QBs Josh Johnson, Taylor Heinicke Join XFL
Earlier this morning, the XFL announced a series of quarterback assignments. The league assigned Josh Johnson to the Los Angeles Wildcats, quarterback Taylor Heinicke to the St. Louis Blackhawks, and Chase Litton to the Seattle Dragons.
The move adds another bullet point to Johnson’s absurdly long transaction history in professional football. Since playing for Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego from 2004-2007, Johnson has been signed by 13 different NFL teams and had stints in two other upstart leagues (the UFL and AAF). While he is unlikely to ever be an NFL starter, his long-run of opportunities suggests he has the talent and mindset to be quite successful in a situation like the XFL.
Heinicke and Litton are both noticeably younger than Johnson, but have NFL resumes of their own. Litton has never appeared in an NFL game, but was signed to a reserve/futures contract by the Chiefs and signed to the Jaguars practice squad before he was released in October. Heinicke has bounced between four NFL organizations. He has appeared in seven games and started in Week 16 last season for the Panthers. Heinicke is a career 36 for 58 on passing attempts for 320 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/29/19
Here is an update on workouts around the league:
Baltimore Ravens
- P Jack Fox, WR De’Anthony Thomas
Buffalo Bills
- LB Keishawn Bierria, DL Raymond Davison, LB Del’Shawn Phillips
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Christian Sam, DT Adolphus Washington, CB Kyle Wilson
Jacksonville Jaguars
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
- WR Jeff Badet, WR K.J. Brent, WR Rashard Davis, QB Taylor Heinicke, QB Josh Johnson, QB Chase Litton
NFL Workout Updates: 10/25/19
We’ll keep track of today’s workouts here:
Houston Texans
- DB Picasso Nelson, DB Trevor Williams
New York Jets
- DE Quinton Bell, LB Ukeme Eligwe C Leo Koloamatangi
San Francisco 49ers
Washington Redskins
- LB Tashawn Bower, TE Rico Gathers, LB Porter Gustin, DE Dewayne Hendrix, TE Gabe Holmes, QB Chase Litton, LB Carroll Phillips, TE Will Tye, TE Clive Walford
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/2/19
We’ll keep track of Monday’s practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Jamal Carter, WR Brandon Powell
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: G Sam Jones
- Released: QB Drew Anderson, WR A.J. Richardson
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Davis Webb, WR Tyron Johnson, LB Nate Hall
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: OT Wyatt Miller
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Ventell Bryant, QB Clayton Thorson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Jason Cabinda
- Released: TE Austin Traylor
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Jamal Davis, RB Quinton Flowers, DT Brian Price, WR Chad Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB Chase Litton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DB Alex Brown, LB Emmanuel Smith, DE Cameron Malveaux, DB Torry McTyer
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OT Zach Sterup, LB Terrill Hanks
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Davion Davis
New England Patriots
- Signed: DE Gerri Green, G Najee Toran, G Colby Gossett
- Released: OT Tyree St. Louis
New York Giants
- Signed:CB Corn Elder, WR David Sills
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Josh Adams and TE Ian Bunting WR/KR Greg Dortch
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Marcell Ateman, DE Quinton Bell, G Lester Cotton, Sr., RB Damarea Crockett, WR Rico Gafford, CB Dylan Mabin, CB Nick Nelson, LB Justin Phillips, DT Anthony Rush, TE Eric Saubert
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Craig James
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Johnny Holton
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OT Ryan Pope
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Ryan Neal, OL Kahlil McKenzie, DE Jachai Polite
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Jordan Leggett, RB Tony Brooks-James
Washington Redskins
- Signed: LB Chris Odom
Chiefs Cutdown To 53
The Chiefs announced the following moves to get down to an initial 53-man roster. Probably the most surprising move was the release of veteran guard Jeff Allen. The Chiefs drafted Allen in the second-round back in 2012, and he started four games for them last year. He’s made 80 career appearances, with 66 starts.
