Stephen Hill Works Out For Panthers
After being cut this weekend by the Jets, wide receiver Stephen Hill worked out today for the Panthers, as first reported by ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter). Carolina also took a look at ex-Eagles wideout Kadron Boone today, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. However, according to head coach Ron Rivera, the team doesn’t intend to sign either player at this point (link via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer).
Hill, a former second-round pick, spent an underwhelming two years with the Jets, catching just 45 passes since being selected 43rd overall in 2012. However, he’s still just 23 years old, so he figures to draw interest from other clubs that still believe he has some upside.
The Panthers make some sense as a suitor for Hill, considering the team lost a handful of wideouts in the offseason, and is heading into the season with a group headed by rookie Kelvin Benjamin and veterans Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant. For now, it seems Carolina will stick with that group, though the team could readdress the position at some point.
Cowboys Sign C.J. Spillman
TUESDAY, 3:03pm: Spillman’s one-year, minimum-salary contract includes a $40K signing bonus, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
MONDAY, 1:05pm: Another player cut by the 49ers this past week has found a new NFL home, as the Cowboys announced in a press release that they’ve signed former Niner C.J. Spillman. We’d heard previously that the defensive back was en route to Dallas to ink a deal with the Cowboys.
Spillman, 28, logged 79 defensive snaps last year for San Francisco, playing a larger role in kick and punt coverage. According to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required), Spillman recorded an impressive 18 special teams tackles. He’ll become one of nine players in the Cowboys’ secondary, and one of five safeties.
Raiders Announce Full Practice Squad
The Raiders were one of just a handful of NFL teams that didn’t make any announcements regarding their practice squad yesterday, but the team issued a press release today to formally confirm the previously-reported names on the squad, and to announce the other additions. Here’s the full list of players that will make up Oakland’s initial practice squad:
- George Atkinson III, RB
- Denico Autry, DE
- Ras-I Dowling, CB
- Bojay Filimoeatu, LB (previously reported)
- Spencer Hadley, LB
- Dan Kistler, T
- Ricky Lumpkin, DT (previously reported)
- Lamar Mady, G (previously reported)
- Seth Roberts, WR
- Scott Simonson, TE (previously reported)
Ryan Succop, Titans Agree To One-Year Deal
1:13pm: The Titans have officially agreed to terms with Succop on a one-year deal, reports Wyatt (via Twitter). Per Terry McCormick (via Twitter), rookie kicker Travis Coons will be cut to make room on the roster.
MONDAY, 11:18am: Succop is still receiving interest from several teams, but is making the most progress with the Titans, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
SUNDAY, 9:38pm: The Titans waived Maikon Bonani yesterday, indicating that the team was going to move forward with Travis Coons as their starting kicker. Those plans have apparently changed, as Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reports that the team is expected to sign veteran Ryan Succop.
Succop’s five-year tenure as the Chiefs‘ starting placekicker ended yesterday when he failed to make the team’s final cuts. The 27-year-old has made 81 percent of his career field goal attempts and has never missed an extra point. Last season, he converted 22-of-28 field goal attempts, leading Pro Football Focus (subscription required) to rank him as the 19th-best kicker. To compare, the Titans kicker last season, Rob Bironas, ranked as the 25th-best.
Texans Sign Danieal Manning
MONDAY, 12:14pm: Manning took a physical with the Texans and officially signed today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
SUNDAY, 4:00pm: The Texans are expected to sign free agent safety Danieal Manning, according to Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle, who reports (via Twitter) that a deal is in place, pending a physical. Manning was released by the Bengals as part of their cutdown from 75 players to 53, but didn’t have to pass through waivers because he’s a vested veteran.
Barring any complications, Manning, 32, will rejoin the team with whom he has spent the last three years. The veteran safety saw his 2013 season cut short when he fractured his fibula in October, forcing him out of action for the year’s final 10 games. Prior to ’13, he had started 45 regular season games in the previous three seasons for the Texans and Bears.
Manning recorded a positive overall grade during that stretch, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), though PFF’s advanced metrics suggested his play was declining from season to season — he posted a +11.8 grade in 2010, followed by +3.1 in 2011, and -4.2 in 2012. Still, Manning’s traditional numbers were strong even in his most recent full season (2012), when he logged 77 tackles, recovered three fumbles, and grabbed a pair of interceptions, including one for a touchdown.
In Houston, Manning will join a group of safeties that includes Kendrick Lewis, D.J. Swearinger, and Shiloh Keo. One veteran who is no longer part of that group is Chris Clemons, whom the team cut earlier today.
Chargers Sign Ricardo Mathews
The Chargers have made a pair of minor moves to their 53-man roster today, announcing in a press release that they’ve cut running back Marion Grice and used the newly-opened spot to sign defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews. San Diego GM Tom Telesco has some history with Mathews, who was drafted back in 2010 by Indianapolis when Telesco was part of the Colts’ organization.
