Pouncey healthy enough to rejoin Dolphins at practice
DAVIE, Fla. — The man in the middle of the Miami Dolphins' years-long malaise is back, and wondering how long he'll last.
Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey returned to practice Tuesday after missing the first four games of the season because of a broken left hip that raised concerns about his career. It was his third hip injury since 2014.
“Talking to the doctors, all the what-ifs came into play,” Pouncey said before practice. “You start questioning how long you can play in the league and how physical this game is. I'm fortunate to be back as fast as I am.
“When I first injured this hip, there was a lot of doubt in my mind — would I ever come back and be the same player? I guess we'll see today.”
Pouncey, 27, acknowledged he's mindful of the long-term effects his injuries to both hips might have.
“We all have concerns long term, every guy that plays in the NFL,” he said. “But right now I'm not too much concerned. I wouldn't put myself in the position to hurt myself or have a setback if I wasn't ready to play.”
Pouncey rejoins a team off to another slow start heading into Sunday's game against Tennessee . The Dolphins are 1-3 in large part because of a sputtering offense that has had trouble running the ball and protecting Ryan Tannehill.
Pouncey should help in both areas. Despite his health issues, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl each of the past three years, and might be Miami's best player.
“He can make a huge difference,” Tannehill said. “With the belief this team has in him, his work ethic, the example he sets day in and day out at practice, as well as the player that he is, it'll be great to have him back.”
A first-round draft pick from the University of Florida in 2011, Pouncey has yet to play on a winning team in Miami. He's optimistic that can still change this season, despite the slow start.
“We've been in this position before,” he said. “It's only four games in. We've got 12 games left. We're looking forward to turning this season around and winning a bunch of games here.”
Bills shuffle tight ends
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have shuffled their tight end position by promoting Gerald Christian to the active roster and releasing Jim Dray.
Christian spent the past four weeks on the Bills practice squad. He was selected by Arizona in the seventh round of the 2015 draft, but missed his rookie season because of a knee injury. He was cut by Arizona in August. The 25-year-old Christian had 60 catches for 810 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons at
Louisville.
Dray saw limited time at tight end and on special teams units in four games this season.
Buffalo also shuffled its practice squad receivers by signing Corey Washington and releasing Matt Hazel.
The Bills (2-2) play at Los Angeles (3-1) on Sunday.
Colts shake up defense
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts shook up their defense Tuesday, releasing cornerback Antonio Cromartie and waiving inside linebacker Sio Moore. Both started the first four games. Indy (1-3) signed Cromartie on Aug. 22. He emerged as the starter in a secondary decimated by injuries.
But he was benched last weekend after drawing two penalties in a four-play sequence .
He became expendable when the Colts got healthy, and they could have their top three cornerbacks available for the first time Sunday against Chicago (1-3).
Moore, acquired in a trade with Oakland last year, had 31 tackles this season.
Indy also signed safety Lee Hightower to the practice squad.
Jaguar Joeckel headed to IR
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars left guard Luke Joeckel could miss the rest of the season with a left knee injury.
The team announced Tuesday that Joeckel, who injured his knee against Indianapolis in London, will be placed on injured reserve and have surgery. Details about the surgery will come after its completion.
The injury could mean Joeckel, the second overall draft pick in 2013, has played his final game in Jacksonville. The Jaguars declined to pick up a fifth-year option in his rookie contract and signed free agent Kelvin Beachum to a five-year, $45 million contract to compete with Joeckel at left tackle.
Beachum won the job, and Jacksonville slid Joeckel inside to guard. He was decent through four games, but it's unlikely the team would bring him back in 2017, especially considering he would be coming off knee surgery.
Falcons add Hawk as tight end
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have addressed a sudden depth problem at linebacker by signing free agent A.J. Hawk, who spent his first nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers.
The Falcons placed linebacker Sean Weatherspoon on injured reserve. Weatherspoon ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a 4833 win Sunday over Carolina.
The 32-year-old Hawk had 24 tackles with Cincinnati in 2015, his only season with the Bengals.
Atlanta rookie starting outside linebacker De'Vondre Campbell missed the Carolina game with an ankle injury while backup Paul Worrilow was held out with a groin injury. Rookie starter Deion Jones left the game with a calf injury.
Former starter Paul Worrilow also was held out against Carolina with a groin injury.
The Falcons also released linebacker O'Brien Schofield, waived linebacker Davis Tull off the practice squad and signed punter Michael Palardy to the practice squad.
Lions sign Harbor, release Charles
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have signed tight end Clay Harbor and released tight end Orson Charles.
The Lions also announced Tuesday that they've acquired defensive end Armonty Bryant off waivers and put defensive end Wallace Gilberry on injured reserve.
Harbor began this season with the New England Patriots, appearing in three games. He's also spent three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and three with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bryant played three years with the Cleveland Browns and made two starts last season.
Forsett asks, Ravens grant release
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Running back Justin Forsett has been released by the Baltimore Ravens, who complied with his request to play elsewhere.
Forsett was on the inactive list last Sunday and was expected to drop down the depth chart after the return of injured rookie Kenneth Dixon.
So Forsett asked the Ravens to let him go, and general manager Ozzie Newsome formally cut him Tuesday.
Quoted on the team's website, Forsett said, “It was mutual. I felt like my opportunity here was closing. I'm at a phase in my career where I don't want to sit.”
Forsett started in Baltimore's first three games, rushing for 98 yards and catching 11 passes for 36 yards.
But Terrance West took over as the starter Sunday against Oakland and was backed up by Javorius Allen. Forsett ran for 1,266 yards in 2014. He broke his arm last
season after playing in 10 games.
Cardinals without Johnson, Branch
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals will be without running back Chris Johnson and safety Tyvon Branch for at least eight weeks as both players were placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
NFL rules allow for one player to be eligible to return to the active roster eight weeks after his injured reserve designation, so one of the two could return in early December while the other will miss the rest of the season.
Johnson and Branch are both dealing with groin injuries suffered during Sunday's 17-13 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Cardinals lose their top backup running back in Johnson, who has 95 rushing yards and a touchdown this season. Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor are the other two backs.
On Tuesday, Arizona re-signed running back Kerwynn Williams, who was released before the season began.
Williams played in 11 games combined in 2014 and 2015 for the Cardinals, rushing for 388 yards and a touchdown.
Branch, who started three games and was tied for second on the team with 22 tackles, signed a two-year contract in free agency in March after playing for Kansas City and Oakland.
The Cardinals, off to a 1-3 start amid lofty expectations to be Super Bowl contenders, had a busy day of roster moves just two days from a Thursday night game at San Francisco.
Punter Drew Butler, who suffered a calf injury at Buffalo in Week 3, was waived with an injury settlement on Tuesday. The team added punter Ryan Quigley.
Quarterback Zac Dysert and wide receiver Brittan Golden were promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. Dysert is in place as a backup for Drew Stanton if Carson Palmer can't play because of a concussion.