Former NFLer Louis Nix Passes Away
Former NFL player Louis Nix III has passed away, as Ben Becker of Action News Jax was among those to report (Twitter link). Nix was just 29 years old.
Nix was reported missing earlier in the week, and yesterday evening, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office pulled a car from a pond that matched the description of the vehicle he was last seen driving (Twitter link via Becker). As Douglas Farmer of NBCSports.com relays, Nix was shot in December during an attempted armed robbery at a gas station, while he was attempting to put air in his tire. Nix survived the shooting and later said, “I know it sounds cliché, but more than anything, I’m happy to be alive.” There is no indication that the incident is related to Nix’s passing.
Nix was a three-year starter at Notre Dame, establishing himself as one of the top interior defenders in the collegiate game. He was at this best in 2012, when the Fighting Irish enjoyed an undefeated regular season. That year, even as he was absorbing double-teams for star linebacker Manti Te’o, Nix piled up 50 tackles — including 7.5 tackles for loss — two sacks, and five passes defensed.
He returned to school for his senior season in 2013, but that year marked the beginning of the knee troubles that would end his professional career before it really got off the ground. He underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in November 2013, and though the Texans selected him in the third round of the 2014 draft, he would need a another knee surgery before training camp. Ultimately, a third knee operation prevented him from playing a single game in his rookie season.
Houston waived him before the 2015 regular season, and he was claimed by the Giants. He would go on to appear in four games for Big Blue, but he was waived again that November and was later re-signed to New York’s practice squad. He spent time on Washington’s and Jacksonville’s p-squads in 2016, but his career was essentially over after the Jags cut him loose in May 2017.
We at PFR offer our sincere condolences to Nix’s family and friends.
Jaguars Cut Louis Nix, Akeem Davis
The Jaguars announced they have signed defensive tackle Kelvin Maurice and safety Jarrod Harper. To make room on the roster, the Jaguars cut safety Akeem Davis and defensive tackle Louis Nix. 
Maurice and Harper were tryout players at the Jaguars’ rookie minicamp over the weekend. Maurice, a Nebraska product, became a full-time starter for the first time in his final season on campus. He finished out 2016 with 39 total tackles and four sacks, a performance that earned him some attention from at least one NFL team. Harper, meanwhile, is a defensive back out of West Virginia. Both players stood out in a group of 39 tryout players vying to make the 90-man roster.
Nix, 26 in July, appeared in four games for the Giants in 2015. The well-traveled defensive tackle spent time on the Jaguars’ practice squad last year but couldn’t pass muster with the team this time around. Davis, 27, got the bulk of his NFL experience with the Redskins in 2014 when he appeared in 13 games. After suiting up for three different clubs in 2015, the safety appeared in two games for the Jaguars last season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Hubert
- Cut: OT Martin Wallace
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Dobson Collins
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Gerald Christian, WR Mose Frazier, CB Joe Powell
- Cut: WR Corey Washington
Cleveland Browns
- Cut: OL Mike Liedtke
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OT Matt Rotheram
- Cut: RB Mike James
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Keith Baxter
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Doran Grant (Twitter link via Howard Balzer), DT Louis Nix
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DL Bobby Richardson
- Cut: LB Deion Barnes
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Sterling Bailey, OT Austin Shepherd, DB Cedric Thompson
- Cut: TE Kyle Carter, TE Brian Leonhardt, QB Joel Stave
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Shamiel Gary, DT Anthony Johnson (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OT Keavon Milton
- Cut: TE Rashaun Allen
Seattle Seahawks
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Donteea Dye
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Matt Hazel
Practice Squad Updates: 9/19/16
Here are Monday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OLB Deiontrez Mount (Twitter link via Mike Chappell of FOX59)
- Cut: CB Tay Glover-Wright.
