Don Jones

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/1/22

Here are the New Year’s Day activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Oli Udoh

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Bryce Hall

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

49ers Sign DTs Cedric Thornton, Will Sutton

The 49ers have signed defensive tackles Cedric Thornton and Will Sutton, as well as offensive lineman J.P. Flynn, the club announced today. In corresponding moves, San Francisco has cut defensive back Don Jones, offensive lineman Jamar McGloster, and defensive lineman Blaine Woodson.

Of the players involved in today’s transactions, Thornton boasts the longest NFL track record. A former three-year starter for the Eagles, Thornton signed a four-year deal with the Cowboys prior to the 2016 campaign but lasted only a single season. He latched on with the Bills just before the 2017 season got underway and ultimately appeared in 15 games, playing on roughly a third of Buffalo’s defensive snaps.

Sutton, meanwhile, is a former third-round pick of the Bears who flamed out after three seasons. Although he inked a deal with the Vikings last summer, Sutton didn’t make Minnesota’s initial 53-man roster and spent the rest of the year on the workout circuit. While he never did land a deal last year, Sutton is still only 26 years old.

The 49ers aren’t hurting for depth along their interior defense, as starters DeForest Buckner and Earl Mitchell are backed up by Chris Jones, Sheldon Day, and others, while end Arik Armstead can also play inside. Still, Thornton and/or Sutton could have an outside chance to make San Francisco’s roster if they perform well during training camp.

49ers’ Don Jones May Have Torn ACL

Don Jones

49ers safety Don Jones posted on his Snapchat that he suffered a torn left ACL in the team’s preseason finale against the Chargers on Thursday, per James Brady of Niners Nation. He’s now likely to head to injured reserve, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link). Placing Jones on IR would reduce the 49ers’ roster to 70 players, 17 above the 53-man limit.

Jones joined the 49ers on a two-year deal at the outset of free agency in March, before which the 2013 seventh-round pick spent time with six organizations. He divided 2016 between Cleveland and Houston and appeared in 13 games, logging his first-ever start along the way.

While Jones is technically a defender, playing time has been scarce on that side of the ball for the 27-year-old. Jones has mainly functioned as a special teamer, and he played nearly 40 percent of the Texans’ ST snaps during his nine-game stint with them last season.

49ers Sign Special-Teamer Don Jones

The 49ers have agreed to a deal with special teams ace Don Jones, the club announced. Jones, a safety by trade, signed a two-year pact.Don Jones (Vertical)

Jones, 26, has played for two clubs per season in each of the last three years. That’s the life of pure special teamer who doesn’t often see the field on defense. Since entering the league, Jones has only started one career game, and that came last year with the Texans. Overall, Jones played on nearly 40% of Houston’s special teams snaps despite appearing in only nine games with the team after being cut by Cleveland.

San Francisco ranked 17th in special teams DVOA in 2016, and was below-average on both kick and punt returns.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/16

Wednesday’s minor moves:

  • The Texans added two defenders to their active roster Wednesday, promoting lineman Brandon Dunn from their practice squad and signing free agent safety Don Jones, as Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. To make room, Houston placed safety K.J. Dillon and linebacker Brennan Scarlett on IR.

AFC Workout Notes: Colts, Chiefs, Ravens, Pats

Free agent receiver Aaron Dobson visited the Colts on Tuesday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link). Dobson has worked out for several teams and had multiple stints with the Lions since the Patriots cut him Sept. 3. The three-year veteran has 53 receptions and four touchdowns in 24 games (13 starts).

The Colts also worked out running back David Cobb (Twitter link). The former Titan has tried out for a bevy of clubs since Tennessee cut him in August. Cobb briefly caught on with the Steelers, who waived him from their practice squad last week.

Along with Dobson and Cobb, receiver Marcus Leak, tight ends Alex Bayer and Darion Griswold, and linebackers Trevor Reilly and James Vaughters tried out with the Colts, tweets Howard Balzer of USA Today.

More workouts from the AFC (courtesy of Caplan, unless otherwise noted):

  • In addition to defensive end Kendall Reyes, whom they signed, the Chiefs tried out fellow DE Lynden Trail on Tuesday, according to Nick Underhill of the Advocate (Twitter link). Joining them were linebackers Deion Barnes, Randell Johnson, and Kyle Kragen.
  • Veteran offensive lineman Garrett Reynolds worked out for the Ravens on Tuesday (Twitter link). Reynolds has been on the radar of a few teams since Los Angeles released him prior to Week 1. The 29-year-old has 42 appearances and 23 starts on his resume.
  • The Patriots tried out out two offensive tackles – Ryan Mack and Pearce Slater – as well as defensive end Jordan Williams, reports Doug Kyed of NESN (via Twitter).
  • Along with linebacker Quentin Gaus and tight end Steven Scheu, both of whom joined their practice squad, the Broncos worked out linebackers Lenny Jones, J.R. Tavai and Kyrie Wilson; defensive ends Deonte Gibson, Ian Seau and Josh Shirley; and safety Elijah Shumate (Twitter links via Balzer).
  • The Texans worked out safety Don Jones and a pair of cornerbacks, Denzel Rice and Charles Gaines (Twitter link).
  • Running back Mekale McKay and Jhurell Pressley tried out for the Jets, according to Balzer (Twitter link).
  • Three tight ends – Kivon Cartwright, Tim Semisch and Gannon Sinclair – worked out for the Titans, tweets Balzer.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/4/16

