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 Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT 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
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Quincy Adeboyejo
- RB Alex Collins
- FB Ricky Ortiz
- OL Maurquice Shakir
- LB Boseko Lokombo
- TE Ryan Malleck
- DB Reggie Porter
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Brandon Bell
- K Jake Elliott
- OT Kent Perkins
- DT Josh Tupou
- WR Kermit Whitfield
- DT DeShawn Williams
- RB Jarveon Williams
- S Brandon Wilson
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed:
- WR Reggie Davis
- DB Michael Jordan
- DT T.Y. McGill
- WR Kasen Williams (story)
- QB Josh Woodrum
- Cut:
- WR Rashard Higgins
- DB Darius Hillary
- DL Tyrone Holmes
- DB Kai Nacua
- DB Marcus Burley
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE J.P. Holtz
- LB Deon King
- RB Terrence Magee
- DB Najee Murray
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Acquired:
- S J.J. Wilcox (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Justin Thomas
- C Kyle Friend
- TE Jake McGee
- RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
- WR Marcus Tucker
- LB Matt Galambos
- S Jacob Hagen
- DE Lavon Hooks
- LB Farrington Huguenin
- CB Dashaun Phillips
Steelers Acquire DB J.J. Wilcox
The Steelers have acquired safety J.J. Wilcox from the Buccaneers, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Pittsburgh will receive Wilcox and a 2019 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2018 sixth-round pick, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Tampa Bay had just signed Wilcox to a two-year deal this spring, but given that it inked T.J. Ward earlier today, the club no longer need Wilcox around for depth. The Buccaneers won’t take on any dead money by trading Wilcox because they didn’t employ a signing bonus on his contract.
The Steelers had also been mentioned as a potential destination for Ward, but they’ve instead picked up the 26-year-old Wilcox, who boasts 58 career games (38 starts). Wilcox will earn $3.25MM in 2017 and serve as depth behind Pittsburgh starting safeties Mike Mitchell and Sean Davis.
Buccaneers To Sign T.J. Ward
The Buccaneers will sign the newly-released T.J. Ward, as James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. It’s a one-year, $4MM deal that includes a maximum value of $5MM, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Ward started 41 games over three seasons in Denver after inking a four-year deal with the club prior to the 2014 season. Last season, he made 14 appearances, totaling one interception and one sack while ranking as the NFL’s No. 48 safety, per Pro Football Focus. Ward’s 75.9 grade was the worst mark of his career, and the Broncos felt it was better to move on and get a little salary cap relief in the process.
Per Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Ward drew interest from seven teams and had serious talks with three. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Steelers had some degree of interest, but they were not serious contenders for his services.
Tampa Bay has already done a fair amount of tinkering at the safety position this offseason. The Bucs re-signed Chris Conte, signed free agent J.J. Wilcox from the Cowboys, and drafted Justin Evans in the second round. But signing Ward will help solidify the defensive backfield, and as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times writes, Ward will push either Conte or Keith Tandy to the bench, and Wilcox and Evans will see their potential playing time take a hit as a result.
John Spytek, the Bucs’ director of player personnel and GM Jason Licht‘s right-hand man, was Cleveland’s director of college scouting when the Browns drafted Ward in 2010, and he spent two years as a scout with the Broncos when Ward played in Denver. That connection almost certainly played a role in Ward’s decision, along with the fact that Tampa Bay is a potential playoff team.
Steelers’ Roster Now At 53
The Steelers have reduced their roster to 53 players by making the following transactions:
Cut:
- WR Demarcus Ayers
- C Ruben Carter
- OL Ethan Cooper
- RB Knile Davis (story)
- CB Brandon Dixon
- C Kyle Friend
- LB Matt Galambos
- LB Austin Gearing
- CB Senquez Golson
- S Jacob Hagen
- WR Cobi Hamilton (story)
- LS Colin Holba
- DE Lavon Hooks
- QB Bart Houston
- LB Farrington Huguenin
- TE David Johnson
- LB Steven Johnson
- DE Francis Kallon
- LB Keith Kelsey
- DE Johnny Maxey
- TE Jake McGee
- OL Brian Mihalik
- OL Keavon Milton
- CB Dashaun Phillips
- DT Roy Philon
- T Jake Rodgers
- CB JaCorey Shepherd
- WR Justin Thomas
- RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (story)
- WR Marcus Tucker
- S Terrish Webb
- RB Trey Williams
Waived/injured:
Giants Acquire CB Ross Cockrell
The Giants have acquired cornerback Ross Cockrell from the Steelers in exchange for a conditional 2018 draft pick, Pittsburgh announced.
Cockrell, 26, was a 16-game starter for the first time in his career in 2016, and he played rather well, grading the NFL’s No. 27 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus. However, the Steelers signed free agent cornerback Joe Haden earlier this week, a move that would have pushed Cockrell into a reserve role.
Of course, Cockrell will be a backup with the Giants, as well, as Big Blue boasts one of the more impressive secondaries in the league. New York will start Eli Apple, Janoris Jenkins, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in its nickel package, making Cockrell one of the NFL’s best fourth cornerbacks.
A restricted free agent, Cockrell will earn $1.797MM in 2017 before hitting the open market next spring.
Steelers Trade Sammie Coates To Browns
Joe Haden won’t be the only AFC North player to see his old team when the Steelers and Browns convene in Cleveland come Week 1. Sammie Coates will be a part of the Browns in that contest after the Steelers traded him to Cleveland on Saturday, the team announced.
The Steelers shipped the wide receiver to the Browns in exchange for a 2018 sixth-round selection. Cleveland will also receive Pittsburgh’s 2019 seventh-round pick.
Coates was jockeying for position among a crowded Pittsburgh receiving corps, one that again has the services of Martavis Bryant. He, second-rounder JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eli Rogers comprise the Steelers’ top Antonio Brown complements.
Coates will see his tenure in western Pennsylvania conclude early after two underwhelming seasons.
The 6-foot-2 deep threat mostly observed as a rookie behind a Brown-, Bryant-, and Markus Wheaton-fronted Steelers receiving attack. But last season with Bryant suspended and Wheaton mostly sidelined, Bryant played in 14 games and started five. However, after a midseason spurt of productivity, the former Auburn talent struggled due partially to a broken finger. The 24-year-old Coates finished his Steelers run with just 22 receptions.
He figures to receive a better chance to play in Cleveland. The Browns have an opening behind Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman. Their five-wideout draft class of 2016 hasn’t produced a surefire second contributor behind Coleman, so Coates figures to compete with the Browns’ incumbents for work off the bench.
Extra Points: Steelers, Bell, Bears
Here’s a quick look around the NFL:
- Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell passed his physical yesterday after showing up at the team’s facility, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He did not sign his franchise tag yet, but he will, Rapoport adds. Bell’s Steelers open up the season in Cleveland on Sept. 10.
- The Bears were the only team to put in a waiver claim on kicker Roberto Aguayo after the Bucs cut him earlier this month, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. They’re now likely going to be stuck paying his $428K guarantee after releasing him on Saturday.
- The Redskins are still trying to trade Derek Carrier and two teams are currently in on him, Mike Jones of The Washington Post (on Twitter) hears. It’s still unclear how likely a deal is, however. Carrier has been traded before – he came to Washington via a swap with San Francisco in 2015.
- The Cardinals will pursue punter Andy Lee now that he is a free agent, Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic tweets. This makes sense considering that the Cardinals considered trading for him this week prior to his release.
- The Packers are looking for help at offensive guard, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle hears (Twitter link). Green Bay will start Lane Taylor and Jahri Evans at the two guard spots.
Steelers Release Cobi Hamilton
Cobi Hamilton was a fixture in the Steelers’ receiving corps in 2016, but he won’t be a member of the group this year. The team has released the wideout, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
Thanks largely to superstar Antonio Brown, the just-reinstated Martavis Bryant, second-round pick JuJu Smith-Schuster and Eli Rogers, the Steelers are deep at receiver. With those four serving as locks to make the team, Hamilton joined a few other familiar Steelers receivers who vied to stay on their roster during the preseason. It wasn’t to be for the 26-year-old Hamilton, a sixth-round pick of the AFC North rival Bengals in 2013 who didn’t catch a pass in Cincinnati but made somewhat of an impact in Pittsburgh.
In 2016, his lone season with the Steelers, Hamilton started in eight of 11 appearances and caught 17 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. He added another four receptions and a TD in three playoff games last January.
Also a former Eagle, Dolphin and Panther, the well-traveled Hamilton’s next NFL organization will be his sixth.
Steelers To Waive RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
The Steelers will place running back Fitzgerald Toussaint on waivers, reports Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
Toussaint, 27, spent the past two seasons in Pittsburgh and managed 32 totes during that time. Although Toussaint appeared to have a shot at a roster spot earlier this year, Le’Veon Bell‘s decision to report to the club negated that opportunity. Instead, the Steelers will go with rookie James Conner and Terrell Watson behind Bell, who officially returned today.
Pittsburgh values Toussaint’s “toughness,” per Fowler, and given that he still has practice squad eligibility, Toussaint could see his way back to the Steelers’ taxi squad.
Steelers Release Knile Davis
The Steelers are releasing running back Knile Davis, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
The 25-year-old Davis joined the Steelers in March after stints with the Chiefs and Packers from 2013-16. All but two of his 57 appearances came in Kansas City, where he totaled 800 yards on 245 carries (3.3 yards per rush). He was barely a factor last year with either Chiefs or Packers last year, picking up just 18 carries.
The release of Davis leaves the Steelers with Fitzgerald Toussaint, Terrell Watson and third-round pick James Conner as their backups to star Le’Veon Bell.