Akeem Hunt

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.

C.J. Spiller (vertical)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

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

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

  • Signed: LB LaTroy Lewis

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed: CB Raysean Pringle

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, CB Kevin Peterson
  • Released: OL Michael Dunn, DL Louis Trinca-Pasat

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

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

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

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.

<a rel=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

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tennessee Titans

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.Cecil Shorts (vertical)

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

Houston Texans

San Francisco 49ers

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: