NFL Workout Updates: 9/8/17
Today’s NFL workout updates, with all links going to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Atlanta Falcons
- QBs Garrett Grayson and Mitch Leidner (link)
Carolina Panthers
- T Korren Kirven (link)
Detroit Lions
- QB Joel Stave; WR Malachi Dupre; OTs Landon Lechler and Givens Price; DT Taylor Harris; S James Sample (Twitter links)
Green Bay Packers
- G Darrell Greene; OTs Cornelius Lucas and Jeremiah Poutasi; DE Jhaustin Thomas (link)
Indianapolis Colts
- RB Kenjon Barner (link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- DB Akeem King (link)
New England Patriots
- WR Gabe Marks; TE Ryan O’Malley (Twitter links via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- RB Cyrus Gray; TE Nick Truesdell; C Erik Austell; G Brandon Thomas; WRs K.J. Brent, Bug Howard, and Domonique Young; TE Robert Tonyan; DE Tyrone Holmes; DT Caraun Reid; LB Vontarrius Dora; CBs Elie Bouka, Jarnor Jones, Damian Swann, and Robert Nelson; S Trey Caldwell and K.J. Dillon (Twitter links: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Philadelphia Eagles
- DBs De’Vante Bausby, Elie Bouka, Trey Caldwell, and Jarnor Jones (link)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DE Jonathan Woodard; CBs Chris Humes and Sammy Seamster (link)
Tennessee Titans
- DB JaCorey Shepherd (link)
Jets Make 23 Moves, Reach 53-Man Limit
The Jets waived 17 players, released three, placed two on the suspended list, and waived/injured one player in order to reach the 53-man maximum. Here’s the complete breakdown:
Waived:
- Anthony Firkser, RB
- Romar Morris, RB
- Jahad Thomas, RB
- Frankie Hammond, WR
- Gabe Marks, WR
- Dan Williams, WR
- Alex Balducci, OL
- Chris Bordelon, OL
- Ben Braden, OL
- Javarius Leamon, OL
- Patrick Gamble, DL
- Deon Simon, DL
- Lawrence Thomas, DL
- Frank Beltre, LB
- Connor Harris, LB
- Xavier Coleman, DB
- Robenson Therezie, DB
Reserve/Suspended:
- Jalin Marshall, WR (reserve/suspended)
- Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE (reserve/suspended)
Waived/Injured:
- Lucky Whitehead, WR (waived/injured)
Released:
- Kenbrell Thompkins, WR (released)
- Shamarko Thomas, DB (released)
- Tanner Purdum, LS (released)
Purdum was the longest-tenured player on the Jets’ roster, but he wasn’t performing up to standards this offseason. When the Jets acquired long snapper Thomas Hennessy in a trade with the Colts in late August, it was clear that Purdum’s time with the organization was coming to a close.
Jets Sign 8 Undrafted Free Agents
The Jets have signed eight undrafted free agents, according to a team announcement:
- Austin Calitro, LB (Villanova)
- Xavier Coleman, CB (Portland State)
- Brisly Estime, WR/PR (Syracuse)
- Anthony Firkser, FB/TE (Harvard)
- Patrick Gamble, DL (Georgia Tech)
- Connor Harris, LB (Lindenwood)
- Javarius Leamon, OT (South Carolina State)
- Gabe Marks, WR (Washington State)
Marks left Washington State as the Pac-12’s record holder for career receptions, but still didn’t hear his name called after 250+ selections on draft weekend. Some believe that Marks went undrafted because of the perception that his stats were inflated by the Cougars’ pass-heavy offense. For his part, Marks rejects that notion.
“Guys are trying to call us ‘system receivers’ like that’s a thing,’’ Marks told the Seattle Times in February. “It’s not a thing. You’ve still got to do it. It doesn’t matter the system that you are in. You’ve still got to catch the ball. Somebody has to catch the ball and score the touchdowns. If you just put some guy out there that couldn’t play, it wouldn’t work. I just get an opportunity to catch more passes — I can understand that. But I’m still getting open. So the whole ‘system receiver’ thing kind of bothers me a little bit.”
Estime probably had interest from at least one other team since he received an above-average $15K package ($5K bonus, $10K base) to sign with the Jets (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).