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Contract Details: Watt, Rams, Texans

September 8th, 2022 at 9:49pm CST by Ben Levine

With teams preparing their cap sheets for the start of the NFL season, we’ve seen a number of front offices rework some contracts. We’ve compiled some of the recent contract maneuverings (as well as some details on recent signings and extension) below:

  • T.J. Watt, LB (Steelers): restructured contract yesterday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The move opened $6.75MM in space for Pittsburgh. Watt inked a four-year deal worth up to $112MM (including $80MM guaranteed) last September.
  • Rob Havenstein, OT (Rams): three-year extension. The deal is worth $34.5MM, according to Rapoport (on Twitter). The extension includes $24.1MM guaranteed and offers $6MM in incentives.
  • Tyler Higbee, TE (Rams): restructured contract earlier this week, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The team converted $4.75MM of Higbee’s base salary into a signing bonus, creating $3.8MM in space.
  • Jalen Thompson, S (Cardinals): three-year extension. The $40MM deal includes $24.5MM in guaranteed money and a $10MM signing bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter).
  • Lane Johnson, OT and Jake Elliott, K (Eagles): restructured contracts today, according to Yates (on Twitter). The Eagles converted $5.88MM of Johnson’s base salary and $2.715MM of Elliot’s base salary into signing bonuses, creating about $6.9MM in cap space.
  • O.J. Howard, TE (Texans): one-year deal. The contract is worth $1.035MM, according to Wilson (on Twitter). The tight end will receive $910K in offset from the $1.945MM guaranteed base salary he got from his previous deal with the Bills. When coupled with the $1.25MM signing bonus he got from Buffalo, Howard will earn a total of $3.25MM this year.
  • Eric Murray, S (Texans): restructured contract yesterday, per Yates (on Twitter). Specifically, the team converted $1.465MM of his contract into a signing bonus, opening $732.5K in cap space.
  • Ka’imi Fairbairn, K and Cameron Johnston, P (Texans): restructured contracts earlier this week, per Wilson (on Twitter). The two moves saved the Texans $2.1MM in cap savings.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/22

September 8th, 2022 at 7:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

New York Giants

  • Signed: OT Roy Mbaeteka

Seattle Seahawks

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/22

September 7th, 2022 at 7:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/6/22

September 6th, 2022 at 6:26pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/22

September 5th, 2022 at 5:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

As Week 1 practices begin, here are the latest updates to teams’ 16-man practice squads:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers:

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

A former Washington starter and the primary Atlanta cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell last season, Moreau has experience playing both the slot and outside. The former third-round pick signed with the Texans earlier this offseason but did not make their 53-man roster.

The Lions attempted to keep David Blough by offering the Hard Knocks cast member a spot on their practice squad, but the three-year Detroit backup opted to head to Minnesota. He is currently on the Vikings’ 16-man taxi squad. A previous Aaron Rodgers backup, Boyle signed with the Lions last year.

Despite being a former second-round pick, Blair did not make the Seahawks’ 53-man roster this year. Knee injuries have sidelined him for most of the past two seasons. Seattle had stopped using Blair as a nickel, his primary role when on the field with the team that drafted him, during training camp.

Included as part of a 2019 trade that sent Marcus Peters to Baltimore, Young was also traded from the Rams to the Broncos last year. He started all 13 games he played in 2021 — seven as a Ram, six as a Bronco — and helped Denver fill the void created by Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell‘s season-ending injuries. Young spent most of this offseason with the Raiders but did not make their roster.

Texans Release RB Marlon Mack From Practice Squad

September 5th, 2022 at 9:12am CST by Sam Robinson

Chris Conley‘s name keeps appearing in Texans transactions. The Texans released the veteran wide receiver Tuesday, re-signed him Thursday and cut him again Friday. On Monday, he is back with the team.

Houston added the veteran wide receiver to its practice squad on Labor Day, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. The Texans’ latest Conley-related move will send Marlon Mack back into free agency. The veteran running back is off Houston’s 16-man P-squad.

