Steelers To Add RBs Boston Scott, Jonathan Ward To Practice Squad
Despite declining Najee Harris‘ fifth-year option, the Steelers still roster both the former first-rounder and UDFA complement Jaylen Warren. The team is adding veteran insurance behind its top duo.
Boston Scott is expected to join Pittsburgh’s practice squad, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Recently released by the Rams, Scott is a vested veteran and will not need to clear waivers today before choosing his next destination.
Best known for his long-running stint as an Eagles backup, Scott will return to Pennsylvania to join a team that carried only two pure RBs on its 53-man roster Tuesday. Cordarrelle Patterson is the No. 3 back for the now-Arthur Smith-led offense, but he is primarily a return specialist — even though Smith will likely get his ex-Falcons charge some non-special teams work as well.
Scott, 29, spent parts of six seasons in Philly. He worked as a regular backup for the team, working behind Miles Sanders for four years and behind D’Andre Swift last season. Scott, however, started 12 games and logged 373 touches. That low workload will help him secure a gig ahead of an age-29 season. While Scott totaled only 86 rushing yards last season, he reached 373 to go with a career-high seven touchdowns in 2021.
With Scott expected to be part of Pittsburgh’s 16-man P-squad, the team can add up to five more vested veterans. Teams will largely assemble their taxi squads today, and the Steelers will opt for experience behind the Harris-Warren duo. Pittsburgh is also adding another back to its P-squad, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Jonathan Ward is joining the team. Ward has played in 42 games for the Cardinals and Titans across a four-year career. Only logging 17 career attempts, Ward has spent most of his NFL time as a special-teamer.
Cowboys To Sign RB Dalvin Cook
Linked to the Cowboys at multiple junctures over the past several months, Dalvin Cook is finally on track to join the team. Dallas is adding the former Minnesota Pro Bowler, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Cook worked out for the Cowboys earlier this week, and while DLLS Sports’ Clarence Hill notes the team eyed the eighth-year RB on the practice squad, this union will nevertheless commence. Veterans who join teams late in the summer or during the season regularly latch on via P-squad agreements — with eventual promotions to follow. This is indeed a P-squad agreement, per ESPN.com’s Todd Archer, with the Cowboys will see how Cook looks in Mike McCarthy‘s scheme soon.
While this will also reunite Cook with longtime Vikings HC Mike Zimmer, the new Cowboys DC will not exactly be overseeing him this time around. Cook, 29, arrived during Zimmer’s Minnesota tenure and played five seasons for the since-fired leader. He joins a running back room that seemed short-staffed on cutdown day.
Dallas let Tony Pollard walk after a moderately disappointing season — at least compared to his 2022 Pro Bowl campaign — and the five-year Cowboys contributor scored a three-year Titans deal. The Cowboys were linked to Texas prospect Jonathon Brooks ahead of Day 2, but not only did the team not end up with the former Bijan Robinson Longhorns backup, it stood down altogether in the draft. This preceded a reunion with Ezekiel Elliott, who is still counting as dead money on Dallas’ payroll from the post-June 1 cut the team made in 2023. Elliott is certainly past his prime, but as of now, the former rushing champion is slated to lead Dallas’ RB committee.
If Elliott is past his prime, it is safe to say Cook is as well. Riding four straight 1,100-yard rushing seasons going into his Jets stay, the former second-round pick struggled as the team’s Breece Hall bridge and completed by far his worst season. The Jets ended up cutting Cook, who finished the campaign as a Ravens reserve. Cook averaged just 3.2 yards per carry as a Jet (67/214); he had never dropped below 4.4 in a season with the Vikings.
The Cowboys were still linked to Cook between his Jets and Ravens tenures, and they resurfaced on this radar in March. Both Cook and Elliott were interested in joining the team; the club went with familiarity at that point. Elliott’s 2,421 career touches lead all active running backs, but Cook’s 1,585 sit fifth on that list. That said, Elliott fared better than Cook in 2023. The one-and-done Patriot accumulated 955 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns, playing initially as Rhamondre Stevenson‘s backup and then returning to a starting role once the Pats’ RB1 went down late in the season.
