Minor NFL Transactions: 8/19/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Jordan Phillips; Phillips tested positive for the coronavirus
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: G Steven Gonzalez
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Marquel Harrell
- Waived: WR Micah Simon
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Kiondre Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived/injured: P Hunter Niswander
Denver Broncos
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DL Deyon Sizer
Detroit Lions
- Waived: TE Hunter Thedford
Houston Texans
- Released from IR via injury settlement: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: CB Luq Barcoo
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DT Daniel Ross
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Josh Harvey-Clemons
Dolphins Activate Preston Williams, Elandon Roberts From PUP List
After spending three weeks on the Dolphins’ active/PUP list to start training camp, Preston Williams and Elandon Roberts are practicing with the team again. The Dolphins activated the third-year wide receiver and sixth-year linebacker Thursday.
Both players return to position groups that have seen big changes this offseason. After going through the 2020 season thin at wide receiver, the Dolphins added Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle. And Albert Wilson has impressed his first training camp post-opt-out. Miami also traded Shaq Lawson for longtime Texans inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney.
The Dolphins used Roberts as an 11-game starter last season, though the former Patriot’s initial Miami slate proved a bit rocky. Pro Football Focus graded Roberts as its worst full-time linebacker in 2020, but his coverage issues largely contributed to this assessment. The Dolphins re-signed the run-stuffing ‘backer in March, doing so after trading for McKinney. Roberts suffered a late-season knee injury that ended up requiring surgery that put his Week 1 status in doubt. He might now be trending upward for Miami’s opener.
Williams has run into multiple bad injury breaks. An ACL tear halted the former UDFA’s promising rookie season, and the Colorado State product’s 2020 campaign also stopped at the eight-game mark. Williams has spent the past several months rehabbing a Lisfranc issue, one that placed his Week 1 status in doubt as well. The 6-foot-5 wideout has produced in limited time, hauling in 50 receptions for 716 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 career games, but the Dolphins’ offseason additions at receiver will affect his role.
Both players can no longer be stashed on the Dolphins’ reserve/PUP list to start the season, but each can be placed on IR — so long as they are carried over to the team’s regular-season roster following the preseason — if the team deems them not ready by Week 1. The NFL kept its 2020 IR rules, which allow teams to activate players from IR after three weeks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Justin Pugh; Pugh tested positive for the coronavirus
- Signed: LB Reggie Walker
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: K Lirim Hajrullahu
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Rashod Berry
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: CB Stanford Samuels
Kansas City Chiefs
- Reverted to IR after clearing waivers: WR Antonio Callaway
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Samuel Eguavoen; Eguavoen tested positive for the coronavirus
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Caleb Benenoch, DB Natrell Jamerson, CB Bryan Mills, OT Jordan Mills
- Waived: WR Jake Lampman, DB Lawrence Woods
- Waived/injured: S Adonis Alexander, OL Michael Brown
Philadelphia Eagles
- Reverted to IR after clearing waivers: RB Kerryon Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed (from Steelers): OT Brandon Walton
- Waived/injured: S Raven Greene
Dolphins Make Changes On Offensive Line
Trading for 2019 second-round pick Greg Little, the Dolphins continue to shuffle their offensive line group. But they are making more changes among their in-house personnel as well.
They have shifted second-round pick Liam Eichenberg from tackle to guard, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. While Dolphins offensive line coach Lemuel Jeanpierre initially said the move was to give the Notre Dame product experience at guard, Adam Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com notes the Dolphins view versatile veteran Jesse Davis as a better option to start at right tackle this season than Eichenberg. Davis, a former UDFA, was the Dolphins’ primary right tackle in 2019. Eichbenberg was an All-American left tackle with the Fighting Irish, starting there for three years.
Eichenberg is working as Miami’s first-string left guard, however. The team’s directions with Davis and Eichenberg have resulted in two starters from last season — Robert Hunt and Solomon Kindley — vying for the starting right guard role, Beasley adds. The Dolphins moved Hunt from tackle to guard this offseason. While they have been high on the 2020 second-round pick, viewing him as a possible Pro Bowler inside, the Louisiana product is currently battling for a starting spot in camp.
Additionally, Miami appears to be moving toward giving 2019 third-round pick Michael Deiter — a full-time guard starter as a rookie but a backup in 2020 — its starting center position over free agent acquisition Matt Skura, per Beasley. Skura represents a veteran presence on a group that lost D.J. Fluker early in camp, but Davis could end up being the only seasoned starter tabbed to be part of the Dolphins’ O-line in Week 1. Deiter played more games at guard at Wisconsin but was a 16-game center starter with the Big Ten program.
