NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/19
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Nate Wozniak, P Matt Wile
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: TE Cole Herdman
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Curtis Akins
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: T Dino Boyd
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Jordan Chunn, LB Chris Covington
- Cut: RB Darius Jackson
Denver Broncos
- Signed: C Corey Levin
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DB Tevaughn Campbell, S Adarius Pickett
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB J.T. Barrett
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Will Holden
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: T Elijah Nkansah
- Cut: QB Cardale Jones
Washington Redskins
- Signed: TE Donald Parham
- Cut: TE Drew Belcher
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/17/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Jeff Driskel
- Released: QB Josh Johnson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DE Chris Peace
- Waived: WR Andre Patton
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: WR Keith Kirkwood
- Waived: DT Taylor Stallworth
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Alex Ellis
- Waived: CB Craig James
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LS Jon Condo
- Waived: LS Colin Holba
Redskins To Sign Noah Spence
The Redskins are planning to sign former Buccaneers outside linebacker Noah Spence, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. Spence worked out for the Redskins last week, after the Bears worked out the former Ohio State standout earlier today.
Spence has not lived up to the pre-draft hype after the Buccaneers took him with the 39th pick of the 2016 draft. Since then, he’s registered just 6.5 sacks in three seasons, with 5.5 of those coming as a rookie. He missed much of the 2017 season with an injury.
Washington selected Montez Sweat in Round 1, and he’s played behind Ryan Kerrigan and Ryan Anderson thus far. The Redskins’ fourth outside linebacker, ex-UDFA Cassanova McKinzy, registered his first sack of his career in Week 1.
After Redskins inside linebackers coach Rob Ryan declared this defensive unit “ultra talented” with “top five potential” earlier this summer, the Redskins have been anything but, giving up the third-worst yards-per-game average with 455, while giving up the second-most points (63).
Raiders Release Jonathan Cooper
The Raiders released guard Jonathan Cooper, the club announced Tuesday. This comes shortly after Richie Incognito‘s two-game suspension concluded.
Cooper signed with the Raiders this past July to serve as a potential stopgap starter in the wake of Incognito’s ban. Cooper was inactive for the Raiders the past two weeks.
Since being selected seventh overall by the Cardinals in the 2013 draft, Cooper has played for Cardinals, Browns, Cowboys, Redskins and Raiders. He caught on with the Redskins because of injuries last season and joined the Raiders because of a suspension. With Incognito back this week, there was little reason to keep the seldom-used blocker on the roster.
Oakland played without both of its first-string guards over the first two weeks, with Gabe Jackson still recovering from injury. With Jackson improving, the Raiders’ offensive line is soon set to look quite different.
Chargers Sign Lance Kendricks
The Chargers have signed veteran tight end Lance Kendricks, the organization announced.
Kendricks comes to the Chargers after spending the first part of this season with the Patriots. Fresh off a one-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy, he was recently released to make room for Antonio Brown last week.
The 6-foot-3 tight end has appeared in 125 career games, catching 241 passes for 2,505 yards and 19 touchdowns. The Wisconsin product posted a career-high 50 catches and 499 yards in 2016 while with the Rams. He caught 19 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown last season with Packers.
Since Hunter Henry went down with injury, the Chargers have been rolling out a combination of Virgil Green and Sean Culkin at tight end. This duo combined for only one catch for nine yards in last week’s loss to the Lions.
Patriots To Place T Isaiah Wynn On IR
For the second straight year, Isaiah Wynn will end up on IR. The Patriots will shut down their left tackle starter for the time being, with Field Yates reporting (via Twitter) the foot injury he suffered in Week 2 will result in an IR stay.
Wynn, who missed all of his rookie season, will be out at least eight weeks. The Pats signed former Buccaneers starter Caleb Benenoch earlier Tuesday, and he will end up taking Wynn’s roster spot.
The 2018 first-round pick left New England’s Week 2 shutout in Miami due to turf toe. Benenoch is the latest new face on the Pats’ front. They made three preseason trades for offensive linemen and turned to newcomers Korey Cunningham and Marshall Newhouse in place of Wynn. The Pats lost Marcus Cannon to a Week 1 injury; he missed Week 2. Now they’ll have to get by without Wynn. The defending Super Bowl champions are already without center David Andrews for the season.
