Buccaneers Sign K Cairo Santos
The Buccaneers waived Chandler Catanzaro earlier today, and are replacing him by signing kicker Cairo Santos, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Catanzaro was cut earlier today after missing two of his three field goal attempts in the team’s loss to the Redskins yesterday. The Buccaneers are in the midst of a three game losing streak, and their patience with Catanzaro finally wore too thin. Catanzaro has already missed a number of kicks this season, but the team elected to stick with him each time.
Santos spent a few weeks with the Rams earlier this year while Greg Zuerlein nursed a groin injury, and has now found a home in Tampa Bay. Santos was with the Jets earlier this offseason, but was released back in August. Once one of the league’s better kickers, groin injuries derailed Santos’ career.
An undrafted free agent in 2014 out of Tulane, Santos spent a little over three seasons as the Chiefs’ kicker. After re-aggravating a groin injury early in the 2017 season he was placed on injured reserve and eventually replaced by Harrison Butker, who ended up taking his job in Kansas City.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/12/18
Today’s minor moves will be posted here:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: C Gino Gradkowski
Detroit Lions:
- Waived: CB Lenzy Pipkins
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Ben Koyack
- Waived: TE David Grinnage
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Matthew Dayes
- Waived: S Tyvis Powell
Panthers Sign RB Travaris Cadet
After waiving C.J. Anderson earlier today, the Panthers decided to add some backfield help by signing veteran Travaris Cadet, a source told Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). 
Christian McCaffrey has completely monopolized the backfield touches for the Panthers, so there wasn’t much of a need for Anderson anymore. The moves today signal that the team has complete confidence in McCaffrey, and will continue feeding him a large volume of touches. Anderson had reportedly been expecting a larger role, so the team released him when he wasn’t getting much playing time. There will be no such expectation from Cadet, and he should slide in immediately as the number two.
Cameron Artis-Payne was the only running back left behind McCaffrey after the waiving of Anderson, so it makes sense why they’d be looking for help. Cadet spent the first five seasons of his career with the Saints, before latching on with the Bills in 2017. The Bills released him at final cuts this year, and he recently worked out for the Raiders.
Cadet is more of a passing-downs back than a between the tackles runner, and he had a couple of productive seasons catching the ball in New Orleans. In 2016 he caught 40 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns, and also contributes on special teams.
Raiders’ Eddie Vanderdoes To Finish Year On IR
Eddie Vanderdoes won’t suit up for the Raiders this year after all. The Raiders hoped to activate the defensive tackle from the PUP list, but will not be cleared before the expiration of the three-week window, coach Jon Gruden told reporters. 
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Vanderdoes, the 88th overall selection in the 2017 draft, fell to the Raiders largely because of his injury history. The UCLA product tore his ACL in the 2015 season opener, but kept himself on the NFL radar with his clean technique, including quick hands and consistently low pad level.
Vanderdoes started 13 of his 16 games as a rookie and finished out with 18 total tackles. Unfortunately, he’ll have to wait until next year to see the field again and reassert himself at the pro level.
The 1-8 Raiders now have three defensive tackles on IR in Vanderdoes, Ahtyba Rubin, and Justin Ellis.
Jaguars C Brandon Linder Out For Season
Brandon Linder‘s season is over. The Jaguars’ center will undergo surgery on his right knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the year, head coach Doug Marrone announced. 
The Jaguars have dropped five straight and the loss of Linder will not help in their quest to get out of the hole. The 26-year-old ranks as one of the league’s better centers and his importance to the team was underscored by the six-year, $54MM extension he inked in 2017.
Even before the Linder injury, the Jags’ offensive line was weakened by the loss of left tackle Cam Robinson. The Jaguars were hoping to turn things around after getting Leonard Fournette back in the lineup, but he won’t get far if the club’s reserves cannot step up. Tyler Shatley figures to slide into the starting lineup in Linder’s place as the team hopes to get more than the 2.2 yards per carry Fournette averaged against the Colts.
Linder, a former third round pick, missed the majority of the 2015 season due to a shoulder injury and had to sit out for five games between 2016 and 2017. He’s been starting for Jacksonville since entering the league in 2014, but after five years he’ll have missed 26 out of a possible 80 regular season games.
Chargers’ Denzel Perryman Done For Year
Chargers star linebacker Denzel Perryman suffered an injury to his LCL and probably needs hamstring surgery as well, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. The double whammy will land him on injured reserve, ending his season. 
The Chargers have been one of the league’s surprise successes this season and Perryman deserves serious credit for their 7-2 start. Through nine games, the 25-year-old (26 in December) tallied 51 total tackles and an interception. The inside linebacker doesn’t have any sacks, but he is ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 23rd best linebacker on the strength of his pass rush pressure.
Perryman, a second-round pick in 2015, is no stranger to injury. Last year, Perryman started the year on IR and went right back after seven games.
Without Perryman, the Chargers will likely turn to Korey Toomer or Nick Dzubnar in the middle. It also stands to reason that they’ll add a linebacker, especially since Kyzir White is on IR and Chris Landrum is healing up from a hip injury.
Panthers Waive RB C.J. Anderson
The Panthers waived running back C.J. Anderson, according to a team announcement. Anderson was signed in May, but he was used far less than anticipated this season. 
“When we signed C.J. in the spring he saw a bigger role than he has had, and honestly, at the time so did we,” general manager Marty Hurney said in a statement. “But Christian McCaffrey has taken so much of the offense and so much of the plays, we just made the decision that this was the best thing for all parties involved.”
Anderson, 27, was a surprise cut by the Broncos after he ran for more than 1,000 yards in 2017. The 27-year-old wanted to reassert himself in Carolina, but he wound up with just 24 carries in nine games. On the plus side, he was efficient in that limited sample as he averaged 4.3 yards per tote.
Anderson is a vested veteran, but he’ll be subject to waivers now that the trade deadline has passed. With a reasonable $1.75MM cap figure on an expiring deal, it stands to reason that several teams will consider placing a claim on him. If not, he won’t last long as a free agent.
Redskins’ Geron Christian Out For Year
Redskins tackle Geron Christian tore his MCL and is out for the season, head coach Jay Gruden announced. Thanks to injuries, the third-round rookie dressed for only two games in his first pro campaign. 
The Redskins’ offensive line has taken a beating this year. Recently, the team was also forced to shut down guards Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao for the season and star tackle Trent Williams is at least a couple of weeks away from returning after a thumb injury. The Redskins will use new addition Austin Howard at offensive tackle, but another signing could be on the way as they look to strengthen the front five.
Despite their setbacks, the Redskins lead the NFC East with a 6-3 record. Fresh off of a road victory over the Bucs, they’ll look for another W against the Texans on Sunday.
Buccaneers Cut K Chandler Catanzaro
The Buccaneers have cut kicker Chandler Catanzaro, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move comes one day after Catanzaro missed two of his three field goal attempts in a loss to the Redskins. 
“I’m trying to find (the reason for the misses),” Catanzaro said after sending two of his tries wide right in the 16-3 loss. “The ball is just not going through the yellow poles right now. It’s got to do that. I’m not sure (what’s wrong). I just try to take it one kick at a time. … Something’s wrong, and I’ve done my best to fix it, and up until now, it hasn’t been fixed.”
Mired in a three-game losing streak, the Bucs were not interested in waiting for Catanzaro to fix the problem. Catanzaro’s rough day against Washington left him with a subpar 73.3% conversion rate on field goal tries and his previous four misses extra point attempts surely did not help matters.
The Bucs do not have a kicker on the practice squad, so they’ll have to sign someone new before Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Eagles CB Ronald Darby Done For Year
Eagles cornerback Ronald Darby is out for the year with a torn ACL, the team announced on Monday. Darby injured his right knee in the third quarter against the Cowboys on Sunday and further testing confirmed the team’s worst fears. 
The Eagles were already without corners Sidney Jones and Jalen Mills on Sunday thanks to injuries, so the loss of Darby leaves them extra thin at cornerback. Before the injury, Darby started in all nine of the Eagles’ games and tallied 43 tackles plus one interception.
Darby was among the 30 best cornerbacks in the NFL this season, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. The timing of his injury is especially rough with the Saints being the next team up on the schedule. After handing a 51-14 drumming to the Bengals – a game that cost defensive coordinator Teryl Austin his job – the Saints’ offense is looking as potent as ever.
The Eagles will likely sign at least one cornerback this week in order to improve their depth in the secondary. If Mills and Jones can’t play this week, they’ll have to rely on Rasul Douglas, fourth-round pick Avonte Maddox, UDFA Chandon Sullivan, and Cre’Von LeBlanc to pick up the slack.
Darby is in the final year of his rookie contract, so his season-ending injury could have a serious impact on his market. Before the ACL tear, Darby profiled as one of the best cornerbacks available in the spring.