Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/15
Here are Tuesday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:
- Long snapper Nate Boyer, who took an unusual path to the NFL, has been waived by the Seahawks, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (Twitter link). With the newly-created roster spot, the Seahawks appear to have signed quarterback Jake Waters, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter links).
- The Steelers have reduced the number of quarterbacks on their roster by one, announcing today that they’ve cut Tajh Boyd, replacing him with wide receiver Jarrod West (Twitter link via Burt Lauten).
- Vikings tackle Phil Loadholt, who tore his Achilles on Saturday, has been officially placed on injured reserve, the team announced today. To replace him, Minnesota signed former Giants tackle Stephen Goodin.
- The Eagles‘ roster turnover at linebacker continues, as the team announced today (via Twitter) that it has signed former Southern Mississippi linebacker Dasman McCullum to replace Jordan Dewalt-Ondijo, who has been waived/injured due to an ankle injury.
- The Colts made a change to their wide receiver group, signing UDFA wideout L.T. Smith and waiving Tyler Rutenbeck, according to a team release.
- Former Emporia State wide receiver Austin Willis has been waived by the Raiders, tweets Herbie Teope of ChiefsDigest.com.
- The Cardinals have a new body in their secondary, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post, who reports that safety Anthony Walters has signed a one-year deal with the club. Linebacker Zack Wagenmann, who broke his foot, has been waived/injured, tweets Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com.
- More updates from Wilson: The Saints have cut receiver Kyle Prater and waived/injured defensive tackle Lawrence Virgil (Twitter link), the Jets have cut punter Jacob Schum (Twitter link), the Cowboys have cut cornerback Jason Wilson from their injured reserve list with an injury settlement (Twitter link), and the Steelers have removed running back Cameron Stingily from their IR with a settlement (Twitter link).
NFC Notes: Davis, Ertz, Giants, Cowboys
Here is some of the latest news emerging from NFC franchises.
- Anthony Davis is already teasing a comeback, per his Twitter account. According to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, Davis plans to return to the NFL for the 2016 campaign. The 49ers hold his rights for the next five seasons due to the contract extension the 25-year-old right tackle signed in 2013.
- Last night, we heard Zach Ertz will miss the preseason after undergoing surgery, but Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News wonders if Chip Kelly expecting him back for Week 1 is realistic. Bowen, who notes the injury is believed to be a partial groin tear, remains skeptical Ertz will be up to speed by the time the Eagles debut Sept. 14. Ertz told Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Enquirer (Twitter link) his groin bothered him for a while and he reinjured it Wednesday.
- Byron Maxwell will shadow No. 1 receivers this season with the Eagles, and it’s a chance to give the team an elite cornerback for the first time in years, writes Reuben Frank of CSNPhilly.com. “I was on the right in Seattle, but it’s an opportunity, and I’m looking forward to it; I really am,” Maxwell told Frank. “Once you start following guys, your name is up there, so that’s how I’m looking at it.“
- In light of the Giants‘ accelerating injury rate in the secondary, they will likely explore adding cornerbacks to patch the corps together, Jordan Raanan writes (on Twitter). In addition to the four players lost to injuries Friday night, Prince Amukamara remains sidelined for the coming weeks with a groin malady.
- Washington trading for Vernon Davis is not an option in an effort to repair their ransacked tight end contingent, writes ESPN.com’s John Keim. The ESPN Washington-based reporter also points out he’s been told Zach Miller will not be in the team’s plans for this fix. PFR’s Luke Adams profiled Washington’s quandary at tight end, which stems from Niles Paul being lost for the season, recently.
- The Cowboys are working out three running backs — Michael Hill, Ben Malena and Zach Bauman — with top ball-carriers Joseph Randle and Lance Dunbar limited with injuries, reports Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Of this trio, only Hill, a journeyman who was the runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy (Division II’s Heisman equivalent) in 2012, has seen regular-season game action. Washington waived him last month.
NFC East Notes: Ertz, Cowboys, Redd
Though Washington will miss Niles Paul for the entire season after he suffered an ankle injury, the club doesn’t intend to make a major move for a new tight end, tweets Albert Breer of NFL.com. Not only will the team not attempt to swing a trade, but they aren’t interested in Chris Cooley, who is attempting to make an NFL comeback. Earlier today, PFR’s Luke Adams went over Washington’s options as it attempts to replace Paul.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- Washington isn’t the only team with tight end troubles, as Eagles TE Zach Ertz underwent surgery to replace a core muscle injury, the team confirmed (via Twitter), and Chip Kelly told Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that Ertz is expected to miss the entire preseason. Ertz should be ready for Week 1, however.
