Jordan Reed Expected Back For Season Opener
Cowboys Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Jones participated in his first practice of the offseason today after being activated from the physically unable to perform list. While the 26-year-old will be a welcome addition to the secondary, head coach Jason Garrett said the team will bring Jones along slowly.
“He’s going to slowly get back into it and just kind of see where he is,” Garrett said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “He’s been working really well on the side. It’s time for him to get going again, so he’ll be out there for part of practice.”
Meanwhile, offensive guard Zack Martin and offensive tackle Tyron Smith are not expected to practice this week, but the duo should be good to go for the regular season opener. The same goes for wideout Amari Cooper, who has been dealing with a heel injury.
Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFC…
- Packers starting linebacker Oren Burks isn’t expected to miss an extended amount of time due to a pec injury, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The 24-year-old won’t require surgery and should be back this season, and there’s even optimism that he’ll be able to avoid the injured reserve. The 2018 third-rounder had 23 tackles during his rookie campaign.
- Redskins coach Jay Gruden said he expects tight end Jordan Reed to be available for the season opener at Philadelphia (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim). Reed entered the concussion protocol after a hit in Thursday’s preseason win at Atlanta. “We’re quite confident that Jordan will be fine,” Gruden said. That’s good news for a team whose passing game revolves largely around Reed.
- The Vikings have removed cornerback Mike Hughes from the PUP list, according to a team announcement. That’s big news for Minnesota, especially with supporting cornerback Holton Hill suspended for the first half of the season. The 2018 first-round pick appeared in six games (two starts) before tearing his ACL in October. He ultimately finished his rookie campaign having compiled 22 tackles, three passes defended, a pick-six, and a forced fumble.
- The Cowboys worked out a pair of tight ends today in Tyrone Swoopes and Zach Conque, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas News (via Twitter). Swoopes spent the first two seasons of his career in Seattle, appearing in two games. The 24-year-old was let go by the team earlier this month. Conque, 25, has had stints with the Texans, Jets, Jaguars, and Colts since 2017. While the team’s depth chart at tight end is pretty much set, both Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz have dealt with recent injuries.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Redskins’ Trent Williams Ready To Play
Redskins left tackle Trent Williams is healthy and ready to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Of course, Williams is looking to suit up for a different team, so the stalemate continues. 
On Monday, head coach Jay Gruden reiterated that he still “very strongly” believes Williams won’t be traded. However, at this juncture, it’s hard to see a scenario in which Williams plays for the Redskins this year, so it’s hard to imagine the club passing on help in other areas or draft capital.
Earlier this month, the Redskins signed Donald Penn to help fill in for Williams up front. They’ve also discussed deals with other teams – for instance, the Dolphins have inquired on Williams and may still have interest. The Patriots, however, do not seem to be in the mix, despite being loosely connected to the veteran throughout the offseason.
The Redskins will face the Ravens on Thursday night in the final game of their preseason schedule. Then, on Sept. 8, they get the season started against the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Redskins To Start Case Keenum In Week 1
The Redskins will turn to Case Keenum as their Week 1 starter. While this was expected, given Colt McCoy‘s health and Dwayne Haskins‘ developmental status, Jay Gruden made it official, per ESPN.com’s John Keim (on Twitter).
This will mark Keenum’s third Week 1 start in four seasons — each for different teams, with the Rams and Broncos also turning to him since 2016. It should be expected Haskins takes over at some point this season, and McCoy was slotted atop Washington’s initial depth chart. But for now, Keenum will lead the Redskins’ offense.
The Rams gave Keenum nine starts in 2016 before Jared Goff replaced him. It is unclear how quickly the team will turn to Haskins. Keenum threw for a career-high 3,890 yards last season, to go along with 18 touchdown passes. He could not match his surprisingly high-end 2017 slate, when he led all QBs in DVOA, and the Broncos jettisoned the 31-year-old passer after one season. Keenum’s 46.9 QBR figure was 31st last season.
Gruden said recently McCoy may be sidelined into the regular season, which would leave Haskins as Washington’s top backup. Keenum struggled in 2018 but did make all 16 starts for the Broncos.
Justin Hunter Working Out For Four Teams
Former Steelers wide receiver Justin Hunter has healed up from a torn labrum and will work out for four NFL teams, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). The Jets, Redskins, Texans, Patriots, and Ravens will all kick the tires on Hunter, giving the former Steelers wideout an opportunity to get on the field for 2019.
Hunter, a freakish athlete, has yet to really make his mark at the pro level. He seemed to hold serious promise when he entered the league as a second round pick of the Titans in 2013. but he has spent time with three other teams in his young career.
Hunter managed just 14 catches with the Bills, Dolphins, and Steelers between 2017 and 2018. His most productive season came in 2014 when he had 28 catches for 498 yards and three scores with the Titans, though he did manage four TDs with Buffalo in 2016.
The Patriots auditioned Hunter before the start of training camp, but he left New England without a deal.
Jordan Reed In Concussion Protocol
Awful news out of D.C. – Redskins tight end Jordan Reed has landed in the NFL’s concussion protocol, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). There’s no further update on his status just yet, but it’s troubling to hear as this is at least the fourth known concussion of his pro career. 
Reed, 29, is among the league’s most talented tight ends, when healthy. However, injuries – including head trauma – have been a major issue for him through his career. In his six NFL seasons, Reed has missed 31 regular season games.
Reed missed much of the 2017 season with a hamstring injury, but bounced back last year to haul in 54 catches for 558 yards and two scores across 13 games. Prior to that, he lost time due to concussions in 2013 and 2016.
For his career, the 6’2″, 242-pound tight end has 329 catches, 3,371 yards, and 24 touchdowns to his credit. He enjoyed his best season in 2015 (87/952/11) and earned his first ever Pro Bowl nod in 2016.
Patriots Not Interested In Trent Williams?
The Patriots have been loosely connected to Trent Williams during the Redskins tackle’s holdout, but it does not look like they will be making a play for the seven-time Pro Bowler.
This does not appear to be a destination for Williams, with Field Yates of ESPN.com reporting (on Twitter) the defending Super Bowl champions are not interested in the 10th-year veteran.
New England obviously made a substantial recent investment at left tackle, taking Isaiah Wynn with 2018’s No. 23 overall pick. Wynn has spent the offseason recovering from a torn Achilles and return to game action in the Pats’ second preseason contest, playing 19 snaps Saturday against the Titans. He started at left tackle. That remains the team’s ideal course of action.
Multiple reports Thursday had the Patriots being willing to surrender a first-round pick for Williams, and the Redskins spurning the offer (Twitter links). This would be quite the return for Washington, were a team to make that proposal. Yates, however, refutes the notion such an offer arrived. The Redskins have held firm on Williams, who has two years left on his contract, and signed Donald Penn as insurance. He and 2018 third-round pick Geron Christian are battling for Washington’s left tackle job during Williams’ absence.
The Dolphins have reportedly checked in on the 31-year-old holdout, despite employing fourth-year tackle Laremy Tunsil. While the Patriots plan to go with Wynn, they have also been using 6-foot-9 Dan Skipper as a potential option.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/19
Colt McCoy To Miss Regular-Season Time?
Signs are pointing toward Case Keenum piloting the Redskins’ offense when the season begins. With Dwayne Haskins still in developmental mode, Colt McCoy‘s injury setback will point Keenum toward taking a fourth team’s snaps in four years.
Listed as the Redskins’ starter on their first depth chart this year, McCoy missed the team’s second preseason game and now is without a firm return timetable. Jay Gruden acknowledged (via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, on Twitter) Sunday his longtime backup may miss multiple games this season. At the very least, it appears McCoy is a ways away from coming back.
The broken leg he suffered took most of the offseason to surmount, and McCoy has yet to completely clear the final hurdles of this journey. McCoy visited foot specialist Dr. Robert Anderson recently about his right leg, with John Keim of ESPN.com tweeting the issue continues to be McCoy’s inability to push off of that foot without pain. Gruden said he will not put the veteran passer back out there until he is absolutely ready.
