Chargers To Sign DL Austin Johnson
The Chargers have added another player to their defense. The team is signing defensive tackle Austin Johnson, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). It’s a two-year deal worth up to $14MM, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter).
Johnson had a breakout season for the Giants in 2021, setting career-highs across the board. In 17 starts, the defensive tackle collected 72 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and seven QB hits. Entering this season, Johnson had 54 tackles and 3.5 sacks in five seasons with the Titans and Giants.
A 2016 second-round pick, Johnson spent the first four seasons of his career with Tennessee. He joined the Giants organization in 2020.
The acquisitions of Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson will steal the headlines, but Johnson should find a role for himself on the Chargers defense. Justin Jones and Linval Joseph combined for 23 starts last season, but both players are hitting free agency. Even backup Christian Covington, who started three games in 2021, is a free agent.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/21/17
Today’s practice squad moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: FB Joe Kerridge
Houston Texans
- Signed: OT Jake Rodgers, DT Marcus Hardison
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Tracy Howard
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Shakir Soto
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Kache Palacio
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: FB Austin Johnson, OL Avery Young
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/17
Today’s practice squad updates:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Derrick Nelson, DT Kapron Lewis-Moore
- Released: TE Ryan Malleck, S Ronald Martin
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Ryan O’Malley, C Adam Redmond
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Matt Lengel
- Released: TE J.P. Holtz
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Cole Toner
- Released: QB Taylor Heinicke, G Jason King
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Woodrow Hamilton, LB Shayne Skov
- Released: CB Bradley Sylve
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Ethan Cooper, WR Kalif Raymond
- Released: OL Anthony Fabiano
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Jahad Thomas
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner
- Released: LB Boseko Lokombo
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE Alex McCalister
- Released: WR Rashard Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DE Noble Nwachukwu
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Larry Webster
- Released: FB Austin Johnson
Buccaneers Trim Roster To 53
The Buccaneers have moved their roster to 53 players by making the following transactions:
Waived:
- DE Mehdi Abdesmad
- G Josh Allen
- DE Sterling Bailey
- DE Tavaris Barnes
- LB Richie Brown
- LB Riley Bullough
- CB Mariel Cooper
- WR Donteea Dye
- DE Hendrick Ekpe
- RB Russell Hansbrough
- CB Vernon Harris
- G Jarvis Harrison
- WR Shaq Hill
- K Zach Hocker
- WR Josh Huff (story)
- S Marqueston Huff
- FB Austin Johnson
- S Isaiah Johnson
- T Korren Kirven
- LB Jeff Knox
- G Michael Liedtke
- T Marquis Lucas
- WR Freddie Martino
- RB Jeremy McNichols (story)
- CB Jonathan Moxey
- CB Cody Riggs
- G James Stone
- WR Derel Walker
- TE Tevin Westbrook
- WR Bobo Wilson
Waived/injured:
- QB Sefo Liufau
Released:
- LS Andrew DePaola (story)
- DE George Johnson (story)
- LS Garrison Sanborn
Placed on IR:
- DE DaVonte Lambert (story)
- DT Stevie Tu’ikolovatu (story)
Placed on Reserve/Suspended List:
- RB Doug Martin
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/14/16
The latest practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: Marvin Hall Jr.
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Ryan White
- Cut: OL Kevin Graf
Buffalo Bills
- Signed OLB Greg Townsend Jr.
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Josh Shirley
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Zac Brooks
- Cut: RB Terrell Watson
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Laurence Gibson, WR Tevin Jones
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Russell Hansbrough
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: FB Austin Johnson
Buccaneers Audition Nate Washington
After losing wide receiver Vincent Jackson to a torn ACL last week, the Buccaneers are working out another veteran pass-catcher. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link), Tampa Bay took a look at WR Nate Washington today.
[RELATED: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Depth Chart]
The 33-year-old Washington has been a member of three teams since going undrafted from Division III Tiffin University in 2005. He spent a productive 2015 as a member of the Texans, with whom he hauled in 47 passes for 658 yards and four touchdowns. Washington, who has also played three years in Pittsburgh and six seasons in Tennessee, has 458 receptions and 44 touchdowns to his name. In his most prolific campaign, 2011, the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder recorded career highs in catches (74), targets (121), yards (1,023) and scores (seven) with the Titans.
The Bucs can still rely on No. 1 wide receiver Mike Evans, who is second in the league with 75 targets, but are quite thin behind their top option. Cecil Shorts, coming off a hamstring injury, is joined by Adam Humphries, Freddie Martino, and Russell Shepard — who caught five passes for 77 yards and a score on Sunday — in the wide receiver corps. Tampa also re-signed WR Donteea Dye to its practice squad today.
In addition to Washington, the Buccaneers also worked out running backs Austin Johnson and Will Ratelle, reports Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
Saints Move Roster To 53
The Saints have now announced their full list of transactions that bring them down to 53 players.