In paring their roster to the 53-man limit last week, the Texans included both Mack and Conley as cuts. Mack quickly signed with the team’s taxi squad. He came into Monday as the only running back on Houston’s P-squad. The team has fourth-round rookie Dameon Pierce, Rex Burkhead, Royce Freeman and Dare Ogunbowale on its active roster, however.

Mack, 26, signed with the Texans this offseason, coming to Houston for the same terms (one year, $2MM) he agreed to with Indianapolis in 2021. The Colts barely used Mack last season, with Jonathan Taylor fully taking over Indianapolis’ backfield. The Achilles tear the Colts’ former starter suffered in September 2020 began Taylor’s quick rise, and Mack has not been able to re-establish himself since.

It is certainly possible the Texans circle back to Mack — a former 1,100-yard rusher — for a practice squad spot in the future. But his Monday exit continues a downward trend for a player who had been a multiyear Colts starter.

This will be Conley’s second season with the Texans. The former Chiefs third-round pick spent the 2019 and ’20 seasons in Jacksonville before signing with Houston during Nick Caserio‘s first offseason as Texans GM. He caught 22 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns in 2021.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/22

September 2nd, 2022 at 8:04pm CST by Ely Allen

As we inch closer to Week 1, teams continue to try to put the final pieces together on their rosters. Here’s todays minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

  • Waived from IR with injury settlement: RB Aaron Shampklin

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bengals Make Three Waiver Claims

September 2nd, 2022 at 9:55am CST by Adam La Rose

SEPTEMBER 2: To no surprise, the Bengals are indeed re-signing Allen, Thomas and Williams now that they have the open roster spots to do so, per a team announcement. Cincinnati is also placing safety Tycen Anderson and tackle Isaiah Prince on IR.

AUGUST 31: The Bengals have made some notable additions in the aftermath of yesterday’s roster cutdowns. Per the waiver wire, they have claimed tight end Devin Asiasi, guard Max Scharping and defensive tackle Jay Tufele.

[RELATED: Bengals Expected To Sign TE Howard]

Asiasi came to New England with significant expectations, given his draft status and the organization’s success at the position. The third-rounder made just 10 appearances in his first two seasons, though, recording only a pair of receptions. The Patriots made a substantial free agent investment in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith last offseason, limiting his future with the team. In Cincinnati, he will face steep competition for playing time from Hayden Hurst and, in all likelihood, O.J. Howard.

Scharping is in a similar situation to Asiasi in terms of being an underwhelming high draft choice yet to finish their rookie contract. A 2019 second-rounder, the 26-year-old started 33 of the 48 contests he appeared in with the Texans, moving from the left to right guard spot this past season. Regardless of where he lined up, the Northern Illinois alum graded out in the mid-to-high 50s with respect to PFF rating, leaving him on the roster bubble. Scharping’s vacated spot is likely to be filled by A.J. Cann; he will challenge for a backup role behind top free agent addition Alex Cappa with the Bengals.

Tufele, meanwhile, has seen the least playing time of the new trio. As a rookie last season, he made just four appearances in Jacksonville, totaling two tackles. His PFF pass rush grade of 77 indicates some upside on third downs, which dates back to his time in college. Moving on from the USC alum so soon may have come as a surprise, though the additions of Folorunso Fatukasi and Adam Gotsis along the d-line were likely to significantly lessen his chance of seeing significant playing time with the Jaguars. The Bengals lost Larry Ogunjobi in free agency, but re-upped B.J. Hill, whom Tufele will look to provide depth behind his new home.

The defending AFC champions will return many of the members of last season’s team, but these additions could prove effective at areas of relative need. Among the cuts necessary to accommodate the new arrivals is veteran quarterback Brandon Allen. The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal for the third consecutive offseason to remain in Cincinnati.

