NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/22/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Mike Gillislee (Twitter link via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com)
- Cut: TE Brandon Bostick, G Anthony Steen
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Damiere Byrd (Twitter link via David Newton of ESPN.com)
- Cut: LB Brian Blechen
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Deonte Thompson
- Cut: WR Ify Umodu (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Cam Johnson (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal)
- Cut: DL Kelcy Quarles
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Indianapolis Colts
- Cut: CB Brandon Dixon (Twitter link via owner Jim Irsay)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: T Tyrus Thompson (Twitter link via agent Ken Sarnoff)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: RB Rajion Neal (Twitter link via Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Cut: WR Quron Pratt (Twitter link via Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cut: WR Rannell Hall (Twitter link via Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/19/15
Here are Saturday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL. The news comes courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T Pierce Burton (Twitter link)
- Cut: WR Damiere Byrd
Miami Dolphins
- Cut: WR Deon Long (Twitter link)
New England Patriots
- Signed: OG Chris Barker (Twitter link)
- Signed: DT Khyri Thornton
- Cut: CB Dax Swanson
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/19/15
Here are the latest minor moves from across the NFL:
- The Patriots released wide receiver Jonathan Krause, who was on injured reserve, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Krause went undrafted out of Vanderbilt and has spent time with both the Cleveland and New England organizations.
- The Eagles reached an injury settlement with defensive end Brian Mihalik, per Wilson (Twitter link). Mihalik, formerly of Boston College, was a seventh-round pick of the Eagles in this year’s draft.
- The Raiders signed safety Tevin McDonald from their practice squad, according to their website. McDonald is an undrafted rookie from Eastern Washington.
- Washington cut defensive end Frank Kearse and signed linebacker Terrance Plummer from its practice squad, per Mike Jones of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Kearse amassed career highs in games (15), tackles (12) and sacks (three) as a member of Washington’s defense in 2014. He appeared in 16 games from 2011-13 with the Panthers and Cowboys. Plummer is an undrafted rookie from Central Florida.
- The Bears cut defensive back Demontre Hurst and promoted defensive lineman Brandon Dunn from their practice squad, according to ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson (Twitter link). Hurst totaled 39 tackles and an interception as an undrafted rookie last year, and added a tackle in the Bears’ loss to Green Bay last week. Dunn, also in his second year, spent most of last season on the Bears’ practice squad. He appeared in three games and made one tackle.
Earlier updates:
- In order to make room for Phillips, San Diego cut wide receiver Tyrell Williams, per Gehlken (on Twitter). Williams, who will traverse the waivers process, had a standout preseason as a rookie. This cut leaves the Chargers thinner at receiver. Gehlken estimates only four dressing Sunday, with Dontrelle Inman residing as the Bolts’ only backup.
- The Chargers added Adrian Phillips from their practice squad, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Michael Gehlken (on Twitter). They will make a corresponding move later today, per Gehlken. An undrafted rookie safety in 2014, Phillips suited up for three games last year for the Chargers.
- The Jaguars moved cornerback Peyton Thompson to their active roster and cut wideout Bryan Walters to make room, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports (on Twitter). A fourth-year veteran, Thompson played two games for the Jags last season after spending 2012 in Atlanta and 2013 with Washington. Walters, 28, played one game in Jacksonville last season while playing the previous two with the Seahawks. He booked a start for the 2013 Super Bowl champion Seahawks after starting his career in San Diego two years prior.
- The Panthers also swapped out a wide receiver for another position in cutting Damiere Byrd, an undrafted rookie from South Carolina, from their practice squad to make room for offensive tackle Pierce Burton on their 10-man unit, David Newton of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). The Falcons released Burton from their practice squad last week.
- Rookie UDFA wide receiver Javess Blue received an injury settlement from the Packers, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). Due to the settlement, Blue cannot re-sign with Green Bay for at least six weeks.
