Jets Claim WR Jeremy Butler
The Jets have claimed wide receiver Jeremy Butler off waivers from the Buccaneers, as Mike Florio of PFT tweets. The Bucs were likely hoping to re-sign Butler to their practice squad. The Jets have confirmed the move. To make room, the Jets will release fellow wide receiver Jeremy Ross. 
The Buccaneers promoted Butler to the active roster last week. Then, over the weekend, he was dropped to make room for linebacker Cameron Lynch on the active roster. The former undrafted free agent previously spent time with the Ravens, where he collected 31 receptions for 363 yards in eight games last season.
The Jets were without both Eric Decker and Jalin Marshall in Week 5 and there’s still no concrete return date for either player. Now, Butler joins the depth chart behind healthy receivers Brandon Marshall, Quincy Enunwa, Bobby Anderson, Charone Peake.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jets Re-Sign WR/KR Jeremy Ross
The Jets have re-signed wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Ross, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. In a related move, defensive end Lawrence Thomas has been placed on IR with a shoulder injury. 
Wide receiver Jalin Marshall suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder during Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs and he could be headed for IR soon. With Marshall sidelined for a while (and potentially the rest of the year), Ross will provide Gang Green with depth and could also factor in the return game. Ross, 28, split the 2015 season between the Ravens and Raiders, totaling just nine catches for 88 yards. He spent more time on special teams, returning 24 punts and 19 kicks on the year.
Thomas joined the Jets this year as a UDFA out of Michigan State. The early word was that his labrum tear would cost him at least a couple of weeks and we now know that his injury will take him out of action for at least eight weeks and, more likely, for the entire 2016 season.
The Jets also announced that they have signed wide receiver Myles White to the practice squad while releasing safety Ronald Martin from the p-squad.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jets Cut Jace Amaro, Others
The Jets are working their way down to 53. Here are the cuts so far: 
- CB Dee Milliner (story)
- TE Jace Amaro (Twitter link via Kimberley Martin of Newsday)
- DT Tarow Barney (Twitter link via Slater)
- RB Antone Smith (Twitter link via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
- DE Claude Pelon (Twitter link via agent David Canter and DEC Management)
- S Doug Middleton
- LB Freddie Bishop (Twitter link via Vacchiano)
- OLB Trevor Reilly (waived-injured) (Twitter link via Slater)
- CB Darryl Morris (Twitter link via Slater)
- OL Mike Liedtke (Twitter link via agent Brett Tesler)
- TE Zach Sudfeld (Twitter link via Connor Hughes of the Star-Ledger)
- OL Craig Watts (Twitter link via Brian Costello of the New York Post)
- ILB Taiwan Jones (Twitter link via Slater)
- WR/KR Jeremy Ross (Twitter link via Costello)
- WR Kenbrell Thompkins (Twitter link via Kimberly A. Martin of Newsday)
- FB Tommy Bohanon (Twitter link via Costell0)
- TE Wes Saxton (Twitter link via Slater)
- WR Chandler Worthy
- CB Bryson Keeton
- CB Kevin Short
Reilly, a seventh-round pick in 2014, played in 29 games for the Jets over the past two seasons. He finished the 2015 campaign with 16 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. As Slater notes on Twitter, the linebacker was waived with an injury designation. The 28-year-old could land on the injured reserve, but the reporter doesn’t believe the injury to be that serious.
There was a chance that Morris could carve out a role among the Jets’ defensive backs. However, the three-year veteran couldn’t do enough to beat out Dexter McDougle or Kevin Short. Meanwhile, there was some optimism that former CFL linebacker Freddie Bishop could establish himself, but the team’s linebacker depth proved to be too much to overcome.
On the offensive side of the ball, Sudfeld’s tenure in New York appears to be over. The 27-year-old collected only ten catches for 148 yards over the past two seasons.
In related news, the Jets may be making an addition to the roster before the weekend is through. Former San Francisco guard Ian Silberman worked out for the Jets on Friday, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
(Sheldon Richardson does not currently count against the 53-man roster due to his season-opening suspension)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
East Notes: Cowboys, Goff, Bills, Jets, Pats
The blockbuster Rams/Titans trade involving the first overall pick will have an impact on several of the teams picking after Los Angeles, and the owner of one of those clubs acknowledged as much. As Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes, the Cowboys, who pick at No. 4, may have to prepare for a different set of players to be available in the wake of the trade.
“Well, I don’t want to make any assumptions, but yeah, it does impact because that kind of movement up ahead of you in a lot of different ways it took a lot of the consideration out of the marketplace,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. “If you think draft picks are consideration, then it is. It certainly made a difference below that No. 1 pick as to what might be available trading or in terms of making a decision with a player. It took two commodities out. It took picks, it took a player.”
