Panthers Sign S Juston Burris
Juston Burris is heading to Carolina. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the free agent safety is signing a two-year, $8MM deal with the Panthers.
The former fourth-rounder has bounced around the league a bit after spending the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Jets. He was waived by the Browns at the end of the 2019 preseason, and after briefly catching on with the Raiders, he was cut again.
He re-signed with Cleveland in late September, and he proceeded to have the best season of his career in 2019. He finished the campaign having compiled 32 tackles, one sack, seven passes defended, two picks, and one forced fumble. In total, the 26-year-old has seen time in 52 career games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/19/19
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: RB Eli McGuire
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Evan Baylis
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: OL Bryan Witzmann
Minnesota Vikings
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DE Ade Aruna
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: DB Juston Burris
Raiders Place Johnathan Abram On IR
The Raiders’ Thursday defensive back tryout will lead to a roster move. Former Jets cornerback Juston Burris will sign with the Raiders, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets.
Burris will take Johnathan Abram‘s roster spot. The Raiders are placing the third of their three 2019 first-round picks on IR. Abram suffered a shoulder injury Monday night that is expected to end his season. Abram could come back after eight weeks on IR, but based on the current information, that seems unlikely.
A fourth-round Jets pick in 2016, Burris played in 34 Jets games from 2016-18. He spent time with the Browns last season. Burris may profile as Gareon Conley insurance, but the Raiders expect him to play Sunday despite the scary neck injury he suffered against the Broncos. Conley took part in limited practices Wednesday and Thursday.
Abram’s absence may bring the Raiders to move free agent addition Lamarcus Joyner back to safety. Joyner has spent his initial Raider months as their slot corner but worked as a safety with the Rams over the past two seasons.
Raiders Audition T.J. McDonald, Other DBs
One of the many veterans the Dolphins either traded, released or let walk in free agency this year, T.J. McDonald has drawn interest from another AFC team. The Raiders put McDonald through a Thursday workout, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
McDonald and fellow defensive backs Kentrell Brice, Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Juston Burris participated in the audition. Additionally, Marcus Cooper and Coty Sensabaugh were part of this extensive audition, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).
The Raiders lost first-round safety Johnathan Abram to a severe shoulder injury, which is expected to end his rookie season after one game, and saw cornerback Gareon Conley stretchered off the field in a scary scene Monday. Conley, however, avoided a serious injury and may have a chance to play in Week 2.
A 28-year-old safety who came into the league with the 2013 Rams, McDonald has started all 75 games in which he’s played. This included 14 starts for the 2018 Dolphins. The Dolphins ate nearly $5MM in dead money by cutting McDonald in August.
The Buccaneers signed Brice in March but cut him earlier this month. Brice started 10 games at safety for the Packers last season. A three-year cornerback veteran, Boddy-Calhoun played in 43 games (22 starts) for the Browns from 2016-18. Burris suited up for 38 with the Jets and Browns from 2016-18. Sensabaugh and Cooper are much older, having begun their careers in 2012 and ’13, respectively. Sensabaugh started in 10 Steelers games last season; Cooper was buried on the Bears’ 2018 depth chart and didn’t see too much action later that season as a Lion.
NFL Workout Updates: 9/3/19
Here are today’s workout updates, all courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter) unless otherwise noted. The Saints had several recognizable players in for workouts.
Arizona Cardinals (Twitter link via veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer)
- RB Justin Davis, RB Devontae Jackson
Carolina Panthers (Twitter link via Balzer)
Cincinnati Bengals
- LB Malik Carney, C Ryan Groy, LB LaRoy Reynolds, LB Sutton Smith, LB Connor Strachan, OT Josh Wells, OT T Bryan Witzmann
Detroit Lions
- WR Victor Bolden Jr., RB Nick Brossette, WR Terry Godwin, DL Geneo Grissom, WR Marvin Hall, QB Taylor Heinicke, RB Darius Jackson, DE Anthony Johnson, QB Chad Kanoff, RB David Williams
New Orleans Saints
- RB Cameron Artis-Payne, LB James Burgess, LB Tre Crawford, RB Darius Jackson, TE Ben Koyack, RB Marcus Murphy, TE Brian Parker, LB Tegray Scales, LB Tre’ Watson, TE Luke Willson, RB Zach Zenner
New York Jets
- G Brandon Hitner
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins (Twitter link via Balzer)
- LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, OLB Davin Bellamy, LB Reshard Cliett, LB Te’von Coney
Sunday NFL Transactions: AFC North
Listed below are the Sunday roster moves for the four AFC North 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 Ravens, Bengals, Browns, and Steelers are noted below.
Additionally, as of 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 AFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to practice squad:
- DE Aaron Adeoye
- OL Marcus Applefield
- CB Maurice Canady
- FB Christopher Ezeala
- WR Sean Modster
- LB Donald Payne
- OL R.J. Prince
- TE Charles Scarff
- DE Zach Sieler
- RB De’Lance Turner
- WR Antoine Wesley
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed:
- WR Pharoh Cooper
- RB Samaje Perine
- Waived:
- RB Josh Malone
- LB Hardy Nickerson
- Signed to practice squad:
- TE Moritz Böhringer
- CB Anthony Chesley
- LB Noah Dawkins
- HB Jordan Ellis
- TE Jordan Franks
- S Trayvon Henderson
- WR Stanley Morgan
- TE Mason Schreck
- G Keaton Sutherland
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed:
- Waived:
- Placed on IR:
- OL Drew Forbes
- Signed to practice squad:
- DT Brandin Bryant
- TE Stephen Carlson
- WR Shelton Gibson
- LB Willie Harvey
- S J.T. Hassell
- CB Robert Jackson
- DB Tigie Sankoh*
- WR Derrick Willies
- C Willie Wright
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to practice squad:
- S Marcus Allen
- RB Trey Edmunds
- OL Derwin Gray
- WR Tevin Jones
- S Trevon Mathis
- DL Henry Mondeaux
- OL Patrick Morris
- TE Kevin Rader
- TE Christian Scotland-Williamson
- LB Robert Spillane
* = International Pathway Program player
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/1/19
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: DB Juston Burris
- Waived: DB Howard Wilson
New England Patriots
- Signed: T Cedrick Lang
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/13/19
Here is the latest news involving restricted free agents and exclusive-rights free agents, with updates coming throughout the day:
ERFA
Tendered:
- Bears: DE Roy Robertson-Harris, LB Isaiah Irving, OL Rashaad Coward
- Seahawks: LB Austin Calitro, LB Emmanuel Ellerbee, C Joey Hunt, RB J.D. McKissic, CB Kalan Reed
Non-tendered:
- Bears: S DeAndre Houston-Carson (via Howard Balzer on Twitter)
- Bengals: QB Brad Kaaya (via Balzer)
- Cardinals: LB Gabe Martin, DE Zach Moore, C Daniel Munyer (via Balzer)
- Chiefs: TE Alex Ellis (via Balzer)
- Colts: S Ronald Martin (via Balzer)
- Falcons: WR Marvin Hall (via Balzer)
- Giants: DT Kristjan Sokoli (via Balzer)
- Patriots: WR Cody Hollister (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
- Raiders: CB Tevin Mitchel (via Balzer)
- Rams: LB Garrett Sickels (via Balzer)
- Ravens: OT Steven Moore (via Balzer)
- Saints: DB Rickey Jefferson (per NOLA.com’s Josh Katzenstein, on Twitter)
- Seahawks: DE Ricky Ali’ifua, DB T.J. Green, RB Tre Madden, DB T.J. Mutcherson
- Steelers: T Joseph Cheek, S Malik Golden, LB Keith Kelsey, TE Jake McGee (via Balzer)
- Vikings: OT Cedrick Lang, TE Josiah Price (via Balzer)
RFA
Tendered at second-round level:
- Seahawks: T George Fant (per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, on Twitter)
Tendered at original-round level:
- Chiefs: S Jordan Lucas
- Saints: CB Ken Crawley (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate)
- Seahawks: DL Quinton Jefferson (via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, on Twitter)
Non-tendered:
- Bears: LS Patrick Scales (via Balzer)
- Bengals: TE Matt Lengel (via Balzer)
- Bills: TE Logan Thomas (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
- Broncos: QB Kevin Hogan, LB Deiontrez Mount, WR Jordan Taylor (via Balzer)
- Browns: CB Juston Burris, TE Orson Charles (via Balzer)
- Buccaneers: TE Alan Cross, CB Javien Elliott, T Leonard Wester (via Balzer)
- Cardinals: LB Jeremy Cash, OT John Wetzel (via Balzer)
- Chiefs: LB Terrance Smith (via Balzer)
- Dolphins: WR Leonte Carroo (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald)
- 49ers: S Tyvis Powell (via Balzer)
- Jaguars: OG Chris Reed (via Balzer)
- Jets: DT Destiny Vaeao (via Balzer)
- Panthers: WR Damiere Byrd (via Balzer)
- Raiders: DE Shilique Calhoun (via Balzer)
- Redskins: WR Maurice Harris (per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, on Twitter), RB Rob Kelley (via Balzer)
- Saints: WR Tommylee Lewis (via Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com, on Twitter)
Browns Place Kirksey, Gaines On IR
The Browns placed linebacker Christian Kirksey (hamstring) and defensive back E.J. Gaines (concussion) on injured reserve, according to a team announcement. Both players were forced out during the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs and those injuries have ended their seasons prematurely. 
Kirksey, a fifth-year veteran and team captain, started all seven of his games for the Browns this year. In that time, he racked up 29 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Kirksey averaged 90 tackles and three sacks between 2016 and 2017, so those numbers were off of his usual pace. According to Pro Football Focus, it has been a subpar 2018 for Kirksey, who currently ranks as one of the ten worst qualified LBs in the league. Still, losing Kirksey is a blow to the Browns D.
The Browns are hoping to get Joe Schobert back on the field soon and his return should take some of the sting out out of losing Kirksey. Schobert has been held out of the last three games with a hamstring ailment of his own.
Gaines joined the Browns on a one-year, $4MM deal in the offseason. Unfortunately, he’s done for the year after suffering his second concussion of the season. Gaines started in two of his six games and snagged his lone interception of the year against the Raiders in September.
To fill one of the vacated roster spots, the Browns have signed defensive back Juston Burris off the Jets’ practice squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Vontarrius Dora, OL Kyle Friend
- Released: DE Ufomba Kamalu, K Matt McCrane
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- Released: LB Brady Sheldon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Ethan Wolf
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steven Mitchell
- Released: WR Cyril Grayson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Maurice Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OG Landon Turner
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Juston Burris
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OT Jamar McGloster
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Tyrone Swoopes
- Released: OL JJ Dielman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Dare Ogunbowale