Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/21
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: LB Kylie Fitts
Carolina Panthers
- Designated to return: S Myles Hartsfield
Chicago Bears
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jimmy Graham
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Brett Kern
Free agents
Titans Place Ty Sambrailo On Reserve/Retired List
Veteran offensive lineman Ty Sambrailo may be walking away from football. The Titans placed the seventh-year tackle on their reserve/retired list Tuesday.
Sambrailo, 29, re-signed with the Titans this offseason. However, he will follow both Kevin Johnson and Abry Jones — both of whom 2021 free agency additions — in landing on the team’s retired list.
A former second-round pick, Sambrailo has been with the Titans since 2020. He filled in as a starter for the injured Taylor Lewan last season and started for the Titans in Week 2 of this year. The former Broncos and Falcons O-lineman has played in 71 career games, making 19 starts. Sambrailo suffered a knee injury that ended his 2020 season, however, and began Tennessee’s training camp on the PUP list.
The Titans gave Sambrailo a one-year, $1.9MM contract earlier this year. The Falcons gave him a three-year, $14.25MM deal but cut the Colorado State alum two years into it. Sambrailo was inactive for the Titans’ Week 5 game Sunday.
Tennessee also waived defensive lineman Woodrow Hamilton and signed offensive linemen Derwin Gray and Jimmy Murray to its practice squad Tuesday. Punter Brett Kern is also now on the Titans’ reserve/COVID-19 list. Kern tested positive, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Titans To Sign Johnny Townsend
The Titans are set to sign punter Johnny Townsend (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). This likely means that current punter Brett Kern will miss time as he recovers from a groin injury. 
At minimum, Townsend should see time against the Jets. A fifth-rounder in 2018, he spent his rookie year as the Raiders’ punter. The following year, he was leapfrogged by UDFA A.J. Cole. After leaving the Raiders with a 43.2 yards per kick average, he signed deals with the Giants and Chiefs, but did not play for either team. The Ravens did use him briefly last year though, trotting him out in the regular season finale.
The Titans were in a similar spot last year as Kern missed three games. It was a reminder of how critical a punter can be — fill-in Trevor Allen had a disastrous outing in a one-sided loss to the Colts. They’ll hope for better results this time around with Townsend.
The 2-1 Titans face the winless Jets this Sunday in New Jersey.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/2/21
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Christian Kirk
- Promoted: DL Stacy McGee, LB Terrance Smith, CB Jace Whittaker
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: WR Chris Rowland, WR Devin Gray, TE Jared Pinkney
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Nate Brooks, QB Tyler Huntley
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Tyler Kroft; Kroft contracted the coronavirus
- Promoted: TE Nate Becker, CB Dane Jackson, DE Mike Love, RB Antonio Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: LB Clay Johnston, T Aaron Monteiro, QB Tommy Stevens
- Placed on IR: CB Troy Pride
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: DB Xavier Crawford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Mike Daniels
- Promoted: LB Keandre Jones, DT Kahlil McKenzie, CB Winston Rose
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jets’ practice squad: G Blake Hance
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Karl Joseph
- Promoted: G Cordell Iwuagwu, LB Montrel Meander, T Alex Taylor
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: DB Steven Parker
- Promoted: DT Walter Palmore, T William Sweet
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: WR K.J. Hamler
- Promoted: LB Josh Watson
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: DT Danny Shelton
- Promoted: C Evan Brown, DT Albert Huggins, S Bobby Price
- Waived: DL Frank Herron
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: David Bakhtiari (story)
- Promoted: G Ben Braden, DL Brian Price
Houston Texans
- Promoted: OL Greg Mancz, WR Steven Mitchell
- Placed on IR: OL Brent Qvale
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: S Ibraheim Campbell, T Jared Veldheer
- Activated from IR: TE Noah Togiai
- Waived: WR Marcus Johnson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: WR Collin Johnson
- Promoted: WR Terry Godwin, OL Tre’vour Wallace-Simms
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: S Jeff Heath
- Promoted: LB James Onwualu, OL Erik Magnuson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: DB John Brannon
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: QB Bryce Perkins
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: S Nate Holley, WR Marcus Kemp, QB Reid Sinnett
- Waived: FB Chandler Cox
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: CB Tae Hayes, Cordrea Tankersley, DE Eddie Yarbrough
