Minor NFL Transactions: 3/30/17
Thursday’s minor moves:
- The Vikings have signed three participants from last week’s veteran combine – tight end Nick Truesdell, wide receiver Mitch Mathews and Terrell Sinkfield. Truesdell was most recently in the Arena Football League, but he did spend time on the Colts’ practice squad last season. Mathews, who went undrafted out of BYU last year, was on the Chiefs’ and Browns’ practice squads for multiple-month stints in 2016. Sinkfield is the only one of three with previous experience as a Viking, having logged some practice squad time with them last year. He bounced around four other NFL organizations from 2013-15 and has three years’ experience in the Canadian Football League.
- Falcons offensive tackle Carter Bykowski has retired, reports Vaughn McClure of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Bykowski, whom the 49ers chose in the seventh round of the 2013 draft, joined the Falcons in 2016 after a stint in Minnesota. He didn’t appear in any regular-season games during his career.
Falcons Sign Six To Reserve/Futures Deals
Following a devastating Super Bowl loss, the Falcons have begun their offseason by inking six players to reserve/futures contracts, the club announced. The following players were inked to futures deals, which will go into effect on the first day of the 2017 league year, with players joining their respective club’s offseason 90-man rosters:
- OL Carter Bykowski
- WR B.J. Daniels
- OL Kevin Graf
- DE Martin Ifedi
- TE Darion Griswold
- DT Jimmy Staten
Atlanta had previously inked center Trevor Robinson (link) and wide receiver Anthony Dable (link) to futures contracts, bringing the club’s total to eight.
Practice Squad Updates: 9/21/16
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OT Carter Bykowski, LB Davis Tull
- Cut: DE Nordly Capi, CB Devonte Johnson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Ronald Powell (Twitter link via Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Michael Ola (Twitter link via James Kratch of NJ Advance Media)
- Cut: OL Shane McDermott
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB JaCorey Shepherd (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN)
- Cut: G Darrell Greene
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Curtis Grant (Twitter link via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Terrence Magee (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Ryan Russell (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
Washington Redskins
- Signed: OL Ronald Patrick (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/16
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Blake Sims (link via Matt Zenitz of AL.com)
- Cut: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Marquis Bundy (via team announcement)
- Cut: WR Chris Hubert (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB/KR Raheem Mostert (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
- Cut: RB Senorise Perry (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune), OL Laurence Gibson (Twitter link via Biggs)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Sammy Seamster (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com)
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut: LB Kyle Kragen (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post)
Indianapolis Colts:
- Signed: CB Tay Glover-Wright (Twitter link via Wilson), S Lee Hightower (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut: DT Kelcy Quarles, OL Adam Redmond (Twitter link via Wilson)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cut: WR Shaq Evans (Twitter link via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Tre Roberson, CB Julian Wilson (via team announcement)
- Cut: OT Carter Bykowski, S Shamiel Gary (via team announcement)
New England Patriots
- Cut: DB Mike Hilton (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN.com)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Taveze Calhoun (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate), TE Jake Stoneburner (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com)
- Cut: FB Austin Johnson (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Times-Picayune), DE Bobby Richardson (Twitter link via Erickson)
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner
- Cut: QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OT Takoby Cofield (Twitter link via reps at Precision Sports)
- Cut: LB Jason Fanaika (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: QB Aaron Murray (via team announcement)
- Cut: WR Marcus Johnson, TE M.J. McFarland (injury settlement, Twitter link via Wilson)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Tylor Harris (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle), QB Jake Heaps (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times), OL Michael Ola (Twitter link via Condotta)
- Cut: WR Kasen Williams (Twitter link via Condotta), DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Condotta) and WE Rodney Smith (Twitter link via Condotta)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Cameron Lynch (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of WFLA News Channel 8), DT Rodney Coe (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Cut: RB Russell Hansbrough (Twitter link via Auman)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: QB Alex Tanney (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com)
- Cut: OL Ronald Patrick
Washington Redskins
- Cut: OL Nila Kasitati (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/6/16
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Aaron Murray, QB Zac Dysert (team announcement)
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Nick Williams (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), DL Joe Vellano (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com)
- Cut: DT Joey Mbu (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB David Fales (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com), G Jarell Broxton (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun)
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Carlos Fields, DB Damian Parms (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Jeremiah George, T Keavon Milton (Twitter link via David Moore of the Dallas Morning News)
- Cut: DE Ryan Russell, LB Deon King
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Brandon Dunn, OL Joseph Cheek (link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: ILB Ramik Wilson, G Jordan Devey, CB Julian Wilson, CB Terrance Mitchell (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Cut: LB Tyrell Adams, C Daniel Munyer, S Shak Randolph, S Brock Vereen (link via Paylor)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Carter Bykowski (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press)
- Cut: CB Tre Roberson
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Mike Hilton (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN), S Vinnie Sunseri (Twitter link via Kyed)
New York Jets
- Signed: RB/KR Raheem Mostert (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler), CB Dexter McDougle, S Ronald Martin, and RB Dominique Williams (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
New Orleans Saints
- Cut: LB Tony Steward (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Takoby Cofield
Tennessee Titans:
- Signed: WR Tre McBride (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com)
- Cut: WR Ben Roberts
Vikings’ Roster Stands At 53
The Vikings have trimmed their roster down to 53 by making the following moves:
- DT Travis Raciti (Twitter link via Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune)
- DL Zach Moore (Twitter link via Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News)
- DE Denzell Perine (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press)
- WR Isaac Fruechte (Twitter link via Wolfson)
- WR Moritz Boehringer (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com)
- CB Tre Roberson (link via Tomasson)
- QB Joel Stave (link via Tomasson)
- FB Blake Renaud (link via Tomasson)
- RB C.J. Ham (link via Tomasson)
- TE Kyle Carter (link via Tomasson)
- RB Jhurell Pressley (link via Tomasson)
- DE Stephen Weatherly (link via Tomasson)
- LB Brandon Watts (link via Tomasson)
- T Willie Beavers
- T Carter Bykowski
- G Isame Faciane
- LB Jake Ganus
- DT Toby Johnson
- DL Kenrick Ellis
Placed on IR:
- S Michael Griffin (story)
- CB Jabari Price
Placed On NFI:
- QB Taylor Heinicke
Moore, who turns 26 next week, appeared in eight games for the Pats in 2014 after being taken with a sixth-round pick. In 2015, he found his way to Minnesota where he appeared in one regular season contest.
Boehringer, a native of Germany, became the first international player to go straight from a European league to the NFL when the Vikings chose him in the sixth round. He ultimately failed to earn a roster spot, though he could land on the Vikings’ practice squad, per Rapoport.
Vikings, Phil Loadholt Re-Work Contract
The Vikings have agreed to a re-worked contract with Phil Loadholt, per Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (on Twitter). Loadholt will earn a $2MM base in 2016 and can make up to $3.5MM through incentives. A source close to Loadholt tells Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (link) that the tackle is “betting on himself” to come back strong after having injuries in 2015, hence the one-year deal.
Loadholt missed only one game from 2009-13 but injuries have slowed him down in a major way ever since. The 343-pounder missed the final five games of the 2014 campaign because of a torn pectoral muscle and missed all of 2015 with a torn Achilles. Loadholt, 30, hasn’t played a 16-game season since 2012, but he suited up for 15 contests in 2013 and graded out as a top-five tackle by Pro Football Focus’ standards.
In other Vikings news, the team announced that they have tendered an offer to Zach Line. The team will now have first right of refusal on the fullback. Minnesota has also re-signed two ERFAs. Wide receiver Adam Thielen and tackle Carter Bykowski will be back with the club in 2016.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Vikings Trim Roster To 75 Players
TUESDAY, 9:10am: The Vikings are now down to 75 players, having waived/injured quarterback Mike Kafka, according to the team (Twitter link). He’ll land on the team’s injured reserve list if he clears waivers.
