Julian Pearl

Steelers Release 2 Players, Waive 9 Others

The Steelers began the process of trimming their roster down to 53 players on Friday with the following 11 cuts (via a team announcement):

Released

Waived

McQuaide, a 14-year veteran, was unable to pry the Steelers’ long snapping job away from Christian Kuntz. The 37-year-old spent the first decade of his career with the Rams with back-t0-back Pro Bowl nods in 2016 and 2017. McQuaide then signed with the Cowboys in 2021, his last season as a full-time starter. He was used as a spot starter by the Cowboys, Lions, Vikings, and Dolphins over the last three years.

Woodside, 30, never seemed to have a chance at a 53-man roster spot with four quarterbacks ahead of him on the Steelers’ depth chart. He will likely try to land a practice squad spot next week with a team that wants to carry an extra quarterback.

McQuaide and Woodside are free to join any team’s active roster, but the other nine players will be on the waiver wire until Wednesday. Any who pass through waivers, along with the two veterans, can sign to any team’s practice squad on Wednesday as well.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/25

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

  • Waived from IR with injury settlement: CB Ameer Speed

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: DL Devonte O’Malley, DB Jaylin Simpson
  • Waived: CB Garnett Hollis Jr.
  • Waived/injured: DL Keith Randolph

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Signed: WR Phil Lutz
  • Waived/injured: DT Isaiah Iton

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Ojemudia is returning to the NFL after playing for the UFL’s DC Defenders in the spring, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. After starting 11 games for the Broncos as a rookie in 2020, he struggled with injuries and hasn’t played in the regular season since 2022.. The 27-year-old will add depth to a Cowboys cornerback room that isn’t expecting Trevon Diggs or Shavon Revel back until September. Second-year corner Caelen Carson is also dealing with a knee injury, so Ojemudia could get some snaps in Dallas’ last preseason game on Friday. A 53-man roster spot is unlikely given how late he signed with the team, but a strong first week could keep him in contention for the practice squad.

Winfree, a five-year veteran, will land with his fourth NFL team after a workout in Houston. The Texans also worked out former Chiefs wideout Cornell Powell, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.

Freeland, a 2023 fourth-round pick, started nine games as a rookie and spent 2024 as the Colts’ swing tackle. He will be out for the season with a fractured leg, per Colts.com writer JJ Stankevitz, as will Phillips (bicep), who hasn’t played in the regular season since 2022. Wohler sustained a Lisfranc injury, according to Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. The seventh-round safety will miss his rookie year after appearing to carve out a role in the Colts defense with an impressive preseason.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/25

NFL teams are continuing to adjust their rosters to weather injuries and add depth with preseason games kicking off later this week. Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: CB Luq Barcoo, CB D.J. Miller
  • Waived/injured: RB Kye Robichaux
  • Placed on IR: S Dan Jackson

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Seattle Seahawks

The Lions’ additions were likely a result of a shoulder injury to second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw. Head coach Dan Campbell said (via team writer Tim Twentyman) that “it’s going to be a while, at best” until Rakestraw returns to the field.

Ballentine returns to Green Bay, where he spent the last three seasons, after a brief stint in Indianapolis this offseason. He started six games and played 488 snaps for the Packers in 2023, but primarily contributed on special teams in 2022 and 2024.

The Giants are dealing with a number of injuries in their running back room, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Only Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, and Darius Miller are healthy, and the first two may not play much in the preseason. New York worked out a number of running backs on Monday, including Myles Gaskin and Isaiah Spiller (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson), but Ward impressed enough to join the squad moving forward.

Finley went down with a knee injury at training camp that is believed to be serious, pending additional tests, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. Triner, meanwhile, will fill in for Seahawks third-year long snapper Chris Stoll, who is dealing with a back issue, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/6/25

With the regular season having come to an end, many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts. This allows organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/10/24

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Signed: LB K.J Cloyd

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins has made just 64.0% of his field goal attempts this season, which includes two misses from inside 40 yards. Patterson kicked for Cleveland when Hopkins was injured at the end of last season, and his addition to the practice squad indicates that head coach Kevin Stefanski is considering a similar change this year.

The Titans signed Narveson as insurance for starter Nick Folk, who is dealing with an injury, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Narveson began the season as the Packers’ kicker, but after missing five of his 12 field goal attempts, all of which came inside of 50 yards.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/24

Here are the latest practice squad transactions from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/24

Here are the most recent practice squad transactions from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

The Vikings cut Gaskin from their active roster on Tuesday, but as a vested veteran, he did not need to pass through waivers before re-signing to Minnesota’s practice squad. Gaskin played in the Vikings’ first five games this season, but has not appeared since October 6. His familiarity with the offense could lead to activations from the practice squad if Minnesota needs running back depth.