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: RB Damien Harris
- Promoted: TE/DL Rashod Berry, CB Michael Jackson, LB Cassh Maluia, OL Ross Reynolds, CB D’Angelo Ross
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: FB Michael Burton, RB Latavius Murray, S D.J. Swearinger, RB Dwayne Washington; Murray and Washington are close contacts of COVID-positive Alvin Kamara (story)
- Promoted: LB Andrew Dowell, TE Garrett Griffin, CB Grant Haley, LB Chase Hansen, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, RB Tony Jones Jr., WR Tommylee Lewis
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: LB Kyler Fackrell, CB Madre Harper
- Promoted: P Ryan Santoso
- Placed on IR: FB Elijhaa Penny
- Waived: QB/WR Joe Webb
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: G Greg Van Roten
- Waived: K Sam Ficken
- Promoted: LB Noah Dawkins, LB Sharif Finch, LB Brady Sheldon, DL Tanzel Smart
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Blake Countess, DE Joe Ostman, T Prince Tega Wanogho
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Eric Ebron, LB Cassius Marsh
- Promoted: WR Deon Cain, T Anthony Coyle, TE Kevin Rader, K Matthew Wright
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: G Tom Compton
- Promoted: DT Josiah Coatney, WR Jordan Matthews, K Tristan Vizcaino, OL Isaiah Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: CB Tre Flowers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Damarious Randall, T Brandon Shell
- Promoted: G Alex Boone, RB Alex Collins, WR Penny Hart
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: CB Herb Miller, DL Benning Potoa’e
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Brett Kern
- Promoted: LB Brooks Reed, K Sam Sloman
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: WR Dontrelle Inman
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/20
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: T Jordan Mills
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): S Geno Stone
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jordan Glasgow
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Nicholas Morrow
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: OL Bobby Evans
- Waived: CB Dee Virgin
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: TE Kyle Rudolph
- Promoted: G Kyle Hinton
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Ryan Griffin
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LS Colin Holba
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Charlie Woerner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Ronald Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: K Stephen Gostkowski, P Brett Kern
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/28/20
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: DL Zach Allen
- Promoted: TE Evan Baylis, DL Michael Dogbe, RB D.J. Foster, DL Stacy McGee CB Jace Whittaker
- Placed on IR: TE Darrell Daniels, DL Josh Mauro
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: RB Tony Brooks-James
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: CB Jalen Davis
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL B.J. Finney, WR Auden Tate
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: OG Michael Dunn, DT Joey Ivie, DE Cameron Malveaux
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: LB De’Jon Harris, RB Mike Weber
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: DT Kameron Cline, C Joey Hunt, DE Cassius Marsh, DT Rob Windsor
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: G Andrew Norwell
- Promoted: CB Josh Nurse, WR Trey Quinn, RB Craig Reynolds, K Aldrick Rosas
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: WR Marcus Kemp
- Waived: DB Tedric Thompson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: LB B.J. Bello, LB Cole Christiansen, DT Breiden Fehoko
- Waived: DE Jessie Lemonier
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: QB Reid Sinnett
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: LS Andrew DePaola, TE Brandon Dillon
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: OT Justin Herron
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: WR Austin Carr, OL Will Clapp, DT Ryan Glasgow
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: K Graham Gano
New York Jets
- Promoted: OL Jimmy Murray
- Placed on IR: LB Patrick Onwuasor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: G Sua Opeta
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: LB Jack Cichy
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Vita Vea; Vea is also on Tampa Bay’s IR
- Promoted: CB Herb Miller, OL John Molchon
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: P Brett Kern, CB Tye Smith
- Promoted: LB William Compton, LS Matt Overton, LB Tuzar Skipper
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Chris Jackson
Titans Sign P Ryan Allen
As Brett Kern deals with a wrist injury, the Titans have turned to one of the top punters on the market. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Tennessee has signed Ryan Allen.
Allen made a name for himself by spending the first six seasons of his career with the Patriots, winning three Super Bowl rings. The Louisiana Tech product was a standout during Super Bowl LIII, with three of his five punts pinning the Rams inside the 20-yard line.
He inked a one-year extension with the Patriots the following offseason, but he ultimately lost his job to rookie Jake Bailey ahead of the 2019 campaign. Allen subsequently signed with the Falcons, and he proceeded to appear in eight games for them during the 2019 campaign. The 30-year-old was cut by Atlanta back in August, and he’s been sitting in free agency ever since.
In Tennessee, Allen will be reuniting with former Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski, although you’ve got to assume that Allen’s stay with the Titans will be short. After all, Kern is a three-time Pro Bowler, and while his wrist injury will sideline him this weekend against the Bears, he should probably be back before the season ends.
Titans Sign P Brett Kern To Extension
The Titans have reached a long-term extension with punter Brett Kern, the club announced today. It’s a four-year worth $12.55MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds Kern will receive a $2.2MM signing bonus.
Kern had already been under contract for 2019, so his extension will keep him in Tennessee through the 2023 campaign. In terms of new money, Kern will now earn roughly $3.14MM per season, a slight bump over his previous annual average of $3MM. That annual salary will keep him at sixth place among punters in yearly pay.
Kern, 33, originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2008, spending parts of two seasons in Denver before being claimed off waivers by the Titans in 2009. He’s now been in Tennessee for more than a decade, and posted his best performances in recent years, earning a second-team All-Pro nod in 2017 and Pro Bowl berths in both 2017 and 2018.
Last year, Kern ranked eighth in the league with a 41.7-yard net punting average and dropped 39 punts inside his opponents’ 20-yard line, good for second in the NFL. According to Football Outsiders’ special teams metrics, the Titans’ punt unit as a whole ranked roughly average, finishing 15th in point of field position added.
Contract Details: Franklin, Kern, Cole, Vereen
A few details on some noteworthy new contracts from around the NFL:
- Orlando Franklin, G (Chargers): Five years, $35.5MM base value. $15.5MM fully guaranteed at signing (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Brett Kern, P (Titans): Five years, $15MM base value. $2.5MM signing bonus. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com).
- Trent Cole, OLB (Colts): Two years, $14MM base value. $2MM signing bonus. $8MM guaranteed at signing. $1MM annually in playing-time/sack incentives (Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
- Shane Vereen, RB (Giants): Three years, $12.3MM base value. $3.5MM signing bonus. $4.75MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- J.T. Thomas, LB (Giants): Three years, $10MM base value. $4.5MM guaranteed. $1MM annual escalators in 2016, 2017 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Virgil Green, TE (Broncos): Three years, $8.4MM base value. $4.2MM guaranteed. Max value of $11.25MM (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Sergio Brown, S (Jaguars): Three years, $7MM base value. $1MM guaranteed. Escalators can push total value up to $9MM (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Ed Dickson, TE (Panthers): Three years, $6.8MM base value. $2MM signing bonus ($700K deferred) (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Joe Berger, OL (Vikings): Two years, $2.155MM base value. $130K guaranteed. $800K available in incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).
Titans Re-Sign Brett Kern
Brett Kern‘s been the Titans‘ punter in every season this decade, and the Titans made a move to ensure that happens in each subsequent year in the 2010s. The Titans and Kern agreed on a new five-year contract, according to a tweet from The Tennesseean’s Jim Wyatt.
The deal is reportedly worth $15MM, per ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). That nearly triples the 29-year-old punter’s salary and puts him in the top 10 at the position on a per-year basis.
Kern began his career when he signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Toledo in 2008, but Denver waived him in 2009, and the Titans claimed him soon after.
Kern’s 46.8 yards per punt ranked fifth in the league last season.