Raiders WR Martavis Bryant Banned By NFL
Raiders wide receiver Martavis Bryant has been suspended indefinitely by NFL, according to Michael Gehlken of the Review-Journal (on Twitter). Bryant has been fighting a substance abuse suspension for months, but a lost appeal means that he will be out of the game until further notice. 
The Raiders have feared this news for quite a while, though team execs have been mum on the subject. It’s fair to say the Raiders regret sending a third-round pick to the Steelers for Bryant earlier this year.
The Bryant trade occurred after the Raiders moved down from No. 10 for the Cardinals’ No. 15 pick, plus third- and fifth-round selections. That third-round choice was shipped to Pittsburgh, bringing Bryant to Oakland. UCLA tackle Kolton Miller has potential and may prove to be a quality first-round selection, but the Raiders effectively threw away a Top 100 selection when they acquired Bryant.
Before the deal, Bryant spent his entire four-year career with the Steelers. His tenure was tumultuous, as he missed the entire 2016 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. The 26-year-old (27 next week) showed flashes of brilliance early on, including a rookie campaign where he caught eight touchdowns, but the red flags have been long apparent.
Jaguars To Waive S Barry Church
The Jaguars will waive safety Barry Church, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). In related moves, the Jags also waived tight end Niles Paul from the NFI list and activated offensive lineman Josh Wells from injured reserve. 
[RELATED: Jaguars’ Malik Jackson Expects To Be Cut]
Church, 30, joined the Jaguars prior to the 2017 offseason on a four-year, $21.6MM deal. His guarantees have already been paid out, so the move will have no impact on the Jaguars’ 2019 cap. Church’s release will free up $6.25MM in 2019 and its expected that there will be more cap-clearing cuts in the coming months.
The veteran was a healthy scratch last week, but the move to release him before the end of the season is a tad surprising. In any case, Church will hit the waiver wire, giving teams 24 hours to claim him.
In theory, a team could be on board with paying him game checks of $368K for the rest of the year before releasing him from his deal in the offseason. However, the more likely scenario is that Church will go unclaimed and then sign with a contender for the rest of the way.
In eleven games this year (all starts), Church has tallied 38 tackles, one sack, and one interception. However, he has been generally poor in coverage and ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 79 safety out of 83 qualified players. He was far sharper in 2016, his final year with the Cowboys, and 2017, his first with the Jags.
Saints Sign WR Simmie Cobbs
The Saints signed wide receiver Simmie Cobbs off of the Redskins’ practice squad, a source tells Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter). Cobbs will take the roster spot of tight end Erik Swoope, who was informed of his release on Thursday. 
Cobbs was an all-Big Ten receiver at Indiana and caught 72 passes for 841 yards in 2017. He’s an intriguing pickup for a Saints team that has lost several big-name receivers to injury throughout the year.
For now, Cobbs will slot in as the Saints’ No. 6 receiver behind Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Austin Carr, Keith Kirkwood, and Tommylee Lewis. Earlier this week, veteran Brandon Marshall was dropped from the roster, so there’s room for reinforcements.
The addition of Cobbs could mean that wide receiver Ted Ginn will not be activated from IR before the year is through. Then again, given all of the Saints’ roster juggling in recent days, nothing can be ruled out. Swoope’s stay in New Orleans lasted less than 24 hours and there’s no guarantee that Cobbs will get to take his coat off and stay awhile if Ginn is given the greenlight.
The Saints, who have already clinched the NFC South, can virtually clinch a first round bye with a win over the Panthers on Sunday. A win in Carolina coupled with a Bears loss in Green Bay would completely seal the deal for the Saints, allowing them to rest any banged up players in the final two weeks.
Jets Place Isaiah Crowell On IR
On Friday, the Jets placed running back Isaiah Crowell on IR due to a toe injury. To take his place, the Jets will promote running back De’Angelo Henderson from the practice squad. 
Crowell rushed for 685 yards and six touchdowns off of 143 carries this year, but his 98-yard rushing performance against the Titans earlier this month represents his only big game over the last eight contests. Of course, before that, Crowell went off against the Broncos when he racked up 219 yards off of 15 carries.
Crowell seems likely to return to the Jets after signing a three-year, $12MM deal in the offseason and matching a career high 4.8 yards per carry in 2018. However, it’s not guaranteed that he’ll be the Jets’ lead back next year. Gang Green will have upwards of $100MM to spend in the spring and Le’Veon Bell is rumored to be among their top targets.
The Jets are looking to win two straight games for just the second time this season when they face the Texans on Sunday. They’ll try to get the job done without Crowell and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, who is battling an ankle injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/18
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- Placed on injured reserve: TE Orson Charles
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/18
Today’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Justin Evans
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Ashton Lampkin
- Placed on injured list: DB Robert Jackson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Oni Omoile
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT DeShawn Williams
- Released: DE Anthony Winbush
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR C.J. Board
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Martez Carter
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Woodrow Hamilton
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OL Roubbens Joseph
- Placed on injured list: OL Casey Dunn
Chargers Place CB Trevor Williams On IR
The Chargers made a number of roster moves before tonight’s contest against the Chiefs, including placing cornerback Trevor Williams on injured reserve. Additionally, linebacker Tre’Von Johnson has been waived, while running back Troymaine Pope and linebacker Kyle Wilson have been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
Williams, 25, was hampered by an ankle injury that cost him most of the Chargers’ offseason program and preseason. He made it back in time for Week 1 and served as a starter for much of the year before suffering a knee injury during practice in Week 10. Williams has barely played since, managing only a single defensive snap and a handful of special teams plays in Week 13.
Since Williams went down, second-year cornerback Michael Davis has taken over as Los Angeles’ nickelback and played quite well, grading as the NFL’s No. 53 CB among 113 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, which had ranked Williams just 79th. Davis will continue to lineup alongside Casey Hayward and Desmond King in one of the league’s best secondaries, a unit that currently ranks ninth in pass defense DVOA. As for Williams, he’s scheduled to become a restricted free agent in 2019.
Pope’s elevation to the Chargers’ active roster is further proof Los Angeles isn’t optimistic fellow running back Melvin Gordon will be able to play on Thursday night. Gordon himself said he’ll be a game-time decision, and if he can’t go, Pope could serve as insurance behind Justin Jackson and Detrez Newsome (usual No. 2 back Austin Ekeler has already been declared out for tonight’s matchup).
Saints Release TE Erik Swoope
After claiming tight end Erik Swoope off waivers on Wednesday, the Saints are releasing him, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Swoope spent less than 24 hours in New Orleans and he’ll now go straight back on the waiver wire. 
The Saints’ juggling is perplexing, though it could be a sign of a larger move to come. The Saints have been hoping to get wide receiver Ted Ginn back on the field and, if he can’t go, offensive lineman Josh LeRibeus is also a candidate for return.
Help from LeRibeus, who appeared in all 16 games last season, would be nice, but Ginn would probably be more of a difference-maker. Last year, Ginn turned in one of his better offensive seasons with 53 catches for 787 yards and four scores. He can also aid in the return game, where he has thrived in the past.
Swoope, meanwhile, could easily wind up back with Indianpolis, where he is a beloved locker room presence.
Texans Designate CB Kayvon Webster For Return
The Texans have designated cornerback Kayvon Webster to return from injured reserve, the club announced today.
Webster was placed on IR in early October after suffering his a strained quad. Because he’s already missed eight weeks of action, Webster is eligible to return to the active roster at any time. Now that Webster has returned to practice, Houston 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.
After inking a one-year, $2.25MM deal with the Texans in August, Webster missed the first four games of the year while recovering from an Achilles tear he suffered while with the Rams in 2017. Webster managed to play in only a single contest before going down with injury once again.
Despite his injury history, there’s reason to think Webster can contribute to the Texans’ defense down the stretch. Although Pro Football Focus ranked Webster in the bottom half of its cornerback grades last year, Webster finished 31st among 81 CBs in Football Outsiders’ success rate, meaning he was effective at stopping wide receivers short of the sticks. FO also charted Webster with allowing 6.8 yard per pass, 38th among cornerbacks.
Houston’s defense is one of the best in the league, but the club is better against the run (second in DVOA) than the pass (16th). As such, Webster could potentially see snaps alongside Aaron Colvin, Johnathan Joseph, and Kareem Jackson if he’s able to return.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/12/18
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: T Jake Rodgers
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Kyle Carter, WR Tanner McEvoy, CB Josh Thornton
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DT Joshua Frazier, OL Jarron Jones, DE Jonathan Wynn
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Amba Etta-Tawo, LB Kennan Gilchrist, G Maurquice Shakir
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Simeon Thomas, WR Damore’ea Stringfellow