Giants Sign Six, Cut Six
The final draft choice of Jerry Reese‘s tenure as Giants GM has been released. Offensive lineman Adam Bisnowaty was handed his pink slip on Monday, along with linebacker Derrick Mathews, tight end Stephen Baggett, and cornerbacks Brandon Dixon, Bryon Fields, and C.J. Goodwin. To fill those spots, the G-Men signed cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris, guards Chris Scott and Malcolm Bunche, running back Robert Martin, defensive back Mike Jones (Temple) WR Alonzo Russell (Toledo)
Bisnowaty was the Giants’ sixth-round pick in 2017 and spent the majority of last season on the practice squad. The 6’6″ athlete played tackle at Pittsburgh, but the Giants were using him at guard in practice. It looked like he might have had a shot at sticking as an interior lineman on this year’s roster, but that did not pan out.
In other Giants news, former first-round pick Ereck Flowers reported to the team on Monday morning. Things have been strained between the Giants and the tackle, to say the least, but the team is apparently intent on keeping him and seeing what he can do at right tackle.
Giants Sign Darryl Morris, Brandon Dixon
The Giants have added a pair of players to the secondary. The team announced that defensive back Brandon Dixon has been promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. In addition to Dixon, the Giants have also signed free agent Darryl Morris. 
Dixon, 27, has traveled the league since being drafted by the Jets in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. The Northwest Missouri State product has also spent time with the Bucs, Seahawks, Colts, Patriots, Saints, and Steelers. His only real NFL action came with Tampa Bay as a rookie, however, when he appeared in 14 games and had one interception, two passes defensed, and nine total tackles. In what has become a lost season for the Giants, he could have an opportunity to add to his resume.
Morris, also 27, has had multiple NFL stops, but he comes with more in-game experience. The 5’10” cornerback has 48 games to his credit thanks to time spent with the Niners, Texans, and Colts, including 12 games and two starts last year for Indy. He had a career-high 34 tackles, six passes defensed, and one interception for the Colts in 2016.
The 2-9 Giants lost a defensive back this week when Donte Deayon was placed on season-ending IR. They might also be without star Janoris Jenkins for a bit thanks to his injured ankle. With the additions of Morris and Dixon, they have replenished their reserves in advance of Sunday’s game against the Raiders.
To take Dixon’s place on the taxi squad, defensive back Jeremiah McKinnon has been added to the ten-man unit.
Workout Notes: Patriots, Jets, Bills
The Patriots auditioned some players of note this week, including linebacker Akeem Ayers, quarterback Thad Lewis, and wide receiver Jeremy Ross (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com).
Ayers has some history with New England after playing on their 2014 Super Bowl championship team. Last year, Ayers appeared in all 16 games for Indianapolis and recorded two sacks.
Linebackers Nicholas Grigsby and Antwione Williams also showed their stuff for the Pats.
Here’s a look at Wednesday’s other workouts from around the NFL:
- The Jets worked out former Maryland cornerback Alvin Hill, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- Canadian defensive tackle Stefan Charles worked out for the Giants on Tuesday, John Kryk of The Toronto Sun tweets.
- The Cardinals worked out wide receivers Donteea Dye, Cobi Hamilton, and Rashad Ross, as Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com tweets.
- The Bills auditioned defensive backs Ironhead Gallon, Lee Hightower, Rickey Jefferson, Marcus McWilson, Orion Stewart, and Jack Tocho, linebackers Kenneth Olugbode, defensive tackle Marcus Hardison, running back Connor Harris, and tackle De’Ondre Wesley, according to Balzer (via Twitter links).
- The Buccaneers auditioned quarterback Trevor Knight, wide receivers C.J. Board and Jake Lampman, and tackles Justin Murray and Avery Young, Balzer tweets.
- The Packers took a look at running back Jacob Huesman, Balzer tweets.
- The Colts auditioned linebacker Travis Feeney and defensive backs Jordan Moore, Taurean Nixon, Ezra Robinson, and Deron Washington, Balzer tweets.
- The Giants auditioned defensive backs B.W. Webb Brandon Dixon, and Jeremiah McKinnon, Balzer tweets.
