HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

RBs Spencer Ware, Rod Smith To Work Out For Bears

December 17th, 2020 at 6:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears will have a pair of veteran running backs in for workouts. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Spencer Ware and Rod Smith are set to audition for the team.

Chicago doesn’t necessarily need any help at running back. Following a slow start to the season, David Montgomery has really picked it up recently; the 23-year-old has 288 rushing yards, 121 receiving yards, and four touchdowns over his past three games. Veteran Cordarrelle Patterson has also been a solid backup, as he’s hauled in 20 receptions through 13 games.

Still, the Bears are presumably looking for a replacement for Lamar Miller, who joined the team’s practice squad in early October. The former Pro Bowler was poached by Washington yesterday, and Chicago clearly doesn’t have an issue giving that practice-squad spot to a veteran.

So, in comes Ware and Smith for workouts. Ware has the most starting experience of the duo, mostly via a 2016 campaign when he rushed for 921 yards and three scores in 14 starts. After missing the entire 2017 season due to injury, Ware returned to (mostly) a backup role in 2018. He had a brief stint with Indy in 2019 before rejoining the Chiefs. After ending the 2019 season on IR, the 29-year-old hasn’t been able to find a new gig in 2020.

Smith spent most of his first four seasons in the NFL as Ezekiel Elliott‘s backup in Dallas. Following a 2018 campaign where he averaged only 2.9 yards per carry, Smith didn’t get any carries in six games last season with the Titans and Raiders. He joined the Giants practice squad earlier this season but was released a few weeks later.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/20

December 17th, 2020 at 4:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Devonta Freeman; Freeman remains on IR

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Football Team

Chiefs Expected To Add WR Tajae Sharpe

December 17th, 2020 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the Vikings’ decision to waive Tajae Sharpe, the veteran wide receiver is on track to catch on with the Chiefs.

The defending Super Bowl champions are planning to add the former Titans draftee to their practice squad, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Sharpe appeared in four Vikings games this season but did not catch a pass. He went unclaimed on waivers earlier this week.

A 2016 fifth-round pick, Sharpe was a three-year contributor with the Titans. His best statistical work came as a rookie, when he caught 41 passes for 522 yards. After missing the 2018 season because of injury, Sharpe worked his way back into Tennessee’s rotation. He scored four touchdowns in 2019, started six games and played in each of the Titans’ three playoff contests — including their AFC championship game loss to the Chiefs.

With Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson under contract, the Chiefs are certainly not in need at this position. (Though, Watkins’ injury history has frequently made him unavailable during his Kansas City tenure.) But Sharpe will be in position to provide roster insurance, which has obviously become more important in the COVID-19-altered NFL landscape.

Seahawks Expected To Sign G Alex Boone

December 17th, 2020 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Days after Alex Boone‘s Ravens visit, the veteran guard will land a job. It will not be in Baltimore, however. The Seahawks are expected to sign Boone to their practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

This is contingent on Boone going through the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, which require nearly a week’s worth of negative tests. But Boone is en route to Seattle to begin testing.

The former 49ers, Vikings and Cardinals blocker has not played since the 2017 season. He would be another high-profile addition to the Seahawks practice squad. Damon Harrison landed with Seattle’s taxi squad earlier this season, and the Seahawks promoted him to their active roster weeks later. Boone may need a similar acclimation period, though not much time remains for it. But the longtime 49ers starter has been interested in returning to the league for several months; he looks to have secured an opportunity.

Boone will be reuniting with former 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari, who currently serves as the Seahawks’ O-line coach. Boone, 33, was a starter with San Francisco, Minnesota and Arizona from 2012-17. He started for the 49ers in the 2013 NFC championship game in Seattle and has played in the NFC West for all but one season since arriving in the league as a 2009 UDFA.

The Seahawks have used rookie Damien Lewis and ex-Boone teammate Mike Iupati as their primary guard starters this season. At this stage of his career, Boone would profile as potential insurance. While he has played guard as a pro, Boone does have tackle experience. He started at left tackle for multiple seasons at Ohio State.

COVID-19 Latest: Giants, Bubble, Rosters

December 17th, 2020 at 3:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The biggest game (to date) of this Giants season will take place without Jason Garrett. The team’s first-year offensive coordinator tested positive for COVID-19, and the Giants announced former Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens will call plays against his old team in Week 15. The Giants converted their Thursday practice into a remote session and have announced no high-risk close contacts of Garrett have emerged. The former Cowboys HC may also miss the Giants’ Week 16 game against the Ravens. Hired as Cleveland’s running backs coach in 2018, Kitchens rose to the position of offensive coordinator that year and made the jump to become the Browns’ head coach in 2019. That ended in a one-and-done scenario, but Kitchens found his way to Joe Judge‘s staff this year.

