With Week 1 over and done with, NFL teams are looking to rework their rosters, figure out injury concerns, and plot out their plans for Week 2’s matchups. Typically, a regular-season Tuesday is among the busiest transactions days of the week.
That’s why Pro Football Network likes to package the day’s NFL news and events in a notebook to make it easier on fans.
NFL Tuesday news roundup: Cowboys won’t place Dak Prescott on injured reserve
While Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expects QB Dak Prescott to miss 4-6 weeks following thumb surgery, Dallas won’t place him on injured reserve. Avoiding IR will allow Prescott to return at his own pace, as he will be able to take part in practice while recovering from surgery.
If Prescott were to pull off an early recovery, he could return at any point. But the move makes sense regardless, as Prescott can still lead the team behind the scenes and take part in practices whenever deemed fit.
The Cowboys are expected to use holdover backup Cooper Rush as a fill-in starter following Prescott’s injury. Will Grier, a former third-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, is currently stationed on the practice squad and can be elevated to the main roster for Sunday’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Eagles place Derek Barnett on IR, sign pass rusher from Vikings’ practice squad
The Philadelphia Eagles lost defensive end Derek Barnett to an ACL tear in Week 1. He was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
Barnett, a former first-round draft pick, was the Eagles’ third defensive end in their heavy rotation. With Barnett out, Philadelphia is likely to rely on Tarron Jackson to fill his void behind Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham.
“I know it happens in football — it’s tough cause he’s one of my favorites — and what he brings to the team, as far as toughness, accountability, how he plays, being a pro, leadership,” defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said about Barnett. “We’re all going to need to step up and do our job to replace a player like him.”
With the open roster spot, the Eagles decided to sign defensive end Janarius Robinson off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad. Robinson will slot behind Sweat, Graham, and Jackson on the depth chart. There could also be some gamesmanship to this move, as the Eagles will host the Vikings on Monday Night Football in Week 2.
Robinson, a Florida State alum, was a fourth-round pick of the Vikings last year. He spent his entire rookie season on IR. Robinson is listed as 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds.
Colts cut Rodrigo Blankenship, sign two kickers to practice squad
The Indianapolis Colts decided to move on from longtime kicker Rodrigo Blankenship on Tuesday. Blankenship missed a 42-yard field goal in overtime on Sunday, leading to a 20-20 tie for the Colts against the Houston Texans. Blankenship will now be subject to waivers. He made 83.3% of his field-goal attempts during his 22-game tenure with Indianapolis.
To hedge the position, Indianapolis signed kickers Chase McLaughlin and Lucas Havrisik to the practice squad. The two will battle throughout the week of practice to determine which will serve as the Colts’ kicker this weekend.
According to Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, the Colts worked out kicker Josh Lambo as well. Lambo is most well-known for being a whistleblower on former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer. He claimed Meyer kicked him during warmups ahead of a preseason game.
Lambo has made 128 of 147 field-goal attempts (87.1%) during his NFL career, which has included stops in Jacksonville and with the Los Angeles Chargers. Fellow former Jaguars kicker Matthew Wright all tried out for the squad, per Erickson.
Quick Hits
- On Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs placed cornerback Trent McDuffie on IR. He will miss at least four games after suffering a hamstring injury against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Chiefs also promoted linebackers Jack Cochrane and Elijah Lee from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
- The Carolina Panthers placed WR/KR Andre Roberts on IR with a knee injury. Roberts was injured in the Panthers’ home opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. A source told PFN that Roberts has a PCL sprain and won’t need surgery. Roberts could return later in the season, per the source. Shi Smith is likely to take on returner duties with Roberts sidelined.
- The Browns will have a new midfield image at FirstEnergy Stadium this season. Instead of the traditional helmet logo, the Browns will use their alternate elf logo — Brownie The Elf — at midfield.
- With reigning Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt expected to miss six games with a torn pectoral muscle — according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter — the Pittsburgh Steelers signed former second-round pick, Ryan Anderson. The pass rusher spent last offseason with the Giants, after spending his first four years in Washington. Anderson was suspended the first six games of last season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He has produced 86 tackles, six sacks, and five forced fumbles in his career.
- The Atlanta Falcons promoted practice squad TE Anthony Firkser to the 53-man roster. Firkser, a vested veteran, would have had his entire 2022 salary guaranteed had he been on the Week 1 roster. Instead, the Falcons put him on the practice squad and elevated him following Sunday’s loss to the Saints. Firkser previously played four seasons with the Titans, with the first three seasons under Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. He has caught 106 passes for 1,107 yards and five touchdowns during his career.