles did not give Fisher the clean slate he was hoping for and he’s now eager to salvage his legacy, La Canfora hears.
It remains to be seen whether teams will seriously entertain Fisher. In his nearly five year run with the Rams, Fisher went just 31-45-1 with zero playoff appearances. He had better success with the Titans, though they reached the Super Bowl just once in his 17 years. All in all, Fisher owns a career 173-165-1 regular season record.
The number of potential head coaching vacancies this offseason could give Fisher a puncher’s chance, however. By our count, there could be as many as ten teams looking for a new head coach this offseason, including the Giants. Some in the football world have suggested to La Canfora that the Browns could consider someone like Fisher given their inability to recruit top candidates in the past.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Darius Victor
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Darnell Sankey
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Aaron Green
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Michael Hunter
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DE Jeremiah Valoaga
- Waived: LB Thurston Armbrister
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Ahmad Thomas
Houston Texans
- Signed: QB Taylor Heinicke, TE Ryan Malleck, WR DeAndrew White
NFL Workout Updates: 11/28/17
Here are today’s workout updates, courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer unless otherwise noted.
Chicago Bears
- WR Mekale McKay, WR Canaan Severin, WR Rodney Smith (Twitter link)
Cleveland Browns
- LB Lavar Edwards, LB Jayrone Elliott, LB Marcus Rush, DE Devin Taylor (Twitter link)
Detroit Lions
- WR Eric Rogers, WR Daikiel Shorts
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
- DT Mike Purcell (Twitter link)
New York Jets
- DL Marcus Hardison
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Kenneth Olugbode, TE Hayden Plinke, RB Jhurell Pressley, RB Brandon Radcliff (Twitter link)
Tennessee Titans
- DL Stefan Charles, DL Johnny Maxey