Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Fred Ross
Miami Dolphins
- Waived from injured reserve: QB Bryce Petty
Bills Trade Marshall Newhouse To Panthers
The Bills are trading offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse to the Panthers, a source tells Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (on Twitter). In exchange, the Bills will receive a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick (Twitter link via Joe Person of The Athletic).
Newhouse, 30 on Saturday, started 14 games at right tackle for the Raiders last season. In March, Oakland released him, leading him to sign a free agent deal with Buffalo. Newhouse was set to serve as a reserve after the trade of Cordy Glenn and the departure of Seantrel Henderson, but didn’t do much in his three games behind starters Dion Dawkins and Jordan Mills.
The Panthers’ O-Line, meanwhile, is coming off of a solid performance on Sunday which helped propel the team to a 31-21 win over the Bengals. The Panthers hope that Newhouse can fit in as a backup behind Taylor Moton and Amini Silatolu, particularly with Daryl Williams and Matt Kalil sidelined.
To replace Newhouse, the Bills are signing offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles. Sirles started 14 games from 2016-17 in Minnesota and spent the offseason with Carolina before being waived/injured.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/24/18
Here are today’ practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Dezmen Southward
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Pharaoh Brown
- Released: TE Pharoah McKever
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Rees Odhiambo
Panthers Promote CB Josh Hawkins
Josh Hawkins is back in the NFL. ESPN’s David Newton reports (via Twitter) that the Panthers have promoted the cornerback from their practice squad to the active roster. Hawkins will be taking the spot that opened up after the team placed safety Da’Norris Searcy on the injured reserve yesterday.
After going undrafted out of East Carolina during the 2016 draft, Hawkins proceeded to spend the next two seasons with the Packers. The 5-foot-10, 189-pound cornerback ended up making a name for himself in Green Bay, appearing in 26 games over his two years with the organization. That included a standout 2017 campaign where he compiled 38 tackles, six passes defended, and one forced fumble in 15 games (three starts).
Despite his breakout campaign, the Packers waived the 25-year-old prior to the regular season. The cornerback quickly caught on with the Panthers practice squad, where he’s spent the first two weeks of the season.
The Panthers’ defensive back depth has been depleted due to injury, with cornerbacks Ross Cockrell and Kevon Seymour sitting on the injured reserve (along with Searcy and safety Damian Parms). Hawkins will initially be placed on the bottom of the cornerback depth chart, but he could see playing time if any of Donte Jackson, James Bradberry, Captain Munnerlyn, Corn Elder, or Lorenzo Doss go down with injuries.
Panthers Place Da’Norris Searcy On IR
The Panthers have placed safety Da’Norris Searcy on IR, according to a team announcement. Searcy recently suffered his second concussion inside of a month, necessitating the move. 
Searcy, 29, suffered the first concussion in the Panthers’ second preseason game. In theory, he can return after eight weeks on IR, but no timetable has been given for the veteran.
Without Searcy, the Panthers will likely push rookie Rashaan Gaulden or Colin Jones into the starting lineup. Neither player is an ideal fill-in, so the Panthers may want to explore a free agent safety market that still includes the likes of former 49er Eric Reid.
Searcy joined the Panthers on a two-year, $5.7MM deal this offseason with the ability to make up to $3.1MM in 2017. A former fourth-round pick, Searcy managed 12 tackles and one interception last year while grading as the NFL’s No. 61 safety among 87 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/18/18
Here’s the latest from the NFL workout circuit on a busy Tuesday. All links to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account unless otherwise noted.
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Kennan Gilchrist, Hayes Pullard (Twitter link via Sirius XM’s Adam Caplan)
Atlanta Falcons
- CB Taveze Calhoun, CB Taurean Nixon, CB Malik Reaves (link)
Buffalo Bills
- DT Michael Bennett, DT Quinton Dial, QB Tyler Ferguson, CB Michael Hunter, OL Austin Pasztor, WR Hunter Sharp, WR Brandon Shippen, OL Jylan Ware (link)
Carolina Panthers
- T Isaiah Battle, TE Blake Bell, TE Billy Brown, TE Kyle Carter, T Roubbens Joseph, T Michael Ola, QB Dalton Sturm, T Darrell Williams (link)
Cleveland Browns
- WR Bennie Fowler, WR Dontrelle Inman, LB Azeem Victor (link)
Dallas Cowboys
- CB Jeremy Boykins, WR Chad Hansen, LB Ufomba Kamalu, WR Justice Liggins, DE Cameron Malveaux, WR Francis Owusu, T William Poehls, DT Christian Ringo, DT Adolphus Washington (link)
Detroit Lions
- DT Darius Kilgo (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, on Twitter)
Houston Texans
- RB Matthew Dayes, DE Anthony Lanier, RB Jeremy McNichols, CB Herb Waters, CB D.J. White, WR Isaac Whitney (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- T Gerhard de Beer, T Christian DiLauro, T Antonio Garcia, WR Francis Owusu, WR Brandon Reilly, WR Travis Rudolph (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Jerell Adams, TE Nick Keizer, TE David Wells, , (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Los Angeles Chargers
- G Spencer Drango, T Jamar McGloster (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Los Angeles Rams
- G Ian Silberman, T David Steinmetz, T Darrell Williams (link)
New England Patriots
- QB Kyle Allen, RB Andre Ellington, RB Charcandrick West (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
New Orleans Saints
- LB Jonathan Freeny, LB Josh Keyes, LB Darnell Sankey, LB Martrell Spaight (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- CB De’Vante Bausby, DE Hunter Dimick, DT Sealver Siliga, LB Emmanuel Smith, CB Herb Waters, LB Antwione Williams (via Caplan, on Twitter)
Tennessee Titans
- CB Makinton Dorleant, DT Darius Kilgo, DT Dee Liner, DT Jamie Meder, S Josh Robinson, CB Henre’ Toliver (link)
Washington Redskins
- G Kofi Amichia, G Jamil Douglas, T Chris Durant, C Jake Eldrenkamp, T Justin Evans, G Kaleb Johnson (link)
Greg Olsen Hopes To Return In Four To Five Weeks
- Rapoport confirms (via Twitter) a report from Tuesday that Panthers TE Greg Olsen is hoping to return much sooner than was originally anticipated when he fractured his foot in the team’s season-opening win over the Cowboys. Rapoport says that Olsen hopes to be back on the field in four to five weeks, and he will have the foot — the same one he broke last year — reevaluated after the season.
NFC Injury Notes: Rodgers, Falcons, Eagles
Aaron Rodgers will enter Sunday with a questionable designation on the Packers‘ injury report. The two-time MVP can improve his chances of playing, obviously, by practicing Saturday — when the Packers do more than the typical walkthrough — but not doing so won’t prevent him from playing. Mike McCarthy said he’d have no issues deploying Rodgers even if he doesn’t practice all week, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. The 13th-year Green Bay coach said his quarterback feels better than he did at the beginning of the week. Despite Rodgers’ performance on Sunday against the Bears and his history of playing through left knee pain, he’s not a lock to face the Vikings.
Here’s the latest from the NFC’s injury situations.
- Another key Falcons cog won’t be available Sunday. After the losses of Keanu Neal and Deion Jones, Atlanta won’t have the services of starting running back Devonta Freeman. He’s been declared out due to the knee injury he suffered against the Eagles. Tevin Coleman will start. The Falcons have rookie Ito Smith and recently signed Brian Hill in place as backups.
- Once again, the Giants won’t have their top pass rusher available. While the Giants are hoping to have Olivier Vernon in Week 3, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter), his high ankle sprain will keep him out against the Cowboys.
- Trai Turner‘s stay in Panthers concussion protocol will result in him missing this week’s game against the Falcons. He’s been declared out, putting Carolina down three starting offensive linemen — Turner and tackles Matt Kalil and Daryl Williams, both of whom residing on IR — going into its NFC South opener.
- The already-banged-up Eagles didn’t come out of Week 1 unscathed. Darren Sproles will miss Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. The 34-year-old passing-down back sustained a hamstring injury against the Falcons. He’ll join Carson Wentz and Alshon Jeffery among Philadelphia’s high-profile Week 2 absences.
- Already without IR-stationed cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, the Bucs won’t have Brent Grimes available to cover Eagle wideouts, either. Tampa Bay used two second-round picks on corners, Carlton Davis and M.J. Stewart, and could see an extended glimpse of the rookies’ development to this point in their careers.
- The Lions–49ers game will see the visitors without top guard T.J. Lang and the hosts missing deep threat Marquise Goodwin. Both players have been declared out. Kyle Shanahan said (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, on Twitter) Dante Pettis will start in place of Goodwin.
Trai Turner In Concussion Protocol
- It keeps getting worse for the Panthers. After serious injuries hit Greg Olsen and Daryl Williams in Week 1, Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner is in concussion protocol, David Newton of ESPN.com notes. Both of Carolina’s starting tackles — Williams and Matt Kalil — are already on IR. Both can return after eight weeks, but at this point, it can’t be assumed both will be back. Carolina could lose a more important player to its cause. Only two players can be recalled from IR. Amini Silatolu filled in for Turner last season, but he may have to play right tackle Sunday. However, the Panthers added Chris Clark to potentially do that. In addition to Silatolu, Newton writes Tyler Larsen and rookie UDFA Brendan Mahon will have a chance to start in place of Turner — in the event he can’t go Sunday.
Panthers Sign OT Chris Clark
The Panthers are bringing in some offensive line help, signing tackle Chris Clark according to Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).
The move is in response to Carolina placing starting right tackle Daryl Williams on injured reserve. Williams went down in the Week 1 opener against the Cowboys, a huge blow to an already depleted offensive line. They’ll now turn to Clark for help, who has plenty of starting experience if the Panthers decide to move him into the lineup.
Clark spent the last three seasons in Houston, where he started 26 games. He worked out for the Texans yesterday as they dealt with some offensive line injuries of their own. Clark came into the league as an undrafted free agent back in 2008, but didn’t appear in a game until 2010. He was able to carve out a role with the Broncos as a reserve, and eventually became a starter in Denver.
Clark’s 2017 was ended prematurely due to an ankle injury. Overall, it won’t be great for the Panthers if Clark is starting the rest of the way. He’s already 32 and hadn’t drawn much known interest before his Texans workout yesterday. Needless to say, it would be a massive downgrade from Williams.