Bernard Pierce

Broncos Cut RB Bernard Pierce

The Broncos are releasing running back Bernard Pierce, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Pierce had been with Denver since signing a reserve/futures deal in January.Bernard Pierce (vertical)

The 27-year-old showed potential as a rookie in 2012 with the Ravens, averaging 4.9 yards per carry on 108 attempts. He spent another two seasons with Baltimore, but his performance was up-and-down in his reserve role. In 2015, he hooked on with the Jaguars and totaled just six carries for 11 yards. He did not see the field in 2016 and he was even passed on by the Jets in December.

The Broncos still have a good number of running backs on the 90-man roster, including C.J. Anderson, Devontae Booker, Jamaal Charles, Juwan Thompson, and De’Angelo Henderson.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/2/17

Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2017 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters.

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

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Jets Audition RB Bernard Pierce

Bernard Pierce, who spent time with the Jets in training camp, worked out for them on Wednesday, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. The Jets are banged up at running back with injuries to Matt Forte and Bilal Powell. Pierce could help fill the gap for the team’s season finale and, theoretically, this could be an opportunity for him to audition for the 2017 roster. Bernard Pierce (vertical)

[RELATED: Jets To Retain Todd Bowles]

Pierce also auditioned for the Jets on Dec. 13, but that tryout didn’t lead to a deal. Same goes for his workouts for the Seahawks and Broncos. All year long, the veteran has been looking for an NFL home, but he has not seen the field in 2016.

The 25-year-old showed potential as a rookie in 2012 with the Ravens, averaging 4.9 yards per carry on 108 attempts. He spent another two seasons with Baltimore but his performance was up-and-down in his reserve role. In 2015, he hooked on with the Jaguars and totaled just six carries for 11 yards. It remains to be seen whether he can still be a contributor in the NFL.

Jets Place OT Breno Giacomini On IR

The Jets announced today that that they’ve placed right tackle Breno Giacomini and safety Marcus Gilchrist (who was thought to be in danger of missing the rest of the season) on injured reserve. To fill their roster spots, New York has signed safety Ronald Martin and offensive lineman Craig Watts from its practice squad.Breno Giacomini (vertical)

[RELATED: Matt Forte Likely Avoided Ligament Damage]

Giacomini, 31, started the season on the physically unable to perform list while dealing with back issues, and now that same injury is knocking him out for the rest of the 2016 campaign. The ailment will force Giacomini to undergo surgery, Jets head coach Todd Bowles told the media today. Giacomini is signed through the 2017 season at a base salary of $4.5MM, but New York can — and probably will — clear out most of that figure by releasing Giacomini in the spring.

Meanwhile, the Jets also worked out running back Bernard Pierce today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Pierce signed with Gang Green this summer, but never played a game for the club and was ultimately waived off IR. The former Baltimore draft pick has also auditioned for Seattle and Denver in recent weeks.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/6/2016

The Broncos worked out a dozen players today, including quarterbacks Sean Renfree and T.J. Yates, running backs Bernard Pierce and Zac Brooks, and wide receivers Keshawn Martin and Corey Washington, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Yates, 29, has only started seven games during his regular season career, but has somewhat miraculously managed two playoff starts, both for Houston. Each of the tryouts conducted by Denver today were for futures contract consideration, tweets Mike Klis of 9NEWS.

Here’s more from the workout front:

  • Searching for emergency interior line options, the Patriots tried out OL James Stone and Chris Watt today, reports Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter links), who adds that New England also took a look at wide receiver Dez Stewart. As Reiss wrote earlier today, the Pats could be forced to make a move at WR following an injury to Danny Amendola, and Stewart could potentially fill that void.
  • The Chiefs, dealing with injuries to Dontari Poe and Jaye Howard (placed on IR), auditioned veteran defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis and Montori Hughes, per Caplan (Twitter link). Kansas City also worked out inside linebackers James Burgess and Darnell Sankey on Saturday, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets.
  • The Packers tried out tight end Kennard Backman, quarterback Mike Bercovici, wide receiver Mitch Mathews, and running back Daryl Virgies, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Backman is familiar with Green Bay, as the Packers chose him in the sixth round of the 2015 draft.
  • Defensive back Dezmen Southward, defensive end Josh Boyd, and linebacker Ron Thompson all worked out for the Raiders today, per Caplan (Twitter link). Southward was a third-round pick by the Falcons in 2014.
  • The Buccaneers are working out 6’4″, 220-pound wide receiver Joe Hills, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He was the 2016 Arena League offensive Player of the Year for the Jacksonville Sharks.
  • Defensive lineman Frank Beltre and defensive back Tony Burnett were among the players that tried out for the Vikings today, according to Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Twitter link).
  • The Jets worked out long snappers Zac Triner, Rick Lovato, Daniel Dillon, and Kameron Canaday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link) and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. New York’s current long snapper is veteran Tanner Purdum.

Seahawks Work Out Bernard Pierce

The Seahawks worked out free agent running back Bernard Pierce today, according to Doug Kyed of NESN (Twitter link). In addition the club also auditioned six other players, all listed below courtesy of Kyed unless otherwise noted:"<strong

Clearly, Seattle is still looking to augment its backfield depth after the revelation that Thomas Rawls will be out for several more weeks while dealing with a hairline fibula fracture. Christine Michael will continue to dominate touches, and the Seahawks also boast C.J Prosise, Alex Collins, and the recently-promoted Terrence Magee on the roster.

Pierce, 25, has 359 career carries to his name, most coming with Baltimore, for whom Pierce played during the first three seasons of his career. The Ravens waived Pierce in 2015 following a DUI arrest, and he was ultimately picked up by the Jaguars. Even with a two-game suspension hanging over his head, Pierce managed to land with the Jets this offseason, but quickly was placed on injured reserve and then released.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jets Release Bernard Pierce From IR

The Jets have released running back Bernard Pierce, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). New York had placed Pierce on injured reserve earlier this week, so the club clearly reached an injury settlement with the veteran back.Bernard Pierce (vertical)

[RELATED: Jets sign RB Lache Seastrunk]

Pierce was signed by the Jets late last month as running back depth, but his hamstring injury kept him from getting on the field and showing what he can do. The 25-year-old appeared in seven games with the Jaguars in 2015 and totaled just six carries for 11 yards. Pierce spent the first three seasons of his career with the Ravens after they used a 2012 third-round pick on him, and he showed significant promise as a rookie. That year, the ex-Temple Owl averaged 4.9 yards per rush on 108 attempts. Pierce added a combined 802 rushing yards the next two seasons in Baltimore, but on a meager 3.3 yards per carry.

In May, the NFL handed Pierce a two-game suspension, though the reason for the ban was not disclosed. In the past, Pierce has dealt with substance abuse issues and he was arrested for a DUI charge prior to the 2015 season. If he latches on with another club, he’ll have to serve that ban with the new team, but he can also complete the suspension as a free agent.

The Jets have already found a capable replacement for Pierce, as they agreed to sign former Falcons running back Antone Smith last week.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. 

Jets Place Pierce On IR, Sign Antone Smith

The Jets placed running back Bernard Pierce on IR and signed running back Antone Smith, the team announced. Bernard Pierce (vertical)

Pierce was signed by the Jets late last month as running back depth, but his hamstring injury kept him from getting on the field and showing what he can do. The 25-year-old appeared in seven games with the Jaguars in 2015 and totaled just six carries for 11 yards. He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Ravens after they used a 2012 third-round pick on him, and he showed significant promise as a rookie. That year, the ex-Temple Owl averaged 4.9 yards per rush on 108 attempts. Pierce added a combined 802 rushing yards the next two seasons in Baltimore, but on a meager 3.3 yards per carry. Had he made the Jets’ roster, Pierce would have had to serve a suspension for the first two weeks of the regular season.

Smith was a big-play specialist for the Falcons in 2013 and 2014, racking up an incredible 289 rushing yards on just 28 carries (10.3 yards per attempt), adding another 232 yards through the air on 15 receptions. Smith found paydirt seven times on his 43 touches. Last year, he appeared in five games for the Bears but recorded only one carry.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jets To Sign Bernard Pierce

The Jets are adding another veteran to their group of running backs. On Wednesday morning, the Jets and tailback Bernard Pierce reached agreement on a deal, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.Bernard Pierce (vertical)

[RELATED: Jets, Darron Lee Clashing Over Fourth-Year Guarantee]

If Pierce makes the Jets’ roster, he won’t be with the team for the first two weeks of the regular season. In May, the NFL handed Pierce a two-game suspension, though the reason for the ban was not disclosed. In the past, Pierce has dealt with substance abuse issues and he was arrested for a DUI charge prior to the 2015 season.

Pierce appeared in seven games with the Jaguars in 2015 and totaled just six carries for 11 yards. The 24-year-old spent the first three seasons of his career with the Ravens after they used a 2012 third-round pick on him, and he showed significant promise as a rookie. That year, the ex-Temple Owl averaged 4.9 yards per rush on 108 attempts. Pierce added a combined 802 rushing yards the next two seasons in Baltimore, but on a meager 3.3 yards per carry. As a free agent, he hasn’t publicly drawn interest from any NFL teams this offseason.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bernard Pierce, Jace Davis Receive Suspensions

6:16pm: Free agent wideout Jace Davis has also received a suspension, reports Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). The league has given Davis a harsher punishment than it handed Pierce, suspending him for four weeks. The Broncos waived Davis in February after a DUI arrest, per Zac Jackson of PFT. Davis, 24, hasn’t recorded any stats during his NFL career.

5:52pm: The NFL has suspended free agent running back Bernard Pierce for the first two weeks of the 2016 season, reports Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link). No reason has been given yet for Pierce’s suspension. It’s worth noting, though, that he has dealt with substance abuse issues in the past, having been arrested on a DUI charge last offseason.

Pierce appeared in seven games with the Jaguars in 2015 and totaled just six carries for 11 yards. The 24-year-old spent the first three seasons of his career with the Ravens after they used a 2012 third-round pick on him, and he showed significant promise as a rookie. That year, the ex-Temple Owl averaged 4.9 yards per rush on 108 attempts. Pierce added a combined 802 rushing yards the next two seasons in Baltimore, but on a meager 3.3 yards per carry. As a free agent, he hasn’t publicly drawn interest from any NFL teams this offseason.