Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/25
Here are today’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DE Mapalo Mwansa
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: RB Malik Davis, OL Jack Anderson, LB Brock Mogensen, OL Earl Bostick
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed as UDFAs: WR Darius Lassiter (BYU), WR Dorian Singer (Utah)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: TE Anthony Firkser, LB Shaun Bradley
- Waived: TE Baylor Cupp, OL McKade Mettauer, S Jason Taylor
- Received international exemption: OT Chukwuebeuka Godrick
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed as UDFA: WR Myles Price (Indiana)
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/retired list: QB Jordan Travis (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: LB Thomas Rush
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/9/25
Many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players through the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Dallas Cowboys
- RB Malik Davis
Kansas City Chiefs
- LB Shaun Bradley, DB Jason Taylor
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East
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 Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants moves are noted below.
Dallas Cowboys
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- T Josh Ball, CB Josh Butler, WR Jalen Cropper, RB Malik Davis, DT Denzel Daxon, TE Princeton Fant, CB Kemon Hall, WR Kelvin Harmon, LB Darius Harris, S Emany Johnson, DE Carl Lawson, LB Brock Mogensen, OL Dakoda Shepley, LB Nick Vigil
New York Giants
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Waived/injured:
- DT Ryder Anderson, CB Mario Goodrich, EDGE Ovie Oghoufo
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Miles Boykin, CB Art Green, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB Jakob Johnson, C Jimmy Morrisey, LB Ty Summers
Philadelphia Eagles
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- OL Nick Gates
Washington Commanders
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Kazmeir Allen, CB Chigozie Anusiem, G Julian Good-Jones, QB Sam Hartman, DE Andre Jones Jr., DT Haggai Ndubuisi, RB Chris Rodriguez, OL Max Scharping, WR Mitchell Tinsley, WR Brycen Tremayne, TE Cole Turner, DE Carlos Watkins, RB Michael Wiley
Cowboys Reduce Roster To 53 Players
After some late trades and signings, the Cowboys joined in the NFL’s mass exodus of players to get their roster down to 53 players:
Released:
- RB Royce Freeman
- LB Darius Harris
- DE Carl Lawson
- C Dakoda Shepley
- LB Nick Vigil
Waived:
- T Josh Ball
- DB Josh Butler
- RB Snoop Conner
- WR Jalen Cropper
- RB Malik Davis
- DT Denzel Daxon
- TE Princeton Fant
- DB Kemon Hall
- WR Kelvin Harmon
- DB Emany Johnson
- WR Racey McMath
- LB Brock Mogensen
- DT Justin Rogers
- DB Julius Wood
Placed on IR:
- T Nathan Thomas
Placed on IR (designated for return):
- CB DaRon Bland
A number of veterans who were hoping to make the team in Dallas this year saw that hope come to an end. Freeman couldn’t compete with the young backups behind Ezekiel Elliott. Lawson couldn’t contribute to a depleted defensive line, either.
Rogers, the team’s seventh-round pick out of Auburn, is the only drafted rookie to be waived, though Thomas, the team’s other seventh-round pick out of Louisiana, will miss the entire season on injured reserve.
Brevyn Spann-Ford didn’t end up getting drafted, but the 24-year-old, 6-foot-7 tight end out of Minnesota will be the fourth tight end on the roster to start the year.
Latest On Cowboys’ RB Depth
With Tony Pollard no longer in the picture, the Cowboys are eyeing a committee approach at running back for the 2024 campaign. Old friend Ezekiel Elliott is back, but the veteran isn’t expected to carry a full workload during his age-29 season. Behind the veteran, the organization is rostering a number of intriguing but inexperienced options, leading some to wonder if the team could look to add to the position.
Jon Machota certainly shares that sentiment, with The Athletic reporter opining that the Cowboys will make “at least one more addition” to their running backs room. The Cowboys will likely take their time evaluating their current options, so Machota suggests an addition could even come “a few games into the season.”
If the team does roll with their current grouping, Machota believes Elliott will ultimately lead the team in touches, followed closely by Rico Dowdle. The former UDFA is coming off his most productive season in 2023, having collected 505 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. He also showed some talent in the receiving game, hauling in 17 of his 22 targets.
