Chiefs Release RB C.J. Spiller
For the third time this month, running back C.J. Spiller has been let go by the Chiefs. According to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter), the organization is releasing the veteran. Running back Akeem Hunt will be promoted from the practice squad to take Spiller’s spot on the roster.
It’s been a hectic September for Spiller. Kansas City initially signed the 30-year-old back in February, but he was released in early September. The team re-signed him the next day, only for them to release him once again less than a week later. Finally, the team signed him a third time last week… only to release him today. The 2010 first-round pick ultimately didn’t see the field during his Chiefs tenure, although nobody would be shocked if the front office signs him once again.
Spiller compiled 1,244 rushing yards back in 2012, but he’s only collected 1,363 rushing yards in the four seasons since. The veteran has bounced around the league since leaving Buffalo following the 2014 season. He initially signed a four-year deal with the Saints in 2015, but he was released by the squad after only one season. He split the 2016 campaign between the Seahawks and Jets, compiling 18 rushing yards on six carries. He also added another six receptions for 50 yards, emphasizing the pass-catching ability he’s shown throughout his career.
Hunt, a 2015 undrafted free agent out of Purdue, joined the Chiefs practice squad earlier this month. The 24-year-old appeared in 15 games with the Texans between 2015 and 2016, compiling 205 rushing yards on 37 carries. He also added another nine receptions for 68 yards, as well as 10 kick returns for 213 yards (21.3-yard average). Hunt will presumably inherit Spiller’s spot on the depth chart behind Kareem Hunt and Charcandrick West.
Extra Points: Steelers, Tuitt, Saints
Here’s a look around the NFL:
- Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt has a chance to play this week against Minnesota, coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday (Twitter link via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com). Tuitt has been classified as week-to-week with his bicep injury.
- In light of the Zach Strief injury news, Nick Underhill of The Advocate (on Twitter) notes that likely replacement Senio Kelemete can earn $200K by playing in 50% of the team’s snaps and up to $600K at 70%. The Saints will be without the tackle for at least a few weeks.
- Texans guard Jeff Allen is expected to miss at least one game with an ankle injury, Mark Berman of FOX 26 tweets. Allen, one of Houston’s starting guards, is in year two of a four-year, $28MM pact. He appeared in 14 games last season, all starts.
- Wide receiver Cobi Hamilton is working out for the Texans this week, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). The former Pittsburgh receiver could round out a banged up unit that is missing both Bruce Ellington (concussion) and Will Fuller (collarbone).
- The Chiefs gave running back Akeem Hunt an upgraded practice squad contract, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. He’ll now make $36K per week, which comes out to $615K for the year. Hunt signed on with KC’s taxi squad on Sept. 5 and it sounds like the Chiefs weren’t the only team interested in his services.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/17
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Jamil Douglas
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Tony McRae, C Matt Skura
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Eric Lee
- Released: S B.T. Sanders, CB Marcus Sayles
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: FB Alex Armah
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Ben Braunecker
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Rashard Higgins, CB Darius Hillary, S Kai Nacua
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Mark Nzeocha
- Released: WR Brian Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB LaTroy Lewis
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Ronald Martin
- Released: S Andrew Williamson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Raysean Pringle
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Akeem Hunt
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Joseph Jones, CB Craig Mager
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, CB Kevin Peterson
- Released: OL Michael Dunn, DL Louis Trinca-Pasat
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Willie Beavers
- Released: LB Trevor Bates, DT Darius Kilgo
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nordly Capi, WR Travis Rudolph
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Lawrence Thomas
- Released: DL Patrick Gamble
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Ben Boulware, RB Jeremy McNichols
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kenneth Durden
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC South 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 Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans 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 South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Houston Texans
- Claimed:
- WR Andy Jones
- Cut:
- RB Akeem Hunt
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Evan Baylis
- CB Bryce Jones
- WR Riley McCarron
- RB Dare Ogunbowale
- LB Gimel President
- G David Quessenberry
- DE Daniel Ross
- G Chad Slade
- WR Chris Thompson
- Cut from IR:
- P Cory Carter
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed:
- CB Pierre Desir
- WR Matt Hazel
- RB Matt Jones (story)
- DB Kenny Moore
- G Ian Silberman
- Cut:
- T Zach Banner
- S Ronald Martin
- QB Stephen Morris
- OL Brian Schwenke (story)
- TE Brandon Williams
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Fred Brown
- TE Henry Krieger-Coble
- G Adam Redmond
- LB Darnell Sankey
- LB Garrett Sickels
- QB Phillip Walker
- S Andrew Williamson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed:
- DT Eli Ankou
- TE James O’Shaughnessy
- LB Donald Payne
- DB Lafayette Pitts
- T William Poehls
- Cut:
- QB Brandon Allen (story)
- DT Stefan Charles
- OL Jeremiah Poutasi
- LB Hayes Pullard III
- TE Neal Sterling
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE Hunter Dimick
- WR Amba Etta-Tawo
- OL Avery Gennesy
- TE David Grinnage
- DB Tracy Howard
- OL Chris Reed
Tennessee Titans
- Signed:
- WR Eric Weems
- Placed on IR:
- Signed to practice squad:
- DT Antwaun Woods
- RB Khalfani Muhammad
- QB Tyler Ferguson
- TE Jerome Cunningham
- WR Darius Jennings
- S Denzel Johnson
- OL Tyler Marz
- T Steven Moore
Texans Promote RB Akeem Hunt
12:25pm: To accommodate Hunt, the team has placed safety Lonnie Ballentine on the injured reserve, reports Berman (via Twitter). The 2014 seventh-round pick has played in four games during his three-year career, compiling three tackles.
