Vikings Sign RB Bronson Hill
After working out running backs David Cobb and Bronson Hill earlier on Saturday, the Vikings decided to sign Hill, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (on Twitter).
Hill will have an uphill battle toward cracking the Vikings’ 53-man roster, with Latavius Murray, Dalvin Cook and Jerick McKinnon under contract. But Hill, an Eastern Michigan alum who’s been in the NFL since 2015, still has practice squad eligibility. The team did not sign Cobb, a University of Minnesota alum and former Titans fifth-round pick.
The 24-year-old Hill played in three games with the Jaguars last season and has just two career carries, but Tomasson reports (on Twitter) he was going to work out for the Falcons next week if not signed by the Vikings. Hill has bounced around the league during the past three preseasons, with the Bengals, Bills, Bears, Dolphins and Saints having him on their respective rosters briefly before he caught on in Jacksonville.
Minnesota lost reclamation project Bishop Sankey to a torn ACL on Friday. The team waived the former second-round pick to make room. Sankey, who hasn’t played in a game since 2015, will revert to Minnesota’s IR list once he clears waivers.
Vikings To Work Out David Cobb, Bronson Hill
The Vikings lost running back Bishop Sankey yesterday after the former second-rounder tore his ACL. The team is now searching for replacements, and Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com reports that the organization will audition a pair of running backs in David Cobb and Bronson Hill.
Signing with the Vikings would be a bit of a homecoming for Cobb, who was a standout at the University of Minnesota. The 2015 fifth-round pick hasn’t shown much consistency during his brief NFL career, compiling 146 yards and one touchdown on 52 career carries. Since being released by the Titans last August, the running back has also had brief stints with the Steelers and Bears.
“It would definitely be a dream come true,” Cobb told Tomasson. “I’m always confident, but it will be up to (the Vikings).”
Meanwhile, Hill has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Eastern Michigan in 2015. He collected 11 rushing yards in three games with the Jaguars last season, and he’s also spent time with the Bills, Bears, Dolphins, Saints, and Bengals.
Of course, despite the Sankey injury, it’d still be an uphill battle for either Cobb or Hill to make the Vikings roster. The team is currently rostering four healthy running backs in Latavius Murray, Dalvin Cook, Jerick McKinnon, and Terrell Newby.
Jaguars Sign 16 UDFAs, Cut 11 Players
The Jaguars announced that they have signed 16 undrafted free agents. In order to make room, they have released eleven players from the roster. Here’s the full rundown:
Signed:
- Caleb Bluiett, TE (Texas)
- Keelan Cole, WR (Kentucky Wesleyan)
- Parker Collins, C (Appalachian State)
- Tim Cook, RB (Oregon State)
- Jeremy Cutrer, CB (Middle Tennessee)
- P.J. Davis, LB (Georgia Tech)
- Hunter Dimick, DE (Utah)
- Amba Etta-Tawo, WR (Syracuse)
- Avery Gennesy, G (Texas A&M)
- Justin Horton, LB (Jacksonville)
- Tueni Lupeamanu, DT (Idaho)
- I’Tavius Mathers, RB (Middle Tennessee State)
- Charlie Miller, S (Dartmouth)
- Carroll Phillips, DE (Illinois)
- Ezra Robinson, CB (Tennessee State)
- Kenneth Walker, WR (UCLA)
Released:
- E.J. Bibbs, TE
- Bronson Hill, RB
- Colin Kelly, OL
- Sean Porter, LB
- Daryl Richardson, RB
- Gannon Sinclair, TE
- Elijah Shumate, S
- Arturo Uzdavinis, OL
- Greg Van Roten, OL
- Tony Washington, WR
- Raphael Kirby, LB
Dimick led the Pac-12 in sacks last season with 13.5 and earned a first-team All-Conference selection. Prior to the draft, one NFC West Coast scout told Lance Zierlein of NFL.com that Dimick’s work ethic is admirable, but his lack of natural talent may inhibit him at the next level.
“He’s more try-hard than talented. His effort is great. I love how hard he plays, but when you are as sawed-off as he is on the edge and you can’t unlock your hips, I don’t know how he is going to see the field,” the scout said.
Horton got $25K guaranteed from the Jaguars between his $5K bonus and $20K guaranteed base, Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets.
The Jags’ roster is now at the 90-man max.
Jaguars Put Julius Thomas, Jared Odrick On IR
Two 2015 free agent signings who haven’t quite panned out to the Jaguars’ liking will spend the rest of the season on injured reserve, with the Jags shelving Julius Thomas and Jared Odrick, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets.
