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Andre Williams

XFL Draft Day 1 Fallout

October 15th, 2019 at 9:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The XFL’s two-day draft began Tuesday. In addition to certain quarterbacks being assigned to teams, several notable players went off the board in the rebooting league’s selection event.

The league divided its draft into sections. Skill-position players (and other quarterbacks) went in one portion of the draft, with offensive linemen going second and then select defenders in another section. Connor Cook was the first quarterback to go in the non-allocation portion of the draft, being selected by the Houston franchise at No. 2 overall.

Here are some recent NFL skill-position players taken:

Here are the notable offensive linemen selected in that section of the draft:

Lastly, some front-seven names of note came off in that part of this event:

For a full team-by-team breakdown, Sporting News cataloged the first parts of this event.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/11/17

December 11th, 2017 at 9:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Promoted from practice squad: S Leon McQuay
  • Placed on injured reserve: S Steven Terrell on IR

New York Giants

Los Angeles Chargers

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/17

October 7th, 2017 at 4:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s minor moves.

  • Andre Williams will return to the Chargers‘ active roster after the team announced the promotion of the running back from the practice squad. Los Angeles waived safety Dexter McCoil to make room on the 53-man. Branden Oliver being ruled out because of a hamstring injury led to this switch. Williams played one game last season but fared well, rushing for 87 yards against the Chiefs in Week 17. McCoil played in all 16 Bolts games as a rookie and two this season.
  • Cliff Avril‘s neck injury prompted the Seahawks to promote defensive end Branden Jackson from their practice squad, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports. To make room, Seattle waived linebacker Justin March-Lillard. Jackson played in three games with the Raiders last season.
  • The Jets promoted outside linebacker Freddie Bishop from their practice squad. Wide receiver Jalin Marshall is eligible to return after serving a four-game suspension, but it doesn’t look like he will be active Sunday in Cleveland.

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West

September 3rd, 2017 at 4:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Oakland Raiders

Chargers Reach 53-Man Limit

September 2nd, 2017 at 3:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers announced 37 player moves on Saturday, bringing them down to the 53-man limit. Here’s the full breakdown.

Released:

Waived:

Waived/Injured:

Reserve/Suspended:

Reserve/Injured:

Barner seemed to have a decent chance of cracking the roster as a pass-catching back, particularly after the loss of Danny Woodhead. On 27 carries last season, Barner averaged a career-best 4.8 yards per attempt.

Clemens, 33, was slated to return for a fourth season as Philip Rivers‘ backup. Instead, that job will go to Cardale Jones, who was acquired in a trade with Buffalo earlier this offseason.

Extra Points: Bridgewater, Bolts, Colts

May 7th, 2017 at 9:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teddy Bridgewater‘s 2017 status could be at the epicenter of a major dispute, with the NFLPA and Bridgewater’s camp on one side and the Vikings/NFL on the other. The Vikings did not pick up the quarterback’s fifth-year option last week, but due to a CBA provision that could make Bridgewater’s contract toll, the passer could be to his rookie deal through 2018 despite the team’s refusal to pick up the $11MM-plus option. Florio now reports this is shaping up as a contentious battle, should certain events unfold.

Should Bridgewater end up on the PUP list, which shelves a player for the first six weeks of the season, his $1.354MM salary would stand to carry over to 2018. A CBA provision indicates players in the final year of their contracts would see those deals toll to the following season if they spend more than six games on the PUP list. Bridgewater and the NFLPA would be ready to challenge a PUP designation by the Vikings, Florio reports, if the two parties believe he could pass a physical and follow the course to free agency in 2018. They would thereby be accusing the team of using the PUP list to keep the quarterback in the Twin Cities for an extra year at a cheaper rate. This is moot as of now, since it’s uncertain if Bridgewater will be able to pass a physical by September, but a source told Florio this would be a “huge” battle if it comes to pass.

Rick Spielman said he’s aware of this rule, but he did not comment further during an appearance on PFT Live earlier this week. One confusing component of this process that could work in the NFLPA’s favor is the NFL Management Council interpreting in past cases that the relevant language here means a player would need to spend the whole season on the PUP list for the contract to toll, Florio notes. So, this could be a complex offseason for the former Minnesota starter. Mike Zimmer said in March he does not know if Bridgewater will be able to play this season. The Vikings have already named Sam Bradford their starter.

Here’s the latest from around the league.

  • Speaking of NFLPA-vs.-NFL issues, the union is holding up some teams’ contract negotiations with rookies due to the belief some provisions in proposed accords are in violation of the CBA, Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports. The NFLPA sent a memo to agents urging them to reject certain types of proposals they feel violate the CBA. Language regarding players’ health and money they could owe their respective teams represents some of the issues causing the union to object to teams’ negotiations, and multiple execs told Pelissero the union’s stance here has slowed down the process.
  • The Chargers experienced major injury issues at running back last season. In addition to Melvin Gordon failing to finish a season for the second time in as many years, injuries shelved Danny Woodhead, Branden Oliver and Dexter McCluster. Woodhead and McCluster are no longer with the Bolts, and the team did not use a draft pick on a back. Part of this equation involves the Bolts’ belief Andre Williams can be a viable Gordon backup, Eric Williams of ESPN.com notes. After spending most of last season on the Chargers’ practice squad, the former Giants fourth-round pick rushed for 87 yards in the season finale against the Chiefs. Bolts coaches observed Andre Williams giving the defense fits in practice last season, per Eric Williams. Los Angeles did add former Eagles backup Kenjon Barner in free agency, and he joins Kenneth Farrow, Oliver and Williams as potential Gordon backups.
  • The Colts‘ first-round selection of Malik Hooker looks to halt Darius Butler‘s wishes to play safety, Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star writes. Butler re-signed with the Colts on a one-year, $3MM deal but did so in hopes the team would allow him to transition to safety full-time. But Holder notes that Hooker unexpectedly falling to No. 15 should push Butler back to the nickel role, where he’d work in the slot.

Chargers To Re-Sign Andre Williams

March 9th, 2017 at 7:36pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Free agent running back Andre Williams has agreed to re-sign with the Chargers. Williams announced the news on Instagram.

Andre Williams

The 24-year-old Williams noted that he’ll have to earn a roster spot in Los Angeles, which isn’t surprising for a player who struggled to garner playing time last season. The Bolts claimed Williams off waivers in September, cut him three weeks later and then re-signed him as a practice squad member. He did end up appearing in one game with the club, in Week 17, and he impressed with 87 yards on 18 carries in the Chargers’ season-ending loss to the Chiefs.

A fourth-round pick out of Boston College in 2014, Williams spent the first two years of his career with the Giants. The bulk of his work came in his 16-game rookie campaign, during which he posted all seven of his career starts, scored seven rushing touchdowns and amassed 721 yards on 217 attempts. That only amounted to a 3.3 per-carry average for Williams, which matches his career mark in 323 tries.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/16

December 27th, 2016 at 7:01pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A rundown of Tuesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Promoted from practice squad: WR Jake Kumerow, LB Trevor Roach

Jacksonville Jaguars

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

San Diego Chargers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Chargers Sign RB Andre Williams To Practice Squad

September 26th, 2016 at 6:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers signed running back Andre Williams to the practice squad, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Williams was dropped from the Bolts’ active roster over the weekend. Andre Williams (vertical)

On Saturday, the Chargers opted to promote tight end Asante Cleveland from the practice squad and dropped Williams in order to make room. Despite having some success as a member of the Giants, Williams passed through waivers unclaimed, allowing him to stay in sunny San Diego.

In 2014, Williams racked up more than 700 rushing yards, but he was not as effective in 2015 for the G-Men. Still, Williams is a physical runner with experience and someone the Chargers can call on if they are hit by the injury bug again. The Chargers have already lost Branden Oliver and Danny Woodhead for the year.

 Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Chargers Waive Andre Williams

September 24th, 2016 at 3:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Danny Woodhead and Branden Oliver‘s injuries and the team’s apparent need for running backs notwithstanding, the Chargers waived Andre Williams, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter).

The Chargers addressed another area of need with the roster spot, promoting Asante Cleveland from their practice squad. Antonio Gates is doubtful to play on Sunday with a hamstring injury.

Williams, who will return to waivers, arrived in San Diego after the Chargers submitted a successful waiver claim for him after the Giants cut him before the season. Considering the Bolts stood third in the waiver-priority hierarchy, Williams could generate some interest from teams stationed further down the line in that pecking order. If he passes through waivers, the third-year running back will become a free agent for the first time.

Gehlken points out (Twitter link) Williams will still receive Week 3 regular-season pay and posits the Chargers could bring him back Monday if he clears waivers.

The former Giants fourth-round pick did not play in a game for the Chargers, and the team’s decision to jettison him leaves just Melvin Gordon, rookie UDFA Kenneth Farrow and recently signed Dexter McCluster as the Bolts’ healthy ball-carrying contingent. Oliver and Woodhead are out for the season with injuries, and McCluster has split time at running back and wide receiver in his career. Gordon’s health continues to be paramount for the 1-1 team.

Williams has a 700-plus-yard rushing season to his credit, in 2014, but the physical runner hasn’t shown much in terms of elusiveness. The former Boston College standout holds a 3.2 yards-per-carry figure for his career.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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