Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/22
After yesterday’s deadline dump, there are plenty of new names available to be plucked out of free agency. Here’s today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LB Jesse Lemonier
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR KeeSean Johnson
- Waived: WR Tyshaun James
- Waived (injury settlement): DL Bryce Rodgers
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Josh Watson
- Waived: TE Ryan Izzo
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: CB Michael Joseph, CB Jayson Stanley, DB Javin White
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Javaris Davis
- Waived: CB Bookie Radley-Hiles
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OT Wyatt Miller
- Placed on IR: OT Elijah Nkansah
- Waived: WR Travell Harris
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: DB Kyron Brown, TE Ian Bunting, WR Ty Fryfogle
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: S Brady Breeze
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S DeVante Cross
- Placed on IR: TE Dominique Dafney
- Waived (injury designation): WR Malik Taylor
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Wyatt Ray
- Released: DT Malcom Brown
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from active/PUP list: DT Johnathan Hankins, DT Bilal Nichols, CB Trayvon Mullen, WR Dillon Stoner
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: WR Warren Jackson
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: DB Tino Ellis
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: WR Thomas Hennigan, DT Tyarise Stevenson
New Orleans Saints
- Claimed off waivers (Jets): OL Derrick Kelly
- Placed on IR: DT Jaleel Johnson
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: WR Austin Proehl
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: WR Lance Lenoir
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived (injury settlement): DE T.D. Moultry, DB Jared Mayden, CB Jimmy Moreland
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: OT Jonathan Hubbard
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: TE Briley Moore
Titans Claim K Sam Ficken Off Waivers
It didn’t take long for Sam Ficken to find a new home. Just a day after getting cut by the Jets, the kicker has been claimed by the Titans, the team announced Sunday.
Tennessee cut fellow kicker Blake Haubeil in a corresponding roster move, and also announced they’ve placed tight end Briley Moore on injured reserve. A Penn State product, Ficken went undrafted in 2015. He didn’t even sign his first NFL contract until 2016, and didn’t make a regular season roster until December of 2017 with the Rams. He kicked in a few games with Los Angeles between 2017-18, both times as a fill-in for an injured Greg Zuerlein.
After quick stints with the Seahawks and Packers, Ficken eventually landed with the Jets in September of 2019, where he found his first real home. He’s been New York’s kicker for most of the last two seasons, with mixed results. Injuries limited him to only nine games last year, in which he made 13 of 15 field goals and 12 of 15 extra points.
In 2019 he was shakier, making only 19 of 27 field goal attempts across 15 games. He’ll now battle it out with Tucker McCann to be the Titans’ next permanent kicker after they elected not to re-sign Stephen Gostkowski this offseason.
Haubeil is an undrafted rookie from Ohio State. Moore is an undrafted rookie from Kansas State who suffered a knee injury.
Titans Sign 10 UDFAs
If you’re a big fan of undrafted free agents, we’ve got TEN more for you. The Titans announced today that they’ve added 10 rookies to their roster:
- OL Cole Banwart, Iowa
- FB Tory Carter, LSU
- TE Miller Forristall, Alabama
- K Blake Haubeil, Ohio State
- OL Chandon Herring, Brigham Young
- DL Naquan Jones, Michigan State
- TE Briley Moore, Kansas State
- LB Justus Reed, Virginia Tech
- RB Mekhi Sargent, Iowa
- P James Smith, Cincinnati
Who were the big earners? Carter earned $50K guaranteed, which includes $37.5K of his base salary (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter). Jones got $45K in guaranteed money, which includes $35K in base salary and a $10K signing bonus (via Wilson), while Forristall received $23K in guaranteed money (via Wilson).
Per usual with these kind of signings, the special teams additions are especially interesting. It doesn’t seem like veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski will be back, meaning Haubeil will likely be competing with 2020 undrafted free agent Tucker McCann for the kicking gig. It’d be more difficult for Smith to make the roster considering the presence of Pro Bowler Brett Kern, but the team could be starting to prepare for the veteran punter’s inevitable retirement.