Broncos To Bring Back QB Ben DiNucci
The Broncos will spend the coming week preparing to host the AFC championship game. They will do so knowing quarterback Bo Nix is unavailable the rest of the way. 
Nix broke a bone in his right ankle late in overtime last night. Surgery is required as a result, and a return to action will not be possible even if Denver advances to the Super Bowl. In need of depth under center, the team has elected to bring back a familiar face.
Ben DiNucci is being signed to the Broncos’ practice squad, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 29-year-old himself has since confirmed the news. Denver will rely on Jarrett Stidham to handle starting duties next week, with Sam Ehlinger set to operate as his backup. DiNucci will give the team a well-traveled depth option on the taxi squad.
A seventh-round pick of the Cowboys in 2020, DiNucci has bounced around professional football since then. During this past offseason, he saw time with the Saints before being released shortly after the draft. When the Falcons needed healthy QB options for their preseason finale, DiNucci briefly joined them. He was then included among Atlanta’s roster cuts just before the start of the campaign.
During his career, DiNucci has logged only three regular season NFL appearances (and just one start). Those came during his rookie season in Dallas. For a period of one calendar year (May 2023-24), though, the James Madison product was in the Broncos’ organization. As a familiar signal-caller to head coach Sean Payton and Co, DiNucci will give the team a third-string option as it aims to compensate for Nix’s absence.
Falcons Conduct First Wave Of Roster Cuts
With Tuesday’s roster deadline approaching, the Falcons have begun making required cuts. These 12 players were let go on Saturday:
Released:
- DL Morgan Fox
- CB Lamar Jackson
- LB Caleb Johnson
Waived:
- OL Matthew Cindric
- QB Ben DiNucci
- RB Elijah Dotson
- TE Nikola Kalinic
- LB Nick Kubitz
- WR Jesse Matthews
- OLB Ronnie Perkins
- WR Quincy Skinner Jr.
- S Josh Thompson
Fox signed with Atlanta early in free agency, and the veteran appeared to be slated to handle a role along the defensive line as a result. Somewhat surprisingly, though, he has been released. Fox played in all three of the team’s preseason contests, a sign he was on the roster bubble. The 30-year-old will now hit the market in search of his next opportunity (which will no doubt present itself after final cuts are made and teams sort out their initial rosters).
DiNucci signed on Monday and by doing so provided the Falcons with a contributor under center for their preseason finale. Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins sat out the contest in preparation for their respective roles as starter and backup in 2025. Unless he is retained via the practice squad, DiNucci will need to look elsewhere while aiming to latch onto an NFL roster.
As a result of today’s moves, the Falcons are down to 77 players on their roster. Like every other team, they will need to bring that total to 53 by Tuesday afternoon.
Falcons Sign QB Ben DiNucci
Ben DiNucci‘s next NFL opportunity has arrived. The journeyman quarterback announced on Monday that he has signed with the Falcons.
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DiNucci’s deal should set him up to see playing time in the Falcons’ preseason finale. Neither starter Michael Penix Jr. nor backup Kirk Cousins will suit up for the game, and head coach Raheem Morris confirmed (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Emory Jones is in concussion protocol.
That will presumably allow for DiNucci, 28, to receive a look during practices over the next few days in addition to Friday’s contest in Dallas. Taking part in the game would allow him to compete against his former team. DiNucci entered the NFL in 2020 as a Cowboys draftee. The former seventh-rounder made three appearances, including one start, during his rookie campaign.
Since then, DiNucci has not seen any regular season game action in the NFL. The Pitt and James Madison product spent time with the Broncos and Bills before signing a futures contract with the Saints this offseason. Once New Orleans took the expected route of adding another signal-caller via the draft, though, the team moved on from DiNucci. This Falcons pact will provide him with the opportunity to compete for third-string spot alongside Easton Stick.
