Workout Notes: Bills, Buccaneers, Seahawks
While Tuesday is usually workout day around the NFL, several NFL teams hosted free agents today. Let’s take a look at which players scored an audition:
- Offensive lineman Mike Liedtke worked out for the Bills today and will audition for the Buccaneers tomorrow, agent Brett Tessler tweets. The 24-year-old has previously spent time with the Jets, Chiefs, and Dolphins.
- The Bills also worked out a pair of centers, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter): Dalton Freeman and Marcus Henry. The team ultimately signed Freeman to the practice squad.
- The Seahawks worked out defensive end Shaneil Jenkins, according to Caplan (via Twitter). The undrafted rookie out of Shepherd University has also spent time with the Broncos and Cowboys.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/14/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: C Dalton Freeman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Marcel Jensen
Bills Place Eric Wood On IR
The Bills announced that they have placed Eric Wood on injured reserve. To fill his spot, cornerback Marcus Roberson has been promoted off of the practice squad. In a related move, center Dalton Freeman has been signed to the p-squad. 
Wood expressed hope last week that he could return if the Bills make the playoffs, but he’s either not healthy enough to do that or the 4-5 Bills felt that they needed the help at cornerback instead. Wood suffered a broken leg earlier this month and after the injury Rex Ryan lamented the loss of “the best center in the league.” While many would disagree with Ryan’s sentiment, it’s clear that he will be missed on the O-Line. Ryan Groy will likely continue in the starting center role.
Roberson was just promoted from the Bills’ p-squad in late October but lasted only one game before reverting back to the 10-man crew. Roberson will now resume his spot on the roster behind corners Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, Nickell Robey, Kevon Seymour, and Corey White.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/12/16
Today’s minor moves:
- Cornerback Cody Riggs is now back with the Titans after being waived last week, as Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com reports (Twitter link). To create a roster spot, Tennessee has waived third quarterback Alex Tanney, tweets Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.
- The Cowboys announced that they’ve waived cornerback Dax Swanson, who signed with the club in June.
- The following players have been released from their respective teams’ injured reserve list with an injury settlement (all Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless noted): Buccaneers TE Kivon Cartwright (link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times), Cardinals LB Tristan Okpalaugo (link), Colts CB D’Joun Smith (link), Jets WR Kenbrell Thompkins (link), Giants T Jake Rodgers (link), Packers C Kyle Steuck (link), Texans C Dalton Freeman (link via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com).
- The Ravens also released wide receiver Michael Campanaro with an injury settlement, but they expect to re-sign him for the second half of the season, tweets Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun.
Texans Make Cuts, Close To 53
No one can accuse the Texans of procrastinating. Today, Houston dropped a number of players from the roster in advance of Saturday’s 53-man deadline. Here’s the full list of reported moves thus far: 
- CB Terrance Mitchell (Twitter link via Berman)
- G Karim Barton (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX 26)
- WR Wendall Williams
- WR Quenton Bundrage
- TE Anthony Denham (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
- OLB Tony Washington (Twitter link via Wilson)
- TE Eric Tomlinson (Twitter link via Wilson)
- DE Ufomba Kamalu (Twitter link via Berman)
- G Chad Slade (Twitter link via Berman)
- C Dalton Freeman
- OL Andrew McDonald (Twitter link via Wilson)
- OT Jeff Adams (Twitter link via Berman)
- CB Robert Nelson (Twitter link via Berman)
- RB Kenny Hilliard (Twitter link via Wilson)
- ILB Shakeel Rashad (Twitter link via Berman)
- LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Wilson)
- S Antonio Allen (Twitter link via Berman)
- DE Dan Pettinato (Twitter link via Berman)
Mitchell, a former member of the Cowboys, hooked on with the Texans after he was waived in June. Jason Garrett spoke highly of Mitchell in the spring, but Dallas bounced him in the summer.
Allen, 27, is a former Jet, having spent the past three seasons in New York, where he appeared in 38 games and started 18. He signed a one-year deal that included $80K guaranteed this spring.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/11/16
Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves:
- The Vikings announced that they have inked the following seven players to reserve/future deals: guard Isame Faciane, wide receiver Isaac Fruechte, defensive tackle Toby Johnson, safety John Lowdermilk, linebacker Terrance Plummer, running back Blake Renaud, and linebacker Alex Singleton. Renaud has had several stints with the Vikings’ taxi squad since coming out of Boise State.
- The Jets announced (on Twitter) that they have signed tackle Jesse Davis and tight end Adrien Robinson to reserve/future contracts. The Jets also signed offensive lineman Lawrence Okoye to a futures deal, Brian Costello of the New York Post tweets.
- The Bears announced (Twitter link) that they have signed linebacker Keith Browner to reserve/futures contract. Browner appeared in three games for Houston in 2014. The 6’4″, 288 pound athlete played college football at Cal and has also been listed as a defensive end in the past.