Here is the latest on the NFL’s coronavirus front:

  • In another blow to Big Blue, the team announced James Bradberry will miss Sunday night’s game. The Giants placed their top cornerback, and arguably their top player this season, on the reserve/COVID-19 list. This is not related to Garrett’s positive virus test, according to the team, which revealed Bradberry has not tested positive for the coronavirus. Bradberry came in contact with a COVID-positive person while receiving chiropractic treatment away from the Giants’ facility, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). The Giants not having Bradberry will weaken their chances of knocking off a nine-win Browns team. Pro Football Focus rates Bradberry as its No. 6 overall corner.
  • Not only will the NFL not follow the other three major American professional sports by using a centralized playoff location, the league will also not mandate teams be sequestered in home-market bubbles for the postseason. Teams may still provide hotel rooms for players who choose such an arrangement, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets, but the league and the NFLPA agreed they will not force players on playoff teams to be away from their families.
  • Following the unusual Dez Bryant situation that left the Ravens a man down for their Week 13 game against the Cowboys, the NFL made another adjustment to its pregame roster policy. If a player must leave the field pregame because of a positive COVID test or because he qualifies as a high-risk close contact, teams may activate a replacement, Pelissero tweets. The usual rule of teams submitting their inactives 90 minutes before games left Baltimore down a player against Dallas, after Bryant was forced to leave the field shortly before kickoff. Teams will now be able to make an emergency activation in such instances.

Lions To Interview Scott Pioli

December 17th, 2020 at 2:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Former exec and current NFL analyst Scott Pioli will interview for the Lions GM job next week, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Although Pioli has relocated from the front office to the broadcast booth, he offers 27 years of league experience with the Patriots, Chiefs, and Falcons.

[RELATED: Lions To Meet With Thomas Dimitroff]

Pioli’s last stop in Atlanta ended abruptly in the spring of 2019. He had been serving as an assistant GM and top lieutenant to GM Thomas Dimitroff before leaving on his own accord. At least, that was Pioli’s account. Prior to that, Pioli was the Chiefs’ general manager for four seasons. The multi-time Executive of the Year award-winner may have been looking to get back to running his own front office. It’s also possible that the Falcons were looking to shake things up before their full-on renovation that followed.

Interestingly, his former Atlanta boss will also be interviewing for the role. In addition to Dimitroff and Pioli, the Lions have former Texans GM Rick Smith and ESPN’s Louis Riddick on the docket.

Panthers Place Greg Little On IR

December 17th, 2020 at 12:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The season is over for Greg Little. On Thursday, the Panthers placed the left tackle on injured reserve with an ankle injury. 

The league’s modified IR rules for 2020 allow players to come back after three games missed, but with only three games to go, that’ll be a wrap on Little’s campaign. This marks yet another disappointing year for the 2019 second-round pick. As a rookie, he was limited to just four games, thanks to knee and ankle injuries plus a pair of concussions. This year, he suited up for ten games, including three starts on the left side, but he’s been out for the last two weeks.

Little came out of Mississippi with plenty of hype, especially for his length and athleticism at 325 pounds. But if the Panthers had a chance at a mulligan, they probably would have gone in a different direction. Little was tapped with the No. 37 overall pick, where they could have snagged wide receivers A.J. Brown or D.K. Metcalf.

Little will now focus on his recovery and a 2021 return. He remains under contract through 2022 with reasonable cap hits of $2.08MM and $2.43MM in the next two years.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/17/20

December 17th, 2020 at 12:03pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: OT Andrew Jones, OT Wyatt Miller

Lions To Interview Thomas Dimitroff

December 17th, 2020 at 9:40am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions are set to interview former Falcons exec Thomas Dimitroff for their GM vacancy, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The two-time Executive of the Year was dismissed earlier this year, putting him out of the NFL for the first time in a long time.

[RELATED: Lions Sign Brock To Practice Squad]

Dimitroff is the third known candidate to interview for the post, following former Texans GM Rick Smith and ESPN’s Louis Riddick. Dimitroff — who was one of the league’s longest-tenured GMs before he was fired — helped build the team that reached the Super Bowl following the 2016 season. He’s also responsible for drafting franchise pillars including Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. But, on the whole, many have questioned his scouting track record.

The Lions are expected to cast a wide net, so their search will not be limited to just these three candidates. Their pool may also include former Giants general manager Jerry Reese, who has the support of Ford family advisors.

Lions Sign Tramaine Brock To Practice Squad

December 17th, 2020 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions signed cornerback Tramaine Brock to the practice squad, per a club announcement. To make room, they dropped fellow corner Dee Virgin. 

Brock began the year with the Jaguars, where he stood as one of the few veteran players on the roster. Then, just before he could find out what this newfangled Tik Tok was all about, the grizzled 32-year-old landed on IR. The Jags released Brock in early September, putting him on the open market.

Brock has been off the field for the past few months, but he may get an opportunity to retake the field with fresh legs. That could happen as soon as this weekend, since Darryl Roberts reaggravated his hip injury.

At one point in time, Brock was regarded as one of the league’s better slot corners. He might not be the same player today, but he does offer experience with 117 career games and 56 starts.

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