Ravens’ Brynden Trawick To Return From IR
The Ravens have designated safety Brynden Trawick to return from injured reserve, the club announced today. Trawick was placed on IR October 3 after suffering an elbow injury.
Because Trawick is required to miss a minimum of eight games, he won’t be eligible to return to action until Week 14 when Baltimore faces Buffalo. However, he can return to practice immediately, allowing the Ravens to gauge his health for the stretch run. Baltimore will almost certainly activate Trawick when able (the club wouldn’t have designated him for return if his health wouldn’t allow), but if it doesn’t, Trawick must remain on IR for the remainder of the year.
An undrafted free agent out of Troy in 2013, the 30-year-old Trawick is essentially a pure special teamer. He’s played only 194 defensive snaps during his six-year career, and just four over the past two seasons. On special teams, though, Trawick is especially valuable, managing at least 300 ST snaps in each of the past five campaigns. Trawick is currently in his second stint with the Ravens, and has also spent time with the Raiders and Titans.
With Trawick now designated for return, the Ravens have now reached their two-player IR/return maximum. Cornerback Iman Marshall returned to practice in late October and was officially re-activated to Baltimore’s roster earlier this week.
Saints Designate WR Keith Kirkwood To Return From IR
The Saints have designated wide receiver Keith Kirkwood to return from injured reserve, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Kirkwood, 25, suffered a hamstring injury in mid-September that knocked him to the sideline. He’s now returned to practice, opening a 21-day window during which New Orleans must either activate Kirkwood to its 53-man roster or leave him on IR for the remainder of the year.
A 2018 undrafted free agent out of Temple, Kirkwood spent the first half of his rookie campaign on the Saints’ practice squad before being promoted. He went on to play 44% of New Orleans’ remaining offensive snaps, posting 13 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns in the process.
The Saints’ wide receiver corps has mostly been a one-man show thus far in 2019 — Michael Thomas leads the club with 86 receptions, while Ted Ginn is second among wideouts with just 20. Kirkwood should factor in as back-of-the-roster depth while also playing on special teams.
Broncos Claim CB Cyrus Jones, Waive CB Coty Sensabaugh
The Broncos have claimed cornerback Cyrus Jones off waivers from the Ravens and are waiving fellow defensive back Coty Sensabaugh, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.
Selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2016 draft, Jones has now completed two separate stints with both New England and Baltimore. Nominally a corner, Jones has only played nine total defensive snaps this year. Instead, he spends most of his time on special times — he was the Ravens’ primary punt returner this season, averaging 9.4 yards per return on 12 attempts. Jones could take over for Diontae Spencer as Denver’s return man, and may also add depth in the secondary.
Sensabaugh, 30, appeared in four games for Denver after signing off the street in October. While he’s probably not a household name, Sensabaugh was a fairly regular starter for the Steelers over the past two seasons, starting four games at the tail of end the 2017 campaign and 10 more last year. Football Outsiders was a fan of Sensabaugh’s work in 2018, charting him as ninth among qualified corners in yards allowed per pass and 26th with a 56% success rate (meaning he was effective at stopping opposing wide receivers short of the sticks).
Dolphins’ Andrew Van Ginkel To Return From IR
The Dolphins have designated rookie linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel to return from injured reserve, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link). Van Ginkel suffered a foot injury during the preseason that sidelined him until now.
Van Ginkel will become the second and final Miami player designated to return from IR this year, joining offensive tackle Julien Davenport, who was designated for return in late October but hasn’t yet officially returned to practice. Because NFL teams are only allowed to bring two players off injured reserve, other injured Dolphins like cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive end Jeremiah Ledbetter, are officially done for the season.
Van Ginkel, 24, spent the final two years of his collegiate career at Wisconsin after originally playing at both South Dakota and Iowa Western Community College. In his two years as a Badger, Van Ginkel appeared in 26 games, posting 98 tackles, 12 sacks, and two interceptions during that time. In Van Ginkel’s pre-draft profile, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein said the 6’4″, 234-pounder plays with “consistent energy” but can also be “manhandled” by opposing offensive tackles.
Because he was placed on IR shortly after initial 53-man rosters were set, Van Ginkel has yet to make his NFL debut. When he does, he’ll likely play in a reserve and special teams role behind Dolphins starting outside linebackers Charles Harris and Samuel Eguavoen.
Colts Designate Devin Funchess For Return
The Colts have designated wide receiver Devin Funchess to return from injured reserve, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Funchess suffered a broken collarbone during his Indianapolis debut in Week 1, but the Colts had been holding out hope that he’d be able to return to the field late in the regular season. While Funchess is back at practice as of Wednesday, head coach Frank Reich said this week that Funchess needs to prove his health before he returns to game action.
“Technically, he could be cleared to play the game,” Reich said. “But he’s got a few more boxes to check. We have to make sure he’s good to go because this will really be his first week of practice. Then we still have to see how much he’ll be able to do Wednesday. We’re really encouraged. I think there’s another box he has to check before we can go full boar on the practice.”
The Colts signed Funchess to a one-year, $10MM deal in March after he spent the first four years of his career with the Panthers. The only free agent receiver who collected more on an annual basis this offseason was Tyrell Williams, who inked a four-year, $44.4MM pact with the Raiders. In his stint with Carolina, Funchess averaged 40 receptions, 558 yards, and five touchdowns per season.
When he does officially return, Funchess will join a Colts wide receiver depth chart by T.Y. Hilton, who is currently battling injury himself. Indianapolis has made heavy use of its tight ends in the passing game this season, leaving Zach Pascal as the only Colts wideout besides Hilton with more than 20 receptions on the year.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Vontarrius Dora, DB Sojourn Shelton, G Ian Silberman
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Greg Dortch
- Released: WR Quadree Henderson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Dino Boyd, LB James Vaughters
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Tyvis Powell
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
- Placed on injured list: RB Bruce Anderson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: C Nate Trewyn
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Jake Carlock
- Released: DB Doug Middleton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Davion Davis
Texans Claim Vernon Hargreaves
The Texans claimed former Bucs’ cornerback Vernon Hargreaves on waivers, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Hargreaves was released on Tuesday, which made him subject to the waiver wire, per the league’s rules for players who are cut after the trade deadline. 
The former first round pick did not meet expectations in Tampa, but he profiles as a low-risk, high-reward type for Houston. Hargreaves was the No. 11 overall pick in 2016 for a reason and there could be some good football still left in the tank for the Florida product.
Before the release, Hargreaves was set to play out his rookie deal and 2020 fifth-year option. But, because that $9.9MM option was guaranteed for injury only, the Bucs were easily able to move on. New head coach Bruce Arians sat Hargreaves on the first day of OTAs because he was “not mentally ready to practice.” Apparently, the two were not able to get on the same page between the summer and the fall.
The Bucs sure could have used a healthy and productive Hargreaves on the roster, given that they have the worst pass defense in the NFL. With that in mind, the decision is rather telling of the team’s view of him.
The Texans, meanwhile, also have ample need at the position, but with more confidence in Hargreaves than Arians & Co. did. Even after acquiring cornerback Gareon Conley from the Raiders, there’s still plenty of work to be had for the 24-year-old in Houston.
Hargreaves will be eligible to make his Texans debut on Sunday against the Ravens.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/12/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Craig Reynolds
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OT Garrett McGhin, OT Aaron Monteiro
- Released: OT Matt Kaskey
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Malik Carney
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Gerhard de Beer
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Alex Bachman, LS Colin Holba
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/12/19
Today’s minor transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Corn Elder
- Waived: G Bryan Witzmann
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: C Brian Allen, LB Bryce Hager
Titans Waive RB Rod Smith
Rod Smith‘s stint with the Titans has come to an end. Jim Wyatt of the team’s website reports (via Twitter) that the team has waived the veteran running back. The Titans promoted offensive lineman Daniel Munyer from the practice squad to take the open roster spot.
The 2015 undrafted free agent out of Ohio State quickly found a home in Dallas, as he spent three-plus years with the Cowboys. Smith saw some extended work during Ezekiel Elliott‘s six-game suspension in 2017. Playing behind Alfred Morris, Smith ran for 232 yards and four touchdowns on 55 carries. He also added 19 catches for 202 yards and one score.
However, with Zeke back in the fold for the 2018 campaign, Smith didn’t see nearly as many opportunities on offense. The running back finished the campaign with 187 total yards, although he did finish with a career-high nine special teams tackles.
Smith signed with the Giants this offseason, but after landing on injured reserve in late August, he was released with an injury settlement. The 27-year-old caught on with the Titans in early October, appearing in three games with his new squad.
Munyer, 27, has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Colorado in 2015. The lineman appeared in a career-high 14 games for the Cardinals last season. He’s spent most of the season on the Titans practice squad.