NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/23/15
Here are the latest practice squad signings and cuts from across the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Joseph Fauria, RB Kerwynn Williams (Twitter links via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)
Buffalo Bills
- To be signed: QB Dustin Vaughan (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Efe Obada (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR/KR Kaelin Clay (link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press)
- Cut: WR Kendrick Ings
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Edawn Coughman; RB Daryl Richardson (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Cut: QB Zac Dysert; T Joseph Treadwell
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Sean McGrath (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle), CB Eric Patterson (via Mike Chappell of FOX59 on Twitter)
- Cut: OL David Arkin
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Damarr Aultman; LB Terrell Manning (Twitter link via Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald)
- Cut: WR Deon Long
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Connor Hamlett (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Dillon Farrell (link via Associated Press)
- Cut: TE Tevin Westbrook
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/22/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Mike Gillislee (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)
- Cut: TE Brandon Bostick, G Anthony Steen
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Damiere Byrd (Twitter link via David Newton of ESPN.com)
- Cut: LB Brian Blechen
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Deonte Thompson
- Cut: WR Ify Umodu (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Cam Johnson (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal)
- Cut: DL Kelcy Quarles
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Indianapolis Colts
- Cut: CB Brandon Dixon (Twitter link via owner Jim Irsay)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: T Tyrus Thompson (Twitter link via agent Ken Sarnoff)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: RB Rajion Neal (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Cut: WR Quron Pratt (Twitter link via Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cut: WR Rannell Hall (Twitter link via Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida)
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/22/15
As usual, plenty of teams around the NFL are shaking up their rosters a little on the Tuesday following a full slate of games. Here are today’s minor moves:
- Cowboys defensive tackle Terrell McClain is done for the season with a badly sprained big toe, reports Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link). Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram adds (via Twitter) that the team has placed McClain on injured reserve.
- The Cardinals have cut running back Kerwynn Williams in order to make room for offensive tackle Bobby Massie, who is returning from a two-game suspension, says Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link). We’ll see if Arizona re-adds Williams or another running back to the roster before the club’s Week 3 game, with Andre Ellington likely to be sidelined again. The Cardinals also cut Travis Harvey from injured reserve with an injury settlement, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post tweets.
- With Jay Cutler injured, the Bears activated quarterback David Fales from the taxi squad to the active roster, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. To make room, the Bears waived Bryce Callahan, Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com tweets.
- Washington linebacker Martrell Spaight, a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, has been placed on injured reserve due to a concussion, tweets Tarik El-Bashir of CSNMidAtlantic.com. The move opens up a roster spot for reinstated cornerback Chris Culliver.
- Besides Massie, Culliver, and Vikings cornerback Jabari Price, whose reinstatement we noted yesterday, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell and Chargers offensive lineman Craig Watts are returning from suspensions this week, per Wilson (Twitter link). Pittsburgh and San Diego will have roster exemptions until tomorrow afternoon for those players.
- The Colts have made a change at the cornerback spot, signing veteran free agent Josh Thomas and waiving Eric Patterson, owner Jim Irsay announced today (via Twitter). Perhaps more notably, the team an injury settlement with running back Vick Ballard, officially removing him from the roster. Ballard, who hasn’t played a game since the 2013 season, will become a free agent if and when he clears waivers.
- The Dolphins are signing linebacker and special-teamer Terrell Manning, according to Wilson. The 25-year-old has already appeared in regular season games for five different NFL teams since entering the league in 2012.
- With Austin Seferian-Jenkins set to miss some games, the Buccaneers are signing tight end Cameron Brate off the Saints‘ practice squad, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Brate started the season on Tampa Bay’s taxi squad before he landed on New Orleans’ unit last week.
- The Buccaneers have also have also signed free agent defensive end Josh Martin and waived defensive end Kourtnei Brown, Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune tweets.
- The Ravens waived running back Terrence Magee to open up spot for newly-acquired cornerback Will Davis, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets.
- The Raiders cut Tevin McDonald, Wilson tweets.
Injury Updates: Cutler, Lacy, Boyd, Adams
While we don’t cover every NFL injury at Pro Football Rumors, we keep a close eye on them nonetheless, and we’ll often pass along injury news if it pertains to a key player, or if a team may have to make a roster move due to an injury. Here are some of the latest noteworthy updates on injuries sustained by players during this weekend’s games:
NFC:
- Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has a strained hamstring, according to head coach John Fox, who added that the Bears haven’t decided whether or not to add another QB to the roster this week (Twitter links via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune).
- Packers running back Eddie Lacy sprained his ankle against the Seahawks last night, but the injury is minor and he could play in Week 3, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
- While the initial diagnosis on Packers defensive tackle Josh Boyd suggested that his ankle injury may not be too significant, an MRI revealed torn ankle ligaments, and his season is now in jeopardy, tweets Rapoport.
- Falcons running back Tevin Coleman fractured a rib yesterday, and will likely be sidelined for a couple weeks, depending on his pain threshold, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Despite the injury, head coach Dan Quinn said he doesn’t anticipating adding another running back to the roster, according to ESPN’s Vaughn McClure (Twitter link).
- Panthers wideout Jerricho Cotchery has a high ankle sprain, which is often a multi-week injury, but the team hopes he’ll be ready for Week 3, says Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).
- Cardinals receiver J.J. Nelson is expected to miss two to four weeks with a shoulder injury, according to head coach Bruce Arians (Twitter link via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic).
AFC:
- Texans offensive lineman Jeff Adams suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). It’s a season-ending injury for Adams, who figures to land on the team’s injured reserve list this week.
- Bills defensive back Aaron Williams sustained what appeared to be one of the more serious injuries of Week 2, but head coach Rex Ryan passed along some positive news today, indicating that Williams was back at the team’s facility and is “doing OK.” As Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News details, Ryan said it’s probably a stretch to think Williams will be back for this Sunday’s game against the Dolphins, but it sounds like he avoided a significant injury.
- Jaguars running back Denard Robinson‘s knee injury is a sprained MCL, and he’s considered week to week, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter links).
NFC Notes: JPP, Giants, Vikings, Cardinals
A report on Tuesday indicated that Jason Pierre-Paul‘s hand is in worse shape than the Giants expected, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) has some encouraging news on that front. The defensive end is in fact missing a piece from his thumb, but a source says that it’s far above the joint and just the tip of the digit. Pierre-Paul also has no more surgeries after last week’s skin graft and it’s all about healing at this stage.
Here’s more on JPP, along with a few more NFC notes:
- Pierre-Paul took to Instagram with a video of him training and vowed that he would soon join the Giants on the field, as Avery Stone of USA Today writes. “God can turn any situation around for the better,” the defensive end wrote. “Your hard times will lead to the best times of your life. Don’t believe the hype … Be back soon! #90PC #ImAFighter #PutMeInCoach.”
- Eli Manning‘s new contract with the Giants includes $5MM roster bonuses in both 2018 and 2019, Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets.
- When asked if he would bring in another kicker to compete with Blair Walsh, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said, “No. I’m bringing in consideration for him to pull out of this thing and start kicking like he’s capable of kicking,” according to Chris Miller of the Star Tribune. Walsh missed a 44-yard field goal on the team’s opening drive against the 49ers and went just 5-11 in preseason. Last year, he posted a league-worst 74.3% mark.
- The Cardinals are not interested in adding a veteran running back because they’re confident that Andre Ellington‘s injury is a short-term issue, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets.
- Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has no hard feelings about being passed over for the Bears‘ head coaching job, John Mullin of CSNChicago.com writes. Arians was a finalist for the gig after Lovie Smith was fired in 2013. Ultimately, the team hired Marc Trestman, who has since been replaced.
- The Bears‘ release of linebacker Sam Acho over the weekend was one of example of how teams sometimes get around the 53-man roster limits, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
NFC Notes: Ellington, Cowboys, Eagles
Cardinals running back Andre Ellington suffered a PCL sprain in Sunday’s game, as first reported by Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) and confirmed by head coach Bruce Arians (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com). While Anderson suggested a recovery timetable of two to three weeks for Ellington, Arians indicated his running back could just miss one week, and the team hasn’t ruled him out for its Week 2 game yet.
If Ellington isn’t able to practice by Friday, it will likely lead to a flurry of roster moves for the Cardinals, according to Arians. As ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss tweets, the team could promote running back Kerwynn Williams to its roster for next Sunday’s game against the Bears.
- With Dez Bryant expected to miss at least a month, the Cowboys will sign a wide receiver for depth purposes, tweets Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link), on the other hand, hears that the team is still undecided on whether to sign a receiver. If Dallas signs a wideout, I wouldn’t expect him to play a major role in the offense in Bryant’s absence.
- Sam Bradford‘s start in tonight’s game eliminates the possibility of the Eagles getting the Rams‘ 2016 third-round pick, as Adam Schefter of ESPN notes. Philadelphia would have received that pick if Bradford hadn’t been able to play a game this season due to injury. Now, it’s worth watching whether or not the former first overall pick will play 50% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps — if he doesn’t, Philadelphia will get St. Louis’ 2016 fourth-rounder.
- Former Eastern Washington offensive tackle Jake Rodgers, cut earlier this month by the Falcons, has a tryout with the Saints on Tuesday, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link).
- Three defensive backs – former Rams cornerback Montell Garner, ex-Seahawks safety Ryan Murphy, and former Bengals safety Floyd Raven – worked out for the Packers, tweets Rob Demovksy of ESPN.com. Green Bay also auditioned defensive end Martin Ifedi, a 2015 seventh-round pick who was cut by St. Louis.
- Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News examines 49ers CEO Jed York‘s legacy in San Francisco.
- If St. Louis wants to keep the Rams, one critical issue to work through is who will pay cost overruns, a source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/10/15
Here are Thursday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Anthony Steen (via Darren Urban on Twitter)
- Placed on PS-IR: T Rob Crisp
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Asa Jackson (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec)
- Cut: WR Daniel Brown
Buffalo Bills
- Cut: DE Cedric Reed (via Vic Carucci on Twitter)
New York Giants
- Cut: LB Cole Farrand (via Ralph Vacchiano on Twitter)
Cardinals Sign Joseph Fauria
1:05pm: The Cardinals have officially signed Fauria and moved Momah to their IR, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com.
8:59am: Several days after he was let go by the Lions, Joseph Fauria has found a new NFL home, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who reports (via Twitter) that the tight end has agreed to a deal with the Cardinals. Fauria paid a visit to the team yesterday.
For the Cardinals, the addition of Fauria comes on the heels of news that tight end Ifeanyi Momah suffered a torn meniscus and will undergo surgery, which will land him on the injured reserve list. When Arizona makes the Fauria signing official, placing Momah on the IR figures to be the corresponding move for the club.
Fauria, undrafted out of UCLA in 2013, has compiled 24 catches for 281 yards and eight touchdowns during his career. Last year, a late-season ankle injury landed the 25-year-old on the injured reserve. This year, he became expendable in Detroit when the Lions picked up Tim Wright in a preseason trade with the Buccaneers, pushing Fauria further down a depth chart that also features Eric Ebron and Brandon Pettigrew.
In Arizona, Fauria will compete for a playing time at tight end with Darren Fells, Jermaine Gresham, and Troy Niklas.
Cardinals’ Ifeanyi Momah Done For Season
Cardinals tight end Ifeanyi Momah suffered a torn meniscus and will undergo surgery tomorrow, sources tell Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Momah will subsequently be placed on IR, ending his season before it could start, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
It’s a sad piece of news for Momah, who came from out of nowhere to win one of the Cardinals’ starting tight end jobs this offseason. The converted wide receiver first hooked on with Arizona after a tryout and he made the most of his opportunity. Now, he’ll have to wait another year to try and make his NFL mark.
With Momah out, the Cardinals are probably hoping that Jermaine Gresham can get himself ready for significant usage early in the season. They could also go out-of-house for another tight end. Joseph Fauria is among the notable names now available at the position.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/15
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves..
- The Jaguars have released safety Matt Daniels from injured reserve with an injury settlement, as John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets. Daniels, 26, spent his first two years in the league with the Rams before hooking on with the Jaguars in 2014 as a practice squad member.
- The Saints reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Nick Toon, who will be waived off injured reserve, Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune tweets. Toon hopes to be ready to play in a couple of weeks, Woodbery adds.
- Marion Grice and Jimmy Legree of the Cardinals and Jimmie Hunt of the Packers were removed from IR with injury settlements, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).