NFL Workout Updates: 11/13/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. All links go to NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise noted.
Arizona Cardinals
- LB Thurston Armbrister, LB Terence Garvin, CB Leonard Johnson, T Rick Leonard, S Dexter McCoil, DT Tyrunn Walker (link)
Detroit Lions
- LB Azeem Victor (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Kivon Cartwright, TE Je’Ron Hamm, TE Nick Keizer, CB Reggie Porter, LB Anthony Winbush (link)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- DE Geneo Grissom, DT David Parry, DT Elijah Qualls, T Menelik Watson (Twitter link via Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan)
New Orleans Saints
- DT Michael Bennett, DT Sealver Siliga, DE Phil Taylor, DL Jerel Worthy (link)
New York Jets
- WR Tanner McEvoy, LB Corey Nelson, DE Marcus Smith, DL Destiny Vaeao, TE Hakeem Valles (link)
Oakland Raiders
- S Afolabi Aguda, WR Rashard Davis, WR Josh Huff, WR Charles Johnson, P Drew Kaser, S Tray Matthews, S Stephen Roberts, QB Alek Torgersen, WR Griff Whalen, S J.J. Wilcox (link)
Tennessee Titans
- WR Daniel Braverman, WR Quan Bray, OLB/DE Kasim Edebali, DE Terrence Fede, CB Dontae Johnson, CB Mike Jordan, CB Ashton Lampkin, CB Jeremiah McKinnon, OLB/DE Nate Orchard, QB Nic Shimonek, WR ArDarius Stewart, TE Tyrone Swoopes, LB John Timu, RB Charcandrick West (link)
Raiders Waived/Injured WR Griff Whalen
Wide receiver Griff Whalen has reached a four-week injury settlement with the Raiders, according to Michael Gehlken of the Review Journal (on Twitter). The move will allow Whalen to move ahead as a free agent, rather than sit on the Raiders’ IR.
Per league rules, Whalen could re-sign with the Raiders in Week 7 of the regular season. However, he might not last that long on the open market if he is able to work out for teams at something close to 100%.
Whalen seemed likely to make the Raiders’ final cut until a case of turf toe sidelined him this summer. Whalen was is line for playing time as a slot receiver, but it seems that those duties will be covered by Seth Roberts. Ryan Switzer, another slot candidate for Oakland, was traded to the Steelers this week, giving further clarity to the Raiders’ WR group. Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, and Martavis Bryant are expected to lead the way at the position.
Raiders Place Whalen On IR, Release Giacomini
The Raiders have placed wide receiver Griff Whalen on injured reserve. Whalen has reportedly been dealing with turf toe and was said to be questionable for Week 1, but the injury is more serious than previously believed.
Oakland also released Breno Giacomini. The veteran was set to be the Raiders’ starting right tackle before the start of camp, but he has been sidelined as of late with a knee injury.
The Raiders have dropped two wide receivers from their roster on Monday by putting Whalen on IR and trading Ryan Switzer to the Steelers. The moves aren’t necessarily the precursor to a wide receiver signing, because the Raiders have serious roster trimming to do between now and Saturday. Despite the shakeup, the Raiders still have a top four consisting of Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, Martavis Bryant, and Seth Roberts.
To take the place of Whalen and Giacomini, the Raiders have signed defensive lineman Connor Flagel and cornerback Jarell Carter.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/12/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
New York Giants
- Re-signed: OG Jon Halapio, LB Mark Herzlich
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed to two-year deals: LB Nick Dzubnar, WR Geremy Davis
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Griff Whalen
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/17
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from injured reserve: LB LaRoy Reynolds
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Jordan Tripp
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted to active roster: OL Maurquice Shakir
- Released: WR Griff Whalen
Buffalo Bills
- Released: RB Joe Banyard
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Don Barclay
- Waived: OL Dan Skipper
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Kendall Lamm
- Signed off Patriots‘ practice squad: DL Angelo Blackson
- Placed on injured reserve: DL Christian Covington (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from PUP: WR Rashawn Scott
- Placed on injured reserve: S Nate Allen, OL Anthony Steen
New York Giants
- Signed: DE Devin Taylor
- Placed on injured reserve: DE Nordly Capi
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Xavier Cooper
- Placed on injured reserve: TE Jordan Leggett
- Waived: DL Ed Stinson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Jordan Hicks (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from injured reserve: CB Will Redmond
Ravens Sign WR Griff Whalen
The Ravens announced that they have signed wide receiver Griff Whalen. In related moves, the team cut offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom and released cornerback Sheldon Price from injured reserve. 