- Washington running back Silas Redd suffered a knee injury during yesterday’s preseason game, and his teammate DeSean Jackson says (via Instagram) that Redd’s injury is season-ending. A source confirms to Mike Jones of the Washington Post that Redd tore both his ACL and MCL last night. Redd appeared in 15 games in 2014, his rookie season.
- The Cowboys will be looking for a running back, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter link), but Dallas won’t be signing any of the familiar names often linked to the club, so players like Chris Johnson and Ray Rice can probably be crossed off the list. Undrafted rookie Gus Johnson suffered a shoulder injury in last night’s game, and although Johnson is considered day-to-day, the Cowboys were probably looking for additional depth at the position even before the rookie’s injury.
Eagles Sign Deontae Skinner
The Eagles are back up to the 90-man roster limit after signing linebacker Deontae Skinner, the team announced today (via Twitter). The move comes on the heels of the club waiving linebacker Brandon Hepburn, who sustained an abdominal injury.
Skinner, 24, signed with the Patriots in 2014 as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State. Although Skinner didn’t crack New England’s Week 1 roster last season, he spent time on the 53-man squad later in the season, bouncing back and forth from the practice squad. For the year, he recorded 16 tackles and a sack in seven regular season contests.
Skinner figures to have the opportunity to compete for a spot on an increasingly banged-up Eagles’ linebacking corps. Terms of his deal weren’t disclosed, but it’s almost certainly a minimum-salary pact with no guaranteed money.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/15
Here are Friday’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL:
- The Eagles waived two players with injury designations, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve cut linebacker Brandon Hepburn (abdominal) and defensive end B.J. McBryde (foot). Both players figure to revert to the team’s IR list if they clear waivers. Meanwhile, the Eagles added former Winston-Salem St. defensive end Alfy Hill.
- The Vikings have waived/injured wide receiver Gavin Lutman, replacing him on their roster with defensive tackle Greg Hickman, per Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).
- Wide receiver DeShon Foxx, who signed with the Seahawks in May, has been cut by the team (Twitter link). Seattle has signed linebacker Alex Singleton to take Foxx’s place on the roster.
- The Buccaneers are back up to 90 players after re-signing rookie safety Derrick Wells today, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
Evan Mathis Close To Signing With Team?
A “deal could happen anytime now” for free agent guard Evan Mathis, a source close to the situation tells NFL.com’s Rand Getlin (on Twitter).
Mathis, released by the Eagles earlier this offseason, is considered one of the league’s best interior linemen. In 2014, despite playing just 608 offensive snaps, the former third-round pick ranked as the league’s best left guard, performing particularly well as a run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus’ data (subscription required). PFF had previously graded Mathis as the NFL’s No. 1 guard in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Mathis was scheduled to earn a base salary of $5.5MM under his Eagles deal, and it remains to be seen if he and agent Drew Rosenhaus can secure that type of commitment from another club. Given his age and that teams mostly have their rosters set, it’s probably unlikely that Mathis will be able to get that level of AAV.
The Bills, Vikings, Dolphins, Rams, and Patriots were among the teams said to have varying levels of trade interest in him before Philly cut him loose. The Colts, Giants, and Cardinals have all said they won’t make a play for Mathis, but Rosenhaus said earlier this offseason that he heard from at least six teams with interest in his client.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/15
Here are Tuesday’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL:
- The Bills have signed cornerback Lavelle Westbrooks and waived/injured receiver Caleb Holley, Joe Buscaglia of WKBW tweets.
- The Cowboys have signed defensive back Brandon Smith, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (on Twitter). To make room for Smith, the Cowboys waived/injured Chris Whaley, who tore his Achilles on Monday (link).
- After getting word that JaCorey Shepherd suffered a torn ACL and will be out for the season, the Eagles added another cornerback to their roster, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed former Ravens seventh-round pick Marc Anthony.
- The Lions have placed tight end David Ausberry on their injured reserve list, ending his season, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. Twentyman adds that the team signed cornerback Jocquel Skinner to fill the newly-created roster opening.
- In addition to confirming their previously reported signing of defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, the Buccaneers announced several more moves today in a press release. Tampa Bay signed punter Karl Schmitz, who was cut earlier this week by Denver, and waived rookie linebackers Quinton Alston and Sammuel Lamur.
- To make room on their roster for new kicker Garrett Hartley, the Steelers waived/injured QB/WR Devin Gardner, according to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). Gardner, who originally signed with the Patriots as an undrafted rookie out of Michigan in May, figures to land on Pittsburgh’s IR if he clears waivers.
- The Cardinals have made a change in their secondary, re-signing safety Ross Weaver and cutting another safety, D.J. Campbell, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.
- The Falcons have removed safety Terell Floyd from their roster, reaching an injury settlement with him, according to the team.
- Three months after signing him as an undrafted free agent, the Packers have cut rookie wideout Ricky Collins, the club announced today in a press release. Battling a heel injury, Collins never got off Green Bay’s PUP list during camp.
- After clearing waivers, linebacker Matt Robinson will revert to the Jaguars‘ IR with a hamstring injury, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
- According to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (Twitter link), the NFL reinstated the previously-terminated contract between the Cowboys and linebacker Will Smith, who is back on the team’s injured reserve list.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/15
The latest minor moves and signings from around the NFL..
- The Dolphins signed running back Demitrius Bronson and safety Phillip Thomas, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets. To make room, Miami waived/injured safety Shamiel Gary and waived receiver Tyler McDonald.
- The Colts re-signed guard Kitt O’Brien and waived guard Dionte Savage, Mike Chappell of the Indy Star tweets. Just days ago, the Colts cut O’Brien and signed Savage.
- The Broncos claimed Matt Hall off waivers from the Colts, Wilson tweets.
- The Saints waived UDFA wide receiver Malcome Kennedy from their IR, Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Seahawks signed safety Tyrequek Zimmerman, Wilson tweets.
- The Patriots signed Tony Creecy and Logan Stokes while cutting Chris White and Mason Brodine, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Lions signed tight end Jacob Maxwell, who was briefly with the team as a UDFA, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets.
- The Titans waived-injured cornerback Curtis Riley and picked up fellow corner Will Brown, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets.
- The Jaguars signed defensive end Camaron Beard and waived/injured linebacker Matt Robinson, John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets.
- The Eagles signed ex-Falcons wide receiver Freddie Martino and released fellow wideout John Harris, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. Defensive end Frances Mays has also been waived/injured.
Earlier updates:
- The Packers announced that they have released punter Cody Mandell, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. Mandell was in competition with fellow punter Tim Masthay, but that showdown didn’t even make it until the preseason opener.
- The Browns worked out and signed linebacker Moise Fokou, according to a source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). To make room for Smith, the Browns have cut Rodney Smith, Wilson tweets.
- The Seahawks cut Robert Smith with a failed physical designation, Wilson tweets. The safety was claimed off waivers from the Colts late last week.
NFC East Notes: Hankins, Lee, Eagles
Defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins may be the most important piece of the Giants‘ defense this season, but he’s also not getting a ton of attention from onlookers. That’s just fine with him, as Newsday’s Tom Rock writes. However, after racking up seven sacks in 2014, that could all change. He also might get more attention now that defensive line coach Robert Nunn plans to use Hankins more on passing downs.
“He kind of started showing up a year ago. When we would get in one-on-one pass rush, he was doing some good things and he got his opportunity and took advantage of it,” Nunn said. “If he’s producing, he’s definitely going to be in there. He’s definitely going to have that opportunity to get in there in some rush situations.”
Here’s more out of the NFC East..
- Linebacker Sean Lee, who missed the 2014 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee, says he’s coming along well, Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News writes. It’s not clear if he’ll be on the field for Thursday’s preseason opener, but Lee says that he’s up to the task. “His rehab has gone really well,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “He’s making progress every day. I think we have done a good job as an organization of being deliberate with him and his return…It’s good to see him getting more work over the last couple of days.”
- Former Eagles cornerback Cary Williams stirred things up when he said he and his teammates were “exhausted” toward the end of the year due to Chip Kelly’s intense practices. Now, David Murphy of the Daily News wonders if JaCorey Shepherd’s injury gives credence to those claims.
- It’s still early, but Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com took his best guest at predicting Washington‘s 53-man roster. Tandler projects that running back Silas Redd will be among the final cuts in camp, especially if Chris Thompson stays healthy. Thompson currently has the edge because of his speed, though Redd has time to overtake him in the coming weeks.
Eagles’ JaCorey Shepherd Tears ACL
The Eagles announced that cornerback JaCorey Shepherd has suffered a torn ACL, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. The diagnosis is fairly devastating for the Eagles, who just traded away slot cornerback Brandon Boykin. Shepherd was considered the frontrunner to take over for Boykin’s former patrol.
With Shepherd done for the year, Jaylen Watkins, E.J. Biggers, and Denzel Rice are left as the remaining options at slot cornerback. The Eagles also could turn to cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Nolan Carroll or safeties Malcolm Jenkins and Walter Thurmond as options at nickel, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. Still, those moves would be far from ideal for Philly. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Chip Kelly and the Eagles explore outside options between now and the start of the season.