Pro Football Focus ranked the 2020 Miami O-line 28th, and it is possible only one player — left tackle Austin Jackson — will end up in the same position he primarily played last season. The team traded 2020 guard starter Ereck Flowers this offseason as well, and that change may be one of many at this Dolphins position group this year. It will certainly be interesting to see how Miami’s O-line configuration looks come Week 1.
Dolphins Place WR Allen Hurns On IR
Months away from his 30th birthday, Allen Hurns now faces the prospect of missing consecutive full seasons. After the veteran wide receiver suffered a wrist injury recently, the Dolphins placed him on IR Tuesday.
This transaction may well precede an injury settlement, which would send Hurns to free agency. The Dolphins, however, kept the former Jaguars starter this offseason — one that saw many teams simply cut role players who opted out in 2020 — rather than part ways early. Regardless, Hurns cannot play for the Dolphins this season because of this IR move.
The Dolphins revamped their receiving corps this spring, signing Will Fuller and using the No. 6 overall pick on Jaylen Waddle. Hurns and Albert Wilson‘s absences hurt last year’s Miami squad, but Wilson had impressed in this year’s training camp and is on the way back to the Dolphins’ active roster. Despite Miami extending Hurns late in the 2019 season, he may be on his way out of town.
Hurns’ wrist injury is set to sideline him for a few months, which could mean he ends up missing two straight full seasons. That will put the ex-Allen Robinson Jacksonville sidekick’s career in jeopardy, given his age. As a Parker supporting caster in 2019, Hurns caught 32 passes for 416 yards and two touchdowns. He did so after a scary injury in a Cowboys-Seahawks wild-card game the previous January, so Hurns has experience surmounting significant injuries and catching on elsewhere. The former UDFA has not come close to matching his 1,000-yard season from 2015, but a few teams have sought him as a veteran contributor.
In other moves to trim their roster to 85 players Tuesday, the Dolphins waived offensive tackles Jonathan Hubbard and Timon Parris, defensive tackle Jerome Johnson and guard Tyler Marz. They also cut cornerback Jaytlin Askew with an injury designation.
Panthers Trade OL Greg Little to Dolphins
The Panthers have traded Greg Little to the Dolphins, per a club announcement. In return, the Dolphins will send a 2022 seventh-round choice to Carolina. 
Little, the No. 37 overall pick in 2019, has appeared in just 14 games over the last two seasons. After starting just three times in that span, he’ll be competing for a reserve spot with the Dolphins. They could probably use the help after their running game stalled in the preseason opener.
Over the next few weeks, Little will vie for time behind starting tackles Austin Jackson and Jesse Davis. Rookie guard Liam Eichenberg, center Michael Dieter, and Robert Hunt are projected to start in the middle.
The Panthers didn’t get much in this deal, but it’s better than nothing. Little was likely on the roster bubble. Now, they’ve got two seventh-round picks — their original one now belongs to the Rams, but they also own the Titans’ seventh-rounder in 2022.
Dolphins WR Allen Hurns Out Three Months
Allen Hurns chances of making the Dolphins roster took a hit today. The veteran wideout suffered a wrist injury that will require surgery, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The injury is expected to sideline Hurns for three months.
This is a tough break for the receiver, especially since the veteran was already eyeing an uphill battle to make the roster. The organization brought in veteran Will Fuller, sixth-overall pick Jaylen Waddle, and third rounder Lynn Bowden Jr. this past offseason, and they’ll also return 2020 starters DeVante Parker and Preston Williams, meaning the team has five receivers already locked in. Considering the 29-year-old Hurns was set to begin a two-year, $8MM extension this upcoming season, it wouldn’t have been a huge surprise if the organization opted for a younger, less-expensive alternative. The team could still realistically stash Hurns on their injured reserve, but the front office may just prefer the extra financial savings (especially if they don’t envision Hurns seeing the field when healthy).
Back in 2015, Hurns looked like a future star in Jacksonville, as the wideout collected 1,031 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns during his second season in the NFL. The receiver hasn’t managed to match those numbers since, but he still appeared in at least 10 games per season between 2016 and 2019, and he’s earned three contracts since his stint with the Jaguars ended after the 2017 campaign.
