NFL news: Around the league in 32 plays

It’s been a tough year to be a Browns wide receiver. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns:  The Browns have placed cornerback Joe Haden on Injured Reserve due to severe concussion symptoms.  The team has also lost wide receiver Brian Hartline for the remainder of the year following his collarbone surgery.  Losing Hartline should put the Browns in a situation where they will finally have to utilize former Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe who has been inactive most of the year.  The injury also brings the potential return of Josh Gordon in 2016 back into focus.

Chiefs’ take

: The Browns wide receiver group is one to watch for Free Agency in 2016.  While the Chiefs have some young talent, they still have some developing to do.  A veteran wide receiver on a one year deal might be towards the top of Dorsey’s “to-do list”.  Hartline is a career complimentary receiver who has also put up a pair of 1000 yard seasons.  However, there is no way the Browns can overlook the $3 million they save by cutting him in 2016.  Bowe is certainly on the decline, but you can’t tell me it has gotten that bad.  As bad as he was in 2014 for KC, he still put up 750 yards.  Josh Gordon’s off the field problems are the big deal with him, but his talent is undeniable.  All three guys are candidates for one year “prove it” deals.

The Broncos QB situation is starting to get cloudy. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos:  The Broncos quarterback situation has started to get interesting again.  Brock Osweiler has not been good, despite the team winning.  However, it does appear that the team intends to move forward with him.  Meanwhile, Peyton Manning has started practicing again, though he won’t be active this week.  This creates an interesting situation for head coach Gary Kubiak.

• Chiefs; take: And just as Manning was conveniently injured when he stunk up the joing against the Chiefs, he is now suddenly feeling better just as soon as Osweiler does the same against the Raiders.  I said when it happened that I felt it was just an opportunity for the team to see what they had in their untested youngster (in a contract year).  This makes me feel all the more confident in that assessment.

Detroit Lions: The Lions lost tight end Brandon Pettigrew for the remainder of the season.  To replace him, they have signed veteran tight end Bear Pascoe.  Pascoe is a similar player in that he is a reliable receiver, but better known as a blocker.

Green Bay Packers:  The Packers have made defensive end Mike Daniels a very happy man by signing him to a 4 year, $42 million contract extension.  The deal makes Daniels one of the top paid 3-4 defensive ends in the league.

Chiefs’ take

: John Dorsey can’t be happy about this as it likely sets the table for Jaye Howard to sign elsewhere.  There is a lot of disparity between the top five 3-4 defensive end contracts and the rest of the players at the position.  Howard and his agent will most likely be looking for a deal much closer to that of Daniels’ than that of Allen Bailey.

Next: Texans talking quarterback