Minor NFL Transactions: 11/26/19
Today’s minor transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DE Austin Larkin
Washington Redskins
- Waived: DE Ryan Bee
Jaguars Sign S Marcus Gilchrist
Marcus Gilchrist has secured his next gig. The veteran safety has signed with the Jaguars, reports ESPN’s Michael DiRocco (via Twitter). In a corresponding move, the team placed linebacker Najee Goode on the injured reserve.
Gilchrist started 16 games for the Raiders last season, finishing with 58 tackles, six passes defended, and three picks. However, he was ranked 86th among 95 qualified safeties by Pro Football Focus, and he went without a job heading into the 2019 regular season. The 30-year-old signed with the Lions back in October, but he was cut two days later.
The Jaguars are currently rostering four safeties in Jarrod Wilson, Ronnie Harrison, Cody Davis, and Andrew Wingard. There were hints that the team was in search of reinforcement after they worked out DeShawn Shead earlier today.
Goode, 30, joined the Jaguars this offseason. The linebacker appeared in 10 games (four starts) for the Jags this season, compiling 21 tackles, one sack, and two passes defended. Goode recently suffered a knee injury, forcing him to the sideline. Rookie Quincy Williams will step up in his place.
Titans Place Cameron Wake On IR
The Titans will have to play without one of their key pass rushers the rest of the way. They placed Cameron Wake on IR Tuesday. Wake signed with the Titans this offseason, but an injury will shelve the 37-year-old standout.
Wake registered 2.5 sacks this season, but each of those came in the Titans’ Week 1 win over the Browns. He signed a three-year, $23MM deal with the Titans in March. The team has not disclosed the nature of the injury.
The former Dolphins sack artist has certainly not made the same kind of impact with the Titans, having made just four tackles this season. Still, those 2.5 sacks in Cleveland moved him past 100 for his career. Sitting on 100.5, Wake is tied for 31st all time. Although the four-time Pro Bowler has been used in a situational capacity, with second-year edge player Harold Landry serving as Tennessee’s top sack threat, Wake did play a season-high 37 snaps against Jacksonville.
This will also mark just the second time in Wake’s 11-year NFL career he will have missed more than two games in a season. Other than going on Miami’s IR list midway through the 2015 season, Wake has been one of the NFL’s most durable players.
Tennessee promoted outside linebacker Derick Roberson and cornerback Kareem Orr from its practice squad, while also placing defensive back Chris Milton on IR.
Giants Waive WR Bennie Fowler
The Giants will make an adjustment to their wide receiver group. Despite Golden Tate now residing in concussion protocol, the Giants waived Bennie Fowler.
This marks the second time this season the Giants have cut the seventh-year veteran. They did so in October, when Tate’s suspension ended. While Fowler was released then, due to being a vested veteran, he will hit the waiver wire now. No team signed him immediately upon his October release, however, so he may well head back to free agency.
Fowler had been with Big Blue for two seasons, playing in 18 games and operating as an auxiliary target for Eli Manning and Daniel Jones. The former Broncos UDFA, who worked with wideouts coach Tyke Tolbert in both Denver and New York, caught 39 passes for 392 yards and a touchdown as a Giant.
Fowler, however, was not active for Sunday’s game against the Bears. He is probably best known for catching Peyton Manning‘s final NFL pass — a two-point conversion in Super Bowl 50. Fowler has joined fellow ex-Bronco Cody Latimer on the Giants the past two seasons, with each re-signing with New York this offseason.
Browns Cut Devaroe Lawrence
The Browns have released Devaroe Lawrence, per a club announcement. The release of Lawrence will open up a spot for fellow defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, who is returning from suspension.
[RELATED: NFL Upholds Larry Ogunjobi’s Suspension]
Cutting Lawrence wasn’t necessarily an easy call for the Browns. Prior to his release, Lawrence appeared in all eleven games for Cleveland while appearing in 30% of the team’s snaps.
Per league rules, he’ll hit the waiver wire as a post-trade deadline cut. The league’s 31 other teams will have a 24 hour window to claim him and it’s possible that he could get picked up. Lawrence would only cost the prorated portion of his $570K salary for 2019 and is slated to make just $660K next year.
Lawrence, 27, has eight tackles and one fumble recovery to his credit this year.
Vikings Waive Josh Doctson
The Vikings have waived Josh Doctson, according to a team press release. To take his place on the roster, the club promoted linebacker Cameron Smith from the practice squad. 
Doctson, 26, hasn’t lived up to his 2016 first-round draft billing. He effectively lost his rookie season to injury and didn’t show much in his subsequent seasons with the Redskins. The Vikings gave him a shot this year, but he leaves Minnesota without recording a single reception.
It’s bad news for Doctson, but potentially excellent news when it comes to Adam Thielen‘s recovery. Thielen has been sidelined by a hamstring injury, but his return may be just around the corner. Unfortunately, the release of Doctson will not foreshadow the return of Chad Beebe. The wide receiver was nearing his potential return from injured reserve, but this week’s ankle surgery means that he will not be able to play again in 2019.
The Vikings are 8-3 following back-to-back wins over the Broncos and Cowboys. Next up – a Monday night showdown against the Seahawks.
Colts Sign TE Matt Lengel
The Colts aren’t finished revamping their tight end corps. After placing Eric Ebron on injured reserve and adding Ross Travis, the Colts have also signed tight end Matt Lengel, reports Mike Chappell CBS4 Sports in Indy (via Twitter).
The 2015 undrafted free agent out of Eastern Kentucky has bounced around the NFL a bit, spending time with five organizations (not including two stints with the Bengals). Lengel caught two passes for 22 yards and one touchdown during the Patriots’ Super-Bowl-winning 2016 campaign, and he had another three receptions for 17 yards and one score in 11 games (two starts) with the Bengals last season.
Indy placed Ebron on the injured reserve early today after learning that the tight end would need surgery on both of his ankles. The Colts initially brought in Travis, who played four games for the organization in 2017, to replace the veteran. An ACL wiped out Travis’s entire 2018 season, meaning the 26-year-old hasn’t seen the field in more than a year.
The Colts’ new additions will join a depth chart that also features Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox. Indy is also hopeful that they’ll have T.Y. Hilton and Devin Funchess in the lineup against the Titans this weekend.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/25/19
A handful of practice squad moves to pass along:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: K Greg Joseph
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Picasso Nelson Jr.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Malik Jefferson
The signing of Joseph is somewhat notable, as Panthers kicker Joey Slye missed three field goals during his team’s three-point loss to the Saints yesterday. Joseph appeared in 10 games for the Browns last year, converting 17 of his 20 field goal attempts and 25 of his 29 extra point tries. Elsewhere, Nelson Jr. is in contention for one of the best first names in the league.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/25/19
Monday’s minor transactions:
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: CB Shakial Taylor
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Carl Davis
- Waived: WR C.J. Board
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: DL Jeremiah Valoaga
- Placed on IR: DE Damontre Moore (story)
Eagles Waive WR Jordan Matthews
Jordan Matthews‘ third stint with the Eagles is over. Philadelphia made the decision to waive its on-again, off-again wide receiver on Monday.
An Eagle from 2014-16, Matthews caught on with his original NFL team in 2018 and again this season. This reunion did not produce much statistically. The sixth-year veteran caught four passes for 33 yards, serving as insurance for an injury-battered Philly wideout corps.
DeSean Jackson has missed most of this season, and Alshon Jeffery missed another game on Sunday. The Eagles lost to the Seahawks, dropping to 5-6. They did so with a wideout skeleton crew. This latest Matthews departure could point to Jeffery being ready for Week 13.
The 27-year-old wideout has not recaptured the form he showed during his first Philadelphia stay, when he surpassed 800 yards in three straight seasons. He also failed to make an impact in Buffalo, following a 2017 trade, or San Francisco. Given Matthews’ history with the Eagles, it cannot be assumed he’s done with the franchise. But Philly’s Week 13 crew against Miami is not set to include him.