Colts Work Out RB Mike Gillislee
Free agent running back Mike Gillislee will work out for the Colts on Friday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Gillislee also worked out for the Raiders this week, so he might not be far from finding work. 
Prior to the Colts and Raiders auditions, the 28-year-old back (29 in November) worked out for the Lions and Jaguars. He has not been able to replicate his take-notice work with the 2016 Bills, for whom he scored nine touchdowns and averaged 5.7 yards per carry as LeSean McCoy‘s backup.
After a three-touchdown opening night with the 2017 Pats, Gillislee has not been given many opportunities. He saw his New England role reduced as 2017 wore on and received just 16 carries in four games with New Orleans last season.
Spencer Ware is still on the PUP list, so Gillislee might be able to fill a spot on the roster behind starter Marlon Mack and backups like Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins.
Eagles To Sign Johnathan Cyprien
The Eagles have agreed to sign Johnathan Cyprien, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). When completed, it’ll be a one-year deal for the safety. 
Cyprien visited the Eagles earlier this offseason, but left town without a deal. He’s got his shot with the Eagles now, however, and an opportunity to reestablish himself after missing all of last season with a torn ACL.
Cyprien was a starter for four years with the Jaguars before joining the Titans in 2017. After an injury-shortened ten-game campaign in his first year, he finished out his time on the sidelines. In March, Tennessee bailed midway through his four-year, $25MM free agent deal.
With the Eagles, Cyprien could see time at his usual strong safety spot, but mostly projects as a depth addition who can also chip in at linebacker. Malcolm Jenkins, of course, will be the club’s starter at SS.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/19
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S Brynden Trawick
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Rishard Cook, K Joey Slye
- Waived/Injured: G Dorian Johnson, LB Brandon Chubb
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DL Dee Liner
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DT Anthony Rush
Phil Dawson Announces Retirement
Phil Dawson is calling it a career. On Thursday, the kicker announced that he is retiring from the NFL at the age of 44. 
Dawson was the second-oldest player in the NFL last year, behind only Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri. With the Cardinals, Dawson made 5-of-8 field goals and sank all of his extra points before going down with a hip injury.
Prior to that, Dawson spent most of his career with the Browns and also spent four years with the 49ers. Fittingly, his retirement press conference will take place in Cleveland, where he kicked for 14 seasons.
Dawson leaves the game with a Pro Bowl nod (2012) and a lifetime FG completion rate of 83.8%. His hip will get some well-deserved rest after 526 career attempted field goals and 305 career games.
Jets Sign Ryan Kalil Out Of Retirement
The Jets have signed five-time Pro Bowler Ryan Kalil, according to a team announcement. Kalil retired after the 2018 season, but the Jets have convinced the center to suit up at least one more time. 
It’s a one-year, $8.4MM deal for the Jets and Kalil, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). However, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets $8.4MM is the maximum value of Kalil’s pact, which contains incentives. The agreement is still pending a physical, which may be more than a formality – Kalil was limited to just six regular-season games in 2017 by a neck injury.
The former USC standout played in just 14 games between 2016 and 2017. Prior to that, he suited up for at least 15 contests six times in a seven-year span — with five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro distinctions having occurred during that time. And, in 2018, he started in all 16 of Carolina’s contests.
A second-round pick in 2012, Kalil has been one of the best players in team history. He served as the pivotman during the Panthers’ Super Bowl 50 run and played every game of the Panthers’ 2008, ’13 and ’14 playoff seasons.
With the Jets, Kalil will supplant Jonotthan Harrison as the team’s man in the middle.
Broncos To Sign Theo Riddick
Running back Theo Riddick will sign a free agent deal with the Broncos later this week, a source tells Mike Klis of 9 News (on Twitter). The Saints and other teams were also in on Riddick, but he’ll join up with Denver and Joe Flacco instead. 
