Minor NFL Transactions: 6/18/24
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OT Jaryd Jones-Smith
Detroit Lions
- Waived: K James Turner
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: WR Mathew Sexton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DL Jalen Redmond
New England Patriots
- Signed: G Liam Fornadel
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Kohl Levao
Jones-Smith brings six games of experience to Atlanta, with the offensive lineman seeing time with the Raiders (2020) and Ravens (2021). The majority of his career snaps have come on special teams. He’ll provide the Falcons with some OT depth behind Jake Matthews and Kaleb McGary.
The Lions officially added former UFL kicker Jake Bates to their squad, so the team moved on from an undrafted kicker to make room. Turner spent four years at Louisville before joining Michigan for the 2023 campaign. He had a standout season for the Wolverines, converting 18 of his 21 field goal attempts and 65 of his 66 XP tries.
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.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/30/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Ben Stille
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Deonte Brown
- Released: QB Jake Luton
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Rashard Lawrence
- Released: RB Gerrid Doaks, DT Bruce Hector
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Keaontay Ingram
New England Patriots
- Released: WR Mathew Sexton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: S Johnathan Abram
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Dylan Drummond
- Released: LB Oshane Ximines
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Josiah Scott, WR Cam Sims
- Released: WR Greg Ward
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/23
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Tom Kennedy
- Released: WR Dylan Drummond
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Bo Melton, RB James Robinson
Houston Texans
- Signed: K Matt Ammendola
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Mathew Sexton, K Matthew Wright
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Shemar Jean-Charles
Rumored to be eyeing kickers after rookie Chad Ryland‘s game-tying miss in Week 12, the Patriots will give Wright another opportunity. The Jaguars’ primary 2021 kicker, Wright has not kicked in a game this season. He logged six as a replacement leg — for the Steelers and Chiefs — last season. The Pats drafted Ryland in the fourth round and jettisoned Nick Folk on roster-cutdown day, trading the veteran to the Titans. Ryland has missed 35-yard field goals in back-to-back games; the Patriots will now give him competition.
Waived to make room for Monday claim Derek Barnett, Ammendola remains in place as the Texans’ Ka’imi Fairbairn fill-in. Ammendola, who also worked as a Harrison Butker replacement last season in Kansas City, will be elevated to Houston’s active roster once again, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Ammendola missed two 50-plus-yard field goals, including a game-tying 58-yard try, last week. Fairbairn, who is recovering from a strained quad, can be activated from IR next week.
Falcons Reduce Roster To 53 Players
The Falcons roster took shape today. While the team moved on from some notable veterans, the front office surely had a tougher time waiving a long list of promising young players:
Released:
- WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside
- DB Breon Borders
- OL Jonotthan Harrison
- LB Andre Smith
- LB Kemoko Turay
Waived:
- DB Micah Abernathy
- WR Slade Bolden
- DB Natrone Brooks
- DB Cliff Chatman
- DL Carlos Davis
- DB Lukas Denis
- TE Tucker Fisk
- LB Frank Ginda
- DB Darren Hall
- DL Demone Harris
- WR Keilahn Harris
- TE Parker Hesse
- DL Timmy Horne
- RB Godwin Igwebuike
- LB Mike Jones
- DL LaCale London
- WR Zay Malone
- OL Michal Menet
- DL Caeveon Patton
- RB Clint Ratkovich
- OL Trevor Reid
- WR Mathew Sexton
- OL Justin Shaffer
- OL Tyler Vrabel
- RB Carlos Washington Jr.
- OL Barry Wesley
Placed on IR:
- DB Cornell Armstrong
- WR Penny Hart
One of the most surprising cuts was Darren Hall, who has started 10 of his 31 appearances for the Falcons over the past two seasons. The former fourth-round pick started nine games this past year, finishing with 45 tackles, three passes defended, and one forced fumble.
Parker Hesse spent the past two seasons in Atlanta, serving mostly as a blocking tight end. The former UDFA started seven of his 17 appearances this past season, hauling in nine catches for 89 yards.
Falcons Waive Feleipe Franks; TE Facing Extended Absence
Feleipe Franks has encountered an injury which will interrupt his Falcons tenure. Atlanta announced on Thursday that they have waived the hybrid quarterback/tight end with an injury designation. Jordan Schultz of the Score reports Franks suffered a torn tendon in his foot, which should sideline him for roughly three months (Twitter link). 
The former UDFA entered the league as a signal-caller, but the team began transitioning to tight end last summer. Franks has yet to see much usage on offense in either capacity, logging only 68 offensive snaps to date. He has been a contributor on special teams, though, and an increased pass-catching role could have been in the cards for a team lacking in proven weapons in that regard.
Franks, 25, will revert to IR after clearing waivers. During his missed time, the Falcons will still have a tight end tandem facing considerable expectations. Kyle Pitts will look to return to full health and reach his potential as a former top-five pick, while trade acquisition Jonnu Smith and recent signing MyCole Pruitt should provide capable run blocking in head coach Arthur Smith‘s ground-based scheme.
On a busy day in Atlanta, the team also waived/injured wideout Chris Blair and defensive lineman Ikenna Enechukwu. Offensive lineman Ethan Greenidge has been placed on IR, meaning he will not be eligible to play during the 2023 season. Absences from each of those three players will not have the same effect as that of Franks, who should at least be able to retain his third phase duties upon return.
With the roster spots opened by the above moves, the Falcons have added Michal Menet, Matthew Gotel, Caeveon Patton and Mathew Sexton (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2). No member of that quartet has regular season NFL experience, so they could face an uphill climb to secure a 53-man roster spot during cutdowns. While they vie for an NFL opportunity, Franks will focus on rehab and minimizing the time he misses in his third year in Atlanta.