Falcons Cut S Dashon Goldson
The Falcons announced that they have released safety Dashon Goldson. To fill his spot on the roster, Atlanta signed defensive lineman Cliff Matthews. The team also inked linebacker Josh Keyes to the practice squad. 
Goldson, 32, signed a one-year, $1.5MM deal with the Falcons, though only $250K of that sum was guaranteed. This year, he suited up for four games, but did not record an official statistic. The veteran has regressed significantly since his glory days with the 49ers. Goldson broke out as a leading free safety in 2009 with San Francisco and went on to earn his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2011. In 2012, his contract year, he garnered another Pro Bowl selection along with his first career First-Team All-Pro nod.
He signed a monster contract with the Bucs in the spring of 2013, but he was unable to deliver. After spending 2015 with the Redskins and old friend Scot McCloughan, Goldson returned to the NFC South. Today, he finds himself back on the open market.
Matthews broke into the league as a seventh-round pick of the Falcons in 2011. The South Carolina product has appeared in 32 games for Atlanta since then.
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
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Kenny Bell
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Rory Anderson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs (Twitter link via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Luke Rhodes (Twitter link via Mich Chappell of CBS4)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Brian Leonhardt
- Cut: CB Tre Roberson (Twitter link via Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune)
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Chase Farris (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss)
- Cut: LB Quentin Gause
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: LB Tyrell Adams, LB Darnell Sankey (via Jimmy Durkin of the San Jose Mercury News)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Josh Keyes
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/3/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Buccaneers are waiving wide receiver Freddie Martino and linebacker Josh Keyes, as Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Martino saw time in the last two games but did not record a catch.
- The Bears re-signed defensive end C.J. Wilson, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Wilson was just released over the weekend, but now he’ll trade roster spots with running back Raheem Mostert, who was waived earlier today.
- The Panthers are re-signing wide receiver Brenton Bersin, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Bersin was waived a few days ago so that Carolina could add more defensive line depth. The man who originally replaced Bersin — defensive end Larry Webster — has now been cut, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Buccaneers Make Two Roster Moves
The Buccaneers have placed linebacker Devante Bond on injured reserve and re-signed fellow linebacker Josh Keyes, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
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A hamstring injury has hampered Bond over the past month, though Auman notes that the rookie sixth-round pick from Oklahoma participated fully in Wednesday’s practice. Bond missed practice Thursday, however, leading to his placement on IR.
Keyes appeared in the Buccaneers’ first two games this year, mainly serving as a special teamer. The team waived Keyes on Tuesday, but Bond’s ailment paved the way for his return to the organization. Keyes, who went undrafted out of Boston College last year, spent time on the Bucs’ practice squad as a rookie before the club promoted him to its active roster for the second half of the season, in which he saw special teams action in seven games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/16
Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
- The Chargers waived wide receiver Isaiah Burse, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
- The Buccaneers waived linebacker Josh Keyes, per Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Keyes played extensively on special teams in the first two games of the season.
- The Colts released safety Winston Guy, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Broncos waived defensive lineman Kyle Peko, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets.
- The Giants terminated the contract of offensive tackle Byron Stingily, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). The lineman was on IR with a concussion.
- The Bears waived fullback Paul Lasike, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Lasike saw 14 snaps in Week 1 and just five snaps on Monday night.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/10/16
Here are today’s minor moves:
- The Seahawks have removed linebacker Eric Pinkins from their injured reserve list with an injury settlement, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link). Pinkins, 25, appeared in six games for Seattle last season.
- The Seahawks have also made a swap on their practice squad, signing wide receiver Antwan Goodley and cutting offensive tackle Takoby Cofield, tweets Condotta.
- The Buccaneers have cut linebacker Micah Awe from their practice squad, reports Jenna Laine of ESPN.com. Awe’s removal opens a spot for fullback Dan Vitale, who was added to the taxi squad yesterday.
Earlier updates:
- The Raiders waived defensive end James Cowser off their IR list with an injury settlement, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
- The Buccaneers promoted linebacker Josh Keyes to their 53-man roster, Roy Cummings of FanRag Sports reports (on Twitter). Keyes played in seven games last season for the Bucs. To make room for Keyes, the Bucs waived tight end Alan Cross, per Cummings (Twitter link).
- Although he enjoyed a productive preseason, Dezman Moses saw the Chiefs cut him to make room for Eric Berry, Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star reports (on Twitter). Moses spent the past three seasons with the Chiefs, serving as a backup outside linebacker and playing in 26 games for the franchise. Moses made four sacks for the Packers as a rookie but has been used mostly in a special teams capacity with the Chiefs.
