Matthew Masifilo

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

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

  • Louis Nix III, NT (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

San Francisco 49ers

  • Marcus Rush, LB (Twitter link via Wilson)

Workout Notes: Bills, Boykin, Little

Here are Wednesday’s workouts from around the NFL. All links go to the Twitter feed of The Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, unless noted otherwise:

Workout Notes: 12/16/15

It’s been a busy last couple of days around the NFL, with teams still looking to fill up their squads for the rest of the season. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweeted a whole bunch of workout notes this afternoon, which we’ve compiled for you below…

Arizona Cardinals

  • CB Mitchell White (link)

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Read more

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/15

Let’s round up Saturday’s minor moves, which we’ll keep updated throughout the day:

  • A week ago, the Buccaneers cut tackle Reid Fragel from their active roster, with Sunday’s game around the corner. Today, the Bucs brought Fragel back into the mix, promoting him to replace guard Matthew Masifilo, who has been waived, according to a team release. With starting center Evan Smith not expected to play and guard Logan Mankins listed as questionable, Fragel could be forced into action if Tampa Bay’s offensive line gets hit with injuries again this weekend.

Earlier updates:

  • The Jaguars signed linebacker Jordan Tripp from their practice squad and waived/injured linebacker John Lotulelei to make room, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports (on Twitter). Tripp played in 13 games for the Dolphins last year after the team drafted him in the fifth round out of Montana. Miami waived Tripp prior to the season. A third-year UDFA, Lotulelei played in 14 games as a rookie in 2013 for the Seahawks and Jaguars and four this season for Jacksonville.
  • The Cowboys have promoted wideout Vince Mayle from the practice squad, tweets Todd Archer of ESPN.com. The receiver will replace pass-catching back Lance Dunbar, who was placed on injured reserve earlier today. Mayle, a former fourth-round pick out of Washington State, has yet to make an NFL appearance.
  • The Seahawks have promoted running back Rod Smith from the practice squad, tweets ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Marshawn Lynch isn’t expected to play Sunday, and Fred Jackson is battling through an injured ankle. Smith, an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, compiled 549 yards and eight touchdowns during his college career.

Bucs Sign Seven Players To Futures Deals

The Buccaneers have officially signed seven players to reserve/futures contracts for the 2015 season, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Three of those agreements had been previously reported, while five of the seven players come from off Tampa Bay’s practice squad. Here’s the full list:

Of the players that finished the season on the team’s practice squad, defensive back Varmah Sonie, quarterback Mike Kafka, linebacker Denicos Allen, and linebacker Ka’Lial Glaud have not been signed to new deals. Meanwhile, Auman says that the club still intends to sign former Nevada punter Chase Tenpenny to a futures contract, as had been reported last month.

Reserve/Futures Contracts: Monday

Teams have been announcing their reserve/futures deals all day long, but not every club has made those pacts official. Here are the odds and ends from today as we await the full slate:

49ers

Bears

Broncos

Buccaneeers

Eagles

Falcons

Saints

Washington

  • Lakendrick Ross, DL (via ESPN 980 on Twitter)

Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday

We’ll keep tabs on today’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the league right here:

  • After waiting for him to clear waivers, the Ravens have officially signed tight end Phillip Supernaw back to their practice squad, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
  • The Seahawks have signed defensive end Ryan Robinson to their taxi squad and are now back to the maximum 10 players, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link).
  • Having lost tackle Nick Becton off their practice squad when he signed with the Saints, the Giants have filled his spot by adding safety Kyle Sebetic, who was in camp with the team this summer.

Earlier updates:

  • The Patriots have re-signed wideout Jonathan Krause to their taxi squad, dropping defensive lineman Kona Schwenke from the unit to clear a spot, the team announced today in a press release.
  • Running back Michael Hill has been released from the Packers‘ practice squad, replaced by guard Jordan McCray, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  • Heading into today with one open spot on their practice squad, the Buccaneers created another opening by cutting defensive end George Uko, then filled those spots by signing defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo and cornerback Quinton Pointer, tweets Scott Smith of Buccaners.com.
  • The Steelers have added safety Jordan Dangerfield to their practice squad, releasing defensive end Ethan Hemer, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Pittsburgh safeties Troy Polamalu and Shamarko Thomas are both dealing with injuries, so Dangerfield could be a candidate for promotion this weekend depending on the status of those players.
  • Defensive tackle Loni Fangupo has joined the Chiefs‘ practice squad, according to his representatives at ARN Sports (Twitter link).

