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Lavar Edwards

Practice Squad Updates: Wednesday

December 10th, 2014 at 5:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad signings and cuts, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • The Raiders announced that they have filled their two open practice squad spots, signing wide receiver Kenny Shaw and tight end Evan Wilson. Shaw, a former standout at Florida State, briefly spent time with the Browns and Jaguars. Wilson was among the Dolphins final cuts in August, and he had workouts with the Patriots and Giants earlier this season.
  • The Seahawks have signed linebacker Mike Zimmer, tweets Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. Zimmer (no relation to the coach) played with the Vikings during the preseason.

Earlier updates:

  • Cornerback Kennard Cox has signed with the Seahawks‘ taxi squad, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. Cox last played in the NFL with Seattle in 2011.
  • The 49ers have filled the last opening on their practice squad by signing offensive tackle Chris Martin, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter).
  • According to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter), the two openings on the Lions’ practice squad have now been filled, as the team added wide receiver Skye Dawson and linebacker Jerrell Harris.
  • The Cowboys have made a change to their practice squad, replacing defensive end Lavar Edwards with cornerback Micah Pellerin, says Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com (Twitter link). Edwards lands on the team’s practice squad IR list.
  • The Panthers have re-signed running back Tauren Poole to their practice squad, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. Poole had a very brief stint on the active roster earlier this season when Carolina was dealing with several injuries in the backfield.
  • Wide receiver Alec Lemon, a former local high school standout, has joined the Ravens‘ taxi squad, filling the 10th and final spot, according to a team release.
  • The Broncos have filled the lone opening on their practice squad by adding defensive end Gerald Rivers back to the unit, per ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold (via Twitter). Rivers, who tried out for the Giants this week, was cut last week from Denver’s 53-man roster.
  • The Buccaneers have removed tight end Taylor Sloat from their practice squad, according to Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com (Twitter link), who says the move may indicate improving health for the team’s tight ends. Linebacker Ka’Lial Glaud has replaced Sloat on the squad.
  • With outside linebacker Jason Ankrah having been promoted to the Texans‘ active roster, former Clemson defensive end Kourtnei Brown has been added to Houston’s practice squad to replace Ankrah, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.

Cowboys Activate Demarcus Lawrence

November 1st, 2014 at 12:16pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cowboys will be adding some much needed depth to their defensive line, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the team has activated rookie defensive end Demarcus Lawrence. Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com tweets that the Cowboys will subsequently waive defensive end Lavar Edwards.

Following an offseason where the Cowboys waived DeMarcus Ware, the team certainly had high hopes for Lawrence, indicated by their willingness to trade up to secure his services. However, the the rookie’s emergence was delayed by a broken foot. The 22-year-old spent his first two years of college at Butler Community College before transferring to Boise State. In his two seasons with the Broncos, Lawrence compiled 20 sacks.

Yesterday, PFR’s Luke Adams surveyed the potential impact of players returning from suspension and injuries. Lawrence was among the selections, with Luke remarking that the Cowboys defense has been solid, but a player like Lawrence will only help solidify the unit.

Minor Moves: Friday

October 17th, 2014 at 11:27am CST by Luke Adams

Here are Friday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, including practice squad moves and small changes to the backs of 53-man rosters:

  • Two days after cutting him to make room for offensive lineman Tony Hills, the Cowboys have re-signed defensive end Lavar Edwards, tweets Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. To make room for the returning lineman, the Cowboys waived linebacker Korey Toomer, who had been on the 53-man roster for the entire season, but was inactive for several games.
  • The Bills have filled the final opening on their practice squad by adding wide receiver Travis Harvey to the unit, the team announced today in a press release. The Florida A&M product has spent time with the Titans and Giants, but has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game.

Cowboys To Sign Tony Hills

October 15th, 2014 at 10:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are releasing defensive end Lavar Edwards to make room for new offensive tackle Tony Hills, according to Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter).

Hills, 29, has appeared in ten NFL games dating back to 2010. He hooked on with the Dolphins’ taxi squad in September after he failed to make the final roster cut. Now, he’ll get an opportunity to stick on a 53-man roster.

Edwards was waived by Dallas in September to make room for linebacker Keith Smith but was promptly re-signed three days later when Smith was cut. The 6’4″, 277 pound defensive end spent last season with the Titans where he appeared in seven games with one start.

Minor Moves: Tuesday

September 23rd, 2014 at 7:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Teams around the NFL are shuffling players on and off their 53-man rosters today, and we’ll track all those minor, back-of-the-roster transactions right here, with the latest moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

  • The Chargers waived/injured cornerback Marcus Cromartie, according to Eric Williams of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • The Titans have agreed to terms on a contract with tight end Chase Coffman, waiving wideout T.J. Graham to create space on the roster, tweets Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
  • With Dennis Pitta out for the year and heading to injured reserve, the Ravens have promoted tight end Phillip Supernaw from the practice squad to their active roster, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Earlier updates:

  • Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union has the full details on the Jaguars‘ transactions (via Twitter). In addition to the two previously-reported signings – noted below – the team also added tight end Nic Jacobs, who had been on the Saints’ practice squad. To make room for the three incoming players, the club cut tight end Marcel Jensen and wideout Kerry Taylor, and waived-injured safety Chris Prosinski.
  • Having cut linebacker Keith Smith from their 53-man roster yesterday, the Cowboys have an open spot, and will use it to bring back defensive end Lavar Edwards, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Smith had been added to the roster in Edwards’ place for this past Sunday’s game due to the absence of injured linebacker Justin Durant.
  • Defensive tackle Deandre Coleman has been signed off the Jaguars‘ practice squad by the Dolphins, according to a tweet from Miami’s official account. The Dolphins cut safety Brandian Ross in a corresponding move.
  • Linebacker Jeremiah George, who had been on the Jets‘ practice squad, tweeted today that he’s now a Jaguar. The move has yet to be announced by the club, but it appears George will be added to Jacksonville’s 53-man roster. Having also reportedly agreed to a deal with Sherrod Martin, the Jags will have to remove two players from their active roster to finalize the signings.

Minor Moves: Saturday

September 20th, 2014 at 4:53pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ll keep tabs on all of Saturday’s NFL transactions here, with the latest moves at the top…

  • The Lions have cut veteran wide receiver Kevin Ogletree, reports Field Yates of ESPN (via Twitter). The move opened up room for practice squad cornerback Mohammed Seisay, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
  • The Raiders have signed linebacker Bojay Filomeatu from their practice squad, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • The 49ers have promoted tight end Asante Cleveland to their active roster, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter). The team released quarterback Josh Johnson to make room.
  • The Dolphins have signed safety Brandian Ross from their practice squad to the active roster, reports James Walker of ESPN (via Twitter). They released defensive lineman Bruce Gaston to make room.
  • The Ravens have cut wide receiver Deonte Thompson, and signed running back Fitzgerald Toussaint from their practice squad, according to the team’s official Twitter page.

Earlier updates:

  • The Vikings announced that they have signed wide receiver Charles Johnson from the Browns practice squad. Johnson will take Adrian Peterson‘s spot on the roster.
  • The Lions will sign cornerback Mohammed Seisay from their practice squad, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
  • Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer tweets that the Panthers have promoted running back Darrin Reaves from their practice squad to take Greg Hardy‘s roster spot.
  • The Cowboys announced (via Twitter) that the team has waived defensive end Lavar Edwards and signed linebacker Keith Smith from the practice squad. Edwards, a former fourth-round pick, was acquired from the Titans in late August. He’s only played 15 snaps in two games this season. Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com tweets that the release does not void the trade with Tennessee, noting that the Cowboys have to give up a seventh-rounder if Edwards stays on the roster for ten games. However, Archer also notes that Edwards will likely be back.
  • The Jaguars have signed wide receiver Kerry Taylor from their practice squad, the team announced. To make room, the team waived rookie safety Craig Loston. Taylor has 22 career receptions for 229 yards and one touchdown. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets that Taylor is injury-insurance for wideouts Cecil Shorts and Allen Hurns.

Cowboys Acquire Lavar Edwards From Titans

August 30th, 2014 at 2:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As teams around the league part ways with players in advance of today’s 3pm cutdown deadline, the Cowboys have added to their roster, acquiring defensive end Lavar Edwards from the Titans in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Adam Schefter of ESPN adds (on Twitter) that it’s a 2015 draft pick.

Edwards, 24, was selected by Tennessee in the fourth round of the 2012 draft after playing his college ball at LSU. He played in seven games last season, starting one contest, and ultimately saw time on 153 snaps. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) graded Edwards as below-average, especially in terms of pass-rushing, where he finished with a -4.1 mark.

In Dallas, Edwards will act as depth along a defensive line that, save for a recovering Henry Melton, doesn’t have many stirring options.