HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/18/18

September 18th, 2018 at 8:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

Oakland Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed from practice squad: RB Josh Adams
  • Waived: WR DeAndre Carter

Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/18/18

September 18th, 2018 at 8:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad updates.

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

NFC North Notes: Rodgers, Vikings, Lions

September 18th, 2018 at 6:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings were not the first team that sought Dan Bailey‘s services this season. Although he’s in Minnesota now, other franchises wanted to sign the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history. Bailey agreed to terms with the Vikings on a one-year, $2MM deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). However, the 30-year-old specialist also turned down offers worth double that on multiyear deals, Rapoport adds. The Jets brought in Bailey to work out just after the Cowboys cut him, but nothing came to fruition. Gang Green may have been one of the teams that presented a better offer, but that’s not known. Nevertheless, Bailey will replace Daniel Carlson, whom Mike Zimmer said it was not difficult to cut after his performance in Minnesota’s Week 2 tie in Green Bay.

Here’s the latest out of the NFC North:

  • Aaron Rodgers did not exit the Packers‘ Week 2 game with any new discomfort on his injured left knee, Mike McCarthy said (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com). Rodgers is “obviously sore,” and McCarthy does not have a read on whether his quarterback’s condition is better or worse than at this point last week. But it’s encouraging for the Packers that Rodgers didn’t sustain any additional damage while clearly playing hurt.
  • Carlson’s cut will save the Vikings $200K, though the Bailey addition will negate those savings. Only Carlson’s signing bonus ($248K), plus his base salary through two games, will count against Minnesota’s cap, per Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (on Twitter). The Vikings are up against the cap but managed to add Bailey, Aldrick Robinson and Tom Johnson in the past two days.
  • Robinson will only make the league minimum, and no guarantees exist in the soon-to-be 30-year-old wide receiver’s Vikings pact, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. The former Redskins, Falcons and 49ers pass-catcher now comprises part of the Vikes’ receiving corps. Minnesota currently has five receivers on its roster, the same amount it did prior to the Robinson signing. Stacy Coley, a 2017 seventh-rounder, was cut to make room.
  • On a busy day for workouts, the Lions brought in two veteran edge rushers who would slot in as defensive ends in their 4-3 scheme. John Simon and David Bass trekked to Detroit for Tuesday workouts, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM reports (on Twitter). A recent Colts cut, Simon already met with the 49ers and Jets since being released. A six-year veteran, Bass led Jets edge rushers in sacks last season with 3.5. Former Packers fullback Aaron Ripkowski also worked out for the Lions today, NFL reporter Howard Balzer tweets. Also among the workout contingent: linebacker Tyrone Holmes, fullbacks Jalston Fowler and Jay Prosch, and tight end Donnie Ernsberger, per Balzer. Wide receiver Keon Hatcher visited with the Lions.
  • Former Jets wideout Chad Hansen was among those who auditioned for the Packers today, with Balzer tweeting Shay Fields, Korey Robertson, Taj Williams and quarterback Brogan Roback — of Hard Knocks fame — joined him.

Jaguars Work Out Wright, Jones, Sims

September 18th, 2018 at 4:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Redskins saw enough from Breshad Perriman and Michael Floyd‘s workouts Monday to sign them, Kendall Wright‘s Washington audition did not produce an offer. He has another opportunity a day later.

The Jaguars worked out the veteran slot receiver on Tuesday, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM radio tweets. Wright, Landry Jones and Charles Sims were in Jacksonville today auditioning, per Caplan.

Wright could not make the Vikings’ 53-man roster but is coming off a 614-yard season — his most in a single campaign since the 2014 slate — with the Bears last year. The Jags are still sorting out their receiver hierarchy post-Marqise Lee, but the group produced in a Week 2 win over the Patriots.

Jones also had a Monday workout, with the Cowboys, but he remains a free agent. The Steelers severed ties with their longtime backup quarterback just prior to the regular season. Jones spent five years in Pittsburgh. The Jaguars traded for Cody Kessler this offseason; he and Blake Bortles are the only two passers on Jacksonville’s roster.

A former Buccaneers passing-down back, Sims got an earlier start on the 2018 workout circuit than Wright or Jones, already auditioning for the Texans and Patriots. The Jags have four running backs on their active roster, having added Brandon Wilds late last week because of Leonard Fournette‘s hamstring trouble.

Redskins Place Rob Kelley On IR

September 18th, 2018 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another Redskins running back will head to IR. Rob Kelley will join Derrius Guice and Byron Marshall on the team’s injured reserve list, with a toe injury set to shelve the third-year back for at least two months, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.

Kelley was set to miss around a month of action because of this malady, per Jay Gruden (via Keim, on Twitter), and the Redskins decided to save a roster spot. Kelley, whom Gruden said might need surgery, will not be eligible to return to action for eight weeks.

