Raiders To Sign RB Peyton Barber
The Raiders are signing Peyton Barber off of the Washington Football Team’s practice squad, according to a source who spoke with Ben Standig of The Athletic (on Twitter). Now, the running back will join the 53-man roster in Las Vegas. 
[RELATED: Raiders Wanted Freeman]
The Raiders previously tried to claim Royce Freeman off waivers, but lost out to the Panthers due to waiver priority. Barber’s still a solid consolation prize, considering his past work. Back in 2018, he led the Buccaneers in rushing (871 yards), staving off Ronald Jones in the process.
However, Barber played on just 18% of Washington’s offensive snaps in 2020 and was on the field on 30% of Washington’s special teams plays. The 225-pound running back averaged a career-low 2.7 yards per carry last season, gaining 258 yards on 94 rushing attempts. He missed Washington’s final cut and settled for their practice squad. Now, he’ll have a chance to see the field in Week 1.
Barber will support top RBs Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake while Jalen Richard rehabs his injured foot.
Ravens, Raiders Wanted Royce Freeman
With J.K. Dobbins out for the season, the Ravens tried to claim Royce Freeman (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Ditto for the Raiders, Yates hears, but the Panthers ultimately nabbed Freeman on Thursday thanks to their higher waiver priority. 
For the Ravens, it’s a sign that they’re not entirely confident in their current options. For now, their RB group consists of Gus Edwards with support from third-year scat-back Justice Hill and 2020 UDFA Ty’Son Williams. It’s possible that Williams would have been let go if Freeman was claimed, despite his strong summer. Edwards profiles as the team’s RB1 for now and his 5.2 career ypc shows that he can do damage. Still, he’s never carried an RB1 workload before.
The Raiders — the Ravens’ Week 1 opponent — would have slotted Freeman behind Josh Jacobs and newcomer Kenyan Drake. That role was ticketed for Jalen Richard, but he’ll start the year on IR thanks to a foot injury.
Instead of Baltimore or Vegas, Freeman will head to Carolina. He’ll slot behind Christian McCaffrey and rookie Chuba Hubbard as he takes Trenton Cannon‘s place on the team. Freeman wasn’t much of a factor last year, but he has 297 career carries to his credit for 1,187 yards and eight touchdowns.
LB Joe Thomas Re-Signs With Texans
Joe Thomas is heading back to Houston. After getting cut by the Texans earlier this week, the linebacker is re-signing with the organization,
The former undrafted free agent saw time in 42 games for the Packers between the 2015 and 2017 seasons, including a 2016 campaign where he finished with 70 tackles and five passes defended. Thomas moved on to the Cowboys in 2018 and proceeded to spend the next three seasons in Dallas, seeing time in 42 games (eight starts).
The linebacker got into 15 games (four starts) for the Cowboys in 2020 and had one of the best seasons of his career, finishing the year with 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a pair of QB hits. The 30-year-old inked a one-year deal with the Texans back in March but was released during final cuts this week.
Even though the Texans brought back the veteran, he’s not guaranteed playing time. Thomas temporarily finds himself behind Zach Cunningham, Christian Kirksey, Kevin Pierre-Louis and backups Neville Hewitt, Kamu Grugier-Hill, and Garret Wallow on the depth chart.
In a corresponding move, the Texans placed safety A.J. Moore on IR.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/2/21
Here are Thursday’s practice squad moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Devin Gray
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Kahale Warring
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Aaron Parker
- Cut: CB Rashaan Melvin
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Rodney Adams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Trenton Irwin
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Tim Harris, G David Moore, K Chris Naggar, OL Jordan Steckler
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DL Jonathan Harris
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OLB Jessie Lemonier, QB Steven Montez, CB Parnell Motley, TE Jared Pinkney, TE Shane Zylstra
- Cut: OLB Rashod Berry, NT Miles Brown, TE Alize Mack, RB Dedrick Mills
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LS Steven Wirtel
- Cut: DT Willington Previlon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB Kyle Lauletta, TE Matt Sokol
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: RB B.J. Emmons, DE Gerri Green, T Devery Hamilton, CB Madre Harper, CB Robert Jackson, C Jimmy Morrissey, OL Jeremiah Poutasi, RB Trey Ragas, LB Max Richardson, DT Niles Scott, WR Dillon Stoner, WR DJ Turner, DE Kendal Vickers
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Brandon Facyson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: G Jared Hocker
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Tino Ellis, WR Brandon Powell, RB Jordan Scarlett, OL Kion Smith, DL Jason Strowbridge, OL Cameron Tom
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Trishton Jackson
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Trent Harris, QB Brian Lewerke, TE Chris Myarick, WR Dante Pettis, RB Dexter Williams
- Cut: OL Jake Burton, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, OL Brett Heggie
New York Jets
- RB Josh Adams, DL Ronald Blair, OL Grant Hermanns, CB Lamar Jackson, WR D.J. Montgomery, OL Jimmy Murray, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, DL Hamilcar Rashed, DL Tanzel Smart, WR Vyncint Smith, OL Isaiah Williams, TE Kenny Yeboah, DE Jabari Zuniga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Nick Eubanks, WR KeeSean Johnson, DT Marvin Wilson
- Cut: S Grayland Arnold
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Michael Jackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams, OLB Ladarius Hamilton, WR Jaydon Mickens, DB Troy Wagner
K Kaare Vedvik Joins Jaguars Practice Squad
Kaare Vedvik has found his next NFL gig. The veteran kicker has joined the Jaguars practice squad, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
After going undrafted in 2018, Vedvik had an impressive preseason debut with the Ravens, and the Titans sent Baltimore a fifth-round pick to compete for the starting kicking gig. The rookie ended up losing out to veteran Dan Bailey, and Vedvik has bounced around the NFL ever since. In three years, the special teamer has also spent time with the Jets, Bengals, Bills, Panthers, and Washington. Despite his lengthy resume, Vedvik has only seen time in one game, when he missed a field goal and extra point in a 2019 contest with the Jets.
The 27-year-old spent the 2020 campaign bouncing between Buffalo, Carolina, and Washington. WFT retained him via a reserve/futures contract during the offseason, but he was waived in late January.
Josh Lambo and Logan Cooke are locked in as Jacksonville’s kicker and punter, respectively. Vedvik played both of those roles during his time in college, making him an intriguing and versatile option for the scout team.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DL Jamell Garcia-Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LS Josh Harris
- Claimed (from Browns): OL Colby Gossett
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: WR Aaron Parker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: S A.J. Moore
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, QB Carson Wentz
- Placed on IR: QB Sam Ehlinger (story), WR Dezmon Patmon
- Released from IR with injury settlement: TE Noah Togiai
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Asmar Bial
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DT Chris Okoye, OL Tyree St. Louis
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: OL Tremayne Anchrum, LB Obo Okoronkwo
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chris Garrett
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Johnny Hekker
New England Patriots
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OL Marcus Martin
New York Giants
- Released from IR with injury settlement: WR Alex Bachman, DB Montre Hartage, TE Cole Hikutini
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed: CB Andre Chachere (from Chargers)
- Signed: DT Hassan Ridgeway
- Placed on IR: OL Jack Driscoll, TE Tyree Jackson, CB Josiah Scott
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Mychal Kendricks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: K Ryan Succop
- Placed on IR: G John Molchon
- Released from IR with injury settlement: RB Troymaine Pope
Tennessee Titans
- Released from IR with injury settlement: RB Brian Hill
Washington Football Team
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OT Rick Leonard
Falcons Sign RB Wayne Gallman
The Falcons are swapping one running back for another. The team announced that they’ve signed Wayne Gallman and released Qadree Ollison.
Gallman joined the 49ers back in April but earned his walking papers earlier this week. The 26-year-old had a career season in 2020 filling in for Saquon Barkley, finishing with 796 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns. In his previous 38 games for the Giants, Gallman collected 1,146 yards and five touchdowns, and he’ll continue to profile as more of a backup.
In Atlanta, he’ll provide some depth behind Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson. The team is also rostering Caleb Huntley and D’Onta Foreman on their practice squad.
Ollison was a fifth-round pick by the Falcons in 2019. After getting 23 touches in eight games as a rookie, the running back was limited to only three games and one carry in 2020. Ollison also saw time on special teams during his stint in Atlanta.
Titans Release TE Luke Stocker
The Titans made a handful of roster moves today as they continue to shape their Week 1 roster. The team released tight end Luke Stocker, and they placed running back Darrynton Evans, wide receiver Marcus Johnson, and offensive lineman Daniel Munyer on IR.
Stocker, who has put together a 10-year career thanks to his blocking ability, rejoined the Titans this offseason after Jonnu Smith joined the Patriots. The move was a bit of a homecoming for Stocker; the tight end went to college at Tennessee and played for the Titans for two seasons. With the veteran out of the picture, Tommy Hudson will likely serve as the team’s third tight end behind the Geoff Swaim/Anthony Firkser platoon.
Evans was a third-round pick by the Titans in 2020. He saw time in five games as a rookie, collecting 81 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 16 carries. Khari Blasingame, Jeremy McNichols, and Mekhi Sargent will now compete for reps behind Derrick Henry.
Jaguars Expected To Sign TE Jacob Hollister
After getting cut by the Bills earlier this week, veteran tight end Jacob Hollister has found a new home. The veteran tight end is expected to sign with the Jaguars, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
Hollister received interest from several teams, according to Pelissero, but the 27-year-old decided to join Jacksonville. The move will immediately upgrade a tight ends unit that includes Chris Manhertz, James O’Shaughnessy, and Luke Farrell.
After two years of limited usage in New England, Hollister enjoyed a breakout 2019 season with the Seahawks, hauling in 41 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Then, he went from 59 targets to just 40 looks in 2020. He finished out with 25/209/3.
Then, when the Seahawks’ new one-year Gerald Everett deal pushed him out, he agreed to a one-year deal with the Bills. While Buffalo carried a handful of tight ends, they decided to move on from their offseason acquisition.
Seahawks To Add Ex-Baylor Hoops Starter Mark Vital To Practice Squad
The Seahawks will try another basketball-to-football conversion effort. They are signing former Baylor hoops starter Mark Vital to their practice squad, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Vital stands 6-foot-5, 250 pounds and follows a few ex-basketball players to the Seahawks. The Seahawks have some experience with this, having converted George Fant from the hardwood to the gridiron and having traded for Jimmy Graham. Darren Fells‘ NFL transition also began in Seattle as a UDFA, after a college basketball career.
A starter for all 30 games during Baylor’s 2020-21 national championship-winning season, Vital averaged 5.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a senior. Vital scored six points but was crucial on the offensive glass during Baylor’s win over Gonzaga in April, grabbing eight offensive rebounds in the runaway victory.
He is expected to line up at tight end, Rapoport adds. This is certainly the common position for ex-hoops cogs, as Graham, Fells, Julius Thomas, Antonio Gates and others have shown. Though, Fant became a tackle.
The Trail Blazers signed Vital for summer league action this year, but the 24-year-old will make the much rarer move to the NFL. The Louisiana native has not played football since the eighth grade, however.