Ali Gaye - Pro Football Rumors

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South

August 30th, 2023 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.

Houston Texans

Claimed:

DB Alex Austin, G Nick Broeker

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

DT Khalil Davis, T Austin Deculus, CB Cobi Francis, DL Ali Gaye, S Brandon Hill, WR Johnny Johnson, TE Dalton Keene, OL Jimmy Morrissey, DE Adedayo Odeleye, DE Derek Rivers, WR Steven Sims, LB Garret Wallow, P Ty Zentner

Indianapolis Colts

Placed on IR:

TE Jelani Woods (story)

Signed:

WR Isaiah McKenzie (story)

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

LB Liam Anderson, S Henry Black, S Marcel Dabo, RB Jake Funk, S Ronnie Harrison (story), RB Jason Huntley, WR D.J. Montgomery, DE Al-Quadin Muhammad (story), LB Donavan Mutin, WR Amari Rodgers, DT Caleb Sampson, T Dan Skipper, WR Mike Strachan, CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart, CB Kevin Toliver, WR Juwann Winfree

Jacksonville Jaguars

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

OL Chandler Brewer, OLB D.J. Coleman, OL Coy Cronk, DL De’Shaan Dixon, CB Erick Hallett, LB Dequan Jackson, TE Derek Parish, QB Nathan Rourke, OL Darryl Williams, WR Seth Williams, CB Tevaughn Campbell, RB Snoop Conner, WR Jacob Harris

Tennessee Titans

Claimed:

CB Kindle Vildor

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

LB Chance Campbell, DB Shyheim Carter, DB Eric Garror, WR Tre’Shaun Harrison, WR Mason Kinsey, DB Armani Marsh, DE T.K. McLendon, TE Thomas Odukoya, T John Ojukwu, DE Sam Okuayinonu, DT Kyle Peko, T Andrew Rupcich, LB Thomas Rush, DT Michael Dwumfour, TE Kevin Rader, G Jordan Roos

Released:

OL Corey Levin

Released from IR via injury settlement:

CB Josh Thompson
RB Jonathan Ward

Texans Set 53-Man Roster

August 29th, 2023 at 8:33pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans are in the midst of a rebuild, but that doesn’t make their roster decisions any easier. The organization ultimately settled on 53 players today:

Released:

Waived:

OL Tyler Beach
DE Thomas Booker
WR Jalen Camp
CB Cameron Dantzler
DL Khalil Davis
OT Austin Deculus
RB Gerrid Doaks
CB Cobi Francis
DL Ali Gaye
DB Brandon Hill
WR Johnny Johnson III
DB Darius Joiner
TE Dalton Keene
OL Jimmy Morrissey
OL Jordan Murray
DE Adedayo Odeleye
QB E.J. Perry
RB Larry Rountree
LB Garret Wallow
WR Jared Wayne
P Ty Zentner

Waived/injured:

DT Roy Lopez
G Keaton Sutherland

Placed on reserve/PUP:

OL Charlie Heck

Three veteran tight ends were let go in Mason Schreck, Eric Tomlinson, and Nick Vannett. Vannett has the most epxerience of the bunch, having seen time in 86 career games. He spent the 2022 seasons with the Giants and Saints, hauling in six catches. Tomlinson has appeared in 85 career games, including 34 over the past two seasons. He started 12 of his 17 appearances for Denver in 2022, serving mostly as an extra blocker.

Adam Humphries was an 800-yard receiver with the Buccaneers in 2018, but he’s compiled only 985 yards in three years since. He didn’t get into a game during the 2022 season, but he did haul in 41 catches for Washington in 2021.

Texans Add Nine Undrafted Free Agents

May 13th, 2023 at 9:56am CST by Ben Levine

The Texans were one of the busiest teams in the draft, and the front office is continuing to be active after the seventh rou. The team announced that they’ve signed nine undrafted free agents:

OL Tyler Beach (Wisconsin)
OT Dylan Deatherage (Western Michigan)
P Joe Doyle (Memphis)
DE Ali Gaye (LSU)
S Darius Joiner (Duke)
WR Jesse Matthews (San Diego State)
RB Xazavian Valladay (Arizona State)
WR Jared Wayne (Pittsburgh)
OT Kilian Zierer (Auburn)

Xazavian Valladay got $175K in guaranteed money from the Texans, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). The running back had three productive seasons at Wyoming before transferring to Arizona State for the 2022 campaign, where he compiled 1,481 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns. Dameon Pierce has a firm hold on the starting gig and the Texans brought in Devin Singletary as a reliable backup, but Valladay could push for a role as an RB3.

Kilian Zierer got $180K guaranteed from Houston, per Wilson (on Twitter). The offensive lineman held his own against SEC competition despite having only started playing football at the age of 16. Fortunately for the Texans, they can take the rookie along slowly with the hopes that he will eventually be a serviceable backup to Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard.

Jared Wayne got the biggest payday of the grouping, earning $210K in guaranteed money (via Wilson on Twitter). The Pittsburgh product earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2022 after finishing with 60 receptions for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns. His size put him on the NFL radar but his lack of elite speed led to him going undrafted, but with the Texans eyeing a completely revamped WR depth chart, he’ll have as good of a chance as anyone to earn a role on the team.