RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/10/24
During a busy day of transactions and headlines, teams still had time for a few free agent tender decisions:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Commanders: LB Jabril Cox, RB Derrick Gore, LB De’Jon Harris
- Eagles: TE Jack Stoll
- Texans: CB Grayland Arnold, WR Steven Sims
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Lions: RB Craig Reynolds
Non-tendered:
- Saints: WR Lynn Bowden
While Stoll, one of Philadelphia’s top backup tight ends, is not being tendered by the Eagles, the team has reportedly not ruled out a return. Similarly, Cox, Gore, Harris, Arnold, and Sims will all join Bowden in free agency, though the door remains open for their returns, as well.
Saints Officially Set 53-Man Roster
The Saints welcomed back some old faces and said goodbye to others on their way towards setting their initial 53-man roster. Here are the moves the team made in their efforts to select the team they will open the season with:
Released:
- LB Ryan Connelly
- TE J.P. Holtz
- TE Jesse James
- T Storm Norton
- CB Bradley Roby
- LB Jaylon Smith
- LB Ty Summers
- RB Darrel Williams
Waived:
- S Johnathan Abram
- LB Nick Anderson
- WR Kawaan Baker
- FB Jake Bargas
- WR Lynn Bowden
- DL Jerron Cage
- WR Shaq Davis
- DT Prince Emili
- OL Mark Evans II
- G Chuck Filiaga
- DB Adrian Frye
- P Blake Gillikin
- DT Jack Heflin
- DB Anthony Johnson
- OL Lewis Kidd
- WR Jontrae Kirklin
- G Tommy Kraemer
- TE Lucas Krull
- DE Niko Lalos
- RB Ellis Merriweather
- S Smoke Monday
- LB Anfernee Orji
- DE Kyle Phillips
- OL Alex Pihlstrom
- DB Troy Pride
- OL Calvin Throckmorton
The veteran tight end James will have to continue his recent tour of the NFL. He, Holtz, and Krull fell victim to the reunion of New Orleans and former All-Pro Jimmy Graham.
On defense, Smith failed to make the roster after starting 11 games for the Giants last year. Roby is another player who was initially expected to contribute, but will have to pack up his locker.
With the emergence of rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller and the eventual return of Alvin Kamara, keeping Williams in the running backs room just wasn’t worth the roster spot.
On special teams, the third-year punter Gillikin lost the punting battle with undrafted rookie signee out of Miami (FL) Lou Hedley. The viral, jacked, tatted-up, Australian, 30-year-old rookie punter makes his first NFL roster as part of the Saints’ new-look special teams group.
Saints Sign WRs Keke Coutee, Lynn Bowden
Keke Coutee and Lynn Bowden worked out for the Saints at their minicamp this week, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill notes (Twitter links). Each will earn an invitation to the next Saints round of practices.
The Saints are signing both wide receivers, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Additionally, New Orleans waived wideout Malik Flowers, running back SaRodorick Thompson and offensive lineman Yasir Durant.
Coutee, 26, spent last season with the Colts; Bowden, 25, logged time on the Patriots’ practice squad. The former mid-round picks will vie for backup spots in New Orleans, which lost Jarvis Landry this offseason. The Saints still re-signed Michael Thomas, hoping the NFL single-season reception record holder can shake the injuries that have defined his 2020s, and return second-year speedster Rashid Shaheed. Longtime tertiary option Tre’Quan Smith also remains rostered, while the Saints signed Bryan Edwards and drafted A.T. Perry in the sixth round.
Best known for his time as a Texans slot receiver, Coutee failed to make Houston’s 2021 active roster and trekked to Indianapolis. The Texas Tech alum served as a regular punt returner with the Colts last season. That represented his most notable work since 2020, when the former fourth-round pick established a career highs with 33 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Since Deshaun Watson‘s on-field Houston finale, however, Coutee has only caught two passes. He auditioned for the Packers earlier this offseason.
