Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves.
New York Giants
- Signed: QB Logan Thomas (via the Giants, on Twitter)
- Cut: LB Deontae Skinner
Sterling Shepard Next Great Giants WR?
- Rookie Sterling Shepard, who caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown in the Giants’ Week 1 win over the Cowboys, has the chance to be the team’s next great wide receiver, argues Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Former Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara had one workout session with the second-round pick from Oklahoma this summer and came away impressed with his skill set. “His confidence and raw skills … he’s just confident in his ability that he’s going to beat the man across from him,” Amukamara said. “And he’s very sudden at the line, meaning he’s quick. He has a combination of [Victor] Cruz and Odell [Beckham Jr.]’s skill set.” Recently, PFR’s scouting guru Dave-Te Thomas praised Shepard in his rundown of the Giants’ rookie class.
- The Saints‘ defensive line couldn’t get any kind of pass rush going against the Raiders in Week 1 and one reader asked Herbie Teope of The Times-Picayune if Paul Kruger can be fairly labeled as a bust signing. Kruger can’t be written off as a bad addition, nor can he be blamed for the lack of pressure on Derek Carr, Teope contends. While Kruger was in on 53 percent of the team’s defensive plays on Sunday, he was restricted somewhat by the team’s defensive game plan along with the rest of the front seven. Carr’s mobility kept the Saints from getting too aggressive, but Teope expects to see a much different plan of action against Eli Manning and the Giants in Week 2. Earlier this month, the Saints signed Kruger to a three-year deal that can be voided after one year. The deal comes with a $2.1MM signing bonus and base salaries of $900K, $1MM, and $1MM.
Giants FB Nikita Whitlock Suspended
Giants fullback Nikita Whitlock has been suspended for the team’s next ten games, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Whitlock apparently committed a violation of the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances. 
Whitlock, who is on IR after suffering a foot injury this offseason, will not be paid while serving his 10-game ban. Whitlock, 25, appeared in 14 games and started in five contests for the Giants last season. This year, he was expected to clear the way for tailbacks Rashad Jennings and Shane Vereen before being shut down for the year. Now, his Giants future is very much in question.
Whitlock was suspended for four games in November 2014 for a violation of the PED policy. As a repeat offender, he faces a much stiffer punishment this time.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
PFR’s Impact Rookies Series
All summer long, longtime scouting consultant Dave-Te Thomas of The NFL Draft Report has been breaking down the draft class of every team in the league and identifying the players that can immediately make a difference. The Impact Rookies series, which wrapped up today with a look at the Seahawks, provides unique insight to this year’s NFL freshman class from a veteran guru who worked closely with several teams around the league leading up to the draft.
Here is the full rundown of the Impact Rookies series:
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/16
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Blake Sims (link via Matt Zenitz of AL.com)
- Cut: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Marquis Bundy (via team announcement)
- Cut: WR Chris Hubert (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB/KR Raheem Mostert (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
- Cut: RB Senorise Perry (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune), OL Laurence Gibson (Twitter link via Biggs)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Sammy Seamster (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com)
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut: LB Kyle Kragen (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post)
Indianapolis Colts:
- Signed: CB Tay Glover-Wright (Twitter link via Wilson), S Lee Hightower (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut: DT Kelcy Quarles, OL Adam Redmond (Twitter link via Wilson)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cut: WR Shaq Evans (Twitter link via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Tre Roberson, CB Julian Wilson (via team announcement)
- Cut: OT Carter Bykowski, S Shamiel Gary (via team announcement)
New England Patriots
- Cut: DB Mike Hilton (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN.com)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Taveze Calhoun (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate), TE Jake Stoneburner (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com)
- Cut: FB Austin Johnson (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Times-Picayune), DE Bobby Richardson (Twitter link via Erickson)
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner
- Cut: QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OT Takoby Cofield (Twitter link via reps at Precision Sports)
- Cut: LB Jason Fanaika (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: QB Aaron Murray (via team announcement)
- Cut: WR Marcus Johnson, TE M.J. McFarland (injury settlement, Twitter link via Wilson)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Tylor Harris (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle), QB Jake Heaps (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times), OL Michael Ola (Twitter link via Condotta)
- Cut: WR Kasen Williams (Twitter link via Condotta), DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Condotta) and WE Rodney Smith (Twitter link via Condotta)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Cameron Lynch (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of WFLA News Channel 8), DT Rodney Coe (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Cut: RB Russell Hansbrough (Twitter link via Auman)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: QB Alex Tanney (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com)
- Cut: OL Ronald Patrick
Washington Redskins
- Cut: OL Nila Kasitati (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim)
Giants Re-Sign Montori Hughes
The Giants cut Montori Hughes on their way to a 53-man roster, but they kept his number handy. The Giants will re-sign the defensive tackle, according to James Kratch of NJ.com (on Twitter). To make room for him, kicker Randy Bullock will be waived. 