Samaje Perine will now be Washington’s third active running back on game day, Keim adds, joining Chris Thompson and the resurgent Adrian Peterson. Kelley and Perine were set to be Washington’s top two backs, but Peterson’s August workout changed those plans. Kelley has received just four carries this season, gaining eight yards.

As a rookie, Kelley broke out and became the leading rusher for the playoff-contending Redskins. He amassed 704 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He was not as prominent of a backfield fixture last season, though, and saw the late-arriving Peterson usurp his potential 2018 role.

Jordan Matthews Works Out For Eagles

September 18th, 2018 at 4:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

A reunion between Jordan Matthews and the Eagles may not be imminent, but the defending Super Bowl champions are considering the possibility.

The veteran wide receiver worked out for the Eagles on Tuesday, Eagles insider Geoff Mosher reports (on Twitter). He was the only player to audition for the Eagles today, per Mosher.

This is Matthews’ first known workout since the Patriots released him early last month. He has not been the same since being traded from the Eagles to the Bills just prior to last season. Matthews’ Buffalo contract year helped cool off his free agent market, the formerly productive Philadelphia slot player catching just 25 passes for 282 yards. He settled for a low-end Patriots contract.

Matthews amassed three 800-plus-yard seasons with the Eagles, two in Chip Kelly’s offense and the third — a 73-reception, 804-yard campaign in 2016 — with Doug Pederson. His totals in 2016 were a close second to Zach Ertz among Eagles.

Philly’s experienced trouble at wideout this season. Mike Wallace is dealing with a fractured fibula, per ESPN.com’s Tim McManus (Twitter link), Mack Hollins is on IR and Alshon Jeffery remains week-to-week. They may be looking to add a proven talent here, and Matthews certainly has familiarity with Pederson’s system.

Falcons G Andy Levitre Done For Year

September 18th, 2018 at 3:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have placed Andy Levitre on injured reserve, according to a team announcement. Although league rules allow players to return from IR, this will be a season-ender for the starting left guard. 

“After receiving the tests results on Andy’s injury from Sunday’s game, it has been determined that he will miss the remainder of the season with a triceps injury,” said Falcons coach Dan Quinn in a statement. “Andy worked extremely hard to get back on the field after a similar injury last year, and there is no doubt his leadership will continue to be felt this year. We have a ton of respect for Andy and what he stands for, and what he means to our team.”

The injury forced Levitre out of the team’s Week 2 win over the Panthers and tests later confirmed the club’s worst fears. The 32-year-old will be out of action until at least next September and one can’t help but wonder whether he’ll consider retirement in the offseason.

To take Levitre’s place on the roster, the Falcons have signed guard Zac Kerin. Kerin, 27, has spent time with the Vikings, Lions and Giants and played in 16 games over his four-year career.

Wes Schweitzer replaced Levitre in Week 2 and figures to take over for him in the starting lineup.

Bengals Sign K Randy Bullock To Extension

September 18th, 2018 at 2:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals signed kicker Randy Bullock to a two-year contract extension, according to a team announcement. Bullock was slated to hit free agency after the 2018 season, but the new deal will keep Bullock in the fold through the 2020 campaign. The new deal will give him $4.205MM in new money, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Bullock, 28, nailed 18 of 20 field goal attempts and 31 of 33 extra point tries last year. He’s off to a hot start this year as well, having connected on all four of his field goal tries and all eight of his XPs. On Thursday night, he iced 28-yard and 40-yard field goal tries in the fourth quarter to pad the Bengals’ lead in their win over the Ravens.

The veteran will earn $790K in 2018 before his new add-on kicks in. Bullock and the Bengals will look to stay undefeated when they take on the 1-1 Panthers on Sunday.

Giants Sign Elijhaa Penny

September 18th, 2018 at 2:40pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are signing fullback Elijhaa Penny off the Cardinals’ practice squad, a source tells Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move comes after Giants fullback Shane Smith struggled badly on Sunday night, so Smith’s time with the G-Men could be coming to an end. 

Penny, a 25-year-old running back/fullback, appeared in all 16 games for Arizona last year. He finished out with 31 carries for 124 yards (a 4.0 yards-per-carry average in a small sample) and added four catches for 38 yards. Penny did not make the Cardinals’ final cut this year, but he was signed to their practice squad after clearing waivers.

The Giants fell to 0-2 after losing to the Cowboys on Sunday. They’ll look to get into the win column this weekend when they face the Texans in Houston.

Rams Waive QB Brandon Allen

September 18th, 2018 at 2:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Rams are waiving quarterback Brandon Allen, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Allen is a practice squad candidate for L.A. if he clears waivers, Pelissero adds.

The Rams would like to keep Allen under club control via the taxi squad, but that might not be an options. When Allen was waived by the Jaguars last September, three clubs put in claims on the QB, including the Redskins.

Allen spent all of 2017 on the Rams’ active roster after arriving in September, but the2016 sixth-round pick has yet to throw an NFL pass. After parting ways with Allen, the Rams are left with Jared Goff and Sean Mannion as their only active-roster quarterbacks.

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