A former third-round Raiders pick, Bowden is probably best known for being traded to the Dolphins before he could suit up for a game in Las Vegas. The 2020 draftee saw some action as a Dolphins slot/gadget performer as a rookie, hauling in 28 passes for 211 yards. He has not caught a pass since. The Dolphins dangled Bowden in trades last year before ultimately cutting him. The Patriots picked up the Kentucky alum and stashed him on their practice squad. The Pats waived Bowden in May. Like Coutee, Bowden has a return background — just not in the NFL. He saw punt-return action at Kentucky in each of his three seasons.
A three-year veteran, Durant played in one game for the Saints last season. The 6-foot-7 tackle out of Missouri has two career starts on his resume. A rookie out of Texas Tech, Thompson was part of New Orleans’ UDFA contingent last month. Flowers set the Division I-FCS record for kick-return touchdowns, with seven, and sits behind only Shaheed in Big Sky Conference history in return average.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/10/23
Here are the league’s minor moves from today:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers (from Browns): DL Ben Stille
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Matt Dickerson, CB Lamar Jackson, DT Chris Williams
- Released: DT Byron Cowart
- Waived: S Martez Manuel
New England Patriots
- Waived: WR Lynn Bowden
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Bryant Koback
Bowden will now be searching for the fourth team of his young NFL career. The former third-round pick was traded to Miami before his rookie season began. In South Beach, he recorded 243 yards from scrimmage with 28 receptions and nine rush attempts. After missing his sophomore season on injured reserve, Bowden was waived just before last season and signed to the Patriots practice squad.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/30/23
Here are Monday’s reserve/futures contracts handed out:
Minnesota Vikings
- DL Sheldon Day
New England Patriots
- WR Lynn Bowden
The Vikings ended Day’s three-month free agency stay in December, adding the veteran D-lineman to their practice squad. Day, 28, did not see any action with the team this season, but he will stick around ahead of the 2023 league year. Day saw 46% of the Browns’ defensive snaps in 2021 and was a regular 49ers contributor in the late 2010s. Although injuries bumped him up to such status, Day worked as a starter in each of San Francisco’s three 2019 playoff games.
The rare Day 2 draft choice to be traded before he played a down with the team that selected him, Bowden spent the season on the Patriots’ practice squad. The former Raiders draftee-turned-Dolphins trade acquisition loomed as a trade candidate in August but ended up being waived. Bowden, 25, has played in just one game over the past two seasons. But he spent the full season on New England’s P-squad. The Pats will keep him around ahead of Bill O’Brien‘s first offseason back in Foxborough.
Patriots Place T Marcus Cannon On IR
After rising from the practice squad to starter during his second Patriots stint, Marcus Cannon will be shut down for a while. The Patriots placed their first-string right tackle on IR on Saturday.
Cannon is believed to have suffered a concussion during the week, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets. He joins Brian Hoyer as Patriots to be placed on IR after concussions this season. Cannon must miss at least four games. Despite Hoyer being eligible to return from IR, the Patriots have not activated the veteran backup yet. The Patriots have six injury activations remaining this season; one of those should be expected to be reserved for Cannon down the line.
Isaiah Wynn‘s struggles upon shifting to right tackle — an unexpected offseason switch between he and Trent Brown — led the Pats to bench the former first-round pick and dangle him in trades. No team came forward, and Wynn remains with the Patriots. A New England trade involving Wynn would have been fairly risky, given Brown and Cannon’s recent injury pasts. Wynn is now in position to start for the Pats again.
The Patriots reacquired Cannon, 34, by signing him to their practice squad this year. After a four-game 2021 season with the Texans — one that saw Cannon go on IR ahead of a Week 5 Patriots matchup — the former Pats right tackle re-emerged as a viable New England starter. Coming off back surgery, Cannon returned to the Pats’ starting lineup in Week 5. After breaking back into the lineup as a sixth O-lineman, Cannon replaced Wynn in Week 7.
From 2012-22, Cannon — a fifth-round Pats pick in 2011 — has made 73 starts with the team. He worked as their right tackle starter in Super Bowls LI and LIII as well.
Wynn had allowed three sacks during his four-start 2022, committing an NFL-high eight penalties. But the contract-year blocker should be expected to have another chance. Wynn, who also has a fairly extensive injury history, shifted to the role of a sixth blocker in Week 8. He played 25 snaps. The Pats used one of their injury activations on Yodny Cajuste recently, but the 2021 third-round pick did not play any offensive snaps against the Jets.