Dallas also rosters 2023 Pollard backup Rico Dowdle, who has been with the team for five years, and kept diminutive former sixth-rounder Deuce Vaughn as its third-stringer. Cook stands to compete for playing time in this Elliott-led committee, with this potentially being the four-time Pro Bowler’s last shot at a regular RB gig.
Last year, the Cowboys steadily evaluated Martavis Bryant on their practice squad. That did not produce any game action. Given the state of Dallas’ RB room and Cook not being a special case like Bryant — who has not played a regular-season game since 2018 — would point to a P-squad stay being shorter. If Cook is not bumped up to the Cowboys’ 53-man roster early in the season, it would be indicative of the talented ball-carrier deemed too far past his peak.
Cook was believed to have scheduled an additional workout, per Machota, and Hill floated the Colts as the other team showing interest. Indianapolis’ backup situation is thin post-Zack Moss, with ex-49ers washout Trey Sermon in position to be Jonathan Taylor‘s top reserve. But the Cowboys will cut off any route elsewhere, giving the once-dynamic back another shot.
Rams To Sign DL Neville Gallimore
Part of Tuesday’s Dolphins cut list, Neville Gallimore will not end up waiting long to land another gig. The Rams are bringing in the four-year Cowboys contributor, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler.
As a vested veteran, Gallimore can bypass today’s upcoming waiver frenzy. The Rams are not bothering with a workout, being prepared to add the fifth-year defensive lineman to their 53-man roster. A former third-round Cowboys pick, Gallimore spent the offseason in Miami but was unable to stick with the team beyond cutdown day.
The Rams have an opening on their D-line, having placed Larrell Murchison on IR with a return designation. This sidelines the interior D-lineman for at least four games. Gallimore will join a team attempting to form a post-Aaron Donald defensive front.
Gallimore, 27, had joined the Dolphins on a one-year, $1.79MM deal in March. The Dolphins guaranteed that full amount at signing. Via offset language, Gallimore’s Rams deal — wherever it ends up — would stand to help the AFC East team on the dead money front. The Oklahoma alum settled in as a rotational player in Dallas, moving from rookie-year starter to backup during Dan Quinn‘s time with the team.
Pro Football Focus graded Gallimore as a mid-pack D-lineman in 2023, slotting him 69th at the position. The Cowboys used him as a backup in 17 games, with his snaps falling from 403 in 2022 to 288 last season. Second-round pick Braden Fiske headlined the Rams’ effort to arrange an after-Donald D-line group, with Tyler Davis making the roster after arriving as a sixth-rounder soon after. Murchison re-signed with the team in late March. The rookies join ascending starter Kobie Turner and contract-year DT Bobby Brown on Chris Shula‘s defense.
Rams Trade LB Ernest Jones To Titans
Ernest Jones worked as a linebacker regular for the Rams over the past two seasons, emerging as a potential extension candidate. But the Rams had not planned on making such a move this year. After a run of trade rumors, Jones is moving on.
The Rams are dealing Jones to the Titans, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Tennessee will acquire a proven starter in a contract year, with the Rams losing an experienced option shortly before a season with playoff expectations. This will be a pick-swap trade. The Rams will collect a fifth-round pick from the Titans for Jones and a sixth, per veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky. The exchanged picks are 2026 selections, veteran reporter Jordan Schultz adds.
This comes after Jones delivered an impact performance for the 2023 Rams. The former third-round pick reeled off 145 tackles (14 for loss), 4.5 sacks and six passes defensed. The Rams perennially keep costs low at linebacker, but it is nevertheless interesting they are willing to move on from a productive young defender.
Pro Football Focus rated Jones 13th among off-ball ‘backers last season, viewing the Rams starter as strong as a run defender and a blitzer while lacking in coverage. Jones started all 15 games he played last season and lined up alongside Bobby Wagner for most of the 2022 season. The Rams moved on from Wagner after one year, and they will now be tasked with replacing Jones days before a season.
