Monday’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: CB Kris Boyd, OL Ilm Manning, CB Christian Matthew
Detroit Lions
- Reinstated from suspension: WR Jameson Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reinstated from suspension: LT Cam Robinson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: WR Cody Thompson, CB Lance Boykin
Tennessee Titans
- Reinstated from suspension: T Nicholas Petit-Frere
As part of the new terms regarding the NFL’s gambling policy, players hit with six-game bans for gambling on non-NFL events while at team facilities have seen their suspensions reduced. As a result, Williams and Petit-Frere will be able to return as early as Week 5. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes that each player will receive a one-week roster exemption, after which they will need to be activated.
The same holds true of Robinson, who was suspended for the season’s opening month due to a PED violation. That ban cost the 27-year-old over $3.5MM in salary and voided the remaining guarantees in his deal, which runs through 2024. The Jaguars have had an up-and-down start to the season on offense, but the unit has fared well in pass protection so far with only eight sacks allowed. Still, Robinson’s return to the blindside will be welcomed in Jacksonville.
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.
Arizona Cardinals
Claimed:
- C Trystan Colon, TE Elijah Higgins, C Keith Ishmael, T Ilm Manning, DB Starling Thomas, DB K’Von Wallace
Waived:
- WR Daniel Arias, G Marquis Hayes, S Javonte Moffatt, DL Ben Stille, TE Blake Whiteheart
Signed to practice squad:
- QB Jeff Driskel
Los Angeles Rams
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- OL A.J. Arcuri, OL Logan Bruss, DT Marquise Copeland, RB Royce Freeman, DB Tanner Ingle, WR Tyler Johnson, TE Nikola Kalinic, OL Mike McAllister, DB Cameron McCutcheon, OL Grant Miller, LB Troy Reeder, QB Brett Rypien, WR Xavier Smith, OLB Keir Thomas II, WR Austin Trammell
San Francisco 49ers
Placed on IR:
- DL Robert Beal, WR Danny Gray
Signed:
- DL Austin Bryant, DL Kerry Hyder
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Alex Barrett, FB Jack Colletto, WR Chris Conley, DL Marlon Davidson, TE Troy Fumagalli, OL Alfredo Gutierrez (via International Player Pathway), RB Brian Hill, CB Qwuantrezz Knight, OL Corey Luciano, WR Tay Martin, DL T.Y. McGill, LB Curtis Robinson, WR Willie Snead, CB Tre Swilling, OL Leroy Watson, WR Isaiah Winstead
Seattle Seahawks
Claimed:
- CB Kyu Blu Kelly, LB Drake Thomas
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- QB Holton Ahlers, OLB Levi Bell, CB Lance Boykin, CB Artie Burns, T Greg Eiland, DT Matthew Gotel, C Joey Hunt, WR Cade Johnson, RB Bryant Koback, WR Matt Landers, TE Tyler Mabry, LB Patrick O’Connell, S Ty Okada, RB SaRodorick Thompson, WR Easop Winston Jr.
A new-look running backs room and the continuation of one of the best stories of the preseason underline today’s announcements. The Seahawks had made some cuts in the days leading up to the deadline, but here are the remaining moves the team made to get down to 53 players:
Released:
- LB Ben Burr-Kirven
- C Joey Hunt
Waived:
- QB Holton Ahlers
- LB Levi Bell
- CB Lance Boykin
- OT Greg Eiland
- NT Matthew Gotel
- WR John Hall
- WR Cade Johnson
- WR Matt Landers
- TE Tyler Mabry
- LB Patrick O’Connell
- S Ty Okada
- DE Roderick Perry
- G Kendall Randolph
- DE Jacob Sykes
- RB SaRodorick Thompson
- WR Easop Winston
- LB Christian Young
Waived/injured:
- S Joey Blount
- LB Vi Jones
- S Jonathan Sutherland
While not a shock, the established running backs group looks a bit different from last year. The sole returners, Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas, will be joined on the 53-roster by rookie draft picks Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh.
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Jake Bobo gets rewarded for his outstanding preseason performance and will be suiting up in Week 1 of the regular season. The UCLA standout could even earn some significant playing time early as rookie first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba deals with a fractured wrist and Dareke Young and Cody Thompson also deal with injuries.
Veteran former first-round pick Artie Burns survives the final round of roster cuts. Finally healthy, Burns played well in the slot, moving inside as rookie first-round pick Devon Witherspoon dealt with injuries and Coby Bryant played a bit at safety.
Much like their division rivals in LA, the Seahawks signed a gigantic undrafted free agent class about two weeks after drafting 10 rookies in Kansas City. Here is the group of rookies looking to earn a roster spot this summer:
- QB Holton Ahlers (East Carolina)
- DE MJ Anderson (Iowa State)
- LB Michael Ayers (Ashland)
- WR Jake Bobo (UCLA)
- CB Lance Boykin (Coastal Carolina)
- LB Cam Bright (Washington)
- CB Arquon Bush (Cincinnati)
- CB James Campbell (Montana State)
- NT Robert Cooper (Florida State)
- TE Noah Gindorff (North Dakota State)
- WR John Hall (Northwood)
- TE Griffin Hebert (Louisiana Tech)
- WR C.J. Johnson (East Carolina)
- WR Matt Landers (Arkansas)
- WR Tyjon Lindsey (Oregon State)
- LB Patrick O’Connell (Montana)
- S Ty Okada (Montana State)
- S Morrell Osling III (UCLA)
- G Kendall Randolph (Alabama)
- RB Chris Smith (Louisiana-Lafayette)
- LS Chris Stoll (Penn State)
- S Jonathan Sutherland (Penn State)
- DE Jacob Sykes (UCLA)
- NT Jonah Tavai (San Diego State)
- S Christian Young (Arizona)
Adding Ahlers gives Seattle three quarterbacks on the roster. He started five games for the Pirates as a true freshman before starting every game for his hometown school for the next four years. The lefty left an indelible mark on Greenville, setting 10 school records and six conference records. He gives the Seahawks a strong third-string option behind Geno Smith and Drew Lock.
First-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba is likely to start alongside D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, but behind them, the Seahawks felt the need to bolster the receiving corps with some undrafted talent. Bobo had a standout year for the Bruins as a grad transfer from Duke. Landers also had a breakout year as a transfer after bouncing from Georgia to Toledo to Arkansas. He brings elite size at six-foot-5, 200 pounds. Johnson was one of Ahlers favorite targets at ECU, especially in the redzone, as evidenced by the 10 touchdowns between them last year.
The Seahawks have three strong contributors at safety after seeing Julian Love deliver a strong performance in relief of Jamal Adams last year. Still, Seattle felt the need to draft New Mexico safety Jerrick Reed II in the sixth round and sign four more safeties after the draft. All four bring some sort of versatility. Osling III covered a variety of roles over his six years in Los Angeles. Young and Sutherland can both shadow Adams as players who can split the difference in the hybrid role between safety and linebacker. Okada on the other hand can double in a nickel role, if needed.
With Carson Tinker and Tyler Ott‘s contracts expiring, the Seahawks didn’t have a long snapper on the roster. Stoll comes in as the de facto starter with about four months to show he can handle the job. He’s one of 35 rookies on the Seahawk’s 90-man roster (which currently holds 89 players). They should all have strong opportunities to find a roster spot with the chance they’ve been given this summer.