2020 October - Pro Football Rumors

Bears WR Allen Robinson Expected To Play On Sunday

October 31st, 2020 at 11:55am CST by Ben Levine

Good news for the Bears this morning. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that top wideout Allen Robinson has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play tomorrow.

Robinson suffered a concussion during the Bears loss to the Rams on Monday night, and his status was changed from “questionable” to “doubtful” on Friday’s injury report. As Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune noted yesterday (on Twitter), a player “has to be at least limited in” one practice in order to be listed as questionable for a respective week. Since Robinson didn’t practice as he went through concussion protocol, the Bears were required to list him as doubtful.

Robinson being active is obviously a huge boost for a 5-2 Bears team that’s going against a formidable 4-2 Saints squad. The 27-year-old receiver is having another standout season in Chicago, hauling in 44 receptions for 544 yards and two touchdowns.

Unfortunately, the Bears won’t be completely healthy for their showdown against New Orleans. Center Cody Whitehair is sidelined with a calf injury, while pass rusher Khalil Mack and wideout Cordarrelle Patterson are both questionable.

Eagles Activate TE Dallas Goedert, WR Jalen Reagor, OL Jason Peters

October 31st, 2020 at 10:52am CST by Ben Levine

The Eagles will welcome back a number of players for tomorrow’s matchup against the Cowboys. Geoff Mosher reports (via Twitter) that Philly will activate tight end Dallas Goedert. Meanwhile, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the team is also activating wideout Jalen Reagor, offensive lineman Jason Peters, linebacker T.J. Edwards, and safety Rudy Ford.

Considering the injuries that the Eagles are dealing with on offense, both Goedert and Reagor will be especially welcome additions. Following a 2019 campaign that saw him haul in 58 receptions for 607 yards and five scores, Goedert continued to produce through the first two-plus games of the 2020 season, hauling in 13 receptions for 138 yards and one score before succumbing to an ankle injury. The former second-rounder managed to put up that solid production playing behind Zach Ertz, but with the veteran currently sidelined, Goedert should have a clear path to snaps.

Reagor, the 21st pick in this past year’s draft, was relatively productive through his first two career games, hauling in five catches for 96 yards. He suffered a ligament tear in his thumb in late September, and he was subsequently placed on IR. He’ll join a receivers corps that’s currently led by former sixth-rounder Travis Fulgham.

Peters, 38, signed a one-year extension with the Eagles this past summer. He started each of Philly’s first three games before being sidelined with a toe injury. With offensive tackle Lane Johnson dealing with a knee injury, Peters could immediately slide back into the starting lineup.

Edwards, a 2019 undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin, appeared in all 16 games as a rookie. He compiled 15 tackles and one forced fumble in four starts this season before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4. Ford has served exclusively on special teams in three games for the Eagles this season.

Lions Sign RB Jonathan Williams

October 31st, 2020 at 9:00am CST by Ben Levine

Jonathan Williams is back in Detroit. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Lions have signed the running back off Washington’s practice squad.

The 26-year-old joined the Lions back in August, and he was added to Detroit’s practice squad after being cut in early September. He was promoted to the active roster for Week 1, but he was subsequently demoted and (eventually) released. He ended up catching on with Washington’s practice squad earlier this month, but Detroit is now adding him back to their active roster.

It’s tough to envision Williams doing much during his second stint in Detroit. Adrian Peterson and rookie D’Andre Swift have led the team’s running game, and while Peterson was recently dealing with an abdomen injury, he won’t carry an injury designation heading into tomorrow’s game against the Colts. The Lions are also currently rostering Kerryon Johnson and Bo Scarbrough, so there aren’t many carries to go around.

Williams was a fifth-round pick by the Bills in 2016, and he’s also had stints with the Broncos, Saints, and Colts during his five-year career. His had his best season in 2019 with Indy, running for 235 yards and one score on 49 carries. Most of that production came in a two-week span when Williams ran for 220 combined yards against the Jaguars and Texans.

Rams Activate DT A’Shawn Robinson

October 31st, 2020 at 8:44am CST by Ben Levine

Defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson could finally make his debut for the Rams this weekend. The team announced that they’ve activated the veteran to the 53-man roster.

Robinson joined the Rams this past offseason on a two-year, $17MM deal. As Mark Inabinett of AL.com explains, the 25-year-old had previously dealt with a “respiratory situation,” qualifying him as a medical opt-out amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Under that plan, Robinson could have earned $350K for the 2020 season and had his contract officially set to begin in 2021.