Berman also notes that running back Jonathan Grimes is not traveling with the team and will not play this weekend. Hunt will presumably take his spot on the running back depth chart behind Lamar Miller, Alfred Blue, and Tyler Ervin.
10:32am: As the Texans current crop of running backs recover from their various ailments, the team has added some reinforcement to the backfield. According to Mark Berman of Fox26 in Houston (via Twitter), the team has promoted running back Akeem Hunt from the practice squad.
Hunt, a speedy second-year back, will provide the Texans with some insurance in case one of their running backs can’t go this weekend. Starter Lamar Miller is recovering from a shoulder injury, but Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that the veteran is hoping to play against the Jaguars. Meanwhile, fourth-string running back Jonathan Grimes missed a practice this week due to an illness.
The former Purdue standout joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2015 (following a brief tenure with the Ravens and Giants). In seven games as a rookie, Hunt ran for 96 yards on 17 carries, and he added another 39 yards via six receptions. The running back scored a pair of touchdowns during the Texans preseason finale this year, but he was ultimately cut prior to the regular season.
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC South 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 Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans 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 South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Houston Texans
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Eric Lee (Link via Wilson)
- LB Shakeel Rashad (Link via Wilson)
- WR Quenton Bundrage (Link via Wilson)
- OL Chad Slade (link via Wilson)
- CB Robert Nelson (Twitter link via Mark Berman)
- TE Eric Tomlinson (link via Berman)
- RB Akeem Hunt (Link via Wilson)
- OL Joseph Cheek (Link via Wilson)
- DT Brandon Dunn (Link via Wilson)
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed:
- DB Matthias Farley (Link via Pro Football Talk)
- DB Neiko Thorpe
- Waived:
- CB Jalil Brown
- Te Chase Coffman
- Signed to practice squad:
- OL Adam Redmond (link via his agent)
- DE Sterling Bailey
- LB Trevor Bates
- S Lee Hightower
- TE Mike Miller
- CB Christopher Milton
- DT Kelcy Quarles
- WR Tevaun Smith
- T Jeremy Vujnovich
- Waived:
- CB Jalil Brown
- TE Chase Coffman
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed:
- LB Arthur Brown (Link via Pro Football Talk)
- DB Maqueston Huff
- Waived:
- RB Joe Banyard
- Placed on IR:
- T Josh Wells (Link via Ryan O’Halloran)
- Signed:
- WR Arrelious Benn (Link via O’Halloran)
- Signed to practice squad:
- OL Jeremiah Poutasi (Post via NFL.com)
- OL Rashod Hill (link via Ryan O’Halloran)
- TE Alex Ellis (Link via Terry McCormick)
- DT Richard Ash
- WR Shaq Evans
- WR Rashad Lawrence
- CB Nick Marshall
- WR Shane Wynn
- OL Jeremiah Poutasi (Link via Adam Caplan)
- LB Sean Porter (Link via Caplan)
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed:
- TE Jace Amaro (Link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter)
- Waived:
- Signed to practice squad:
- C/G Ronald Patrick (link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
- T Taylor Marz (Link via Terry McCormick)
- RB David Fluellen (Link via McCormick)
- DT Antwaun Woods
- TE Jerome Cunningham
- LB Justin Staples
- DB Curtis Riley
- WR Ben Roberts
- CB Kalan Reed
- DE Mehdi Abdesmad (Link via Jim Wyatt)
Texans Cut Cecil Shorts III
The Texans have cut wide receiver Cecil Shorts III, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter). Running back Akeem Hunt has also been shown the door, and ESPN’s Josina Anderson tweets that defensive lineman Brandon Dunn has been waived.
Last year was Shorts’ first season in Houston and he compiled 42 catches for 484 yards and two touchdowns. Shorts also returned 11 punts, his first special teams action since 2011. For his efforts last season, Pro Football Focus ranked him 90th among 121 eligible receivers. Before joining the Texans, Shorts spent four seasons with the Jaguars. His best season came in 2012, when he caught 55 passes for 979 yards and seven touchdowns. Following the 2014 season, Shorts joined the Texans on a two-year, $6MM deal.
At one point in time, Shorts had a chance to be the team’s third wide receiver, sitting behind DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Will Fuller.
Thanks to the departures of Shorts and Hunt, along with the bevy of players who received their walking papers yesterday, the Texans were already close to finalizing their 53-man roster.
The team officially announced the team’s roster moves, which included a new addition in linebacker Eric Lee.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/15
Here are today’s minor moves.
- Bryce Brown‘s rocky season continued when the Seahawks waived the now-well-traveled running back and brought up linebacker Eric Pinkins to take his place on the roster, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports. Pinkins, a 2014 sixth-round pick who was recently cut and re-signed to Seattle’s practice squad this year, will take the place of injured Bruce Irvin at strongside linebacker Sunday, per Condotta. Also jettisoned from the Bills earlier this year, Brown didn’t play in the two games for which he was on the Seahawks’ roster. The 24-year-old hasn’t played in a game this season.
- Tyrell Williams will ascend from the Chargers‘ practice squad to their 53-man roster, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports (on Twitter). A 6-foot-4 rookie, Williams made the team out of training camp and played in one game thus far this season. The Chargers cut tight end Sean McGrath to clear the roster spot.
- The Jets signed defensive end Mike Catapano off their practice squad and cut safety Ronald Martin, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily news tweets. Mehta notes (via Twitter) the team bringing up Catapano, who played in 15 games with the Chiefs in 2013, points toward Sheldon Richardson missing Sunday’s game with a hamstring malady.
- The Texans promoted Akeem Hunt to their active roster, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. The rookie who owns a 4.37 40-yard dash clocking had stints with the Giants and Ravens prior to latching on with the Texans. Houston cut third-year defensive end Kourtnei Brown to make room for Hunt, Wilson tweets.
- The Buccaneers have promoted linebacker Josh Keyes to their active roster in advance of Sunday’s game against the Eagles, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune.
Practice Squad Updates: 11/2/15
Here are Monday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: S Shamiel Gary, LB Terrell Manning (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Cut: CB Trovon Reed
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Akeem Hunt (via Wilson)
San Francisco 49ers
- To be signed: RB Jarryd Hayne (via Wilson on Twitter)
Workout Notes: Saints, Seahawks, Jaguars
Today’s workouts from around the NFL..
- The Jets worked out defensive end Lawrence Okoye, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Okoye, a former University of Kentucky discus hurler, had previous stops with the 49ers and Cardinals.
Earlier updates:
- The Saints tried out John Conner and Henry Hynoski, a league source tells Mike Florio of PFT. New Orleans already has a fullback on the roster in Austin Johnson, but he was a surprise scratch on Sunday and he may have fallen out of favor with coaches. Conner, nicknamed the Terminator, was a favorite of Rex Ryan while with the Jets. Conner followed Ryan to Buffalo in 2015, but he was let go before the start of the season. Hynoski, a four-year veteran, spent his full career with the Giants and appeared in every game last year.
- The Seahawks had ten players in for tryouts on Monday, including running back Isaiah Pead and defensive end Lawrence Okoye, a source tells Florio. Linebacker John Lotulelei, tackle Jesse Davis, guard Taylor Boggs, defensive end Keith Browner, guard Kadeem Edwards, defensive end Efe Obada, and defensive end DeAngelo Tyson were also showing their stuff for Seattle.
- The Jaguars brought in kickers Zach Hocker and Randy Bullock for a workout on Wednesday, but Josh Scobee was not among those in attendance, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- In addition to their previously reported look at Jeff Demps, the Jets tried out running back Akeem Hunt on Tuesday, a league source tells Florio. Wide receiver Larry Pinkard also got a look from Gang Green. Chris Ivory is dealing with tightness in his quad, so the Jets might opt to add a running back if he needs to sit out for a while.
- The Browns recently worked out cornerbacks Bill Bentley, Chase Casey, Al Louis-Jean, and Robert Steeples, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Cardinals worked out Emmanuel Acho, James Anderson and Ja’Gared Davis, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Falcons worked out Mike Gillislee and Devin Wylie, Wilson tweets.
- The Panthers worked out Andrew Miller, Wilson tweets.
- The Jets worked out wide receiver Larry Pinkard, Wilson tweets.
- The Steelers worked out Dwight Bentley and Montell Garner, Wilson tweets.
- The Raiders worked out Dyshawn Davis, Wilson tweets.
- The Saints worked out Jeff Luc, Patrick Scales, Jason Williams, and Christian Yount, Wilson tweets.
- The Packers worked out Justin Anderson, Curtis Grant, and Ronald Powell, Wilson tweets.
- The Colts worked out Sean Baker, Matt Daniels, outside linebacker Mike McAdoo, and Dreamius Smith, Wilson tweets.