This swiftly developing storyline escalated this week, when the Rams gave Jones’ camp permission to seek a trade. Jones, 24, then made it clear he did not request to be moved. The Rams communicated with teams Monday, and a deal has come to pass. This will be an interesting addition to a Titans team that lost Azeez Al-Shaair in free agency. That came a year after David Long moved on (to the Dolphins). Jones soon stands to be a key piece in Dennard Wilson‘s defense.
Tennessee has now imported two Los Angeles-based starters this year, having already brought in ex-Chargers first-rounder Kenneth Murray. The team also rosters Jack Gibbens, a former UDFA who started 13 games last season. PFF ranked Gibbens 30th among ILBs last season; he made 95 tackles in 14 games. The Titans gave Murray a two-year, $15.5MM deal but structured the contract to make it fairly easy to move on after one season. With Jones in a contract year, the Titans may have some short-term solutions on their defensive second level. This move also comes after the Titans lost Chance Campbell to an ACL tear.
Although the Rams make a habit of generating solid play from lower-level investments, this does appear a bit of a gamble. Unlike when L.A. cut Wagner, it is coming off a postseason berth. Jones led Rams linebackers (by far) with 988 defensive snaps last season; Christian Rozeboom was second (with 579). PFF rated Rozeboom, a former UDFA, 79th at the position in 2023. Another undrafted player, rookie Omar Speights, has impressed to the point he will make Los Angeles’ roster, with The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue connecting this and a willingness to move on from Jones (subscription required).
The Titans will have exclusive negotiating rights with Jones until March, leaving them time to evaluate this fit. The Rams were not eyeing a 2024 deal with Jones, but a team that gave up at least one to-be-determined asset for him may be more inclined to discuss an extension.
Cardinals Waive QB Desmond Ridder
The Cardinals gave up Rondale Moore for Desmond Ridder in March, marking one of a few trades this year involving a 2022 QB draftee. Arizona is moving on quickly.
While Ridder could conceivably still be in the Cardinals’ plans (via the practice squad), he will need to clear waivers first. After battling for the team’s backup job with 2023 draftee Clayton Tune, Ridder received word he will be cut, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Between their Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. additions, the Falcons quickly moved to deal Ridder. The team had benched the 2022 third-rounder twice last season, a year that led to Arthur Smith‘s ouster. It had been assumed going into the Cards’ offseason program Ridder would likely be Kyler Murray‘s new backup, but Tune has changed the equation. The 2023 fifth-rounder will remain in that role, with Ridder now available to be claimed before Wednesday’s 11am CT deadline.
This move might come with an injury designation. Ridder sustained a concussion in the Cardinals’ preseason finale against the Broncos. Tune, however, completed 67% of his preseason passes and averaged 6.9 yards per attempt. Ridder closed at 57% and 6.4 yards per pass. Tune also spent the second half of last season as Murray’s backup. Although Tune submitted an ugly showing in Cleveland following the Josh Dobbs trade, he held his own this summer.
Arizona has moved on from its presumed backup for a second straight summer. The team cut Colt McCoy last year, acquiring Dobbs via trade and turning to him as a Week 1 starter despite a late-August arrival. The Cardinals traded Dobbs to the suddenly QB-needy Vikings at the deadline, moving Tune up the depth chart. Tune did throw an interception against the Broncos on Sunday, but the Cards’ staff looks to feel comfortable enough to move on from a notable trade addition.
Two years remain on Ridder’s rookie contract, but the Cards will incur no dead money from the cut due to the Falcons having taken on the prorated signing bonus money in the trade. Three seasons remain on Tune’s deal, and it is certainly worth noting this Cardinals regime drafted the Houston product. Ridder has conversely seen his stock tumble since being drafted by the Falcons.
The Falcons showed surprising confidence in Ridder last year, proclaiming the Cincinnati alum their starter months before training camp. Ridder had replaced Marcus Mariota late last year, and Arthur Blank expressed interest in building around his rookie contract. After Ridder finished with a 12-12 TD-INT ratio and ranked 26th in QBR, the Falcons returned to the high-priced QB business by paying Cousins hours into the legal tampering period. They traded Ridder later that week.
A team claiming Ridder would have him on a $985K base salary. If unclaimed by Wednesday’s deadline, the 2022 No. 74 overall pick will make a surprising voyage into free agency.
Rams Pare Roster To Initial 53
Here is how the Rams’ initial 53-man roster looks ahead of Sean McVay‘s eighth season:
Waived:
- OL A.J. Arcuri
- OL Justin Dedich
- RB Zach Evans
- TE Miller Forristall
- DB Tanner Ingle
- DB Shaun Jolly
- TE Nikola Kalinic
- DB Cam Lampkin
- DL Tuli Letuligasenoa
- OL Mike McAllister
- DL David Olajiga
- WR Xavier Smith
- WR Drake Stoops
- DB Jason Taylor II
- OLB Keir Thomas
- OL Zachary Thomas
- OLB Zachary VanValkenburg
- WR Sam Wiglusz
Waived/injured:
Placed on IR:
Placed on IR/return designation:
- OL K.T. Leveston
- DL Larrell Murchison
Despite Los Angeles trading Ernest Jones to the Titans, McVay said the team is not looking around at inside linebacker. The Rams kept kept five off-ball LBs — Christian Rozeboom, Troy Reeder, Jacob Hummel, Omar Speights and Elias Neal — and McVay labeled Rozeboom and Reeder as the team’s expected starters. Rozeboom, a former UDFA out of South Dakota State, has made five starts in his three-season career. Reeder, whom the Rams brought back last year after he spent 2022 with the Chargers, has made 31 career starts. Ten of those came during the team’s Super Bowl LVI-winning season. The veteran played only 192 defensive snaps last season. Both Neal and Speights were part of the team’s UDFA contingent this year.
The Rams’ other major piece of injury news emerged earlier today; Tyler Higbee will make the expected trip to the reserve/PUP list. That will knock out the team’s longtime tight end starter for at least four games. Leveston and Murchison are also sidelined for that span, but the Rams’ IR-return moves will lead to two of their eight injury activations being used before Week 1. The NFL greenlit up to two such moves this year, but the Rams have run out of injury activations in the not-so-distant past, exhausting theirs during an injury-flooded 2022 season.
The nephew of Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, Tre’Vius played 318 special teams snaps as a rookie last year. This development follows Derion Kendrick‘s July ACL tear. The Rams placed Kendrick on IR weeks ago.
Commanders Cut Five 2023 Draftees, Move Down To 53
Here is how Adam Peters‘ first Commanders offseason concluded. The Commanders are moving on from a 2023 Day 2 pick; their roster is now at 53.
Released:
- C Cameron Tom
- DE Justin Hollins
- QB Trace McSorley
- CB James Pierre
- S Sheldrick Redwine
Waived:
- WR Kaz Allen
- CB Chigozie Anusiem
- S Kendell Brooks
- CB Tariq Castro-Fields
- T Braeden Daniels
- WR Davion Davis
- G Julian Good-Jones
- DE Jalen Harris
- QB Sam Hartman
- DE K.J. Henry
- DE Andre Jones
- RB Austin Jones
- CB Kyu Blu Kelly
- DT Haggai Ndubuisi
- T David Nwaogwugwu
- LB Anthony Pittman
- DT Benning Potoa’e
- RB Chris Rodgriguez
- WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
- LB Chapelle Russell
- T Armani Taylor-Prioleau
- C Ricky Stromberg
- WR Mitchell Tinsley
- WR Brycen Tremayne
- TE Cole Turner
- CB Nick Whiteside
- RB Michael Wiley
- CB AJ Woods
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- DE Efe Obada
Placed on IR:
Placed on IR/return designation:
- LB Jordan Magee
This represents an early exit for Stromberg, whom Washington drafted in last year’s third round. The former No. 97 overall pick only played in four games as a rookie, logging just 26 offensive snaps. Washington brought in ex-Dallas center Tyler Biadasz this offseason, and the team also kept four guards on its 53-man roster. Other personnel staffs around the league may be intrigued here, as this is a quick hook for a Day 2 O-lineman.
