Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/20
Here are Sunday’s minor moves. The players who landed on injured reserve are eligible to come off teams’ respective lists after three weeks. For 2020, teams can also activate an unlimited number of IR players — as opposed to the two-man max of 2019.
Atlanta Falcons
- Claimed (from Washington): T Timon Paris
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed (from Dolphins): G Deion Calhoun
- Signed: CB Torry McTyer
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed (from Cowboys): DE Joe Jackson
- Claimed (from Bills): DT Vincent Taylor
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: WR Ventell Bryant
- Signed: CB C.J. Goodwin, LB Justin March-Lillard
- Released: LB Joe Thomas
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: T Brent Qvale, LS Jon Weeks
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed (from Eagles): TE Noah Togiai
Las Vegas Raiders
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed (from Giants): LB Ryan Connelly
New York Giants
- Claimed (from Chiefs): T Jackson Barton, S Adrian Colbert
- Claimed (from Browns): WR Damion Ratley
- Waived: S Sean Chandler, OL Chad Slade
- Placed on IR: LB David Mayo, S Xavier McKinney
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed (from Lions): RB Jason Huntley
- Placed on IR: S Will Parks, WR Quez Watkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: J.J. Nelson
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed (from Titans): LB D’Andre Walker
- Waived: DB Linden Stephens
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Re-signed: C A.Q. Shipley
Dolphins Sign WR Antonio Callaway
The Dolphins recently brought Antonio Callaway in for a workout, and they apparently liked what they saw. As Callaway himself posted on social media, he is now a member of the Dolphins (via Mark Wheeler of InsideTheGators.com on Twitter).
According to Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com, Callaway will start the season on Miami’s practice squad (Twitter link). He still needs to serve the remaining three games of the 10-game suspension that he was handed last season for his second violation of the league’s substance abuse policy, but he will be permitted to attend meetings and continue to rehab the knee injury he sustained as a member of the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers earlier this year.
The Browns selected Callaway in the fourth round of the 2018 draft after a productive career at the University of Florida. He entered the league with plenty of red flags, and he was largely unable to overcome them in the pros, as evidenced by the two suspensions. But he also displayed plenty of promise in his first season with Cleveland, playing in 16 games (11 starts) and recording 43 catches for 586 yards and five TDs.
The Dolphins’ WR corps is fronted by Preston Williams and DeVante Parker, but once Callaway returns from suspension, he will have a good chance to compete for snaps on a rebuilding outfit that’s looking for low-risk, high-reward candidates.
AFC East Notes: Gilmore, Bell, Callaway
Patriots star CB Stephon Gilmore is set to earn $10.5MM this year, which is quite a bargain when considering that the top of the CB market now features average annual values in the $17MM range. But it does not appear that Gilmore is pushing for a new deal at this time, and though he missed five practices in a row last month, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com says the absence was not contract-related.
Now for a few more AFC East items:
- For months, Jarrett Stidham looked like he would be the Patriots‘ starting QB and would serve as the heir apparent to Tom Brady. But now, Reiss says Stidham might actually be the third-stringer behind Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer, and his inability to generate any momentum in training camp has cast his long-term future in doubt.
- In the same piece linked above, Reiss says that Jermaine Eluemunor has definitively seized the Patriots’ RT job.
- Despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, Jets RB Le’Veon Bell says he has no issues with head coach Adam Gase. In his first comments since his publicly questioning Gase’s decision to pull him out of a recent scrimmage, Bell said, “I don’t understand why everybody is trying to put me and Gase against each other. We’re not against each other. I don’t understand why it’s so hard to believe, but we actually like each other” (via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). Though Bell may not make it past this year’s trading deadline with Gang Green, it is in his and Gase’s best interests to limit the drama and focus on getting Bell back to his old form.
- Former Browns receiver Antonio Callaway recently tried out for the Dolphins, as Albert Breer of SI.com notes (via Twitter). Callaway, a 2018 fourth-round pick, has plenty of promise but has had a very rocky start to his pro career, including two separate suspensions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He hooked on with the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers in January but suffered a leg injury shortly after signing, and this is the first time we have heard his name in NFL circles since then.
- The Dolphins just waived QB Josh Rosen, and as Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets, the team could now reunite with Jake Rudock, who spent last season on the Miami practice squad.
Raiders Trade RB Lynn Bowden Jr. To Dolphins
We’ve got a bit of an unusual trade to pass along. The Raiders are trading rookie running back Lynn Bowden Jr. and a sixth-round pick to the Dolphins in exchange for a fourth-round pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (Twitter link).
It’s pretty rare for a third-round pick to get traded before ever playing a game for the team that drafted them, so the Raiders must not have liked something about Bowden. Especially to give him up for considerably less draft capital than they spent. The Kentucky product’s home was searched by the DEA back in June, although he was never arrested, and it’s unclear if that caused him to fall out of favor with the organization. As Rapoport points out, it’s the same fourth-round pick they’re getting back that they just traded to Miami last week in exchange for Raekwon McMillan.
As for Miami, it’s a nice low-risk pickup considering they have an unsettled backfield and could use all the young talent they could get. They’ve apparently had their eye on Bowden for a while, as Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets that the Dolphins “loved” him before the draft and had a top-30 visit with him scheduled before it was canceled due to COVID-19.
As of right now the Dolphins are set for a timeshare in their backfield with Jordan Howard and Matt Breida. Bowden should compete for snaps right away, and he also has value as a return specialist. He’s an elite athlete, as he even started at quarterback for a while for Kentucky after a couple of injuries. The Raiders had said they planned to use him in a versatile utility role, and it’ll be very interesting to see what Brian Flores’ staff comes up with for him.
Dolphins To Waive QB Josh Rosen
Josh Rosen will be a one-and-done with a second NFL team. The Dolphins will release the third-year quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Miami, which acquired Rosen in a 2019 trade from Arizona, attempted to ship the former top-10 pick out in another trade. But after no such deal emerged, the Dolphins will send the ex-UCLA star to the waiver wire.
Rosen has not impressed as an NFL quarterback, although he has certainly not been presented with great developmental environments. The 2018 No. 10 overall pick struggled for both the Cardinals — who ranked last in scoring and total offense in 2018 — and the Dolphins, who had perhaps the league’s worst roster last year. Rosen took over for Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 2 and started the next three games. But Brian Flores benched him and stuck with Fitzpatrick the rest of the way.
The fourth quarterback selected in 2018’s five-QB first round, Rosen owns a career 54.8% completion rate and a ghastly 4.4 adjusted yards per attempt figure. He has thrown 12 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions in 20 career games (16 starts).
The Dolphins reunited Fitzpatrick with OC Chan Gailey this offseason and drafted Tua Tagovailoa fifth overall, executing the latter move after eyeing the Alabama standout for over a year. For the time being, the Dolphins will go with Fitz — who will turn 38 by season’s end — and Tagovailoa, who is 10 months out from a severe hip injury. The Dolphins have brought in former backup Jake Rudock multiple times in recent weeks but have not signed him.
Two years and a mostly guaranteed $3.63MM remain on Rosen’s rookie deal. The Dolphins already paid Rosen a $1.4MM bonus earlier in camp, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/4/20
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: DT Miles Brown, WR Hakeem Butler, OL Sam Jones, P Ryan Winslow
- Waived/injured: OL Brett Toth
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DT Hinwa Allieu, FB Mikey Daniel, T Evin Ksiezarczyk, RB Craig Reynolds
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: FB Patrick DiMarco
- Waived: LB Vosean Joseph, LB Corey Thompson
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Tommylee Lewis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: T Brady Aiello
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: OL Cody Wichmann
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Chris Lacy
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: DE Caraun Reid
- Waived: RB Nathan Cottrell, TE Matthew Flanagan, OL Blake Hance, OL K.C. McDermott, OL Garrett McGhin, LS Matthew Orzech, OL Ryan Pope, OL Austen Pleasants, WR Marvelle Ross
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DB Adonis Alexander, LB Daniel Bituli, TE Kendall Blanton, C Cohl Cabral, G Jamil Demby, WR Earnest Edwards, DB Jake Gervase, DB JuJu Hughes, RB John Kelly, G Jeremiah Kolone, WR J.J. Koski, DB Dayan Lake, DB Tyrique McGhee, LB Derrick Moncrief, WR Easop Winston
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: RB Salvon Ahmed, DB Nate Brooks, CB Breon Borders, DT Brandin Bryant, WR Matt Cole, T Jonathan Hubbard, G Danny Isidora, WR Kirk Merritt, TE Chris Myarick, CB Ken Webster, TE Nate Wieting
New York Jets
- Waived: LB James Burgess
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DB Michael Jacquet, DE Matt Leo, TE Caleb Wilson
- Released: DT T.Y. McGill, CB Trevor Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DE Jonathan Kongbo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: OL Zack Bailey, RB Ray Calais, ILB Noah Dawkins, S D’Cota Dixon, K Matt Gay (story), WR Cyril Grayson, S Javon Hagan, TE Tanner Hudson, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter, OL Nick Leverett, TE Codey McElroy, CB Herb Miller, WR Bryant Mitchell, RB Dare Ogunbowale, WR Josh Pearson, DL Benning Potoa’e, ILB Chapelle Russell, WR Spencer Schnell, QB Reid Sinnett, CB Mazzi Wilkins
Dolphins QB Josh Rosen Drawing Trade Interest
Could Josh Rosen be on the move again? For the second time this offseason, a report has surfaced indicating that the Dolphins are receiving calls from clubs with interest in dealing for the 23-year-old signal-caller, with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com noting this morning that Miami has fielded trade inquiries in recent days (Twitter link).
Back in May, Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk published a similar report, but that was before the Dolphins had gotten a chance to see No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa in action. Tagovailoa looks healthy and appears primed to take over for Ryan Fitzpatrick at some point this season, so Rosen could be on his way out.
Of course, having three QBs that are familiar with their club’s offense could be invaluable in this COVID-impacted season, so the Dolphins will have to weigh that reality against whatever trade offers come their way. Miami gave up a second-rounder to acquire Rosen last offseason, but it’s unlikely the team would be able to recoup that value in another trade. The UCLA product has gone 3-13 as a starter, completing 54.8% of his passes for 2,845 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.
On the other hand, he has been unfortunate to begin his pro career with the 2018 Cardinals and 2019 Dolphins, outfits that boasted minimal talent on the offensive side of the ball. So there is still hope that Rosen, whom Arizona selected with the No. 10 overall pick of the 2018 draft, could live up to his pedigree.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/20
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Claimed (from Texans): DT Albert Huggins
- Released: WR Geremy Davis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Charles Jones
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: FB Roosevelt Nix
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Ian Bunting, OL Andrew Donnal
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived/failed-physical: CB Nick Nelson
Miami Dolphins
- Released: WR Ricardo Louis, WR Chester Rogers
- Waived: S Jeremiah Dinson, DE Avery Moss, CB Deatrick Nichols
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/left-squad: DL James Lockhart
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: K Elliott Fry
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/31/20
Here are the NFL’s most recent minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: TE Ryan Becker, OL Steven Gonzalez, CB Zane Lewis, DE Adam Shuler
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: DE John Daka, WR Michael Dereus, C Sean Pollard
- Placed on IR: WR DeAndrew White
Chicago Bears
- Re-Signed: RB Napoleon Maxwell
- Placed on IR: CB Michael Joseph
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DT Olive Sagapolu
- Placed on IR: FB Nick Bawden
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Andy Jones
- Waived: LB James Crawford
New York Jets
- Claimed (from Cardinals): CB Zane Lewis
- Waived: K Brett Maher
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DL Alex Barrett
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Lance Lenoir
- Placed on IR: Branden Jackson
- Waived/injured: RB Patrick Carr
Washington Football Team
- Signed: WR Tony Brown
- Waived: WR Darvin Kidsy
Jets Cancel Trade For Dolphins’ Kalen Ballage
Kalen Ballage isn’t going to the Jets after all. Ballage failed his physical with a hamstring injury, prompting the Jets to nix their trade with the Dolphins (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). 
[RELATED: Bell, Gase Still At Odds?]
The Jets are still intrigued by Ballage’s skillset and Rapoport hears that he could circle back to Gang Green once he’s healthy. But, for now, he’ll revert to the Dolphins, who are expected to cut him. The Jets, meanwhile, may have a little extra urgency in their running back search after rookie RB La’Mical Perine injured his ankle during practice on Sunday. If it’s more than a mild sprain, the Jets will need some additional support behind top rushers Le’Veon Bell and Frank Gore.
In other Jets news, the drama between Bell and Adam Gase does not appear to be over. Bell took issue with the head coach pulling him from a scrimmage and the veteran running back has not impressed thus far in training camp.