In the wake of Jones’ concussion, he has been waived with an injury designation. Provided the former UDFA clears waivers, he will revert to injured reserve. The Falcons also announced that wideout DJ Chark – signed late last month – has been released. He will now aim to catch onto a roster elsewhere with the deadline for final cuts approaching.
Saints Release QB Ben DiNucci
The addition of a quarterback via the draft added to the logjam at the position for New Orleans. The team’s depth chart has now be thinned, however.
Ben DiNucci announced on Tuesday he has been released. The 28-year-old joined the Saints in December in the wake of Derek Carr getting injured. DiNucci did not see any playing time down the stretch, and he will not have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot during training camp as a result of today’s move.
To close out the 2024 season, New Orleans used Spencer Rattler as a starter for six games. The 2024 fifth-rounder is joined by Jake Haener (selected in the fourth round of the 2023 draft) as a depth option behind Carr. Of course, it remains to be seen when the Saints’ starter will be available as he weighs the option of undergoing surgery on his shoulder.
As expected, New Orleans drafted a quarterback for the third consecutive year. Tyler Shough heard his name called 40th overall, and the Louisville product will compete for the backup gig during his rookie season (provided Carr is available to start the season). With that quartet of signal-callers in place – along with Hunter Dekkers as an invitee to rookie minicamp (h/t Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football) – it comes as little surprise DiNucci has been let go.
A seventh-round pick of the Cowboys in 2020, DiNucci made three appearances and one start during his rookie campaign. He has yet to see any regular season NFL action since then, and with the draft now in the books most teams’ depth charts are set for the summer. DiNucci will nevertheless turn his attention to finding a new opportunity for 2025.
Saints Sign QB Ben DiNucci
In the wake of Derek Carr‘s injury, the Saints have added a quarterback. Ben DiNucci has joined the team, per a Tuesday announcement from the veteran passer himself.
Carr suffered a fracture in his non-throwing hand on Sunday, and he is considered week-to-week as a result. Surgery will not be required, and the Saints do not intend to place him on injured reserve (a move which would guarantee a four-game absence). Even though Carr could return before the end of the campaign as a result, New Orleans has sought out depth under center.
Jake Haener took over for Carr during New Orleans’ Week 14 win, and he could be in line to get the start this week. Failing that, the team will look once again to Spencer Rattler; the fifth-round rookie has made three starts this season, but his performances have left plenty to be desired. The same can also be said of Haener, but in some combination those two will be in position to handle QB duties over the coming weeks.
DiNucci’s most recent (and only) regular season NFL game action came with the Cowboys in 2020. He made three appearances and one start that year, but it has not been followed up by signficant playing time opportunities since then. The former seventh-rounder played for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023, a stint which led to practice squad time with the Broncos and Bills. DiNiucci was waived by Buffalo during roster cutdowns this summer.
Now, the 28-year-old will get the chance to see time on the Saints’ taxi squad. A promotion to the active roster will likely not be necessary as long as Haener and Rattler stay healthy over the closing weeks of the campaign, but DiNucci could audition for an offseason roster spot with New Orleans.
Bills Pare Roster To 53; LB Matt Milano Receives IR-Return Designation
Here is how the Bills dropped their roster to the 53-man limit:
Released:
- DT Eli Ankou
- WR Deon Cain
- OL Will Clapp
- OL La’el Collins
- WR KJ Hamler
- S Kareem Jackson
- WR Andy Isabella
- DT DeShawn Williams
Waived:
- OL Keaton Bills
- OL Gunner Britton
- DE Kameron Cline
- CB Te’Cory Couch
- TE Zach Davidson
- DT Branson Deen
- QB Ben DiNucci
- OL Mike Edwards
- RB Frank Gore Jr.
