Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/21
Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: DT Xavier Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived/injured: DT Deadrin Senat
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DE Kendall Donnerson, DB LaDarius Wiley
- Waived: OL David Moore
- Waived/injured: DE Austin Larkin
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Gage Cervenka
Denver Broncos
- Claimed (from Ravens): LB Barrington Wade
- Signed: DT Lorenzo Neal
- Released: S Tedric Thompson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Graham Adomitis
- Waived/injured: WR Gary Jennings
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed (from Cardinals): CB Lorenzo Burns
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OL Bryan Witzmann
- Placed on reserve/retired list: TE Nick Keizer
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DT Chris Okoye, CB K.J. Sails
New England Patriots
- Re-Signed: LB Cassh Maluia
- Placed on IR: TE Dalton Keene
New York Giants
- Claimed (from Jets): WR Matt Cole
- Signed: DB Chris Johnson
- Waived: WR Andy Jones
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Pete Guerriero
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on active/PUP list: S Jaquiski Tartt
Washington Football Team
- Waived: OL Cole Boozer
Bills Worked Out RB Alex Collins
The Bills had some notable names in for workouts on Friday. Buffalo auditioned running back Alex Collins and kicker Kaare Vedvik, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques (and passed along by Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). Running back Ricky Ortiz and defensive backs A.J. Howard and Chris Johnson also worked out for the Bills.
A fifth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2016, Collins broke out the following season after making his way onto the Ravens’ active roster. In 15 games (12 starts), Collins posted 973 yards and six touchdowns on 212 carries, good for 4.6 yards per attempt. He also finished eighth in Football Outsiders‘ success rate, which measures how well a running back helps move the sticks.
He struggled a bit in 2018, and his season ended with him being placed on the injured reserve. This year, Collins was recovering from a broken leg, and he was slapped with a three-game ban after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges for possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana. We heard back in November that Collins was fully recovered and was no longer suspended.
Vedvik earned some hype as Justin Tucker‘s backup in Baltimore, and the Ravens traded him to the Vikings for a fifth-rounder back in August. The 25-year-old didn’t catch on with Minny, and his next stop with the Jets lasted only one game.
Ortiz, 25, appeared in 12 games (nine starts) last season for the Falcons, hauling in three catches. He spent part of the 2019 campaign on the Saints practice squad. Howard, a former undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State, hasn’t made his NFL debut despite spending time with six organizations. Johnson, 24, is an undrafted rookie out of Grand Valley State.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/26/19
A handful of practice squad moves to pass along:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OT Cody Conway
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Jonathan Owens
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Doug Middleton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: FB Johnny Stanton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Chris Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Wes Saxton
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Kenneth Durden, DL Joey Ivie
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/19
Here are Thursday’s practice squad decisions:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: QB Tyler Bray
Houston Texans
- Signed TE Keenen Brown, OL Marcus Henry
- Released: S Chris Johnson
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: G Lester Cotton
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Jester Weah
- Placed on practice squad IR: WR Jehu Chesson
Texans Trim Roster To 53
The Texans made a flurry of roster moves to get down to 53 players today. Among the notable names that were cut was former Browns cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Boddy-Calhoun started at least seven games for Cleveland in each of the past three seasons, but couldn’t crack Houston’s roster after signing a one-year deal back in March.
Receiver Chad Hansen, a fourth-round pick of the Jets in 2017, was also let go. He’s bounced around the league ever since New York cut bait after just one season. Houston also cut ties with reserve pass-rusher Joel Heath. An undrafted rookie in 2016, Heath started 15 games for the Texans across his first two years in the league.
Here are the rest of the players who failed to make the team:
Waived:
WR Floyd Allen
OLB Jesse Aniebonam
CB Derrick Baity Jr.
OLB Davin Bellamy
OLB Jamal Davis II
T Christian DiLauro
NT Javi Edwards
RB Karan Higdon Jr.
T Rick Leonard
WR Steven Mitchell Jr.
CB Jermaine Ponder
OLB Gimel President
G Malcolm Pridgeon
G Maurquice Shakir
WR Jester Weah
Placed on IR:
QB Joe Webb III
Texans Sign 20 UDFAs
The Texans have signed all but one member of their seven-prospect draft class, and they’ve added to that crop by inking the following undrafted free agents:
- Jesse Aniebonam, LB (Maryland)
- Derrick Baity, CB (Kentucky)
- D.J. Coker, C (Rhodes College)
- Damarea Crockett, RB (Missouri)
- Jamal Davis, LB (Akron)
- Johnnie Dixon, WR (Ohio State)
- Johnny Dwight, DE (Alabama)
- Javier Edwards, DT (Colorado)
- Austin Exford, S (Appalachian State)
- Karan Higdon, RB (Michigan)
- Albert Huggins, DE (Clemson)
- Chris Johnson, S (North Alabama)
- Tyron Johnson, WR (Oklahoma State)
- Drew Lewis, LB (Colorado)
- Ira Lewis, DE (Baylor)
- Stephen Louis, WR (North Carolina State)
- Chase Middleton, LB (Georgia State)
- Walter Palmore, DT (Missouri)
- Malcolm Pridgeon, G (Ohio State)
- Dexter Wright, LB (North Carolina State)
Higdon could have a path to a roster spot in Houston. The Texans used a seventh-round pick on Texas A&M running back Cullen Gillaspia, but the only other running backs competing for time behind starter Lamar Miller are D’Onta Foreman (who saw only seven carries in 2018 while recovering from a torn Achilles), Josh Ferguson, and Buddy Howell.
The Texans gave significant guarantees to several of their UDFAs, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Higdon received a $45 base salary and a $5K signing bonus, Crockett got a $35K base salary guarantee with a $10K signing bonus, and Pridgeon received a $35K base salary with an $8K signing bonus.
Huggins received a $35K base salary guarantee with a $5K signing bonus, Palmore got a $30K base salary guarantee with a $10K signing bonus and Davis will collect a $30K base salary guarantee with a $7K signing bonus.
Chris Johnson received a $25K base salary guarantee and a $10K signing bonus, Tyron Johnson got a $30K base salary guarantee and a $5K signing bonus, and Dixon will collect a $40K base salary guarantee and a $10K signing bonus.