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Connor Hamlett

NFC East Notes: Dez, Washington, Eagles

September 15th, 2015 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys are hoping Dez Bryant returns in four to six week after undergoing foot surgery, but ESPN’s Dr. Mark Adickes thinks eight to 12 weeks might be a more realistic recovery time frame for the star wideout (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). For now, the Cowboys have no plans to use their IR/designated to return slot on Bryant — such a move would sideline him for at least eight weeks.

Let’s round up a few more items from around the NFC East….

  • With starting cornerback Chris Culliver set to miss Washington‘s Week 2 contest due to a one-game suspension, the club is bringing in free agent corner Will Blackmon for a visit today, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Blackmon, who was cut by the Jaguars earlier in 2015, signed with the Seahawks in March but was released by Seattle during the cutdown to 53 players.
  • Before Washington signed free agent kicker Dustin Hopkins yesterday, the team also worked out former Dolphins kicker Caleb Sturgis, along with punter Brandon Fields, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
  • The Eagles auditioned tight ends Connor Hamlett, Brian Leonhardt, and Jacob Maxwell, per Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter). Presumably, those workouts took place before the club was certain that Zach Ertz – coming off groin surgery – would be ready for such a significant role on Monday night.
  • Cornerback Byron Maxwell, the Eagles‘ biggest free agent addition of the winter, was also the team’s biggest disappointment in Week 1, writes Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. McLane also notes that the offensive line – featuring Allen Barbre and Andrew Gardner in starting roles – was overmatched by Atlanta’s defensive front, which could raise questions about Philadelphia’s decision to cut both Evan Mathis and Todd Herremans in the offseason.

Hakeem Nicks Working Out For Saints

September 8th, 2015 at 1:43pm CST by Luke Adams

After spending a year with the Colts and then being released by the Titans several days ago, Hakeem Nicks is auditioning for another South team today, but this one’s an NFC squad. Per Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate (Twitter link), Nicks is visiting and working out for the Saints.

Nicks, who spent his first five years with the Giants, posting multiple 1,000-yard seasons in New York, caught just 38 balls for 405 yards and four touchdowns last year in Indianapolis. He found a new home in free agency when he signed with the Titans earlier in the year, but Tennessee opted to keep just four wideouts on the roster to start the season, cutting Nicks on Saturday.

It’s not clear if the Saints have legit interest in signing Nicks, or if the team is simply gauging the free agent market for potential options once the season gets underway. But New Orleans did trade two of its top pass-catchers in the offseason, sending Jimmy Graham to Seattle and Kenny Stills to Miami.

According to Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune (via Twitter), the Saints are also working out at least one tight end today, with ex-Jaguar Connor Hamlett in town.

Jaguars Finalize Active Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 4:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sen’Derrick Marks avoided the physically unable to perform list to start the season when the Jaguars moved him to their active roster. The team also cut its roster down to 53 players, writes John Oehser of Jaguars.com.

The Jags’ leading sacker last season, Marks spent the preseason on the PUP list after tearing his ACL in Week 17 of last season.

Accompanying Jacksonville’s cuts, the team placed Ziggy Hood on injured reserve.

The Jaguars’ cuts are as follows:

  • Richard Ash, DT
  • Nordly Capi, DE
  • Kasey Closs, WR
  • Will Corbin, OL
  • Jeremiah George, LB
  • Connor Hamlett, TE
  • Jeremy Harris, CB
  • Ikponmwosa Igbinosun, DE
  • Storm Johnson, RB
  • Ben Koyack, TE
  • Erik Lora, WR
  • Craig Loston, S
  • Stephen Morris, QB
  • Austin Pasztor, OL
  • Chris Reed, G
  • Rashaad Reynolds, CB
  • Neal Sterling, WR
  • Todd Thomas, LB
  • Peyton Thompson, CB
  • Tony Washington, WR

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/15

September 2nd, 2015 at 3:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are today’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:

  • The Falcons have made a change on offense, signing offensive lineman Eric Lefeld and waiving wide receiver Bernard Reedy, the team announced today in a press release. Reedy, who joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2014, spent last season on the team’s practice squad.
  • After cutting their roster down to 74 players on Tuesday, the Jaguars have filled the lone opening by re-signing tight end Connor Hamlett, per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter links). O’Halloran adds that the club also reached an injury settlement with wide receiver Greg Jenkins, so he has been removed from the injured reserve list.
  • The Giants also left an open spot on their 75-man roster following Tuesday’s cuts, and they’re using that spot to re-sign kicker Chris Boswell, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (Twitter link). As Dan Graziano of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter), Josh Brown has been dealing with a leg injury, so Boswell will handle the job in New York’s final preseason game on Thursday night.
  • The Ravens released linebacker Steven Means (groin) with an injury settlement, as Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets.

Jaguars Cut 10 Players

August 29th, 2015 at 4:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jaguars are wasting no time in paring their roster to 75 players ahead of Tuesday’s first cutdown day, cutting 10.

Among them were wideout Tandon Doss and quarterback Jeff Tuel.

Once regarded as the favorite to return punts for the Jags this season, Doss lost out on the job to rookie Rashad Greene. Tuel, who played under current Jags assistant Doug Marrone in Buffalo, started a game for the Bills in 2013 but hasn’t played in a game since. Tuel’s waiving leaves Stephen Morris as the team’s No. 3 quarterback, should the team keep three and a practice squad candidate if not.

Safety Desmond Cooper, tight end Connor Hamlett, punter/kicker Kasey Redfern, defensive end Camaron Beard, defensive tackle Eric Crume, offensive lineman Jack Rummels, along with linebackers Khairi Fortt and Mister Alexander, joined the higher-profile performers on the chopping block.

Teams have until 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday to mince their rosters to 75.

 

 

Sunday Roundup: Garoppolo, Tebow, G. Smith

May 24th, 2015 at 12:50pm CST by Rory Parks

Let’s have a look at some links from around the league on this Sunday afternoon:

  • One of the silver linings of Tom Brady‘s suspension, according to Karen Guregian of The Boston Herald, is that the Patriots will get the chance to see if second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is truly Brady’s heir apparent.
  • Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer believes that not only will Tim Tebow make the Eagles‘ 53-man roster, he will suit up and he will play.
  • Only Cincinnati has drafted more wide receivers than the Packers since 2005, which marked Ted Thompson‘s first year as Green Bay’s GM. Thompson has selected 16 wideouts during that time.
  • Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com says Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey did not undermine head coach Todd Bowles by proclaiming that Geno Smith would be the team’s starting quarterback, as Gailey was just reiterating what Bowles had said (in a less definitive manner) on prior occasions.
  • Cimini does note that the Jets are bucking a historic trend by having Smith open the season as their starting signal-caller. Football Outsiders complied a list of 10 quarterbacks over the past 25 years who performed as poorly as Smith has in their first two seasons, and although most of them were named the starter going into their third year in the league, most were also first-round draft choices. Smith, of course, was a second-rounder. Out of the 10 players that Football Outsiders listed, only two, Jake Plummer and Trent Dilfer, experienced any sort of success in the league.
  • Connor Hamlett, a tight end whom the Jaguars signed as an undrafted free agent earlier this month, indicated back in January that he was not going to pursue a professional football career. But Hamlett, per Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union, says, “I just took some time off because I was banged up. I love the game of football, and I wanted to play. The whole [story] kind of got blown out of proportion.” Jacksonville had a “draft-worthy” grade on Hamlett, who has a good chance to make the club. O’Halloran says the Jags could keep as many as five tight ends on the roster.
  • Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com says the Jaguars could release Toby Gerhart, but the ESPN scribe goes on to explain why he believes Gerhart will ultimately stay on the roster.
  • Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune says the Buccaneers, who traded a fifth-round pick to Detroit last month in exchange for George Johnson–after signing Johnson to a three-year, $9MM offer sheet–fell in love with the defensive end while watching film of Lions games in preparation for last year’s matchup with Detroit. Had the Bucs not played the Lions in 2014, Johnson might not have found himself in Tampa Bay in 2015.

Jaguars, Nine UDFAs Agree To Terms

May 3rd, 2015 at 3:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jaguars have agreed to sign nine undrafted free agents, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (multiple Twitter links):

  • Thurston Armbrister, LB, Miami ($12,500 bonus, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun)
  • Eric Crume, DT, Syracuse ($2,500 bonus, per Wilson)
  • Corey Grant, RB, Auburn ($5K bonus, per Wilson; $15K of base salary guaranteed, per Wilson)
  • Nick Marshall, CB, Auburn
  • Connor Hamlett, TE, Oregon State
  • Chris Reed, G, Minnesota-Mankato
  • Todd Thomas. LB, Pittsburgh
  • Matt Robinson, LB, Maryland
  • Jake Waters, QB, Kansas State