NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/3/21
Here are Friday’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Keelan Doss, LB James Vaughters
- Released: RB D’Onta Foreman
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Jalen Camp, CB Antonio Phillips
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Tyler Davis, CB Marvell Tell
- Released: LB Curtis Bolton, WR Tyler Vaughns
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DL Cortez Broughton, CB Shakur Brown, LB Christian Rozeboom
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Marquel Lee
- Released: LB Max Richardson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: S Antoine Brooks, RB Buddy Howell
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Milo Eifler, CB Jamal Perry
- Released: RB Jordan Scarlett
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Ryan Izzo
- Released: G Jake Burton, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, OL Brett Heggie, WR Damion Willis
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Tanner Hudson, LB Rashad Smith, CB Dee Virgin, WR Isaiah Zuber
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: G Phil Haynes
Washington Football Team
- Signed: K Eddy Pineiro
Chiefs Place LB Willie Gay On IR
A toe issue cropped up for Willie Gay recently, and it will require some time to heal. The Chiefs are placing the young linebacker on IR, ESPN’s Field Yates tweets.
This will knock Gay out of Kansas City’s first three games, dealing a blow to the two-time defending AFC champions’ defense. The 2020 second-round pick is set to play a key role for the Chiefs this year, but he will be on the shelf until at least October.
Andy Reid said Gay’s toe malady occurred during the Chiefs’ preseason finale. The Chiefs are in slightly better position to withstand this than they were last year. Anthony Hitchens is back for a fourth season in Missouri, while the team used a second-round pick on Mizzou linebacker Nick Bolton.
A Mississippi State alum, Gay played only 25% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps as a rookie and missed the team’s three playoff games. Gay was in line to start, however, to begin Year 2. The IR placement certainly confirms this toe injury will require extensive recovery time, perhaps altering the Chiefs’ plans for the young defender this season.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Buffalo Bills
Signed:
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- G Jack Anderson, DT Brandin Bryant, G Jamil Douglas, QB Jake Fromm, WR Tanner Gentry, LB Joe Giles-Harris, CB Ojaijah Griffin, WR Isaiah Hodgins, CB Cam Lewis, DE Mike Love, TE Quintin Morris, S Josh Thomas, QB Davis Webb, CB Rachad Wildgoose, RB Antonio Williams
Miami Dolphins
Claimed:
- DB Elijah Campbell (from Jets)
Waived:
- CB Jamal Perry
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Shaquem Griffin, QB Reid Sinnett
New England Patriots
Claimed:
- WR Malcolm Perry (from Dolphins)
Waived:
- LB Harvey Langi
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Tashaun Bower, DB Myles Bryant, C James Ferentz, K Nick Folk, QB Garrett Gilbert, QB Brian Hoyer, TE Matt LaCosse, FB Ben Mason, DT Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon, OL Alex Redmond, CB D’Angelo Ross, G William Sherman, WR Kristian Wilkerson
New York Jets
Claimed:
- DE Tim Ward (from Chiefs)
Re-signed:
- TE Dan Brown, TE Ryan Griffin, S Sharrod Neasman
Waived:
- CB Bless Austin, DE Jabari Zuniga
Placed on IR:
- S Ashtyn Davis, LB Jarrad Davis, OL Conor McDermott
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Houston Texans
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Antony Auclair, DB Shyheim Carter, QB Jeff Driskel, OL Hjalte Froholdt, OL Carson Green, CB Isaiah Johnson, OL Ryan McCollum, WR Chris Moore, LB Hardy Nickerson, S Jonathan Owens, CB Antonio Phillips, TE Paul Quessenberry, DE Derek Rivers, OL Lane Taylor, WR Jordan Veasy
Indianapolis Colts
Claimed:
- DB Thakarius Keyes (from Chiefs), DB Chris Wilcox (from Buccaneers)
Waived:
- S Andre Chachere, CB Marvell Tell
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Tarik Black, LB Curtis Bolton, DT Andrew Brown, CB Anthony Chesley, DE Kameron Cline, WR Keke Coutee, S Sean Davis, S Shawn Davis, TE Farrod Green, WR DeMichael Harris, QB Brett Hundley, C Joey Hunt, RB Deon Jackson, LB Malik Jefferson, OT Carter O’Donnell, WR Tyler Vaughns
Jacksonville Jaguars
Claimed:
- WR Tyron Johnson (from Chargers; story)
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Lorenzo Burns, DT Doug Costin, WR Jeff Cotton Jr., RB Nathan Cottrell, WR Phillip Dorsett, WR Josh Hammond, OL K.C. McDermott, RB Devine Ozigbo, DB Brandon Rusnak, WR Devin Smith, Badara Traore, WR Laquon Treadwell, OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
Tennessee Titans
Claimed:
- OL Corey Levin (from Jets)
Released:
- QB Matt Barkley
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, S Jamal Carter, FB Tory Carter, OL Christian DiLauro, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, TE Miller Forristall, OL Derwin Gray, DL Woodrow Hamilton, LB Jan Johnson, WR Mason Kinsey, DL Naquan Jones, OL Jordan Roos
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list:
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves will be noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Denver Broncos
Signed:
- OT Cameron Fleming, DL Shamar Stephen
Waived:
Placed on IR:
- RB Mike Boone, CB Michael Ojemudia
Signed to practice squad:
- OT Quinn Bailey, TE Shaun Beyer, WR Tyrie Cleveland, RB Damarea Crockett, CB Nate Hairston, OT Drew Himmelman, WR Kendall Hinton, CB Mac McCain III, LB Curtis Robinson, QB Brett Rypien, OL Austin Schlottmann, DL Marquiss Spencer, LB Barrington Wade, WR Seth Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
Signed:
- WR Marcus Kemp
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list:
- S Tyrann Mathieu; Mathieu tested positive for COVID-19
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Claimed:
- DL Eric Banks (from Rams), DB Trey Marshall (from Broncos)
Waived:
- CB Brandon Facyson, DL Forrest Merrill
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Michael Bandy, RB Darius Bradwell, LB Cole Christiansen, DB Ben DeLuca, OLB Emeke Egbule, DL Breiden Fehoko, DL Joe Gaziano, G Nate Gilliam, G Ryan Hunter, TE Hunter Kampmoyer, WR Jason Moore Jr., WR Joe Reed
Chiefs Reach 53-Man Limit
The two-time defending AFC champions pared their roster to 53 players Tuesday. Following some early cuts Monday, here are the rest of the moves the Chiefs made to get there:
Released:
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- WR Marcus Kemp
Waived:
- DB Dicaprio Bootle
- QB Shane Buechele
- DB Marlon Character
- DT Tyler Clark
- DB Rodney Clemons
- LB Omari Cobb
- DE Austin Edwards
- DE Demone Harris
- DB Devon Key
- DB BoPete Keyes
- OT Wyatt Miller
- WR Cornell Powell
- WR Dalton Schoen
- WR Darrius Shepherd
- LB Emmanuel Smith
- OT Prince Tega Wanogho
- DE Tim Ward
Placed on reserve/NFI list:
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Long will miss the Chiefs’ first six games. The recently unretired offensive lineman suffered a knee injury in June. While Long was part of the Chiefs’ extensive offseason offensive line puzzle, the team made several moves to create O-line depth after its Super Bowl LV blocking debacle. Kansas City traded for left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., signed guard Joe Thuney and center Austin Blythe, and drafted center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith. Long and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who opted out last year and came up in trade calls this week, are not expected to start but would stand to provide high-end depth on Kansas City’s retooled line.
The Chiefs took Powell in the fifth round. The Clemson alum would make sense as a practice squad candidate, but the Chiefs will run the risk of anther team claiming the rookie wideout and preventing such a scenario. Kansas City lost Sammy Watkins but returns the likes of Mecole Hardman, Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson as supporting-cast receivers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/30/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to pare their rosters down to 53 players.
