Ravens Set 53-Man Roster
The Ravens have announced their 53-man roster and made the following transactions:
Cut:
- WR Quincy Adeboyejo
- LB Boseko Lokombo
- TE Ryan Malleck
- WR Chris Matthews
- RB Taquan Mizzell
- LB Donald Payne
- DB Reggie Porter
- FB Ricky Ortiz
- G Maurquice Shakir
- C Matt Skura
- QB Josh Woodrum
Waived/injured:
- LB Brennen Beyer
- DB Robertson Daniel
- OT Stephane Nembot
Placed on IR:
Jaguars Move Roster To 53
The Jaguars have reduced their roster to the league-mandated 53 by making the following transactions:
Released:
- LB Andrew Gachkar
- DE Malliciah Goodman
- LB Josh McNary
Waived:
- RB Tim Cook
- DE Hunter Dimick
- CB Brian Dixon
- TE Alex Ellis
- WR Amba Etta-Tawo
- OL Avery Gennesy
- TE David Grinnage
- DB Tracy Howard
- CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste
- OL Nila Kasitati
- DT Kevin Maurice
- DE Carroll Phillips
- OL Chris Reed
- DE Jonathan Woodard
Waived/injured:
- CB Doran Grant
- S Jarrod Harper
- WR Shane Wynn
Placed on IR:
Browns Trim Roster To 53
The Browns have reduced their roster to the league-mandated 53 players by making the following transactions:
Acquired:
- WR Sammie Coates (story)
Released:
- OL John Greco (story)
- QB Brock Osweiler (story)
Waived:
- RB Terrence Magee
- LB Deon King
- WR Jordan Payton
- WR Jordan Leslie
- WR Rannell Hall
- TE J.P. Holtz
- OL Anthony Fabiano
- DL Xavier Cooper
- LB Kenneth Olugbode
- DB Najee Murray
- K Cody Parkey
Colts Remove Andrew Luck From PUP List
The Colts have officially removed quarterback Andrew Luck from the physically unable to perform list, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
While Luck won’t be forced to miss the six games that the PUP list would have required, he could still be sidelined for some time. Recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Luck’s return timetable is unclear, and the Colts haven’t been open about his timeline.
Indianapolis acquired quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Patriots earlier today, and he’ll be an option — along with incumbent Scott Tolzien — to fill in while Luck is absent.
Giants Acquire CB Ross Cockrell
The Giants have acquired cornerback Ross Cockrell from the Steelers in exchange for a conditional 2018 draft pick, Pittsburgh announced.
Cockrell, 26, was a 16-game starter for the first time in his career in 2016, and he played rather well, grading the NFL’s No. 27 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. However, the Steelers signed free agent cornerback Joe Haden earlier this week, a move that would have pushed Cockrell into a reserve role.
Of course, Cockrell will be a backup with the Giants, as well, as Big Blue boasts one of the more impressive secondaries in the league. New York will start Eli Apple, Janoris Jenkins, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in its nickel package, making Cockrell one of the NFL’s best fourth cornerbacks.
A restricted free agent, Cockrell will earn $1.797MM in 2017 before hitting the open market next spring.
Vikings To Release OL Alex Boone
In a surprising development, the Vikings will release starting offensive guard Alex Boone, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Boone was one of Minnesota’s most prized free agent additions just one year ago, as the former 49ers lineman agreed to a four-year, $26.8MM deal with the Vikings last spring. That deal contained $10MM in guaranteed money, a high price to pay for only a single season of work.
Boone’s contract does not contain offsets, meaning Minnesota won’t gain any salary relief if he signs elsewhere (Twitter link). The Vikings asked Boone to accept a paycut, but he refused, tweets Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune. Minnesota will take on $3.4MM in immediate dead money by cutting Boone.
A 14-game starter for the Vikings in 2016, Boone ranked as the NFL’s No. 37 guard among 75 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, which assigned him high marks for his pass blocking but poor scores in the run game. With Boone gone, Minnesota figures to turn the interior of its offensive line over to some combination of Joe Berger, Nick Easton, and rookie Pat Elflein.
Bears To Take LB Pernell McPhee Off PUP
The Bears will take linebacker Pernell McPhee off the physically unable to perform list to begin the season, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).
McPhee has dealt with injuries since joining the Bears prior to the 2015 campaign, and it’s a knee injury that’s kept him sidelined this time around. He’s missed nine games over the past two seasons, but he’s been effective when on the field. McPhee has posted 10 sacks since 2015 while earning positive marks from Pro Football Focus.
While McPhee will earn a place on the Bears’ roster and won’t be forced to miss the season’s first six games, that doesn’t mean he won’t need time to ramp up. Chicago will use 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd and veteran Willie Young at outside linebacker while McPhee adjusts, while the club also has depth options in reserve. However, the Bears are currently shopping ‘backers Dan Skuta and Sam Acho.
Bears Likely To Release Lamarr Houston
The Bears will place edge rusher Lamarr Houston on injured reserve with the intention of reaching an injury settlement, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
Houston, who has torn his ACL twice in the past, doesn’t have any structural damage to his knee this time around, per Pelissero, but he’ll go on IR nonetheless. An injury settlement would pay Houston for the time it takes him to recover, and allow him to sign with any club when the settlement timetable expires.
Long an underrated player with the Raiders, Houston hasn’t been able to contribute much after inking a five-year, $35MM contract with Chicago prior to the 2014 campaign. In three seasons with the Bears, the 30-year-old Houston has appeared in just 26 of a possible 48 games and made only 10 starts. He’s managed nine total sacks in Chicago, but eight of those came in 2015, his only healthy year with the Bears.
Chicago will create $6MM in cap room by releasing Houston, but it will also incur nearly $1MM in dead money in each of the next two seasons.
Broncos Waive QB Kyle Sloter
The Broncos have waived quarterback Kyle Sloter, according to Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter links).
Sloter’s release — and Paxton Lynch‘s lingering injury — means Denver will likely bring in a veteran quarterback, per Klis, who speculates the club could target Brock Osweiler. Two player sources expect the Broncos to target Osweiler in the near future, tweets Klis. Osweiler, of course, spent four seasons with the Broncos before signing with Houston last spring. He’s a free agent after being released by the Browns this week, and would only cost the minimum given that he’s earning $16MM from Cleveland.
Sloter, for his part, is a rookie undrafted free agent out of Northern Colorado. He could conceivably slip through waivers and be placed on Denver’s practice squad.
Seahawks To Release DT Ahtyba Rubin
The Seahawks are releasing veteran defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Seattle had planned to shop Rubin after acquiring Sheldon Richardson from the Jets on Friday, but apparently weren’t able to find a taker. Even without Rubin in the picture, the Seahawks have enviable depth along the defensive interior, with options such as Jarran Reed and third-round rookie Nazair Jones available. Second-round pick Malik McDowell could also potentially return later in the season, although he’s currently recovering from an ATV accident.
In his first Seahawks season (2015), Rubin amassed 36 tackles, two sacks, and finished fourth among the team’s defensive linemen in snaps. Last year, he once again had a perfect attendance record in the regular season as he racked up 39 tackles, one sack, and three forced fumbles.
Rubin, 31, signed a three-year, $12MM deal with Seattle last offseason that contained $5.5MM in guaranteed money. By releasing him, the Seahawks will incur $1.5MM in dead money in each of the next two seasons.