Browns’ Grant Delpit Done For Year
Grant Delpit has suffered a season-ending Achilles tear (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). The Browns will place the safety on IR, ending the rookie’s season before it could even begin. 
Delpit was widely viewed as a first-round prospected heading into his junior year at LSU. Then, his stock slipped a bit, allowing the Browns to scoop him up at No. 44 overall. He was expected to be a pillar of the Browns’ young secondary this year, alongside Denzel Ward and former Tigers teammate Greedy Williams. Instead, they’ll have to wait until next year to see what he can do.
Fortunately, the Browns have backup. New addition Andrew Sendejo figures to step into the starting free safety job and join Karl Joseph in deep coverage. Sendejo, a longtime starter for the Vikings, has been first-string for 61 of his career games. Still, he’s entering his age-33 season, and he doesn’t offer the same kind of tantalizing upside as Delpit.
This is just the latest training camp injury for the Browns, following linebacker Mack Wilson‘s knee injury and cornerback Kevin Johnson‘s lacerated liver. On the plus side, Johnson was released from the hospital rather quickly, which could allow for a relatively quick return to action.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/24/20
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: CB Duke Thomas
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on reserve/retired list: CB Ike Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: C Casey Dunn
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: LB Justin Strnad (wrist)
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: TE Ian Bunting
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DL Chris Smith
- Waived/injured: LB Nick Usher
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/injured: LB Curtis Weaver
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: ST Johnson Bademosi
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Re-signed: WR Spencer Schnell
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S Walt Aikens
Eagles Re-Sign CB Trevor Williams
The Eagles are set to re-sign Trevor Williams, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The cornerback has been waiting for a call ever since the end of July, when the Birds dropped him from the roster. 
[RELATED: Eagles, TE Zach Ertz Resume Negotiations]
Despite having 27 career starts on his resume, Williams settled for a reserve/futures deal with the Birds in January. The former UDFA was a Chargers regular from 2016-18, up until last year when they released him from the injured reserve list.
The Penn State product hasn’t been able to stay healthy in recent years. Last season, he saw the field for just two games while with the Cardinals. Now on the verge of his 27th birthday (Sept. 15), he’ll look to make the final cut and get back to his old form. Williams’ best season to date came in 2017, when he started 15 games and notched 13 passes defended with two interceptions.
Patriots Sign Nick Folk
The Patriots have signed Nick Folk, per a club announcement. The veteran will return to New England and compete with fifth-round rookie Justin Rohrwasser for the kicking job. 
[RELATED: Latest On Cam Newton]
Folk went 14-of-17 on field goal tries for the Pats last year and nailed all 12 of his extra point attempts. The 35-year-old took the field for seven Patriots regular season games, plus the team’s playoff loss to the Titans. Folk has been somewhat in demand lately – the Browns also met with him recently as they consider competition for second-year pro Austin Seibert.
The Patriots also added some defensive line depth by signing Michael Barnett, an undrafted free agent out of Georgia. Both players will make their case in the coming days as we head towards the roster deadline.
Falcons, Texans Won’t Pursue Earl Thomas
The Falcons won’t make a play for Earl Thomas, according to head coach Dan Quinn (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Journal Constitution). The same goes for the Texans, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). 
[RELATED: Ravens Release Earl Thomas]
Quinn, who coached the seven-time Pro Bowler in Seattle, knows what Thomas can bring to the table. At the same time, he’s happy with his current group. The Falcons will start Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen at safety with support from Damontae Kazee, veteran J.J. Wilcox, and rookie Jaylinn Hawkins.
“He is absolutely one of my all-time favorite competitors,” Quinn said. “I love the guy. But at this time that’s a position that we are not looking to add to at this time.”
The Texans were connected to Thomas shortly after his release from the Ravens and he seemed to pick up an endorsement from quarterback Deshaun Watson on Instagram. The Texans have been in the safety market for a long time, but they seem prepared to move forward with Justin Reid, Eric Murray, and the rest of their current group.
The Cowboys reportedly won’t get involved with Thomas either, despite years of mutual interest. Thomas shouldn’t have trouble finding work, but he’s down at least three potential suitors.
Saints Cut LB Nigel Bradham
The Saints will release linebacker Nigel Bradham, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The longtime Eagles linebacker joined the team just one month ago. 
Bradham, 31 in September, played at least 900 defensive snaps from 2016-18 but logged just 717 last year as he battled an ankle injury. The veteran graded as a top-35 linebacker, per Pro Football Focus, in three of his four seasons in Philly, including the Eagles’ 2017 Super Bowl slate.
Instead of a reunion with former Eagles teammate Malcolm Jenkins, Bradham finds himself on the job hunt all over again with just a few weeks to go before the start of the season. The Saints, meanwhile, seem poised to move ahead with their current linebacker group, led by Demario Davis, Kiko Alonso, and Alex Anzalone. New Orleans lost A.J. Klein in free agency but used a third-round pick on Wisconsin’s Zack Baun, who worked as both an off-ball defender and a pass rusher for the Big Ten program.