Instead, Robinson and the Rams agreed to a reworked deal that saw Robinson start the season on the reserve/NFI list. While the start of his two-year deal was still delayed until the 2021 campaign, Robinson will instead play the 2020 season under a deal that’s based on bonuses.

While the Rams defensive line grouping is set with Michael Brockers, Aaron Donald and Sebastian Joseph as starters, Robinson will provide the team with another depth piece (alongside Morgan Fox and Greg Gaines). Coach Sean McVay told reporters that if Robinson doesn’t play this weekend against the Dolphins, he’ll definitely return following the team’s Week 9 bye.

The 2016 second-rounder had spent the first four seasons of his career with the Lions. After starting all 16 games during the 2017 season, Robinson was limited to only 26 games (16 starts) between the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. Still, he combined for 89 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Texans Trade Eli Ankou To Cowboys

October 30th, 2020 at 10:56pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans have traded defensive tackle Eli Ankou to the Cowboys, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The deal will be finalized on Monday, pending the results of Ankou’s COVID-19 test. In exchange, the Texans will receive a seventh-round pick.

Ankou will help Dallas fill the gap following the release of defensive tackle Dontari Poe. This marks the 26-year-old’s third stop of the season — he started out with the Colts before being claimed by the Texans earlier this month. He did not suit up for Houston this season, but he does have 20 career appearances to his credit with the Colts, Browns, and Jaguars.

Ankou, a former undrafted free agent out of UCLA, will be watching from a distance as the Cowboys face the Eagles on Sunday night. Instead, he’ll have his first chance to debut the following week against the Steelers. The Cowboys still have time for additional moves before the Tuesday deadline, but they’re not expected to make a huge splash. Meanwhile, other would-be contenders like the Vikings may be gearing up for a weekend fire sale.

Vikings Place CB Mike Hughes On IR

October 30th, 2020 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings will enter their Aaron Rodgers rematch decimated at cornerback. They placed Mike Hughes on IR Friday, and ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin reports the neck injury Hughes sustained in Week 6 has the rest of his season in doubt.

Neck trouble would be an automatic concern regardless of circumstances, but Hughes has a history with neck issues. He landed on IR before Minnesota’s playoff slate last season, and a belated report indicated the former first-round pick suffered broken vertebra in his neck. Hughes recovered in time for this season, but Friday’s report is certainly troubling for his NFL future.

Hughes has not been able to stay healthy as a pro. An ACL tear ended his 2018 rookie season after six games. He played 14 last season but has missed time this year. With 2018 first-round picks being the first to have fully guaranteed fifth-year options, it now appears a certainty the Vikings will pass on Hughes’ come May.

The Vikings did, however, make Hughes a key piece of their cornerback puzzle this offseason. They let Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander defect to the Bengals, doing so after cutting former No. 1 corner Xavier Rhodes. Minnesota drafted corners Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler in Rounds 1 and 3, respectively, this year.

Dantzler, however, resides on the Vikings’ reserve/COVID-19 list. He will miss Sunday’s Packers tilt, leaving Gladney as the only healthy corner from the Vikes’ regular rotation. Holton Hill is also out with a foot injury.

Bengals Shopping WR John Ross

October 30th, 2020 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

John Ross reiterated his request to be traded Friday, and the Bengals may be attempting to accommodate the disgruntled deep threat.

The Bengals, who have made Ross a healthy scratch at times this season, have made calls on the fourth-year wide receiver, Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets.

He of a Combine-record 4.22-second 40-yard dash, Ross is listed as questionable with an illness for Sunday’s Bengals-Titans game. Ross disputed this designation, indicating (via Twitter) he is healthy and dissatisfied with his role. Ross has just two catches for 17 yards this season.

Cincinnati has already unloaded Carlos Dunlap after his weeks-long dissatisfaction spree, and the team is covered at wide receiver. The Bengals have used A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and second-round pick Tee Higgins as their top three wideouts. Auden Tate, who came up in trade rumors after being a healthy scratch earlier this season, also still resides on the Bengals’ roster. Tate is controlled beyond 2020; Ross is not.

Despite the Dunlap deal, however, the Bengals are not known for aggressiveness in trades. The rebuilding team is not willing to deal 11th-year defensive tackle Geno Atkins, and Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan threw cold water on the prospect of a trade. The Bengals would rather let Ross walk in March than deal him now, per Caplan (on Twitter). Teams are interested in Ross, per Caplan, which would make an anti-trade stance rather confusing.

Ross’ injury troubles led the Bengals to pass on his fifth-year option. The ex-Washington Husky, however, has shown intermittent promise. He caught seven touchdown passes in 2018 and surpassed 500 receiving yards in eight games last season. This and his elite speed would make Ross an interesting trade chip ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.

Eagles Place LB Nathan Gerry On IR

October 30th, 2020 at 3:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Eagles are nearly double-digit favorites against the Cowboys on Sunday night, they continue to absorb injury-related setbacks. Philly will be without its top tackler for at least three games.

The Eagles placed linebacker Nathan Gerry on IR Friday, while also moving rotational defensive end Genard Avery to the injured list.

An Achilles injury will sideline Gerry, who has a 12-tackle lead among Eagles this season. Gerry has 57 stops (four for loss) and one sack this season — his second as an Eagles starting linebacker. The former safety has dealt with this Achilles problem for a bit now, and the Eagles are hoping a three-week rest will have him fresher for the stretch run, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).

The Eagles released Nigel Bradham this offseason and did not make notable linebacker investments. Among linebackers, Duke Riley‘s 28 tackles rank second on Philadelphia’s roster.

Philly will also be without Miles Sanders for a second straight week, while Alshon Jeffery‘s 2020 debut will not happen this week. Lane Johnson, however, will not miss any time with his knee injury. He is good to go, giving the Eagles two first-string offensive linemen against the Cowboys.

Graham Glasgow Tests Positive For COVID-19; Broncos Cancel Practice

October 30th, 2020 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both the Broncos and Chargers will enter the weekend with a starting offensive lineman on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Graham Glasgow tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss Sunday’s game against the Bolts, Mike Klis of 9News reports.

Vic Fangio canceled the team’s Friday practice. The NFL did not mandate this move. This comes a day after Anthony Lynn nixed the Chargers’ in-person workout. Los Angeles will be without center Ryan Groy on Sunday after his positive COVID-19 test. As of Friday afternoon, the AFC West matchup remains scheduled for Sunday.

The Broncos identified starting right tackle Demar Dotson and reserve center Austin Schlottmann as close Glasgow contacts. Both would be able to suit up Sunday were they to submit negative tests Saturday. Each O-lineman tested negative Friday, per Klis.

Denver offensive line coach Mike Munchak has been away from the team this week due to COVID-19 protocols, per Klis, though the team did not announce if its second-year assistant tested positive. Running backs coach Curtis Modkins tested positive earlier this month, and Klis adds multiple staffers have as well.

The Broncos signed Glasgow to a four-year, $44MM contract this offseason. Glasgow has been an upper-echelon guard starter for a while, establishing a strong free agency market after a solid run in Detroit. Schlottmann would be in line to replace Glasgow at right guard, were he to be cleared to play.

Seahawks To Sign Alex Collins To Practice Squad

October 30th, 2020 at 1:18pm CST by Rory Parks

The Seahawks are adding a familiar face to their RB corps. Per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Seattle plans to sign Alex Collins to its practice squad.

As Brady Henderson of ESPN.com observes, Collins is beginning COVID-19 testing today. However, because the league’s protocols require six negative tests over six days before a new player can enter a team’s facility for the first time, Collins will not be available for the Seahawks’ game against the 49ers this weekend (Twitter links).

Seattle selected Collins, an Arkansas product, in the fifth round of the 2016 draft. He was waived prior to final cutdowns in the summer of 2017, and the Ravens quickly scooped him up. At the time, it looked like a coup for Baltimore, as Collins piled up nearly 1,000 rushing yards on a healthy 4.6 YPC average and entered the 2018 season at the top of the club’s RB depth chart.

Unfortunately, Collins was not as effective in 2018 as he had been the year before, and he also missed six games due to injury. He was then arrested in March 2019 on marijuana and handgun charges, and the Ravens waived him promptly thereafter. He has been looking for his next NFL opportunity ever since.

Now healthy and eligible to play — his legal matters have been resolved and he served a three-game suspension while in free agency limbo — Collins will look to resurrect his career in the same place it began. And considering that the Seahawks’ top running backs are all dealing with injuries, Collins could see game action soon.

He has generated a fair amount of interest over the last year or so. He worked out with the Bills and Packers in December, the Seahawks and Dolphins in January, and as Pelissero tweets, he visited the Lions earlier this week. Still only 26, Collins profiles as an intriguing midseason pickup.