Offensive lineman Luke Bowanko and running back Bronson Hill will ascend to the 53-man roster, Bowanko from the PUP list and Hill from the practice squad, respectively, per O’Halloran.
Sidelined with a back injury, Thomas has not played since Nov. 20 and has not delivered the kind of production the Jaguars envisioned when they signed him to one of the top tight end contracts in the league at five years and $46MM. Of course, not much has gone right for the Jags this season, and Thomas isn’t the only offensive talent to underperform. The sixth-year pass-catcher has 30 receptions for 281 yards and four touchdowns in nine games.
Odrick, who will miss the rest of the season due to a spate injuries, inked a five-year deal worth $42.5MM last year and also hasn’t lived up to the contract. He has one sack this season in six games. A former Dolphins first-round pick, Odrick started every game in 2015 but has seen numerous maladies sidetrack him during this his seventh season. Triceps, quadriceps, ankle and shoulder ailments plagued Odrick, who profiles as a potential cap casualty in the spring.
The Jags can save $8.5MM off their 2017 cap by cutting Odrick in March. His contract structured as a two-year deal with an escape hatch after 2016, Jacksonville would not take on any dead money by shedding it before the ’17 league year begins.
Thomas, meanwhile, would bring a $3.6MM dead-money charge. The former Broncos tight end who came to north Florida having back-to-back seasons of 12 touchdown receptions has totaled nine in two years with the Jags, and the injury troubles that induced the former 2011 fourth-round pick to miss 28 games in four Denver seasons have continued in Jacksonville. Although this season didn’t bring the kind of ankle trouble Thomas experienced during his first five, his deal will likely be a discussion point for what is almost certain to be a revamped Jags decision-making staff in 2017.
Bengals Bring Roster To 53
The Bengals are now in roster compliance, having brought their roster to 53. The following players have been cut:
- WR Jake Kumerow (Twitter link via Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer)
- CB Darius Hillary (link via Owczarski)
- DE Ryan Brown (link via Owczarski)
- G Alex Cooper (link via Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com)
- FB Andrew Bonnet
- RB Tra Carson
- DT David Dean
- T Aaron Epps
- RB Bronson Hill
- G Trey Hopkins
- TE Matt Lengel
- CB Tony McRae
- G Alex Redmond
- WR Alonzo Russell
- WR Rashaun Simonise
- G Trip Thurman
- T John Weidenaar
- QB Keith Wenning
- CB Chykie Brown
Additionally, DT Marcus Hardison was placed on injured reserve and WR Mario Alford was waived with an injury settlement, tweets Owcazrski.
Kumerow had been fighting for a reserve wide receiver spot on a Cincinnati club that lost several of its pass-catchers over the offseason. And though he offers special teams value, Kumerow wasn’t able to beat out the likes of Cody Core and Alex Erickson to join a depth chart that includes A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, and Brandon LaFell.
On Friday, the Bengals released safety Jimmy Wilson.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/2/16
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the NFL:
- The Bengals have signed former Eastern Michigan running back Bronson Hill to a reserve/futures contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). After being cut by the Bills prior to the 2015 regular season, Hill spent some time on the Bears’, Dolphins’, and Saints’ practice squads.
- Wide receiver Kyle Prater, who went undrafted last year out of Northwestern, has signed a reserve/futures deal with the Saints, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. (via Twitter). It’s Prater’s second stint in New Orleans — the Saints also signed him last spring, but waived him in August.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/9/15
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from across the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB Bryn Renner (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun)
- Cut: S Nick Perry
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Marcel Jensen, C Ronald Patrick (Twitter links via Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Jahwan Edwards (Twitter link via team)
- Cut: QB Jeff Tuel
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Eric Martin (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Bronson Hill (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune)
San Diego Chargers
- Signed: TE Tim Semisch (press release via team)
- Placed on PS-IR: TE Alex Bayer
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Douglas McNeil (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
Workout Notes: 12/8/15
There were a plethora of workouts around the NFL today. Here they are:
- The Broncos worked out 17 players, all defenders. The full list comes courtesy of Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio:
- DB Stevie Brown
- LB Deron Bruce
- DB Deveron Carr
- DB Chris Clemons
- DT Davon Coleman
- LB Henry Coley
- LB Aaron Davis
- DE Ray Drew
- LB Adrian Hubbard
- DT Kamal Johnson
- DB Antoine Lewis
- DB B.J. Lowery
- DB Mike McMillan
- DB Jeromy Miles
- LB Kevin Snyder
- DB Schon Thomas
- DB Tyrequek Zimmerman
- In addition to receiver Danario Alexander, the Bears worked out quarterback Zac Dysert, wideouts Issac Blakeney, Miles Gooch, Jeremy Kelley and J.J. Worton, and running back Trey Millard (Twitter links via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune).
