NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/4/19
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Drew Anderson, WR Saeed Blacknall, DL Lyndon Johnson.
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: G Will Holden
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Bug Howard
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Cole Herdman
- Released: LB Anthony Pittman
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DT P.J. Johnson, WR Tyron Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Nate Wozniak
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB Jordan Brown, WR De’Mornay Pierson-El, TE Cole Wick
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Tremon Smith
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Kylie Fitts, LB Tanner Vallejo
- Waived: DL Caraun Reid
Indianapolis Colts
- Reverted to season-ending IR after 21-day activation window closed: WR Devin Funchess
New Orleans Saints
- Reverted to season-ending IR after 21-day activation window closed: WR Keith Kirkwood
- Waived: TE Dan Arnold
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DB Antone Exum
Ravens Claim C Hroniss Grasu
With Matt Skura out for the season, the Ravens gave the Week 13 center snaps to a player without much experience at the position. On Wednesday, they claimed a former starting center, Hroniss Grasu, off waivers from the Titans, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Patrick Mekari started for Baltimore against San Francisco and played all 65 offensive snaps, but the rookie UDFA out of Cal had not previously started an NFL or college game at center. Grasu provides some insurance.
The former Bears starter has made 13 NFL starts, including one with the Ravens last season, since being a 2015 third-round pick. The Titans waived him earlier this week after not using him in a game this season. The Ravens cut Grasu late last season, leading him to stints with the Dolphins and Titans.
The Ravens waived defensive lineman Zach Sieler to clear a roster spot for Grasu, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets.
Colts Claim K Chase McLaughlin
The Colts currently have two kickers on their roster. They claimed rookie Chase McLaughlin off waivers from the 49ers, calling Adam Vinatieri‘s status into question.
To make room on their 53-man roster, the Colts waived tight end Matt Lengel. McLaughlin served as a replacement kicker for both the Chargers and 49ers this season. The latter waived him Tuesday.
Vinatieri has trudged through a brutal season and is now on the Colts’ injury report with a knee issue. He made it through a limited practice Wednesday. Considering Vinatieri’s injury- and performance-related concerns, McLaughlin looks set to kick for a third team this season.
In his 14th year with the Colts, Vinatieri has missed eight field goals and six extra points. The future Hall of Famer’s ineffectiveness has undoubtedly affected Indianapolis’ position in the standings. The 46-year-old specialist missed two kicks in Week 13, with one being blocked and returned for a touchdown.
The 24th-year veteran resisted an early-season retirement but has not found the rhythm from prior seasons. His 68% connect rate is the worst of his career, so it will be interesting to see if the Colts carry two kickers into their Week 14 game.
McLaughlin has made 13 of 17 field goals, with all four misses coming from between 40-49 yards, and was successful on all 15 of his extra point tries. The 23-year-old Illinois alum made the only 50-yard kick he’s attempted as a pro.
Dolphins Claim WR Mack Hollins
Another veteran wide receiver will head to Miami via waiver claim. The Dolphins submitted a successful claim for former Eagles wideout Mack Hollins on Wednesday.
Hollins follows Trevor Davis, whom the Raiders recently cut, to south Florida. The Dolphins have lost multiple receivers to season-ending injuries in recent weeks.
The Dolphins also signed offensive lineman Evan Brown off the Giants’ practice squad. They waived offensive lineman Chris Reed and cornerback Ken Crawley, the latter with an injury designation, to make room on their 53-man roster.
With their receiver situation battling injuries for most of the season, the Eagles gave Hollins extensive work. He played in at least 50% of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps in six games this season but produced just 10 receptions for 125 yards. The 2017 fourth-round pick’s rookie contract runs through 2020, so the Dolphins will have a chance to evaluate him in the offseason as well.
The Dolphins signed Reed to a low-end two-year deal this offseason; he played in five games with one start. Brown is a rookie UDFA out of SMU who’s played three snaps this season. A former Saints corner, Crawley played in four Dolphins games this season.
Lions’ Kerryon Johnson Designated To Return
Lions running back Kerryon Johnson has been designated to return from injured reserve, head coach Matt Patricia announced on Wednesday. Johnson will be eligible to play in Week 16 against the Broncos, though it’s not guaranteed that he’ll be activated. 
The Lions are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs at 3-8-1, so the decision to play Johnson won’t be an easy one to make. The running back would surely like to see his first action since the sixth game of the season, but the Lions won’t want to risk further injury to one of their top skill players.
If nothing else, the move allows Johnson to practice with the club, starting today. Johnson, 22, was averaging just 3.3 yards per carry prior to the injury, but impressed in a limited sample as a rookie. In 2018, Johnson finished with 641 rushing yards on 118 attempts, good for a 5.4 yards per carry average. And, in Week 3 of that season, he snapped the Lions’ streak of 70 games without a 100-yard rusher.
The Lions, without Johnson in the lineup, will finish the year against the Vikings, Bucs, Broncos, and Packers. If the season ended today, they’d own the No. 6 overall pick.
Ravens Sign Patrick Ricard To Extension
The Ravens and fullback Patrick Ricard have agreed to a new deal, per a club announcement. The extension will take Ricard through the 2021 season. 
The two-year add-on is worth $7.3MM, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). In effect, the deal matches the $3MM+ RFA tender he would have received for 2020, plus one year worth $4MM.
The Ravens have been discussing a new contract with Ricard throughout the year and, with months to spare before free agency, they got it done. Before this, the former undrafted free agent out of Maine was playing out the final year of a three-year, $1.66MM deal. The new pact should give him a pay bump, plus a bit of security in the event of an injury.
Through 12 games this year, Ricard has eight catches for 47 yards and one touchdown. More importantly, he’s provided quality pass blocking, as evidenced by his position leading score from Pro Football Focus.
In other Ravens news, safety Brynden Trawick has been activated from injured reserve. He’ll be eligible to play right away, starting with Sunday’s road contest against the Bills.
49ers Designate Kentavius Street To Return
The 49ers will designate defensive tackle Kentavius Street for return, according to Matt Barrows of TheAthletic.com (on Twitter). Street will take the practice field this week and may practice for up to three weeks before the Niners decide on bringing him back. 
Street missed the first three months of the season after undergoing knee surgery in early September. Between that and a torn ACL suffered before the draft, the 2018 fourth-round pick has yet to play in a regular season game. If not for the injury, Street would have been a much earlier selection.
The 49ers won’t have to cut anyone to make way for Street – the Tuesday release of kicker Chase McLaughlin left them with 52 men on the roster.
At 10-2, the Niners have all but cemented their playoff spot. They’ll face the Saints on Sunday in a monster NFC matchup, followed by games against the Falcons, Rams, and Seahawks.
Chiefs Sign RB Spencer Ware
The Chiefs are banged up at running back, so they’re turning to a familiar face for reinforcement. The team has signed veteran running back Spencer Ware, reports Herbie Teope of The Kansas City Star (via Twitter). In a corresponding move, the Chiefs cut wideout Gehrig Dieter.
Starting running back Damien Williams missed the Chiefs’ blowout over the Raiders with a rib injury, and Darrell Williams suffered a hamstring injury during the contest. That left Kansas City with only two healthy running backs heading into this Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots: 31-year-old LeSean McCoy and sixth-round rookie Darwin Thompson.
So in comes Ware, who spent four years with the Chiefs between 2015 and 2018. The LSU product had his best season in 2016, when he ran for 921 yards and three scores on 214 carries. He also added another 33 receptions for 447 yards and two touchdowns that season. Ware sat out the 2017 campaign recovering from a torn PCL and knee damage, and he saw a reduced role for the Chiefs in 13 games last year.
Ware signed with the Colts back in April, but he was placed on the PUP list after after undergoing ankle surgery. He was ultimately cut by Indy in late September. He hasn’t seen the field for the 2019 campaign, but he has auditioned for the Cardinals, Raiders, and Buccaneers.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/3/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Trevon Young
- Cut: DB A.J. Howard
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Nate Hall
- Released: TE Jerell Adams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Malik Henry
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Paul Perkins
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Tyron Johnson
- Cut: LB Jeff Holland
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Xavier Crawford
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE Kevin Wilkins
- Cut: DB Chris Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Chris Thompson
- Released: OT Will Holden