Even though they won Super Bowl LIII without Wynn’s services, the Pats no longer have Trent Brown as an insurance policy. Some lower-profile veterans will now be charged with protecting Tom Brady‘s blind side. While offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia has proven repeatedly to be able to construct high-end blocking groups, this will be his latest challenge.
Jets’ Trevor Siemian Done For Year
Another one bites the dust. On Tuesday morning, Jets head coach Adam Gase announced that Trevor Siemian is done for the year thanks to the ankle injury he suffered on Monday night. 
Siemian’s lower leg collapsed under his own weight as he was taken to the ground and the seriousness of the injury was readily apparent to those watching the replay at home. The ligament damage suffered will require surgery, which rules him out for the rest of the year. Siemian will be placed on IR and the Jets, Gase says, are now on the hunt for a new backup quarterback.
For now, Luke Falk is penciled in as the Jets’ starter until starter Sam Darnold returns from mono. Darnold’s timetable for recovery remains unclear.
The Jets are 0-2 as they head into Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
Patriots Sign Caleb Benenoch
Former Bucs offensive tackle Caleb Benenoch will sign with the Patriots on Tuesday, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Nine NFL teams requested workouts with Benenoch, but Rapoport hears the veteran ultimately wanted to play for Pats offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. 
The Patriots could really use the help. They were without right tackle Marcus Cannon for Sunday’s win over the Dolphins and, during the game, Isaiah Wynn exited with a toe injury. They’re still awaiting word on the status of both linemen, but they’re unlikely to be at full strength up front for Week 3 against the Jets. (Then again, do they need to be anywhere near full strength to face the Jets?)
Benenoch started every game of the 2018 season at right guard for the Bucs last season but also boasts experience on the outside. There apparently wasn’t a place for him on the Bucs, but the Pats are happy to bring him on board for reinforcement.
Dolphins Trade CB Minkah Fitzpatrick To Steelers
The Minkah Fitzpatrick saga has come to an end. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the Dolphins have traded the cornerback to the Steelers. Miami will receive a 2020 first-rounder in return. ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe adds (via Twitter) that the teams will also be swapping late-round picks.
Here’s the full breakdown of the trade: The Dolphins will receive a 2020 first-round pick, a 2020 fifth-round pick, and a 2021 sixth-round pick. The Steelers, meanwhile, get Fitzpatrick, a 2020 fourth-round choice, and a 2021 sixth-round selection.
We learned yesterday that league-wide interest in the 2018 first-rounder was “real and serious,” with roughly 20 teams reaching out to Miami. Earlier tonight, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported (via Twitter) that a trade was imminent, and he listed the Steelers (along with the Redskins, Cowboys, Chiefs, Eagles, and Seahawks) as potential suitors. While the Dolphins weren’t necessarily shopping the cornerback, they were receptive to offers and asking for a first-rounder “and something else.”
Fitzpatrick is an undeniably gifted defensive back who has been less than thrilled with the multiple roles he has been asked to fill in Miami’s defense to date. His ability to play as both a slot corner and a roaming safety made him a desirable asset. Through two games this season, the 22-year-old has compiled 12 tackles and one forced fumble.
The Dolphins offseason (and preseason, and regular season…) teardown is essentially complete. As ESPN’s Field Yates tweets, Miami has three first-rounders (their own, Steelers, Texans) and two second-rounders (their own, Saints) in the 2020 draft, and they also have the Texans 2021 first- and second-round picks (as well as their own).
While yesterday’s report indicated that a Fitzpatrick trade would ultimately represent the end of the team’s teardown and draft-pick accumulation, it sounds like the Dolphins aren’t necessarily eyeing a return to relevance in 2020. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com wrote earlier today that there’s “growing suspicion” that the Dolphins may be eyeing a two-year rebuild. The team may even pass on a quarterback during the 2020 draft with the hope that they’ll for Clemson signal-caller Trevor Lawrence in 2021.
While the Steelers were in the market for a cornerback, the trade is a considerable risk for a team that just lost Ben Roethlisberger for an entire season. Considering the draft capital they gave up to acquire Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh’s front office has made it clear that they’re not giving up on the 2019 campaign. On the flip side, since the front-office is apparently high on the former 11th-overall pick, giving up a potential top-1o selection may still be a net positive, regardless of the Steelers’ 2019 record.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: OG Parker Ehinger
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Jordan Chunn
- Released: RB Darius Jackson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Mark Fields
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Amara Darboh
- Released: WR Emanuel Hall