- The Rams still reside near the bottom of the NFL in cap space, but they created some breathing room by restructuring Tyler Higbee‘s deal. The team added $1.65MM in space by moving some of Higbee’s base salary into a signing bonus, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com tweets. Prior to this move, the franchise held less than $1MM in cap room. Higbee signed a four-year, $31MM extension in 2019. This week’s move dropped his 2021 base salary to just more than $1MM.
Last week, punter Johnny Hekker agreed to rework his contract in order to stay with the Rams. As a part of the agreement, Hekker has the option to cancel his 2023 season in order to reach free agency one year earlier, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter link). 
Hekker’s revised deal will allow him to earn up to $2.75M in 2021 and 2022. Then, in 2023, he can make as much as $3MM via incentives. The Rams, meanwhile, get approximately $1MM in additional cap space for this year.
The Rams had another option in Corey Bojorquez but they traded him to the Packers before final cuts. That paved the way for Hekker to stay put and keep his mantle as the Rams’ longest-tenured player.
The four-time first-team All-Pro has spent his entire career with the Rams, starting in St. Louis before moving on to Los Angeles. He’ll add another game to his perfect attendance streak on Sunday when the Rams open the season against the Bears.
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
Here are Thursday’s practice squad moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Devin Gray
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Kahale Warring
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Aaron Parker
- Cut: CB Rashaan Melvin
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Rodney Adams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Trenton Irwin
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Tim Harris, G David Moore, K Chris Naggar, OL Jordan Steckler
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DL Jonathan Harris
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OLB Jessie Lemonier, QB Steven Montez, CB Parnell Motley, TE Jared Pinkney, TE Shane Zylstra
- Cut: OLB Rashod Berry, NT Miles Brown, TE Alize Mack, RB Dedrick Mills
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LS Steven Wirtel
- Cut: DT Willington Previlon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB Kyle Lauletta, TE Matt Sokol
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: RB B.J. Emmons, DE Gerri Green, T Devery Hamilton, CB Madre Harper, CB Robert Jackson, C Jimmy Morrissey, OL Jeremiah Poutasi, RB Trey Ragas, LB Max Richardson, DT Niles Scott, WR Dillon Stoner, WR D.J. Turner, DE Kendal Vickers
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Brandon Facyson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: G Jared Hocker
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Tino Ellis, WR Brandon Powell, RB Jordan Scarlett, OL Kion Smith, DL Jason Strowbridge, OL Cameron Tom
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Trishton Jackson
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Trent Harris, QB Brian Lewerke, TE Chris Myarick, WR Dante Pettis, RB Dexter Williams
- Cut: OL Jake Burton, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, OL Brett Heggie
New York Jets
- RB Josh Adams, DL Ronald Blair, OL Grant Hermanns, CB Lamar Jackson, WR D.J. Montgomery, OL Jimmy Murray, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, DL Hamilcar Rashed, DL Tanzel Smart, WR Vyncint Smith, OL Isaiah Williams, TE Kenny Yeboah, DE Jabari Zuniga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Nick Eubanks, WR KeeSean Johnson, DT Marvin Wilson
- Cut: S Grayland Arnold
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Michael Jackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams, OLB Ladarius Hamilton, WR Jaydon Mickens, DB Troy Wagner
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DL Jamell Garcia-Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LS Josh Harris
- Claimed (from Browns): OL Colby Gossett
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: WR Aaron Parker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: S A.J. Moore
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, QB Carson Wentz
- Placed on IR: QB Sam Ehlinger (story), WR Dezmon Patmon
- Released from IR with injury settlement: TE Noah Togiai
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Asmar Bial
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DT Chris Okoye, OL Tyree St. Louis
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: OL Tremayne Anchrum, LB Obo Okoronkwo
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chris Garrett
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Johnny Hekker
New England Patriots
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OL Marcus Martin
New York Giants
- Released from IR with injury settlement: WR Alex Bachman, DB Montre Hartage, TE Cole Hikutini
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed: CB Andre Chachere (from Chargers)
- Signed: DT Hassan Ridgeway
- Placed on IR: OL Jack Driscoll, TE Tyree Jackson, CB Josiah Scott
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Mychal Kendricks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: K Ryan Succop
- Placed on IR: G John Molchon
- Released from IR with injury settlement: RB Troymaine Pope
Tennessee Titans
- Released from IR with injury settlement: RB Brian Hill
Washington Football Team
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OT Rick Leonard
Johnny Hekker is staying put. This week, the punter agreed to rework his contract in order to remain with the Rams in 2021 (via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times).
