Hakeem Valles

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/18

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: DL Caushaud Lyons, TE Tim Semisch, T Dan Skipper
  • Placed on PS-IR: OT Andreas Knappe

New York Giants

  • Signed: TE Hakeem Valles

Minnesota Vikings

San Francisco 49ers

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

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/18

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New York Giants

  • Signed: WR Quadree Henderson

New York Jets

  • Signed: RB De’Angelo Henderson

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/18

Here are Monday’s practice squad decisions:

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: NT Niles Scott

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Rams

New England Patriots

New York Jets

  • Signed: DL Bronson Kaufasi
  • Cut: T Dieguot Joseph

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/6/18

Here are Saturday’s minor moves and additional post-suspension activations:

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

NFC Notes: Panthers, Cards, Lions, Falcons

Although rookie wideout Curtis Samuel is done for the season after suffering an ankle injury, the Panthers have not made contact with old friend Corey Brown, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). Brown has enjoyed two separate stints with the Bills this season, but he’s yet to actually see the field. The 25-year-old spent the 2014-16 campaigns in Carolina, averaging 26 receptions, 340 yards, and two touchdowns during that time. However, Person suggested on Monday that the Panthers will fill their wide receiver vacancy from within.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • Cardinals defensive tackle Corey Peters has a high ankle sprain and will be sidelined for “awhile,” head coach Bruce Arians told reporters, including Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). High ankle sprains are typically four-to-six weeks injuries, which means Peters will be a candidate for injured reserve, especially since Arizona isn’t in the playoff hunt. Peters, 29, has played the second-most snaps among Cardinals defensive lineman this season, so his absence will certainly be felt. Backups Robert Nkemdiche, Rodney Gunter, Olsen Pierre, and Xavier Williams could now be line for more action.
  • The Lions are now paying practice squad tight end Hakeem Valles at the active roster rate ($32K per week), reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). That’s because the Cardinals recently attempted to poach Valles when they lost fellow tight end Ifeanyi Momah for the remainder of the season, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Valles, who entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Monmouth in 2016, spent the 2016 campaign with Arizona, appearing in 11 games (one start) for the club). Detroit, meanwhile, currently has three tight ends on its 53-man roster: Eric Ebron, Darren Fells, and Michael Roberts.
  • Before he decided to sign with the Saints, running back Jonathan Williams was also offered a contract by the Falcons, New Orleans head coach Sean Payton told reporters, including Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Williams had been earning $30K weekly (nearly an active roster rate) while on the Broncos’ practice squad, but he jumped at the chance to be placed on the Saints’ 53-man squad. Atlanta needed another running back while Devonta Freeman deals with a concussion, and it ultimately signed Terrence Magee of the Browns’ taxi squad.
  • New Saints special teams assistant Mike Westhoff wasn’t looking to get back into coaching, but New Orleans presented him with an appealing opportunity. “I don’t want to regret something I didn’t try,” he told Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). Westhoff added his new role isn’t a long-term gig, and he’ll only coach for this season. The Saints have struggled on special teams for the past two-plus years, a track record that forced the club to hire a new ST coach (Brad Banta) this offseason. However, New Orleans ranks 27th in special teams DVOA through 10 weeks.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/17

Today’s practice squad moves:

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Signed: CB Dee Virgin
  • Released: DE Daniel Ross

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders

  • Signed: K Giorgio Tavecchio
  • Released: LB Max Valles

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Cardinals Down To 53

The Cardinals announced their full slate of cuts to get to 53:

Wright was a standout at the University of Arizona. As a sophomore for the Wildcats, Wright was an absolute monster as he tallied 163 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and six forced fumbles. Unfortunately, he was slowed by injuries in 2015 and he wound up as a seventh-round pick of the Browns. The Cardinals were happy to scoop him up in December, but he has been pushed out in favor of veteran Josh Bynes and others.

Also of note – fourth-round guard Dorian Johnson has been cut. Johnson struggled in camp and the Cardinals were not willing to use a roster spot on him. I would speculate that he could be a taxi squad candidate.

Cardinals Cut RB Kerwynn Williams

The Cardinals have released running back Kerwynn Williams, as Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com tweets. In his place, the team has promoted tight end Hakeem Valles from the practice squad. Kerwynn Williams (Vertical)

Williams was signed earlier this week after running back Chris Johnson was placed on IR. However, the reunion was short lived. With Williams out of the picture, the Cardinals now have one-time starter Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor behind David Johnson.

Valles, soon-to-be 24, came to the Cardinals this year as an undrafted free agent out of Monmouth. The 6’5″, 260 pound athlete was among the team’s final cuts before the 53-man deadline but quickly agreed to join Arizona’s practice squad.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC West

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC West teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks are noted below.

Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.

Here are Sunday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Arizona Cardinals

Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks