NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/23/19
Today’s practice squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Gerri Green
- Released: DE Jamal Davis
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Gerald Willis
- Placed on PS/IR: DT Jamiyus Pittman
Dolphins Cut Kiko Alonso
The Dolphins cut Kiko Alonso en route to reaching the 53-man max. Both moves were rumored this week, but the Fins were waiting to see if they could arrange a trade for the linebackers before letting them go.
Alonso requested a trade during training camp when he realized that he would be squeezed out of the Dolphins’ plans in one fashion or another. New coach Brian Flores is overseeing a defensive overhaul and he didn’t have much use for the veteran, despite his three years of starting experience in Miami. Originally drafted by the Bills in the second-round back in 2013, Alonso won’t play out the two years left on his four-year, $28.9MM deal.
Here are the other moves made by Miami to make their roster kosher by Week 1:
- QB Jake Rudock
- RB Kenneth Farrow
- WR Reece Horn
- WR Trenton Irwin
- WR Isaiah Ford
- WR Brice Butler
- WR T.J. Rahming
- OL Kyle Fuller
- OL Aaron Monteiro
- OL Tony Adams
- OL Michael Dunn
- OL Jaryd Jones-Smith
- DL Cory Thomas
- DL Tyrone Holmes
- DL Jamiyus Pittman
- DL Durval Queiroz Neto
- DL Dewayne Hendrix
- DL Joey Mbu
- DL Tank Carradine
- LB Terrance Smith
- LB Tre’ Watson
- LB Nick DeLuca
- CB Tyler Patmon
- CB Jalen Davis
- CB Nik Needham
- CB Davis Rivers
- CB Cornell Armstrong
- CB Torry McTyer
- S Maurice Smith
- LS Wesley Farnsworth
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/1/19
Here are the New Year’s Day reserve/futures contract decisions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- K Tristan Vizcaino
Detroit Lions
- QB Connor Cook
Miami Dolphins
- LB James Burgess
- C Connor Hilliard
- S Chris Lammons
- DT Jamiyus Pittman
- LB Quentin Poling
- DE Jeremiah Valoaga
Oakland Raiders
- WR Saeed Blacknall
- RB James Butler
- LB Cayson Collins
- LB James Cowser
- WR Rashard Davis
- DB Makinton Dorleant
- P Drew Kaser
- QB Nathan Peterman
- FB Ryan Yurachek
San Francisco 49ers
- OL Christian DiLauro
- TE Marcus Lucas
- DB Tarvarus McFadden
- WR Jordan Smallwood
- G Najee Toran
- S Terrell Williams
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/29/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: DT Jamiyus Pittman, S Maurice Smith
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on reserve/left squad list: S T.J. Green
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: FB Jalston Fowler
- Waived: LB Robert Spillane
Washington Redskins
- Placed on IR: S Troy Apke
Dolphins Release OT Sam Young
Sam Young struggled last weekend, and it sounds like his performance has cost him his job. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports (via Twitter) that the Dolphins have released the offensive tackle. The team has promoted defensive tackle Jamiyus Pittman from the practice squad to take the open roster spot (via Jackson).
Following stints with the Cowboys, Bills, and Jaguars, Young joined the Dolphins back in 2016. The 31-year-old started seven of his 23 games over the span, including a 2017 campaign where he started a career-high six games. His role had been reduced this season, but he was inserted into last weekend’s game after Laremy Tunsil suffered a concussion. The Dolphins were beating the Bengals 17-0 when Young entered the game, but they ended up surrendering 27 unanswered points to lose the game. After Young was inserted into the lineup, quarterback Ryan Tannehill had a pair of turnovers that turned into touchdowns.
Tunsil has passed the league’s concussion protocol and is expected to play against the Bears tomorrow. Today’s move means Zach Sterup is now the lone backup offensive tackle behind Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James. The team also has lineman Wesley Johnson sitting on the bench, although the veteran has primarily played center and guard throughout his career.
Pittman joined the Dolphins after going undrafted out of UCF. The 6-foot-2 defensive lineman had a standout senior campaign, compiling 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Pittman will slide behind defensive tackles Davon Godchaux, Akeem Spence, and Vincent Taylor on the depth chart.
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
Dolphins Cut Roster To 53
The Miami Dolphins are the latest team to cut their roster all the way down to the required 53 players. Here are their latest moves:
Waived:
- CB Johnathon Alston
- G Isaac Asiata
- CB Taveze Calhoun
- WR Leonte Carroo
- LB Cayson Collins
- CB Jalen Davis
- TE Thomas Duarte
- S Trae Elston
- WR Isaiah Ford
- LB Frank Ginda
- LS Lucas Gravelle
- C Connor Hilland
- RB Buddy Howell
- K Greg Joseph
- OT Roubbens Joseph
- RB Jeremy Langford
- WR Malcolm Lewis
- CB Tony Lippett
- DE Cameron Malveaux
- DE Claudy Mathieu
- C Mike Matthews
- WR Drew Morgan
- DT Anthony Moten
- WR Francis Owusu
- DT Jamiyus Pittman
- RB Brandon Radcliff
- OT Eric Smith
- OT David Steinmetz
- DE Jonathan Woodard
Waived/Injured
- QB Bryce Petty
- DE Quincy Redmon
- WR Rashawn Scott
Terminated vested veteran
- TE Gavin Escobar
- LB Terence Garvin
- DL Kendall Langford
Overall, not too many surprises. It looks like the Dolphins will be keeping three quarterbacks, with both Brock Osweiler and David Fales making the team.
Dolphins Add 13 UDFAs
With several teams yet to hold their rookie minicamps, more undrafted free agent classes are being finalized. Here is the latest one, coming out of Miami:
- Johnathan Alston, CB (North Carolina State)
- Cayson Collins, LB (North Carolina)
- Jalen Davis, CB (Utah State)
- Lucas Gravelle, LS (TCU)
- Connor Hilland, C (William & Mary)
- Buddy Howell, RB (Florida Atlantic)
- Greg Joseph, K (Florida Atlantic)
- Claudy Mathieu, DE (Notre Dame, Ohio)
- Mike McCray, LB (Michigan)
- Anthony Moten, DT (Miami)
- Jamiyus Pittman, DT (Central Florida)
- Quincy Redmon, DE (Fairmont State)
- David Steinmetz, T (Purdue)
Davis earned All-American acclaim for his 2017 season — five interceptions and 20 passes defensed — and set the Aggies’ school record with 48 passes defensed. In addition to the two Florida Atlantic-honed talents, the Dolphins brought in two players from Division II’s Mountain East Conference in Mathieu and Redmon.
Joseph and Gravelle figure to be competition for seventh-round rookie kicker Jason Sanders and longtime long snapper John Denney, respectively. Denney has been Miami’s specialty snapper for 13 seasons. Joseph has more experience kicking in higher-stakes games than Sanders, with the UDFA being a four-year kicker for the Owls. Sanders was New Mexico’s kicker for two seasons, so this could be a fairly even competition at its outset. Joseph finished as Florida Atlantic’s all-time scoring leader.