Cut:
- OL Khalif Barnes (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate)
- OL Tyrus Thompson (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)
- OT Tony Hills (Twitter link via Underhill)
- FB Austin Johnson (Twitter link via Underhill)
- S Trae Elston (Twitter link via Joel Erickson of the Advocate)
- DE Bobby Richardson (Twitter link via Underhill)
- CB Brian Dixon (Twitter link via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com)
- C Jack Allen (Twitter link via Underhill)
- K Connor Barth (Twitter link via Underhill)
- RB Travaris Cadet (Twitter link via Underhill)
- TE Garrett Griffin (Twitter link via Erickson)
- DE Darryl Tapp
- DL C.J. Wilson
- WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
- G John Fullington
- LB Jeff Schoettmer
- WR Jake Lampman
- C Marcus Henry
- LB Davis Tull
- DE Chris McCain (story)
Placed on IR:
Barnes signed with the Saints last Sunday, meaning his stay in New Orleans lasted less than a week. In 11 NFL seasons, the 34-year-old has seen action in more than 150 games (117 starts) with the Jaguars and Raiders. Barnes lost his starting job in Oakland last season, but still appeared in 14 games.
NFC South Notes: Saints, Payton, Bucs
The Saints are considering several scenarios with fullback Austin Johnson, according to Nick Underhill of the Advocate. Johnson recently suffered a knee injury in camp, and New Orleans is hoping that he’ll be able to return in a few weeks and continue to work towards a roster spot. But while they wait for more information, the Saints have signed veteran John Kuhn to compete with incumbent fullback Sione Huma.
Here’s more from the NFC South:
- Although rumors persisted that Sean Payton would leave the Saints for a new team, it doesn’t as though the New Orleans head coach ever seriously considered defecting. “I understand how that began to build steam, and yet [GM] Mickey [Loomis] and I have a great relationship,” Payton told Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com. “That took basically a day-and-a-half of us sitting down and outlining the next five years and what our goals are and where we see this team going.” Payton is now locked up through the 2020 campaign.
- Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht took some flak for firing Lovie Smith after only two seasons, especially given that Licht didn’t exactly shake up the coaching staff, promoting offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter to the top job. But as Licht tells Peter King of TheMMQB.com, his choice of Koetter will likely be the defining moment of his Tampa tenure. “My career’s probably on the line with this pick,” said Licht. “That was the thing I thought about right away: We’ve got to find the guy who’s going to have success and eventually leave on his own terms.”
- Locked in a battle with rookie Swayze Waters, veteran punter Mike Scifres has not had a productive camp with the Panthers, writes King in the same piece. Scifres signed a minimum salary benefit contract with no guaranteed money, so Carolina could easily move on if they so choose. Head coach Ron Rivera didn’t dismiss the possibility of signing another punter, according to King.
- Just days after signing with the Falcons, wide receiver Lance Moore announced his retirement from the NFL.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/10/16
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves:
- The Broncos signed nine practice squad players to reserve-futures contracts, as Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post writes. Receiver Jordan Taylor, running back Kapri Bibbs, safety Ryan Murphy, guard Dillon Day, tackles Cameron Jefferson and Kyle Roberts, tight end Nick Kasa, defensive end George Uko, and linebacker Zaire Anderson all have new deals with Denver. Taylor served as as Peyton Manning‘s personal practice receiver in 2015 when he rehabbed from his foot injury. Murphy was sent packing during Super Bowl week after being involved, but not arrested in a prostitution sting in San Jose. In a related move, Northern Colorado receiver Jace Davis was waived.
- On Wednesday, the Eagles announced that linebacker Najee Goode has been signed to a new one-year contract. Originally a fifth-round draft pick of Tampa Bay in 2012, Goode was claimed off of waivers by the Eagles in September 2013. After a pectoral injury suffered in the 2014 opener against Jacksonville put him on Injured Reserve for the rest of the season, Goode returned to form in 2015.
- The Saints have re-signed fullback Austin Johnson, as Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune writes. Johnson, 26, was an exclusive-rights free agent. In his three years with the Saints, Johnson has bounced between the active roster and the taxi squad. Johnson has played in 17 games in the last two seasons, rushing 12 times for 31 yards and catches seven passes for 45 yards. He is also a frequent contributor on special teams. As Woodbery notes, Johnson will likely compete with fullback Toben Opurum for a roster spot in 2016. Besides the two fullbacks, New Orleans already has four other tailbacks under contract for 2016, not counting free agents Khiry Robinson (RFA), Tim Hightower, Travaris Cadet, and Kendall Hunter.
Saints Place Mark Ingram On IR
4:01pm: The Saints have filled Ingram’s roster spot by promoting fullback Austin Johnson from their practice squad, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
3:59pm: As feared, Mark Ingram‘s shoulder injury is serious enough to prematurely bring his 2015 season to an end. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Saints have placed Ingram on injured reserve, officially ruling him out for the rest of the year.
Ingram, who turns 26 later this month, posted career numbers in 2014, earning a Pro Bowl berth and a new four-year contract from New Orleans. Through 12 games, Ingram was on track for another productive year, with 769 rushing yards and six touchdowns to go along with 405 yards through the air.
In Ingram’s absence, Tim Hightower and C.J. Spiller figure to shoulder the load, with rookie Marcus Murphy potentially in the mix as well. The Saints have an open roster spot now that Ingram is on IR, though the team may not use it on a running back, with three other viable options still on the 53-man squad.