The Broncos already have a No. 1 running back in Phillip Lindsay, but Riddick’s soft hands could make him a strong No. 2 companion. Last year, Lindsay caught 35 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield. Riddick, meanwhile, has averaged a 62/474/2.5 stat line over the last four years, including a showing of 80/697/3 in 2015.
Riddick generated immediate interest, despite being a running back going into his seventh season. Despite the constantly depressed market, Riddick’s pass-catching ability stood out – his 285 catches since his 2013 slate is the third-highest of any RB in that span. Meanwhile, his 2,238 receiving yards is No. 4 among backs.
The Broncos now have some extra firepower in their artillery, while the Saints may or may not continue their search for backfield help. In the last week, they’ve lost out on both Riddick and Alfred Morris, who signed with the Cowboys.
Chargers’ Melvin Gordon Requests Trade
Melvin Gordon wants out. The running back has asked the Chargers to trade him, agent Damarius Bilbo tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
The request, Bilbo says, was actually made last week, after the team stuck to its guns at $10MM/year. Despite the holdup, GM Tom Telesco told Bilbo that he still considers the running back family and will not grant the agent permission to seek a deal.
At this stage, it’s hard to see a peaceful resolution to the situation. Gordon says he hopes to stay with the Bolts, but he also seems very serious about his demand for a new deal. He was also a supporter of Le’Veon Bell during his high profile holdout with the Steelers in 2018.
“Come back and get hurt?,” Gordon asked, rhetorically, when discussing the Bell situation. “Gave y’all everything he had for about five, six years. Y’all can’t pay the man?”
It may be time for the Chargers to either pay the man what he wants, or trade him to someone who will.
Jets To Stick With Chandler Catanzaro
The Jets are sticking with kicker Chandler Catanzaro – for now. The free agent import has had a rocky training camp, but head coach Adam Gase says the team is not looking to bringing in another leg at this time (via Manish Mehta of the Daily News). 
“He had a really good spring,” Gase said. “That’s a part of training camp. You start working through things. Sometimes that happens. We got an experienced guy that’s had success. So, this group feels good about what he’s done in the past and what he’s done in this organization before and what he’s done out here starting the spring. We evaluate not just training camp … We got to use all our information that we’ve gathered since the spring.”
Given Catanzaro’s struggles, it’s hard not to question the Jets’ decision to allow Pro Bowler Jason Myers to walk in free agency. Myers set an NFL record with five field goals from 55+ yards out and tied Gang Green’s all-time record with 91.7% field goal accuracy.
This year, Myers inked a four-year deal with the Seahawks, and the Jets replaced him with Catanzaro, who hasn’t been kicking at a truly elite level since his stellar 2015 season in Arizona.
Bills G Isaac Asiata Retires
Bills guard Isaac Asiata has retired from the NFL, according to an announcement on Twitter. Retirement is often tough on players, but for Asiata, it’s a step towards improved mental health.
“I have lived the last two years of my NFL career waging war with myself mentally,” Asiata wrote. “With constant anxiety, persistent worry and fear of the unknown and of what comes next? If i were to be done. I also placed the unnecessary burden on my shoulders of never wanting to let people down or to disappoint those around me. Afraid of being a ‘draft bust’ or just another guy who couldn’t cut it in the league.”
Asiata was drafted by the Dolphins in the fifth round (No. 164 overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft. After appearing in just two games for the Fins, they released him this offseason. He hooked on with the Bills just over a week ago, but he has decided against pursuing one of the final spots on their 53-man roster.
To take his place, the Bills inked guard Nico Siragusa, a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2017. Siragusa spent his rookie season on injured reserve and most of last season on the Ravens’ taxi squad. He finished out the year on the Packers’ active roster, but did not appear in any games.
There’s a real opportunity for Siragusa to make the roster. In the last week, the Bills have lost Asiata to retirement and Jeremiah Sirles to injury (he’s since been released). Meanwhile, center Mitch Morse is in the concussion protocol and guard Spencer Long has been out this week with a knee injury.
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