Minor NFL Transactions: 11/24/21
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: WR Isaiah Coulter, LB Sam Kamara
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return: LB Micah Kiser
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Austin Schlottmann
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: G Parker Ehinger
- Placed on IR: CB A.J. Parker
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OLB Jonathan Garvin
Houston Texans
- Promoted: DL Derek Rivers
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: FB Sutton Smith
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: WR Robert Woods (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: LB Vince Biegel
- Placed on IR: CB Jamal Perry, LB Brennan Scarlett
- Designated for return: OL Michael Deiter
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed off Patriots’ practice squad: DE Tashawn Bower
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: DB Nate Ebner
- Promoted: TE Chris Myarick
New York Jets
- Promoted: FB Nick Bawden
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: LB Davion Taylor
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Logan Woodside
Dolphins To Sign LBs Duke Riley, Brennan Scarlett
On Day 3 of official free agency, the Dolphins are adding multiple linebacker pieces. They have agreed to terms with Duke Riley and Brennan Scarlett, according to NJ.com’s Mike Kaye and the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (Twitter links).
Both players finished last season on IR. While each could offer depth, both Riley and Scarlett have starting experience. Both spent part of the 2020 season operating as starters — for the Eagles and Texans, respectively. Riley agreed to terms on a one-year pact, per Kaye.
A five-year Texans contributor, Scarlett started 22 games. The former UDFA worked as more of a pass rusher in Houston, playing on the outside in the Texans’ 3-4 scheme, but also offers some versatility. Scarlett started 10 games in 2019, registering 51 tackles and recording 3.5 sacks. He suffered a season-ending broken forearm midway through last season.
The Eagles signed Riley a year ago and used him as a starter in eight games. Despite missing three games, Riley played on 55% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps. A Falcons starter in 2017 and ’18, Riley recorded 55 tackles last season and was a special teams captain in Philly.
Scarlett makes for the second ex-Texans linebacker the Dolphins have acquired this week. They traded for Benardrick McKinney a few days ago. Miami also brought back linebacker Vince Biegel this week.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/20
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: CB Delrick Abrams Jr.
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Pierre Desir, QB Tyler Huntley, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Waived: TE Luke Willson
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: CB Xavier Crawford
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: G Michael Dunn
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: CB Trevon Diggs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Chidobe Awuzie
- Promoted: T Jordan Mills, RB Sewo Olonilua, CB Chris Westry
- Placed on IR: CB Deante Burton, LB Justin March-Lillard
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: T Halapoulivaati Vaitai
- Promoted: LB Kareem Martin, OL Marcus Martin, CB Alex Myres
- Placed on IR: DL Da’Shawn Hand
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: LB Brennan Scarlett
- Promoted: CB Anthony Chesley, WR Chad Hansen, DT Auzoyah Alufohai
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: OL Joey Hunt
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from IR: CB Chris Claybrooks, G Andrew Norwell
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Tre Herndon
- Promoted: CB Quenton Meeks, OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Isaiah Johnson
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: DB Jake Gervase
New England Patriots
- Activated off IR: LB Shilique Calhoun
- Waived: DT Isaiah Mack
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: OL Will Clapp, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR Juwan Johnson, WR Tommylee Lewis
- Waived: TE Garrett Griffin, QB Trevor Siemian
- Placed on IR: WR Deonte Harris
New York Giants
- Activated off IR: S Adrian Colbert
- Promoted: QB Clayton Thorson, QB/WR Joe Webb, DB Jarren Williams, DB Quincy Wilson
- Waived: DB Montre Hartage
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: K Sam Ficken
- Promoted: LB Noah Dawkins, LB Sharif Finch, DL Tanzel Smart
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Blake Countess, CB Jameson Houston
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: LB Mark Nzeocha
- Promoted: TE Daniel Helm, OL Dakoda Shepley, OL Isaiah Williams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Charlie Woerner
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/suspended list: DE Damontre Moore
- Placed on IR: RB Travis Homer, OL Jamarco Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: LB Brooks Reed, OL Daniel Munyer, LB Wyatt Ray
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kalif Raymond
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: QB Steven Montez, RB Michael Warren
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/10/20
We’ve got a long list of all the minor transactions from the last day or so:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: CB De’Vante Bausby
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: LB Edmond Robinson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DT Anthony Rush
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: Deon Bush, Lachavious Simmons
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Margus Hunt
Denver Broncos
- Claimed off waivers from Cardinals: CB De’Vante Bausby
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: CB Tony McRae
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jarrad Davis
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Jordan Love, LB Kamal Martin, RB Jamaal Williams
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Dylan Cole, LB Whitney Mercilus, G Max Scharping
- Placed on IR: LB Kyle Emanuel, LB Brennan Scarlett
- Claimed off waivers from Washington: DE Nate Orchard
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: DL Ron’Dell Carter
- Promoted: WR DeMichael Harris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/PUP list: T Martinas Rankin
- Waived: DE Demone Harris
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: LB Natrez Patrick
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Todd Davis
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LS Austin Cutting
- Waived/failed-physical: LB Ben Gedeon
- Placed on IR: DB Holton Hill
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers from Cardinals: TE Jordan Thomas
- Waived: LB Cassh Maluia
- Placed on IR: TE Dalton Keene
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Will Hernandez
- Waived: CB Corey Ballentine
New York Jets
- Activated off NFI list: CB Bryce Hall
- Waived: QB Mike White
- Placed on IR: TE Trevon Wesco
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kendrick Bourne
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: WR Jeff Badet
- Waived: WR Tony Brown
Texans’ Brennan Scarlett Has Broken Forearm
The Texans picked up a division win over the Jaguars Sunday, but they didn’t escape unscathed. Outside linebacker Brennan Scarlett suffered a broken forearm, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Houston was already without outside linebackers Jacob Martin and Whitney Mercilus, both on the COVID-19 list, so they’re now pretty thin at the position. It’s unclear as of right now how long Scarlett will be out, although it can be fairly safely assumed he’ll be headed for a stint on injured reserve. Scarlett signed an extension last August that ran through the end of this season, and he’ll now be an unrestricted free agent in March.
