When Will Jordan Reed Return?
- There’s still no clear timetable for Jordan Reed‘s return to the field, JP Finlay of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes. “Jordan will be day-to-day,” Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. “You know, we just have to wait and see.” For the season, Reed has 59 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns in just nine games. Considered to be one of the best tight ends in the game, Reed is dealing with a painful shoulder injury.
DeSean Jackson Interested In Eagles Reunion?
The Eagles are expected to pursue DeSean Jackson in free agency this offseason. Apparently, the interest is mutual. A source close to DeSean Jackson believes the wide receiver would be “intrigued” by a possible return to Philadelphia, Tim McManus of ESPN.com writes. 
[RELATED: Eagles To Pursue DeSean Jackson]
As you may recall, Jackson did not have the cleanest breakup with the Eagles in 2013. After catching 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns, Chip Kelly unsuccessfully tried to trade Jackson and ultimately released him. This came right around the same time as a story alleging that Jackson had gang ties that the Eagles found to be troubling.
Years later, Kelly is out of the picture and it sounds like top exec Howie Roseman wants to make things right. It also helps that new coach Doug Pederson is a fan of the 30-year-old. A reunion would make a lot of sense for both sides and it is a situation to watch as we look ahead to March.
The Eagles face the Redskins in Philly on Sunday.
NFL Spending By Team Over Last Four Seasons
The NFLPA has released the official data on team spending over the last four seasons. The Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates that each team must utilize 89% of the salary cap over two four-year periods, 2013-16 and 2017-20. As previously reported, the Raiders are the only team that has yet to satisfy that requirement for the closing period. The CBA also requires the league, as a whole, to spend 95% of the cap, in cash, for the same period. That requirement has been easily met.
Here is the full rundown of every team’s spending in declining order:
Philadelphia Eagles – $613,928,134
Denver Broncos – $587,712,791
Seattle Seahawks – $584,305,975
Green Bay Packers – $583,138,740
Miami Dolphins – $577,975,260
Kansas City Chiefs – $575,541,332
Buffalo Bills – $573,647,850
Chicago Bears – $568,301,610
Cincinnati Bengals – $567,289,411
Baltimore Ravens – $562,425,698
San Diego Chargers – $562,232,116
Indianapolis Colts – $556,335,689
Atlanta Falcons – $550,614,572
New York Giants – $543,787,033
Arizona Cardinals – $543,327,538
Los Angeles Rams – $541,957,711
New Orleans Saints – $539,836,498
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $539,736,102
Minnesota Vikings – $539,162,454
New York Jets – $533,151,519
Washington Redskins – $532,545,662
Pittsburgh Steelers – $530,698,171
Detroit Lions – $530,210,549
Tennessee Titans – $524,505,256
Dallas Cowboys – $523,033,036
Houston Texans – $517,212,166
Jacksonville Jaguars – $516,908,734
Cleveland Browns – $516,158,864
San Francisco 49ers – $514,488,198
New England Patriots – $500,083,836
Carolina Panthers – $495,149,346
Oakland Raiders – $491,433,408
Redskins Cut CB Dashaun Phillips
The Redskins announced that they have released cornerback Dashaun Phillips. The move will make room for the return of Trent Williams to the 53-man roster, Mike Jones of The Washington Post tweets. 
Phillips started the year as the Redskins’ primary nickel cornerback. Eventually, he fell out of favor, got cut, and was signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the taxi squad late last week, but his latest 53-man run did not last long. He was a healthy scratch against Arizona on Sunday.
Williams received a four-game ban in November for missing a drug test. That was a huge hit for the Redskins as Williams is ranked as Pro Football Focus’ top tackle in the NFL this season. After the suspension was announced, Williams accused the union of not following the proper protocol with regards to his situation.
Eagles To Pursue DeSean Jackson
The Eagles’ wide receiver corps is perhaps their biggest weakness, and there are no indications that any wideout currently on the roster will be a major contributor in the future (outside of Jordan Matthews, that is). As such, Philadelphia will need to address the position in the offseason, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the club is expected to pursue old friend and current division rival DeSean Jackson.
Jackson is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and the diminutive and mercurial wideout could represent the deep threat and speed element that the Eagles presently lack. And although the Redskins will have their own receiver problems to deal with–Pierre Garcon will also be a free agent, and Josh Doctson has missed almost the entire season–their attention will be fixed upon getting a new deal done with Kirk Cousins, and Schefter suggests that the club would rather bring back Garcon anyway.
Of course, Jackson is not the perfect solution for the Eagles, or for any club. As Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com tweets, Jackson just turned 30, has a game built primarily on speed, and his yards-per-catch average this year (15.4) is the third-lowest of his career. That number has dropped 5.4 yards since 2014, his first season in Washington, which suggests that Jackson’s skills are declining (which is true of many skill position players when they turn 30). And that does not take into account Jackson’s erratic personality and injury history, both of which could deter the Eagles from handing him the type of deal he is likely to score from a similarly needy team on the open market.
This season, D-Jax has posted 38 catches (on 70 targets) for 585 yards and three scores.
Kirk Cousins Could Command $58MM In Long-Term Guarantees
With a chance to collect upward of $58MM via the franchise tag over the next two offseasons, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has plenty of incentive not to sign a contract extension, argues Adam Schefter of ESPN. If the Redskins do tag Cousins the next two years, as they did this season, they won’t be able to again after the 2018 campaign. Assuming Cousins continues the pace he has set since midway through last season, he would then have the rare opportunity to hit the open market as an established starting QB. Cousins is reportedly seeking nearly $24MM per year on a long-term deal, and Schefter adds that the Redskins would have to include guarantees in excess of the aforementioned $58MM to lock him up.
Redskins Waive David Bruton
The Redskins announced that they have waived safety David Bruton from the reserved/injured list. In related moves, cornerback Dashaun Phillips has been promoted to the active roster and tackle Blaine Clausell has been waived.
After spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Broncos, Bruton joined the Redskins on a three-year, $9MM deal in March. In 2015, he set career highs in several categories, including tackles (43), interceptions (two), and passes defended (seven). Unfortunately, he was not able to keep the momentum going in D.C. and was placed on IR in early October because of a concussion.
Bruton ended up collecting $3.4MM from the Redskins for four appearances, all starts, to go with 28 tackles and a sack. Assuming he clears waivers – and it’s a good bet he will – Bruton will be eligible to sign with another club.
Phillips, 25, started in two of three appearances with the Redskins earlier this year, and has seen action in nine of Washington’s games since last season. The 2014 undrafted free agent from Tarleton State previously spent time with the Cowboys and Jets organizations.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/30/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: G Isame Faciane
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
New York Giants
- Signed: S Christian Bryant
New York Jets
- Signed: T Donald Hawkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Kelvin Taylor
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL Trevon Coley
Opinion: Cousins Worth $24MM/Year
- Kirk Cousins could be playing himself into the $24MM per year range as he continues to rack up yards and touchdowns for the Redskins, said former agent Joel Corry on 106.7 The Fan today (Twitter link via Grant Paulsen). Cousins, who topped the inaugural edition of PFR’s 2017 Free Agent Power Rankings, is reportedly asking for $23.94MM — the amount he’d get under the ’17 franchise tag — annually. Conflicting reports have emerged as to whether Washington would be willing to franchise Cousins again next season.
Redskins Promote A.J. Francis
- The Redskins announced that they have promoted defensive tackle A.J. Francis from the practice squad. To create a roster spot, long snapper Rick Lovato was waived, likely signalling that fellow LS Nick Sundberg is once again healthy.