NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/24
Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Darren Hall
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Rashaan Evans, DL Kyler Baugh
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Domenique Davis, LB Craig Young, QB Logan Woodside
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: K Andre Szmyt
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Maurice Alexander
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Deshaun Fenwick
- Placed on IR: RB Ellis Merriweather
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Neil Farrell
- Released: TE Hayden Rucci
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Ambry Thomas
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Kameron Cline
- Released: TE Neal Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Raekwon McMillan
Szmyt spent time on the Bears’ practice squad last year before playing with the USFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks recently. The 26-year-old terminated his pact with the spring league club to take a deal in Cleveland. A former All-American and Lou Graza winner as the country’s top kicker during his college career, Szmyt could see time late in the year given the Browns’ kicking struggles in 2024.
Thomas appeared to be on his way to join the Colts after he was claimed off waivers by Indianapolis. The veteran corner failed his physical upon arrival with his new team, however, leading to another trip to the waiver wire. No teams put in a claim this time around, but shortly after reaching free agency Thomas has landed a deal. The former 49er has 42 games and 11 starts to his name, and he will provide Minnesota with cornerback depth through the closing stages of the campaign.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/24
Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: C Ricky Stromberg
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Keidron Smith
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Abraham Beauplan
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Hayden Rucci
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: P Pat O’Donnell
- Released: DT T.Y. McGill
The 49ers continue to deal with injuries on special teams. As a result, they’re bringing in the 33-year-old veteran out of Miami (FL). O’Donnell spent eight years in Chicago as the Bears’ primary punter before playing a season in Green Bay. If Mitch Wishnowsky‘s back injury forces him to miss game time, O’Donnell could see his first NFL action since 2022.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Anthony Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT T.J. Smith, LB Chandler Wooten
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Ethan Fernea
- Released: K Spencer Shrader
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DB Shaun Wade
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: QB C.J. Beathard, WR Tarik Black
- Released: TE Hayden Rucci
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Keshawn Banks
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Parris Campbell, DT Siaki Ika
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Dieter Eiselen, WR Malik Turner
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Damarion Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: P Jack Browning, WR Dennis Houston
While the Dolphins should soon have Tua Tagovailoa back on the field, the team has still added another QB to the mix. The team added veteran C.J. Beathard to the taxi squad today. The quarterback has bounced around the NFL since 2017, including a few stops in San Francisco when current Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel served as the 49ers run game coordinator. The 30-year-old got a start for the Jaguars last season, completing 17 of his 24 pass attempts for 178 yards. The newest addition will join a QB room that also includes Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson, and Tim Boyle.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC East
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 Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots moves are noted below.
Buffalo Bills
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Deon Cain, WR KJ Hamler, WR Tyrell Shavers, TE Zach Davidson, OL Richard Gouraige, OL Will Clapp, OL Mike Edwards, DE Kingsley Jonathan, DE Kameron Cline, DT Eli Ankou, DT Branson Deen, CB Daequan Hardy, CB Te’Cory Couch, S Kareem Jackson
Miami Dolphins
Released:
Claimed:
- WR Grant Dubose
Signed to practice squad:
- S Jordan Colbert, WR Erik Ezukanma, DT Jonathan Harris, OL Chasen Hines, LB Dequan Jackson, CB Isaiah Johnson, T Bayron Matos, RB Anthony McFarland Jr., CB Nik Needham, TE Hayden Rucci.
New England Patriots
Signed:
Claimed:
- LB Curtis Jacobs, T Demontrey Jacobs, DT Eric Johnson, T Zachary Thomas
Released:
- DT Trysten Hill, OL Michael Jordan, WR Jalen Reagor
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- T Liam Fornadel, RB Kevin Harris, RB Terrell Jennings, WR Matt Landers, DE Jotham Russell, DB A.J. Thomas, TE Mitchell Wilcox
New York Jets
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Sam Eguavoen, OL Obinna Eze, TE Anthony Firkser, OL Jake Hanson, DL Bruce Hector, DL Jalyn Holmes, S Jaylen Key, TE Zack Kuntz, OL Kohl Levao, QB Adrian Martinez, LB Marcelino McCary-Ball, WR Lance McCutcheon, S Jarius Monroe, CB Kendall Sheffield, WR Brandon Smith, CB Tre Swilling, RB Xazavian Valladay
Dolphins Reduce Roster To 53 Players
After two-straight Wild Card Round losses, the Dolphins are hoping to take another step forward in 2024. The team started prepping for a crucial campaign today, as they set their 53-man roster by making the following moves:
Released:
- LB Curtis Bolton
- LS Blake Ferguson
- DT Neville Gallimore
- DT Jonathan Harris
- DT Isaiah Mack
- RB Anthony McFarland Jr.
