Emmanuel Acho

Cowboys To Sign LB James Morris

The Cowboys announced that they have signed linebacker James Morris. Morris was one of three players to work out for the team on Tuesday morning. Dallas also auditioned former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho and Georgia Tech product Quayshawn Nealy, but it is Morris who came away with the job. Dallas Cowboys Helmet (Featured)

[RELATED: Latest On Rolando McClain]

Morris, 24, spent the 2015 season with the Giants and appeared in six regular season games. In May, the Giants cut him loose as they shuffled the roster. Even though 2015 marked Morris’ first year with NFL burn, he also spent time with the Patriots taxi squad in 2014 and won a Super Bowl ring for his efforts.

Cowboys VP Stephen Jones says the club will likely use Wednesday’s day off to evaluate more players at other positions, according to a team press release. Jones indicated that the team will bring in some defensive tackles, safeties, and offensive linemen tomorrow. The team could particularly use reinforcements at DT as Tyrone Crawford sits out with a back injury.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cowboys Auditioning LB Emmanuel Acho

The Cowboys are working out former Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho, according to a source who spoke with Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News. James Morris of Iowa and Quayshawn Nealy of Georgia Tech will also get a look from the Cowboys. Dallas has an open roster spot at linebacker after releasing Darius Eubanks over the weekend. Emmanuel Acho (vertical)

[RELATED: Cowboys Not Interested In Nick Foles]

Of course, the Cowboys are also putting a greater emphasis on finding linebacker help given their situation with Rolando McClain. McClain is facing a ten-game suspension for his latest violation of the league’s substance abuse policy and, earlier today, it was reported that he is now struggling with codeine abuse, putting his NFL future in question. Two weeks ago, the Cowboys added depth at linebacker with the signing of Justin Durant, but they’re still on the hunt for players that can help.

Acho, a sixth-round draft pick of the Browns in 2012, played his high school football in Dallas and made a name for himself as a member of the Texas Longhorns. Acho appeared in 14 games for the Eagles in 2014 but was cut loose during the 2015 season without having appeared in a game. He did not hook on with another team, though he did audition for the Raiders in December.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Workout Notes: Raiders, Colts, Packers

Today’s workouts from around the league:

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/24/15

Tuesday’s minor signings and cuts from around the NFL:

  • The Seahawks are bringing back running back Bryce Brown, a source tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Brown will give Seattle additional depth at the position given Marshawn Lynch‘s uncertain status. Head coach Pete Carroll indicated that Lynch was unlikely to go this week, so Brown’s return is not an indication of whether Lynch will undergo surgery.
  • The Seahawks also signed wide receiver B.J. Daniels to the active roster, as Brady Henderson of ESPN Seattle tweets.
  • The Raiders cut linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Armstrong got in hot water earlier this month for taunting a police dog in Pittsburgh.
  • The Eagles signed wide receiver Jonathan Krause from the practice squad and released linebacker Emmanuel Acho, as Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com tweets.
  • The Jets announced that they have signed outside linebacker Josh Martin off the Colts‘ practice squad to their active roster. Martin got his start as a UDFA with Kansas City in 2013 before moving on to the Bucs this season. After he was waived/injured by Tampa Bay, the Colts scooped him up soon after. For his career Martin has played in 21 games (one start) with a half-sack, a forced fumble and 28 tackles, all with the Chiefs.
  • The Dolphins have waived cornerback Zackary Bowman, as Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel tweets.
  • The Seahawks have waived defensive lineman A.J. Francis, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/15

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL:

  • The Buccaneers activated Demar Dotson from IR-DTR, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. He’ll be taking the place of cornerback Tim Jennings, who has been waived, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
  • The Lions were awarded defensive end C.J. Wilson off waivers from Raiders, as Wilson tweets. He’ll have a place on the roster now that the Lions have placed Andre Fluellen on injured reserve, Wilson tweets.
  • The Eagles (on Twitter) announced that they have officially re-signed linebacker Emmanuel Acho.
  • The Browns waived linebacker Jayson DiManche and defensive back De’Ante Saunders, Wilson Post tweets. DiManche, 25, was signed by Cleveland off of the Chiefs’ taxi squad in October. For his career, DiManche has appeared in 29 total games, mostly with the Bengals.
  • In need of a third reserve offensive lineman for Monday night, the Chargers placed center Chris Watt (shoulder) on IR while promoting guard Craig Watts from the taxi squad, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. Watt, a third-round pick in 2014, has yet to really produce at the NFL level thanks to various injuries.
  • The Chiefs cut wide receiver Frankie Hammond, Wilson tweets.