For now, Allen’s departure leaves the Bengals with only Joe Burrow under center. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets, however, that Allen “will be back.” Cincinnati is also parting ways with safety Michael Thomas and running back Trayveon Williams.

Texans Re-Sign WR Chris Conley, RB Royce Freeman

September 1st, 2022 at 9:05pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans are welcoming back a pair of veterans. After getting cut earlier this week, running back Royce Freeman and wide receiver Chris Conley are re-signing with Houston, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

Conley was let go during final roster cuts on Tuesday. The veteran wideout joined the Texans last year, and he finished his first season in Houston with 22 receptions for 323 yards and two touchdowns. After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Chiefs, Conley spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons in Jacksonville. He had a career year with the Jaguars in 2019, hauling in 47 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns.

With the 29-year-old back in the picture, he’ll likely slide into the sixth spot on the depth chart behind Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Chris Moore, Phillip Dorsett, and Tyler Johnson.

Freeman was let go yesterday, but it took him less than 24 hours to land back on the active roster. After spending the first few months of the 2021 season with the Panthers, the veteran RB was claimed on waivers by Houston in November. He got into seven games for the Texans, collecting 154 yards from scrimmage on 42 touches.

The 26-year-old will slot in fourth on the depth chart behind Dameon Pierce, Rex Burkhead, and Dare Ogunbowale. The Texans are also stashing veteran Marlon Mack on the practice squad.

Texans To Sign TE O.J. Howard

September 1st, 2022 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:53pm: The Texans and Howard have struck a deal, according to ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). The former Buccaneers first-rounder will become by far the most experienced tight end on the Texans’ active roster.

3:04pm: O.J. Howard‘s Bengals visit has not produced an agreement yet, and the defending AFC champions added a tight end (Devin Asiasi) via waivers on the same day they met with Howard. The former first-round pick remains in search of a third NFL team.

The Texans are looking into adding the former Buccaneers and Bills pass catcher. The rebuilding AFC South team is meeting with Howard on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The sixth-year tight end is taking a physical at Texans headquarters.

While this sounds similar to the Howard-Cincinnati development, the Texans are thinner at tight end. The team used the waiver wire to add a Davis Mills complementary weapon (ex-Howard teammate Tyler Johnson). Now, a late free agency addition may further boost the second-year quarterback’s receiving corps.

If Howard signs in Houston, he will join Jordan Akins among tight ends to join the team. Though, the former Texans tight end is back on a practice squad agreement. Those now regularly turn into elevations to the 53-man roster, but the Texans still feature an uncertain crop at this spot.

Houston let Akins depart in free agency and re-signed Pharaoh Brown. Midway through training camp, Lovie Smith took the step to declare the veteran the team’s starter. Brown, however, has never topped 200 receiving yards in a season. The team also has 2021 fifth-rounder Brevin Jordan and rookie fifth-rounder Teagan Quitoriano. The latter, however, will miss at least four games after being placed on IR this week.

The No. 19 overall pick in 2017, Howard was faring decently with the Bucs during his first two seasons (997 combined receiving yards, 11 TDs). But he never seemed to catch on under Bruce Arians. After Tom Brady‘s Tampa arrival preceded a Rob Gronkowski reunion, Howard became an afterthought in the Bucs’ offense. Following a 2020 Achilles rupture, Howard did not regain much of a role in the team’s passing game. Howard played 17 games but only totaled 135 receiving yards and one touchdown. The Bills did not see enough from a player they guaranteed $3.5MM in training camp, leading him to this spot.

But the Texans would appear to offer a chance for Howard, 27, to re-establish the form he displayed in Dirk Koetter‘s offense years ago. (Although Koetter worked under Smith in Tampa, the current Texans HC was gone by the time Howard arrived.) Will this lead to a deal? Houston’s attempt to acquire Adam Shaheen in a trade from Miami failed, but it still looks like the rebuilding team’s position could use bolstering — for Mills’ sake, if nothing else.

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