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
- Cut: QB Logan Thomas
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Braedon Bowman (Twitter link via Darryl Slater of NJ.com)
- Cut: DL Claude Pelon
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL Bobby Richardson, LB Jason Fanaika, LB Amarlo Herrera
- Cut: LB Lynden Trail, DL Louis Nix III (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post)
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, and Redskins are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day (all links go to Twitter unless noted otherwise):
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived:
- QB Jameill Showers (Link via David Moore)
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Austin Traylor (Link via Aaron Wilson)
- WR Andy Jones (Link via Wilson)
- C Jake Brendel (Link via Clarence Hill)
- TE Rico Gathers (Link via Hill)
- LB Deon King (Link via Hill)
- WR Vince Mayle (Link via Hill)
- DE Ryan Russell (Link via Hill)
- DE Zach Moore (Story via Chris Tomasson)
- QB Jameill Showers (Link via Ian Rapoport)
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers:
- DT Robert Thomas (Link via Pro Football Talk)
- Waived:
- DT Montori Hughes (Link via Ralph Vacchiano)
- Signed to practice squad:
- S Andrew Adams (Link via Ralph Vacchiano)
- LB Ishaq Williams
- WR Darius Powe
- CB Donte Deayon
- CB Michael Hunter
- WR Geremy Davis (Link via Vacchiano)
- QB Logan Thomas
- OL Adam Gettis
- OL Shane McDermott
- DE Stansly Maponga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed:
- OLB Kamu Grugier-Hill (Link via Mike Reiss)
- S Terrence Brooks (Link via Pro Football Talk)
- WR Bryce Treggs
- Waived:
- WR Paul Turner (Link via Dave Zangaro)
- DL Taylor Hart
- CB C.J. Smith
- Signed to practice squad:
- G Darrell Greene
- WR Marcus Johnson
- RB Byron Marshall
- DT Aziz Shittu
- WR David Watford
- FB Andrew Bonnet (Link via Jeff McLane)
- LB Don Cherry (Link via Jeff McLane)
- LB Quentin Gause (Link via Jeff McLane)
- C Aaron Neary (Link via Jeff McLane)
- CB C.J. Smith (Link via Adam Caplan)
Washington Redskins
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Maurice Harris (Link via John Keim)
- OL Nila Kasitati (Link via Keim)
- WR Kendal Thompson (Link via Mike Jones)
- LB Lynden Trail (Link via Keim)
- OT Isaiah Williams (Link via Master Tesfatsion)
- DE Matt Ioannidis (Link via Redskins website)
- OL Vinston Painter (Link via Redskins website)
- RB Mack Brown (Link via Redskins website)
- TE Wes Saxton (Link via Keim)
- DT Louis Nix (Link via ESPN’s Adam Caplan)
Giants Down To 53
The Giants started their cuts early this morning by cutting a handful of big wide receivers and went from there. French wide receiver Anthony Dable and Cal product Darius Powe are among those who have been shown the door.
Dable played professionally in Grenoble, France and also spent the last two seasons in Germany. With his German Football League team, Dable caught 145 passes for just under 2,500 yards and 32 touchdowns over the last two campaigns. Although he did not grow up in a football-heavy atmosphere, he learned the game by watching others from afar.
“I learned football by watching videos of the receivers I like on YouTube, and I like guys that are the same size as me, like Brandon Marshall,” Dable said. “I think I play like Brandon Marshall. I like how he moves after the catch, with his size.”
Powe, a 6’3″ receiver, saved his best season for last at Cal. As a senior, Powe hauled in 47 catches for 560 yards and 8 touchdowns.
We’ll keep a running list of the Giants’ moves here. All of these moves have been confirmed via team press release.
Placed on IR:
- TE Will Johnson
Cut:
- RB Andre Williams
- WR Anthony Dable (Twitter link via Dan Graziano of ESPN.com)
- WR Darius Powe (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com)
- WR Geremy Davis (Twitter link via Raanan)
- CB Donte Deayon (Twitter link via Dan Duggan of NJ.com)
- CB Michael Hunter
- S Andrew Adams (Twitter link via Duggan)
- S Justin Currie (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
- LB Ishaq Williams (Twitter link via Vacchiano)
- CB Leon McFadden (Twitter link via Art Stapleton of The Record)
- DE Stansley Maponga (Twitter link via Raanan)
- LB Brad Bars (Twitter link via James Kratch of NJ.com)
- G Dillon Farrell (Twitter link via Vacchiano)
- OL Ryan Seymour (Twitter link via Raanan)
- OL Emmett Cleary (Twitter link via Kratch)
- Ol Adam Gettis (Twitter link via Raanan)
- OL Jake Rodgers (Twitter link via Kratch)
- DT Louis Nix (Twitter link via ESPN’s Josina Anderson)
- QB Logan Thomas
- DT Jermelle Cudjo (Twitter link via Raanan)
- TE Ryan Malleck (per club announcement)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/6/16
Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the league. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2016 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ 90-man rosters:
Buffalo Bills
Carolina Panthers
- Cobi Hamilton, WR (team announcement)
- Tyler Larsen, G
- Matthew Masifilo, C
- Larry Webster, DE
- Eric Crume, DT
- Travell Dixon, CB
Cleveland Browns
- Erle Ladson, OL (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Patrick Miller, OT (Twitter link via Wilson)
New York Giants
San Francisco 49ers
- Marcus Rush, LB (Twitter link via Wilson)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/10/15
Earlier today, we learned that the Ravens had signed running back Terrance West to their practice squad, cutting defensive end Nordly Capi to make room. That’s one of a handful of practice squad changes around the league today, so let’s round up the rest….
