Workout Notes: Patriots, Jets, Bills
The Patriots auditioned some players of note this week, including linebacker Akeem Ayers, quarterback Thad Lewis, and wide receiver Jeremy Ross (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com).
Ayers has some history with New England after playing on their 2014 Super Bowl championship team. Last year, Ayers appeared in all 16 games for Indianapolis and recorded two sacks.
Linebackers Nicholas Grigsby and Antwione Williams also showed their stuff for the Pats.
Here’s a look at Wednesday’s other workouts from around the NFL:
- The Jets worked out former Maryland cornerback Alvin Hill, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
- Canadian defensive tackle Stefan Charles worked out for the Giants on Tuesday, John Kryk of The Toronto Sun tweets.
- The Cardinals worked out wide receivers Donteea Dye, Cobi Hamilton, and Rashad Ross, as Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com tweets.
- The Bills auditioned defensive backs Ironhead Gallon, Lee Hightower, Rickey Jefferson, Marcus McWilson, Orion Stewart, and Jack Tocho, linebackers Kenneth Olugbode, defensive tackle Marcus Hardison, running back Connor Harris, and tackle De’Ondre Wesley, according to Balzer (via Twitter links).
- The Buccaneers auditioned quarterback Trevor Knight, wide receivers C.J. Board and Jake Lampman, and tackles Justin Murray and Avery Young, Balzer tweets.
- The Packers took a look at running back Jacob Huesman, Balzer tweets.
- The Colts auditioned linebacker Travis Feeney and defensive backs Jordan Moore, Taurean Nixon, Ezra Robinson, and Deron Washington, Balzer tweets.
- The Giants auditioned defensive backs B.W. Webb Brandon Dixon, and Jeremiah McKinnon, Balzer tweets.
Saints Reach 53-Man Roster Limit
Every team had to get under the 53-man limit by Saturday’s deadline, but the Saints were the last to publicly announce their cuts. Here’s the full rundown of their moves:
Waived:
- LB Adam Bighill
- TE/LS Braedon Bowman
- CB Taveze Calhoun
- WR Travin Dural
- CB Malik Foreman
- OL John Fullington
- QB Garrett Grayson
- TE Garrett Griffin
- DE Obum Gwacham
- WR De’Quan Hampton
- DB Erik Harris
- DE Alex Jenkins
- WR Jake Lampman
- DT Ashaad Mabry
- CB Arthur Maulet
- CB Elijah Mitchell
- OL Kristjan Sokoli
- CB Damian Swann
- C Cameron Tom
- OL Landon Turner
- T Jerry Ugokwe
- RB Darius Victor
- LB Jonathan Walton
- DT Justin Zimmer
Released:
- T Khalif Barnes
- RB Travaris Cadet
- LB Audie Cole
- T Bryce Harris
- DT John Hughes III
- FB Zach Line
- LB Michael Mauti
- DT Tony McDaniel (story)
- QB Ryan Nassib
IR:
- OLB Bryan Braman
- WR Corey Fuller
- TE John Phillips
The Saints re-signed Cadet this offseason only to put him on the trade block in June. They didn’t find any takers then and they apparently couldn’t find any now. The Jets, who pursued him in free agency, could have interest in signing him.
Saints Promote WR Jake Lampman
The Saints announced that they have promoted wide receiver Jake Lampman. To make room on the roster, the team has waived tight end Chris Manhertz. 
Lampman, 23, joined the Saints as a UDFA out of Ferris State this offseason. When he didn’t make the team’s final cut, he signed on with the practice squad. In his final collegiate season, the wide receiver hauled in 52 passes for 731 yards and eight touchdowns.
Manhertz became expendable this week when Josh Hill returned to practice after dealing with a high ankle sprain. Manhertz was on the field for 43 snaps this year while Hill was sidelined but drew zero targets.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South teams. Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline yesterday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters, claiming players off waivers or signing guys who clear waivers. Those transactions for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 12:00pm CT today, teams can begin constructing their 10-man practice squads. You can check out our glossary entry on practice squads to brush up on those changes, as well as all the other guidelines that govern the 10-man units, whose players practice with the team but aren’t eligible to suit up on Sundays.
Here are Sunday’s NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Atlanta Falcons
- Claimed:
- WR Taylor Gabriel (link via Mike Florio of PFT)
- Waived:
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE Nordly Capi
- CB Devonte Johnson
- DT Joey Mbu
- WR J.D. McKissic
- S Sharrod Neasman
- QB Matt Simms
- TE D.J. Tialavea
- RB Gus Johnson (Twittler link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- CB Deji Olatoye (Twittler link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed:
- DE Lavar Edwards (Link via PFT)
- Waived:
- DE Wes Horton (Link via David Newton)
- Signed to practice squad
- CB Zack Sanchez (Link via Adam Caplan)
- S Marcus Ball
- LB Brian Blechen
- DT Eric Crume
- WR Keyarris Garrett
- TE Beau Sandland
- RB Jalen Simmons
- DE Larry Webster
- OL David Yankey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to practice squad:
- OL John Fullington (Link via Josh Katzenstein)
- CB Brian Dixon (Link via Mike Triplett)
- DE Bobby Richardson
- LB Tony Steward
- FB Austin Johnson
- C Jack Allen,
- TE Garrett Griffin
- WR Jake Lampman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to practice squad:
- RB Russell Hansbrough (Link via Jim Thomas)
- WR Jeremy Butler (Link via PFT)
- LB Josh Keyes (link via Greg Auman)
- RB Peyton Barber (story via Auman)
- OL Josh Allen
- OL Ben Gottschalk
- CB Javien Elliott
- S Isaiah Johnson
- LB Micah Awe (Link via Auman)
- WR Freddie Martino
Saints Move Roster To 53
The Saints have now announced their full list of transactions that bring them down to 53 players.
Cut:
- OL Khalif Barnes (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate)
- OL Tyrus Thompson (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)
- OT Tony Hills (Twitter link via Underhill)
- FB Austin Johnson (Twitter link via Underhill)
- S Trae Elston (Twitter link via Joel Erickson of the Advocate)
- DE Bobby Richardson (Twitter link via Underhill)
- CB Brian Dixon (Twitter link via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com)
- C Jack Allen (Twitter link via Underhill)
- K Connor Barth (Twitter link via Underhill)
- RB Travaris Cadet (Twitter link via Underhill)
- TE Garrett Griffin (Twitter link via Erickson)
- DE Darryl Tapp
- DL C.J. Wilson
- WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
- G John Fullington
- LB Jeff Schoettmer
- WR Jake Lampman
- C Marcus Henry
- LB Davis Tull
- DE Chris McCain (story)
Placed on IR:
Barnes signed with the Saints last Sunday, meaning his stay in New Orleans lasted less than a week. In 11 NFL seasons, the 34-year-old has seen action in more than 150 games (117 starts) with the Jaguars and Raiders. Barnes lost his starting job in Oakland last season, but still appeared in 14 games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/16/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Raiders signed defensive back Chris Edwards, receiver Joe Hansley, defensive lineman Branden Jackson, running back Jalen Richards, and offensive lineman Torian White, Wilson tweets. Meanwhile, Wilson tweets that the team released defensive end Sheby Harris, cornerback Tony McRae, and safety Tevin McDonald.
- Wilson tweeted a list of Panthers signings: linebacker Jared Barber, tight end Braxton Deaver, cornerback Shaquille Richardson, offensive tackle Jordan Rigsbee, wide receiver Miles Shuler, and running back Jalen Simmons. The team announced that they’ve cut receiver Jenson Stoshak and cornerbacks Brandon Boykin and Ras-I Dowling.
- The Cowboys have cut long snapper Brandon Hartson, tweets Wilson.
Earlier Updates:
- The Broncos have signed linebacker Dekoda Watson to a one-year deal, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com tweets. Watson appeared in three games for the Patriots last year as he was yo-yo’d on and off of the team’s roster.
- Eagles guard/tackle Matt Tobin has signed a two-year deal with the team, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Tobin was previously set to play out this year on his one-year restricted free agent tender. Now, his new deal will lower his base salary for this season.
- Washington waived linebacker Reggie Northrup, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Interestingly, Northrup is represented by rapper Lil Wayne.
- More Washington signings via the team’s website: tackle Al Bond, guard Nila Kasitati, linebacker Mike Wakefield and running back Kelsey Young. Guard Dominick Jackson was waived.
- The Seahawks have waived/injured linebacker Christian French and signed fellow linebacker Khairi Fortt to take his place on the 90-man roster, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
- The Bengals are set to sign former University of Buffalo quarterback Joe Licata, as Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News tweets. To make room, rookie quarterback Matt Johnson has been waived.
- The Browns signed defensive back Eric Patterson, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. The 23-year-old entered the NFL last year as a UDFA with New England. The Ball State product appeared in two games for Indianapolis and one with St. Louis.
- The Bears announced they have signed Donovan Williams, an offensive lineman from Louisiana-Lafayette (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune). The Bears have also released center Dan Buchholz, wide receiver/tight end Marcus Lucas, and wide receiver Nathan Palmer (link).
- The Bears waived defensive end Bruce Gaston, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. Demovsky suggests that Gaston, who made Green Bay’s opening day roster last season, could get another look from the Packers.
- The Chargers have signed former Arizona State guard Vi Teofilo to a three-year deal, a source tells Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego. The 6’3″, 205-pound lineman will look to compete for a practice squad spot. The Chargers waived guard Sebastian Johansson, an undrafted rookie guard from Marshall, in a corresponding move. They also waived-injured linebacker Brock Hekking.
- The Saints waived safety Michael Caputo and quarterback Griffin Neal after this weekend’s rookie minicamp, Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune tweets. According to Wilson (on Twitter), the team has also cut receiver Shane Wynn.
- In a related move, the Saints inked linebacker Tony Steward (Twitter link via Woodbery). Steward played at Clemson and was a fifth-round pick of Buffalo in 2015.
- The Saints signed Jake Lampman, Wilson tweets. The Ferris State product caught 52 passes for 731 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.