Kerwynn Williams

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/19

Today’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: WR Joe Walker
  • Waived/injured: DB Josh Simmons

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: CB Trevon Mathis
  • Waived/injured: RB Ralph Webb

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: OL Salesi Uhatafe
  • Placed on injured reserve: S D’Cota Dixon

Buccaneers Cut Kerwynn Williams

Barely a week after signing Kerwynn Williams, the Buccaneers will move in a different direction. Tampa Bay signed four players in recent days and made the veteran running back one of the cuts required to clear roster space, Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets.

Williams has a history with Bruce Arians and OC Byron Leftwich, playing parts of four seasons with the Cardinals. A Chiefs post-training camp cut last year, Williams did not see any time last season but caught on with the Lions via reserve/futures contract in January. He will now look for another team to give him a shot.

The 27-year-old back’s best season came in 2017, when the Cardinals were mostly without David Johnson. Williams rushed for 426 yards that year. Despite that being by far his NFL high-water mark, Williams has nonetheless managed to remain a roster consideration for teams despite being a 2013 seventh-round pick.

Tampa Bay also cut tackle Israel Helms and wide receiver Malik Taylor. The Bucs waived Isaiah Searight with an injury designation.

Bucs To Sign Kerwynn Williams

The Bucs are signing running back Kerwynn Williams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Williams, who was released by the Lions last week, offers familiarity with head coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich from their time together with the Cardinals. 

In Arizona, Williams saw a decent amount of work as a reserve and even started in a handful of games in 2017, his final season with the team. All in all, he averaged 4.5 yards per carry, though the ’17 season was the only campaign in which he cracked 100 attempts on the year.

In other Bucs news, defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul was recently involved in a car accident. Fortunately, JPP was not seriously injured in the crash.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/19

Here are today’s minor moves, which feature several recognizable signal-callers:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Waived: S Delvon Randall (signed as UDFA with partially-guaranteed contract on May 1)

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/3/19

Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2019 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

NFL Workout Updates: 12/24/18

Today’s workouts, all courtesy of veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (on Twitter):

Cincinnati Bengals:

  • K’s Ty Long (BC CFL), Tristan Vizcaino

Detroit Lions:

Indianapolis Colts:

Kansas City Chiefs:

New York Giants:

  • DEs Tobi Antigha (SASK), Jake Ceresna (EDM); QB Bo Levi Mitchell (CALG); WRs Bryant Mitchell (EDM), Jordan Williams-Lambert (SASK); RB Terry Williams

Philadelphia Eagles:

  • WRs Carlton Agudosi, Marken Michel (CALG), Devin Smith; DB Mercy Maston (EDM); LBs Alex Singleton (CALG), Jameer Thurman (CALG)

Pittsburgh Steelers:

  • QB Max Browne; LB Sam Eguavoen (SASK); DE Avery Ellis (OTT); WR Dominique Rhymes (OTT

Tennessee Titans:

Washington Redskins:

This time of year, a lot of teams are auditioning guys for potential reserve/futures deals to be a part of their 90-man rosters for 2019. It’s also common to see a lot of CFL guys getting looks this time of year, because players participating in the 2018 CFL season aren’t eligible to sign NFL contracts until after the regular season is over.

Chiefs Cut Down To Final 53

In addition to David Amerson, the Chiefs will release longtime depth cog Frank Zombo.

The outside linebacker’s been in Kansas City since the Andy Reid regime began in 2013. He started 11 games in 2016, when Justin Houston missed most of the season with knee trouble, but will not be part of the 2018 team. The Chiefs drafted Breeland Speaks in the second round and plan to use 2017 second-rounder Tanoh Kpassagnon more extensively than they did last season.

Here’s the full list of players who won’t be on Kansas City’s initial 53-man roster.

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Suspended:

Chiefs To Sign RB Kerwynn Williams

The Chiefs have agreed to sign free agent running back Kerwynn Williams to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Kansas City has now made two under-the-radar additions to its backfield this offseason, as the club also signed former Dolphins running back Damien Williams. Kareem Hunt will still handle the bulk of the Chiefs’ carries after leading the league with 1,327 rushing yards during his rookie season in 2017, but the team is accruing depth behind the former third-round pick. In addition to Kerwynn and Damien Williams, Kansas City also boasts Charcandrick West, Akeem Hunt, and a rehabbing Spencer Ware.

