Jacoby Ford

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/19/16

Here are Friday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL, plus a pair of notable moves from the CFL wire:

  • CFL pass rusher Tristan Okpalaugo has signed with the Cardinals, according to his agent Brett Kessler (Twitter link). Okpalaugo, who recorded 23 sacks during the past two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, also received an offer from the Jets and visited Seahawks before choosing Arizona.
  • In addition to confirming their previously-reported deal with wide receiver A.J. Cruz, the Dolphins announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed cornerback Chimdi Chekwa to a contract. Chekwa, who appeared in 32 games for the Raiders from 2011 to 2014, was cut from the club’s injured reserve list last September, and didn’t see any regular-season action in 2015.
  • Offensive tackle Tavon Rooks, who suffered a heart attack last September in practice, was officially waived today by the Chiefs, tweets Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle adds (via Twitter) that Rooks received the non-football illness designation.
  • The CFL’s Edminton Eskimos announced today in a press release that they’ve signed former NFL players Jacoby Ford (WR) and Joe McKnight (RB). Ford, a former fourth-round pick, caught 57 balls and had four kickoff return TDs for the Raiders between 2010 and 2013, while McKnight compiled 746 yards from scrimmage in 41 total games with the Jets and Chiefs from 2010 to 2014.

Titans Reduce Roster To 53 Players

The Titans have confirmed the previously-reported releases of wide receiver Hakeem Nicks and offensive tackle Byron Stingily, and have announced 10 more moves, which reduce their roster count to 53 players.

Here are Tennessee’s roster moves, per a team release:

Waived:

  • RB David Fluellen
  • WR Jacoby Ford
  • G Josue Matias
  • WR Tre McBride
  • G Will Poehls
  • WR Rico Richardson
  • QB Alex Tanney

Placed on injured reserve:

  • LB Zaviar Gooden
  • LB Yawin Smallwood
  • LB J.R. Tavai

With Nicks, Ford, McBride, and Richardson no longer on the roster, Tennessee will start the year with just four wide receivers, barring further moves.

Audition Notes: Friday

Duron Carter is among the busier men in the NFL right now, as the CFL receiver has worked out for a litany of teams over recent weeks in an effort to secure a contract for 2015. According to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Carter has is likely finished with the audition circuit after visiting with the Browns earlier today. And despite earlier reports that the Vikings, home to Duron’s father Cris Carter for much of his career, were the favorites to land the young receiver, Goessling reports that Minnesota is the not high bidder for Carter at the moment. Here’s more workout news from around the league…

  • Carter isn’t the only CFL player making the NFL rounds, as defensive back Delvin Breaux met with both the Steelers (Twitter link via Howard Balzer) and the Jaguars (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN). Per Caplan (on Twitter), Breaux has several more visits lined up, and is scheduled to meet with the Browns, Dolphins, Falcons, and Saints, while the Eagles and Jets also maintain interest.
  • The Panthers brought in quarterback Dominique Davis for a workout, tweets Caplan. Davis, 25, was a reserve for the Falcons from 2012-13, and spent time with the Titans and Colts last season.
  • The Titans, like all teams, are aiming to fill out their offseason roster, and worked out the following players today in that vein, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link): LaVon Brazill, David Fluellen, Jacoby Ford, Clyde Gates, Phillip Hunt, Shawn Lemon, Joe Morgan, Keith Price, and Chase Rettig. Brazill is probably the most notable name among the list, as he was set to play a meaningful role in the Colts’ offense before being suspended and migrating to the CFL.
  • Before signing Mitchell Van Dyk yesterday, the Steelers also worked out fellow punters Tom Hornsey and Richie Leone, in addition to defensive tackle Kheeston Randall, per Wilson (via Twitter).
  • The Bills auditioned offensive lineman Matt Armstrong today, tweets Wilson.

Minor Moves: Ford, Gates, Hill

Today’s minor moves..

  • The Titans signed wide receivers Jacoby Ford and Clyde Gates to futures contracts, according to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Ford, a former fourth round choice, spent 2010-2013 with the Raiders. Gates, a former member of the Jets, worked out for the Raiders in December.
  • The Panthers announced (on Twitter) that they have signed wide receiver Stephen Hill to a futures deal. The Panthers’ other nine taxi squad players officially signed on Tuesday. Hill, the former second-round pick of the Jets, has yet to produce at the NFL level. Gang Green released Hill in 2014 despite having a thin receiving corps.
  • The Broncos will sign safety Ross Madison to a futures contract, according to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post. Madison, 6-foot, 205 pounds, is a former Toledo standout. He went to camp with Washington last summer before landing in the Fall Experimental Football League.
  • The Bengals announced on Twitter that they have signed running back James Wilder Jr. to a futures deal.

AFC North Notes: Ravens, Bengals, Browns

Some notable names were cut from their respective AFC North teams today, including Danieal Manning (Bengals), Nate Burleson (Browns), Derek Cox (Ravens) and fifth-rounder Shaquille Richardson (Steelers).

One of those players will likely return to their former team as soon as tomorrow. Who is it? Keep reading for the answer, as well as some more notes from the division…

  • A.Q. Shipley couldn’t crack the Ravens roster, but he may have an opportunity elsewhere. The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson tweets that “several” teams have already expressed interest in the center.
  • It shouldn’t be long before Derek Cox is back on the Ravens. Wilson tweets that the release was purely “procedural” and the team is expected to re-sign the cornerback on Sunday.
  • The Ravens have reached an injury settlement with Shaun Chapas, tweets Wilson. The team cut the fullback last week.
  • The Bengals worked out free agent wideout Jacoby Ford, according to USA Today’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
  • If Donald Hawkins clears waivers, the Browns will place the offensive lineman on their practice squad, tweets Alex Dunlap.

Jets Release Six Players

The Jets have released the following six players, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link):

Dowling performed well for the Jets in camp, but, like the rest of the team’s corners, he struggled with injury and had difficulty staying on the field. With these cuts, the Jets have trimmed their roster to 75 players well in advance of Tuesday’s deadline.

AFC Notes: Mack, Burleson, Draft

The Jaguars have met with free agent center Alex Mack, reports BigCatCountry.com (via Twitter). Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 confirms that Mack has already visited with the team (via Twitter).

Mack received the transition tag from the Browns earlier this offseason, which gives the Browns the right to match any offer.

Here are some other notes from around the AFC:

  • The Browns have hosted former Lion Nate Burleson, according Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (via Twitter). Burleson, 32, had 191 catches between 2009 and 2011, but struggled to stay on the field the past two seasons.
  • The Titans brought in West Virginia running back Charles Sims for a visit, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). With uncertainty at the position without Chris Johnson, the team is looking for long-term answers at the position.
  • Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle was taking Raiders questions on Twitter, and discussed if the recent signings of Jacoby Ford and DeSean Jackson would push the team to choose Clemson’s Sammy Watkins with the fifth pick in the draft. Tafur believes that Watkins and Kalil Mack of Buffalo are both in play for the Raiders.

Jets Sign Jacoby Ford

THURSDAY, 1:03pm: Ford’s one-year contract with the Jets is worth $740K, which includes a $675K base salary and a $65K signing bonus, says Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com.

TUESDAY, 3:45pm: The Jets have signed free agent wide reciever Jacoby Ford, the club announced today in a press release. Ford represents the Jets’ second notable receiver addition of the offseason, coming a few weeks after New York locked up Eric Decker, and may end up returning kicks for the team as well.

Ford, 26, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career in Oakland after being selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2010 draft. After hauling in 25 passes and returning three kicks for touchdowns in his rookie season, Ford had trouble staying in the field in subsequent years, accumulating just 32 total receptions from 2011 to 2013.

We first heard word of the Jets’ interest in Ford all the way back on March 17, though the Clemson alum didn’t make a visit to the team until this week. Terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, but it will likely be a short-term, minimum-salary contract, perhaps with a modest signing bonus.

Extra Points: Flacco, Ford, Falcons, Jags, Pats

Here’s a few miscellaneous news-and-notes items from around the league:

AFC East Notes: Jets, Pats, Bills, Dolphins

Let’s take a look at a handful of rumblings from the AFC East…

  • Receiver Jacoby Ford and offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger both visited the Jets today, tweets Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News confirmed the news on Twitter.
  • The Patriots worked out Eastern Washington defensive end Anthony Larry, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net. As Pauline points out, Larry’s ability to play linebacker and rush the passer is similar to current Patriot Rob Ninkovich, who recently turned 30-years-old.
  • The Patriots are still in need of a defensive end and a defensive tackle, opines Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. Considering the team’s depth, the Patriots can think in the long-term, which Reiss believes is the “ideal scenario.”
  • With rumors swirling regarding DeSean Jackson‘s eventual destination, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com evaluates whether a deal would work out for the Bills. Rodak focuses on positives (like the similarities between Chip Kelly‘s system in Philadelphia and Bills offensive coordinator Nate Hackett‘s system in Buffalo) and the obvious negatives (the potential price tag and behavioral issues).
  • The Dolphins have become a fan of “show me” contracts, and ESPN.com’s James Walker looks at the team’s current batch of players on one-year deals. This includes Louis Delmas, Knowshon Moreno and Cortland Finnegan.