Remember when Matt Flynn was "presumed" to be the Oakland Raiders' starting quarterback? He didn't even last a full season as their backup quarterback.
The Raiders released Flynn on Monday afternoon, Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter was first to report. The move comes just two weeks after he filled in for concussed Terrelle Pryor in a Week 4 home loss to Washington.
With Pryor back healthy and continuing his hot start in Week 5's home win over San Diego, Flynn was expendable. Undrafted rookie Matt McGloin becomes the Raiders' No. 2 quarterback while the Raiders' No. 3, fourth-round rookie Tyler Wilson, is on the practice squad.
Flynn was acquired from the Seahawks in April in exchange for a 2014 fifth-round draft pick and a 2015 conditional pick. But for the second straight offseason, he was beat out for No. 1 duties, with Pryor following the lead of Seattle's Russell Wilson in displacing him.
Pryor has proved he was the worthy choice in Oakland and made it clear that Flynn would no longer be a threat to the No. 1 status. Pryor has completed 68.3 percent of his pass attempts with 4 TDs and an outstanding 97.6 passer rating, while going 2-2. He also has rushed for 229 yards over four games.
In a little more than a game of relief work, Flynn was just 22-of-34 for 246 yards passing and a TD. He also was sacked seven times and his one interception was returned for a Redskins touchdown.
Given Flynn was a costly bust for two teams - he was paid $8 million in 2012 by the Seahawks and $6.5 million by the Raiders -- he's better off going back to being just an insurance policy elsewhere like he was in Green Bay. Any troubled team that looks at him to solve its current QB woes would be making a mistake.
BILLS NAME LEWIS QB STARTER
The Buffalo Bills have named Thad Lewis the team's starting quarterback, coach Doug Marrone announced on Monday.
Lewis, who was promoted from the practice squad, will become the fourth QB for the Bills this season. Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion in the team's third preseason game. Jeff Tuel was nearly the team's starter, but E.J. Manuel was selected for Week 1 when he was deemed healthy enough to start following knee surgery. Manuel suffered a sprained LCL in Thursday night's loss to the Cleveland Browns.
According to The Associated Press, the Bills passed on former West Virginia star Pat White and former Oregon star Dennis Dixon, instead going with Lewis.
Lewis started one game for the Cleveland Browns in 2012, going 22-32 with 204 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception.
Lewis and the Bills face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6.
VICK COULD BE OUT
Eagles head coach Chip Kelly described injured quarterback Michael Vick as "day to day" on Monday, and said that his status for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay is uncertain. NFL.com reports that Vick is expected to be out.
After leaving Sunday's win over the Giants late in the first half with an injured left hamstring, Vick told reporters that he believed he would be able to play next week. Backup Nick Foles played the final first-half series and the entire second half. Vick was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday.
"It's frustrating," Vick said Sunday. "I never question why things happen, I never question God. It's a little sore. I've been standing up the last two hours. I need to get treatment. I've had this type of injury before."
ESPN reported Monday afternoon that Vick was expected to miss the Buccaneers game and that Foles would get his first start of the season.
CRABTREE NEARING RETURN
Coach Jim Harbaugh expects top 2012 wide receiver Michael Crabtree to return to game action in mid- to late November after recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon that required surgery.
The 26-year-old Crabtree had career highs last season with 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns for the NFC champion Niners.
Harbaugh has traded a few text messages with linebacker Aldon Smith, absent for the past two games while undergoing rehab for substance abuse, and the coach said there have been "very positive reports back."
There is no timetable for Smith's return, which could be as soon as after the bye week in early November. He also could face suspension from the NFL following his arrest on suspicion of DUI on Sept 20.
BEARS LOSE ANOTHER DT
The Chicago Bears defensive line that manhandled the Pittsburgh Steelers on national TV two weeks ago, has suffered yet another debilitating blow. Defensive tackle Nate Collins will miss the rest of the season with a torn left ACL, head coach Marc Trestman announced on Monday.
Collins, coincidentally, had started at tackle in place of Henry Melton, who tore his ACL in that 40-23, five-turnover rout in Pittsburgh. Collins suffered his injury in the third quarter of Sunday's 26-18 loss to New Orleans in Chicago. It was the Bears' second straight loss -- and the second straight shaky performance by the defense -- since the Steelers win put them at 3-0.
The Bears had also played the Saints game without defensive tackle Stephen Paea, who suffered a sprained toe last week in a 40-32 loss to the Lions. Paea told reporters after Sunday's game that he believed he would return for Thursday's home game against the winless Giants.
Collins, in his fourth season, will undergo surgery to repair his ACL in Pensacola, Fla., sometime soon, Trestman told reporters.
FREEMAN WON'T START SUNDAY
Josh Freeman, the Minnesota Vikings' newly-signed quarterback, will not start on Sunday when the Vikings face the Carolina Panthers.
Coach Leslie Frazier told reporters Monday that either Christian Ponder or Matt Cassel would start Week 6. Ponder has a broken rib near his heart and missed the Sept. 29 game against the Steelers in London. With his health still in question, Cassel is likely the guy on Sunday.
"Christian's our starter as long as he's healthy," Frazier said.
Still, Freeman will be able to compete for the No. 1 job, Frazier said.
Freeman has agreed to terms on a one-year contract. He was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a rocky few weeks saw him benched, lose his title as captain and be banned from the sideline and meetings.
Cassel led the Vikings to their lone win of the season so far, over the Steelers.
Contributors: Rana L. Cash, Vinnie Iyer, David Steele, The Associated Press