HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Washington Cuts S Sean Davis, Places LB Reuben Foster On IR

September 5th, 2020 at 8:16am CST by Ben Levine

Our first surprise move of Labor Day weekend comes out of Washington. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the team has released safety Sean Davis. Schefter tweets that the team has also cut offensive lineman Timon Parris, while ESPN’s John Keim tweets that Reuben Foster is being placed on IR.

Davis joined Washington this past offseason, snagging a deal that included a $2MM signing bonus. Now, the former second-rounder will be seeking his third team in less than a year. Davis spent his first four seasons with the Steelers. He started 31 games for the team between 2017 and 2018, averaging 86 tackles, 7.5 passes defended, and two interceptions per season. A shoulder injury limited to only a single game in 2019.

Back in 2019, Foster suffered a torn ACL and MCL during his first practice with Washington. That naturally forced him to miss the entire campaign, but after opening 2020 camp on PUP, he was activated by the organization in early August. Unfortunately, Foster has lacked strength and explosiveness throughout the month, and Washington is buying themselves some time (and a roster spot) by placing him on IR.

An undrafted free agent out of Stony Brook in 2018, Parris has seen time in four NFL games.

Jets To Release C Jonotthan Harrison

September 4th, 2020 at 7:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a major offseason offensive line overhaul, the Jets will release one of their holdovers. They are cutting center Jonotthan Harrison, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets.

Brought in under the previous regime, Harrison spent the past three seasons in New York. He started 19 games for the Jets, including 10 last season after the team’s Ryan Kalil signing did not pan out.

Harrison, 29, signed a two-year deal to return to the Jets in 2019 — shortly before Mike Maccagnan‘s ouster. Current GM Joe Douglas proceeded to sign center Connor McGovern, guard Greg Van Roten and tackle George Fant this year. The Jets, who also re-signed guard Alex Lewis and drafted tackle Mekhi Becton and guard Cameron Clark, cut longtime guard starter Brian Winters last month.

The Jets first turned to Harrison as a regular starter in 2018, when he took over for Spencer Long. Harrison started eight games that season. Gang Green initially brought Harrison over from Indianapolis, where he played three seasons after signing with the Colts as a UDFA.

Dolphins To Waive QB Josh Rosen

September 4th, 2020 at 7:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Josh Rosen will be a one-and-done with a second NFL team. The Dolphins will release the third-year quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Miami, which acquired Rosen in a 2019 trade from Arizona, attempted to ship the former top-10 pick out in another trade. But after no such deal emerged, the Dolphins will send the ex-UCLA star to the waiver wire.

Rosen has not impressed as an NFL quarterback, although he has certainly not been presented with great developmental environments. The 2018 No. 10 overall pick struggled for both the Cardinals — who ranked last in scoring and total offense in 2018 — and the Dolphins, who had perhaps the league’s worst roster last year. Rosen took over for Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 2 and started the next three games. But Brian Flores benched him and stuck with Fitzpatrick the rest of the way.

The fourth quarterback selected in 2018’s five-QB first round, Rosen owns a career 54.8% completion rate and a ghastly 4.4 adjusted yards per attempt figure. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions in 20 career games (16 starts).

The Dolphins reunited Fitzpatrick with OC Chan Gailey this offseason and drafted Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall, executing the latter move after eyeing the Alabama standout for over a year. For the time being, the Dolphins will go with Fitz — who will turn 38 by season’s end — and Tagovailoa, who is 10 months out from a severe hip injury. The Dolphins have brought in former backup Jake Rudock multiple times in recent weeks but have not signed him.

Two years and a mostly guaranteed $3.63MM remain on Rosen’s rookie deal. The Dolphins already paid Rosen a $1.4MM bonus earlier in camp, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

North Notes: Bears, Packers, Tomlin, Browns

September 4th, 2020 at 7:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bears became the latest team to work out Jamon Brown, with SI.com’s Albert Breer tweeting the guard was in Chicago for an audition. The free agent guard, a Falcons cut last month, has already worked out for the 49ers. Brown was a full-time Rams starter in 2017, but a 2018 suspension derailed his momentum. The Rams waived him shortly after he returned from that ban, but he ended the ’18 season as a Giants first-stringer. The Bears are returning four starters from last season and have been trying ex-Seahawks right tackle Germain Ifedi at guard.

Here is the latest from the North divisions:

  • The Steelers will let Mike Tomlin enter a contract year. Signed through 2021, Tomlin will not be extended this year, Art Rooney II said (via The Athletic’s Ed Bouchette, subscription required). The Steelers gave Tomlin his most recent extension last July, and he managed an eight-win season despite the largely Ben Roethlisberger-less Steelers ranking 32nd in offensive DVOA. Rooney said he plans to address the contracts of Tomlin and GM Kevin Colbert, who just signed a one-year extension, in 2021.
  • One of the league’s healthiest teams last season, the Packers may be down a starter in Week 1. Billy Turner suffered a knee injury during a scrimmage and is uncertain for Green Bay’s opener, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com notes. Turner played guard for the Packers last season but is competing with free agency addition Ricky Wagner at right tackle this year. Lane Taylor, who missed all of last season, is expected to play right guard opposite emerging talent Elgton Jenkins on the left side.
  • For the second time in three weeks, the Browns brought in Cody Parkey for a visit. The veteran was part of a kicker group to work out for the Browns in August, though it was reported at the time the team was organizing a COVID-related emergency kicker list. Parkey briefly kicked for the Titans last season.
  • Bears training camp coaching intern Henry Burris will stay on the team’s staff all season, Matt Nagy announced. Known mostly for his 17-season CFL run, Burris also was a Bears quarterback for a short time in the early 2000s. This will be his first NFL coaching gig.
  • Vikings linebacker Cameron Smith underwent successful open-heart surgery recently, according to the Associated Press. Mike Zimmer said the second-year defender, who landed on Minnesota’s IR list, will remain in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future to recover.

Bears Expected To Start Mitchell Trubisky

September 4th, 2020 at 6:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite Nick Foles‘ superior NFL resume, the Bears are likely to start the season without a change at quarterback. Mitchell Trubisky is expected to start Chicago’s Week 1 game in Detroit after beating out Foles in a training camp competition, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

This comes after a recent report indicated Foles was the more accurate passer during Bears camp, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (video link). But Trubisky was also reported to be improving. The Bears will give the former No. 2 overall pick another shot, despite not picking up his fifth-year option and trading for Foles this offseason.

Trubisky has been one of the NFL’s more maligned players over the course of his Chicago tenure. While he rated as QBR’s No. 3 passer in 2018 — when the Bears made a surprise run to the NFC North title — Trubisky regressed considerably in 2019. The former one-year North Carolina starter ranked 28th in QBR last season and averaged just 5.9 adjusted yards per attempt, prompting the Bears to acquire Foles from the Jaguars.

Foles, 31, did not fare particularly well last season either. After a broken collarbone sidelined him for much of his Jaguars debut/one-and-done season, Gardner Minshew supplanted him shortly after he returned to action. However, Foles orchestrated one of the best playoff stretches by a quarterback in NFL history in 2017, winning Super Bowl LII MVP honors. He then helped the Eagles back to the playoffs the following season, after replacing an injured Carson Wentz late in 2018. Foles’ Eagles beat Trubisky’s Bears in a wild-card game, though that contest is better known for Cody Parkey‘s game-ending missed field goal.

The Bears reworked Foles’ contract this offseason, but the veteran passer would still be a costly cut in 2021. A Foles release would not create any cap space for the Bears, and it would cost more than $10MM. But Trubisky is not under contract in 2021. He will, however, have a chance to bounce back in a contract year — at least at the season’s outset.

Rams’ Gerald Everett Drawing Trade Interest

September 4th, 2020 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ahead of Gerald Everett‘s contract year, the Rams opted to extend Tyler Higbee. This leaves Everett as a player who could be bound for free agency in 2021.

Certain other teams appear to view the situation this way, with Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic noting the Rams have received calls on Everett’s availability (Twitter link). However, the Rams are not currently planning to move the former second-round pick, Rodrigue adds.

While Everett has not quite lived up to his Round 2 billing, he has worked in Sean McVay‘s system for three seasons and has served as an auxiliary contributor. Last season, he was enjoying a potential breakout year. But an injury halted his progress. Everett finished last season with 37 catches for 408 yards. The Rams used a fourth-round pick on Brycen Hopkins this year, but the pandemic taking away rookies’ onsite offseason work stands to limit their development.

The Rams appeared closer to trading Higbee in 2018, having exchanged offers with the Vikings on the 2016 draft pick. But after Higbee’s strong stretch to close last season, the Rams extended him instead. It would seem Everett will make a final audition reel for free agency this season.

Ravens Work Out TE Crockett Gillmore

September 4th, 2020 at 5:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite having not played in a regular-season game since 2016, Crockett Gillmore received a workout opportunity in a familiar place Friday.

The Ravens brought in their former third-round tight end pick for an audition, Albert Breer of SI.com notes (on Twitter). Injuries limited Gillmore during his time in Baltimore. The team did express interest in bringing him back, but that was 2 1/2 years ago.