Behind that duo, the rest of the depth chart is “completely up in the air,” per Machota. That job could go to any of Royce Freeman, Malik Davis, or Deuce Vaughn, although the team is getting especially creative with the youngest option in that grouping. The team website recently noted that Vaughn was spotted taking reps as a slot receiver during OTAs, perhaps opening even more snaps for the second-year pro. The 2023 sixth-round pick got into seven games as a rookie, collecting 80 yards from scrimmage on 30 touches. At five-foot-six and 176 pounds, Vaughn certainly doesn’t profile as an every-down back, but the Cowboys could look to utilize him as a change-of-pace Swiss Army Knife.
Dalvin Cook is the biggest name remaining on the RB market, with the likes of Cam Akers, Joshua Kelley, Latavius Murray, Kareem Hunt joining him in free agency. If the Cowboys were interested in any of that grouping, they likely would have already added a player to their RB room. More likely, the front office is waiting for RBs to shake loose throughout the preseason.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/17/24
Wednesday’s reserve/futures contracts:
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
- WR Martavis Bryant, RB Snoop Conner, RB Malik Davis
Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
Miami Dolphins
Pittsburgh Steelers
- CB Luq Barcoo, T Tyler Beach, WR Marquez Callaway, FB Jack Colletto, T Kellen Diesch, S Jalen Elliott, G Joey Fisher, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, T Devery Hamilton, T Anderson Hardy, WR Keilahn Harris, DL Jonathan Marshall, C Ryan McCollum, WR Denzel Mims, RB Aaron Shampklin, DT Jacob Slade, WR Duece Watts
Bryant joined the Cowboys in November, and though he didn’t appear in any games, Bryant left a good impression in Dallas after several weeks on the practice squad. He was released late in the season as the team shuffled the roster a bit but makes his return to Dallas for the offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/23/23
Saturday’s gameday elevations and other minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: WR Dan Chisena, WR Kaden Davis
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: FB Keith Smith
- Signed to active roster: TE Tucker Fisk
- Elevated: P Pat O’Donnell, OL John Leglue
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: RB Leonard Fournette
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: G Gabe Jackson, G J.D. DiRenzo
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: WR Collin Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: S Tanner McCalister, LB Charlie Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis, RB Malik Davis
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Ben DiNucci, OLB Ronnie Perkins
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley (story), TE Anthony Firkser
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: WR Bo Melton, S Benny Sapp
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: WR Ethan Fernea
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: CB Ethan Bonner, OLB Melvin Ingram
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Lucky Jackson, CB Jaylin Williams
New York Jets
- Elevated: FB Nick Bawden, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Kelvin Joseph, S Ty Okada
Tennessee Titans
- DB Shyheim Carter, CB Tay Gowan
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: LS Tucker Addington, OL Nolan Laufenberg
The Bills will not have depth running back Ty Johnson available for tonight’s game, leading to the decision to elevate Fournette. The former Super Bowl champion will thus make his Buffalo debut, although with lead back James Cook in the lineup, Fournette will likely not receive many looks on offense. The latter has already returned a kickoff for the first time in his career, however.
Signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad last week, Ingram will also make his 2023 debut in Week 16. The 34-year-old last played during his Miami stint in 2022, during which time he started three games and recorded six sacks. With Jaelan Phillips out for the year, Ingram will look to once again give the Dolphins a rotational presence off the edge.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/23
Today’s minor transactions and standard gameday elevations for the Sunday slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: G Elijah Wilkinson
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: DT Kentavius Street
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: OLB Jeremiah Moon
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: G Gabe Jackson, OL J.D. DiRenzo
Chicago Bears
- Signed to active roster: LB DeMarquis Gates
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: S Tanner McCalister, LB Charlie Thomas III
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis, RB Malik Davis
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: NT Tyler Lancaster, QB Ben DiNucci
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Bruce Irvin
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: RB Kenyan Drake, WR Bo Melton
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: K Ka’imi Fairbairn
- Elevated: WR Steven Sims, LB Garret Wallow
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed to active roster: S Deon Bush
- Elevated: NT Mike Pennel, RB Deneric Prince
- Waived: LB Darius Harris
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: WR Tyler Johnson
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: CB Ethan Bonner, RB Darrynton Evans
New England Patriots
- Elevated: RB Kevin Harris
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Marquez Callaway, T Cameron Erving
New York Giants
- Waived: S Bobby McCain
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: OL Xavier Newman
- Elevated: DE Jalyn Holmes, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
- Placed on IR: LB Zaire Barnes
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: DT T.Y. McGill, RB Jeremy McNichols
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: S Richard LeCounte, CB Derrek Pitts
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: DL Marlon Davidson, LB JoJo Domann
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: RB Jonathan Williams
Wilkinson returned to practice this week, and will be eligible to return to the lineup on Sunday given today’s activation. The addition of a starter up front will be welcomed by the Cardinals by giving them stability at the left guard spot in particular and by providing an upgrade in protection ahead of a matchup against the stout 49ers defensive front in general. The Cardinals now have four IR activations remaining.
Street was acquired from the Eagles at the trade deadline after he failed to find playing time this season. The 27-year-old has started all five of his appearances in Atlanta, however, racking up 14 tackles (including four for a loss) and one sack. Those numbers will help his free agent market this offseason, but a pectoral injury will sideline him for at least four weeks. If the Falcons fall short of the postseason, therefore, Street will not return in 2023.
McCain was a full-time starter with the Commanders over the past two seasons, but his release led to a one-year Giants agreement. The former fifth-rounder has 87 starts to his name, but he has been unable to carve out a role in New York’s secondary, playing only 19 defensive snaps. McCain has logged a 50% snap share on special teams, however, so his absence in the third phase will be notable if he is claimed off waivers or signed as a free agent by an interested team.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: CB Nahshon Wright
- Signed to active roster: LB Tyrus Wheat
- Elevated: RB Malik Davis, LB Malik Jefferson
- Placed on IR: CB C.J. Goodwin (story)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Keelan Doss
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/suspended by commissioner: QB Jake Haener
- Waived: QB Jake Luton
New York Giants
- Waived: G Jalen Mayfield
Washington Commanders
- Released from IR: TE Kaden Smith
The Cowboys are bringing in some reinforcements after having to place linebacker Leighton Vander Esch on IR this week. The Chargers are bringing up Doss as a standard gameday elevation, as well, with Mike Williams, Simi Fehoko, and Jalen Guyton all out tonight.
Haener, the Saints’ rookie fourth-round passer, started his NFL career on a six-game suspension due to a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. With Haener adding another arm to the bullpen, Luton became expendable but may find a spot on the team’s practice squad.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East
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 Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants moves are noted below.
Dallas Cowboys
Signed:
- T Chuma Edoga, LS Trent Sieg
Claimed:
Waived:
Placed on IR:
- OL Matt Waletzko, CB Nahshon Wright
Signed to practice squad:
- T Earl Bostick, CB Josh Butler, WR Jalen Cropper, RB Malik Davis, TE Princeton Fant, CB C.J. Goodwin, OL Sean Harlow, C Brock Hoffman, LB Malik Jefferson, DB Durrell Johnson, WR Tyron Johnson, TE Sean McKeon, DB Sheldrick Redwine, T Alex Taylor-Prioleau, DE Tyrus Wheat
New York Giants
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Ryder Anderson, WR Cole Beasley (story), LB Darrian Beavers, DB Alex Cook, QB Tommy Devito, LB Tomon Fox, DB Gemon Green, LB Dyontae Johnson, TE Ryan Jones, CB Amani Oruwariye (story), OL Tyre Phillips, LB Oshane Ximines
Philadelphia Eagles
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Devon Allen, WR Britain Covey, CB Mekhi Garner, G Julian Good-Jones, DE Tarron Jackson, LB Kyron Johnson, S Tristin McCollum, WR Joseph Ngata, TE Brady Russell, P Arryn Siposs, T Brett Toth, LB Ben VanSumeren, WR Greg Ward
Washington Commanders
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- T Alex Akingbulu, WR Kazmeir Allen, FB Alex Armah, DE William Bradley-King, G Mason Brooks, S Terrell Burgess, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, QB Jake Fromm, LB Jabril Cox, RB Derrick Gore, LB De’Jon Harris, T Jaryd Jones-Smith, C Nolan Laufenberg, DT Benning Potoa’e, WR Brycen Tremayne, CB Nick Whiteside
