Bills Trade WR Zay Jones To Raiders
Zay Jones is off to Oakland. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports (via Twitter) that the Bills have traded the wideout to the Raiders. In return, Buffalo will receive a 2021 fifth-round pick.
The 2017 second-round pick seemed to turn a corner in 2018 following an underwhelming rookie campaign. In 16 games (15 starts), Jones hauled in 56 receptions for 652 yards and seven scores. However, the 24-year-old saw a reduced role in 2019, as he caught only seven passes for 69 yards through his team’s first five games (including two starts).
This past weekend, Jones only played a single snap after being passed on the depth chart by former CFL player Duke Williams. Sean McDermott acknowledged Jones’ reduced role during his press conference today, noting the receiver’s team-first approach.
“He’s just got to continue to do his job,” McDermott said. “You saw we made some plays at the wide receiver position. Zay’s a guy that continues to grow. He’s still young in his career. He’ll continue to do a good job as he continues to grow, and focus on what he can control. I appreciate his team first approach yesterday.”
The Raiders have been hunting for a receiver for some time, but they still managed to improve to 3-2 despite not having Tyrell Williams, JJ Nelson, and Dwayne Harris this past weekend. Jones will now slide into a depth chart that includes Hunter Renfrow, Keelan Doss, Trevor Davis, and Marcell Ateman.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/19
Here are today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DL Jihad Ward
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: CB Greg Mabin
Houston Texans
- Waived from reserved/injured list: LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
Washington Redskins
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): TE Hale Hentges
- Released: LB Cassanova McKinzy
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/7/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Sean Modster
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Greg Gilmore
- Placed on IR: DT Bijhon Jackson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OT Antonio Garcia
- Released: DE Dewayne Hendrix
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Bronson Kaufusi
- Released: LB Jamey Mosley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Robert Davis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: QB Taryn Christion
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Demone Harris
- Released: WR Ishmael Hyman
Titans To Sign Cody Parkey
The Titans have a new kicker. The club will sign Cody Parkey after cutting ties with Cairo Santos, according to Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). 
Santos lost his job after missing four field goal tries in Sunday’s loss to the Bills. Enter Parkey, who hasn’t been heard from much since his split with the Bears in February.
The 27-year-old missed a potential game winner against the Eagles in the opening round of the playoffs following the 2017 season, putting him on thin ice. He later made an appearance on NBC’s Today show that rubbed head coach Matt Nagy the wrong way. The veteran struggled during the 2018 regular season, connecting on only 76.7-percent of his field goal attempts.
Next up for the Titans (and Parkey): a Sunday afternoon showdown against the Broncos in Denver.
Titans Drop Cairo Santos
The Titans have released kicker Cairo Santos, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. This doesn’t come as a big surprise after Santos missed four field goals in Sunday’s 14-7 loss to the Bills. 
Santos joined the Titans in early September, replacing the injured Ryan Succop. Since then, he’s missed five of nine field goal tries, with most of those misses coming on Sunday.
In seven games for the Bucs in 2018, Santos made 9-of-12 field goals and nailed all 17 of his extra points. Santos also saw time in a pair of games for the Rams last year.
Santos will now look to peddle his feet someplace else as the Titans move on to a new place kicker.
Patriots To Cut Benjamin Watson
That’s a wrap on Ben Watson‘s second stint with the Patriots. The Pats have declined to activate Watson and will release him, making him a free agent (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss). 
We’ve seen Bill Belichick tinker with the roster before, so it’s theoretically possible that Watson could return to the Pats later this season, perhaps at a cheaper rate. But, for the time being, the club will cut ties and save $2MM against the cap.
Watson, 38, missed the first four games of the season while serving a PED suspension. He returned to practice last week, but he was not added to the roster in time to face the Redskins on Sunday. The Patriots easily handled the Redskins, beating them 33-7 and sending Jay Gruden packing in the process.
For now, the Pats seem content to move forward with Matt LaCosse and Ryan Izzo as their tight ends. LaCosse played 73 offensive snaps for New England over the weekend and Izzo caught the first touchdown pass of his NFL career.
Jaguars TE James O’Shaughnessy Done For Year
Jaguars tight end James O’Shaughnessy suffered a torn ACL, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). A Monday morning MRI confirmed that he’ll need surgery once his swelling reduces. 
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O’Shaughnessy is done for the season as a result of the injury and the Jaguars will place him on injured reserve to open up a roster spot. For now, the Jags will move forward with Geoff Swaim and Seth DeValve at tight end, plus third-round pick Josh Oliver, once he’s back from a hamstring ailment.
Before exiting Sunday’s game against the Panthers, O’Shaughnessy had three catches for a season-high 57 yards. His season ends after five games with 14 grabs for 153 yards and two touchdowns, including scores in wins against the Titans and Broncos.
Next up for the Jaguars: a Week 6 date with the Saints, in New Orleans.
Colts DE Kemoko Turay Done For Year
Colts defensive end Kemoko Turay is done for the season, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter) hear. Turay’s broken ankle suffered against the Chiefs on Sunday night will land him on injured reserve, allowing the Colts to replace him on the roster.
The severity of the injury was immediately apparent to everyone on the scene and watching at home after he was carted off the field. Turay, 24, will now focus on recovery and building on an impressive 2018 rookie season in which he notched four sacks as a part-timer.
The Colts, meanwhile, will move forward with starters Jabaal Sheard and Justin Houston, plus backup DEs Al-Quadin Muhammad and Ben Banogu. It’s possible that they will also add another edge rusher to the mix during their Week 6 bye.
The Colts will resume action on Oct. 20 against the Texans, without Turay.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Evan Baylis
- Released: LB B.J. Bello
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: TE Hale Hentges
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: OL John Wetzel
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Zach Sieler
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Duke Williams
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Tyler Bray
- Released: TE Bradley Sowell
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Tra Carson
- Waived: DE Fadol Brown
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Shakial Taylor
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Marcell Ateman, G Lester Cotton
- Placed on IR: G Jordan Devey
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DT Aziz Shittu
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: TE Xavier Grimble
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Demone Harris