Kareem Are

Vikings Announce Roster Cuts

The Viking announced today that they’ve begun the process of trimming their roster by cutting 14 players. Like all NFL teams, they’ll need to get down to 53 before Saturday afternoon.

The following players were cut by Minnesota today:

Jones, notably, was not only arrested for assault this week, but is now suspended for the first four games of the season after violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy, tweets Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/20/18

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: FB Jalston Fowler, WR Julian Williams
  • Waived: FB Luke McNitt, WR Taj Williams

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Extra Points: Titans, Lions, Colts, Giants

As had been expected, Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota will be a gametime decision in Week 5, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Mariota is day-to-day with a strained hamstring, and backup Matt Cassel will start against the Dolphins if Mariota is unable to play. Tennessee signed veteran signal-caller Brandon Weeden earlier this week, passing over other free agent options such as Colin Kaepernick.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The Lions haven’t decided whether they’ll activate defensive Armonty Bryant — who is returning from a four-game suspension — before Sunday’s contest against the Panthers, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Detroit has a roster exemption for Bryant, and it must either add him to the 53-man roster or release by Monday. Given how thin they are along the defensive line (Kerry Hyder is out for the year, Khyri Thornton is still banned), Bryant seems likely to claim a roster spot by next week at the latest.
  • Before signing with the Bears’ practice squad on Friday, defensive end Howard Jones worked out for the Colts, tweets veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer. Jones, 27, had drawn a good deal of interest since being non-tendered by the Buccaneers earlier this year, as he’d also met with the Titans and Jets. Still recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November of 2016, Jones wasn’t a major contributor in eight games last season before going down, but he did manage five sacks in a rotational role for Tampa Bay in 2015.
  • Speaking of workouts, the Giants auditioned a large group of free agents today, reports Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. New York focused on front five as it worked out the following players: offensive linemen Kareem Are, Willie Beavers, Ethan Cooper, Kaleb Johnson, Cameron Jefferson, Storm Norton, Jeremiah Poutasi, Cyril Richardson, Kristjan Sokoli, and Zach Voytek, plus defensive tackle Greg Milhouse.
  • The Buccaneers will be without defensive end for two-to-four weeks Ryan Russell after he suffered a shoulder injury against the Patriots, per Rapoport (Twitter link). Russell, 25, has managed four tackles on 110 defensive snaps as a rotational end this season. If Tampa Bay is looking for depth, the club could potentially promote Channing Ward from its practice squad.

Raiders Cut Down To 53-Man Roster

The Raiders were among the teams to drag their feet on announcing their 53-man roster. Now that we can see their initial roster in full, we have to say that they’re looking a little thin at linebacker. Here’s the full rundown of their moves:

Waived:

Released:

Waived/Injured

Waived/NFI:

Raiders Sign Two Players

The Raiders announced the signings of running back John Crockett and offensive lineman Kareem Are. The team also confirmed the previously reported addition of linebacker Brady Sheldon.

Are was a two-year starter at Florida State and earned an All-ACC Second Team nomination in his final year on campus. He participated in the Raiders’ rookie minicamp in May as a tryout player and, like Sheldon, he finds himself with a contract here in July.

Crockett’s initial entry into the league came when he signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in May 2015. Unfortunately, he has been slowed by injury in the NFL and was forced to miss the entire 2016 season. He has nine carries for 21 yards in the NFL with all attempts coming over the course of two games as a rookie. As a senior at North Dakota State in 2014, Crockett set school records for all-purpose yards (2,419), rushing yards (1,994) and rushing attempts (368).

The Raiders’ roster is now back to the 90-man max following some roster shuffling earlier this month.