- The Texans worked out linebackers Eric Martin and Tony Washington, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).
- The Colts auditioned wideout DeAndre Carter, defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin, and running back LaDarius Perkins and Daryl Richardson, Wilson tweets.
- The Jaguars worked out linebackers Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Mike Mohamed and Sean Porter, and running backs Jerome Smith and Jahwan Edwards (Twitter links via Wilson and Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union)
- The Packers worked out running backs Bronson HIll and Ross Scheuerman (Twitter link via Wilson).
- The Jets tried out linebacker Glenn Carson, offensive tackle Sean Hickey, tight end Marcel Jensen, guard Cole Manhardt and defensive back Robert Nelson, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports (on Twitter).
- The Giants worked out long snappers Andrew East and Tyler Ott before signing Danny Aiken, per Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
Workout Notes: Seahawks, Colts, Bears
The Kendall Hunter tour continues. On Tuesday, the Seahawks tried out the running back, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Hunter, who has seen his NFL career derailed by injuries in recent years, was removed from Sam Francisco’s injured reserve list in September with a settlement, making him a free agent. Last week, he tried out for the Jaguars, but that audition did not immediately lead to a deal.
Here’s a roundup of Tuesday’s notable workouts from around the NFL:
- The Colts tried out nose tackle Barry Cofield, according to Yates (on Twitter). He adds that tight end Joseph Fauria worked out for the Chiefs and Patriots while running back Dri Archer auditioned for the Jets.
- The Bears hosted a few players for workouts, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (on Twitter), linebacker Xzavier Dickson, defensive end Tyre Glasper, linebacker Danny Mason, and linebacker Mike McAdoo.
- Wide receiver Tandon Doss was among players Jets tried out today, as Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
- The Falcons worked out cornerbacks Marc Anthony and Keon Lyn, according to Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
- The Raiders worked out center Adam Gettis, Wilson tweets.
- The 49ers worked out former Texas offensive tackle Donald Hawkins, Wilson tweets.
- The Titans tried out Damarr Aultman, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Alan Bonner, Antwan Goodley, Colin Lockett, Dustin Vaughan, Wilson tweets.
- The Eagles auditioned eight players on Monday, including wide receiver Corey Washington, safety Brandian Ross, defensive end Brian Mihalik, linebacker Jordan DeWalt-Ondijo, linebacker Brandon Hepburn, defensive tackle Toby Johnson, cornerback Trovon Reed, and cornerback Robert Steeples, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- The Saints worked out running back Bronson Hill and defensive end Phillip Hunt, Wilson tweets.
AFC East Notes: Stacy, Fitzpatrick, Pats, Fins
With Bilal Powell sidelined in recent weeks, Zac Stacy has seen a little more action in the Jets‘ backfield as a backup to Chris Ivory, and even got a chance to act as the team’s kick returner on Thursday night. However, those kick-return duties resulted in an injury for Stacy, who fractured his ankle, according to head coach Todd Bowles (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post).
While Stacy has yet to officially land on injured reserve, the injury figures to end his season. Powell is expected to return from his own ankle injury soon, so the team may not need to another running back to its roster, with Powell and Stevan Ridley available to back up Ivory.
As we wait to see what roster move the Jets make in the wake of Stacy’s injury, let’s round up a few more notes from around the AFC East….
- Speaking to reporters after Thursday’s game, Bowles also confirmed that Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will have surgery on his left thumb on Friday, and should be ready to play vs. the Texans in Week 11 (Twitter links via Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News).
- Given how well they’ve played this year, Patriots defenders Dont’a Hightower, Chandler Jones, and Jamie Collins all appear to be in line for big new contracts at some point in the not-too-distant future, writes Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. All three players will see their current deals expire at the end of the 2016 season, and Howe believes that all three could earn $10MM+ annually on their next contracts, so it’ll be interesting to see if New England tries to retain all of them beyond next season.
- The Dolphins have not approached wide receiver Rishard Matthews, who is in a contract year, about a new deal, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. It sounds to me like any extension discussions between the two sides before Matthews reaches free agency will happen after the season.
- Free agent running back Bronson Hill paid a visit to the Dolphins this week, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.