2017 December - Pro Football Rumors

Colts Sign QB Brad Kaaya Off Lions Practice Squad

December 26th, 2017 at 8:33pm CST by Micah Powell

The Colts signed rookie quarterback Brad Kaaya off the Lions’ practice squad on Tuesday, ESPN’s Mike Garafolo reports (Twitter link).

It’s yet another move for the Miami product, who was drafted by the Lions and cut entering the regular season. He was then claimed by the Panthers on Sept. 3 and then released on Oct. 17. Detroit swooped in to reclaim him on Oct. 18, but was cut yet again just five days later. He rejoined the team and was assigned to the practice squad just days later and served there until the Colts snagged him.

With the Hurricanes, Kaaya appeared in 38 games in his first three seasons and amassed 9,968 yards before declaring for the draft following his junior season. Though he was projected as a third- or fourth-round pick in 2017, Kaaya slipped all the way to the sixth round.

With Andrew Luck set to return in 2018 and current starter Jacoby Brissett under contract through 2019, it seems unlikely Kaaya will contribute with the Colts in the future.

Ravens Work Out WR Jeremy Kerley

December 26th, 2017 at 8:18pm CST by GregGoldstein

With starting wide receiver Jeremy Maclin‘s status for this Sunday’s game uncertain, the Ravens worked out veteran free agent wideout Jeremy Kerley on Tuesday, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The team did promote wide receiver Quincy Adeboyejo from their practice squad today, so this workout could merely just be the Ravens seeing all available options.

Kerely, 29, has had a few productive seasons since being drafted by the Jets in the fifth round back in 2011. He played for New York for five years before agreeing to join the 49ers for their 2016 campaign. He was then released this offseason, resurfacing with the Jets before being cut by the team last week. Kerley had previously been activated from a four-game suspension by Gang Green for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Running back Alex Collins has been the main weapon on this offense, but wideouts Mike Wallace and Chris Moore have quietly been asserting themselves more and more in recent weeks. Should Maclin not go because of the knee injury he suffered in Week 16, the Ravens now have five other receivers in Wallace, Moore, Adeboyejo, Michael Campanaro and Breshad Perriman to get snaps in his place. Although, adding a veteran receiver like Kerley would bring much needed depth and experience to the unit.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/17

December 26th, 2017 at 8:07pm CST by GregGoldstein

Here are today’s minor moves around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Promoted from PS: LB Edmond Robinson

Baltimore Ravens

Promoted from PS: WR Quincy Adeboyejo

Buffalo Bills

Promoted from PS: DT Rickie Hatley
Promoted from PS: WR Malachi Dupree
Promoted from PS: RB Marcus Murphy
Released: DT Deandre Coleman

Dallas Cowboys

Signed: LB Tre’Von Johnson

Detroit Lions

Placed on IR: OG Don Barclay
Promoted from PS: TE Hakeem Valles

Green Bay Packers

Promoted from PS: TE Emanuel Byrd

Jacksonville Jaguars

Promoted from PS: WR Monday Crockett

New England Patriots

Released: LB Trevor Reilly

New York Giants

Promoted from PS: LB Derrick Matthews

Washington Redskins

Released: RB Kenny Hilliard

Saints Sign DT Tony McDaniel

December 26th, 2017 at 7:39pm CST by Micah Powell

After being released by the 49ers in mid-November, veteran defensive tackle Tony McDaniel has found a new home in New Orleans after signing with the Saints, Herbie Teope of The Times-Picayune writes. The team has placed defensive tackle John Hughes III to accommodate the signing, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

It is the 12-year lineman’s second stint with the Saints in 2017. McDaniel appeared in all four preseason games with the team before being released at the start of the season. He then signed with San Francisco and appeared in four games, making five tackles, before being released on November 13.

The Saints will mark the sixth team McDaniel has suited up for since entering the league in 2006 as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee. After stays with Jacksonville and Miami, McDaniel enjoyed his breakout campaigns with Seattle in 2013 and 2014, winning a Super Bowl during that stretch. He made a stop in Tampa Bay, another round in Seattle before ending up with the Niners and Saints in 2017.

