Michael Ola

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/16

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Seahawks have made a series of roster moves, announcing that they’ve signed running back Kelvin Taylor and cornerback Ronald Powell to their 53-man roster while placing running back Troymaine Pope and fullback Will Tukuafu on IR. Tay is the son of former NFL great Fred Taylor.
  • The Bears have signed tight end MyCole Pruitt off the Vikings‘ practice squad, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispacth, while Chicago announced that it has cleared a roster spot by waiving defensive back De’Vante Bausby. Pruitt, a 2015 fifth-round pick, has played in 18 games over the past two years.
  • The Packers will sign linebacker Jordan Tripp, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Tripp, primarily a special teamer, was recently waived off Seattle’s IR.
  • John Hughes won’t be staying home alone any longer, as the Buccaneers announced that they’ve re-signed the veteran defensive tackle. Hughes, 28, has already played in three games for Tampa this season.
  • The Ravens announced that they’ve placed running back Lorenzo Taliaferro on injured reserve and signed linebacker Lamar Louis to the active roster. Taliaferro, a 2014 fourth-round, hasn’t been able to get on the field in Baltimore, as he’s managed only 14 carries over the past two seasons. The Ravens are also promoting WR Michael Campanaro, tweets Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun.
  • The Rams have signed cornerback Troy Hill from the practice squad and placed tight end Cory Harkey on injured reserve, the team announced today. Hill had been waived following a DUI arrest, but has now earned a second chance on the roster.
  • The Bills signed safety Shamiel Gary and offensive lineman Michael Ola to the active roster, per a club announcement. Linebacker Bryson Albright has been waived in a corresponding transaction.
  • The Redskins announced that they’ve promoted linebacker Nick Moody from the practice squad to the active roster and placed defensive end Anthony Lanier on injured reserve. Lanier, 26, has 25 games of NFL experience under his belt since entering the league as a San Francisco draft pick in 2013.
  • The Cardinals have swapped out punters once again, announcing that they’ve waived Drew Butler in favor of Matt Wile, who was promoted from the practice squad. Arizona also signed quarterback Zac Dysert off the taxi squad.
  • The Falcons have re-signed cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson, the team announced today. BWW had just been waived last week in order to clear a spot for wide receiver depth.
  • The Browns announced that they’ve promoted DL Gabe Wright from the practice squad to active roster. Wright, a former Detroit draft pick, was claimed by Cleveland earlier this year.

Bills Place James Ihedigbo On IR

The Bills announced that they have placed safety James Ihedigbo on injured reserve. The team has also released outside linebacker Bryson Albright while promoting safety Shamiel Gary and tackle Michael Ola from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. James Ihedigbo (vertical)

Ihedigbo was looking for work all season long before finally signing with the Bills one month ago. In his four games with Buffalo, the vet made three starts and recorded a total of 15 tackles with one pass deflection. Unfortunately, sustained an ankle injury during Sunday’s loss to the Steelers. Six of those 15 tackles came against Pittsburgh before his early exit. It has been an injury-filled season for the Bills and Ihedigbo is the latest notable to go down.

Gary joined Buffalo’s taxi squad on Dec. 1 after spending time on the Patriots’ p-squad. He has appeared in six NFL games in his career, all of which came with the Dolphins in 2015.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/16

Today’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

New Orleans Saints

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/16

Today’s minor moves:

  • The Dolphins officially placed running back Arian Foster on the reserve/retired list, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Foster announced yesterday that he was hanging up his cleats.
  • After acquiring tight end A.J. Derby earlier today, the Broncos have cleared a roster spot by releasing safety Shiloh Keo, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter link).
  • The Jaguars announced that they’ve officially placed defensive tackle Roy Miller on injured reserve and promoted fellow DT Richard Ash from the practice squad.
  • The Bills have promoted wide receiver Ed Eagan to the active roster. In a corresponding move, offensive lineman Michael Ola has been waived. Buffalo was in dire need of pass-catching help as both Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin are dealing with injuries.
  • The Chargers have placed defensive lineman Caraun Reid on injured reserve and re-signed cornerback Pierre Desir, the club announced. As Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, Reid is the 16th player San Diego has placed on IR, tops in the league.
  • The Bears announced that they have promoted defensive back Demontre Hurst to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. To make room, cornerback Jacoby Glenn has been waived.
  • The Seahawks have placed defensive end Quinton Jefferson on injured reserve and signed fellow DE Malliciah Goodman, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (Twitter link).

Bills Sign Michael Ola From Giants’ Practice Squad

The Bills have signed offensive lineman Michael Ola, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. Ola was plucked from the Giants’ practice squad to fill their vacant 53-man roster spot. Michael Ola (vertical)

Ola, 28, was among the Lions’ final cuts this preseason. He hooked on with the Seahawks’ taxi squad soon after being released, but he didn’t last long there. The lineman agreed to join the Giants’ p-squad on September 21st and one week later, he’s off to a new city.

Ola has 24 games to his credit between the Bears, Lions, and Chargers over the last two years. In his time with Chicago, Ola made 12 starts and saw time at every offensive line position except for center. The Bills view Ola as a solid depth pickup and someone that can offer help across the line, if needed.

The Bills now have ten offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, as Rodak notes (Twitter link). Buffalo also has two linemen on the taxi squad and Seantrel Henderson will return from suspension next week. The Bills could get a one-week roster exemption for Henderson that would allow them to have him practice without counting against the roster.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Practice Squad Updates: 9/21/16

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: OT Carter Bykowski, LB Davis Tull
  • Cut: DE Nordly Capi, CB Devonte Johnson

Chicago Bears

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: CB JaCorey Shepherd (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN)
  • Cut: G Darrell Greene

San Francisco 49ers

  • Signed: LB Curtis Grant (Twitter link via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle)

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Redskins

  • Signed: OL Ronald Patrick (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post)

Practice Squad Updates: 9/20/16

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Cut: DE Nordly Capi and DB Devonte Johnson (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com)

Detroit Lions

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: DT Leon Orr (Twitter link via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald)

New York Giants

  • Signed: OT Laurence Gibson (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com)

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: RB Brandon Brown-Dukes
  • Cut: S Jacob Hagen (Twitter link via Mark Kaboly of DK Pittsburgh Sports)

San Diego Chargers

  • Signed: TE Austin Traylor (Twitter link via Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego)

Seattle Seahawks

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/16

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad signings and cuts from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: RB Blake Sims (link via Matt Zenitz of AL.com)
  • Cut: RB Gus Johnson (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: WR Marquis Bundy (via team announcement)
  • Cut: WR Chris Hubert (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle)

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts:

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Cut: WR Shaq Evans (Twitter link via Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com)

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Oakland Raiders

  • Signed: OT Takoby Cofield (Twitter link via reps at Precision Sports)
  • Cut: LB Jason Fanaika (Twitter link via Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com)

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: QB Alex Tanney (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com)
  • Cut: OL Ronald Patrick

Washington Redskins

Lions Trim Roster To 53

The Lions have released offensive lineman Brandon Thomas, as Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. Thomas came to Detroit in the Jeremy Kerley trade earlier this weekBrandon Thomas (vertical)

Thomas, a former third-round pick, has never taken a snap in the NFL. He missed his entire rookie season in 2014 while recovering from a torn ACL suffered in college, and didn’t appear in a game during his sophomore campaign. Thomas wasn’t need in the Bay Area given that Anthony Davis has come out of retirement and shifted to guard and he apparently wasn’t wanted in Detroit either.

Thomas obviously wasn’t the Lions’ only victim of cut day. Cuts include:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/15

Today’s minor NFL signings, cuts, and other moves..

Earlier today:

  • The Browns are signing linebacker Jayson DiManche off the Chiefs‘ taxi squad, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. DiManche will take the roster spot previously filled by running back Shaun Draughn, who has been waived, as Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal writes. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound DiManche has appeared in 28 regular-season games with one start, all with the Bengals. Draughn appeared in five games this season for Cleveland with two carries for 10 yards.
  • The Falcons signed linebacker Philip Wheeler and released safety Charles Godfrey, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Lions have claimed guard/tackle Michael Ola off waivers from the Chargers, as Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets. Ola has yo-yo’d between the Chargers’ 53-man roster and the taxi squad all season long.
  • The Colts promoted safety Dewey McDonald from the practice squad, as Stephen Holder of the Indy Star tweets. The Colts also cut Amarlo Herrera and cornerback Shaun Prater, Wilson tweets.
  • The Seahawks signed Lemuel Jeanpierre and cut Crezdon Butler, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
  • The Seahawks also placed linebacker Brock Coyle on IR-DTR, Gregg Bell of The News Tribune tweets.
  • The Chargers will sign safety Adrian Phillips from the practice squad as early as today, Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego tweets.
  • The Raiders re-signed strong safety Taylor Mays, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter).
  • The Saints have signed wide receiver T.J. Graham, according to a source who spoke with Wilson (Twitter link).
  • The Vikings signed Kenrick Ellis and placed Shamar Stephen on IR, Wilson tweets.
  • The Jaguars moved wide receiver Neal Sterling to the active roster and signed safety Craig Loston, John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets.