Seahawks’ McKissic Designated For Return
As expected, J.D. McKissic will soon be returning to the field. ESPN’s Brady Henderson reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks have designated the running back to return from the injured reserve.
We heard last week that the running back would soon be returning to practice, and there was an expectation that he’d be activated once he was ready to go. His return starts a three-week window for him to practice with the team. For now, he does not count against the 53-man roster, but he must be activated in the next 21 days in order for him to play this season.
McKissic has spent the entire season on the injured reserve as he’s dealt with a Jones fracture in his foot. The 25-year-old had a breakout season in 2017, compiling 187 rushing yards and one touchdown on 46 carries. He also added another 34 receptions for 266 yards and two scores. The former undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State also has some special teams and kick-return experience during his brief career.
When McKissic does end up being activated from the injured reserve, he could end up taking C.J. Prosise‘s roster spot. Prosise appeared in five games earlier this season, but he’s been inactive for four of the past six games. Whether the Seahawks roll with McKissic or Prosise, the player will likely be listed behind Chris Carson, Mike Davis, and Rashaad Penny on the depth chart.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/19/18
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Corey Thompson
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Keon Hatcher (off Packers’ practice squad)
- Waived: WR Saeed Blacknall
Cardinals Release CB Jamar Taylor
Jamar Taylor‘s tenure with the Cardinals has come to an end. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the organization is releasing the veteran cornerback. Taylor will be subject to waivers.
The 2013 second-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Dolphins before being dealt to the Browns. Taylor ended up being productive during his two seasons with Cleveland, including a 2016 campaign where he had three interceptions and 13 passes defended. He finished the 2017 season having appeared in a career-high 16 games and finishing with a career-high 62 tackles.
The Browns shook up their cornerback corps this past offseason, signing free agents T.J. Carrie and E.J. Gaines and drafting Denzel Ward in the first round. Cleveland ended up trading Taylor to Arizona in exchange for a 2020 sixth-round pick. The cornerback saw a reduced role with the Cardinals, and he finished his tenure having collected 17 tackles and one pass defended in 10 games (three starts).
This move will leave the Cardinals with four healthy cornerbacks on their roster: Patrick Peterson, Brandon Williams, Bene Benwikere, and Leonard Johnson.
Cardinals Cut K Matt McCrane
With Phil Dawson expected to return from injury this week, the Cardinals have moved on from their placeholder at kicker. Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com reports (via Twitter) that the organization has cut Matt McCrane.
The 24-year-old’s stint with the organization was expected to be short-lived. The team signed the kicker to the active roster when they realized that Dawson wouldn’t be ready to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders. McCrane ended up filling in adequately for the veteran, connecting on all three of his extra point attempts in the loss.
The Kansas State product also had a three-game stint with the Raiders earlier this season, connecting on five of his nine field goal attempts (including a career-long 44-yarder) and all five of his extra point attempts. Otherwise, the undrafted rookie spent a portion of his season on Arizona’s practice squad.
Prior to this past weekend, the 43-year-old Dawson hadn’t missed a regular season since he was with the Browns in 2009. He’s appeared in nine games for Arizona this season, connecting on four of his six field goal attempts and all 14 of his extra point tries.
Jaguars Cut QB Landry Jones
Landry Jones‘ short time in Jacksonville has come to an end. On Monday, the Jaguars released the quarterback, according to a team announcement. 
The Jaguars signed Jones on Halloween for insurance after Blake Bortles suffered a left shoulder injury. Now that Bortles is in the clear, the Jaguars felt comfortable enough to release Jones, leaving Cody Kessler as the team’s only backup QB.
Up until the Jags deal, Jones spent his entire NFL career with the Steelers. In a limited sample of playing time, Jones completed 64% of his throws with eight touchdowns against seven interceptions. Among the quarterbacks who have thrown at least 160 passes since 2013, Jones ranks 35th in passer rating and 26th in adjusted net yards per attempt, but it’s difficult to assign much relevance to those numbers given his lack of reps.
To fill Jones’ place on the roster, the Jags signed offensive lineman Corey Robinson. The fourth-year pro has 24 career games to his credit, including eight starts.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/19/18
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Richard Jarvis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Lenzy Pipkins
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Destiny Vaeao
Redskins To Sign QB Mark Sanchez
The Redskins have agreed to sign free agent quarterback Mark Sanchez, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Sanchez worked out alongside a number of QBs on Monday and apparently made the strongest impression on team brass. 
Its been roughly a decade since Sanchez entered the league as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2009 draft and secured a five-year deal worth up to $60MM from the Jets. Lauded as a strong leader and a quality game manager, Sanchez was under center for back-to-back AFC Championship game appearances in his first two NFL seasons.
Since then, however, Sanchez’s career has been in decline. He has not attempted an NFL pass since his 2016 season with the Cowboys and he spent the 2017 season as a benchwarmer for the Bears. This past spring, he was hit with a four-game ban for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Unfortunately, Sanchez’s success in New York is a distant memory and the 32-year-old is remembered more for the infamous buttfumble than anything else at this point.
The Redskins’ quarterback plans were turned upside down this week when starter Alex Smith suffered a broken tibia and fibia. Sanchez will now serve as the one and only backup to Colt McCoy, who just attempted his first throw since 2015.
Sanchez has some ties to the Redskins’ coaching staff and that familiarity likely played a role in the signing. Redskins offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh was the Jets’ quarterbacks coach from 2009-12, offensive line coach Bill Callahan was the Jets’ assistant head coach and offensive line coach from ’08-’11, and Redskins QB coach Kevin O’Connell was teammates with “San-chise” for a bit in New York.
E.J. Manuel, T.J. Yates, Kellen Clemens, and Josh Johnson also participated in the Redskins’ workout on Monday.
Dolphins WR Jakeem Grant Done For Season
Dolphins wideout Jakeem Grant will be placed on injured reserve after suffering an Achilles injury in Week 10, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
Grant didn’t suffer a ruptured Achilles, which would have required him to undergo a comprehensive operation that could have knocked him out for 10-12 months, per Salguero. Instead, Grant underwent a separate, less-invasive procedure which should allow him to return for 2019 training camp.
Grant, 26, took on a larger role in Week 8 due to injuries on the Dolphins’ receiver depth chart, managing eight targets while Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson were sidelined. Stills is now back in the fold, but Wilson has since been placed on injured reserve. Miami still has other options at the receiver position, however, including Danny Amendola, DeVante Parker, Leonte Carroo, and the recently-signed Brice Butler.
While Grant wasn’t a key player on offense, his loss will be strongly felt on special teams, where Grant was Miami’s No. 1 kick and punt returner. Grant had managed 16.3 yards per punt and 29.7 yards per return this season, both of which are among the best figures in the NFL. Additionally, Football Outsiders ranks the Dolphins’ punt return unit as the league’s second-most efficient, while the club is fourth in FO’s kick return metrics.
Rams To Activate WR Pharoh Cooper
The Rams are expected to activate wide receiver/returner Pharoh Cooper from injured reserve before Monday night’s game against the Chiefs, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Cooper Kupp, who went down with a torn ACL in Week 11, has formally been placed on injured reserve. 
Cooper has appeared in just one game this season, as the ankle injury he suffered in Los Angeles’ season opener landed him on IR. Now that he’s missed eight weeks, Cooper is eligible to return and began practicing last week. That opened up a three-week window during which the Rams had to decide whether to activate Cooper, or keep him on injured reserve for the remainder of the year.
A fourth-round pick out of South Carolina in 2016, Cooper earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017 as a return man. The 23 year-old Cooper handled 66 combined kick and punt returns, and led the NFL in yards per kickoff return (27.4). He will immediately take back both of those roles from Blake Countess and Jojo Natson, who have been handling kicks and punts, respectively.
Cooper hasn’t been much of an offensive force through two-plus years in the NFL. He played roughly 400 offensive snaps from 2016-17 and managed only 25 total receptions during that time. Cooper could conceivably see snaps at receiver now that Kupp is done for the season, but the Rams typically stick with the same three wideouts (Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, and — now — Josh Reynolds) in their “11” personnel package.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/18
Today’s minor moves:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Gehrig Dieter
Washington Redskins
- Waived: WR Brian Quick