Here are the rest of the cuts:
Waived/Released:
OL Dino Boyd
WR Jamal Custis
WR Rashard Davis
LB Raymond Davison
WR Jody Fortson
P Jack Fox
LB D’Juan Hines
TE Nick Keizer
QB Chase Litton
DE Rob McCray
CB Herb Miller
OL Pace Murphy
OL Jimmy Murray
OT Chidi Okeke
QB Kyle Shurmur
CB D’Montre Wade
DT Cavon Walker
Waived/injured:
WR Felton Davis
Placed on injured reserve:
Placed on non-football injury list:
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC West 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 Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders 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 AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Denver Broncos
Placed on injured reserve:
Re-signed:
Claimed:
- QB Kevin Hogan
Cut:
- QB Paxton Lynch
Practice squad:
- RB David Williams
- TE Brian Parker
- OL Austin Schlottmann
- OL Avery Gennesy
- WR River Cracraft
- WR Carlos Henderson*
- OLB Jeff Holland
- CB Brendan Langley
- DL DeShawn Williams
- DT Kyle Peko
- S Trey Marshall
Kansas City Chiefs
Claimed:
Placed on injured reserve:
Cut:
- QB Matt McGloin
Practice squad:
- WR Josh Crockett
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- T Ryan Hunter
- DT Dee Liner
- QB Chase Litton
- LB Rob McCray
- S Leon McQuay
- C Jimmy Murray
- DB Arrion Springs
- DB D’Montre Wade
Los Angeles Chargers
Claimed:
- LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- DT T.Y. McGill
Cut:
- QB Cardale Jones
- LB Hayes Pullard
Practice squad:
- DE Patrick Afriyie
- WR Dylan Cantrell
- S A.J. Hendy
- LB D’Juan Hines
- WR Andre Patton
- DL Steven Richardson
- OL Trent Scott
Oakland Raiders
Claimed:
- OT T.J. Clemmings
- OT Justin Murray
Cut:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Marcell Ateman
- WR Saeed Blacknell
- TE Paul Butler
- LB Jason Cabinda
- S Dallin Leavitt
- DT Gabe Wright
- FB Ryan Yurachek
* = suspended
Chiefs Cut Down To Final 53
In addition to David Amerson, the Chiefs will release longtime depth cog Frank Zombo.
The outside linebacker’s been in Kansas City since the Andy Reid regime began in 2013. He started 11 games in 2016, when Justin Houston missed most of the season with knee trouble, but will not be part of the 2018 team. The Chiefs drafted Breeland Speaks in the second round and plan to use 2017 second-rounder Tanoh Kpassagnon more extensively than they did last season.
Here’s the full list of players who won’t be on Kansas City’s initial 53-man roster.
Released:
- CB David Amerson
- DT Stefan Charles
- RB Kerwynn Williams
- TE Tim Wright
- OLB Frank Zombo
Waived:
- TE Jace Amaro
- WR Daniel Braverman
- FB Algernon Brown
- WR Jehu Chesson
- G Ethan Cooper
- WR Josh Crockett
- LB Raymond Davison
- WR Gehrig Dieter
- CB Makinton Dorleant
- DB Step Durham
- LB Ukeme Eligwe
- LB Tyrone Holmes
- T Ryan Hunter
- RB Ray Lowry
- DT Dee Liner
- QB Chase Litton
- WR Blake Mack
- LB Rob McCray
- DT T.Y. McGill
- S Leon McQuay
- C Jimmy Murray
- LB Otha Peters
- DT Mike Purcell
- CB Keith Reaser
- CB Will Redmond
- WR Jordan Smallwood
- T Bentley Spain
- DB Arrion Springs
- S Jordan Sterns
- DB D’Montre Wade
Placed on IR:
Suspended:
Chiefs Sign 14 UDFAs
The Chiefs announced the signing of 14 undrafted free agents:
- LB Raymond Davison (California)
- OT Ryan Hunter (Bowling Green)
- DT Dee Liner (Arkansas State)
- QB Chase Litton (Marshall)
- TE Blake Mack (Arkansas State)
- WR Elijah Marks (Northern Arizona)
- RB J.D. Moore (LSU)
- C Jimmy Murray (Holy Cross)
- LB Ben Niemann (Iowa)
- WR Byron Pringle (Kansas State)
- OT Devondre Seymour (Southern Illinois)
- DB Arrion Springs (Oregon)
- DB D’Montre Wade (Murray State)
- RB Darrel Williams (LSU)
Williams ended up receiving one of the bigger deals among undrafted free agents, signing for $30K, including a $15K bonus and $15K base (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter). The running back had a breakout campaign at LSU in 2017, compiling 820 yards and nine touchdowns on 145 carries.
Among the prospects who attended smaller schools, Wade was considered one of the top cornerback prospects. Following a season where he collected six interceptions, the defensive back will be in the running for a roster spot. The same could be said of the 6-foot-3, 337-pound Liner, who adds some much-needed size to Kansas City’s defensive line.