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DB Chris Banjo, DL Josh Mauro
- Waived: WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jace Whittaker, S James Wiggins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Terrance Smith
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Jordan Phillips
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DT Eli Ankou, DL Zac Dawe, S Dwayne Johnson Jr., DE Kobe Jones, WR Chris Rowland, LB Tuzar Skipper
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: WR Deon Cain, WR Devin Gray, WR Siaosi Mariner
- Released: TE Eric Tomlinson
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB Tim Harris, WR Brandon Powell, RB Kerrith Whyte
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Mike Horton, S Jalen Julius, OL Aaron Monteiro
Cleveland Browns
- Released: WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: CB Brian Allen, TE Jordan Franks, OL Colby Gossett, DE Porter Gustin, QB Kyle Lauletta, DE Cameron Malveaux, TE Kyle Markway, S Jovante Moffatt, S Sheldrick Redwine, CB Manny Rugamba, LB Tegray Scales, DE Curtis Weaver, DT Marvin Wilson
- Placed on IR: OT Greg Senat
Chicago Bears
- Released: OL Adam Redmond
- Waived: TE Scooter Harrington
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: S Steven Parker
Denver Broncos
- Waived: TE Shaun Beyer, WR Tyrie Cleveland, TE Austin Fort, OT Drew Himmelman, WR Kendall Hinton, DE Isaiah Mack, CB Mac McCain, FB Adam Prentice, LB Curtis Robinson, QB Brett Rypien, OL Austin Schlottmann, RB Stevie Scott, CB Saivion Smith, LB Derrek Tuszka, WR Seth Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden, DT Miles Brown, CB Mike Ford, OL Evan Heim, S Alijah Holder, WR Damion Ratley
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Laremy Tunsil
- Waived/injured: CB Cornell Armstrong, LB Tae Davis
- Waived: DB Shyheim Carter, OL Danny Isidora, TE Ryan Izzo, OL Carson Green, RB Buddy Howell
- Released: QB Jeff Driskel
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, QB Carson Wentz; the trio landed on the coronavirus list due to being high-risk close contacts, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Quenton Nelson
- Waived: CB Holton Hill, LB Isaiah Kaufusi
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: CB Corey Straughter
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Josh Allen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: CB Zayne Anderson, WR Maurice Ffrench, RBDerrick Gore, DB Devon Key, RB Darwin Thompson, OL Darryl Williams
- Traded: OL Yasir Durant (to Patriots for 2022 seventh-round pick, per Herbie Teope of the KC Star on Twitter)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Darron Lee
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: LB Jessie Lemonier
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DB Brontae Harris, WR Jeremiah Haydel, G Jeremiah Kolone, G Jordan Meredith, DB Donovan Olumba, LB Troy Warner
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: S Nate Holley, WR Khalil McClain, DE Tyshun Render, TE Carl Tucker
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Robert Foster
New England Patriots
- Waived: S Adrian Colbert, DL Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon
- Traded for: OL Yasir Durant (via Chiefs for 2022 seventh-round pick, per Herbie Teope of the KC Star on Twitter)
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: S Eric Burrell, OG Derrick Kelly, CB Natrell Jamerson, DL R.J. McIntosh, OL Christian Montano, LB Shaq Smith
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Lawrence Cager, S J.T. Hassell, CB Lamar Jackson, OL Corey Levin, Jeremiah Valoaga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: OL Ross Pierschbacher
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Rico Bussey, LS Kameron Canaday, LB Jamar Watson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: TE Ian Bunting, WR Darece Roberson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Joseph Jones, DT Kobe Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Nate Davis
- Waived/injured: OL Chandon Herring
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Brent Qvale (story)
Washington Football Team
- Waived: WR Tony Brown, S Cole Luke, CB Linden Stephens, WR Isaiah Wright
- Released: DT Devaroe Lawrence, LB Joe Walker
Chiefs Have Talked Trades For OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif could be on the trade block. The Chiefs have received calls on the offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, reports Albert Breer of MMQB. Complicating a trade is the fact that Duvernay-Tardif has a no-trade clause, making it “more likely” that he’ll remain on Kansas City’s roster.