Kerwynn Williams should be able to fill a variety of roles for the Chiefs, and will compete to be Hunt’s direct backup. In 2017, Williams saw the most playing time of his career while filling in for David Johnson in Arizona, as he managed 120 carries for 426 yards and one touchdown. He also added 10 receptions for 93 yards in the passing game.

In addition to contributing on offense, Williams can also help out on special teams. The 26-year-old returned 16 kickoffs for the Cardinals last year, averaging 20.4 yards per return. A year prior, Williams played on nearly 50% of Arizona’s special teams snaps.

Chiefs Hosting Kerwynn Williams For Visit

The Chiefs are bringing in free-agent running back Kerwynn Williams for a visit, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Williams started in six games for the Cardinals last season as part of the replacement contingent for David Johnson.

It was the most starts for Williams in his five-year career. He posted a career-best 426 yards rushing last season and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. The Colts originally took Williams in the seventh round of the 2013 draft out of Utah State and he also spent time with the Chargers before signing with the Cardinals in 2014.

If signed, Williams would mark the second addition to the Chiefs backfield this offseason through free agency. They signed Damien Williams to a one-year, $1.5MM deal in late March.

Both would likely back up Kareem Hunt, who had a breakout rookie season for the Chiefs after being taken in the third round of last year’s draft and rushed for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns. The team also has Spencer Ware, Charcandrick West and Akeem Hunt on the roster. The Chiefs also re-signed De’Anthony Thomas to a one-year $880K deal. t

The Chiefs signed wide receiver Sammy Watkins to a three-year deal as well to serve as another weapon for second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

NFC Rumors: Vikings, Zeke, Roseman, Cards

Harrison Smith underwent ankle surgery in February but is expected to be ready for training camp. The Vikings‘ top defensive back is ahead of schedule in his recovery from the left ankle operation, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, but the team is expected to be cautious with him this offseason. A high ankle sprain hampered Smith toward the end of last season, and although the Pro Bowl defender returned for the Vikings’ final two games after missing two in December, a corrective procedure became necessary. A source informed Tomasson that Smith opted for surgery after playing on the injured ankle in the Pro Bowl led to it “getting worse.” Smith will enter the first season of his five-year, $51.25MM contract in 2017.

Here’s more from the NFC.

  • Jerry Jones acknowledged the Ezekiel Elliott video that emerged via TMZ last month is “not good.” The video shows the Cowboys running back lowering a woman’s top on a float at a Dallas St. Patrick’s Day parade. “There is not much that I want to say other than that was unfortunate and not good,” Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News,” Jones said. “It wouldn’t be the right emphasis one way or the other to get into any communications or dialogue since that happened. … I wouldn’t want to say on communication, but I’m aware of the incident and I’m aware of the criticism.” Representatives of the 21-year-old Elliott expect him to be cleared of wrongdoing in a 2016 domestic violence case, but this incident adds to a growing list of off-the-field drama for the talented back.
  • The Rams did not pursue T.J. McDonald or Case Keenum in free agency, according to the Los Angeles Times. An impending eight-game suspension reduced interest in McDonald, who landed with the Dolphins. Keenum signed with the Vikings.
  • Howie Roseman‘s given more power over the Eagles‘ draft board to VP of player personnel Joe Douglas than he did previous lieutenants Ryan Grigson or Tom Gamble, Jeff McLane of Philly.com writes. “The draft is going to be really built by Joe,” Jeffrey Lurie said, via McLane, before adding “the final decision will be made by Howie.” This will be Douglas’ first draft with the Eagles after landing in Philadelphia last May. McLane writes this will take some of the prospect-evaluation burden off of Roseman.
  • The Cardinals do not look set to add any notable help at either running back or wide receiver. Bruce Arians said (via Kent Somers of AZCentral.com) the team is content with what it has there. The fifth-year Cardinals coach noted Kerwynn Williams can be the No. 2 back behind David Johnson, and the coach expects a healthier season from John Brown. Somers notes depth pieces could come via lower-round picks or UDFAs, but it appears Arizona will address other positions with its higher draft picks.
  • Tim Hightower‘s 49ers deal is a one-year agreement, according to Nick Shook of NFL.com. The former Cardinals, Redskins and Saints back will turn 31 in May.