MONDAY, 2:13pm: The Vikings have announced two more moves today, removing another two players from their active roster. According to a team release, Minnesota has waived/injured tackle Carter Bykowski, who will be out for the year with a pectoral injury, and placed cornerback Josh Robinson on the reserve/PUP list, meaning he’ll miss at least the first six weeks of the season.
SUNDAY, 6:30pm: The Vikings have moved closer to securing their 75-man roster, announcing that they’ve cut 11 players:
- Joe Banyard, RB
- Brandon Bostick, TE
- Jalil Carter, CB
- Justin Coleman, CB
- DaVaris Daniels, WR
- Stephen Goodin, OT
- Josh Kaddu, LB
- Jordan Leslie, WR
- Caesar Rayford, DE
- Chrishon Rose, DT
- DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB
They currently have 78 men on the roster, and will need to cut an additional three players in time for the Tuesday deadline.
Bykowski Out For Year, Vikings Eyeing Tackles
Just days after placing starting right tackle Phil Loadholt on injured reserve with a season-ending Achilles injury, the Vikings confirmed that another tackle, Carter Bykowski will also miss the 2015 season. As Master Tesfatsion and Chris Miller of the Star Tribune detail, Bykowski will be out for the year after undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle.
Bykowski hadn’t been expected to see significant action for the Vikings this season, with Matt Kalil and rookie T.J. Clemmings penciled in as the starters at left and right tackle respectively. However, with Loadholt sidelined, Bykowski, who was plucked from the 49ers’ practice squad by Minnesota last December, slid up a spot on the team’s depth chart, and may have been the next man up if Kalil or Clemmings had gone down.
Now, with their ranks thinning at offensive tackle, the Vikings will be on the hunt for more bodies at the position. The club signed former Giants and Cowboys tackle Stephen Goodin on Tuesday, and head coach Mike Zimmer suggests he’ll get an opportunity to earn a roster spot, but Minnesota will continue to pursue possible upgrades.
“He’s just another athlete to come in here and help,” Zimmer said of Goodin. “We’ll give him a look and see. We’re going to continue to look.”
Currently, the only tackles listed on the Vikings’ depth chart behind the starters are seventh-round rookie Austin Shepherd, raw Polish newcomer Babatunde Aiyegbusi, and Goodin.
Minor Moves: Wednesday
As NFL teams get their 53-man rosters in order for Week 15’s slate of games, we’ll round up Wednesday’s minor transactions in this space, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- The Seahawks have signed defensive end David King from the Bengals practice squad, tweets Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. The defensive end, who was drafted by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2013 draft, was signed by Cincinnati in August.
Earlier updates:
- The Cowboys continue to shuffle pieces to and from their roster and practice squad, with team executive Stephen Jones indicating that defensive end Kenneth Boatright is the latest taxi squad player to receive a promotion, tweets Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Dallas now has a full 53-man squad.
- The Panthers have released quarterback Matt Blanchard from their injured reserve list, now that he’s been deemed healthy, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. As Person adds in a second tweet, Blanchard sustained a severe concussion during a preseason game and wasn’t cleared for more than two months.
- Having waived defensive back Roc Carmichael yesterday, the Eagles filled the opening on their roster today by adding another player to their secondary. The team announced (via Twitter) that it has signed safety Jerome Couplin from off the Lions‘ practice squad. Couplin originally signed with Detroit back in May as an undrafted free agent out of William and Mary.
- Like the Eagles, the Vikings have also poached a player from another club’s practice squad, plucking offensive tackle Carter Bykowski away from the 49ers, per a team release. To make room for the incoming signee, Minnesota has placed linebacker Michael Mauti on the injured reserve list.
- Washington completed a series of roster moves on Tuesday that left the team with an open spot on its 53-man roster, and the club has now signed cornerback Justin Rogers to once again max out the squad (Twitter link). Rogers was one of several players to work out for Washington earlier this week.
