Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC 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 Cowboys, Commanders, Giants and Eagles moves are noted below.
Dallas Cowboys
Signed:
- OL Hakeem Adeniji, CB C.J. Goodwin
Claimed:
- DB Twikweze Bridges (from Chargers), DB Reddy Steward (from Vikings)
Waived:
- CB Andrew Booth, CB Zion Childress
Placed on IR:
- RB Phil Mafah (story), Caelen Carson
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Justin Barron, WR Jalen Brooks, DT Earnest Brown, G Saahdiq Charles, T Geron Christian, S Alijah Clark, WR Jalen Cropper, RB Malik Davis, TE Rivaldo Fairweather, TE Princeton Fant, QB Will Grier, CB Kemon Hall, WR Traeshon Holden, LB Buddy Johnson, DE Dayo Odeleye, CB Robert Rochell
New York Giants
Claimed:
- DB Beau Brade (from Ravens), DB Rico Payton (from Saints)
Released:
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Elijah Chatman, OLB Trace Ford, OLB Tomon Fox, DL Elijah Garcia, OL Bryan Hudson, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, OL Jake Kubas, S Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, DL Jordon Riley, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, CB Dee Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
Signed:
Claimed:
- C Willie Lampkin (from Rams)
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Chance Campbell, WR Elijah Cooks, RB Audric Estime, G Kenyon Green, TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson, OLB Patrick Johnson, TE Cameron Latu, WR Terrace Marshall, QB Kyle McCord, CB Parry Nickerson, T Hollin Pierce, OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, CB Eli Ricks, S Andre Sam
Washington Commanders
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Ricky Barber, WR Ja’Corey Brooks, TE Lawrence Cager, DT Sheldon Day, C Michael Deiter, CB Antonio Hamilton, QB Sam Hartman, DE Jalyn Holmes, WR Jacoby Jones, DE T.J. Maguranyanga, S Rob McDaniel, G Timothy McKay, WR Chris Moore, CB Car’lin Vigers
Giants Move Down To 53
Following the Tommy DeVito cut, here are the moves the Giants made to trim their roster to 53:
Released:
- OT Stone Forsythe
- WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- DL Jeremiah Ledbetter
- WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- RB Jonathan Ward
Waived:
- WR Dalen Cambre
- DL Elijah Chatman
- TE Greg Dulcich
- DL Cory Durden
- OLB Trace Ford
- OLB Tomon Fox
- DL Elijah Garcia
- C Bryan Hudson
- G Jake Kubas
- S Raheem Layne
- K Jude McAtamney
- RB Dante Miller
- C Jimmy Morrissey
- S Makari Paige
- DL Jordon Riley
- WR Juice Wells
- CB Dee Williams
Waived/injured:
- WR Da’Quan Felton
- CB Tre Hawkins
- TE Jermaine Terry
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- OLB Victor Dimukeje
- RB Eric Gray
Placed on IR (return designation):
Two years after winning a starting job as a rookie (and forcing Adoree’ Jackson into a brief slot CB sojourn), Hawkins is off the Giants’ roster. He joins Dulcich as notable players waived today. Dulcich came over via waivers from the Broncos midway through last season. The Giants have been light at tight end since Darren Waller‘s retirement, but they now have starter Theo Johnson back after a season-ending injury. Daniel Bellinger, Chris Manhertz and seventh-round rookie Thomas Fidone made the team over Dulcich.
Forsythe came over from the Seahawks on a one-year, $1.34MM deal, doing so after having started 13 games between the 2023 and ’24 seasons. The Giants gave more money (two years, $12MM) to James Hudson to be their swing tackle, while fifth-round rookie Marcus Mbow has been working at tackle as well. Evan Neal is also an option at tackle, though the demoted RT has been working at guard for months.
Ezeudu will count toward the Giants’ in-season injury activation total, reducing that number from eight to seven. The former third-round pick has been out for a few weeks after being carted off the practice field early in camp. The Giants view Ezeudu as likely to return, however. This is the North Carolina product’s contract year.
