Patriots Place C James Ferentz On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Despite the Patriots canceling their Friday practice, their game against the Broncos remains on schedule for noon CT on Sunday. New England, however, will not have its current starting center for that contest.
The Patriots are placing James Ferentz on their reserve/COVID-19 list, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Pats canceled their Friday workout after another positive test. It is not certain if Ferentz tested positive, with players not having to do so to be placed on the COVID list, but this is another setback for the team and a concern for the league.
Ferentz started New England’s Week 4 game in Kansas City for David Andrews, who resides on the Pats’ IR list. While the Patriots are slated to have Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore back in Week 6, the former will play behind a reconfigured line. Ferentz, a former Bronco in his fourth season with the Patriots, has played in 18 games with his current team and started three.
The Pats placed Andrews on IR in late September; Andrews missed all of last season due to a blood clot issue. New England could use guard Joe Thuney at center and play versatile rookie Michael Onwenu at left guard. Onwenu has already seen action at both guard spots and right tackle, despite being a sixth-round pick. Right guard Shaq Mason got in two limited practices this week. Mason missed Week 4 with a calf injury.
Both the Patriots and Broncos have been informed the game is still on for Sunday, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com notes no contingency plan currently exists (Twitter link). Were the NFL to delay this game again, no bye week-related fix can be made. The league already postponed this game one week. This obviously remains a situation to monitor over the next two days.
Patriots Move C David Andrews To IR
David Andrews‘ return from a full-season absence will be on hold for the time being. The Patriots placed their starting center on IR Saturday.
The veteran snapper did not practice this week due to a thumb injury. New England is promoting center James Ferentz from its practice squad. The Pats also placed rookie linebacker Josh Uche on IR. The second-round pick is battling a foot injury.
A blood clot issue resulted in Andrews missing all of the 2019 season. But he was cleared to resume his career this offseason, and the sixth-year blocker reclaimed his spot as the Patriots’ starting center. He will be out until at least Week 6, however.
So will Uche, who has yet to make his NFL debut. The Pats made the Michigan alum a healthy scratch in Week 1, and he landed on their injury report soon after and missed the team’s Week 2 game.
Ferentz has been with the Patriots for more than three years now. The son of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz — a Bill Belichick assistant with the Browns in the 1990s — James Ferentz signed with the Patriots in 2017. He played 15 games last season, starting two. The Pats let 2019 Andrews replacement Ted Karras defect to the Dolphins in free agency.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/20
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Brandon Bryant, LB Deon Lacey
Green Bay Packers
- Signed DT Billy Winn, OL Ryan Pope
- Released: DL Daylon Mack
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Dallin Leavitt
- Released: CB Jordan Brown
New England Patriots
- Signed QB Jacob Dolegala, C James Ferentz
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Cody Hollister, DB Picasso Nelson, DB Maurice Smith
Washington Football Team
- Signed: WR Jeff Badet
- Released: TE Hale Hentges
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/20
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Released: K/P Kaare Vedvik
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Darius Jackson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Cordrea Tankersley, C Tyler Gauthier
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL James Ferentz
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Derrick Dillon
- Waived: WR Alex Bachman
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Paul Worrilow
Washington Football Team
- Signed: TE Temarrick Hemingway
Patriots Cut Russell Bodine
The Patriots are releasing newly acquired center Russell Bodine, according to Jim McBride of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). To take his place, they’ll re-sign center/guard James Ferentz.
The Pats shipped a sixth-round pick to the Bills for Bodine on August 30th. Apparently, in the last week or so, Bodine didn’t show enough to stick on the roster.
The Patriots initially carried Bodine on the 53-man squad, but he’s out of a job with just two days to go before the first Sunday of the NFL calendar. Ferentz, meanwhile, is back in the mix to help on the interior line, along with fellow new OLs Korey Cunningham and Jermaine Eluemunor.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/18
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Released with injury settlement: P Marquette King
Detroit Lions
- Activated from Reserve/PUP list: WR Andy Jones
- Waived: CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: T Storm Norton
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: C James Ferentz
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East 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 Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets 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 AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
Claimed:
Cut:
Practice squad:
- RB Keith Ford
- DE Mike Love
- S Dean Marlowe
- WR Cam Phillips
- LB Corey Thompson
- OL Gerhard de Beer
- CB Levi Wallace
- OL De’Ondre Wesley
Miami Dolphins
Claimed:
- QB Luke Falk
- WR Tanner McEvoy
Placed on injured reserve:
- C Jake Brendel
- LB Mike Hull
Cut:
Practice squad:
- G Isaac Asiata
- WR Leonte Carroo
- WR Isaiah Ford
- CB Jalen Davis
- C Connor Hilland
- RB Jeremy Langford
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- DL Jamiyus Pittman
- LB Quentin Poling
- DL Jonathan Woodard
New England Patriots
Claimed:
- WR Chad Hansen
- WR Amara Darboh
Placed on injured reserve:
Practice squad:
- OL Cole Croston
- QB Danny Etling
- OL James Ferentz
- DL Trent Harris
- WR Riley McCarron
- DT Vincent Valentine
- RB Ralph Webb
- CB Jomal Wiltz
New York Jets
Practice squad:
- DB Brandon Bryant
- DB Jeremy Clark
- LB Frankie Luvu
- LB Anthony Wint
Patriots Make Roster Cuts
The Patriots are the latest team to move to 53 players by making the following transactions:
Placed on injured reserve:
- OL Isaiah Wynn
- WR Braxton Berrios
- LB Christian Sam
- OL Ulrick John
Cut:
- DL John Atkins
- P Corey Bojorquez
- RB Brandon Bolden
- OL Luke Bowanko
- OL Cole Croston
- QB Danny Etling
- RB Kenneth Farrow
- OL James Ferentz
- LB Marquis Flowers
- RB Mike Gillislee
- DL Trent Harris
- CB Cyrus Jones
- OL Jason King
- LB Harvey Langi
- DL Eric Lee
- WR K.J. Maye
- WR Riley McCarron
- DB A.J. Moore
- FB Henry Poggi
- OL Brian Schwenke
- OL Matt Tobin
- DB Damarius Travis
- TE Will Tye
- DL Vincent Valentine
- RB Ralph Webb
- CB Jomal Wiltz
New England kept only three true wide receivers on its initial roster, meaning the club will almost surely be searching for more options on the waiver wire.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/6/18
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR DeVier Posey
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Kapron Lewis-Moore
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL James Ferentz, WR Cody Hollister, DB David Jones, OL Jason King, CB Ryan Lewis, WR Riley McCarron, DB Damarius Travis, TE Will Tye, CB Jomal Wiltz
New Orleans Saints
- LB Jayrone Elliott, WR Josh Huff
Tennessee Titans
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC East
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC East 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 Bills, Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets 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 AFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
- Claimed:
- LB Deon Lacy
- TE Khari Lee
- T Conor McDermott
- Cut:
- WR Corey Brown (story)
- LB Gerald Hodges (story)
- RB Jonathan Williams (story)
- Cut from IR:
- LB Sam Barrington (story)
- Signed to practice squad:
- WR Daikiel Shorts
- WR Brandon Reilly
- OL Jordan Mudge
- DE Ian Seau
- DL Marquavius Lewis
- CB Marcus Sayles
- S B.T .Sanders
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed:
- LB Justin March-Lillard
- K Cody Parkey (story)
- Cut:
- Signed to practice squad:
- QB Brandon Doughty
- TE Thomas Duarte
- T Sean Hickey
- WR Malcolm Lewis
- CB Jordan Lucas
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- WR Drew Morgan
- RB De’Veon Smith
New England Patriots
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Trevor Bates
- OL James Ferentz
- RB D.J. Foster
- DL Geneo Grissom
- WR Cody Hollister
- DB David Jones
- OL Ted Karras
- DL Darius Kilgo
- DB Damarius Travis
New York Jets
- Claimed:
- WR Kalif Raymond
- LB Edmond Robinson
- WR Damore’ea Stringfellow
- TE Will Tye (story)
- Cut:
- LB Freddie Bishop
- LB Bruce Carter
- RB Marcus Murphy,
- TE Jason Vander Laan
- Signed to practice squad:
- LB Frank Beltre
- OL Ben Braden
- CB Xavier Coleman
- DL Deon Simon