Although he only started six games for the Colts during his four years with the club, Mathews was a major contributor on the team’s defensive line over the last three seasons, appearing in more than 1,300 defensive snaps during that stretch. The 26-year-old set a career-high in 2013 with 23 tackles, though Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded him as below average against both the run and pass.
Mathews signed with the Texans as a free agent in April, but was released this weekend as the team cut its roster down to 53 players.
Patriots Add Seven To Practice Squad
11:52am: The Pats have officially announced their full practice squad in a press release, and the following players are the three that had yet to be reported:
- Kanorris Davis, S
- Chris Martin, OL
- Deontae Skinner, DL
11:00am: The Patriots have added four players to their practice squad, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (via a series of Twitter posts). The following players joined the practice squad today:
- Jake Bequette, linebacker
- Charley Hughlett, long snapper
- Daxton Swanson, cornerback
- Josh Boyce, wide receiver
Minor Moves: AFC South
Here are some minor transactions from around the AFC South this Labor Day:
- The Jaguars have added cornerback Peyton Thompson, reports Michael DiRocco (via Twitter).
- The Titans have signed pass rusher Quentin Groves (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter), and have also added linebacker Dontay Moch and tight end Orson Charles to their practice squad (via Wyatt on Twitter).
- The Titans have also released linebacker Patrick Bailey (via Jim Wyatt on Twitter).
Sunday/Monday Transactions: NFC North
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC North 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 are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. 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 NFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Chicago Bears:
- Waived (officially announced): Brandon Hartson, LS
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced via Twitter): Taylor Boggs, C; Ryan Groy, G; DeDe Lattimore, LB; Al Louis-Jean, CB; Rashad Ross, KR; Josh Bellamy, WR; Brandon Dunn, DT; Isaiah Frey, CB; Terrance Mitchell, CB; Roy Philon, DT; Rashad Ross, WR
Detroit Lions:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Rodney Austin, G; Emil Igwenagu, FB; Nate Ness, S; Andrew Peacock, WR; Xavier Proctor, DT; Mohammed Seisay, CB; Julian Stanford, LB; Jordan Thompson, TE; Michael Williams, OT; George Winn, RB
Green Bay Packers:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Chris Banjo, S; Kevin Dorsey, WR; Garth Gerhart, C; Alex Gillett, WR; Michael Hill, RB; Adrian Hubbard, LB; Justin Perillo, TE; Luther Robinson, DE; Jeremy Vujnovich, T, Myles White, WR
Minnesota Vikings:
- Claimed off waivers: MarQueis Gray, TE (via Tom Pelissero on Twitter); Mike Harris, OT (via Pelissero on Twitter)
- Cut: Larry Dean, LB (via Darren Wolfson on Twitter); Austin Wentworth, G (via Wolfson on Twitter)
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Joe Banyard, RB; Kain Coulter, WR; Isame Faciane, DT; Chase Ford, TE; Donte Foster, WR; Kendall James, CB; Zac Kerin, C; Mike Remmers, OL; Justin Trattou, DT
Sunday/Monday Transactions: NFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC East 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 are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. 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 NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Dallas Cowboys:
- Signed to 53-man roster (officially announced): Korey Toomer, LB (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter)
- Claimed off waivers: Donald Hawkins, G (via Todd Archer on Twitter)
- Cut: John Wetzel, OT (via Archer on Twitter); Ahmad Dixon, S (via Charean Williams)
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Micah Pellerin, CB (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter); Ryan Williams, RB (via Archer on Twitter); Tim Benford, WR; Kenneth Boatright, DE; Ronald Patrick, C; Keith Smith, LB; Will Smith, LB.
New York Giants:
- Signed to practice squad (officially annoucned):Nick Becton, OT; Michael Cox, RB; Chandler Fenner, CB; Dan Fox, LB; Bennett Jackson, CB; Jordan Stanton, DE; Julian Talley, WR. The team has also added offensive lineman Mark Asper, reports Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Twitter), though the team has yet to officially announce the signing.
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Emmanuel Acho, LB; Josh Andrews, OL; Kevin Graf, OT; Wade Keliikipi, DT; Will Murphy, WR; Quron Pratt, WR; Ed Reynolds, S; Matthew Tucker, RB. The team has also signed wide receiver Teddy Williams, reports Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter), though the team has not officially announced the signing.
Washington Redskins:
- Claimed off waivers (officially announced): Duke Ihenacho, S
- Cut (officially announced): Akeem Davis, S
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Ted Bolser, TE; Richard Crawford, CB; Chase Minnifield, CB; Tevita Stevens, OL; Phillip Thomas, S ; Robert Thomas, DT; Chris Thompson, RB; Nick Williams, WR
