Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/26
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Ross Blacklock, LB Daveren Rayner
- Waived: TE Brandon Frazier, DT Ben Stille, WR Deven Thompkins, RB Carlos Washington
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB M.J. Devonshire
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Kyron Hudson, LB Wayne Matthews III, LB Jon Rhattigan
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Michael Coats Jr.
- Waived: TE Sal Cannella
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Paul Manning, WR Michael Woods
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Evan Hull
- Waived: TE Luke Lachey
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Cameron McGrone
- Waived: WR Brenden Rice
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: FB DJ Herman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Bangally Kamara, DL Smith Vilbert
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Xavier Holmes, S Peter Manuma
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Brock Rechsteiner
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Jaden Keller
- Waived: LB Ochaun Mathis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: C Greg Crippen
- Waived: OT Sataoa Laumea
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Larry Worth III
- Waived: LB Milo Eifler
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
- Waived: LS Wesley Brown, WR Noah Short, LB Benton Whitley, RB Owen Wright
Minor NFL Transaction: 5/8/26
Friday’s minor NFL transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): LB Swayze Bozeman
- Signed: S Isaiah Nwokobia
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): DT Elijah Chatman
- Received international exemption: P Nik Constantinou
Denver Broncos
- Waived: T Marques Cox, OLB Garrett Nelson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Smith Vilbert
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Damon Bankston
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): WR Courtney Jackson
- Waived: WR Hal Presley
After the Giants waived Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson yesterday, all three found new homes today on the waiver wire. Constantinou qualifies for the international exemption that allows him not to count against the team’s 90-man roster as one of several Australians who have found their way to the NFL as specialists. Lastly, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and New York all added to their UDFA classes today after Nwokobia, Vilbert, and Bankston went undrafted out of SMU, North Carolina, and New Mexico, respectively.
Colts Release S Nasir Adderley
Slot cornerback Kenny Moore was not the only defender the Colts parted with on Thursday. The team also announced that it released safety Nasir Adderley and waived linebacker John Bullock.
This ends a short stay in Indianapolis for Adderley, who came out of a three-year retirement to sign with the club on April 14. The move briefly reunited the former Charger with Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who was on Los Angeles’ staff during Adderley’s first two seasons.
After a standout career at Delaware, Adderley joined the Chargers as a second-round pick (60th overall) in 2019. He played in just four games during an injury-shortened rookie year, but Adderley emerged as a full-time starter in his second season.
From 2020-22, Adderley amassed 44 starts in 46 games and totaled three interceptions. He paired with star safety Derwin James for two of those seasons. After picking off a personal-best two passes and ranking as Pro Football Focus’ 36th-best safety in ’22, Adderley unexpectedly hung up his cleats in lieu of pursuing a contract in free agency.
Now that the Colts have gone in another direction, it is unclear if Adderley will continue his comeback attempt. For the Colts’ part, Adderley’s release should not have much of an effect on their safety depth, as they added third-rounder A.J. Haulcy in the draft. He may start next to Cam Bynum as a rookie and replace Nick Cross, who signed with the Commanders in free agency. Indianapolis also counts Hunter Wohler and free agent pickups Juanyeh Thomas and Jonathan Owens among its safety options.
Bullock, 25, joined the Colts as a waiver claim from the Buccaneers in the first week of January. Despite going undrafted last year, the Nebraska product played in 15 of the Buccaneers’ games as a rookie. Bullock was on the field for just five defensive plays, but he ranked fourth on the Bucs in special teams snap share (56.98%).
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/26
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Extended: DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Joe Giles-Harris, TE Cam Grandy, LB Shaka Heyward, S PJ Jules, WR Mitchell Tinsley
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
- Waived: OT Geron Christian, TE Marcedes Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Extended: OL Michael Niese, RB Jacob Saylors, CB Nick Whiteside
Indianapolis Colts
- Extended: LB Austin Ajiake
- Claimed off waivers (from Buccaneers): LB John Bullock
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: DE Larrell Murchison
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: CB Tre Flowers
San Francisco 49ers
- Practice window opened: WR Jacob Cowing
Each of the players who were extended today received deals that last through the 2026 campaign. These contracts differ from reserve/futures contracts, which don’t count towards the team’s active list until after the Super Bowl.
