NFL News

In spite of the Chiefs‘ slow start to the 2015 season, which has included some offensive struggles, head coach Andy Reid isn’t considering giving up play-calling duties on offense, writes Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. As Paylor observes, there would be precedent for such a decision, since Reid ceded the Eagles’ offensive play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg in 2006, and the move led to a five-game winning streak.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

• Jets running back Stevan Ridley, who is eligible to begin practicing this week, is nearing a return, writes Newsday’s Kimberley A. Martin. Coming off a major knee injury, Ridley started the year on the PUP list, which means he can play as early as Week 7, though he’ll have to be moved to the 53-man roster before he can be active.
• Back in August, Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith announced that he’ll retire at the end of the 2015 season. However, given how poorly the year is playing out for Smith and his team, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com wonders if the veteran wideout will reconsider that stance, adding that Baltimore would “certainly welcome him back.”
• Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post has the breakdown on Marshal Yanda‘s new contract with the Ravens, which features a $9MM signing bonus and about $15.8MM in fully guaranteed money (plus another $2MM guaranteed for injury only).
• The fact that the Colts‘ botched fake punt on Sunday night made Indianapolis a national punchline likely won’t help Chuck Pagano‘s job security going forward, says Mike Wells of ESPN.com.

The Bills have officially signed offensive tackle Jordan Mills from off the Lions’ practice squad, the team announced today in a press release. The signing, which was first reported yesterday, required a corresponding roster move, so the Bills have placed wide receiver Marquise Goodwin on injured reserve.

Mills, 24, started 29 games at right tackle for the Bears during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, but was cut by the team last month and has bounced around a little since then, spending time with the Cowboys and Lions. He figures to play a backup role in Buffalo, providing depth on the offensive line.

As for Goodwin, 2015 was another injury-plagued season for the young wideout, who has failed to make much of an impact since joining the Bills as a third-round pick in 2013. Before a hip injury landed him on IR, Goodwin caught just two balls for 24 yards this season, and returned a pair of kickoffs.

The Jets will sign wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins from their practice squad to their active roster, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Thompkins will give the Jets another wide receiver after Quincy Enunwa was hit with a four-game suspension.

Thompkins, 26, stuck with the Patriots in 2013 after being signed as an undrafted free agent, impressing at times during his rookie campaign. He caught 32 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns in eight starts last season, but wasn’t a major part of New England’s passing attack in early 2014, and was cut just a few weeks into the season. The Raiders then acted quickly to claim him. In 12 games for Oakland, Thompkins caught 15 passes for 209 yards. However, the Raiders cut Thompkins loose in late August.