Browns Place Kirksey, Gaines On IR
The Browns placed linebacker Christian Kirksey (hamstring) and defensive back E.J. Gaines (concussion) on injured reserve, according to a team announcement. Both players were forced out during the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs and those injuries have ended their seasons prematurely. 
Kirksey, a fifth-year veteran and team captain, started all seven of his games for the Browns this year. In that time, he racked up 29 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Kirksey averaged 90 tackles and three sacks between 2016 and 2017, so those numbers were off of his usual pace. According to Pro Football Focus, it has been a subpar 2018 for Kirksey, who currently ranks as one of the ten worst qualified LBs in the league. Still, losing Kirksey is a blow to the Browns D.
The Browns are hoping to get Joe Schobert back on the field soon and his return should take some of the sting out out of losing Kirksey. Schobert has been held out of the last three games with a hamstring ailment of his own.
Gaines joined the Browns on a one-year, $4MM deal in the offseason. Unfortunately, he’s done for the year after suffering his second concussion of the season. Gaines started in two of his six games and snagged his lone interception of the year against the Raiders in September.
To fill one of the vacated roster spots, the Browns have signed defensive back Juston Burris off the Jets’ practice squad.
Falcons Sign DE Bruce Irvin
Former Raiders defensive end Bruce Irvin has agreed to a one-year deal with the Falcons, according to a team announcement. The deal reunites Irvin with coach Dan Quinn and gives the veteran a chance at reaching the playoffs this season. 
“This was a dream [come] true,” the Atlanta native told Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter). “The Patriots and Steelers offered more money, but being able to play for my city and my people, you just can’t put a price on that.”
The Seahawks also tried to sign Irvin, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). But, rather than don his old uniform, Irvin decided to reconnect with the coach who helped mold him into one of the league’s most feared edge rushers.
Irvin’s new deal will pay him $1.5MM for the final eight games of the season, Rapoport adds (on Twitter). He also gets to collect on the full amount of his remaining Raiders salary, giving him a total haul of $9.75MM for 2018.
Irvin, 31, recorded 88 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five pass defenses, three interceptions and two touchdowns in his two seasons under Quinn in Seattle. The former No. 12 overall pick also had some success with the Raiders, but things took a turn this year under new head coach Jon Gruden.
The Raiders’ pass rush has been listless without Khalil Mack leading the charge, and Irvin was not his usual self, despite leading the team with three sacks at the midway point of the season. In his final game with the Raiders, Irvin played only nine snaps.
With the Falcons, Irvin will join a talented pass rush that includes former first-round picks Takkarist McKinley and Vic Beasley. On the whole, it’s a defense that has not been playing up to its potential. The Falcons are among the lowest-ranked defenses in the league and the front seven has registered just 17 sacks on the year.
Because he was released after the trade deadline, Irvin was subject to waivers. He went unclaimed due to his contract which called for him to earn $3.8MM the rest of the way. Naturally, he’ll earn less on his Falcons deal.
Irvin’s first game with the Falcons will come against the Browns on Sunday.
Raiders Sign DE Jacquies Smith
Kony Ealy wasn’t the only veteran defensive end the Raiders signed this week, as Oakland announced that it has also inked edge rusher Jacquies Smith.
Smith, 28, had established himself as a serviceable pass rusher for the Buccaneers (13.5 sacks from 2014-15) before a torn ACL ended his 2016 campaign after only one game. After working his way back to full health, Smith had played in only one 2017 contest with Tampa Bay before being cut. He latched with the Lions for two games, but spent the last two months of the campaign out of football.
Earlier this summer, Smith drew a bit of interest, working out for the Colts before landing a one-year deal withe Cardinals in July. He played in three games for Arizona but didn’t make much of an impact, as he saw only 29 snaps on defense to go along with 23 on special teams. After being released in late September, Smith worked out for Oakland last week before landing a deal Tuesday.
Smith (and Ealy) should both be given a chance to contribute in the Bay Area, as the Raiders have fielded the NFL’s worst pass-rushing unit through a half-season. After trading Khalil Mack prior to the regular season, and waiving defensive end Bruce Irvin last week, Oakland ranks dead last in the league in both sacks (seven) and adjusted sack rate. The Raiders’ defensive end rotation is now led by Frostee Rucker, Fadol Brown, and rookie Arden Key.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/18
Today’s minor moves:
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from physically unable to perform list: LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
- Waived: LB Trevon Young
New York Giants
- Waived: WR Quadree Henderson
New England Patriots
- Waived: OL Cole Croston, DE Geneo Grissom
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT T.Y. McGill
- Waived: WR DeAndre Carter
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Kalan Reed
- Waived: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
Bills Release CB Phillip Gaines
The Bills have released starting cornerback Phillip Gaines, the club announced today. Buffalo has promoted fellow defensive back Levi Wallace from the practice squad to fill Gaines’ vacated roster spot.
Gaines, 27, had started six games for the Bills and was second among Buffalo cornerbacks in defensive snaps with 367, but he hadn’t played especially well. Pro Football Focus graded Gaines as the No. 56 CB among 111 qualifiers, while the ex-Chief had allowed 10.6 yards per pass and a 50% success rate, both of which are well below league average. Buffalo also ranked 19th in pass DVOA against opposing No. 2 receivers, the majority of which were covered by Gaines.
Penalties were also a problem for Gaines. As noted by Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter links), Gaines leads all NFL players with 131 penalty yards. Additionally, Gaines gave up 90 yards via penalty against the Bears on Sunday (both on lengthy pass interference calls), a total which ranks second among all players since 2001.
With Gaines out of the picture, Ryan Lewis — a waiver claim by the Bills earlier this years — figures to start at corner against the Jets on Sunday, tweets Joe Buscaglia of WKBW. Taron Johnson, who has played roughly 55% of Buffalo’s defensive snaps, will continue in his role as the club’s nickel cornerback.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/6/18
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Brady Sheldon
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT De’Ondre Wesley
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: T Rick Leonard, DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Storm Norton
New England Patriots
- Released: RB Kenneth Farrow
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Troymaine Pope
- Released: TE Tyrone Swoopes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Bernard Reedy
- Released: WR Damoun Patterson
Washington Redskins
- Signed: T Jarron Jones
- Released: T Justin Evans
Redskins Activate DL Stacy McGee
The Redskins activated defensive lineman Stacy McGee from the physically unable to perform list. To make room, they waived safety Kenny Ladler. 
[RELATED: Orleans Darkwa Rejected Redskins Offer]
McGee joined the Redskins on a five-year, $25MM contract last spring and appeared in all 16 games (ten starts) for the club in 2017, managing 44 tackles in the process. This year, he was held back by thigh surgery in June. Joining a defensive line that also includes Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, and Caleb Brantley, McGee is unlikely to start, but he could find a spot in the rotation.
Ladler was no longer needed after the Redskins acquired standout safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix from the Packers before the trade deadline. The 26-year-old dressed for five games this year and played primarily on special teams.
Patriots Place Brian Schwenke On IR
The Patriots have placed center/guard Brian Schwenke on injured reserve, according to a club announcement. Schwenke missed the last two games with a foot injury, which is presumably the same issue that is ending his season prematurely. 
Schwenke, 27, spent his entire career with the Titans until he hooked on with the Pats over the summer. He missed the Pats’ initial cut, but was re-signed on Sept. 4. Despite having 30 games of experience as a starter, he dressed for only three contests this year and was on the field for four snaps in total.
Schwenke has been a backup for the past two seasons. Injuries essentially brought an end to his starting days, with the former 2013 fourth-round pick missing 23 games over his first three seasons. But, he suited up for 16 Titans regular-season games in each of the past two years.
Bruce Irvin Goes Unclaimed On Waivers
Former Raiders defensive end Bruce Irvin went unclaimed on waivers, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The other 31 teams in the NFL were not interested in picking up the $3.8MM left on Irvin’s contract, but he should draw ample interest as a free agent. 
Irvin wants to play for a winner, according Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, who predicts that he will sign with the Patriots, Falcons, and Seahawks. Given Irvin’s history with the Seahawks and his ties to Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, either club would serve as as comfortable landing spot.
Previously operating as Khalil Mack’s sidekick, Irvin registered 15 sacks between the 2016-17 seasons. He led the Raiders with three this year, though Oakland’s pass rush nose-dived after the scrutinized Mack trade. He played only nine snaps in Raiders’ embarrassing 34-3 loss to the 49ers, which turned out to be his final game in silver and black.
Packers Place Geronimo Allison On IR
The Packers placed wide receiver Geronimo Allison on injured reserve, according to a team announcement. The club also released safety Jermaine Whitehead, who was ejected on Sunday night after slapping Patriots center David Andrews in the helmet. His spot will be filled by the promotion of cornerback Will Redmond from the practice squad.
Allison, 24, was held out of Sunday night’s game due to his ongoing hamstring and groin problems. He’ll undergo core surgery soon, which will rule him out for the remainder of the year. Ultimately, his season will end with 20 catches for 303 yards and two touchdowns across five games.
Redmond, a third-round pick of the 49ers in 2016, was signed to the Packers’ practice squad on Sept. 11. He spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a knee injury and missed the first eight games of 2017 with an ankle malady. The 24-year-old has yet to see live action, but he may soon get his chance with the Packers.
After losing to the Pats on Sunday, the Packers are 3-4-1, good for third in the NFC North. On Sunday, they’ll return home to take on the Dolphins.