Chicago Bears
- To be signed: G/T Martin Wallace (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Detroit Lions
- To be signed: T Tyrus Thompson (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press)
- Cut: RB Marion Grice (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DT Eric Crume (press release via team)
- Cut: DT Justin Hamilton
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Dezmen Southward, QB Alex Tanney (press release via team)
- Cut: QB Matt Blanchard, G Kitt O’Brien
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Keavon Milton, OL Torrian Wilson (press release via team)
- Cut: WR Austin Hill, DB Floyd Raven
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Rashaun Allen (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune)
- Cut: LB Henry Coley
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nico Johnson, DT Louis Nix (press release via team)
St. Louis Rams
- Signed: LB Matthew Wells (Twitter link via Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Akeem Davis, DE Martin Ifedi (press release via team)
- Cut: WR Andre Davis
- Placed on PS-IR: DE Ronald Powell
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/7/15
Here are Saturday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:
- The Raiders have parted ways with veteran defensive lineman C.J. Wilson, promoting Tevin McDonald from their practice squad to take Wilson’s spot on the 53-man roster, the team announced today (via Twitter). As Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com observes (via Twitter), Wilson will provide Oakland with an insurance policy in case T.J. Carrie is unable to play on Sunday.
- The Giants‘ activation of Jason Pierre-Paul will get the majority of headlines in New York today, but the club also made another change to its active roster. According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), the Giants waived defensive tackle Louis Nix, elevating cornerback Tramain Jacobs from their practice squad to replace him.
Earlier updates:
- Washington placed backup outside linebacker Jackson Jeffcoat on season-ending IR and signed Houston Bates from its practice squad, Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets. A second-year UDFA who’s played in six games for the team this season, Jeffcoat was not listed on the team’s injury report this week.
- The Dolphins activated rookie running back Jay Ajayi from IR-DTR and cut center Sam Brenner, James Walker of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Brenner, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Dolphins in 2013, has played in 10 games for the team in that span, starting four in his first year.
- The previously reported agreement between the Texans and lineman Eric Kush is worth two years and $984,706, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- The Jets have signed safety Rontez Miles to the active roster, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). To make room, the team released fifth-rounder Jarvis Harrison. The offensive guard hadn’t seen the field through the team’s first seven games.
Giants Sign Louis Nix, Drop Asa Jackson
WEDNESDAY, 4:55pm: It turns out that the Giants will sign Nix after all, as Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets.
TUESDAY, 3:59pm: A pair of recent Giants pickups have been shown the door just days after being claimed off waivers. Cornerback Asa Jackson has been cut loose two days after signing, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Louis Nix has failed his physical, which means that he’ll be exposed to waivers once more.
Jackson, 25, saw his first stretch of extended playing time on defense last season in Baltimore, when the Ravens’ secondary was decimated by injuries. Jackson started six games and allowed a quarterback rating of 106.6 on passes thrown into his coverage, per Pro Football Focus.
As for Nix, he was selected in the third round of the 2014 draft by the Texans, but never saw regular season action for the team, having spent the majority of his rookie campaign on injured reserve. In the opinion of the Giants, he’s not 100% healthy at this time either.
With two players off of their roster, the Giants could fill one of the spots with a tight end of note. Earlier today, Big Blue hosted ex-Lions tight end Joseph Fauria on a visit, per Yates.
