HEADLINES

Mitch Mathews

Dolphins Reach 53-Man Max

September 2nd, 2017 at 4:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins reached the 53-man roster maximum. Here’s how:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Released:

Placed on IR:

PUP List:

Williams played in ten games between the Chiefs and Dolphins last season, finishing with eight tackles. He restructured his deal in March, but it wasn’t enough to keep his spot in Miami.

Young was slated to make $1.2MM in 2017 per the terms of the extension he signed in the winter.

Vikings Sign Tommy Armstrong

May 31st, 2017 at 9:12am CST by Ben Levine

It looks like Tommy Armstrong has finally received that long-awaited contract from the Vikings. According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter), the team has added the former Nebraska quarterback to their roster. To make room, the team has waived receiver Mitch Mathews.

Nov 25, 2016; Iowa City, IA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. (4) throws a pass during the first quarter against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The undrafted free agent participated in the Vikings’ rookie minicamp, although the organization wasn’t eyeing Armstrong as a quarterback. Rather, the coaching staff auditioned the 23-year-old as a running back, and they later shifted him to safety. Despite the apparent versatility, the team didn’t sign Armstrong following the conclusion of minicamp.

Armstrong had a successful collegiate career at quarterback. In 45 games, the four-year player converted 53.3-percent of his passes for 8,871 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 44 interceptions. Armstrong also showed talents in the running game, collecting 1,819 yards and 23 touchdowns on 423 attempts (good for a 4.3-yard average).

Mathews has bounced around the league since going undrafted out of Brigham Young in 2016. Besides Minnesota, the 6-foot-6 receiver also spent time with the Chiefs and Browns. In 41 career collegiate games, Mathews hauled in 152 receptions for 2,083 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/30/17

March 30th, 2017 at 7:31pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Thursday’s minor moves:

  • The Vikings have signed three participants from last week’s veteran combine – tight end Nick Truesdell, wide receiver Mitch Mathews and Terrell Sinkfield. Truesdell was most recently in the Arena Football League, but he did spend time on the Colts’ practice squad last season. Mathews, who went undrafted out of BYU last year, was on the Chiefs’ and Browns’ practice squads for multiple-month stints in 2016. Sinkfield is the only one of three with previous experience as a Viking, having logged some practice squad time with them last year. He bounced around four other NFL organizations from 2013-15 and has three years’ experience in the Canadian Football League.
  • Falcons offensive tackle Carter Bykowski has retired, reports Vaughn McClure of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Bykowski, whom the 49ers chose in the seventh round of the 2013 draft, joined the Falcons in 2016 after a stint in Minnesota. He didn’t appear in any regular-season games during his career.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/6/2016

December 6th, 2016 at 8:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos worked out a dozen players today, including quarterbacks Sean Renfree and T.J. Yates, running backs Bernard Pierce and Zac Brooks, and wide receivers Keshawn Martin and Corey Washington, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Yates, 29, has only started seven games during his regular season career, but has somewhat miraculously managed two playoff starts, both for Houston. Each of the tryouts conducted by Denver today were for futures contract consideration, tweets Mike Klis of 9NEWS.

Here’s more from the workout front:

  • Searching for emergency interior line options, the Patriots tried out OL James Stone and Chris Watt today, reports Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter links), who adds that New England also took a look at wide receiver Dez Stewart. As Reiss wrote earlier today, the Pats could be forced to make a move at WR following an injury to Danny Amendola, and Stewart could potentially fill that void.
  • The Chiefs, dealing with injuries to Dontari Poe and Jaye Howard (placed on IR), auditioned veteran defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis and Montori Hughes, per Caplan (Twitter link). Kansas City also worked out inside linebackers James Burgess and Darnell Sankey on Saturday, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.
  • The Packers tried out tight end Kennard Backman, quarterback Mike Bercovici, wide receiver Mitch Mathews, and running back Daryl Virgies, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Backman is familiar with Green Bay, as the Packers chose him in the sixth round of the 2015 draft.
  • Defensive back Dezmen Southward, defensive end Josh Boyd, and linebacker Ron Thompson all worked out for the Raiders today, per Caplan (Twitter link). Southward was a third-round pick by the Falcons in 2014.
  • The Buccaneers are working out 6’4″, 220-pound wide receiver Joe Hills, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He was the 2016 Arena League offensive Player of the Year for the Jacksonville Sharks.
  • Defensive lineman Frank Beltre and defensive back Tony Burnett were among the players that tried out for the Vikings today, according to Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Twitter link).
  • The Jets worked out long snappers Zac Triner, Rick Lovato, Daniel Dillon, and Kameron Canaday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link) and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. New York’s current long snapper is veteran Tanner Purdum.

Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/16

November 1st, 2016 at 6:53pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

San Diego Chargers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Browns Cut QB Charlie Whitehurst

October 11th, 2016 at 1:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns announced that they have promoted quarterback Kevin Hogan and defensive lineman Gabe Wright off of the practice squad. To make room, the team reached an injury settlement with quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, dropping him from the roster. Wide receiver Mitch Mathews was also signed to the practice squad. Charlie Whitehurst (vertical)

After losing Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown to shoulder injuries during their first two games, the Browns signed Whitehurst to give them additional depth. Cody Kessler got the start in Weeks 3-5, but a big hit left him with serious bruises in his chest and ribs. Whitehurst entered the game on Sunday, but he suffered a knee injury of his own. Now, he’s been jettisoned from the roster in favor of Hogan, a fifth-round pick of the Chiefs in this year’s draft.