As Archer details in a separate story, the Cowboys’ brass is headed to the Bay Area for a private workout with Cal quarterback Jared Goff, who may or may not be available at No. 4 — it’s possible Goff could be the Rams’ target at No. 1, but if L.A. opts for Carson Wentz and the Browns don’t select a quarterback, Goff would likely be on the board when Dallas picks. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the Cowboys prefer to target their QB of the future or a top defensive player.
Here are a few more Friday morning updates from out of the NFL’s East divisions:
- The Bills continue to eye defensive prospects, having brought in Georgia pass rusher Leonard Floyd for a visit, per Tyler Dunne of the Buffalo News. Floyd, a probable first-round pick, arrived in Buffalo on Thursday and will continue his visit with the team on Friday.
- Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (on Twitter) has the details on wide receiver/kick returner Jeremy Ross‘ one-year deal with the Jets. The minimum salary pact has a total value of $840K, with a $50K signing bonus plus a $30K roster bonus if Ross is on the 53-man roster.
- Mike Reiss of ESPN.com explains why the Patriots waived running back Tyler Gaffney earlier this week, only to sign him back to their roster three days later.
- East Carolina tight end Bryce Williams says he had a workout with the Patriots, as Tyler Dunne tweets. The Pats, of course, already have Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett at tight end.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Jets Sign Jeremy Ross
FRIDAY, 3:12pm: The Jets have officially signed Ross, the team announced today in a press release.
WEDNESDAY, 6:27pm: In need of return help following Jeremy Kerley‘s departure to Detroit, the Jets plan to sign Jeremy Ross as long as the journeyman specialist passes a physical, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
The Raiders did not tender Ross as a restricted free agent. Should the 28-year-old return man pass a physical and sign with the Jets, they will be his sixth employer since coming into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Initially breaking into the NFL with the Colts, Ross played with the Packers in 2012-13 before spending the latter portion of 2013 with the Lions and staying in Detroit in ’14.
Ross spent last season with the Ravens and Raiders after beginning the campaign on Baltimore’s practice squad. He has 39 career receptions for 469 yards to his credit but has mostly been used as a return man. Primarily identified as a return contributor, Ross boasts an 11.2-yard average on career punt returns and has compiled a 25.1-yards-per-kickoff-return figure.
Ross averaged 24.7 yards per return last season with Oakland and Baltimore on 19 returns and 11.2 yards per punt return on 24. The punt-return mark represents an uptick for Ross after he averaged 8.9 in that category with the Lions in 2014.
The Lions now employ the Jets’ top return man from 2015, with Kerley’s 411 punt-return yards (although only on 8.6 per jaunt) with the Jets last season trailing only Darren Sproles in that category.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/25/15
The Ravens will activate defensive end Brent Urban off of the IR-DTR list, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets. It still hasn’t been determined whether he will play against the Browns on Monday, however. Urban, 24, was selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft by the Ravens, but missed his entire rookie campaign with a torn ACL. The Virginia product sustained a torn bicep this year, but Baltimore liked him enough to use its only IR-DTR slot on him back in September.
Here are the rest of Wednesday’s minor signings, cuts, and other moves from around the NFL:
- The Saints are set to sign cornerback Chris Owens to the 53-man roster, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Owens, who turns 29 on Tuesday, played in 11 games for the Chiefs last season.
- The Raiders will promote wide receiver/return man Jeremy Ross from the practice squad to the active roster, a source tells Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter).
- The Panthers have signed long snapper Danny Aiken, as Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer tweets. Aiken will give Carolina an option as they wait to learn more about J.J. Jansen‘s availability.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/19/15
Earlier today, Washington made an attention-grabbing move when they signed ex-Cowboys running back Christine Michael to the taxi squad.
Michael, who turned 25 last Monday, was acquired by the Cowboys from the Seahawks in a trade earlier this year, and had been expected to get an increased workload after Joseph Randle was demoted and then released. However, it was the veteran, Darren McFadden, who ended up taking many of those carries, prompting Dallas to waive Michael and take a flier on Robert Turbin this week. In five games with the Cowboys, Michael ran for just 51 yards on 15 attempts, adding a single reception for two yards.
Here are the rest of Thursday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Jumal Rolle (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)
New England Patriots
- Signed: Chris Barker (Twitter link via Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald)
- Cut: T/G Blaine Clausell (Twitter link via agent Brett Tessler)
New York Giants
- Signed: LB James Morris (Twitter link via James Kratch of The Star-Ledger)
New York Jets
- Signed: DB Kevin Short (Twitter link via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com)
- Cut: DE Quanterus Smith
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: WR Jeremy Ross (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)
Washington
- Cut: RB Mack Brown (Twitter link via Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com)
Ravens Sign Three Players; Perriman To IR
After a devastating loss on Sunday to the Jaguars, the Ravens have shaken up their roster a little, removing three players from the 53-man squad and bringing in three new additions. Here are today’s roster moves out of Baltimore, according to the team (all Twitter links):
Signed:
- WR Kaelin Clay (off Lions’ practice squad)
- TE Chase Ford (off Vikings’ practice squad)
- CB Cassius Vaughn
Placed on injured reserve:
- WR Breshad Perriman (knee)
Waived:
- WR/KR Jeremy Ross
Waived/injured:
- CB Asa Jackson (ankle) — will revert to IR if unclaimed (Twitter link)
The most notable move of the Ravens’ six transactions today is the decision to put Perriman on IR, officially ending his rookie season. Baltimore’s first-round pick never saw the field during the 2015 regular season, and after being selected 26th overall in the draft back in April, he won’t get an opportunity to make his NFL debut until 2016.
The Ravens will also be turning to a new return man for their next game, with Ross no longer in the mix, and the newly-signed Clay may get a shot at the job. Ross had fumbled twice in Baltimore’s last three games, leading to his release.
Ravens Sign Jeremy Ross
Former Lions wide receiver and return specialist Jeremy Ross joined the Ravens’ 53-man roster when the receiver-depleted team promoted him from their practice squad, Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun reports.
The Ravens waived defensive tackle Christo Bilukidi in a corresponding move. He was inactive during the first four weeks.
Ross will become Baltimore’s primary kick returner, Zreibec tweets. Injuries deprived the Ravens of both of their return men, with punt returner Steve Smith out for at least Week 5 and kick returner Michael Campanaro shelved for the season.
This makes two additions to the Ravens’ receiving corps, with Chris Givens arriving via trade last weekend, and they’ll be replacing the aforementioned injured performers.
A 2011 undrafted free agent, the 27-year-old Ross is on his fourth team after stints with the Colts, Packers and, most notably, the Lions from 2011-14. He served as Detroit’s primary return man in 2013-14, taking a kickoff and a punt back for a touchdown in ’13.
He caught 24 passes for 314 yards and a score that season as well, becoming the only player in 2013 to score on a kick return, punt return and reception. Ross averaged 15.5 yards per punt return that season and posted an 8.9-yard average on punt returns last year in a full season returning punts in Detroit.
The Lions cut him before the start of this season.
Bilukidi was also on his fourth team after entering the league as a sixth-round pick of the Raiders’ in 2012. He played in 24 games from 2012-14 for the Raiders, Bengals and Ravens.
AFC Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/15
While many teams filled up their 10-man practice squads on Sunday, plenty of teams didn’t confirm their moves right away, or kept a few spots open on those units. On top of that, at least one club that signed 10 players to its taxi squad on Sunday has already made several changes, bringing in new players and jettisoning players who didn’t even spend 24 hours on the squad.
We’ll have updates on Monday’s AFC practice squad signings and cuts in this space, with teams listed in alphabetical order. When new moves occur, we’ll bump this post back to the top of the page. Here’s a round-up of today’s moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed (press release):
- WR Daniel Brown
- TE Dominique Jones
- WR Jeremy Ross
Buffalo Bills
- Signed (press release):
- OLB IK Enemkpali
- T Chris Martin
- DE Cedric Reed
- QB Alex Tanney
Cleveland Browns
- Signed (press release):
- OL Garth Gerhart
- DL Dylan Wynn
Denver Broncos
- Signed (press release):
- RB Kapri Bibbs
- TE Arthur Lynch
- T Kyle Roberts
- DE George Uko
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed:
- DL Toby Johnson (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed (press release):
- DT Hebron Fangupo
- T Laurence Gibson
- CB Jeremy Harris
- DL David Irving
- TE Ross Travis
- FB Spencer Ware
Miami Dolphins
- Signed (Twitter link):
- RB Rajion Neal
- WR Uzoma Nwachukwu
New England Patriots
- Signed (Twitter links):
- OL Chris Barker
- T Blaine Clausell
- OL Cameron Fleming (Twitter link via Jeff Howe)
- LB Darius Fleming
- LB Brandon King
- WR Nathan Palmer
- DB Daxton Swanson
- DT Jimmy Staten
- Signed and subsequently released:
- LB Xzavier Dickson (Twitter link via Jeff Howe)
New York Jets
- To be signed:
- S Rontez Miles (Twitter link via Brian Costello)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed:
- George Atkinson III, RB
- Mitch Bell, G
- SaQwan Edwards, CB
- Shelby Harris, DE
- Dan Kistler, T
- Tevin McDonald, S
- Josh Shirley, LB
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed (Twitter link via Burt Lauten + team transactions page):
- WR Isaiah Burse
- LB Anthony Chickillo
- T Matt Feiler
- CB Doran Grant
- TE Xavier Grimble
- OL Barrett Jones
- RB Fitzgerald Toussaint
- Released:
- RB Dominique Brown
- OL Reese Dismukes
- LB Shayon Green
- DE Ethan Hemer
- OL Antonio Johnson
- TE Harold Spears
- WR Jarrod West
San Diego Chargers
- Signed:
- OL Michael Ola (link via Michael Gehlken)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed:
- LB Justin Staples (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson)