[RELATED: Giants Place J.T. Thomas On IR]
Hughes, 26, entered the league as a fifth-round pick of the Colts in 2013. After two years with Indianapolis, Hughes was cut in September 2015, leading him to the the Giants’ taxi squad. A season-ending injury suffered by defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins in November paved the way for Hughes to make the main roster last year and he saw time in seven regular season contests.
Hughes will now join Jay Bromley and recent addition Robert Thomas on the bench behind starting defensive tackles Hankins and Damon Harrison.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Reach Settlement With Jake Rodgers
- The following players have been released from their respective teams’ injured reserve list with an injury settlement (all Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless noted): Buccaneers TE Kivon Cartwright (link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times), Cardinals LB Tristan Okpalaugo (link), Colts CB D’Joun Smith (link), Jets WR Kenbrell Thompkins (link), Giants T Jake Rodgers (link), Packers C Kyle Steuck (link), Texans C Dalton Freeman (link via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com).
Giants Place J.T. Thomas On IR
The Giants announced that they have placed J.T. Thomas on injured reserve. Thomas suffered torn ligaments in his left knee during their season-opening win against the Cowboys. In a related move, kicker Josh Brown has been reinstated to the 53-man roster after serving his one-game suspension. 
Thomas was with the special teams unit on the field when the injury happened. During the kickoff to close out the first half, Thomas was chasing after Lucky Whitehead and working to shed a block when he was hit in the knee. Thomas spent much of the summer on the PUP list with a hamstring injury and accepted a pay cut just days ago to remain with the team.
Thomas signed a three-year, $10MM deal with the Giants prior to the 2015 season. The 28-year-old missed four games in his first Giants season but played in 12 games with a career-high 11 starts at weakside linebacker. All in all, he had 43 tackles and three special teams tackles.
Brown, of course, was handed a one-game suspension for his role in a May 2015 arrest on domestic violence charges. When additional information came out about the allegations, Brown found himself at the center of a national controversy as many believed his punishment was too lenient.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants’ J.T. Thomas Accepts Pay Cut
J.T. Thomas will remain with the Giants for the upcoming season after accepting a pay cut. Thomas has gone from a $2.975MM in base salary this season to $1.5MM, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. However, Thomas will be able to earn $100K in per-game roster bonuses and $550K in playing-time incentives. All in all, that’s a potential pay cut of $1.375MM for 2016. 
Thomas signed a three-year, $10MM deal with the Giants last offseason after he appeared in all 16 games for the Jaguars the year prior and made ten starts. The 28-year-old is still signed through 2017 and Raanan writes that the final year of his deal remains untouched for now.
Thomas missed most of the summer with a hamstring injury, putting him on the roster bubble. He also struggled last season. However, the Giants still value him as a special teams contributor and he may see some time as a backup to Jonathan Casillas at weakside linebacker.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Giants Cut Emmett Cleary
- The Giants reached an injury settlement with offensive tackle Emmett Cleary, reports Vacchiano (Twitter link).