Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad signings and cuts here..
- The Seahawks announced that safety Steven Terrell has re-joined the practice squad (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). Terrell was waived yesterday when the Hawks re-signed defensive lineman Greg Scruggs. Seattle had only nine players on its taxi squad, so it won’t have to release anyone to make room for Terrell.
Earlier Updates:
- The Chiefs announced that they have signed former Oklahoma State linebacker Orie Lemon to the practice squad.
- The Broncos announced that they have added defensive end Gerald Rivers to the practice squad today, as the staff at The Denver Post writes. Rivers appear in two games for the Rams and Jaguars last season.
- The Dolphins signed quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson to the practice squad, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- The Packers signed tight end Ike Ariguzo to their practice squad and released guard Jordan McCray, according to Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. The 6’5″, 245-pound Ariguzo, a rookie who played at Eastern Kentucky, made an impression on Green Bay coaches when he auditioned for them in May.
- The Titans have signed TE Brett Brackett back to their practice squad, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
- The Steelers have signed defensive end Ethan Hemer, defensive back Jordan Sullen, and offensive lineman Adam Gettis to the practice squad, according to team PR director Burt Lauten (on Twitter). In related moves, the Steelers have released wide receiver Derek Moye and placed cornerback Shaq Richardson on the taxi squad’s injured reserve. Sullen recently auditioned for the Jets after he was let go in Chicago.
- The Browns announced they signed wide receiver Kevin Cone to their practice squad, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal (on Twitter). Cone was previously with the Bucs’ practice squad.
- The Buccaneers added fullback Lonnie Pryor and defensive end George Uko to their taxi squad while releasing Cone, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (on Twitter).
Practice Squad Updates: Tuesday
While we track today’s transactions relating to teams’ 53-man rosters in a separate post, we’ll use this space to keep tabs on the day’s practice squad signings and cuts. Here’s the latest:
- The Redskins signed wide receiver Rashad Ross to the practice squad, tweets John Keim of ESPN.com. Washington liked Ross this summer and they scooped him up after he was discarded by the Bears.
- A day after being waived by the Bears, linebacker Terrell Manning has rejoined the team’s practice squad, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
- The Redskins have parted ways with practice squad wideout Marvin McNutt, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times.
- As the Giants weight their options at receiver on the 53-man roster, they’ve made a change to the wideouts on their practice squad — Jordan Raanan of NJ.com tweets that Chris Harper has replaced Travis Harvey.
- Wide receiver Patrick Edwards is the newest addition to the Lions‘ practice squad, replacing defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins, per Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter link).
Earlier updates:
- Linebacker Kaelin Burnett and cornerback Ross Weaver have found a new home, joining the Cardinals‘ practice squad, per Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link). The team had one opening on its squad, so linebacker Jonathan Brown has been released to make room for the second incoming player.
- The Dolphins have parted ways with wideout Marcus Thigpen, replacing him on their practice squad with defensive back Rod Sweeting, tweets Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- The Jaguars have signed tight end Michael Flacco, the brother of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union notes (via Twitter) that Flacco replaces tight end Marcel Jensen, who was put on the practice squad IR list.
- Wide receiver Lee Doss has been cut from the Browns‘ practice squad, according to Wilson (via Twitter).
Workout Notes: Tuesday Night
Luke Adams rounded up the latest auditions earlier today and we’ll keep track of the newest ones right here..
- The Dolphins auditioned tight end Ted Bolser, Balzer tweets.
- The Bengals auditioned safeties Chris Clemons, M.D. Jennings, and Shiloh Keo as well as wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today (on Twitter).
- The Dolphins took a look at a few free agent long snappers today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who reports (via Twitter) that the club worked out Brandon Hartson, Kevin McDermott, and Patrick Scales. Miami long snapper John Denney was banged up in Sunday’s contest against the Packers, but didn’t have to leave the game, so this may just be precautionary.
- The Lions worked out a whole bunch of people today, as Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com (via Twitter links) writes. The auditions included running backs Terrance Cobb, Ben Malena, and Jordan Lynch, wide receivers Patrick Edwards (signed), Skye Dawson, L’Damian Washington, and Erik Lora, nose tackle David Carter, and defensive end Roy Philon.
- The Vikings tried out veteran tight end Ben Hartsock, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Howard Balzer of USA Today (on Twitter) adds tight ends Michael Egnew, Matthew Mulligan, and Zach Potter to the list.
Workout Notes: Bengals, Titans, Giants
The Bengals signed one former Raider earlier today, reportedly adding wideout Greg Little to their roster. And according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), Cincinnati recently took a look at another ex-Raider as well, working out free agent quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Here are a few more notes on workouts, visits, and auditions from around the NFL:
- With Michael Roos out for the season, the Titans are working out veteran offensive lineman Winston Justice, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN (Twitter link). Since entering the league as a second-round draft pick in 2006, Justice has had some injury problems and provided inconsistent production, but he has also logged 43 starts, primarily at right tackle.
- As the Giants try to determine how to plug the hole left by Victor Cruz‘s season-ending patella tendon tear, the team is working out free agent wideout Kevin Ogletree, says Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (TwitLonger link). Ogletree had his best season in 2012 for one of the Giants’ divisional rivals, when he grabbed 32 balls and four touchdowns for the Cowboys.
- Cornerback Lavelle Westbrooks, who was drafted in the seventh round in May by the Bengals and was subsequently cut by the team, visited the Jaguars this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
- Josh Thomas was the first cornerback to sign with the Jets in the wake of Dee Milliner‘s season-ending injury, but the team has considered other options as well. Wilson tweets that Drayton Florence, Jacob Lacey, and R.J. Stanford all auditioned for the club.
- In addition to considering Justin Jones, whose workout with the team was previously reported, the Dolphins are also taking a look at tight end Jamie Childers, writes Wilson for the National Football Post.
- Wilson also reports (Twitter links) that several players visited and/or worked out for the Buccaneers this week. That list includes fullback Lonnie Pryor, defensive end George Uko, and defensive backs Brandon Burton, Richard Crawford, Isaiah Frey, and Trevin Wade.
Dolphins Place Knowshon Moreno On IR
Knowshon Moreno‘s first season with the Dolphins has come to an early end, with the team announcing today that the running back has been placed on season-ending injured reserve due to an ACL injury (Twitter link). The move clears room for defensive lineman Derrick Shelby, whose reinstatement was reported yesterday and officially confirmed by the Dolphins today (Twitter link).
Moreno, 27, suffered an elbow injury early in the season which sidelined him for several weeks before he returned to the field this past Sunday against the Packers. However, he didn’t stay healthy for long, and his latest issue will mean he appears in just three games during the 2014 season, including two that he left early due to injuries. Lamar Miller will continue to act as Miami’s primary back, while Daniel Thomas figures to see occasional carries as well.
When Moreno signed with the Dolphins back in March, he agreed to a one-year deal, so it’s possible this is the last we’ve seen of him in a Miami uniform. Given the typical recovery timetable for a torn ACL, Moreno figures to still be recovering when 2015 free agency opens in March, so the former first-round pick may be hard-pressed to find a new home immediately, though he may come at a bargain price later in the offseason.
Dolphins Reinstate Derrick Shelby
A week after being suspended indefinitely, defensive end Derrick Shelby has been reinstated by the Dolphins, a league source tells Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Shelby was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on October 4 for trespassing and resisting arrest, charges which his agent argued were unwarranted.
As Smith notes, personal conduct policy is under the purview of the league, not teams, so it’s possible that the NFLPA leaned on the Dolphins to allow Shelby to return to action. Given the numerous off-the-field incidents that have occurred around the NFL during the year, it’s not surprising that Miami acted swiftly in responding to this incident. However, Shelby’s take on what happened is quite different from the story put forth by authorities, so it would be tough for the Dolphins to continue to discipline him until the situation is resolved.
Shelby, 25, saw 127 snaps over three games before his suspension. The 25-year-old Utah product joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He’ll return as a reserve on a defensive line that features Cameron Wake, Randy Starks, and Earl Mitchell.
Miami will need to make a roster move to clear a spot for Shelby as its roster currently sits at 53.
Workout Notes: Colts, Holliday, Jones
The latest auditions from around the NFL..
- The Colts worked out kick returner Trindon Holliday today, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter). The Giants released Holliday from IR earlier this year and last week the Bears were said to have interest.
- The Dolphins are working out former Patriots tight end Justin Jones tomorrow, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). At 6’7″ and 270 pounds, Jones is an intriguing talent who could be a fit in Miami.
Extra Points: Cardinals, Cowboys, Dolphins
Let’s look at a few assorted notes from around the league to close out this Saturday evening:
- Cardinals general manager Steve Keim has made an astounding 178 roster moves already this season, and he’s finding it more difficult to find talented street free agents. “If you’re going to sign stop-gap veterans, you sign guys that have had success,” Keim told Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic. “You want the guys that have a little gas left in the tank and want to play pissed off. You focus on the guys with enough pride and something to prove. But there does come a time when you look at the waiver wire, you look on the street and there’s not much left. The laws of supply and demand tells you at certain positions, there are no bodies. That’s when it becomes extremely difficult.” The entire piece is full of interesting quotes from Keim about the nature of roster-building, and is worth a full read.
- The Cowboys’ defense has been surprisingly competent so far this season, but as Adam Schefter of ESPN writes, the unit could be fielding several star players in the secondary had the 2011 draft gone differently. Instead of selecting current Seahawks Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman in the fourth and fifth round, respectively, Dallas took Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, a Division-II player now out out the league, and Josh Thomas. I would note that every team, including Seattle, passed on Chancellor and Sherman several times in that draft, so it’s not as though the Cowboys made a larger mistake than any other club.
- Within the same piece, Schefter looks at the now-infamous first-round quarterback selections in the ’11 draft, when Jake Locker was taken before Tyron Smith and J.J. Watt. Additionally, Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder were selected before stars such as Robert Quinn, Mike Pouncey, and Ryan Kerrigan.
- The 2015 salary cap is expected to be around $145MM, and the Dolphins already have $144MM on next year’s books, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Several Miami veterans, such as Cortland Finnegan, Randy Starks, and Earl Mitchell have contracts that the Dolphins could easily terminate during the offseason, so these players are essentially playing for their jobs.
Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday
We’ll keep tabs on today’s practice squad signings and cuts right here, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- After the Seahawks plucked offensive lineman Patrick Lewis from their taxi squad, the Browns replaced him with fellow tackle Braxston Cave, tweets Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal.
- The Bears re-signed defensive end David Bass to their practice squad, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (via Twitter). Bass was dropped yesterday to make room for cornerback Al Louis-Jean‘s promotion.
- A day after cutting tight end Phillip Supernaw to claim Ryan Taylor off waivers, the Ravens have re-signed Supernaw to their practice squad, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Baltimore will have to cut a player from its squad in order to make the move official.
- Linebacker Marshall McFadden has taken the 10th and final spot on the Rams‘ practice squad, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
Earlier updates:
- The Chargers have signed former Lions cornerback Aaron Hester to their practice squad, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Safety Adrian Phillips has also joined the unit, replacing injured running back D.J. Adams, says Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- In addition to confirming the signing of defensive lineman Joe Vellano to their practice squad, which was reported yesterday, the Patriots have also announced the addition of offensive lineman Chris Martin and the release of fellow offensive lineman Caylin Hauptmann.
- While the Broncos expect to be fine on Sunday with the running backs on their current 53-man roster, the team has added Jeremy Stewart to its practice squad “just in case,” tweets Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com.
- The Buccaneers have replaced tight end Taylor Sloat on their practice squad with wideout Eric Page, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (via Twitter).
- Using the 10th and final opening on their taxi squad, the Bengals have added interior offensive lineman Jeff Baca, head coach Marvin Lewis told reporters today (Twitter link via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com).
- The Redskins signed linebacker Steve Beauharnais to their practice squad today, according to the club (via Twitter). That leaves one spot still open on the unit.
- Tight end Jacob Maxwell has been let go from the Dolphins‘ practice squad, according to Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, who tweets that running back Orleans Darkwa will fill the newly-opened spot.
- The Lions have swapped out one defensive lineman for another, with Derrick Hopkins replacing Xavier Proctor, who has been placed on the practice squad IR (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Extra Points: Smith, McClain, Prater, Saints
Time is running out to determine if Geno Smith is the answer for the Jets, writes Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post. It’s starting to feel as if the Smith era is in the process of mirroring the Mark Sanchez era, but the key difference is that Sanchez got the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship games. Sanchez got four years before the Jets finally pulled the plug, and the Jets don’t have that kind of time. More from around the NFL..
- Rolando McClain is having a career renaissance in Dallas and Cowboys COO Stephen Jones says he’d like to keep the linebacker beyond this season, writes Jon Machota of The Dallas Morning News. In four games, the starting middle linebacker has 23 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception. McClain is a former top ten pick and Jones feels that he’s finally starting to realize that potential.
- While the move saves money, Broncos GM John Elway is taking a risk with his release of Matt Prater, who is arguably the best kicker in the game, writes Peter King of The MMQB. Even though Brandon McManus has a great leg, he hasn’t really been tested on field goals in 2014.
- Former Packers tight end Tom Crabtree has a workout scheduled with the Saints, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (on Twitter).
- Patriots coach Bill Belichick says that recent acquisition Tim Wright still has “a long way to go” to learn the Pats offense, but he is impressed with his work ethic and intelligence, writes Phil A. Perry of CSNNE.com.
- If there’s a hot seat for Rex Ryan, there needs to be one for Jets GM John Idzik as well, writes Steve Serby of the New York Post. So who should take over? Bill Polian, who built Super Bowl teams in Buffalo and Indianapolis, is Serby’s suggestion.
- Agent David Canter (via Twitter) issued a statement regarding the suspension of Dolphins defensive end Derrick Shelby.