Eagles Release CB Greedy Williams
The Eagles have made a handful of roster moves this morning, including releasing cornerback Greedy Williams (per ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter). The team also released punter Ty Zentner and waived/injured wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland, defensive tackle Noah Elliss, and cornerback Zech McPhearson.
With five new roster openings, the Eagles have signed defensive tackles Robert Cooper, Marvin Wilson, and Caleb Sanders and linebackers Tyreek Maddox-Williams and Quinton Bell.
Williams spent the first four seasons of his career with the Browns. The second-round pick started all 12 of his appearances as a rookie, but after missing the 2020 season with a shoulder injury, the defensive back found himself in and out of the lineup following his return. He started eight of his 16 appearances in 2021, and he was limited to only one start in 11 games this past season.
The 25-year-old inked a one-year deal with the Eagles this offseason. As Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan tweets, Williams is owed $600K of the $1.35MM contract he inked with Philly.
Zentner’s release doesn’t come as a huge surprise. The Kansas State product was added as an undrafted free agent during the offseason and was expected to provide some competition at the position. This move likely means that Arryn Siposs will serve as the Eagles’ punter for a third-straight season.
Among the team’s additions, Bell has the most NFL experience. The 2019 seventh-round pick got into five games with the Buccaneers in 2020, although he didn’t record a stat. He’s spent much of the past two years with the Falcons organization, getting into four games while splitting his snaps between defense and special teams.
As for the trio of waived/injured players, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that the Eagles expect all three players to clear waivers and revert to injured reserve. While Cleveland, Elliss, and McPhearson wouldn’t be able to play for Philly during the 2023 campaign, the Eagles would retain their rights.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/23
Minor transactions around the league heading into Week 2 of the preseason:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: G Braylon Jones
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived/injured: CB Jordan Swann
- Waived with injury settlement: S Jaquan Amos
Chicago Bears
- Reverted to IR: LB Buddy Johnson
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Larry Rountree
- Waived: G Keaton Sutherland
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR D.J. Montgomery
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: T Nicolas Melsop
Miami Dolphins
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: CB Mark Gilbert
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: QB Jordan Ta’amu
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OLB LaDarius Hamilton, DT Tomasi Laulile
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Anthony Montalvo
Ta’amu and Laulile become the 55th and 56th players from the 2023 XFL season to sign an NFL contract. Ta’amu has spent time with five different NFL squads since going undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2019. In 2022, Ta’amu lead the USFL in both passing yards and touchdowns. In this past XFL season, Ta’amu was awarded Offensive Player of the Year honors for his efforts in DC. After gaining starting experience in the USFL and XFL over the past two years, Ta’amu will hope to make his first NFL appearance with his sixth NFL team.
Colts Sign WR James Washington
Genard Avery‘s season-ending knee injury will lead to him joining Ashton Dulin, who also suffered a season-ending knee injury this week, on IR. To fill Avery’s roster spot, the Colts signed James Washington.
Washington is running out of time to prove himself in the NFL. The Cowboys and Saints have released the former second-round pick over the past year, and the Giants did not use him in a game after adding him late last season.
The Colts will see how Washington looks in their system. Teams must trim their rosters from 90 to 53 by 3pm August 29. After two years of going back to a tiered cut system, the NFL reintroduced the 90-to-53 slash this year. That will lead to more players hitting waivers than at previous points in the 2020s. This does not affect Washington, who is a vested veteran. But the ex-Steelers draftee does not have much time to prove himself in Indianapolis.
The Steelers used Washington as a regular in 2019, when an elbow injury sidelined Ben Roethlisberger after two games. Teaming with ex-college teammate Mason Rudolph, Washington put together his best NFL stretch. He totaled 44 receptions for 735 yards and three touchdowns that year. Although Washington’s five touchdown receptions helped Pittsburgh bounce back and win the NFC North in 2020, Chase Claypool usurped him in the team’s receiver rotation. Washington only finished with 285 receiving yards in 2021. A foot fracture sustained early during Cowboys training camp last year derailed the 5-foot-11 deep threat in Dallas.
Washington, 27, will join a few wideouts to sign with the Colts this year. Amari Rodgers, Breshad Perriman and Isaiah McKenzie as veterans picked up during Shane Steichen‘s initial months as head coach. The team will determine how Washington and this trio fit alongside roster locks Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and third-round pick Josh Downs.
With 16-man practice squads able to include up to six vested veterans, Washington would also have a chance to land here with the Colts, who waived wide receiver Malik Turner with an injury designation Friday. A former Seahawks, Cowboys and 49ers cog, Turner signed with the Colts in February.
Ravens Sign Jadeveon Clowney
2:22pm: Clowney’s deal includes base compensation of $2.5MM and has a maximum value of $6MM via incentives, per Zrebiec and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter links). The latter figure matches the guaranteed value of Houston’s pact with the Panthers, so the Ravens’ new edge veteran will likely end up being a less costly replacement.
11:32am: Not long after visiting the team on a workout, Jadeveon Clowney has circled back to the Ravens. The veteran edge rusher has agreed to a deal with Baltimore, reports Josina Anderson of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The agreement has since been confirmed by a team announcement. 
Clowney met with the Ravens last week, signaling the interest which existed between team and player. The former No. 1 pick had been on the market since his Browns release, and he had not seen much of a market until recently. Baltimore was interested in other veteran edge rushers as well, but it comes as little surprise that they have come to terms.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds, to no surprise, that this Clowney deal is one year in length. Jeff Zrebiec of the Athletic notes, meanwhile, that the contract was agreed to last night and it will be signed as early as today (Twitter links). The 30-year-old has made a career of short-term agreements, bouncing around the league while posting inconsistent numbers in the sack department. His 2021 total of nine in that regard showed promise for his long-term future in Cleveland, but things took a much different turn with the Browns last season.
Remarks related to playing time and usage led to the three-time Pro Bowler being sent home for the season finale. A public apology ensued, but it nevertheless came as no surprise when he was released in March, setting up yet another free agency period. A return to the AFC South seemed possible at one point, with Clowney noting a reunion with the Texans was on his radar. He also visited the Jaguars recently, but Jacksonville was not prepared to make a contract offer.
Instead, the South Carolina product will join a Ravens team which was in search of a veteran edge rusher. The departure of Justin Houston left the team with recent draftees Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo and Tavius Robinson, along with veteran Tyus Bowser in place as pass-rushers. The latter has succeeded while serving in a versatile role rather than one predicated solely on sack production, while the former three have combined to play 34 regular season NFL games. Clowney, a veteran of Houston, Seattle, Tennessee and Cleveland, has 109 games to his name and should serve as a rotational edge defender.
Baltimore addressed a lack of healthy corners with the signing of Ronald Darby yesterday. That contract has been followed up by one for Clowney, who will be counted on as a depth addition to a Ravens front which ranked sixth in the league with 48 sacks last season. While that has not proven to be a dependable skillset for the latter, he should play a notable role in his latest new home.
Lions Waive WR Denzel Mims
Denzel Mims‘ time in Detroit has come to an end rather quickly. The former Jets wideout has been dealing with multiple ailments and will be waived with an injury designation, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). The move is now official.
The former second-round pick was traded from the Jets to the Lions last month in a move aimed at giving him a fresh start and providing Detroit with low-cost receiver depth. The Day 3 picks swapped in that trade were conditional on Mims making the Lions’ 53-man roster. Since that will not be happening, both teams will retain their respective selections.
Mims entered the NFL with considerable expectations after posting two 1,000-yard seasons in college. He flashed potential as a deep threat during his rookie season, averaging 15.5 yards per catch on 23 receptions. The Baylor product saw his playing time cut dramatically after that, however, and his production over the past two seasons left him on the roster bubble.
New York’s preference was to find a trade partner for Mims rather than waiving him themselves, but he will now find himself on the open market nevertheless. Rapoport notes that the 25-year-old suffered a calf injury while rehabbing an ankle injury picked up earlier in training camp. Today’s news thus comes as little surprise, and the Lions will move forward with a receiving corps which will be without Jameson Williams for the rest of the summer after the latter encountered a hamstring issue.
To fill the roster spot opened up by Mims’ departure, the Lions are signing Jason Moore, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 (Twitter link). The former UDFA has made 20 career appearances in the NFL, all with the Chargers. Unlike Mims, Moore has a background on special teams, something which could help the latter in his bid to earn a 53-man roster spot. The former, meanwhile, will turn his attention to recovery and seek out another new opportunity when healthy.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/23
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OT Trevor Reid
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Davion Taylor
- Waived/injured: LB Buddy Johnson
- Released from IR: TE Jake Tonges
Denver Broncos
- Reverted to IR: DE Forrest Merrill
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Tyler Adams
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR: WR DJ Turner
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from PUP: DT Austin Johnson
- Reverted to IR: CB Kemon Hall
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Aaron Dykes
- Waived: K Jack Podlesny
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Nehemiah Shelton
- Released: RB Damarea Crockett
- Released from IR: OT Yodny Cajuste
- Reverted to IR: CB Javelin Guidry
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released from IR: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR: CB Anthony Averett
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Montrae Braswell, NT Matthew Gotel, WR Justin Marshall
- Waived: TE Noah Gindorff, RB Wayne Taulapapa
- Waived/injured: WR Ra’Shaun Henry
Players placed on injured reserve during training camp or the preseason can’t be activated during the 2023 campaign. However, if they’re released from IR (often via an injury settlement), they’re free to sign and play elsewhere. For instance, Anthony Averett will surely be a player who can catch on with a new squad. The cornerback has seen time in 51 games (27 starts), collecting 114 tackles, three interceptions, and 23 passes defended. He had a career season in 2021 with the Ravens, starting all 14 of his appearances while chipping in 54 tackles, 11 passes defended, and three picks. He spent the 2022 season with the Raiders, starting six of his seven appearances while dealing with a pair of IR stints. He caught on with the 49ers earlier this month.
Among today’s signings, Davion Taylor is an intriguing addition to the Bears linebackers room. The former third-round pick spent the first two seasons of his career with the Eagles, including a 2021 campaign where he started six of his nine appearances while compiling 41 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. A knee injury ended that breakout campaign early, and he spent most of the 2022 season on the Eagles’ practice squad.
Colts’ Ashton Dulin Tears ACL, Lands On IR
A backup wide receiver and special-teamer on the past four Colts teams, Ashton Dulin will not play this season. The veteran wideout suffered a torn ACL in practice, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, and will be sidelined for the year.
The Colts have already responded with a roster move. Placing Dulin on IR, the team signed wide receiver Tyler Adams. A former Butler target, Adams initially stayed in Indianapolis as a UDFA this offseason. The Colts had waived Adams in May, but after Dulin’s injury, he will join the team in training camp.
Dulin, 26, has been with the Colts since joining the team as a UDFA in 2019. Becoming a steady NFLer out of Division II Malone College (Ohio), Dulin has made three starts over the past two seasons. Injuries to higher-profile Colts pass catchers brought in Dulin, who totaled five receptions for 79 yards in a Week 2 start against the Jaguars last year. Dulin returned to his backup role the following week and finished with 15 receptions for 207 yards and a touchdown in 2022.
A foot injury, one that sent Dulin to IR, impacted that total. Dulin also spent time on IR in 2020. Despite making a coaching change this year, the Colts re-signed Dulin on a two-year, $7.2MM deal. The 6-foot-1 wideout received $3.5MM guaranteed.
Indianapolis has made some adjustments at receiver this offseason. The now-Shane Steichen-led team signed Isaiah McKenzie and drafted fellow slot Josh Downs in the third round. The team also recently added Amari Rodgers, who asked for his Texans release, and signed Breshad Perriman earlier this offseason. Mike Strachan, Juwann Winfree and Vyncint Smith also reside as aspiring backups in Indianapolis.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/16/23
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: DE Jalen Redmond
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Dwayne Washington
- Reverted to IR: K Elliott Fry
- Waived: DT Forrest Merrill
Detroit Lions
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: WR Trey Quinn
Green Bay Packers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: WR Jeff Cotton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reverted to IR: CB Anthony Witherstone
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Matt Hankins
- Waived/injured: CB Kemon Hall
New York Giants
- Reverted to IR: T Devery Hamilton
- Waived/injured: LB Troy Brown
New York Jets
- Waived/injured: CB Javelin Guidry
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: QB Chris Streveler
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DE Darryl Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Michael Dwumfour
- Waived: OLB Zach McCloud
Fry goes unclaimed on the waiver wire after being waived with an injury designation yesterday by the Broncos. This could mean that Brett Maher won’t be able to run away with the job to replace longtime kicker Brandon McManus this year. With Fry remaining on the roster, Maher will need to stay sharp in order to stay the only active kicker on the team’s depth chart.
Guidry is expected to undergo surgery after injuring his knee in a joint practice with the Buccaneers today, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The Jets will hope he lasts through waivers as he has impressed so far in camp. If he does, New York will likely revert him to injured reserve in order to keep him on the roster.
Falcons Place IOL Matt Hennessy On IR
Not having practiced since late July, third-year interior offensive lineman Matt Hennessy will head to injured reserve in Atlanta, according to Falcons digital managing editor Scott Bair. Hennessy has been dealing with an unspecified injury since then, one that will apparently require a stay on IR. 
This continues what has been an up-and-down start to Hennessy’s NFL career thus far. After getting drafted in the third round out of Temple in 2020, Hennessy was used sparingly as a rookie, appearing in 13 games but only starting the final two of the season at center. With Alex Mack in San Francisco the following year, Hennessy took over as a full-time starter for the Falcons in 2021. Overall, Hennessy put forth a strong performance, boosted by elite run-blocking while struggling in pass protection.
