NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/8/16
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Blake Muir
- Cut: LB Davis Tull
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: G Jarell Broxton, DB Robertson Daniel
- Cut: QB David Fales
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Bruce Gaston
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Kadeem Edwards
- Cut: G Clay DeBord
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Wendall Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S Jimmy Hall, CB Tylor Patmon, QB Joel Stave
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks, OL Jarrod Pughsley, OT Zach Sterup
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Kevin Norwood
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Jarrod Pughsley
- Cut: WR Myles White
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: OT Tyreek Burwell
Seattle Seahawks
- Cut: WR Kenny Lawler
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Cody Riggs
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DB Lee Hightower
Ravens Audition Kennard Backman
- Tight end Kennard Backman, who appeared in seven games with the Packers last season, auditioned for the Ravens today (Twitter link).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Michael Campanaro, TE Mitchell Henry
- Cut: WR Dobson Collins
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE RaShaun Allen
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Trevor Bates
- Cut: Glenn Gronkowski
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: T Tyreek Burwell (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune)
Redskins Place TE Niles Paul On IR
The Redskins have placed tight end Niles Paul on injured reserve with an torn labrum, head coach Jay Gruden announced to the media today. In a corresponding move, Washington announced that it has signed offensive tackle Blaine Clausell off the Ravens’ practice squad.
[RELATED: Washington Redskins Depth Chart]
Paul, 27, had played on less than 20% of the Redskins’ offensive snaps, and had garnered only two targets while playing behind Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis. Known more for his run-blocking aptitude than his receiving prowess, Paul had also been a key special teams player, having seen action on nearly two-thirds of Washington’s ST plays. Paul is currently signed through the 2017 campaign as part of a three-year extension he agreed to in 2015.
Speaking to reporters, Gruden indicated that the Redskins would consider adding an outsider to fill Paul’s role, but the team also has an internal candidate to take his place. Derek Carrier, who began the season on the PUP list, began practicing again today, opening a three-week window during which Washington can choose to activate him. The Redskins also boast tight end Wes Saxton on their practice squad.
Clausell, 24, was an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2015. He’ll slot in behind Ty Nsehke, Morgan Moses, and Vinston Painter at offensive tackle while Trent Williams serves his four-game suspension.
Ravens Activate Matt Elam
Matt Elam is back. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the Ravens have elevated the safety to the active roster. To make room on the roster, the team has waived Robertson Daniel. Zrebiec also notes that the team has waived tight end Nic Jacobs from the practice squad.
Elam started practicing with the Ravens in late October, and the team had three weeks to activate the defensive back from the injured reserve. The team originally placed the 25-year-old on the IR in September after the safety was forced to undergo knee surgery. The Florida product was the team’s first-round pick back in 2013, and he started 26 of his 32 games between 2013 and 2014. Elam missed all of the 2015 campaign with a biceps injury, so he’ll be taking an NFL field for the first time in nearly two years. The safety has collected 127 tackles and seven passes defended during his career. Elam will presumably slide into a reserve role behind safeties Eric Weddle and Lardarius Webb.
“It’s a blessing, man. I can’t wait,” Elam said after Friday’s practice (via Zrebiec). “To come back [with] the first game against the Steelers, it’s very exciting. I’m so excited to get back out there and happy to get back out there if I get a chance.”
As the Ravens welcome back one defensive back, they’ve cut bait with another. Daniel, an undrafted free agent in 2015, was promoted to the active roster in late October. Meanwhile, it’s a bit of a surprise that the team decided to waive Jacobs as opposed to promoting the former McNeese State standout. As Zrebiec notes, the team will only have two healthy tight ends (Dennis Pitta and Darren Waller) for their upcoming game against the Steelers.
Ravens Claim Chris Lewis-Harris From Bengals
The Ravens have claimed cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris off waivers from the AFC North rival Bengals, reports Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer. In a corresponding move, Baltimore has waived corner Will Davis, per Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter links).
Lewis-Harris, whom the Bengals cut Thursday, will now join his second organization. The fifth-year man originally signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent from Chattanooga in 2012. Lewis-Harris, 27, logged 26 appearances with the Bengals, including seven this season. He also racked up his first career interception in a Week 4 win over Miami this year and participated in 31.7 percent of the Bengals’ special teams snaps during the first half of the season.
In addition to the Ravens, the Dolphins also put in a claim on Lewis-Harris, according to Owczarski. Notably, Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was previously the Bengals’ defensive backs coach. To Joseph’s chagrin, Lewis-Harris will head to Baltimore, which is banged up in the secondary and facing an important meeting with division-rival Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Practice Squad Updates: 11/2/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves.
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: TE Nic Jacobs
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Williams Poehls
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Connor Hamlett
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Terrell Watson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Brandon Burks (via Packersnews.com)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OL Zach Sterup
- Signed: OL Joe Cheek
- Cut: CB Tyler Patmon (Twitter link via Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Zaviar Gooden, TE Brian Leonhardt
- Cut: T Martin Wallace
Baltimore Ravens
- Cut: RB Stephen Houston
Chicago Bears
- Cut: OT Arturo Uzdavinis
Cleveland Browns
- Cut: WR Mitch Mathews
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Terrance Smith
New England Patriots
- Signed: OG Chase Farris, TE Austin Traylor
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Lamar Louis
- Cut: DL Royce LaFrance
New York Jets
- Signed: OT Jesse Davis, WR Myles White
- Cut: C Kyle Friend, LB Reshard Cliett
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: LB James Burgess
- Cut: WR Kevin Norwood
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Vinnie Sunseri
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR George Farmer
- Cut: QB Joel Stave, FB Julian Howsare
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Hubert
- Cut: OT Martin Wallace
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Dobson Collins
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Gerald Christian, WR Mose Frazier, CB Joe Powell
- Cut: WR Corey Washington
Cleveland Browns
- Cut: OL Mike Liedtke
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OT Matt Rotheram
- Cut: RB Mike James
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Keith Baxter
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Doran Grant (Twitter link via Howard Balzer), DT Louis Nix
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DL Bobby Richardson
- Cut: LB Deion Barnes
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Sterling Bailey, OT Austin Shepherd, DB Cedric Thompson
- Cut: TE Kyle Carter, TE Brian Leonhardt, QB Joel Stave
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Shamiel Gary, DT Anthony Johnson (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OT Keavon Milton
- Cut: TE Rashaun Allen
Seattle Seahawks
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Donteea Dye
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Matt Hazel
Ravens To Bring Matt Elam Back From IR
Safety Matt Elam will soon make his 2016 debut. The team announced that Elam is practicing today. The Ravens now have three weeks to make a call on whether to activate Elam, who is recovering from preseason knee surgery.
Elam, a 2013 first-round pick, missed the entire 2015 season with a biceps injury. His offseason knee injury was frustrating for both player and team alike, but he’ll now try and get things back on track. The Ravens are on bye this week, so Elam will have some extra time to get ready before facing the Steelers on Nov. 6.
The safety showed plenty of promise through his first two years in the league, compiling 127 tackles, seven passes defended, and an interception in 32 games. If the Ravens do not activate Elam in the next 21 days, they cannot put him on the field this season.