The Bengals were especially active with these extensions today, handing out deals to a handful of players who could be in line for larger roles next season. Journeyman Joe Giles-Harris got into a career-high 10 games for Cincinnati this season, compiling 27 tackles while serving as a key special teamer. Shaka Heyward (16 tackles) and PJ Jules (18 tackles) saw similar roles for the 2025 Bengals. Mitchell Tinsley got some run on the Cincy offense this season, hauling in eight catches for 116 yards in 17 games.
Buccaneers To Activate DL Calijah Kancey From IR
A fast-sinking Buccaneers season now needs more than one NFC South development to be salvaged, as the Saints now must topple the Falcons in addition to Tampa Bay defeating Carolina. The Bucs will have more help when they suit up Saturday.
The team will activate defensive lineman Calijah Kancey from IR, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The former first-round pick has made it back from a pectoral tear. Kancey, who has not played since Week 2, will be on a pitch count, per Todd Bowles (via the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud). Every little bit helps here, as the Bucs are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]
Tampa Bay is also elevating Jason Pierre-Paul from its practice squad, per Stroud. This marks JPP’s third elevation this season; another appearance on the Bucs’ gameday roster would require an official signing from the P-squad. The team waived linebacker John Bullock as well.
We have seen September pectoral tears turn into late-season IR activations recently. This happened thrice in 2023, with C.J. Gardner-Johnson, DaQuan Jones and Avonte Maddox reemerging after suffering this injury. Kancey’s return falls at a similar spot on this timeline, and rumblings about a playoff return — after pectoral surgery — began to emerge weeks ago.
Kancey will beat that by a week. This season has certainly marked a delay in Kancey’s development, with the prospect it ends after three games squarely in play. But he will have a chance to contribute as the Bucs attempt a last stand in their Panthers rematch.
The Bucs drafted Kancey 19th overall in 2023 and saw him show considerable promise in 2024. Last season, Kancey registered 7.5 sacks and added 19 QB hits. He also combined for 21 tackles for loss over his first two seasons. This year represents a disappointment for the Pittsburgh product, and it may complicate the team’s fifth-year option decision (due shortly after the draft). But Kancey returning to full strength should help his cause there.
Tampa Bay did not see Joe Tryon-Shoyinka make much of an impact and saw Devin White trend downward steeply. But they have hit on Tristan Wirfs, Graham Barton, Kancey and Emeka Egbuka out of Round 1 in this span. Bowles and Jason Licht received extensions this offseason. While Bowles has overseen a drop from 6-2 to 7-9, the NFC South’s evergreen status as a down division has kept the Bucs in the mix. Bowles also looks more likely than not to receive another chance in 2026. That will be Kancey’s contract year unless his option is exercised.
Buccaneers Sign 15 UDFAs
The Buccaneers have already signed five of their six draft picks to their rookie deals. That group has seen the addition of the following 15 undrafted free agents to the roster:
- Connor Bazelak, QB (Bowling Green)
- John Bullock, LB (Nebraska)
- Benjamin Chukwuma, T (Georgia State)
- Ryan Coe, K (Cal)
- Garrett Greene, WR (West Virginia)
- Nash Hutmacher, DL (Nebraska)
- Anthony Landphere, TE (Memphis)
- Jake Majors, C (Texas)
- Roman Parodie, CB (Ohio)
- Warren Peeples, OLB (Southeastern Louisiana)
- J.J. Roberts, S (Marshall)
- Shilo Sanders, S (Colorado)
- Ben Scott, OL (Nebraska)
- Desmond Watson, DL (Florida)
- Josh Williams, RB (LSU)
Each of the three offensive linemen in this group received a notable financial commitment from Tampa Bay. Chukwuma secured a $55K signing bonus in addition to $245K in base salary guarantees, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Scott, meanwhile, landed $265K in total guarantees including $15K up front, according to Spotrac (via Greg Auman of Fox Sports). Similarly, Wilson adds Major’s pact contains a $10K signing bonus and $250K in salary guarantees.
Auman reports Hutmacher was originally on track to sign with the Ravens, but circumstances have led him to Tampa. He spent his entire five-year career with the Cornhuskers, collecting 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss across the past two campaigns. Hutmacher will aim to demonstrate his disruptiveness during the spring and in doing earn a depth spot along the D-line.
Watson drew attention when he weighed in at 464 pounds during Florida’s Pro Day. When he signed his UDFA deal with the Bucs, he became the heaviest player in NFL history. Reducing that number will be a priority for team and player, although Watson never missed a game during his four seasons with the Gators.