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.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Carson Strong
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Nate Landman
- Released: OL Parker Ferguson
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Cole Beasley (story)
- Released: WR Marquez Stevenson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Tae Hayes
- Released: RB Nate McCrary
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Storey Jackson
Denver Broncos
- Released: DL McTelvin Agim
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: OT Jean Delance, C Michal Menet
- Released: DL Jack Heflin, WR Dede Westbrook
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks, WR D.J. Montgomery
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Robert Foster
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Kana’i Mauga, OT Willie Wright
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Marquiss Spencer
- Placed on IR: LB Marcell Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Anthony Harris, P Brett Kern
- Released: S Marquise Blair, WR Auden Tate
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: QB Kevin Hogan, OL Zach McCloud, G Jordan Roos, WR Jonathan Ward
Packers Cut Down Roster To 53
The Packers cut their roster down to 53 players today:
Waived
- K Ramiz Ahmed
- TE Sal Cannella
- S De’Vante Cross
- CB Kabion Ento
- QB Danny Etling
- WR Travis Fulgham
- CB Rico Gafford
- RB Tyler Goodson
- LB LaDarius Hamilton
- DL Jack Heflin
- OL Caleb Jones
- LB Kobe Jones
- OL Michal Menet
- DL Chris Slayton
- LB Ty Summers
- RB Patrick Taylor
- CB Kiondre Thomas
- LB Ray Wilborn
- RB Dexter Williams
- WR Juwann Winfree
Waived/injured:
- TE Nate Becker
- DL Akial Byers
- WR Ishmael Hyman
- TE Alizé Mack
Placed on reserve/PUP:
- RB Kylin Hill
The Packers ended up keeping only a pair of running backs in Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, so the team must be feeling pretty confident that one of their waived RBs will pass through waivers and land on their practice squad. Patrick Taylor would seem to be the favorite for the RB3 role after collecting 25 touches in 2021. Meanwhile, the Packers kept seven wide receivers on their roster, so the release of Travis Fulgham was mostly due to a roster crunch.
The Packers no longer had a need for Ramiz Ahmed, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (on Twitter) that the team activated kicker Mason Crosby off PUP after the veteran passed his physical. Crosby missed training camp and preseason while recovering from offseason knee surgery.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/25/22
Here are Tuesday’s reserve/futures deals:
Arizona Cardinals
- P Nolan Cooney
Green Bay Packers
- QB Kurt Benkert, WR Chris Blair, CB Kabion Ento, QB Danny Etling, S Innis Gaines, LB La’Darius Hamilton, C Michal Menet, K J.J. Molson, OL Cole Van Lanen, LB Ray Wilborn
Miami Dolphins
- DB D’Angelo Ross
New England Patriots
Tennessee Titans
- DB Shyheim Carter, DB Rodney Clemons, LB Nate Hall
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/15/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Nick Guggemos, WR Alexander Hollins, OT Elijah Nkansah
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Justin Hamilton
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and WR Travis Fulgham
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: C Michal Menet
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Will Redmond
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: C Will Clapp
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Lavert Hill, OT Wyatt Miller
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB Josh Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks
Washington Football Team
- Signed: QB Jordan Ta’amu, DT Tyler Clark
Cardinals Add WR Josh Doctson To P-Squad
Josh Doctson is back in the NFL. The former first-round pick latched on with the Cardinals on Friday, agreeing to join their practice squad.
The veteran wide receiver auditioned for the Cards last month. This will end a lengthy stay in free agency and give Doctson a chance to move back onto a regular-season roster for the first time in nearly two years.
Although Doctson caught on with the Jets in 2020, he opted out of last season and then saw Gang Green cut him earlier this year. Doctson’s most recent instance of being on a 53-man roster in-season came in 2019. The Vikings, however, cut him in November of that year.
The TCU product operated as a starter for multiple Washington teams in the late 2010s, eclipsing 500 receiving yards in 2017 and ’18, but the 2016 first-rounder has been unable to stick with another team for a full season since.
Doctson will join the likes of Rasul Douglas and Chris Banjo on Arizona’s taxi squad. The team also signed defensive lineman Jonathan Ledbetter, cornerback Antonio Hamilton and offensive lineman Michal Menet to its P-squad. For the second straight year, teams can carry up to 16 players on practice squads.
Cardinals Cut 10 Players
The Cardinals got a jump on their roster housekeeping today. In advance of Tuesday’s 53-man deadline, they cut:
- OL Shaq Calhoun
- RB Tavien Feaster
- WR KeeSean Johnson
- OL Michal Menet
- DL Cam Murray
- CB Picasso Nelson
- WR A.J. Richardson
- LB Evan Weaver
- P Ryan Winslow
- LB Bryson Young
Johnson, a 2019 sixth-rounder, was pushing for the final wide receiver slot on the Week 1 roster. Instead, he was leapfrogged by Andy Isabella, Greg Dortch, and Antoine Wesley. All three are still on the roster as of this writing, but nothing is guaranteed for any of them beyond tomorrow. Johnson, 25 in October, registered 15 catches for 173 yards in eight games last year.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/20/21
Here are the 2021 draftees to sign their rookie contracts Thursday:
Arizona Cardinals
- CB Marco Wilson (fourth round; Florida)
- S James Wiggins (seventh round; Cincinnati)
- C Michal Menet (seventh round; Penn State)
Dallas Cowboys
- LB Jabril Cox (fourth round; LSU)
- OT Josh Ball (fourth round; Marshall)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Luke Farrell (fifth round; Ohio State)