NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/4/23
Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Released: S Macon Clark
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Michael Bandy
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Taylor Stallworth
- Activated from practice squad/injured: S Brandon Hill
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Junior Aho
New England Patriots
- Released: P Corliss Waitman
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Cameron Erving
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Dez Fitzpatrick, TE Noah Gindorff
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Ilm Manning, RB Jeremy McNichols
- Released: FB Jack Colletto, DL Marlon Davidson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Mason Kinsey
Erving finds a new home in 2023 after originally re-signing to stay with the Panthers in the offseason. The former first-round pick has plenty of starting experience over his eight years in the NFL and has started games at center, guard, and tackle. With several injuries nagging the offensive line in New Orleans, the addition of Erving could prove beneficial.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/23
Monday’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: CB Kris Boyd, OL Ilm Manning, CB Christian Matthew
Detroit Lions
- Reinstated from suspension: WR Jameson Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reinstated from suspension: LT Cam Robinson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: WR Cody Thompson, CB Lance Boykin
Tennessee Titans
- Reinstated from suspension: T Nicholas Petit-Frere
As part of the new terms regarding the NFL’s gambling policy, players hit with six-game bans for gambling on non-NFL events while at team facilities have seen their suspensions reduced. As a result, Williams and Petit-Frere will be able to return as early as Week 5. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes that each player will receive a one-week roster exemption, after which they will need to be activated.
The same holds true of Robinson, who was suspended for the season’s opening month due to a PED violation. That ban cost the 27-year-old over $3.5MM in salary and voided the remaining guarantees in his deal, which runs through 2024. The Jaguars have had an up-and-down start to the season on offense, but the unit has fared well in pass protection so far with only eight sacks allowed. Still, Robinson’s return to the blindside will be welcomed in Jacksonville.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed off Raiders practice squad: CB Sam Webb
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: WR Britain Covey, P Arryn Siposs
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: DT Cameron Heyward (story)
- Promoted: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed off Raiders practice squad: G McClendon Curtis
- Signed off Buccaneers practice squad: OT Raiqwon O’Neal
With Jaycee Horn being placed on IR, the Panthers added some cornerback depth by snagging Sam Webb of the Raiders practice squad. The former UDFA got into all 17 games for Las Vegas in 2022, finishing with 36 tackles. He was cut by the Raiders at the end of the preseason before landing back on their practice squad.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC 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 Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.
Cincinnati Bengals
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Domenique Davis, RB Demetric Felton, CB Allan George, C Nate Gilliam, QB Will Grier, DE Jeff Gunter, LB Shaka Heyward, TE Tanner Hudson, WR Shedrick Jackson, CB Sidney Jones, G Jaxson Kirkland, WR Kwamie Lassiter II, WR Stanley Morgan, LB Tyler Murray, S Michael Thomas
Baltimore Ravens
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- QB Anthony Brown, G Tykeem Doss, RB Melvin Gordon (story) CB Jeremy Lucien, G Tashawn Manning, FB Ben Mason, LB Jeremiah Moon, C Sam Mustipher, DT Rayshad Nichols, LB Josh Ross, WR Sean Ryan, WR Laquon Treadwell, TE Travis Vokolek, S Daryl Worley, RB Owen Wright
Cleveland Browns
Claimed:
Placed on IR:
Waived:
- CB A.J. Green
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Lorenzo Burns, WR Jaelon Darden, G Michaell Dunn, RB Hassan Hall, K Lucas Havrisik, DT Trysten Hill, DE Sam Kamara, T Alex Leatherwood (story), S Tanner McCalister, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DE Lonnie Phelps, LB Charlie Thomas, DE Isaiah Thomas, QB P.J. Walker, WR Austin Watkins
Pittsburgh Steelers
Released:
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Luq Barcoo, RB Greg Bell, CB Anthony Brown (story) DL Breiden Fehoko, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DL Jonathan Marshall, LB David Perales, S Trenton Thompson, TE Rodney Williams
Steelers Set 53-Man Roster
The Steelers have made many of their cuts already. Here are the rest of Pittsburgh’s moves to trim their roster to the 53-man limit. Some of these players are likely to end up on Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Those 16-man units will be set Wednesday, with waivers processing at 11am CT.
Released:
- TE Zach Gentry
- LB Nick Kwiatkoski
Waived:
- CB Luq Barcoo
- RB Greg Bell
- WR Jordan Byrd
- DL Breiden Fehoko
- WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- DL Jonathan Marshall
- OL Ryan McCollum
- S Tre Norwood
- LB David Perales
- LB Quincy Roche
- DB Trenton Thompson
- RB Xazavian Valladay
- CB Chris Wilcox
- TE Rodney Williams
The Steelers made several cuts in the days leading up to the deadline, while also sending Kendrick Green to the Texans and Kevin Dotson to the Rams. Kwiatkoski is the biggest name among their final-day moves.
A Pittsburgh-area native, Kwiatkoski signed with his hometown team midway through the offseason, adding him to a revamped linebacking corps. Pittsburgh shuttled out the likes of Myles Jack, Devin Bush and Robert Spillane — via releases (Jack) or free agency defections — and added Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. A former part-time Bears and Raiders starter who spent last season with the Falcons, Kwiatkoski, 30, returns to free agency.
Gentry worked as a Steelers starter alongside Pat Freiermuth for the past two seasons. The former fifth-round pick caught 19 passes in each of the past two campaigns. It is possible Gentry, as a vested veteran, returns after the Steelers take care of other roster business. As of now, only two tight ends — Freiermuth and third-round pick Darnell Washington — are on the 53-man roster.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/11/23
Teams continue to sign players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players throughout the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Arizona Cardinals
- P Nolan Cooney, OL Julién Davenport, LS Joe Fortunato, K Elliott Fry, CB Nate Hairston, S JuJu Hughes, LB Blake Lynch, TE Chris Pierce, TE Bernhard Seikovits, OL Lachavious Simmons, WR Auden Tate, S Josh Thomas, OL Badara Traore, WR Javon Wims
Denver Broncos
New Orleans Saints
- G Koda Martin, CB Troy Pride
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
- WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DB Madre Harper, DB Kenny Robinson, DB Chris Wilcox
AFC Injuries Update: Titans, Paye, Edmunds, Poyer
Injuries continue to bite the Titans on the defensive side of the ball. This week, the team will play without three starters as head coach Mike Vrabel has ruled out safety Amani Hooker, edge rusher Bud Dupree, and linebacker Zach Cunningham, according to Turron Davenport of ESPN.
The Titans already have six players on injured reserve from the defense alone, as well as five more from the offense. Vrabel also announced that the team will sit linebackers Olasunkanmi Adeniyi and Joseph Jones, as well. This all in addition to the recent loss of rookie wide receiver Treylon Burks to IR.
Tennessee has elevated practice squad linebacker Joe Schobert and wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick to make up for the loss of Cunningham and Burks, respectively. Dupree and Hooker’s absences will likely mean more playing time for second-year linebacker Rashad Weaver and backup safeties Joshua Kalu and Ugo Amadi. Amadi has some starting experience from his time with the Seahawks.
Here are a few other injury updates from around the AFC, starting with a division rival of the Titans:
- Last year’s first-round draft pick for the Colts, pass rusher Kwity Paye, was carted off the field during this Thursday’s win over the Broncos. Indianapolis believes Paye suffered a high ankle sprain based off of the initial evaluations, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Paye was expected to undergo an MRI yesterday to determine the severity of the injury and detail a timeline for his return, but no word has been reported as of yet. In Paye’s absence, and with backup defensive end Tyquan Lewis also dealing with injuries, the Colts will have to rely on backups Ifeadi Odenigbo, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Ben Banogu.
- Pittsburgh faces a defensive challenge this week as they continue to deal with injuries in the secondary. Starting safety Terrell Edmunds has been ruled out in Buffalo this week due to a concussion, according to Rapoport. Due to injuries and a suspension, the Steelers will have to rely on backups Miles Killebrew, Tre Norwood, and Elijah Riley.
- The Bills will also be struggling with safety injuries as Jordan Poyer is set to miss the team’s matchup with the Steelers this week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. With Micah Hyde on injured reserve, Buffalo will rely on Damar Hamlin, who started in Hyde’s absence last week, and Jaquan Johnson, a special teams ace whom the Bills have often trusted to sub in on defense.
Titans Place WR Treylon Burks On IR
Treylon Burks will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks. The Titans rookie wideout has been placed on injured reserve, according to Jim Wyatt of the team’s website.
The first-round rookie was injured during the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s win over the Colts. Burks was carted off the field and was later diagnosed with a turf toe injury. He had already been ruled out for this weekend, but the team is now sidelining him through the end of the month.
Following a standout career at Arkansas that saw him earn first-team All-SEC in 2021, Burks was selected with the 18th-overall pick in this year’s draft…the selection the Titans acquired after dealing A. J. Brown to the Eagles. Burks was relatively productive in his first two games, hauling in seven of his 11 targets for 102 yards. While he saw an uptick in offensive snaps during Week 3 and Week 4, he was limited to only three catches between the two games.