Five of the seven Commanders 2023 draftees are part of this cut continent, with Daniels, Rodriguez, Henry and Andre Jones joining Stromberg in being waived. Daniels, a fourth-rounder, spent last season on IR. Rodriguez, a sixth-rounder, rushed for 247 yards. Jones (Round 7) played 171 defensive snaps, while Henry (Round 5) started three games and registered 1.5 sacks. It will be interesting to see if any of these second-year players end up on Washington’s practice squad, as this does not reflect well on Ron Rivera‘s final draft in charge — especially after the team just traded 2022 first-rounder Jahan Dotson to a division foe.
The Commanders attempted to trade both Turner and defensive tackle John Ridgeway, per the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. The latter ended up making the team. Magee suffered an MCL injury recently. While it required surgery, the rookie fifth-rounder is not expected to miss the full season. He already counts toward the Commanders’ eight injury activations, however. The Hartman and McSorley cuts leave only Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota on the 53-man roster.
Raiders Trim Roster To 53
Here is how Antonio Pierce‘s first Raiders effort moved down to 53:
Released:
- CB Cornell Armstrong
- WR Alex Bachman
- TE Zach Gentry
- WR Jalen Guyton
- QB Nathan Peterman
- WR Kristian Wilkerson
Waived:
- DE David Agoha
- G Clark Barrington
- QB Carter Bradley
- G Ben Brown
- RB Brittain Brown
- DT Matthew Butler
- WR Terrell Bynum
- T Andrew Coker
- TE Cole Fotheringham
- DE T.J. Franklin
- CB Woo Governor
- S Jaydon Grant
- WR Tulu Griffin
- DT Marquan McCall
- RB Sincere McCormick
- T Jalen McKenzie
- WR Dax Milne
- LB Jackson Mitchell
- C Will Putnam
- S Phalen Sanford
- DT Noah Shannon
- TE John Samuel Shenker
- CB Ja’Quan Sheppard
- DE Charles Snowden
- T Dalton Wagner
- CB Sam Webb
- LB DaShaun White
- CB Rayshad Williams
Waived/injured:
- OL Corey Luciano
- DE Elerson Smith
- DE Ron Stone Jr.
Placed on IR/return designation:
Waived/failed physical:
Peterman’s exit leaves two quarterbacks — the two that vied for the starting gig (Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell) — on their 53-man roster. Peterman, however, has been quite resilient in his career. The Bears dropped him last year only to circle back via a practice squad invite. The eighth-year passer also has an extensive past with the Raiders, who rostered him for much of Jon Gruden‘s tenure. Teams have six practice squad slots they can use on vested veterans.
Guyton followed GM Tom Telesco from the Chargers. The ACL tear he suffered early during the 2022 season sidetracked his career, with the former Justin Herbert deep threat — who totaled 959 yards from 2020-21 — catching just 12 passes over the past two seasons. The Raiders kept rookie UDFA Ramel Keyton and third-year UDFA Tyreik McAllister among their six-man receiving corps. Four of the six wideouts on the Raiders’ roster are ex-UDFAs, with only Davante Adams and Tre Tucker being drafted.
The Raiders are using one of their injury activations on Taylor, who arrived via seventh-round pick this year. Elsewhere in the secondary, Webb is off the roster after having previously worked as a three-game starter. This came during Josh McDaniels‘ only full season in charge.
Saints Place RB Kendre Miller On IR, Reduce Squad To 53
Here is how the Saints moved their roster down to the regular-season 53-man limit:
Released:
- S Johnathan Abram
- S Ugo Amadi
- OL Tremayne Anchrum
- OL Jesse Davis
- LB Andrew Dowell
- LB Khaleke Hudson
- G Shane Lemieux
- WR Stanley Morgan Jr.
- RB James Robinson
- WR Equanimeous St. Brown
- S Roderic Teamer
- CB Joejuan Williams
Waived:
- WR Kelvin Austin Jr.
