Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/19
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Waived: OL Dan Skipper
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed off Ravens’ practice squad: DE Demone Harris
- Waived: DT Joey Ivie
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: C Patrick Morris
Texans Activate TE Jordan Thomas From IR
The Texans will have an additional tight end option beginning Thursday night. They activated Jordan Thomas off IR.
A second-year player acquired in the 2018 sixth round, Thomas has spent the entire regular season on IR. Thomas, who saw a cracked rib delay his sophomore NFL season, returned to practice last week.
The Mississippi State product started 10 games last season and played in 16. He caught 20 passes for 215 yards and scored four touchdowns as a rookie. Houston has seen Darren Fells deliver as a red zone option this season; his six receiving TDs already match the Texans’ single-season record. Adding Thomas to this mix stands to help Deshaun Watson, who will also get Will Fuller back tonight.
The Texans also promoted safety Jonathan Owens from their practice squad. Justin Reid and Mike Adams are out tonight, leaving Houston shorthanded on its back line. Houston waived defensive end Joel Heath and wideout Steven Mitchell to clear the necessary roster space.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/20/19
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad decisions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Tanner Vallejo
- Released: OL Ian Silberman
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Andy Jones
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Quincy Adeboyejo
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Derrick Baity
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/20/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jesper Horsted
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: S J.T. Hassell
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed off Colts’ practice squad: CB Deante Burton
- Placed on IR: CB Anthony Brown
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: LB Andrew Van Ginkel
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Gerald Willis
Lions Activate DE Austin Bryant From IR
One of several Clemson defensive linemen drafted this year, Austin Bryant is in line to make his NFL debut. The Lions activated Bryant from IR on Wednesday.
The defensive end will take the roster spot of fullback Nick Bawden, whom the Lions placed on IR. A foot injury will shelve Bawden.
Bryant joined first-rounders Clelin Ferrell, Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence on Clemson’s loaded D-line last season. Despite registering 17 sacks and 30.5 tackles for loss last season, Bryant fell to the fourth round. The rookie suffered a torn pectoral muscle last November but played through it. He did not undergo surgery until January, affecting his stock somewhat. But the Lions will soon see what they have in the two-time national champion defender.
This will be Bawden’s second straight season on IR. The 2018 seventh-round pick missed all of last season because of an ACL tear. He played sparingly this season but served as the team’s fullback.
Dolphins Place Jones, McCain On IR
The two longest-tenured Dolphin defenders will finish their seasons on injured reserve. Miami placed safeties Reshad Jones and Bobby McCain on IR, where they will join cornerback Xavien Howard.
This strips the Dolphins’ secondary of two key veterans — in a year that’s seen numerous Miami vets depart or head to IR — and creates questions about Jones’ future with the franchise. Jones is by far the Dolphins’ longest-tenured player, at 10 years, but he was a trade candidate throughout this offseason.
A chest injury cost Jones four games this season, but he returned for the Dolphins’ Week 11 matchup against the Bills. Against the Browns, the Dolphins will deploy a skeleton crew featuring Eric Rowe and a host of young players. McCain suffered a shoulder injury against Buffalo.
The Dolphins gave Jones a $12MM-per-year extension in March 2017; the two-time Pro Bowler’s play since, however, has not quite lived up to that price. Jones will turn 32 in February and stands to count $15.6MM toward Miami’s 2020 cap. The Dolphins could save nearly $8MM by releasing Jones next year, though that move would cost them almost as much in dead-money charges.
Miami offered Jones to Pittsburgh before sending Minkah Fitzpatrick there this year, but the former’s high salary impeded trade talks this offseason. For a Dolphins team that’s made no secret of a full-scale rebuild, as the exits of most of the franchise’s previous core have shown, it will likely not have an issue jettisoning Jones next year.
McCain has started eight games for Miami this season and 40 since joining the team as a 2015 fifth-round pick. He’s attached to a four-year, $27MM extension the Dolphins gave him in 2018. With only $5.5MM in 2020 salary due, the 26-year-old defender has a better chance of returning next season.
The Dolphins added safety help by signing ex-49ers starter Adrian Colbert off the Seahawks’ practice squad. They also placed 2019 Seahawks wide receiver draftee Gary Jennings on IR.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/19/19
Here are today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: LB James Vaughters
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed off Giants’ practice squad: LB Tuzar Skipper
- Placed on IR: DE L.T. Walton
Browns Place Morgan Burnett On IR
07:56pm: Burnett underwent successful surgery today, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). He is expected to make a full recovery.
09:35am: Morgan Burnett‘s season is over. As feared, the Browns’ veteran safety tore his Achilles in Cleveland’s win over the Steelers on Thursday, and the club announced that it has placed Burnett on IR.
It’s an especially difficult blow for Burnett, who missed some time due to injury earlier in the season as well. But he played all of the Browns’ defensive snaps in Weeks 8 through 10, and he was having a great night against Pittsburgh in Week 11, piling up five tackles — including one tackle for loss — and a big interception before suffering the Achilles tear. Burnett had been relegated to a part-time role as a member of the Steelers in 2018, but he had returned to a starter’s workload with Cleveland.
The 4-6 Browns were already going to have an uphill climb to make the playoffs, but that task will be even more difficult without Burnett on the back end of the defense and without the suspended Myles Garrett in the trenches. The Browns already cut safety Jermaine Whitehead earlier this year after he went on a Twitter tirade, so they could look outside the organization for a replacement for Burnett (they did work out several safeties yesterday). If not, Eric Murray, Juston Burris, or rookie Sheldrick Redwine are the current internal candidates on the 53-man roster.
Cleveland has Burnett under club control through the 2020 season after signing him to a two-year, $7.5MM deal in April. He ends his first Browns season with 41 tackles, one interception, and two sacks.
Eagles Extend LS Rick Lovato
A report surfaced Sunday indicating the Eagles were preparing to extend core players. While their long snapper might not qualify for such a label, that position is now locked down long-term.
The Eagles signed long snapper Rick Lovato to a four-year extension Tuesday. Although terms are not yet disclosed, the league’s 17 highest-paid long snappers earn between $1MM and $1.3MM annually. Lovato’s deal will undoubtedly fall in or around that price range.
After two seasons of part-time work with the Packers and Redskins, Lovato caught on with the Eagles in 2016 and became their full-time snapper in 2017. The Eagles used the Old Dominion alum as their deep snapper during their Super Bowl campaign and have deployed him in the same role since. Lovato, 27, is now signed through the 2023 season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/19/19
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions.
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Austin Larkin
- Released: OL Anthony Coyle
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Jeremy McNichols
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Freedom Akinmoladun, WR Cody Thompson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: T Ryan Pope