Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/22
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: RB Corey Clement
- Waived: CB Robert Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: LB Kamal Martin
- Waived (injury settlement): CB Devin Jones
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Carson Taylor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: C Ben Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: WR Derrick Dillon
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: DT Austin Faoliu
- Waived (injury designation): TE Ian Bunting, FB Ryan Nall, WR Ty Fryfogle, CB Kyron Brown
Denver Broncos
- Waived (injury designation): OL Ben Braden
Detroit Lions
- Released: TE Garrett Griffin
- Waived: TE Nolan Givan, C Ryan McCollum
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): TE Nate Becker
- Waived: LB Randy Ramsey, C Cole Schneider, CB Donte Vaughn
Houston Texans
- Waived: LS Harrison Elliott, RB B.J. Emmons
- Released: WR Chad Beebe
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from PUP list: WR Mike Strachan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived (injury designation): K Elliott Fry
- Waived: RB Matt Colburn, QB Jake Luton, WR Ryan McDaniel, DE Wyatt Ray
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived (injury designation): DT Forrest Merrill, OC Isaac Weaver
- Waived: WR Maurice Ffrench, QB Brandon Peters, S Skyler Thomas
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: NT Niles Scott
- Placed on IR: CB Trill Williams (story)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DE Niko Lalos, DT Jaleel Johnson
- Placed on IR: OT Ethan Greenidge
- Waived (injury settlement): DB Bryce Thompson
- Waived (injury designation): DB Jordan Brown, S Isaiah Pryor
- Waived: DE T.J. Carter, S Jack Koerner, DE Scott Patchan, K John Parker Romo, WR Easop Winston
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Bills): CB Olaijah Griffin
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Keshunn Abram
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB James Vaughters
- Waived (injury designation): LB Tuzar Skipper
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DT Tomasi Laulile, WR KeeSean Johnson, RB Josh Hokit
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from active/PUP list: OT Liam Ryan
- Placed on IR: WR Cody Thompson
- Waived: CB Josh Valentine-Turner, DT Antonio Valentino, OL Eric Wilson, WR Deontez Alexander
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Patrick Laird
- Placed on IR: RB Kenjon Barner
- Waived: TE Ben Beise
Washington Commanders
- Activated from active/PUP list: OT Cornelius Lucas
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from active/PUP list: DT Eli Ankou
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: CB Devin Jones
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB C.J. Avery
Houston Texans
- Released from IR with injury settlement: WR Davion Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: OT Jason Spriggs
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks
- Placed on IR: CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
New Orleans Saints
- Released from IR with injury settlement: CB Dylan Mabin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: WR Keric Wheatfall
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: WR Javon McKinley
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: S Leon O’Neal
Tennessee Titans
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OL Daniel Munyer
Latest On Texans’ RB Room
Much of the talk around the Texans’ 2022 offense is centered on second-year QB Davis Mills, but improving on last season’s league-worst rushing attack would give the unit a much-needed boost. The team’s first depth chart offers an important look into the team’s plans at the running back position. 
Houston has listed Marlon Mack as the lead back, per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (Twitter link). The 26-year-old signed in April to try and rebuild his value after two disappointing campaigns with the Colts. He has played just seven games during that span, which was preceded by a two-year stretch in which he produced 1,999 rushing yards and 18 total touchdowns.
Compared to the Colts’ backfield, which is now led by Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines, Mack should have a clearer path to a significant workload. He will be in competition with fellow veteran Rex Burkhead, who led the team with 427 rushing yards last season. Those two will be joined by fourth-round rookie Dameon Pierce at the top of the depth chart, which also includes Dare Ogunbowale and Royce Freeman.
A committee approach would come as little surprise at this point, given the lack of known commodities amongst the group. A return to his previous form from Mack would, however, be a welcomed sight for both the rebuilding team and his free agent value next offseason. Failing that, more attention being given to Pierce – who averaged 5.5 yards per carry during his career at Florida – during the course of the season could be expected.
Another member of the Texans’ RB room (at least for the time being) is Darius Anderson. The TCU alum had a burglary charge against him dropped last week, but he will still not be on the field in 2022. Wilson tweets that Anderson suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice. That means the soon-to-be 25-year-old will wait at least one more year to make his NFL debut, and the Texans will have a slightly clearer outlook on an important position group heading into the season.
Dolphins Trade TE Adam Shaheen To Texans
AUGUST 11: Shaheen has been given a failed physical designation by the Texans due to a pre-existing knee condition, and as a result, the trade has been voided (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe). The issue wasn’t serious enough to cost Shaheen any time during training camp, but he will now return to the Dolphins.