Herndon will join the Saints after playing in Jacksonville for six seasons, with 83 total appearances and 34 starts for the Jaguars since 2018. The veteran cornerback only started five games over the last two years, but played in 15 games for almost 900 snaps as a rotational member of the Jaguars’ secondary. His experience could lead to quick elevations from the practice squad once he learns the Saints’ defense.

The Commander signed the 30-year-old Hart to give them more depth at offensive tackle. The veteran has 67 starts and 98 total appearances over his eight-year career, though he hasn’t played in the NFL since a 2022 stint with the Bills.

Ravens Let Go Of WRs Malik Cunningham, Anthony Miller On Way To 53

The Ravens have gotten down to the required 53-man roster. Here’s how they did it:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on IR:

Placed on IR (designated for return):

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

Baltimore will be without the veteran Maulet or electric Mitchell for at least four games to start the season. The other injured reserve placements, which includes two undrafted free agent signings, will miss the entire 2024 season.

For the second year in a row, the Ravens showed questionable draft decision-making as a draft pick from the current year failed to make the 53-man roster. Last year saw fifth-round cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly get waived, while this year sees sixth-round Kentucky quarterback Devin Leary get the early axe. Such occurrences were not common under former general manager Ozzie Newsome, and Ravens fans will hope that Eric DeCosta doesn’t make a habit out of wasting draft picks.

On the other hand, DeCosta continued a usual trend of analytical excellence as the Ravens continued what has become a tradition of seeing at least one undrafted rookie make the initial 53-man roster. This year, the honor goes to Maryland safety Beau Brade. Baltimore chose to enlist the young prospective talent of Brade over retaining the veteran experience of Worley, who has seen some decent time on the Ravens defense in recent years.

Ravens Add 22 UDFAs

The Ravens made nine selections over the course of the weekend, but that still left plenty of room for post-draft additions. That has paved the way for a large UDFA class. Here are the 22 players Baltimore has agreed to terms with:

  • Jelani Baker, WR (Limestone)
  • Beau BradeS (Maryland)
  • Corey Bullock, G (Maryland)
  • Tre’Darious Colbert, DT (Maryland)
  • Chris Collier, RB (Lock Haven)
  • Ryan CooperDB (Oregon State)
  • Darrian Dalcourt, G (Alabama)
  • Joe EvansDE (Iowa)
  • Ja’Mion FranklinDT (Duke)
  • De’Angelo Hardy, WR (North Central)
  • Deion JenningsLB (Rutgers)
  • Julian Pearl, T (Illinois)
  • Randen Plattner, LS (Kansas State)
  • Yvandy RigbyLB (Temple)
  • Mike Rigerman, TE (Findlay)
  • Tayvion RobinsonWR (Kentucky)
  • Riley Sharp, TE (Oregon State)
  • Darrell Simpson, T (Tulsa)
  • Jordan Toles, DB (Morgan State)
  • Dayton WadeWR (Ole Miss)
  • Tramel WalthourDT (Georgia)
  • Isaiah WashingtonWR (Rutgers)

It came as something of a surprise when Brade did not hear his name called on Day 3. The senior earned an Honorable All-Big Ten nod in each of the past two seasons, leading the Terrapins in tackles both years. Brade racked up 177 stops, three interceptions and 14 pass breakups across his four seasons in college. The Clarksville, Maryland native will be able to begin his pro career with his hometown team if he makes the Ravens’ opening roster.

Baltimore added a vertical threat (fourth-rounder Devontez Walker) to the passing game during the draft, but two of the team’s undrafted wideouts will receive a look in part based on their size. Hardy (6-2) and Washington (6-3) each have a larger frame than that of the Ravens’ current receiver options. The former owns the school record for career touchdowns with 58, 20 of which were scored last season. The latter, meanwhile, put up much smaller production (74 receptions, 927 yards and five seasons). Both will look to earn a depth roster spot or a place on the practice squad.

By not drafting a linebacker, the Ravens all-but assured Trenton Simpson of a starting role in 2024. That place was opened up by Patrick Queen‘s free agent departure, and the team’s other options are in line for special teams duties. The faith shown in Simpson is further illustrated by the fact Baltimore’s UDFA class only contains two linebackers. Both Rigby (who posted 5.5 tackles for loss in 2022) and Jones (who eclipsed 90 stops in each of the past two seasons) will look to carve out a spot based on third phase capabilities at a minimum.