Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived/Injured: LB Jeremy Cash
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Simeyon Robinson
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Shamarko Thomas, LB Alexander Johnson
- Released: LB Stansly Maponga
Houston Texans
- Waived: WR DeAndrew White
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Ray Lawry
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: G Kaleb Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: C Oni Omoile
- Waived/Injured: OL Parker Collins
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Dan Williams III
Chiefs Audition Two RBs
Jaguars To Add CB Kenneth Acker
The Jaguars made a move to add some potential depth to their cornerback contingent on Saturday, agreeing to terms with Kenneth Acker, John Reid of the Florida Times-Union reports (on Twitter).
Jacksonville will also bring in cornerback Bryce Canady, per Reid. To make room on their 90-man roster, the Jags are releasing cornerback Dexter McDougle and waiving Charlie Miller.
A former 49ers and Chiefs cornerback, Acker previously signed with the Colts in April but was cut in May. He logged multiple visits as well, meeting with the Seahawks in the spring and, per ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter), the Raiders more recently. The Raiders viewed Acker as a possible safety but did not sign him.
A sixth-round 49ers pick in 2014, Acker spent time as a depth piece for the Chiefs the past two seasons. He started in two games with Kansas City, which acquired him via trade prior to the 2016 season. Acker’s most notable work came as a full-time starter for the 2015 49ers.
The Jags were McDougle’s fourth team. The former Jets third-round pick played sparingly for the Saints and Eagles last season. McDougle, who signed an extension with the Eagles prior to last season, latched on with the Jags via reserve/futures contract in January.
Jacksonville obviously has its starting spots locked down, with Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye forming perhaps the league’s top corner tandem, but its depth is somewhat uncertain. Aaron Colvin‘s Texans defection led to a D.J. Hayden signing. Tyler Patmon and some lower-profile veterans comprise the rest of this corner corps. So, Acker has a reasonable chance of sticking around into the regular season.
Chiefs S Daniel Sorensen Suffered Tibial Plateau Fracture
A year after losing Eric Berry for the season in Week 1, the Chiefs will likely have to operate without another safety starter this season. Previously set to miss at least the first part of the regular season, it now appears Daniel Sorensen will be on the shelf longer.
Sorensen has no timetable for a return after undergoing surgery to repair a tibial plateau fracture, Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said (via Brooke Pryor of the Kansas City Star, Twitter links). Sorensen also has MCL damage, per Pryor.
Although Sorensen has yet to be placed on IR, the Chiefs know firsthand the effects this injury can have. During a game against the Texans last season, the Chiefs saw J.J. Watt leave with a tibial plateau fracture. He was almost immediately ruled out for the season.
The Chiefs were looking to Sorensen, a contributor on the past four Kansas City defenses and Berry’s replacement throughout last season, to take over as a starter for Ron Parker. Kansas City released Parker in March. K.C. selected Texas A&M’s Armani Watts in the first round to bolster their safety situation in a defense-heavy draft for the team, but 2016 fourth-rounder Eric Murray may loom as the top replacement option. He played in almost 40 percent of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps last season. The Chiefs also signed former Steeler Robert Golden this offseason.
If the Chiefs don’t view their internal options as ready for a full-time role, they could look to free agency. Eric Reid remains unsigned. So does Tyvon Branch, who used a 2015 season in Kansas City to rebuild his stock. Recent Chiefs cog Steven Terrell signed with the Titans on Friday. Former Chief Quintin Demps is also available, as is ex-Bronco T.J. Ward and longtime Steelers starter Mike Mitchell.
Chiefs Place OL Dillon Gordon On IR, Sign OL Alex Officer
The Chiefs have slightly revamped their offensive line depth. The Associated Press reports that the team has placed offensive lineman Dillon Gordon on the injured reserve. The organization has signed offensive lineman Alex Officer to take the open roster spot. The news was first reported by Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com (via Twitter).
Gordon, a former LSU tight end, played in one NFL game with the Eagles during the 2016 season. He caught on with the Chiefs practice squad towards the end of the 2017 campaign, and he signed a reserve/future deal with the organization during the offseason. The lineman had been dealing with a shoulder injury for much of training camp.
While the 24-year-old was unlikely to play a major role for the Chiefs in 2018, he was still a solid developmental depth piece at offensive tackle. He would have still been eligible for the practice squad, but the offensive lineman will instead spend the upcoming season on the injured reserve.
Officer, 22, went undrafted out of Pittsburgh during this past year’s draft. The rookie briefly caught on with the Raiders before being let go in May. The six-foot-four, 291-pound lineman primarily plays offensive guard or center, and he’ll provided some much-needed depth as the Chiefs deal with several injuries. Of course, it’s still unlikely that Officer will end up making the roster, as he’ll have to compete with the likes of Jordan Devey, Cameron Erving, Parker Ehinger, Kahlil McKenzie, and Andrew Wylie for backup reps.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/18
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Tim Scott
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: OT Austin Fleer, RB Ray Lawry
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived/injured: CB Ashton Lampkin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Amari Coleman, CB Aaron Davis, TE Colin Jeter
- Waived: DE Kiante Anderson, TE Jason Reese
- Waived/injured: TE Donnie Ernsberger
Tennessee Titans
- Waived/Injured: LB Gimel President, DL Johnny Maxey
Chiefs S Daniel Sorensen To Miss Time
Chiefs safety Daniel Sorensen will miss “the first part” of the regular season after he undergoes an impending knee surgery, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Herbie Teope of NFL.com (Twitter link) was the first to report that Sorensen was dealing with a knee injury, and specified Sorensen did not tear his ACL.
Sorensen had been set to replace Ron Parker in Kansas City’s base defense. Parker, who was released by the Chiefs this spring, had played in at least 95% of the club’s defensive snaps in each of the past four seasons. Sorensen was to take those snaps opposite All-Pro Eric Berry, who is returning from a 2017 campaign which was lost to an ACL tear.
With Sorensen sidelined, Eric Murray will likely step into the Chiefs’ starting lineup. Murray, a 2016 fourth-round pick, saw a 39.8% playtime percentage last season, defensing five passes and posting one sack in the process. A Minnesota product, Murray will be backed up by a combination of Robert Golden, rookie fourth-rounder Armani Watts, and Leon McQuay.
If the Chiefs want to add a free agent to their safety mix, Steven Terrell is perhaps the likeliest option. Terrell, 27, spent the majority of the 2017 season in Kansas City. While he played mostly on special teams, Terrell did see 79 snaps on defense. He’d presumably offer a familiarity with the Chiefs’ scheme, which could prove important with the regular season looming.
If they don’t consider Terrell, the Chiefs could take advantage of a slow-developing free agent safety market to find a veteran on the cheap. Eric Reid is the best defensive back without a contract, while other available safeties include Lardarius Webb, Darius Butler, Mike Mitchell, T.J. Ward, Quintin Demps, and Tyvon Branch, the latter of whom played in Kansas City in 2015.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/18
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DE Sterling Bailey
- Waived: DT Ashaad Mabry
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Akeem Judd
- Placed on injured reserve: LB C.J. Johnson
- Waived: G Ethan Cooper
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed off waivers: G Ethan Cooper
- Waived with left squad designation: C Jack Allen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: T Jarron Jones
- Waived: K Trevor Moore
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb, TE Jerome Cunningham
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Nate Palmer
- Waived: TE Phillip Supernaw
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Cassanova McKinzy, DL Dante Sawyer
- Waived/injured: DL Tavaris Barnes, LB Alex McCalister
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/5/18
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: WR Quan Bray
Kansas City Chiefs
- Claimed off waivers: C Jack Allen
- Waived/injured: C Tejan Koroma
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: S Rickey Jefferson, TE John Phillips
- Waived/injured: OL John Fullington
- Waived from injured reserve: WR Eldridge Massington, WR Josh Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: G Chris Gonzalez
- Waived: S Corey Griffin
Martayveus Carter Shot In Indiana
- Grand Valley State running back Martayveus Carter, who worked out for the Chiefs after going undrafted in the supplemental draft, is in critical condition after being shot in Indiana, Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star writes.