- The Texans signed guard Karim Barton, center Dalton Freeman, running back Kenny Hilliard, wide receiver Josh Lenz, cornerback Robert Nelson, defensive end Dan Pettinato, outside linebacker Gerald Rivers, linebacker Tony Washington, and tight end Eric Tomlinson to reserve/future deals, per Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
- The Titans signed former Vanderbilt cornerback Steven Clarke to a futures deal, Jim Wyatt of Titans Online tweets.
- The Bengals announced that they have signed the following players to futures deals: wide receiver Michael Bennett, linebacker Jayson DiManche, guard Trey Hopkins, wide receiver Jake Kumerow, tight end Matt Lengel, and linebacker Jeff Luc.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/24/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL, with any further moves added to the list throughout the day:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE D.J. Tialavea (press release via team)
- Cut: TE Marcel Jensen
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DL Jerel Worthy (Twitter link via Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News)
- Cut: LB Kevin Riddick
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Reese Dismukes (Twitter link via Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer)
- Cut: T Pierce Burton (Twitter link via Person)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Danny Mason, QB Justin Worley (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times)
Houston Texans
- Signed: C Dalton Freeman, OLB Gerald Rivers (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Cut: QB Zac Dysert
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: T John Wetzel (Twitter link via Matt Conti of Colts)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Kevin Snyder (link via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Tyler Slavin (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports), RB DuJuan Harris (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com)
- Placed on PS-IR: OL Terry Poole (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times)
Workout Notes: Patriots, Texans, Chargers
The latest workouts from around the NFL:
- The Titans worked out quarterback Christian Ponder, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider (Twitter links). The team also auditioned linebacker Yannik Cudjoe Virgil plus tight ends Michael Egnew, Kevin Greene, Connor Hamlett, and Ryan Taylor.
- The Patriots worked out tight end Cameron Clear, kicker Garrett Hartley, punter Will Johnson, punter Cody Mandell, long snapper Tyler Ott, cornerback Garry Peters, kicker Matt Wile, and long snapper Christian Yount, Wilson tweets.
- The Texans worked out running back Cyrus Gray, center Josh Allen, center Dalton Freeman, center Eric Kush, guard Jacques McClendon, and center Daniel Munyer, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- The Chargers are working out former Eastern Washington offensive tackle Jake Rodgers today, according to a source who spoke with Wilson (on Twitter).
- Slot wide receiver Damaris Johnson is working out for the Jets today, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) adds Jarrett Boykin, Aldrick Robinson, and Greg Salas to that list. The Jets also worked out tight end David Ausberry, a source tells ESPNNewYork.com’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter).
- The Bills worked out running back Mike Gillislee and defensive backs Jocquel Skinner and Robert Steeples, Wilson tweets.
- The 49ers also worked out Gillislee, Wilson tweets.
- The 49ers worked out former Texans linebacker Lynden Trail and ex-Chargers corner Chris Davis, Wilson tweets. Davis, 24, signed with the Bolts in 2014 as a UDFA out of Auburn. The Chargers cut Davis on September 1st.
- The Colts worked out offensive guards Ben Heenan and Donald Thomas on Saturday, Wilson tweets. Indianapolis also brought in linebacker Josh Martin for a visit, Wilson adds.
- Tight ends James Casey and Adrien Robinson worked out for the Giants on Tuesday, sources tell Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger (via Twitter).
- The Ravens worked out wide receivers Joe Morgan and Chuck Jacobs along with quarterback Chase Rettig, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets.
Bills Release Matt Cassel, Red Bryant
The Bills have made five more roster moves to get their roster under 53 players in advance of this afternoon’s deadline. According to a press release, quarterback Matt Cassel and defensive tackle Red Bryant are among the players who have been cut by the team. Buffalo also confirmed the release of safety Jonathan Meeks and announced that it has waived center Dalton Freeman and linebacker Kevin Reddick.
Cassel, 33, was acquired by the Bills back in March in a trade with the Vikings. His release comes as a bit of a surprise, since the club already cut Matt Simms, and the latest move leaves Buffalo with just Tyrod Taylor and E.J. Manuel at quarterback. Still, Cassel had been set to earn a base salary of $4.15MM, so cutting him will create some cap flexibility, and the Bills could put that room toward an extension for Marcell Dareus.
Speaking of Dareus, he’ll start the season on the reserve/suspended list, which should leave the Bills with two openings on their 53-man roster. That makes the club a strong candidate to add a player or two on waivers tomorrow.
Bills Claim Dalton Freeman, Kevin Reddick
The Bills announced that they have claimed center Dalton Freeman and linebacker Kevin Reddick off waivers as a part of today’s moves. Here’s the full rundown:
Claimed Off Waivers:
- Dalton Freeman, C (waived by Jets)
- Kevin Reddick, LB (waived by Panthers)
Released:
- Jimmy Gaines, LB
Waived/Injured:
- Tyson Chandler, OT
Freeman was released on August 30th by the Jets and Rex Ryan wasted little time in orchestrating a reunion. The 6-5, 291 pound Clemson product originally entered the NFL as an UDFA in 2013 with the Gang Green. Freeman played in all 16 games last season for the Jets, starting one.
Reddick originally entered the NFL as an UDFA in 2013 with the Saints before having stints with the Panthers and Chargers.