The New England Patriots have waived Chris Harper, who muffed a critical punt in the fourth quarter of their loss at the Denver Broncos.

Harper is an undrafted rookie out of Cal and will likely return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

The Patriots are thin at receiver due to injuries to Julian Edelman (foot) and Danny Amendola (knee), as the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Harper served as the No. 3 option against the Broncos.

The Miami Dolphins have claimed Quinton Coples off waivers.

Coples was waived this week by the New York Jets.

Mike Tannenbaum was general manager of the Jets when Coples was drafted.

Peyton Manning is reportedly "incensed" by reports he's making plans for 2016 with or without the Denver Broncos.

Manning may permanently lose his job as starting quarterback of the Broncos to Brock Osweiler and reports have indicated he's willing to play elsewhere in 2016.

Manning is currently battling a foot injury.

The Chicago Bears elevated QB David Fales to the active roster from the practice squad, waived QB Jimmy Clausen and terminated the practice squad contract of CB Terrance Mitchell.

Fales was drafted by the Bears in the sixth round (183rd overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft. Collegiately, over two seasons at San Jose State (2012-13), Fales started all 25 contests connecting on 639-of-938 passing attempts (68.1 percent) for 8,382 yards, 66 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. 

Clausen was 49-of-88 passing for 407 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for a 65.9 passer rating in two seasons with the Bears, including two starts. For his NFL career, Clausen has completed 206-of-387 passing attempts for 1,965 yards, five touchdowns and 11 interceptions with Carolina (2010-13) and Chicago (2014-15).

The Philadelphia Eagles are the most likely spot for Colin Kaepernick this offseason, according to the surveying of Peter King.

The New York Jets are second, while the Baltimore Ravens are third after the ACL and MCL tears suffered by Joe Flacco.

The Oakland Raiders are another team that could be interested in Kaepernick, albeit as a backup to Derek Carr.

The Dallas Cowboys have signed Robert Turbin after cutting Christine Michael.

Turbin played in three games for the Browns and carried the ball 18 times for 60 yards.

The Cowboys are onto their fifth different running back this season.

Hakeem Nicks has signed with the New York Giants now that Victor Cruz has been ruled out for the entire 2015 season.

Nicks is still just 27 years old and was a key part of their Super Bowl XLVI team.

Nicks had 56 catches for 896 yards and zero touchdowns for the Giants in 2013, and the Giants did not re-sign him after that year.

Nicks has struggled to stay healthy and productive since leaving the Giants.

Wes Welker has signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Rams.

Welker has been out of the NFL since last season when he was with the Denver Broncos.

The Detroit Lions have manageable cap charge if they decide to cut Matthew Stafford this offseason.

Based on the contract extension he signed in 2013, the Lions can release him with a post-June 1 cap charge of $5.5 million in 2016 and $5.5 million in 2017. All teams can designate up to two players as a post-June 1 cap charge, clearing them off the roster before that.

The Lions can also release Stafford without the June 1 designation for a 2016 cap hit of$11 million and he'd be off the books for 2017.

The Lions could also trade Stafford, who may be viewed as a worthwhile reclamation project.

Joseph Randle has been released by the Dallas Cowboys.

Randle had been excused from the team since last week to deal with what the club called a "personal issue." 

Randle suffered an oblique strain in his last game, which was Oct. 25 against the New York Giants, after just two carries. He lost his starting job to Darren McFadden.