Keenum took the Week 1 snaps for the 2016 Rams and 2018 Broncos and played most of the way for the 2017 Vikings in what was easily his most successful season. McCoy has been with the Redskins since Robert Griffin III was ahead of Kirk Cousins on the depth chart. The former Texas standout received one start last season, following Alex Smith‘s injury, but broke his leg during that game. One season, at $3MM, remains on McCoy’s contract.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/19
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived/injured: Mike Onuoha
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OL Cameron Hunt
- Waived: WR Jordan Lasley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: WR Braxton Miller
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Gary Johnson
- Placed on IR: LB Myles Humphrey
Biggest Roster Weakness: NFC East
The 2019 regular season is right around the corner, but every NFL team still has at least one position on its roster that could use improvement. And there’s still plenty of time to address those areas of need! Free agents are readily available on the open market, while preseason trades provide another avenue of player procurement. 19 NFL trades were executed between August 1st and September 1st of 2018, and that number could increase this year.
Let’s take a look at the weakest positional group — and a potential solution — for each NFL club. Today we’ll examine the NFC East:
Dallas Cowboys
- Weakness: Defensive tackle. Antwaun Woods and Maliek Collins each played more than 45% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps in 2018, but neither proved particularly effective, as both ranked in the bottom-half of Pro Football Focus‘ interior defender grades. Christian Covington has played well during training camp, and Dallas used a second-round pick on defensive tackle Trysten Hill, but the Cowboys could look to the free agent market for another veteran to play inside. Safety was another consideration here, but the Cowboys seem to be all-in on starting Jeff Heath despite his lack of 2018 production.
- Solution: Sign Muhammad Wilkerson to a cheap one-year deal. Given the need to extend Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, and Byron Jones, the Cowboys probably aren’t willing to spend much on a late free agent addition. And that’s just fine, because Wilkerson shouldn’t cost much after a fractured ankle limited him to three games last season. Wilkerson’s deal with the Packers was worth $5MM and carried $3MM in available incentives, but he could be hard-pressed to earn anything more than a minimum salary this time around.
New York Giants
- Weakness: Wide receiver depth. Nearly any position on the Giants’ defensive depth chart could use help, but have you taken a look at New York’s possible Week 1 receivers? Golden Tate is suspended through Week 4, so if Sterling Shepard can’t return from a fractured thumb in time for the season opener, Big Blue would likely roll out Cody Latimer, Russell Shepard, and Bennie Fowler as its top three wideouts. Even if Shepard is able to make it back for Week 1, the Giants could still use more help at receiver.
- Solution: Trade for Keelan Cole. The now 26-year-old Cole played well to start the 2018 campaign, but ultimately couldn’t live up to the expectations set by his 2017 season. The former undrafted free agent’s yards per reception fell from 17.8 in 2017 to just 12.9 in 2018, and he’s now listed as a third-team receiver on Jacksonville’s latest depth chart. Capable of lining up in the slot or outside, Cole could help tide the Giants over until Tate and Shepard are back.
Philadelphia Eagles
- Weakness: Cornerback. Thanks to a smart front office headed by general manager Howie Roseman, the Eagles don’t have many weaknesses on their roster. One area of potential concern is at cornerback, where Ronald Darby may not be ready for Week 1 and Cre’Von LeBlanc could be a candidate for injured reserve after suffering a foot injury.
- Solution: Trade for a Patriots or Saints corner. Rumblings in the past week have indicated the Patriots and/or Saints could have a spare corner to deal, and the Eagles could make for a potential trade partner. New England defensive back Jonathan Jones could make sense for Philadelphia — he’s on a one-year, restricted free agent deal, so the Eagles could evaluate him in 2019 before deciding whether to extend him through 2020 and beyond. The Patriots and Eagles already lined up for one veteran trade this offseason when New England acquired defensive lineman Michael Bennett in March.
Washington Redskins
- Weakness: Linebacker. Zach Brown and Mason Foster were the Redskins’ primary inside linebackers last season, but both have since been released. Foster isn’t a tremendous loss, but PFF graded Brown as the third-best ‘backer in all of football in 2018. Reuben Foster, claimed off waivers last November, isn’t going to play this year after tearing his ACL, so Washington is relying on journeyman Jon Bostic and 2018 sixth-rounder Shaun Dion Hamilton to hold down the middle of its defense.
- Solution: Wait for Wesley Woodyard to get cut by the Titans. Even at age-33, Woodyard is still a solid linebacker, but with the Titans turning to Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown, he’s not expected to be a starter in 2019. Most Tennessee roster projections still have Woodyard making the team, but the Titans might be loathe to keep a backup who accounts for more than $4MM on their salary cap. If and when he’s released, Woodyard should become a target for Washington.