- The Vikings reached an injury settlement with 2015 sixth-round offensive lineman Tyrus Thompson, per Wilson (on Twitter). The 23-year-old from Oklahoma took first-team reps with the Vikings at right guard this summer before the team moved tackle Mike Harris inside, where he starts now.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South 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 Falcons, Panthers, Saints, and Buccaneers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 11:00am 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 NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Atlanta Falcons
- Claimed off waivers:
- T Bryce Harris (press release)
- Signed to practice squad:
- RB Mike Gillislee (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson)
- TE Marcel Jensen (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure)
- LB Stanlsy Maponga (Twitter link via McClure)
- DT Joey Mbu (Twitter link via Tony Pauline)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed to practice squad:
- DT Chas Alecxih (press release)
- WR Brenton Bertsin (Twitter link via Wilson)
- LB Brian Blechen (press release)
- WR Carrington Byndom (press release)
- WR Damiere Byrd (press release)
- DE Rakim Cox (Twitter link via Joseph Person)
- T David Foucalt (press release)
- LB Adarius Glanton (press release)
- TE Scott Simonson (Twitter link via Wilson)
- CB Lou Young (press release)
New Orleans Saints
- Claimed off waivers:
- DE Obum Gwacham (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport)
- LB Michael Mauti (Twitter link via Rapoport)
- Cut:
- DT Ashaad Mabry (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery)
- S Kenny Phillips (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR R.J. Harris (Twitter link via Katherine Terrell)
- OL Sean Hickey (Twitter link via Stephen Bailey)
- WR Seantavius Jones (Link via Woodbery)
- G Cyril Lemon (Twitter link via Wilson)
- TE Chris Manhertz (Twitter link via Woodebery)
- FB Toben Opurum
- CB Sammy Seamster (Twitter link via Wilson)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers:
- LB Kourtnei Brown (Twitter link via Rapoport)
- LB Jeremiah George (Twitter link via Rapoport)
- QB Ryan Griffin (Twitter link via Rapoport)
- LB James-Michael Johnson (Twitter link via Adam Caplan)
- C Eric Kush (Twitter link via Rapoport)
- Cut (press release):
- TE Cameron Brate
- G Kadeem Edwards
- T Reid Fragel
- WR Rannell Hall
- LB Jason Williams
- Signed to practice squad:
- DB Jude Adjei-Barimah (link via Greg Auman)
- CB Imoan Claiborne (link via Auman)
- WR Kaelin Clay (Twitter link via Auman)
- WR Donteea Dye (link via Auman)
- LB Howard Jones (Twitter link via Wilson)
- LB Josh Keyes (link via Auman)
Panthers Organize Regular-Season Roster
The Panthers cut 22 players to officially reduce their roster to 53, reports Max Henson of Panthers.com.
In addition to placing rookie defensive end Arthur Miley on injured reserve and reaching an injury settlement with offensive lineman Brian Folkerts, the Panthers cut Jordan Todman. This leaves Fozzy Whittaker and Cameron Artis-Payne as Jonathan Stewart‘s primary backups.
The remaining Carolina cuts are as follows:
- Chas Alecxih, DT
- Marcus Ball, S
- Brenton Bersin, WR
- Brian Blechen, LB
- Mike Brown, WR
- Carrington Byndom, CB
- Damiere Byrd, WR
- Rakim Cox, DE
- David Foucault, T
- Adarius Glanton, LB
- T.J. Heath, CB
- Ricky Henry, G
- Marcus Lucas, TE
- Jordan McCray, G
- Terry Redden, DT
- Scott Simonson, TE
- Jason Trusnik, LB
- Martin Wallace, T
- Lou Young, CB
Panthers, 10 UDFAs Reach Deals
MONDAY, 11:11am: The Panthers have officially agred to terms with 10 undrafted free agents, the team announced today in a press release. Of the eight names reported yesterday, seven are included in the team release — Blitch’s name isn’t in there, so it appears he’ll just be a rookie minicamp invitee for now. Here are the other three players signed by Carolina:
- Steve Miller, DE, Ohio State
- Brandon Wegher, RB, Morningside
- Matt Wile, P, Michigan
SUNDAY, 9:14am: The Panthers have agreed to sign eight undrafted free agents thus far. Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer provides the list:
- Brian Blechen, OLB, Utah
- Daniel Blitch, OT, Charlotte
- Damiere Byrd, WR, South Carolina
- Darious Cummings, DT, Florida
- Dean Marlowe, S, James Madison
- Arthur Miley, DT, Southern ($15K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- Garry Peters, CB, Clemson
- Terry Redden, DT, Memphis
