Tre Madden

Extra Points: Sanu, Brown, Bears, Lock

The Patriots‘ revolving receiver cast may be set for more adjustments. Mohamed Sanu may well be battling a high ankle sprain, according to Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston. While that is not confirmed, the recent trade acquisition did not practice Wednesday and is listed on New England’s injury report. A high ankle sprain would stand to sideline Sanu for multiple games. The Pats have cycled through numerous receiver combinations this season, with Julian Edelman being the only constant. Phillip Dorsett is in the Pats’ concussion protocol, meaning Edelman’s supporting cast against the Cowboys may be fronted by rookies N’Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers.

Here is the latest from around the NFL, moving first to a player not currently in the league.

  • Antonio Brown launched a countersuit against Britney Taylor, the first of two women to make sexual misconduct claims against the free agent wide receiver. Taylor filed a civil suit against Brown earlier this year, alleging sexual assault, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports Brown’s case will center around defamation and interference with NFL contract and endorsement opportunities. Brown remains hopeful the NFL will clear him soon; he met with the league last week. But a recent report gave Brown a long-odds chance of playing again this season.
  • Mitchell Trubisky was a full participant at Bears practice Wednesday, despite being removed from Sunday night’s game with a hip injury. Matt Nagy said he does not intend to bench his starter and plans to play him this week against the Giants. “We want him to be out there this week as the starter,” Nagy said, via J.J. Stankevitz of NBC Sports Chicago. “I’m hoping that’s the case. … These types of injuries, you get to a point where they are literally day to day and it becomes about where you’re at with the pain and how we manage that.”
  • Brandon Allen has helped spark the Broncos‘ offense, but the team would stand to benefit from Drew Lock debuting soon. Vic Fangio added an interesting stance Wednesday, indicating he does not think it’s “vitally important” the rookie passer plays this season, via Mike Klis of 9News. However, the Broncos do plan to activate Lock from IR either next week or in Week 14, per Klis. Denver selected Lock in Round 2 but saw its Joe Flacco investment fail, leading to more uncertainty at a long-troublesome position for the franchise. The Broncos could again be linked to top quarterbacks in the 2020 draft, just as they were in 2018 and ’19.
  • One of the Falcons‘ IR-return slots will go toward a punter. Longtime punter Matt Bosher returned to practice, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter). Atlanta’s ninth-year punter cannot return to action until Week 13.
  • After placing fullback Nick Bawden on IR, the Lions worked out several fullbacks. Tommy Bohanon, Derrick Coleman, Tre Madden, Aaron Ripkowski auditioned for the Lions, per Sirius XM’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).

NFL Workout Updates: 10/16/19

Here is the latest from the workout circuit:

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

NFL Workout Updates: 10/9/19

Here are Wednesday’s updates from the workout circuit. Unless otherwise noted, all links go to the Twitter account of the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson.

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/13/19

Here is the latest news involving restricted free agents and exclusive-rights free agents, with updates coming throughout the day:

ERFA

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

RFA

Tendered at second-round level: 

Tendered at original-round level:

Non-tendered: 

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/7/17

Today’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

  • Promoted to active roster: DT Joey Mbu
  • Placed on injured reserve: WR Quan Bray
  • Waived: C Dillon Day

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks Waive Cooper Helfet

On a busy day in Seattle, the Seahawks waived fifth-year tight end Cooper Helfet, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports, amid a wave of transactions.

The Seahawks extended Helfet a tender as an exclusive-rights free agents in March, and the 27-year-old pass-catcher signed it soon after. However, Helfet has missed almost all of training camp after breaking a bone in his foot.

Condotta expects the veteran tight end to pass through waivers and land on Seattle’s IR (Twitter link).

A former UDFA out of Duke, Helfet’s played with the Seahawks since 2012 and made a modest impact during the past two seasons. Starting four games combined during the 2014-15 campaigns, Helfet made 25 receptions for 315 yards and two touchdowns — both of which coming in 2015. An easier route to playing time opened after Jimmy Graham‘s season-ending injury last season.

But Graham is expected to return soon, and the Seahawks also drafted Nick Vannett in the third round this year. Luke Willson also returns for the Seahawks, who made more moves on Saturday in addition to signing Jahri Evans.

Seattle also waived Brandon Cottom, whom Condotta tabbed as a good bet to be the team’s primary fullback prior to suffering an Achilles injury Thursday, along with tight end Ronnie Shields, running back Tre Madden and defensive end David Perkins.

The Seahawks signed linebacker Kache Palacio, running back Troymaine Pope and wideout Uzoma Nwachukwu.

Seahawks Sign Four Draft Picks, 13 UDFAs

The Seahawks are the latest NFL team to announce a series of draft pick signings and undrafted free agent additions, indicating in a press release that nine of their 10 draftees have been locked up, and 13 rookie free agents have joined the roster.

We heard earlier today that first-round offensive lineman Germain Ifedi had agreed to terms with his new club, and the Seahawks had also secured second-round defensive tackle Jarran Reed, third-round tight end Nick Vannett, third-round offensive lineman Rees Odhiambo, and fifth-round running back Alex Collins at that point. Seattle has since signed the following four draft picks as well, leaving only seventh-round running back Zac Brooks unsigned:

To supplement their draft class, the Seahawks have signed the following 13 UDFAs: