Washington’s Joshua Garnett Retires From NFL
Joshua Garnett is calling it a career, per an announcement from the Washington Football Team. Still only 26, Garnett will turn his attention non-football endeavors. 
The Niners took Garnett No. 28 overall in 2016, but he never lived up to his pre-draft hype as a high-end offensive lineman. The Stanford product started in 11 of his 15 games as a rookie, but failed to impress. Then, knee surgery wiped out his 2017 season and he played in just seven games as a reserve in 2018. The Niners cut him before 2019, and his ensuing workout tour didn’t result in a contract. The Lions picked Garnett up in February and dropped him a few months later, leading him to an August deal with the WFT.
Garnett played in just 22 games between 2016 and 2019. With Washington, he suited up for three, giving him a grand career total of 25 games. He also earned upwards of $9MM over the course of his NFL career, giving him plenty of options off the field. We here at PFR wish Garnett the best in retirement.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/20
Here are today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: CB Khalil Dorsey
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: WR Tyron Johnson
Washington Football Team
- Placed on IR: WR Steven Sims Jr.
- Signed to active roster: G Joshua Garnett
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/3/20
Here is Saturday’s bevy of minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: RB Jonathan Ward, CB Jace Whittaker
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Khalil Dorsey
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: RB Antonio Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: CB Eli Apple
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, LB Chris Orr
- Waived: DE Shareef Miller
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: QB Tyler Bray
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: LB Francis Bernard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: OL K.C. McDermott, S Doug Middleton, K Aldrick Rosas
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: WR Keelan Doss, RB Theo Riddick
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: WR Tyron Johnson, OL Cole Toner
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: S JuJu Hughes
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: S George Iloka
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: OL Will Clapp, CB Ken Crawley, TE Garrett Griffin
- Placed on IR: LB Chase Hansen
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Austin Mack
New York Jets
- Claimed (from Lions): RB Ty Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: DB Grayland Arnold, WR Deontay Burnett, WR Travis Fulgham, C Luke Juriga, RB Adrian Killins
- Placed on IR: CB Trevor Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: LB Joe Walker
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: G Joshua Garnett
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/20
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: RB Jonathan Ward
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: LB Deon Lacey
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: DT Kahlil McKenzie
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: CB A.J. Green
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: RB LeVante Bellamy, CB Kevin Toliver
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: TE John Lovett, WR Darrius Shepherd
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: LB Matthew Adams
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: LB Kyle Emanuel, CB Madre Harper
New England Patriots
- Promoted: DT Nick Thurman, WR Isaiah Zuber
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: WR Bennie Fowler, DL Margus Hunt
- Placed on IR: RB Ty Montgomery
- Waived: OL Will Clapp
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Johnny Holton
New York Jets
- Promoted: Lawrence Cager, OL Jimmy Murray
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: DB Grayland Arnold, WR Deontay Burnett
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: OL Hroniss Grasu, RB JaMycal Hasty, LB Joe Walker
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: WR Cameron Batson
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: G Joshua Garnett, LB Jared Norris
Washington Signs CB Aaron Colvin To Practice Squad
Aaron Colvin opted against lingering in free agency ahead of the 2020 season. The veteran slot cornerback — a Washington cut Saturday — agreed to stay in the nation’s capital, joining Washington’s practice squad.
A four-year Jaguars cog, Colvin signed a lucrative deal to join the Texans in 2018. He spent a season as Houston’s slot cornerback, but after the Texans’ final-seconds loss to the Saints in Week 1 of 2019, the team made Colvin a scapegoat and accepted a dead-money hit to cut him.
Washington claimed Colvin on waivers and used him in six games. This season’s Washington squad, however, did not include the 28-year-old cornerback. He will work as an emergency player and as one of the team’s veteran P-squad staffers.
Former 49ers first-round guard Joshua Garnett, a late-offseason Washington addition, also opted to avoid another long-term free agency stay. He signed with the Washington practice squad. Given the injury trouble Washington has experienced on its offensive line in recent years, Garnett may end up seeing game action for the first time since 2018.
Here is Washington’s practice squad, as of Sunday afternoon:
- DT David Bada
- DE Jordan Brailford
- WR Tony Brown
- CB Aaron Colvin
- G Joshua Garnett
- TE Hale Hentges
- QB Steven Montez
- LB Jared Norris
- DE Nate Orchard
- LB Donald Payne
- C Ross Pierschbacher
- S Jeremy Reaves
- WR Cam Sims
Washington Cuts CB Aaron Colvin, Moves Down To 53
Here is how Washington trimmed its camp roster down to the 53-man regular-season limit. Some notable veterans did not make the squad.
Waived:
- T Paul Adams
- DT David Bada
- DE Jordan Bradford
- WR Tony Brown
- G Joshua Garnett
- TE Hale Hentges
- WR Johnathon Johnson
- CB Ryan Lewis
- QB Steven Montez
- LB Jared Norris
- T Timon Parris
- LB Donald Payne
- C Ross Pierschbacher
- WR Trey Quinn
- S Jeremy Reaves
- WR Cam Sims
- T David Steinmetz
- WR Jester Weah
Released:
- CB Aaron Colvin
- S Sean Davis (story)
- DE Nate Orchard
- TE Richard Rodgers
Placed on IR:
- DL Ryan Bee
- LB Reuben Foster (story)
- G Mike Liedtke
- CB Simeon Thomas
- WR Jordan Veasy
Washington added Colvin last year, doing so after the Texans cut him early in the season. The veteran has played six seasons, seeing action with the Jaguars, Texans and Washington. He will head back to free agency. As with Rodgers, who was the most notable tight end on Washington’s roster entering camp. Following the exits of Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis — and Thaddeus Moss‘ IR trip — Washington does not feature much of note at the position.
Mr. Irrelevant in 2018, Quinn latched on with Washington for two seasons. He operated as Washington’s slot receiver for a time, but with a new regime running the show now, Quinn will head to the waiver wire. However, he would certainly profile as a player who could be added to Washington’s 16-man practice squad. Garnett would as well.
The team added Garnett during training camp, but the former first-round pick has never managed to carve out a consistent role as a pro.
Washington To Sign G Joshua Garnett, Waive TE Thaddeus Moss
Joshua Garnett‘s Washington visit turned into a contract offer. The team will sign the former 49ers first-round pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Washington will add Garnett and fellow offensive lineman David Steinmetz. One of the space-clearing roster moves: waiving tight end Thaddeus Moss with an injury designation.
Garnett has not lived up to his first-round billing and has played in just 22 games over the past four seasons. The Stanford product missed the 2017 and ’19 seasons. The 49ers gave him 11 starts as a rookie in 2016 but only used him as a depth piece in 2018. Considering the once-coveted guard’s career trajectory, that will probably be the role he vies for in Washington.
Washington will be able to move Moss to its IR list, should the second-generation pass-catcher go unclaimed on waivers. The son of Randy Moss, Thaddeus showed promise at LSU but went undrafted. He represented a possible weapon for a Washington team housing perhaps the league’s leanest tight end group.
Washington Works Out Joshua Garnett
Washington worked out several offensive linemen this week, including guard Joshua Garnett, per the league’s official rundown. Tackles Brady Aiello, Dino Boyd, Dieugot Joseph, and David Steinmetz also showed their stuff for the Washington Football Team.
[RELATED: Washington Activates QB Alex Smith]
The Niners took Garnett No. 28 overall in 2016, but he never lived up to his pre-draft hype. The Stanford product started in 11 of his 15 games as a rookie, but failed to impress. Then, knee surgery wiped out his 2017 season and he played in just seven games as a reserve in 2018. The Niners cut him before 2019, and his ensuing workout tour didn’t result in a contract. The Lions picked Garnett up in February, but they dropped him last week as they work towards final cuts.
Steinmetz has been similarly dogged by injuries. His 2019 was wiped out by a broken ankle. The Texans dropped him recently, making him a free agent.
In other Washington Football Team news, the club has activated quarterback Alex Smith. The QB will participate in full-pad work and he could see the field this year if likely starter Dwayne Haskins falters.
Lions Cut Joshua Garnett
The Lions released former first-round pick Joshua Garnett on Sunday morning, per a club announcement. The Lions also dropped defensive back Michael Jackson, linebacker Christian Sam, defensive end Jonathan Wynn, and wide receivers Travis Fulgham and Chris Lacy to reach the 80-man limit for single squad practices. 
The 49ers took Garnett No. 28 overall in 2016, but he never lived up to his pre-draft hype. The Stanford product started in 11 of his 15 games as a rookie, but failed to impress. Then, knee surgery wiped out his 2017 season and he played in just seven games as a reserve in 2018. The Niners cut him before 2019, and his ensuing workout tour didn’t result in a contract. The Lions picked Garnett up in February, but they’ve put him back on the free agent pile as the season draws near.
The Lions’ O-line was not particularly good at run-blocking or pass protection in 2019 and earned below-average DVOA marks in both categories. On the plus side, Russell Bodine was Detroit’s only offensive line opt-out, so they might be able to stand pat with their current group of linemen.
Lions Sign Joshua Garnett
The Lions have signed free agent guard Joshua Garnett, the team announced. The 49ers selected Garnett with the No. 28 overall pick of the 2016 draft, but he never came close to living up to that draft status. Though the Stanford product started in 11 of his 15 games as a rookie, he failed to impress, and then he missed all of 2017 after undergoing knee surgery.
He appeared in only seven games as a reserve in 2018, so it was no surprise when San Francisco cut ties with him before the 2019 campaign got underway. Garnett, who will turn 26 later this month, generated plenty of interest on the workout circuit this past season and wound up auditioning for six different clubs. He did not sign a contract with any of them, though he reportedly showed well during his November workout with the Texans.
The Lions’ O-line was not particularly good at run-blocking or pass protection in 2019 and earned below-average DVOA marks in both categories. Detroit will presumably return Joe Dahl at left guard in 2020, but even though right guard Graham Glasgow performed well in 2019, he is eligible for unrestricted free agency in March and the team is likely going to let him walk. If that happens, Garnett could get a shot at a starting job
Though the Lions have been rumored as a potential landing spot for one of this year’s top QB prospects, recent rumors have suggested that they could trade down from their current No. 3 overall pick in an effort to collect more draft capital and address their many needs.