Deslin Alexandre

Colts Work Out OLB Shaq Barrett

The Colts hosted veteran edge rusher Shaquil Barrett for a workout on Tuesday, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.

Barrett signed with the Dolphins during the 2024 offseason but abruptly retired in July. He changed his mind later in the year and eventually convinced Miami to let him depart for his longtime team, the Buccaneers. However, the 10-year veteran only played 17 snaps across Tampa Bay’s Week 18 and wild card matchups.

Barrett’s agent said in April that “he’s definitely going to play this year,” but the two-time Pro Bowler has received no reported interest until now.

The Colts have been in the market for defensive reinforcements, specifically at edge rusher and cornerback. Barrett does not profile as a high-impact addition – his 7.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024 were his lowest two-year total since the 2017 and 2018 seasons – but the 32-year-old has long a strong understanding of how to rush the passer. If general manager Chris Ballard is targeting a more significant upgrade to his secondary, he may look to piece together some more inexpensive additions off the edge. Barrett would fall into that category.

Five other edge rushers visited Indianapolis for workouts on Tuesday: Deslin Alexandre, Seth Coleman, Jasheen Davis, D.J. Johnson, and Benton Whitley. Johnson was a Panthers third-round pick in 2023 and played 17 games in his first two seasons with minimal production. That continued in his four games this year, leading to his release in September. Whitley appeared in six games for the Giants and the Vikings, primarily playing special teams.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These BearsLionsPackers and Vikings moves are noted below.

Chicago Bears

Claimed:

Released:

Signed to practice squad:

Detroit Lions

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Green Bay Packers

Signed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Minnesota Vikings

Signed to practice squad:

Packers Make Cuts, Set Initial 53-Man Roster

The Packers announced their initial 53-man roster as well as the following transactions:

Released

Waived

Placed on IR (designation to return)

Placed on IR

Placed on reserve/PUP

Despite his struggles to carve out a role in the NFL, Simmons made the 53-man roster in each of his first five seasons after the Cardinals selected him with the No. 8 pick in 2020. That streak has come to an end in Green Bay with his release today.

Alexandre is expected to return to the Packers’ practice squad if he clears waivers, per USA Today’s Ryan Wood, who places Banks in the same category.

Lloyd suffered a groin injury early in training camp and a hamstring injury more recently, which will land him on IR and sideline him for at least four weeks. Monk, though to be the team’s backup center, will also be out for a minimum of four weeks.

NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/13/25

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

Cleveland Browns

  • DT Ralph Holley

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • OT Doug Nester

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These BearsLionsPackers and Vikings moves are noted below.

Chicago Bears

Signed:

Claimed:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Detroit Lions

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Green Bay Packers

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Minnesota Vikings

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Packers Announce 53-Man Roster

The Packers featured the youngest roster in the NFL last season, and they’re set to return most of that young core in 2024. Still, the team had to move on from a long list of inexperienced players as they pared their roster down to 53 players. The organization announced the following roster moves today:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

  • CB LJ Davis
  • LB Ralen Goforth

Placed on IR:

Linebacker Kristian Welch brings the most experience of the bunch, with the former UDFA appearing in 57 career games in time with the Ravens and Packers. He spent the 2023 campaign in Green Bay, where he played all 210 of his snaps on special teams. Considering his limited experience on defense, there’s a chance the Packers are tinkering with their roster and intend to bring the veteran back via the practice squad.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/16/24

Here are today’s reserve/futures contracts:

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

  • OL Ben Brown, S Tyreque Jones, RB Tyreik McAllister

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/31/23

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: WR Kaden Davis, OL Marquis Hayes

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jets Set 53-Man Roster

The Jets have been in the limelight all offseason, and some of their lesser-known players have earned attention following the team’s participation in HBO’s Hard Knocks. The team had to move on from many of those unheralded players today, as the organization reduced their roster to 53 players:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on reserve/PUP:

Placed on IR:

Placed on reserve/suspended:

Zonovan Knight made a name for himself as an UDFA in 2022. The running back was thrust into the Jets starting lineup, and he ultimately started four of his seven appearances. The RB finished the season with 400 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 98 touches. With Dalvin Cook added to a deep RBs depth chart, Knight seemed like a long shot to make the final roster.

Tim Boyle has bounced around the NFL a bit, but his only starting experience came with the Lions in 2021. The quarterback spent the 2022 campaign in Chicago, completing two of his eight pass attempts. It was uncertain if the Jets would keep three QBs on the roster, but the team appears content with just Aaron Rodgers and Zach Wilson at the position.