Redskins Pursued Gregg Williams
The Redskins went hard after defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). However, Adam Gase and the Jets wanted Williams more and they landed him on Tuesday. 
Williams didn’t have teams knocking down his door with head coaching offers, but he did draw interest from multiple clubs with DC vacancies. He’ll forever be associated with the Saints’ Bountygate scandal, but teams are clearly not bothered by his role in that fiasco. And, in time, it’s not hard to envision Williams getting a crack at head coaching jobs if things go well in New York.
Lost in the midst of the Williams talk is that the Redskins actually have a defensive coordinator. Greg Manusky is still under contract, but it’s sounding more and more like they’ll be making a change before the start of the 2019 season. Manusky, 52, has been with the Redskins since 2016 and has served as their DC since 2017.
Redskins To Try To Keep Jamison Crowder
- Elsewhere in the NFC East, the Redskins do not want to let another of their mainstay wide receivers walk as a free agent. Washington allowed both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson to depart in 2017, and while neither 30-something pass-catcher has matched his Washington work since, the Redskins have not been the same at wideout either. Jay Gruden said (via ESPN.com’s John Keim) the team wants to try to re-sign Jamison Crowder “for sure.” Crowder will not be looking at Jarvis Landry money but is a sneaky-interesting name that could be on the market. Although injuries plagued Crowder this season, limiting him to nine games (career-low 388 receiving yards), it will not be especially cheap for Washington to bring him back. “It’s a great time to be a slot receiver,” Crowder said, via Keim.
Joe Woods Deciding Between Cards, Redskins
Former Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Woods will interview for the Redskins’ defensive backs coach job, and then decide between joining Washington or the Cardinals in the same role, according to Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link).
Woods, who succeeded Wade Phillips as Denver’s defensive coordinator in 2017, doesn’t appear to be generating any DC interest around the NFL despite leading a defense that’s ranked top-10 in DVOA in each of the past two seasons (including fifth in 2018). Arizona would seem to be a natural destination for Woods, as he’d once again be working under ex-Broncos head coach Vance Joseph, who was recently hired as the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator.
Meanwhile in Denver, co-defensive backs coach Marcus Robertson is not expected to return as a member of new head coach Vic Fangio‘s staff, and he’s also drawing interest from the Cardinals, tweets Klis. The Broncos’ other secondary coach — Greg Williams — won’t be back either, and he’s been linked to the Panthers and the Lions, per Klis.
Jets Working To Hire Gregg Williams As DC
The Jets are negotiating to hire Gregg Williams as their defensive coordinator under new head coach Adam Gase, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Williams has interest from other clubs, and if the deal with New York doesn’t get done, he could take an interview with the Redskins, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. 
Williams, 60, took over as the Browns’ interim head coach following the firing of Hue Jackson, and subsequently lead the club to a 5-3 finish. A former head coach with the Bills and a defensive play-caller for a number of NFL clubs, Williams handled a Cleveland defense that ranked near the the bottom of the league in scoring and yardage, but still finished 12th in DVOA, meaning the team was efficient overall.
Other candidates for the Jets’ DC gig have been mentioned, but Williams appears to be the heavy favorite. Former Broncos head coach Vance Joseph was potentially in the running, but he’s the new defensive play-caller for the Cardinals. Former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano was also identified as a possible candidate.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/9/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Anthony Winbush
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB A.J. Howard, OL Dan Skipper
Washington Redskins
- Signed: S Chris Cooper
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/9/19
Redskins Eyeing Broncos DC Joe Woods?
Nick Foles played a major role in ensuring the Super Bowl champions could attempt to defend their title in this year’s playoffs, and the Eagles want to compensate him accordingly. The veteran quarterback came four plays short of a $1MM bonus in Week 17, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com notes the Eagles are trying to find a solution to pay him that bonus. The Eagles sweetened Foles’ deal this past offseason, after he’d led the franchise to its first Super Bowl title. One of these incentives would have triggered had the Eagles made the playoffs with Foles playing 33 percent of the snaps. With Carson Wentz‘s backup being required to start and finish the season, that became attainable. But Foles went down during the Eagles’ Week 17 win over the Redskins.
- Jay Gruden will remain in Washington, but one of his assistants will not. The Redskins are letting secondary coach Torrian Gray go, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Washington appears to have two-year Denver defensive coordinator Joe Woods in mind for this job, but the Jaguars are also eyeing Woods, per Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). The Broncos’ hiring of Vic Fangio would appear to point to Woods being free to seek work elsewhere. Gray coached Washington’s DBs the past two years.
Redskins Meet With Todd Bowles
The Redskins met with former Jets coach Todd Bowles this week, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). No specific role was discussed, however. 
[RELATED: Redskins To Keep Jay Gruden As Head Coach]
For now, Greg Manusky is on hand as the Redskins’ defensive coordinator. It’s unclear if the Redskins would push him out in favor of Bowles, but a DC job would be the most likely outcome for the ex-Jets head coach.
Meanwhile, Bowles may be on track to become the Buccaneers’ next DC. The Bucs are zeroing in on Bruce Arians as their head coaching hire and the two have a relationship that spans decades.
If Bowles is hired by the Bucs, Redskins, or another team, it could provide financial relief for the Jets. There was offset language in Bowles’ deal, as Manish Mehta of the Daily News points out (on Twitter), so Gang Green could save some green over the next two years if he lands on his feet in this cycle.
Jay Gruden To Return To Redskins In 2019
The Redskins have decided to retain head coach Jay Gruden for the 2019 season, NBC Sports’ JP Findlay tweets. 
The move was assumed after most teams looking to replace their man in charge have already done so and moved on to interviews with candidates. The Redskins made it official, however, telling the team’s coach for the past five seasons that he will indeed coach a sixth.
Gruden has gone 35-44-1 in his tenure with the club, but was off to a solid start in 2018 before key injuries sunk their playoff chances down the stretch. With starter Alex Smith and backup Colt McCoy lost for the season, the team turned to Mark Sanchez and Josh Johnson in its limp to the finish. Despite the key injuries, the Redskins managed to pull out a respectable-for-the-circumstances 7-9 record.
Though he gave Gruden the benefit of the doubt, team owner Dan Snyder is not known for his patience with the team’s coaching staff. Signed through 2020, Gruden will undoubtedly be coaching for his job in 2019.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/3/19
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Ejuan Price
- LB Matthew Thomas
Detroit Lions
Pittsburgh Steelers
- QB Brogan Roback
- WR Ka’Raun White
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DE Hunter Dimick
- LB Corey Nelson
Washington Redskins