Darius Kilgo

Cardinals Cut RB Ito Smith, 3 Others

As teams are required to cut their rosters down to 85 players by tomorrow, more guys are getting shown the door. Veteran running back Ito Smith was one of the latest casualties as the Cardinals announced his release on Monday.

Arizona also cut receivers Aleva Hifo and JoJo Ward, and defensive tackle Darius Kilgo. Smith was released by the Falcons back in April, and only latched on with the Cardinals last week. He had previously worked out for the Giants. The 2018 fourth-round pick spent his first four professional seasons in Atlanta, and operated as their lead back for stretches during the 2018 and 2020 seasons.

As a rookie he got his most extensive run, carrying the ball 90 times for 315 yards and four touchdowns, adding 27 receptions for another 152 yards. This past season he rushed 63 times for 268 yards and one touchdown, with 17 catches for 75 yards. Hifo and Ward are both 2020 UDFAs, from BYU and Hawaii respectively.

Kilgo is a 2015 sixth-round pick of the Broncos who is notable for winning back to back rings in Super Bowl 50 and then LI with the Broncos and Patriots. He also just signed in the desert last week.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/9/21

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers

Miami Dolphins

  • Waived: LS Rex Sunahara

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Waived: QB Jake Dolegala
  • Signed: LS Brian Khoury

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team

  • Signed: C Jon Toth

Ravens Work Out Darius Kilgo

Defensive tackle Darius Kilgo worked out for the Ravens on Tuesday (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Kilgo, who spent the bulk of last year on the Broncos’ taxi squad, profiles as a low-cost and low-risk addition for the Ravens’ 90-man roster.

[RELATED: Ravens Eyeing Julio Jones?]

A 2015 sixth-round pick, Kilgo was a member of that Broncos Super Bowl-winning squad. The 29-year-old hasn’t done a whole lot since getting released by Denver during the ’16 season, however — he compiled five tackles in eleven games for the Titans in 2018, but hasn’t seen live action outside of that. In recent years, he’s also had stints with the Patriots (where he earned a second Super Bowl ring), Jaguars, Titans, and Lions.

In other Ravens news — they could be a team to watch in the Julio Jones sweepstakes. Granted, they’ll only make a move if the price is right. At last check, the Falcons have set the asking price at a first-round pick. Meanwhile, some believe that Jones will want his new team to give him a new deal with more in the way of guarantees.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/3/20

Here are Thursday’s practice squad decisions:

Denver Broncos

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Darius Kilgo

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Nick Bowers

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

  • Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list, released: TE Daniel Helm

Broncos Add DLs Sylvester Williams, Darius Kilgo To Practice Squad

The Broncos are adding two familiar faces to their practice squad. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports (via Twitter) that Denver has signed defensive tackles Sylvester Williams and Darius Kilgo. The two players auditioned for the Broncos earlier this week alongside Timmy Jernigan (who ultimately signed with the team), David Moa, Brian Price, and Niles Scott.

Williams was a first-round pick by the Broncos back in 2013, and while he never really lived up to his potential, he still managed to play a role for those competitive Denver squads. The lineman ultimately spend four seasons with the Broncos, starting a pair of Super Bowls (and winning one).

He signed a three-year deal with the Titans prior to the 2017 campaign, but he lasted less than a year in Tennessee. He’s since had stints with the Lions, Dolphins, Saints, and Chargers, and he had five tackles in five games with Los Angeles in 2019.

A 2015 sixth-round pick by Denver, Kilgo was also a member of that Broncos Super Bowl-winning squad. The 28-year-old hasn’t done a whole lot since getting released by Denver during the 2016 campaign; he compiled five tackles in 11 games for the Titans in 2018, but that’s been it. He’s also had stints with the Patriots (where he earned a second Super Bowl ring), Jaguars, Titans, and Lions.

Broncos Work Out Sylvester Williams

Timmy Jernigan wasn’t the only defensive tackle to meet with the Broncos this week. The club also auditioned five other interior linemen, including former first round pick Sylvester Williams, per the league’s official record. Darius Kilgo, David Moa, Brian Price, and Niles Scott also took part in the audition. 