Teams can officially begin setting their 16-man practice squads starting at 11am CT Wednesday. The Giants have a few candidates from this bunch to stay, with a decent percentage of the above contingent under consideration to stay. Kabas is one, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan, who adds Miller is another. Paige is viewed as a candidate for New York’s P-squad as well, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Ward is a vested veteran and can determine his future earlier, but Wilson adds the reserve RB is a taxi squad candidate.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/12/25
Here are the minor moves from the first day of the 2025 league year:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Mike Ford, OL Kyle Hinton, DL Ta’Quon Graham, OL Elijah Wilkinson, LB Josh Woods
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Jake Hummel, WR Tylan Wallace
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Dan Chisena
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Cameron Sample
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Jack Sanborn
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Craig Reynolds, LB Grant Stuard
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Casey Toohill
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Neville Gallimore, OL Danny Pinter
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DB Tavierre Thomas
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Jaylinn Hawkins
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Rashad Weaver
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Ben VanSumeren
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Tre Brown
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: QB Kyle Trask
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Blake Hance
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB Kevon Seymour
Yes, a few of these players have graduated from our minor-moves sector, but today’s signing blitz being what it was, they land here. Ford highlights the batch contractually, agreeing (per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter) to a two-year, $4MM deal. Ford played on more than 70% of Cleveland’s special teams snaps over the past two seasons.
Trask will reprise his role as Baker Mayfield‘s backup, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating the former second-round pick is staying on a one-year, $2.79MM contract. Trask and Mayfield competed for the job in 2023, but as was the case with the Drew Lock–Geno Smith battle a year prior, the winner never looked back. Trask will be in place for a fifth Bucs season, having moved from third-stringer during the Tom Brady era to QB2 in the Mayfield years.
Hawkins will stay with the Patriots on a two-year deal worth up to $2.2MM, according to the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed. A 2022 full-time Falcons starter, Hawkins saw Jessie Bates replace him in 2023. The Falcons later waived Hawkins, who ended up on the Chargers in 2023. The Pats used him as a seven-game starter in 2024, when he made 48 tackles (three for loss).
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/24
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: TE Feleipe Franks
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DL Chris Smith
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: LB Sam Eguavoen, OL Jake Hanson
- Promoted: TE Anthony Firkser, DL Jalyn Holmes
- Placed on IR: LB Zaire Barnes
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated: OT Trent Williams
- Promoted: DE Sam Okuayinonu, DB Tracy Walker III
- Released: OT Brandon Parker
Panthers Claim Three Cornerbacks, Add DB Lonnie Johnson
The Bryce Young trade prevented the Panthers from using their 2-15 record to land an impact prospect atop the draft. Carolina’s consolation prize comes months later, and the rebuilding team will use its top waiver position.
Cornerbacks are coming to Charlotte in droves. The Panthers have already used three claims on corners, bringing in Tariq Castro-Fields, Keenan Isaac and Shemar Bartholomew, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. The Commanders, Buccaneers and Jets respectively released the CBs, who will join a Panthers team in need.
Carolina also claimed linebackers Jon Rhattigan and Jamie Sheriff from the Seahawks, per Pelissero and veteran reporter Jordan Schultz. The Panthers will soon follow with cuts, as this marks a multi-position makeover for the NFC South club. In addition to the CB waiver claims, Pelissero reports Lonnie Johnson — whom the Texans released Tuesday — is signing with the Panthers’ practice squad, Pelissero adds. Carolina is expected to elevate the veteran DB by Week 1.
Initially a 49ers sixth-round pick, Castro-Fields played eight games with Washington last season. A 2023 UDFA, Isaac saw action in two Bucs games last year. Bartholomew was part of the Jets’ UDFA contingent this year. Johnson went to camp with Houston, which originally drafted him in Round 2. He played in 12 Saints games last season, working primarily on special teams.
This lot of inexperienced players, along with Johnson, will join a Panthers team that traded Donte Jackson and placed Dane Jackson on IR due to a hamstring injury. Carolina kept six cornerbacks on its active roster, including veteran slot man Troy Hill and recent trade pickup Michael Jackson, so some shuffling will soon occur.
As the team begins clearing roster space, the Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye notes rookie UDFA wideout Jalen Coker received word he will be waived. The Panthers also claimed former 49ers guard Jarrett Kingston. The Panthers also cut wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette, guard Cade Mays, cornerback D’Shawn Jamison, defensive tackle Jayden Peevy and Demani Richardson. Mays started seven games at guard over the past two seasons.
Panthers Shopping WR Terrace Marshall
The Panthers are shopping wide receiver Terrace Marshall, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic (subscription required). Marshall received permission to seek a trade in advance of last year’s deadline, but Carolina found no takers.
Marshall, 24, has not made the type of impact the club expected when it made him a second-round pick in 2021. Now that he is in the last year of his rookie contract, the Panthers will renew their attempt to extract some trade compensation for their former Day 2 investment.
Marshall entered the league with high expectations after he played a role in LSU’s explosive passing game alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. After a rookie campaign in which he caught just 17 balls for 138 yards, Marshall took a notable step forward under then-OC Ben McAdoo in 2022, recording 28 catches for 490 yards – good for a whopping 17.5 yards-per-reception rate – and a score.
That performance seemingly set Marshall up nicely for at least a role as a legitimate big-play threat in 2023, but he operated in a reduced capacity under HC Frank Reich and OC Thomas Brown to begin the year. That precipitated the above-referenced trade request, which did not lead to a desired change of scenery. Marshall was inactive for Weeks 11 through 17 of the 2023 campaign, and he finished the year with 19 catches for 139 yards.
It was reported back in May that Marshall was on the roster bubble, though Carolina hopes that he has shown enough in the preseason to curry some trade interest. Marshall caught five passes for 53 yards and a TD over the three-game exhibition slate, including a 3/39/1 performance in yesterday’s contest against Buffalo. According to Person, Marshall has also flashed in practice.
Although Carolina could certainly find room for Marshall as an ancillary weapon, it appears the club is prepared to move on and offer him a chance at a quality platform season elsewhere. Person names the Bills, who saw Marshall’s best preseason performance firsthand and who have taken a look at other veteran wideouts this offseason, as a team to monitor (Buffalo also employs Joe Brady as its offensive coordinator, and Brady was with LSU during Marshall’s time there and was Carolina’s OC when Marshall was drafted).
The Panthers’ willingness to trade Marshall could be impacted by the health of fellow wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette, who sustained an ankle injury in the Buffalo contest.
Latest On Panthers’ Wide Receiving Corps
Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen had an excellent 2024 campaign, reminiscent of some of his best seasons with the Vikings. Besides the 33-year-old’s standout effort, rookie quarterback Bryce Young didn’t get much help throughout a rocky first season. As a result, the Panthers made two big moves to augment the receiving corps this offseason, requiring recent high draft picks to show up soon or, perhaps, get pushed out. 
After Thielen’s 103-reception, 1,014-yard, four-score effort, the next-best receiving performances were from free agent addition DJ Chark (35 receptions-525 yards-5 touchdowns) and second-round rookie Jonathan Mingo (43-418-0). Rounding out the room, former second-round pick Terrace Marshall (19-139-0), former Jaguars second-round pick Laviska Shenault (10-60-0), Ihmir Smith-Marsette (8-51-0), and Mike Strachan (1-45-0) each provided minimal contributions in Young’s rookie year.
Besides Shenault, that entire group returns in 2024. Thielen will obviously remain a starter, though he may be challenged by trade acquisition Diontae Johnson for the WR1-role. Johnson averaged about 872 yards and five touchdowns per year over five seasons in Pittsburgh. Putting forth an average season would already provide a significant upgrade to the room.
Joining Johnson as a newcomer to the group is first-round draft pick Xavier Legette. An explosive but inexperienced weapon out of South Carolina, Legette brings an air of mystery to the Panthers. Legette spent four years with the Gamecocks before finally becoming a main contributor as a redshirt senior, totaling more in 2023 (71-1,255-7) than he did in the four prior years combined (42-423-5).
Barely making it into the first round as the 32nd overall selection in this year’s draft, Legette will be competing with the team’s two former second-round picks in his rookie season for the WR3 job. While Marshall has had trouble staying on the field since getting drafted out of LSU, missing at least three games in each year including eight last year, his second season stats (28-490-1) resembled Mingo’s rookie numbers, but he was mostly a non-factor during his other two seasons. Mingo could certainly take step forward in Year 2, but he’ll now be forced to outperform Legette in training camp to remain a starter.
One under the radar addition that could prove effective is UFL star Daewood Davis. A former undrafted free agent for the Dolphins out of Western Kentucky, Davis caught 41 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns in 10 games with the Memphis Showboats. If he uses that pro experience to enhance his offseason performance in 2024, Davis could make a strong play for a roster spot and, perhaps, even a role in the receiver-rotation.
Regardless, Carolina’s 2024 receiving corps looks to be much improved from the group fielded by the Panthers in 2023. Thielen and Johnson figure to form a strong, experienced duo atop the depth chart. Past those two, Carolina just needs one of Legette, Mingo, Marshall, Davis, or another to step up and provide a strong WR3 for Young.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/12/24
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OT Hakeem Adeniji
- Re-signed: OL Michael Dunn
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: LS Trent Sieg
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: FB Michael Burton
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: OL Dan Skipper
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: CB Corey Ballentine, TE Tyler Davis
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Del’Shawn Phillips
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: S Deon Bush
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: LB William Kwenkeu
New England Patriots
- Re-signed: LB Christian Elliss, OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-signed: LS Rick Lovato, P Braden Mann
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: P Cameron Johnston
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Pharaoh Brown
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Saahdiq Charles
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/8/24
Here are the league’s tender decisions as we head into the weekend:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Panthers: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Chargers: K Cameron Dicker, T Foster Sarell
Los Angeles will retain Dicker and Sarell for the 2024 season. After making three starts in 2022, Sarell appeared in every contest for the Chargers in 2023. Dicker returns after a superb season as the team’s placekicker in 2023. After missing only one kick in 10 games in 2022, Dicker provided more brilliance in a full season as the team’s designated leg. Dicker made 31 of 33 field goal attempts, showing range with seven made kicks over 50 yards. Only two years in, Dicker is showing a resemblance to the other great Longhorn kicker in the league. The only three misses of his career have come from over 50 yards out, and he has yet to miss an extra point in his two years of play.
Carolina has made the call not to tender Smith-Marsette. The team’s primary punt returner in 2023, Smith-Marsette led the league in punts returned, taking one to the house in a Week 10 loss to the Bears. While the Panthers won’t tender him, both sides are reportedly open to working towards a re-sign for 2024.
WR Notes: Watson, Metchie, Chark, McLaurin, Smith-Njigba
Jordan Love‘s tenure as the Packers‘ full-time starting quarterback will have a bit of a hurdle to navigate this week. In his first start since November 2021, Love will be without the team’s top returning receiver Christian Watson, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.
Watson is dealing with a hamstring injury that could potentially lead to an extended absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur claimed that he doesn’t think Watson will reach a three- or four-week absence but classified the second-year wideout as week-to-week.
The top target in Watson’s absence, fellow sophomore receiver Romeo Doubs, is also dealing with a hamstring injury but is only listed as questionable heading into the weekend. Rookie wideout Dontayvion Wicks is the third such receiver on the team dealing with a hamstring injury, but he managed to avoid the injury report altogether. Star tackle David Bakhtiari is also available after staying off the injury report.
Here are a few more reports on wide receiver injuries from around the league heading into Week 1:
- The world will have to continue to wait for the NFL debut of Texans wide receiver John Metchie III, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Despite making a recovery from both a torn ACL and leukemia, Metchie is still dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. Houston is being patient, taking a “big-picture approach” to Metchie’s return. The team will be without safety Jimmie Ward and linebacker Blake Cashman for Week 1, as well.
- The Panthers are slowly working their way back to full health in their receiving corps, according to Panthers writer Augusta Stone. Back ups Terrace Marshall and Ihmir Smith-Marsette are now fully participating in practice after recent injury trouble. Starters Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark Jr. both returned to practice today in a limited capacity. While Thielen was listed as questionable and could still play, Chark has been ruled out for the team’s season opener.
- The Commanders drew lots of criticism when leading receiver Terry McLaurin sustained an injury as the team played its starters fairly deep into a preseason game in an effort to end the Ravens’ preseason win streak. They’ll dodge a bullet, though, as McLaurin will be active this week after making good progress from his turf toe injury, according to Commanders senior writer Zach Selby. He’s had a couple of full participation practices and should be good to go for Week 1. Defensive end Chase Young has been listed as questionable, though. Head coach Ron Rivera claimed that “if (Young’s) cleared, he’ll go.”
- Despite undergoing wrist surgery just two and a half weeks ago, Seahawks rookie first round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba is expected to play in the team’s season opener against the Rams this Sunday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Head coach Pete Carroll, who was optimistic on the recovery timeline, confirmed as much this week.