HEADLINES

Tourek Williams

Chiefs Sign LB Marcus Rush

May 30th, 2017 at 7:09pm CST by Ben Levine

After releasing Tourek Williams last week, the Chiefs have filled his roster spot by signing linebacker Marcus Rush (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star).

Marcus Rush (Vertical)Following a collegiate career that saw him win a Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl, the undrafted free agent out of Michigan State initially joined the 49ers practice squad, where he spent two seasons. He was signed by the Jaguars in December, but he was ultimately released by the organization in May. The 25-year-old was a standout during the 2016 preseason, leading the league with six sacks, so the defender clearly has what it takes to compete in the NFL.

Of course, Rush still has an uphill battle to make the Chiefs roster. There are a number of linebackers competing for a reserve spot on the squad, including Tamba Hali, Frank Zombo, Dadi Nicolas, Ukeme Eligwe, Justin March-Lillard, Terrance Smith, and D.J. Alexander.

Speaking of Williams, ESPN’s Adam Caplan notes (via Twitter) that the team released the linebacker with the rare “failure to disclose physical condition” designation.

Chiefs Cut Tourek Williams

May 26th, 2017 at 6:03pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Just four days after signing Tourek Williams, the Chiefs have cut the edge defender, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Tourek Williams

Kansas City was briefly the second NFL organization for the 26-year-old Williams, who entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the AFC West rival Chargers in 2013 and spent his first four seasons in San Diego. Williams totaled 47 appearances with the Bolts, including his lone 16-game season last year, six starts (all as a rookie) and two sacks. One of those sacks came in 2016, when Williams participated in under 14 percent of the Chargers’ defensive snaps and just shy of 50 percent of their special teams plays.

With Williams no longer in the fold, the Chiefs’ 90-man roster still features six outside linebackers, including Dee Ford, Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/22/17

May 22nd, 2017 at 8:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s minor moves.

  • Former Chargers sixth-round pick Tourek Williams signed with the Chiefs, who cut Victor Ochi in a Monday exchange of linebackers. Williams is entering his fifth season after playing four with the Chargers. Williams started in six games as a rookie and played in 16 during the 2014 and ’16 campaigns. He saw a broken foot end his 2015 slate after three games.
  • The Saints signed tackle Bryce Harris and waived defensive back Forrest Hightower. Harris played three seasons, 2012-14, with the Saints before bouncing around the league. He failed to make New Orleans’ 53-man roster out of training camp in 2015 but returns nearly two years later. The former UDFA out of Fresno State has four career starts on his resume, each with New Orleans.
  • The Rams signed defensive tackles Omarius Bryant and A.J. Jefferson while waiving offensive lineman Kwayde Miller. Meanwhile, defensive back Dravious Wright left the team. Wright caught on with the Rams as a UDFA last month. Jefferson is a UDFA out of Mississippi State. The Ravens cut Bryant, who played at Western Kentucky.
  • The Patriots re-signed wide receiver DeAndrew White, who spent the 2016 season on the team’s practice squad. White was originally a 49ers UDFA addition in 2015. He saw action in four games with San Francisco that season as a return man.

Chargers Announce Series Of Roster Moves

November 3rd, 2015 at 3:31pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers have announced a series of moves, the most notable of which was previously reported, with wide receiver Keenan Allen landing on the injured reserve list. Another key offensive contributor, running back Branden Oliver, will also head to IR, according to a team release.

Here’s the club’s full list of roster moves:

Signed:

Placed on injured reserve:

Extra Points: J. Thomas, Chargers, Rex, Jets

August 14th, 2015 at 9:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look around the league as preseason action continues on this Friday evening…

  • Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas fractured a finger during tonight’s preseason game against the Steelers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). It doesn’t sound like he’ll miss any regular season action, however, as Rapoport says the hope is the injury will affect Thomas — Jacksonville’s top free agent addition — “minimally.”
  • More injury news, this time out of San Diego, where head coach Mike McCoy confirms to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter) that guard Johnnie Troutman (broken arm) and linebacker Tourek Williams (broken foot) “will be out for some time.” However, the club doesn’t plan to place either player on injured reserve at this time.
  • Former Jets — and current Bills — head coach Rex Ryan blames the media for his firing, telling Andrea Kremer of HBO that he and Jets owner Woody Johnson‘s friendship couldn’t overcome pressure from the outside. “We talk like brothers. I know Woody never wanted to fire me,” Ryan said. “I could’ve been his coach for 20 years, that’s what Woody wanted. There’s no question Woody wanted that.”
  • On the subject of the Bills claiming linebacker IK Enemkpali (who broke Jets QB Geno Smith‘s jaw), Jets guard Willie Colon wasn’t surprised. “Rex is Rex,” Colon told Brian Costello of the New York Post. Colon played under Ryan from 2013-14.

West Notes: Rivers, Massie, T. Williams

August 14th, 2015 at 10:16am CST by Luke Adams

A report earlier in training camp indicated that the Chargers and quarterback Philip Rivers figured to shelve extension talks until 2016 if the two sides didn’t reach a deal by August 13. However, during Thursday night’s broadcast of the team’s preseason opener, Rivers still sounded open to getting something done this year, if the two sides can reach a compromise, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

“I have a contract for 2015 and I’m excited to be here with the guys and try to go help us win,” Rivers told Alex Flanagan. “If that changes, if there’s more years after that, then I’ll be fired up. But if not, in the short term I’m excited just to be a part of this team this year and try to lead us to win a lot of football games.”

While we wait to see if the Chargers and Rivers can agree to terms on a new deal, let’s check in on some other items from around the NFL’s two West divisions….

  • The police report from Bobby Massie‘s January arrest has been released by the Tempe Police Department, and Jim Walsh of the Arizona Republic passes along some of the troubling details. According to police, Massie – who was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence – said he had been impaired by alcohol every day for the last 10 years, but didn’t believe he had an alcohol problem. The Cardinals‘ starting right tackle is facing a three-game suspension for the incident, though he’s appealing that penalty.
  • Chargers outside linebacker Tourek Williams broke his foot during last night’s game against the Cowboys and will require surgery, a source tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). It’s a significant blow for San Diego, since the team wasn’t particularly deep at the position to begin with. Williams could be a candidate for the injured reserve list with the designation to return, depending on his recovery timetable.
  • NFL rules prohibit team owners from owning NBA, NHL, or MLB teams in other markets that have NFL teams, but Rams owner Stan Kroenke continues to hold the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche. As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes, Kroenke has submitted a plan to the NFL to resolve that situation, and it should meet league approval, though details of the proposal aren’t known.