Jamaal Charles Wants Release From Broncos

December 26th, 2017 at 6:53pm CST by Micah Powell

After being held out of the Broncos’ Week 16 matchup with Washington, running back Jamaal Charles told Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post the team “might as well” release him.

“I ain’t playing. Might as well,” he said. “No reason for me to just sit around and look at people play. It is what it is. I’m still going to be supportive of everyone on the team no matter what. I mean, they got my rights right now.”

The Broncos declared the veteran back inactive to get a look at rookie De’Angelo Henderson and could do the same when they take on Kansas City, Charles’ former team, in the season finale.

After an exceptional, albeit injury-riddled, career with the Chiefs that included four Pro Bowl selections and two First Team All-Pro nods, Charles signed a one-year deal with the Broncos in the offseason. Coming off multiple knee surgeries, he joined a crowded backfield that included C.J. Anderson and second-year back Devontae Booker and never established himself as the dominant force of years past. Through Week 16, Charles has tallied 69 carries for 296 yards and a touchdown.

Turning 31 years old on Wednesday, Charles is in the twilight of his career and hoping for a shot to catch on with a playoff-bound team. Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said releasing Charles has “not been a thought for us.”

Murray Suffered Third Degree MCL Tear

December 26th, 2017 at 6:10pm CST by Micah Powell

An MRI revealed that Titans running back DeMarco Murray has a third degree MCL tear, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). The veteran back believes he can play through the injury with the Titans aiming for a playoff spot.

This is a change from Schefter original report on Sunday night that Murray sprained his MCL in the Week 16 tilt with the Rams. Murray’s status is still up in the air, with head coach Mike Mularkey saying on Sunday night the back was day-to-day and commenting on his toughness.

The Titans currently own the final wildcard spot in the AFC with an 8-7 record and just need a win vs. the Jaguars, or losses from both the Chargers and Bill, to get into the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Though in front for the final spot, Tennessee has dropped three consecutive games.

If Murray was to be held out of action, 2016 second-round pick Derrick Henry would assume the role of lead back. Henry has been the better back, out-gaining Murray by 34 yards on 36 fewer carries.

Collins Calls Eli Apple A “Cancer”

December 26th, 2017 at 5:46pm CST by Micah Powell

During an interview with ESPN Radio New York on Tuesday, Giants safety Landon Collins didn’t mince words about 2016 first-round pick Eli Apple when asked what changes he would make to the team’s secondary next season.

“There’s one corner that … he needs to grow up, and we all know who that is,” Collins said. “That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. The other two guys, [Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie] and [Janoris Jenkins], I love those guys. They play hard, they love what they do. But that first pick, I don’t think … he’s a cancer.”

There is little doubt the corner in question is Apple, who has rubbed teammates the wrong way with his effor. In November, the cornerback nearly walked out of the Giants facility because he received criticism for his play vs. San Francisco. Later, Collins told reporters he had discussions with Apple about improving his play, which Apple later denied to the press.

Apple still has two more years fully guaranteed on his contract, but when the team’s two-time Pro Bowl safety and leader in the clubhouse wants you gone, it’s hard to see a scenario in which Apple can return to the team. Both Jenkins and Rodgers-Cromartie are candidates for release or trade once the team hires a new general manager and head coach.

Apple has played in 11 games this season with New York, registering 49 tackles and eight passes defensed.

Dolphins Notes: Draft, Drake, Grant, Derby

December 26th, 2017 at 4:50pm CST by GregGoldstein

The Dolphins lost another game in Week 16 and now sit on the brink of getting a top 10 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, the best players in this class do not line up very well with the needs of the organization, opines Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Jackson proclaims that if Miami loses to a playoff contending Bills team this coming Sunday, the team won’t necessarily have a clear player they are targeting in that range of the draft. According to Jackson, the team’s two biggest needs are linebacker and tight end, but no prospect is available at those positions who would warrant that type of draft slot.

Jackson notes that the team could potentially go with Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams should the front office move on from right tackle Ja’Wuan James, but that’s far from a certainty. LSU pass rusher Arden Key could also be useful weapon on the defensive side of the ball, but there’s not a true need in that area either. Jackson speculates that Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith could be a fit if he can help increase his stock with a successful draft preparation process.

