Mike Johnson

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/30/15

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves as teams begin trimming their rosters from 90 players to 75. We will update this post as necessary throughout the course of the day. Some teams have announced major roster cuts, but for the teams that may be waiting until closer to Tuesday to release some of their transactions, here are a few roster moves.

(Some teams may announce a full set of moves later on, and these players may reappear on those lists.)

  • The Packers have cut offensive tackle Vince Kowalski, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The former Villanova product was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent in June.
  • The Colts have cut linebacker Justin Shirk, according to Wilson (via Twitter).

Earlier Updates:

  • The Jets have cut WR T.J. Graham and OT James Brewer, per Brian Costello of The New York Post (Twitter links).
  • The Eagles have cut offensive lineman Mike Coccia, WR Mike Johnson, DL Alfy Hill, and DT Jeremy Towns, per Matt Lombardo of NJ.com (Twitter links).

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/15

Today’s minor moves and signings in the NFL..

  • Cowboys linebackers Justin Anderson and guard Reshod Fortenberry were waived/injured, Clarence Hill of the Star-Telegram tweets. Linebackers Jonathan Brown and Ka’Lial Glaud were signed.
  • The Patriots have agreed to bring back second-year linebacker Cameron Gordon to address some depth concerns, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. The Patriots also announced that they have claimed guard Harland Gunn off waivers from the Falcons.
  • The Chiefs announced that they have signed former Missouri wide receiver L’Damian Washington.
  • The Patriots waived-injured Kevin Hughes and cut Vince Taylor with a failed physical designation, Wilson tweets.
  • The Packers announced that they have signed wide receiver Ed Williams.
  • The Cowboys waived-injured Justin Jackson, who tore his ACL over the weekend, Wilson tweets.
  • The Broncos signed wideout Corbin Louks, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post tweets. Louks, who was cut by the Chiefs in May, will fill the roster spot previously filled by Kyle Williams, who has hit the IR.
  • The Chargers signed former Packers defensive tackle Luther Robinson, Wilson tweets.
  • The Browns announced that they have signed running backs Timothy Flanders and Jalen Parmele and waived wide receiver Kevin Cone and defensive back Brandon Stephens, Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal tweets.
  • The Bills have signed free agent cornerback Merrill Noel, according to Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (on Twitter). Noel was released by Buffalo back in June.

Earlier Updates:

  • The Chiefs waived backup defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, as Blair Kerkhoff of The Kansas City Star tweets. Worthy signed a futures deal with KC back in December. Worthy, a 2012 second-round pick out of Michigan State, tore his ACL in the final game of the 2012 season and played only 12 snaps in 2013. Worthy was traded from the Packers to the Pats in August of 2014 but he did not get on the field last season.
  • The Eagles signed rookie free agent wide receiver Mike Johnson, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. The Delaware product participated in the Eagles rookie mini-camp on a tryout basis and, apparently, he impressed the right people.
  • Linebacker/defensive end Austen Lane, who had stints with the Jaguars, Lions, and Bears, took to Twitter to announce his retirement.

East Notes: Mariota, Dolphins, Cowboys

Earlier today, the Jets opted to pick up their 2016 option on former first-round pick Quinton Coples. While he has yet to blossom into the player they envisioned, the Jets aren’t quite ready to give up on him, as Manish Mehta of the Daily News writes. “You see potential,” head coach Todd Bowles said at the league meetings last month. “He’s a lot like Geno (Smith). . . . You see him make plays and then you see him do other things at times. He can make strides this year and become a better player.” Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East..

  • The Jets quietly brought Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota to Florham Park, New Jersey for a visit on April 2nd, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. That meeting was five days after privately evaluating him in Eugene, Oregon. That makes the Jets one of three teams, joining the Bucs and Titans, to both work Mariota out on campus and bring him in to their facility (link).
  • Former Falcons guard Mike Johnson worked out for the Dolphins, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Johnson was selected 98th overall in the third round of the 2010 draft by the Falcons and was with Atlanta through 2014. Johnson has had some bad luck over the last two seasons. The 28-year-old suffered an ankle and leg injury that sidelined him for the entire 2013 season and also lost 2014 to the injured reserve.
  • Dorial Green-Beckham was at the Cowboys complex on Wednesday to meet with coaches and scouts, a source tells David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. There was a report last week that Green-Beckham declined an invitation to meet with Dallas, but it appears that he has had a change of heart. In terms of pure talent, DGB is regarded as one of the best receivers in the draft. His off-field issues complicate matters, however.

Minor Moves: Sunday

Here are Sunday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • The Falcons have placed G Mike Johnson and LB Marquis Spruill on their injured reserve list, per ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (Twitter links).
  • The Bears have cut return man Darius Reynaud, tweets Wilson. Reynaud was signed by Chicago on August 18.
  • CB Vernon Kearney has been cut by the Chiefs, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).

Earlier Updates:

Falcons Re-Sign Mike Johnson

The Falcons have re-signed offensive tackle Mike Johnson, the team announced today in a press release. Having started one game in his four seasons with the Falcons, Johnson likely represents a depth signing for Atlanta, though depending on what other moves the team makes, he could compete for a starting role. The agreement is for one year, according to the club.

Johnson was selected 98th overall in the third round of the 2010 draft by the Falcons. The 26-year-old played on the minimum salary over the course of his rookie contract, and I’d expect his new deal will also be worth the minimum, though terms haven’t been disclosed. Johnson will be returning from an ankle and leg injury that sidelined him for the entire 2013 season.

FA Rumors: Falcons, Finley, Winston, Neal

Let’s follow up on this morning’s free agent rumors with another round of them for the afternoon….

  • The Falcons are engaged in active talks to bring back offensive lineman Mike Johnson, but appear ready to part ways with defensive tackle Peria Jerry, reports D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Consitution.
  • Tight end Jermichael Finley has drawn interest from the Jets, Chiefs, Seahawks, Giants, and Steelers, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The former Packers standout still hasn’t been medically cleared, however.
  • The Cardinals have maintained interest in offensive lineman Eric Winston, but with no deal imminent, the veteran tackle could hit the open market, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Packers have had meaningful discussions with outside linebacker Mike Neal, but they haven’t come up with a large enough offer to keep him from testing the open market, tweets Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
  • Wilson also passes along an update on former Ravens defensive tackle Bryan Hall, who worked out for eight NFL teams at Arkansas State today. Hall was converted to linebacker by Baltimore, but is back to playing on the line now (Twitter links).
  • According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link), defensive tackle Antonio Johnson continues to talk to the Titans, as the team tries to re-sign some of its players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents
  • Having re-signed Marcus Sherels, the Vikings have one restricted free agent left, in linebacker Larry Dean. A source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link) the team is having ongoing discussions on the possibility of bringing Dean back.
  • Tight end Dustin Keller, who was doing exceptionally well in camp with the Dolphins last offseason before tearing his ACL, is on track to return for this season, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Keller is an unrestricted free agent.