- OL Richard Gouraige
- CB Daequan Hardy
- WR Xavier Johnson
- DE Kingsley Jonathan
- CB Keni-H Lovely
- TE Tre’ McKitty
- WR Tyrell Shavers
- WR Justin Shorter
- DT Gable Steveson
- S Kendall Williamson
Placed on IR:
- T Travis Clayton
Placed on IR (return designation)
- RB Darrynton Evans
- LB Matt Milano
Milano suffered a biceps tear and will aim to return late in the season, though the All-Pro linebacker’s injury trouble is obviously a big-picture concern at this point. The Bills are also using one of their eight IR activations, mandated for teams who take advantage of the new rule to designate IR-return players today, on a backup running back. That is a rather interesting decision, as Evans has totaled just 62 carries since being drafted in the 2020 third round.
Residing on the Bills’ roster bubble going into camp, Damar Hamlin made the team. Ditto Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who joined Hamlin on the bubble. The bubble burst — for the time being, at least — on Collins and Clapp, who were vying for swing spots. Collins had been shuttled to guard — where he had not played since 2016 — in recent practices. Jackson joined the Bills after they ran into some injury trouble at safety early in camp.
Steveson, who has an Olympic wrestling gold medal, could be a practice squad candidate. The Eagles carried Olympian hurdler Devon Allen on their P-squad for two years, though the latter has far more football seasoning compared to Steveson. Attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps by securing a Bills gig, Gore is a P-squad candidate, per the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. He will need to clear waivers first.
Bills To Sign Damiere Byrd, Ben DiNucci
Damiere Byrd‘s journey around the NFL stopped through Washington this offseason, but the Commanders ended the partnership months after it began. The veteran supporting-caster secured another opportunity Monday, however.
The Bills, who have signed several free agent wideouts this year, added Byrd to that list, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. This will be team No. 8 for Byrd, who will return to the AFC East in an effort to make Buffalo’s 53-man roster or their practice squad. Byrd played for the Patriots in 2020, enjoying his best season. The 10th-year vet worked out for the Bills today, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
Rostering Byrd during Cam Newton‘s season at the controls, the Pats received Byrd’s best production. That 604-yard showing is an outlier, though, as the 5-foot-9 target does not have another season north of 400 yards on his resume. Byrd has some return experience, and Fowler references that in connection with this Bills agreement, but not too much. Byrd maxed out at seven kick returns in a season (2017, which included a touchdown return) and topped two punt returns in a season just once (11 in 2018).
This signing also can be added to the Carolina-to-Buffalo pipeline, as Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott were indeed still in Charlotte when Byrd’s career began back in 2015. This once-active pipeline has slowed a bit, as the Bills’ power duo has been in place since 2017, but Byrd represents another member. In between his first Panthers stint, here is Byrd’s journey: Cardinals (2019), Pats (2020), Bears (2021), Falcons (2022), Panthers again (2023), Texans (2023) and Commanders. Byrd averaged 20.6 yards per catch in Atlanta (13/268) and totaled 329 yards in Chicago.
In addition to Byrd, the Bills added Ben DiNucci, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. The Broncos carried DiNucci on their practice squad for most of last season, elevating him to their active roster on a few occasions, but cut the veteran third-stringer weeks after draft week brought in Zach Wilson and Bo Nix. DiNucci, who played in the USFL in 2023, last saw NFL game action in 2020 with the Cowboys.
The former seventh-round pick will join a Bills team that lost Shane Buechele to a neck injury in its preseason opener. DiNucci joins Josh Allen and Mitchell Trubisky as healthy Bills QBs.
QB Notes: Tua, Rodgers, Daniels, Steelers
Tua Tagovailoa is not holding in, separating the Dolphins‘ top negotiation from multiple others around the NFL. This includes Jordan Love‘s Packers arrangement, which has become a hold-in situation. Despite Tagovailoa having a longer track record than Love, the fifth-year passer went through Dolphins workouts Wednesday. This did come with a notable exception. Tagovailoa took only two reps (both handoffs) in Dolphins team drills to open camp, per ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. Mike McDaniel said Tagovailoa’s camp workload — absent an extension — would compare to OTAs; the lefty did not go through team drills then or during minicamp. We heard Monday this would likely be the route Tagovailoa takes.