The Pats also signed running back J.J. Taylor to their active roster, moving him up from their practice squad, and elevated wideout Lynn Bowden and offensive lineman Kody Russey.
Dolphins To Cut WRs Preston Williams, Lynn Bowden
Both Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden came up in recent trade rumors, but no deals emerged. Instead, each young wide receiver is now on the waiver wire.
The Dolphins cut both on Tuesday, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter links). Miami’s trade inquiries did not fall entirely on deaf ears, at least in Williams’ case. Multiple teams reached out about the former UDFA, Pelissero adds. But he can now be acquired via waiver claim.
One year remains on Williams’ contract, while Bowden’s rookie deal has two years left. Williams, whose NFL path has been a bit complicated based on his rookie-year offseason, has two years left on his initial NFL deal.
The Raiders drafted Bowden in the 2020 third round but traded him to the Dolphins before he played a down in Las Vegas. The gadget-type weapon was one of many 2020 Raider draftees not to be long for the organization. He caught 28 passes for 211 yards for the Dolphins as a rookie but did not play in 2021.
Williams emerged as a quick study in 2019, when he caught 32 passes for 428 yards in just eight games. That Dolphins team was light at receiver alongside DeVante Parker, but it became even lighter when Williams suffered a torn ACL. Williams has never seen his value restored since that injury, and the Lisfranc problem he encountered in 2020 compounded his health issues. Over the past two seasons, Williams has not matched his rookie-year yardage total.
The Dolphins, who nontendered Williams as an RFA this year before re-signing him at a reduced rate, also added some talent at receiver (Tyreek Hill, Cedrick Wilson Jr.) this offseason.
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 12/29/21
Several key players returned to practice Wednesday. Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Andy Lee
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OLB Devon Kennard
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Jonathan Bullard, S Jaylinn Hawkins, TE Hayden Hurst
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: OL Willie Beavers
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chris Board, LB Tyus Bowser, LB Justin Houston, S Geno Stone, LB Kristian Welch
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: OT David Sharpe, QB Christ Streveler
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Cole Beasley, WR Gabriel Davis, DE A.J. Epenesa, OL Jon Feliciano
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Dennis Daley, G Pat Elflein
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DE Austin Larkin
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Haason Reddick, QB P.J. Walker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Germaine Pratt
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Nick Mullens
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Trysten Hill, S Malik Hooker
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB JaQuan Hardy, WR Brandon Smith
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Lloyd Cushenberry
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Calvin Anderson, WR Tim Patrick, S Caden Sterns
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Tyrie Cleveland
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Trinity Benson, T Matt Nelson, WR Quintez Cephus
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Michael Brockers, G Halapoulivaati Vaitai
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Geronimo Allison
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: OT Cole Van Lanen
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Henry Black, TE Tyler Davis, DL Kingsley Keke, P Cody Bojorquez
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Jayson Stanley
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Maliek Collins, WR Brandin Cooks, K Ka’imi Fairbairn, LB Jonathan Greenard, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB Neville Hewitt, LB Jordan Jenkins, DL Jaleel Johnson, DL Roy Lopez, DB A.J. Moore, S Eric Murray, LB Derek Rivers, LB Eric Wilson, C Justin Britt, G Lane Taylor
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Ron’Dell Carter, WR Chris Moore
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: K Dominik Eberle
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Mark Glowinski, G Quenton Nelson, DE Kemoko Turay, DB Rock Ya-Sin, TE Farrod Green
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB James Morgan, TE Eli Wolf
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jaydon Mickens, LB Dylan Moses, LT Cam Robinson, S Johnathan Ford
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Hammond
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Travis Kelce, K Harrison Butker, CB Rashad Fenton, P Tommy Townsend, S Armani Watts
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Darius Harris
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Jermaine Eluemunor, CB Brandon Facyson, S Roderic Teamer
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Kendal Vickers, TE Darren Waller (story)
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Lester Cotton, G Jeremiah Poutasi
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OLB Joey Bosa, WR Jalen Guyton, CB Kemon Hall, C Corey Linsley, DB Trey Marshall, LB Cole Christiansen
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Kenneth Murray, T Storm Norton
