Cowboys Trim Roster To 53
The Cowboys have made the following moves in order to cut their roster down to 53:
Cut:
- LB Derek Akunne
- C Jake Brendel
- DT Rodney Coe
- CB Isaiah Frey
- LB Brandon Hepburn
- QB Jerrod Johnson
- WR Andy Jones
- LB Deon King
- T Ryan Mack
- WR Vince Mayle
- CB Deji Olatoye
- DL Lawrence Okoye
- G Boston Stiverson
- TE Austin Traylor
- K Matt Wile
- T Bryan Witzmann
- WR Devin Street
- TE Rico Gathers
- DE Ryan Russell
Waived/Injured:
- DE Mike McAdoo
Reserve/Suspended:
NFI:
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/13/16
Today’s minor moves:
- Cornerbacks Isaiah Frey and Dax Swanson signed with the Cowboys, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Both players tried out for Dallas last week and apparently made a good impression.
- The Bills have signed offensive lineman Chris Martin to a one-year contract, according to agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link). Martin, 26, has been a member of seven NFL teams and spent time on the Bills’ practice squad last season.
- After being waived by the Cowboys, cornerback Terrance Mitchell will latch on with the other NFL club in Texas, as the Texans have claimed him off waivers, reports Mark Berman of FOX26 (Twitter link).
- The Lions waived wide receiver Austin Willis and signed defensive back Keith Lewis today, as Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press tweets.
- The Chargers cut safety Matt Daniels from injured reserve, per Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). the two sides presumably reached an injury settlement.
- The Chiefs have signed former Akron defensive back Bryce Cheek (Akron) while the Rams have inked former San Diego State long snapper Jeff Overbaugh (San Diego State), Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports tweets.
- Tight end Michael Williams (Patriots), cornerback Brandon McGee (Cowboys), and receiver Corey Washington (Lions) all reverted to injured reserve after clearing waivers, according to Balzer (Twitter link).
Cowboys To Meet With Brandon Boykin
6:56pm: In addition to Boykin, the Cowboys also worked out defensive lineman Lawrence Okoye, defensive backs Dax Swanson and Isaiah Frey, offensive tackles Cameron Bradfield and Bryan Witzmann, linebacker Brandon Hepburn, and tight end Nate Askew, according to Archer.
3:29pm: The Cowboys will meet with free agent cornerback Brandon Boykin, according to sources who spoke with Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Boykin was signed by the Panthers in March but he has been a free agent since being released last month.
[RELATED: Cowboys Not Interested In Dwight Freeney]
Despite not seeing significant playing time in Pittsburgh, Boykin ranked as a top-40 cornerback in 2015 (out of 111 qualified players), per Pro Football Focus. The diminutive corner has always shown flashes of upside, particularly in his six-interception 2013 campaign, but has never really gotten the opportunity to be a full-time player with just seven career starts. Now, he’ll look to join the Cowboys as a low-cost slot cornerback with upside.
While Boykin didn’t earn a spot on PFR’s top 50 free agent list, we placed him sixth among free agent cornerbacks when we broke down 2016’s top defensive free agents, placing him ahead of veterans like Leon Hall and Patrick Robinson due to his relative youth and upside. Recently, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ranked Boykin as the fifth-best free agent still left on the board, ahead of names like Mike Neal, Chris Culliver, and Antrel Rolle.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Steelers Sign Four Players, Cut Four
Following their rookie minicamp, the Steelers have announced a handful of changes to their 90-man roster, signing four tryout players from the minicamp and cutting four veterans. According to the team, running backs Brandon Brown-Dukes and Cameron Stingily, wide receiver Marcus Tucker, and cornerback Donald Washington have been signed.
To open up roster spots for the incoming players, the Steelers parted ways with running backs Christian Powell and Rajion Neal, wide receiver Tobais Palmer, and cornerback Isaiah Frey. Of those players, Frey is the most notable name — although he hasn’t actually seen any action for Pittsburgh, he has appeared in 27 career NFL games, making seven starts, during parts of three seasons with the Bears and Buccaneers.
Out of the four newly-signed players, Washington has the most interesting story, and took the longest path to get to the Steelers. The former Ohio State Buckeye was drafted in the fourth round by the Chiefs in 2009, and appeared in 32 games for Kansas City over the next three seasons. However, he hasn’t appeared in an NFL contest since the 2011 campaign. Washington, who is now 29 years old, spoke to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review about his comeback attempt.
“I am going to leave it out there and see what they do,” Washington said, before he earned a spot on the Steelers’ 90-man roster. “I am having the time of my life, man. The main key is to have fun and run around and have a good attitude and a good effort. Any chance I can get to play football, I want it, no matter where it is at. I just love the game and love being around the guys. No matter how the opportunity comes, I am taking it.”
Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/18/16
Here are today’s reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL:
Green Bay Packers
- Carl Bradford, LB (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
- William Campbell, DT
- Mitchell Henry, TE
- Jamel Johnson, WR
- Christian Ringo, DT
- Jeremy Vujnovich, T
- Ed Williams, WR
Kansas City Chiefs
- Tyrell Adams, LB (Twitter link via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Da’Ron Brown, WR (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Reid Fragel, T
- Laurence Gibson, T
- Mike Liedtke, G
- Darrin Reaves, RB
- Jimmy Staten, DE
- Ross Travis, TE
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jordan Dangerfield, S (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- Matt Feiler, T
- B.J. Finney, C
- Isaiah Frey, CB (Twitter link via Dov Kleiman of RantSports)
- Xavier Grimble, TE
- Rajion Neal, RB (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
- Shakim Phillips, WR
- Abou Toure, RB
Seattle Seahawks
- Brandon Cottom, FB (Twitter links via Dov Kleiman of RantSports)
- George Farmer, CB
- DeShon Foxx, WR
- Antwan Goodley, WR
- Justin Hamilton, DT
- Stanley Jean-Baptiste, CB
- Douglas McNeil, WR
- Drew Nowak, C
- Will Pericak, C
- Trovon Reed, DB
- Robert Smith, S
- DeAngelo Tyson, DE
Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/15
Today’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle), WR Devon Wylie (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)
- Cut: RB Juhwan Edwards, LB Derek Akunne (link)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Reese Dismukes (Twitter link via Panthers)
- Cut: C Eric Kush
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: FB Blake Renaud (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle), LB Terrance Plummer (Twitter link via Andrew Krammer of 1500 ESPN)
- Cut: WR Donte Foster (link)
New Orleans Saints
- To be signed: CB Sammy Seamster (Twitter link via Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune)
- Signed: LB Henry Coley (via Woodbery)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Korey Toomer, DB Tevin McDonald (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Isaiah Frey (Twitter link via Steelers PR spokesman Burt Lauten)
St. Louis Rams
- Signed: DE Gerald Rivers, LB/DE Zach Hodges (Twitter link via Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Andre Davis (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of The Tampa Tribune)
- Cut: CB Keon Lyn, CB Dax Swanson, T Martin Wallace (press release)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Rico Richardson (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/13/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Cut from PS-IR: TE Joseph Fauria (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan)
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Daniel Brown, RB Akeem Hunt, TE Konrad Reuland (Twitter link)
Chicago Bears
- To be signed: WR Nathan Palmer (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times), DT D’Anthony Smith (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
- Released: C Ryan Seymour (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune)
Houston Texans
- To be signed: WR Chandler Worthy (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX 26)
- Cut: T Edawn Coughman (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB Jeff Tuel (Twitter link)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Jayson DiManche, CB Saalim Hakim, OL Mike Liedtke, RB Darrin Reaves (Twitter link)
- Cut: LB Tyrell Adams, CB Jeremy Harris, OL Daniel Munyer
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Robert Herron (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Andrew Turzilli, C Brian Folkerts (Twitter link via Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee)
St. Louis Rams
- Signed: RB Trey Watts (Twitter link via USA Today’s Howard Balzer)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cut: CB Isaiah Frey (Twitter link)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/15
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR LaRon Byrd (Twitter link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- Cut: T Pierce Burton
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: T Tony Hills (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter)
- Cut: QB Bryn Renner
Dallas Cowboys
- To be signed: C/G Ronald Patrick , T Darrion Weems (via Josina Anderson on Twitter + Wilson on Twitter)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: T Jordan Mills (press release)
Houston Texans
- To be signed: T Joe Treadwell (via Wilson on Twitter)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB Jonas Gray, C Sam Brenner, QB Logan Thomas, DE Emmanuel Dieke (via Aaron Wilson on Twitter + Twitter link via James Walker)
- Cut: DT DeAndre Coleman, WR Uzoma Nwachukwu (Twitter link via Adam Beasley)
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Eric Martin (via Mike Reiss on Twitter)
- Cut: LB Alex Singleton and DL Jimmy Staten
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Cameron Brate, S Alden Darby, WR Seantavius Jones, FB Toben Opurum, T Bryan Witzmann (via Mike Triplett on Twitter)
New York Giants
- To be signed: LB James Morris, G Vinston Painter (via James Kratch on Twitter)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR DeAndre Carter (via Vic Tafur on Twitter)
- Cut: LB Josh Shirley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Connor Hamlett (via press release)
- Cut: DE Brian Mihalik
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Isaiah Frey, DT Derrick Lott (via Greg Auman on Twitter)
Washington
- Signed: LB Houston Bates (via John Keim on Twitter)
Buccaneers Waive Patrick Omameh, Eight Others
9:42am: The Buccaneers have made another notable cut, parting ways with cornerback Isaiah Frey, per Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Frey started six games for the Bears in 2013 and saw part-time action for Chicago and Tampa Bay in 2014.
9:22am: The Buccaneers were busy yesterday, parting ways with kicker Connor Barth and defensive lineman Da’Quan Bowers. They also added cornerback Tim Jennings, but they lost wideout Kenny Bell for the season.
The organization continued being active today, as Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com passes along some other cuts by Tampa Bay:
- G Patrick Omameh
- LB Khaseem Greene
- K Patrick Murray
- LB Larry Dean
- QB Seth Lobato
- CB Brandon Dixon
- DB Chris Hackett
- WR Tavarres King
Omameh may be the most notable name on this list, as the former Michigan standout started all 16 games for the Bucs in 2014. Greene started six games for Tampa Bay during his two-year career, compiling 44 tackles and an interception.
Bucs Sign Isaiah Frey
The Buccaneers announced that they have signed cornerback Isaiah Frey to the 53-man roster. A spot on the roster became available today when fullback Jorvorskie Lane was handed a two-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
Frey was drafted by the Bears in the sixth round of the 2012 draft, Lovie Smith‘s final year as head coach in Chicago. In 2013, he played nickel back for the Bears, appearing in all 16 games and making six starts. In that time, he racked up 47 tackles, a pass deflecton, and two quarterback hits.
As for Lane, his suspension begins immediately. He will be eligible to return to Tampa Bay’s active roster on Monday, November 3rd following the team’s November 2 game against the Browns.