- CB Nik Needham
Waived:
- LB David Anenih
- WR Je’Quan Burton
- S Jordan Colbert
- DT Robert Cooper
- WR Erik Ezukanma
- WR Mike Harley Jr.
- OL Chasen Hines
- RB Zander Horvath
- LB Dequan Jackson
- WR Jadon Janke
- CB Isaiah Johnson
- OL Matthew Jones
- CB Jason Maitre
- OT Bayron Matos
- WR Kyric McGowan
- DT Leonard Payne
- S Mark Perry
- TE Hayden Rucci
Waived/injured:
- RB Chris Brooks
- OT Ryan Hayes
- WR Braylon Sanders
Placed on IR:
- WR River Cracraft (designated for return)
- LB Wyatt Ray
- CB Cam Smith (designated for return)
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- WR Odell Beckham Jr. (story)
- LB Bradley Chubb (story)
- LB Cameron Goode
- OL Isaiah Wynn (story)
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the expectation is that long snapper Blake Ferguson will end up re-upping with the Dolphins, with his release solely being for roster machinations. The former sixth-round pick has spent his entire career in Miami, with the special teamer appearing in 67 games.
Nik Needham‘s stay in Miami has come to an end after five seasons. The former UDFA started 27 of his 61 appearances with the organization, although the majority of his production came in his first three seasons with the Dolphins. Between 2019 and 2021, the defensive back hauled in six interceptions, but after returning from a 2022 season-ending injury, he only got into 71 defensive snaps in 2023.
There was some hope that Neville Gallimore could provide the Dolphins with some defensive line depth when he caught on with the organization. The former third-round pick never clicked in Dallas, but he still got into 52 games in his four years with the organization. He collected four sacks and nine QB hits over the span, and he twice managed to top 400 defensive snaps in a campaign.
Dolphins Sign 12 UDFAs
The Dolphins are among the teams which have unveiled their class of undrafted rookies ahead of minicamps. Here are Miami’s additions:
- Je’Quan Burton, WR (FAU)
- Jordan Colbert, S (Rhode Island)
- Storm Duck, CB (Louisville)
- Gavin Hardison, QB (UTEP)
- Isaiah Johnson, CB (Syracuse)
- Matthew Jones, OL (Ohio State)
- Bayron Matos, T (USF)
- Andrew Meyer, OL (UTEP)
- Grayson Murphy, EDGE (UCLA)
- Leonard Payne, DT (Colorado)
- Mark Perry, S (TCU)
- Hayden Rucci, TE (Wisconsin)
Matos is amongst the highest earners around the league with respect to guaranteed compensation given to undrafted rookies this year. Miami gave him $225K in guaranteed salary as well as a $22K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Meyer also secured a notable commitment ($75K), Wilson notes. Offensive line depth has been a talking point for Miami, and Matos and Meyer will aim to earn roster spots with the team this summer.
Wilson reports Perry drew considerable attention around the league before choosing to sign with the Dolphins. The Colorado transfer earned $150K guaranteed, including a $15K signing bonus. Perry spent the past two seasons with the Horned Frogs, amassing 142 tackles (including 9.5 for loss) and six pass deflections along the way. He could earn a backup job in the secondary while contributing on special teams.
Duck was also a top target of the Dolphins, as evidenced by his up front compensation. The 6-0, 205-pounder received a $20K signing bonus and $150K in total guarantees, per Wilson. Duck transferred from North Carolina to Louisville last offseason. In his single campaign with the Cardinals, he posted 32 tackles and seven pass breakups and he will look to parlay that into a least a practice squad spot.