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Raymond Calais
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Cethan Carter, CB Justin Coleman, G Robert Jones, OL Greg Mancz, LB Duke Riley, WR Lynn Bowden
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: C Spencer Pulley
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Dalvin Cook
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Tye Smith
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Patrick Jones II
New England Patriots
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Rhamondre Stevenson, OLB Harvey Langi
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, LB Matt Judon
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Demario Davis, QB Taysom Hill, QB Trevor Siemian, LB Kwon Alexander, LB Kaden Elliss, S J.T. Gray, OT Jordan Mills, OG James Carpenter, DT Christian Ringo, TE Adam Trautman, S Jeff Heath
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Marcus Williams
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Keion Crossen, DB Adoree’ Jackson, WR John Ross
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Dexter Lawrence
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Michael Carter II, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, QB Joe Flacco, DL Jonathan Marshall, LB Hamsah Nasirildeen, TE Kenny Yeboah
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Noah Dawkins, CB Lamar Jackson, DL Tanzel Smart
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Ken Webster
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Le’Raven Clark, T Andre Dillard, DE Tarron Jackson, DE Ryan Kerrigan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Rico Bussey
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Bryan Mone, CB D.J. Reed
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Michael Jackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jamel Dean, WR Mike Evans, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, WR Breshad Perriman
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Taylor Lewan, DB Elijah Molden, G Rodger Saffold
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: ILB Jayon Brown, OLB Bud Dupree, WR Julio Jones, DB Buster Skrine, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
Washington Football Team
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Darryl Roberts
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: OL Beau Benzschawel, T David Steinmetz
Dolphins To Cut OT Jermaine Eluemunor
The Dolphins will cap Jermaine Eluemunor‘s Miami stay at less than three months. After signing the veteran tackle in June, the team opted to cut him on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Miami is also placing wide receiver Lynn Bowden on IR, per Pelissero (on Twitter).
Eluemunor, who spent the past two seasons with the Patriots, was vying for a backup tackle gig in Miami. The Dolphins have done some shuffling on their offensive line, but they will move on without the four-year veteran ahead of the deadline for teams to cut their rosters down to 80 players.
This move comes days after the team acquired third-year tackle Greg Little from the Panthers. The Dolphins have now parted ways with multiple veteran O-linemen since the start of training camp. They placed D.J. Fluker on IR and reached an injury settlement to jettison the guard.
Eluemunor started eight games for the Pats last season, filling in for a team that again was down Isaiah Wynn for a stretch and one that lost Marcus Cannon to an opt-out choice. Pro Football Focus graded Eluemunor as a middle-of-the-road tackle, slotting him 47th at the position in 419 snaps. Eluemunor visited the Broncos earlier this year, but Denver opted to sign Bobby Massie and Cameron Fleming to fill its Ja’Wuan James-created void at right tackle.
The Dolphins acquired Bowden from the Raiders last summer, marking a strange NFL path for the 2020 third-round pick. Bowden contributed in a few Fins games, catching 28 passes for 211 yards for a receiver-deficient team. Miami expanded its wideout group this year, signing Will Fuller and drafting Jaylen Waddle in Round 1. Albert Wilson‘s return gave the Dolphins more depth, and Bowden was battling for a roster spot.
While the Dolphins could keep Bowden on IR all season and develop him, players who land on IR at this time of the year are often subsequently released from teams’ injury lists via injury-settlement payments. It is unclear if the Dolphins play to remove Bowden from IR via that transaction, but Tuesday’s move ensures he cannot play for the team in 2021.
The Dolphins also waived wideouts Robert Foster and Isaiah Ford, cutting the former with an injury designation.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/20
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Germain Ifedi
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Cody Whitehair (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Fred Johnson, CB Trae Waynes; Waynes remains on IR
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Chris Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Lynn Bowden
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: LB Hercules Mata’afa
- Placed on IR: CB Mark Fields
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: WR Justin Hardee, DT Sheldon Rankins (story)
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: DB Ryan Lewis
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Brandon Aiyuk, WR Kendrick Bourne, WR Deebo Samuel, T Trent Williams (story)