Workout Notes: Saints, Seahawks, Jaguars

Today’s workouts from around the NFL..

  • The Jets worked out defensive end Lawrence Okoye, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Okoye, a former University of Kentucky discus hurler, had previous stops with the 49ers and Cardinals.

Earlier updates:

Workout Notes: Titans, Brown, Johnson, Dixon

Just over seven months after he announced his retirement from the NFL, cornerback Cortland Finnegan had a workout today with the Patriots. Finnegan, 31, was one of the league’s worst cornerbacks in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. PFF ranked Finnegan 109th out of 110 qualified corners, with a grade of -19.7 in just seven games. As such, it came as a bit of a surprise when Miami inked the former Ram to a two-year, $11MM deal in 2014. He might not be worthy of that kind of pay, but he could make for an intriguing depth option for the Pats or another team.

Here’s a rundown of today’s other workouts from around the NFL, with all links going to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post on Twitter, unless noted otherwise..

Extra Points: Browns, Cowboys, Bears, Jags

Owners are batting around different ideas with regards to Los Angeles but they’re also considering making a major change to the preseason, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The NFL is considering a reduction in preseason games, going from four to three.

From the outside, it’s hard to imagine owners giving up money in the preseason without getting it back elsewhere. In the past, there has been speculation that the owners and the NFLPA could reach an agreement to expand the regular season beyond 16 games and I’d imagine that could be on the table in the next round of CBA talks if the preseason is reduced.

Here’s more from around the NFL..

  • Browns coach Mike Pettine insists his team is making improvements and he’s not planning any major changes to his disappointing defense, Tom Withers of The Associated Press writes. The Chargers gained 438 yards against Cleveland on Sunday and the Raiders got 468 yards against them in the week prior.
  • Rainer Sabin of The Dallas Morning News believes that the Cowboys will go to the free agent market to find a replacement for injured running back Lance Dunbar.
  • There’s a good chance the Bears will re-sign undrafted rookie linebacker John Timu to the practice squad, provided he clears waivers tomorrow, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter).
  • Linebackers Emmanuel Acho and Philip Wheeler worked out for the Jaguars on Monday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).

Eagles Down To 75-Man Roster

The Eagles made a trio of roster moves to get down to 75, as Alex Smith of PhiladelphiaEagles.com writes. Running back Kevin Monangai was waived, linebacker Emmanuel Acho was formally waived/injured (thumb), and cornerback JaCorey Shepherd was placed on injured reserve.

Monangai, a rookie free-agent signing out of Villanova, was unable to stick in Philly due to a deep depth chart at running back. Acho provided the Eagles with solid depth at inside linebacker for parts of the last two seasons and he saw time in 14 games and made two starts in 2014. The release of Acho was reported in August, but it apparently did not become official until today. Acho received an injury settlement in the deal, so he is now a free agent, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.

After Brandon Boykin was traded to Pittsburgh, it appeared that Shepherd was on track take over the nickel position. Unfortunately, however, he suffered a torn ACL soon after the deal.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/15

Today’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves..

  • The Buccaneers announced (via Twitter) that they have waived kicker Brandon Bogotay, waived/injured linebacker Orie Lemon, and signed long snapper Brandon Hartson. The Bucs added a notable kicker in Connor Barth on Wednesday night.
  • The Patriots announced that they have released defensive lineman Antonio Johnson, tackle Mark Asper, and linebacker Cameron Gordon, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Patriots also waived/injured defensive end/tight end Jake Bequette, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Bequette was a third-round selection back in 2012.
  • The Eagles waived/injured linebacker Emmanuel Acho with a thumb injury that required surgery, according to a league source who spoke with Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Acho, 24, has spent parts of the past two seasons with the Eagles. He started two games in 2014 and played 23 percent of the defensive snaps.
  • The Packers signed former Lafayette wide receiver James Butler after a tryout, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Press Gazette tweets.