All in all, Bradham appeared in 58 regular season games for the Eagles – all starts. He’s been first-string throughout his career, pretty much, save for his 2013 season with the Bills. He finished out 2019 with 61 total stops, one interception, and five passes defensed.
This Date In Transactions History: Victor Cruz Retires From NFL
Two years ago today, former Giants superstar Victor Cruz retired from football. Cruz was still shy of his 32nd birthday, but a string of injuries ultimately slowed down the charismatic salsa dancer. 
From 2011 through 2013, Cruz averaged 80 receptions, 1,209 yards, and eight end zone salsas per season. The first year in that set basically came out of the blue. Cruz joined the Giants as an undrafted free agent out of UMass in 2010. In 2011, he managed 82 grabs, 1,536 yards, and nine TDs. His 2012 encore wasn’t quite as efficient (he posted an 86/1092/10 stat line), but he was still recognized as a vital part of the Giants’ passing attack and earned his first career Pro Bowl nod.
Not wanting to risk losing Cruz to free agency – particularly after watching him carve up the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game – the locked Cruz down with a five-year extension worth up to $43MM. Cruz could have gambled by staying on track for free agency after the 2013 season, but the added security of the deal, including nearly $16MM in guarantees, made it a worthwhile tradeoff.
In hindsight, it was the smart play for Cruz. Initially slowed by a heel bruise, he came two yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark in 2013, despite missing two games. Unfortunately, in 2014, the course of his career changed dramatically. A torn patellar tendon ended his campaign after just six games and a calf injury in the following season put him under the knife before he could take the field.
By the time Cruz returned to action in 2016, the Giants’ offense was fully focused on Odell Beckham Jr. Meanwhile, Cruz’s trademark speed was gone, and so was his longtime mentor Tom Coughlin. Cruz took a pay cut to stay in the fold, but he registered just 39 catches for 586 yards. After that, he moved on to the Bears, only to suffer a season-ending injury at the end of the preseason. When his personal campaign to return to the Giants failed, Cruz called it quits.
Cowboys Won’t Pursue Earl Thomas?
The Cowboys have been connected with Earl Thomas for years, but there’s “nothing” brewing on that front right now, a source tells Mike Florio of PFT. Thomas, of course, is newly available following his release from the Ravens. 
[RELATED: Ravens Release Earl Thomas]
The Cowboys tried to pry Thomas away from the Seahawks two years ago when he was entangled in a contractual dispute with the team. Thomas, meanwhile, added fuel to the fire by repeatedly expressing his love for the Cowboys. The multiple-time Pro Bowler bowed to the Dallas bench after an interception, cut plans short to catch the Cowboys on TV, and leaked further word of his interest to the press through backchannels.
Ultimately, those trade talks were not fruitful. Last year, the Cowboys stood pat as Thomas made the rounds in free agency, but that likely had more to do with his asking price than anything else.
Historically, the Cowboys have been willing to take chances on players with red flags, but Thomas’ rocky year with Baltimore may have dulled their interest. It’s also possible that the Cowboys are finally comfortable with their safety situation after adding Ha Ha Clinton-Dix earlier in the offseason.
As Thomas looks for his next opportunity, he’ll likely have his reps battle things out with the Ravens. The Ravens’ official announcement of the release cited “personal conduct that has adversely affected” the team. As Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) notes, that wording indicates that the Ravens will come after Thomas for money.
Ravens Work Out TE Jordan Leggett
The Ravens hosted tight end Jordan Leggett on a visit, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Leggett has been on the workout trail in recent weeks, but has yet to sign with a club.
[RELATED: Ravens Release Earl Thomas]
The Patriots auditioned Leggett earlier this month as they explore reinforcements for their inexperienced tight end group. The Ravens might not be as desperate for help at the position, but they could use a strong No. 3 TE behind Nick Boyle and Mark Andrews. Hayden Hurst, who once seemed set for a larger role in Baltimore, was shipped out to the Falcons in March.
The Ravens are still shy of the 80-man roster max, giving them the chance to add a couple more players between now and the final cutdown deadline. As Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com (on Twitter) notes, the Ravens are also taking a look at wide receivers Siaosi Mariner and DeAndrew White, plus punter Johnny Townsend.
Washington Cuts WR Cody Latimer
The Washington Football Team has officially parted ways with Cody Latimer, per a club announcement. The move comes months after the wide receiver’s troubling incident in Colorado. 
[RELATED: Washington To Sign Garnett, Waive Moss]
Authorities say that a May poker game turned ugly when Latimer got into a “heated argument” with someone else at the table. Latimer stormed out and returned 30 minutes later with a handgun. Latimer, they say, waved the gun around and threatened to kill everybody in the room. He later “emptied the magazine and cleared the chamber of his gun,” per the police report, but not before firing two shots in someone’s direction.
Latimer joined Washington after posting career-highs in catches (24) and receiving yards (300) with the Giants. Instead of jostling with fourth-round wideout Antonio Gandy-Golden for his spot in the pecking order, Latimer now finds himself out of a job.