Jets Place Brandon Shell, Jeremiah Attaochu On IR
The Jets have placed offensive tackle Brandon Shell and linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu on injured reserve, the club announced today. To fill its two newly-opened roster spots, New York claimed linebacker Emmanuel Lamur off waivers from the Raiders and promoted linebacker Anthony Wint from the practice squad.
Shell, 26, was a fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft and become a full-time starter along the Jets’ offensive line in 2017. While New York’s front five ranks 31st in pass protection and 32nd in run blocking according to Football Outsiders‘ metrics, Shell hasn’t been to blame. Pro Football Focus‘ grades don’t label Shell as an All-Pro, but he ranks a middling 55th among 83 qualifying tackles. He’ll be back in 2019 at a minimum salary.
Attaochu, for his part, has been long on talent but short on production during his five-year NFL career. Drafted out of Georgia Tech as the 50th overall pick in 2014, Attaochu managed only one season as a starter for the Chargers from 2014-17. Injuries have been a problem, as Attaochu played in just 12 total games over his final two years with Los Angeles, but he’s never posted results even when on the field. In 10 games with Gang Green, Attaochu played 22% of the club’s snap and put up two sacks.
Lamur, 29, followed defensive coordinator Paul Guenther from Cincinnati to Oakland this offseason, inking a one-year deal for the minimum to join the Raiders. In nine games (four starts) with Oakland, Lamur registered 13 tackles while playing on roughly a quarter of the team’s defensive snaps. He’ll offer depth and special teams prowess in New York.
Saints Designate WR Ted Ginn Jr. For Return
The Saints have designated wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. to return from injured reserve, according to Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link).
Ginn was placed on IR in October after suffering a knee injury. Because he’s already missed eight weeks of action, Ginn is eligible to return to the active roster at any time. Now that Ginn has returned to practice, New Orleans has opened a three-week window during which it must either place him on its 53-man roster, or leave him on injured reserve for the rest of the season.
Each NFL team is allowed to bring two players back from IR, and the Saints have already done that with one player (return man Tommylee Lewis). As such, New Orleans had only one IR/return spot left, and the club was said to be deciding between Ginn and reserve offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus.
The Saints have evidently decided adding a veteran presence to their wide receiving corps is more critical than bolstering their offensive line depth. Since Ginn went down, New Orleans has been using a rotation opposite Michael Thomas, with Tre’Quan Smith, Keith Kirkwood, and Austin Carr all seeing time.
Ginn, 33, inked a three-year, $11MM deal with the Saints in 2017, and posted 53 receptions for 787 yards and four touchdowns in his first season in New Orleans. In four games this season, Ginn had managed 12 catches for 135 yards and two scores.
Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/18
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Pete Robertson, S Fish Smithson
- Released: OL Justin Evans
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Christian Blake, OL Chris Durant
- Released: WR Julian Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Landon Turner, LB Antwione Williams
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Justin Stockton
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Arrion Springs
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Toby Weathersby
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Martez Carter
- Released: QB J.T. Barrett
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Cayson Collins
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Jordan Smallwood
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Marcus Henry
- Released: WR Damore’ea Stringfellow
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Alec James
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DB Alex Carter, WR Montay Crockett, DB Jack Tocho
Redskins Place Montae Nicholson On Reserve List
Redskins safety Montae Nicholson has been placed on the reserve list following his arrest for assault and battery. The move may have been prompted by the leaked footage (via TMZ) which appears to show Nicholson brutally assaulting another man and knocking him unconscious. 
Police say Nicholson and a female assaulted two people — a man and a woman. Nicholson alleged assault put the male victim in the hospital with serious injuries, though they are not believed to be life-threatening.
Nicholson, 23, was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. TheMichigan State product started six games as a rookie and the Redskins’ first seven this year. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix replaced Nicholson in the Redskins’ starting lineup midseason, but the second-year player has played in each of Washington’s 14 games, making 41 tackles.
It seems likely that Nicholson will face league suspension for the incident and his future with the team may be in jeopardy.
Cardinals Claim WR Pharoh Cooper
The Cardinals claimed former Rams wide receiver Pharoh Cooper off of waivers, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Cooper was waived by the Rams on Tuesday to make room for running back C.J. Anderson. 
Cooper was a 2017 All-Pro as a return man, but his 2018 season in L.A. did not go as expected. A Week 1 injury sent Cooper to IR, and when he returned in November, he was relegated only to kick returns as Jojo Natson took over on punt return duty.
A 2016 fourth-round pick, Cooper averaged 12.5 yards per punt return in 2017 and returned one kick for a score. He struggled during Los Angeles’ playoff loss but was still prioritized by the NFC West champions this season. Now, the Cardinals have claimed Cooper’s contract, which runs through 2019.
The Cardinals likely see Cooper as a candidate for 2019’s roster, but he may also provide them with valuable intel in advance of their Week 16 matchup against the Rams.
Raiders Sign Nathan Peterman
The Raiders have signed quarterback Nathan Peterman to the practice squad, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Peterman will serve as the team’s scout team quarterback as new father A.J. McCarron welcomes his new baby boy at the hospital. 
Peterman, a 2017 fifth-round pick of the Bills, was horrendous in his two starts for Buffalo this season. Heading into that draft, some evaluators were high on the Pittsburgh product, and then-ESPN analyst Jon Gruden was one of his most ardent supporters.
So far, Peterman has done little to inspire confidence. He has a career 52.3% completion rate across eight games and advanced metrics indicate that his 2018 performance is among the worst in modern NFL history when adjusted for scale.
It doesn’t sound like Peterman will see the field in the Raiders’ final two games, but if he impresses in practice, he could be a candidate for a reserve/futures deal in the New Year.
Panthers Place K Graham Gano On IR
On Wednesday, the Panthers placed kicker Graham Gano on injured reserve. The move means that Gano’s season is over and Chandler Catanzaro will continue as the team’s lead leg. 
Gano, 31, has been with the Panthers since 2012. The Panthers value him more than your average kicker and even entertained the possibility of using the franchise tag on him in the offseason. Instead of paying him near the top of the market for one year, however, they signed him to a new four-year deal worth $17MM in March.
In 12 games this year, Gano connected on 14 of 16 field goal tries (87.5%) and 30 of 33 extra point attempts (90.9%). It was a good showing, but one that pales in comparison to his 2017 campaign. Last year, he nailed 29 of his 30 field goal tries for a league-leading 96.7% conversion rate with his only miss coming from 50-yard territory.
Gano’s contract suggests that he will return as the Panthers’ kicker in 2019. In the meantime, Catanzaro has two more games to showcase himself. Those contests will come against the Falcons and Saints to round out the year.
Lions Place RB Kerryon Johnson On IR
Kerryon Johnson‘s season is over. The Lions will place the standout running back on injured reserve with a knee injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
The Lions are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, so there’s little sense in pushing Johnson on to the field when he’s less than 100% anyway. The severity of Johnson’s injury is not yet known, but he is expected to make a full recovery in the offseason.
The rookie turned in a quality season, even as the Lions slumped. He finishes with 641 rushing yards on 118 attempts, which is good for a 5.4 yards per carry average. And, in Week 3, he snapped the Lions’ streak of 70 games without a 100-yard rusher.
The Lions will wrap their season against the Vikings and Packers. With Johnson out, they’ll continue to use LeGarrette Glount, Theo Riddick, and Zach Zenner in the backfield.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Jonathan Moxey
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Chris Cooper
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Kyle Friend
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Eric Cotton, CB D.J. Killings
- Placed on PS-IR: TE Ethan Wolf
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Tegray Scales
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: FB Dimitri Flowers, WR Jordan Veasy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Farrington Huguenin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OLB Gimel President
Washington Redskins
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/18
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Chris Jones, CB Deatrick Nichols
- Waived: CB Dontae Johnson, CB Quinten Rollins
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jeremy Langford
Buffalo Bills
- Signed off 49ers’ practice squad: WR Victor Bolden
- Placed on IR: RB Marcus Murphy
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Chris Worley
- Placed on IR: LB Malik Jefferson
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: DT John Atkins
- Placed on IR: DL Da’Shawn Hand
Green Bay Packers
- Signed off Jaguars’ practice squad: WR Allen Lazard
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Panthers’ practice squad: DT Kendrick Norton
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: CB Antonio Hamilton
New York Jets
- Signed off Patriots’ practice squad: T Eric Smith
Oakland Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DB Rico Gafford, DT Gabe Wright
- Waived: LB Emmanuel Lamur
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DB Tyvis Powell
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed off Jaguars’ practice squad: RB Bo Scarbrough
- Placed on IR: G Jordan Simmons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Donnie Ernsberger, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
- Placed on IR: TE Alan Cross, S Justin Evans
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DB Harlan Miller
- Placed on IR: CB Joshua Holsey