Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/19
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Nicholas Grigsby
Buffalo Bills
- Released from injured reserve: OL Jeremiah Sirles
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Justin Phillips
- Waived: G Larry Allen Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers: DE Markus Jones
- Waived/injured: CB Javien Hamilton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Devante Mays
- Waived/injured: RB Taj McGowan
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: P Stone Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed off waivers: WR Brandon Reilly
- Waived/non-football injury: CB Alexander Myres
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: WR Daniel Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers: T William Poehls
- Signed: WR Matt Eaton, TE Scott Orndoff
- Waived: TE Donnie Ernsberger, T Riley Mayfield
- Waived/injured: S Orion Stewart
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Tanner McEvoy, WR Papi White
- Waived: WR Joe Parker
- Placed on injured reserve: WR Cameron Batson
Ryan Fitzpatrick Still Leads Dolphins' QB Race
Ryan Fitzpatrick is well on his way to starting for a third AFC East franchise. The 15th-year veteran continues to hold off Josh Rosen for the Dolphins‘ starting quarterback job. “It’s pretty clear to me that Ryan Fitzpatrick is leading the way,” Brian Flores said Tuesday (via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, on Twitter). Rosen was viewed as the clear underdog for the Week 1 role coming into camp. Fitzpatrick has not been a regular starter since his two-year Jets tenure concluded after the 2016 season, while Rosen started 13 games for an overmatched Cardinals team last year.
- Dolphins first-round pick Christian Wilkins may have an interesting side job in his first NFL season. The 315-pound defensive tackle has worked on offense as well to start camp, Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post notes. This would presumably mean a role as a fullback, but OC Chad O’Shea did not specify.
Dolphins Interested In Robert Nkemdiche
The Dolphins are among teams that have made “preliminary due diligence inquiry calls” on Robert Nkemdiche, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (on Twitter) hears. Nkemdiche, a former first round pick of the Cardinals, was released this week and cleared waivers, making him a free agent. 
Nkemdiche is an interesting case. He has loads of potential, but is still recovering from a torn ACL in December. The good news is that he is expected to be ready for action in September and likely wouldn’t cost much for the Dolphins or any other interested club. In the case of the Dolphins, a multi-year deal (or, a deal with a team option for the 2020 season) would make lots of sense, given their ongoing rebuilding efforts.
The 24-year-old defensive lineman (25 in September), had no sacks until last season when he registered 4.5 QB takedowns. Injuries have been a constant for him – the Mississippi product has only appeared in 27 games over three years for Arizona.
Dolphins Fire Pat Flaherty
The Dolphins have fired offensive line coach Pat Flaherty, according to a team announcement. To take his place, the team has promoted analyst Dave DeGuglielmo. 
It’s a surprising twist for a number of reasons, including timing. Flaherty was set to implement a new blocking system, but the Dolphins were unwilling to give him the length of training camp to get results.
DeGuglielmo and Flaherty worked together while with the Giants, but DeGuglielmo is now supplanting Flaherty as the ‘Fins OL guru. DeGuglielmo, 51, offers vast experience as an offensive line coach at both the collegiate and NFL level. He’s worked for Miami before, as he was the club’s line coach from 2009-11. Last year, he helped transform the Colts’ offensive line into one of the NFL’s best before his surprise ouster in January.
Dolphins WR Albert Wilson Returns To Practice
Dolphins wideout Albert Wilson was in pads Sunday and appeared to be practicing, as Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets. That is certainly welcome news for the Fins, as it was reported last month that Wilson may not be ready to go until the start of the season.
Miami signed Wilson to a three-year, $24MM contract last March, and his first season in South Beach got off to a good start, as he caught 26 passes for 391 yards and four TDs in seven games. He pulled in two touchdown grabs of at least 70 yards, he threw a 52-yard TD pass, and he was averaging 11.2 yards per target.
Unfortunately, Wilson suffered a serious hip injury in October, which cut his season short. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, recently indicated that Wilson would be back on the field by Week 1 at the latest, but it appears that his timeline has been accelerated a bit.
And while the Dolphins are not going to be challenging for a playoff spot this year, Wilson is still young enough (he just turned 27) to perhaps be a part of the next competitive Miami team. It will be good for the the club to see what it has in him and to get him some reps with second-year QB Josh Rosen in camp.
Dolphins To Sign WR Allen Hurns
The Dolphins have signed wide receiver Allen Hurns, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). When finalized, it’ll be a one-year, $3MM deal for the veteran. 
The Cowboys released Hurns earlier this week when he declined to accept a pay cut. The Cowboys were reportedly interested in bringing him back on a cheaper deal, but he’ll be taking his talents to South Beach instead.
With the Dolphins, Hurns profiles as a strong depth option behind the likes of Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, DeVante Parker, and Jakeem Grant. Meanwhile, his arrival may put Brice Butler – another former Cowboy – on the bubble.
When Hurns was younger, and healthy, he was among the most promising receivers in the NFL. The former undrafted free agent began his career with 51 catches for 677 yards and six scores for the Jaguars in 2014. In 2015, he set career highs with 64 grabs for 1,031 yards and ten touchdowns. In that campaign, he averaged an impressive 16.1 yards per reception.
Since then, Hurns has been sidetracked by injuries. He hasn’t topped 40 catches for 500 yards in the last three campaigns and was used sparingly in Dallas last season.
While there is a decent about of receiver talent in Miami, there’s an opportunity for Hurns to break through and shine with a rebuilding club. With a strong year, the 27-year-old (28 in November) could put himself back in the hunt for big money deals.
Dolphins To Host Allen Hurns
Wide receiver Allen Hurns is healthy and will visit the Dolphins on Thursday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The Cowboys are still interested in bringing him back as well, Schefter hears. 
The Cowboys released Hurns earlier this week when he declined to accept a pay cut. Presumably, the Cowboys would only be interested in bringing him back on a cheaper deal with little or no guarantees.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, could use some depth to support their top quartet of DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, and Jakeem Grant. Hurns, who once caught 64 passes for 1,031 yards and ten touchdowns for another Florida team, could represent a low-risk, high-upside addition for the Fins.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/24/19
Here are today’s minor moves, which feature a few recognizable names:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR/RS Jaydon Mickens, G Norman Price, DL Bijhon Jackson
- Waived: RB Elijah Hood, G Ian Silberman, DT Elijah Qualls
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: QB Taryn Christion
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: C Daniel Munyer, RB Aca’Cedric Ware
- Waived: DE Dadi Nicolas, G Nico Siragusa
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: TE Neal Sterling
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Derrick Gore
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: LB Jayrone Elliott
New York Giants
- Claimed: WR Da’Mari Scott
- Released: CB Tony Lippett
- Signed: TE Isaiah Searight
- Waived: TE Eric Dungey
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Temuchin Hodges (formerly known as Bucky Hodges)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Damontre Moore
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Troy Niklas
- Waived: WR Xavier Ubosi
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/19
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: G Isaac Asiata, S Abraham Wallace
- Waived: WR Da’Mari Scott
- Placed on IR: Jeremiah Sirles
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DL Lyndon Johnson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB David Rivers
- Waived: C Ryan Anderson
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: K Jonathan Brown
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Mazzi Wilkins
- Waived/injured: CB Jalen Allison
Workout Notes: Dolphins, Texans, Saints
Here are today’s workouts and auditions:
- Cornerback Dexter McDonald worked out for the Dolphins, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). McDonald was a seventh-round pick of the Raiders in 2015 and appeared in 27 games (six starts) for Oakland from 2015-17. He spent all of last year on IR with an ankle injury.
- The Texans worked out running back Johnny Thomas, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Thomas signed with the Bengals this year as a UDFA out of Penn State, where he was primarily a special teams contributor.
- The Saints worked out safety Jordan Moore, per Wilson (Twitter link). Moore, who played for both TCU and the University of Texas at San Antonio as a collegian, signed with the Falcons as a UDFA in 2017. He was cut in August of that year and later caught on with the Broncos’ taxi squad, but Denver waived/injured him last September.