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.
Patriots Cut 14 Players
The Patriots have started the process of reducing their roster to 53 players. The team announced that the following 14 players have been cut:
Released:
- TE La’Michael Pettway
Waived:
- LS Tucker Addington
- WR Kawaan Baker
- DE William Bradley-King
- DT Josiah Bronson
- LB Steele Chambers
- RB Deshaun Fenwick
- CB Azizi Hearn
- OT Zuri Henry
- DE Christian McCarroll
- DT Sam Roberts
- C Charles Turner
- CB Mikey Victor
- TE Jacob Warren
With Sam Roberts off the team, the Patriots have now officially moved on from half of their 2022 draft class (and more subtractions, including QB Bailey Zappe, are surely coming). The former sixth-round pick struggled to carve out a role during his two seasons in New England, appearing in only 12 games. He did manage to appear in a career-high 100 defensive snaps this past season, but he was still limited to only five total tackles.
The team also moved on from defensive lineman Josiah Bronson, who joined the team a few days into camp. Despite Christian Barmore expected to be sidelined for the first chunk of the season, the veteran Bronson was unable to carve out a role. The 27-year-old will now look to revive his career elsewhere, but after being limited to only one game over the past two seasons, his opportunities may be running dry.
Kawaan Baker was facing an uphill battle to make the roster behind the likes of Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker. The former Saints draft pick got into a pair of games as a rookie, contributing a single special teams tackle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/24
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB William Hooper, S Josh Thompson
- Waived: WR Austin Mack
- Waived/failed physical: RB Robert Burns
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB T.J. Tampa
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from active/PUP: DT Devonnsha Maxwell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, S Chase Williams
- Released: RB John Kelly
- Waived: DE Marcus Haynes
- Waived/injured: CB Vincent Gray
Denver Broncos
- Claimed (from Giants): DB Kaleb Hayes
- Waived: ILB Alec Mock
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Jake Fromm, LB Ty Summers
- Waived: G Ike Boettger
- Waived/injured: WR Antoine Green
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Pheldarius Payne
- Waived: WR Jadon Janke
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed (from Bears): RB Demetric Felton
- Waived/injured: RB Trent Pennix
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Shaquille Quarterman, WR Isaiah Wooden
- Waived: QB Casey Bauman, WR Praise Olatoke
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB David Anenih, LB Wyatt Ray
- Placed on IR: Cam Brown, Grayson Murphy
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Deshaun Fenwick
- Waived: DE John Morgan
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Shaq Davis
- Waived: WR Marquez Callaway
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Lorenzo Lingard
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Anthony Hines, TE Neal Johnson
- Waived: LB Jimmy Ciarlo, CB Myles Jones
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Claimed (from Ravens): OL Tykeem Doss
- Waived/injured: DB Kalon Barnes
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/injured: WR Frank Darby
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: P Nolan Cooney
- Waived from NFI list: QB Zack Annexstad
Hernia surgery forced Tampa to the Ravens’ active/PUP list, but the fourth-round pick is ready to return. Needing a double hernia operation after minicamp (per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec), Tampa is unlikely to be ready for practice until at least next week. By avoiding a move to the reserve/PUP list, Tampa is no longer at risk of missing Baltimore’s first four games.
A rookie UDFA, Murphy went down with an MCL injury, per NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe. The Dolphins signed Brown, a four-year Giants special-teamer and backup presence, in April. While the Dolphins continue to deal with linebacker injuries, they did bring Jaelan Phillips off the PUP list today.
Fromm spent most of the past two seasons with the Commanders, but the team — as it transitions to a new regime — cut the former Georgia passer in May. He joins a Lions team that still rosters Nate Sudfeld along with Jared Goff and Hendon Hooker.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/24
Today’s minor transactions as we head into the weekend:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: CB Ro Torrence
- Waived: LS Cameron Lyons
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Corey Crooms
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Hunter Kampmoyer
- Waived: DT Brandon Matterson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Geor’quarius Spivey
- Waived: WR Izaiah Gathings
New England Patriots
- Signed: T Kellen Diesch, S A.J. Thomas
- Waived: RB DeShaun Fenwick, T Tyrone Wheatley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Mason Fairchild, TE Kevin Rader
- Reverted to IR: TE Tommy Hudson
- Waived: TE Jesper Horstead
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Brandon Smith, CB Tre Swilling, WR Isaiah Winstead
- Waived: TE Kevin Foelsch, WR Marcus Riley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Reverted to IR: LB David Perales
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OLB Jay Person
- Placed on IR: G Sua Opeta (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from active/PUP list: T Nicholas Petit-Frere
Petit-Frere has been rehabbing back from a medical procedure he underwent on his knee. The third-year lineman will now get an opportunity to enter the team’s position battle at right tackle.
Patriots Sign Nine UDFAs
Bill Belichick had a penchant of rostering unheralded UDFAs throughout his long tenure in New England. In fact, at least one undrafted free agent made the Patriots opening-day roster for 19-straight seasons before the streak ended last season. Jerod Mayo, Eliot Wolf, and co. will be looking to restart that habit in 2024, with the team adding nine undrafted free agents to the roster:
- DeShaun Fenwick, RB (Oregon State)
- Kaleb Ford-Dement, CB (Texas State)
- Zuri Henry, OT (Texas-El Paso)
- Jontrey Hunter, LB (Georgia State)
- John Morgan, DE (Arkansas)
- Dell Pettus, S (Troy)
- Charles Turner, C (Louisiana State)
- Mikey Victor, CB (Alabama State)
- Jacob Warren, TE (Tennessee)
Jontrey Hunter finished his six-year stint at Georgia State with his best season, finishing the campaign with 96 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. The linebacker showed the ability to get after the quarterback in college and could get a look on the edge for the Patriots. The team also added a notable pass rusher in John Morgan, who compiled 14 sacks at Pitt between the 2019 and 2022 seasons. His numbers dropped following a transfer to Arkansas in 2023, with the defensive end compiling only 15 tackles and a pair of sacks.
On the other side of the ball, Jacob Warren provides some intrigue at tight end. The six-foot-six, 246-pound rookie had a consistent role at Tennessee over the past three years, averaging 15 receptions for 177 yards and more than two touchdowns per season. DeShaun Fenwick saw his collegiate career turn around following a transfer to Oregon State in 2021. Over the past three seasons, the RB collected 1,621 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns.