Redskins Sign RB Byron Marshall
The Redskins have bolstered their running backs group by plucking one from their rival. Washington is signing Byron Marshall off of the Eagles’ practice squad, a source tells Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post. 
Marshall comes to the Redskins at a time when they badly need depth at running back. Starter Robert Kelley is dealing with multiple injuries to his left knee and is expected to miss a few weeks, leaving rookie Samaje Perine and pass-catching specialist Chris Thompson as the team’s only healthy RBs. Marshall not only has a good chance to dress, but he could actually get some chances to carry the ball.
Marshall first came to the Eagles as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon in 2016. He was on the Eagles’ active roster for the final few games of last season and ran for 64 yards off of 19 attempts and hauled in three catches for ten yards. The 23-year-old hasn’t seen a ton of time on the field, but coaches have spoken highly of him in Philly.
Before signing Marshall, the Redskins also considered Ronnie Hillman and Daryl Richardson. Both veterans will have to continue to look for work elsewhere.
NFC Notes: Folk, Hyde, Eagles
Buccaneers kicker Nick Folk missed three field goals in his team’s five-point loss to the Patriots on Thursday night. We’ve already learned that the team will be auditioning several free agent kickers this week, and Folk acknowledged that this is all part of the business.
“You have to be able to evaluate yourself, look at it and improve, learn, see what went wrong, make the corrections and move forward,” he told ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine. “Just go out there and swing. Don’t make it too hard. It’s not real hard when you get down to it.”
After connecting on more than 87-percent of his field goal attempts last season, Tampa Bay opted for the veteran over former second-rounder Roberto Aguayo. So far, Folk has only made six of his 11 attempts, and coach Dirk Koetter told Laine that he’s been surprised about the player’s struggles.
“When we decided on Nick as our kicker — I’ve told you guys this many times — whoever our kicker is, I’ve got total confidence in him,” Koetter said. “I think Nick was kicking very well up until a week ago. He had a rough day against the Giants, he came back, and the one day we kicked in practice [this week] he kicked very, very well. We had no reason to think Nick wasn’t going to kick well last night.
“There are a couple there that you’re expecting him to make. When I say, ‘We’re disappointed today’ at opportunities that we missed, that’s at a lot of different positions. That’s certainly one.”
Let’s check out some more notes from around the NFC…
- 49ers running back Carlos Hyde is on pace to have one of his best NFL seasons, as he currently owns a career-high 4.9-yard-per-carry mark. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com observes that the 27-year-old is having this success on a contract year, and it could lead to a hefty contract. Of course, part of the player’s improvement can be attributed to getting into shape, as general Manager John Lynch said on 95.7 The Game. “He got lighter and in much better shape. It’s showing. It’s paying dividends on the field. So we’re thrilled with the way he’s playing. He’s got to continue to do it,” Lynch said (via Cam Inman of MercuryNews.com).
- Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood is set to miss tomorrow’s game, which would currently leave the team with LeGarrette Blount, Corey Clement, and Kenjon Barner. Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com notes (via Twitter) that none of those players are threats in the passing game, so he wonders if the team could promote Byron Marshall from the practice squad. The Oregon product appeared in three games last season, collecting three receptions for ten yards and 19 carries for 64 yards.
- In case you missed it, second-round rookie defensive tackle Malik McDowell — who suffered a severe concussion in a July September ATV accident — could potentially return to the Seahawks this season.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, and Redskins are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Dallas Cowboys
- Acquired:
- LB Jayrone Elliott (story)
- Claimed:
- DT Brian Price
- Cut:
- LB Mark Nzeocha
- DL Cedric Thornton (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- G Nate Theaker
- T Dan Skipper
- DT Lewis Neal
- DT Richard Ash
- WR Lance Lenoir
- WR Brian Brown
- TE Blake Jarwin
- T Kadeem Edwards
- S Jameill Showers
- CB Marquez White
New York Giants
- Signed to practice squad:
- T Adam Bisnowaty
- DE Jordan Williams
- WR Marquis Bundy
- OL Jon Halapio
- LB Curtis Grant
- CB Donte Deayon
- CB Tim Scott
- S Ryan Murphy
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to practice squad:
- C Josh Andrews
- TE Billy Brown
- LB Nate Gerry
- T Dillon Gordon
- DT Justin Hamilton
- RB Byron Marshall
- CB C.J. Smith
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- WR Bryce Treggs
- WR Greg Ward
Washington Redskins
- Claimed:
- OL T.J. Clemmings (story)
- Placed on exempt/left squad list:
- S Su’a Cravens (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- DL Brandon Banks
- WR Robert Davis
- TE Manasseh Garner
- WR Maurice Harris
- G Kyle Kalis
- LB Pete Robertson
- S Fish Smithson
Eagles Reach 53-Man Limit
The Eagles dropped 17 players from the roster on Saturday in order to make the 53-man max:
- OL Josh Andrews
- TE Billy Brown
- LB Nate Gerry
- OL Dillon Gordon
- OG Darrell Greene
- DT Justin Hamilton
- OT Taylor Hart
- P Cameron Johnston
- RB Byron Marshall
- DE Alex McCalister (waived/injured)
- C Aaron Neary
- CB C.J. Smith
- S Tre Sullivan (waived/injured)
- OG Dallas Thomas
- WR Bryce Treggs
- WR Greg Ward
- CB Jomal Wiltz
Gerry was a fifth-round pick of the Eagles, so it’s a surprise to see that he did not make the cut. Then again, he had the tough task of converting from safety to linebacker this offseason, so the transition could take a little longer. He could be a candidate for the Eagles’ practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/12/16
Here are today’s minor moves.
- Former Hard Knocks favorite Charles James has made his way to the Colts‘ 53-man roster after the team signed him, per Mike Chappell of IndySportsCentral.com (on Twitter), in the wake of placing three players — including starters Jack Mewhort and Clayton Geathers — on IR. James played in 12 games for the Texans this season, making 12 tackles. The team waived James last week after re-signing him as an exclusive-rights free agent in March.
- The Falcons waived offensive lineman Kevin Graf, who had spent the season vacillating between the practice squad and Atlanta’s 53-man roster.
- The Eagles plan to sign RB Byron Marshall to their 53 man roster from the practice squad this week, NJ.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks reports (on Twitter). Marshall’s signing fills out Philly’s roster after the team made a host of moves today, including moving Wendell Smallwood to IR and signing Dwayne Gratz. Marshall will fill in behind Ryan Mathews and Kenjon Barner for now, with Darren Sproles residing in concussion protocol.
- The Steelers promoted wide receiver Demarcus Ayers to the 53-man roster, as Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette tweets. To make room, kicker Randy Bullock has been cut. Ayers was a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.
- The Titans have promoted defensive lineman Mehdi Abdesmad to the 53-man roster and waived running back David Fluellen, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com reports. Abdesmad caught on with Tennessee in May as a UDFA.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC East teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, and Redskins are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day (all links go to Twitter unless noted otherwise):
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived:
- QB Jameill Showers (Link via David Moore)
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Austin Traylor (Link via Aaron Wilson)
- WR Andy Jones (Link via Wilson)
- C Jake Brendel (Link via Clarence Hill)
- TE Rico Gathers (Link via Hill)
- LB Deon King (Link via Hill)
- WR Vince Mayle (Link via Hill)
- DE Ryan Russell (Link via Hill)
- DE Zach Moore (Story via Chris Tomasson)
- QB Jameill Showers (Link via Ian Rapoport)
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers:
- DT Robert Thomas (Link via Pro Football Talk)
- Waived:
- DT Montori Hughes (Link via Ralph Vacchiano)
- Signed to practice squad:
- S Andrew Adams (Link via Ralph Vacchiano)
- LB Ishaq Williams
- WR Darius Powe
- CB Donte Deayon
- CB Michael Hunter
- WR Geremy Davis (Link via Vacchiano)
- QB Logan Thomas
- OL Adam Gettis
- OL Shane McDermott
- DE Stansly Maponga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed:
- OLB Kamu Grugier-Hill (Link via Mike Reiss)
- S Terrence Brooks (Link via Pro Football Talk)
- WR Bryce Treggs
- Waived:
- WR Paul Turner (Link via Dave Zangaro)
- DL Taylor Hart
- CB C.J. Smith
- Signed to practice squad:
- G Darrell Greene
- WR Marcus Johnson
- RB Byron Marshall
- DT Aziz Shittu
- WR David Watford
- FB Andrew Bonnet (Link via Jeff McLane)
- LB Don Cherry (Link via Jeff McLane)
- LB Quentin Gause (Link via Jeff McLane)
- C Aaron Neary (Link via Jeff McLane)
- CB C.J. Smith (Link via Adam Caplan)
Washington Redskins
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Maurice Harris (Link via John Keim)
- OL Nila Kasitati (Link via Keim)
- WR Kendal Thompson (Link via Mike Jones)
- LB Lynden Trail (Link via Keim)
- OT Isaiah Williams (Link via Master Tesfatsion)
- DE Matt Ioannidis (Link via Redskins website)
- OL Vinston Painter (Link via Redskins website)
- RB Mack Brown (Link via Redskins website)
- TE Wes Saxton (Link via Keim)
- DT Louis Nix (Link via ESPN’s Adam Caplan)
Eagles’ Roster At 53
The Eagles have cut the following four players in advance of today’s deadline:
- QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Caplan)
- LB Myke Tavarres (Twitter link via Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com)
- DE Jake Metz (Twitter link via Shorr-Parks)
- DT Aziz Shittu (Twitter link via Shorr-Parks)
- LB Quentin Gause (Twitter link via Shorr-Parks)
- WR David Watford (Twitter link via Shorr-Parks)
- CB Blake Countess (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- RB Byron Marshall (Twitter link via Shorr-Parks)
- S Ed Reynolds (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com)
- LB Don Cherry
- DT Bruce Gaston
- LB Najee Goode
- G Darrell Greene
- WR Marcus Johnson
- C Barrett Jones
- WR Cayleb Jones
- TE M.J. McFarland
- RB Cedric O’Neal
- TE Chris Pantale
- K Cody Parkey
- CB JaCorey Shepherd
- WR David Watford
Philadelphia just signed Metz, a former Arena League standout, several days ago. Bethel-Thompson, meanwhile, will seek to continue what has been a nomadic professional career.
As Shorr-Parks observes, Gause’s release indicates that the club is prepared to open the season with only five linebackers, unless a trade is in the works.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Extra Points: Vegas, Eagles, Stafford, Peterson
Let’s check out some assorted notes from around the NFL on this Saturday afternoon…
- Count Patriots owner Robert Kraft among those who would embraces a Las Vegas franchise. The executive told Jarrett Bell of USAToday.com that he’d support a Raiders move to Nevada, assuming the organization can’t secure a new stadium in Oakland.“I think it would be good for the NFL,” Kraft said. “I know Mark Davis has tried so hard in Oakland. If they won’t do it . . . I want to support him.”
- Undrafted rookie running back Byron Marshall chose the Eagles for the opportunity to contribute right away, writes Jeff McLane of Philly.com. “The running back position was a little slim,” Marshall said. “And they were talking to me about being able to play [wide receiver] in the slot and a little bit at running back – to do what I did in college. I liked that role.”
- An extension for Matthew Stafford could depend on the quarterback’s production this upcoming season, writes ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein. If the Lions quarterback struggles, the writer wonders if general manager Bob Quinn would decide to “clean house.”
- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is expected to be in attendance for the start of OTAs, tweets Darren Wolfson. Of course, as the writer notes, the $250K bonus certainly provides some incentive.
Eagles Agree To Terms With 16 UDFAs
The Eagles are the latest NFL team to announce their undrafted free agent class, tweeting out the names of 16 new additions to their roster today. Philadelphia’s list of rookie free agents includes four wide receivers, three defensive tackles, and a pair of running backs. Here’s the full breakdown:
- LS John DePalma (West Virginia) ($25.5K guarantee, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- LB Quentin Gause (Rutgers) ($5K signing bonus, per Wilson)
- TE Dillon Gordon (LSU)
- G Darrell Greene (San Diego State) ($105K guarantee, per Wilson)
- C Bruce Johnson (Maine)
- WR Marcus Johnson (Texas)
- WR Cayleb Jones (Arizona) ($20K guarantee, per Wilson)
- RB Byron Marshall (Oregon) ($20K guarantee, per Wilson)
- RB Cedric O’Neal (Valdosta State)
- WR Hunter Sharp (Utah State)
- DT Aziz Shittu (Stanford)
- CB C.J. Smith (North Dakota State)
- LB Myke Tavarres (Incarnate Word) ($95K guarantee, per Wilson)
- WR Paul Turner (Louisiana Tech)
- DT Destiny Vaeao (Washington State)
- DT Connor Wujciak (Boston College)
Draft Rumors: Lynch, Floyd, Giants
NFL GMs are dying to know where Paxton Lynch gets picked, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com writes. Some teams are hoping that he makes it to the 20s in order to facilitate a trade at their pick. Others are hopeful that he’ll go just outside the top 10, allowing a different player to fall to them. Overall, no one really has a clear understanding of where he might go.
“He could go anywhere from 12-to-31,” one GM posited.
While we wait to see what happens with Lynch on Thursday night, here’s a rundown of the latest NFL Draft rumors:
- Georgia linebacker Leonard Floyd is generating big buzz heading into the draft, according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Floyd, he says, could be a candidate for the Jaguars at No. 5, the Buccaneers at No. 9, the Giants at No. 10, and the Bears at No. 11. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) says that he appears destined to go inside the top ten. Schrager (link) hears that a team with a top 10 pick scheduled a meeting with Floyd on Tuesday to get one last look.
- Hours before the NFL Draft, former Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil is being sued by his stepfather over an alleged attack which took place last June, Daniel Paulling of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger writes. “I don’t know anything about it,” Tunsil said when asked by reporters on Wednesday. Tunsil is widely projected to be a top five pick.
- Oregon wide receiver Byron Marshall visited the Ravens and worked out for the Cardinals and Eagles, Wilson tweets. Marshall suffered an ankle injury that caused him to miss all but four games last season, but he is said to be healthy now. In 2014, Marshall cracked 1,000 receiving yards for the Ducks.
- Air Force defensive end/outside linebacker Alex Hansen is drawing late interest from the Chargers, Eagles, Ravens, Texans, Broncos, Rams, and Lions, Wilson tweets.