Janarion Grant

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/25/18

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: P Colby Wadman
  • Cut: DL Niles Scott

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

  • Cut: C Marcus Henry

Tennessee Titans

Ravens Swap Return Men

The Ravens have swapped return men. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reports (via Twitter) that the team has promoted returner/wideout Tim White from the practice squad and waived returner/wideout Janarion Grant. The team has also waived offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor and promoted defensive back Robertson Daniel.

Grant, an undrafted rookie out of Rutgers, made the Ravens’ initial roster as their primary kick and punt returner. However, the 24-year-old has struggled through his first two regular season games, losing a pair of fumbles. There should be some room for optimism, as his kick return average (28 yards) and punt return average (7.4 yards) are plenty impressive.

Now, White will have his chance at being the team’s primary return man. The 24-year-old joined the organization last year as an undrafted free agent out of Arizona State, and he spent the majority of his rookie season on the injured reserve. He was cut by the Ravens at the end of this year’s training camp, but he quickly caught on with the team’s practice squad.

With Anthony Averett struggling through a hamstring injury, Daniel should provide the team with some additional depth. The former undrafted free agent out of Bringham Young has bounced around the NFL, but he’s spent the past two-plus seasons with the Ravens. The 26-year-old only has a single career game under his belt, and he’ll likely slide in to the bottom of the team’s cornerback depth chart.

Eluemunor was a fifth-round pick by the Ravens in 2017, and he appeared in eight games (two starts) as a rookie, earning him an All-Rookie nod. However, the 23-year-old was buried on the depth chart heading into the 2018 campaign, and he didn’t see the field during Baltimore’s first two regular season contests. With the move, the Ravens are now only rostering seven offensive lineman: Ronnie Stanley, Alex Lewis, Matt Skura, Marshal Yanda, James Hurst, Orlando Brown, and Bradley Bozeman.

Extra Points: Jets, Kearse, Redskins, Reed, Titans, Ravens

There’s been a lot of discussion about which Jets players could get cut, but one name not frequently mentioned has been wide receiver Jermaine Kearse. Still, Kearse apparently isn’t guaranteed a roster spot, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Post. Mehta writes that since Kearse’s $5MM salary is non-guaranteed, he could be cut “if other pass catchers impress in training camp and the preseason.”

While Mehta describes Kearse as someone who was a “positive influence” in 2017 who helped “change the culture in the locker room”, the Jets may still decide they want to get a longer look at some of their younger guys in a year they aren’t likely to compete for a playoff spot anyway. Mehta notes that Kearse’s $5.5MM cap charge is greater than the next four receivers on the depth chart’s put together. Kearse is welcoming the challenge, saying he’s “not going to make it easy” for any of the young players to step up and force him off the roster.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • The Redskins could move on from Jordan Reed after this season, according to Rich Tandler of NBCSports Washington. Reed was one of the best tight ends in the game for a while, but injuries have derailed his career the past couple years. The guaranteed money in his contract is up after this year and if he can’t prove he can stay healthy in 2018, the team “might not have any choice but to let him go” next offseason writes Tandler.
  • Titans rookie Jordan Veasy has a real shot at making the team, according to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. The undrafted receiver from Cal has reportedly “caught the ball well in practices” and “proven to be a pretty savvy route runner” this offseason.
  • Another undrafted free agent with a good chance of making his team’s roster is Ravens wide receiver Janarion Grant, according to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com. Mink writes that Grant has impressed as a kick returner this offseason and has real shot at sticking as the Ravens’ primary returner after Michael Campanaro left in free agency.

AFC Notes: Colts, Browns, Jets, Ravens

Pierre Desir was having a breakout season for the Colts through nine games last year. The former fourth-rounder had already established a career-high in passes defended with seven, and he also compiled 32 tackles and one interception.

However, after forcing his way into the starting lineup, the 27-year-old suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in Week 13. Despite the injury, the organization still brought Desir back on a one-year deal, with the team expecting him to be ready for training camp. The cornerback is also confident he’ll be back, and he believes he can continue to build off his productive 2017 season.

“I think I’m going to be able to use my size and my length to my ability,” Desir told Jake Arthur of Colts.com. “It’s going to allow me to mess up the timing of the receivers, because the front seven — they are going to get some pressure. So that’s going to allow me to create opportunities to make some plays, so I think I fit well.

“I look at this year being a big year for me. Last year, the season didn’t end the way I wanted it to. I feel like I have a lot of upside, a lot of good football to play, and I’m definitely excited and looking forward to playing in this scheme and playing for these coaches.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the AFC…
  • Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com takes a look at some of the most intriguing position battles for the Browns offense as they head into training camp. With Joe Thomas retiring this offseason, the writer first points to left tackle as an intriguing position to watch. While Shon Coleman appeared to be atop the depth chart during spring practices, he didn’t do much to impress coaches, leading to the team adding free agent Greg Robinson to the mix. The team could also turn to second-round rookie Austin Corbett. Ulrich also points to wide receiver (where the depth chart is questionable behind Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry) and running back (where any of Carlos Hyde, Duke Johnson, or Nick Chubb could earn the starting role) as interesting position battles.
  • Darryl Slater of NJ.com explored which Jets players are currently on the roster bubble. Cornerback Rashard Robinson led the list, with the writer pointing to the player’s lack of production and offseason arrest. Cornerback Juston Burris, fullback Lawrence Thomas, offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison, running back Thomas Rawls, tight end Clive Walford, receivers Charone Peake and Devin Smith, and linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin were listed as other potential roster casualties. Ultimately, Slater believes Burris has the best chance of sticking around, as coach Todd Bowles tends to carry “a bunch” of cornerbacks.
  • Receiver Janarion Grant may have gone undrafted out of Rutgers, but Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com says the rookie still has a good chance of making the Ravens‘ roster. Following the loss of Michael Campanaro, the team is now searching for a new returner, and the speedy Grant seems to have the edge over Tim White. “Janarion Grant is a young man that I thought had exceptional college tape,” said special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg. “He came in as a tryout player in our rookie minicamp and earned a roster spot because of those things and his skills as a receiver.”

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/18

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Baltimore Ravens

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Signed: C Tejan Koroma

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

Seattle Seahawks