The Dolphins have been negotiating with Tua for months, and while some optimism has emerged, Miami’s QB1 has turned down at least one offer and may have seen the team dig in on a price south of Trevor Lawrence‘s $55MM-per-year deal. Lawrence receiving $142MM may also be much higher than the Dolphins want to go. McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) both sides are “relentlessly” working on this agreement. The parties still have time to hammer out a deal before the season, but the longer this goes, the closer Tua comes to carrying a lofty franchise tag number (upwards of $40MM) on Miami’s 2025 cap sheet.
Here is the latest QB news coming out of training camp:
- Aaron Rodgers confirmed a trip to Egypt indeed led to his missing minicamp and confirmed the Jets fined him for the unexcused absences. Rodgers has been criticized for a lack of leadership by skipping the offseason’s only mandatory workout, but he said his relationship with Robert Saleh has been unaffected. “I’m an adult; I knew what I was getting into,” Rodgers said, via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. “I knew the fine that was coming and also knew how much I wanted to be in Egypt. I wish there hadn’t been a conflict scheduling-wise, but it was what it was.” Rodgers, who said be based the trip on the Jets’ 2023 offseason schedule, had shown up for OTAs prior to the abrupt — to the public, at least — departure.
- Jayden Daniels does not have Commanders first-string reps to himself just yet; the No. 2 overall pick is splitting them with free agency addition Marcus Mariota, the Washington Post’s Sam Fortier notes. While Dan Quinn is labeling this a QB competition, Fortier cautions that Daniels is all but assured of the starting job. This follows a report that pointed to the Commanders indeed feeling no real reason to hold back the 2023 Heisman winner by giving Mariota bridge work.
- Although the Daniels-Mariota split may deprive the highly touted rookie from early reps, Washington is holding an actual battle for the No. 3 spot. The team is pitting rookie UDFA Sam Hartman against veteran Jeff Driskel, Fortier adds. The former Notre Dame starter, who has a safety net via the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions’ recent draft choice, played behind Driskel to start camp. It is not yet clear if the Commanders plan to keep three QBs, but the winner of this battle would stand to at least be the team’s emergency option in the event only two are rostered.
- Prior to the USFL and XFL merging, Ben DiNucci played in the former league’s second season and spent last year as the Broncos’ third-stringer. The recent Russell Wilson teammate worked out for the 13-year vet’s new team this week, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes the Steelers brought in the veteran. Pittsburgh has Kyle Allen in place behind Wilson and Justin Fields presently.
Broncos To Waive QB Ben DiNucci
Ben DiNucci‘s season back in the NFL came in Denver, with the Broncos giving the former Cowboys backup-turned-XFL starter another shot. A 2024 overhaul of the team’s QB room will change its plans regarding DiNucci.
The team will waive the reserve passer, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. The Broncos added both Zach Wilson and Bo Nix to their QB room during draft week, and Jarrett Stidham remains on the roster. DiNucci’s exit will leave three QBs on Denver’s 90-man roster.
Catching on with the Broncos in May 2023, DiNucci came over after a season in the third XFL incarnation. A member of the Seattle Sea Dragons, DiNucci led XFL 3.0 in passing yards (2,671) while throwing 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over 10 starts. The spring-league opportunity created NFL interest, and the Broncos kept DiNucci around throughout last season. Denver gave DiNucci a reserve/futures contract in January.
The Broncos had taken care of DiNucci, 27, after he made the decision to stay with the team rather than move to the Saints’ active roster. New Orleans had attempted to poach DiNucci off Denver’s P-squad following a Derek Carr injury last season, but DiNucci opted to remain the AFC West team’s emergency third-stringer behind Russell Wilson and Stidham. The Broncos ended up elevating DiNucci to their active roster three times, covering the QB, as he would have been required to remain on the Saints’ active roster (and see game checks that come with that status) for at least three weeks had he left for New Orleans.
Last seeing regular-season action in 2020 with the Cowboys, DiNucci saw preseason time for the Broncos last year. While the Broncos could need a fourth QB at some point this offseason, each of their three options are healthy. Nix’s development will define Denver’s spring and summer, and the coaching staff will also need to focus on training Wilson in Sean Payton‘s system. This move will leave Stidham as the only Denver QB with previous experience in the current scheme.
A former seventh-round Cowboys pick out of James Madison, DiNucci spent the 2022 season out of football after being a Dallas cut that summer. The former Pittsburgh recruit would profile as a player of interest to the newly formed United Football League, but that season is more than halfway over. Not being claimed on the waiver wire could stall DiNucci’s career.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/8/24
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Andre Baccellia, OL Jackson Barton, WR Kaden Davis, OL Marquis Hayes, RB Tony Jones, TE Bernhard Seikovits, WR Jeff Smith, CB Quavian White
Atlanta Falcons
- OL Barry Wesley
Carolina Panthers
- RB Mike Boone, RB Spencer Brown, WR Jalen Camp, RB Tarik Cohen, CB Lamar Jackson, TE Jordan Matthews, CB AJ Parker, TE Chris Pierce, WR Cam Sims, OT Badara Traore, DE Raequan Williams
Chicago Bears
- LB Micah Baskerville, TE Stephen Carlson, OL Jerome Carvin, DB Adrian Colbert, OL Aviante Collins, DL Michael Dwumfour, DL Daniel Hardy, OL Roy Mbaeteka, OL Bill Murray, WR Nsimba Webster
Cincinnati Bengals
- DT Domenique Davis, CB Allan George, C Nate Gilliam, DE Jeff Gunter, LB Shaka Heyward, WR Shedrick Jackson, G Jaxson Kirkland, WR Kwamie Lassiter II, WR Kendric Pryor
Denver Broncos
- RB Tyler Badie, QB Ben DiNucci, OT Demontrey Jacobs, S Devon Key, CB Reese Taylor
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Austin Ajiake, LB Liam Anderson, WR Tyrie Cleveland, S Marcel Dabo, WR Ethan Fernea, G Arlington Hambright, TE Jordan Murray, RB Zavier Scott, TE Eric Tomlinson
Las Vegas Raiders
- DE David Agoha, CB Cornell Armstrong, QB Anthony Brown, OT D.J. Fluker, TE Cole Fotheringham, S Jaydon Grant, DT Marquan McCall, RB Sincere McCormick, OT Jalen McKenzie, TE John Samuel Shenker, DT Nesta Jade Silvera, DE Elerson Smith, DE Charles Snowden, CB Sam Webb, WR Kristian Wilkerson
Minnesota Vikings
- LB Abraham Beauplan, G Henry Byrd, OT Coy Cronk, WR N’Keal Harry, WR Trishton Jackson, RB DeWayne McBride, G Tyrese Robinson, WR Thayer Thomas, CB Jaylin Williams, CB Joejuan Williams, G Tyrese Robinson, WR Thayer Thomas
New England Patriots
- DE William Bradley-King, LB Joe Giles-Harris, DB Azizi Hearn, DT Trysten Hill, WR T.J. Luther, OT Andrew Stueber, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
- DT Ryder Anderson, OT Yodny Cajuste, DB Kaleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, RB Deon Jackson, LB Dyontae Johnson, LB Jeremiah Martin, G Jalen Mayfield, OL Joshua Miles, DB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
New York Jets
- OL Obinna Eze, OL Vitaliy Gurman, CB Tae Hayes, DL Manny Jones, RB Jacques Patrick, K Austin Seibert, DL Marquiss Spencer, WR Malik Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- LB Levi Bell, NT Matthew Gotel, RB Bryant Koback, TE Tyler Mabry, S Jonathan Sutherland, WR Cody White, WR Easop Winston Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- CB Shyheim Carter, DB Tay Gowan, WR Tre’Shaun Harrison, TE Thomas Odukoya, LB Thomas Rush, G Lachavious Simmons
Washington Commanders
- LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, WR Davion Davis, CB D’Angelo Mandell