- S Millard Bradford
- WR Shaq Davis
- OL Mark Evans
- T Josiah Ezirim
- TE Mason Fairchild
- P Lou Hedley
- DT Jack Heflin
- G Kyle Hergel
- TE Michael Jacobson
- DB Shemar Jean-Charles
- S Lawrence Johnson
- RB Jacob Kibodi
- DE Nico Lalos
- CB Mac McCain
- WR Samson Nacua
- LB Monty Rice
- LB Mike Rose
- K Charlie Smyth
- LB Isaiah Stalbird
Placed on IR:
- DT Cameron Peterson
- TE Kevin Rader
- CB Rejzohn Wright
Placed on IR/return designation:
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- LB Nephi Sewell
A host of vested vets are off the Saints’ roster, and Miller will be for a stretch as well. Miller has been down with a hamstring injury for several weeks, suffering the setback minutes into the team’s initial training camp workout. This lingering into the regular season is a concerning development for both parties. Hamstring trouble limited Miller late last summer as well. The Saints still roster Jamaal Williams behind Alvin Kamara, but they used a third-round pick on Miller last year. The TCU alum logged 41 carries as a rookie, but a new OC (Klint Kubiak) is now calling the shots.
Kpassagnon sustained an Achilles tear early this offseason, and he will miss at least four games. Rookie UDFA Mason Tipton made the roster over St. Brown, while offseason pickup Will Harris secured a spot over Abram. The Saints kept Lucas Patrick and Oli Udoh over Davis and Lemieux, who had been attempting to bounce back from an injury-plagued Giants tenure.
Seahawks Waive WR Dee Eskridge, Leave T Abraham Lucas On PUP; Squad Now At 53
Here is how the now-Mike Macdonald-led Seahawks reduced their roster to 53 players:
Released:
- S Marquise Blair
- CB Artie Burns
- LB Blake Lynch
- QB P.J. Walker
Waived:
- LB Sundiata Anderson
- LB Michael Barrett
- DT Kyon Barrs
- CB Lance Boykin
- LB Nelson Ceaser
- T/G McClendon Curtis
- WR Dee Eskridge
- TE Michael Ezeike
- TE Devon Garrison
- LB Easton Gibbs
- T Garret Greenfield
- WR Hayden Hatten
- RB George Holani
- CB D.J. James
- CB Carlton Johnson
- DT Mario Kendricks
- DT DeVere Levelston
- RB Kobe Lewis
- TE Tyler Mabry
- G Ilm Manning
- LB Patrick O’Connell
- S Ty Okada
- T Raiqwon O’Neal
- T Max Pircher
- LB Jon Rhattigan
- RB Kairee Robinson
- WR Ty Scott
- LB Jamie Sheriff
- WR Cody White
- WR Easop Winston
Waived/injured:
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Injury trouble lingers for Lucas, who missed a chunk of last season because of an injury Pete Carroll labeled “chronic.” While the Seahawks’ new staff pushed back on that, the team’s right tackle starter is once again out of commission. Lucas, who started alongside Charles Cross as rookies in 2022, has started all 22 games he has played. But that only included six contests last year. Lucas must miss at least four games due to Tuesday’s designation. Lucas, who underwent knee surgery this offseason, also dealt with a shoulder issue heading into his second season.
The Seahawks brought back George Fant, who filled in as a Texans spot starter at RT last season. Fant’s presence becomes more important in light of this latest Lucas injury news. The player Fant was primarily competing with, Curtis, received cut notice today as well.
Macdonald and OC Ryan Grubb are not keeping Eskridge around, representing a miss for GM John Schneider. The Seahawks made Eskridge their top pick in the 2021 draft, which began in the second round due to the Jamal Adams trade. The Western Michigan alum has been unable to catch on. He has 17 career catches for 122 yards, with injuries intervening along the way. The Seahawks further addressed the issue by taking Jaxon Smith-Njigba in last year’s first round, but they have needed to devote considerable resources to stocking their WR positions.
Burns figures to be a candidate to come back soon, via ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson, who notes the former first-rounder enjoyed a good training camp and worked as the team’s starting slot corner at points. The Seahawks also cut one of the players they just acquired in a trade. Barrett, obtained from the Panthers, could be kept on the practice squad if he clears waivers Wednesday.