Giants Move Down To 53-Man Limit
The deadline for teams to trim their rosters to the 53-man regular-season limit just passed. Here is how the Giants slashed their roster:
Released:
- OLB Ryan Anderson
- C Jonotthan Harrison
- DL Willie Henry
- LS Casey Kreiter
- OL Chad Slade
- OL Kenny Wiggins
Waived:
- OL Jackson Barton
- OL Jake Burton
- WR Matt Cole
- LB Devante Downs
- TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
- DB Madre Harper
- TE Jake Hausmann
- OL Brett Heggie
- DB Chris Johnson
- LB Niko Lalas
- QB Brian Lewerke
- DL David Moa
- DB Jordyn Peters
- RB Sandro Platzgummer
- DL Elijah Qualls
- WR David Sills
- WR Damion Willis
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Placed on IR:
- WR Alex Bachman
- OL Ted Larsen
- WR Austin Mack
The bevy of O-line cuts come after the Giants made two trades to bolster their front, with Wiggins, Slade and Harrison failing to dissuade the team from making those trades. New York acquired center Billy Price and guard Ben Bredeson. Wiggins is a nine-year vet who previously was a full-time starter with the Chargers and Lions. A former Colts and Jets starter, Harrison has played six seasons. He signed with the Giants in January. Veterans of all experience levels can catch on with teams’ practice squads; six players of unlimited experience are eligible per P-squad.
Larsen’s season is over, with the Giants anyway. IR-return moves only apply if a team carried a player through to its 53-man roster. While Kreiter appears on Big Blue’s cut list, the team is expected to re-sign the veteran snapper. A third-round rookie, Robinson underwent core muscle surgery recently. He is out for at least the season’s first six weeks.
Giants Re-Sign LB Devante Downs
Devante Downs will be back in New York for the 2021 season. The Giants announced today that they’ve re-signed the linebacker.
The former seventh-round pick played a limited role with the Vikings during his first season-plus in the NFL, and he only saw a handful of special teams snaps after joining the Giants during the 2019 season. However, he took on a significantly larger role in 2020. The 25-year-old ultimately saw time in 16 games (eight starts), compiling 33 tackles. He saw time on 21-percent of New York’s defensive snaps.
Downs was set to hit restricted free agency following the 2020 season, but he was non-tendered by the organization. These contract machinations didn’t end up meaning all that much, as Downs ultimately landed back in New York.
Downs will surely see a special teams role in 2021, and he’ll compete with the likes of Tae Crowder, Reggie Ragland, and T.J. Brunson for the playing time alongside starting linebacker Blake Martinez.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/17/21
Today’s the deadline for teams to extend tender offers to their restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Bills: G Ike Boettger
- Chiefs: WR Byron Pringle
- Texans: DE P.J. Hall, S A.J. Moore
Non-Tendered:
- Bears: K Eddy Pineiro
- Giants: LB Devante Downs
- Texans: S Geno Stone
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Chiefs: TE Nick Keizer
- Jets: WR Jeff Smith
Non-Tendered:
- .
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/19
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: LB Ramik Wilson.
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR DeAndrew White
- Placed on IR: CB Natrell Jamerson
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DE Jonathan Harris
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jaguars’ practice squad: DT Eli Ankou
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steven Mitchell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Donald Payne
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Giles-Harris
- Placed on IR: LB D.J. Alexander, TE Geoff Swaim
- Waived: CB Parry Nickerson
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: CB Marcus Sherels
New England Patriots
- Waived: S Jordan Richards
New Orleans Saints
- Released: LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, RB Zach Zenner
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Devante Downs
- Waived: TE Garrett Dickerson, LB Tuzar Skipper
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Kasim Edebali
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: LS Garrison Sanborn
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/19
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Ahmad Thomas, OT Lukayus McNeil
- Released: P Matt Wile, DE Austin Larkin
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Nick Easley
- Released: WR Jordan Veasy
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Bradley Sowell
Houston Texans
- Signed: OT Elijah Nkansah
- Released: OT Christian DiLauro
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Marcus Johnson
- Released: DT Brian Price
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Braxton Hoyett
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DB Quenton Meeks, TE Matt Sokol, DE Jeff Holland
- Released: OL Chris Brown, S Adarius Pickett
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Nate Meadors
New England Patriots
- Released: LB Scooby Wright
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Devante Downs, Da’Mari Scott
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Brandon Hitner
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OT Jaryd Jones-Smith
- Released: OT Ryan Pope, OL Will Holden
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OLB Jamal Davis II
- Released: DL Lyndon Johnson
Washington Redskins
- Released: CB Adonis Alexander
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/19
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: T John Wetzel
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Kyle Peko
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: G Kofi Amichia
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DT Destiny Vaeao
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Fred Brown
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Dadi Nicolas
- Waived: WR River Cracraft
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Marcus Sherels
- Waived: LB Devante Downs
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Nate Stupar
- Waived: TE Eric Tomlinson
Oakland Raiders
- Placed on IR: LB Marquel Lee
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Craig James
- Waived: WR Greg Ward
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LS Garrison Sanborn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Patrick O’Connor
Washington Redskins
- Released from IR via injury settlement: C Casey Dunn
- Waived: DT T.Y. McGill
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Maurice Canady
- Waived: T Greg Senat
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Cedrick Wilson
- Waived: LB Chris Covington
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: T Jake Rodgers
- Waived: OL Corey Levin
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Andre Patton
- Waived: LB Chris Peace
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Devante Downs
- Waived: CB Mark Fields
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jeff Wilson
- Waived: TE Kaden Smith
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Robert Davis
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC North
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC 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 for the Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings are noted below.
Additionally, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads today. 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 North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Chicago Bears
- Signed to practice squad:
- OL Alex Bars
- QB Tyler Bray
- DB Stephen Denmark
- LB Jonathan Harris
- TE Jesper Horsted
- WR Thomas Ives
- DB Michael Joseph
- OL Sam Mustipher
- RB Ryan Nall
- LB James Vaughters
Detroit Lions
- Signed to practice squad:
- DT John Atkins
- WR Jonathan Duhart
- WR Tom Kennedy
- LB Steve Longa
- TE Isaac Nauta
- T Matt Nelson
- LB Anthony Pittman
- RB Mark Thompson
- TE Austin Traylor
- DE Jonathan Wynn
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Evan Baylis
- RB Tra Carson
- CB Kabion Ento
- WR Allen Lazard
- DL James Looney
- T Yosh Nijman
- LB Randy Ramsey
- LB Brady Sheldon
- WR Malik Taylor
- QB Manny Wilkins
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to practice squad:
- FB Khari Blasingame
- QB Jake Browning
- T Aviante Collins
- LB Devante Downs
- DE Stacy Keely
- CB Nate Meadors
- WR Dillon Mitchell
- K Chase McLaughlin
- LB Cameron Smith
Vikings Announce Cuts To Make 53
The Vikings have trimmed their roster down to 53 players. Notably, the team waived kicker/punter Kaare Vedvik, who they just traded a fifth-round pick for a few weeks ago. They also sent packing quarterback Kyle Sloter, who has starred in the preseason the past couple of years and earned a lot of fans. Finally, the team cut their losses with first-round bust Laquon Treadwell. Minnesota drafted the former Ole Miss receiver 23rd overall back in 2016, and he never topped 200 yards with the team.
Here’s the full list of moves:
Waived:
DE Ade Aruna (Injured)
WR Jeff Badet
LB Reshard Cliett
WR Davion Davis
RB De’Angelo Henderson
CB Craig James
DE Stacy Keely
C John Keenoy
CB Nate Meadors
DE Karter Schult
QB Kyle Sloter
CB Duke Thomas
P/K Kaare Vedvik
S Isaiah Wharton (Injured)
Placed on Reserve/PUP:
TE David Morgan
Placed on Reserve/NFI:
Vikings Sign Four Draft Picks
With their rookie minicamp on tap for this weekend, the Vikings have gotten to work on signing their draft class. Minnesota signed four members of its eight-man class on Thursday, agreeing to terms with the final four players in the group.
- Round 5-167: Daniel Carlson, K (Auburn)
- 6-213: Colby Gossett, G (Appalachian State)
- 6-218: Ade Aruna, DE (Tulane)
- 7-225: Devante Downs, LB (California)
Carlson signed for four years and $2.708MM, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets, adding the kicker prospect received a $248K signing bonus. Gossett and Aruna both signed $2.578MM deals with $118,408 bonuses. Downs’ deal is worth $2.554MM. The Cal product received a $94K signing bonus, Tomasson reports.
Carlson will come in and compete with Kai Forbath, whom the Vikings re-signed earlier this offseason. Carlson made just 21 of his 31 field goal tries but made four of eight from beyond 50 yards. Minnesota’s selection of Carlson does not necessarily mean he’ll be kicking in the Twin Cities come September. Both the Bengals and Panthers saw their 2017 draftees, Jake Elliott and Harrison Butker, poached by other teams off their respective practice squads early last year.
Gossett was one of two offensive linemen in the Vikings’ class, joining second-round tackle Brian O’Neill. Aruna and Downs figure to be in line to compete for spots as backups and on special teams or on Minnesota’s practice squad.