Dolphins To Keep Jakeem Grant

The Dolphins explored trades involving wide receiver Jakeem Grant, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). Instead, he’ll stay on board with a restructured deal. 

Through 14 games last year, Grant posted 36 catches for 373 yards and one touchdown. He also made an impact in the return game. He led the league with 330 punt return yards and an average of 11.4 yards per attempt, up until his high-ankle sprain in December. His finest work came against the Rams in November when Grant’s return-turned-TD boosted Miami to a 28-17 win.

In addition to Grant, the Dolphins currently have Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, rookie first-rounder Jaylen Waddle, and veteran Albert Wilson atop the WR depth chart.

Ravens Cut Chris Smith

The Ravens are releasing Chris Smith (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The defensive end joined the team on a one-year deal just last month, but he was unable to make the team’s final cut to 53.

Smith has previously spent time with the Bengals and Browns over the past few years. Baltimore was set to be the next stop on his AFC North tour, after he bested former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan and Shilique Calhoun in a workout.

Smith, an Arkansas product, first entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Jaguars back in 2014.He played sparingly in Jacksonville, then was traded to Cincy before the 2017 season. He played solid in a rotational role, notching three sacks, four tackles for loss, and two passes defended. That earned him a three-year contract from the Browns, although he was cut after a season and a half. Smith spent 2020 bouncing between the Raiders’ practice squad and varsity roster.

All in all, the 29-year-old has 68 career games to his credit for the Jags, Browns, Bengals, and Raiders. Despite the experience, he’s yet to see a ton of playing time. To date, he has never posted more than 26 tackles in a single season.

Raiders Cut Karl Joseph

The Raiders are releasing Karl Joseph (Twitter link via Vincent Bonsignore of the Review Journal). The safety returned to the Raiders earlier this year, but it proved to be a short-lived reunion.

I never wanted to leave,” Joseph said earlier this year. “This is my home. I was drafted here. I feel like I was born to be a Raider.”

Joseph would’ve still been a Raider in 2020 if the team hadn’t declined his fifth-year option. The 2016 first-rounder spent last year with the Browns and started eight of 14 games. He finished with his worst ever Pro Football Focus assessment. PFF viewed Joseph as better during his Raiders seasons and slotted him outside the top 70 safeties in 2020. The 27-year-old (28 in September) made 67 tackles, intercepted a pass and recovered two fumbles with Cleveland. He also added a playoff interception in Kansas City.

It felt like the right decision was to come back and help finish what I started here and be a part of that,” Joseph said back in April. “All the pieces are there. I think we’re ready to win. So whatever I’m going to need to do to help us win, that’s what I am going to do.”

Joseph won’t get that opportunity. Instead, he could be en route to his third pro team.

Jaguars Cut WR Phillip Dorsett

The Jaguars are releasing Phillip Dorsett (Twitter link via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). As a vested veteran, the wide receiver will be free to sign with any club.

The ex-Patriots receiver made two trips to the Super Bowl (including a victory in Super Bowl LIII) during his time in New England. However, he struggled to climb the depth chart, as he hauled in only 73 total receptions for 881 yards and eight touchdowns in 45 games for the Patriots. Last spring, he hooked on with the Seahawks, but lost the year to injury. The Jaguars picked him this past spring, but he couldn’t crack the WR depth chart.

To date, 2016 stands as Dorsett’s most productive year. In 15 games with a career-high 7 starts, Dorsett caught 33 receptions for 528 yards and a pair of touchdowns with the Colts. He’ll look for work as the Jags move forward with D.J. Chark, Marvin Jones, and Laviska Shenault as their top WRs.

Colts Waive TE Kahale Warring

Kahale Warring has racked up quite the jersey collection. The Colts waived the tight end on Tuesday (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo), just days after picking him up from the Patriots.

Scouts loved his potential coming out of San Diego State, but Warring has yet to produce as a pro. He had just three catches across two seasons for the Texans, most of which were spent on IR. Houston dropped the 2019 third-rounder earlier this month. He was then claimed by the Patriots, only to be dropped and picked up by the Colts this past weekend. Now, Indy has also dropped him from the roster.

The Saints also submitted a claim for Warring when the Texas waived him, so they might have some interest. Warring is still just 24, but it appears that he still hasn’t put it all together. Without Warring, the Colts will move forward with Jack Doyle, Mo Alie-Cox, and fourth-round pick Kylen Granson as their TEs.

Jaguars Cut S Josh Jones

The Jaguars will release safety Josh Jones (Twitter link via PFT). Jones started for the Jaguars last season, but he won’t be a part of Urban Meyer‘s revamped roster.

Meyer & Co. re-upped Jones in March on a one-year deal. In 2020, the safety started 13 games for the Jags, his most first-string work since going off the 2017 draft board in Round 2.

The Packers chose Jones 61st overall in 2017 but cut him ahead of the 2019 season. Jones, who started 12 games as a Packer from 2017-18, landed with the Cowboys but did not see much action in 2019. The Jaguars claimed Jones off waivers in December 2019 and turned to him during a grim 2020 season. The North Carolina State alum made 83 tackles and intercepted a pass in his lone Jags slate; Pro Football Focus graded Jones 89th overall among qualified safeties in 2020.

49ers To Cut Senio Kelemete

The 49ers will release offensive lineman Senio Kelemete en route to the 53-man deadline (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). He’ll likely reappear on the Niners’ 16-man practice squad, Pelissero hears.

Kelemete joined the Niners in June to provide some much needed OL depth in the wake of Justin Skule‘s season-ending ACL tear. However, the 49ers prefer the rest of their options at tackle and guard, including incumbent backup guard Tom Compton.

Kelemete came into the league as a fifth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2012. After one year in the desert, he spent the next five years with the Saints followed by three years with the Texans. He still had one year to go on his Texans deal, but they released him in February to save $1.73MM against the 2021 salary cap.

Kelemete appeared in 14 games with five starts for the Texans last season. For his career, he’s made 42 total starts at different positions along the offensive line. His versatility could make him an appealing pickup for other clubs, which would rule him out for the Niners’ taxi squad.

WFT Cuts DT Gabe Wright

The Washington Football Team will release defensive tackle Gabe Wright (Twitter link via John Keim of ESPN.com). If he clears waivers, Washington will look to sign him to their 16-man practice squad.

Wright has bounced around the NFL since being selected in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, spending time with six different teams. The last time he saw the field for an NFL game was 2018 when he got into a pair of contests with the Raiders. Since that time, he’s had a cameo in the XFL and a short stint with the Jaguars.

After joining Jacksonville’s practice squad in December, he was waived by the team back in March. In total, the 29-year-old has seen time in 15 games (one start), collecting 12 tackles and two tackles for loss.

Giants Cut RB Corey Clement

The Giants have released running back Corey Clement, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Clement looked strong early on in practice, but it appears that he was leapfrogged by Devontae Booker and Gary Brightwell. Booker and Brightwell now figure to serve as the top RBs behind star Saquon Barkley.

Clement is best known his Super Bowl LII touchdown and taking the Eagles’ “Philly Special” snap. He spent the last four years with the Birds, though his usage fluctuated over time. In 2019, he did not see a carry in four games. Last year, after Jordan Howard left, he still only saw 21 carries in 15 games, spending most of his time on special teams. The Giants picked him up in May but couldn’t find a place for him here in late August.

All in all, Clement has logged 655 yards and seven touchdowns off of 163 carries, plus 37 catches for 340 yards and two touchdowns.

Bengals Release Michael Jordan

Tuesday marked the Last Dance in Cincinnati. The Bengals have waived former fourth-round pick and starting guard Michael Jordan (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com).

Jordan, 23, has appeared in 27 games for the Bengals over the last two years, including 19 starts. Of course, those weren’t great years for the Bengals’ front five.

This year, the Bengals invested a bit more in their O-Line, adding Riley Reiff at tackle while drafting Clemson’s Jackson Carman in Round 2.

The Bengals still have lots of cuts to make between now and 4pm ET/3pm CT. By that time, they’ll need to be at the league’s new 53-man roster maximum.