Whalen, 27, spent the first four years of his career with the Colts before taking a mini-tour around the league in 2016. The bulk of his action last year came in eight games with the Chargers. He spent this past summer with the Ravens, but he missed the final cut in early September. He has now been called back at a time when Baltimore is in desperate need of wide receiver depth. Breshad Perriman is in concussion protocol while Jeremy Maclin and Mike Wallace have not been able to practice fully.
The Ravens traded a conditional draft pick to the Cardinals in September to acquire Bergstrom. After the offensive lineman played in just 32 snaps on offense and 13 on special teams, the conditions for the pick transfer might not have been met.
Ravens Cut 18 Players
The Ravens made some major strides towards getting under the 53-man limit. On Friday, they announced 24 roster moves, including the release of 18 players. Here’s the full rundown:
Waived:
- P Kenny Allen
- LB Randy Allen
- WR C.J. Board
- G Jarell Broxton
- DB Otha Foster
- T Roubbens Joseph
- C Derrick Nelson
- LS Taybor Pepper
- G Jarrod Pughsley
- WR/RS Keenan Reynolds
- FB/RB Lorenzo Taliaferro (story)
- G/T De’Ondre Wesley
Released outright (vested veterans who are not subject to waivers):
- TE Larry Donnell (story)
- QB Thaddeus Lewis (story)
- RB Bobby Rainey (story)
- CB Trevin Wade
- WR Griff Whalen
- G/C Jeremy Zuttah (story)
Placed on IR:
- WR Tim White (hand)
In addition to White, the following players have now been officially placed on IR:
- RB Kenneth Dixon (knee)
- G/T Alex Lewis (shoulder)
- LB Albert McClellan (knee)
- G Nico Siragusa (knee)
- WR Tim White (hand)
- CB Tavon Young (CB)
The Ravens are now down to 66 players.
Ravens To Sign WR Griff Whalen
The Ravens are signing veteran wide receiver Griff Whalen, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Whalen visited the Ravens and took a physical with the team earlier today. After that, it didn’t take long for a deal to come together. 
[RELATED: Bills Meet With Ex-Ravens WR Anquan Boldin]
Terms of the deal are not yet known, but this is likely a one-year deal with little-to-no guarantees. Whalen will push to make the roster as a supporting wide receiver, vying with Chris Moore, Keenan Reynolds, Chris Matthews, Michael Campanaro, and others for just two or three potential spots.
Whalen’s experience in the return game could help his bid to make the 53-man roster.
Ravens Work Out WR Griff Whalen
The Ravens worked out veteran wide receiver Griff Whalen on Friday, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Whalen is taking a physical for the team and there is mutual interest in a deal, he adds.
Whalen, 27, spent the first four years of his career with the Colts before being bounced around like a pinball in 2016. He first latched on with the Dolphins, but he was dropped just after the 53-man cutdown deadline. He then hooked on with the Chargers and spent eight games on their roster before getting the ax to make room for Ronnie Hillman. He signed with the Patriots in December, but his stay lasted only one week.
For his career, Whaley has 47 catches for 509 yards and three scores with all but two of those receptions coming in his four seasons with Indianapolis. On the plus side, Whalen also offers experience in the return game.
The Ravens have Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin, and Breshad Perriman as their top three wide receivers. After that, things are pretty wide open for the No. 4 and 5 spots. It sounds like Whalen could be thrown into the mix to battle it out with Chris Moore, Keenan Reynolds, Chris Matthews, and Michael Campanaro for those final openings.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/15/16
Today’s minor moves:
- In order to clear a roster spot after claiming Michael Floyd off waivers, the Patriots waived fellow wide receiver Griff Whalen, the club announced today. Whalen, 26, was signed exactly a week ago, but was not active during Monday night’s game agaisnt Baltimore.
- The Lions announced that they’ve waived cornerback Adairius Barnes in order to create a roster spot for linebacker Corey Lemonier. Barnes had become Detroit’s primary slot CB after the club lost Quandre Diggs for the season, and played 41% of the Lions’ defensive snaps in Week 14.
- The Colts elevated offensive tackle Jeremy Vujnovich to active roster from practice squad, per a club announcement. Indianapolis might be looking for extra offensive line depth as right tackle Joe Reitz continues to deal with back issues. Additionally, the Colts swapped outside linebackers today, promoting Deiontrez Mount while waiving Lavar Edwards.