Steelers’ Roster Now At 53
The Steelers have reduced their roster to 53 players by making the following transactions:
Cut:
- WR Demarcus Ayers
- C Ruben Carter
- OL Ethan Cooper
- RB Knile Davis (story)
- CB Brandon Dixon
- C Kyle Friend
- LB Matt Galambos
- LB Austin Gearing
- CB Senquez Golson
- S Jacob Hagen
- WR Cobi Hamilton (story)
- LS Colin Holba
- DE Lavon Hooks
- QB Bart Houston
- LB Farrington Huguenin
- TE David Johnson
- LB Steven Johnson
- DE Francis Kallon
- LB Keith Kelsey
- DE Johnny Maxey
- TE Jake McGee
- OL Brian Mihalik
- OL Keavon Milton
- CB Dashaun Phillips
- DT Roy Philon
- T Jake Rodgers
- CB JaCorey Shepherd
- WR Justin Thomas
- RB Fitzgerald Toussaint (story)
- WR Marcus Tucker
- S Terrish Webb
- RB Trey Williams
Waived/injured:
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/23/17
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2017 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Green Bay Packers
- C Jacob Flores
- OLB Reggie Gilbert
- WR Antwan Goodley
- LB Derrick Mathews
- G Lucas Patrick
- DT Brian Price
- S Jermaine Whitehead
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/20/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Ronald Zamort
Cleveland Browns
- Signed LB James Burgess, TE J.P. Holtz
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Austin Traylor
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Andrew Turzilli
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Max McCaffrey
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Cory Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: C Kyle Friend, TE Jason Vander Laan
Philadelphia Eagles
- Cut: TE Marcel Jensen
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Al-Hajj Shabazz
- Cut: CB Brandon Dixon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR DiAndre Campbell, CB Duke Thomas
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Malcolm Johnson
- Placed on practice squad IR: OL Robert Myers
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/7/2016
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Charles Gaines
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Justin Currie
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Stefan McClure
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Rob Crisp
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Brandon Dixon
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: CB Randall Evans
Workout Notes: Pack, Vikes, Chiefs, Giants
In addition to the previously reported Joique Bell, the running back-needy Packers worked out fellow rushers James Wilder Jr. and Brandon Wegher on Tuesday, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Defensive end Arthur Miley and defensive back Brandon Dixon also tried out.
More of the latest workouts (courtesy of Howard Balzer, unless otherwise noted):
- Along with Randy Bullock and Kai Forbath, the Vikings hosted kickers Travis Coons, Zach Hocker, Marshall Koehn and Aldrick Rosas (Twitter link). For now, though, the team is sticking with the embattled Blair Walsh.
- Veteran running back Isaiah Pead headlined Chiefs auditions (Twitter link). Quarterback Joel Stave, wide receiver Dres Anderson, linebackers Amarlo Herrera and Dwayne Norman, and safeties Jimmy Hall and Earl Wolff were also on hand. Kansas City signed Stave to its practice squad.
- The Giants tried out 13 players (Twitter links): offensive linemen Cyril Richardson and Michael Bowie; quarterback Sean Renfree; wide receivers Da’Ron Brown and Kevin Norwood (practice squad); tight end Kyle Carter; defensive end Jordan Williams; linebackers Reshard Cliett and Austin Jacques; and defensive backs Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Sam Brown and Jacob Huesman.
- The Bears worked out quarterbacks Dustin Vaughan and Josh Woodrum, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- The Redskins took a look at defensive backs Durell Eskridge, Lee Hightower and Shak Randolph (Twitter link). Hightower joined their practice squad.
- The Lions tried out tight end Kennard Backman, who suited up for seven games with NFC North rival Green Bay last year (Twitter link).
- Guard Kyle Muir and two safeties – Rolan Milligan and Ryan Murphy – worked out for the Falcons (Twitter link). Muir signed with their taxi squad.
- The Ravens auditioned offensive tackles Rob Crisp and Arturo Uzdavinis (via Twitter).
Saints Place Hau’oli Kikaha On PUP
The Saints still had a bit of work to do in order to comply with the league’s 75-man roster limit, and they’ve made a few final moves today. The club announced that it’s released defensive tackle C.J. Wilson; waived linebacker Tony Steward, tight end RaShaun Allen, and cornerback Brandon Dixon; placed defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha on PUP; and placed offensive lineman Avery Young on NFI.
[RELATED: Saints Release Matt Shaughnessy]
Wilson, 29, agreed to a one-year deal with New Orleans earlier this summer. The veteran defensive lineman has78 career games under his belt, with most of that time coming as a rotational option with Packers from 2010-2013. Wilson played in 12 contests in 2016 (eight with the Lions, four with the Raiders), and picked up nine total tackles to go along with one sack.