Although he was a full-time starter for the Chiefs from 2015-19, Duvernay-Tardif wasn’t guaranteed his old job back as the Chiefs focused on revamping their offensive line this past offseason. While the lineman started 14 games for Kansas City in 2019, he sat out the 2020 campaign as he helped fight COVID-19. The 30-year-old also suffered a broken bone in his hand earlier this month, and his recovery was going to cut it close for the start of the season.
After watching Patrick Mahomes run for his life in the Super Bowl against the Bucs’ ferocious pass-rush, the Chiefs made it a priority to overhaul their O-line. They traded for tackle Orlando Brown Jr., drafted center Creed Humphrey in the second-round, and signed veteran guards Austin Blythe and Kyle Long. Duvernay-Tardif was battling with sixth-round pick Trey Smith for the starting right guard gig, a job that the rookie likely secured following the veteran’s hand injury.
Still, considering Duvernay-Tardif’s starting experience, it’s not a surprise that teams would have interest in him. The former sixth-round pick has started 57 of his 60 games since entering the NFL in 2014.
OL Stefen Wisniewski Announces Retirement
Stefen Wisniewski started in each of the past two Super Bowls and played 10 NFL seasons. The veteran offensive lineman will not attempt to play an 11th, announcing his retirement Thursday (via Twitter).
Although Wisniewski did not participate in a playoff game until his seventh season, the interior O-lineman started in three of the past four Super Bowls. He collected Super Bowl rings as a starting guard for the 2017 Eagles and 2019 Chiefs, and after an injury settlement with the Steelers last year, the veteran blocker found his way back to Kansas City and saw injuries thrust him into a starting role for Super Bowl LV. He played every Chiefs offensive snap in that game.
Both Wisniewski’s father and uncle (ex-Raiders Pro Bowler Steve Wisniewski) played in the NFL, and Stefen followed suit with 106 starts in his career. The Raiders drafted Stefen in the 2011 second round and plugged him into their starting lineup immediately. He spent four seasons in Oakland, starting at guard and center, before signing a one-year deal with the Jaguars in 2015. Wisniewski’s most notable contract came on his second Eagles deal — a three-year, $9MM accord — in 2017.
After beginning the ’17 season as a backup, Wisniewski started 11 regular-season games and three playoff contests for the Eagles’ first Super Bowl-winning team. The Eagles tried Isaac Seumalo and Chance Warmack at left guard initially that year, but Wisniewski proved to be the solution. Seumalo ended up taking the reins after that season, leading Wisniewski to Kansas City, where he ended up finishing his career.
Chiefs Cut Taco Charlton, Will Parks
The Chiefs have released defensive end Taco Charlton, defensive back Will Parks, and guard Bryan Witzmann, per a club announcement. They’ve also waived linebacker Riley Cole and quarterback Anthony Gordon, bringing them down to an 80-man roster in advance of tomorrow’s deadline. 
Despite entering the league as a seventh-round pick, Parks has seen considerable playing time as a pro. He spent most of his career with the Broncos before moving on to the Eagles in 2020. Injuries led to Parks’ release in December, bringing him back to the Broncos. Parks missed six games last year, but previous to that, he was only scratched for two. He’s been with the Chiefs since May — now, he’ll have to hook on elsewhere.
Charlton, a highly-touted first-round pick of the Cowboys, flamed out quickly in Dallas. After just two-plus years with the Cowboys, he moved on to the Dolphins and did his best work in 2019 — five sacks in ten games. He had a decent 2020 with the Chiefs too, up until he broke his leg in November. He finished out with two sacks, four quarterback hits, and a forced fumble for KC. However, the 26-year-old (27 in November) wasn’t able to make the cut.