Last year, the team decided to employ 2021 fourth-round pick Drew Dalman at the starting center spot after a training camp position battle, playing Hennessy only on special teams. A Week 9 injury placed starting left guard Elijah Wilkinson on IR, allowing Hennessy back into the starting lineup. A knee injury would force Hennessy onto IR for the next six weeks before he would eventually come back to start the final two games of the season.
Head coach Arthur Smith has said that Hennessy’s issue is related to something he was dealing with last year, so it’s possible that late-season knee injury is continuing to trouble him. In his absence, second-round rookie Matthew Bergeron has been consistently handling first-team duties for the Falcons. Hennessy entered camp as the team’s starting left guard but with the expectation that he would need to hold off Bergeron for the role.
The injury has not only opened the door to opportunity for Bergeron, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, second-year backup center Ryan Neuzil has benefitted, as well. While playing at left guard since losing the starting center job, Hennessy was still the top option to replace Dalman at center, should he succumb to injury. Hennessy’s chronic absence due to his own injury, though, has allowed Neuzil to work his way up the depth chart, making him the preferred option over Hennessy in certain injury situations.
It’s fortunate that the Falcons have such strong options to deal with Hennessy’s absence as it looks like he will be out for some time. According to another report from Ledbetter, Hennessy is expected to undergo surgery for his injury that will require a recovery period of 6-7 months, likely sidelining him for the entire 2023 season. If Hennessy is out for the year, that opens the door for Bergeron to start at left guard and Neuzil to solidify his role as the team’s top backup center.
In addition to the new roster spot opening up in Atlanta due to Hennessy’s move to IR, the Falcons filled the roster spot opened yesterday by linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji‘s placement on IR. According to Josh Alper of NBC Sports, Atlanta signed defensive lineman Delontae Scott to the roster today. A former undrafted free agent out of SMU, Scott has spent time in Green Bay, Pittsburgh, and Carolina over his first three years in the league. He provides some camp depth on defensive line for the rest of the preseason.
Patriots To Sign Ezekiel Elliott
AUGUST 16: Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports that Elliott’s base compensation actually consists of $1.55MM in salary and a $600K signing bonus. To no surprise, much of the maximum $6MM value is tied to incentives for availability, playing time and production.
Elliott will earn $50K weekly in roster bonuses, and he can see further payments based on scrimmage yards totals. Bonuses in that regard are staggered at $300K increments, and can reach up to $1.5MM in the unlikely event he records 1,475 yards of offense (which would be his highest total since 2019). Playing time incentives are also included, and they max out at the 70% snap threshold, something Elliott is likewise doubtful to reach serving as Stevenson’s backup. As a result, the three-time Pro Bowler can be expected to see modest earnings in 2023 as he aims to build his 2024 free agent value.
AUGUST 14: The first major domino on the veteran running back market has fallen. Ezekiel Elliott is expected to sign with the Patriots on a one-year deal with a maximum value of $6MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (Twitter link). ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the pact includes a base salary of $3MM and a $1MM signing bonus. 
For some time now, New England has seemed to be the most logical destination for the former rushing champion. Elliott’s only official visit was with the Patriots, though the team has also shown interest in other veteran backs. The parties will now enter into an agreement as he looks to rebuild his value in a backup role. Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that New England’s offer had been on the table for a matter of weeks, but it was “tweaked” yesterday.
The Patriots were connected for a stretch with Dalvin Cook, but finances led them to turn their attention to Elliott. Still, the team was believed to have a firm price point in mind which it was not prepared to exceed in a buyer’s market at the RB position. The same reportedly held true for other interested parties. Aside from Elliott, New England also kicked the tires on Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson; the latter two will need to look elsewhere for an opportunity given today’s news.
Elliott saw his seven-year Cowboys tenure come to an expected end when he was released in a cost-shedding move. A return to Dallas to serve as a low-cost compliment to Tony Pollard remained a possibility to varying degrees during the offseason. The most recent update on that front, though, indicated a reunion was unlikely. Elliott, 28, will now join a new NFL team for the first time in his career.
The Patriots saw 2021 fourth-rounder Rhamondre Stevenson emerge as a capable lead back last season. He recorded 1,461 scrimmage yards and six total touchdowns, figures he will aim to replicate in 2023. The team was thin on experience behind Stevenson, though, and Elliott will provide a boost in that regard. The latter averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry last season as he was used increasingly as a short-yardage specialist. Doing so in New England could make him an effective secondary option in the ground game, though he also has considerable starting experience should Stevenson miss time.
Improvements through the air are expected for New England with quarterback Mac Jones entering his third year, new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien in place and a number of alterations having been made to the pass-catching corps. Production in the running game will still be a crucial element of the team’s ability to return to the postseason, however, and Elliott will have a role in that regard. Succeeding in it will help his new team along with his free agent value come next offseason.