Bengals Release DT Taven Bryan, Waive 11
The Bengals are now among the teams to announce some early cuts. With rosters required to be at 53 in less than 24 hours, Cincinnati parted ways with 12 players early:
Released:
- DT Taven Bryan
Waived:
- DT McTelvin Agim
- CB Nate Brooks
- WR Cole Burgess
- RB Quali Conley
- S Shaquan Loyal
- WR Rashod Owens
- C Andrew Raym
- CB Lance Robinson
- G Andrew Stueber
- QB Payton Thorne
- LB Craig Young
A former first-round Jaguars pick, Bryan has settled into a rotational role after not panning out like Jacksonville hoped. Bryan still started 13 combined games for the Colts over the past two seasons, stopping through Indianapolis after a 2022 season as a Cleveland starter. For his career, the Florida alum has started 46 games. His $1.42MM Bengals contract did not contain any guaranteed money. Cincy has 2024 Day 2 draftees Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson as backups to B.J. Hill and offseason addition T.J. Slaton.
A 2022 Patriots seventh-round pick, Stueber played in seven Bengals games lats season. Brooks, a UFL performer attempting to resume a stalled NFL career, went to back-to-back Bengals camps but has not seen game action since 2020. The Bengals still have a ways to go on their 90-to-53 journey, which must be done by 3pm CT Tuesday.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- DE Anthony Goodlow, OL Sincere Haynesworth, RB Zonovan Knight, NT P.J. Mustipher
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Makai Polk
Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears
- TE Jordan Murray
Cincinnati Bengals
- CB Micah Abraham, RB Gary Brightwell, CB Nate Brooks, WR Cole Burgess, OT Andrew Coker, DE Raymond Johnson III, S PJ Jules, S Jaylen Key, G Tashawn Manning, WR Kendric Pryor, LB Craig Young
Indianapolis Colts
Las Vegas Raiders
- DL Tyler Manoa
Miami Dolphins
- WR Tarik Black, LB William Bradley-King, S Jordan Colbert, DT Neil Farrell, OT Ryan Hayes, OL Chasen Hines, LB Dequan Jackson, CB Isaiah Johnson, CB Jason Maitre, OT Bayron Matos, LB Derrick McLendon, TE Hayden Rucci
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Isaac Alarcon, WR Russell Gage, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OT Jalen McKenzie
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/24
Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Darren Hall
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Rashaan Evans, DL Kyler Baugh
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Domenique Davis, LB Craig Young, QB Logan Woodside
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: K Andre Szmyt
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Maurice Alexander
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Deshaun Fenwick
- Placed on IR: RB Ellis Merriweather
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Neil Farrell
- Released: TE Hayden Rucci
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Ambry Thomas
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Kameron Cline
- Released: TE Neal Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Raekwon McMillan
Szmyt spent time on the Bears’ practice squad last year before playing with the USFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks recently. The 26-year-old terminated his pact with the spring league club to take a deal in Cleveland. A former All-American and Lou Graza winner as the country’s top kicker during his college career, Szmyt could see time late in the year given the Browns’ kicking struggles in 2024.