An UDFA from Cal back in 2016, he’s carved out a nice career for himself. He started to get playing time as a sophomore in 2017, and started ten games for the Texans last year. He had 51 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles last year, all career-highs.
Texans, Brennan Scarlett Agree To Extension
The Texans have agreed to an extension with outside linebacker Brennan Scarlett, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). With the new deal, Scarlett is now under contract through the 2020 season.
Earlier this year, the Texans used the restricted free agent tender to lock Scarlett down for $2.25MM in 2019. The extension will take him through the following season at a rate of $3.75MM.
Scarlett, a Stanford product, has had a strong offseason, and he has been rewarded for his efforts.
“Brennan, he has improved a whole lot, especially from last year to this year,” Texans veteran Whitney Mercilus said recently (via the Houston Chronicle). “He’s embraced his role. His pass rush has been on point. His pass coverage has been on point. I’m excited to see exactly what he does this year.”
Last year, the former UDFA was called upon to make three starts. If teammate Jadeveon Clowney gets traded, then he’ll be seeing even more time on the field.
Texans K Ka’imi Fairbairn Signs RFA Tender
Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has signed his second-round restricted free agent tender, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Defensive tackle Brandon Dunn and linebacker Brennan Scarlett, each of whom was tendered at the original round level, also inked their tenders, per Wilson.
Restricted free agents have until Friday to sign offer sheets, but it was always unlikely that a rival club would sacrifice a second-round pick to sign a kicker such as Fairbairn. Still, the Texans thought enough of Fairbairn to assign him a second-round tender, which costs nearly $1MM more than an original round tender. For Fairbairn, he’ll see his base salary increase to $3.095MM, a significant raise for a player who earned less than $1.5MM over the first three years of his career.
A 2016 undrafted free agent out of UCLA, Fairbairn became the Texans’ kicker in 2017 after spending his rookie campaign on injured reserve. Last year, he led the NFL in both field goal attempts and conversions while ranking 13th in field goal percentage. Football Outsiders‘ ranked Houston eighth in its field goal/extra point metric.
Texans Tender Ka’imi Fairbairn, Brennan Scarlett; Re-Sign Joel Heath
In a day full of big headlines, the Texans took care of some less conspicuous business. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the club tendered RFA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn at the second-round level ($3.095MM). That was a no-brainer for Houston, as Fairbairn turned in an excellent season in 2018, nailing 88.1% of his field goals and sinking all of his attempts of less than 40 yards. He also made 39 of 41 extra point tries and led the NFL with 150 points.
The Texans also retained RFA linebacker Brennan Scarlett with a $2.025MM original round tender. Scarlett started three games for the club last year, compiling 18 tackles to go along with a forced fumble and an interception.
Houston did not tender defensive end Joel Heath, another RFA, but they did re-sign him to a one-year deal worth less than the $2.025MM original round tender. Heath appeared in five games last year but did not record a sack as he saw his usage decrease considerably from 2017.
None of these moves come as a surprise, as the Texans were expected to retain all of their restricted free agents. Houston also re-signed DE Angelo Blackson earlier today.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/8/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Da’Mari Scott
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: G/T Adam Pankey
- Placed on IR: S Raven Greene
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: T Roderick Johnson
- Placed on IR: OLB Brennan Scarlett
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Bronson Kaufusi
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/17
Here are today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Leon McFadden
- Waived: RB Terrence Magee
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Stanley Jean-Baptiste
Houston Texans
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Brennan Scarlett
Oakland Raiders
-
Waived: DL Darius Latham
Washington Redskins
- Claimed: G Kyle Kalis
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Robert Davis
- Waived: DL Caraun Reid, LB Pete Robertson