Minor NFL Transactions: 8/26/24
There have been plenty of posts today about a number of teams releasing and waiving players ahead of roster cuts. Here are the best of the rest of the minor moves for Monday:
Carolina Panthers
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Tayvion Robinson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DE Justin Blazek
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from active/PUP list: S D’Anthony Bell
Detroit Lions
- Waived: OLB Mitchell Agude, WR Kaden Davis, OL Bryan Hudson, RB Zonovan Knight, CB Rachad Wildgoose, TE Shane Zylstra
- Released: DL Pat O’Connor, LB Ty Summers
Houston Texans
- Released: DT McTelvin Agim, G Dieter Eiselen, LB Jacob Phillips
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: DE Levi Bell
- Released: C Mike Panasiuk
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: CB Demarcus Governor
New York Giants
- Released: T Matt Nelson
New York Jets
- Waived: DT Jaylen Twyman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived (with injury settlement): S Mekhi Garner
- Waived: S Andre’ Sam
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: T Tyler Beach, WR Jacob Copeland, RB Daijun Edwards, T Devery Hamilton, T Anderson Hardy, CB Kyler McMichael, DE Marquiss Spencer, CB Kiondre Thomas
- Released: LB Kyahva Tezino, K Matthew Wright
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: P Pressley Harvin III, G Lewis Kidd, WR Jontre Kirklin
- Released: RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: CB Willie Roberts
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: DT C.J. Brewer, DL Mike Greene, CB Keenan Isaac, OLB Daniel Grzesiak, CB Chris McDonald, TE Tanner Taula, S Rashad Wisdom
Tennessee Titans
- Waived (with injury designation): LB JoJo Domann, WR Tre’Shaun Harrison
- Waived: T Brian Dooley, CB Tay Gowan, LB Mikel Jones, LB Thomas Rush, WR Sam Schnee, TE Steven Stilianos, P Ty Zentner
Nelson was an effective swing tackle for the Lions in the past three years. While he wasn’t able to stick with the Giants, he’s likely to draw interest elsewhere in the NFL.
The Eagles like Sam a lot at safety, but with a number of veterans atop the depth chart, there wasn’t room for him on the roster. The team plans to retain him on the practice squad should he clear waivers, per Andrew DiCecco of 975 The Fanatic. The Buccaneers have similar plans with Isaac, Taula, and Wisdom.
49ers Sign RB Matt Breida
Matt Breida is returning to his first NFL squad. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the 49ers are signing the veteran running back. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Breida was among a long list of players who auditioned for the 49ers today, a grouping that also included fellow running backs Anthony McFarland Jr. and Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
The UDFA out of Georgia Southern got his first NFL contract from the 49ers and proceeded to spend three seasons in San Francisco. Breida got into 43 games (18 starts) with the organization between 2017 and 2019, compiling 2,463 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. His best season came in 2018, when he topped 1,000 offensive yards.
He was dealt to the Dolphins ahead of the 2020 campaign, but he finished his lone season in Miami with a career-low 68 touches. That number fell to 33 touches during his stint with the Bills in 2021, but he found a home with the Giants over the past two years. Serving as Saquon Barkley‘s primary backup, Breida collected 577 yards from scrimmage between 2022 and 2023.
Now, he’ll be joining a 49ers depth chart that’s in need of some depth. As Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes, fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo recently went down with a hamstring injury, and the team was already expected to limit Christian McCaffrey‘s snaps during the preseason. That means Breida will now be competing for preseason reps with familiar faces like Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason, newcomer Patrick Taylor Jr., and UDFA Cody Schrader.
The 49ers made a couple of other transactions today. According to Barrows, the team signed offensive lineman Lewis Kidd and placed OL Pat Elflein on IR. Elflein only joined the team the other day, and Barrows notes that the lineman injured his calf only a few plays into his first practice with the team.
This is the second-straight year that Elflein has landed on injured reserve before the season even begins. Last year, it came with the Cardinals, as the lineman was placed on IR with an undisclosed injury right before the season started. The former Vikings starter spent the 2021 and 2022 campaigns in Carolina, where he started all 15 of his appearances.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/24
Wednesday’s minor transactions to close out the month:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived (with injury settlement): DT Rayshad Nichols
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Terrell Burgess
- Waived: P Jack Browning
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Dillon Johnson
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Daewood Davis
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: G Lewis Kidd
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Jaylen Watson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: LB Darien Butler
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Willie Snead
- Waived: DT Mario Kendricks
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: LB Abraham Beauplan
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): CB Mario Goodrich
- Released (with non-football injury designation): CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Tarik Black
- Waived: DL Jonathan Marshall
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Rodney Mathews, RB Kairee Robinson
- Waived: LB Easton Gibbs
- Waived (with injury settlement): RB Ricky Person
Snead is the latest veteran wideout to join the Dolphins receiving corps. He hasn’t really contributed much to the NFL since his 2020 campaign with the Ravens, but he’ll get another chance this summer in South Beach.
Carolina brings in Johnson just a day after watching veteran Rashaad Penny hang up his cleats. In order to make room for Johnson, the Panthers let good of Davis, the team’s recent signee from the UFL.
Butler was waived after a failed physical two days ago. After going unclaimed, he’ll get to stay in Vegas by taking a place on the reserve/PUP list.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/9/24
Here are the reserve/futures deals handed out Tuesday:
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Daniel Arias, CB Darren Hall, S Verone McKinley, OL Austen Pleasants
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Chris Blair, DB Natrone Brooks, S Lukas Denis, LB Milo Eifler, DE Demone Harris, T John Leglue, WR Austin Mack, LB Donavan Mutin, DT Willington Previlon, G Justin Shaffer, T Ryan Swoboda, T Tyler Vrabel, RB Carlos Washington, T Barry Wesley
Chicago Bears
Indianapolis Colts
- S Kendell Brooks, G Lewis Kidd, S Michael Tutsie
Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers
- LB Brevin Allen, DT Jerrod Clark, RB Elijah Dotson, QB Max Duggan, WR Simi Fehoko, DB Matt Hankins, OL Brent Laing, LB C.J. Okoye, CB Chris Wilcox
Minnesota Vikings
- RB Myles Gaskin
New York Jets
- FB Nick Bawden, DT Tanzel Smart
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Daniel Arias
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: RB Jake Funk
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OT Badara Traore
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Chris Williams
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DB Keidron Smith
- Released from IR: S Dallin Leavitt
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Zach McCloud, WR Jaydon Mickens, WR Juwann Winfree
- Released: G Lewis Kidd
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB E.J. Perry
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DT Marquan McCall
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB William Hooper, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Jacques Patrick
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Jalen Elliott
- Designated to return from IR: S Elijah Riley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Vi Jones
- Released: LS Evan Deckers
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: C James Empey, G Jordan Roos
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LS Tucker Addington
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/14/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: S Macon Clark
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: G Lewis Kidd
- Placed on IR: C Jack Anderson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Luq Barcoo, RB Greg Bell
- Released: CB Anthony Brown
- Placed on IR: Josiah Scott
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Jacques Patrick
- Released: G Jordan Roos
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DE William Bradley-King
Saints Officially Set 53-Man Roster
The Saints welcomed back some old faces and said goodbye to others on their way towards setting their initial 53-man roster. Here are the moves the team made in their efforts to select the team they will open the season with:
Released:
- LB Ryan Connelly
- TE J.P. Holtz
- TE Jesse James
- T Storm Norton
- CB Bradley Roby
- LB Jaylon Smith
- LB Ty Summers
- RB Darrel Williams
Waived:
- S Johnathan Abram
- LB Nick Anderson
- WR Kawaan Baker
- FB Jake Bargas
- WR Lynn Bowden
- DL Jerron Cage
- WR Shaq Davis
- DT Prince Emili
- OL Mark Evans II
- G Chuck Filiaga
- DB Adrian Frye
- P Blake Gillikin
- DT Jack Heflin
- DB Anthony Johnson
- OL Lewis Kidd
- WR Jontrae Kirklin
- G Tommy Kraemer
- TE Lucas Krull
- DE Niko Lalos
- RB Ellis Merriweather
- S Smoke Monday
- LB Anfernee Orji
- DE Kyle Phillips
- OL Alex Pihlstrom
- DB Troy Pride
- OL Calvin Throckmorton
The veteran tight end James will have to continue his recent tour of the NFL. He, Holtz, and Krull fell victim to the reunion of New Orleans and former All-Pro Jimmy Graham.
On defense, Smith failed to make the roster after starting 11 games for the Giants last year. Roby is another player who was initially expected to contribute, but will have to pack up his locker.
With the emergence of rookie third-round pick Kendre Miller and the eventual return of Alvin Kamara, keeping Williams in the running backs room just wasn’t worth the roster spot.
On special teams, the third-year punter Gillikin lost the punting battle with undrafted rookie signee out of Miami (FL) Lou Hedley. The viral, jacked, tatted-up, Australian, 30-year-old rookie punter makes his first NFL roster as part of the Saints’ new-look special teams group.
Saints Cut Roster Down To 53
New Orleans got a head start on the deadline for roster cuts this weekend with several moves, but the team found its way to the 53-man limit today. Here are the moves the Saints made today to get there:
Released:
- OL Josh Andrews
- LB Jonathan Bostic
- DE Taco Charlton
- TE J.P. Holtz
- C Nick Martin
- LB Eric Wilson
Waived:
- QB Ian Book
- WR Dai’Jean Dixon
- DB DaMarcus Fields
- DB Vincent Gray
- LB Chase Hansen
- DT Jordan Jackson
- TE Lucas Krull
- DE Niko Lalos
- WR Kirk Merritt
- OL Derek Schweiger
- LB Nephi Sewell
- WR Rashid Shaheed
Placed on reserve/injured:
Placed on reserve/suspended by commissioner:
- WR Kawaan Baker
The big story of the day for New Orleans was the trade this morning that sent defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to Philadelphia. The defensive back had pushed for an extension, staging a hold-in effort early in camp, but ultimately found himself on his way to Pennsylvania, paving the way for the Saints to hold onto six safeties. Safety Daniel Sorensen is on the roster for his special teams contributions, but Justin Evans will really be given a chance to contribute at safety in the absence of Gardner-Johnson.
Despite seeing fellow defensive tackle Huggins head to injured reserve, rookie sixth-round pick Jackson was unable to hold onto a roster spot, being the only member of the Saints’ rookie draft class who failed to do so. The offseason addition of Kentavius Street was likely the determining factor that left Jackson off the 53-man roster.
The team did see an undrafted free agent make the final roster as offensive lineman Lewis Kidd worked his way out of Montana State to make the Saints’ initial 53. He’ll serve as a depth piece on an offensive line with quite a few injury questions.
A position group that definitely looks improved on paper is the receiving corps who gets back Michael Thomas and added first-round pick Chris Olave and veteran Jarvis Landry in the offseason. These new targets will combine with the tight ends group, that includes swiss-army man Taysom Hill, as weapons for quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton.
Besides all the above, the team will look fairly similar in composition to last year’s. The running backs, special teams, defensive ends, and cornerbacks will look largely the same as the team heads into the 2022 NFL season. Where things could end up looking different is on the practice squad. After clearing waivers, many of the players above will have the opportunity to rejoin the Saints’ 16-man squad.
Saints Announce 17 Undrafted Free Agent Signings
The Saints are one of the first teams after the 2022 NFL Draft to officially announce their undrafted free agent class. Here’s New Orleans’ full list:
- Dai’Jean Dixon, WR (Nicholls State)
- Sage Doxtater, OL (New Mexico State)
- Joel Dublanko, LB (Cincinnati)
- DaMarcus Fields, CB (Texas Tech)
- Vincent Gray, CB (Michigan)
- Lewis Kidd, OL (Montana State)
- Jack Koerner, DB (Iowa)
- Lucas Krull, TE (Pittsburgh)
- Smoke Monday, S (Auburn) ($120,000 guaranteed, according to PFF’s Doug Kyed)
- Isaiah Pryor, LB (Ohio State)
- John Parker Romo, K (Virginia Tech)
- Derek Schweiger, OL (Iowa State)
- Nephi Sewell, LB (Utah)
- Rashid Shaheed, WR (Weber State) ($222,000 guaranteed, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network)
- Abram Smith, RB (Baylor) ($222,000 guaranteed, according to Wilson)
- Daniel Whelan, P (UC-Davis)
- Eric Wilson, OL (Penn State)
New Orleans only had five draft picks after having to forfeit a sixth-round pick due to COVID-19 violations, so their UDFA class was going to be important for adding depth.
After seeing Marcus Williams depart for Baltimore in free agency, the Saints were seeking some depth at safety. After failing to address the position in the Draft, the team has reportedly picked up its pursuit of free agent Tyrann Mathieu. They also signed some UDFAs with safety potential for some cheaper depth options.
They were able to nab some quality names like Monday and Pryor and managed to bring in some camp competition for kicker Wil Lutz and punter Blake Gillikin.