Kikaha, meanwhile, appeared in 15 games and made 11 starts for New Orleans in 2015. In that time, the 24-year-old racked up 4 sacks, 50 total tackles, two passes defended, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/4/16
Now that the 2015 regular season is in the books, teams can begin signing players to reserve/futures contracts, adding those players to their 90-man offseason rosters. Generally, these players finished the season on a team’s practice squad, though some were free agents at season’s end.
Here are today’s reserve/futures deals:
Atlanta Falcons signed four players (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)
- Matt Simms, QB
- C.J. Goodwin, WR
- Gus Johnson, RB
- Collin Rahrig, G
Baltimore Ravens signed seven players (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun):
- Brennen Beyer, LB
- Leon Brown, G
- Nordly Capi, DE
- Blaine Clausell, T
- Chuck Jacobs, WR
- Nick Perry, S
- Harold Spears, TE
Buffalo Bills signed seven players (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com)
- Cyril Richardson, G
- Phillip Thomas, S
- Blake Annen, TE
- Jacob Maxwell, TE
- Cedric Reed, DE
- Jonathan Dowling, S
- Ronald Patrick, C
Chicago Bears signed nine players (Twitter link via Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune):
- De’Vante Bausby, CB
- Matt Blanchard, QB
- Cornelius Edison, C
- Paul Lasike, RB
- Marcus Lucas, WR/TE
- Danny Mason, LB
- Nathan Palmer, WR
- Gannon Sinclair, TE
- Martin Wallace, G/T
Cleveland Browns signed six players (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
- Sean Baker, DB
- Dan France, OT
- Garth Gerhart, C
- Connor Hamlett, TE
- Tim Scott, DB
- Dylan Wynn, DE
Dallas Cowboys signed eight players (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
- Donte Foster, WR
- Mike McAdoo, DE
- Brandon McGee, DB
- Derek Akunne, LB
- Buddy Jackson, DB
- Ben Malena, RB
- Efe Obada, DE
- Keith Smith, LB
Denver Broncos signed four players (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9NEWS)
- Cyrus Gray, RB
- Jace Davis, WR
- B.J. Lowery, DB
- DeVier Posey, WR
Detroit Lions signed five players (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
- Khaseem Greene, LB
- Casey Pierce, TE
- Ryan Spadola, WR
- Corey Washington, WR
- Tyrus Thompson, OT
Jacksonville Jaguars signed nine players (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union):
- Rasheed Bailey, WR
- Kadeem Edwards, OL
- Shaq Evans, WRt
- Ben Koyack, TE
- Rashad Lawrence, WR
- Sean Porter, LB
- Chris Reed, G
- Rashaad Reynolds, CB
- Earl Wolff, S
Miami Dolphins signed one player (link)
- Tyler Davis, WR
New Orleans Saints signed five players (link via Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune):
- Reggie Bell, WR
- Alden Darby, S
- Brandon Dixon, CB
- Cyril Lemon, G
- Bryan Witzmann, T
New York Giants signed six players (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
- Tavarres King, WR
- G.J. Kinne, QB
- Shane McDermott, C
- Leon McFadden, CB
- Tom Obarski, K
- Jake Rodgers, OT
Philadelphia Eagles signed seven players (Twitter link via team):
- Brett Boyko, G
- Malcolm Bunche, G
- Brandon Hepburn, LB
- Freddie Martino, WR
- Kevin Monangai, RB
- Travis Raciti, DE
- Deontae Skinner, LB
San Diego Chargers signed six players (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego)
- Richard Crawford, DB
- Brad Sorensen, QB
- Tim Semisch, TE
- Chuka Ndulue, DT
- Isaiah Burse, WR
- Ben Gardner, DE
Seattle Seahawks signed three players (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Andrew East, LS
- Ronnie Shields, TE
- Phillip Sims, QB
Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed nine players (link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times):
- Josh Allen, G
- Andre Davis, WR
- Antoine Everett, G
- Ben Gottschalk, C
- Gerod Holliman, S
- Martin Ifedi, DE
- Derrick Lott, DT
- C.J. Roberts, CB
- Joel Ross, CB
Tennessee Titans signed five players (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com):
- David Fluellen, RB
- Kevin Greene, TE
- Nick Harwell, WR
- Josue Matias, G
- Will Poehls, T
Washington signs three players (link via team):
- Christo Bilukidi, DL
- Desmond Bishop, LB
- Jerrell Powe, DL