Veteran receiver Robert Woods will still guide the receivers room, but the team will have to dig into their depth chart for some reinforcement. Tennessee is also rostering the likes of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Cody Hollister, and rookie Kyle Philips, with veteran Josh Gordon among the WRs on the Titans practice squad.
Meanwhile, the Titans have activated linebacker Monty Rice from the PUP to the active roster. The 2021 third-round pick had 30 tackles in 10 games (four starts) as a rookie, but his season ended early thanks to an ankle injury. He landed on PUP to start the 2022 campaign. The Titans also promoted receiver Dez Fitzpatrick and linebacker Joe Schobert from the practice squad.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC South
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 Colts, Jaguars, Texans and Titans moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Houston Texans
Claimed:
- WR Tyler Johnson (from Buccaneers; story)
Released:
Placed on IR:
- TE Teagan Quitoriano, CB Tavierre Thomas
Signed to practice squad:
- TE Jordan Akins, DB Grayland Arnold, WR Jalen Camp, QB Jeff Driskel, WR Drew Estrada, DB Jacobi Francis, DL Demone Harris, WR Johnny Johnson III, RB Marlon Mack (story), DB Tristin McCollum, OL Jimmy Morrissey, DL Adedayo Odeleye, OL Cedric Ogbuehi, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, TE Mason Schreck, OL Jordan Steckler
Indianapolis Colts
Signed:
- OT Dennis Kelly
Claimed:
- OL Luke Tenuta
Waived:
- CB Tony Brown
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Curtis Brooks, CB Tony Brown, DE Kameron Cline, WR Keke Coutee, S Marcel Dabo, WR Ethan Fernea, TE Nikola Kalinic, T Jordan Murray, RB D’Vonte Price, CB Will Redmond, LB Forrest Rhyne, TE Jared Scott, CB Chris Wilcox, DT Chris Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
Claimed:
- DB Tyree Gillespie (from Titans), RB JaMycal Hasty (from 49ers), K Riley Patterson (from Lions), WR Kendric Pryor (from Bengals), LB Ty Summers (from Packers) (story)
Released:
Signed to practice squad:
- QB E.J. Perry
Tennessee Titans
Signed:
Placed on IR:
- WR Racey McMath
Signed to practice squad:
- OLB David Anenih, RB Trenton Cannon, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, DB Chris Jackson, DB Theo Jackson, LB Joe Jones, WR Mason Kinsey, DL Larrell Murchison, OL Xavier Newman, TE Thomas Odukoya (international player), DL Sam Okuayinonu, DL Jayden Peevy, WR Reggie Roberson, OL Jordan Roos, OL Andrew Rupcich, TE David Wells, QB Logan Woodside
Titans Set 53-Man Roster
The Titans have trimmed down their roster to 53 players:
Released:
- RB Trenton Cannon
- DB Adrian Colbert
- LB Joe Jones
- P Brett Kern (story)
- DB Greg Mabin
Waived:
- LB David Anenih
- OL Christian DiLauro
- WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- LB Jack Gibbens
- DB Tyree Gillespie
- WR Cody Hollister
- G Hayden Howerton
- DB Chris Jackson
- DB Theo Jackson
- WR Mason Kinsey
- T Jalen McKenzie
- DL Larrell Murchison
- OL Xavier Newman
- TE Thomas Odukoya
- DL Sam Okuayinonu
- DL Jayden Peevy
- WR Reggie Roberson
- OL Jordan Roos
- OL Andrew Rupcich
- DB Tre Swilling
- TE David Wells
- QB Logan Woodside
- G Willie Wright
Waived/injured:
- TE Tommy Hudson
The Titans will open up at least one roster spot on Wednesday. Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com writes that wide receiver Racey McMath is expected to land on short-term injured reserve. McMath sustained a hip injury during Tennessee’s preseason finale, and he’ll be sidelined for at least four weeks while sitting on IR. Robert Woods, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Treylon Burks, and Kyle Philips currently make up the Titans’ WR room, so there’s a chance one of the four wide receivers who were waived today (Dez Fitzpatrick, Cody Hollister, Mason Kinsey, Reggie Roberson) will end up back with the team.
Logan Woodside could also land back on the Titans practice squad after the team opted to keep only two QBs on their active roster (Ryan Tannehill, rookie Malik Willis). Woodside has seen time in 11 games for Tennessee over the past two years, completing one of his three pass attempts (he did break out a sweet 18-yard run, though).