He signed with the Dolphins before the 2019 season, and after only a few months with the organization, the team was willing to give the receiver a two-year extension worth $8MM (with more than $3MM in guaranteed money). Hurns didn’t put up stellar numbers during his first season in Miami, finishing with 416 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 2020 would have been the first season of the veteran’s extension, but Hurns decided to opt out of the 2020 campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/16/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Bryson Young
- Cut: LB Reggie Walker
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: OL Bryce Hargrove, LB George Obinna
- Reverted to IR: WR J’Mon Moore
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: QB Kenji Bahar
- Placed on IR: CB Khalil Dorsey, CB Iman Marshall
Chicago Bears
- Waived: OL Gage Cervenka, DB Dionte Ruffin, WR Jester Weah
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: WR Reece Horn, WR Riley Lees
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: TE Stephen Carlson, WR Ryan Switzer
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: OL Jon Dietzen, P Ryan Winslow
Houston Texans
- Waived: WR Isaiah Coulter
- Waived/injured: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LS Matt Overton
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: K Austin MacGinnis, LB Derrick Moncrief, T Ryan Pope, OLB Max Roberts, DL George Silvanic
- Released from IR: DB Dayan Lake
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Khalil McClain
- Waived: TE Carson Meier
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived/injured: K Riley Patterson, WR Blake Proehl
New York Giants
- Signed: QB Brian Lewerke
- Waived/injured: QB Clayton Thorson
- Placed on IR: LB TJ Brunson, OL Kyle Murphy, S Joshua Kalu
New York Jets
- Waived: K Chris Naggar
- Activated off PUP list: DL Quinnen Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: LB Donald Payne, DL Eddie Vanderdoes
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: LB Nate Evans, OT Lukayus McNeil, CB Jordan Miller, DT Walter Palmore, WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams, RB Cameron Scarlett
Latest On Dolphins’ WRs
For years the Dolphins have lacked quality receivers, but now they actually have an abundance of depth at the position. It’s a good problem to have, but it also means that some solid players could be on the outside looking in when we get to roster cut-downs.
There’s a lot of uncertainty at the position and a lot to sort through, and fortunately Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald just broke it all down. Albert Wilson flashed a ton of potential during his first season with the Dolphins in 2018, but injuries hampered him then and in 2019. He then opted out of the 2020 season, leading many to believe he’d be on the roster bubble this time around. However, it appears that he’s safe. Wilson is “going to be on the team,” Jackson writes, noting he’s been the most consistent receiver in camp.
The same can’t be said for 2020 third-round pick Lynn Bowden. The Kentucky product has “gone from slight front-runner to make the team to very much on the bubble with an underwhelming camp,” despite being the 80th overall pick just last year. In 10 games and four starts last year, Bowden had 28 catches for 211 yards.
Meanwhile, there’s some bad news on Preston Williams. The 2019 UDFA has looked like a diamond in the rough find the past couple years, but he apparently isn’t over the Lisfranc foot injury that cut his 2020 short. Although the team “originally was optimistic that Williams would be fine to start the season,” the Colorado State product now “appears iffy at best” for Week 1.
Jackson writes that Williams is a candidate to start the year on the PUP list, which would sideline him for the first six games. He also says the “odds are against” veteran Allen Hurns making the 53, even though Hurns has $1.2MM in guaranteed money coming his way.
Jackson also expects the Dolphins to be open to a potential trade of Jakeem Grant if a team in need of a returner is willing to part with a late-round pick. In addition to all these guys, Miami still has Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, and rookie first-rounder Jaylen Waddle at the top of the depth chart.
Dolphins Looking To Trade For OT?
With right around a month to go until the start of the season, it appears the Dolphins aren’t quite happy with their offensive line. Miami is “searching for some offensive tackle depth and is willing to make a trade” for one, Michael Lombardi of The Athletic hears (Twitter link).
Austin Jackson is locked in as the starting left tackle, but there’s some uncertainty opposite him. The team drafted Liam Eichenberg in the second-round of this past draft, but it appears he’s set to kick inside and play guard to start his pro career. As of right now the starter at right tackle would be Jesse Davis, a 2015 UDFA who has been a middling starter for them the past few seasons.
Perhaps the bigger worry is that they have very little beyond them should Jackson or Davis go down, so it’s possible they’re only looking for a veteran swing tackle. It’s unclear who exactly would be available now in a trade. If they wanted to make a bigger splash they should’ve done it earlier in the offseason, when guys like Orlando Brown Jr. were available.
Miami opted not to do much to address the position in free agency. Notably, they passed on Oregon tackle Penei Sewell with the sixth pick in the draft, taking Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle while Sewell went seventh to the Lions.m