Finally, the writer also throws cold water on the idea of replacing Ryan Tannehill because of the Dolphins substantial financial investment in him, even though he will be returning from a knee injury he suffered this past training camp . It would seem that while the Dolphins have been losing enough to move up the draft board, trading down may be the best option because of the lack of a fit in the upper portion of the draft.

Here’s more notes on the Dolphins from Jackson’s column:

Even after trading Jay Ajayi, running back does not seem like a major area of need for the Dolphins entering the offseason. Second-year tailback Kenyan Drake has shined with Ajayi gone and Damien Williams recovering from injury. He played all but three snaps in the team’s loss to the Chiefs in Week 16 and ranks fourth among all running backs with 369 yards after contact. The 23-year-old has averaged over 4.5 yards per carry over his last four contests, and has made a difference in the passing game as well. With his productive late season performance, he seems primed to enter 2018 as the Dolphins surefire number one back.
Wide receiver Jakeem Grant often gets lost in the shuffle behind the likes of Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker. However, the second-year wideout managed to catch four balls for over 100 yards in last Sunday’s matchup. He’s only played in 10.4% of the team’s snaps this season, which makes sense because of the Dolphins deep receiving corps. But, Landry is set to hit the open market this offseason, so Grant could be auditioning for a bigger role in 2018 should the team’s star wideout move on.
Grant wasn’t the only little used player to get increased reps in Week 16. Miami saw two new faces get a lot of action vs. the Chiefs as well. Tight end A.J. Derby, whom the team claimed from the Broncos, was targeted five times. Although, he only managed one catch in the contest. Cornerback Torry McTyer played in 61 of the defense’s 83 snaps before he was taken out of the game due to injury. McTyer was signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent last offseason and could be in-line for a further audition in Week 17 should he be heathy enough to play. Miami needs more tight ends and defensive backs for next season, so Derby and McTyer could get another shot to impress in the team’s regular season finale this weekend.

Vikings Place OG Nick Easton On IR, Sign A New Long Snapper

December 26th, 2017 at 4:15pm CST by GregGoldstein

The Vikings have addressed two injury situations with a couple of moves today. After learning that starting left guard Nick Easton suffered an ankle injury on Saturday against the Packers, the team has placed him on injured reserve, reports Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com. In a corresponding move, Minnesota has signed free agent long snapper Jeff Overbaugh to replace their injured starter Kevin McDermott for the time being.

McDermott, 28, sustained a shoulder injury in Week 16, which made him questionable for the Vikings regular season finale on Sunday. However, the team did not want to place him on the IR because there was a chance he could return to the postseason. Overbaugh was part of a group of 10 free agent long snappers that worked out for the Vikings today.

While the roster moves do help the Vikings cover their bases in terms of their special teams unit, losing Easton for the season will hurt the team’s offense a bit. The 25-year-old was certainly not one of the best at his position, ranking 61st among all guards in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. However, it’s definitely a challenge to adjust to a new offensive line this late in the season.

The most immediate replacement on the roster appears to be Jeremiah Sirles, but the Vikings also have Danny Isidora to add further depth to the line in the weeks to come. Minnesota will have a chance to clinch a first round bye with a win over the Bears in Week 17.

Bills Place WR Andre Holmes On IR

December 26th, 2017 at 3:42pm CST by GregGoldstein

The Bills have lost one of their receivers for the year as the team has decided to place Andre Holmes on the injured reserve with a neck injury, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link). We learned yesterday that backup running back Travaris Cadet was out for the year as well after suffering an ankle injury in Week 16. The team has also placed him on the IR today. In response to the injuries, Buffalo has promoted running back Marcus Murphy and wide receiver Malachi Dupree from their practice squad.

Holmes, 29, was not a huge part of the Bills passing game this season, but still did have his brief moments. Holmes’ best game came against the Raiders in late October when he caught 3 passes for 51 yards and his second touchdown of the season.

With the injury, the Bills will continue to use Deonte Thompson and Brandon Tate as backups to Kelvin Benjamin and rookie Zay Jones. Buffalo needs to win in Miami and get some help in Week 17 in order to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.