Saints Add Forrest Lamp To Taxi Squad
Free agent guard Forrest Lamp has agreed to join the Saints’ practice squad (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The former second-round pick will be in the same group as veteran running back Lamar Miller, who agreed to join the 16-man unit earlier today. 
[RELATED: Lamar Miller Joins Saints Practice Squad]
Injuries have dogged Lamp for most of his pro career. He missed all of his 2017 rookie season with an ACL tear, and he missed the second half of the 2019 season due to a broken ankle. Overall, the former higher-end offensive line prospect has been limited to 25 games as a pro. On the plus side, he turned in a full 16-game slate for the Chargers last year and started in every contest.
The 27-year-old was set to play for the Bills this year, but a calf injury ultimately cost him his job. Now healthy, Lamp will try to earn his way onto the Saints’ 53-man roster.
Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley Done For Year
Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley will have another surgery on his ankle, shutting him down for the remainder of the season. The Ravens have placed the All-Pro on injured reserve, shutting him down for a second straight year. 
“This is not what I wanted or expected when coming into the season,” Stanley said. “Throughout the last year, I did everything I could to be 100% healthy so I could be out there playing for our team and city. As a competitor, I have a mindset of sacrificing my body for my brothers and my team to reach our goals. At this point in time, my ankle isn’t where it should be.”
“This is the best decision not only for my health, but also for the team long term. I look forward to supporting my team from the sideline this season and coming back fully healthy in 2022.”
Stanley appeared in 100% of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 1 against the Raiders, but he’s been sidelined ever since. Now, he’s the 17th Ravens player to hit the IR list this year — that’s more than any other team in the NFL.
Stanley was outstanding in 2019, his last healthy year, earning First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Last November, the Ravens happily furnished him with a five-year, $98.75MM extension. But, since that stellar ’19, he’s played in just seven regular season games (six last year, one this year).
In Stanley’s stead, the Ravens will continue to deploy Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle with Patrick Mekari manning the right side. They’ll be supported by newcomer Brandon Knight with David Sharpe available for promotion on the practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/21
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: P Ryan Winslow
- Placed on IR: WR Brandon Zylstra
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: S Deon Bush
- Promoted: S Teez Tabor
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: FB Nick Ralston
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Curtis Robinson, LB Barrington Wade
- Placed on IR: LB Andre Mintze
- Waived: WR David Moore
Houston Texans
- Signed off Raiders practice squad: OL Jimmy Morrissey
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: K Michael Badgley, NT Antwaun Woods
- Waived: QB Jacob Eason, DT Chris Williams
- Activated from IR: QB Sam Ehlinger
- Placed on IR: WR Parris Campbell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: OL Rashaad Coward
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Desmond Trufant
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: DB Donte Deayon, RB Buddy Howell
- Placed on IR: RB Jake Funk, TE Johnny Mundt
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/injured: RB Kene Nwangwu
- Released: RB Ameer Abdullah
New York Giants
- Promoted: OT Korey Cunningham, WR Dante Pettis
- Placed on IR: WR C.J. Board
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Rashard Robinson
- Waived: G John Molchon
Tennessee Titans
- Activated: S Brady Breeze
- Placed on IR: WR Cam Batson, CB Caleb Farley (story)
- Waived: P Johnny Townsend
Saints Add Lamar Miller To Practice Squad
The Saints have signed Lamar Miller to the practice squad, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The former Pro Bowl running back will give the Saints some extra insurance with Tony Jones on the injured reserve list. 
Miller auditioned for New Orleans earlier this month, along with Duke Johnson, Brian Hill, Ito Smith, and Ryquell Armstead. That same week, the Saints signed running back Devine Ozigbo off of the Jaguars’ taxi squad. Now, they’ve circled back to Miller, who was once one of the league’s top rushers.
The veteran has two 1,000-yard rushing seasons on his resume, including his ’18 Pro Bowl year. However, he hasn’t been the same since his 2019 ACL tear. He’s had stops with the Patriots, Bears, and the Washington Football Team in recent years, all amounting to two catches for six yards.
For now, the Saints’ RB group consists of Alvin Kamara, Dwayne Washington, and Ozigbo. Meanwhile, Miller and Armstead reside on the taxi squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/19/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Josh Mauro
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Joe Thomas
- Released: LB Chris Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Reggie Bonnafon
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Chris Thompson
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: CB Isaiah Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Aaron Adeoye
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Connor Strachan
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: S Jordan Lucas, CB Marvell Tell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Shilique Calhoun
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Vince Biegel
- Released: LB Shaquem Griffin
New England Patriots
- Signed: K Riley Patterson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Lakiem Williams
New York Giants
- Signed: G Derrick Kelly, WR Travis Toivonen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jaydon Mickens
Washington Football Team
- Signed: K Chris Blewitt, LB De’Jon Harris
- Released: WR Kelvin Harman, CB Cole Luke
Titans’ Caleb Farley Done For Year
Titans cornerback Caleb Farley was diagnosed with a torn ACL after Monday night’s win over the Bills, according to Paul Kuharsky. Ditto for wide receiver Cameron Batson, ending both of their seasons in October. 
The Titans drafted Farley No. 22 overall this year, despite his extensive medical record. He lost his true frosh year to an ACL tear and went on to undergo two back surgeries, with the most recent one coming in March. If not for all of that, Farley could have been a top 10 pick.
It’s not clear whether Farley has torn the same ACL. But, either way, he’s facing a lengthy rehab process before he can retake the field. The only silver lining is the timing — it’s a season-ender no matter what, but he could have enough of a runway to be ready for training camp in the summer.
Farley, 23 in November, will wrap his rookie year with four stops and one pass defensed in three games. Meanwhile, the Titans are still without Kristian Fulton, so they’ll look to add a cornerback ASAP.
Jaguars Cut Josh Lambo
The Jaguars have released Josh Lambo. The kicking job now belongs to Matthew Wright, who sank two 50+ yard field goals to top the Dolphins on Sunday.
In 2019, Lambo led the NFL with a 97.1% field goal conversion rate. Then, in 2020, he lost the bulk of the year to injury, but went 5-of-5 on his FG tries while making 8-of-10 extra point attempts. This year, he went 0-3 and 5-of-7 on XPs, leading the Jaguars to promote Wright from the taxi squad.
Previously, Lambo was set to play out his four-year, $15MM deal, which would have run through 2022. The early termination will leave the Jaguars with a few million in dead money but may help them avoid finishing in the league’s cellar for a second straight year.
The Jaguars are now one of three one-win teams in the NFL, alongside the Texans, Dolphins, and Giants. They’ll aim for their first winning streak on Halloween when they face the Seahawks in Seattle.
Ravens Add OL James Carpenter To Practice Squad
James Carpenter had landed his next gig. The veteran offensive guard is signing with the Ravens, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). Carpenter will initially be joining Baltimore’s practice squad, but he’ll presumably join the active roster once he’s ready to go.
Carpenter came into the league as a tackle when he was drafted in the first-round by the Seahawks way back in 2011, but he was quickly switched to guard. He started 13 games for Atlanta this past season, and 11 the year before. The Alabama product spent his first four years in Seattle, then signed a four-year deal with the Jets in 2015.
He completed that deal and started all 16 games for New York in three of those seasons. He signed a four-year, $21MM deal with Atlanta in 2019, but only made it halfway through that pact before he was cut but the team back in March. The 32-year-old had remained a free agent since that time.
The Ravens’ offensive line had one of their best games of the season yesterday against the Chargers. While Lamar Jackson was sacked three times, Baltimore still managed to rush for 187 yards and three touchdowns. Still, that hasn’t stopped the front office from adding to the offensive line. Earlier today, the Ravens claimed offensive tackle Brandon Knight off waivers from the Cowboys.
Texans To Cut Andre Roberts
The Texans continue to clear veterans from their roster, and Andre Roberts is the next player to earn their walking papers. The former Pro Bowler will be released by the Texans, reports Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Texans To Release DE Whitney Mercilus]
Roberts joined the Texans on a two-year deal this past offseason. He’s seen time in all six games but has barely seen time on offense, collecting a single reception on 26 snaps. However, he’s continued to play a major role in the return game, returning eight punts for 33 yards and 18 kicks for 386 yards.
Roberts has established himself as a journeyman, but that hasn’t stopped him from earning Pro Bowl nods each season between 2018 and 2020. He led the NFL with 1,174 kick return yards with the Jets in 2018, and he followed that up with two impressive campaigns with the Bills. Roberts has also played with the Cardinals, Washington, Lions, and Falcons.
Houston continues to look at younger options as the pivot toward the future, meaning the 33-year-old Roberts was no longer in the team’s plans. Now, the veteran will have a chance to catch on with a contender that could use some special teams reinforcement.
Texans To Release DE Whitney Mercilus
s the Texans continue to pivot toward a youth movement, the team is letting go of one of their longest-tenured player. Houston is releasing veteran defensive end Whitney Mercilus, reports Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
Mercilus has seen a reduced role in recent weeks, but the 31-year-old has still put up solid numbers despite the part-time role, compiling 12 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss, and three QB hits. The Texans have recently pivoted to Jon Greenard and Jacob Martin at defensive end, sending Mercilus to a backup role.
The defensive end had spent his entire nine-plus-year career in Houston, starting 102 of his 132 games. He ranks second in franchise history (behind J.J. Watt) in a number of statistics, including sacks (57), forced fumbles (13), tackles for loss (72), and QB hits (115).
Mercilus inked a four-year extension with the Texans in 2019, but thanks to an offseason restructuring, he was set to hit free agent following the 2021 campaign. He’ll now hit free agency a bit earlier than that, but it probably won’t take long before the veteran finds his next gig.