Neither Gillmore nor 2015 second-rounder Maxx Williams panned out to the Ravens’ liking, and the team has shifted to a new group of tight ends — headlined by Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle. Gillmore attempted to move to the offensive line as a free agent in 2018, but not much interest followed.

The 2014 draftee’s most notable NFL work came in 2015, when he caught 33 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns. A back injury ended that promising season after 10 games. Gillmore suffered a season-ending knee injury in the summer of 2017, ending his time as a Ravens regular. Should the 6-foot-6 free agent be given another opportunity, this would be his age-29 season.

AFC West Notes: Williams, Raiders, Broncos

September 4th, 2020 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

As cut day approaches, let’s take a look at the latest news coming out of the AFC West:

  • As Hard Knocks viewers observed, Mike Williams suffered a shoulder injury while diving for a pass in practice. While Williams was said to be out “for a while,” Chargers offensive coordinator Shane Steichen noted recently the fourth-year wideout may well return for Week 1. “Mike’s gotta be ready to play,” Steichen said, via the Orange County Register’s Gilbert Manzano (on Twitter). “I think Mike has got that mindset to be ready to play. We look forward to having him on September 13.” A thin Bolts receiver depth chart — beyond WR1 Keenan Allen — increases the importance of Williams returning.
  • Rookie Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette suffered a setback recently. The first-round pick sustained a thumb fracture, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This will require Arnette to wear a soft cast on his injured hand, which he did at one point with the Buckeyes. The Raiders are counting on Arnette to play a key role in their secondary this season.
  • One of Mike Williams‘ ex-Chargers receiver teammates will not play this season. The Raiders placed Tyrell Williams on IR this week, ending his second season with the team. Tyrell Williams suffered a torn shoulder labrum for the second time as a pro, and Jon Gruden said an attempt to play through this malady would have required Williams to wear a movement-restricting harness (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur). With a Williams cut saving the Raiders $11MM-plus next year, he looms as a likely 2021 release.
  • Although Demar Dotson operated as the Buccaneers’ starting right tackle for the past eight seasons, his Broncos signing does not mean he will stay a first-stringer. The current Denver plan is for Elijah Wilkinson to again fill Ja’Wuan James‘ position, Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post notes. Dotson would then play a swing role behind Wilkinson and embattled left tackle Garett Bolles. Whether Wilkinson starts in Week 1 or not, the Broncos will enter a seventh straight year with a different right tackle to open a season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/4/20

September 4th, 2020 at 4:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Waived: DT Hinwa Allieu, FB Mikey Daniel, T Evin Ksiezarczyk, RB Craig Reynolds

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Released: DE Caraun Reid
  • Waived: RB Nathan Cottrell, TE Matthew Flanagan, OL Blake Hance, OL K.C. McDermott, OL Garrett McGhin, LS Matthew Orzech, OL Ryan Pope, OL Austen Pleasants, WR Marvelle Ross

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFL To Reinstate Cowboys DE Randy Gregory

September 4th, 2020 at 4:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Randy Gregory may well have a chance to revive his career. The oft-suspended Cowboys defensive end received news the NFL conditionally reinstated him Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Gregory confirmed the development (on Twitter).

Fairly recently, the Cowboys were not counting on Gregory being reinstated in time for the start of the season. But the team continued to have the former second-round pick in its plans. Gregory has been suspended four times and has not played since 2018, but the Nebraska product may be set for a role with the 2020 Cowboys after all.

Gregory, however, still has more checkpoints to clear. While he can report to the Cowboys on Monday, he cannot practice until Oct. 5, Pelissero and NFL.com’s Jane Slater report (via Twitter). He will not be permitted to play in a game until at least Week 7. The 27-year-old defender will be paid, however, while he goes through this acclimation period, Pelissero tweets.

Gregory could join fellow suspension regular Aldon Smith as a rotational Cowboys pass rusher before the season’s halfway point. These two certainly represent risks, but neither is costing the team too much. Gregory is set to make just $825K in base salary this season.

Suspended for substance abuse twice in 2016, once in 2017 and again last year, Gregory remains on his rookie contract. He has certainly not lived up to expectations. Once viewed as a surefire first-round talent, the ex-Cornhusker has registered just seven sacks and played in only 28 of a possible 80 NFL games. But six of those sacks came in 2018, and Gregory could fit in on a suddenly deep Dallas defensive end crew. The Cowboys signed Smith and Everson Griffen this offseason to work alongside DeMarcus Lawrence.

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