NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/28/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Frank Ginda
- Released: K Matthew Wright
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Matthias Farley
- Released: DT Rashard Lawrence
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Dallin Leavitt
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Joel Wilson
- Released: CB Anthony Johnson
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Garret Wallow
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: CB Cameron McCutcheon
- Released: OL Grant Miller
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: QB Sean Mannion
New England Patriots
- Signed: QB Will Grier
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: K Austin Seibert
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Jacob Copeland
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Kemon Hall
- Released: OL Henry Byrd
After getting cut by the Patriots this past weekend, Will Grier is back with the organization. Considering the uncertainty surrounding New England’s QB situation, there was some speculation that Grier could get a look before the end of the season, and his addition to the taxi squad leaves that door open. The former Cowboys backup started two games for the Panthers back in 2019, going winless while tossing zero touchdowns vs. four interceptions.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/12/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: OL Kyle Fuller
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Lamar Jackson
- Released: WR Dezmon Patmon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OL Michael Jordan
- Released: TE Austin Allen
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks, WR Jared Wayne
- Released: RB Larry Rountree
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OL Jack Anderson, RB Tyler Goodson, TE Jordan Murray
- Released: RB Jason Huntley, TE Johnny Lumpkin, WR Mike Strachan
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Ty Shelby
- Released: OT Austen Pleasants
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Miller Forristall, P Brandon Wright
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Lucky Jackson
New Orleans Saints
- Released: WR Jontre Kirklin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Jacob Copeland
- Released: DB Luq Barcoo, RB Greg Bell
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Greg Eiland, OT Jason Peters (story)
- Released: QB Holton Ahlers, S Brady Breeze
Vikings Make Cuts To Reach 53-Man Roster
Most of the Vikings’ roster moves were done ahead of the deadline, but today they did the rest of the work to get down to the 53-man roster. Here are the moves made today to reach the deadline:
Waived:
- OL Alan Adi
- WR Jacob Copeland
- RB Aaron Dykes
- WR Lucky Jackson
- WR Trishton Jackson
- RB DeWayne McBride
- DL Esezi Otomewo
- WR Blake Proehl
- TE Ben Sims
- DL T.J. Smith
- OL Jack Snyder
- WR Thayer Thomas
- OLB Luiji Vilain
- OLB Benton Whitley
- CB Jaylin Williams
Waived/injured:
- LB Abraham Beauplan
Released:
- LB Troy Reeder
- CB Joejuan Williams
A strong preseason performance by backup running back Ty Chandler and the returning prowess of Kene Nwangwu led to the disappointing cut of the seventh-round pick McBride. Besides that, there weren’t many surprises on the offensive side of the ball as the Vikings continually value consistency on the offensive line.
Minnesota needed to work out how to replace the production lost in the departure of pass rusher Za’Darius Smith. The opportunity led to a nice surprise as undrafted rookie Andre Carter II makes the initial 53. Carter is joined on the defensive side by undrafted linebacker Ivan Pace, who got plenty of run in camp as Brian Asamoah recovered from injury. Safety NaJee Thompson is the last undrafted rookie to find his way onto the roster thanks to his contributions on special teams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/7/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from active/PUP list: OLB BJ Ojulari
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL LaColby Tucker
- Activated from active/PUP list: DL Calais Campbell
- Waived: DL Matthew Gotel
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from active/PUP list: FB Patrick Ricard
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: DT Devonnsha Maxwell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Charles Wiley
- Waived: WR Ra’Shaun Henry
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from active/NFI list: TE Luke Schoonmaker
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Nate McCrary
- Activated from active/NFI list: WR Grant Dubose
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Isaiah Moore
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: QB James Blackman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Jacob Copeland
- Waived: WR Cephus Johnson
New York Giants
- Activated from active/PUP list: G Marcus McKethan, DT A’Shawn Robinson
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Bruce Hector
- Waived: QB Chris Streveler
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: OL Trevor Reid
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Jordan Ferguson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DB Avery Young
- Waived: OL Grant Hermanns
Washington Commanders
- Signed: S Joshua Kalu
- Placed on IR: DB Troy Apke
Streveler is currently dealing with an injury, ESPN’s Dianna Russini tweets. The Jets used Streveler as their top backup QB to close last season, inserting him into a Week 16 game ahead of Joe Flacco. Streveler stuck around via reserve/futures contract in January. But the Jets have since traded for Aaron Rodgers and signed Tim Boyle, marking a new era at quarterback. With Zach Wilson still around, the team does not appear to have any room — potentially even on the practice squad — for Streveler, who has played for the Jets and Cardinals in a three-year NFL career.
Apke has been with Washington since being chosen in the 2018 fourth round. He re-signed with the team in 2022 and stayed via reserve/futures contract in January. A shoulder injury, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, will move Apke to IR, which will end his chances of playing a sixth season with the Commanders this year. Kalu started five games for the Titans last season, playing 494 defensive snaps. Over his first three seasons, Kalu had never cleared the 100-snap barrier on defense.
Schoonmaker suffered a foot injury, a plantar fascia tear, during his final year at Michigan. The Cowboys’ top post-Dalton Schultz tight end investment will aim to make a push for a regular role to begin the season.
The Dolphins made Blackman part of their UDFA class this year. The former Florida State starter spent six years in college, finishing up with Arkansas State. The Dolphins swapped out Teddy Bridgewater for Mike White this offseason, but Skylar Thompson has made a push to be Tua Tagovailoa‘s backup. Regardless of that competition’s outcome, Blackman’s ceiling appeared to be practice squad QB in Miami. But the Dolphins may be looking into outside help for that developmental role — provided the team plans on stashing a fourth passer on its taxi squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/2/23
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on PUP: DL John Penisini
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: WR Tim Patrick (story)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels, TE Daniel Helm
- Placed on PUP: CB Emmanuel Moseley
- Waived: TE Derrick Deese
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): LB Arron Mosby
- Waived: OLB LaDarius Hamilton
Houston Texans
- Released: DE Demone Harris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from PUP: DL Tershawn Wharton
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: LB Kana’i Mauga
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/injured: S Bennett Williams
- Waived: P Michael Turk
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Christian DiLauro
- Waived/injured: OL Sam Schlueter
New England Patriots
- Waived: WR Ed Lee
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Tommy Kraemer
- Claimed off waivers (from Packers): G Chuck Filiaga
- Placed on IR: LB Andrew Dowell
- Waived/injured: T Scott Lashley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Isaiah Dunn, S Trenton Thompson
- Placed on IR: CB Cory Trice
- Waived/injured: RB Alfonzo Graham
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: C Jimmy Murray
- Waived: WR Jacob Copeland
Moseley reportedly had a small clean-up procedure on his knee the other day as he continues to come back from last year’s ACL tear. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, it doesn’t appear to be a major setback, and head coach Dan Campbell expects Moseley back on Monday.
The news on Harris’s retirement comes from KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson, who reports that the two sides “are parting ways as (Harris) plans to retire.” If this is truly the end of the road for Harris, then the transaction puts a cap on a five-year career that saw Harris rack up 11 total tackles, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits in the NFL.
Turk was urgently brought on as an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma to compete with free agent addition Jake Bailey, formerly with the Patriots. The punter competition may be over quickly as Bailey is the only punter on the roster now.
Trice, the Steelers’ first of two seventh-round picks this year, suffered a non-contact injury at camp yesterday. His placement on injured reserve indicates that his rookie season has unfortunately come to an end before it had the chance to begin.
Titans Satisfied With WR Group?
In a recent interview, newly appointed Titans offensive coordinator Tim Kelly responded in the affirmative when asked if the team currently had enough to work with at the wide receiver position, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. Many have regarded the team’s wide receiving corps as a weakness, but while not a guarantee that the team will stand pat at the position, Kelly seems to be satisfied with what he currently has to work with. 
After releasing last season’s leading receiver, Robert Woods, Tennessee returns last year’s first-round pick Treylon Burks (444 receiving yards in 2022), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (397), Kyle Philips (78), Racey McMath (40), Mason Kinsey (3), and Reggie Roberson (0). The team also added former Ravens and Texans wideout Chris Moore in free agency back in April after a bit of a breakout season in Houston that saw him reach career highs in starts (7), catches (48), and receiving yards (548).
The team signed five rookie pass catchers, as well. The Titans drafted Tennessee-Martin wide receiver Colton Dowell in the seventh-round and added Oregon State’s Tre’Shaun Harrison, Georgia’s Kearis Jackson, Maryland’s Jacob Copeland, and Baylor’s Gavin Holmes in undrafted free agency after the draft. Dowell earned his draft slot after racking up over 1,000 receiving yards for the Skyhawks in 2022. Harrison posted career highs in receptions (52), receiving yards (604), and touchdowns (4) last year in his third season with the Beavers after transferring from Florida State. Copeland’s best season came when he was in Gainesville and caught 41 balls for 642 yards and four touchdowns. He failed to improve upon that performance in a grad transfer season with the Terrapins. Jackson never quite lived up to the billing of his high recruiting ranking. His strongest season came in 2020 when he caught 36 passes for 514 yards and three touchdowns. Holmes was a bit of a deep ball threat for the Bears last year, catching 27 balls for 521 yards and four touchdowns.
It’s fair to say that the room lacks established star power and experience. Moore, Burks, and Westbrook-Ikhine are the obvious leaders of the group with no changes moving forward. It helps to return star running back Derrick Henry as the focus of the offense and tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, who finished second on the team last season with 450 receiving yards. Otherwise, it’s not easy to be as confident as Kelly in what quarterback Ryan Tannehill has to work with in 2023.
Titans Sign 14 Undrafted Free Agents
The Titans have added to their six-man draft class to bring in 20 total rookies. Here are the 14 undrafted free agents vying for a roster spot this summer:
- DT Shakel Brown (Troy)
- WR Jacob Copeland (Maryland)
- WR Tre’Shaun Harrison (Oregon State)
- S Matt Jackson (Eastern Kentucky)
- CB Steven Jones (Appalachian State)
- S Tyreque Jones (Boise State)
- CB Anthony Kendall (Baldwin Wallace)
- RB Charles McClelland (Cincinnati)
- DE TK McClendon (Eastern Kentucky)
- OLB Caleb Murphy (Ferris State)
- OT John Ojukwu (Boise State)
- LB Otis Reese (Mississippi)
- OLB Thomas Rush (Minnesota)
- K Trey Wolff (Texas Tech)
Murphy is an intriguing addition to a Titans defense that had some good pass rush performances in 2023 but nothing elite with the absence of Harold Landry. Murphy was virtually unblockable while leading Ferris State to two consecutive Division-II national titles. He put up two monster performances for the Bulldogs in those seasons, combining for 40.0 sacks and 60.5 tackles for loss over the last two years. He has the potential to provide to the rotation and compete for snaps behind Landry and Denico Autry with Arden Key and Rashad Weaver.
McClendon will compete as well after tallying six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss for the Colonels last year. Reese could surprise as a contributor at inside linebacker. He was a tackling machine for the Rebels, finishing second on the team last year with 84.
Copeland and McClelland will be joining their respective drafted teammates, sixth-round tackle Jaelyn Duncan and fifth-round tight end Josh Whyle, at minicamp. Jackson will join McClendon as a Mountaineer addition after leading the defense with 87 total tackles last year. He’s also a Nashville native, having attended high school at Hillsboro.
Tennessee inked another pair of teammates in Jones and Ojukwu. Ojukwu brings a strong resume after earning All-Mountain West first-team honors in each of the past two seasons as the Broncos starting left tackle. Jones has experience throughout college at both safety and nickelback.
Wolff comes in with the intention of battling Caleb Shudak for the responsibility of replacing Randy Bullock. Shudak only appeared in one game of his rookie year out of Iowa last season. He made three of four kicks, missing a 35-yard attempt. Wolff converted 42 of 52 field goal attempts and 107 of 110 of his PATs as a Red Raider. They’ll likely face off for kicking duties this summer.