AUGUST 9: The Dolphins acquired tight end Adam Shaheen via trade and have now moved on from him in the same manner. Per a team announcement, they have sent Shaheen and a 2023 seventh-round pick to the Texans for a 2023 sixth-rounder. 
The 27-year-old was a second-round pick of the Bears in 2017. Over the course of three seasons in Chicago, he racked up 25 starts out of 55 games played, but never registered more than 12 catches in any one campaign. By sending him to Miami in 2020, the Bears managed to get a seventh-round pick in return instead of cutting him outright, but that deal nevertheless represented a disappointing end to his tenure there.
In his first season with the Dolphins, the Ashland alum set a new career-high in snaps played with 367. He also registered a PFF grade of 66, another personal watermark. That earned him a two-year extension, but he once again played a depth role on offense in 2021. Finding himself on the roster bubble again, Shaheen has now been traded in an almost identical situation to 2020.
The Dolphins have Mike Gesicki at the top of their TE depth chart. He will play on the franchise tag this year, but should be an extension priority next offseason given his production. Behind him, they still roster Durham Smythe, Cethan Carter and 2021 third-rounder Hunter Long.
In Houston, Shaheen will join a rebuilding Texans’ offense short on established pass-catchers. Veteran Pharaoh Brown was recently reported to be the team’s starting TE to begin the season; he, along with recent fifth-rounders Brevin Jordan and Teagan Quitoriano form the competition for snaps and targets Shaheen will now face in a contract year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/22
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from NFI: OL La’el Collins
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB JaQuan Hardy
- Placed on IR: WR Jakeem Grant (story), LB Silas Kelly
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB JaQuan Hardy, RB Stevie Scott
- Waived/injured: RB Tyreik McAllister
- Placed on IR: OLB Christopher Allen
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S Micah Abernathy, RB Dexter Williams
- Released: LS Steven Wirtel
- Waived/injured: WR Osirus Mitchell
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB B.J. Emmons
- Placed on IR: RB Darius Anderson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DL Auzoyah Alufohai
- Waived/injured: DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Chris Lacy
- Released: WR Jordan Veasy
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: RB DeAndre Torrey
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed off waivers (from Jets): DE Hamilcar Rashed
- Waived/injured: LB Ulysees Gilbert
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Jameson Houston
- Waived: OL Keenan Forbes
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: S Michael Griffin II
Burglary Charge Dropped Against Texans RB Darius Anderson
After being arrested last month for burglary with intent to commit assault, Texans running back Darius Anderson has been cleared of any wrongdoing. According to Mark Berman of Fox26 (on Twitter), the Harris County District Attorney’s office dismissed charges against Anderson.
According to court records, Anderson’s ex-girlfriend claimed that the athlete forced his way into her home on a July morning and didn’t leave until she locked herself in a bathroom and called police. Anderson allegedly tried to assault the woman once he entered the home, and the player took “some shoes” before leaving. Per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com, security footage ended up proving that Anderson never broke into the home.
“It’s been a nightmare that this young man has been going through,” Anderson’s agent, Harold Lewis, told Wilson. “I hope people get to know him as I do and the Texans do. He’s a great young man. It was a horrible situation. I hope no one ever has to go through that. As bad as it was, there are so many people I would like to thank through this process. I would like to thank Lovie Smith, Nick Caserio and the entire Texans organization for trusting and believing in this young man. The Texans are a family organization and they stand by their players.”
Head coach Lovie Smith told reporters that he’s happy the organization “let it play out in the system.” GM Nick Caserio had previously told reporters that there was a lot of “misinformation” surrounding the case and that he was hoping for a quick resolution.
Anderson scored 18 touchdowns in four seasons at TCU. He had one of his most productive collegiate seasons as a senior in 2019, finishing with 951 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns on 173 touches. He went undrafted during the 2020 draft, and after spending his rookie season with the Cowboys and Colts, Anderson joined the Texans late during the 2021 campaign. He inked a reserve/future contract with the organization back in January. The 24-year-old is facing an uphill battle to make the roster; at best, he was battling with Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale to be the team’s fourth RB.
Texans To Start Pharaoh Brown At TE
- The Texans did not generate much from their tight end spot last season; Jordan Akins‘ 214 receiving yards led the position group. The team let Akins sign with the Giants in free agency and did not add a notable replacement. Lovie Smith‘s squad is planning to open the season with veteran Pharaoh Brown as the starter here, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes. Brown, who re-signed with the Texans this offseason on a one-year deal worth $3.5MM, caught 23 passes for just 171 yards last season. The Texans have 2021 fifth-round pick Brevin Jordan and used a fifth-rounder this year on Teagan Quitoriano. Both young players will defer to Brown, a sixth-year presence, to start the season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/22
Today’s minor moves
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: WR Trevon Clark
Carolina Panthers
- Reverted to IR: WR Andrew Parchment
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Daylen Baldwin
- Waived: S Nate Meadors
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Max Borghi
- Placed on IR: RB Damarea Crockett, WR Tim Patrick (story)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Maurice Alexander
- Waived/injured: RB Greg Bell
Houston Texans
- Signed: LS Harrison Elliott
- Activated from PUP: DB Tristin McCollum
- Waived-injured: WR Davion Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR D.J. Montgomery
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: G Beau Benzschawel
- Waived/injured: G Jared Hocker
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from NFI: DB Elijah Campbell
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: TE Brandon Dillon
New York Giants
- Placed on exempt/left squad: OT Matt Gono*
New York Jets
- Activated from NFI: RB Tevin Coleman, TE Jeremy Ruckert
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from PUP: TE Richard Rodgers
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Master Teague
- Placed on IR: RB Jeremy McNichols
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Terrell Bonds, OL Willie Wright
- Waived/injured: DB Chris Williamson
- Placed on IR: C Daniel Munyer
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB De’Vante Bausby
- Waived/injured: LB Drew White
*Per Dan Duggan of The Athletic (on Twitter), Gono has left the squad due to an undisclosed physical issue. The lineman will meet with a doctor tomorrow, which should provide some clarity.
Texans Sign WR Chester Rogers
8:25pm: The Texans have indeed signed Rogers to a contract, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). It will be a one-year deal for the receiver.
9:00am: The Texans could be eyeing an addition or two in their receiver room. Houston is working out free agents Willie Snead and Chester Rogers, per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Kurt Benkert was the quarterback throwing to the two receivers, Wilson adds (on Twitter). The team is not planning to sign Benkert at this time, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. 
Snead, 29, has been a member of this offseason’s free agent WR class which has, with few exceptions, received little interest even as training camps have opened up. He is coming off of a disappointing 2021 season, in which he totalled four receptions between the Raiders and Panthers. The former UDFA is best known for his time in New Orleans, where he totaled nearly 2,000 yards in three seasons. That was followed by a three-year stint in Baltimore, in which he occupied a secondary role in the team’s low-volume passing attack. Eyeing a more favorable landing spot, the veteran has remained patient while weighing potential free agent destinations.
At 28, Rogers is in a similar position in terms of age and desire for a longer-term NFL home. His best season to date came in 2018 with the Colts, when he registered 53 catches for 485 yards. That led to him being tendered the following year, but a knee fracture ended his final Colts season prematurely. The Grambling State product spent 2020 on the Dolphins’ practice squad, then last season with the Titans. He logged a similar snap share (42%) on offense to his previous campaigns, but logged the largest workload of his career as a returner. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Rogers has received interest from “multiple teams.”
The Texans lacked established wideouts aside from Brandin Cooks heading into this season. The position then received a significant blow when it came out that second-round rookie John Metchie will miss the 2022 season with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. As at least a stop-gap option, then, either of these free agents could take on a notable role in Houston as the team looks to take a step forward on offense, and they aim to rebuild their market value.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/22
Here are the first minor moves of August:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from active/NFI list: OG Ben Cleveland
Denver Broncos
- Activated from active/PUP list: WR KJ Hamler
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Justin Jackson
- Placed on reserve/retired list: WR Corey Sutton
Houston Texans
- Activated from active/PUP list: TE Teagan Quitoriano
- Released: QB Kevin Hogan
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Curtis Bolton
- Placed on IR: LB Micah Kiser
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB Nate Hairston
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from active/NFI list: LB Pete Werner
New York Giants
- Signed: S Jarrod Wilson
- Waived/injured: CB Jarren Williams
New York Jets
- Activated from active/NFI list: RB Tevin Coleman
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Javon McKinley
- Waived: DE Tyree Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Antonio Valentino
- Activated from active/PUP list: DE Tyreke Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from active/PUP list: TE Tommy Hudson
The Lions’ new running back, Jackson, has found a second home after playing out his rookie contract in Los Angeles. The former seventh-round pick out of Northwestern spent his time with the Chargers backing up starting running back Austin Ekeler, earning a few starts during Ekeler’s more injury-riddled periods. Despite not receiving many touches, Jackson has made the most of each one averaging 5.0 yards per carry during his four-year career in the NFL to total 1,040 rushing yards and four touchdowns, adding 508 yards receiving on 65 receptions. Jackson will compete with Craig Reynolds and Jermar Jefferson for the reserve positions behind the top-two backs, D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.