49ers Release DL Robert Nkemdiche
Robert Nkemdiche‘s brief stint in San Francisco has come to an end. The 49ers announced that they have released the veteran defensive lineman.
The former first-round pick somewhat rehabilitated his career with the Seahawks during the 2021 campaign, leading to the 49ers taking a chance on him back in July. There was hope that the veteran could provide some depth during the regular season, but the reality was that he was a healthy body who could fill in for injured defensive linemen Arik Armstead, Hassan Ridgeway, and Maurice Hurst. While Hurst is done for the season, Armstead and Ridgeway sound like they’re close to a return, making Nkemdiche expendable.
Nkemdiche was one of the most highly touted recruits in Ole Miss history, but the end of his tenure saw him getting suspended for the Sugar Bowl after being charged with marijuana possession. Still, the Cardinals took the defensive lineman in the first round of the 2016 draft, but he had a tough time finding a role during his stint in Arizona. In three seasons, Nkemdiche ended up starting only six of his 27 appearances.
He only got into two games with Miami in 2019 after spending much of the season on the PUP, and after getting cut by the Dolphins, he was slapped with a two-game suspension by the NFL. After sitting out the 2020 campaign, he managed to catch on with the Seahawks in 2021. He got into nine games with Seattle, collecting 15 tackles. While he didn’t receive a great grade from Pro Football Focus, the site did suggest the lineman was serviceable in pass-rushing situations. We’ll see if another team is willing to take a chance on Nkemdiche’s untapped potential.
Raiders Cut DT Vernon Butler, WR Demarcus Robinson
The Raiders released a pair of veterans today. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Raiders cut defensive tackle Vernon Butler and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson.
After coming off the bench for the first 38 games of his career, it looked like Butler may have been evolving into a starter after collecting six sacks in nine starts for the Panthers in 2019. That performance earned the former first-round pick a two-year contract from the Bills, but he never saw more than a situational role during his time in Buffalo, collecting 29 tackles and zero sacks in 24 games.
Butler was one of six defensive tackles/nose tackles to join the Raiders this offseason (including draft picks). It sounds like the 28-year-old didn’t show enough to beat out the likes of Johnathan Hankins, Andrew Billings, Bilal Nichols, and Kyle Peko.
Robinson also joined the Raiders this offseason after having spent the first six seasons of his career with the Chiefs. The wideout hauled in 14 touchdowns between 2018 and 2021, and he had two seasons where he topped 400 receiving yards. Most recently, Robinson caught 25 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns before adding another four receptions in the postseason.
In Las Vegas, the 27-year-old was expected to compete for the WR3 spot behind Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow, but it sounds like the Raiders are comfortable rolling with either Mack Hollins or Keelan Cole in that role.
Patriots Place CB Malcolm Butler On IR
It sounds like Malcolm Butler‘s comeback attempt with the Patriots has come to an end. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots have placed the cornerback on injured reserve. Considering the timing of the transaction, Butler is ineligible to be activated during the 2022 campaign.
[RELATED: Joejuan Williams Suffers Season-Ending Shoulder Injury]
Butler returned from his one-year hiatus and inked a two-year deal with the Patriots this offseason. There was initial fanfare surrounding the signing, with some hoping the former Super Bowl hero could slide into a secondary that lost Stephon Gilmore and J.C. Jackson in less than a calendar year. However, reports indicated that he was falling down the depth chart throughout training camp, with Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus suggesting the veteran could even be a cut candidate. Instead of saving a hair under $1.5MM by cutting Butler, the Patriots decided to place him on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, a hint that the team may look to keep him around for the 2023 season.
After joining the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2014, Butler served as a reserve corner until being called into action in Super Bowl XLIX and making one of the most famous interceptions in NFL history. Butler was awarded the starting gig the following year and kept that job until signing with the Titans as a free agent in 2018. He continued to start in Tennessee for three years before being released as a cap casualty after the 2020 season. Butler rebounded quickly, signing a deal to join the Cardinals, but just prior to the start of the 2021 season, Butler decided to retire for personal reasons. The last time he played, Butler collected a career-high 100 tackles and four interceptions in 16 starts for Tennessee in 2020.
The Patriots are now down two cornerbacks after the team revealed earlier today that Joejuan Williams suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Jalen Mills has come on strong in training camp, and he’ll likely be joined in the starting lineup by free agent acquisition Terrance Mitchell and nickelback Jonathan Jones. Third-round rookie Marcus Jones and (especially) fourth-round rookie Jack Jones have earned high praise during minicamp and training camp, and their presence may have made Butler’s “injury” a bit more tolerable.
Browns Activate CB Denzel Ward
Denzel Ward is back. The Browns announced that they’ve activated the Pro Bowl cornerback from the physically unable to perform list today. The team also waived wideout Derrick Dillon.
Ward injured his foot on the final day of Browns minicamp, but the cornerback avoided any structural damage. While he was expected to return for the start of training camp, Ward needed an extra week-plus to get right. Despite being sidelined, he was still an active participant in meetings, with Greg Newsome II telling Anthony Poisal of the team’s website that Ward was constantly “coaching” and “leading” his teammates.
