Sunday Transactions: AFC North
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North 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 are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. For the 2014 and 2015 seasons, changes were made to practice squad rules that allow teams to carry eight players instead of 10, and the eligibility requirements for those extra two spots were also loosened. 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 North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Tramain Jacobs, CB (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter); Ryan Jensen, OL (via Wilson on Twitter); Jamie Meder, DT (via Jeff Zrebiec on Twitter); Deji Olatoye, CB (via Zrebiec on Twitter); A.J. Pataiali’i, DT (via Wilson); John Simon, OLB (via Zrebiec on Twitter); Phillip Supernaw, TE (via Wilson on Twitter); Fitz Toussaint, RB (via Wilson on Twitter); Keith Wenning, QB (via Wilson)
Cincinnati Bengals:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Dan France, T; Kevin Greene, TE; David King, DT; Colin Lockett, WR; Onterio McCalebb, CB; Sam Montgomery, DE; Trevor Robinson, G/C; Devon Still, DT; James Wilder, RB
Cleveland Browns:
- Claimed off waivers: LaRon Byrd, WR (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter); Caylin Hauptmann, G (via Tom Pelissero on Twitter); Ryan Seymour, T (via Ian Rapoport on Twitter); Glenn Winston, RB (via Matt Maiocco on Twitter)
- Cut: Rex Grossman, QB (via Pelissero on Twitter); Charles Johnson, WR (via Pelissero on Twitter)
- Signed to practice squad: Kiero Small, FB (via Wilson on Twitter); Connor Shaw, QB (via Mary Kay Cabot on Twitter)
Pittsburgh Steelers:
- Signed to practice squad (officially announced): Rob Blanchflower, TE; C.J. Goodwin, WR; Josh Harris, RB; Howard Jones, LB; Josh Mauro, DL; Derek Moye, WR; Shaquille Richardson, DB; Ross Ventrone, DB; Alejandro Villanueva, OL; Nick Williams, DL
Bengals Cut Danieal Manning, Down To 53
After parting ways with veteran running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis yesterday, the Bengals listed another familiar name among their final wave of cuts today, with safety Danieal Manning receiving his release. Per a series of tweets from the team, here’s the complete list of transactions that got the roster count down to 53 players:
Released:
- Danieal Manning, S
- Will Svitek, T
Waived:
- Orson Charles, TE
- Dan France, T
- Cobi Hamilton, WR
- David King, DT
- Colin Lockett, WR
- Onterio McCalebb, CB
- Dontay Moch, DE
- Sam Montgomery, DE
- Trevor Robinson, C
- Devon Still, DT
- Nikita Whitlock, FB
- James Wilder, RB
Placed on injured reserve:
- Trey Hopkins, G
Placed on reserve/non-football injury list:
- A.J. McCarron, QB
Waived from injured reserve:
- Lavelle Westbrooks, CB
AFC Links: Chiefs, Bengals, Bills
Former Jets running back Mike Goodson was a no-show at his scheduled court appearance on Thursday. Goodson was set to appear at Morris County Superior Court in New Jersey on drug and weapon charges.
As Darryl Slater of The Star-Ledger reports, the player’s attorney, Alfred Gellene, said that Smart was unable to land a flight from Texas because of financial difficulties. ESPNNewYork.com’s Jane McManus adds that Goodson faces up to ten years in prison if found guilty on the weapon charges and could also be arrested if he fails to attend his July 24th hearing.
About a week ago, some of Goodson’s former Jets teammates expressed their concern for the player’s well-being. No one in the organization had heard from the 27-year-old throughout minicamp.
Let’s see what else is going on around the AFC…
- The Chiefs have claimed defensive back Brandon Jones from the Chargers, the team announced (via Twitter). San Diego waived Jones on Wednesday.
- Bengals wideout Cobi Hamilton has a good chance of making the final roster, opines ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey. The former sixth-round pick will likely be competing with veteran Brandon Tate and rookies James Wright and Colin Lockett.
- ESPN.com’s Bills writer Mike Rodak gives quarterback Jeff Tuel an 80 percent chance of making the team. Tuel showed some talent in minicamp while his main challenge for the third quarterback spot, veteran Dennis Dixon, did not.
Bengals Announce 11 UDFA Signings
TUESDAY, 1:00pm: The Bengals have officially signed an 11th free agent, Mississippi running back Jeff Scott, the team announced today (Twitter link). Scott received a $2K signing bonus, per ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey.
MONDAY, 4:13pm: The Bengals have made their undrafted free agent signings official today, announcing their 10 new players in a press release. Here are the newest Bengals:
- James Davidson, LB, Texas-El Paso
- Curtis Feigt, OT, West Virginia
- Dan France, G, Michigan State
- Ryan Hewitt, TE/FB, Stanford ($10K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- Trey Hopkins, G, Texas
- Isaiah Lewis, S, Michigan State
- Colin Lockett, WR, San Diego State ($8K bonus, per Coley Harvey)
- Alex Neutz, WR, Buffalo
- Nikita Whitlock, FB, Wake Forest
- James Wilder Jr., RB, Florida State ($6K bonus, per Wilson)
Washington Signs Nine To Reserve Deals
JANUARY 6TH: Washington also signed outside linebacker Austin Spitler to a futures deal, according to Zac Boyer of The Washington Times (on Twitter).
DECEMBER 29TH: Washington has signed eight players to reserve/futures contracts, the team announced today (via Twitter). The following eight players have been locked up by the club, moving from the practice squad to Washington’s offseason roster:
- Isaako Aaitui, DT
- Edawn Coughman, T
- Chase Dixon, TE
- Je’Ron Hamm, TE
- Colin Lockett, WR
- Rashad Ross, WR
- Robert Thomas, DT
- Trey Wolfe, CB
Of the players who finished the season on Washington’s practice squad, only running back Michael Hill and center Tevita Stevens haven’t signed futures contracts with the team.