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
Jets Place C.J. Mosley On IR
The Jets have placed linebacker C.J. Mosley on injured reserve, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Mosley inked a five-year, $85MM deal with the Jets in the offseason but, so far, has played just two games in green. 
For a while now, there has been talk of season-ending surgery for Mosley and his groin/abdomen injury. Now, it appears he’ll be going under the knife, even though he tried hard to avoid that scenario.
“If I can do anything to avoid ending my season, I’m going to try it,” Mosley said in November. “That’s really the main reason why I got the shot. I have a 50-50 chance. I’d rather do that than cut my body open. That was the thinking on that. … Worst-case scenario: I’ll have to get surgery if (recovery from the PRP injections) next week doesn’t go well.”
Mosley’s cap number spikes from $13MM to $17.5MM next year on a deal that includes $43MM in fully guaranteed money. It was a record-breaker for off-ball linebackers and the Jets hope it won’t be a backbreaker for them as they look to reshape their defense yet again.
To take his place on the roster, the Jets turned to another ex-Raven: defensive back Bennett Jackson. The 2014 draft pick was waived by Baltimore this week, shortly after he made his long-awaited NFL debut.
Saints Sign LB Manti Te’o
Manti Te’o is back in New Orleans. On Tuesday, the Saints signed the 28-year-old linebacker, according to Sean Fazende of FOX8 (on Twitter). 
Te’o wrapped up a two-year pact with the Saints last year and did not sign on with another club for 2019, until now. He didn’t do a whole lot in 2018, but, in 2017, he started in eleven games for the Saints and played reasonably well.
For his career, the Notre Dame product has started in 47 contests, though he’s lost a good deal of time to injuries since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2013.
The Saints hope he can stay healthy, because he’s going to be relied upon for some badly needed depth in the linebacker group. There’s no word just yet on Kiko Alonso‘s status heading into Sunday’s game against the 49ers, but this probably isn’t a great sign for his availability.
Titans Claim CB Tramaine Brock
The Titans claimed cornerback Tramaine Brock off waivers from the Cardinals, a source tells NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). The move gives the Titans veteran support for their ailing secondary and brings Brock to a team still in the playoff chase. 
Brock, long regarded as one of the league’s better slot corners, joined the Cardinals in April. The deal reunited the veteran with Vance Joseph, who set out to build an experienced CB unit for 2019.
The 31-year-old was having a solid individual year, even as the Cardinals struggled. He left Arizona after tallying 37 stops, two tackles for a loss, and three passes defensed across ten games this season.
Brock was dealing with an injury of his own – a hamstring ailment – but is now believed to be healthy. He’ll look to show his stuff for the Titans, who will pay him the remainder of his modest $1MM base salary.
Bengals Activate John Ross
The Bengals have their first win and their former first-round wide receiver back in action. On Tuesday, they officially activated wide receiver John Ross off of the injured reserve list. 
Ross has been out since injuring his sternoclavicular joint in Week 4. Last month, they designated him for return, opening up a multi-week practice window. Now that Ross has been brought back within that timeframe, he’ll be eligible to play again in 2019.
Ross, the No. 9 overall pick in 2017, was written off by many as a bust, but showed some signs of life early on this year. Injuries and a lack of trust from Marvin Lewis had plagued Ross’ first two years in Cincy, but he started the season with 16 catches for 328 yards and three touchdowns in four games.
There’s now reason to believe that Ross could blossom into the top-level deep threat the Bengals were hoping for back in 2017. This is, of course, a lost season for the Bengals, but it’s a ripe opportunity for Ross to work his way back from his shoulder injury and cement his place in the team’s plans moving forward.
The Bengals figure to make lots of changes this offseason, but Ross figures to be an integral part of the offense in 2020. He remains under his rookie deal, which runs through 2020. He’ll carry a $5.45MM cap number in his final year, but the Bengals can add a fifth season via his rookie option.
To make room for Ross, the team waived rookie wide receiver Damion Willis for the second time this year.
Colts Promote WR Chad Williams
The Colts promoted wide receiver Chad Williams to the active roster on Tuesday, per a club announcement. Williams gives them another healthy wide receiver at a time when the group has been perilously thinned out.
[RELATED: Colts Meet With Dontrelle Inman]
This week, the Colts learned that Chester Rogers will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Even before that, T.Y. Hilton and Parris Campbell were both out of action in last Sunday’s loss to the Titans. Williams now joins Zach Pascal, Marcus Johnson, and Ashton Dulin as the club’s only healthy wide receivers.
Williams, a former third-round pick of the Cardinals, caught 20 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown for Arizona in 2017 and 2018. This offseason, he found his way to the Colts practice squad after missing the Cardinals’ final cut.
Packers Claim Tyler Ervin
On Monday, the Packers announced that they have claimed former Jaguars running back Tyler Ervin. In a related move, the Packers dropped kick returner kick and punt returner Tremon Smith.
Smith, a 2018 sixth-round pick, broke onto the scene early on with the Chiefs and earned NFL All-Rookie Team honors as a return man. He ultimately finished the 2018 season with 33 kick returns for 886 yards (26.8-yard average). He played sparingly on defense, despite being formally listed as a cornerback, compiling only five tackles and one pass defended in 14 games. The Chiefs also briefly experimented with him at running back on the practice field and in preseason. This year, he appeared in seven games for Green Bay and returned 13 kicks for 303 yards, good for a 23.3 yard average.
After their latest special teams shuffle, the Packers will return to action on Sunday to take on the Redskins at Lambeau Field. At 9-3, they have a 93% chance of reaching the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/2/19
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Brett Rypien
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Devaroe Lawrence
Raiders Waive WR Trevor Davis
The Raiders have waived wide receiver Trevor Davis, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Davis joined the Raiders via trade from the Packers earlier this season, but he won’t finish out the year in Oakland. 
Davis returned 13 punts for 111 yards this year, averaging 8.5 yards per try. He also returned 19 kickoffs of 411 yards, good for a 21.6 yards per return average. The Raiders, ultimately, gave up a 2020 sixth-round pick and a low-end salary for the rental.
By releasing Davis, the Raiders will make way for the the return of linebacker Marquel Lee. Lee appeared in three games for the Raiders earlier this year before an ankle injury put him on IR. The 2017 fifth-round pick has 87 tackles and three passes defensed across 32 career appearances for the Raiders.
Patriots Waive K Kai Forbath
The Patriots have waived kicker Kai Forbath, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). To fill his spot on the roster, the Pats claimed defensive tackle Albert Huggins off of waivers from the Eagles. 
[RELATED: Rob Gronkowski Ineligible To Return In 2019]
The Patriots signed Forbath last week as a one-game fill-in for Nick Folk. Forbath made his lone field goal attempt from 23 yards out, but missed one of his two extra point tries. It’s believed that Folk will be ready to go for Sunday, but even if he’s not, the Patriots will look for help elsewhere.
The cup of coffee completes yet another NFL stop for Forbath, who has now kicked in games for the Patriots, Redskins, Saints, Vikings, and Jaguars. Meanwhile, he’s the Patriots fourth kicker of the 2019 season, following Stephen Gostkowski, Mike Nugent, and Folk.
With the Pats, Folk has connected on 7-of-9 field goal tries and all three of his extra point attempts across three games. Two of those misses in his last outing against the Cowboys, but the Pats still came away with the 13-9 win, with Folk’s 42-yard connection in the fourth quarter helping to seal the deal.
After Sunday’s loss to the Texans, the 10-2 Patriots will finish out the regular season against the Chiefs, Bengals, Bills, and Dolphins.