[RELATED: Rams Trade Bojorquez To Packers]
The Rams had another option in Corey Bojorquez, who spent the previous three seasons with the Bills. However, on Tuesday, they shipped him to the Packers, paving the way for Hekker to stick for a tenth season. The Rams also sent the Packers a 2023 seventh-round draft pick in the deal and received a 2023 sixth-rounder in return.
This isn’t the first time that the four-time first-team All-Pro had to rework his contract. Ultimately, he was willing to sacrifice a little bit in order to stay with the only team he’s ever known.
“What Johnny’s done here…long before I got here, is something that doesn’t go lost on me, doesn’t go lost on us,” head coach Sean McVay said recently. “And I am confident that he’s going to be the productive player he’s been throughout the course of his career.”
Hekker, 31, still stands as the Rams’ longest-tenured player.
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
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 Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks and 49ers moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s NFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Arizona Cardinals
Signed to practice squad:
- S Chris Banjo, WR Andre Baccellia, OLB Ron’Dell Carter, WR Greg Dortch, CB Rasul Douglas, LB Kylie Fitts, OL Sean Harlow, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter, OL Koda Martin, TE Ross Travis, CB Jace Whittaker, S James Wiggins
Los Angeles Rams
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Landen Akers, RB Otis Anderson, TE Kendall Blanton, OT Chandler Brewer, DL Earnest Brown IV, DT Marquise Copeland, DB Dont’e Deayon, DB Tyler Hall, RB Buddy Howell, LB Micah Kiser, G Jeremiah Kolone, WR J.J. Koski, LB Justin Lawler, DB Kareem Orr, OT Max Pircher (international practice squad player; does not count toward L.A.’s 16-man total)
San Francisco 49ers
Signed:
- OL Jake Brendel, CB Dontae Johnson
Placed on IR:
- CB Davontae Harris, DL Maurice Hurst Jr.
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Alex Barrett, WR Travis Benjamin, WR River Cracraft, DL Darrion Daniels, OL Alfredo Gutierrez (international player; does not count against practice squad limit), FB Josh Hokit, TE Tanner Hudson, OL Corbin Kaufusi, OL Senio Kelemete, TE Jordan Matthews, S Jared Mayden, OL Colton McKivitz, QB Nate Sudfeld, LB Elijah Sullivan, CB Dee Virgin
Seattle Seahawks
Claimed:
- OT Dakoda Shepley (from 49ers), DB Nigel Warrior (from Ravens)
Signed:
- QB Jake Luton
Released/Waived:
- QB Sean Mannion
- G Phil Haynes
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Myles Adams, LB Aaron Donkor, G Greg Eiland, WR Aaron Fuller, WR Penny Hart, DT Jarrod Hewitt, WR Cade Johnson, RB Josh Johnson, G Pier-Olivier Lestage, TE Tyler Mabry, DT Robert Nkemdiche, CB John Reid, LB Jon Rhattigan, WR Cody Thompson
The Rams have been busy in recent days trimming their roster, so the team only had a handful of moves to make this afternoon
Waived
- WR Landen Akers
- DL Eric Banks
- DB Tyler Hall
- LB Christian Rozeboom
The Rams have made their decision at punter, and it appears All-Pro Johnny Hekker will keep his job. The team found a taker for its other punter as well.
The Packers will acquire Corey Bojorquez from the Rams, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. With the Bills over the past three years, Bojorquez will catch on with another contender this season.
Bojorquez landed in Los Angeles and pushed Hekker, whose roster spot was in jeopardy because of his near-$5MM cap hold. But the four-time first-team All-Pro will go into his 10th season as the Rams’ punter.
This trade stands to install Bojorquez atop Green Bay’s punting hierarchy, shoving aside incumbent J.K. Scott. The former UDFA has been the Packers’ punter for the past three years. Bojorquez’s 50.8 yards per punt, however, led the NFL last season and was more than five yards better than Scott’s average boot.