Peyton Hendershot will miss at least the next four games while he continues to recover from an ankle injury. The tight end already missed a pair of contests thanks to the injury, with the second-year player hauling in a single catch before that. Sean McKeon will be taking the open spot on the roster. The 25-year-old has spent the past three-plus seasons in Dallas, hauling in six catches in 38 games.
Walker’s elevation comes amidst a degree of uncertainty regarding DeshaunWatson‘s Sunday availability. The latter is dealing with a shoulder injury, but he has expressed confidence he will be able to suit up. In the event he is unable to play, though, Walker will provide insurance under center. NFL Network’s James Palmer reports Watson will be a game-time decision.
Chosen, formerly Robbie Anderson, made his Dolphins debut in Week 3, scoring a 68-yard touchdown on his only catch. His performance – along with other depth wideouts currently being sidelined for Miami – will give the 30-year-old a longer look with his new team.
Gore’s elevation will give him the chance to see regular season game action for the first time since 2021. The former UDFA recorded 361 scrimmage yards with the Chiefs that season, but a subsequent IR stint marked the end of his time in Kansas City. Gore has since spent time on the Saints’, and now Commanders’, taxi squads. Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post notes that fellow depth back Chris Rodriguezhas bee ruled out with an illness, opening the door to Gore seeing limited snaps.
Moved from commissioner’s exempt list to IR: RB Hassan Haskins
Sinnett joined the Bengals’ practice squad late last week. This move preceded A.J. McCarron‘s return by one day. Joe Burrow is in uniform tonight, but the Bengals will take advantage of the emergency third QB rule by bumping Sinnett up to the active roster. Jake Browning is in place as Burrow’s backup.
After the Jets and Steelers waived Mann this year, he secured another chance in Philly. The team brought Mann onto its practice squad last week, moving their punter of the past two seasons — Arryn Siposs — off their roster. Mann is in his fourth NFL season; the former sixth-round pick served as the Jets’ punter from 2020-22.
With Quez Watkins inactive, Allen received his first opportunity to suit up for an NFL game. The two-time Olympian 110-meter hurdler has been on the Eagles’ practice squad for the past two seasons. A former wideout at Oregon, Allen devoted much of his 20s to track, becoming one of the best 110 hurdlers in U.S. history. Since landing on the Eagles’ 90-man offseason roster in 2022, Allen has worked as a two-sport athlete.
September 18th, 2023 at 1:28pm CST by Adam La Rose
After relying on Arryn Sipossas their punter for the first two games of the season, the Eagles have made a change at the position. The 30-year-old has been released from the practice squad with Braden Mann being signed as his replacement, the team announced on Monday.
Philadelphia – which relied on Siposs in the 2021 and ’22 campaigns – elevated him from the practice squad ahead of each of their contests this season. The Australian’s gross punting average this year (43.4 yards) is a step back from his performance in his previous campaigns, however. He could also be elevated from the taxi squad to the gameday roster only once more this season, so a decision needed to be made in short order.
The Eagles have elected to turn to Mann, who spent his first three seasons with the Jets. The 25-year-old saw his gross and net punt average increase in each of his campaigns in New York, but the team added Thomas Morsteadin March, leaving Mann in search of a new home. He spent training camp with the Steelers, but lost out on their punting competition to incumbent Pressley Harvin.
Head coach Nick Sirianni said on Monday that the team felt a change was needed at the punter spot. They will now have as many as three weeks available with Mann in place if they intend to make him a gameday elevation ahead of each contest in the near future. If he performs well enough, the former sixth-rounder could be signed to the active roster and secure a role for the remainder of the season. The Eagles are next in action on Monday against the Buccaneers.
In another update, Sirianni added (via PHLY’s Zack Berman) that the Eagles are content with their internal options at slot corner. With Avonte Maddoxpotentially out for the season with a torn pec, the team will need to rely on a group including undrafted rookie Mario Goodrichon the inside; perimeter corner James Bradberrycould also see time in the slot. In any event, Philadelphia’s secondary will maintain continuity for at least the time being while its special teams unit sees a shakeup.
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 Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.
The Cowboys‘ offensive line remains a strength heading into the 2023 season. The depth of the offensive line is a different story, though. Behind the starting five, there is a drastic drop in talent, leading Jon Machota of The Athletic to believe that Dallas may pursue adding some offensive line talent from outside the organization before the start of the season.
Currently, the Cowboys’ offensive line depth projected to make the initial 53-man roster is comprised of tackles Matt Waletzko and Asim Richards and linemen Josh Ball, Matt Farniok, and Chuma Edoga. Dallas’ offensive line is likely strong enough along the starting five to weather the temporary need to play a backup, but if the team has to rely on any of the bottom five long-term, it would be a tremendous drop off in production wherever the backup is plugged in.
The situation in Dallas may not be drastic enough to require a trade acquisition, but the Cowboys will likely be perusing the open market once the roster cut deadline rolls around.
Here are a few more roster rumors as the close of the preseason continues:
The Steelers embarked on an experiment akin to that of their division rivals in Maryland as they attempted to work center Kendrick Green into a fullback/tight end role a la Patrick Ricard of the Ravens. According to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic, the move was a result of Green getting buried on the depth chart of the offensive line. As Green slipped down to third-string center or fourth-team guard, Pittsburgh allowed him to fully pursue the Ricard-role he had simulated in game prep for Ravens matchups. Unfortunately, the magic wasn’t there for Green. A later Kaboly report informed that Green had been moved back to center and that, as low as he is on the depth chart, he’ll likely have trouble retaining a roster spot come next Tuesday.
Although starting offensive guard Teven Jenkinscontinues to struggle with staying healthy, it doesn’t appear that the Bears will pursue offensive line help for the upcoming season, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. While it wouldn’t be an ideal outcome, Chicago feels confident in the backups it has available. Former first-round pick Alex Leatherwood has a year of the system under his belt now and should provide some quality depth immediately behind Jenkins. The Bear will likely retain other quality backups like Larry Borom and Lucas Patrick who could fill in if Leatherwood struggles in injury replacement duties. Whatever the options, Chicago feels confident with its cache of linemen.
The Eagles are set to head into the 2023 season with Arryn Siposs retaining punting duties for the third consecutive season. After he suffered a serious ankle injury late last year, though, Philadelphia didn’t shy away from attempting to bring in some competition for Siposs. The team had submitted a waiver claim for former Jets punter Braden Mann before he was awarded to the Steelers. If the Eagles are still interested in adding depth at punter before the start of the season, Mann is unlikely to beat out Pressley Harvin III in Pittsburgh, so he may be available after roster cuts, according to Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network.
Newly acquired linebacker Jaylon Smith has found a renewed drive in New Orleans. The veteran has already worked his way up the Saints‘ depth chart to a battle for the third linebacker spot. While that sounds positive, the Saints defense rarely utilizes three linebackers on the field at the same time with the team placing more value on additional pass rushers or defensive backs. According to John Sigler of USA Today, head coach Dennis Allen has delineated that a special teams role is the key for Smith to find a path towards a roster spot. While Smith has provided a boost to the team’s linebacker depth, his new head coach wants to see him covering punt and kickoff returns in order to cement his place on the 53-man roster.
Braden Mann‘s rookie contract remains active. The Steelers will add the former Jets punter via a Friday waiver claim, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
One season remains on Mann’s contract. After the Jets dangled Mann in trades, they decided to waive him. They are going with veteran Thomas Morstead this year. The Steelers will step in to provide Mann an opportunity.
A sixth-round pick in 2020, Mann will join a Steelers roster featuring Pressley Harvin as the incumbent punter. The Steelers selected Harvin in the 2021 seventh round and have used the Georgia Tech product as their punter in 32 of their 34 games over the past two seasons.
Harvin ranked 28th in yards per punt last season; Mann checked in at 17th. While Morstead outperformed Mann in terms of punts inside the 20-yard line in 2022, Harvin did not. The former ACC specialist placed just 29% of his punts inside the 20; Mann finished with a 32.5% mark in that area. While field position and gunner success factor into this as well, Harvin’s mark ranked 29th in this category last season. The Steelers will understandably bring in some competition.
Mann won the Ray Guy award, given to the top Division I-FBS punter, as a junior in 2018 and earned All-American acclaim in 2019 as well. Mann missed seven games due to injury in 2021, but last season’s 46.9-yard average marked his best as a pro. The Steelers are picking up Mann’s $1MM base salary, but nothing is guaranteed. If Mann were to lose out to Harvin for the job, the Steelers can move on virtually free of charge.
Although Mann has three years’ experience as the Jets’ punter, he is not yet a vested veteran. Teams can claim the former sixth-round pick before Friday’s waiver deadline. Mann has been Gang Green’s primary punter since 2020.
The Jets will go with a much older option at the position, eschewing a potential Mann-Morstead competition by cutting the less accomplished specialist. Morstead, 37, signed a one-year deal worth $1.32MM. The team is guaranteeing the 15th-year veteran most of that total ($1.1MM), however.
Mann, 25, is due a $1MM salary next season; one year remains on his rookie contract. The Texas A&M product averaged a career-high 46.9 yards per punt last season. After missing seven games due to injury in 2021, Mann returned to punt in all 17 Jets games last season. Morstead averaged 46.4 yards per boot last season, though his inside-the-20 percentage (45.9%) topped Mann’s (32.5%). Field position naturally affects this statistic, but Mann has never placed more than 35% of his punts inside the 20.
Because of this Mann cut, three of the four AFC East teams will feature new punters in 2023. After Morstead agreed to leave Miami for New York, the Dolphins replaced him with ex-Patriot Jake Bailey. Ex-Bronco Corliss Waitman is the only punter on the Pats’ roster presently.
