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Giants Sign Louis Nix, Drop Asa Jackson

NFL News
September 9, 2015

WEDNESDAY, 4:55pm: It turns out that the Giants will sign Nix after all, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets.

TUESDAY, 3:59pm: A pair of recent Giants pickups have been shown the door just days after being claimed off waivers. Cornerback Asa Jackson has been cut loose two days after signing, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Louis Nix has failed his physical, which means that he’ll be exposed to waivers once more.

Jackson, 25, saw his first stretch of extended playing time on defense last season in Baltimore, when the Ravens’ secondary was decimated by injuries. Jackson started six games and allowed a quarterback rating of 106.6 on passes thrown into his coverage, per Pro Football Focus.

As for Nix, he was selected in the third round of the 2014 draft by the Texans, but never saw regular season action for the team, having spent the majority of his rookie campaign on injured reserve. In the opinion of the Giants, he’s not 100% healthy at this time either.

With two players off of their roster, the Giants could fill one of the spots with a tight end of note. Earlier today, Big Blue hosted ex-Lions tight end Joseph Fauria on a visit, per Yates.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/9/15

NFL News
September 9, 2015

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: G Ben Garland (press release)

Carolina Panthers

  • Signed: C Shane McDermott (Twitter link via Joseph Person)
  • Cut: CB Carrington Byndom (Twitter link via Person)

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: RB Bronson Hill (Twitter link)

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: WR Kendrick Ings (Twitter link via Dave Birkett)
  • Cut: WR Andrew Peacock (Twitter link via Birkett)

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: CB Jonathan Dowling (Twitter link via Adam Caplan)
  • Cut: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Twitter link via Caplan); RB Rajion Neal (Twitter link via Adam Beasley)

New York Giants

  • Signed: QB G.J. Kinne; LB Gerald Rivers (press release)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: T Martin Wallace (press release)

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: LB Jason Ankrah; LB Justin Staples (Twitter link via Terry McCormick)

Alshon Jeffery limited in practice Wednesday

Fantasy Football, NFL News
September 9, 2015
InjuryCalf injury makes Bears’ WR “day-to-day”

Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery practiced on Wednesday for the first time since he strained a calf muscle during a closed walk-through on Aug. 12. Jeffery, who was not in full pads, is expected to be classified as having limited participation on the official injury report. (ESPN)

Nerdy Football Analysis: It’s a step in the right direction but no guarantee that Jeffery will suit up against the Packers on Sunday. We’ll have more confidence of Jeffery’s status after practice on Friday. Eddie Royal (hip) was also limited today.

Chiefs Place Paul Fanaika On IR

NFL News
September 9, 2015

The Chiefs’ offensive line depth took a hit today, as the team announced (via Twitter) it has placed veteran guard Paul Fanaika on the injured reserve list. To replace Fanaika on the roster, the club re-signed linebacker Dezman Moses.

Fanaika, 29, emerged as a starter in Arizona in 2013, and ultimately started 30 games at right guard for the Cardinals over the last two seasons. After signing with the Chiefs back in March, Fanaika earned a spot on the 53-man roster as a reserve offensive lineman, and likely would’ve been relied upon at guard or tackle if he was needed.

Instead, he’ll spend the year on injured reserve, or at least will remain on IR until he and Kansas City reach an injury settlement. The nature and severity of Fanaika’s injury isn’t yet known.

As for Moses, he returns to the Chiefs after spending the 2014 season on injured reserve. He was a special teams contributor for the club in 2013, playing just 59 defensive snaps that year.

AFC Notes: Steelers, A.J. Green, Patriots

NFL News
September 9, 2015

We’re only about 30 hours away from the 2015 NFL regular season getting underway, as the Patriots and Steelers, two AFC teams with plenty of Super Bowl wins under their belts, get set to kick off Thursday night’s action. While we look forward to that game, let’s round up a few items of note from around the AFC….

  • Given the Steelers‘ long-standing policy of not negotiating contract extension during the season, the team is running out of time to lock up tackle Kelvin Beachum and guard Ramon Foster, says Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  • The clock is also ticking on A.J. Green and the Bengals, as Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer notes. The Bengals are typically averse to doing deals with huge guarantees, and most of the top receiving contracts from this offseason have featured plenty of guaranteed money, so it’s possible Green will play out the 2015 season and get the franchise tag in 2016.
  • The Patriots have sent an application to the NFL to reinstate the two employees that were suspended as a result of the Deflategate investigation, according to an Associated Press report. With Tom Brady‘s suspension lifted, we’ll see if the league follows suit for John Jastremski and Jim McNally, who referred to himself as “the deflator” in text messages.
  • The two-year cash flow on Nate Solder‘s new extension with the Patriots mimics the pay structure of other recent contracts signed by offensive tackles, writes Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap. Of course, Solder’s extension is only for two years rather than the four or five years that most players sign for. As Fitzgerald observes, the new deal also means that Solder will be eligible for free agency at the same time as Brady.