AFC Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/15
While many teams filled up their 10-man practice squads on Sunday, plenty of teams didn’t confirm their moves right away, or kept a few spots open on those units. On top of that, at least one club that signed 10 players to its taxi squad on Sunday has already made several changes, bringing in new players and jettisoning players who didn’t even spend 24 hours on the squad.
We’ll have updates on Monday’s AFC practice squad signings and cuts in this space, with teams listed in alphabetical order. When new moves occur, we’ll bump this post back to the top of the page. Here’s a round-up of today’s moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed (press release):
- WR Daniel Brown
- TE Dominique Jones
- WR Jeremy Ross
Buffalo Bills
- Signed (press release):
- OLB IK Enemkpali
- T Chris Martin
- DE Cedric Reed
- QB Alex Tanney
Cleveland Browns
- Signed (press release):
- OL Garth Gerhart
- DL Dylan Wynn
Denver Broncos
- Signed (press release):
- RB Kapri Bibbs
- TE Arthur Lynch
- T Kyle Roberts
- DE George Uko
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed:
- DL Toby Johnson (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed (press release):
- DT Hebron Fangupo
- T Laurence Gibson
- CB Jeremy Harris
- DL David Irving
- TE Ross Travis
- FB Spencer Ware
Miami Dolphins
- Signed (Twitter link):
- RB Rajion Neal
- WR Uzoma Nwachukwu
New England Patriots
- Signed (Twitter links):
- OL Chris Barker
- T Blaine Clausell
- OL Cameron Fleming (Twitter link via Jeff Howe)
- LB Darius Fleming
- LB Brandon King
- WR Nathan Palmer
- DB Daxton Swanson
- DT Jimmy Staten
- Signed and subsequently released:
- LB Xzavier Dickson (Twitter link via Jeff Howe)
New York Jets
- To be signed:
- S Rontez Miles (Twitter link via Brian Costello)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed:
- George Atkinson III, RB
- Mitch Bell, G
- SaQwan Edwards, CB
- Shelby Harris, DE
- Dan Kistler, T
- Tevin McDonald, S
- Josh Shirley, LB
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed (Twitter link via Burt Lauten + team transactions page):
- WR Isaiah Burse
- LB Anthony Chickillo
- T Matt Feiler
- CB Doran Grant
- TE Xavier Grimble
- OL Barrett Jones
- RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
- Released:
- RB Dominique Brown
- OL Reese Dismukes
- LB Shayon Green
- DE Ethan Hemer
- OL Antonio Johnson
- TE Harold Spears
- WR Jarrod West
San Diego Chargers
- Signed:
- OL Michael Ola (link via Michael Gehlken)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed:
- LB Justin Staples (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson)
Free Agent Notes: Gray, Coxson, Workouts
Former Patriots running back Jonas Gray was one of the more notable offensive players to hit the waiver wire this weekend, as his time in New England came to an end. Now that he’s a free agent, Gray is drawing interest from several teams, as we heard yesterday, and he’ll pay a visit to one of those teams on Tuesday.
Gray’s agent, Sean Stellato, tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that his client has a workout scheduled for tomorrow with the Titans. Tennessee also acquired Terrance West from the Browns in a weekend trade, so the club is clearly looking for other options to complement Bishop Sankey, after having placed David Cobb on injured reserve with the designation to return.
Here are a few more notes on free agents, or players who figure to become available soon:
- Wide receiver Adrian Coxson, who signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in May and was let go by the team in August, is retiring from the NFL due to ongoing concussion symptoms, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. “It’s been recommended to me by two neurologists and two doctors to retire from football,” Coxson told Wilson. “The next hit to my head could possibly kill me or be life damaging.”
- The Dolphins are trying out former Falcons linebacker Marquis Spruill today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- Linebacker Nick Moody, cut by the 49ers yesterday, is headed to New York for a workout with the Giants, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link).
- Agent Brett Tessler says (via Twitter) that his client, guard Mike Liedtke, formerly of the Dolphins, is visiting the Jets today. Caplan notes (via Twitter) that the Jets also worked out wide receiver Shane Wynn, who will audition for the Titans this week as well.
- Veteran offensive lineman Ben Garland, who has spent time with the Broncos in some capacity – either on the team’s roster or practice squad – for the last four seasons, was cut during Denver’s cutdown to 53 players this week. However, he’s drawing around interest around the league, according to Mike Klis of 9 News (Twitter link).
- Running back Daniel “Boom” Herron was waived/injured by the Colts on the weekend, and isn’t a free agent quite yet. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that Herron suffered a sprained AC joint, which isn’t considered a serious injury. If he goes unclaimed on waivers, Herron will work out an injury settlement with the Colts and become a free agent.
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed off waivers:
- C Gabe Ikard (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Dezmin Lewis (Twitter link via Mike Rodak)
- S Jonathan Meeks (Twitter link via Rodak)
- G Cyril Richardson (Twitter link via Rodak)
- LB Kevin Riddick (Twitter link via Rodak)
- CB Jaylen Watkins (Twitter link via Rodak)
- RB Cierre Wood (Twitter link via Rodak)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed:
- Claimed off waivers:
- QB Logan Thomas (link)
- Signed to practice squad:
- QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Twitter link via James Walker)
- C Sam Brenner (Twitter link via David Canter)
- DT Deandre Coleman (Twitter link via Adam Beasley)
- LB Mike Hull (Twitter link via Armando Salguero)
- TE Tim Semisch (Twitter link via Salguero)
- WR Jake Stoneburner (Twitter link via Barry Jackson)
- S Cedric Thompson (Twitter link via Jackson)
- OL Audrey Walker (Twitter link via Jackson)
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers:
- DT Khyri Thornton (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport)
- DT Khyri Thornton (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport)
- Cut:
- T Cameron Fleming (Twitter link via Mike Reiss)
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Asante Cleveland (Twitter link via Jeff Howe)
- WR Kenbrell Thompkins (Twitter link via Rand Getlin)
New York Jets
- Signed:
- WR Chris Owusu (Twitter link via Manish Mehta)
- Claimed off waivers:
- S Ronald Martin (Twitter link via Mehta)
- Cut:
- S Rontez Miles (Twitter link via Rich Cimini)
- Signed to practice squad (press release):
- LB Deion Barnes
- FB Julian Howsare
- LB Taiwan Jones
- CB Keon Lyn
- WR Walter Powell
- TE Wes Saxton
- T Wesley Johnson (Twitter link via Adam Caplan)
- DL Jordan Williams
Dolphins Place Jay Ajayi On IR-DTR
Rookie running back Jay Ajayi will have to wait a bit longer to make his NFL debut, as Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports (via Twitter) that the Dolphins have placed Ajayi on injured reserve with a designation to return. Ajayi can begin practicing in six weeks, and can return to the active roster after eight.
A highly-touted runner at Boise State, Ajayi fell to the fifth round of the draft largely due to injury concerns. Aside from the knee injury that led to his draft-day plunge, Ajayi suffered a hamstring injury during the summer, before cracking a rib during Miami’s final preseason game. He’ll now get half of the season to recover and try to contribute starting sometime in November.
There were rumors during the early portion of the offseason that Ajayi could challenge Lamar Miller for the starting job in Miami, and at the very least he was expected to serve as the No. 2. That obviously won’t happen now, and the Dolphins will turn to Damien Williams and LaMichael James to act as depth.
Dolphins, Eagles Claim QBs Off Waivers
The Dolphins and Eagles have claimed quarterbacks off waivers today, according to reports by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Per Rapoport, the Dolphins have been awarded former Cardinals signal-caller Logan Thomas, while Schefter reports that the Eagles have landed ex-Jaguars QB Stephen Morris.
Thomas, 24, was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by Arizona, but was considered fairly raw coming out of Virginia Tech and didn’t really get a chance to play for the Cards last year, despite the team’s injury woes. He was usurped on the depth chart by Matt Barkley in Arizona, and he’ll join a group in Miami that includes Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore.
As for Morris, the undrafted quarterback out of Miami spent time on the Jaguars’ practice squad in 2014. He’ll replace Tim Tebow on Philadelphia’s roster, though it’s not clear if he’ll remain on the 53-man unit, or if the Eagles will eventually try to move him over to their taxi squad.
Dolphins To Sign Adrian Hubbard
Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News tweets that the Dolphins have agreed to sign former Packers linebacker Adrian Hubbard. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (via Twitter) confirms the news, though it is unclear whether Hubbard will be signed to the team’s practice squad or if he will be added to the 53-man roster. The former Alabama product was signed as an undrafted free agent by Green Bay last season and spent the year on the Packers’ practice squad. He was released earlier this week.
Hubbard played in 36 games during his collegiate career with the Crimson Tide, starting 26 of them and racking up 10 sacks in Alabama’s 3-4 defense. After the Packers bypassed potential edge rushers like Randy Gregory and Owa Odighizuwa in this year’s draft, Hubbard had a real chance to make the club as part of the team’s pass rushing rotation. Although he failed to make the cut, the 6-6 physical specimen still has upside that he will now try to realize with the Dolphins.
Dolphins Pare Roster Down To 53
The Dolphins removed 20 players from their roster in order to reach the mandated 53-man limit, with the most notable of the team’s releases coming at kicker.
Caleb Sturgis will not begin a third season as the Dolphins’ kicker, as Andrew Franks won competition for the spot, according to the team’s website.
In going with rookie undrafted free agent Franks over Sturgis, a third-year veteran, it marks the first time in eight years Miami will deploy two new specialists. Rookie Matt Darr supplanted eight-year punter Brandon Fields, a 2013 Pro Bowler, earlier this week.
Sturgis missed eight kicks in each of his two campaigns.
Miami’s additional cuts are as follows:
- Damarr Aultman, WR
- McLeod Bethel-Thompson, QB
- Sam Brenner, C
- Deandre Coleman, DT
- James Davidson, LB
- Emmanuel Dieke, DE
- Mike Gillislee, RB
- Cobi Hamilton, WR
- Donald Hawkins, T
- Mike Hull, LB
- Anthony Johnson, DT
- Christion Jones, WR (Waived/injured)
- Don Jones, S
- Mike Liedtke, G/T
- Jeff Luc, LB
- Jordan Tripp, LB
- Cedric Thompson, S
- Jake Stoneburner, TE
- Tim Semisch, TE
- Aundrey Walker, T
Dolphins Cut Josh Freeman
For the second time this summer, the Dolphins have cut Josh Freeman, according to Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). When Miami cut Freeman in July, the club re-signed him four days later, but it’s not clear if he’s still in the team’s plans at all after his latest release.
Freeman, 27, was Tampa Bay’s full-time starting quarterback from 2009 to 2012, but saw the wheels come off in 2013 and was cut by the team. In his first four seasons, the former 17th overall pick completed 58.8% of his passes and tossed 78 touchdowns to go with 63 interceptions, as well as throwing for more than 4,000 yards in 2012.
With Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore ahead of him on the depth chart, however, Freeman was never considered a good bet to make the Dolphins’ regular season roster, barring an injury to one of the top guys, or an unexpectedly productive preseason by Freeman. The former Bucs starter completed 13 of 22 passes against his former team in Thursday night’s preseason finale, throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions.
Extra Points: Ball, Patriots, Giants, Savage
Vic Lombardi of CBS4 and Benjamin Allbright of AM1340 in Denver (Twitter links) have heard that the Cowboys and Broncos are discussing a potential trade involving running back Montee Ball, who has slipped down the depth chart in Denver. However, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Twitter link) cites a Cowboys source who says no trade talks are occurring, and Star-Telegram colleague Charean Williams tweets that Dallas would likely only be interested in Ball if he’s released.
The Cowboys have been adamant throughout the offseason that they likes their running backs, though acquiring Ball on the cheap seems more like a more realistic option for the team than signing a veteran free agent.
As we wait to see if anything materializes for the Cowboys, let’s round up some odds and ends from around the NFL…
- As expected, the Patriots don’t intend to try to recoup the $1MM fine or the two draft picks they lost as a result of DeflateGate, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Team owner Robert Kraft made the decision months ago not to fight the penalties, and even after Tom Brady‘s win in court, it would be a major uphill battle, since teams aren’t protected by the same CBA rules as players.
- The Giants will spend the next couple days looking for safeties, either via trades or waiver claims, according to Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). That’s no surprise, considering the position looked a little thin even before the team lost several safeties to injuries.
- The Texans got some good news on quarterback Tom Savage, who left Thursday’s game with a shoulder injury. According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), Savage just sustained a severe sprain, and won’t require surgery. Houston’s third-string QB is expected to miss at least four to six weeks, and head coach Bill O’Brien indicated today that the club will consider signing another QB for the roster or practice squad (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Asked if the Cardinals have any interest in their former defensive lineman Darnell Dockett, who was released today by the 49ers, head coach Bruce Arians said his club isn’t interested “at this point,” per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link).
- Former Bears long snapper Rick Lovato is trying out for the Dolphins, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).
AFC Notes: Bills, P. Thomas, Browns, Ajayi
Addressing a report that suggested he left several members of the Bills‘ front office and coaching staff out of the loop when he decided to cut Fred Jackson, general manager Doug Whaley said on Thursday night that he consulted several others before making the move official, writes Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News. According to Whaley, head coach Rex Ryan was with him when he informed Jackson of the decision.
“So he was in there with me when we told him together,” Whaley said. “Talked to the running backs coach (Anthony Lynn). So it wasn’t just me waking up one day and deciding, ‘Hey, I want to do this.'”
Whaley added multiple times that he informed Bills ownership of the move, which the original report didn’t dispute. For his part, Jackson suggested Whaley was behind the decision, adding that the GM “wasn’t honest with me the entire time that I’ve known him.”
Here’s more from across the AFC:
- Having turned down a minimum-salary offer from the Texans last month, veteran running back Pierre Thomas is seeking a salary around $1.3MM or $1.4MM, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. It appears the Texans have moved on from Thomas, though perhaps Houston or another club could revisit the free agent back after Week 1.
- According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap and ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter links), the Browns won’t be on the hook for Phil Taylor‘s full $5.477MM salary after all, after releasing the defensive tackle. When he asked for his release, Taylor accepted a three-week injury settlement, which works out to a $966,529 payment.
- As the Dolphins prepare to cut down their roster to 53 players, an injury to Jay Ajayi could complicate the team’s plans, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, who says the rookie running back cracked a rib on Thursday. Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post writes that Ajayi is expected to remain on Miami’s active roster.
- Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wonders if the Steelers might part ways with one – or all – of the three players who received restricted free agent tenders from the club earlier this year — Pittsburgh could clear about $3.3MM in cap space by cutting fullback Will Johnson, cornerback Antwon Blake, and safety Robert Golden.