Moritz Böhringer

Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC North

Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North 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 RavensBengalsBrowns, and Steelers are noted below.

Additionally, as of today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. 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 North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers

* = International Pathway Program player

Bengals Trim Roster To 53

The Bengals announced their final 53-man roster. One of the moves will be, as expected, placing Darqueze Dennard on their reserve/PUP list. Dennard now must miss at least the first six games of the season. This comes after the Bengals re-signed their former first-round pick on a one-year, $5MM deal. The team knew Dennard needed a post-signing knee surgery, but the arthroscopic procedure was performed several months ago.

Cincinnati is also placing Jonah Williams on its PUP list instead of season-ending IR. While the first-round tackle was believed to be set to miss the season, this move is a way of retaining a chance he can recover. Williams would revert to IR if he cannot recover from the shoulder injury he sustained this offseason.

Here’s the full list of the Bengals’ moves to meet the 53-man limit:

Placed on Reserve/Injured list:

Placed on the Reserve/PUP list:

  • CB Darqueze Dennard (sixth-year player, Michigan State; knee injury)
  • OT Jonah Williams (rookie, Alabama; shoulder injury)

Released:

Waived:

Suspended:

  • G Alex Redmond (third-year player, UCLA, suspended for four games)

All of the waived players, except for Core, will be practice squad eligible if they clear waivers.

Bengals Sign Moritz Böhringer

The impressive athleticism of German wide receiver Moritz Böhringer compelled the Vikings to take a flier on him in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. This year, the Bengals will take an up close look at him as a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, the league announced. 

Böhringer is the only European player in NFL history to be selected in the draft without playing any college football. His lack of experience probably put a cap on his pro prospects as he spent his rookie year on Minnesota’s practice squad and did not sign with another team after his release in September. He’s still pursuing his pro dreams, however, and he’s slated to enter the year as the eleventh player on the Bengals’ practice squad.

The league’s International Player Pathway program will allow each AFC North team to carry an extra overseas player on their practice squad in 2018. Unlike those on the traditional ten-man practice squad, the additional player cannot be activated during the season. Last year, the NFC South had the honors.

The Ravens will have German Football League linebacker Christopher Ezeala, the Browns will practice with former British American Football League defensive back/wide receiver Tigie Sankoh, and the Steelers will have former English professional rugby tight end Christian Scotland-Williamson.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/2/17

Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2017 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters.

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Read more

NFC Notes: Tulloch, Vikings, Cowboys

There were whispers that Stephen Tulloch‘s tenure with the Lions would conclude this offseason, but the veteran linebacker remains on the roster. With the offseason coming to an end, ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein writes that there hasn’t been any clarity on the situation. Coach Jim Caldwell didn’t do much to clear up any of the confusion this past week.

“I think Bob [Quinn] has talked to you at length about that one,” Caldwell told Rothstein. “Know him and love him, but I think Bob’s answered that question.”

Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFC…

  • Meanwhile, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes that the Lions informed Tulloch three months ago that he wasn’t in the team’s future plans. The writer believes it’s time for the organization “to do Stephen Tulloch right” and release the 31-year-old.
  • Vikings sixth-round pick Moritz Böhringer has gotten plenty of hype considering his draft position. However, the wideout was expected to go undrafted, and there’s no guarantee that he’ll make the final roster. If the former German Football League standout ends up getting cut, ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling believes there’s a good chance he’ll land on the Vikings practice squad.
  • Despite having drafted Dak Prescott, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has shown an infatuation with Broncos rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch. While this would discourage most rookies, Prescott isn’t distracted. “I’m just going to go out there and prove myself everyday on the field, and prove myself everyday in here,” Prescott told Drew Davison of the Star-Telegram. “Just be the player and person that I am. It really doesn’t mean anything to me [that they wanted Lynch].”