The Browns certainly didn’t want to rush Ward back to the field after briefly making him the highest-paid corner in league history. In April, the cornerback inked a five-year extension worth $20.1MM per season, and while his annual compensation now ranks second in the NFL at his position, the deal also included a new watermark in guaranteed money at $44.5MM.
The No. 4 pick in 2018, Ward has lived up to his draft status as one of the most impactful and consistent members of Cleveland’s defense. In 2021, he matched his career high with three interceptions, earning him his second Pro Bowl nod along the way. Ward will slide back atop a depth chart that also features Newsome, Greedy Williams, rookie Martin Emerson Jr., and not-that-one A.J. Green.
After spending his rookie season on the Giants practice squad, Dillon didn’t find a gig for the 2021 campaign. He caught on with the Browns earlier this month.
Buccaneers Sign Carl Nassib
Carl Nassib has found a new gig. The defensive end has signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
It’s a one-year deal worth the league minimum, Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets. Nassib’s cap number will be just $1.05MM in 2022. He will collect a $152.5K signing bonus.
After collecting 12.5 sacks during his two seasons with the Buccaneers, Nassib inked a three-year, $25MM deal with the Raiders in 2020. Following his first season in Las Vegas, Nassib made headlines when he became the first openly gay active player in the NFL. The defensive end ended up getting into 27 games during his two seasons with the organization, compiling 49 tackles and four sacks. Had Nassib played enough defensive snaps in 2021 to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ rankings, he would have been listed as a middle-of-the-road edge rusher. The Raiders ended up cutting the 29-year-old back in March, creating $8MM in cap savings.
Nassib spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Tampa Bay, and today’s move will reunite him with Todd Bowles, who served as his defensive coordinator during the 2019 campaign. While Nassib mostly served as an edge rusher during his stint with the Raiders, there’s a good chance he’ll return to linebacker in Tampa Bay.
As ESPN’s Jenna Laine writes, Cam Gill recently went down with a Lisfranc injury, and the Buccaneers were already relying on an inexperienced starting LB in former first-round pick Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who is slated to replace Jason Pierre-Paul. Nassib can help provide some veteran stability at the position, although there’s probably little chance he cracks the starting lineup.
49ers Release CB Darqueze Dennard
Darqueze Dennard‘s stint with the 49ers has come to an end. The team announced that they’ve released the veteran cornerback.
The former first-round pick spent the first six years of his career with the Bengals, but he’s bounced around the NFL since leaving Cincy. Dennard has had stints with the Falcons, Cardinals, Colts, Giants, and 49ers since the beginning of the 2020 campaign, including time on four different squads in 2021 alone. After starting six of his eight games for Atlanta in 2020, Dennard got into two games with New York and San Francisco in 2021.
Dennard re-signed with the 49ers this offseason, and he was expected to compete for the primary nickelback role. With today’s move, the primary contenders for that gig are now Sam Womack, Dontae Johnson, and Qwuantrezz Knight, leading Matt Barrows of The Athletic to wonder (on Twitter) if the team may consider trying an outside guy like Deommodore Lenoir at the position.
As teams are required to cut down their rosters, the 49ers also waived fullback Josh Hokit, wide receiver KeeSean Johnson, and defensive lineman Tomasi Laulile. Johnson is the most notable of the bunch, having seen time in 18 games for Arizona between 2019 and 2020, hauling in 36 receptions for 360 yards and one score.
Texans Release Jordan Jenkins
After sitting on the Texans PUP to start training camp, Jordan Jenkins will now have a chance to catch on with another squad. The defensive end/linebacker was cut by Houston today, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).
Jenkins had been dealing with a strained calf that landed him on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp. According to Wilson, the defensive lineman’s health has improved, and now he’ll have an opportunity to join another team.
The former third-round pick spent the first five seasons of his career with the Jets, collecting 22.5 sacks in 72 games (62 starts). He inked a two-year, $6MM pact with the Texans last offseason, and he exclusively played off the bench during his one season in Houston. He collected 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 11 games, and he missed a handful of contests late in the season after suffering a torn PCL.
After primarily playing linebacker during his time in New York, Jenkins served as an edge rusher with the Texans in 2021. While Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance in Houston, they did give him a solid grade for his coverage ability, perhaps hinting that a return to LB could be in the cards.
According to Wilson (via Twitter), the Texans also cut wide receiver Chad Beebe, long snapper Harrison Elliott, and running back B.J. Emmons. Beebe made a name for himself in Minnesota when he hauled in 20 catches and two touchdowns during the 2020 campaign. He spent the entire 2021 campaign on injured reserve before joining the Texans back in June.
Ravens CB Marcus Peters Activated Off PUP
Baltimore finally saw one-half of their feared cornerback tandem return to practice today as Marcus Peters was activated off the physically unable to perform list. After passing his physical, Peters was back out on the practice field for the first time since September of last year. 
Peters suffered a torn ACL just four days before the Ravens’ season opener last year, filing into a line of falling dominos that took out much of the Ravens’ running back and cornerback rooms. He would miss the entire season after only sitting out five games in his previous six seasons.