- The Lions released linebacker Josh Bynes from their IR list, Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com tweets.
Buccaneers Promote Barber, Keyes
The Buccaneers are doing some last-minute roster shuffling prior to their Sunday opener against the Falcons. Rookie running back Peyton Barber has been promoted from the practice squad to the team’s 53-man roster and linebacker Josh Keyes is expected to make the same jump, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times writes. Running back Mike James was waived/injured this week to make room for Barber, but a corresponding move for Keyes has not yet been announced. 
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Keyes, a 2015 undrafted free agent out of Boston College, spent time last season on the Bucs’ taxi squad before being promoted to the varsity squad to close out the season. He saw time in seven games, mainly on special teams.
Barber, an Auburn product, missed the 53-man cut but was quickly added to the team’s practice squad this year after clearing waivers. Barber had 99 rushing yards in the preseason, though his average of 2.5 yards per carry left something to be desired. In any case, the Bucs would rather have him instead of James on the depth chart behind Doug Martin and Charles Sims.
In a related move, wide receiver Evan Spencer has been added to the practice squad after being waived earlier this week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Sunday NFL Transactions: NFC South
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four NFC South 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 Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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 NFC South transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
Atlanta Falcons
- Claimed:
- WR Taylor Gabriel (link via Mike Florio of PFT)
- Waived:
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE Nordly Capi
- CB Devonte Johnson
- DT Joey Mbu
- WR J.D. McKissic
- S Sharrod Neasman
- QB Matt Simms
- TE D.J. Tialavea
- RB Gus Johnson (Twittler link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- CB Deji Olatoye (Twittler link via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
Carolina Panthers
- Claimed:
- DE Lavar Edwards (Link via PFT)
- Waived:
- DE Wes Horton (Link via David Newton)
- Signed to practice squad
- CB Zack Sanchez (Link via Adam Caplan)
- S Marcus Ball
- LB Brian Blechen
- DT Eric Crume
- WR Keyarris Garrett
- TE Beau Sandland
- RB Jalen Simmons
- DE Larry Webster
- OL David Yankey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to practice squad:
- OL John Fullington (Link via Josh Katzenstein)
- CB Brian Dixon (Link via Mike Triplett)
- DE Bobby Richardson
- LB Tony Steward
- FB Austin Johnson
- C Jack Allen,
- TE Garrett Griffin
- WR Jake Lampman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to practice squad:
- RB Russell Hansbrough (Link via Jim Thomas)
- WR Jeremy Butler (Link via PFT)
- LB Josh Keyes (link via Greg Auman)
- RB Peyton Barber (story via Auman)
- OL Josh Allen
- OL Ben Gottschalk
- CB Javien Elliott
- S Isaiah Johnson
- LB Micah Awe (Link via Auman)
- WR Freddie Martino
Buccaneers Down To 53 Man Roster
The Buccaneers have trimmed down to 53 with more than 24 hours to go before the deadline. According to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times, the following players have been dropped from the roster: 
- CB Javien Elliott
- LB Luke Rhodes
- TE Dan Vitale
- DT Cliff Matthews
- S Kimario McFadden
- RB Russell Hansbrough
- WR Bernard Reedy (waived/injured, per Jenna Laine of ESPN.com on Twitter)
- LB Josh Keyes
- LB Jeremiah George
- LB Micah Awe
- C Ben Gottschalk
- RB Peyton Barber
- WR Kenny Bell (injured)
- WR Freddie Martino
- WR Jonathan Krause
- OL Josh Allen
- OL Kelvin Palmer
- OL Kyler Kerbyson
- DE Kourtnei Brown
- DE A.J. Francis
- DE Isaiah Johnson
- TE Kivon Cartwright (injured)
Among the cuts, Vitale’s is one of the most surprising. The Bucs are planning on carrying five tight ends, yet the sixth-round pick out of Northwestern apparently did not show enough to make the cut. The Bucs will have Cameron Brate, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Luke Stocker, Brandon Myers, and UDFA Alan Cross on the roster to open up the season instead. Myers and Cross were both considered to be on the bubble somewhat, but they have impressed Dirk Koetter & Co. to the point where they are going to carry five tight ends and bounce a sixth-round pick in order to keep both of them. Myers was inactive for the Bucs’ final five games of 2015 as a healthy scratch.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