Minor Moves: Monday

As teams deal with Week 9 injuries and look ahead to Week 10, we can expect to see several clubs tweak the backs of their 53-man rosters and their practice squads. Here are Monday’s latest minor transactions:

  • The Dolphins have placed safety Michael Thomas on injured reserve after he suffered a significant chest injury in Sunday’s game, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). To take his place on the roster, Miami signed fellow S Jordan Kovacs off the Eagles’ practice squad, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). The Fins will also add tight end Jake Stoneburner to its taxi squad, tweets Salguero.
  • Two Buccaneers players, defensive end Da’Quan Bowers and fullback Jorvorskie Lane, have been reinstated from the suspended list, according to Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
  • The Buccaneers have waived defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo, reports Caplan (on Twitter). The 2012 undrafted free agent played in one game this season for Tampa Bay.
  • Because return man Trindon Holliday was waived/injured, and has now cleared waivers, he has reverted to the Buccaneers’ injured reserve list, according to Wilson (on Twitter).
  • More Bucs news, as the club has made several changes to its practice squad. Tampa added linebacker Denicos Allen and tight end Ted Bolser to its taxi squad, while cutting fullback Lonnie Pryor and linebacker Mister Alexander, says Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (via Twitter).
  • To make room for Square (referenced below), the Chargers have cut safety Adrian Phillips, who was just signed on Saturday, per Wilson (Twitter link).
  • The Bengals announced several changes to its practice squad, tweets Coley Harvey of ESPN.com. We learned earlier today that linebacker Khairi Fortt was lost to the Jaguars, but the team also cut tight end Kevin Greene. To replace them, Cincinnati signed tight end Jake Murphy and linebacker Justin Jackson.
  • The Cardinals have re-signed defensive tackle Bruce Gaston, who was let go on Saturday, to their taxi squad, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter).
  • The Jets have made an addition to their PS, bringing in receiver Chris Owusu, per Brian Costello of the New York Post (Twitter link). Owusu caught 13 balls for the Buccaneers last season.

Earlier updates:

  • Defensive end Damion Square, who was cut by the Chiefs on Saturday, has been claimed off waivers by the division-rival Chargers, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). San Diego doesn’t have an open roster spot, so the team will need to make a corresponding move for the transaction to become official.
  • The Bills have filled their lone open roster spot by claiming safety Jerome Couplin off waivers from the Lions, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • The Lions have made a few changes to their practice squad, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com, who tweets that the team has added tight end Jordan Thompson, cornerback Trevin Wade, and defensive tackle Roy Philon, releasing tight end Ifeanyi Momah.
  • After working them out earlier, the Vikings have signed quarterback Pat Devlin and tight end Rashaun Allen to their taxi squad, according to Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (via Twitter). To make space on the unit, the team moved quarterback Chandler Harnish to the practice squad IR list and cut tight end Ryan Otten.
  • Fullback Michael Zordich has signed with the Saints‘ practice squad, according to his agency, Tier 1 Sports Management (Twitter link).
  • The Buccaneers are set to sign tackle Matt Patchan to their practice squad, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

Buccaneers Activate Charles Sims

5:26pm: The Bucs have officially announced Sims’ activation, also confirming that wideout Marcus Thigpen and defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo have been promoted from their practice squad to the active roster (Twitter link via Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com).

11:47am: We heard whispers yesterday indicating that the Buccaneers could activate rookie running back Charles Sims from the IR in advance of this weekend’s matchup against the Browns. That was confirmed this morning, as Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Bucs will activate Sims today will the intention of playing him this weekend. Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets that the move is “procedural,” adding that there’s no guarantee Sims will play against Cleveland. No corresponding roster move has been announced.

Sims was drafted by the Bucs in the third round following a dominant senior season with West Virginia, where he rushed for 1,095 yards and 11 touchdowns. He spent his first three years of college playing for the Houston Cougars, compiling 37 touchdowns and averaged about 800 yards a season.

Kevin Patra of NFL.com notes that Sims was estimated to miss 12 to 14 weeks following ankle surgery in August, indicating that the rookie was ahead of schedule about at least two weeks. Patra adds that the team will likely lean on Bobby Rainey this weekend as the team eases Sims in.

NFC Notes: Vikes, McDonald, Sims, Schwartz

As we wait to see whether or not Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo will be available this weekend for a showdown between two of the NFC’s top teams – Dallas and Arizona – let’s check out a few Friday afternoon items from across the conference….

  • Since Vikings practice squad Chandler Harnish was injured in practice this week, the team has been on the lookout for a replacement. According to head coach Mike Zimmer, three signal-callers worked out for the club today, though he didn’t identify the players by name, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter links).
  • Tracey Kaplan of the San Jose Mercury News was among those reporting that Santa Clara County prosecutors are leaning against charging 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald with domestic violence. However, while the District Attorney’s office may be leaning that way, the DA announced today that no decision has been made yet, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
  • Players who went on the IR list with the designation to return prior to Week 1 are eligible to be activated for this weekend’s contests, and while Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets that Buccaneers running back Charles Sims figures to come off IR tomorrow, Giants guard Geoff Schwartz won’t be activated for at least one more week, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Caplan adds (via Twitter) that the Bucs appear likely to promote defensive tackle Matthew Masifilo from their practice squad as well.
  • While it doesn’t appear likely to happen, head coach Ron Rivera believes Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy should be reinstated by the NFL if his trial is postponed until after the season, as ESPN.com’s David Newton details.
  • Given the multiple ACL injuries suffered by quarterback Sam Bradford and tackle Jake Long, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wonders whether the Rams will be able to count on either player for the 2015 season.