Thomas appeared to be on his way to join the Colts after he was claimed off waivers by Indianapolis. The veteran corner failed his physical upon arrival with his new team, however, leading to another trip to the waiver wire. No teams put in a claim this time around, but shortly after reaching free agency Thomas has landed a deal. The former 49er has 42 games and 11 starts to his name, and he will provide Minnesota with cornerback depth through the closing stages of the campaign.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/5/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Chris Moore
Carolina Panthers
- Released: LB Jackson Mitchell
Houston Texans
- Signed: G Tremayne Anchrum
- Released: LB Shaun Bradley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LS Peter Bowden, OL Dennis Daley
- Released: RB Jake Funk, LB Tanner Muse
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DL Jonah Williams
- Released: P Ryan Sanborn
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LS Tucker Addington
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Monty Rice
- Released: C Bryan Hudson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Kyle Hergel, DE Trajan Jeffcoat, RB Xazavian Valladay
- Released: DE Niko Lalos
New York Jets
- Released: S Marquise Blair
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DT Domenique Davis
- Released: WR Andy Isabella, LB Craig Young
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: K Anders Carlson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Thomas Odukoya, S Gervarrius Owens, G Cole Spencer, S Daryl Worley
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/16/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Keion Crossen, OL Nick Leverett
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Anthony Kendall, LB Kristian Welch
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Raymond Johnson III
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DL Jalen Dalton
- Released: DT Phil Hoskins
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Tanner McCalister
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Malik Knowles
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Salvon Ahmed
- Released: K Spencer Shrader
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji, LB Craig Young
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Eric Garror
Colts Let Go Of Five Veterans, Place TE Jelani Woods On IR On Way To 53
The Colts have gotten down to the 53 players who will start the year on the active roster. Here are the players who won’t:
Released:
- DE Genard Avery
- CB Chris Lammons
- WR D.J. Montgomery
- TE Eric Tomlinson
- WR Laquon Treadwell
Waived:
- CB Micah Abraham
- LB Austin Ajiake
- LB Liam Anderson
- QB Jason Bean
- DE Levi Bell
- S Marcel Dabo
- RB Demetric Felton
- G Arlington Hambright
- RB Evan Hull
- DT Eric Johnson
- DT Jonah Laulu
- DE Titus Leo
- TE Jordan Murray
- C Mike Panasiuk
- RB Zavier Scott
- CB Jaylin Simpson
- CB Ameer Speed
- S Michael Tutsie
- T Jake Witt
- LB Craig Young
Placed on IR:
- WR Juwann Winfree
- TE Jelani Woods
Placed on IR (designated for return):
- DE Samson Ebukam
- LB Cameron McGrone
The Colts made a number of tough decisions to close our the initial active roster. Aside from Montgomery, every other veteran the team released today has some form of starting experience under their belt. A youth movement in the defensive ends room kept Avery out of the mix, and Tomlinson wasn’t able to take advantage of Woods missing the who year on injured reserve.
Even more surprising perhaps was Indianapolis cutting ties with three drafted rookies after only four months. Fifth-round Auburn defensive back Simpson, sixth-round Marshall cornerback Abraham, and seventh-round Oklahoma defensive tackle Laulu all failed to make the 53-man roster, essentially marking those draft picks as wasted. If some late-round players end up breaking out into true contributors, the Colts are going to kick themselves for missing on those three selections.
On the other side of that, Indianapolis uncovered a gem in undrafted Marshall guard Dalton Tucker. Tucker made the roster and is one of only four interior offensive linemen backing up the starting three.
Colts Sign Seven UDFAs
After adding nine rookies via the draft, the Colts are continuing to add first-year players to their roster. The team announced that they’ve signed seven undrafted free agents, including a pair of quarterbacks:
- Jason Bean, QB/WR (Kansas)
- Trent Pennix, RB (NC State)
- Spencer Shrader, K (Notre Dame)
- Kedon Slovis, QB (BYU)
- Dalton Tucker, G (Marshall)
- Xavier White, WR (Texas Tech)
- Craig Young, LB (Kansas)
Interestingly, the Colts listed former Kansas signal caller Jason Bean as both a quarterback and wide receiver. That’s not a complete surprise considering the rookie’s running ability. In three seasons at Kansas, Bean rushed for 901 yards and nine touchdowns on 178 carries. With Anthony Richardson atop the depth chart and Joe Flacco in place as the backup, Bean’s best shot at a roster spot will surely come at a different position. Kedon Slovis will have a similar uphill battle to make Indy’s roster. The quarterback had an up-and-down college career, with his 30-touchdown campaign as a freshman in 2019 representing his career-high. He most recently got into eight games at BYU, tossing 12 touchdowns vs. six interceptions.
Among all the UDFAs, Spencer Shrader probably has the most realistic shot at a roster spot, as the rookie will compete with veteran Matt Gay for the Colts’ primary kicker spot. Shrader finished his college career having connected on only 68.3 percent of his field goal attempts, although he was 156-for-158 on his extra point tries.