NFL Workout Updates: 12/4/18
Here is the latest from the workout circuit. All links to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise noted.
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Jonathan Anderson, WR Daniel Braverman, WR Malachi Dupre, OT Justin Evans, LB Josh Keyes, LB Korey Toomer
Buffalo Bills
- WR WR Da’Mari Scott (visit)
Carolina Panthers
- OT Isaiah Battle, S Quin Blanding, WR Daryl Boggan, LB Jonathan Celestin, S Marwin Evans, LB Kennan Gilchrist, TE DeAndre Goolsby, DT Woodrow Hamilton, CB Bryce Jones, WR Andre Levrone, S Kai Nacua, DE Whitney Richardson, QB Brogan Roback, CB Henre’ Toliver, RB Terron Ward, LB Antwione Williams, OT Darrell Williams, DE Jonathan Wynn
Detroit Lions
- RB Mack Brown, RB Demario Richard, RB Justin Stockton
Green Bay Packers
- S Tray Matthews, LB Dadi Nicolas, DE Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, S Jason Thompson
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Tanner McEvoy, WR Jordan Veasy
Kansas City Chiefs
Miami Dolphins
- LB James Burgess, LB Sam Eguavoen, LB Corey Nelson
New York Jets
Oakland Raiders
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB Joel Bouagnon, RB Kenneth Farrow
Washington Redskins
- OG Zac Kerin, OG Chris Scott
Redskins Hope To Sign QB Josh Johnson
Following season-ending injuries to starting quarterback Alex Smith and backup Colt McCoy, the Redskins are naturally seeking some help behind Mark Sanchez. We learned earlier today that the team was set to audition a handful of signal-callers, and now there are two more names to add to the list. JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports (via Twitter) that Washington will work out quarterbacks Landry Jones and Ryan Mallett today.
However, it sounds like the organization already has their eye on one quarterback in particular: Josh Johnson. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Redskins are hoping to sign the veteran. There are some hurdles that both sides need to overcome, including Johnson’s status as the recent number-one overall pick of the San Diego Fleet of the Alliance of American Football.
The 32-year-old Johnson has bounced around the NFL and UFL since being selected by the Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2008 draft. The veteran’s last NFL action came in 2013, when he ran for 20 yards on seven carries in two games with the Bengals (he didn’t attempt a pass during his time in Cincy). His last extended look came back in 2011 during his final year in Tampa, when he completed 19 of his 36 pass attempts for 246 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions (to go along with 67 rushing yards).
Working in Johnson’s favor is his relative familiarity with the Redskins’ system. Head coach Jay Gruden was the Bengals’ offensive coordinator during Johnson’s stint in Cincinnati, and Gruden was also an offensive assistant with the Buccaneers during the quarterback’s rookie campaign. Johnson is obviously a different game manager than both Smith and McCoy, but the Redskins may be enticed by the free agent’s presumed ability to quickly learn the playbook.
Mallett had spent the past three seasons in Baltimore as Joe Flacco‘s backup, but he’s yet to find a new gig since hitting free agency. Meanwhile, Jones had a brief stint with the Jaguars this season, although he didn’t end up seeing the field for Jacksonville. The team is also reportedly set to audition E.J. Manuel, T.J. Yates, and others.
Redskins To Sign DE Marcus Smith
The Redskins have agreed to sign former Eagles first round pick Marcus Smith. The defensive end may have an opportunity to make his D.C. debut on Sunday when the Redskins face the rival Giants. 
[RELATED: Redskins Won’t Audition Colin Kaepernick]
Smith showed his wares for the Jets and Bills last month, but left both auditions without a deal. Instead, the Redskins will give him his first opportunity to play in 2018 after he reportedly flirted with retirement in the summer .
In three seasons with the Eagles, Smith never made a start and registered only four sacks. Over time, his playing time waned and Smith played on only 20% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps in 2016. The Seahawks scooped up the 26-year-old in 2017 017 and he showed some promise in a limited role. In his 252 snaps, Smith registered 14 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
The Redskins have bigger issues to deal with – such as their ailing offensive line and messy quarterback situation – but Smith could provide support for the team’s leading edge rushers down the stretch.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Justin Zimmer
- Waived: S Keith Tandy
- Placed on IR: LS Josh Harris
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jalen Tolliver, DE Vontarrius Dora
- Placed on IR: DT Olsen Pierre
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Mike Love, CB Denzel Rice
- Placed on IR: C Russell Bodine
Denver Broncos
- Waived: OT Cyrus Kouandjio
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Kendall Donnerson
- Placed on IR: S Ibraheim Campbell
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers from Jaguars: CB Dee Delaney
- Placed on IR: TE A.J. Derby
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Damontre Moore
- Waived: DL Fadol Brown
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Trey Edwards
- Placed on IR: WR Justin Hunter
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OG Zac Kerin, LB/DE Marcus Smith
- Placed on IR: OG Jonathan Cooper
Redskins To Work Out Free Agent QBs
After losing their top two quarterbacks to injury, the Redskins are in the market for another signal caller. The Redskins will once again audition E.J. Manuel, T.J. Yates, Josh Johnson, and others as they look to support de facto starter Mark Sanchez, coach Jay Gruden announced. 
Naturally, reporters pressed Gruden on whether Colin Kaepernick is or was a consideration for the team. Gruden acknowledged that Kaepernick was discussed, but it doesn’t sound as though he was a real candidate for the Redskins.
“[There’s] not a lot of time to get a brand new QB and a system installed and taught in a couple days. He’s been talked about and discussed, but we’ll probably go in a different direction,” Gruden said (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim).
Backup Colt McCoy stepped in when Alex Smith was lost to a scary leg injury, but McCoy was knocked out of action this week when he suffered a broken fibula of his own. McCoy is holding out hope that he can return in a matter of weeks, but that will be a moot point unless Sanchez can lead the Redskins to a winning streak that will put them in the playoff mix.
The 6-6 Redskins have a 26% chance of reaching the playoffs and a 7% chance of bypassing the Cowboys and Eagles for the divisional crown. It’ll be an uphill battle, however, with Sanchez under center behind a depleted offensive line.
Peterson Wants To Stay With Redskins
In August, the Redskins signed Adrian Peterson to a one-year deal after a rash of injuries to their backfield. Now, Peterson is hoping to continue that arrangement into 2019 and the Redskins also have some interest in a new deal, ESPN.com’s John Keim writes. 
[RELATED: Redskins’ Colt McCoy Suffers Season Ending Injury]
After Week 13, Peterson ranks eighth in the NFL with 856 rushing yards, which isn’t too shabby for a 33-year-old running back. He was actually fifth in the NFL after eight weeks, but his yards per carry average has dipped in recent weeks thanks to a banged up Redskins’ offensive line and a shoulder injury of his own.
All of these factors make it difficult to accurately assess Peterson’s performance. Last night, the Redskins got a glimpse of prime Peterson when he rattled off a 90-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against the Eagles. But, at the same time, he averaged just one yard on his other eight carries. You read that right – on a night where Peterson became the oldest player to rattle off a 90-yard touchdown run, he also failed to reach 100 yards overall.
The Redskins are also expecting Derrius Guice to return healthy in 2019 and still have pass-catching specialist Chris Thompson under contract, so there’s not a real clear need for Peterson. Peterson, in theory, could split time with Guice, but he didn’t take kindly to his limited role in New Orleans and it’s not clear if he’ll be willing to average single-digit carries in 2019.
For what it’s worth, he has the support of at least one teammate.
“You look at Guice and he’s one of those backs you could be talking about for a long time,” said Redskins left tackle Trent Williams. “He could benefit tremendously from Adrian. With Adrian showing how much he has left in the tank, I don’t know if he’d want to come back and waste away his final seasons as a mentor when he could be adding to his legacy somewhere. He could still be the guy.”
Redskins’ Jonathan Cooper Done For Year
The Redskins are down one quarterback and a starting lineman after Monday night’s loss to the Eagles. Guard Jonathan Cooper suffered a torn biceps tendon that will end his season, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. 
[Redskins’ Colt McCoy Suffers Season Ending Injury]
Cooper, a former first round pick, started in each of his 13 appearances last year with Dallas. He hooked on with the 49ers in the offseason, but failed to make their final cut. Finally, last month, he found an opening with the Redskins after starting guards Brandon Scherff and Shawn Lauvao were lost to injury.
Cooper started in all four of his games for the Redskins, seeing time at both left guard and left tackle. His ~200 snaps didn’t give us much of a sample, but the metrics at Pro Football Focus rated him as a below-average protector.
The 28-year-old (29 in January) graded out as the No. 35 guard in the NFL last season, per PFF, and his past performance should allow him to draw some interest on the open market. Unfortunately, he probably won’t live up to the promise that many thought he had in 2013 when the Cardinals made him the No. 7 overall pick.
