Robert

McClain

McClain has been out of the league after Carolina took him in the seventh round a year ago. He’ll try to put something good on tape in the last three weeks.

The move clears space for OT William Robinson, who was claimed off waivers from the Saints Thursday. McClain did not appear in a game for the Jaguars after being signed on December 12.

Atlanta’s nickel back will have to pass a battery of tests to play this week. Smith suggested that “feisty” CB Robert McClain may have earned a bigger role regardless of Owens’ status. “Every time he goes on the field, he makes something happen,” said Smith.

James Bradberry (turf toe) is also out again. As the Panthers cut Bene Benwikere last week, they will be without their entire Week 1 nickel cornerback package at the Superdome. Drew Brees is an outstanding DFS play this week.

We would guess Brandon Flowers (concussion) will go on I.R. shortly. McClain has never been very good, but he earned lots of playing time in Carolina seeing action both outside and at slot corner. The Chargers have been running out a number of different bodies at cornerback since losing Flowers and Jason Verrett.

McClain started in the Super Bowl after being signed late last season, and he played 313 snaps across 11 appearances this year. He has struggled, however, and the Panthers likely want to take a look at their younger corners as they close out a lost season. McClain could pop up somewhere else before the end of the year.

A deep reserve at this stage of his career, McClain appeared in 14 games between the Chargers and Panthers last season. He’ll fight for one of the final spots on the Bucs’ 53-man roster.

The news comes straight from coach Dirk Koetter. McClain is a journeyman who had to fight to beat out Javien Elliott all offseason. He will be someone to target in DFS.

He played right slot, left slot, right outside, left outside and also logged 67 snaps at safety. Being a jack of all trades can only help McClain as he searches for playing time. Cornerback is going to be a trouble area for the Pats and will likely be addressed in the draft.

The tender is worth $1.431 million. Another team could try signing away McClain at the cost of a seventh-round pick, though we suspect it won’t happen. Still a solid slot corner, McClain figures to return as Atlanta’s nickel back behind the impressive young outside duo of Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford.