Sunday Transactions: NFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Atlanta Falcons:
- Claimed off waivers: Nate Stupar, LB (via Vaughn McClure on Twitter)
- Cut: Tim Dobbins, LB (via Adam Caplan on Twitter)
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Ricardo Allen, CB; Sean Baker, S; Harland Gunn, G; Terren Jones, T; Bernard Reedy, WR; Travian Robertson, DT; Jacques Smith, OLB; Jerome Smith, RB
Carolina Panthers:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Carrington Byndom, CB; Adarius Glanton, LB; Tavarres King, WR; Robert Lester, S; Marcus Lucas, WR; Andrew McDonald, OT; Darrin Reaves, RB; Micanor Regis, DT; D.J. Smith, LB; Casey Walker, DT
New Orleans Saints:
- Signed to practice squad: Brandon Coleman, WR (via Evan Woodbery on Twitter); Terrence Frederick, CB (via Larry Holder on Twitter); Seantavius Jones, WR (via Nick Underhill on Twitter); Tavon Rooks, T (via Woodbery on Twitter); Trevin Wade, CB (via Woodbery on Twitter); Todd Davis, LB (via Mike Triplett on Twitter)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
- Claimed off waivers (officially announced): Garrett Gilkey, G (via Gilkey on Twitter)
- Cut (officially announced): Josh Allen, OL
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Cameron Brate, TE (via Roy Cummings on Twitter); Jeff Demps, WR (via Cummings on Twitter); Mike Kafka, QB; Brandon Magee, LB (via Cummings on Twitter); Matthew Masifilo, DT (via Cummings on Twitter); Solomon Patton, WR (via Cummings on Twitter), Brandon Dixon, CB (via Rick Stroud on Twitter)
Panthers Links: Benjamin, Gettleman, Cuts
Two of the three position groups on the Panthers that were the most uncertain heading into the offseason remain that way as the regular season is only a week away. The offensive line and the secondary could struggle in 2014, but the team had questions at those spots last year and found ways to patch up the holes, writes David Newton of ESPN.com. Hopefully rookie first-round pick Kelvin Benjamin can do his part to sure up the lack of receiving threats on the team.
Here are some other links from around the Panthers as the season draws near:
- General manager David Gettleman made a few gambles this offseason, and the future of the team depends on how these moves pay off, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Gettleman completely revamped the secondary and the receivers, and also franchising Greg Hardy will go a long way to determining his legacy as a general manager.
- Person also breaks down the team’s final roster, going through all the cuts and surprising keepers, as the team looks to build on a strong 2013.
- The Panthers have not repeated as division champions in the NFC South since the NFL realigned divisions in 2002, but has high hopes to do so for the first time in 2014, after going from worst-to-first in 2013, according to Person.
- While Person is optimistic, his colleague Tom Sorensen notes that it will be hard to replicate their success in 2013. He sees their records in close games will be hard to keep up, and it would be unlikely to see them go 5-1 in the division again.
- Part of the reason the Panthers are optimistic about making it back to the playoffs is their impressive draft record as of late. Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer notes that the team believes it has hit big on their last four first-round picks, with Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, Star Lotulelei and Benjamin.
- Jones also writes that no matter what problems the team has on offense and in the secondary, the team is built with the front seven. He compares the team to a bucket of rocks, while they fill it with the pebble at receiver and corner, with free agents, the team has drafted big rocks and boulders along their defensive line and with their linebackers.
- Two surprises to make the team were Andrew Norwell and David Focault, offensive linemen who were on the outside looking in a few months ago, writes Bill Voth of the BlackAndBlueReview.com. Norwell is a former Ohio State Buckeye who played well in the preseason. Focault comes from the University of Montreal, and while he was outmatched at times in the NFL, the team was worried he would not clear waivers.
Panthers Cut 14, Roster Sits At 53
The Panthers have made the necessary roster moves in order to be in compliance of the NFL’s 53-man roster limit:
Waived:
- Derek Dennis (G)
- James Dockery (CB)
- Adarius Glanton (LB)
- Marcus Lucas (WR)
- Tom Nelson (S)
- Drake Nevis (DT)
- Darrin Reaves (RB)
- Micanor Reagis (DT)
- D.J. Smith (LB)
- Josh Thomas (CB)
- Michael Zordich (FB)
Waived-injured:
- Kevin Hughes (OT)
Waived with injury settlement:
- Mike McNeill (TE)
- Anderson Russell (S)
Panthers Cut Eight Players
1:28pm: Carolina has cut second-year safety Robert Lester, according to Person (via Twitter).
1:25pm: According to The Charlotte Observer’s Joe Person (via Twitter), the Panthers have also cut rookie cornerback Carrington Byndom. Person notes that the team is hoping to bring him back on their practice squad.
10:18am: The Panthers have started the process of trimming down their roster, and among the notable cuts is guard Chris Scott (first reported by ProFootballTalk.com on Twitter). The former Steelers fifth-round pick finally caught on with Carolina in 2013, starting eight games.
The rest of the Panthers moves are below:
- Tavarres King (WR) (via Joe Person on Twitter)
- Denicos Allen (LB) (via Person on Twitter)
- Chris Scott (OG)
- Casey Walker (DT) (via Person on Twitter)
- David Foucault (OL) (via Person on Twitter)
- Andrew McDonald (OT) (via Brett Tessler on Twitter)
Panthers Trim Roster To 75 Players
The Panthers have trimmed their roster from 79 players to 75 without any additional cuts, the team announced today in a press release. Quarterback Matt Blanchard, tight end D.C. Jefferson, and offensive lineman Kevin Matthews were placed on the team’s injured reserve list, while wide receiver De’Andre Presley landed on the PUP list.
Pressley is the latest wideout to be removed from the Panthers’ active roster after the team’s first wave of cuts this week included receivers Marvin McNutt and Tiquan Underwood. Considering the receiving corps was viewed as an area of weakness for Carolina heading into training camp, it’ll be interesting to see if the club addresses the position in free agency at all before the season begins.
Of the four players taken off Carolina’s active roster today, only Matthews has notable regular season experience in the NFL, having started a pair of games for the Titans in 2012.
Cam Newton Could Miss Season Opener
Panthers’ star quarterback Cam Newton was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his ribs, which would put him in doubt for the season opener against the Buccaneers, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter).
Newton has already been ruled out of Thursday’s preseason game against the Steelers, but the team hopes to have him back in time for the first game of the regular season.
Although starters do not necessarily play in the preseason finale, Newton was expected to see some action according to head coach Ron Rivera, writes John Breech of CBSSports.com.
Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer is more optimistic, writing that Newton could rejoin the team as early as next week.
Person did take to Twitter to give an overview of the team’s current quarterback depth chart going into the final preseason game. With Newton out with cracked ribs, and fourth stringer Matt Blanchard concussed, that leaves only Derek Anderson and Joe Webb healthy for the game.
To add to the confusion, Anderson’s wife is pregnant and due any day now, so there is potential that he might also be forced to miss the game for the birth of his child. That would leave former wide receiver Webb as the only option under center.
While this is not an ideal situation, making sure Newton is healthy and able to play during the regular season is the priority. After a tumultuous offseason, any time missed by their starting quarterback could be disastrous to a team that will struggle on offense even with him, given the lack of talent on the offensive line and with the reeceivers.
Minor Moves: Sunday
Here are Sunday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- The Falcons have placed G Mike Johnson and LB Marquis Spruill on their injured reserve list, per ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (Twitter links).
- The Bears have cut return man Darius Reynaud, tweets Wilson. Reynaud was signed by Chicago on August 18.
- CB Vernon Kearney has been cut by the Chiefs, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter).
Earlier Updates:
- The Chiefs have cut tight end Adam Schiltz, tweets Wilson. Schiltz was claimed off waivers from the Titans in July.
- The Panthers have cut WR Tiquan Underwood, who signed a two-year deal with the club back in March, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The team also released WR Toney Clemons, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. The fact that Underwood and Clemons could not crack Carolina’s fairly thin receiving corps does not speak well of their chances to land another job in the league this season.
Panthers Cut Marvin McNutt, Seven Others
Having already released receivers Tiquan Underwood and Toney Clemons, the Panthers have cut eight more players, the team announced in a press release:
- Jordan Gay, P
- Linden Gaydosh, DT
- Alex Hall, DE
- Oscar Johnson, OT
- Marvin McNutt, WR
- Anthony Morales, LB
- Kealoah Porales, WR
- Craig Roh, DE
Each of the players listed above was waived, since none has accrued more than four NFL seasons. The most notable name here is probably McNutt — a sixth-round pick by the Eagles in 2012, he was expected to compete for playing time in Carolina’s depleted receiving corps.
Poll: Which Rookie WR Will Have Best Season?
They say there are some things you can’t teach in sports. One of them is size. Another is the ability to make a jaw-dropping one-handed catch after tripping just one second prior. Bills rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins is lacking in the first department but he’s got the latter down pat.
With top-level speed, excellent agility, and soft hands, Watkins was almost universally regarded as the top WR talent in the 2014 class. So, he’s a lock to win this poll, right? Maybe not. Second-year quarterback EJ Manuel boasts a strong arm but he’s far from elite and one has to wonder how many quality balls he can deliver to Manuel. The Clemson product is also working through a rib injury which could possibly hamper him to start the season.
Moving further down the draft board, there are plenty of other wide receivers with an opportunity to make a name for themselves in year one. The Panthers overhauled their entire receiving corps this offseason and many are expecting big things out of FSU’s Kelvin Benjamin. In New Orleans, many are skeptical of what the once solid Marques Colston can do and the hype around Brandin Cooks is reaching a fever pitch. And, without DeSean Jackson, Jordan Matthews could see a lot of balls thrown his way in Philadelphia. Beyond those guys, there are even more promising WR’s from this year’s receiver-heavy draft. Who among them will have the best 2014 season?
Which Rookie WR Will Have The Best 2014?
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Brandin Cooks (Saints) 18% (142)
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Jordan Matthews (Eagles) 17% (138)
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Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers) 16% (125)
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Sammy Watkins (Bills) 12% (92)
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Mike Evans (Bucs) 11% (88)
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Other 9% (71)
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Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants) 7% (59)
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Cody Latimer (Broncos) 6% (49)
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Marqise Lee (Jaguars) 4% (30)
Total votes: 794
South Notes: Gonzalez, Jaguars, Panthers
Former Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez says he’s “happily retired,” and is settling into his new role as a CBS analyst, despite receiving calls from teams with interest in signing him, writes Bob Glauber of Newsday. Still, the 14-time Pro Bowler acknowledges that if a Super Bowl contender were to call him late in the season, it wouldn’t necessarily be easy to say no.
“The temptation would be there, but I don’t know what the gain would be,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve always wanted a ring. That’s been my main goal as a player over the last 15 years of my career. You’re really trying to get that ultimate goal. … But I’d be a mercenary to come in and get a Super Bowl ring, play with a team for, what, six, seven weeks? And even if I got the ring, it wouldn’t be the same as going through the fight with the team from the beginning to the end. I don’t think that will happen. The temptation will be there, but I’m 100% happy with my decision.”
Here’s more from out of the NFL’s two South divisions:
- The Jaguars worked out former Chiefs fullback Eric Kettani this morning, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
- ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco tries his luck at predicting which 10 players will make up the Jaguars‘ practice squad to start the regular season.
- As David Newton of ESPN.com and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer write, the Panthers‘ decision to trade running back Kenjon Barner to the Eagles makes sense, considering Barner wasn’t a great bet to beat out Fozzy Whittaker and Darrin Reaves to earn a spot on Carolina’s roster. The Panthers will only receive a seventh-round pick if Barner spends four or more games on the Eagles’ active gameday roster this season, but that’s better than losing him for nothing.
- John McClain of the Houston Chronicle interprets J.J. Watt‘s public comments about a contract extension yesterday as a signal that the star defensive lineman is a little frustrated with how slow talks between his camp and the Texans are moving.