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Bills have released tight end Jim Dray and promoted fellow tight end Gerald Christian from the practice squad, the club announced today. Dray, 29, is a seven-year veteran who inked a one-year deal with Buffalo over the offseason. Though he’s posted 56 career receptions, Dray didn’t garner a single target with the Bills.
  • The Browns announced that they have promoted tight end Connor Hamlett from the practice squad while waiving safety Don Jones. Jones had been a key special teams cog for Cleveland, but he hadn’t received a single defensive snap thus far.
  • The Lions waived tight end Orson Charles, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Detroit signed another tight end — veteran Clay Harbor — earlier today, so Charles is no longer need on the roster.
  • The Colts announced that they have promoted rookie linebacker Trevor Bates from the practice squad to the active roster. With veteran Sio Moore out of the picture after being cut earlier today, it’s possible that Bates could carve out a role.
  • The Buccaneers promoted wide receiver Jeremy Butler to the active roster. In eight games with Baltimore last season, Butler posted 31 receptions for 363 yards.

Browns’ Terrelle Pryor, Don Jones Sign RFA Tenders

The Browns have confirmed a handful of signings, announcing today in a press release that wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and defensive back Don Jones have inked their restricted free agent tenders to remain with the team. The club also confirmed the previously-reported addition of safety Rahim Moore.Terrelle Pryor

Pryor, a quarterback-turned-wide receiver, appeared in three games with two starts in 2015, notching one reception for 42 yards on eight targets. In total, for his career, he has appeared in 18 career games with 12 starts, though of course the majority of those appearances came at quarterback.

Turning the talented Pryor into a receiver was an experiment conducted by the old Browns regime, but it appears the team’s new decision-makers – and new head coach Hue Jackson – have some interest in continuing down that road as well.

Jones, meanwhile, has jumped from team to team since entering the league in 2013, having spent time with the Dolphins, Patriots, Saints, and Browns. He played exclusively on special teams in nine games with Cleveland last season after joining the club.

Both Pryor and Jones will be in line for non-guaranteed $1.671MM base salaries for the 2016 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/16/16

Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

  • The Falcons announced the signings of linebacker LaRoy Reynolds and offensive tackle Tom Compton (link via their website). Reynolds has spent time with the Jags and Bears since entering the league in 2013, totaling 43 appearances and four starts. Compton, Washington’s sixth-round pick in 2012, has 44 appearances and 11 starts under his belt. He amassed career highs in both categories (16 and nine, respectively) in 2014.
  • The Raiders have signed safety Brynden Trawick, according to their website. Trawick appeared in 38 games with Baltimore from 2013-15 and made one start.
  • The Bears have signed long snapper Aaron Brewer to a one-year deal, per their Twitter account. Brewer was the Broncos’ long snapper from 2012-15.
  • Seahawks linebacker Eric Pinkins signed his exclusive rights tender, according to Dov Kleiman of RantSports (Twitter link). Pinkins, a sixth-rounder in 2014, logged his first six appearances last season.
  • While the Seahawks will keep Pinkins, the same isn’t true for long snapper Clint Gresham. The club has released him, Kleiman tweets. Gresham had been Seattle’s snapper since 2010.
  • Browns safety Don Jones signed his restricted free agent tender, per Kleiman (on Twitter). Jones joined the Browns last season after spending time with three other organizations since Miami took him in the seventh round of the 2013 draft.

Browns Give Qualifying Offer To Terrelle Pryor

In a pair of announcements, the Browns disclosed that they have tendered four restricted free agents and re-signed three exclusive rights free agents. The Browns extended qualifying offers to wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, defensive back Don Jones, offensive lineman Austin Pasztor, and linebacker Scott Solomon. The Browns also re-signed linebacker Tank Carder, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent. Two Exclusive rights free agents have also been retained in defensive lineman Jamie Meder and running back Raheem Mostert.

Pryor, a quarterback-turned-wide receiver, appeared in three games with two starts in 2015, notching one reception for 42 yards. In total, for his career, he has appeared in 18 career games with 12 starts. Turning the talented Pryor into a receiver was an experiment of the old Browns regime, but it appears that the new front office and new coach Hue Jackson have some interest in continuing down that road as well.

Carder is a staple on on special teams for Cleveland and has registered 34 special-teams tackles to his credit over the course of his career. The linebacker appeared in all 16 games last season and recorded ten special-teams tackles.

Pasztor, came to the Browns off waivers from the Jaguars and appeared in all 16 games last season. Jones, who came to Cleveland via waivers after the Saints left him exposed, appeared in nine games. Solomon’s season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve (knee) on Oct. 14.

Mostert, a UDFA, bounced around between the Ravens, Dolphins, and Browns in 2015. In total, he appeared in 11 games and logged 19 kickoff returns for 530 yards.