The Ravens will be ecstatic at the return of their ball-hawk safety. While opposite-side starter Marlon Humphrey excels at separating ball-carriers from the football with forced fumbles, Peters is a dying breed of cornerback that excels in making sure the ball never gets to the receiver. He has seven interceptions in 24 games with the Ravens and, even though he missed all of last season, no one in the league has more interceptions since Peters entered the league than his own 31 picks.
Baltimore also announced the return of second-year safety Ar’Darius Washington from the PUP list. Washington impressed as an undrafted player out of TCU last year by making the Ravens’ final 53-man roster. He appeared in three games before a broken foot ended his season prematurely. Washington will return to an extremely deep safety room that currently houses Marcus Williams, Chuck Clark, first-round rookie Kyle Hamilton, Tony Jefferson, and Geno Stone.
Saints Sign LB Jon Bostic
New Orleans had enough faith in their linebacking corps to allow Kwon Alexander to walk in free agency this offseason. Still, the Saints have brought in veteran linebacker Jonathan Bostic to contribute alongside Demario Davis, Pete Werner, and company, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Bostic has spent the last three years as a starter in Washington. His stay in DC was his first extended tenure with a team since the two years he spent in Chicago as a second-round pick. He never quite found his footing in Chicago earning several starts but also a few healthy scratches. The Bears traded him to the Patriots, in exchange for a sixth-round pick, who played him so reservedly that he only accumulated two total tackles in New England. The Patriots traded him for a seventh-round pick to Detroit. Bostic sat all year on injured reserve with the Lions.
Finally in control of his own contract, Bostic signed an incredibly cheap one-year, $690,000 deal with the Colts. He finally started to live up to his draft status, starting 14 games in Indianapolis and nearly reaching 100 total tackles. He followed that season up with a two-year deal to join the Steelers. He failed to reach the same heights he had in Indiana and was released after Pittsburgh drafted Devin Bush to take over at inside linebacker.
When linebacker Reuben Foster was placed on injured reserve in Washington, Bostic took advantage, signing a one-year deal to join the team. An impressive 2019 season led to a two-year extension for the resurgent linebacker. He continued his work as a full-time starter, putting together the best two seasons of his career. Over the 2019 & 2020 seasons, Bostic started 31 games, topping 100 tackles in each season for a total of 223, collected 4.0 sacks, 9.0 tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback hits. He also showed his abilities in coverage recording two interceptions and five passes defensed.
The 31-year-old suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 4 of last season, likely leading to his availability this late into free agency, as he missed the remainder of the year in recovery. The Saints will hope that he can come in fully-recovered and ready to go.
For most of his career, Bostic has served as an inside/middle linebacker. With Davis securely in the starting role on the inside, Bostic will either serve in a backup, rotation capacity or shift to an strong side role to compete with Kaden Elliss for playing time. Regardless, Bostic provides excellent veteran depth for a Saints defense that needed some help at linebacker.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/22
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: RB Corey Clement
- Waived: CB Robert Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: LB Kamal Martin
- Waived (injury settlement): CB Devin Jones
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Carson Taylor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: C Ben Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: WR Derrick Dillon
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: DT Austin Faoliu
- Waived (injury designation): TE Ian Bunting, FB Ryan Nall, WR Ty Fryfogle, CB Kyron Brown
Denver Broncos
- Waived (injury designation): OL Ben Braden
Detroit Lions
- Released: TE Garrett Griffin
- Waived: TE Nolan Givan, C Ryan McCollum
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): TE Nate Becker
- Waived: LB Randy Ramsey, C Cole Schneider, CB Donte Vaughn
Houston Texans
- Waived: LS Harrison Elliott, RB B.J. Emmons
- Released: WR Chad Beebe
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from PUP list: WR Mike Strachan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived (injury designation): K Elliott Fry
- Waived: RB Matt Colburn, QB Jake Luton, WR Ryan McDaniel, DE Wyatt Ray
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived (injury designation): DT Forrest Merrill, OC Isaac Weaver
- Waived: WR Maurice Ffrench, QB Brandon Peters, S Skyler Thomas
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: NT Niles Scott
- Placed on IR: CB Trill Williams (story)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DE Niko Lalos, DT Jaleel Johnson
- Placed on IR: OT Ethan Greenidge
- Waived (injury settlement): DB Bryce Thompson
- Waived (injury designation): DB Jordan Brown, S Isaiah Pryor
- Waived: DE T.J. Carter, S Jack Koerner, DE Scott Patchan, K John Parker Romo, WR Easop Winston
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Bills): CB Olaijah Griffin
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Keshunn Abram
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB James Vaughters
- Waived (injury designation): LB Tuzar Skipper
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DT Tomasi Laulile, WR KeeSean Johnson, RB Josh Hokit
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from active/PUP list: OT Liam Ryan
- Placed on IR: WR Cody Thompson
- Waived: CB Josh Valentine-Turner, DT Antonio Valentino, OL Eric Wilson, WR Deontez Alexander
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Patrick Laird
- Placed on IR: RB Kenjon Barner
- Waived: TE Ben Beise
Washington Commanders
- Activated from active/PUP list: OT Cornelius Lucas