Colt McCoy Out For Season
The Redskins are now going to be without their top two quarterbacks the rest of the way. Colt McCoy suffered a fractured fibula and will miss the rest of the season, ESPN’s Lisa Salters reports.
McCoy went down in the first half, and X-rays revealed the fracture. Signed last month after Alex Smith‘s leg breaks, Mark Sanchez is now the pilot for the 6-5 Redskins.
Washington entered Week 13 with only McCoy and Sanchez on its 53-man roster. No quarterback resides on Washington’s practice squad. But Sanchez will soon be joined by a to-be-determined player.
Prior to signing Sanchez, the Redskins auditioned both E.J. Manuel and T.J. Yates. Kellen Clemens and now-AAF-affiliated Josh Johnson also received workouts. There’s a good chance one of these players will be on Washington’s roster soon. Colin Kaepernick is obviously unaffiliated and remains interested in playing, but given the events of the past two years, it’s unlikely the Redskins will go this route.
This is brutal news for McCoy, who had a chance to steer a team to the playoffs following Smith’s injury. He is signed through 2019 and is attached to a $3MM base salary next season. McCoy started two games for Washington, finishing 24 of 38 for 268 yards, two touchdown passes and three interceptions on Thanksgiving. Previously sitting behind Kirk Cousins for three seasons, McCoy entered this season having not started a game since 2014. He’d started in 21 Browns games from 2010-11.
Washington entered play tonight in the thick of the NFC East and wild-card races. With Sanchez (no starts since working with the 2015 Eagles’ first-stringers twice), their path becomes more difficult.
NFL Workout Updates: 12/3/18
Here is the latest from the workout circuit. All links to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise noted.
Buffalo Bills
- C Dillon Day, C Hroniss Grasu (link)
Cleveland Browns
- DB TeVaughn Campbell, C Kyle Friend, DE Mason Gentry, G Landon Turner, WR Jordan Veasy, RB Elijah Wellman, DE Jonathan Wynn (link)
Denver Broncos
- WR Dres Anderson, TE Billy Brown, WR Fred Brown, FB Dimitri Flowers, P Jeff Locke, RB Khalfani Muhammad, T Dakoda Shepley, QB Nic Shimonek, WR DeAndre Smelter, G Salesi Uhatafe, RB Akrum Wadley, WR Ka’Raun White, QB Logan Woodside, WR DeAngelo Yancey (Twitter links)
Detroit Lions
- G Salesi Uhatafe (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Zaire Anderson, TE David Grinnage (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DT Vincent Valentine (link)
New Orleans Saints
- T Derek Newton, T De’Ondre Wesley, T G Isaiah Williams (link)
New York Giants
- CB Bene Benwikere, S Dezmen Southward (link)
Oakland Raiders
- LB James Burgess, LB Edmond Robinson (link)
Seattle Seahawks
- DE Mackendy Cheridor, TE Cole Hunt, DT Vincent Valentine (link)
Washington Redskins
- LB Marcus Smith (link)
Reuben Foster Will Not Appeal Commissioner’s Exempt List Designation
The league recently placed new Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster on the commissioner’s exempt list, and Foster has elected not to appeal that decision, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. That means that Foster will likely miss at least the rest of the 2018 campaign while the league investigates the incident at the 49ers’ team hotel last weekend that prompted San Francisco to cut ties with the 2017 first-rounder.
Schefter says that Washington is not surprised by the decision, and the club claimed Foster off of waivers last week with the belief that he could be a factor on its defensive unit next season, not this season. Of course, once the NFL concludes its investigation, Foster will almost certainly be suspended — and given the nature of the offense, he would face a minimum six-game ban — so it’s difficult to say when in 2019 the Redskins can expect Foster to suit up for a regular season game.
The Redskins were the only team to put a claim in on Foster, and they have been heavily criticized for the decision. But it is not just the media and fans who have expressed outrage. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports writes that rival executives were shocked and dismayed that Washington claimed Foster, and La Canfora’s sources did not mince words. One GM said, “I wouldn’t even present [claiming Foster] to my owner. Maybe once we know the outcome of the investigation. Maybe as a free agent down the road once he’s cleared waivers. But I didn’t even think about claiming him. I couldn’t believe they did.”
Another high-ranking executive said, “What do they gain by doing this now? It reflects poorly on the entire league. It makes all of us look bad. They said in their own press release he might not ever play a snap for them. What’s the point? I’m kind of disgusted by it.”
In light of the strong outcry from executives around the club, any team interested in claiming the recently-waived Kareem Hunt may be having second thoughts.