James Ihedigbo Facing Suspension
Free agent safety James Ihedigbo, linebacker Jason Fanaika, and long snapper Josh Latham will all have to serve suspensions if/when they sign with teams, according to Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com (on Twitter). They are all facing four-game bans, though the causes for each are not immediately clear. 
Last year, Ihedigbo hooked on with the Bills in November and became a starter almost immediately. Unfortunately, the veteran landed on IR weeks later and never returned. In February, the veteran expressed interest in returning to Buffalo, but we haven’t heard his name mentioned much otherwise this offseason. The 33-year-old (34 in December) may be past his prime, but he’s not all that far removed from his best career year which came in 2014.
Fanaika signed a futures deal with the Steelers in the winter but did not make it into the summer with Pittsburgh. Latham was picked up by the Jets in February but was released in late April just prior to the draft.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/14/17
Tuesday’s minor moves:
- The Giants have re-signed a pair of exclusive rights free agents – tight end Matt LaCosse and defensive tackle Robert Thomas – via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com and Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). LaCosse didn’t play at all last season because of a knee injury, while action for Thomas was scarce. The lineman took the field for just 68 defensive snaps in his eight appearances, during which he picked up five tackles and a sack.
- The Steelers have added six free agents on reserve/futures deals – cornerback Devonte Johnson, linebackers Akil Blount and Jason Fanaika, offensive linemen Kyle Friend and Mike Matthews, and running back Trey Williams – per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Blount is the son of Steelers legend and Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount. Matthews’ father is one of Blount’s fellow Canton enshrinees, longtime Oilers/Titans offensive tackle Bruce Matthews.
Buccaneers Work Out Sealver Siliga, 10 Others
The Buccaneers have been busy during their bye week, as ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that the team worked out five players today: linebackers Quentin Gause and Brandon Hepburn, defensive tackle Sealver Siliga, defensive end Chris McCain, and wide receiver Da’Ron Brown. Howard Balzer (via Twitter) adds the names of six more players who auditioned for the Bucs: wide receivers Matt Hazel and Jamal Robinson, linebackers Jason Fanaika and Randell Johnson, tight end Clay Burton, and cornerback Robertson Daniel.
With starting defensive lineman Robert Ayers, Gerald McCoy, and Clinton McDonald missing this past weekend’s game, the Buccaneers are seeking some reinforcement up front. Siliga, 26, would automatically become one of the team’s most experienced lineman, as the former undrafted free agent has 26 career games under his belt. The defensive tackle played in 13 games for the Patriots in 2015 (four starts), compiling 28 tackles. Siliga briefly caught on with the Seahawks this past offseason, and he visited the Buccaneers back in September. McCain, another former undrafted free agent, appeared in 18 games for the Dolphins between 2014 and 2015, collecting seven tackles and two sacks.
The Buccaneers may be valuing depth when it comes to Hepburn and Gause, as the team only has four linebackers on the roster. Hepburn is the most experienced of the two, although the former Florida A&M standout hasn’t played an NFL game. Still, the 26-year-old has bounced between the Lions, Eagles and Cowboys over the past four years. Gause, a rookie linebacker out of Rutgers, previously spent time with the Eagles and Patriots.
The Buccaneers decision to audition Brown may be an indication that wideout Cecil Shorts won’t be ready for next week’s game. Brown, a seventh-round pick by the Chiefs in 2015, was released by the Patriots’ practice squad earlier this month.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/11/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Davis Tull
- Cut: P Michael Palardy
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: K Marshall Morgan (Twitter link via Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Brian Mihalik
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: C Jake Brendel, T Terry Poole (Twitter link via Howard Balzer)
- Cut: G Jamil Douglas (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com)
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Ian Silberman (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Giants
- Signed: QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via James Kratch of NJ.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Don Cherry, CB Duke Thomas
- Cut: FB Andrew Bonnet, G Darrell Greene
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Julian Howsare
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Cut: LB Josh Keyes
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL Joey Mbu
- Cut: CB Robertson Daniel, LB Jason Fanaika
Practice Squad Updates: 9/19/16
Here are Monday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OLB Deiontrez Mount (Twitter link via Mike Chappell of FOX59)
- Cut: CB Tay Glover-Wright.
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
- Cut: QB Logan Thomas
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Braedon Bowman (Twitter link via Darryl Slater of NJ.com)
- Cut: DL Claude Pelon
Washington Redskins
- Signed: DL Bobby Richardson, LB Jason Fanaika, LB Amarlo Herrera
- Cut: LB Lynden Trail, DL Louis Nix III (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of The Washington Post)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/16
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Blake Sims (link via Matt Zenitz of AL.com)
- Cut: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Marquis Bundy (via team announcement)
- Cut: WR Chris Hubert (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB/KR Raheem Mostert (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
- Cut: RB Senorise Perry (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune), OL Laurence Gibson (Twitter link via Biggs)
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Sammy Seamster (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com)
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut: LB Kyle Kragen (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post)
Indianapolis Colts:
- Signed: CB Tay Glover-Wright (Twitter link via Wilson), S Lee Hightower (Twitter link via Wilson)
- Cut: DT Kelcy Quarles, OL Adam Redmond (Twitter link via Wilson)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Cut: WR Shaq Evans (Twitter link via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Tre Roberson, CB Julian Wilson (via team announcement)
- Cut: OT Carter Bykowski, S Shamiel Gary (via team announcement)
New England Patriots
- Cut: DB Mike Hilton (Twitter link via Doug Kyed of NESN.com)
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Taveze Calhoun (Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate), TE Jake Stoneburner (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com)
- Cut: FB Austin Johnson (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The Times-Picayune), DE Bobby Richardson (Twitter link via Erickson)
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Deontae Skinner
- Cut: QB Logan Thomas (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OT Takoby Cofield (Twitter link via reps at Precision Sports)
- Cut: LB Jason Fanaika (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: QB Aaron Murray (via team announcement)
- Cut: WR Marcus Johnson, TE M.J. McFarland (injury settlement, Twitter link via Wilson)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Tylor Harris (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle), QB Jake Heaps (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times), OL Michael Ola (Twitter link via Condotta)
- Cut: WR Kasen Williams (Twitter link via Condotta), DT Justin Hamilton (Twitter link via Condotta) and WE Rodney Smith (Twitter link via Condotta)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Cameron Lynch (Twitter link via Roy Cummings of WFLA News Channel 8), DT Rodney Coe (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Cut: RB Russell Hansbrough (Twitter link via Auman)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: QB Alex Tanney (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com)
- Cut: OL Ronald Patrick
Washington Redskins
- Cut: OL Nila Kasitati (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s John Keim)
Workout Notes: 9/7/16
The latest workouts from around the NFL.
- The Patriots tried out eight free agents today, Doug Kyed of NESN.com reports. Quarterback Sean Renfree joined wide receivers Da’Ron Brown, Jordan Leslie, Max McCaffrey, Mekale McKay and DeAndrew White, along with linebacker Deon King and defensive lineman B.J. McBryde. Renfree may be the highest-profile player in this bunch to have auditioned. A former Falcons seventh-round pick in 2013, Renfree saw brief action last season but couldn’t make it out of training camp with Atlanta this season.
- The Bengals worked out linebacker/defensive end Sadat Sulleyman today, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. The team also worked out cornerback Robertson Daniel, as Wilson tweets.
- Former Texans running back Kenny Hilliard is drawing interest from multiple NFL teams, per Wilson (on Twitter) but is still weighing his options.
- The Seahawks auditioned defensive end Dominique Davis, edge defender Jason Fanaika, defensive end Shelby Harris and offensive lineman Ian Silberman, Wilson tweets. The Raiders cut Harris this offseason after the former seventh-round pick played in eight games with the team in 2014-15.
49ers Sign DeForest Buckner, Draftees, UDFAs
The 49ers have confirmed the previously-reported signings of sixth-round draft picks Kelvin Taylor and Jeff Driskel, and announced nearly two dozen more roster moves to go along with those signings. In a press release, the Niners said they have waived four players from their 90-man roster, signed nine draft picks (including Taylor and Driskel), and added 12 undrafted free agents to the mix.
San Francisco’s most notable transaction is the signing of defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, who becomes the highest-drafted player to ink his rookie contract so far. Buckner, a standout at Oregon, was snagged by the 49ers with the seventh overall pick in last week’s draft, and is in line for a four-year contract worth more than $18.19MM, including a signing bonus of approximately $11.43MM. His deal also features a fifth-year option for 2020.
Listed below are the other draftees signed today by the 49ers, in addition to Buckner, Taylor, and Driskel. Only first-round guard Joshua Garnett and third-round defensive back Will Redmond are still unsigned:
- 4-133: Rashard Robinson, CB (LSU)
- 5-142: Ronald Blair, DE (Appalachian State)
- 5-145: John Theus, T (Georgia)
- 5-174: Fahn Cooper, OL (Ole Miss)
- 6-213: Aaron Burbridge, WR (Michigan State)
- 7-249: Prince Charles Iworah, DB (Western Kentucky)
While the 49ers had plenty of space on their roster for their draft picks, the team didn’t have much extra flexibility to add more than a handful of undrafted free agents. As such, San Francisco has cut four veterans: offensive lineman Jordan Devey, kicker Corey Acosta, running back Kendall Gaskins, and quarterback Dylan Thompson.
Devey is perhaps the most notable name in this group — the 49ers didn’t make many headlines when they acquired him from the Patriots in a trade for tight end Asante Cleveland last August, but Devey unexpectedly made his way into the club’s starting lineup to open the season. Although he was replaced down the stretch, the 28-year-old made nine starts and played nearly 400 offensive snaps for San Francisco in 2015.
With a few spots cleared on their 90-man roster, the Niners officially added 12 undrafted free agents. Here’s the full list of those UDFAs:
- LB Kevin Anderson (Stanford)
- OL Alex Balducci (Oregon)
- S Jered Bell (Colorado) ($2.5K bonus, per Aaron Wilson)
- WR Devon Cajuste (Stanford)
- DL Demetrius Cherry (Arizona State)
- LB Jason Fanaika (Utah)
- LB Lenny Jones (Nevada)
- DL Darren Lake (Alabama) ($7K guarantee, per Wilson)
- K John Lunsford (Liberty)
- OL Blake Muir (Baylor)
- OL Norman Price (Southern Mississippi)
- WR Bryce Treggs (California)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.