Kessler is aiming to suit up for the Browns on Sunday against the Titans. Cleveland is still in search of their first win this year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Browns, 49ers, Patriots, Cardinals

October 1st, 2016 at 12:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL…

  • The Browns tried out defensive end Sterling Bailey and wideouts Antwan Goodley and Mitch Mathews, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
  • After retiring, Anthony Davis owes the 49ers quite a bit of money, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. Davis owes $1.235MM for 2016, which is 14/17th of his salary for the year. Then, if he remains retired, he’ll owe $1.5MM in 2017. The lineman is already familiar with the process of refunding San Francisco after giving back $1.667MM in 2015. Davis could return to football at some point, but it sounds like he is over the day-to-day grind that it takes to play in the NFL.
  • Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was asked how long the team would keep punter Drew Butler on the active roster. “As long as we can,” the coach responded (viaFox Sports 910’s Mike Jurecki on Twitter). “That will all depend on other injuries.” The Cardinals recently signed punter Ryan Quigley to fill in for the injured Butler, who’s battling an injured ankle.
  • Chris Long‘s tenure with the Patriots doesn’t need to be a “one-year fling,” writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Of course, the defensive end gave a very Belichickian response when discussing his future with the franchise. “One way to get yourself in trouble as a football player is to think past this week or today,” Long said. “You can’t take anything for granted as far as going out and practicing, going to play on Sundays. If you keep things one day at a time and you keep it narrow, I mean, there’s nowhere I’d rather be today. That’s the way I come to work every day.” Long will be earning $2.37MM this season.

Browns Notes: Gordon, Pryor, Workouts

October 1st, 2016 at 10:29am CST by Ben Levine

Browns head coach Hue Jackson confirmed that the organization has moved on from wideout Josh Gordon. The 25-year-old revealed earlier this week that he’d be putting his career on hold and entering an in-patient rehabilitation facility. It was reported yesterday that the organization was planning on parting ways with the talented receiver.

According to Nate Ulrich of Cleveland.com, Jackson said that he talked to Gordon “several times” about the decision. Otherwise, the coach was more focused on his current, active players.

“I think what we need to do is just close that chapter right now,” Jackson said. “He’s doing what he needs to do, and we need to do what we need to do, which is continue to move forward.

“Obviously, Josh is not here and doing what he thinks he needs to do for his life, which we support 100 percent. And I think after today, today is really the last Josh Gordon comment I want to make about that. I think what’s best for our football team is that we move forward and move on. He’s not going to be with us, and we wish him well. But we’re moving forward. We’re going to move on.”

Let’s check out some notes pertaining to Gordon and the Browns organization…

  • Receiver Andrew Hawkins had no issues with Gordon’s decision, noting that the player’s well-being is more important than football. “The personal side is more important,” Hawkins told Ulrich. “I love football as much as anybody else and Josh is one of the best talents…But it’s still secondary. Him being a good receiver isn’t going to save his life 20 years from now. Him coming back to help the Cleveland Browns in 2016 isn’t going to help him in 2025 if he’s still dealing with these same issues, so I’m sincere in [saying] what he’s doing is important.”
  • Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com wonders if NFL teams “understand drug abuse enough to properly assess the risk” of selecting embattled players. The writer focuses on a pair of recent Browns supplemental draft picks: Gordon and Terrelle Pryor. Gordon, a second-round pick in the 2012 supplemental draft, was dismissed from Baylor following failed drug tests. Pryor, a third-round pick in the 2011 supplemental draft, left Ohio State following a memorabilia-selling scandal. Gordon’s future with the franchise appears to be over, while Pryor has been a bright spot for the 0-3 Browns.
  • Wide receiver Mitch Mathews is worked out for the Browns yesterday, agent Brett Tessler tweets. The BYU product was supposed to work out with Cleveland last week, but the audition had to be rescheduled.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

North Notes: Williams, Browns, Ansah, Bears

September 22nd, 2016 at 7:53pm CST by Zachary Links

Cornerback K’Waun Williams has filed a grievance through the NFLPA asking the Browns to pay for his ankle surgery plus his full $600K salary for ’16, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com writes. During the offseason, Williams and the Browns were locked in a heated battle as he refused to play through painful bone spurs in his ankle. The Browns suspended the corner for two weeks and later waived him. He was claimed by Chicago, but later released when he failed the physical.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two North divisions:

  • Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah is getting a second opinion on his high ankle sprain, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Typically, that’s not a great sign. Lions running back Ameer Abdullah got a second opinion on his sprained foot earlier this week and wound up being ruled out for at least two months. With fellow defenders Devin Taylor and DeAndre Levy also nursing injuries, Detroit can’t afford to lose its star playmaker in Ansah.
  • The Browns are bringing former BYU wide receiver Mitch Mathews in for a visit/workout on Friday, agent Brett Tessler tweets. Mathews spent this preseason with Kansas City. He auditioned for New England in early September but left without a deal.
  • The Bears worked out free agent punter Cody Webster, according to Caplan (Twitter link). Per Caplan, Webster is the latest in a line of punters that has auditioned for Chicago. That could indicate that the club isn’t happy with incumbent specialist Pat O’Donnell, who ranks 26th in the league in net punt average.

Workout Notes: Pats, Chiefs, Broncos, Jets

September 3rd, 2016 at 7:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Now that cutdowns are completed, teams have begun auditioning players that are still on the free agent market, either in an effort to upgrade their current roster or to update their emergency free agent lists. Let’s take a look at the workouts that have been reported today:

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