GMs Expecting Active Trade Deadline

The NFL has experienced a dramatic rise in significant trades over the past several years, and there may be a few noteworthy swaps going down this month as we get closer to the October 29 trade deadline. Indeed, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says there is a sense among general managers that we may see more trades in advance of this year’s deadline than ever before, largely because there is a larger gulf between pretenders and contenders than in seasons past (indeed, there are still six winless teams, which is the highest number at this point in the season since the 1970 merger).

La Canfora says the teams most actively laying groundwork for potential deals are the Saints, Eagles, Ravens, Chiefs, Patriots, and Seahawks. Of course, a number of those clubs have already been pursuing Jacksonville CB Jalen Ramsey, and the Saints, Eagles, Ravens, and Chiefs are casting a wide net for cornerback upgrades.

One of this year’s still-winless clubs, the Broncos, are reportedly more open to moving veteran pieces than they were last year, as La Canfora writes in a separate piece, with Derek Wolfe, Chris Harris, and Emmanuel Sanders all generating interest. Wolfe could make sense for Baltimore, and the Saints are expected to renew their pursuit of Sanders. Even Von Miller could be on the block, per La Canfora, especially since all of his major bonuses and guarantees have already been paid. Miller, 30, is reportedly open to a change of scenery at this point, but Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says the Broncos will not trade him (video link). However, the other players mentioned above could be available if Denver continues to scuffle.

But while Denver may be willing to talk shop, rival GMs are skeptical that the 0-4 Bengals, led by old-school owner Mike Brown, will be amenable to moving big-name vets despite their fading fortunes. La Canfora’s sources say Cincinnati could net a first-round pick for WR A.J. Green if the acquiring club is able to work out a new contract with him as a condition of the trade (and if Green recovers from his foot injury soon). The Patriots and Saints could make a push for Green or Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, and Cincy could also swing deals for players like Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap if the club is willing to listen to offers.

Like fellow winless outfits Denver and Cincinnati, the Jets could be active in shopping veteran players in advance of the deadline. La Canfora specifically names Kelechi Osemele and Leonard Williams as players who could be on the move, though he says there has been no trade chatter surrounding Le’Veon Bell at this point.

Finally, though the 0-4 Redskins have been steadfastly refusing to trade Trent Williams, some believe that the team will relent at some point and will ship Williams to a contender in need of O-line help.

Redskins To Start Colt McCoy Vs. Patriots

Dwayne Haskins will have to wait at least a little while longer. On Friday, head coach Jay Gruden announced that Colt McCoy will get the start against the Patriots, rather than first-round rookie Dwayne Haskins or veteran Case Keenum.

[RELATED: Gruden Didn’t Want Haskins]

Keenum has been slowed by a foot injury and Haskins didn’t look ready for primetime in his NFL debut against the Giants. Enter McCoy, a known commodity in Washington who is coming back from multiple leg surgeries.

McCoy took all the first-team reps in practice this week, and Gruden is not exactly in love with Haskins, so this does not come as a shock. By far the longest-tenured quarterback on Washington’s roster, McCoy has been a Redskins backup throughout Gruden’s five-plus-season stay.

Following Alex Smith‘s November 2019 injury, McCoy was given the call. However, midway through his second start, he suffered a broken leg that required months of rehab. The former third-round pick made four starts in 2014 but sat behind Kirk Cousins and Smith until the latter’s gruesome injury. Six Redskins passers have seen action since Cousins’ 2018 free agency defection.

This will mark a third straight week in which the Patriots are tasked with defending a backup quarterback. They faced the Jets’ Luke Falk in Week 3 and, in a tight game against the Bills, ran into Matt Barkley after Josh Allen was knocked out of last week’s contest. The Pats have allowed one offensive touchdown all season.

Redskins’ Jay Gruden Didn’t Want Dwayne Haskins

In April, the Redskins selected Dwayne Haskins with the No. 15 overall pick. However, he wasn’t necessarily the selection of head coach Jay Gruden, a person with knowledge of the coach’s thinking tells Les Carpenter of the Washington Post

Haskins started just 14 games at Ohio State and Redskins coaches do not feel that he is ready to play. He did see some time in the Redskins’ losing effort to the Giants, but Gruden & Co. do not want to give him a full baptism by fire.

This isn’t the first we’ve heard of Gruden’s distaste for Haskins, or his preference for another QB. Earlier this year, it was reported that Gruden actually wanted Daniel Jones, who went No. 6 overall to the Giants. The G-Men have won two straight games with Jones leading the way. The Redskins, meanwhile, are 0-4.

Gruden, meanwhile, seems tired of the debate on whether the rookie should be starting ahead of Case Keenum or Colt McCoy.

No matter what we do with him, we’re going to be wrong,” Gruden said, sarcastically, this week, “So, it really doesn’t matter.”

As of this writing, the Redskins have yet to decide on their starter for Sunday’s game against the Patriots. No matter what, it’s safe to say that Haskins will be a part of the team’s plans beyond 2019. The same cannot be said for Gruden, who is winless in 2019 and possibly at odds with owner Dan Snyder.

Jordan Reed Not Going On IR

  • Injured reserve is not in consideration for Redskins tight end Jordan Reed, head coach Jay Gruden told reporters, including Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Reed has suffered a number of concussions throughout his career and is currently dealing with yet another brain injury. Earlier this year, reports indicated that his career could even be in jeopardy given his repeated brain trauma. Reed is not expected to play in Week 5 and there’s no timetable for his return, but Washington apparently isn’t willing to give up his season just yet.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/3/19

Today’s practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Redskins

  • Signed: OL Travis Vornkahl

NFL Workout Updates: 10/2/19

Today’s workout updates:

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Washington Redskins

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/19

Today’s practice squad updates:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Redskins

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/1/19

We don’t dance now, we make minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/19

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Atlanta Falcons

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Signed: OL Brandon Hitner

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

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