Chris Harper (Cal)

NFL Workout Updates: 11/9/17

Today’s workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account:

New England Patriots

Los Angeles Rams

  • LB Zach Vigil (Friday) (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Redskins

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/30/17

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Lions announced today that they have signed offensive guard Connor Bozick. The lineman didn’t catch on with a team following the conclusion of his four-year career at Delaware. The two-time All-Colonial Athletic Association recipient made 46 career appearance during his collegiate career. To make room on the roster, the team has waived-injured Brandon Chubb. The former Wake Forest standout has also had stints with the Rams and 49ers, although he’s yet to make an NFL appearance.
  • The Panthers announced that they swapped linebackers today, signing Zeek Bigger and waiving Alex Bazzie. Bigger, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of East Carolina, participated in the team’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. Bazzie joined the organization earlier this month following a brief stint with the Colts. The former undrafted free agent out of Marshall previously spent three seasons playing for the BC Lions of the CFL.
  • The Jets signed wideout Chris Harper today. The former Cal star appeared in nine games (two starts) for the 49ers last season, hauling in 13 receptions for 133 yards. He also spent time with the Patriots, spending time on their active roster and practice squad. To make room, tight end Braedon Bowman has been waived. The 23-year-old appeared in three games for the Jets last season. He was originally claimed off waivers by the organization in September.
  • The Bears have released wide receiver Jhajuan Seales, reports Alex Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The Oklahoma State product finished his senior season with 37 receptions for 615 yards and four touchdowns. He signed as an undrafted free agent earlier this month.

49ers Cut WR Keshawn Martin

The 49ers announced that they have waived wide receiver Keshawn Martin. Taking his place will be fellow wideout Chris Harper, who was promoted from the practice squad. Keshawn Martin (vertical)

Martin missed the cut as the Patriots dropped down to a 53-man roster this year. A few weeks later, he hooked on with San Francisco on a two-year contract. It’s not clear whether there was guaranteed money in the deal, but we’re guessing that the Niners aren’t going to be on the hook for much, if anything.

Last year, Martin averaged 11.2 yards per reception with New England, though that came on a limited sample size of 24 receptions. Prior to the 2015 season, Martin spent his first three seasons with the Texans and saw the field in every regular season contest from 2012-2014. For his career, Martin has averaged 25.2 yards per kick return.

Harper was promoted to the 49ers’ varsity squad for the season opener but was dropped immediately after, leading him back to the SF practice squad. The 22-year-old (23 in December), bounced on-and-off the Patriots’ 53-man roster during his rookie campaign in 2015, and ultimately appeared in five games with the club.

49ers Re-Sign DuJuan Harris, Cut Chris Harper

In something of a reversal of Sunday’s transaction, the 49ers are cutting wide receiver Chris Harper and re-signing running back DuJuan Harris, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. Harris was dropped on Monday to make room for Harper’s promotion from the practice squad.

Harris has been yo-yo’d on and off the 49ers’ roster throughout the last couple of weeks. The running back was cut prior to the 53-man deadline only to be re-signed days later. Then, prior to the Niners’ Monday night contest against the Rams, he was dropped again. He’s back on the roster – for now. Harris, 28, split the 2015 season between the 49ers and the Seahawks.

Harper, 22, bounced on-and-off the Patriots’ 53-man roster during his rookie campaign in 2015, and ultimately appeared in five games with the club. Harper could revert to SF’s practice squad if he clears waivers. He did not see a pass thrown his way last night.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

49ers Promote WR Chris Harper

The 49ers have promoted wide receiver Chris Harper from their practice squad in advance of tonight’s game against the Rams, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group (Twitter link). To create a roster spot, San Francisco has cut running back DuJuan Harris.Chris Harper (Cal) (Vertical)

[RELATED: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart]

Harper, 22, bounced on-and-off the Patriots’ 53-man roster during his rookie campaign in 2015, and ultimately appeared in five games with the club, posting three receptions for 17 yards. Waived during final cutdowns, Harper caught on with the Niners’ taxi squad but is now getting a shot during the team’s opener. If he’s active tonight, Harper will serve as a backup wide receiver and special teams option.

Harris, meanwhile, was also affected by roster cutdowns, as he was initially released before re-signing with San Francisco a week ago today. The 28-year-old Harris split the 2015 season between the 49ers and the Seahawks, compiling 189 yards on 48 carries. In his four-year career, Harris has averaged 4.2 yards per attempt, and he’ll now head back to the free agent market in search of another job.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots Cut Aaron Dobson, Move To 53

The Patriots have announced the cuts that bring them down to 53, including the waiving of Aaron Dobson.
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Dobson, 25, is a former second-round pick, but he hasn’t done much since joining New England in 2013. In three seasons with the club, the Marshall product has only posted 53 receptions for less than 700 yards. Most of that production came during his rookie season, as Dobson has put up only 16 catches during the past two years. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Dobson was set to earn about $872K in base salary.

Here’s the list of Patriots cuts so far today:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots Waive Leonard Hankerson

4:10pm: Chris Harper will again claim a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster, doing so in Hankerson’s stead, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets.

With Julian Edelman slapped with a doubtful designation again and Danny Amendola questionable after a Week 15 injury, the Patriots needed a receiver with better knowledge of their system than Hankerson currently possesses, Volin points out (on Twitter).

The 22-year-old wideout played in three games for the Pats in November, the latest of which featuring an ill-timed fumble that contributed to his release and eventual return to the practice squad.

10:15am: NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Hankerson is expected to rejoin the Patriots next week, assuming the wideout passes through waivers. Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com believes the Patriots may have just wanted a wideout who was a bit more familiar with the offensive system for this weekend’s contest against the Jets (Twitter link).

9:15am: Leonard Hankerson‘s stay in New England proved to be a short one, as Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports that the Patriots will waive the wideout this afternoon. The five-year veteran joined the Patriots last week after being cut from the Falcons injured reserve list. The 26-year-old was active for the team’s victory over the Titans, but he didn’t earn a single target in the contest.

In eight games for the Falcons this season, Hankerson compiled 26 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns. The receiver’s best season came in 2012 with Washington, when he caught 38 passes for 543 yards and three touchdowns.

Hankerson will now be subject to waivers, just like he was last week. Since the Patriots managed to acquire the player despite being towards the end of the waiver order, Florio doesn’t expect the receiver to find another job this season.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/2/15

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from across the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: TE Dan Light (link via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post)
  • Cut: TE Arthur Lynch

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

Oakland Raiders

San Diego Chargers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: WR Deshon Foxx, DT Justin Hamilton, C Drew Nowak (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
  • Cut: WR Douglas McNeil

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/30/15

Here are Monday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:

  • The Seahawks promoted defensive tackle A.J. Francis from the practice squad, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
  • The Patriots have released wide receiver Chris Harper following Sunday night’s muffed punt, as Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com tweets.
  • The Cowboys waived running back Trey Williams, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Giants are signing guard Adam Gettis off of the Raiders‘ practice squad, a person with knowledge of the situation told Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. The Giants are short on offensive lineman, so Gettis will help provide the Giants with some much-needed depth.

Earlier updates:

  • In advance of Monday night’s game against the Browns, the Ravens have promoted guard Kaleb Johnson and wide receiver Daniel Brown from their practice squad, the team announced today in a press release. To make room, Baltimore cut wide receiver Chuck Jacobs and placed tight end Chase Ford on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Johnson, in particular, could play a role tonight, since the club doesn’t have many healthy offensive linemen left on the roster.
  • The Bills are releasing linebacker A.J. Tarpley, according to Sal Capaccio of WGR550 (Twitter link). Tarpley, who recorded his first career NFL sack on Sunday, looks like a candidate to join the team’s practice squad if he clears waivers. Per Joe Buscaglia of WKBW (Twitter link), Buffalo also placed defensive end Alex Carrington on injured reserve, officially ending his season after he tore his quad tendon.
  • The Eagles have signed interior offensive lineman Barrett Jones off the Bears‘ practice squad, waiving offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde in the corresponding move (Twitter link). Given the history between the Eagles and Vandervelde, who has now been cut four times by the club since the start of September, it may just be a matter of time until he finds himself back with Philadelphia.
  • The Buccaneers have signed linebacker Adarius Glanton from the Panthers‘ practice squad, waiving safety Kimario McFadden, according to a press release from the team. With Kwon Alexander facing a four-game suspension and Bruce Carter having left Sunday’s game to be evaluated for a concussion, linebacker depth was a priority for Tampa Bay.
  • The Bengals waived linebacker Sean Porter from the physically unable to perform list today, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. Porter returned to practice for Cincinnati earlier this month, but the team apparently determined there was no place for him on the 53-man roster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/17/15

Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions from across the NFL:

  • The Dolphins waived center Sam Brenner, as Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets.
  • The Browns waived tight end Rob Housler (hamstring) from injured reserve today, Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal tweets.
  • The Patriots waived offensive lineman Chris Barker while promoting wide receiver Chris Harper from the practice squad, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.

Earlier Updates:

  • The Seahawks have waived wide receiver Chris Matthews, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Matthews had just four receptions during his 12 regular-season games with Seattle, matching the four balls he caught in last season’s Super Bowl against the Pats. Per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter), the Seahawks are promoting wide receiver Kevin Smith to the active roster to replace Matthews.
  • The Dolphins will sign linebacker James-Michael Johnson, tweets Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Johnson was just released by the Lions on Saturday, so he didn’t last long on the open market.
  • Speaking of the Lions, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that, as expected, the club will place cornerback Josh Wilson on injured reserve due to what Jim Caldwell called a “significant” knee injury. Detroit is expected to sign a new cornerback shortly to help solidify a position that has been hit hard by injuries.
  • The Titans have added two players to their 53-man roster, signing wide receiver Tre McBride from their own practice squad, along with wide receiver Andrew Turzilli from the 49ers‘ practice squad (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com). The two wideouts will take the roster spots vacated by WR Justin Hunter and CB Jason McCourty, who were formally placed on injured reserve today.
  • The Bears have made a change at cornerback, waiving Terrance Mitchell and promoting Jacoby Glenn from their practice squad to fill the newly-opened roster spot, the team announced today (Twitter link).
  • The Chiefs have placed tight end James O’Shaughnessy on injured reserve due to a foot injury, creating an opening for defensive tackle David King, whom Kansas City claimed off waivers from the Seahawks, according to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
  • The Giants have waived linebacker James Morris, according to a team release. Morris, who was elevated from the practice squad at the end of October, played on special teams during his brief stint on New York’s 53-man roster.