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Deji Olatoye

Falcons Promote Joe Vellano From P-Squad

September 21st, 2017 at 8:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons promoted defensive tackle Joe Vellano from their practice squad and waived cornerback Deji Olatoye to make room.

This marks the second time in 2017 the Falcons promoted Vellano to their active roster, having done so before the NFC championship game as well. Vellano played in Super Bowl LI as a backup, the fifth playoff contest for which he’s dressed.

A 28-year-old ex-UDFA out of Maryland, Vellano spent 2016 with the Falcons before being signed to Atlanta’s practice squad after this past training camp. But his most notable NFL work came with the Patriots. New England deployed Vellano as a starter in eight games during the 2013 season. Vellano also collected a Super Bowl ring in being a part-time performer with the 2014 Pats.

A Ravens UDFA in 2014, Olatoye has spent time with the Chiefs, Cowboys and Falcons but has yet to play in a regular-season game.

Cowboys Trim Roster To 53

September 3rd, 2016 at 5:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cowboys have made the following moves in order to cut their roster down to 53:

Cut:

Waived/Injured:

  • DE Mike McAdoo

Reserve/Suspended:

NFI:

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/15

November 18th, 2015 at 4:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s check in on the latest minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL….

  • The Broncos claimed center Sam Brenner off waivers from the Dolphins, according to Troy Renck of The Denver Post (on Twitter). To make room, Shelley Smith has been waived (link).

Earlier Updates:

  • The Cowboys, armed with several open spots on their 53-man roster, activated linebacker Mark Nzeocha from the non-football injury list and promoted cornerback Deji Olatoye from their practice squad, per David Helman of DallasCowboys.com (Twitter link). Even after adding Nzeocha, Olatoye, and running back Robert Turbin, Dallas has one opening left on its roster.
  • The Lions officially placed Josh Wilson on injured reserve today due to a right knee injury, signing cornerback Bill Bentley to take Wilson’s spot on the roster, according to a press release. Bentley, a Lions’ third-round pick in 2012, will help provide depth at a position that his been hit hard by injuries.
  • The Buccaneers filled one of the two openings on their 53-man roster today by signing defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, the team announced in a press release. It’s the second time during the 2015 regular season that Sidbury has been added to Tampa Bay’s active roster.
  • The Giants have elevated safety Cooper Taylor from their practice squad to their active roster, the team announced today (via Twitter). Taylor started the year on the team’s injured reserve list, but was removed from IR and eventually rejoined the club.

Chiefs Deal Kelcie McCray To Seahawks, Set Roster

September 5th, 2015 at 4:27pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chiefs announced 22 roster moves today, and one of them was of particular interest — according to a team release, the club sent safety Kelcie McCray to the Seahawks in a trade for an undisclosed draft pick. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com fills in the details, tweeting that Kansas City gets a fifth-rounder in the deal.

Recent reports had suggested that Seattle was seeking depth at its safety position, with Kam Chancellor still holding out and Earl Thomas returning from a serious injury. In McCray, the Seahawks get a solid backup who primarily served as a special-teamer last season for the Chiefs.

Here are Kansas City’s 21 other moves that get the tea down from a 75-man roster to just 53 players:

Cut:

  • WR Da’Ron Brown
  • DE Mike Catapano
  • S Sanders Commings
  • LB Ja’Gared Davis
  • DT Hebron Fangupo
  • C Garrett Frye
  • DL David Irving
  • LB James-Michael Johnson
  • C Eric Kush
  • WR Donatella Luckett
  • C Daniel Munyer
  • DB Deji Olatoye
  • G Jarrod Pughsley
  • RB Darrin Reaves
  • DB Kevin Short
  • T Derek Sherrod
  • TE Ryan Taylor
  • FB Spencer Ware
  • WR Fred Williams

Placed on injured reserve:

  • TE Richard Gordon

Reserve/suspended:

  • CB Sean Smith

Chiefs Sign 14 To Futures Contracts

December 30th, 2014 at 5:58pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs announced the signings of 14 players to futures contracts earlier today. Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star:

All of the players came from KC’s practice squad, with the exception of Hus, Sherrod, Feigt, and Ware. Defensive tackle Loni Fangupo and wide receiver Corbin Louks were the lone members of the taxi squad that were not signed to futures deals.

Practice Squad Updates: Thursday

October 9th, 2014 at 4:23pm CST by Luke Adams

As this weekend’s slate of games nears, teams around the NFL continue to add and subtract players from their respective practice squads. Here are Thursday’s practice squad transactions:

  • Using one of the openings on their practice squad, the Cowboys have signed wide receiver Kerry Taylor, who was just waived by the Jaguars this week, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Taylor himself tweeted earlier today that he was joining the Cowboys. Meanwhile, Wilson adds (via Twitter) that Dallas has reached an injury settlement with wideout LaRon Byrd, who had also been on the team’s practice squad.

Earlier updates:

  • After waiving him from their active roster, the Redskins have brought safety Akeem Davis back into the fold on their practice squad, according to the team (via Twitter). Washington now has a full 10-man taxi squad.
  • The Falcons have filled the final opening on their practice squad by signing wide receiver Ryan Spadola, the team announced today in a press release.
  • According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the Chiefs have signed former Ravens cornerback Deji Olatoye to their practice squad. Kansas City already had a full 10-man unit, so we’ll have to wait for the corresponding cut before the addition of Olatoye becomes official.
  • We heard yesterday that tight end Phillip Supernaw had rejoined the Ravens‘ practice squad, and now the team has announced the corresponding move, confirming that cornerback Lou Young has been cut (Twitter link).

Chiefs To Sign Jamell Fleming

September 12th, 2014 at 11:48am CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs are signing cornerback Jamell Fleming off the Ravens’ practice squad to their active roster, a source tells Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The Ravens signed Fleming, a former Cardinals third-round cornerback, to their practice squad just last week.

As our own Luke Adams detailed last week, Fleming was one of eleven practice squad players earning more than the minimum this year. The 25-year-old was cut by the Jaguars during the final major roster cutdown after seeing time in eight games last season for the for them. While he hasn’t made a major impact at the NFL level yet, the cornerback had 168 tackles, seven interceptions, two touchdowns, and a sack for the Sooners during his time at Oklahoma.

Fleming’s departure will leave the Ravens with nine players on their practice squad and Wilson writes that they could consider re-signing cornerback Deji Olatoye to the practice squad.

Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday

September 3rd, 2014 at 9:03pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s hard to imagine any practice squad updates today will be more notable than the news that Michael Sam has joined the Cowboys’ unit, but there figure to be plenty other teams tweaking their squads. We’ll round up all those items right here:

  • Undrafted rookie center Josh Allen, who was cut by the Bucs, has signed to the Packers‘ practice squad, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter).
  • The Saints re-signed quarterback Ryan Griffin to their practice squad, a source tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • The Bengals have filled out their practice squad by adding ex-Chargers wideout Tevin Reese, the team announced today (via Twitter).
  • Safety Matt Daniels has been replaced on the Rams’ practice squad by tight end Brad Smelley, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).

Earlier updates:

  • The Vikings have confirmed the previously-reported signing of Ahmad Dixon to their practice squad, announcing that tackle Mike Remmers has been cut to make room (Twitter link).
  • When they added Sam to their practice squad, the Cowboys dropped seventh-round linebacker Will Smith, according to a team release.
  • As first reported by Doug Kyed of NESN (via Twitter), linebacker Colton Underwood has signed with the Eagles‘ practice squad, filling the 10th and final opening.
  • The Patriots made a few changes to their practice squad, bringing in guard Chris Barker, running back Marcus Thigpen, and tight end Allen Reisner, according to Kyed (via Twitter). Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, safety Kanorris Davis and defensive back Daxton Swanson appear to no longer be on the squad, writes Lee Schechter of ESPNBoston.com.
  • After working out several players yesterday, the Giants signed one of those players – defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton – to their practice squad today, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News.
  • The Ravens brought in former third-round cornerback Jamell Fleming for a visit and added him to their practice squad, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Wilson’s Sun colleague Jeff Zrebiec adds (via Twitter) that cornerback Deji Olatoye has been cut to make room.
  • Safety Ahmad Dixon, who was drafted by the Cowboys in the seventh round this year, is expected to sign with the Vikings‘ practice squad, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Minnesota currently has 10 players on board, so a corresponding move will be required.

Sunday Transactions: AFC North

August 31st, 2014 at 7:10pm CST by Luke Adams

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:

Cincinnati Bengals:

Cleveland Browns:

Pittsburgh Steelers:

AFC East Notes: Vick, Dolphins, Mankins

August 29th, 2014 at 11:25am CST by Zachary Links

The Jets should buck tradition and utilize both Geno Smith and Michael Vick this season, writes George Willis of the New York Post. Used properly, Willis opines that Smith and Vick could be a valuable 1-2 punch the likes of which has seldom been seen at the quarterback position in the NFL. “Maybe at some point they will be,” Vick said of having his skills utilized. “The coaches are creative enough to put guys in position where they can help a football team score points and win games. If it happens, I’m all for it. If it doesn’t, then I’m not going to be upset. I’m just going to stay ready.” Here’s a glance at the AFC East..

  • The Dolphins tried out defensive back Lowell Rose and wide receiver Tony Washington this week, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. Former Ravens players Deji Olatoye and Gerrard Sheppard also auditioned for Miami, Wilson tweets.
  • The magic number in New England is three, Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets. Randy Moss, Richard Seymour, and Logan Mankins were all dealt during or after year three of their extensions with the Patriots. Tom Brady, meanwhile, reworked his big contract after the third year.
  • Patriots team president Jonathan Kraft defended the front office and said the Mankins trade isn’t about pocketing money, tweets Ben Volin of The Boston Globe. However, he didn’t give a full answer as to why it was done.
  • In an appearance on CSNNE, former Patriots center Dan Koppen said that the loss of Mankins is a tough blow for the Patriots but at the same time, he understands the financial reasons behind the trade.
  • After appearing in five of the Jets‘ six possessions in the first half, Stephen Hill was never seen again on Thursday night, as Darryl Slater of The Star-Ledger notes. Hill was targeted twice and caught one pass for 13 yards. It’s possible that the Jets didn’t want to risk Hill getting injured, but that could also be a sign that the former second-round pick won’t make the 53-man cut.
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