[RELATED: Broncos To Sign Timmy Jernigan]

Williams, 31, has not lived up to his billing as the No. 28 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Still, he’s been mostly employed for the last seven seasons. Williams has played for the Titans, Lions, and Dolphins, and Chargers since leaving the Broncos. The Saints rostered him briefly last summer.

The 330-pound veteran appeared in five games for the Bolts last year, but wasn’t first-string for any of those appearances. The bulk of his 63 career starts came with the Broncos, followed by eleven starts with the Titans in 2017. He might not be a world-beater, but he does come with ample experience, including two Super Bowl starts.

It’s not immediately clear whether the Broncos are still in the market for a defensive tackle or nose tackle after signing Jernigan. But, at minimum, they should have a couple of candidates on their emergency list, which is pretty key given their rash of injuries this year.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/23/20

Here are today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: OT Ka’John Armstrong

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/20

Here are today’s minor moves. We will update as necessary throughout the day:

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

  • Signed: CB Prince Smith

San Francisco 49ers

Patriots Meet With TE Jordan Leggett, DT Darius Kilgo

The Patriots are on the verge of adding some reinforcements. Tight end Jordan Leggett and defensive tackle Darius Kilgo will meet with the Pats on Monday and, if everything checks out, they’ll sign on (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

[RELATED: Ravens, Patriots Interested In Delanie Walker]

Leggett, a 2017 fifth-round pick of the Jets, was originally set to serve as their top tight end in his rookie year. Instead, a knee injury wiped out his would-be first season. Leggett was only targeted occasionally when he finally debuted in 2018 and the Jets moved on from him in the following offseason. The Bucs scooped him up and mostly kept him on the practice squad in 2019. Then, late last month, they released him outright.

If signed, Leggett would provide the Pats with some extra insurance for their young tight end group. After Matt LaCosse‘s opt out, they’re left with a group headlined by third-round rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, plus the relatively inexperienced Ryan Izzo. The Pats are also said to have interest in veteran tight end Delanie Walker.

Kilgo, a 2016 sixth-round pick of the Broncos, has spent some time with the Patriots in the past, though he has never appeared in a game for them. For his career, Kilgo has appeared in 29 games for the Broncos and Titans.

Free Agency Notes: Ansah, Nkemdiche, Webb

While the 49ers opted to sign Dion Jordan, the other top-five 2013 draft pick they hosted on a recent visit received good news. Ziggy Ansah passed his 49ers physical, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The former Lions and Seahawks defensive end has battled injuries in recent years, including a shoulder malady during his 2019 season in Seattle. However, Ansah is currently at 280 pounds and healthy. Although the former Pro Bowler is entering his age-31 season and has not contributed much statistically since his 12-sack 2017, his improved health should generate interest from other teams in the near future.

Here is the latest from the free agent market:

  • Former Cardinals first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche is aiming to return to the league. He has spoken with multiple teams, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. The one-time No. 1 recruit in the country did not pan out in Arizona or Miami, ballooning to 345 pounds during a thus-far unproductive career. But Garafolo adds Nkemdiche is back down to 315 and has told teams he is healthy. The Dolphins waived Nkemdiche in November.
  • Prior to the Falconsagreement with ex-Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard, they were interested in one of his former Cincinnati teammates. Atlanta was monitoring B.W. Webb, per ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure (on Twitter). Webb started 12 Bengals games last season and was productive as a Giants slot cornerback in 2018. Now 30, Webb has the historically unusual distinction of playing for a different team in each of his six NFL seasons. The former Cowboys fourth-round pick has played with Dallas, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, New Orleans, the Giants and Cincinnati.
  • Free agent tight end Geoff Swaim took a physical for the Texans recently, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (on Twitter). Teams are permitted to give physicals to free agents if they are serious about signing them. Swaim, however, remains unsigned days after this physical occurred. Swaim spent the first five seasons of his career with the Cowboys and Jaguars. He ended the past two seasons on IR.
  • Defensive tackle Darius Kilgo has been fully cleared from the quadriceps injury he suffered last season, Rapoport tweets. A 2015 Broncos draft choice, Kilgo suffered the injury while with the Lions last year. He has not played in a regular-season game since suiting up for the 2018 Titans.