NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/19/15
Here are Saturday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL. The news comes courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T Pierce Burton (Twitter link)
- Cut: WR Damiere Byrd
Miami Dolphins
- Cut: WR Deon Long (Twitter link)
New England Patriots
- Signed: OG Chris Barker (Twitter link)
- Signed: DT Khyri Thornton
- Cut: CB Dax Swanson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR LaRon Byrd (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- Cut: T Pierce Burton
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: T Tony Hills (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
- Cut: QB Bryn Renner
Dallas Cowboys
- To be signed: C/G Ronald Patrick , T Darrion Weems (via Josina Anderson on Twitter + Wilson on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: T Jordan Mills (press release)
Houston Texans
- To be signed: T Joe Treadwell (via Wilson on Twitter)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB Jonas Gray, C Sam Brenner, QB Logan Thomas, DE Emmanuel Dieke (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter + Twitter link via James Walker)
- Cut: DT DeAndre Coleman, WR Uzoma Nwachukwu (Twitter link via Adam Beasley)
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Eric Martin (via Mike Reiss on Twitter)
- Cut: LB Alex Singleton and DL Jimmy Staten
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Cameron Brate, S Alden Darby, WR Seantavius Jones, FB Toben Opurum, T Bryan Witzmann (via Mike Triplett on Twitter)
New York Giants
- To be signed: LB James Morris, G Vinston Painter (via James Kratch on Twitter)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR DeAndre Carter (via Vic Tafur on Twitter)
- Cut: LB Josh Shirley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Connor Hamlett (via press release)
- Cut: DE Brian Mihalik
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Isaiah Frey, DT Derrick Lott (via Greg Auman on Twitter)
Washington
- Signed: LB Houston Bates (via John Keim on Twitter)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/15/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- To be signed: C Eric Kush (via Greg Auman on Twitter)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: QB Matt Blanchard (via press release)
- Cut: OL Erle Ladson (via press release)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Zurlon Tipton and OL Robert Myers (via press release)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OT Patrick Miller (via Mike DiRocco on Twitter)
- Cut: DT Toby Johnson (via press release)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Deon Long (via Jason La Canfora on Twitter), QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
New England Patriots
- To be signed: LB Eric Martin (Twitter link via Mike Reiss)
New Orleans Saints
- To be signed: OT Sean Hickey, WR R.J. Harris and TE Blake Annen (Twitter link via Mike Triplett)
New York Giants
- To be signed: CB Tramain Jacobs (via transactions wire)
- To be cut: QB G.J. Kinne (link via Jordan Raanan)
Philadelphia Eagles
- To be signed: RB Kevin Monangai and NT Travis Raciti (via team website)
- To be cut: TE Andrew Gleichert
St. Louis Rams
- To be signed: CB Brandon McGee (via Howard Balzer on Twitter)
- To be cut: S Jacob Hagen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- To be signed: LB Julian Stanford
- To be cut: TE Cameron Brate, WR Kaelin Clay, G Martin Wallace (via press release)
Washington
- To be signed: CB Dashaun Phillips (Twitter link via Mike Jones)
- To be cut: FB Ray Agnew
Dolphins Waive LaMike James
The Dolphins will waive running back LaMike James (née LaMichael James), coach Joe Philbin told reporters, including Greg Likens of 940WINZ (via Twitter). In a related move, tight end Jake Stoneburner has been brought up from the taxi squad.
James, 26 in October, entered the league in 2012 as a second-round pick by the 49ers. Despite his draft pedigree, the Oregon product was never able to produce in San Francisco, and was virtually buried behind Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter on the team’s depth chart. James played in just 14 games during his first two seasons, contributing mostly on special teams — he racked up only 39 rush attempts and five receptions during that span. When he found himself behind Gore and rookie Carlos Hyde on the Niners’ depth chart last year, James requested and was granted his release. One has to wonder if James’ release could have been triggered in part by his reported scuffle with teammate Jarvis Landry last week.
The Dolphins signed James to their practice squad in September and eventually promoted him to their active roster, but he didn’t see much action in Miami either — the Oregon product had just three carries in 2014. James had been eligible for restricted free agency, but was non-tendered by Miami and re-signed at a lesser rate in March. Now, he’ll be looking for work elsewhere.
Extra Points: Gilbert, RGIII, Dolphins, CAA
Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert was involved in a road rage incident on Friday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The 23-year-old crashed his car into a ditch after being pursued by another driver, who he had had a previous disagreement with.
Rapoport notes that Gilbert was sober and not injured, and police ultimately issued him a ticket for lack of reasonable control. Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com tweets that Gilbert notified the Browns organization immediately, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says (via Twitter) that the cornerback will be on the team plane to New Jersey.
Some more notes from around the NFL…
- Now that Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III has been cleared of concussion symptoms, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com believes the organization should part ways with the former second-overall pick.
- The Dolphins have seemed to patch together an offseason line for this season, but the group is confident in their ability. “We are going to surprise people,” Branden Albert told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “Everyone doubted us last year and I think they’re doubting us again.”
- Creative Artist Agency (better known as CAA) is set to acquire Five Star Athlete Management, the agency run by Todd France, reports Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes.com. CAA will add 50 clients to their agency, meaning they’ll represent around 180 players.
Dolphins Promote Jonas Gray, Cut Logan Thomas
A pair of notable young players are involved in the Dolphins’ latest series of transactions, as the team prepares for its Week 1 contest in Washington. Agent Sean Stellato tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that Miami is promoting running back Jonas Gray to its 53-man roster from the practice squad. To make room for Gray, the club has waived quarterback Logan Thomas, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
Gray’s release last weekend came as a surprise to many as he figured to be a part of the Patriots’ run game this season. He emerged as a potential starter during his 201-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Colts in the regular season, but was leapfrogged on the depth chart by LeGarrette Blount and others down the stretch. The Dolphins added Gray to their practice squad earlier this week, after he cleared waivers.
As for Thomas, the Dolphins claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals on Sunday, and it looked like the team would start the season with three quarterbacks on its roster. Instead, the Fins could look to add him to their practice squad, if he sneaks through waivers this time around.
According to Salguero (via Twitter), the Dolphins have also promoted offensive lineman Sam Brenner from their taxi squad, cutting guard Jacques McClendon to make room on the roster.
AFC Notes: Steelers, Browns, Castonzo
After all the talk about DeflateGate that dominated the NFL news wire for the majority of the 2015 calendar year, last night’s season opener was supposed to return the conversation to what happened on the field. However, two off-field incidents stole headlines from Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com has updates on both stories.
According to Schefter, Steelers tight end coach James Daniel is being investigated by the Steelers and the NFL for allegedly assaulting and verbally accosting a Patriots fan on the way to the locker room before halftime. According to witnesses, Daniel kicked the Pats fan in the back of his leg and yelled at the fan. Depending on what the investigations by the team and the league turn up, Daniel could be facing a suspension and/or fine.
Meanwhile, after head coach Mike Tomlin complained about issues with the Gilette Stadium headsets, the Steelers opted not to file a formal complaint with the NFL. However, according to Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten, via Schefter, the team provided league reps with information regarding those communications issues.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Asked today about the Browns‘ decision to cut Terrelle Pryor, head coach Mike Pettine said the team initially held onto the former Raiders quarterback because of his potential as a receiver. However, he was occupying the 53rd roster spot, and the club likes running back Robert Turbin too much to have passed up on him (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal).
- Several players around the league are putting the finishes touches on contract extensions as the regular season approaches. However, it doesn’t appear that Browns safety Tashaun Gipson or Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon will sign new deals with their respective teams anytime soon, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (Twitter links).
- Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports provides some additional details on Anthony Castonzo‘s new extension with the Colts, tweeting that the left tackle received a $14MM signing bonus.
- Free agent wide receiver DaVaris Daniels is working out for the Jaguars today, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link). Daniels was claimed off waivers by the Patriots after being dropped by the Vikings, but didn’t survive New England’s cutdown to 53 players.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/9/15
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Ben Garland (press release)
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Nick O’Leary (via Mike Rodak on Twitter)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: C Shane McDermott (Twitter link via Joseph Person)
- Cut: CB Carrington Byndom (Twitter link via Person)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Bronson Hill (Twitter link)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Kendrick Ings (Twitter link via Dave Birkett)
- Cut: WR Andrew Peacock (Twitter link via Birkett)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Jonathan Dowling (Twitter link via Adam Caplan)
- Cut: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Twitter link via Caplan); RB Rajion Neal (Twitter link via Adam Beasley)
New York Giants
- Signed: QB G.J. Kinne; LB Gerald Rivers (press release), WR Myles White (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: T Martin Wallace (press release)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Jason Ankrah; LB Justin Staples (Twitter link via Terry McCormick)
Dolphins Add Jonas Gray To Practice Squad
Former Patriots running back Jonas Gray will sign with the Dolphins’ practice squad, agent Sean Stellato tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Gray had a stint on Miami’s taxi squad previously in his career.
Gray’s release on September 5th came as a surprise to many as he figured to be a part of the Patriots’ run game this season. He emerged as potential starter during his 201 yard and four touchdown performance against the Colts in the regular season, but he was leapfrogged by LeGarrette Blount when the power back ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns of his own against the Colts in the AFC Championship game.
Gray was said to have drawn interest from several teams after he was cut loose and one of those clubs was the Titans. Instead of going to Tennessee, he’ll be staying put in the AFC East as he tries to make the Dolphins’ gameday roster.
Workout Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Raiders, Bucs
With 53-man rosters set, teams around the NFL will start to frequently bring in players for workouts and auditions, keeping up-to-date on which free agents are out there, in case injury replacements or practice squad fill-ins are required.
Here are a few of the latest updates on teams working out players, or bringing them in for visits:
- The Bills, who are exploring other possible options at kicker after an underwhelming preseason from Dan Carpenter, worked out Alex Henery, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). Henery’s last game in the NFL, the one that cost him his job, came last October, when he missed three field goals for the Lions against Buffalo.
- Before they signed linebacker Adrian Hubbard, the Dolphins worked out Hubbard and several other players, according to Wilson (Twitter link). The players who earned an audition with Miami included former Raiders safety Jonathan Dowling, ex-Cardinals linebacker Glenn Carson, former Bengals linebacker Nico Johnson, ex-Cowboys cornerback Robert Steeples, and former Eagles safety Chris Prosinski.
- The Raiders brought in a number of players for workouts, with a focus on wide receivers, quarterbacks, and defensive backs. According to Wilson (Twitter links), wideouts Phil Bates, John Harris, DeAndre Carter, and T.J. Graham, quarterbacks Jeff Tuel and Phillip Sims, and defensive backs Tommie Campbell, Phillip Thomas, B.W. Webb, and Ty Zimmerman auditioned for the club. Offensive lineman Dillon Farrell also had a tryout with Oakland.
- Offensive lineman Austin Reiter, a 2015 seventh-rounder waived by Washington over the weekend, is working out for the Buccaneers this morning, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
- After being waived by the Chargers last week, wide receiver Titus Davis paid a visit to the Lions, tweets Wilson.