Minor NFL Transactions: 8/19/24
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Anthony Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Willie Drew, CB Quandre Mosely, WR Sam Pinckney, RB Jaden Shirden, CB Chris Wilcox
- Placed on IR: CB Anthony Brown, QB Jake Luton
- Waived: RB Dillon Johnson
- Waived/injured: CB Lamar Jackson, WR Tayvion Robinson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: RB Chris Evans, T D’Ante Smith
- Waived: DT Devonnsha Maxwell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, T Chim Okorafor
- Placed on IR: T Hakeem Adeniji
- Waived: WR Matt Landers
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: T Earl Bostick
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: C Mike Panasiuk, LB Mike Smith Jr.
- Placed on IR: C Ryan Coll
- Waived/injured: G Josh Sills
- Released via injury settlement: RB Trent Pennix
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LS Randen Plattner
- Waived: OL McKade Mettauer
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Justin Hall
- Waived: WR Ty James, P Seth Vernon
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Kyler Baugh, LB Trey Kiser
- Waived/injured: DL Ryder Anderson
- Placed on IR: OL Yodny Cajuste
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Nehemiah Shelton
- Waived: TE Neal Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Kyahva Tezino
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Michael Ezeike, TE Devon Garrison
- Waived: LB Devin Richardson, CB Willie Roberts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Brandon Matterson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DE Justin Hollins
- Cut via injury settlement: LB Bo Bauer
Smith sustained a torn patellar tendon during a Bengals joint practice with the Bears, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. He joins Evans in sustaining a season-ending injury during that workout. A 2021 fourth-round pick, Smith was believed to have earned the Bengals’ swing tackle role early last year. But he did not see any game action in Year 3. Having played in just three career games, Smith has seen his career hit a crossroads after this injury. His rookie contract expires after the season. This further depletes a Bengals O-line that will be without first-rounder Amarius Mims for a bit due to a strained pec.
A former Bengals starter, Adeniji joined the Browns in March. A knee injury sidelined Adeniji recently, and while Kevin Stefanski said the veteran O-lineman will miss “a little bit of time,” this transaction will likely lead to an injury settlement that sends him back to free agency for a stretch. The Bengals used Adeniji as a starter in each of their four 2021 playoff games, before spending to upgrade their O-line the following year. Adeniji, a 2020 sixth-rounder, played in one Vikings game last season.
Brown and Lamar Jackson sustained injuries during the Panthers’ most recent preseason game, adding to Carolina’s issues — headlined by Dane Jackson‘s significant hamstring setback — at corner. Formerly a Cowboys regular, Brown has struggled to stick with a team as of late. He spent 2023 with three teams — the Steelers, 49ers and Jets — and played in just two games. This came after Brown was with Dallas for six seasons, starting 69 games.
A five-game starter for the 2021 Super Bowl champion Rams, Hollins played for three teams last season. The former Broncos draftee was with the Packers, Giants and Chargers. He has 10.5 career sacks, one coming last season.
Bengals To Extend K Evan McPherson
Bengals conversations with Evan McPherson have produced a deal ahead of the kicker’s contract year. The parties came to terms on an extension that will tie McPherson to Cincinnati through 2027, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports.
McPherson agreed to a three-year, $16.5MM deal that Garafolo indicates will include $10MM in new money in Year 1. This is the most Year 1 money a kicker has secured on a three-year deal, for those keeping track. This frontloaded contract makes McPherson the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid kicker, with the deal’s structure undoubtedly appealing to the young specialist.
[RELATED: Contract Structure A Factor In Ja’Marr Chase Negotiations]
This extension has been rumored for months, so it is not exactly surprising the Bengals have completed a deal in a low-cost market. The NFL’s highest-paid kicker (Harrison Butker) is attached to a $6.4MM-per-year number. McPherson’s second contract will come in at fifth, tied with Graham Gano at $5.5MM AAV.
Memorably kicking game-winning field goals to help the Bengals upset the Titans and Chiefs to reach Super Bowl LVI, McPherson has shown considerable promise. Though, he has yet to make 85% of his field goals during a regular season. He checked in at 83.9% last year, seeing his 50-plus-yard accuracy wane a bit. After making 14 of 16 50-plus-yard tries from 2021-22, the former fifth-round pick was just 7 of 12 from long range last season.
Still, McPherson is 19-for-19 in the playoffs, covering two postseasons, and is just 25. This extension gives him a clear path to becoming a long-term Bengals kicker.
The Browns were eyeing McPherson in the 2021 draft, leading them to Cade York a year later. The Bengals ended up taking the Florida product to replace Randy Bullock, their kicker of four seasons. This extension will take McPherson through Year 7, though he will need to remain in good form following 2024 to stay on the deal. Given the frontloaded structure and low rate this contract brings, the Bengals would be able to get out of it rather easily after this year. Considering how the team prioritized the agreement, however, a separation is unlikely for the foreseeable future.
Bengals RB Chris Evans Suffers Season-Ending Injury
Chris Evans has suffered a season-ending injury. Per Jordan Schultz, the Bengals running back suffered a torn patellar tendon that will force him to miss the 2024 campaign.
Schultz notes that the running back faces a recovery timeline of nine months, and the Bengals expect the player to make a full recovery. Evans suffered the injury during today’s practice, with ESPN’s Courtney Cronin and Ben Baby reporting that the RB was injured while covering for a kickoff. Evans’ leg was placed in an air cast before he was carted off the practice field.
The 2021 sixth-round pick has spent his entire career in Cincinnati. Evans has seen a consistent role on special teams during his Cincinnati tenure, collecting seven tackles and returning 14 kickoffs for a 22.4-yard average. He’s only collected 137 offensive snaps in his 34 career games, but he showed some flashes as a rookie, hauling in 15 of his 17 targets and averaging 4.5 yards on his 17 carries.
2023 marked a low point for the player, as he found himself firmly behind Joe Mixon, Trayveon Williams, and Chase Brown. He was reportedly rebounding this summer, with both Schultz and Baby noting that Evans was having a very strong training camp. The Bengals added Zack Moss this offseason to replace Mixon atop the depth chart, but it sounds like Evans had an opportunity to leap some of his teammates for a key backup role.
Contract Structure An Issue For Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase?
More than two weeks into training camp, Ja’Marr Chase has not practiced. The star Bengals wide receiver’s hold-in also included a missed practice this week, via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby. Two years, however, remain on Chase’s rookie deal. The Bengals have time here, as much as Chase wants to force the issue.
Although the Bengals could have waived fines had Chase staged a true holdout from the beginning of camp, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes the fourth-year wideout needed to show up to collect a $3.81MM training camp roster bonus. Rather than a holdout leading to fines scrapped (potentially) due to Chase being on his rookie deal, he would not have been able to recoup the bonus had he held out. Seeing as Chase has yet to cash in on a monster second contract, showing up for camp by Day 3 — when the bonus was due — was seemingly a non-decision.
More significantly, the Justin Jefferson contract has changed an already-booming receiver market. Chase wanted to wait for his college teammate to cash in, as it would stand to improve his terms, and the Vikings gave their All-Pro weapon a record-smashing $88.7MM guaranteed at signing and $110MM guaranteed in total. That has undoubtedly affected the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb negotiations and has likely bled into the 49ers’ talks with Brandon Aiyuk. Chase is younger than both and may end up the closest to Jefferson when these first-rounders are all signed.
Mike Brown said earlier in camp the Bengals view Chase as their second-best player and one the team would “bend over backwards” to sign, though the owner stopped short of saying an extension was likely this year. The owner/nominal GM alluded to no deal happening this year, but Chase is seemingly trying to force the team’s hand. The former No. 5 overall pick is tied to only a $1.1MM base salary (plus the aforementioned bonus) this year.
The Bengals exercising Chase’s fifth-year option, however, gives them two more years of control. Two other teams — the Eagles and Dolphins — broke with precedent by signing first-round receivers (DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle) to extensions with two years of control remaining, but the Bengals are more traditional in how they operate.
While the Bengals paid Joe Burrow a year early, most teams with franchise-caliber first-round QBs do so. The team waited until just before A.J. Green‘s fifth season to pay him back in 2015. The Bengals also relented on contract structure for Burrow, authorizing guaranteed salary beyond Year 1. The Bengals traditionally only include the signing bonus as a post-Year 1 guarantee, as Orlando Brown Jr.‘s 2023 agreement showed recently. They might need to make an exception for Chase, but ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano brings this matter up as one that will pertain to the negotiations with the three-time Pro Bowler.
The Bengals would rather address this matter in 2025, Graziano adds, and SI.com’s Albert Breer offers that Chase may ultimately be OK with that route as well. Lamb and Aiyuk will likely have second contracts by then, providing a clearer roadmap for the new market. The Bengals may need to find a guarantee compromise with Chase, as Jefferson’s numbers are out of step with the market. Lamb and Aiyuk, however, figure to provide a bridge between Jefferson’s fully guaranteed figure and the next-closest number (Tyreek Hill‘s $54MM).
Chase and Jefferson were communicating during the latter’s Minnesota negotiation, Breer adds, so it stands to reason the Cincinnati target will seek a similarly structured contract. The Bengals are one of the few teams who still proceed this way in terms of guarantees, and Graziano adds this has caused issues with players they have attempted to sign in the past.
A report indicating the team has bristled at the notion it will need to change its guarantee policy for non-QBs sets the stage for a complicated negotiation. While Chase’s rookie deal points to this showdown taking place in 2025, this issue will certainly come up as the team’s top weapon angles for Jefferson-level terms.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/24
Wednesday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Storey Jackson
- Waived: P Ryan Sanborn
Buffalo Bills
- Reverted to IR: WR Bryan Thompson
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: S Clayton Isbell
- Released (with injury settlement): OLB Kemoko Turay
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/retired list: DE Jeff Gunter
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: C Cohl Cabral
- Waived (with injury designation): DE Shaka Toney
Denver Broncos
- Waived (with injury settlement): OLB Jaylon Allen
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Javelin Guidry
- Reverted to IR: LB DaRon Gilbert
- Waived (with injury designation): S Morice Norris Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Nate McCrary
- Waived: LS Peter Bowden, S Tyler Coyle
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Derek Rivers, WR Greg Ward
- Waived: S Kendell Brooks, WR Ethan Fernea
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from active/PUP list: G Jackson Powers-Johnson
- Released (with injury settlement): WR Keelan Doss
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Tucker Fisk
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DT Carlos Watkins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Robert Cooper
Minnesota Vikings
- Reverted to IR: LB Jabril Cox
New England Patriots
- Waived (with injury settlement): DE John Morgan
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Mason Fairchild
- Waived: DT Kyler Baugh
New York Giants
- Signed: S Raheem Layne, S Jonathan Sutherland
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Zyon Gilbert, WR T.J. Luther
- Reverted to IR: WR Tarik Black
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DT Nick Williams
- Released: LB Zeke Turner
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Easton Gibbs
- Waived (with injury designation): DT Nathan Pickering
Washington Commanders
- Waived (with injury settlement): T Alex Akingbulu
- Waived: G Mason Brooks
Cabral joins the Cowboys after UFL stints in Birmingham and Michigan. He adds more depth to the team’s offensive line after the team lost Chuma Edoga in their first preseason game and saw Earl Bostick helped off the field today. Toney suffered a groin injury, leading to this injury waiver, but could return to the team should he clear waivers.
Powers-Johnson was on some concerning ground with how much time he had missed with a concussion, but the Raiders saw him return to practice today.
The 49ers are adding some significant depth on the defensive line in Williams, who has vast starting experience in the NFL. Cutting Turner could mean that the return of Dre Greenlaw may on a better timeline than expected.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/24
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB William Hooper, S Josh Thompson
- Waived: WR Austin Mack
- Waived/failed physical: RB Robert Burns
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB T.J. Tampa
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from active/PUP: DT Devonnsha Maxwell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, S Chase Williams
- Released: RB John Kelly
- Waived: DE Marcus Haynes
- Waived/injured: CB Vincent Gray
Denver Broncos
- Claimed (from Giants): DB Kaleb Hayes
- Waived: ILB Alec Mock
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Jake Fromm, LB Ty Summers
- Waived: G Ike Boettger
- Waived/injured: WR Antoine Green
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Pheldarius Payne
- Waived: WR Jadon Janke
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed (from Bears): RB Demetric Felton
- Waived/injured: RB Trent Pennix
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Shaquille Quarterman, WR Isaiah Wooden
- Waived: QB Casey Bauman, WR Praise Olatoke
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB David Anenih, LB Wyatt Ray
- Placed on IR: Cam Brown, Grayson Murphy
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Deshaun Fenwick
- Waived: DE John Morgan
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Shaq Davis
- Waived: WR Marquez Callaway
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Lorenzo Lingard
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Anthony Hines, TE Neal Johnson
- Waived: LB Jimmy Ciarlo, CB Myles Jones
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed (from Ravens): OL Tykeem Doss
- Waived/injured: DB Kalon Barnes
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/injured: WR Frank Darby
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: P Nolan Cooney
- Waived from NFI list: QB Zack Annexstad
Hernia surgery forced Tampa to the Ravens’ active/PUP list, but the fourth-round pick is ready to return. Needing a double hernia operation after minicamp (per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec), Tampa is unlikely to be ready for practice until at least next week. By avoiding a move to the reserve/PUP list, Tampa is no longer at risk of missing Baltimore’s first four games.
A rookie UDFA, Murphy went down with an MCL injury, per NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe. The Dolphins signed Brown, a four-year Giants special-teamer and backup presence, in April. While the Dolphins continue to deal with linebacker injuries, they did bring Jaelan Phillips off the PUP list today.
Fromm spent most of the past two seasons with the Commanders, but the team — as it transitions to a new regime — cut the former Georgia passer in May. He joins a Lions team that still rosters Nate Sudfeld along with Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker.
Bengals RT Amarius Mims In Danger Of Missing Regular Season Time
Amarius Mims could have his NFL debut delayed due to injury. The rookie Bengals right tackle is dealing with a strained pectoral muscle, head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday. 
[RELATED: Recapping Bengals’ Offseason]
Taylor noted (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) Mims will not require surgery, but the first-rounder will nevertheless be out for “several weeks.” That means Mims will not take part in the Bengals’ remaining preseason contests, and his availability for Week 1 is now in question. Taylor did not rule out Mims being able to suit up for the season opener, though.
In any event, missed training camp and preseason reps will be critical for Mims. The Georgia alum flashed considerable potential during his college career, but injuries limited his time on the field to a major extent. The 6-7, 330-pounder had impressed to date in training camp, however, and the door was open to him winning the starting RT gig over free agent signing Trent Brown.
The latter was added on a one-year deal featuring incentives this offseason. Brown has made 100 appearances and 93 starts in his career, but his signing was known to be part of a wider strategy on the Bengals’ part of finding a long-term answer at right tackle. As expected, Jonah Williams departed on the open market, creating the need for a stopgap option to be added and a developmental contributor to be drafted.
Mims will no doubt take over a starting role at some point relatively soon, especially if he manages to recover quickly. For now, attention will turn to his rehab process and Browns’ readiness to handle first-team duties if needed at the start of the campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/24
Thursday’s minor moves around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Stephen Sullivan
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Carlos Davis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LS Rex Sunahara
- Waived: CB Faion Hicks
Dallas Cowboys
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Corey Crooms
Green Bay Packers
- Reverted to IR: CB Don Callis, WR Rory Starkey
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Breeland Speaks
- Waived (injury designation): DE De’Shaan Dixon
New Orleans Saints
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Tommy Hudson
New York Jets
- Reverted to IR: WR Hamze El-Zayat
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Jalen Elliott
- Waived (injury designation): S Nate Meadors
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Mario Kendricks, CB Willie Roberts
- Waived: DT Rodney Matthews
- Waived (injury designation): DT Matt Gotel
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: G Ryan Johnson
- Placed on IR: G Silas Dzansi
Dixon exited Jacksonville’s Tuesday practice early, and head coach Doug Pederson confirmed on Thursday he has suffered a torn ACL. The former UDFA started his career with the Jaguars, making three appearances as a rookie in 2022. He resided on the team’s practice squad last season, and he could remain in the organization by reverting to IR in the event he goes unclaimed.
Speaks will take Dixon’s place as he aims to translate an effective UFL campaign into a return to NFL action. The 28-year-old earned Defensive Player of the Year honors while playing for the Michigan Panthers. He collected 9.5 sacks in the spring, and that production has landed him the chance to carve out a roster spot with Jacksonville. Speaks last played with the Chiefs in 2018.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/24
Wednesday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Andre Carter, DE Joshua Pryor
- Placed on IR: DE Cameron Sample (story)
- Waived: P Austin McNamara, WR Tre Mosley
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DE Brevin Allen, K Alex Hale
- Waived (with injury designation): CB Don Callis, WR Rory Starkey
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: C Ryan Coll
- Placed on IR: C Wesley French
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Mike Harley Jr.
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Mark Evans II
- Waived: TE Mason Fairchild
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Deon Jackson
- Waived: WR Hamze El-Zayat
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed off waivers (from Commanders): TE Armani Rogers
- Waived: WR Shaq Davis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Easton Gibbs
- Waived (with injury designation): LB Tyler Murray
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Jontre Kirklin, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Terique Owens
- Released: S Erik Harris
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Kyon Barrs
- Reverted to IR: LB Josh Onujiogu
- Waived (with an injury designation): WR Marcus Simms
Washington Commanders
- Signed: T Alex Taylor-Prioleau
The Packers apparently felt it necessary to add another competitor to their position battle at kicker today, signing Hale out of Oklahoma State. The former walk-on from Australia hit on 43 of his 54 field goal attempts as a Cowboy in Stillwater.
Following the retirement of Tarik Cohen, the Jets opted to sign Jackson. The former Colts rusher had some big moments in 2022 while filling in for an injured Jonathan Taylor. He and Vaughn were both participants in a recent workout with the Texans, but Cam Akers walked away from that day with the job.
Lastly, Owens’, son of NFL legend Terrell Owens, time with one of his father’s former teams has come to an end. His pedigree may have assisted in landing an opportunity as an undrafted free agent in San Francisco, but he was unable to stay rostered throughout camp.
Bengals, K Evan McPherson Discussing Extension
A monster extension for Ja’Marr Chase may not be worked out this offseason, but the Bengals could finish another set of negotiations before the start of the 2024 campaign. Kicker Evan McPherson recently confirmed contract talks are ongoing as he prepares for the final year of his rookie contract.
[RELATED: Recapping Bengals’ Offseason]
“We’re just still grinding everything out,” the 25-year-old said (via Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network) “and we’ll see if we can get something done. If it happens right now, great, I’m happy. But if it doesn’t, I’m even more happy. I’m just gonna go out there and perform the same either way.”
The Bengals made it clear a new deal for McPherson was among the team’s top priorities, so it comes as little surprise talks are ongoing. The former fifth-rounder has been consistent for Cincinnati to date, ranging between 82.8% and 84.8% with respect to field goal accuracy. McPherson has connected on 21 attempts of 50 yards or longer, comfortably the most in a kicker’s first three seasons since 1970.
As a result, the Florida alum has set himself up to become one of the league’s highest-paid kickers. The AFC North already features three of the top earners at the position. Justin Tucker (Ravens), Dustin Hopkins (Browns), and Chris Boswell (Steelers) are among the kickers averaging at least $5MM per season on their current deals. McPherson will likely join them in that regard once his extension is in place, although he noted he does not know if an agreement will be finalized before Week 1.
The top of the kicking market was reset earlier this week when Harrison Butker inked a deal which will keep him in Kansas City through 2028. His extension carries an AAV of $6.4MM and includes $17.75MM in guarantees. McPherson will be hard-pressed to match those figures on a new Bengals pact, but he can nevertheless be expected to secure a signficant raise if negotiations breed progress on an extension.